File #4471: "SUjournal_vol81_no7_2017.pdf"

THE Suffolk Journal
NIC
OLE

BROO

ANT
ONU

VOLUME 81, NUMBER 7
thesuffolkjournal.com
@SuffolkJournal
October 25, 2017

CCI

Union vote
ends in tie
Chris DeGusto
News Editor

6

KE C H
AMPM
AN

Lady Rams
grab hold
of first ever
program
title

AINE DILLON

ATH
CKENZIE MCGR
M

After
months
of
awaiting
bureaucratic
procedures to play out
following
the
initial
vote, the tally that would
decide if “Our Suffolk
Union” would be the
official staff union on
campus resulted in a tie,
at 96.
In
March,
after
efforts dated back to
August 2016, the vote to
implement a union for
eligible staff members
of
Suffolk
University
as a chapter of Service
Employees International
Union (SEIU) 888 was
cast, but ultimately not

See UNION - 2

OLIVIA

Suffolk
weighs in
on coral reef
destruction

A
SPIEG

LE
SEL
I

V

R
NTU
E

A

Amy Koczera
Asst. World Editor
Patrick Holmes
Opinion Editor

from second-place finisher Johnson & Wales

Coral
reefs
are
frequently
marveled
at for their beauty and
fragility. However, many
individuals often do not
realize the integral role
that coral reefs play
both as a protection
mechanism to coastlines
and as a home for 25
percent of all marine
life. While the coral
reefs are vital for the
survival of a vast array
of organisms, there must
be serious reductions
to
carbon
emissions
within the next decade
to ensure the survival of
these biologically diverse
ecosystems.
As a result of excess
greenhouse gases that
are released into the
environment, the worst
coral bleaching event
in recorded history has
hit every major coral
region on Earth since
2014, according to a
recent study by The
Guardian. In fact, 50
percent of coral reefs
are endangered due to
this chemical imbalance
in the atmosphere and

See GOLF - 11

See CORAL - 5

CHAMPIONS
Women’s golf wins NEIGA Tournament

6

By Joe Rice, Senior Staff Writer

In the Suffolk University women’s golf team’s

Lady Rams have participated in this season, the

first full season, the Cinderella story continued

team came out on top. Additionally, the team

for the Lady Rams as the team took home first

also placed second of 12 teams in the Empire

place in the woman’s first-ever New England

8 Championship on Oct. 14, falling short to

Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA)

Southern University of New York Cortland.

Tournament.
The Lady Rams, in their second
season, have surprised many teams
from across the NEIGA as well as many

other regions. In the three dual matches the

The Lady Rams not only won, but they
handled the championship match on Oct. 2223 with relative ease, separating themselves

University by 22 strokes.

THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
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2 OCT. 25, 2017

N

‘Our Suffolk Union’ vote ties at 96

From UNION - 1

settled until Oct. 2.
In the wake of the
challenged votes being
completed, reactions from
those in the unionization
efforts have offered a mix
bag of viewpoints.
In a recent interview
with
The
Suffolk
Journal, Senior Program
Coordinator
of
the
Political Research Center
Merideth
Power-Ayer
said that she is hopeful a
second try at unionization
could succeed.
“I refuse to give up
because I want this to be
a good place to work and
I've been at Suffolk for
going on 16 years now,
and this place is like a
home to me,” said PowerAyer. “I want it to be a
good place to work and I
want it to be a place where
people feel respected

when they come to work,
and that their work is
valued and appreciated,
and that all employees are
treated with the respect
that they deserve. That's
why I'm sticking with the
campaign and I plan on
seeing it through till the
end.”
Power-Ayer
said
a
tie in this vote does not
indicate necessarily a
total loss, as the support
for a staff union is still
indicated.
The union will have
the ability to re-file again
in March of 2018, after a
year has passed since the
original filing on March 2.
While the tie does not
allow a staff union to
officially represent itself
on campus, former Journal
Editor-in-Chief and now
Office Coordinator in the
Government department
Jeffery Fish is confident
in the ability to succeed
on a second try.
“I think going forward

the second campaign will
be easier,” said Fish in a
recent interview with The
Journal. “We have that
base already started. We
already know the exact
unit that we're going to
be going after.”
In
a
statement
released to employees
after the final vote count
was determined, Acting
University
President
Marisa Kelly responded to
the tie.
“We are fortunate to
have a community where
all employees, regardless
of their views on the
election, are supportive
of one another and
committed to the success
of Suffolk and all of
our students,” said the
statement.
Madelyn Soto, office
coordinator of the world
languages
&
cultural
studies department said
to The Journal in a recent
interview
that
while
the staff union was not

“defeated,” she will not be
“going full throttle.”
“I’m not going to go
out and recruit, but I’m
still all for the union,”
said Soto.
Soto
said
more
people and fresh faces

the subject of obtaining
raises.
“And now our jobs are
at risk again,” said Soto.
“No one is safe.”
Being essentially back
at the start of the effort
to become a certified

“I’m not going to go
out and recruit,
but I’m still
all for the union.”
Madelyn Soto, office coordinator of the
World Languages & Cultural Studies department

are needed. While the
unionization
efforts
were representative of a
multitude of ambitions,
Soto said the original
objective of job security
swayed, and that the
focus had shifted toward

bargaining representative
of staff employees, ‘Our
Suffolk Union’ will have
to begin the process
from scratch according to
Power-Ayer. This would
entail the same steps
taken prior to the original

election where cards were
signed that garnished
support, the message
was spread in order to
persuade
people
and
eventually, an election
was filed for.
“It
is
kind
of
discouraging that a lot
of employees don't see
the need for the union.
I mean there might be a
lot of employees that are
happy with their positions
-- I personally am too in
this department, and of
course there are a lot of
benefits to working here,”
said Fish. “But I think
overall, just having a
union will legally give us
a voice and we'll be able
to bargain for a contract
and have a say in the way
things are run around
here.”

Connect with Chris
by emailing
cdegusto@su.suffolk.edu

The issue on Boston’s rent:
Study provides evidence of transgender,
gender nonconforming discrimination
Nathan Espinal
Senior Staff Writer
A
recent
study
conducted by the Suffolk
Law
School
Housing
Discrimination
Testing
Program
(HDTP)
has
proven that the U.S.
Housing
and
Urban
Development
in
Massachusetts
antidiscrimination laws has
failed transgender and
gender non-conforming
citizens who have looked
for rentals in the Greater
Boston area.
Before
this
study,
there was no data on
discrimination
in
the
rental housing market.
Part of the purpose for
this study was to disprove
those who argued that
there was no evidence
of discrimination against
transgender and gender
non-conforming people.
People may not realize
the
discrimination
is
occurring,
and
often
people will not report
discrimination regardless
of whether it is visible or
not according to Jamie
Langowski,
assistant

director of HDTP.
Despite
the
Massachusetts legislature
amendment to the antidiscrimination laws to
protect
those
whose
gender identity differs
from cis-gendered people
in 2012, the HDTP has
concluded that real estate
professionals have been
using covert methods
of discrimination when
providing
housing
to
people who identify as
transgender
or
nonconforming
seeking
rentals. The point of the
study was to identify
business practices, and
how “housing providers”
have treated people who
have looked for housing.
Along with Analysis
Group
(AG),
a
firm
specializing in analysis
for
economics
and
finances, the HDTP was
able to design study
protocols
to
conduct
statistical analysis that
paired protected class
(PC) testers who identify
as
transgender
and
gender non-conforming
with control testers who
identify as cis-gender
and gender conforming.

Transgender is a term
usually reserved for those
who identify as a gender
different from the one
they were assigned at
birth, while gender nonconforming is a term
used by people who do
not ascribe to gender
roles and stereotypes.
The 33 pairs of testers
were sent to apartments
to conduct the search
process as if they were
actually
looking
to
secure the apartment.
The PC testers were
instructed to disclose
their gender identities to
the housing provider to
ensure the variable was
present during the test.
The pairs then recorded
their
experiences
in
detailed reports after
the
interaction.
This
information was used by
AG to develop statistical
analysis reports.
“We’re not finding
that people are being
denied the opportunity
to submit an application,
because we weren’t doing
that,” said Langowski in
an interview with The
Suffolk Journal following
the presentation. “What

“What we’re finding is that up to that point
there are high levels of negative treatment
and people are not receiving the same
level of customer service.”
-Jamie Langowski, assistant director of HDTP

we’re finding is that up
to that point there are
high levels of negative
treatment and people are
not receiving the same
level of customer service.”
The results of the
study found that the
PC testers were more
likely to receive negative
treatment
based
on
their gender identity.
Unknowingly,
these
testers were 27 percent
less likely to be shown
more
areas
of
the
apartment
complex
by the realtor, were 9
percent more likely to be
offered a higher rental
price, 21 percent less
likely to be addressed by
their chosen name and
12 percent more likely to
hear negative comments
on the unit and the

neighborhood.
This
study
is
significant,
according
to the Director of HDTP
William Berman, because
this provides evidence
that discrimination still
occurs in the Greater
Boston area, which is a
liberal area in a state that
has banned this type of
discrimination.
“It’s
upsetting,
because this shouldn’t be
happening, but it’s good to
know because then people
can prepare themselves
on the individual level
when they are looking
for housing, and for
people who are trying
to influence policy they
can arm themselves with
this,” said Langowski.
This
study,
which
will be published within

the year in Volume 29.2
of the “Yale Journal of
Law and Feminism,” has
been
published
early
because of how relevant
its findings are to the
rollbacks of protections
on gender identity and
sexual orientation.
“I do hope real estate
professionals read this
and get a sense of what’s
happening in the market
and assess their own
behavior,” said Langowski.
“It is absolutely a problem
if implicit bias is creeping
into their professional
work when part of their
profession is to treat
everyone the same.”

