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INTO THE NIGHT by Lara Jacobson was found to be guilty on four of dangerous conditions, interference Safety Director Richard Young The next day Marburger the charges and was suspended for in the rights of others, refusing to claims it was because "the people again met with the group and again' the Fall semester. In addition to the comply with official directives, look like ants. It wasn't worthy of restated that he could not postpone A group of students have protests, the case is pending an and illegal entrance/unauthorized anything." When asked about the the drive because the importance of their radios, books, sleeping bags appeal. "It's not an easy situation," presence. tape, Assistant Director Joseph his commitment to the Hospital, and pillows lying all over the says Severe. The Haitian Student Verfenstein replied that "there was but that the drive would be held in Administration Building. Upon On March 13th the two Organization has been actively no reason to show it." the University Library's Alliance walking in one cannot miss them - faced criminal charges at the maintaining Severe and Valbrune's "It's certainly not unusual Room. The group then informed or the neon spray-painted signs Hauppauge District Courtroom. innocence. The defendants had for people to say they're innocent Marburger of their intention to with messages such as: "Drop the The proceedings were postponed asked for an open hearing but that have been proven guilty," says demonstrate. Marburger has since Charges," and "Why isn't Public until this Friday. Public Safety refused, as in Fred Preston, Vice President of told the Press: "I don't believe in Safety showing the tape? Do they The four-day Student Judiciary hearings both parties must Student Affairs. However, many demonstrating at blood drives." He have something to hide?" littering Judiciary hearing began on March comply for it to be open to the people sincerely believe that Severe also said that he "supported their the walls, chairs and the floor of 14th and was aimed at extracting public. "Public Safety's testimonies and Valbrune are more than (the HSO's) position on the FDA the lobby. They have been there the truth about what happened at at the trial were full of holes and innocent and did not receive a fair regulations," but "that does not since last Thursday, and they don't the now-infamous December 4, contradictions," both Henry O'Brien trial and, moreover, that excuse the violence that occurred at plan on leaving. 1990 blood drive. The Haitian (Severe's and Valbrune's lawyer) Emmanuel and Phillipe have been the blood drive." On April 3rd, before the Student Organization had staged a and the defendants state. O'Brien victims of racial violence and Many Public Safety sit-in began, the Haitian Student demonstration at the faculty was only allowed to whisper into police brutality. They are witnesses, including Young, testify Organization staged a peaceful sponsored drive to protest the the defendants' (Severe's) ear completely intent on making their to there being some "uneasiness," picket (complete with chants and Federal Food and Drug throughout the hearing. plea for a fair trial and a dismissal and "fear" about what "might bongo drums) that travelled from Administration's discriminatory Segments of the course of of the charges heard. happen" at the protest prior to it. the Administration Building to the policy restricting Haitians and Sub- events were videotaped by various On December 2, 1990 Richard Young told the Press that Student Union, and remained in the Saharan Africans from donating T.V. stations (Channel 11, Channel the HSO and others met with he had expressed his concern to a Union for a few hours. The group blood. Coincidentally, the FDA 12 evening news programs). The President John H. Marburger to "friend" of his at Suffolk County then went back to Administration rescinded the ban on Haitian blood protest was also videotaped by discuss the upcoming blood drive. Police prior to the protest and had and the protesters have camped out the following day. Public Safety from the Chemistry The Student Polity Association had asked him to come to the there ever since. On December 5th the Building. "What better evidence asserted, along with the HSO, that University and survey the situation. The sit-in has been word "riot," was on everybody's can you have?" asks Harry the FDA ban was discriminatory The HSO upholds that organized to protest the guilty lips. Severe and Valbrune had been O'Brien. However, Public Safety and conflicted with the campus' they had always held peaceful verdict that was passed down from arrested at the scene the previous refused to offer the tape as evidence anti-discriminatory policy, and demonstrations prior to the the Student Judiciary on March day and were taken to the Suffolk at the hearing, because "apparently asked that it be cancelled. incident. 20th and 21st to two Haitian County Police Department's 6th Public Safety is allowed to do this Marburger said at the meeting that According to EmmanueL students, Emmanuel Severe and precinct. They were charged with as part of the proceedings," says he could not cancel the drive about 9-15 demonstrators arrived at Phillipe Valbrune. The two were second degree inciting to riot and O'Brien. "It's very shocking that we because of his greater responsibility the site at -9:00 a.m. Alan Moise, charged with six violations of the were later released on $25 bail were not allowed to view the to the University Hospital, but that Chairman of HSO, says that there Student Conduct Code: Severe was each. Public Safety filed separate tape...It shows the biased nature of he would meet again with the group were 9-10 men and 4 women in this found to be guilty on five of the charges against the two: violations the case." the next day to discuss postponing party. It was a very cold and rainy charges and was suspended for the against persons, disruption of Why did Public Safety the drive and re-schedule it at an day. Severe and Valbrune claim school year of 1991-92. Valbrune University activities, creating refuse to show the tape? Public off-campus location. continued on page 3 MilMilllia I- I - I Peace in the Passing the Bucks Polity Budget Discussions - -- Iprogress of the Polity committee Middle East by DebraMcKee to $28,000 per year. on In the open discussion Teacher Course Evaluations. Apparently, the members involved Polity Senators had that followed, several Polity have been met with uncooperation matters to consider and Senators addressed Joachim's Who Cares? serious from the Administration. Slepian even debate at the last Polity previous mention of Polity assured all present that this matter Senate meeting. The issues decreasing its advertising in the would be handled, however, the discussed on April 3rd included paper. Pointed out was the fact that the fight against communism. In publication of the book will be by Jean Rousseau consideration of placing Statesman the rates charged were very high, the absence of threat from the postponed until an estimated time and other groups on referendum, and not within Polity's budget. USSR, Israel loses some of its next Spring. On a beautiful Monday proposed budget cuts and possible Aside from the obvious monetary influence. Moreover, Israel was Strategies were discussed evening, I decided to attend one of tuition hikes, as well as the pending concerns involved, it was also just put aside in the Gulf war. The with regard to the newly proposed the activities of Culture Fest '91. It Polity elections. brought up that on-campus the Gulf region is a vital was supposed to be a lecture on security of David Joachim, Editor-in- organizations such as fraternities tuition hikes and inscensed stu- interest for the United States, and Middle East relations by Professor Chief of Statesman, came that night and sororities need a better method dents' reactions. Techniques such they were ready to ally themselves Hussein Gam Badr from the to implore the Senate to give the of announcing events than putting as letter writing and telephone with Arab countries. When it Computer Science Department. I paper the opportunity of being flyers on trees. At the suggestion of campaigns are still popular and comes to the safety of the area, was taken aback to see only four placed on an upcoming referendum. a contract between Statesman and successful. Most stressed was the Israel does not matter that much. more people in the Union As a result, the students would vote Polity, Joachim agreed with the need to remember that the actions Now that Bush is certain Auditorium, including the speaker on whether or not the "main news- Senate. taken by concerned students, while to be re-elected, without having to himself. paper", as Joachim dubbed the However, after an they are crucial on the state level, count on the Jewish lobby, he could Hussein was not utterly tabloid, would receive $1 in executive session, the Editor-in- must be taken to the federal level. push for a negotiated settlement. surprised. "The interest span of the addition to the $2 that it already Chief was accused of being unable For while the state may agree with The United States gives $3 billion a