Politicking Hip-Hop

From left, Free Flowin, DJ H2O, Cuttz, Latin and Decora


Smooth-talking students renovate the community with spoken word.

Turnout for the "Politics of Hip-Hop,” an open forum discussing the state of hip-hop culture held at SUNY New Paltz, was predominantly comprised of women, some as young as 16-years-old.

Profanity-free, the poetry and music speak out against the disrespect of women – factors that set it apart from the recent mainstream counter image of hip hop.

"We're just as hard as the dudes and we can rock on the same stage," said Free Flowin, a 23-year-old spoken-word artist and member of the RedNex Poetry Squad. One of the organizers of the event, she represented the “female perspective” on a panel of scholars and artists invited to share their opinions of hip-hop. “You don't need g-strings and stilettos in the back of a video,” she said.

"We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know it's going
to be positive and each one of us will be able to say ‘I did something
good'."

The "Politics of Hip-Hop" is one of many community-serving initiatives led by spoken-word group the ReadNex Poetry Squad. Five young artists – Cuttz, Free Flowin, Decora, Latin Translator and DJ H2O – have made it their mission to renovate the image of Hip Hop and support the community with their gift of gab.

ReadNex Poetry Squad began their crusade while students at Orange County Community College. Already active in the community, they focused their energy into the poetry group that they called ReadNex because they were the next poets to be read.

"We left off the ‘t’ because it would take time for you to hear about us," explained Latin Translator, 24, a senior at SUNY New Paltz with a major in psychology and minors in women’s and Caribbean studies.

The "Politics of Hip-Hop," like most of their “campaigns,” included spoken word performances and music spun by 22-year-old H2O, a computer science student who's been spinning professionally since the age of 15.

Profanity-free, the poetry and music speak out against the disrespect of women – factors that set it apart from the recent mainstream counter image of hip-hop associated with the genre.

In addition to just getting "read" about, the group's work is being studied in college classrooms.
Professor Margaret Wade-Lewis, chair of Black studies and director of linguistics at SUNY New Paltz, analyzes the ReadNex Poetry Squad's CDs with her "Rap and Spoken Word" class.

"It is very politically aware subject matter," said Wade-Lewis. "They are consciously attempting to put their material in a format where young people will hear it and enjoy it and yet they clearly have messages that are intended to help make young people more politically aware and also aware to their responsibility to society.”

Professor Wade-Lewis also complimented the quality of the musical accompaniment, the diversity of the group and the poetic ability of the performers.

"It's rap, it's spoken word, it's African influence it's Latino, and there is a woman in the group," she said. "They have an awareness on many levels that translates into their presentation."

"Each of us puts it into our own perspective," said Latin. "This allows us to reach many people in different ways."

For their latest album "Social ISsUe," the group interviewed 100 people from various backgrounds to find out what cultural topics they found most pressing. The results are reflected in the content of the songs that focus on topics like gentrification, sexism and racism. The album that, according to the group’s Myspace, sold 200 copies in the first week of its release, is described by Free as a “plastic package with a universal message.”

"It's for a music lover," said Free. "It's not just poetry."

The title is spelled out to pronounce this universal message. “Social ISsUe” is pronounced “Social Is-You,” meaning change begins with yourself.

On top of performing and organizing "campaigns" like the "Politics of Hip-Hop,” the group members run after-school poetry programs in Kingston and Newburgh, feed the homeless and help victims of Katrina.

With their 2007 London tour, “Bridging the Gap,” ReadNex Poetry Squad raised funds to buy books for a Nigerian school.

"It's good for people to see what we're doing," said Cuttz. “They can do this."

Cuttz, a New Paltz senior, came to N.Y. from Columbia when he was 6-years-old and uses both English and Spanish in his performances. He is writing a play “in verse” while DJ H20 and Free run a radio show on WBNBD. Free also works with an anti-gentrification program in Brooklyn.

Decora, a 24-year-old sociology student who lives in Newburgh but says "my home is Hip Hop," will accompany the Universal Zulu Nation to a Pan-African Conference in Venezuela.

How does the group manage to juggle so many events on top of school?

“We’re learning to sleep with our eyes open,” Cuttz said.

"It's a family network," Latin said. "Each one of us keeps us going."

The ReadNex Poetry Squad's performances include the "Speak and Dance Tour," which are "open mics" followed by dance parties reminiscent of the community block and house parties of hip-hop's past. H20 will spin a mix of Latino, funk, soul, house, and old school hip-hop for the party.

"We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. I know it's going to be positive and each one of us will be able to say ‘I did something good,’" Latin said.

The group credits their producer, Charles Graham of Volume 8 Musik, for their success. Their tour in 2008, "Frontlines of Hip-Hop," will travel nationwide and visit 43 cities. Events can be found at www.myspace.com/readnex.

Riding That Train

Traveling the Empire State's Metro Muddle

“Stand clear of the closing door!”


Whether you’re taking the Long Island Rail Road or suffering down below on a New York City subway, it is almost impossible to ride a train in New York without hearing that phrase at least twice. Or be forced to stand due to lack of seating during your journey at least once.


For New York City’s five boroughs and Long Island, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is the circulatory system that keeps life moving and people connected. Everyday, New Yorkers spend a significant amount of time on the train, commuting back and forth between work and home.


However, in most cases, it is not an expedition taken with enthusiasm, which is evident by the jaded expressions on the faces of daily commuters.


“It’s not the best way to start your morning,” said Gabriella Padilla, 22. “Everybody would be more pleasant if they did not have to experience it. By ‘it’ I mean the anger inducing experience that is commuting the MTA.”


Padilla is a graphic designer and a Brooklyn native who commutes from Williamsburg to Midtown Manhattan at least five day a week. She is one of those commuters who, having spent much time waiting on a crowed platform, truly appreciates when the train stops and the doors open right in front of her by chance. Being one of the first to board the train greatly improves her chance of getting a seat.

"If you're not gonna move fast then get out of the way."

“When you combine rude, smelly, pushy, angry New Yorkers in what seems like a sardine can, it’s not refreshing. And don’t forget the men rubbing up on you in a crowed train—and sometimes women,” she said.


However, don’t think that it is New Yorkers alone that makes train travel miserable. The dreaded tourist is a commuter’s worst nightmare. They are easily recognizable, especially since they are prone to be the only people elated and smiling during peak travel times. They can usually be spotted in large groups wearing bright matching t-shirts (often neon in color), carrying NYC souvenirs, or gazing up toward something apparently fascinating and inevitably slowing down everyone attempting to bustle around them.