Connect with Nathan
by emailing
nespinal2@su.suffolk.edu

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3 OCT. 25, 2017

N

Political Pulse:

Suffolk professors weigh in on tax reform
Maggie Randall
D.C. Correspondent
President
Donald
Trump announced the
Republican tax plan on
Sept. 28 in Indianapolis.
He characterized it as
“a once-in-a-generation
opportunity,” that will
end up being “the largest
tax cut in our country’s
history.”
Dr. Michaele Morrow,
an associate professor
of
accounting
at
Suffolk University, did
not
characterize
the
Republican tax plan the
same way as Trump in a
recent interview with The
Suffolk Journal.
“Everything
that
the
Republicans
are
proposing will increase
the
national
debt,
which has long-lasting
effects that should be of
significant concern to
Suffolk students,” said
Morrow.
Congressional
Republicans
and
the
Trump
Administration
have made tax reform a
priority. Their proposed
plan offered very few
details, and has left
supporters excited and
experts puzzled.
Dr. James Angelini,
associate professor of tax
accounting and director of
the Masters of Science in
Taxation (MST) program
at Suffolk University,
said that college students
should pay attention to
how taxes interact with
student loans, tuition and
scholarships.
Both
professors
agreed that while the
tax
plan
may
seek

simplification, its results
are complicated.
One aspect of the
Republican plan changes
the
number
of
tax
brackets from seven to
three. Based on income,
individuals will be taxed
at either 12 percent, 25
percent, or 35 percent.
The plan does not specify
who is subject to these
new brackets, creating
uncertainty.
While it is unclear
how the tax plan will
affect upper, middle and
lower class Americans
without
analyzing
specific policy choices,
Morrow believes that the
proposal to change the
standard deduction and
dependency
exemption
will have a large negative
impact on single parents
and families with multiple
children.
The Republican tax
plan would also eliminate
the estate tax, referred
to informally as the
“death tax.” According to
Internal Revenue Service
data from October, the
estate tax applies to the
transfer of property worth
more than $5,490,000 to
an heir at the time of the
owner’s death.
“The
estate
tax
generates a very minor
amount of tax revenue (.6
percent), so the budget
impact would be small,”
said Angelini. “Therefore,
eliminating the estate tax
does look like a tax cut
for the rich (President
Trump included!). But,
is it a fair tax to begin
with? In many cases it is
double taxation on assets
that have already been
depleted by a lifetime of

paying taxes.”
The Center on Budget
and
Policy
Priorities
estimates that repealing
the estate tax would
result in $3 million tax
cuts for wealthy heirs, and
only affect 0.2 percent of
American estates.
Morrow said repealing
the estate tax would
result
in
decreased
revenue and increased
income inequality.
The
Massachusetts
state legislature has been
working on their own
tax reform with regards
to
a
constitutional
amendment to impose
a
“millionaire’s
tax.”
The
“millionaire’s
tax” would call for an
extra 4 percent tax on
incomes over $1 million
in the commonwealth,
with the revenue going
towards education and
infrastructure initiatives.
While the House and
Senate decided in June
of this year to put the
amendment on the 2018
ballot, the measure could
be blocked in a legal battle
by influential business
groups, according to the
Boston Globe.
Massachusetts
has
historically
been
nicknamed
“Taxachusetts” for the
reputation of high taxes,
but the commonwealth
ranks 18th out of the
50 states for tax burden
by state, with a total tax
burden just over nine
percent.
In 2011, Congressional
Republicans agreed to
an “Americans for Tax
Reform pledge” which
was
a
commitment
to
not
raise
taxes.

Courtesy of Suffolk University

Associate Professor of Accounting
Dr. Michaele Morrow
Through Reconciliation,
a
legislative
process
that curtails traditional
rules,
Congressional
Republicans can uphold
“the
Pledge”
through
simple majority. Even
so, any changes, passes
or bills that could add to
the deficit, such measures
will expire after 10 years.
“If they could get
60 votes [in the Senate]
the changes would be
permanent, which is much
better tax policy, but
that would require some
Democratic support,” said
Angelini.
Angelini
fears
uncertainty will create
more chaos if retroactive
laws are pushed through
during
reconciliation;
meaning that tax policies
passed in November of
this year could affect
filing for the entire year.

THE Suffolk Journal

Retroactive laws create
uncertainty for taxpayers
who rely on consistency
validity of current law.
While he acknowledges
that the research is mixed
on whether cutting or
raising taxes leads to
growth, Angelini said
he believes a result of
Congress’
inability
to
pass a tax policy by 2018
would perpetuate slow
economic growth.
Morrow added that
both Republicans and
Democrats are to blame
for the failure to pass
effective
tax
reform
that would deal with
government spending.
“As I tell my class,
these
people
making
decisions for our country
will be dead when the
negative effects of those
decisions start to be felt,”
said Morrow.

Angelini offered that
Congress should pursue
business tax reform as
a more certain means
to grow the economy.
Angelini
argued
that
the current corporate
tax system is pushing
businesses
offshore,
stifling
international
competition and limiting
immigration.
Morrow and Angelini
agreed that a conversation
on the national debt, with
some sort of entitlement
reform, is necessary to the
tax policy conversation.

Check “Political Pulse”
next week for an
understanding of the
national debt.

Connect with Maggie
by emailing
mrandall@su.suffolk.edu

8 Ashburton Place, Office 930B, Boston, MA
TheSuffolkJournal.com

The independent student newspaper of Suffolk University since 1936.
Editor-in-Chief
News Editor
World News Editor
Asst. World News
Editor
Arts Editor
Opinion Editor
Sports Editor
Asst. Sports Editor
Photo Editor
Copy Editor

Alexa Gagosz
Chris DeGusto
Jacob Geanous
Amy Koczera
Felicity Otterbein
Patrick Holmes
Brooke Patterson
Hannah Arroyo
Haley Clegg
Kaitlin Hahn

Senior Staff Writer
Senior Staff Writer
Senior Staff Writer
D.C. Correspondent

Faculty Advisor
Media Advisor

Nathan Espinal
Kyle Crozier
Joe Rice
Maggie Randall

Bruce Butterfield
Alex Paterson

The Suffolk Journal is the student newspaper of
Suffolk University. It is the mission of the Suffolk
Journal to provide the Suffolk community with
the best possible reporting of news, events,
entertainment, sports and opinions. The reporting,
views, and opinions in the Suffolk Journal are solely
those of the editors and staff of The Suffolk Journal
and do not reflect those of Suffolk University, unless
otherwise stated.
The Suffolk Journal does not discriminate against
any persons for any reason and complies with all
university policies concerning equal opportunity.
Copyright 2017.

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4 OCT. 25, 2017

News Briefs
Regional apparel company pledges
grants for young activists
Still-Legal Apparel for the Next Four Years,
has planned to give grants to young resistance
leaders to support their contributions and
efforts which have stemmed from the election
of President Donald Trump. These grants of
$1000 will go to resistance leaders of the region,
according to a recent press release. Activists aged
13 to 30 are eligible to receive this “hug from the
community,” in order to support their fight. “We
support young people leading the way on issues
like climate protection, support for science,
press freedoms, protection for Dreamers, and
the values of compassion and tolerance. These
brave and peaceful activists need to know we’re
behind them,” said Still-Legal! founder Jim Stahl
according to the press release. With the Rhode
Island-based company already having pledged
$5000 in grant money, there is possibility for
this figure to rise up to $50,000 if other local
businesses and philanthropies partner with StillLegal! and Swampscott-native Stahl. According to
the press release, Stahl said that approximately
every 150 shirts sold, that of which read phrases
such as, “Teach Science: While it’s Still Legal,”
and “Tolerance: While it’s Still Legal,” fund one
grant.

Walsh far beyond Jackson in polls
With the city’s general election a mere two
weeks away, Major Walsh keeps a full 35
point lead over his opponent, District 7 City
Councilor Tito Jackson. Walsh can attribute his
lead to the 58 percent of voters who chose him
over Jackson’s 23 percent, leaving 17 percent
undecided. Walsh’s lead can be attributed to his
success in his first term, as he has been able to
keep his favorability rating at 69 percent. David
Paleologos, Director of the Suffolk University
Political Research Center commented on Walsh’s
popularity, “Despite dissatisfaction on issues
like the price of housing and the cost of living
in Boston, voters don’t appear to be blaming
Walsh” said Paleologos, “The poll is a powerful
validation of Mayor Walsh’s first term in office”.
Community outreach has proved to be a huge
proponent for winning the opportunity to
be mayor, as 50 percent of those polled have
personally met Walsh while 35 percent have
either never met Jackson or do not have enough
information to develop an opinion on him.