American public was limited to the receives out of the Student Activity to offer any concrete offers or the students on compromise, it is plus many sophi- duration of the American involve- year to Israel Fee. His arguments included the conditions and of being "vague." ultimately the federal government past, it was ment, and the student body is not sticated arms. In the fact that Statesman has "been hit He responded that before he could that has the final say on tuition thought that a well-armed Israel different." Being involved in the hard" by the recent economic. present any valid offers, he needed hikes and budget cuts. would lead Israel to be more recession, which is certainly not to consult with the Executive The Polity elections, helped by Polity's 75% decrease in Director of the Statesman, which are to be held on April 16, the advertising that it once placed in Charlene Scala. were also discussed. Naala Royale, "Israel is the new kid on the the student newspaper. He stressed Dissatisfied with Joa- Polity's Treasurer, announced her that the publication is not just the chim's responses to questions departure after this semester. block, and it will have to meet only, but the most read, "main- considered key in the Senators' Slepian briefly outlined the duties stream newspaper on campus." decision, they voted against placing of the position, stressing the great the Arabs half-way" Polity President Dan Statesman on the referendum that responsibility that comes along Slepian clearly reminded the would increase their budget. with the job. Encouragement was governing body before him that the Slepian reminded Joachim as he given to those who are sincerely confident and would not fear a Keller International Studies paper's budget was currently departed that there still remained interested and Slepian added that peace initiative as much. It has program, Hussein had the oppor- approximately $17,000. With the one option open to him; he could among those who pursue the only led to an obdurate Israel. tunity to lead many discussions approval of placing Statesman on petition the decision and gather position, he would "really like to does not have to address the about the Middle East He does not Israel referendum, along with the 2,400 signatures in support of the see those who aren't [currently] consider himself as an expert but question of Palestinians, as long as surmised approval from the voting paper. involved get involved." he has been following the situation they can contain them. It is only students, this figure would increase Also discussed was the closely for many years. He is the United States that can force Egyptian and describes himself as a Israel to change its attitude. moderate Arab. Fluent in Arabic, Arab states will have to French, Spanish and English, recognize the legitimacy of the Hussein's influences seem multiple. Israeli state to exist, but at the same time Israel will have to give the Hit the Road, Jack That night, he wanted to share his views with the audience. In place, I Palestinians control of the West Bank. The cessation of territory by got the opportunity to talk with him By James F. Bama twenty-five minutes late as various organizations can afford concerts Israel will have to happen. Hussein about the future of the Middle East. administrators and council mem- run outside of the Student considers that a solution to the Union. He was very articulate, and he To students, the Stony bers wandered in. The first topic of Palestinian problem will arise from It was during this discus- would carefully divide some of his Brook Council is perhaps the most discussion was USB President John sion that a group the control of the West Bank by of protestors led arguments in subcategories (maybe elusive of the governmental bodies Marburger's campus report. Dr. Palestinians. At first it would be an by members of the Haitian Student a programmer bias), while that exist on campus. This is Marburger used this opportunity to autonomous Palestinian govern- Organization stormed into the sometimes launching a strong somewhat ironic because the deci- tell of the grave financial crisis ment, with a defensive border for council meeting to hand President statement. sions and policies recommended by which faces the university. He also Israel on the Jordan River. This Marburger a list of demands. The "Israel is the new kid on the council have far reaffirmed his position autonomous state should have at reaching on the list promised that students would the block, and it will have to meet consequences for the student body undergraduate tuition saying, least a veto right on the use ol "It's occupy the Administration building the Arabs half way." Talking of the as well as the entire absolutely essential for us to water. Later on, the West Bank university follow until the university's charges peace process, Hussein underlined community. through on a $500 tuition increase." could become an independent state against Emmanuel Severe and the deadlock situation in which the The USB Catalog gives There was a question This process would necessitate thai to Philippe Valbrune are dropped. Israeli state finds itself. The Israeli this description of the Stony Brook Dr. Marburger and the United States guarantee the the Council Both Severe and Valbrune were proportional electoral system does Council: "Subject to the powers of _ ~ III I I II II security of Israel and that a not allow politicians to address State University Trustees defined limitation treaty for conventiona ""It'sabsolutely essential for us to follow through on a touchy situations. There is also a by law. The operations and affairs arms be adopted by the countries ir cultural gap between the forty year of the State University at Stony $500 tuition increase." the region. -President old state and the Arab states. Brook are supervised locally by a John H. Marburger Hussein is cautiously ,,Ii ii Ii "Israeli talks to you in Western ten-member council. Nine are terms, while there is an Arab way; optimistic. He also says that many appointed by the governor; the from Dan Slepian concerning the sense of place, American Jews question, at least suspended from the university for a sense of humor, a tenth, a student member, with all New Student Concert Requirements a sense of friendship among Arab privately, the attitude of the Israel allegedly causing a riot last the rights and responsibilities of the that were promulgated by Unive- people that has to be discovered." government. There are hopes semester. other members, is elected by the rsity Vice-President for Student The end of the Cold War When I told him that these are ver) Concerning the concert student body." Affairs Fred Preston. He argued has modified the international chess pro-Arab comments, he did no requirements, the council decided According to State that many of the changes Preston board. Before, Israel was perceived dodge the comment. "So, I am an to postpone any debate until Fred Education Law the council is made were incorrect saying "We by the United States as an ally in Arab." Preston is present to defend his new required to meet at least four times (the students) don't agree with requirements. The next meeting is a year, although the meetings are many of the changes that were in May, after the semester ends, so usually held more frequently. The made." He also said: "This deci- for the rest of the semester the last meeting was held on Thursday, sion... primarily hurts minority and requirements are law. April fourth. underrepresented groups." This is The meeting began some because only the large mainstream The Stony Brook Press page 2 \ -.- , TY·I~LSlhL-4%1 ~ I Il ' 3Plbs~-i=l==;E-F_'"~3~~ ~i~66·iqiejg~a~lP-~b~ L, W~ I · r I IIMillHillliall "frequently seen to be at odds" with were responsible." the larger group, because the latter Lt. Parrino testified that wanted to peacefully demonstrate he arrested Valbrune when the while the former wished to lobby was packed full of antagonize. The smaller group demonstrators, and that he was began harassing officers behind the "squashed" up against the wall barricade, slinging a slew of while holding Valbrune. He stated obscenities in their faces. He he got orders from Captain Cali: testifies that "they were giving "'He's going,' or words to that donors flak," and that the situation affect..we handcuffed him." He escalated. It was seen to that the said he didn't see what happened to officers were rotated. Verfenstein Emmanuel Severe and does not claims that the smaller group know what happened outside. Yet became frustrated with their failed he also testified that he arrested attempts and lifted up the barrier Valbrune because "people were and charged the -30 ft. to the doors getting pelted with stuff." of the Alliance Room. He says that Sgt. Herbert During was Sue Riseling, former Assistant fixing the alleged fire alarms. He Director of Safety, was trampled to claims that he saw one of the the ground and kicked by protesters leaving the site of various demonstrators in the surge. He says buildings in which the fire alarms Public Safety and the students had been pulled and that he arrived at the door at almost exactly followed him back to the the same time and Safety managed