“If you’re not gonna move fast, then get out of the way,” Padilla said.


In addition, the train ride is rarely aesthetically pleasing. “You will see advertisements for storage partially covered up by an ad for experimental diet pills or penile implants,” she said.


SUNY New Paltz senior Jordan Yue, 21 has a less hostile outlook on commuting. He rode the train frequently this past summer while completing internship.


“I mean, it wasn’t that bad,” he said. “Although the prices have gone up, when I was younger, it was worse.”


It is not difficult to imagine how the experience could be terrifying for a small child, since it often proves to be rather grim for adults. Yue also said that the weekend service is especially bad, since there are fewer trains running and one can expect to be left waiting longer than anticipated.

The LIRR has a slightly different feel than the subway—starting with the music provided by those situated at random nooks and crannies in Penn Station. The tunes include amateur covers of Brian Adams, Bob Marley and songs from the Titanic soundtrack. Courtesy of these starving artists (or just starving people in general), played out melodies are often the first thing you hear when walking through the LIRR’s main concourse. That is not to say that you can escape the subway without having to experience the torment of a musical interlude of similar nature. From guitars to drums, people have found ways to scrounge change in the underground concourses while riders seek to exit or transfer.


Nick Fusco, 21, commutes via the Long Island Rail Road every day into Manhattan to get to Wizard Studios where he works as an event coordinator. Some days, he takes the train up to four times.


“It sucks,” he said. “The trains are always leaving on time but never arrive when they are supposed to get there.”


Fusco also has other concerns regarding the train. “The pricing in not terrible, but the service should be better,” he said. “It’s not like the train is a new technology, they should know how to keep it running when the tracks get a little wet.”


He is referring to the fiasco this past summer when some heavy rain and flooding caused mass-transit to shut down for a few hours resulting in long delays and many people calling in late to work. With talk of price hikes in the upcoming years, one can only hope that this will improve train service and frequency.


Despite all this, safety is one area that warrants no complaint from a seasoned commuter—or even a green one. With the current “if you see something, say something campaign” that was launched after 9/11, travel security is at its height and most likely discouraging criminals.


“I will say this though, I’ve never been mugged or assaulted on the subway,” Padilla said, which is some-what comforting in retrospect considering the stigma of danger still attached to city life.


She has however had to experience discomfort caused by other riders who possess no sense of personal space. On various occasions, she has jumped out of the way of a running commuter desperate to catch a train.


“At this point in time, commuters themselves are the most dangerous part,” she said, implying that while she may have had the good fortune to never have been robbed, getting knocked down by a frantic commuter is nevertheless an unwanted experience (among others like sewer rats and dripping underground water) that remains perilous to train travelers.

The Fluctuating Face of Facebook

Users continuously find new purposes for the social networking site

You’ve recently been poked, invited to be a zombie or vampire, had some photos of yourself tagged or your wall has been written on. Confused? If so, you’re one of the few people who haven’t become part of the fastest-growing social networking site today known as Facebook.

Facebook got its start when Harvard student Mark Zuckerberg decided that his classmates needed something to help ease the process of socializing in a place he described as “unfriendly.” The use of Facebook has grown into something much larger than a Harvard socialization tool.

After it proved to be a huge success, Facebook was then opened to a few other universities, then all colleges, then all students. Today anyone with an e-mail address can create an account. The current number of users rising to over 39 million shows how much of a success the site has become.

“If I’m at a computer, I’m on Facebook.”

While Facebook is still used for basic socializing, people are finding new uses and benefits of it everyday. Facebook is good for event planning, starting discussion forums on any topic you’d like, selling or buying items online and more. It has even been credited for helping people find their “soul mates,” distant or lost relatives and crime suspects.

CNN reported that after someone was attacked near the Georgetown University campus this past September, the victim took it upon himself to search Facebook, find who he believed the attacker was and took the name to police. Police then investigated, using Facebook as well, and the suspect was arrested and charged.

CNN also reported another story of a Canadian woman who had been searching for her son who she put up for adoption years before. The woman decided to take the suggestion of some of her friends and search for him on Facebook. She typed in his name, searched through a few pages of profiles and found him almost immediately.

SUNY New Paltz is no exception to the Facebook phenomenon and the bizarre situations it creates. The network currently has over 8,000 members and it continues to grow daily.

“If I’m at a computer, I’m on Facebook,” said Matthew Barone, a junior elementary education major and self-described Facebook addict. He further explained his addiction saying that he usually has about four “poke wars” going on, checks his friend’s updated pages constantly, and updates his status regularly. He is also one of the people who somewhat credits Facebook for the beginning of the relationship between him and his girlfriend.

“We knew each other within a group of friends, but not really personally at all,” he said. “After seeing each other a few times, we started poking each other and posting on each other’s walls and it just kind of grew from there.”He’s not the only one who had an unexpected surprise thanks to Facebook. Another SUNY New Paltz junior, Stephanie Falcon, was able to find a relative of hers using Facebook. Falcon is from Long Island and had lost contact with her cousin from Panama for a few years.

Is Facebook simply a supplement to our social lives, or is it in fact changing the way we interact?

“My sister and I were talking because she’s taking a trip to Panama for school, and we started reminiscing about our trips before and how much we missed Alvaro,” she said. “So, on a whim, I just said ‘I wonder if he has Facebook.” She typed his name into the search box, had to search through a few pages of “Alvaro’s” and then found a picture that she immediately recognized as her cousin.

Falcon says that she probably could have just asked her father for some way to contact him, perhaps a phone number, but that she feels more comfortable approaching the situation like this after so many years of separation. She says they definitely speak more frequently now, using Facebook messages or wall posts to keep in touch. However, she was also able to learn that in Panama MSN Messenger is used, so she has since downloaded that and uses it to speak to him almost daily.

The stories continue across campus. Emma Jerome, a senior theater major, was going through some problems in her relationship, like everyone does, and logged onto Facebook one day to receive a message that her boyfriend had canceled their relationship status online. When she confronted him about this she found out that he didn’t want to end their relationship in person or over the phone, so he simply canceled it online hoping that would be enough.

These stories raise the question of whether or not socialization in the presence of Facebook is a new kind of socialization altogether. Is Facebook simply a supplement to our social lives, or is it in fact changing the way we interact?

Before social networking sites a person was required to have a conversation with someone in order to find things out about them, such as their hometown, religion and interests. Now, as long they have a person’s name and both accounts are in the same network, they can learn those things about someone without ever interacting with them.

The process of getting to know someone is now less active and certainly less personal. Why put any effort into getting to know someone new when a "news feed" will do all the work for you? It creates a community where everyone knows about each other, without ever actually having to talk about anything.

