"NOT ONE MORE" spring 2018 - issue 6 The Kingsman
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KingsmanBC.com The Kingsman “The Voice of Brooklyn College Since 1950” Spring 2018 - Issue 6 Thursday, March 22, 2018 "NOT ONE MORE” students walk out for 17 minutes against shootings p. 4 Image Credit: Drew Pham Excelsior to stop Shakespeare In the middle east BC Tennis undefeated at 2-0 Issues Over Budget p. 7 p. 8 p. 3
2\BULLETIN\thursday, March 22, 2018\THE KINGSMAN KINgSMANBC.com/BULLETIN The Kingsman Staff _____________ General Inquiries kingsmanbc@gmail.com Pell Grants return for BC students Editor-in-Chief The Office of Financial Aid has announced that year-round funding for Pell Grant scholarships has Dylan Campbell been reinstated. So now students who were planning on registering for classes in the upcoming summer dylc23@gmail.com session can get extra assistance to pay for the additional term. In order to be eligible for the bonus funds, students must be registered as a full-time student for the fall 2017 or spring 2018 semesters, and they must be registered for at least six credits in the summer semester. Payouts will be determined by how Business Manager many credits the student is registered for, all per the office of financial aid. Ashley Matos ashleymatos18@aol.com by Ryan Schwach Staff Writer Layout Editor Joseph Modica Bedbugs enroll at BC modica.joseph2@gmail.com On March 20, a student, Andrea Dee, posted a photo of armchairs captioned, “Hey guys, heads Arts Editor up: Supposedly, there were bed bugs spotted in the Library Cafe in Whitehead.” The photo included Quiara Vasquez armchairs with a cleaning sign attached, warning students to not sit. The post drew a slew of comments, quiara@zoho.com adding more heat to an ongoing discussion about the lack of funding to fix the campus’ infrastructure. The details of the situation has not yet been verified with any Brooklyn College officials. Managing Digital Editor Kenji Yamada by Zeus Sumra yamada.kenji059@gmail.com Managing News Editor Managing News Editor Zeus Sumra Correction sumra780@gmail.com In last week’s issue, the article “Town Hall Draws Bad Blood Over CUNY Injustices” mistakenly Sports Editor stated that there are 35 CUNY campuses. There are in fact 24 CUNY campuses. Also, Peter M. Cohen Israel S Rodriguez was erroneously credited as the president of Medgar Evers College, while Rudy Crew was credited as the president of Kingsborough Community College. Peter M. Cohen is actually the president of Kingsborough s.rodriguezisrael@gmail.com Community College and Rudy Crew is the president of Medgar Evers College. We apologize for the error. Staff Writers Jasmine Peralta Allison Rapp Alfonsina Venegas Faculty Advisor Anthony Mancini Club Hours Mondays 12-5 Tuesdays 1-2 Wednesdays 1-2 Talk to us! _____________ Are you a CUNY student or faculty member with something to say? The Kingsman’s Opinions section is accepting submissions. Send your op-ed to Got a photo? Wanna give kingsmanbc@gmail.com before 11:59 PM Saturday. us a shout-out? Tag us on (The Kingsman only publishes articles written by Brooklyn College students and Twitter @TheKingsmanBC faculty, related to goings-on at Brooklyn College or CUNY. We reserve the right to reject submissions which are off-topic, obscene, or excessively wordy.)
