Honors Newsletter December 2014

The New York City Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University

The Honors Herald

Volume 4 Issue 2

December 2014 Pace University 1 Pace Plaza W208/W209 New York, NY 10038 P: 212 346 1697

A WORLD OF OUR OWN JULIET MUELER ‘18

It seems to be embroidered in the history of intergenerational relationships that adults fear teenagers. This fear probably comes from middle school health class textbooks documenting the horrors of puberty and hormones, and coming-of-age movies that depict young people as recklessly dangerous with a quirky affinity for disobeying their elders. It is also widely stereotyped that adults don’t just fear teenagers, but teenage girls in particular. Something about womanhood and all its glory strikes a sour chord. So naturally, a globally popular website created by and for teenage girls that highlights the beautiful, the embarrassing, the awkward, and the magical parts of being young should instill a fear so deep in the hearts of baby boomers and early Generation Xers that they write off the internet in its entirety. But instead, this aforementioned website, known commonly by address bars as rookiemag.com, brings teenage-hood into a different light.

Founded by real-life superwoman Tavi Gevinson when she was a sophomore in high school, Rookie serves as a beacon of trust, inspiration, and togetherness for young women on a global scale. Daily postings under a monthly theme from a wide variety of contributors cover topics from popular culture, music, film, and art, to social politics, current events, and feminism, to self-love, sexuality, relationships, body positivity, and so much more.

With contributors of various ethnicities, sexual orientations, cultures, and beliefs, the content of the magazine is vast in its perspective, but still relatable to the masses. It effortlessly and gracefully depicts the beauty and terror of adolescence and everything that comes with it: the ambiguity of the future, the clumsiness of love, the troubled road to self-acceptance.

MY FRIEND KRISTINE AND I MEETING TAVI AT THIS YEAR’S EVENT.

Every October, the staffers at Rookie compile some of the site’s best content and release it as an absolutely beautifully designed yearbook that moves chronologically throughout the year. The transition between months in the yearbook mirrors the website; there is an eloquent introduction from Tavi that details the month’s theme and the things and people that inspired it.

December 2014

Page 2 The Honors Herald

FEATURES

Herald Staff

Carolyn Phillips Editor-In-Chief Juliet Mueller

Associate Editor Chase Ballas

Associate Editor Dr. Ida Dupont

Director Dr. Bill Offutt

Academic Advisor Jaclyn Kopel

Program Coordinator Pamela Belluomini Academic Advisor

Herald Contributors

Shivani Annirood Savannah Apple Chase Ballas Sarah Conboy Lili Feinberg Tasha Gagnon Victoria Gonzalez Jaclyn Kopel

Jozef Lampa Liz Lombardi Juliet Mueller

Carolyn Phillips Anya Rosentreter Rachel Wandishin

Catherine Weening

The Honors Herald is a student run newsletter circulated to the students of the Pforzheimer Honors College at Pace University on the New York City Campus. The members of the Herald Staff review all articles. The opinions of the articles do not necessarily reflect those of the staff or the Pforzheimer Honors College.

Pforzheimer Honors College 1 Pace Plaza W208/209

New York, NY 10038 www.pace.edu/honors-college

Powerhouse Arena in DUMBO, an innovatively opened space with high ceilings and exposed brick. After a period of mingling, a clothing and zine swap, an interview with Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara, contributors of the site read pieces of their work to an appreciative and infatuated crowd, with Tavi herself concluding the readings with a piece of her own. She read one of her more personal Editor’s Letters, tearing up as she looked among her supporters, admirers, friends, and ultimately her peers. After her recitation, she spoke waveringly about the joy that Rookie brings her, and the happiness that comes with knowing that millions of other people feel that same joy. She ended the night on a note that resonates with the entire institution of what Rookie is and what it stands for. She confessed how much the magazine helps her, how reading other contributors articles comforts her, gives her hope. She spoke about how she will continue to post content that will help others, even if the traffic on the site drops or if its status goes down. If it helps just one single person, she says, that’s the only thing that matters.

A WORLD CONTINUED…

The release of the yearbook is partnered with meet-up events opened to the public. The celebration for Rookie’s “junior year,” was held on November 5 in the

A POSTER I MADE FOR A CLUB I CO-STARTED IN HIGH SCHOOL

LAST YEAR’S EVENT WITH KRISTINE AND OUR FRIEND LUCY (WHO’S NOW A ROOKIE CONTRIBUTOR!)

FEATURES December 2014


IN THIS ISSUE Holiday Gift Guide………………….....4-5 India or China?………………………….6-7 Honors Halloween Party………….......8 Ebola…………….……………………..…10-11

Beautiful………………………………..…12-13 Two Plays and a Musical……………….…14 Poetry Contest……………………………..…17

LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT’S PACE PATH! The long-anticipated event #PacePathLive blew through campus on November 8. We had an awesome turnout of panelists and participants, making the event well worth the trek, so early in the morning. It was a great day to hang out with some of our favorite alumni, like Matthew Knell (‘00 of About.com) and Alex Quick (‘11 of AppFigures) and to meet a variety of people in media and development fields, such as Marissa Lerer (of Compose(d) and Creative), Masha Murakhovsky (of 360i) and so many more. Panelists spent the afternoon describing all sorts of things, from splitting time between professional and personal Twitter accounts, to how to protect your own brand, to the differences between working corporate versus start up jobs in the tech field. They all shared stories of their work lives and internet lives, answered questions from the participants, and took selfies galore, of course (#SeidenbergSelfie). While there’s no way to recreate the event for those who couldn’t make it (we truly hope your Saturday Sleep-In was well worth missing out). What we do have are some SketchNotes that offer a touch of insight to the event’s proceedings.

Anya Rosentreter ‘15

Achievements in Honors…………………20



Holiday Gift Guide With the holiday season in full swing, it’s crunch time for present-shopping. Never fear,

Honors College! We got your holiday guide for everyone on your list:

FOR YOUR YOUNGER RELATIVE: Give the gift of your childhood! At the Warner Brothers’ website, you can get the Rugrats movies, The Wild Thornberries Movie, and The Hey Arnold Movie on DVD for $4.69 each.* This way, when you complain about how kids’ TV isn’t as good as it used to be, you can back it up with some proof.