Amazon looks to Boston
Last month, Amazon, holding its place as one of
the five most valuable companies in the world,
announced that they were searching for a new
location in the US, outside of their original in
Seattle, Wa. The company is promising five
billion dollars worth of construction as well
as 50,000 jobs. These benefits, along with the
promise of having a multi-billion dollar company
in your backyard, has spurred more than 50
major cities to plan a bid, according to Business
Insider. Charlie Baker, the current Massachusetts
Governor says that his department will not stand
with an specific part of the state, “We’re not
going to partner with any particular [locale],
because there’s a lot of different folks who are
interested in submitting proposals, and God bless
’em — go for it” said the Governor to WGBH.
Towns from Boston to Billerica plan to submit
proposals, with each describing what they could
offer to the big-name company.

N

Lubofsky opens eyes to scientific journalism
Kyle Crozier
Senior Staff Writer

Bridging the academic
fields of environmental
science and journalism,
the science-writer and
Massachusetts
resident
Evan Lubofsky captivated
a room full of science
and journalism students
while speaking at Suffolk
University
about
his
profession, as a science
writer and what some of
his favorite experiences
have been working in
his field. Lubofsky also
discussed
why
some
students may want to
pursue this specific area
of journalism and and
what first led him into
the field.
Having started off
his career as a writer
for
technological
publications
such
as
“Sensors
Magazine”
and
“Plumbing
and
Mechanical
Magazine,”
Lubofsky
gained
an
interest and connection
to the sciences, more
specifically
marine
sciences.
He currently resides
in Cape Cod, MA, and
freelances most often
for “Hakai Magazine,”
“Oceanus” and “Frontiers
in Ecology” which have
all won numerous awards
for their publications.
“Oceanus” has existed
for over 60 years, and
began as a place to
explore
information
about
oceanographic
exploration.
“Frontiers
in Ecology” works closely
with
the
Ecological
Society of America and
intended to be broad and
accessible for readers
who are not necessarily
scientists themselves.
Without
a
science
background,
Lubofsky
has traveled to the Bikini
Atoll, where the United
States
detonated
23
nuclear weapons in the
1940’s and 50’s. Lubofsky
also traveled to Northern
Israel
with
scientists
studying a unique species
of lobster that was being
observed
to
identify
how climate change was
affecting the crustaceans.
These two story profiles
presented
were
what
gave the name, “Weird
Lobsters and Bikinis” to
the event.
“For me, just the
experience of going with

Kyle Crozier / Senior Staff Writer

a science team and being
immersed in that for the
better part of a week is
just tremendous,” said
Lubofsky during the talk.
In an interview with
The
Suffolk
Journal,
Lubofsky discussed what
role
science-writing
plays for the scientific
community.
“It
can
be used to help make
scientific discovery more
transparent, [the articles]
are pressing for scientists
to peel back the layers on
their findings and their
assertions,”
explained
Lubofsky.
Journalism is seen
by some as a way to
inform the public and
prevent people in power
from
controlling
the
all
dissemination
of
information.
Lubofsky
believes specifically that
science writing has a
role in making sure that
anyone can read and learn
about the work scientists
are doing, and that the
findings of the research
have not been over or
under-exaggerated.
Lubofsky said that for
his work, he would like
to possibly provide an
alternate and truthful
source for the general
public to receive scientific
information.
Lubofsky said that not
being familiar with many
of the topics he writes
about can actually be
more of a positive, as it
forces his interviews with
professionals to truly
bring the discussions
down to the basics. This
has allowed his articles
to be more easily read
and comprehended by

an audience who may
not otherwise have a
background in some of
the advanced topics he
discusses.
“[The scientists] are
not always thinking about
general audiences and
how they’re explaining
what they’re doing in
a simple way,” said
Lubofsky.
Lubofsky
explained
this can also be an
advantage
for
the
scientists, as they are
provided with an outlet
where they can publish
their findings and have
them be read by people
who may not previously
have been exposed to the
subject
Katherine
Lawlor,
a
junior
at
Suffolk
University pursuing an
environmental
science
major, attended the event.
In an interview with
The Suffolk Journal, she
expressed some surprise
to hear Lubofsky did not
have a background in
science.
“I was a bit thrown off
that almost anyone can be
a science journalist and
they don’t have to have
a science background.
I like that people that
people who don’t have
science backgrounds are
interested in science,”
said Lawlor.
Lawlor
continued,
saying that she found
his story about the
nuclear testing in the
Bikini Atoll to be very
interesting. Also, that she
could understand how
it could prove useful in
certain situations to have
someone writing that

needed to understand
the basics of the topic, to
make it more accessible
for everyone to read
about.
Citing his travels as
one of the many perks
of
choosing
sciencewriting over other topics,
Lubofsky also presented
the many opportunities
that can exist for sciencewriting, including: a wide
range of specific topics
such as space, psychology
and nature. This branch
of journalism can also
be lucrative, reaching
an up to two dollars per
word maximum for an
article depending on the
publication,
although
Lubofsky emphasized that
this was not his primary
motivation for entering
the field.
One of his all-time
favorite areas to write
about has been marine
archaeology, where he
has examined research
and studies surrounding
a shipwreck from the
civil war, concerns about
damage to shipwreck
locations
by
modern
fishing trawlers and new
technology
to
better
research the ocean floor.
“I would like to do
more feature writing on
marine archaeology. I am
just really developing a
love for that intersection
between
science
and
history. If there was one
area I have my eyes set
on, it is doing more of
that,” said Lubofsky.

Connect with Kyle
by emailing
kcrozier@su.suffolk.edu

@UN

W

STAY TUNED:

In Yemen, South Sudan, Nigeria & Somalia,
20M people are on brink of starvation.
@WFP is on the ground, fighting famine.

International perspective
from Colombian student;
life in America

Follow @UN on Twitter for more updates.

See next week’s edition.

WORLD

OCTOBER 25, 2017 | PAGE 5

Coral on brink of extinction as ocean temps rise

oceans.
“The ocean is a vast,
empty space for the
most part and coral reefs
are seen as an oasis in
the large expanse,” said
Matthew Pfannenstiel, a
Visitor Educator at the
New England Aquarium
(NEAQ) in a recent interview with The Suffolk
Journal. “Think of the
ocean as a desert and the
coral reefs as a watering
hole with foliage.”
Numerous
Suffolk
professors feel that it is
crucial for society to be
aware of global warming
and how it is impacting
the coral reefs and essentially the human race.
Associate Biology Professor Carl Merrill recommended to “keep talking”
about science and to encourage individuals to
think more about fossil
fuels and to consider how
they can decrease their
own usage, in an interview with The Journal.
“Education has been
lacking
in
following
the science [on climate
change],” said Instructor
Anurag Sharma in an interview with The Journal.
“High school teachers are
still teaching the science
I learned 50 years ago.
There need to be modern changes so that we
create a population that
is equipped to follow the
data.”
In June, Governor
Charlie Baker signed Massachusetts back into the
Paris Agreement after
President Donald Trump
removed
the
United
States from the accord.
The Paris Accord established certain caps on
carbon emissions. Now
that the U.S. is no longer
apart of the Accord, many
are concerned that this
could potentially be disastrous for the future of
the planet.
“Pulling out of the
Paris Accord definitely
changes things
quite a

bit,” said Chemistry and
Biochemistry
Professor
Emerita Martha Richmond. “Hopefully visualizing and describing
the damages to the coral
reefs pushes people to do
more.”
Suffolk students have
also agreed with Richmond that pulling out of
the Paris Accord could
have a seriously detrimental impact on the environment.
“There should be more
of a concern for climate
change,” said senior History and International Relations major Katarina DiPlacido. “It will definitely
become more evident
soon and then there will
be more effects on humans. That’s when we’ll
see people want to make
changes, but by then it
might be too late.”
The current state of
the American government has many worried
about the long-term consequences the planet may
end up suffering if environmental
protection
regulations are not established or enforced.
“I’m sad that our federal government isn’t
doing anything to help
the environment that we
depend on for survival,”
said sophomore Politics,
Philosophy and Economics (PPE) major Maddison
Mignola.
Some students feel
that the political orientation of the state will influence how certain cities
will enact policies regarding climate change.
“I feel like mostly Republican states are relaxed in how they enforce
environmental
regulations which could end up
negatively affecting people” said sophomore PPE
and Environmental Studies major Lydia Gottwald.
“I think that for blue
states this may be a callto-action because they
are joining the Paris Accord as individual states.”
Unless there are serious reduc-

