“The independent
voice of Salem State
College students”
The Salem State Log
Vol. LXXXII, No. 5
Inside This Issue
News
History Professor Aviva
Chomsky wins an award
for her book Linked
Labor.
More on this page
November 13, 2009
FREE
Leaves Fall on Salem State
as Semester Nears its End
Opinion
Brendan Connolly experiences his first Halloween in Salem.
More on page 5
Features
Author Susanna Kaysen
discusses her books.
More on page 6
Winfisky displays Engraving Exhibit that has
been all over the world.
More on page 7
Sports
Sports Editor Nick
Colon interviews MMA
fighter Jake Shields
More on page 11
Women’s Tennis loses in
the LEC Championship
semi-finals.
More on page 12
Contents
News................................. 2
Groups and Clubs............. 3
Editorial............................ 4
Opinion............................. 5
Features............................. 6
Police Log......................... 9
Political............................. 10
Sports................................ 11
Chomsky
Wins Best
Book Award
By Brett Nolan /
News Editor
Vice President Andrew
Soll explains the plans
for the old library.
More on this page
Matt Trapeni ponders
childhood play after
watching Where the
Wild Things Are.
More on page 5
“Serving the
college community
since 1927”
Photo by Miles Weaver
Leaves cover the grass on the pathway from the Ellison Campus Center to the Peabody Parking Lot on
North Campus. The warm spell at the beginning of this week will snap and lead to cooler temperatures.
Three-Year Degree Not Ideal
By Jared Graham / Log Staff
A recent article published in
Newsweek argues that more colleges and universities should
offer three-year bachelor degree
programs to help curtail the rising
cost of college tuition. The article, written by U.S. Senator and
former education secretary Lamar
Alexander, affirms that accelerated degree programs not only
save money for students, but are
also cost-effective for colleges.
Alexander contends that the
three-year degree is the equivalent of the hybrid car in the automobile industry, suggesting that
establishing this innovative idea
in higher education is crucial to
sustaining American colleges in
the future. Alexander notes that
students can save 25 percent in
costs by enrolling in accelerated
programs, and argues that by
opening campuses year-round
and eliminating antiquated scheduling, colleges can become more
efficient.
Dr. Aviva Chomksy, a Salem
State history professor, won the
New England Council of Latin
American Studies Best Book
Award for her book titled Linked
Labor Histories: New England,
Columbia, and the Making of a
Global Working Class.
She, as a single author, has
written three other books. She has
edited three anthologies, and she
has even translated a book. She
has had her work published in
several other books.
Chomsky describes her awardwinning book as a study of globalization through seven case
studies. The theme of the book is
how in a globalized world, everything is interrelated. Chomsky
even uses the old Salem mill factories to prove her thesis.
(Continued on page 2)
Soll Gives Plans for Library
By Alexis Quintal / Log Staff
The plan is not for everyone.
Hartwick College in mid-state
New York is one American institution that has implemented
three-year degree programs. The
college said in Alexander’s article, “the plan is for high-ability,
highly motivated students who
wish to save money or to move
along more rapidly toward advanced degrees.” Hartwick’s plan
includes taking four-week
courses during winter breaks.
Other colleges with similar programs require that students attend
classes in the summer to obtain
the required credits.
Salem State does not currently
offer any specified three-year
bachelor degree programs, but
the idea of saving money has
sparked some interest around
campus.
Brian Fuller, in his third year at
Salem State, is receptive to any
solution that means reducing the
(Continued on page 2)
Vice President of Finance and
Facilities Andrew Soll visited one
of the Residence Hall Association’s regular meetings on Monday nights to answer questions
that students, faculty, and staff
had about the status of the new
and old library.
After being closed for two
years due to “structural concern,”
the building will soon be coming
down, according to Soll. Lucky
for Salem State, right when the
building was condemned state
colleges and the Universities of
Massachusetts were given a capital bonding bill from the government. Salem State will use this
bonding bill for the new library.
The demolition is planned to
start in March of 2010, ending in
July or August of 2010. The
building of the new library will
start in February 2011, finishing
fall of 2012.
When the building was found
unsafe two years ago, most of its
collection of books, magazines,
newspapers, technologies, and
furniture were moved to its current temporary location in Central
Campus.
One person questioned why
Salem State isn’t reusing the old
library, now an empty building
waiting for demolition. Soll
stated that it would be more costbeneficial if a new library was
built rather than trying to fix the
old one. The total cost of demolition, planning, and rebuilding is
roughly $73.5 million, said Soll.
Today, the old library is around
40 years old; however, inspectors
found that there were irregularities in the construction of the
building. Parts of the building do
not have reinforcing mesh and is
just straight concrete, making the
building not strong enough to
hold the necessary amount of
weight.
The new library will be located
(Continued on page 2)
Dear Salem State,
The Journalism industry is in a flux with the advent of the online presence and the decline of the printed newspaper. In order to better prepare Salem State’s students for a future
in writing for publications, The Log decided to follow the online trend. The Salem State Log is
proud to announce the completion of its Web site www.salemstatelog.com. The Web site will
be the main source of campus news, features, politics and sports. While the printed edition
will still come out every other week, the Web site will be the main source of news from this
point forward. We encourage Salem State to visit the Web site on a regular basis, as we will
update it often. We are excited about this step into the future for all Salem State students who
wish to publish their work.
Marie Purvinis, Editor-in-Chief
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 2
Salem State Student Passes Away
Psychology Major Patricia Ambrose passed away recently while
sspending the weekend at her
home. The Junior was a resident
student living in Bates. She was
active in Groups and Clubs. Her
wake was Friday, November 6 at
the Joseph Russo Funeral Home
News
in Roslindale, Her funeral was
Saturday, November 7 at St.
Matthew Church in Dorchester,
Mass.
Library (Continued from page 1)
where the old library is now, but
will have many differences. It
will have a learning commons,
bringing together Academic Advising, Student Academic Support, the Writing Center, the
Honors Program, and Disability
Services, making them available
for all students. According to
Soll, the library will have four
floors and have glass windows
giving natural light and helping
our already “green” school. It
will have large reading rooms,
group study rooms, and individual spaces.
Students questioned if the
process of demolishing and rebuilding will hinder their college
lives, and Soll assured that although College Drive will have
to be closed, a road to the
Peabody parking lot will be accessible.
Three-Year Degree (Continued from page 1)
cost of college. “With the amount
of money spent on colleges these
days,” Fuller says, “I am open to
anything that means saving
money.”
Fuller, who works full-time,
also notes the paradox of saving
money at the cost of having less
time to earn it. “I’d have to weigh
the money saved and consider
how much more time I would
need to devote to school throughout the semester,” he said.
Alexander recognizes that
three-year programs may deprive
students of a full college experience, and can also leave “less
time for growing up, engaging in
extracurricular activities, and
studying abroad.”
Liz Abenant, in her fourth year
at Salem State, questions whether
three-year programs would even
be feasible at a school like Salem
State. Abenant worrys that students may overwhelm themselves
just because they want to save
money. “I couldn’t imagine rushing through semesters trying to
finish all my courses. People
have a hard enough time getting
their degree in four years, let
alone three,” she said.
Alexander concedes that a
three-year degree isn’t for everyone. But he also emphasizes the
need for reform in higher education. Whether it’s a three-year degree or some other progressive
concept, colleges must continue
to explore new ways to help curb
the ever-rising tuition costs that
are hitting campuses.
Follow the Log on Twitter: salemstatelog
November 13, 2009
Chomsky (Continued from page 1)
Chomsky said it took her five
years to write the book due to her
work on other projects.
On how she felt about winning
the award she said, “It was a surprise and I was thrilled.”
When asked which one of her
books is her personal favorite,
she said, “That’s tough; in some
ways this one is. This book is
based on in-depth research. Every
chapter is related to projects I’ve
done. My favorite part is connecting my work with my writing. A
lot of people I know are in the
book. It was good to interview
them and write little profiles
about people I know.”
Chomsky also mentioned her
book on immigration titled They
Take Our Jobs! and 20 Other
Myths About Immigration. She
said she wrote that book aimed at
a more popular audience and she
enjoys the speaking engagements
she is invited to due to that book.
Chomsky said the chapter on
the banana industry was the
toughest for her to write. “It was
hard to write about violence and
being fair and honest. I tried not
to put people at risk. I don’t want
to harm anyone with my writing;
even the people I disliked I didn’t
want to see harmed.”
Chomsky is working on two
other books. One is a follow-up
of Linked Labor Histories, which
focuses on the relationship between the United States and Latin
America. The other book, scheduled to be published next year, is
a brief history of the Cuban Revolution.
Chomksy is the daughter of
well-known linguist and political
activist Noam Chomsky. She received both her undergraduate
and graduate degrees at
UCBerkeley.
The Log’s 2009-2010 Publication Schedule
December 4
January 29
February 12
February 26
March 12
April 2
April 16
April 30
November 13, 2009
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 3
Groups
and
Clubs
MassPIRG Joins Hands on the Love Train
A Cappela Group to Start Soon
by Sara McClory / Log Staff
By Brett Nolan / News Editor
MassPIRG recently went on a
“love train” down to the Salem
train station demonstrating for reform of the public transit system.