Surely the site does help its users, such as helping people get in contact with one another, like Falcon did. Even though she could have looked up a phone number and called her cousin, her first instinct was to go through Facebook. That feeling is representative of many young people these days.

At the same time though it is somewhat unsettling to see just how much people depend on the ease of the impersonal way to interact through Facebook, as represented in Jerome's experience. Could her experience be indicative of the use of social networking sites continuously changing, appearing in new aspects of our lives we did not anticipate?

It doesn't seem as though Facebook will fizzle out anytime soon, so we are only left with these questions while devoted users continue to log on everyday. How large will this phenomenon grow?

Creeping Casino, New Yorkers Concerned

Artistic rendition of what the proposed Indian casino would look
like. Image courtesy of Empire Resorts.

Red tape, growth and outrage over the proposed Indian casino in the Catskills

Red Tape

Gov. Eliot Spitzer’s accord with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe to build a casino at the Monticello Gaming and Raceway may have overwhelming support from state government and officials, but some groups, and it seems the federal government, still believe a casino in the Catskills is not a good fit for New York.


In February the Tribe reached a formal agreement with Spitzer to build the casino with prominent officials, including Sen. Chuck Schumer, in full support.

But before the Tribe can begin the highly anticipated construction on their casino, Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne must approve their application to place roughly 30 acres into trust for the project.


Kempthorne has yet to act on the Tribe’s application.


On Halloween, the Tribe filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court of Washington, D.C., against the Secretary. The Tribe’s lawsuit charges that the Secretary has “acted with undue delay and bad faith” with respect to their application. They hope the lawsuit will serve as a “motion to compel” Kempthorne to take action and make a decision.


Growth

The decision to construct the $600 million, 766,000 square-foot, two-story casino has been fully endorsed by Spitzer and the Tribe, who claim the casino will boost the Catskills’ already pitiful economy and create some 3,000 full-time jobs.


“This agreement is 10 years in the making,” said Leslie Logan, spokeswoman for the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe. “It’s not only the right time but it’s overdue,” she said, pointing to the casino’s broad base political support on the state and local levels.


“Sullivan County has been left in the dust,” Logan said. “This casino is a ripe opportunity to generate jobs and create economic development.”


The casino will make an estimated $300 to $400 million its first year, with 20 percent of its revenues going directly to the state, according to Logan.

Outrage

However, some, including various coalition and community groups, do not see the casino as a simple venue for growth -- a big-time employer and moneymaker -- but as a terrible burden with drastic consequences.


These groups, including Casino-Free Sullivan County, Orange Environment, Inc., and the Natural Resources Defense Council, feel the state government has failed to assess the casino’s adverse effects, such as pollution, traffic, and crime, on the surrounding community and environment.


“The state may benefit because of these revenues, but the host community certainly does not benefit,” said Joan Thursh, president of Casino-Free Sullivan County.

Thursh said the casino is not right for New York, pointing to the extremely negative effects the casino would have on her community.


“There are economic consequences, social consequences, environmental consequences … studies have shown traffic would become unbearable … a disaster for the community,” Thursh said.


Michael Edelstein, president of Orange Environment, Inc., said nobody really knows the impact of the casino because the consequences have not been fully studied. “We know the consequences are adverse,” he said, “but we need to be able to express their full impact on traffic, pollution, the economy, and quality of life.”


Jenny Powers, spokeswoman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the state government has failed to identify the casino’s effects and propose measures to mitigate them.

“And until we know what they are,” she added, “We can’t do anything to solve them.”

* * * * *

Knowing Their Roots

Out of the bakwoods

The long drives were tiring, yet the spirit inside of them was constantly alert, kept unwearied by a passion that would shape the coming years of their lives. They were both entering their final semester in college in the spring of 2003. With graduation in sight, thoughts of the future were becoming the forefront of conversation to fight the boredom of the open road.


For Matt Roy and Chris Maffeo, a two-week cross country tour with Roy’s brother’s skate company, Movement, would be the roots of a business known today as Bakwoods.


“We decided that it would be a good job,” Roy said. “We didn’t want a nine-to-five.”
“The main focus was skateboarding and snowboarding,” Maffeo said.

“It all started with the movies we made. We filmed local kids in the New Paltz, Poughkeepsie area.”


Trial End Error was a collection of footage that Roy and Maffeo had gathered and decided to make into a movie. They held a release party at Mcgillicuddy’s in New Paltz, which hundreds of people attended. From this, Bakwoods was set into motion.


“The first movie was eye-opening for us,” Roy said. “People were really excited about what we were trying to do. We decided right then to do another film.”


Roy and Maffeo started making T-shirts to help promote Bakwoods as well. They set up shop in Roy’s bedroom at the time. Maffeo had experience working for a professional silk-screener in Kingston, N.Y.. This would prove to be valuable.


“If we were going to do it for ourselves we wanted it to be as professional as possible,” Maffeo said.


In a short amount of time Roy’s bedroom became too small for their growing business. A closet with one rack had become a house with many, all stacked with out-going orders thanks in large part to the success of their online store.


“We started creating our own clothing after the first movie,” Maffeo said. “Our intentions were to make films, but then we decided to get some T-shirts out there, which basically led us into getting our own silk-screening equipment.”


Today Roy and Maffeo run Bakwoods out of a house in New Paltz complete with a dark room, an office and a printing room. They live amongst friends that are more like family, which they say has been the dream all along.


“This company not only employs us,” Roy said, “but it also employs our artistic and creative friends as well.”


They are a tight circle that has been a strong foundation for Bakwoods since the beginning. With Senior photographer Todd Martin, photographer Anthony Aquino, web designer Joe Sturges and friend Corey Willis, Roy and Maffeo are working in an environment they have always hope for, and the future looks promising for all involved.


“If Bakwoods is continually going forward,” Roy said, “then there is no point in stopping.”


Relative to Reality, their second movie, was released in the spring of 2005. But it was 2006’s Horseshoes & Handgrenades that they are most proud of.


“Horseshoes and Handgrenades, in our minds, is our first real skate video,” Roy said.
It is a constant cycle full of hard work and travel. When one season ends, another one begins. This keeps them constantly working, for when one project is nearing its completion, another one is already in the works.


But the hard work is paying off. Productivity, exposure and overall business are increasing. Roy and Maffeo are working with more talented riders in each new project. They are currently working on their first total snowboarding movie and are expanding their financial opportunities. The clothing line has expanded with the addition of women’s products. The online store is very successful and Bakwoods is being sold out of stores across the northeast. For them, the experience is irreplaceable.