Also good for: really nostalgic friends

FOR THE COFFEE ADDICT: Have those friends who are always drinking coffee? Winter is coming, and you’re there to help protect their sacred elixir. Get them a heated travel mug, like on available at thinkgeek.com for $12.99. Plug it into a car or into a USB port, and the mug’s contents will warm up in a jiffy!

Also good for: anyone whose thesis is due soon

* Prices may have changed since this piece was written!

FOR YOUR FAVORITE WORD NERD: Grab a set of Grammarian plates at modcloth.com. The grammar geek in your life can serve up some holiday goodies on plates explaining the difference of lie and lay, good and well, and more. A set of four will set you back $49.99.

Also good for: a friend in need of a grammar lesson



Holiday Gift Guide Continued…

FOR YOUR PARENTS AND/OR GRANDPARENTS: Lunch, on you. Or dinner. Or breakfast. Because here’s the thing: my grandpa has enough sweaters, but he doesn’t see me enough. If you’re going home for break, take advantage of it, and catch up with the people who’ve been cheering you on from the home front.

Also good for: friends from your hometown

FOR THE POLITICALLY CONSCIOUS: Two words: fair trade. You get great gifts with great ethics! Check out the Ten Thousand Villages website and check out their wide selection of hand-crafted jewelry, home décor, bags, and more! (Pictured: Trade Wings Earrings from Kenya, $9.00; Soft Blossoms Evening Bag from Vietnam, $24.50)

Also good for: your favorite fashionista—the pictures say it all!



India or China? Jozef Lampa ‘17

On November 10, the Chinese government announced it would open its door to foreign capital by granting overseas investors direct access to participate in the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Given the very recent fiscal climate which has seen 3 out of the 4 largest capital markets adopt easy monetary policies (U.S., U.K., Japan) to help bolster economic consumption and investment, the global theater can assume there will be an honest amount of speculation in an equity market valued roughly at around $2 trillion. More importantly, the inflow of foreign currencies (which outweigh the Yuan), will cause the Chinese Yuan to decline and thus to increase its most reliable export operations. The main question is, how long will foreign capital stay in China in response to its unattractiveness as a capital enterprise?

Before the Chinese managed to generate and maintain a rapid rate of growth around 7.7% annually, the Peoples Republic of China faced a lot of adversity. To understand and define a nation, one must look at its geographic location, its experience (history), and its ideology, all factors which help frame the current economic and political landscape. For centuries, the people of China have been overrun and divided by foreign powers and forced to work for big landlords. At the zenith of British colonialism, the British flooded their market with opium, an addictive narcotic that makes individuals highly unproductive. The Chinese emperor ordered the beheading of opium abusers and British middlemen, which provided a reason for the British to declare war and further Chinese casualties.

Thereafter, it took over 100 years for the Chinese to regain control of their country, when Mao Tse tung and the Communist Party of China came into power in 1949.

One of the biggest misconceptions about China today is that the country’s economy under Communist rule remains a tightly controlled system. Deng Xiaoping, China’s second Communist leader from 1978-1992, invented the term “socialist market economy” to illustrate China’s high level of economic output ever since Nixon visited China in 1972. If China can still call itself a socialist, then I might as well say I am Santa Claus. China has been a capitalist state for nearly 40 years, which has caused notions of imperial exploitation, and the feeling of regressive, feudal conquest.

What exactly has caused China to become today’s second largest economy? Besides normalizing US-Chinese relations, the S h a n g h a i C o m m u n i q u é o f 1 9 7 2 a l s o institutionalized their relationship, serving as the actual opening to China’s capital markets. The catalyst was (and is) in China’s labor laws, which disallow independent trade unions and hinder their right to strike, allowing foreign investors to utilize the most important factor of c a p i t a l i s m , l a b o r . W i t h n e w l y b u i l t infrastructure and machine plant, unit labor costs below $1 a hour, a disregard for employee health or the environment, China mass produced at an electrifying and unprecedented scale.

I would argue that one of the most primitive forms of capitalism is when the rich are tied into the government.



India or China? continued…

When Mao Zedong died in 1976 (along with the Cultural Revolution), the old bourgeoisie known as the “capitalist roaders” reclaimed political and economic power and re-asserted the traditional framework of capitalist relations and thinking into the social landscape. However, the last several years has seen a shift in which foreign investors are outsourcing their labor force out of China. Wage costs have jumped significantly compared to levels witnessed in the 1970-1990’s, from below $1(US) to almost $4 per hour. On one side, the capitalist roaders can argue that the fruits of capitalism have produced a rise in the overall living standards for the workers of China, yet this does not concern foreign investors who are looking to produce goods at the least possible costs.

Beside the gradual rise in wages, the publicity about business/government corruption, and the lack of transparency in the Chinese government, there has been a study conducted by Barclays that showed 47% of China’s millionaires will be emigrating from the country in search of economic stability. In response to these events and recent concerns about China’s slowdown in economic activity, does the U.S. see doing business in China as attractive as it used to be in the long run?

There has been a lot of speculation and consideration that India may replace China as the world’s biggest manufacturer. Not only are labor costs much lower today in India than in China, but also the socio-economic framework is entirely different.

With newly elected IndianPrime Minister Narendra Modi spearheading the charge, the reduction in taxes will naturally allow consumers to spend more, whereas the country has also seen a gradual shift in policy priority toward capital goods (primarily road infrastructure, residential complexes, and sewage systems). Moreover, if India’s infrastructure and labor division can attract the same amount of capital inflow as China did during the 1970-1990’s, with the addition of India’s vast agricultural sector, and a constant negative relationship between Chinese and Indian consumer sentiment, it is feasible that the Indian economy can grow at a much higher rate.

Like China, the subcontinent of India was also overrun and divided by foreign aggressors. From Alexander the Great of Macedonia, to the Mughal Empire, and more recently the British forces, foreigners have occupied and unsettled the lives of India’s Hindu and Muslim populations. The key difference, however, is the outcome. India has developed into the world’s largest democracy, and in essence, there are certain activities that are not allowed in a country that is more “civilized”. The operations that are allowed in China, which bring pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, are simply not welcomed. The most obvious alternative, shifting foreign capital to India from China, may not be so obvious after all. Given the reality of looser labor laws, China is still the place to be (for the time being).