Lawrence Gleekia is the coordinator for the public transit campaign. He conducted the love
train and met with U.S. Congressman John Tierney and an aid
to Senator Fredrick Barry. “It
went pretty well. We had a meeting with the aid about the 21st
century public transit principles.
We presented it to her for her to
present to Senator Barry and it
was well received. We are looking forward to getting him to sign
the principles,” said Gleekia.
According to Gleekia, the 21
century principles involve investing more to public transit, making
it more efficient both environmentally and cost-wise. They
would spend taxpayer’s money
wisely. They would also aim to
allocate funds for new roads to be
used on maintaining already existing roads.
“We presented the love train to
Congressman Tierney and he
welcomed the idea. He told us
about the budget that had just
passed to build a six-story park-
Photo provided by Meagan Terry
ing garage at the Salem train station. That was a giant step in the
right direction. He totally showed
his support to work with the campaign,” said Barry.
MassPIRG is also working on
building a map of the student
body’s commute to and from
school. With the map, MassPIRG
would like to know how far students are commuting and how
they commute, whether it be via
public transit or a personal car.
They aim to demonstrate how
more cost-effective it would be
for students to use public transit
Love music? Love to sing and
want to be part of an a cappela
choir? Salem State student
Alexander McNally is creating a
student-run a cappella choir, including non-singing positions in
Public Relations and event planning. The tryouts will be open to
everyone.
“I am beginning this studentrun a cappella choir and event
planners to share my love of the
vocal arts and sharing that art
with two world. I personally believe everyone has the potential
to learn music in one form or another. I think that students should
join if they enjoy sharing an art
form and making/starting new
and lasting friendships and networking,” Alexander said with
excitement. The process of the
group will be more of a constant
audition rather than once a year,
meaning that you must earn your
position each time an event is
planned. To contact McNally
about more information and auditions, his email is
[email protected]
m or
[email protected].
than their own cars.
“We’re working on increasing
the ridership of public transportation. With MBTA right now, if
the government doesn’t start controlling how money is allocated
in the long term, we will see ridership decline because of hikes of
the fares. If I spend less money
on gas, it doesn’t make sense for
me to use public transportation.
For the future we see the ridership decreasing and the deficit
not going away, and our public
transportation will be in really
bad shape,” said Gleekia.
Groups and Clubs Meeting:
Monday, December 7: Holiday Ceremony/Spring Semester Preparation, 11 a.m. MLK Room
Spring Break
Spring Break
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
in
IRELAND 2010
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SPRING BREAK IN IRELAND
MARCH 11 – MARCH 19, 2010
IF INTERESTED CONTACT:
PROFESSOR ARTHUR GOULD
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
978!542!6490 ext. 6490
[email protected]
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 4
November 13, 2009
Editorial
Editor-in-Chief
Marie Purvinis
News
Brett Nolan, Editor
Matt Trapeni, Associate Editor
Features
Amanda Read, Editor
Jacqueline Kamel, Associate Editor
Sports
Nick Colon, Editor
Adam McQuarrie, Associate Editor
Political Editor
Steve Crossman
Contributing Editor
Ronni Porter
Photography
Ronni Porter
Miles Weaver
Advertising Manager
Yanique Shaw
Faculty Adviser
Dr. Peggy Dillon
Financial Adviser
Bruce Perry
Writing Coach
Dr. Ellen Golub
Editor Emeritus
Shawn Mille
Staff
Sherene Abu-Hiljeh
Jillian Aldrich
Ray Allen
Alex Barboza
Christian Bernier
Jessica Claflin
Brendan Connolly
Michele Dunn
Greg Gorman
Jared Graham
Robin Lash
Sara McClory
Ashley Meyer
Michael Passarini
Meaghan Peterson
Ashley Pivnick
Meaghan Quatieri
Alexis Quintal
Caitlin Rung
Rosangeliz Torres
Angela Voulgaris
Registration is a Pain for Transfer Students
Registration is that time of the year transfer students dread. We wonder exactly how many classes have
transferred, whether we will be juniors or freshmen for the upcoming semester, and even what classes we
need to take. I am lucky because I have an amazing advisor; however, from what I hear, a good portion of the
transfer students at Salem State have a difficult enough time figuring out what classes they need to take in
order to graduate.
I transferred to Salem State from American University in fall 2007. I transferred three credits short of junior
status because I had 24 credits from AU and 27 credits from my AP Testing. I hoped to graduate within a year
and achieve ultimate overachiever status. However, as I discovered much to my dismay, a good portion of my
credits went to free electives rather than toward the core courses. Apparently, Interpretation of Literature at
AU isn’t worthy of a literature sequence. Due to the lack of Communications courses I could take at AU, I had
to stay an “extra” year in order to get my Communication classes done.
Even though I was frustrated with this system, my frustration mostly stemmed from that fact that I transferred from a private university with one set of core requirements to a public college with a completely different set of core requirements. The only one to blame was me, as I couldn’t realize that I couldn’t afford AU and
went on to spend $40,000 on some core courses and a bunch of electives.
However, I was lucky enough to have the luxury of examining Salem State’s course catalogue and flowsheet
system before I registered for that first semester of classes. I knew I had to get my histories out of the way and
to start on my Communications courses, as I transferred in with only one. I will still graduate “on-time” this
May, only because my advisor and I semi-understood the flowsheet system.
As I talk to other students, I have discovered several people who are here for five or six years due to a lack
of understanding of the flowsheet system. This is partly the student’s fault, partly the advisor’s. Although advisors are there to “advise” us on what courses we should take, from the stories I have heard I doubt that many
professors completely understand what the difference is between a Division I and a W course and which
classes transfers have taken to fulfill those requirements. I’ve heard horror stories about how some professors
within majors don’t even know which courses students need within that same major. For example, did you
know that only 55 credits can go toward the major at Salem State?
From an experienced transferred senior, I plead with you, newbies of Salem State, to take a look at your
flowsheet, the course catalogues, and even the academic information in front of the Master Class Schedule.
Become familiar with the courses you need to take in order to graduate. Make sure that your credits transfer
over! Take that public speaking course; take the health course, and make sure you take your sequence courses!
The sooner you take those courses, the less you’ll feel as if you’re wasting time.
For those of you who are at a loss as to how to transfer courses, let me explain how I was able to get each of
my courses transferred. First, I examined the description of the classes I took at AU. Second, I compared those
course catalogue descriptions with those of the classes at Salem State. I photocopied each set of course catalogues, copied my transfer credit report, and brought the set to the department chair of each course. I sat down
with him or her and discussed why a class should transfer. Sometimes, you’ll end up with elective credits; others you’ll get a core requirement completed. Take the signature of the department chair on your transfer credit
sheet and bring it to the Registrar’s. That is how I was able to have all 24 credits from AU transfer to Salem
State. It does take time an initiative, but it is so worth it to know those expenisive courses counted toward
something.
I also plead with our professors who are our advisors and whoever is supposed to train them in the art of
showing us how to leave Salem State with a degree in a timely fashion. So many students with whom I talk on
a regular basis keep complaining about the same professors who have no idea what they are doing with advising. Please, don’t be one of those professors who doesn’t seem to care about a student getting out of here on
time. Please, be one of those professors whom advisees can’t wait to see.
With a little effort, students can graduate on time, even if they are transfers. However, I must say that for
every student who has an issue with advising, there is another student who doesn’t take the time to figure out
his or her own flowsheet and just takes courses based on the recommendations of his or her advisor. Don’t be
lazy and blame the system; you only have a right to complain if you’ve at least attempted to fix it. Here’s to
hoping we all get the classes we need!
—Marie Purvinis, Editor-in-Chief
The Log welcomes articles and opinion pieces from everyone in the Salem State community. You must include your name and phone
number with your submission. The Log reserves the right to edit articles and opinions for length. Send your opinions to:
Editor-in-Chief, The Salem State Log
Salem State College, 352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 01970
Please note our new e-mail addresses:
News Articles: [email protected]
Opinions: [email protected]
Editorial: 978-542-6649 Advertising: 978-542-6448
See us online at http://www.salemstatelog.com
November 13, 2009
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 5
Opinion
Savage Journey Through the Heart of Halloween
Brendan Connolly
Log Staff
And what are you supposed to
be, I am asked by a some woman.
Me, I say, I’m a respected journalist.
Amongst the Sesame Street
characters, zombies with fake
blood dangling from their lower
jaw, and the amassed hordes of
quickly-pieced-together madras
costumes, I had planned on finding something real. Something
tangible. Something worth
retelling about my first Halloween in Salem.
I had spent the morning raking
with my father at my parents’
house. Watching as gnarled angels or fairies or nymphs and
boys dressed as girls and colonial
pilgrims missing the pocked scars
of smallpox stroll past as I shoveled dead leaves into bags. They
stopped every few yards and
posed for pictures or because
their stilettos got caught in the
cobblestone sidewalks. I looked
at my dad and he tells me to just
wait.
As night fell, I could hear various shouts and screams of adolescents rebound across the ancient
buildings lining the streets. I
emerged into the fray, quickly
surrounded by children panhandling for refined sugar.