“We get asked all the time, ‘when are you going to stop?’,” Roy said, “but there hasn’t been a point in time where we’ve been at a standstill. If this ended today there would be no regrets.”


And with the dynamic between them, working together for Roy and Maffeo has been their greatest advantage. They aren’t afraid to speak out and push each other forward. They believe this is what made Bakwoods grow so fast, and what will make it continue to grow.


“With the determination we both have,” Maffeo said, “there is a great future ahead of us, that I am certain of.”

For more information please check out Bakwoods.com.

A Poughkeepsie Hot Spot For Entertainment

(Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday and The Color Fred at The Loft on October 31, 2007
Photo Credit Tara Quealy)



From Harry Houdini to Godsmack, The Chance Theater in Poughkeepsie has lent its stage to some of the biggest names in entertainment. The theater has even been named best music venue in the Hudson Valley by Hudson Valley Magazine three times in a row.

The Chance Theater originally opened as a vaudeville theater in 1912, called The Dutchess Theater, hosting acts like The Three Stooges. The theater closed down from 1945 until 1970 when it was re-opened as a film and live entertainment venue called, Frivolous Sal’s Last Chance. Later the venue became known as The Last Chance and then The Chance. Some of the security staff at the venue claim that the old building is haunted and say that they have seen ghosts on the surveillance tapes.

Two other smaller venues were added onto The Chance making it an entertainment complex. The Loft, which can hold 400 people and Club Crannel, which can hold 250 people have shows about two or three times a week. The Chance Theater holds 750 people and has a show about four times a week. The Chance Theater with a bar on each floor, has two floors for fans to view and enjoy whoever is performing on stage. The Police, Judas Priest, Third Eye Blind and Fall Out Boy have all played there The Chance before. Mostly local, smaller bands play the two other venues.

“It’s a good venue because if a show sells out at The Loft we can move it to The Chance,” said intern Chelsie Friedman. “We never lose a show.”

Not just used for live acts, every Saturday night The Loft is used as a night club. Located directly above The Chance, The Loft will occasionally ask reality television celebrities to make appearances; the most recent star being Steven from The Real World Las Vegas.

“I love The Loft,” said Fred Mascherino of Taking Back Sunday and The Color Fred after playing there on Halloween. “I would definitely come back here and play.” Mascherino who is in a number of different bands has also played The Chance and liked playing there as well. “I played at another place in Poughkeepsie with my other band, Breaking Pangea, which was not so great.”

“Not just one type of band can play there,” said Steven Viola a junior education major at Marist College. “Smaller local bands can play at the Loft and Crannel, and bigger bands can play at The Chance.”

Viola also noted the convenient location of the venue. “If The Chance was not here, I would have to go all the way to New York City or Albany to see a show,” he said. “That is where the next closest venues are.”

The Chance Entertainment Complex is an overall favorite with bands and fans a like and it is a great part of Poughkeepsie’s culture.

Fans Don’t Mind Spending the Weekend in this “Office.”

Cast members Ed Helms, Angela Kinsey, Brian Baumgartner
and Kate Flannery (L-R), took the stage at the Scrantones concert.
The concert took place Saturday, Oct. 27 at Lackawanna
Community College.

Fans of "The Office" came to Scranton, Penn., to spend the weekend with cast members.

Because of an awesome opportunity to receive press passes, I attended NBC’s “The Office,” convention. The convention gave an opportunity to fans to meet cast members as well as fellow fans. It was held in Scranton, PA, which is also the shows setting. Now in its fourth season, the show has a large enough following to successfully hold this event.

The event ran Oct. 26-28. Fans from all over the world came out to spend the weekend in the “Electric City.” The cast in attendance were Leslie David Baker, Andy Buckley, Brian Baumgartner, Creed Bratton, Kate Flannery, Melora Hardin, Ed Helms, Mindy Kaling, Angela Kinsey, Oscar Nunez, Craig Robinson, Bobby Ray Shafer, Michael Schur and Phyllis Smith.

Events throughout Scranton were held all weekend, in which the cast made appearances, both scheduled and unscheduled, to mingle with fans.

I got to bring a friend along with me, which was awesome because I don't think it would have been as much fun had I been there alone.

As I was walking across the Scranton University campus (which is a very confusing place, by the way) to “The Office” street fair, I began to hear live music. “I got the hots for you,” was the lyrical peak the band reached. I really couldn’t expect the best of entertainment yet since it was still so early. Much to my dismay and enjoyment, I walked up to the stage and saw none other than cast member Creed Bratton, who plays Creed on the show, singing. The band playing was The Scrantones, who perform the show's theme song. They were also in the episode “Booze Cruise.”

"I believe the way it works is for every one month we are on strike, three episodes will not be written,”said creator Greg Daniels on the writer's strike.

I stuck around for a while. I got to hear Craig Robinson, who plays Darryl on the show, cover Radiohead’s “Creep.” The concert started winding down, and I headed to the press conference.

The aforementioned cast members and creator Greg Daniels spoke at the conference. Many different issues were covered. An interesting one brought up at the conference was the then-impending writer's strike. At the time of the convention, the strike was not yet in action, although it is now, and there currently is no end in sight.

"I believe the way it works is for every one month we are on strike, three episodes will not be written,”said Daniels.

Mindy Kaling, writer/producer/actress on the show, talked about her character Kelly's evolution.

“The transformation of what Kelly used to be in the first season to now is one of the great scam jobs ever been done on network television,” said Kaling.

Kaling's character Kelly used to be conservative and quiet, and is now known for being exactly the opposite.

Daniels and the rest of the cast were pleased to see what the real Scranton looks like, and meet fans.

“Fans were surprised I didn't have a drink in my hand. Actually, they were surprised I wasn't drunk,” Flannery said in reference to her character on the show.

Once the press conference was over, the cast talked and was interviewed by the NY Times, LA Times, VH-1's Best Week Ever, and many other noteworthy publications.

At this point, I was asking myself what I was doing here. I was surrounding by prestigious press, and there I was, reporting for a blog that wasn't even up and running yet.

I got a chance to meet Ed Helms. I got a picture taken with him and he even asked what I was reporting for. Andy (Helms' character) from “The Office” now knows that The Gunk Gazette exists. Score.

Later on that evening, a look-alike contest was held. The cast helped judge the contest, and more specifically their own characters.

The contest ended and The Scrantones took the stage. Many “surprise” guests came on stage. Flannery played keyboard while the band played the theme song. She also covered “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” dedicated appropriately to Carell's Michael Scott, who hit her character with a car in a previous episode.