demonstration. During insists that continued from front page the group of protesters behind Development Office, where the to push them back outside, forming the barricades were knocked over that when they got there police Valbrune began running. They two were held until they were a line in front of the protesters. by the surge of protesters. He did barriers were set up but there was a claim that Phillipe had already escorted to the Sixth Precinct. Valbrune allegedly gained access to see Severe charge the line of space under an overhang where the gotten into the lobby, but when Outside, the HSO continued to the lobby by pushing and shoving officers but that he did not see him barriers did not extend all the way Severe and the rest behind him got demand that Severe and Valbrune his way in and was subsequently get arrested. He also attests to to the wall. This wall led to the there Public Safety met them and be returned to them. That day a restrained and arrested by Parrino. numerous punches, kicks, and double doors of the Alliance Room, formed a line in front of the double large group of protesters seized the He says Severe also gained access curses. He testified that a "handful but the area where the doors. Severe and a few others had President's office and refused to and was restrained by Lt. Sweeney of ashtray gravel was thrown in my demonstrators gathered to receive made it in but were pushed out leave until Severe and Valbrune and Officer Anselome after he face...about ten seconds later I was protection from the rain was a immediately. were back in their custody. Later, threw a punch at Verfenstein. He grabbed by four to five of the distance away from the entry doors. Valbrune testified that the two were released on a low bail also says that Parrino also tried to demonstrators, I was pulled to the From the spot where they gathered when he entered the lobby he - a fact that Young claims he is push his way through but he, ground, and I was kicked in the they could be seen and heard by turned to see Lieutenant Frank responsible for. "I interceded on personally, pushed him back. Sue stomach." When asked who it was entering donors. Parrino quickly close the double their behalf and got their bail Riseling was supposedly in the that kicked him he replied, "I don't The HSO maintains that doors behind which was the nurse's lowered." lobby at the time and called for know." Safety pulled him back to they were peacefully demonstrating table. Parrino grabbed Valbrune The complaints against assistance over the radio. them and shortly thereafter he went and created a path, allowing the and held him in the corer of the the two were made by Joseph Verfenstein told the Press that "she into the lobby with the accused to donors easy access if they chose to lobby with his hands behind his Verfenstein, Frank Parrino, and. may have assisted in the the 6th precinct and processed enter through the picketing ring. back. He states that at that time Herbert During. Verfenstein was handcuffing (of Severe)," and that them. At around 9:45 Public Captain Charles Cali rushed over testified in his opening statement Captain Cali did assist. When Sweeney says he saw Safety asked them to move. The and violently jammed his elbow that the first thing he did when he asked if helped to handcuff Severe Severe push through the lines and group held their ground, not into Valbrune's throat. Cali told arrived that morning at the Alliance he replied, "I don't think so." " take a swing at Verfenstein, and understanding why it was that they Parrino to arrest Valbrune, and the Room was to give blood. At the "When they were that he also saw Valbrune were being asked to move, and orders were carried out. hearing he states "I can tell you arrested, they were in the lobby at a struggling and resisting arrest. where it was that they were Severe states that, when quite candidly that I felt uneasy time when everyone else had been Parrino, however, had stated that expected to go. When Public Public Safety formed the line laying on the gurney donating pulled out." Verfenstein was Phillipe was calm when he was Safety saw that the group wasn't blocking the doors, the protesters blood and listening to the chants of "punched and kicked several times arrested. He also says that he, moving, they formed a shoulder- made a linked semi-circle in front the protesters outside." However, by an unknown person." He claims personally, handcuffed Severe. He to-shoulder line with their "billy" of the officers and held their Verfenstein later commented in a that a bookbag, an ashtray, and later goes on to clearly say that clubs extended out in front of them ground. The students were yelling Press interview that he had given astray gravel were thrown at the Riseling put the cuffs on. and pushed the group out, placing at Safety to "let Phillipe go!" The blood at about 8:30 that morning: officers along with a punches, Most Public Safety the barrier where the group had protesters claim that the officers one half- hour before the kicks, and a barrage of obscenities witnesses testified that the crowd been. Associate Professor Leslie were again holding their clubs out demonstrators had arrived. Cheryl and threats. He says he left that day was yelling a wide spectrum of Owens of the Africana studies in front of them and violently Chambers, Assistant Director of with "my coat arm torn and my obscenities and that they were department was standing behind the shoving outwards. Severe says that the Student Union and Activities, shirt covered with dried blood." being very violent. One black group and later testified that he felt he was on the left end of the semi- later testified as a Public Safety Verfenstein also states officer attested to being called an the "push." circle and that Public Safety witness that at one point the lobby that from -10:48-11:45 eleven fire "Uncle Tom," but the rest said they The protesters were angry officers were "grabbing" at the was filled with demonstrators and alarms went off. "It is strongly were all called "racist" and many because they felt that their rights protesters. He claims his right arm police, but that most of the people believed that the demonstrators continued on page 4 had been violated. "It was a was linked but his left arm was within the Alliance Room were peaceful demonstration," says grabbed by an unknown officer and oblivious to all of the commotion Valbrune. "It was a violation of our he was pulled into the lobby. He because they really couldn't hear right to demonstrate peacefully, and Phillipe both attest to seeing what was going on in the lobby. which is enough to tick anyone Officer Robert Sweeney and Verfenstein did not off," Severe comments. The group Assistant Director Joseph mention anything about Public became angry when they were Verfenstein holding Emmanuel's Safety forming the initial line to pushed initially but the protest arms down and Director of Public move the demonstrators in his really only intensified in volume. Safety Richard Young coming over testimony. When the Press About an hour and a half went by and punching Severe twice in the questioned him with regards to the and the group was peacefully face. At that point Captain Call matter he said that "at one point the protesting again. They decided to came over, according to the two barriers were moved," but he attempt to enter the Alliance Room, witnesses, and put Severe in a couldn't say in what manner the one by one, and offer to donate headlock while Young struck him barriers were rearranged. blood at the nurse's table in order to in the back. Valbrune says, "At Public Safety's accounts have it on record that they were that time I told Parrino to just watch of what happened at the blood drive prevented from donating blood what was happening." protest are entirely different story because of their ethnicity. Phillipe Severe says that Public from the one that would be later Valbrune began walking along the Safety's Associate Director Susan heard from the defendants. wall alone towards the Alliance Riseling, who has since moved to Verfenstein was the first Room entrance. Emmanuel Wyoming, put the handcuffs on complaintent to speak. "I am followed behind, and two or three him. They say that they were held convinced that there were two others behind him. Severe claims in the corner for awhile and were factions (of protesters) from the 'that when Public Safety, over at not told that they were arrested or outset," he claims. He believes the barricade, saw Valbrune near why they had been arrested, nor that one smaller group of were they read their rights until the entrance, they began running demonstrators, led by HSO Sleep-In at Admin, April 4-5 towards the door. Simultaneously, they were taken to the Career member Patrick Pyrraneau, were Lara Jacobsor April 11, 1991 page 3 MilMillMMIS Public Safety THES IENOIAoER( E oCOTMIqEE ire vs. HSO CORDXAILLJy VI'TES T 0 OUR1 continued from Pge 3 other names. In fact, most of the witnesses testified to the same sequence of events: however, all but one left out a crucial element of the situation in their testimonies - the initial shove that Public Safety gave to the (Dj@J~tift2YPV demonstrators when they were behind the barricade. The