Trick or Treat, they scream in
unison, sticking their hands out.
They are dressed as obese Japanese wrestlers and over-indulged
princesses and whoopee cushions. Their parents drag what
looks like bumble-bees with bulldog faces on leashes.
I froze, gripped by the impending dread of a feeding frenzy, instantly encircled by the miniature
Harry Potters and penguins asking me what I’ve got for them.
Nothing, I say holding up my
hands, I have nothing.
They’ll settle for cash, they say
smiling.
Time to go, Trick-or-Treaters
curve around the buildings from
down the street.
They moan and their parents
tell them to say, Happy Halloween.
I walk along the margins of the
street, careful to avoid eye con-
tact with the Teletubbies and
pimps and Ghostbusters. I follow
the music permeating the air,
only to end up in the Commons
to watch spontaneous choreographed dancing. I leave as
“Thriller” begins.
I ask a woman dressed as a
baby, sitting next to a headless
tuxedo, where the beer tent is.
She says there is no beer served
outside. It’s Massachusetts law,
she says.
You aren’t from here, she says
as I walk away and begin to have
serious reassessments of the
whole idea. I pass the Hawthorne
Hotel, the perimeter lined with
Gilligan and the Skipper and Fred
Flintstone. Camera flashes light
up the sky, as Batman and the
Joker pose, arm in arm.
Bullhorn condemnations waft
over the crowd. Large signs
warning drunkards and junkies
and homosexuals and fornicators
and blasphemers about the entrapments of hell.
The guy holding the microphone says how you spend the
entire year trying to impress people, and on the night you can be
anything you want to be, most of
you dress as whores and housemaids. He says he only wants to
save us as two girls with blue
mohawks make out in front of
him.
Some other guy tells our savior
he plans on masturbating to him
tonight.
I remember wondering who
was worse: the dogmatist, or
these people trying to change his
mind.
There is a reason they’re called
zealots, I remember saying to no
one. I hear a man, packed into the
moving current of people behind
me, say, “Go back to Kansas and
get your white sheet.”
I move on as Frankenberry
grabs the microphone.
I merge into the flock of pirates
and X-Men and Special Forces
looking for somewhere I can get
a beer and sit down. Storefronts
are crammed with Ninja Turtles
and Yoda bingeing on fried dough
and slices of pizza.
I find solace ducking down an
alley, only to run into a group
holding candles having a séance
for Lizzie Borden. Ten sets of
eyes quickly descend on me. I
slowly back away.
What was I doing, I remember
thinking, crammed against these
strangers who faintly smelled of
bourgeois and bullshit. These carbon-copy imitations of real people draped in their cleverness.
I trail the dim white noise of
radio standards to find Jesus and
the Devil, sitting on a stoop, sharing a joint. A stage sat across the
street from them, bordered by
vampires and hippies and halfdressed nurses holding hands,
singing along with the cover
band.
Police, real cops, sat high on
their horses, parallel parked along
the curb watching the crowd. A
man and woman walk in front of
them wearing trench coats,
quickly pulling open their lapels.
The cops laugh and point.
And I was done.
Weariness and boredom and
disappointment, unfortunately,
don’t come in small, medium or
large. I followed the red line
home, stopping in the Commons
again to get something to eat.
The crowd of dancing skeletons and grim reapers and Star
Trek ensigns and werewolves
were still going strong. I sat on a
bench and ate my hot dog. An old
woman, not dressed up, sits next
to me.
She pushes a stroller with a toy
poodle sitting in it.
I say to her that’s one hell of a
costume, pointing at the dog.
Best one I’ve seen all night, I say.
She laughs and lights a cigarette. She says something about
how she has lived in Salem forever. She says it’s like this every
year.
I tell her it’s no Fantasy Fest.
She begins to say something,
but is interrupted by explosions
streaking the sky in various
shades of primary colors. The
thunder stops the dancing dead as
everyone cranes their neck upwards to watch the falling embers
gracefully plummet.
I tell the woman looking up to
have a good night, and find my
way home, hoping to forget the
whole experience.
Wild Things Evokes Boyhood
Matt Trapeni
Associate News Editor
A large part of my childhood
involved me terrorizing neighborhood pets, running around, using
my imagination to create vast
worlds all my own in between the
apple trees that ringed my house
in upstate New York. I was Robin
Hood. I was Davy Crockett.
Those massive trees sheltered
outposts for my Wookies and
eWoks. Then we moved to Andover: My yard was transformed
from a pastoral apple orchard to a
trashy wooded hill behind a duplex covered in refuse ranging
from improperly disposed fridges
to half-rotted fences. But the song
remains the same. The industrial
uphill dump was a terror-drome
to invade; I, a valiant ninja turtle.
And there were always Legos.
When no one was there to help
act out the stories I dreamt up, I’d
simply play alone. I remembered
it being innocent.
Remembered. Past tense. After
seeing Where the Wild Things
Are, I feel differently about how I
remember playing make-believe.
Without ruining too much, Spike
Jonze employs some dark
thoughts to translate Max, everyone’s favorite wolf-costumed
young explorer, and his imaginary fantasy land. I’ve heard a lot
of complaints that it was too
dark, that this is no country for
young men. I beg to differ.
Remember? Remember acting
out alone or with action figures
the drama of every day life? Han
Solo got beat up by Greedo. Leia
panicked and ran off with Heman, leaving Han to drink with
Wolverine and Rogue. Remember
acting out all the characters of
whatever-nonsense-you-made-up
because your older cousin was
too cool to use his imagination?
Remember the raw power you
could conjure up, making up plot
lines that Hollywood execs would
kill for. The soldier who missed
his girl at home, charging up that
hill with a wooden rifle your dad
made in the wood shop before he
left?
I can still hear the imaginary
bullets fly by. I’ll hear them forever. But the whimsy that Jonze’s
Where the Wild Things Are
reawakened was the projection
that imagination allowed me. The
tough shit I worked out alone in
my thoughts, the outer dialogue I
had with myself vaguely echoing
my own familial and social issues
in the various visages of my storyline. Childhood isn’t easy and
don’t make believe it was innocent. Playing is how we dealt.
So when you see this movie,
and you chide it as too much, as a
ruination of your favorite bedtime
tale, remember: Your mind’s always been deep. It’s always been
dark. It’s always wild inside the
ol’ gulliver, and that’s something
we all need to embrace again,
whether it brings us to tears, or
puts a smile on our jaded faces, if
only for a moment.
Want to advertise in the Log?
Contact Ad Manager Yanique Shaw at
[email protected]
The Log is looking for committed individuals to fill several open positions.
Web Editor—update and manage the Web site.
Distribution Manager—deliver or assign delivery of the publication every other week.
News and Sports writers. Experience is not necessary.
If interested, please contact Editor-in-Chief Marie Purvinis at [email protected]
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 6
November 13, 2009
Features
Susanna Kaysen Explains Her Writing Process
By Brendan Connolly / Log Staff
I hate Winona Ryder, she had
said, but I love money.
I was making Back to the Future references with someone as
she walked in. She was smaller
than I had pictured her. That’s not
her, I remember saying as the
lights in the room dimmed and
Susanna Kaysen stepped up to
speak.
Her salt-and-pepper hair barely
visible from where I was sitting.
Her small frame eclipsed by the
podium as she stretched to reach
the microphone. Her softly graveled voice carried through the
giant speakers flanking her.
The Martin Luther King room
overflowed with audience members. Some of the more tardy attendees stood quietly in the
hallway, hoping to hear her read.
Others sat in the aisles holding
their knees to their chests, or
were lucky enough to sit in a
chair hastily retrieved from other
rooms. A cross-section of students and faculty and, I can only
assume, community members sat
listening intently to the author’s
new work.
She says that what she’s reading may not even be published.
She says it’s a memoir, only not a
real one. About some girl at Harvard. She says the story is supposed to be part of a larger
volume of works.
Only this might not make it in,
she repeats over the giggling
from the audience.
She reads for nearly half an
hour and stops. The books on
sale, just to her right, the audience’s left, were plugged.
A few people leave, most stay.
She begins reading from Girl, Interrupted. The book is about how
after she was released from
McLean Hospital, she meets up
with Georgina at her home in
Western Mass. Apparently
Georgina had a goat that danced
for bananas.
The crowd laughs.
She reads on about running
into Lisa in Harvard Yard. About
Lisa, who had a kid.
Program Council Brings Four
Comedians to Salem State
By Jessica Claflin / Log Staff
Comedian Ben Hague hosted a
non-stop laugh fest at Program
Council’s Comedy Night on
Tuesday, November 3. There
were other comedians, including
Dave McDonough, Chris Tabb,
and Mike Whitman.
Veteran’s Hall was packed with
95 Salem State Students. It was a
worthwhile free event full of
jokes catering to the diverse
crowd. Hague and Tabb were the
highlights of the event and stole
the show.
Hague, the host of the night
and first comedian to perform, is
from Rhode Island. He has
opened for Dane Cook and is
seen all over Comedy Central.