Robinson made another appearance, covering the Gnarls Barkley song “Crazy.” Helms took the mic to sing “Werewolves of London,” and cleverly changed it to “Werewolves of Scranton.” Hardin came on stage to sing a few of her own songs, and cover The Pussycat Dolls' “Buttons.” Baumgartner sang The Police's “Roxanne.” Bratton returned to sing a few of the Scrantones songs. The last song played was the theme again, and the cast thanked everyone for coming out, and danced as the song ended the evening.

Fans undoubtedly left satisfied and more enthusiastic about the show.

Sunday, I attended the 'Writers Block'. Fans had a Q&A with the writers of the show. BJ Novak, writer/actor for the show, made a surprise appearance. First, questions submitted over the Internet prior to the event were presented to the cast, and then the floor was open to the audience. Much to my surprise, Kaling wrote one of my favorite episodes, “The Injury.” Daniels was asked who on the set did the most improv, and not to anyone’s surprise, he answered Steve Carell.

“I feel that improv sometimes can even work better than the script. Sometimes you just don't feel comfortable saying what is in the script and it just works better when you say what is more natural to you,” said Daniels.

Fans were excited to hear that Stephen Merchant, writer/creator of the original series, will be directing an episode that will air in December. Also, Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” will return this season to direct another episode. The writers said how much fun it is to work with each other, and it is rare to have set of writers that click as well as they do. The writers also revealed that writer Paul Lieberstein, who plays Toby, is a lot like his character on the show. They concluded the Q&A by giving the audience a treat and presenting the first part of an upcoming episode.

The weekend was a blast. I am still amazed and thankful that I got to be a part of this. Fans undoubtedly left satisfied and more enthusiastic about the show. Everyone got a realistic view of the cast that portray their favorite television characters. The convention is rumored return to Scranton again next year. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

New Paltz Speaks

The poetry culture around campus can be found in two organizations: Rap Poetry Music club, RPM, and the Poetry Association, also known as the SUNY New Paltz Slam Team.

Spoken word, freestyle, beat-boxing, guitars, singing, MC battles, banjos, poetry and more banjos are what one would hear on Tuesdays in the Shango Hall Kitchen at RPM where a gathering of a diverse group of students comes out every week to perform or listen or both. Anyone can perform whatever they’d like, whether it’s original or not. With an atmosphere that’s lax and inviting, the floor is open for anyone to jump in. There is no set structure to how the meeting goes; it just flows like the poetry.

But usually the poets “spit”, say, their pieces first and then, towards the end, those with musical talent take the stage. The meeting will most likely close with a collaboration of the artist in the room through music, beat-boxing and free-styling.

Sophomore Megan Falley explained RPM’s atmosphere as, “inspiring, creative, diverse, beautiful, welcoming, gorgeous, love.”

Falley, whose neighbor brought her to RPM in her freshman year, currently holds the first place spot on the SUNY New Paltz Slam team.

The slam team is a competing collegiate poetry team with six members and one coach. New Paltz’s slam team received third place in the national collegiate competition in Texas in 2006 and 2nd place in the regional competition in Oneonta in 2007. They will be competing for the national title in New Mexico this upcoming April.

"Spread the Spoken Word"- Megan Falley

In order to make the team, the poets have to perform in a qualifying slam. In a slam, a spoken word competition, the poets must perform original pieces that are no longer than three minutes. With every ten seconds that they go over three minutes, there is a time deduction from their score.

The judges are picked randomly from the audience and they score from one to 10. Out of the five scores, the highest and lowest are dropped. The three middle scores give the poet his or her final score. The number of rounds the poet performs in depends on the structure of the slam.

“I personally don’t care much for slams for the simple fact that I don’t think spoken word should be judged,” said Carmen Mojica, past alternate and coach for the slam team. “Although I can say that seeing the caliber that other poets are at has made me step up my writing game.’

Falley agrees. “I don’t really care about the scores, and I’m not offended if a judge low-balls me,” said Falley. “I like to write, I like to perform and I like to connect with the audience. If I feel that I have done that successfully, then the scores are really insignificant.”

Both RPM and the Poetry Association have different poetry events on and off campus. They sponsor open mics and secure poets from the other schools like Oneonta and UCLA to come perform. The Poetry Association also brought Saul Williams, a well-known spoken word artist, to campus two years ago.

Even so, both Mojica and Falley feel that not enough people go to poetry events.

“I think when people hear poetry reading, they judge it immediately, but the few who have given it a chance usually always come back,” Falley said. “Spread the spoken word.”

Photo taken by Barbara Baez

Local Bands Look Ahead

Is the future of music digital ... and is that bad?



It is the age of MP3's, Ipods, and digital everything. The vast momentum that the Internet has gained since its arrival in most homes and offices has dictated the evolution of many things, one of them being music.

For major, established acts such as Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Madonna and Paul McCartney, the digital era has enabled them to shed their major music labels in favor of independent or Internet-based distribution.

To these internationally known acts, a record label is not a necessity; they can finance and distribute their music using their own power and influence in the industry without the artistic limitations a label might impose.

Will the path taken by the aforementioned artists develop into a trend that may dictate if unsigned bands will ever have to, well, get signed? And with CD sales down 14 percent and digital track sales up 46 percent in the last year, some are wondering if the future of music is on the Internet. Will CD's soon become a thing of the past?

"Our album was self-financed and released. We're a band that puts their money where their mouth is," said Mike Perri, 22, of the band Three Card Monte. "Not that we wouldn't welcome some label support..."

Three Card Monte, based out of Goshen, N.Y., has been together for four years, and is not yet signed to a label. Perri, the band's drummer, feels that while established artists may have earned their rite of passage to free themselves of a label, the same path may not be written in the stars for his own band.

"Labels with money and advertising smarts can be the best benefit," he said. "To be truthful, a band really needs the helping hand a label can offer."

Will Adams, 21, who plays guitar for rock/metal band Midnight Pass, agrees that as an unsigned band starting out, to make it without the help of a label would be difficult.

"Without a label, there's a lot of hard work to be done, and that would take away from the musical process," said Adams. "There would have to at least be some aid from an indie label."

Adams went on to praise the concept of going label-less, citing creative freedom as a worthwhile cause. He also expressed some doubt that the actions of a few resourceful acts might snowball into a trend.

"There's always some 'tool' that has no problem playing somebody else's music."

Jon Bugasch, 26, of the rock band Safe As Houses, was slightly more optimistic about his band, which has been together just over a year, being able to one day be successful without a label. However, he agreed that a major label is worth belonging to.