complaintants testimony excluded it. Richard Young and Joe Verfenstein denied it ever happened when talking to the Press. Cheryl Chambers, Assistant Director of Student Union and Activities testified that the demonstration was peaceful 110 until Young, Riseling, "and other Public Safety officers formed a shoulder-to-shoulder line and moved themselves into the students...it was an attempt to...move the students further back and to reconfigure It wiffll take place in the Clubhouse at The Colony, located on where the barricade needed to be...and put the Furrows Road, Holbrook on Friday, A.pril Twenty Six of barricade in place so that the students would be further away from their initial point." She Wineteen 9minety One, at Six o'clockin the evening. later said that the officers in the line had their" hands at their sides, but that Public Phe price of your Senior formal is Forty doffars per person Safety pushed and the students were not pushing back. She also stated that "as a which includes, a three course meal buffet, music, dance, open bar, result, the chanting did get louder." Later, and transportationfrom and to the University. when Chambers spoke to the Press, she replied "no" when asked if she did indeed see For reservations, contact A.lfyson qil, your Senior this shoulder-to -shoulder line, as she described it at the hearing. Representative, in Polity. ihe phone number is 632-9196 or 632- Chambers also states that she saw a University employee named Tommy Gomez 4217. close the doors to the Alliance Room when RS.V.P. by AIpri 12, 1991. they saw students running towards the door, when all other testimonies verify that Parrino closed the doors. Other discrepancies are the number and gender of protesters the witnesses claim to have been there. Accounts range from 5 to 40, and Young continues to insist that the group was all male when there definitely was a female representation there. The feeling of students on campus y .7 about this issue seems to be generally apathetic. People don't understand all of the nuances of a very complex situation and often react to the Haitians out of sheer ignorance. mmmmmm•Fmnm•••mmmm~q- Ll-Imum An 18 year-old female student of Jewish descent replied, "I think they just want to cause trouble," when asked how she felt about the protests. Phillipe Valbrune received a

MEN 2"i--(- message on his answering machine on April 8th from an anonymous female caller: "I just have a couple of comments about the sit-in and all that SHIT that's goin' on. I don't give Desert Storm a fuck about the niggers in this school they can go to hell as well as the blood drive. I bet Welcome you no Haitian out there would probably Home Rally! accept their blood anyway...they broke the law, they deserve the consequences and I'm Wed., April 17 glad they are not around at school like that to 12:40-1:40,,r Fine Arts Plaza create riots and disturb other people who are paying quality amount of money to attend A Time For Thanks! school. And please, don't disturb other people. Join us in singing "Voices That Care" on the steps The HSO is organizing a "Day of Outrage" on April 19th - all day - in protest of the Fine Arts-Plaza, giving thanks to our troops! of a swiss cheese trial. "Stand tall-stand proud! This article was contributedto by John Scaly Voices that care Are crying out loud. And when you close your eyes tonight, Feel in your heart How our love burns bright!" The event will be video-taped and sent to troops who are still serving in the Gulf. POLITY ASSOCLATIMON Bring flags * WVear red, white and blue clothing * Make Banners sponsored by Commuter Student Association The Stony Brook Press page 4 I II I I · · I I I ,· · I c _ - I I Librarian Fea Pn Popularityr Vs. Power frwsrwnha for controI or I s s? Has Grad Feal ollticking V.OPfwfwlw 9W1 %offta WE o warofo. n Legislator Postal lectures at USB Chem

By Debra McKee :nd for Yeltsin and his advocates is Student rielding control to the Federation Once on the road to Council. Only possible to form eform, Soviet Union President ifter the ceding of power of Arrested 4ikhail Gorbachev prided himself Gorbachev and hard line Com- m encouraging an open forum for nunist Cabinet, this governing he diverse voices within his body would include leaders from by Josh Gazes raditionally silent, repressed each of the republics. Just as it is :ountry. However, in light of new- rue that the people are on Yeltsin's Rosie Chang, a forty- worn power struggles, Gorbachev side, they also have personal seven year old USB Chemistry ust may be feeling that a stubborn )bstacles of their own to overcome graduate student, was arrested by :an of worms has been irreversibly before the coalition of republic Public Safety as a result of the )pened. Although not a republic leader and the republic can make a culmination of conflicts between President, Boris Yeltsin, leader of difference. While there exist her the the Chemistry Librarian, Russia's Parliament, has become a sentiments of antigovernment and Ms. Janet Steins. Mrs. Chang, serious contender in a political even anti-Gorbachev, there remains also known as Yuh-loo Chang, is by David Suarez Ms. Postal gave some face-off. On the right stands what one reporter described as a planning on graduating with a Phd. I ips about appearance for women Gorbachev, father of perestroika "political inertia." Despite dissatis- in May. She claims she was not Maxine Postal is a interested in campaigning. She ad fearless leader; in short, the faction, Soviet citizens throughout told of her rights at the time of the Democratic member of the Suffolk aid suits and earrings are essential, nan with the power. Directly all republics do have a tendency, arrest, nor of the charges against County Legislature. She visited the nd that these must be coupled with facing him from the opposite side is rooted in past, long history, to her, but was immediately brought University as a guest lecturer on a personality whose impression is Yeltsin, a seemingly undauntable accept the restrictions levied on to the campus' Public safety April 5th as a representative of the one of a balance between passivity pursuer of republic sovereignty, them and succumb to ecohomic and headquarters on Jan. 2, 1991. She 14th legislative district. Postal md aggressiveness. naking him very popular among social despair. was released shortly after being spoke to audiences in the Javits Postal shared her the common folk. As conflict At one time, Gorbachev informed that the charge of crim- Lecture Center and in the SBS experiences in North Amityville, breeds struggles and mass demon- appeared to be the long-awaited for inal trespass had been dropped. building's Political Science Room. where she has developed strations, the question of who really Lazarus of Soviet politics. Imple- The conflict began when, A major theme of her substantial support from her black claims the most valuable assets in menting perestroika and glasnost as Ms. Steins claims in a letter presentation was the role of women constituency. She feels this is a the life of politics arises. Un- was a mass moral booster and dated December 28, 1990 to Rosie in politics, especially in Suffolk result of having taken public note deniably, Yeltsin has the support of stream of hope at the beginning. Chang, .Chang "several weeks County. Postal said that women do of the disenfranchisement often the people. Yet one may wonder if Unfortunately for the Soviet people ago... removed a book without not receive the encouragement to endured by blacks. This this popularity is a fair match for and now, it seems, for Gorbachev, charging it out..." Steins felt it was enter political life that men do. The constituency came into play in her the very real power that is already these programs and their results a "serious infraction" to which she often heard comment, "These victory over incumbent Victor in Gorbachev's hands. were transient at best. At this point, responded with "only a written young men are our political future" Mimi, achieved by a substantial A twenty-eight word there are dismal statistics falling on warning." Steins continues: reinforces Postal's contention. She margin, for a seat which had never referendum is the most recent round the Union: Predicted by the Soviet "However, after your irrational gave Suffolk County Executive seen a woman or Democrat. between Yeltsin and Gorbachev. State Planning Committee, the GNP outburst and violent, unprovoked Patrick Halpin and Congressman Over the next two years, The question posed to the 200 is expected to fall 11.6 percent this physical attack against me Tom Downey as examples of she looked to "restore hope" to the million eligible voters in the Soviet year, and last year, the figure saw a yesterday afternoon, when in politicians who were courted to run community of North Amityville, Union is whether or not they feel decline of 3 percent. In addition, response to your question I calmly for office right out of college. This and finally was able to provide that their land should be maintained industrial production will sink to a reminded you of a longstanding phenomenon doesn't seem to occur youth programs it had never had as a "renewed federation of equal minimal of 15 percent in 1991. policy