This is Hague’s second year
coming to Salem State. But most
students haven’t seen him because the crowd is usually a
freshmen majority. The first joke,
which the whole crowd laughed
at, Hague made a Narnia reference and said, “How did I end up
in Narnia?” Hague was continuing to gain laughs when he commented on the front row wearing
sweatpants.
Hague told a tanning story
about a fan touching the lower
half of him. He said, “It was getting so hot; I started to like the
fan.” He started to add the next
comment as many audience
members laughed, he said,
“Daddy like it.”
It was quite hilarious but yet
didn’t sound right. He was one of
the funniest comedians of the
night receiving the most laughs.
But Hague also had the most time
on the stage.
Tabb, the last comedian, had
almost the same amount of
laughs as Hague. Tabb is a comedian from Boston. Early on, Tabb
was commenting on a photographer snapping photos of him
from the audience.
The photographer was sophomore Program Council member
Chris Dubois, who also is PC’s
Public Relations person. Tabb
said, “You better not put me on
top of you in a photo in Photoshop.” Dubois just laughed and
shook his head no.
Tabb then went on commenting about Michael Jackson. Tabb
said, “I thought Michael Jackson
going to live forever.” He talked
about the shocking day he discovered Michael Jackson had
died. He started to hum the words
to Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” What’s
funnier was Tabb performing the
choreography and saying that not
all Jackson’s words have to be
spoken for people to enjoy them.
Tabb then commented on a Salem
State female student saying,
“She’s so into it.” The girl
blushed because she was suddenly the focus of the crowd.
The event was loved by Salem
State students. It was funny and
really enjoyable. Hague and Tabb
were the best comedians of the
night. Both were quite funny and
the students could relate to them.
Photo provided by www.goodreads.com
After the reading, Kaysen is
asked if she ever saw them again.
She says Georgina is in Colorado.
Lisa, she heard, is in Florida.
Does anyone else have any
questions? she asks. Most ask
about the movie.
She says she hates the movie.
This article in its full form
can be found online at
www.salemstatelog.com
A
D
V
E
R
T
I
S
E
O’Keefe Offers Fitness Variety
By Robin Lash / Log Staff
This month, the Wellness
Center is offering a variety of
classes that can help get students
back in shape. Pilates, an abdominal class, nutrition basics, and
one-on-one nutrition consultations are available. The abdominal class has a limit. If students or
faculty are interested in a one-onone nutrition consultation or the
abdominal class, they can call the
Center at (978) 542-6551 for specific availability. The other two
classes welcome walk-ins.
If these classes do not fit into
students’ or faculty members’
schedules, there’s no need to
worry. The Wellness Center has
much more to offer. They have a
group called the “Lunch Bunch”
that meets at noon on Tuesdays
and Fridays for an energizing 30minute walk around campus, followed by a healthy lunch.
The Wellness Center offers
one-on-one appointments with
their exercise technicians. The
appointments are flexible and can
easily worked into busy sched-
ules. Participants will receive
flexibility and strength tests. A
one-on-one appointment with an
exercise technician off-campus
can be very expensive; however,
at the Wellness Center, it’s free.
Becoming a member of the
Wellness Center is easy. Stop by
the Center and take part in a program orientation, which only
takes 30-45 minutes. One of the
exercise technicians will demonstrate the proper use of some of
the equipment and help participants understand the benefits of
various exercises. Participants
will also learn more about the
programs the Wellness Center offers and receive a review of the
rules and standard procedures.
The gym is open 6 a.m. to 8
p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and
Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on
Tuesday and Thursday. The gym
is also open 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on
Saturdays. To find out more information, stop by the O’Keefe
Center or visit its Web site at
www.salemstate.edu/3110.php.
November 13, 2009
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 7
Features
Question
of the
Week
Why Do Some People Suck?
By Jacqueline Kamel / Associate Features Editor
It’s an age-old rhetorical question. We go through life, often
times ending up completely disappointed in other people. Why is
this? Is it that they just can’t live up to our expectations? Or is it
because our expectations are far too high? I ask myself this time
and time again, “Am I just an elitist snob? Why is it that I’m always annoyed with everyone else?”
Think about it. When you look at the population of society as a
whole, multiple adjectives and nouns com to mind; morons, assholes, racists, radicals, liars, money hoarders, wimps, cheaters,
simpletons, heartbreakers, weaklings, etc.
These may sound like pessimistic labels, but we all know that
the world is full of them, at times to someone else, even you are
aptly described by one of these titles.
But do you mean to be? Not many people are willing to admit
that they’re a pretentious, intellectual procrastinator with tendencies to cheat and the inability to show up on time, me. But are
those really things that the person does purposely?
Human beings are naturally defensive. When someone cuts you
off, jips you change at the counter, or doesn’t introduce themselves at a party—it doesn’t automatically mean the person is an
asshole. You could have been in their blind spot, or they’re having a bad day and just miscounted, or maybe they thought they’ve
already met you before. And what do you do? You drive ahead
and cut them off, confront them, or at the very least swear at
them. This, to them makes YOU the antagonist. Either way,
someone in this situation is sucking.
It’s difficult to be tolerant to all the various types of people
there are out there. I know that shy people annoy me because I
don’t understand why the hell they just won’t talk. That’s because
I’m comfortable talking, and I’m comfortable in a group of people that enjoys talking as well. It’s very awkward to stand around
others who just won’t say anything. Why? Is it you? Is it them?
Think about it, maybe they don’t understand your language,
maybe they have a sore throat, or maybe they just don’t frigging
want to, or are even scared to.
I’ve always wondered why everyone just settles down and lives
their lifes as housewifes, or businessmen, why people stay single,
or get married and raise families. I’ve always wondered why people would do things that seem less than what human beings are
capable of.
Well, not everybody has grand, powerful, prosperous dreams,
and even those that do still fall short because they can’t take the
steps to do the work to climb that ladder. That, and it’s really hard
sometime to leave the environment people are use to, I’m guessing that’s why half of you are here. Hell, it’s why I’m here.
This week’s verdict: Some people suck because they’re afraid
to leave their comfort zones; it’s almost like “fearing what you
don’t understand.”
I know what you’re thinking, “This sounds inadvertent and logical” because it absolutely is. People don’t mean to suck, it’s because they are afraid to leave what they’re used to.
People don’t like continuously and permanently damaging others people aren’t out to get you, except for psychos, and psychos
don’t count. The world is a large place with a lot of different people with different responses to stimuli, and it takes walking out of
an area that you’re used to in order to understand that. Sometimes, people are lacking. They’re disappointing, they come up
short. Everyone needs time to grow, and maybe someday a lesson
can be permanently learned.
So stop putting your eggs in other people’s baskets and start
concentrating on your own. And if this answer wasn’t good
enough for you, then think about it from this angle: maybe you
suck too, and kharma’s just doing it’s job.
And that’s the question of the week.
Salem Sings! Raises $300 for Students
By Ronni Porter / Log Staff
A painter, alumni, an administrative assistant and a communications professor step on a stage.
No, this isn’t the beginning of a
joke, this is Salem State Sings!
Fundraiser. On November 5, staff
from all parts of the campus
shimmied, shook and sang their
hearts out in honor of the late
Sandra B. Fowler.
Students, staff and members of
Salem and its surrounding communities were all in attendance to
raise money for the Sandra B.
Fowler Scholarship Foundation.
Fowler was a beloved member of
the communications department
before passing from a long and
brave fight with cancer.
Highlights of the show included a moving rendition of
“Danny Boy” by Jim Dennis that
moved the crowd to not only
tears, but a standing ovation. Judi
Cook and Peter Oehlkers
hammed it up with a cover of
“Mockingbird” and unmistakable
dancing skills. Rhonda Berry
rocked the house
with her sultry
blues voice and
powerful lungs with
a rendition of
“Black Horse and
The Cherry Tree”
by KT Tunstall.
Many performances
brought laughs, toe
tapping and clapping from the audience. The night was
brought to a close
with a beautiful rendition of “Seasons
of Love” from Rent
by the ensemble.
PRSSA was also in attendance
helping to raise money for the
event by raffling off over a dozen
gift sets donated by local business. PRSSA also raffled off a
pair of Boston Bruins tickets donated by Salem State student
Laurie Moon. The group rose
over $300 to be donated to the
scholarship foundation.
Photos by Ronni Porter
The night was successful in
raising funds for the Sandra B.
Fowler Scholarship Foundation,
but it also was a wonderful and
warm way to remember a strong,
caring, intelligent woman. Fowler
was an active member of the
Salem State Community and will
always be remembered for her
kind words and willingness to
help students and staff.
Exhibit Features Rare Art of Engraving
By Caitlin Rung / Log Staff
The Winfisky Gallery invites
you to experience one of the oldest forms of media: engraved art.
The gallery, located in the Ellison
Campus Center, showcased an
exhibit from October 6 to November 5 that features engraved
art from around the world.
Engraving is a technique that
has been employed by artists for
500 years, but its popularity has
dwindled over time. Assistant
professor Haig Demarjian, the
only Salem State artist included
in the exhibit, noted how unusual
engraving exhibits are. “It’s so
rare to see so many engravings
together in one place—especially
contemporary engravings.” Demarjian was the person that lobbied for the Winfisky Gallery to
host this rare travelling exhibit
for one month.