"The benefits of a major label could really help us out by getting us national tours, major distribution, etcetera," said Bugasch. "It all depends on if a label hears the potential in our sound. Of course, in this day and age we could start creating a buzz that enables us to succeed without major label support."

Searching for Skylines is an alternative rock/pop band that has been together for about four years and is much more resigned about major music labels.

"As of right now, no, we're not looking to sign with anyone," said Kyle Roeger, 22, who plays bass. "Music as a business has become a completely different animal over the past 10 or so years; the kind of animal that gives artists the opportunity to release music on their own, without the help of a label. We're going to try our hand in DIY first before signing with anyone."

Damon Kost, who plays guitar, agreed.

"Anything that gets rid of creative limitations is a good thing," said Kost. "Getting rid of the middle man is something that happens in any industry attempting to streamline. If it results in more creative freedom, even better."

As for the possibility of music becoming an Internet thing, the bands had mixed feelings about whether digital was the way to go.

"I think that albums will always be around," said Perri. "Digital is a great source but you can never replace the feeling of owning something tangible like a record."

Roeger seemed slightly less optimistic and recognized that CD's are becoming less and less a favorable medium.

"I think of when it was so cool to buy a new record. When you ran to your car, threw in the CD and blasted the music 'till your ears bled," he said.

"I'm not even that old but I can't help but think these kids are missing out on something."

"CD's will probably always be around, even though they will be marginalized," added Kost. "I don't see it as a 'good' or 'bad' thing, but a matter of natural selection. Although I will miss lyrics in booklets and cover art."

In the end, Kost said it best when asked if he felt his band would make it with a label, or without.

"As for preferring the benefits of a major label, of course that would be wonderful," he said. "As long as it doesn't cost us our creative freedom or first-born children."

Drinking Age Unreasonable

Drinking age possibly lowered for military personnel in WI

The drinking age in the United States may come with a new exception for military personnel in Wisconsin, which would allow people as young as 19 to buy and consume alcohol. Although, it is unclear when this bill will be presented or passed.

Rep. Mark Pettis, from Wisconsin, is pushing this bill to lower the drinking age for Wisconsin soldiers, but only if the federal government agrees not to cut about $50 million a year in highway aid, according to the Associated Press.

The drinking age in the mid 1980s was raised to 21 in the United States due to the Uniform Drinking Age act passed by Congress that cut federal money to transport funds in states that didn’t raise their drinking age, according to the American Medical Association.

Who wants a bunch of drunken guys running around with guns?

Lila Lobdell, junior women’s studies major and former president of Students for a Sensible Drug Policy and National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, NORML/SSDP, said that it seems like a ploy by the military to get more people to join. “College students are about 19; it’s not fair to make them join the military if they want to drink.”

Students at SUNY New Paltz have mixed opinions about the current drinking age, which happens to be the highest in the world.

“I don’t see why it is necessary to lower the drinking age,” said Lorraine Vultaggio, 20, a secondary education major. “Drinking and going to war don’t have anything to do with each other. Besides who wants a bunch of drunken guys running around with guns? When they come back, let them have soda.”

On the other hand, Stacy Tubeck, 20, a junior elementary education major, has a very different opinion.

“I think it’s safe but inappropriate. If you can go to war, you can drink, you’ve earned it,” said Tubeck. “Although, if they are going to lower [the drinking age] for the military they should lower it for everyone else, too.”

The drinking age was as low as 18 in the United States before the Uniform Drinking Age Act forced all states to raise their drinking ages to 21.

“There isn’t much difference between an 18 and 21-year-old, maturity wise,” said Tubeck. She added that 19 would be a good drinking age because college students should be able to drink but not high school students.

Most students agree with Tubeck.

Lobdell said the drinking age is very silly and ineffective since most people start drinking when they are college aged anyhow. “It doesn’t matter if the drinking age is 18 or 21, they’ll be

drinking.”

Vultaggio disagrees with Tubeck and Lobdell on the belief that people under the age of 21 should not be allowed to consume alcohol even if they are in the military.

There isn’t much difference between an 18 and 21-year-old, maturity wise.

The drinking age affects more than just college students. There are many accidents related to drunk driving, 16,694 alcohol-related fatalities in 2004, according to Alcohol Alert. Also there are many organizations against these accidents such as Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“We are against lowering the drinking age in any case because we believe it will cause more accidents,” said Donna Kopec, the executive director for the New York State office of MADD. Statistics have shown that alcohol related car accidents have decreased since the drinking age was raised.

Vultaggio agrees and said, “The number of drunk driving accidents would increase a lot if the drinking age were lowered”

Between 1982 and 2004 the number of deaths resulting from alcohol related accidents has decreased by almost 10,000 people according to Alcohol Alert.

“I want it lowered but at the same time I don’t want to see drunk driving accidents increase,” said Tubeck. “I feel they would increase a little bit if the drinking age was lowered.”

Who's Watching What?

Making Sense of the Campus File Sharing Bank

A new campus-wide file sharing ban took effect at SUNY New Paltz in the Fall of 2007. It was announced at the first mandatory residence hall meetings in late August.

According to a campus Academic Computing document, it is a three-strike policy:

The first time a student is found downloading copyrighted material, the student's Internet is blocked until they fill out necessary documents for the school, when their Internet privileges are then returned to normal.

On the second strike, the matter is referred to Student Affairs, who have developed their own punishments, including possible expulsion.

On the third strike, the student's Internet connection is permanently terminated, and possible criminal charges may be brought.

Are there digital spies watching our every move on campus computers? This is all starting to sound a bit unreal...

Sophomore chemistry major Liam Stephens sees the new policy as “kind of stupid,” and as a part of the campus's recent “over-involvement in our personal lives.” He said that the campus is starting to get in the way of students' freedom too much, which is what some people go to college for in the first place.

“If you're going to get caught [downloading illegally] it shouldn't be the campus's problem,” he said.

Just how do "they" know what we're doing with our computers? Are there digital spies watching our every move on campus machines? Is some Orwellian overlord of copyright setting up a sting operation to nab college kids, with the campus as its shady lacky, just itching to send music fans into spiraling debt when they have to deal with legal fees in copyright infringement lawsuits?

This is all starting to sound a bit unreal. Just what is going on here?

Dan Timperio, the manager of ResNet, the campus's computer network system, had a lengthy but enlightening explanation.

He said that ResNet is an Internet provider, since all campus Internet traffic goes through them. As an Internet provider, they must follow the law called the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or the DMCA, a bill passed by Congress in 1998.