News/ Kingsmanbc.com THE KINGSMAN/thursday, march 22, 2018/News/3 bc excelsior budget issues put spring semester paper editions in jeopardy Screenhot of bcexcelsior.com as of March 21, 2018 correction (printing is expected campus pay accounting fees; restructuring of student fees. The By Zeus Sumra to resume in the fall) and an the Kingsman, the Excelsior board was greeted by a mass of Managing News Editor apology. and Broeklundian (the campus angry students, staff and faculty. More tweets on the Excelsior’s yearbook). But should the publications on On March 13, the Excelsior account suggested that the Students who are staff members campus be responsible for paying newspaper announced via its publication had a difficult time of these organizations are treated accounting fees? twitter account that it would print managing the funds because of an as employees of the college. The On the Excelsior’s twitter account, its final physical issue for the added expense. Managing Editor, accounting fees first started with Zoie Koostra said, “journalists Spring semester on Wednesday, Zainab Iqbal, said in a post, The Kingsman newspaper during can’t do their job if they’re busy March 14. Soon after, several “we’re broke because we were put the fall semester and was then having bake sales to raise money.” students flooded the Excelsior’s The matter took a positive turn twitter account with questions, “we’re broke because we were put into the BC on March 18. In a surprise tweet, condolences and support. the Excelsior announced that The tweet stated that the payroll which kinda ruined everything” it had raised the funds needed publication had run out of funds -- Samip Delhiwala / Editor-in-Chief for four more prints although to pay for more prints and as a it still needed to raise the funds result will be fully online. The into the BC payroll which kinda applied to all other publications. for the final two issues of the Excelsior also stated that it would ruined everything (we have to The accounting fees are paid per semester. When asked to how the be having bake sales on March 22 pay accounting fees).” employees and is not a flat rate. funds were raised, the Excelsior and 29 to raise funds to possibly Samip Delhiwala, Editor-In- As a result, these organizations declined to comment. revert back to printing. Chief of the Excelsior, shared his would incur more expenses than “The two bake sales should Some students retweeted the sentiments on the issue. “I get it other clubs on campus. be able to raise enough money post to help promote the back from their perspective with the A request to find out from the to cover printing one of the sales and one student even taxes but it’s unfair because we college why a new policy, making other issues,” Delhiwala said. formatted a screenshot of the have eleven people [on staff]. student organizations responsible However, with no other means tweet to share on snapchat. It goes against our mission for accounting fees, was put into in sight, Delhiwala said that the Following the Excelsior’s statement.” place, proved futile. The matter last publication of the semester announcement, the Kingsman Unlike most campus also raises an important issue at will be online. To avoid a repeat shared the news on their twitter organizations, some members a time very critical for student of the problem, the editor-in- account. However, the tweet of the staff for publications organizations all across CUNY. chief said he was working with suggested that the Excelsior on campus get paid. To the Last week, the CUNY board CLAS to reach out to the CUNY would cease printing indefinitely. knowledge of the Kingsman of trustees met at Brooklyn board of trustees with the hopes The Kingsman has since posted a only three organizations on College to continue discussing a of removing the accounting fees.
4\news\THURsday, MARCH 22 ,2018\THE KINGSMAN Kingsmanbc.com/news Students walk out BC and nyu students against guns discuss futures in stem “I moved here from Texas Director Sahni goes on to By Allison Rapp in August so I have a healthy By Richard John mention that recently, two Staff Writer skepticism of turnout when it Staff Writer students who transferred from comes to political action,” said Brooklyn College became Students at Brooklyn College McCreary. “Even more so for a Over 30 faces listen attentively Tandon’s valedictorians for walked out of class onto the rally calling for gun reform. So to presenters from New York separate graduation classes. quad last Wednesday in a protest I was genuinely inspired by the University’s Tandon School of Although he loves to hear the against gun violence, joining a turnout. Easily the most proud Engineering, thinking about success of the students who have growing movement of people I’ve been to be part of this school.” the prospect of becoming crossed his path and shared their across the country who have To both Edwards and an engineering student of interest for STEM, there is a been fighting for stricter gun McCreary’s surprise, a student their respective fields at the small tradeoff. These wonderful regulations. named Jeremy Wein approached private school. Viraht Sahni, students take with them any The demonstration on campus them during the walkout and Brooklyn College’s Coordinated trace of their genius and work was part of a nationwide walkout, told them he was a graduate of Engineering Program Director, into another school. But, he also looks on at the students understands