It’s back! The annual Honors Halloween Party has resurrected itself in true zombie fashion. The annual Honors Halloween Party began at 6 pm on Thursday, October 30th. The Student Union was transformed for the party - everything that one can expect was there. The entrance was decked out with orange and black balloons, and a spooky headstone was placed next to the door. The interior of the Student Union was decorated even more, with Halloween themed decals on the windows. Fake cobwebs lined one table, the podium, and even the painting on the wall. Spiders seemed to be crawling all over, and scary clowns and skulls were everywhere one looked. Despite the eerie decorations, the party was all treats and no tricks. The Honors staff were dressed up in their costumes, as were many Honors students. In the beginning of the party, the attendees chatted, socialized, and feasted on the food that was there. Cupcakes were adorned with swirling orange icing, “brains” made of gelatin giggled to and fro, candy corn was consumed by the pound, and cakes were topped with small Halloween flags. There was also boxes and boxes of hot cheese pizza, chips and dip, and plenty of other candy confections. Later in the night, the students and staff joined together for a few rounds of karaoke. With the rest of the crowd clapping along, brave souls stood on stage to perform. Classics like “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Don’t Stop Believing” got the most response. Whether one person, a trio, or a large group got up to show off their singing skills, the always crowd seemed to be entertained. The Honors Halloween party was a night full of singing, dancing, and eating. Those who wore costumes were awarded with a miniature trophy to take away with them at the end of the night, and those who didn’t still were awarded a fun time with fellow Honors students.

Check out the full album for the Halloween Party at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.

878457742173762.1073741843.500679653284908&type=3 .

Photo by Dylan Wagner



“Shoulders” Shivani Annirood ‘18

In a profound spoken word poem titled "Shoulders," Shane Koyczan stresses the gravity of our declining planet. Every day, Earth is slowly degrading because of pollution under the guise of progress. In reality, "the human race runs toward a finish line emblazoned with the words "too far" and wonders, "Will we ever cross it?" (Koyczan). We keep evolving our technologies, so our world will be more advanced, but in too many cases, these technological advances are hurting our home. Every year, new models of cars, phones, and every other gadget are released, so when the old version breaks, people can trade it in for a new one. However, this mentality of trading in the broken for the new cannot allow us to let our planet fall to pieces. "We will not be allowed to trade in our old world for a new one with climate control or better fuel efficiency. We get one shot at this" (Koyczan).

This world we live in is the only home we have, so we can't keep making these mistakes. Instead, as Koyczan repeatedly underscored in his poem, people all over this world must work together to help save their united home. Regardless of where someone lives on this planet, the fact is that we all live on this one planet, and this world is the only home we know. So, we must all join together to create one united force that will support this globe. This is our responsibility. In this way, "we are Atlas." We, the eight billion people on Earth, are Atlas and must all take on the responsibility of supporting this planet on our shoulders. If we let go of this duty, the world will fall, and our home will be destroyed. This isn't some great change that will happen overnight. When we are finally able to become one force driven to the protection of our planet, the change will be slow. It may take generations of work, and we may never see the transformation towards which we will be working. But we must remember that "change is like the rain. It starts with a single drop" (Koyczan). So, although we may not get to hear the steady beat of a torrential downpour, we must be prepared to work at it— one drop at a time.

Shane Koyczan is a brilliant spoken word poet who writes to make a difference. His works are influenced by prominent issues in the world, varying from school bullying to worldwide epidemics to online predators. No matter whom the audience, his words touch the soul. Other beautiful works by him include: "To This Day" "The Crickets have Arthritis" "Trolls"

Editor’s Note: Shivani shared this with me, and it is beautiful! Please listen to this. My favorite is “A Letter to Remind Myself of Who I Am.” - CP

“Change is like rain. It starts with a single drop.”

BOLA,

NEWS December 2014


ON’T TAKE THE TRAIN:

EW YORK, AND A ATION ON GUARD

HASE ALLAS ‘18

[ ] On September 30, the United States was

caught off guard when it was announced Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian visiting family in Dallas, was diagnosed with the Ebola virus. Since then, three additional cases of Ebola have been reported in the nation, including two nurses who treated Duncan and a New York City doctor who visited Guinea. Although only Duncan has died of the disease in the United States, the fear of Ebola has spread into politics, culture, and the public.

First discovered in 1976 in Africa, there are five identified strains of the Ebola virus, four of which are infectious to humans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the virus is spread by direct contact with infected bodily fluids, such as blood, urine and semen, and by sharing objects, like needles and syringes, that carry the infection. Ebola cannot be spread through air or water. This makes Ebola relatively non-contagious, since extremely contagious diseases are always air-bound. It is still unknown how Ebola first appeared in humans, but it is believed that the virus began in primates or fruit bats and then it mutated to be able to infect humans. While there is no FDA- approved anti-Ebola drug or vaccine, treatments are available that have been proven successful; three out of the four confirmed Ebola cases in the nation have been cured. As of now, the most common

treatment for Ebola is to pump fluids in and out of the body to essentially "flush out" the virus.

On October 23, it was confirmed that Dr. Craig Spencer, an assistant professor in medicine at Columbia University and fellow in international emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, caught Ebola while on a volunteer trip to Guinea to assist in the fight against the virus in Africa. After the news broke, reports of where Dr. Spencer visited came about to warn the public. Most notably, he rode the A and L trains. In recent polls, the public has favored quarantine for anyone even showing slight signs of the virus. Whether based on fear or plain ignorance, it is shown that the public wants no risk of Ebola spreading throughout the rest of the United States. However, it is also shown that there is a large group of people who do not wish to focus on Ebola. In a 4 to 1 margin, it was shown that most people who voted during the last Congressional election elected their officials based strictly on domestic issues as opposed to world issues like Ebola. In politics, the Democratic and Republican Parties blame each other for the spread to the United States. Democrats blame Republican cuts on health care, while the Republicans focus on President Obama's relaxed protection of the American border. In an almost exact replication of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, the Ebola epidemic has worked to divide the nation into those who fear

BOLA CONTINUED…

NEWS December 2014


it and those who do not. As hysteria continues to grow in the United

States and the government stalls to draft an effective protocol, social media is taking control. Facebook and Google have made valid attempts to increase Ebola awareness and donations. As a means to spread information, scientists and government officials are taking to Twitter to post accurate information to combat those that are misinformed. In addition, many conspiracies have arisen on social media to tell "the truth" about Ebola, like how the United States government made it to control the world or how President Obama knew about it and did nothing. These conspiracy theories add to the general public hysteria.