According to the New Paltz's Copyright Infringement Policy document, the DMCA mandates that Internet providers respond to all complaints about copyright infringement they receive. Every once and a while, the campus would get “infringement notices” from the Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA, according to Timperio. The RIAA is a trade group made up of record companies that has a history of fighting against illegal file sharing.

But how does the RIAA find copyright infringers in the first place?

Timperio explained the RIAA's operation. They set up computers running LimeWire, BearShare, or other popular Peer-To-Peer file sharing programs. They then search for a specific artist or song, just like a normal user of those programs would.

But once they find a copy of the target file, instead of downloading it, they start taking legal action. They take note of the IP address of the computer that is offering it up for download, Timperio says.

" I'm attached to [the students]. I don't want them to get into trouble," said a campus computer manager.

IP addresses are a series of numbers that serve as a comp­­uter's unique signature on the Internet. They are somewhat like a phone number in that no two computers can have the same one at the same time. So if the RIAA sees someone offering files for upload at a certain IP address, they have a way to identify the computer.

But all they have is a string of numbers. In order to find the human behind the machine, they need to enlist the help of the Internet Service Provider that that IP address was connecting with. The specific digits in the beginning of an IP address are unique to specific Service Providers, so it is easy to tell which Service Provider to ask for help in pursuing legal action.

The RIAA can tell if an IP address involved in illegal file uploads is on the New Paltz campus. If it is, they send a letter to the campus asking ResNet to tell the user at that address to cease and desist. ResNet can put a human face to the number with its own software that says which IP address belongs to which on-campus computer user.

This has happened in the past, Timperio said. The New Paltz Oracle reported on it happening to four students in 2003, and Timperio said Computer Services have had to forward letters on the RIAA's behalf to other students since then.

Timperio does not enjoy sending out these letters, and when asked about the policy against file sharing he sighed and rolled his eyes. “Part of the reason I work at the college is because of the students. I'm attached to them. I don't want them to get into trouble... But at the same time, I have to obey the law, and I do follow the law,” he said, later adding that the rest SUNY New Paltz Computer Services feels similarly, in general.

He seemed glad to report that he has only had to send out one “infringement notice” letter this semester, suggesting that the new campus policy is working in reducing file sharing at SUNY New Paltz.

Students disagree with Computer Services about its effectiveness.

Brian F, a sophomore math education major, gave some examples of how people can still get the illegally acquired files they want despite the campus' policy. “Tech-savvy students will find alternate ways around, such as buying a cheap membership to a site that offers stolen files,” he said. Brian also mentioned the use of portable hard drives as a way to copy large amounts of music from one machine to another.

Stephens shared in Brian's skepticism. “In one way or another, people are going to get [what they want.] That's how capitalism works. Someone's always going to be crafty enough,” Stephens said.

Hawks Skate On

Players Face-off with Student Senate

Despite recent attempts by the State University of New York College at New Paltz Student Association to cut their budget, the New Paltz Ice Hawks skate on.

“We received a 50 percent budget cut from last season,” said junior forward Mike Carney. “Instead of receiving 30,000 dollars, we only received 15,000 dollars.”

The hockey team, unlike most athletic teams at SUNY New Paltz is not an official NCAA Varsity team. Instead of playing at the traditional Division III level like other teams on campus, the New Paltz ice hockey team plays in a Division III club league.

“We have been a club for the past 21 years,” said sophomore Chris Ferry.” We didn’t understand the overnight change; it really came out of nowhere.”

As a result of being a club, the team is not funded by the sports department and has to apply to the Student Association for funding.

"Since not many people know about the team," said a Student Association Representative, "it is easy for the Senate to cut their budget.”

“Budget request forms are given out every spring,” said Linda Lendvay of the Student Associations. “In this form students are expected to detail what the money requested is for and the expected expenses.”

According to Lendvay, the budget request is reviewed by the Budget and Finance Committee and is submitted to the Senate, and finally is passed on to the college president. This is a three week process.

“Sometimes an organization receives a large amount of money and is red flagged,” said Lendvay. “The hockey team struggled last year and since they play their home games in Poughkeepsie, and there is no transportation for students, the team doesn’t receive much publicity. Since not many people know about the team, it is easy for the Senate to cut their budget.”

According to Carney, the team was able to appear in front of the Student Senate to plead their case for a budget reinstatement.

“We went in front of the student senate and made a presentation stating our reasons for needing the $30,000 to survive,” said Carney. “We broke down our expenses, and showed that the $15,000 given to us had already been spent, and there were still expenses to be paid, like the transportation and referee fees.

The hockey team also received support from students attending the presentation the team made in front of the Student Senate.

“The turn out for the hockey team was more then expected,” said junior Brian Giaquinto. “People came down to show their support, and I feel the Senate saw the team does have a good fan base.”

Ferry said the budget did get reinstated to 30,000 dollars, which was all they were asking for to cover expenses.

The recent allegation that the budget may be cut hasn’t affected the team progress from last year.

“This season we have a full squad with 20 players,” said defenseman Scott Smith. “Last season we had only 12 guys, and over the summer we worked hard on recruiting freshman and transfers to come and join our program. We got a total of 12 new players.”

Smith said the team has three lines, three sets of defense, two goalies and three extra players that get rotated into the game. Last year the hockey team had two lines and one goalie.

A hockey lineup consists of primarily three to four lines of three forwards, two defenders, and a goalie.

“We had one upperclassman, seven freshmen, two transfers, and one sophomore join the team,” said Ferry. “With a full squad we should be a team to beat.”

Coming off a season where the team was short on players, they are optimistic about the new additions.

“Every new addition to the team should be an impact,” said Carney. “Having more people to put on the ice means that comes the third period we won’t be completely tired out like last season. However the greatest impact may come from our transfer goalie Aron Eldridge.”

According to Carney, the team has played two games so far this season and while suffering two loses, the games we close to the end. In these games, Elridge compiled 60 saves and is giving the team a presence they have been lacking from their goaltender over the last few years.

“I feel that our team has a strong returning core and the new additions just make our team better,” said Smith.
The team has two returning allstars in Smith and Ryan Burke, as well as veteran leadership from players such as Ferry and Carney.

“This team hasn’t made it into the playoffs since my freshman year,” said Smith. “I hope that this may be the year we make it back into the hunt again.”

New Paltz parties keep eye on higher ed

Local Political Groups weigh in on Presidential platforms for Government Aid


Many residents and students in the college town of New Paltz feel strongly about the ability of

lower and middle class students to enroll. On the national stage, several democratic candidates

released their plans to help the financially needy.