tions to carbon emissions, practically all coral
reef systems will be dead
by 2100, according to National Geographic. It is
important for nations to
act now more than ever
to reduce the production of greenhouse gases
in order to save an ecosystem that supports not
only 25 percent of ocean
life, but also a significant
amount of human life as
well, according to National Geographic.
“The food source is
going to disappear,” said
Richmond. “All this pollution affects the quality of
the water, the sustainability of food, the fishing industry and the sea level.”
Pfannenstiel emphasized that seafood is a
nutritional necessity for
parts of the world, therefore climate change will
ultimately affect how a
portion of humans receive their food source.
Sharma told The Journal that corals are dying
at a rate that has, “never
happened in the history
we are able to document.”
Corals are self-sustaining organisms until their
environment is altered by
some external force - specifically warmer water.
Zooxanthellae is the type
of algae found in coral
that keeps it alive by providing it with food and
sugars to survive. When
the temperature elevates
in an area where there are
coral reefs, zooxanthellae
is then extracted from
the corals, thus creating
thermal stress, therefore
bleaching the corals with
no hope of complete restoration, according to
multiple sources.
The coral then becomes a dull white color
since the zooxanthellae
gives the reef its plethora of pastel colors. If the
coral is a neon color, it
is in the first stages of
bleaching.
Water gets warm as
a result of carbon emissions being released into
the atmosphere through
the burning of fossil fuels, coastal erosion,
the sea level rising, changes in
s t o r m

pH Balance of World’s Oceans

pH Balance

From CORAL - 1

Time (years)
Jacob Geanous/ World News Editor

patterns, altered ocean
currents and ocean acidification.
“Carbon dioxide is
like a blanket that encompasses the Earth and
makes it warmer,” said
Pfannenstiel. “By making
the Earth warmer, the
water’s temperature will
increase and just a couple
degrees can affect coral
reefs around the world.”
Carbonic acid is created during a chemical reaction when CO2 and water meet, thus making the
ocean more acidic when
more CO2 is released
into the atmosphere. This
acidity is what makes the
water substantially warm,
causing the corals to experience thermal stress,
according to Richmond.
Coral is affected negatively in two instances:
the warming of the ocean
water as well as the effects that storms and erosion have on the coral by
releasing sediment into
the ocean that makes algae less productive and,
in
conjunction,
s u p p o r t s

the life of the coral, according to Merrill.
Merrill explained that
the ocean’s pH level has
grown from .03 to .041 in
just two decades. The pH
level has gone down .001
in the last year, which
may not seem like a lot
until compared to the stability of the number for
centuries, said Merrill.
Many scientists have
become frustrated with
this issue because of how
little control they have
over it. Regardless of how
much research is done on
coral bleaching, it is almost impossible to alter
the behavior of society in
way that has the power to
halt coral bleaching entirely.
Bostonians and the
general public alike can
help save the reefs around
the world from coral
bleaching and extinction,
according to Pfannenstiel.
By voting in local government

elections, citizens can
work together to protect
marine life.
Climate change poses
a fundamental and observable threat to numerous ecosystems across
the globe. Despite policy
emerging from Capitol
Hill, members of the Suffolk community remain
concerned and weary
over the future of the
Earth’s oceans.
“Because
climate
change is a relatively new
subject, people don’t really know much about it
right now,” said DiPlacido. “There should be
more of a concern for climate change, before it’s
too late.”

Connect with Amy
by emailing
akoczera@su.suffolk.edu.
Connect with Patrick
by emailing
pholmes@su.suffolk.edu.

THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKWORLDNEWS@GMAIL.COM

6 OCT. 25, 2017

W

Retired Admiral condemns partisan politics
Stiv Mucollari
Journal Staff
Leo Fahey
Journal Contributor

Confronting
global
challenges of North Korea
to
the
environment,
retired Admiral James
G. Stavridis laid out the
issues the world is facing
and possible solutions at
World Boston’s 8th Annual
Consuls Reception. The
event was attended by
nearly 60 members of
the local Consular Corps
and nearly 200 leaders
from different sectors of
society.
During
the
2016
Presidential
Election,
Hillary Clinton considered
Stavridis as a potential
Vice-Presidential
pick,
and
he
was
under
consideration
for
Secretary of State by the
Trump
administration.
Both were impressed by
Stavridis’s career in the
Navy, and his involvement
with the academic spheres
of international relations.
Worried about the
polarization
of
U.S.
politics, Stavridis has not
been a stranger to the
political field. He has
worked towards bridging
the gap between the two
parties.
“I feel good about
being enough of a centrist
that both parties look at

me realistically for a very
senior job,” said Stavridis.
A
registered
independent,
Stavridis
mentioned that he has
voted across the aisle
throughout the years.
Dedicating his whole life
to military service, he
stressed the importance
of putting the nation first.
“We
need
more
Americans that are less
party identified, and more
identified on what is right
with the country,” said
Stavridis.
Admiral
Stavridis
was
responsible
for
Afghanistan, Libya, Syria,
Balkans, Piracy, and Cyber
Security. He was also
in command of 200,000
members of U.S. armed
forces, and that he “Had
access to three million
armed forces members
through NATO partners.”
Currently the dean of
the Fletcher School of Law
and Diplomacy at Tufts
University, the Admiral is
also an associate member
of the Geneva Centre for
Security Policy (GCSP).
“[The GCSP] is focused
on
bringing
together
communities
and
interests to discuss major
issues facing the world,”
said Stavridis.
He has also published
several books, including
one on the role of
the world’s oceans in
geopolitics.
During his speech,
Stavridis warned about

“

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

We need more Americans
that are less party
identified, and more
identified on what is right
with the country.
- Admiral James G. Stravridis

the global world order
returning to a state of
conflict that led to World
War I and World War
II. He added that the
backward shift occurred
because nations became
complacent,
thinking
that great power politics

”

would not return again.
“Tension, competition,
verging towards conflict...
Between United States,
China, Russia, and [the]
European Union,” said
Stavridis.
To prevent the return
of great power politics,

Stavridis
highlighted
the
importance
of
understanding
the
perspective
of
other
nations.
“We must listen to
our opponents we need
to understand Russia’s
views, China’s historical
claims we don’t have
to agree but [we have
to] listen more,” said
Stavridis.
Another subject that
the
Admiral
touched
upon was the tension on
the Korean Peninsula.
“[There is a] ten
percent chance that we
will end up in an all-out
war,” said Stavridis.
While ten percent is
a
gloomy
prediction,
given the potential use
of a nuclear weapons in
a the conflict, Stavridis
argued that it is most
likely the conflict will
end diplomatically. If
an incident does occur,
Stavridis believed that it
would most likely be a
minor one, rather than a
nuclear conflict.
Not only did his
speech
touch
upon
ongoing global crises, the
Admiral offered solutions
to the issues plaguing the
world. He also argued the
importance of the U.S. to
not return to isolationism,
because the U.S. needs
to be an active player in
order for the issues to be
properly addressed on a
global scale.
“We have an ability

WORLD .BRIEFS
.. .

to bring international
coalitions to address global
issues,” said Stavridis.
Through the strategic
cooperation
between
U.S.
intergovernmental
agencies,
international
agencies
and
other
nations,
the
Admiral
said that he believed
that the U.S. could make
significant
strides
in
combating climate change
and responding to natural
disasters.
“[I]
apologize
[on
behalf of the country] for
U.S. withdrawal from Paris
Accord,” said Admiral
Stavridis, referencing the
Trump
administration’s
intention to withdraw
from the accords on the
basis of risking damage
America’s economy.
Towards the end of
his
speech,
Stavridis
discussed the world being
a marketplace of ideas.
“We execute our values
imperfectly, but they are
perfect,” said Stavridis.
While American values,
such as democracy and
freedom of speech, face
challenges domestically,
Stavridis believes in the
importance of fighting for
those values on a global
level.

Connect with Stiv by
emailing smucollari@
su.suffolk.edu.
Connect with Leo
by emailing lfahey@
su.suffolk.edu.

JAPAN RE-ELECTS PRIME MINISTER ABE

ISLAMIC STATE FIGHTERS RETURN HOME

Japan re-elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a landslide victory
in Sunday’s general election. Abe’s ruling party has retained a twothirds majority the country’s parliament and the estimated voter
turnout Sunday was just below 54 percent, multiple news sources
reported. Abe said in a post-election press conference that the
overwhelming voter support represented a “historic” level of public
confidence in him and his policies, including the revision of the
pacifist constitution, according to BBC. He has previously called for
the country’s armed forces to be formalized, which he has stated is
necessary to strengthen Japan’s defense, but has faced criticism as a
step toward re-militarization. In the past, Abe announced he wanted
to revise the country’s Article 9 clause, to formally recognize the
military, which has been referred to as the “self-defense forces”.
Originally, he set a deadline of 2020 to achieve his goal, but changed
his tune on Monday, saying it was “not set in a concrete schedule”,
according to multiple news sources. Abe discussed stepping up
counter-measures against “the North Korea threat” in the postelection address. He stated he will be meeting with U.S. President
Donald Trump and other world leaders next month.

More than 5,600 supporters of the so-called Islamic State (IS) have
allegedly returned to their home countries after IS lost ground
in Iraq and Syria. The Soufan Center, a U.S.-based think-tank, has
announced that 33 states have reported arrivals in the last two years.
This included approximately half of the 850 individuals who have left
the UK to allegedly join IS, 400 of the 3,417 fighters from Russia, 760
of the 3,244 from Saudi Arabia, 800 of the 2,926 from Tunisia and
800 of the 2,926. The study stated Russia has sent the most foreign
fighters to IS to date. The Soufan Center’s report also stated that
IS’s flow of foreign fighters stalled out in the late 2015, as IS began
to suffer defeats. The data recovery that followed the recent fall
of IS administrative strongholds, such as Raqqa, has confirmed the
identities of nearly half of the more that 40,000 foreigners from 110
countries estimated to have flocked to Iraq and Syria to join IS. The
report stated that returning women and children will be a particular
problem because states may not best know how to reintegrate them.
It also cited proper mental and social support mechanisms as key for
children returning.