At the time this article was written, it appears as though the Ebola craze will not die down anytime soon. However, while the virus continues to spread, it is safe to assume the United States will not have a large Ebola problem like the nations in Africa, due to scientific research and public awareness. As the public becomes more informed and the government begins to agree on protocol, the hysteria around Ebola should diminish. http://www.ibtimes.com/who-thomas-eric-duncan-ebola-us-victim-identified-liberia-citizen-1698074 http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/ http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/donohue-ebola-patient-craig-spencer-not-trains-article-1.1988045 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ebola-outbreak-social-media-facebook-twitter-instagram-promotes-fears-conspiracies/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/republicans-blame-ebola-o_b_6006766.html http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democrats-blame-ebola-on-republicans/article/2554709

ARTS December 2014


BEAUTIFUL IS “SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL”

LIZ LOMBARDI ‘16

Beautiful is not just a musical currently running on Broadway. It is also a word that describes said musical perfectly. It is actually beautiful. I have now been able to see Beautiful: the Carole King Musical twice. Both times I woke up early and went to the recently renamed Stephen Sondheim Theatre. Both times I was met with a piece of paper stating that standing room only tickets were available for that day’s performance. Both times I received a ticket for 37 dollars to a show that would change my life.

I had no idea who Carole King was going into this show. The two friends who went with me were fans of her, though, and Jessie Mueller plays the title character (more on her later), so I figured why not? I recognized the first song (“So Far Away”) immediately, as I did with many more in the coming two and a half hours. So did the rest of the audience. I’ll never forget the collective sigh of acknowledgement I heard both times when the opening chords to “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?” started playing. Other popular songs include “Some Kind of Wonderful,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “Natural Woman,” “On Broadway,” and “The Locomotion.” Yes, you read that right.

It also should be said that I am not a huge fan of jukebox musicals. Sure, they can be entertaining. However, they’re usually not very moving and can feel like songs were forced into place because they felt that they needed to include them just for the sake of it. Beautiful defies anything I’ve ever felt about these kinds of shows. Book writer Douglas McGrath did an excellent job connecting King’s life story to the songs she and her friends wrote. Each song blended seamlessly into every scene and furthered the emotion or energy given off by the actors.

h#p://sta*c.newyorkcitytheatre.com/images/show/10199_show_portrait_large.jpg

h#ps://pbs.twimg.com/media/BwxmwKMCIAAv2EK.jpg:large

ARTS December 2014


BEAUTIFUL CONTINUED…

One who stood out was Jessie Mueller. I saw her for the first time two years ago in The Mystery of Edwin Drood. I remember thinking how great she was then, so that, plus seeing her performance on the Tony Awards enticed me to go see this show. And I was blown away. My goodness, Jessie Mueller is a force to be reckoned with. The show takes place over the course of a couple decades and Mueller does a superb job at portraying King’s progression from the young, love struck, collaborative songwriter to the older, seasoned, independent solo artist. I could feel every emotion emanating through her voice, which strongly resembled King’s voice. Seriously. I listened to a song from King’s record-setting album Tapestry and then listened to the recording of Mueller singing the same song. They are nearly identical. It’s no wonder that Mueller took home this year’s Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. She is more than deserving of it. Beautiful can boast that it won two Tony’s, and it was the first show of the 2013-2014 season to recoup its $13 million investment, doing so in just nine months. For reference, most shows never recoup. I would wholeheartedly recommend this show to anyone. I think there’s a little something for everyone in this show. Whether it’s nostalgia of a time gone by or being able to connect to Carole’s passion or struggles of love, this show is a must see. And people must agree with me because it plays to completely or nearly sold-out audiences every night.

The target demographic for this show is people who were growing up during the time period that the show is set in: the ‘60s and ‘70s. But don’t let that deter you from seeing this. This is a show that has not turned to the use of celebrities to grab the attention of a wider demographic. Instead, Roundabout Theatre Company has chosen a cast of extremely talented Broadway performers. No one disappointed, and I could talk for days about how well every cast member, from lead to ensemble, accurately portrayed the lives of people who actually existed.

As I mentioned before, this show changed my life. It opened me up to the world of Carole King. I left the show feeling like I had grown up with Carole King and it inspired me to learn even more about her. There is a line from one of King’s songs that has stuck with me to this day, and I’d like to share it with you because I think it’s so important for everyone to hear. So, on that note: “You’ve got to get up every morning with a smile on your face and show the world all the love in your heart.”

h#p://thumbs.dreams*me.com/z/stage-‐drapes-‐3-‐spotlight-‐2964499.jpg

h#p://joinOorcesjournal.com/images_ar*cles/941.jpg

ARTS December 2014


Two plays and a musical

Savannah apple ‘18

As I’m writing this, I will see my sixth and final show for my Current Theater of New York class tonight. In the past couple of weeks, I have been able to see some amazing shows. The shows that opened on Broadway this season have all been very different from each other, but I have enjoyed each one. This has been a very

strong season. I saw On the Town while it was still in previews, and it was such a fun show. This revival is lighthearted and a reminder of how magical New York truly is. Three sailors have only twenty-four hours of leave in the city that never sleeps. They hope to experience the best the city has to offer and maybe even find love. The show has the big dance numbers from those old Broadway shows. The songs are so catchy. I walked out of the theater singing “New York, New York, it’s a helluva town,” and you will too. If you love old musical theater, I highly recommend seeing this. Also, if you have people coming in from out of town, take them to see this or recommend that they see this. This is a really great tourist show.

Two weeks later, I saw Disgraced. After reading its synopsis, I was unsure of what to expect. The synopsis for this show states that four friends of different backgrounds gather together for a dinner party. Their views of the world clash leaving one character disgraced. I cannot put into words the power of this show. It made me think long and hard about some of my beliefs and the stereotypes that are so easy to buy in to. This show will definitely create great conversation. The show stars two tv stars: Josh Radnor (from How I Met Your Mother) and Gretchen Mol (from Boardwalk Empire). I wondered how well they would make that transition from stage to screen, but I should have never questioned their ability. They both were phenomenal and really sweet people. Josh Radnor didn’t want to hug anyone because he was really sick, and he did not want us to get sick too (but hug him I did).