The act of engraving
involves a precise hand
and a large amount of
patience. An artist engraves by cutting designs into flat surfaces.
Printing plates can also
be made to transfer images onto other materials, creating prints of the
engraved image.
According to Salem
State’s Web site, this is
only the second exhibit
of its kind and, “was organized to preserve and
appreciate top-notch
work created in this exquisite yet often-overlooked medium.” The
Engraving 2009 exhibit features
artists from Spain and Germany
along with American artists like
Demarjian and Will
Fleishell, who engraved
the image of President
Lincoln for the new
five-dollar bill.
Demarjian is one of
the few 21st century engravers keeping the tradition alive by
displaying their work
alongside the pieces of
an older generation. Demarjian noted the blend
of old and new in the
gallery, mentioning the
work of Rudy Pozzatti, a
world-renowned engraver. One Pozzati’s
engravings hangs in the
Winfisky Gallery near
Photos by Ronni Porter
the work of Demarjian and other
contemporary engravers.
Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to take sheets of paper
providing background information on engraving and cards detailing how long the exhibit will
be at Salem State. On the front of
the card, a knife-wielding hand,
belonging to Demarjian, is engraving fluid-like lines on a copper plate. The scale between
Demarjian’s thumb and the tiny
knife he is using truly shows the
delicacy of this art form.
The Engraving 2009 exhibit
debuted last month at the IMPACT International Print Conference in England before making
its brief stop at Salem State. The
exhibit continues its international
tour when it left Salem State at
the beginning of November.
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 8
November 13, 2009
Features
Men: Embrace Blue-Collar
Matt Trapeni
Associate News Editor
Here’s a note to all you discerning men out there. I know
I’m hot on the heels of a column
passionately pontificating the
perks of being moneyed and
white, but let me gently remind
ya’ll of the other sunny side of
the fashion spectrum: the wonderful world of Blue-Collar Couture.
“But Matt, what the hell is
blue-collar couture?!” you ask?
Think of it as borrowing the best
and most recognizable trailer
park trends and updating their fit
and style for your own wardrobe
with a sense of irony for the casual, everyday wear.
One great instance of “B-C-C”
is the return of the iconic jean
jacket. Denim! Not just for your
legs! Worn by everyone from
Kanye to Emma Watson, jean
jackets haven’t been cool since
Burt Reynolds’ mustache still had
color to it. Burt, you’re my hero.
Return my phone calls every
once in a while!
Steal your dad’s jacket. I’m
sure he has one that is pre-beat-
up for that vintage look that
makes you look hard. Either that,
or pick up one from Levi’s. They
only run about $50.
As far as footwear goes, bikers
have had it right for years.
They’re like the knights of bluecollar. Their steeds are metal,
two-wheeled behemoths spewing
fire. The only things they’d be
caught dead slipping into their
stirrups are engineer boots.
Square toed, mid-calf height
with extra support provided by a
harness running around the ankle,
these things scream everything
that’s great about gritty, downhome, blue-collar workin’ man
ethos.
They look the best when
they’ve lost their shape and get
scarred up by asphalt so while
you’re at it buy a motorbike and
start riding.
I know I talk about flannel a
lot, so I’ll keep this short: It’s
fall. We’re talking blue-collar staples. Look no further than a good
flannel shirt, preferably in a nice
earth-y tone. That’s all for this
week. Get down and dirty, see
you on the road.
Women’s Fashion: An Early Christmas List
Michele Dunn
Log Staff
With December right around
the corner, many of you have
begun your first drafts on your
holiday wishlists. Every year, it
seems all of us have the same
thing on our lists: a new pair of
UGGs, gift certificates to our favorite stores, comfy pajamas
from Victoria’s Secret. Here are
some holiday gift ideas to help
shake up your ordinary wish list.
Any girl knows that a good
snowstorm can do serious damage to your UGG boots. So instead of trudging out in a storm
with them, ask for a pair of
Hunter Rain Boots. The basic
knee-high rain boots come in a
variety of colors, and are great
for the snow because they offer a
fleece-lining insert to keep your
feet extra warm. Because the
boots are 100-percent waterproof,
you won’t have to dry them over
the radiators after shoveling!
Hunter Rain Boots can be found
at any Nordstrom or online at
www.hunter-boot.com
A cute accessory to add to your
wish list is Coach’s Poppy Tartan
wristlet. This is perfect for the
winter with its plaid design and
the classic coach signature on top
in metallic color. Just under
$100, the large wristlet can be
found in Coach Stores or at
www.coach.com
A new winter coat is often a
costly holiday present to ask for,
but it doesn’t have to be! Nordstroms’ junior department has
beautiful wool blend coats, kneelength in 10 different colors, and
they are at a special holiday price
at only $52.90! The coats are
available at Nordstroms’ junior
department or
www.nordstroms.com.
You always need to keep your
hands warm in the winter, and a
long pair of cable-knit gloves
will do just the trick. Rugby, an
extension of Ralph Lauren, offers
long cable-knit gloves that go to
the elbow in black, grey and purple. They can be worn under a
coat or exposed over a cute
sweater. These are available at
www.rugby.com
Now while some of you do
need those new pair of UGGs, try
something different from the
classic tall or short style. Try the
Classic Cardy style. The slouched
style has three wooden buttons
down the side to add a little style.
The insole will keep you warm as
it has the same sheepskin lining
as the classic UGGs. They are
available in five different colors!
They’re available wherever
UGGs are sold or at
www.ugg.com.
Now if you usually are allowed
one big holiday gift and you want
to splurge, check out Tory
Burch’s line of shoes. Their
prices range from $195-$400, but
they’re super cute and many
celebrities are sporting her line of
flats. My favorite is her “Rava”
ballerina flats with the Tory
Burch logo on top of the rounded
toe. These flats come in leather or
suede style in a variety of colors.
Although they may be expensive,
if you take care of them, they will
last forever!
www.nordstroms.com
Being in college, we all do a
lot of weekend getaways to visit
friends or family for the weekend. Travel in style with a Vera
Bradley duffle bag. Sizes vary
from small to large bags and they
come in a variety of Vera
Bradley’s signature prints! Found
at www.verabradley.com.
November 13, 2009
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 9
Salem State Police Log
October 29-November 1, 2009
SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Oct. 29,
Thursday at 01:38. Location:
HARRINGTON BUILDING.
A group of twelve resident students were removed from the
building. The parties who reside
in Bates are Andrew Angus,
D.O.B. 4/4/84, of 13B, John Elivert, D.O.B. 5/8/89, of 13B, Francisco Albal of 13B, Manuel
Barbosa, D.O.B. 1/1/88, of 14C,
Colby Turner, D.O.B. 10/2/88, of
14C, Meshak Massalee, D.O.B.
7/16/90, of 6B, Luke McClainRobinson, D.O.B. 2/7/90, of 13D,
Alexaury Gil, D.O.B. 12/30/88,
of 14C. The parties who reside in
Peabody Hall are Becheve Deribert, D.O.B. 8/10/89, Rm.113,
Ryan Lebron, D.O.B. 1/4/91, Rm.
514, Ramor Suvun, D.O.B.
2/16/91, Rm. 407, and Pedro
Vasquez, D.O.B. 10/17/90, Rm.
407.
POLICE ALARM: Police Alarm,
Oct. 29, Thursday at 19:38. Location: 57 LORING AVE. Officer
to investigate a burglar alarm. Office reports that the area was
checked and all appears to be in
order.
DISTURBANCE: Noise Complaint, Oct. 29, Thursday at
22:36. Location: BATES COMPLEX. Officer to assist the RAs
at their request to walk through
the building. Officer reports that
a party in the apartment has
ended. Residents involved
Charice Fuller, Jessica Loiscau,
Samantha Louis, Guerline Paul,
and Aujane Stewart. A Central
Campus resident Terry Carter
was verbally abusive to a RA.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: Oct. 29, Thursday at
22:51. Location: OFF CAMPUS.
SPD Officer reports that they
have received a call from a SSC
commuter student. The student
relayed to them that she is being
followed. Officer advised the student to report to SSC station and
an officer will respond to take report.
DISTURBANCE: Disorderly
Conduct, Oct. 30, Friday at
00:13. Location: HARRINGTON
BUILDING. Terry Carter, D.O.B.
05/22/87 of 65 Endicott Ave., Revere, Mass., 02151 was arrested
for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
PARKING & TRAFFIC: Any
non-injury, Oct. 30, Friday at
11:01. Location: HARRINGTON
BUILDING LOT. Officer to take
a report of a minor motor vehicle
accident.
SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES: Oct. 30, Friday at
13:25. Location: INTERNATIONAL HOUSE. Officer to
take a report regarding an international student who met someone on line and wanted to meet.
Staff concerned.
SAFETY/SECURITY: Emergency Telephone Activation, Oct.
30, Friday at 16:23. Location:
CENTRAL CAMPUS BASEBALL FIELD.Officer to investigate e-phone activation.