concerning restrictions on with females, says Postal. before. sovereign republics." This While it is true that in 1989 the use of the library's copy card, I Women have it tougher In a subsequent election, presentation is a result of the Gorbachev offered his support with have decided that you can no when it comes down to raising Postal eked out a victory which was uncooperativeness that Gorbachev thousands of coal miners on strike, longer be trusted to be in the campaign funds, according to almost lost owing to increasing met from the writhing republics lending the President his own share library without supervision..." Postal, who attributes this fact to numbers of whites who felt that she when he proposed a new treaty, of popularity, even this bout of Steins states in the beginning of the the absence of networking that men was too black oriented at their which would replace the original praise was an ephemeral one. The letter that she had Chang's key card enjoy by being members of male expense. She experienced a one that established the Soviet gravely dismal morale of Soviet reprogrammed so in order to fraternal organizations, such as negative reaction from labor at that Union in 1922. The President's citizens was reflected in a recent prevent her from gaining access Kiwanis and the Lions. Postal time as well. claimed intent was to redesign and, national poll. A disturbing figure after-hours. reminds us that it is "money which In 1990, Ms. Postal was to an extent, relax the ties between of 65 percent of those questioned, Chang claims that on wins campaigns" over any other sounded out by a pro-labor, pro- the republics and the central "What does the Soviet Union offer December 27th Steins raised her consideration. She cited the environment organization known as government in Moscow. However, its citizens?" replied,"Shortages, voice while denying Chang use of campaign of Sherrye Henry as an "Citizen Action of N.Y. City." The suspicion is often rooted deep and waiting in lines and a miserable the copying card, and went on to example of a woman who enjoyed organization, affiliated with the the republics, adamant on gaining existence." remind her of the library rules on networking, owed to her days in Long Island Progressive Coalition, unconditional sovereignty, were in As. power and popularity, that matter. Taking Steins' broadcasting. was interested in having her run strong opposition to this new idea Gorbachev and Yeltsin, compete enforcement as a personal affront, Postal then switched to against Republican incumbent, of Gorbachev's. Thus, a referen- for the position of doctor for the ill, Mrs. Chang resorted to grabbing the subject of the "gender gap," the Owen Johnson, long time holder of dum was drawn up in an attempt to factioned country with their own Ms Steins by the hair. Chang then situation which results when his senate seat in the 4th senatorial challenge the fledgingling demo- individual remedies, it becomes left the building and Steins made a women as well as male voters district. Postal did run, "a very cratic republics. clear that both contenders do complaint about the attack to promote the notion that women are good campaign" in her own words, In light of this, one car possess both advantages and Public Safety, to which six officers inherently weaker, emotionally, as but lost. Ms. Postal said she would easily see that Yeltsin has working disadvantages. Gorbachev seems to responded. The incident was well as physically. There is often like to try for Johnson's seat again, for him his goal to decrease centra be one ahead of Yeltsin for he does referred to Student Affairs when the feeling, however unjustified, and also confessed to having an government control anc have a position which legally Rosie was not to be found in the that women simply can't fight as interest in a congressional seal subsequently increase independence allows him to exercise his will over building. hard for their constituents as men. should Tom Downey ever step of the fifteen republics, placing the people. In a system where there Chang says that in the As she continued her down. more power into the hands of the are three main, marginally equal in past she felt that she was being lecture, she made a note that female Listeners appeared to people. However, very real ob- influence, divisions such as the singled out by Steins. On Dec. 27, politicians who are also mothers agree that Legislator Maxine Postal stacles may hinder this plan of Government, the military, and the Steins repeatedly denied Chang the are handicapped. First, there is the had given a most informative anc implementing the self-governing KGB, Yeltsin seems to be facing an copying card to the library's photo- guilt often felt by women in-depth presentation in which she process. With limited admini alliance much bigger than himself. copying machine. Chang wanted candidates due to a double standard gave not only her personal strative power and absolutely n< However, the ambitious Yeltsin to use it for personal reasons, in our society: While it is experiences in political life, bu police force at his command, a may be able to take heart in the fact however, it is only to be used for acceptable for a male candidate to also in which she rendered valuabh dominant method of influence ir that at one time, the very same title making department copies. One leave his young children tc insights into the challenge the Soviet Union these days, the holding Gorbachev was actually student pointed out that everybody campaign, the same act becomes awaiting the female who woul< radical reforms Yeltsin strives fo similar to himself, a representative uses the copying machine for wrong when a woman is the one attempt to win political office. hit the brick wall of supreme Sovie for the underprivileged, holding personal reasons. pursuing a political career. legislature hard. The means to al homage in their eyes. Continued on page 6 I April 12, 1991 page 5 lgIglialigig - r I I NYPIRG's Earth Week Activities

-Monday 4/22, 10-4 PM in SB Union, Fireside Lounge - Energy Awareness Day; Speakers and info on energy issues;includes a panel discussion on George Bush's national energy policy. -Wednesday 4/24, 12-12:30 PM, Staller Center Plaza - Earth Day Celebration; music, food, speakers and tables on the environment. -Friday 4/26, 8 PM-12 AM, Union Auditorium - Earth Day Concert; tickets are $4 students and $6 non-students - featuring Zen Tricksters, Mighty Underdogs, and more! April 19, 1991 Day Of Outrage! at the Fine Arts Plaza Cry Out Against Public Safety Brutality

Unjust Suspension of Emmanuel Severe and Philippe Valbrune Administration's Attempt to Quell The Voice of Protesters On The Campus Grad Chem Student Arrested continued from page 5 after the library had closed Chang was still in drop the criminal tresspassing charges. Mrs. Five faculty members and 81 out of the library and was consequently asked to Chang was asked to sign a release form, 150 Chemistry graduate students and faculty leave by Janet Steins, which she did. Chang thereby not holding the University signed a statement condemning Stein's lack then went to Professor Fowler's office on the responsible, and was then released. of diplomacy and that on many occasions she seventh floor and worked on her thesis on the Chang states that she was not informed of the had "shown unprofessional conduct towards office computer. Three Public Safety officers charges against her until she reached Public members of this department." The statement came into the office and asked Chang to step Safety Headquarters, and was never told of claims Chang to be "one of the most outside into the hall. She was asked if sie her rights, including right to representation respected and well liked members of our was familiar with, a Dec. 28 letter regarding when being questioned. department..." They also ask that Stein her after hour priveleges being taken away. On Jan. 7, Mrs. Chang received a "stop her revengeful pursuit of Mrs. She answered yes, and then had her hands letter from Mrs. Steins giving back her after- Chang..." Chang was described by Professor cuffed behind her back. Professor Fowler hour library priveleges. But on Jan. 14th, Fowler, the faculty member in charge of Mrs. had been leaving the building when he saw Mrs. Chang received another letter, this time Chang's laboratory group, to be "an Public Safety vehicles and returned to his requesting her to appear in front of the outstanding person with very high moral office and was witness to these events. When Student Judiciary regarding the Dec. 27 character." the Public Safety officers wanted to take Mrs. incident when she grabbed Janet Stein. But Students and faculty members were Chang to their headquarters, both she and with her priveileges restored, and aspirations also quick to point out that Ms. Steins is an Fowler objected. "There was no Public for graduating on time still very pertinent, excellent librarian. Professor Lenoble, who Safety problem at that point and time in my Mrs. Chang signed a waiver, thereby is on the Chemistry Library Committee, office with me. She was not in the library, pleading guilty to the charges, thus openly points out that "Ms. Steins takes her work she was not tresspassing in the library, she admitting she was wrong in resorting to very seriously, and it is a very difficult job." had every right to be in my office, every right violence. She is now on academic probation. Rosie Chang fully realized the to be in this building" said Professor Fowler. Mrs. Chang, however, still feels her treatment severity of her action and wrote a letter of According to Mrs. Chang and by Public Safety was a violation of her rights. apology to Ms. Steins concerning the Dec. Professor Fowler, the officers stated that As an official of the university, however,, any 27th altercation, and believed the matter to be there was a written complaint, and so Chang librarian would have the right to determine if cleared up. went, accompanied by Fowler, to Public a student posed a threat to the library in any On Jan. 2nd, according to all of the Safety Headquarters. After being handcuffed Janet Steins,Chemistry Librarian way and could issue an official directive to parties and the arrest report, five minutes to a desk and interrogated twice, Chang was take away student's priveleges until due told that the officers convinced Ms Steins to process was carried out. The Stony Brook Press page 6 - I. -... . .I. .. --. . -- EDITOR R----IAL. -- ---· --- -·-- -- ·---·-I The Stony Brook Press Happiness Isn 't A Warm Gun Executive Editor Lara Jacobson