Then, a few weeks later, I saw The Belle of Amherst. This is a one-woman show about the life of Emily Dickinson. If you do not like poetry (or one-woman shows), then I suggest you not go. However, I really enjoyed this show. Emily Dickinson was a very eccentric person, and this show allows you to see why she is this way. The show also incorporates a lot of Dickinson’s poetry into the script. The actress Joely Richardson is brilliant. During the performance I saw she was very, very ill, but she worked through it. I applaud her. Even though this is a one-woman show, there is still dialogue between Dickinson and other various characters. Dickinson would just talk and respond based on what they were saying. A few times I could visualize the person she was talking to because she was doing such a good job of reacting to their presence. I enjoyed this show immensely and if you love Emily Dickson and her poetry I highly recommend it.

On the Town tickets from $37 Disgraced tickets from $37

ARTS December 2014


To my Elementary School Teacher’s Name (Ode)

A stain on a blue picnic dress, you are now Bleached, a terrible mistake— I hope she realizes she made

You came along as she changed.

When she put the ring on her forefinger, her whole being morphed into something New, something mean and crude.

And, because we always forgot You, her hair would Fly and Tangle, the chalk would break in half due to the claws breaking Out of her thin, pale Fingers.

She used to be so beautiful when she didn’t have You.

She was a Miss, a Lady, a darling who read my silly little stories And thought they Meant something.

But now. I was glad when she left. She was not our Miss- the Miss we can’t recall. She left with barely a goodbye.

It stung a bit, sure, but once she left, You were gone too.

Poem by Victoria Gonzalez ‘17

ARTS December 2014


Lyla Payne’s Mistletoe and Mr. Right

For

Lili Feinberg ‘17 of Lili’s Reflections

I have to admit that, at first, I didn’t realize this was a novella because I was so focused on the adorable couple and the dog on the cover. I wish I knew going into this read that it was, in fact, a novella, because it would have made it a smoother reading experience for me. When I finished it, I was supremely disappointed that it was so short and

With that in mind, I am calling for a full-length novel. I really like the main character, Jessica, and I also love the small taste we got of the romance. I want more, so much more. With the way the novella ends, the author sets herself up for an amazing opportunity (in a different foreign land, no less!) with two amazingly drawn-out and well-written characters that banter with the best of them. PLEASE BRING

only the author’s note really cleared up my misconceptions--transforming my minor frustrations into overall satisfaction.

ME MORE OF THEIR STORY. Did I mention I love banter? Because I do. A lot. Which is why I need more. Seriously. Guys...the banter is in an accent which makes it doubly perfect!

The romance in this is so well done. Jessica goes out to Ireland to assure herself that things with her boyfriend, Brennan, are going well and that he is future marriage material. What she gets is culture future marriage material. What she gets is culture shock, a surprisingly adorable yet judgmental family, a perfect ex-girlfriend, and an incredibly attractive farmhand that seems to understand her better than

her own boyfriend does. What’s a girl to do? While not the typical romance novel and definitely not a real love triangle, I blasted through this one like no other.

Not only will this appeal to those who love romance, but it’ll also appeal to travel lovers. Payne actually traveled to Ireland and stayed in a B&B. She used

her real-life experiences to create the realistic world in this novella. As someone who has traveled to Ireland, albeit six years ago, I almost felt nostalgic while reading because her descriptions were so true and vivid. It does its job by transporting you to a foreign land, and even the dialogue is realistic without it focusing too much on the accents to make it frustrating. I often found myself giggling or cracking a smile at the way this wonderfully complicated yet perfect Irish family handled Jessica and her weird American ways.

I do have to say I had one issue with this story aside from its short length, and it is the fact that Jessica is super uptight. Granted, later in the story it is revealed why she has a ten year plan and why she is so obsessed with her future and how it will turn out, but it takes a while to get to that point. When it is first apparent that she flew to Ireland to see her boyfriend of four months to ensure that he was proper marriage material when they are both only twenty years old, I kind of thought she belonged in a cuckoo’s nest. I mean, I am turning twenty in February and I wanted to die of embarrassment on her behalf.

ARTS December 2014


Personal Disclaimer: My internship at Bloomsbury publishing has in no way affected my opinions expressed in my reviews. I received this book not as an intern, but as a blogger/reviewer, thus I will review it as I would any other novel. Waiting to post such reviews until the completion of my internship would not be good because most thoughts would be irrelevant by the time of completion of said internship.

Granted, upon completion of the novel, I still think she belongs in a cuckoo’s nest, but in a more endearing “I love this crazy freak of a character” way more than in a way where I was questioning her sanity. I think that making her seem less nuts in the beginning would be helpful because I did find myself rolling my eyes a few times. But with that being my biggest issue, I have to say this was a solid read.

With an amazing cast of secondary characters and a perfect yet surprisingly male lead, Mistletoe and Mr. Right is a great Christmas novella that will appeal to both romance readers and those who love to travel. With the potential to turn into a full-length novel, I’ll be keeping my eye on this one and anything else Lyla Pane produces. Until then, I’m just going to be dreaming about witty Irish banter and hugely perfect Christmas Time grand gestures that make me weak in the knees. Oh wait, I can just reread this perfect little piece of literature for all of that.

Review of Mistletoe and Mr. Right continued…

Enjoyed Lili’s book review? If yes, connect with her on social media to hear more from her. TWITTER: @LiliReflects | BLOG: http://lilisreflections.blogspot.com/ | FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LilisReflections

PHASES OF THE MOON POETRY CONTEST “I LIKE TO THINK THAT THE MOON IS THERE EVEN IF I AM NOT LOOKING AT IT.”

-‐ALBERT EINSTEIN

WHAT: A CONTEST ABOUT THE PHASES OF THE MOON (FOR EXAMPLE – HOW THEY INSPIRE YOU, HOW THEY ARE MEANINGFUL TO YOU, ETC.), NO PAGE LIMIT. ONLY ONE ENTRY PER PERSON. HOW TO ENTER: PLEASE SEND YOUR ENTRY TO [email protected].

WHAT CAN YOU WIN: BRAGGING RIGHTS AND A STARBUCKS GIFTCARD WHO CAN ENTER: EVERYONE HOW TO WIN: AT AN HONORS COUNCIL MEETING, MEMBERS WILL VOTE FOR THE ONE THEY LIKE THE BEST. THE POEM WITH THE MOST VOTES WINS.

DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 14.

TRAVEL December 2014


Around The World with Jackie

TRAVELING ADVICE

Jaclyn Kopel ‘10

1) If you are traveling internationally, let your government know when and where you are going. If something horrible happens, they know they have to get you out and where you are. I sign up for every trip overseas. For US citizens enroll at http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/go/step.html 2) Before leaving, copy down the address and phone number of your embassy in the country you will be traveling to. Give that info to a loved one back home and keep a copy for yourself. Better safe than sorry. 3) Keep a photocopy of your passport at home or with a loved one. 4) Bring some food with you. You never know when the food might not be good or if you’ll be stuck somewhere without food for a while. I often travel with crackers, animal crackers, and cereal. It has come in handy on several flights when they forgot my vegetarian meal. 5) Always have a water bottle with you. Tap water isn’t safe in many countries and even in some states after weather issues. Additionally, stay hydrated. Not doing so can lead to becoming very sick. In warm dry climates, make sure you are drinking enough water even if you don't feel hot or thirsty. It catches up to you in the end. I’ve seen travel mates get extremely sick from lack of water. 6) Bring more cash than you need and more than one credit card. Make sure to have multiple currencies on you (your home currency and the currency of the country you are traveling to). I brought what I thought was enough cash to Egypt, but then my suitcase got lost. I suddenly had to buy overpriced items to get by. I burned through my cash in no time flat. I had only planned on using money for souvenirs and not for toiletries, sandals, socks, etc. Additionally, I was told AMEX was accepted in Egypt. It was, but they charged an insane fee every time. After that, I carried two, so I had choices at every shop. 7) Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean you should let your street smarts go on vacation. If you wouldn’t trust someone in your hometown, then don’t trust them overseas. The same goes for certain neighborhoods and streets. We almost got robbed in Tel Aviv. I was the only one who was suspicious of the two guys. Always stay alert! 8) Be careful with what you eat. Stick to safe foods and hot foods. The heat kills bacteria.

I’ve had some interesting travel experiences. I’ve gone to places in the middle of war and revolution. I’ve also gone to places right after terrorist attacks, kidnappings, and other horrible incidents. Additionally, I went a week without my suitcase in a country and climate that were unforgiving. So I’ve had a wide range of travel experiences. People always ask me for travel advice, so I finally sat down and thought about my list.

TRAVEL December 2014


Traveling Advice Continued…

9) Plan ahead. Research days and times the places you want to see are open. So many of my friends missed out on places they wanted to see because they went on a day that the place was closed. The Louvre was a popular example of this. Last thing you want to do is go to Paris and miss the Louvre. You never know when you’ll go back. 10) Don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak up. I learned this the hard way in Concord. I was really good about this in Egypt since I didn’t want to miss a thing. My tour guide needed to know exactly what I wanted to see to make sure it happened. 11) If you are going on a group tour, try to make friends via email or Facebook with the people on your trip before you go. I did this for Israel and Egypt. In Egypt, it came in handy. My Australian friends that I had made on Facebook were the ones that lent me some clothes when my suitcase was lost. 12) Keep a travel diary. Even if it is just bullet points, you'll want to remember the moments years later. I can turn back to my journals and see exactly how many stuffed camels I was worth and how many chickens my friend Alexis was worth. These are things you don't want to forget. 13) Keep receipts or make notes about what you spent money on. When you get home, you always wonder where your money went. 14) Use Trip Advisor, Foursquare, or some other travel resource to plan your trip. I’ve found out about great deals and discounts. I also have received lots of great advice. 15) Print a copy of all your reservations and bring it with you. It’s easier to argue with hotels, airlines, trains, etc. if you have the proof with you. 16) Don’t bring a lot of things to entertain yourself with unless you plan on spending the entire time on the beach. I always pack a lot of books and never read them. I never have the downtime I think I will have, and when I do, I’m usually too exhausted to do anything. 17) Bring extra camera batteries and memory cards. These items are hard to find and are very expensive overseas. 18) Bring a wide range of medicines. You never know what you’ll need. In Egypt I wound up needing anti-septic cream, and in Israel, I needed cough drops but didn’t have any (now I never leave home without them). 19) Don't be afraid to splurge. I have paid for my fair share of overpriced things here in the city, so why wouldn't I do it while traveling? At least I get an experience out of it. I paid for overpriced pastries in Versailles just so I could say I ate lunch at the Palace of Versailles. When I went to Egypt only 3 of us paid the extra money to see King Tut's tomb. How do you travel thousands of miles and not see it for an extra $20 or so? 20) Have no regrets!!!! If you think you are going to be upset because you didn’t do something, buy something, or went somewhere then do it, buy it, or go. I hate coming home and going I wish I…

HAPPY TRAVELING!!

HONORS December 2014


ACHIEVEMENTS IN HONORS

JESSIE MEREDITH WAS AWARDED THE GILMAN SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDY ABROAD.

"We just won a na*onal monetary policy compe**on!" "What was your policy?" "It was a three pronged approach recommending data dependent forward guidance, con*nuing with accommoda*on because the balance of risk is weighted more heavily toward *ghtening too soon, and a modifica*on to the longer run goal strategy to explicitly state the symmetric nature of the infla*on target. Anyway.... we beat Princeton!"

THE FED TEAM WON 1ST PRIZE AT THE 11TH ANNUAL NATIONAL COLLEGE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD CHALLENGE AND WAS FEATURED IN HUMANS OF NEW YORK. THE TEAM WAS COMPOSED OF HONORS STUDENTS, KELSEY BERRO, J O R D A N J H A M B , J U L I A MIKHAILOVA, KATHERINE CRAIG, AND DANIELLA GAMBINO.

FROM HUMANS OF NEW YORK…



ACHIEVEMENTS IN HONORS

7 HONORS STUDENTS JUST COMPLETED THEIR THESES AND ARE OFF TO GRADUATE THIS MONTH!

JULIE GAUTHIER, JULIETTE NIEVES, AND PAIGE GEOCHI WERE FINALISTS IN THE TED AND PAT LEVINE PROOF OF CONCEPT INITIATIVE.

GOT AN AWARD? WON A SCHOLARSHIP? GOT A REALLY AWESOME INTERNSHIP? HAD AN ARTICLE PUBLISHED? THEN LET US KNOW! EMAIL [email protected]. YOU COULD BE FEATURED IN OUR NEXT ISSUE!