A

JUST A CLICK AWAY:

Annual “Light the Night” walk hosted
by the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society & Dinner Theatre
Visit sjuncoveredwithflash.wordpress.com



STAY TUNED:

Performance reviews “Robyn is Happy,”
“Cirque of the Dead,” and Suffolk
Cinema Series
Come to our meetings on Tuesdays!

OCTOBER 25, 2017 | PAGE 7

ARTS & CULTURE

Director Rob Reiner brings LBJ to life in new film
Juliana Tuozzola
Journal Contributor

It has been half
a century since the
enactment of the Civil
Rights
Act,
which
ended
segregation
in public places and
made
employment
discrimination
illegal.
The act was proposed
by President John F.
Kennedy, and shortly
after his tragic death,
President
Lyndon
B.
Johnson
pursued
Kennedy’s
proposal.
More than 50 years later,
America is once again
torn and destructed by
racial violence. The “LBJ”
film is hangs in a critical
moment in America right
now because this movie
reflects the American
spirit wanting moving
toward racial equality
and putting an end
to racial violence and
discrimination.
Woody
Harrelson

takes on the role of a
historical American figure
who was deeply insecure,
politically driven and
faced with unimaginable
odds; Lyndon B. Johnson.
“LBJ” is a politicaldrama
film
which
premiered at the Brattle
Theatre on Wednesday.
The movie was directed
by Rob Reiner whose
intention in producing
this film “was to show
the
political
turmoil
that Vice President LBJ
was faced with after the
assassination of Kennedy”
said Reiner. The film
captured
this
pivotal
moment
in
American
history by showing it
through the lens of
Johnson,
in
addition
to capturing the true
essence of his character,
his motivations and his
legacy.
Reiner
expressed
the significance behind
focusing the plot of the
film on an extremely
precise and short span of
LBJ’s career.

“I figured if we could
hone in on the time of his
life when he was under
the most pressure, that
would really tease out
who he was,” said Reiner
in an interview that
followed the screening of
“LBJ.”
Woody
Harrelson
starred as Lyndon B.
Johnson and took on
the role of a man who
was propelled into the
presidency by the means
of an assassin’s bullet.
In the interview which
followed
the
private
viewing of the film,
Harrelson said, “I think
at this time in his life he
suddenly had the power
thrusted upon him and
he decided to use it for
a good thing. He knew it
was time to push forward
the Civil Rights Act.”
The film was inspired
by Johnson’s dear friend
and
prior
co-worker
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s
biography,
“Lyndon
Johnson and the American
Dream.”

“The convictions he
had for wanting to use
power for something
that mattered were
absolutely real.”
- Doris Kearns Goodwin

Historian and close friend
of Lyndon B. Johnson
“Doris’ insight to LBJ
gave us the full picture of
who this man was.” said
Reiner.
Goodwin discussed her
relationship to Johnson
and declared that it was
“eerie” for her to see him
come to life again in this
film.
“What
the
film
captures, which is so
important, is that his
presidency is the tale of
two presidencies,” said
Goodwin.
Goodwin stated what

she believed to be true of
Johnson, “the convictions
he had for wanting to use
power for something that
mattered were absolutely
real.”
The
film
certainly
opened a door for people
to create a new, clearer
or altered perceptions of
Lyndon B. Johnson and
his career. This was a
main goal of Reiner’s, who
claimed that most people
tend to have a distorted
image of Johnson.
“I was of draft age

during the Vietnam War
and I hated LBJ between
spending time in politics,
policy, and government
and
discovering
how
difficult it is to move an
agenda forward, I got a
greater appreciation of
LBJ,” said Reiner.
Lyndon B. Johnson’s
many
accomplishments
despite his unexpected
presidency are depicted,
as well as the struggles
he faced and the man he
was.
“What he did socially
and
economically
for
the country deserves to
be remembered,” said
Goodwin.
This film achieves just
that- his legacy is certainly
being reintroduced and
his memory brought back
to life.
“LBJ” is set to be
released on Nov. 3.

Connect with Juliana
by emailing jtuozzola@
su.suffolk.edu

In a Suffolk cafeteria, far far away...

The ninth annual Suffolk University Dinner Theatre’s latest installment “Star Wars Episode: Murder,”
was a phenomenal display of talent by Suffolk students, despite slight audio issues

Felicity Otterbein
Arts Editor
In a society driven
by instant gratification,
it’s easy to get swept
up in the dramatics and
dissatisfaction
when
something is not put into
not-so-patiently waiting
hands.
Such is the millennial
lifestyle.
Those who grew up
in the digital age, so to
speak, have come to rely
so heavily on technology,
that
a
borderline
dependency
has
occurred. It’s needed for
art, entertainment, math
and scientific discovery,
yet when it’s needed to
work immediately and it
doesn’t perform in the
desired way, the first
reaction is disdain and
disappointment.
At Suffolk University,
students
and
faculty
alike have come to
appreciate the technology
at immediate disposal.
Broadcast
journalism
students
have
access

Courtesy of Dan McHugh Photography

Donovan Skepple as Duke Crytalker and Christina Payne as
D403 pose in Suffolk University’s Dinner Theatre:
“Star Wars Episode: Murder.”

to digital cameras and
editing software, biology
and chemistry majors
have access to various lab
equipment and the theater
and
performing
arts
students are dependent
on
microphones
and
speaker systems to help
deliver their lines and
lyrics. Yet when a piece
of respective technology
fails,
it
becomes
a
disappointment on all
fronts.
For
Suffolk’s
Performing Arts Office,
the
students
who
participate in productions
like the annual Dinner
Theatre, performers know
and expect equipment to
work in order to deliver
top quality performances.
What
was
incredibly
disappointing was the
lack of audio that was
prevalent in this year’s
9th annual Dinner Theatre
“Star
Wars
Episode:
Murder.”
A
murder
mystery set to a spoofed
Star Wars installment,
the plot followed classic
characters
Indie
Solo
played by Logan Ausmus,
Princess
Diana
by

Summer Erickson, Duke
Crytalker by Donovan
Skepple and Darth Padre
Kemal Beyaztas as they
try to solve the murder
of Kobe-Wan Kenobi by
Jonathan Smalls.
Well-cast,
the
production had everything
from soup to nuts literally. A three-course
meal provided by Sodexo
was interspersed between
acts of comedy and
singing. Yet, the ultimate
downfall was ironically
enough, the lack of audio.
Spoofed songs from hit
films like “Moana” and
“Frozen” were difficult
to understand as the
lyrics from the characters
were drowned out in the
booming melodies from
the sound systems.
Performing Arts Office
Assistant Director Kathy
Maloney told The Suffolk
Journal that the use of
single microphones is
difficult in performances
like Dinner Theatre due to
the competing feedbacks
between the microphones

See DINNER - 8

8 OCT. 25, 2017

Audio issues impact
Dinner Theatre
Despite spectacular performances by the cast,
over-powering audio from the surround-sound
speaker system interrupted the overall performances.

Courtesy of Dan McHugh Photography

Ashley Ceravone as Vizzini the Hutt and D.J. Fabrizio as Maz
Hausemann converse during the hysterics of the realization
of the murder of Kobe-Wan Kenobi.
From DINNER - 7
and speakers, which
would be a drawback
and
interruption
to
the performance itself.
An
understandable
limitation to an otherwise
spectacular performance,
it was disappointing when
the actors were not able
to display their range of
artistic abilities due to a
lack of sound.
According to Maloney,
microphones
also
prohibit the very nature
of a Dinner Theatre
performance. Designed to
be an intimate experience
between
actor
and
audience,
microphones
disrupt the otherwise
personal
interactional
asides done by supporting
cast
members
during
an obvious monologue,
conversation or song.
Maloney also said that,
while
other
potential
spaces like the Modern
Theater which is owned
by Suffolk University,
would work in terms of
decent audio and space
for performance, she said
it’s nearly impossible to
book the space for the
performance’s
essential
week-long rehearsal, due
to a packed schedule on

the theater’s part.
Yet, as an audience
member,
no
matter
how busy the scene or
intense the conversation,
it’s always necessary to
emphasize the narrative
by
enhancing
the

helped thicken the plot
and coaxed the narrative
along.
While the reliance on
the audio didn’t seem
to be an issue for the
talented performers, it
was plain to see how

“An understandable
limitation to an
otherwise spectacular
performance, it was
disappointing when the
actors were not able
to display their range of
artistic abilities due
to a lack of sound.”
experience with audible
conversation.
Complete with groanworthy “dad jokes,” from
Darth
Padre
himself
and allusions to various
Disney and other iconic
film
references,
the
performance itself was
entertaining
and
the
hard-work done by those
in the show was obvious
as the night wore on. Ram
Cam productions assisted
in digital visuals that

much time and effort
the production team put
into the evening. Despite
voice projections from
cast members over the
surround-sound speaker
system, the enthusiastic
and committed actors
gave
a
phenomenal
performance.