Managing Editor Debra Mckee "To serve and protect," is the Haitian Student Organization demon- potentially fatal precedent Students who Associate EaItor credo of Public Safety here.at Stony strated. They were protesting the weren't involved in the demonstration Scott Ski.;ner Brook. Indeed this motto captures the discriminatory FDA ban on Haitian and tend to view the current Haitian purpose of many law enforcement Sub-Saharan Africans. Public Safety demonstrations as an inconvenience Business Manager Michelle Fleck agencies, namely, to enforce regulations mishandled the situation by reacting to a which disrupts their daily activities. The and maintain public order. Police are peaceful demonstration as a potential precedent, created by role models, has necessarily entrusted with a certain riot. They treated it as such and used riot aided in the spread of further ignornace News Editor amount of power, which unfortunately techniques such as standing in a phalanx and racism. Joe DiStefano should not allow has the potential of being dangerously with their arms linked with their USB Students Arts Editor abused. In fact, when any police agency trunchons braced at chest level. The racism to blur their vision, but rather Eric Penzer abuses its power by engaging in brutality parallel to the Brown case is uncanny, as should realize that Public Safety is and other violent measures it is sub- Public Safety videotaped the incident capable of atrocious acts - don't forget, Photo Editor Greg Forte verting its purpose by robbing citizens of from the University Club located in the they are human too. their rights, instead of protecting them. Chemistry building. Unfortunately the There has been much debate in Copy Editor Very often, police abuse of camera man wasn't a student and unlike the past few weeks as to whether Public Edward DeFilippis power masquerades as an act of good the Brown case the situation will not Safety should be given guns in order to their job. Giving a potentially Production Manager faith. The"good cop" image is trad- make national television. facilitate Rick Teng itionally propogated by Eastwood-type There have been allegations on corrupt police organization firearms machismo and can dangerously be both sides, claiming initiation of the should be seriously questioned. USB is Minister Sans Portfolio imitated - the result: operating outside the violence by the other. Discovering who one of few SUNY schools whose Public Fletcher Johnson law in order to enforce it. threw the first stone is essential. It is not Safety Department does not possess Police brutality is often racially uncommon in cases of police brutality for guns. In fact, if Public Safety is given motivated and kept well hidden from the the police to reverse the violence, guns then the students should also be STAFF Lily claiming the attackee to be the attacker. allowed to own guns, after all, "the right James F. Barna, Walter Chavez, public eye. If there hadn't been an Eng, Josh Gazes, Robert Gilheany, amateur video buff around to film the The Haitian students were to bear arms" is constitutionally Daniel Glasner, Fred Mayer, MJXII, brutal beating of Randy Brown last justified in protesting the ban on their guaranteed. Perhaps nine millimeters Jean Rousseau, John Sealy, Walter month, who would believe him? Cops blood. They had been stigmatized by the with the USB logo emblazoned on the Schneider, Stephen L. Shapiro, Dave Suarez, Scott Warmuth are more readily believed than the ban and, moreover, the ban violated the barrels could be hawked at the book alleged criminal in brutality cases. To University's anti-discrimination policy. store. CONTRIBUTORS assume that the Brown case is an isolated Public Safety claims that they were To place blind faith in agency Jerry Katz, Wayne Myer, Laura incident is eiher voicing naivete, closet protecting the students attending the whose conduct is even slightly Rosenberger, Suk-Hang in the heat of their questionable is pure folly. Before racism, or both. Dozens of police blood drive. However, The Stony Brook Press is published bi- brutality reports have poured out from all desire to protect blood donors and other entrusting Public Safety with death weekly during the Academic year and of bystanders, Public Safety abused First dealing weapons one must strain their intermittently during the summer session by over the country since the unveiling The Stony Brook Press Inc., a student run the ugly truth about Brown. Amendment rights of the demonstrators. ears very carefully for even the quietest and student funded not-for-profit corporation. Randy Brown - no way, could Every individual on this campus is whisper of brutality. Advertising policy does not necessarily reflect editorial policy. never happen here at good old Stony guaranteed the right to free speech by the Brook! Wrong. Last semester Public so called highest law of the land. When (516) 632-451 Sute 020 Cenrl rHeN Safety may have overstepped their Public Safety curtails the rights of any SUNY a Stony Brook boundaries by allegedly engaging in student or group they are not only not I Stony Brook, NY 11794-2790 violence at a blood drive at which the upholding the law but are establishing a 'I- - i I . ,, LETTERS easily the Trustees are now advocating that base. Will raising tuition every year assure as New York State does not have the money THE NEED TO tuition rates should no longer be a result of that this will happen? We don't think so, it needs to operate, SUNY's funding problems the public policy process. instead raising tuition every year will only will continue - with or without yearly tuition DEVELOP HIGHER The students believe that SUNY give us the assurance of - well, raising tuition increases. must be accountable and responsive to the every year. Judith Krebs EDUCATION citizens and tax payers of New York State, The current fixation on tuiton as the President and therefore it should remain an integral part answer to SUNY's problems is misplaced. The Student Association of the State To the Editor; of the state's public policy agenda. As we Between 1980 and 1989, state support as a University (SASU) move closer to the year 2000, public higher percentage of all SUNY funds dropped 8.1% On March 28, The SUNY Board of education becomes an ever more important while tuition's share dropped only .9%. In Trustees approved a long range tuition policy. part of our economy. By the next millenium - 1983-84, the last time SUNY raised tuition The Trustees' policy fixes tuition between now less than nine years away - the majority (prior to this Spring) state support dropped 25% and 33% of what SUNY calls of new jobs will require one to three years of 2.4%. The $300 tuition increase this past A Real Steal Of A Meal $51 million 'educational costs'. Since costs in SUNY are higher education and more than a third will January restored little to the To those concerned: driven by negotiated union contracts and require three or more years of higher SUNY budget cut. The Governor's proposed will still For the first time in about three inflation, this proposal would raise tuition education. Additionally, we will be $500 tuition increase, if enacted, hole in SUNY's every year. challenged by the need to educate populations leave a gaping $100 million years I ventured off to dine at the End of the Currently, the Governor and the that have traditionally been close out of funding. Bridge located right here on the Stony Brook stem from Legislature forge the state's public policy higher education. African Americans, SUNY's problems campus. I figured, "If I have to eat a meal on rather than from a agenda and SUNY's role in that agenda. Latinos, Asian Americans, and Native inconsistent state funds campus, I might as well be filled up with Tuition is considered within the context of Americans will compromise at least one