SAFETY/SECURITY: Fire
Alarm/Smoke Alarm, Oct. 30,
Friday at 17:39. Location: CENTRAL CAMPUS RESIDENCE
HALL. Officer to investigate a
local smoke detector alarm room
205, caused by cooking.
SAFETY/SECURITY: Fire
Alarm/Smoke Alarm, Oct. 30,
Friday at 19:07. Location: CENTRAL CAMPUS RESIDENCE
HALL. Officer to investigate a
smoke detector alarm, set off by
cooking Rm. 214.
VANDALISM: All types of vandalism, Oct. 31, Saturday at
16:41. Location: CENTRAL
CAMPUS. Party came to the station to report of vandalism to his
m/v. Ga. Reg BIK4673. Officer
to investigate.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 18:30. Location: CENTRAL
CAMPUS. Officer reports out
with two parties for alcohol violations. Officer reports that Brendan Gibb, D.O.B. 07/25/89,
#199. Bostwick Lane, Chicopee,
Mass., Ashley Silva, D.O.B.
03/30/90, 8 Liberty Ln., North
Reading, Mass., and Jonathan
Lombard, D.O.B. 11/23/87,
#1277 Grandy Rd., Chicopee,
Mass., will be summonsed into
court for being minors in possession of alcohol.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 18:40. Location: ADMINISTRATION PARKING LOT. Officers report out with Robert
McCarthy III, D.O.B. 05/10/89
for alcohol violations. Officer reports that McCarthy of 7 Fay
Crt., Saugus, Mass., to be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession of alcohol.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 19:54. Location: CENTRAL
CAMPUS. Officer reports out
with three parties in possession of
alcohol. Officer reports that Kenneth Starkey, D.O.B. 12/28/89, of
74 Hillcroft Ave., Worcester,
Mass., Jennifer Reilly, D.O.B.
02/13/90, 10 Chestnut Hill Ln.,
Worcester, Mass., and Matthew
Miller, D.O.B. 03/06/91, Lawton
St., Worcester, Mass., will be
summonsed into court for being
minors in possession of alcohol.
VEHICLE: Vehicle Stop, Oct. 31,
Saturday at 20:24. Location: OFF
CAMPUS. Officer reports out
with Mass. Reg 624AV8. Officer
reports vehicle is occupied with
six youths. Officer reports that he
issued a citation for a one way violation to Brian Fiore, D.O.B.
04/26/91 of 37 Trimountain St.
Nahant, Mass., Maxwell FiorePeters, D.O.B. 07/17/89 of 100
Stetson Ave. Swampscott, Mass.,
Kelsey Lundstrom, D.O.B.
12/04/90 of 8 Hillcrest Circle,
Swampscott, Mass., Ryan
Squires, D.O.B. 08/25/90 of 29
Lexington Circle, Swampscott,
Mass., Jessica Brudnick, D.O.B.
10/10/89 of 300 Puritan Rd.,
Swampscott, Mass., and Michael
Depippo, D.O.B.: 02/14/91 of 94
Paradise Rd., Swampscott, Mass.,
will all be summonsed for being
minors in possession of alcohol.
jammed in one of the front doors.
Officer reports that the female
party does not need an ambulance
and will be transporting herself to
the emergency room later in the
evening.
PARKING & TRAFFIC: Any
non-injury, Oct. 31, Saturday at
23:30. Location: HORACE
MANN SCHOOL. Officer reports of a motor vehicle accident.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 23:33. Location: O’KEEFE
CENTER LOT. Officer reports
Andrew Blair, D.O.B. 04/06/1989
of 101 Old Campus Rd., East
Falmouth, Mass., will be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Oct. 31,
Saturday at 23:54. Location:
BOWDITCH HALL. Escorting
an undesirable party out of the
building. Officer reports John
Bennett, D.O.B. 12/22/1990 of
48 Dexter Rd., Melrose, Mass.,
had a verbal argument with his
girlfriend. Mr. Bennett was escorted from the property without
incident.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 21:04. Location: BEHIND
BUILDING #1 AND THE
DORM. Officer reports out with
two parties for being minors in
possession of alcohol. Officer reports Brandon St. Pierre, D.O.B.
05/28/90 of 9B Meeting House
Rd., Sterling, Mass., will be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession of alcohol.
DISTURBANCE: Noise Complaint, Nov. 1, Sunday at 00:26.
Location: BATES COMPLEX.
RA requests officers’ assistance
breaking up a party and patrol
building. Officer reports parties
were broken up without further
incident.
SUSPICIOUS PERSON: Oct. 31,
Saturday at 21:17. Location:
HARRINGTON BUILDING. Officer reports out with three parties. Morgan Pickett, D.O.B.
04/13/90 of 99 Stetson Ave.,
Swampscott, Mass., Christina
Kanosky, D.O.B. 05/28/92 of 6
Fairview Rd., Salem, Mass,, will
be summonsed into court for
being minors in possession of alcohol. Patrick Martin, D.O.B.
07/03/84 of 21 Highland Terr.,
Marblehead, Mass., will be summonsed into court for procuring
alcohol to minors.
MEDICAL: Any Medical Assist,
Non-Alcohol Related, Nov. 1,
Sunday at 00:36. Location:
PEABODY HALL. Front desk
called to report a male party who
has a laceration on his head. RA
reports that there was a possible
fight on the 4th floor. Atlantic
Ambulance was dispatched. Alan
Gomez, D.O.B. 06/21/90 of 42
Odile St., Methuen, Mass., and
Bryan Vladkowski, D.O.B.
10/09/90 of 26 Gates Rd., were
both involved in the fight and
were both transported to NSMC
by Atlantic Ambulance.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Oct. 31, Saturday
at 22:11. Location: O’KEEFE
CENTER LOT. Officer reports
out with Christopher Briley. Officer reports that Briley, D.O.B.
04/22/91 of 106 Alexander Ave.,
Medford, Mass., will be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession of alcohol.
MEDICAL:Any Medical Assist,
Non-Alcohol Related, Oct. 31,
Saturday at 23:19. Location:
BOWDITCH HALL. RA reports
that a female party got her hand
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Nov. 1, Sunday at
01:06. Location: OFF CAMPUS.
Officer reports out with a minor
in possession. Officer reports
Timothy Lukasevicz, D.O.B.
03/01/1990 of 239 Wachusett St.,
Holden, Mass. will be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession of alcohol.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Nov. 1, Sunday at
01:09. Location: PEABODY
HALL. Alan Gomez, D.O.B.
06/21/90 of 42 Odile St.,
Methuen, Mass., will be summonsed into court for being a
minor in possession of alcohol.
ALCOHOLIC LIQUORS:
Liquor Laws, Nov. 1, Sunday at
01:15. Location: OFF CAMPUS.
Officer reports transporting
Joseph LHeureux, D.O.B.
09/03/63 of 11 Intervale Rd.,
Salem, Mass., to Salem PD to be
put in protective custody.
DISTURBANCE: Noise Complaint, Nov. 1, Sunday at 01:18.
Location: BATES COMPLEX.
Officer to assist RAs with breaking up a party.
MUTUAL AID: Assisting other
Police, Nov. 1, Sunday at 01:47.
Location: OFF CAMPUS.
Out assisting a Salem PD Sergeant in a possible fight.
SEX OFFENSE: Any type of sex
offense, Nov. 1, Sunday at 01:30.
Location: CENTRAL CAMPUS
RESIDENCE HALL. RD called
to report that a sexual assault
may have occurred in Salem earlier tonight. Officers respond,
SPD respond.
MEDICAL: Medical Assist, Alcohol Related, Nov. 1, Sunday at
03:37. Location: PEABODY
HALL. Front desk called to report that there is an intoxicated
female who is vomiting in front
of the building. Officer and Atlantic Ambulance were both dispatched. Party transported to
NSMC.
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 10
November 13, 2009
Political
Point / Counterpoint: Should Captial Punishment Be Used?
By Brett Nolan / News Editor
By Steve Crossman / Political Editor
So you murdered several children.
Maybe raped a few of them, tortured them.
You know, the kind of thing you see on the
news a few times a year if you watch
enough. Maybe taking a life wasn’t
enough for you; maybe you had to make
the last moments of that life, be they hours
or weeks, as hellish for your victim as you
possibly could have. But you got caught.
Now the entire weight of the American Judicial System comes to bear down on you.
You’re guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt:
Either their DNA was found splattered
around your house or yours was found in
their orifices. How screwed are you?
Not very, relatively speaking. You’ll be
moved to a facility where, while in any
case people who know what you did will
want to kill you, you now have bars and
guards to hide behind. You’ll be fed free
meals for the rest of your life, and you
won’t have to worry about paying rent.
Hell, depending on who and what you
killed and/or raped, you may even come
into the game with a certain amount of respect owed to you. If you’re a racist, even
better! Gone on a Jew-killing spree?
There’s a fan club waiting for you. Gang
killing caught a little girl in the crossfire?
Odds are you’ll see your colors on the inside. And the grand prize? If you’re a lifer,
go ape-shit! What have you got to lose?
Stab a fellow inmate in the neck with a
shiv, what are they going to do? Put you in
jail?