that this gateway “It is so far past the time for mass shootings to end” with high hopes for those who into an engineering school is an --Emily Edwards / Orgainzer are interested in continuing a affordable option of earning a, discipline in STEM either at “prestigious degree at no cost.” Brooklyn College or elsewhere. The director firmly believes that in which thousands of students the Marjory Stoneman Douglas In a conversation with the this path is an “investment into left their classrooms for 17 High School where the shooting Director in his office surrounded [the student’s] future.” minutes at 10 a.m. EST, in honor took place. Wein also addressed by science and math textbooks, he He urges many students to of the 17 victims of the Parkland the crowd, urging them that the talks about Tandon’s relationship consider mathematics classes, shooting. March 14 signified most important thing people can with Brooklyn College, the beauty “use math don’t limit yourself ”, exactly one month since the do to create change is vote. of science and mathematics, and because the stigma around shooting. Among these schools “I was happy to see folks turn future plans for expanding STEM learning math does scare off those was Brooklyn College, as well out to support my fellow eagles,” at BC. who have the potential to do very as neighboring Midwood High Wein told The Kingsman. “If I He describes the relationship well along with dedicating some School. can leave one major point with starting around 1988 when time to do the work. “It is so far past the time for the your readers: vote. Not just every Polytechnic University was Mathematics is at the base of mass shootings to end,” says Emily four years or two years: vote in still operational, students from all the subsequent sciences, Edwards, one of the organizers. local elections, vote for student Brooklyn College would transfer practically, it can unlock many “We have been waiting too long, government. The right to vote is into the university and do career opportunities where but they have become normalized the greatest right you have as a extremely well academically. As scientists and engineers are at in an indifferent American citizen of this country.” the years progressed into the early the forefront of new creations society where they barely make a Students gathered on the quad dent in the daily news cycle.” last Wednesday were reminded “Investment into [the students] future ... use math don’t The Brooklyn College walkout of the upcoming “March For limit yourself” itself was organized by two Our Lives” event, beginning at students, Edwards and Chris 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 24 --Viraht Sahni / Director McCreary, who put the event at the 72nd Street entrance to together in a mere 10 days. Central Park, where thousands 2000s and Polytechnic was phased that drive the huge tech firms They registered their event of students from New York City out, the friendly connection forward, impacting how people with the National Women’s are expected to gather in protest. continued with NYU’s Tandon live on a global scale; providing a March website, printed flyers to McCreary agreed that advocating School of Engineering; noted by pretty salary. distribute to students and also on the streets can sometimes be the agreements on both sides of Additionally, being a well- posted on social media. In the daunting, but critical. the institutions when regarding rounded student should be end, their hard work paid off, as “It’s easy to be vocal on social the transferal of credits for preferred, everyone has differing over 200 students gathered for media, it’s easy to preach to the specific curriculums. strengths and weaknesses. the moments of silence. choir. It’s hard to stand up and The presenters from Tandon Scientists and engineers lay down McCreary, a theatre major, raise your voice,” McCreary said. also highlight this fact, talking the basis for which artists and led the crowd of BC students in “Because it’s your voice.” with high regard of the scholars rallying cries such as “Enough is from Brooklyn College that CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 enough!” and “Not one more!”, showcase the talent that comes to advocating for immediate reform. CUNY’s BC. Do you want to write like a King? The Kingsman is always looking for writers! For more information, come to 118R Roosevelt Monday 3-5 P.M., or email KingsmanBC@ gmail.com .
news/kingsmanbc.com THE KINGSMAN/thursday, MARCH 22, 2018/news/5 Library to open exhibit BC and nyu students on women activists discuss futures in stem an engineering club at Brooklyn FROM PAGE 4 College that is eagerly awaited to start Fall 2018. others can take the knowledge This new culmination of minds uncovered and create something and great love of generating talent more out of it. Where there is in STEM is exactly what Stephen beauty in an artist’s creations, Hawking would look forward the same beauty and awe is to with his recent passing and found when a mathematician serves well as a parting gift to his or physicist is able to prove or contributions in science. find something extremely new. As the presentation wraps up, Something, “only one human everyone in the room understands being” has seen before unleashing the work and dedication required it to the world. to complete their engineering Lilia Melani spoke in the library about 80’s women’s activism / Jasmine Peralta Director Sahni is very interested degree requirements, and