Connect with Felicity
by emailing fotterbein@
su.suffolk.edu

THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKARTS@GMAIL.COM

A

Cantab lounge features
renowned poet and activist
Kaitlin Hahn
Copy Editor
On
any
given
Wednesday
night
at
the Cantab Lounge in
Cambridge,
one
can
pay the three dollars
fee, present an ID and
make way through the
doorway, past the bar
full of locals and the
five 50-something-yearold members of the
local band of the night,
and down the arguably
questionable stairs to the
basement where songlike rhythm and words
come together, in the
world of slam poetry.
Upon entering the
basement, one becomes
engulfed in the world of
the Cantab. A world of
acceptance of differences
which
provides
a
platform for those to
express emotions toward
the oppression of those
differences. People from
all walks of life, ranging
from MIT professors to
students to the homeless,
gathered to hear the
artistic expression of
life experiences formed
from
instances
from
the everyday to the
unique. The venue is not
glamorous, one visit to
the restrooms will reveal
that, but this only adds
to the experience, as
distractions are limited
to completely focus on
the poets’ and their
artistic expression. The
night began with an open
mic, where members
from the audience are
free to test their stage
presence as well as their
poetry in front of the
group, possibly creating
the foundations for the
poetry slam following
or just there for the
moment.
After
this
open
mic, the group takes a
quick break, and then
reconvened to hear the
work of the featured poet.
This past Wednesday,
the featured poet was
Zenaida Peterson, whose
focus
was
primarily
around civil rights and
gender, using current
and historical events
to further a personal
stance on civil rights. For
gender, Peterson focused
on a personal journey to
a current identification
as a queer, non-binary
person,
describing
both
the
hardships
from society as well
as Peterson’s personal

conquest with finding an
inner peace.
Peterson
worked to connect with
the crowd, and shared
recounts of participating
at the Cantab as the
official starting place
before
broadening
horizons to other venues.
“I feel all the love in
here, I’ve been hoping
to be a feature at the
Cantab since I was just
doing slam here,” said
Peterson in a post poetrysession interview with
The Suffolk Journal.
After
Peterson
presented, the poetry
slam began. Audience
members such as a
man named “Don,” who
wished to not use his
last name for this article,
signed up for the slam
upon entering the venue
at the beginning of the
night waited patiently for
their turn through the
list of people.
“I’ve been coming to

types of skill level. The
poetry this week spanned
from gender to love to
unicorns and everything
in between, displaying
the complexity of slam
poetry at its essence;
a way for people to
describe
themselves
without judgment. The
poets would get one
poem for the judges to
evaluate and be given
a score on a scale from
0.0 to 10.0. The judges
are random audience
members, and only there
to
give
“competition
to draw people into
listening to slam” as said
by the host as he tried to
recruit.
The scores for each
person in the group are
added up and compared
against each other, from
there the winner was
chosen and able to move
on to the next round. The
second round brought
out a more complex

By Facebook user Zenaida Peterson Poetry

slam poetry events for
awhile, and today’s the
day I finally stand up and
do it myself, the culture
of slam is so cool, so
accepting,” said Don to
The Journal regarding his
first time doing a poetry
slam.
The slam was set
up in that, going down
the list in the order of
which
people
signed
their names, three poets
would go in a group.
Those who participated
ranged from all types
of subjects of poetry
as well as all different

group of poets, those
who have experience and
are able to discuss tough
topics in poetic form.
The winner was then
chosen, receiving a ten
dollar prize as well as the
opportunity to compete
in the Champion Slam.
The winner this week
will move on to the
“Champion Slam,” which
is being held at The
Cantab on Wednesday,
Oct 25.

Connect with (name)
by emailing (email)



O

JUST A CLICK AWAY:

The Opinion section is always
looking for fresh ideas to share their
thoughts with the Suffolk community.
Visit thesuffolkjournal.com



STAY TUNED:

Look out for the next installation
of our (feminism letters) in
the edition on Nov. 1.
Come to our meetings on Tuesdays!

OCTOBER 25, 2017 | PAGE 9

OPINION

The feminist letters:
The demise of the coal industry is inevitable
Kyle Crozier
Senior Staff Writer
The American coal
industry was at one
time considered to be
the picture-perfect and
most patriotic career
choice available in rural
communities.
This image has been
challenged in the last
century, as hundreds of

thousands have lost their
jobs in a field of work that
continues to innovate
and automate to a point
where human labor is at
an all time low.
While many directly
impacted
by
this
downward
slope
in
employment see it as an
attack on their livelihoods,
a basic understanding of
the history and growth
of coal mining shows it
is a logical step forward

to reduce the number of
coal miners.
Those involved in the
industry seem to believe
that the government,
or worse that there are
those actively seeking the
demise of the industry
and those who rely on its
continued existence, has
shunned work with coal.
It is true that the
focus of many, both in
the private sector and
in the government, has

shifted away from these
individuals, but not as a
result of malice. Instead
the coal industry has
suffered two powerful
and fatal blows: the true
health impact of a coalfueled energy system
has come to light, and
the labor has become
incredibly mechanized as
companies seek the most
efficient methods. Beyond

See COAL - 10

Media critique: What is newsworthy?
The Trump administration is troubled, now move on
Ryan Arel
Journal Staff
Terrorism,
natural
disasters
and
mass
shootings; these are the
horrors that societies
everywhere are dealing
with and hearing about
on a regular basis.
Everyday, Americans
pick up their newspapers,
computers and phones to
see tear-jerking headlines
about the latest terrorist
attacks at home and
abroad, the newest verbal
recklessness of public
officials or the updated
death toll of any given
natural disaster.
The news and media
outlets have seemed to
be geared toward overcovering certain specific
affairs, such as the
Trump
administration,
where they can put
effort
elsewhere.
Furthermore, informing
the public consistently
on exclusively saddening
aspects of a story as
opposed
to
general
information of why the
events occurred while
also neglecting to cover
more relevant stories, has
become an issue.
Recently, there has
been mass fixation of the
media on Trump and his
cabinet, and the constant
coverage of every minor
transgression in speech
from Trump or the
administration does not
need to be front page
all the time. There are
plenty of other subjects
to discuss as opposed
to every controversial
statement
from
the
current presidency, and

the media should broaden
their views and talk more
about the actions the
administration is taking,
not always the rhetoric.
While the coverage of the
president is important,
flooding headlines and
a page with extensive
articles about the most
minor transgressions in
speech is not necessary.
As far as violent news
coverage goes, it is fair to
acknowledge that the “if it
bleeds it reads” mentality
and marketing scheme
exists among many media
outlets. People do want
to hear about the sinister
events of the time, but not
every day or every week
should the front page
be loaded with strictly
the cynical details of the
story. It’s important for
the general population to
be well informed about
events such as disasters
and shootings, but the
media needs to create
more page space to cover
other disciplines, such as
technological
advances
that
may
become
relevant to citizens in the
future. It’s the media’s
responsibility to cover
these
shootings
and
attacks, but not to obsess
themselves with them.
Furthermore, it is also
the responsibility of the
media to do everything
in their power to report
the true intentions and
reasons for why the U.S. is
involved in certain events
and places abroad, and
encourage a high level
of transparency between
the government and the
general public.
While the headlines
blew up over National
Football League (NFL)

“There is often
a disconnect in
news today in the
sense that stories
are not always
covered from
beginning to end.”
“The bulk of the
beginning of
a story gets an
abundance of
attention, but the
tail end of certain
stories are left
alone.”
players simply taking a
knee in protest, which
though
controversial
is
a
constitutionally
protected right, front
pages everywhere could
have been filled with
stories of regarding the
decades wars in Iraq or
Afghanistan. These are
conflicts the citizens of
the U.S. deserve to know
more about, and not
always in sob stories,
but updates on the
actions being took in the
region, or how the U.S. is
progressing to finalize its
efforts, which would be
much more relatable to
readers.
At the beginning of a
catastrophe, the coverage
is intense and in great
quantity; however, as
time goes on, coverage
often slowly declines,
while there are still
developments
worth
covering that gain light
coverage or uncovered
altogether.

The
bulk
of
the
beginning of a story
gets an abundance of
attention, but the tail end
of certain stories are left
alone.
For example, when
hurricanes ripped through
the
southern
U.S.,
pictures and coverage
of the damage were
ubiquitous, and seen on
every platform possible.
The
southeastern
region of the U.S. was
beleaguered with an array
of emotional and physical
hardships.
When
the
media covers events such
as the recent hurricanes,
they have a responsibility
to cover the disaster
itself, but also the relief
efforts. If someone looked
at the news weeks after,
there is little said about
the recovery.
It is topics like the
Iraq War, the war in
Afghanistan
and
U.S.
military efforts abroad as
a whole that get put on
the backburner for other
internal issues. And when
American lives are being
taken and altered by these
conflicts, they deserve
more coverage and their
efforts recognized. There
is a problem that needs
fixing, and the media
needs to shift their focus
toward coverage more
relevant to its readers,
as well as to cover more
about why events occur
abroad and encourage
transparency, not the
cynical details. Only then
could there be a change
in the public’s perception
of the media’s priorities.