This is the failing of the Eight Amendment. Cruel and Unusual Punishment has
gone from being locked in the stocks and
whipped for a week to not having a television in your cell block. I’m not saying we
should bring back the Iron Maiden, despite
the fact that I can name a few cases in
which it would be merited. I’m saying we
should make a few changes. Firstly, we
should institute a death penalty in cases
where the atrocity has been proven beyond
a shadow of a doubt. Do this, and the overpopulation of prisons will be eased, and a
deterrent is created against this sort of behavior.
Barring that, we should put convicts to
serious work. Turn them into a resource
rather than a drain on our system. The
labor load could even be determined by the
severity of the crime. Just as long as these
miscreants aren’t either kicking back in a
secure environment or thriving in a criminal microcosm on our dollar.
Simple and Practical Solutions For Life
By Christian Bernier / Log Staff
In my opinion, walking is an enjoyable
recreation. Through it, one can take the
time to enjoy the simple pleasures of their
surroundings. On my way from north to
south campus in the mornings, I feel the
gentle sunshine, smell the autumn musk,
taste the brisk morning dew, hear the birds
sing, and all would be tranquil if it weren’t
for my sight. For I see filthy litter scattered all down the street, and cannot help
but think I am walking through a landfill.
One one particular stroll last week, I
came across a group of activists who were
gathering people to make videos to send to
President Barack Obama. These videos
were requests for him to support a bill that
would lower pollution if enacted. This activism would have had purpose if Obama
was not already in support of this bill. But
he was, and so this activity was near
pointless. I could only wonder “If these
people are our environmental activists,
how are we ever going to clean the earth?”
All the while the road-side trash sits
undisturbed...
One does not have to be the epitome of
Gandhi for recycling to make a substantial
difference. There are easy, practical solutions to pollution everyone can do. When
using the lavatory, split the toilet paper in
two. Then after washing your hands, do
not waste energy from a blow-dryer or
paper from a roll to dry your hands. Let
them dry naturally, or use your clothes;
they are absorbent enough. And when
walking from campus to campus—or on
any walk at that matter—make the effort
to pick up at the least a single wrapper that
is cluttering the grass and our scenery;
there is plenty of garbage to go around.
Keep in mind: these are only a few of the
many easy and applicable solutions to pollution, and you should do your own re-
search for more methods.
Do not think our institution is at all innocent of wastefulness. The truth is far
from it. In every building there are multiple unnecessary and energy wasting flat
screen televisions. Each broadcasts such
information as the time and the weather,
which could be accounted for with a battery-powerd wall clock, requiring a yearly
replaced AA battery, and a clear window,
which would need only a cleaning from
time to time.
My dorm, Bowditch Hall, is a clear example of misused energy. The thermostat
for the entire building is set on high, needlessly wasting fuel for our comfort. But
ironically, since we are not cold-blooded,
the heat being set to over 90 degrees is far
from comfortable, and so all residents
open their windows to keep from sweating, wasting more fuel still. In any winter
weather, no matter how cold, the heater
should not be high enough to encourage
short sleeved shirts. We are New Englanders: love your climate, be proud of your
adaptability, wear a sweater.
I believe that speaking for your beliefs
is important. But what you say can be ignored, drowned out by other noises, or
misunderstood. An action has only one
clear, loud message, and when undertaken
will supplement your voice by giving it
physical validity. If you are an activist, an
environmentalist, or any person of a community, then it is your responsibility to
care for your community by at the least
taking simple, practical initiatives. We
cannot fix the entire world—but we can
shape our corner of it; we should better
our lives by bettering our community; we
need not walk through filth.
The very logic and reasoning for the
death penalty seems extremely flawed. It
makes no sense that death should be used
as a punishment for the killing of another
individual. The loss of a life, no matter
how terrible or grand one’s crime may
have been, is a tragedy and should be
avoided at all costs. People can be monsters, there is no denying that, but killing a
person is monstrous, no matter if its an individual doing it or the state.
The death penalty doesn’t offer the closure grieving families and friends of a victim need. The death of the murderer will
not bring back their victim either. The
death penalty only adds to a never-ending
cycle of vengeance and violence.
If people who were to take to the streets
and start killing people they felt have done
wrong they would be called vigilantes and
rightfully punished. It makes no sense for
the courts to be able to order death sentences. We may feel as people a need for
vengeance, but the courts should be doing
what is right and justified, not what the
human condition wants.
According to the Death Penalty Informa-
tion Center, a state can spend $100 million
dollars to perform few or no executions. In
a trial with the verdict being the death
penalty the state spends an average of $1
million more. Also, only about one in ten
death sentences handed down may result in
an execution.
People often argue it is cheaper to have a
criminal killed than it is to keep them in
prison for life. What is the price of a life? I
understand a person’s hesitation towards
putting more and more tax money into sustaining the life of a criminal, but are people
really more comfortable with having their
money used to kill another person?
The justice system was established so
people could be fairly tried and punished.
Ending a person’s life should be classified
as cruel and unusual. No matter how vile
or sinister a person may be it’s important
for the government to remain the beacon of
justice and not act like the criminal they
are prosecuting. A death sentence maybe
sanctioned by the government, but the end
result is still a loss of a life and it is still
murder.
Have a point you want discussed? Want to argue your political views?
Send in your articles to:
[email protected]
November 13, 2009
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 11
Sports
Jake Shields: “I Think I Match Up Pretty Well with Anderson [Silva]”
By Nick Colon / Sports Editor
Jake Shields is a man on a mission. He has taken every challenge thrown at him in the last
five years and has not succumbed
to defeat. From challengers like
Carlos Condit and Yushin Okami,
to Paul Daley and Robbie Lawler,
Shields has been dominant.
Shields recently spoke to
BleacherReport.com’s Nick
Colon about his future with
Strikeforce, and what MMA fans
can expect to see from him, and
maybe even a possible bout with
Anderson Silva.
Nick: So Jake, how has camp
been over the last few weeks and
what have you worked on to get
ready for this fight against Jason
Miller on November 7?
Jake: The camp’s been going
great! I feel like I’m in great
shape and great in every aspect.
My grappling, my striking, everything feels good. I feel strong, got
my weight up, and I’m feeling
stronger than before. As far as
what I’ve worked on, I’m working on everything like always,
every aspect of my game and I’m
trying to do whatever I can.
N: Jake, you’ve been on an absolute tear lately, winning fights
over guys like Nick Thompson,
Robbie Lawler, and Paul Daley.
How do you plan on making
Miller another one of your impressive victories?
J: I think I’m still getting better. I think I’m still way away
from my prime. I’m still confident right now, and I’m just
going to go out there and bring it
to him. I think it’s going to be a
tough fight, and I’m certainly not
looking past this fight. It’s a
tough fight but I’m prepared for
the fight and I plan on going in
there and submitting him or
knocking him out at some point
in the fight.
N: Can you tell fans out there
what it’s like being a member of
Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and how
great is it training with guys like
Nick and Nate Diaz on a daily
basis?
J: It’s awesome because they
train really hard and really good
together. Also, I’m really good
friends with them. We’ve been together for over eight years now,
so it’s kind of nice to come in as
opposed to other places and it’s
cool to be a part of it there.
N: Now, Jake, many fight fans
out there think that your true
home lies in a place you’ve never
fought, which is the UFC. What
do you think about the prospect
of coming to the UFC and how
do you feel about the competition
Strikeforce offers you compared
to the UFC?
J: Coming to the UFC has always been a wish of mine. You
know, I’ve talked to them on and
off over the last few years, you
know, and I love the UFC fans.
It’s definitely where I’d like to be
Weekly Score Column
Men’s Soccer
10/31/09 W 2-1 Worcester State College
11/04/09 W 3-1 Bridgewater State College
10/31/09
Women’s Soccer
L 0-3 Worcester State College
Women’s Field Hockey
10/30/09 L 0-1 Framingham State College
11/3/09
L 1-5 Keene State
10/30/09
W 3-1
Volleyball
Massachusetts College of Liberal
Arts
someday; but at the same time,
Strikeforce has treated me great.
I’m very happy with them and
they have great competition so,
you know, I’m taking it one fight
at a time and we’ll see where it
goes from there.
N: There’s a lot of talk about
which weight class you should be
fighting at, whether it’s 185 or
170. Which class do you feel most
comfortable in and what class do
you see yourself fighting in for
the future?
J: I’m most comfortable fighting at 170, but I definitely will be
fighting at both weight classes in
the future. I fight for the challenge, and to challenge myself, so
I’ll go wherever a challenge is.
N: Jake, who has the best submission skills over at Cesar Gracie Jiu-Jitsu?
J: You know, that’s obviously a
tough question. There’s a ton of
good guys there, but, you know,
probably Nick [Diaz]. It’s close,
but I’d probably say Nick. Although you really see him box in
his fights [chuckle]!
N: That’s very true! Who would
you say is the most well rounded
fighter in your camp and why?
J: I think everyone’s well
rounded, you know? All the top
guys. We’ve either got really
good standup or ground, so I
can’t say someone on that one.
N: How about striking? Could
you say who is the best striker?