third lack of tuition dollars. Even if SUNY had something good. I'll go to the 'fancier year since 1983-84 to how much (or little) the state has been able to of all new entrants to the work force. raised tuition every looking place.'" I thought that I would get costs, additional tuition would trips to fund SUNY, whether any funding gaps The future development of higher keep pace with my money's worth with a good many resulted in a shift of state general salad bar should be filled with tuition dollars, and to education should be very similar to the have only the salad bar, but to my surprise the from SUNY to some other state Well, the what extent increased tuition may inhibit historical development of primary and fund monies existed no longer! Bummer! seemed access. After, these considerations, the secondary education grew in the 19th expenditure. cheese ravioli SPECIAL (HA!) The recession, and the subsequent with a salad. Legislature and the Governor may give the century, a free public education system came worthy of trying. It came SUNY Board of Trustees authorization to into existence. Given the coming workforce shortage of state revenue, really caused the Sounded filling. I have never had a bad that raise tuition. needs of the 21st Century, higher education - recent fuss about tuition. The argument experience before at this establishment, and, will make large What went wrong with the current like primary and secondary education - must small yearly tuition increases didn't expect one this time. However, when is wrong unless policy that we must throw it away and start be an entitlement. abrupt increases unnecessary the salad arrived on a a teacup saucer-sized freeze anew? The fact is that under the current The greatest challenge to SUNY in someone can prove that the tuition plate I began to worry. I was hungry! I'm issue is that it policy SUNY has found it too difficult to the coming years is to educate all those who caused the recession. The real not such a large person, but when it comes to guarantee stable raise tuition. In order to raise tuition more the State will need as educated workers. To has become impossible to eating....I do all right. When the ravioli do that SUNY must have a better funding tax-dollar support for the university. As long continued on page 10 April 11,1991 page 7 VI EWPOI NT Racistworld by Jerry Katz writers are responsible for their own work. most potent in the box which states, "Sisters turn away from Then there's the theory on the first man. He claims the White man and come back home to the original man." "You're all a bunch of nig..Jf you love Africa so much, why the first man was Black. Let's say he's right. He then goes Again this racist author says that white men aren't even men. don't you all go back there? If America is too racistfor you, on to say that whites are a subspecies, like a freak of nature, One wonders, though, if you agree with this article, then you pack up and leave, you little pieces of shi..." not a true man, since he does not have color, not hue-man. can accept the belief by some whites that they should not go Compare this to the Constitution before the Civil War. I out with the African; they must marry whites to keep the Do the above words make your skin crawl? Don't stated that the black slaves are only 3/5 of a man each. In European blood pure. you feel like punching me for writing such trash? Of course other words, they are not men but a subspecies with no In any case, the article is leading up to something. you should. How can anyone tolerate any such foul inalienable rights, not human. Can you see the difference You don't know what, but you expect it to be big. Then it hits language? I sure don't Such words make me want to throw between both racist attitudes? I don't. Each one declares you like a freight train. The last sentence explodes in horrific up. My hands shook as I wrote them. They couldn't believe I some group of red-blooded people not human; who gives a racism rivaling any bigoted remark expressed by any white could type such filth. I must wash my mind out with soap. damn where the word was derived from. The first word for racist, including David Duke and Adolf Hitler. "Besides, we Excuse me as I break for a lengthy shower. "man" was "Adam" if you are Jewish, Christian, Moslem, or both know that milked down coffee does not taste so good." Now, where was I? Oh yes, that racist paragraph any similar religion. Anyway, both statements are racist. This has got to be the most racist statement I've heard in my sounds just like what a white racist would say. I say "white Both claim a group superior to others. It matters not where entire life. It says it all. The final admittance that the staff of racist" because not all racists are white. What? You don't the terms "white" or "black" are placed. Words are just this paper is just as racist and bigoted as the Ku Klux Klan believe me? Just look at Blackworld. names for classification. You know the meaning of racism. and the Nazis. An ultimate insult that degenerates the White First you have this Philosopher. All he ever writes Oppressing whites to raise blacks is just as racist as man because of his skin color. The Editors of Blackworld about is hate; hate toward whites. Not the dirty bigoted ones oppressing blacks to raise whites. have committed the same crime which they fight so hard to who destroy the beauty of Western culture, but every single Then there's the cover of the latest issue. In it, the avoid. Blackworld urged the boycotting of Coke because of white man, woman, and child. He makes no distinction. If author laments how Black women are not going out with Apartheid. Blackworld urged the boycotting of the blood you are white, then you must be racist in his philosophy. Black men. This I can understand. In Judaism, intermarriage drive because the FDA wouldn't let Haitans and sub-Saharans Every article he writes is nothing more than an outpouring of is shunned. We believe that a Jew should marry a Jew. donate blood. Yet the Editors of Blackworld are all hatred toward whites. He doesn't use the word "honkey" but Therefore, I can understand how the author wants a Black to hypocrites. I'm ashamed I agreed with their opinion about the it's there. He has his own little white conspiracy. The CIA marry a Black, but there is a difference. We want Jews to FDA and almost boycotted Coke myself. The racist Editors created AIDS to kill of Blacks. A future president will marry Jews to prolong Judaism, not because non-Jews are and writers of Blackworld seek nothing but pain upon all declare Blacks a threat to the nation. The philosopher speaks considered an inferior species, which they are not in the first whites, soley because of their skin color. I feel pity to all no better words than those in the opening paragraph. He's place. They are G-d's beloved children as well. However, African Americans who have disgusting people like the just pure hate. He is a BIG piece of shi... How can they even while the author does express the need for a Black unity, she racists at Blackworld to defend them. It is these people who fathom printing his trash The only sensible explanation is that keeps referring to the "European man" as if he was a disease. destroy the beauty of Africans just as people like David Duke he's really satirizing white racists, but I don't see such a Every time that term comes up hate and bigotry and racism destroy the beauty of Americans. disclaimer. All I see is a paragraph stating that all staff leap out of the page. It hangs there ,throughout the article. It's I - ill , 9-.- . r ~-I~ - oi'Iek ~x~"~-f !~ rnC-N Cý,?-$

Sr HE PRESS :..room..room 020 Central Hall.oH ITM I

The Stony Brook Press page 8 Elections Lose Common Sensee

by Scott SKinner campaigning, but it's still a question of their Garner also claims that there was due hat we were jumping on them, and that was integrity." When asked what section of the process. "Icould have just called them in and lot the case at all No one was yelling. Now By-laws addresses the issue of integrity, told them that they were disqualified, and just md again it got a little exciting, but then we Garner said, "The rules are quite ambiguous. left. I gave each and every one of them a calmed down." When asked why the Board Five official candidates for the They're up for interpretation. I guess you can chance to tell me their side of the story." objected to being recorded, Garner explained, upcoming Polity election were disqualified say that there's nothing really specific, but Perhaps the most interesting 'Because that's my right You cannot come by the Election Board Committee for this is the way it's been done. It's not stated account of what happened at the hearing was inand just start taping. You have to ask me if allegedly violating Election Board By-laws directly in the By-laws, but this is the way it's conveyed by Keith McLaren, the Common you can tape me." According to Garner, no and precedents. Keith McLaren, Ron been done." Sense candidate for President. "When I official record of the hearing was taken, Nehring, Steve Mauriello, Sherryann During a press conference, the knocked on the door to see the Election although it will be "documented." Schomber, and