Connect with Ryan
by emailing rarel@
su.suffolk.edu

A platform for women
at Suffolk to share their
experiences, thoughts and
ideas of what it means to be
a feminist in today’s society.
Juliana Tuozzola
Journal Contributor

Feminism
has
remained a term open
to a plethora of different
interpretations.
There is no singular
or specific way of being
a feminist. To speak in
general terms, feminists
are those who support
and actively participate
in establishing equality
among
all
people
regardless of gender.
Feminism
concerns
equality for all people
in every aspect of life,
whether
economical,
personal or social equality.
The acknowledgment of
the systems of oppression
against the equality and
success of women since
the beginning of time is
crucial to understanding
the feminist movement
and ideology.
All
of
society
is
forced to acknowledge
the
oppression
of
women in one way
or
another,
written
directly in our history
textbooks,
discussed
in daily life and even
prevalent in our Twitter
feeds. Acknowledgment
is
essential
to
understanding how the
feminist movements have
cultivated
throughout
history and in present
times.
In
contemporary
society, acknowledgment
is a step but not a piece
of the puzzle in the
establishment of equality.
To
achieve
equality
amongst the sexes is to
actively advocate and
pursue the principle that
women and those who
identify as a woman gain
the opportunities, respect
and equality to that of
men.
With this necessary
and
realistic
notion,
those who identify as
feminists have and even
continue
to
receive
negative
judgments,
harsh
criticisms
and

stereotypes.
Negative connotations
and stereotypes have been
attributed to feminists
since the origin of the
feminist
movement.
Feminists are said to be
those who take an “antimale” stance.
This is simply false;
feminism is not about
bringing a gender down,
it is about empowering
females and ensuring that
they are treated and seen
as equals to that of their
male counterparts.
This is the feminist
movement: a movement
that has made strides
throughout history, in
contemporary
society
and continues to propel
forward in the aim of
equality.
The
feminism
movement
plays
a
vital role in the United
States current affairs.
The
Women’s
March
on Washington was a
movement that created
an enhanced wave of
feminism.
This movement, which
took place worldwide the
day after President Donald
Trump’s
inauguration,
brought forth an intense
and positive mission for
equality among the sexes.
The post Women’s March
on Washington impact
remains strong and the
fight for equality is more
powerful than ever with
the number of people
who are participating in
this pursuit increaseing
daily.
Feminism is about
telling our sisters, nieces
and daughters that they
will be afforded the same
equalities as men and
be both successful and
comfortable in any role,
job or leadership position.
When society has found
complete confidence in
what we are telling these
young girls and women
to be truthful, gender
equality will occur.

Connect with Juliana
by emailing jtuozzola@
su.suffolk.edu

THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM
SUFFOLKOPINION@GMAIL.COM

10 OCT. 25, 2017

Editor’s Word
The world is not inherently fair
and never will be. To those who
lack resources time and opportunity
to effect immediate change upon
graduation, we applaud your
perseverance.
To those with all three or any
combination, utilize them to the
extent that the world allows you.
The Suffolk community comes from
skewed demographics, just like any
other community. Some are broke,
some are anxiety-ridden, some
need to work an endless stream of
menial jobs to live day-to-day, but
they live right alongside those that
seemingly have it all, coexisting in
near harmony.
It’s not going to change, we are
constantly trying to get our footing
on an uneven plane, to get used to
it. It’s better to accomplish one thing
well, than to approach a few things
with mediocrity. Utilize all you
posses to drive yourself, and don’t
hold back.
To the people with privilege that
sit idly by as their college clock
runs out: you should be ashamed.
Thousands of students across the
country are lined up right behind
you to take your opportunity. Take
full advantage of everything you’ve
got.
While college life may contain a
level of privilege for some, others
are not as lucky. Play the hand
you’re dealt. Complacency will cloud
your vision, and may ultimately
determine your place in life. As
enticing as it seems, don’t fall victim.
No one wants to see this become of
you.
While others battle the daily
routine from sun up to sundown, not
because they want to, but because
they have to, take heed of their
determination. If you find yourself
in a position of opportunity, take
it. Don’t let it slip by because it’ll be
gone before you know it, and it’s all
you have.
- The Journal Staff

O

Appropriation can be avoided on Halloween
Think twice before choosing a costume that represents a culture one is not a part of
Elvira Mora
Journal Staff
Cultural appropriation
is most prevalent in
the days leading up to
Halloween, where people
are choosing costumes for
trick-or-treating. Instead
of sticking to the normal
ghosts
and
vampires,
many choose to pretend
to be another culture.
Any
costume
that
isn’t directly correlated
with one’s culture should
not be worn. Growing
up Latina, I had my own
traditions and customs,
which are a part of my
identity.
Planning ahead for
a Halloween costume
is exciting and gives
people something to look
forward to. However,
there is a fine line
between appreciating a
culture and appropriating
it.
Appreciating a culture
is when an individual
takes the time to research
and learn about a certain
custom, hairstyle, type of

dress and other aspects.
On the other end, a
well known definition
of appropriating is to
inherently find one aspect
of a culture and marking
it as “trendy” and taking
it on as your own, when
you are from a completely
different culture.
There is no clear
textbook definition or
guide to abide by when
choosing a Halloween
costume.
A
appropriated
“costume” minimizes a
culture with a rich history
and special customs to a
watered down colonized
version.
Although
I
am
not
Mexican,
I
am
disappointed that stores
would allow garments that
mock that special holiday
and other costumes that
label Latinx people as
drunkards.
A “Day of the Dead
Senorita Costume” is an
actual title of a garment
for women on an online
Halloween
site.
The
Mexican holiday, “Día
de los Muertos,” also
known as Day of the Dead

in the United States, is gypsies spoke, Romani,
reduced to a bodysuit is
believed
to
have
with the appearance of originated in South Asia.
a candy skull stamped Meanwhile
an
“Adult
with a flashing price tag. Gypsy Costume” can be
The Mexican holiday is purchased easily.
meant to highlight the
One
should
think
life of those loved ones before
putting
on
who have passed and it blackface if one is white or
is traditional to decorate non-black person of color.
burials with bright colors, Blackface is makeup used
photographs, candles and by a non-black individual
an ample amount of food.   to mimic a black person
Race and ethnicity or character. Blackface is
play a significant role a form of racism, whether
in
defining
cultural or not it is intentional.
appropriation. In those Checking one’s privilege
aspects, an individual is is critical.
able to connect with one’s
Costumes like these
culture and identity. No, should not be sold. It is
appropriating is not about disrespectful to think of
being “politically correct.” any culture, especially
It is about supporting their form of dress, as a
someone else’s identity costume that anyone can
and not diminishing it tote around in for a night.
to a night of dress up.
Halloween is a night to
By choosing to purchase have fun but it is crucial
and wear an outfit that to do so in a manner
imitates a culture that where your outfit isn’t
one doesn’t know about insensitive.
further perpetuates racial
Before
choosing
a
stereotypes.
costume, do a little
The
term
“gypsy” research.
refers to a member of a
nomadic people based Connect with Elvira
on trading and fortune by emailing emora@
telling. The language the su.suffolk.edu

Despite Trump’s efforts, jobs in
coal cannot be recreated
From COAL - 9
the health concerns
that influence the public
view
of
coal-based
energy, the economic
incentive to step away
from hand-extraction and
instead pursue automated
solutions
has
been
too enticing for many
companies.
Although the demand
for coal has not seen an
enormous decline, as the
Annual Coal Report by the
U.S. Energy Information
Administration
shows,
coal
miners
have
transformed
from
being
nearly
800,000
strong in the 1920s, to
approximately
100,000
today. The demand for
jobs in the coal industry
has not succeeded in
competing
with
the
demand for efficiency.
Considering that coal
has continued to be
more than 30 percent
of the countries’ source
for energy, decreasing
by only 10 percent in 60
years, it is hard to say
that the industry is easily
shaken.

President
Donald
Trump has taken a
stance throughout his
campaign and presidency
against regulation on
the coal industry by the
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) to boost

regulation and incentives
that have led the country
away from the carbon
emission
heavy
coal
and oil-centered energy
production.
The Clean Air Act
of 1970 has been one

“The demand for jobs
in the coal industry
has not succeeded in
competing with the
demand for efficiency.”
employment
for
coal
miners.
With
cutbacks
in
funding,
staffing
and
policy reach at the EPA,
Trump’s strategy to bring
back employment in coal
seems to be clear: he views
modern forms of energy
production
as
having
taken something away
from the coal industry,
and thus he will remove

of the first lines of
defense
against
the
threat of air pollution.
The Clean Power Plan
(CPP) was established by
the EPA and the Obama
Administration to work
with regulation in the
Clean Air Act to reduce
greenhouse-gas emissions
by 32 percent in just 15
years.
This month, Trump

announced a repeal of
the CPP as part of his
executive order to “Create
Energy
Independence.”
This action is a direct
continuation
of
his
promises
when
campaigning
to
reinvigorate
the
coal
industry, in part by
relieving
regulations
that limit how much coal
can be consumed in the
country.
The
only
benefits
that will be received as
a result of this change
in policy will be the
continued support and
votes of those rural coal
workers
who
falsely
believe the only obstacle
in being employed are
government regulations
like this. Trump’s move
fails to address any of
the negative health and
environmental impacts of
the coal industry, and will
not stop the increased
automation
of
coal
extraction that has truly
been taking away coal
workers’ jobs.