The most detailed of these plans came from John Edwards, the former Senator from North Carolina. His “college opportunity agenda” would have the federal government pay for one year of college at a public university for lower income students. The one stipulation would be that students would have to work a part time job for at least 10 hours a week.

“It seems like an interesting idea as long as it’s not taking away from current financial aid programs,” said Amanda Sisenstein, NYPIRG coordinator for SUNY New Paltz.

The town of New Paltz Democratic committee currently does not support a specific candidate until their nomination, nor any specific policy.

Corinne Nyquist, the chairman of the committee, thinks that candidates should broaden their proposals on higher education.
"I don't think any of the plans are inclusive enough," she said. "In order to receive aid you have to be under a certain amount, and what happens if you are slightly above that."

Nyquist said that her ideal plan would be to allow free tuition for all college bound students.
"There ought to be a way of investing and having a way of universal payment for the next generation of children," she said.

The Republican field has not discussed their plans for higher education, instead focusing on
immigration, and how to treat the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the United States.

Senator McCain seems alone in the Republican field, having co-sponsored a bill which would give illegal immigrants in-state tuition for universities. Opposing him on this issue most prominently is former Governor of Massachusetts Mitt Romney, who vetoed a bill in his state which would allow children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition.

The College Republicans, a minority on the SUNY New Paltz campus, in general seemed to be against McCain's proposal, and opposed to amnesty for illegal immigrants. The group criticized the democrats for supporting "law abiding felons," illegal immigrants who abide by the laws.

They also voiced their disagreement with proposals by the democrats which would increase federal spending on education.

"There's this un-American concept of students borrowing money and paying it back," said Ira Margolis, a member of the group. "What are you going to contribute during your life if everything has been given to you?"

Prashant Pawar, a member of the group and an immigrant from India, explained a system used in his home country in which companies or employers pay for school for students who then guarantee the employer that they will work for them once they graduate. He said that if this is implemented in the United States, then federal funding for education can be eliminated.

"What I want is the free market to take control of this field," he said.

The group does not support a specific candidate yet, but will give their endorsement once the republican nominee is chosen.

Aside from the two main parties, there are several smaller political parties that have their own take on the issue. Among them are the Green Party and the Libertarian Party.

Igor Gembitsky, founder of the Libertarian club on campus, personally supports Congressman Ron Paul, although the club itself is not affiliated with the national libertarian party. He explained that he opposes increased government aid for students.

"I don't think there is a need for the government to fund education because with that funding comes government regulations," Gembitsky said. "Those regulations attempt to standardize education, and I think education should be catered to the individual."

He added that there is growing competition among colleges to provide financial aid independent of the government to bright yet underprivileged students.

Like the other political parties, the Green party does not yet have a nominee. However,

chairman of the New Paltz Green Party Margaret Human did say that public colleges in the

state should be free.

“I personally don't understand why the State University of New York system isn't free,” Human said.

Hawks Play Well in the Classroom

SUNY New Paltz student-athletes redefining “jock”

Adjusting to college is difficult for some students. For most, it is their first time away from their home and parents. The first few weeks of school are usually spent trying to make friends and fit in while learning the ropes and finding out how often you really need to attend class.

Student athletes start college life off a little differently. They immediately have a group of friends - their teammates. Their peers want them to fit in and feel comfortable because, for the most part, they will need them when their seasons start to help them succeed.

Most people don't realize, though, that student athletes have a lot on their plates. They have to be enrolled in 12 credits and maintain a 2.0 GPA to participate in their sport of choice. But, as most know, it takes more than 12 credits a semester to graduate in the expected four years and many find themselves taking 15 to18 credits a semester. Their schedules include not only classes, but practices and competitions, not to mention team events that all of the athletic teams are required to do, such as community leaf-raking .

Students athletes are first and foremost students. Though student athletes do carry extra baggage with their added responsibilities to their sport, they are attending college to get a degree; athletics should be secondary. To help keep it that way and avoid students missing classes for practices or competition, SUNY New Paltz has allowed student athletes to pre-register for classes.

"New Paltz student athletes shatter the stereotype as to academic performance,"
said Stuart Robinson.

Pre- registration began in the mid 90’s when Debra Miller became the registrar. It takes place two weeks before normal registration and allows for student athletes to plan their classes around practice times that have been set by coaches before pre-registration begins. This has proven to be effective since athletes are able to get the classes they need to graduate and the times that fit in best with their practice schedules.

If students do need to miss classes for competition they are given written permission from the athletic department which they give to their professors.

“Most faculty is understanding as long as the student does not miss more than three classes,” said Stuart Robinson, SUNY New Paltz athletic director. “When we spoke to some faculty a few years ago, they said that three classes was the threshold where one’s attendance jeopardizes success.”

Some students who are not athletes feel this process of pre-registration is an unfair advantage for classes. Students claim that they have jobs and obligations as well. Michelle Coombs, a student athlete at SUNY New Paltz feels that these objections are not unjustified.

“Students with jobs only have to worry about their schedule,” said Coombs. “It’s much easier to plan one person’s classes around a work schedule than 23 different people’s schedules with different requirements around practice.”

Coombs believes that pre-registration for athletes is necessary in order to have a successful team. Katie Becofsky, another student athlete at New Paltz agrees.

Becofsky’s grades show that she does about the same in season and out of season but if she had to choose which she felt better about, she would choose in season.

“I have to time manage a lot,” said Becofsky. “I can’t leave things to the last minute. I have to prioritize and really think about what I need to get done.”

Becofsky also has a job in addition to classes and participating in athletics. She works at the Athletic and Wellness Center on campus. She enjoys the job because when there is downtime she is able to get some work done. Also her supervisors and co-workers know her obligations. Many athletes are employed at the gym, and because of that there is usually not a problem finding someone to cover your shift if you have a competition because fellow student athletes understand, and of course when they have a conflict, they hope the favor will be returned.

Robinson believes that this process has been successful. Female student athletes' grade point averages tend to be higher than average while men fall right around the campus average which is a 3.0.

“In the time that I have been here at New Paltz, student athletes have gradually improved as students in the classroom,” said Robinson. “New Paltz student athletes shatter the stereotype as to academic performance. Coupled with the standards for athletic participation that we have, I am pleased with the performance of our student athletes."

A student’s time is precious, yet it is easily wasted. College is not just a time for students to learn and develop but for them to socialize and have a good time. Athletes should not be left out from the perks of college just because they choose to be on a sports team. Besides, staying active keeps students more happy and healthy. Student athletes do get the benefit of choosing classes early but they have a lot of responsibilities to consider when making their schedules.