too be given to the Women’s in a future four-year degree in through this the torch is passed By Jasmine Peralta Development and Research Fund. Materials Science at Brooklyn on to upcoming young future Staff Writer Melani and the 25 other women College, a degree very close to bright minds, hungry to leave an who were apart of the Women’s that of engineering. Adding more impact. “Women make policy, not coffee!” Collation, not only minimized the to the robust STEM arsenal at the That was the rallying cry of a pay gap between men and women school. movement led by former English in CUNY but, also advocated for He is always urging students, professor Lilia Melani 35 years ago. the creation of a women’s center, especially more women, to pursue “I wanted to transform the childcare centers, and a Women’s a STEM discipline; potential of whole system!” said, former Studies degree program. new minds should not be wasted. English professor Lilia Melani on On March 24, 1990, the CUNY To group these upcoming students into a cooperative community, a band of engineering students have “Women make policy, not coffee” acquired signatures and filed the --Lilia Melani / English Professor documentation necessary to start ADVERTISEMENT Thursday, at the commemoration Women Students Bill of Rights of the new exhibition in the and the Demands of Women Brooklyn College library, The Students of the City University of Women in the Archives for her New York was created to provide role in the history and legacy of the an institutional environment class action lawsuit, Melani et al. free from bias against sex in v. The Board of Higher Education. all New York City campuses. The exhibit highlights archival Both documents are also collections of documents, photos, on display at the exhibit. and flyers giving a glimpse of Among the changes the activism on campus created 35 Women’s Coalition made, years ago by (or) about women Melani pointed out that there who are alumni of Brooklyn is still, “more to be done. There College. Melani is featured in the are a lot of underlying systemic “We work together as women. We are women together” -- Lilia Melina / English Professor exhibition as a tribute for her work things that have to be changed.” in the CUNY Women’s Coalition The exhibition honors the and their action in the class action victory of the class action and lawsuit, which fought against the changes the CUNY Women’s the discrimination of women in Coalition has created in history CUNY for getting paid $1,800 for all the women (employees and less than men in equal positions. students) in the CUNY system. Ten years later in 1983, Federal Melani concluded, “We Judge, Lee P. Gagliardi ruled a, work together as women. $7,500,000 settlement to be given We are women together.” any women who applied or were employed by CUNY. A portion of the settlement was also set
6\features\thursday, MARCH 22, 2018\THE KINGSMAN Kingsmanbc.com/features Shakespeare in Gaza: Pamela Laskin’s “Ronit and Jamil” By Quiara Vasquez for the novel during a trip to the same story.” Even the book jacket depicts Arts Editor Israel in 2015, where she was Throughout the book, Laskin Ronit and Jamil as twins -- two surprised how similar Israelis deliberately mirrors the two teenagers with the same chestnut There is no story in the Western and Palestinians were when they lovers, and by extension, their skin and dark curls, floating above canon more imitated than shared the same streets. cultures. Each page switches Israel’s infamous “Green Line” of “Romeo and Juliet”. Its earnest “The people in Israel and viewpoints between the Israeli checkpoint barricades, holding and fevered description of young Palestine really got along much Ronit as Juliet and the Palestinian hands. As Ronit tells Jamil in the love torn apart by petty family better than I expected,” Laskin Jamil as Romeo, whose lives are book, “you could be my brother;” rivalry -- and its ubiquity on to which Jamil responds, “you ninth-grade English curricula “[Israelis and Palestinians] are two sides of the same could be my sister.” -- has made it a frequent subject coin. ... Then ‘Romeo and Juliet’ came up, because Both while writing and while for parody and homage, some promoting “Ronit and Jamil,” better than others. (Remember they’re the same story.” Laskin has had to navigate one “Gnomeo and Juliet”? No? You’re --Pamela L. Laskin, Author of the most notoriously difficult not missing out.) issues facing our modern world: The latest entrant to throw told The Kingsman. “I couldn’t surprisingly similar. They both getting teenagers interested in their hat into the ring is Pamela really tell the difference, unless love poetry, and they both love poetry. L. Laskin, an English lecturer a woman wore a burqa or a man and hate their parents in equal “I started out as a poet, so I at City College of New York, wore a yarmulke. They really measure (as teenagers do). Even liked the idea of it not just being whose 2017 book “Ronit and weren’t that different.” when they speak their respective a Romeo and Juliet story, but also Jamil” plucked the star-crossed From there, the idea to use languages, they sound the same: using it as a vehicle to teach form lovers out of Verona and into the this setting as a backdrop for a Laskin takes care to pair Hebrew to children,” said Laskin. modern-day West Bank. Laskin Romeo and Juliet pastiche came words with their Arabic cognates, While “Ronit and Jamil” is a and a group of City College of almost instantaneously. drawing a connection between love story first and a formalist New York students are putting “It was so evident,” said Laskin. the two Semitic languages. exercise second, at several points on a staged reading of the book “[Israelis and Palestinians] are “At first I thought I wouldn’t be in the book Laskin eschews free in the Woody Tanger auditorium two sides of the same coin. First able to execute [both] the male verse and writes in archaic this Thursday, March 22, as part the idea was ‘how am I going to part and the female part because of Brooklyn College’s “We Stand address the topic of peace in the they’re so different,” Laskin CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Against Hate” series. Middle East?’ Then ‘Romeo and admitted. “But then I realized Laskin first got the idea Juliet’ came up, because they’re they’re really one and the same.” Author Pamela L. Laskin pictured / Courtesy of Pamela L. Laskin
features/Kingsmanbc.com THE KINGSMAN/thursday MARCH 22, 2018/features/7 Shakespeare in Gaza: Pamela Laskin’s “Ronit and Jamil” That felt very important to me.” said Laskin, “but so many hands Sometimes the positive went up.” Despite the specificity responses to the book were more of the book’s setting, the story disappointing than the negative still resonated with her teenage ones, as was the case with audience. feedback Laskin received from “That was a wonderful some Palestinians. experience,” said Laskin. “They “What’s interesting is some were so grateful and appreciative.” of them feel that they couldn’t Perhaps it was the book’s happy end up with an Israeli person, ending that drew them to the that that would be out of the story. In a digression from the question,” said Laskin. “That’s original Romeo and Juliet story, a little disappointing to me. In where (spoilers!) the two lovers my mind, if we’re going to create die, Ronit and Jamil instead a bridge, we need to be open to change their names and escape the other person. They love the to America. concept of the book, but they “I didn’t want them to die,” wouldn’t date the other.” said Laskin. “I had thought that Surprisingly, the most positive Hillary Clinton would be elected, reaction to “Ronit and Jamil” and that they could escape to came not from Jewish or Arab America and that would be a students, but from a group of good thing. Now, in the aftermath Puerto Rican high schoolers. In of the election, America doesn’t 2017, Laskin went to Puerto Rico feel like a safe place anymore, as a volunteer, reading to groups and that’s upsetting.” Indeed, of students. in the age of Trump, it almost “I brought a book, “Homer the looks naive to assume a Muslim Scrawny Little Cat, to the little Palestinian refugee would be kids, but I didn’t have anything better off in the U.S. for the bigger ones,” Laskin But despite a hostile political recalled. She did have several climate, Laskin still holds out copies of “Ronit and Jamil,” hope. The cover of “Ronit & Jamil” but she was worried the book “A lot of people in Israel would bridge between the two cultures. wouldn’t resonate on an island like to see peace,” said Laskin. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 It’s a fitting metaphor for so far removed from both the “The government might not want the book itself, which Laskin Israeli-Palestinian conflict and it, but the people do. And a lot of poetic structures. Ronit and hopes will start a dialogue. She’s the English literary tradition -- American Jews and Arabs -- the Jamil each give a trio of ghazals, staged readings of the book at or so she thought. more progressive ones, at least -- a sort of lyric poem endemic to various religious institutions and “When I said, ‘has anyone want peace too.” the Middle East where each line colleges, including at Brooklyn read Romeo and Juliet?’, I didn’t ends on the same word. Towards College back in 2017. expect so many hands to go up,” the back-half of the book, their “I do a lot of school readings, fathers get a word in, delivering and the discussion generated a series of sonnets, mirroring has focused more on the politics one another perfectly as their than the art and the craft,” Laskin children’s do. said. Surprisingly, despite the “I loved the hard work that it book’s notoriously thorny subject took to write poems in forms,” matter, she’s mostly avoided said Laskin. “Writing poetry isn’t accusations of bias. as easy as it looks, but form also “I think I gave fair weight to requires some extra hard work.” both sides, as was my intention. Most impressive is Laskin’s use The response has been that I’ve of “pantoum,” a form of sonnet been very fair,” Laskin added. “I which repeats eight lines in an didn’t want anyone to be seen as ABAB BCBC CDCD DADA the culprit. They’re both innocent rhyme scheme. “Discover light and they’re both guilty. That’s the inside his hazel eyes / a cease-fire truth.” already taking place,” says Ronit, “I read at a school in Jersey that in rhyme, “my body rustles and was primarily a Jewish school, it cries / dreams begin to run a and they asked, ‘how as a Jewish race.” Beyond giving Laskin a person could I present the other chance to flaunt her poetic skills, side?’” recalled Laskin. “My the pantoum form has roots response was, ‘how as a Jewish in both Western and Eastern person of conscience could I Author Pamela L. Laskin pictured next to copies of her book. / Courtesy of Pamela L. Laskin traditions, making it an ideal NOT present the other side?’