Connect with Kyle
by emailing
kcrozier@su.suffolk.edu

S

THESUFFOLKJOURNAL.COM

From GOLF - 1

SUFFOLKSPORTS@GMAIL.COM

“When we all came into the lounge
[after the second day of the tournament], we
saw [coach Parker] and he had the biggest smile on
his face and we immediately ran up to the scoreboard
and saw that we won,” said Chapman in a recent interview
with The Journal. “I felt so proud of my team and was excited to
hold our plaque.”
Head coach Jay Parker was euphoric with the result of the NEIGA
championship, admitting that he did not expect the team to be that successful.
“I can’t say that going into the final tournament, I thought we were the
favorite,” said Parker in a recent interview with The Suffolk Journal.
All six golfers for the Lady Rams finished within the top 12 spots of the
tournament. Freshman Nicole Antonucci led the way for the Lady Rams, scoring a total
of 181 strokes between the two days of the tournament, placing her fourth overall. Some
other top finishers included junior Mackenzie McGrath with a score of 182, putting her at
fifth overall in the tournament and freshman Brooke Champman, scoring a 183.
“To have some of them play their best rounds at the end of the season, it just shows how
far they’ve come,” said Parker.
Antonucci, McGrath and Champman were all allocated the individual All-NEIGA award after
their outstanding performances. Not only had this been the first time in Suffolk women’s golf
history that this feat was achieved, but the first time in Suffolk University’s golf program’s history
that this award had been given to any individual.
McGrath said in a recent interview with The Journal that she and her teammates knew they had to
perform exceptionally, if the Lady Rams wanted to take home hardware. By winning all-NEIGA along
with Antonucci and Champman, McGrath feels the team accomplished that.
Parker said that the accomplishments of the three golfers showed the improvement the Lady Rams
had experienced over the course of the fall campaign. Parker went on to explain that the team’s fifth and
sixth positioned golfers, Antonucci and McGrath, ended up third and fourth overall in the tournament,
noting just how amazing the weekend was for the team.
Parker has been involved with Suffolk’s athletic department for nearly 20 years. More recently, he was
named head coach for the Lady Rams’ golf team when the program began in 2016.
“I don’t think the team would have gotten this far without coach Parker,” said freshman Olivia Spiega
in a recent interview with The Journal. “I have to give a lot of credit to his amazing coaching and bringing
the team together.”
Although the Lady Rams may have surprised other teams, the golfers expected this outcome.
“Based off of how our prior tournaments went and how we stacked up against the competition, we
knew this was ours to win,” said McGrath.
Champman went into detail about how the team stepped up to the plate after holding a smaller lead
in the first day of the tournament.
“Going into the second day, we only had an eight stroke lead. We knew that we had to play really
well the second day,” said Champman.
Antonucci was confident in the Lady Rams successes from this season and was looking forward to
the next season.
“I thought it was amazing that we won the conference,” said Antonucci in a recent interview
with The Journal. “I do have higher expectations for next year, because we are so young we will
only improve.”
The season never ends for this ambitious squad. Off-season conditioning will begin next
week as the Lady Rams prepare for an attempt at defending their NEIGA crown next season.

11 OCT. 25, 2017

Lady Rams
chip away
at history

Courtesy of Dan McHugh

Connect with Joe by emailing jrice4@su.suffolk.edu

Lady Rams’ offense kick into gear for season finale
From RAMS - 12
Harmon was voted
Great Northeast Athletic
Conference (GNAC) rookie
of the year, and she began
to love her school as well.
“[Boston] became my
home. Moving across
the country was the
best decision of my life,”
said Harmon in a recent
interview
with
The
Suffolk Journal.
Harmon
continued

to
be
a
significant
member of team all the
way through her senior
season. Harmon recorded
five goals this year, all of
them meaning something
very special to her. In a
match against Pine Manor
College, Harmon’s mom
flew in from California
to watch her daughter
play. Harmon did not
disappoint, as she netted
three goals for a hat trick
with her mom cheering
her on in the crowd.

“Before you know it,
you’ll be tying up your
laces for the last time.”
- Jennifer Martin,
senior captain

“The most important
thing for me was that my
mom was able to see those
goals,” said Harmon. “I

would not be where I am
today without her. I owe
all my success to her and
I hope I can become half

the woman she is.”
This season, Harmon
started
every
game,
becoming a team leader
on and off the field. The
senior will finish up her
career at Suffolk with 22
goals and 57 points.
“Anyone
could
go
to them for support on
or off the field,” said
sophomore
teammate
Emerson Wildes in a
recent interview with
The
Journal.
“Their
encouragement
helped

our team become stronger
so we were able to
overcome our struggles.”
The women’s soccer
team is currently 7-8
and earned a spot as the
eighth seed in the GNAC
tournament. The Lady
Rams await where and
when they will play the
tournament’s first seed.

Connect with Don
by emailing
dporcaro@su.suffolk.edu

S

@GOSUFFOLKRAMS

RECAP | Restrepo’s game-winner
lifts men’s soccer to 3-2 win over
@FSU_Falcons in home finale.

SPORTS



STAY TUNED:

Find out how the men’s soccer team
does in the GNAC Quarterfinals on
Sunday, Oct. 29.

Lucky number three


OCTOBER 25, 2017 | PAGE 12

Three womens’ soccer seniors score hat tricks
Don Porcaro
Journal Contributor
Three
Suffolk
University
women’s
soccer
team
seniors
finished their regular
season careers wearing
the same uniform they
started in four years
ago. Forwards Alexandra
Nagri and Jen Martin
netted hat tricks in the
final
regular
season
game; a 10-0 victory over
Mass Maritime Academy.
Forward
Jessica
Harmon,
Nagri
and
Martin seemed to be
finishing up the season on
a strong note. All three of
them recorded hat tricks
in the second half of the
season, propelling Suffolk
to a late season playoff
push.
Nagri started off the
hat trick trend on Sept.
30, scoring three goals

against Norwich Academy,
boosting Suffolk to a 5-3
victory.
Martin impressed at
senior day on Oct. 14,
scoring four of Suffolk’s
five goals in a 5-0 victory
over Rivier University.
In the very next game
Harmon scored three
goals of her own, leading
Suffolk to a 6-0 victory
of Pine Manor College on
Oct. 16, one of their more
dominant wins of the
season.
Nagri’s soccer journey
started when she was
three years old. With an
instant love for soccer,
she began playing in local
leagues before attending
Central Catholic High
School
in
Lawrence,
Massachusetts.
Nagri’s
success
continued
throughout
her
collegiate
career.
As a Ram, Nagri netted
45 goals while also
contributing 101 points

Jessica Harmon
Scored first hat trick
in collegiate career.

in her collegiate career.
She became the second
Lady Ram to score at
least 100 career points. In
her senior season alone,
Nagri scored 14 goals
with 30 points.
“The school, coaches
and team made it really
fun and enjoyable to play
here. When you enjoy
playing, you play your
best,” said Nagri.
The women’s soccer
team lost nine seniors,
leaving many open roster
spots for next season.
Despite losing a big core
of their team, Nagri was
confident that the legacy
her and the team have
left behind will continue
to grow.

“The team has come
a long way in the past
couple of years. If the
younger
[teammates]
keep
working
hard,
Suffolk can become one
of the top women’s soccer
programs in the league,”
said Nagri.
Senior forward Martin
started her soccer career
when she was six years
old and began playing
recreational
league
soccer in her hometown
of Haddam, Connecticut.
After
continuing
her
passion in high school
at Haddam-Killingworth,
Martin began her journey
as a freshman at Suffolk.
Martin emerged in her
senior year, recording 12

Jennifer Martin
Started in 68th game for
women’s soccer team.

goals and 28 points. Her
biggest attribute, besides
her hard work, was her
speed. Opposing coaches
would warn defenders
of Martin’s speed as she
would run down the field.
“Don’t let 11 get by
you” became a popular
phrase among opposing
teams
and
coaches,
according to the fans in
attendance.
“Getting a hat trick on
senior day was extremely
special.
It
was
sad
coming to a realization
our season would be
over soon, but winning
5-0 definitely lifted our
spirits,” said Martin in a
recent interview with The
Journal.
Martin finished her
Suffolk soccer career with
38 goals and 92 points.
“[My
teammates]
motivate me both on and
off the field and truly
inspire me. They are the
reason I love playing,”

said Martin.
Martin also credited
head coach Darren Lloyd
for the team’s success as
well as helping her grow
as an athlete.
“[Lloyd]
taught
us
never to give up and play
for the team, not your
individual self. Appreciate
every moment you have
being a part of this team,”
said Martin. “Don’t take
anything for granted.
Before you know it, you’ll
be tying up your laces for
the last time.”
Harmon may have
had a much different
start to her soccer career
compared to Martin and
Nagri, but she certainly
is finishing just as strong.
Originally from Orange
County,
California,
Harmon traveled across
the country to play soccer
for the Lady Rams.
As a freshman,

See RAMS - 11

Alexandra Nagri
Recorded 100 points for Lady
Rams over four years.