An Interview with Professor Charles North

Tasha Gagnon ‘17

T = Tasha PN = Professor North, English Professor and Poet-in-Residence

T: How did you get into teaching? PN: I fell into it. I went to graduate school in English, went a certain distance, didn’t think I wanted to teach, went to law school, hated it and dropped out, worked in publishing for a couple years, then I started to write poetry and I met somebody in a poetry workshop – which workshop changed my life, by the way – whose husband was a past chair of the English department here, and they needed some people to teach low level English at a certain point, so I came and had an interview and was hired. T: What has your best experience as a professor been? PN: I hope it shows – I don’t know if it shows – but, I love teaching. You know, especially when it’s material that I really like. Yeah, I’ve been doing it for a long time and I still enjoy it so, that must mean something, we hope. T: What is the most interesting thing that has ever happened in a class you were teaching? PN: Wow. You know, I’m afraid I don’t have an answer. I like to think that interesting things happen in every class. There are exciting things that happen in classes when people say unexpectedly wonderful things or write wonderful poems and everybody in the class, you know, does a double take and thinks “How could anybody do that?” That’s always exciting, that’s not quite the same as interesting, but… it’s very gratifying.

T: What is your favorite topic to teach? PN: Well, I’ve taught loads of things over the years and the past few years I’ve taught mostly poetry as literature and also writing and, to me, that’s the most exciting, but when I taught surveys of British Literature and other kinds of literature I enjoyed that also.

T: Any pet peeves? In students? PN: No, not really just kind of what everybody has, you know, when you tell people that you can’t understand a poem unless you understand the words in it, so you can’t be lazy and you have to look up words you don’t know and people still don’t look them up! I don’t know if it’s a pet peeve, I think it’s a shared peeve.

PN: I think I was hoping I could get through my entire life without ever being asked that. I don’t know if I have an answer. You know, I read all the time and there are too many things to read. I’m sure people come up with some good answers, but I have to pass. I’m sorry. You know, I was wondering, “Do I say a dictionary?” No. I don’t think so. It seems to me it would depend… it would be, if not day to day, then week to week or month to month, ‘cause, you know, you have enthusiasms, so it would depend on when I was stranded.

T: Cliché question: If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only bring three books, what are they?



Heard in Honors

“Is that chocolate?” “No, it’s a DVD.”

“But can we not celebrate communism?”

“A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.”

“I’m thankful for pugs.”

“I can make so many more Oregon Trail references but I won’t.”

“I should be fine. SHOULD BE. I bet the Trojans said that when they accepted the Trojan horse. This should be fine.”

“Can you crack my toes for me?”

“I feel like my grandmother is a witch. Not the Nun one.”

“I took the train at 2 pm. I felt mad thug.”

“Have you ever talked to someone that made you want to roll your eyes so hard that they would roll out of their sockets and onto the floor? ”

“Ke$ha would be your spokesmodel.”�

-Oh my god guys the Victoria’s Secret fashion show is tonight! -Oh joy, skinny people with wings!

“The Bible says you can’t wear purple on Thursdays.”

"This is what you get when you Google 'empress of pugs'. This is what I did at work today."

“The chocolate tasted like poison.”

“Too bad there isn’t a Seamles emoji.”

-  “Convinced there is a ghost in the honors lounge with us.”

-  “I keep telling you we are at Hogwarts. That’s the house ghost!”

-  “I’m having trouble with the third floor. I swear they move the stairwells everyday to mess with freshmen.”

-  “It’s because the staircases change. If you come across the 3 headed dog, then you know you are lost.”

“If I post anything dramatic, just assume I haven’t had my coffee yet.”

“Is it wrong I want to go to China and kidnap their 3-year-old YouTube star? What if I ask them with a smile?”!

“We are moving to China to be backup dancers to a 3-year-old

boy.”

“How much do you think it will cost to pay off the security guard to let the delivery guy deliver my food to the couch?”



An Interview with Jaclyn Kopel, Our Program Coordinator

Rachel Wandishin ‘15

R = Rachel (me) J = Jackie

R: Where are you from? J: Manhattan! Born and raised New Yawker. Background wise though my family is from Spain, Greece, Russia, and Poland. R: When are you available? J: That depends. Do I like you? Will you bring me Kinder Eggs or free food from Common Hour? In all seriousness though, it really does depend. I am often running around for events and meetings. Generally, I am in the office from 10am-6pm Monday-Friday. R: Where is your office? J: My office is located in the Honors Suite in room W209A. However, you can usually find me running all over the place. R: What is your job in the Honors College? J: I am the Program Coordinator and Office Manager. I also manage the Honors College’s social media accounts. I kind of do a little bit of everything. Consider me the Jack of all Trades. Though I believe many of you think my sole job is to email you all nonstop. I also make Lay’s Potato Chips magically appear for Bill. It’s one of my many skills. Additionally, I manage the student aides (though they like to refer to themselves as House Elves. Please do not give them clothing.) and unofficial student aides (Lola, Vato, Dylan, Carolyn, Priya, Ana, Justin, Gisselle, and Dheer). R: What are three random facts about yourself? J: I’ve only cut my hair once, and I believe it was during my freshman year at Pace when I randomly took a scissor to my hair and wound up cutting 10 inches. I have been obsessed with Egypt since I was about 5 years old when I read about King Tut in a Wendy’s magazine that came with their kids’ meal. I am named after a Charlie’s Angel (Jaclyn Smith who played Kelly Garrett). Bonus: I am obsessed with Halloween. R: When you were a student, what internships did you have? J: I was an education major so we were required to student teach. I started student teaching at Pace High School in my freshman year and stayed there for the rest of my time at Pace. I helped teach Global History, U.S. History, U.S. Government, Economics, Study Hall, Advisory, and worked with the National Honor Society and Prom Committee. I loved what I did. It confirmed for me that I loved working with students and that the field of education (in some capacity or another) was for me. Additionally, I learned more on the job than I ever could from textbooks or any other source. I would not have changed that experience for the world.