J: Eh, so many good striking
battles. Can’t really say. Depends
on the day...we beat each other up
[chuckle].
N: Has Nick ever gotten the
best of you?
J: Oh yeah, of course. You
know, we train together so we
take turns beating each other up.
It helps both of us out though but
we definitely know each other
and he’ll get the best of me.
This article in its full form can
be found online at
www.salemstatelog.com
A Primer on Mixed Martial Arts?
By Ronni Porter / Contributing Editor
Blood, beat downs and everyday dudes turned international superstars. No, I’m not talking
about rap stars, I’m talking about
MMA. Turn on Versus and you’re
likely to see UFC, WEC or the
Ultimate Fighter. This isn’t a new
sport, but it is taking the country
by storm. So what is MMA and
why are people falling in love
with its bare-knuckle and primitive intensity? MMA is defined
by UFC.com as “an intense and
evolving combat sport in which
competitors use interdisciplinary
forms of fighting that include jiujitsu, judo, karate, boxing, kickboxing, wrestling and others to
their strategic and tactical advantage in a supervised match.” With
hundreds of fighters from dozens
of countries practicing variations
of different fighting styles, a fan
never knows what’s going to happen in the ring. With such a
growing interest in MMA, gyms
have been popping up all over the
state. If you’re ready to train hard
and get your fight on, here’s a list
of a couple of gyms in our area to
check out.
Dragon Within Martial Arts is
located on Franklin Street in
Salem. It offers training in Mixed
Martial Arts, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu,
Thai kickboxing, Boxing and
Self-Defense. The gym also offers private lessons and kids’
classes.
Sityodtong is located in Beverly and Somerville. This gym
specializes in Muay Thai, but
offer a variety of classes including, Filipino Kali Escrima, Indonesian Pencak Silat, Jeet Kune
do, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and Boxing. It also offers private lessons.
Combined Martial Arts Academy is located in Everett. The
gym offer classes in Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu, Karate, Muay Thai,
Capoeira and Pilates. It features
private lessons and kids’ classes.
Field Hockey Finishes Season 8-9
By Adam McQuarrie / Assistant Sports Editor
Lady Vikings Field Hockey
forward April Rossetti scored the
game-winning goal in dramatic
fashion against the Western Connecticut Colonials on Saturday,
October 24. She scored the goahead-goal just as time expired,
both sealing the 2-1 victory, and
the eighth seed in the LEC tournament.
The team followed with a win
against Anna Maria College, and
a loss in its final regular season
game against Framingham State
College.
Unfortunately, with the eighth
seed came the match-up against
the five-year-running LEC
champs, number-one seeded,
Keene State College.
The Lady Vikings had a 9-6 advantage in corner opportunities,
but were unable to make the best
of it. Junior Katie LaPrad scored
the Lady Vikings only goal of the
game, as the team was bounced
from the LEC Field Hockey
Tournament with its quarter-final
5-1 loss.
The team finished its season
with an 8-9 overall record, and a
4-7 conference record.
Cheap Sports Outlets Hard to Find Today
By Nick Colon / Sports Editor
The economy has been tough,
even on recreational sports.
This means events like bowling, basketball tournaments, pick
up football games and more
should be very inexpensive to attend, if not free.
Bowling,
whether it be
Candlepin or 10pin bowling, has
not followed this
regimen, and is
very expensive
to the average
consumer. Ranging anywhere
from $15-25 per
hour without the cost of bowling
shoes, this typically game has
been anything but inexpensive in
recent years, and has taken the
ability to enjoy a fun night of
bowling away from families and
others.
Another fun workaround that
has been affected by the poor
economic downturn is pick up
football games and soccer games.
While many people use to be able
to go to a nearby field or stadium
and toss the pigskin around or
pretend that they’re Christiano
Ronaldo, police have taken residence in these areas and have
asked to see people’s permits
when doing so. Most of the time,
permits may be obtained by visiting City Hall and applying for a
permit at a minimum cost of
$100. Trust me, I’ve called City
Hall, and this is the response I’ve
received.
So what can consumers do to
enjoy themselves a little bit while
getting in a good workout? We,
as a society, believe that people
are slowly becoming more obese
because of the lack of activity,
yet costs for a gym membership
are no longer low, and fees to
play a fun pick up game ruin the
experience.
THE SALEM STATE LOG
Page 12
Sports
Women’s Soccer Places Five On MASAC Teams
by Nick Colon / Sports Editor
The Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference has announced its 2009 all-conference
women’s soccer teams in early
November, and five Lady Vikings
were voted to this prestigious
group.
The Lady Vikings group is
headed by junior tri-Captain Erin
O’Brien, who was named a First
Team All-MASCAC performer
for the third year in a row. Joining her on the team is first-team
standout Taylor Orlando. Orlando, a junior at Salem State,
performed quite admirably in her
first year playing as a defender,
earning her a spot on the squad.
The Second All-MASCAC
team is comprised of junior
Cathy Greenough, consecutive
years, freshmen midfielder Karly
Henderson and sophomore striker
Jackie Gauthier.
The team’s honors come on an
unfortunate sour note, as it finished its 2009 season with a 3-0
defeat at the hands of Worcester
State.
Though the team lost and
ended the season with an overall
8-8 record, it has nothing to be
ashamed of, as the statistics from
this past season highlight the hard
work and effort the Lady Vikings
put into the year.
Outshooting their opponents
190-143, the Lady Vikings nearly
scored once on every six shots
put on goal, resulting in nearly
two goals per game. The Lady
Vikings also put up an average of
12 shots per game, while compared to their opponents averaging less than nine shots per game.
An important factor understated is the discipline the Lady
Vikings showed this past season.
Committing only 80 fouls compared to their opponents 91, the
Vikings showed discipline unlike
any other team in the MASCAC.
This amazing feat is credited to
the team’s coach, Nicolle Wood.
Women’s Tennis Loses in LEC Semi-Finals
By Alex Barboza / Log Staff
Even though the women’s tennis team lost in the semi-finals of
the Little East Conference Championship to Bridgewater State 51, the team has improved from a
year ago, turning its record completely around. After finishing
with a 3-8 record last season, the
Lady Vikings posted an 8-3
record this past season, with only
two losses in the regular season.
Senior Megan Cote won the lone
point for Salem State with a 6-4,
6-0, win over Donnelly.
The Lady Vikings’ season
opened up with a lost to Endicott
College 8-1. Then, the Lady
Vikings went on streak of seven
games in a row, and defeating
their opponents by a combined
score of 48-15.
The player that helped the
Lady Vikings achieve such a
great record was Cote. She won
each of her single matchups
throughout the whole season,
going 10-0. The only game in
which she did not post a win was
the first one against Endicott College, because she did not play in
that one game.
Along with Megan Cote’s great
season, Freshman Michelle
McEwen only lost three single
matches out of a total of seven
wins. Also, sophomores Patricia
Quartararo and Carly Muniz had
an impressive combined record of
13-8 in singles competition.
With these core groups of players, Salem State looks good in the
upcoming future and seems destined to win the Little East Conference Tournament.
November 13, 2009
Women’s LaX Plays for Funds
By Sherene Abu-Hijleh / Log Staff
It was a perfect day for a tournament on Sunday, October 25.
The weather finally held out for
the Lady Vikings as they made
their way out to the field on a 66degree day. Comparing to the
weather last spring season, where
every athlete was forced to wear
heavy layers underneath their
navy blue and orange jerseys,
Sunday was just right.
The Vikings tossed their Under
Armors to the side, strapped up
their laces, grabbed their stick
with one hand, mouth guard with
the other, placed their goggles
over their eyes, and headed out to
the field to begin their warm-ups.
Buses, vans, and cars pulled up
with lacrosse players from other
local schools who were ready and
eager to play in this fundraising
event.
Assumption, Pine Manor, Mt.
Ida, and Simmons College all
participated in the round-robin
tournament. Every team played
four games. Each team played
one another in a 20-minute game.
The winner of the tournament
was not based on wins or losses;
it was simply based on fun.
The tournament began with the
Vikings hosting the Division 3
Mustangs of Mt. Ida. The game
ended in a nail-biting 2-1 loss for
the Lady Vikings.
Game two for Salem was
against the Pine Manor Gators.
The Vikings shut out the Division
3 team in a 7-0 victory.
In game three, Salem State
played the Division 2 team from
Assumption College. The Greyhounds beat the Vikings 8-2.
The last game for Salem was
against the Division 3 Sharks of
Simmons College. Vikings won
5-1.
The Vikings left the field with
a 2-2 overall record in the tournament. Goals were scored by senior Kaitlyn Shidler, juniors Kate
Warren and Deana Manfra, sophomore Amanda Beatrice, and
freshmen Lisa O’Donnell, Kristen Dooley, and Barbara Moore.
Vikings also hosted a concession stand throughout the day. At
the end of the day, the team was
able to raise more than $400. All
proceeds went directly to the
Lady Vikings Lacrosse Team for
the upcoming season, which
starts in February. The ladies of
the team hope to host another
tournament during their season.
The team hopes Mother Nature
will reserve the weather she gave
during the tournament for the
spring season.