8\SPORTS\thursday, MARCH 22, 2018\THE KINGSMAN Kingsmanbc.com/SPORTS BROOKLYN COLLEGE SPORTS THE VOICE OF BROOKLYN COLLEGE SINCE 1950 - Kingsmanbc.com - Thursday, MARCH 22, 2018 Bulldogs blown Men’s tennis away by ravens scores 2-0 By Israel S Rodriguez Sports Editor The Brooklyn College men’s tennis team have cruised their way to a perfect 2-0 start to the season, picking up a win against CUNY opponent Lehman Photo Credit: Brooklyn College Athletics College and non-conference conference match over the opponent Rutgers-Camden weekend, as Brooklyn came University. out victorious on the road 7-2. After their season opener Brooklyn would take two out Photo Credit: Brooklyn College Athletics against Purchase College was of three doubles matches of the pitched a perfect game against postponed due to the winter By Elijah Hamiliton the Bulldogs. day before they went on to win snowstorm the Bulldogs opened five out of six singles matches. Staff Writer In game two, Senior Infielder, their season at home against Breanna Maresca, who had a hit Bulldogs freshman, Justin Lehman College, who they Vasquez, won his first singles The Brooklyn College Women’s for the Bulldogs in the bottom of handled easily with a 7-2 victory. softball team opened their season the fourth inning, but it provided match as a Bulldogs. Sophomore, After losing the first single’s Julian Calame-Mars, dominated at home last Wednesday, as they a small spark for Brooklyn, as competition Brooklyn would go came up short in their season the Ravens steamed rolled past his singles match with a shutout on to win the following six singles victory over his opponent. opener against the Rosemont the Bulldogs in another shutout matches. The fourth match didn’t College Ravens. victory, 0-11. It was a great debut The Bulldogs will look come easy for the Bulldogs as they to continue their perfect start In both games, The Rosemount for Brooklyn freshman, Brittany battled for a pair of tie-breaking Ravens prove to be too much as Lay, who allowed five hits and to the season as they welcome wins with freshman, Arie Monas, St. Joseph’s College on Tuesday. the Bulldogs got shutout, failing struck out five batters in five winning a super tie-breaker 10-5. to put points on the board. In innings. The non-conference matchup is The Bulldogs brought the same scheduled to start at 4 p.m. at the Game 1, The Bulldogs were The Bulldogs start off their momentum into the doubles blown out of their home field, season 0-2, following both loses Roosevelt Tennis Courts. match-ups as they continued to losing 0-19. The Ravens started to the Ravens. The Raven on the their winning ways by winning off hot going for eight runs in the other hand start off 2-0 on the the first two matches. Lehman second inning to open the game season. The Bulldogs will look would win the final double match out. Starting pitcher, Junior, Uena to bounce back on the road this 8-5, but it wasn’t enough to pick Xaro, pitched for all five innings weekend as they participate in up the victory over Brooklyn. in the first game. While Ravens the Fastpitch Dreams Spring The Bulldogs took on Pitcher, #27 Autumn Sharkey, Classic, in Myrtle Beach, South Rutgers University in a non- Upcoming Athletic Events March 14, 2018 March 23, 2018 Men’s Tennis Men’s Tennis VS Hamilton College VS Rosemont College Orlando, FL March 22, 2018 March 16, 2018 Softball Men’s Tennis VS at Purchase College Western New England University Purchase, NY Myrtle Beach, SC
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