R: Do you have any advice for students? J: Get to know your professors! A lot of students want to stay as far away from their professors as possible, but that is really doing a disservice to yourself. You are bound to need recommendation letters for internships, jobs, and grad school. If you get to know your professors, they will not only be more willing to write these letters for you, but they will actually be able to write something that is meaningful and unique to you. Additionally, professors know about research opportunities, scholarships, jobs, and internships, and they are more likely to tell you about these things if they know you. I was offered several research opportunities when I was a student from professors I had befriended. They are also extremely helpful to go to for advice, help with schoolwork, and general information about your intended field. Getting to know all my professors was helpful when I needed favors from them like giving a guest lecture to my students (Thanks Dr. Malone), allowing me to be late to class because my classroom had flooded (Thanks Dr. Blumberg), and meeting with me at odd hours because I worked so much. I graduated several years ago, and I still enjoy talking to my former professors when I see them in the hallway, at school events, and on social media. R: How do you celebrate the holidays? J: I have a very small family, so we don’t really do anything for the holidays. I come from a family that works retail, so they are burnt out by the time they finally get off for the holidays. Our celebration becomes sleeping late and eating sweets. On New Year’s Eve, we do stay up and watch the ball drop, but that’s about it. This year, I will actually be spending my holidays completing my residency for my doctorate. So think of me in hours upon hours of lectures while you are opening presents by the fire and eating a family dinner.

An Interview with Jackie continued…

JACKIE ALSO WRITES AROUND THE WORLD WITH JACKIE EVERY HONORS

HERALD.

fall finals week when I was a freshman



QuesVons in 6 60 Seconds with the Honors Staff We asked the Honors Staff the same 6 ques*ons, and here are their responses.

What’s your favorite chocolate/candy bar? Bill-‐Hershey’s Dr. Dupont-‐Baby Ruth Pam-‐Snickers Jackie-‐Twix Rachel-‐Dark chocolate Hershey’s Devina-‐Cookies n Cream Hershey’s Lindita-‐Dark chocolate Hershey’s

What was your favorite subject in HS? Bill-‐History Dr. Dupont-‐Social Studies Pam-‐French Jackie-‐Math Rachel-‐Math Devina-‐Lunch Lindita-‐History

Do you prefer coke or pepsi?

Bill-‐Diet coke Dr. Dupont-‐Neither Pam-‐Coke Jackie-‐Neither Rachel-‐Coke Devina-‐Pepsi Lindita-‐Coke

Do you prefer dogs or cats? Bill-‐Cats Dr. Dupont-‐Cats Pam-‐Dogs Jackie-‐Cats, but I’m allergic Rachel-‐Cats Devina-‐Cats Lindita-‐Cats

What’s your favorite decade?

Bill-‐1970’s Dr. Dupont-‐1970’s Pam-‐1920’s Jackie-‐1960’s Rachel-‐1960’s Devina-‐1960’s Lindita-‐2010’s If you could visit any historical site in the world what would you choose? Bill-‐Library of Congress Dr. Dupont-‐Easter Island Pam-‐The Pyramids Jackie-‐The Great Wall of China Rachel-‐Versailles Devina-‐Taj Mahal Lindita-‐Versailles



The Honors Council would like to wish everyone happy holidays and a happy new year! Good luck

with finals and see you in the spring!

WISHING YOU MANY WARM HUGS!

PaceHonorsCollegeNYC

@pacehonorsnyc

@pacehonorsnyc

paceuniversity

December 2014


FINAL WORDS

Bill’s

CORNER

TALKING WITH Dr. Dupont

"From Chicago to New Orleans, from the muscle to the bone From the shotgun shack to the Superdome There ain't no help, the cavalry stayed home There ain't no one hearing the bugle blowin' We take care of our own We take care of our own” - Bruce Springsteen We are near the end of this semester, a semester that I’ve watched my son go through his first term in college. Unlike my daughter (who started college 3 years ago in England and didn’t want any part of her parents), we have seen and talked with our son a lot this fall. Over Thanksgiving, we gave him two pieces of advice, which are somewhat contradictory (but hey, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds—HL Mencken). I think they’ll work for you too. First, to make it through the next weeks with academic success, find a place that you can be alone to work for long, uninterrupted periods of time. You have to be alone to focus. To do that, you must find a cave, a place where no one can find or disturb you for hours on end. You should disappear: go underground (metaphorically), where there is nothing to distract you. Turn off the cell phone, turn off the internet, ignore family, friends and temptations, and don’t schedule anything for 2, 3, 4 hours at a stretch. There are caves all around, but you must find one now. Your family, friends, significant others, and Honors will still love you in two weeks; value yourself and your future by finding a cave to work in. Second, ask for help. You have the academic talent to succeed, but no one knows it all already. If you knew all this stuff, you wouldn’t have to go to college, If you need help, ask someone: in your class, on your floor, in the cafeteria, in the tutoring center, or ask me. More importantly, when the grind gets too much, if you’d just like a break, take it with friends, take it with other Honors students, just hang out in the Honors lounge or elsewhere. We take care of our own.

As I write this, I am listening to news coverage of the Grand Jury

decision to not indict a white Staten Island police officer, Daniel Pantaleo, in the choke hold killing of Eric Garner, an unarmed black man. This decision comes on the

heels of the infamous ‘Ferguson case’ in which white police officer,

Darren Wilson, was also not indicted in the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed black man. The Ferguson

I mention these events because I am very concerned about our nation’s ongoing racial divisions and injustices of all kinds. We live in a time when more than 60% of the people in prison are now racial and ethnic minorities and 1 in every 10 black man is in prison or jail on any given day. What are we to make of these racial disparities? In the Honors College, it is our job is to critically analyze such realities in our classrooms. However, it is also our mission to grapple with such important social issues with the larger community at panel discussions, debates, and colloquia. I am proud to say that we do all of these things in the Honors College. This year alone, the Honors College has hosted or co-sponsored a number of excellent programs on important issues like gentrification; white privilege; the Trayvon Martin case; homelessness; surveillance and 9/11; and sexual violence. But this is not enough. We must all continue to have difficult, but vitally important, conversations about our many social problems and what we can do about them.

decision led to nation-wide protests which were, in some cases, violent. These events, as President Obama said, “laid bare” a “simmering distrust that exists between too many police departments and too many communities of color. The sense that in a country where one of our basic principles, perhaps the most important principle, is equality under the law, that too many individuals, particularly young people of color, do not feel as if they are being treated fairly.”

Documents

Honors Newsletter December 2014