Ary Rosenbaum were Common Sense candidates told their account Board, I was informed they were having a One question that is still uncertain disqualified on Tuesday, April 9, after a of what happened at the Election Board closed meeting with our Secretarial is why Lee Wiedl, an acknowledged unanimous vote by eight of the nine members hearing. Nehring said, "We attempted to candidate. They informed me that I could not Common Sense candidate for Vice President, of the Election Board Committee. The search through the By-laws to try to find the enter the room. This was a closed meeting." was not disqualified. When asked why disqualified candidates were all members of Nehring was disqualified but not Wiedl, the Common Sense Party, a political party Garner replied, "You know? I don't know. recognized by the department for Student Ron Nehring was much more involved [in Union and Activities. Common Sense] than Lee Wiedl was." According to Annette Garner, the Throughout the press conference, Election Board Chair, complaints were Common Sense candidates repeatedly asked received on Monday, April 8, by Toscanini why the Election Board waited for so long to Senator David Greene, and incumbent bring up their case. Nehring asked, "If these candidates Dan Slepian and Ken Bristow. people had a case beforehand, or had the The nature of the complaints dealt with the slightest question, why did they not contact integrity of the Common Sense Party and its us?" Schomber added, "This whole time, members, as well as the alleged violation of Polity was aware that I was running. They Election Board By-laws. Greene presented the case against the candidates. "It's a matter of integrity. "I was not allowed to They led us to believe that they were recognized, and that they were registered have my campaign with Student Union and Activities, when in manager present. I was fact, they weren't registered until much later." Greene also questioned the Common Sense not allowed to have literature, claiming, "It gave them an unfair anyone else present [at advantage in tha ithey were able to leaflet thi campus from the very beginning." However, the meeting]. Instead, I during a press conference in which members of the Common Sense Party explained the have five people telling Board's decision, Ron Nehring, the Common me why I was Sense campaign manager and candidate for Senior Rep said, "My name has not appeared disqualified..." anywhere, in any type of literature, press releases, or any other type of material prior to yesterday." -Sherryam According to Article 9, Section 7 of Schomber the Election Board By-laws, "Only stamped and/or initialed and/or numbered Common Sense Candidate posters/flyers may be hung in dorm residences, academic buildings and the out- of-doors." Section 9 goes on to state that, "Any candidate hanging illegal posters/flyers knew that I was petitioning. Today, on the may face disciplinary action by the Election day of the debate, they decide to wipe out the Board." whole ticket. That is not choice." According The Common Sense Party claimed to Garner, however, the Election Board must that merely distributing Common Sense first receive a complaint before they can literature does not in itself constitute review cases and take possible disciplinary campaigning. Nehring said, "No [Common actions. Sense] candidate name was used at any time Due to the disqualification of the on any literature at all prior to the appropriate five Common Sense candidates, incumbents date...Our use of the word candidate was in Dan Slepian and Christine Tracey will run conjunction with Webster's use of the word uncontested. In addition, Wendy Wolman candidate...Apparently [the Board's] will run for the position of Secretary definitions are a little bit more flexible than unopposed. that of the rest of us." Another Common According to Nehring, Common Sense member asked, "Since when is it illegal exact section which we theoretically violated. Later, McLaren entered the room with a tape Sense intends to appeal the Board's decision. to publicize the name of a club? If Polity We also asked members of the Election recorder. "We had major fights, at which "If an elite group of people can determine puts something under your door, then does Board which sections we violated. That was point they told me that I was not allowed to whether or not students at this University can that mean that no incumbents from Polity can not disclosed. They would not tell us which tape record them without their have a choice in their elections, clearly this is run?" specific sections were violated at first." permission...After quite a long argument, a matter which must be taken to a higher Election Board Chair Garner Sherryann Schomber, the Common Sense which is on tape, I did turn off the tape authority...We would like to compel, through explained, "On one of their flyers, it candidate for Sophomore Class Rep added, "I recorder and allowed them to continue, al whatever means necessary, through the explicitly says, 'On election day, with your was not allowed to have my campaign which point they were very hostile toward student Judiciary, or through the court system help, we can make Stony Brook an even manager present. I was not allowed to have me. They stood over me, pointing at me...' outside Stony Brook, to compel the Election better place.' The majority of people who anyone else present [at the meeting]. Instead, McLaren concluded his account by claiming Board to...state precisely why they have taken saw that interpreted it as campaigning...It was I had five people telling me why I was "All of the people at this meeting were not or those actions, and...to have a truly objective subtle campaigning." Garner also addressed disqualified with absolutely nothing written the Election Board. Some of them wer< group, institution, or body determine whether the integrity of the Common Sense Party. that they could show me." Senators. Some of them would not disclose or not those rules have been violated." She claimed that the meetings are not open, In a phone interview, Garner who they were to me beyond their name Nehring concluded, "This is an election that the students had no say in who the explained why the hearing was closed. "First They would not disclose what their positionw process. This is supposed to be a democracy. executive board members would be, and that of all, Tobi [Yuden's] office is very small... were, and they were quite hostile." I don't know what a democracy is when you the club lied about their recognition. Garner very hot... we just decided to do it one by According to Garner, the hearing only have one candidate running." added, "That is quite separate from their one. That's just the way we decided to do it" was in no way hostile. "Everyone though April 11, 1991 page 9 1 I II , I ·I _ --~-I- C r = I MIIIIlB I-- - I II ' T I · C1 · JIISI I I 1 111 1 ~I1IILIIII~I II --

Lounge : Documentary on the violence of Music from India Popular Culture AIDS the American Dream Girl Image with The India Society is presenting a recital of Humanities Insititute Visiting Fellows discussion afterward. Indian Classical Dance and Music on Seminar (again) will present "Spike Lee Treatment Benefit 9 PM - "Venom" - Victim No More! Center Sunday April 28, at 4PM in the Student and Black Popular Culture" with Houston A fashion show and brunch to benefit the Office, Langmuir D-120 : Open meeting Union Auditorium at SUNY Stony Brook. Baker from the University of AIDS Treatment Center at University for sexual assault survivors. Nira Batra (Kathak), Ustad Kadar Khan Pennsylvannia. Thursday, April 11, at Hospital at Stony Brook will be happening 9 PM - "Why Men Rape" Langmuir (Tabla), Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt 10:00 AM in room E-4340 of the Melville on Sunday, May 5 at the Bavarian Inn, Fireside Lounge - Men's discussion group (Mohan Veena) and Sukhvindar Singh Library. Call 632-7765 for info. Lake Ronkonkoma. The event will run on why men rape. Facilitated by Don Namadhari (Tabla) will perform. Tickets from 11:30 AM to 3:00 PM and will 'Tres" Cummings. are $1250 for the general public and $7.50 feature men's and women's fashions from Wednesday - April 10, 10-4 PM - "Rape for USB students and seniors. contact S.N. Boat Race Jefferson Bay of Port Jefferson, Awareness Information Session" in the Sridhar at (516) 751-1810 for more info. Cardboard boats will anchor away in the Sophisticated Lady of Patchogue, Bridal Student Union : Day two. Roth Regatta on Friday, April 26, at 4 PM. Paradiseof Patchogue and couturier 3:30 PM - "Lesbian Battering & Violence" Beat Phrases Place: Roth Quad Pond, no doubt. To designer Allessandri of San Francisco and Health Sciences Center - Lecture Room 2 : qualify, boats must be made from New York. Tickets are $30 per person and Lecture with Dr. Robert Hawkins on how Fannie Brice Theater/Capozzi presents: cardborad, duct tapes, aluminum foil, rope, must be purchased no later than Monday, violence against women affects the lesbian Life, Balance, out of "The Streetcorner string, cloth, papier mache, paint, glue, April 22. For ticket information, call community. Poet," hosted by Captain wax, human skin, etc. Strictly prohibited Maria at 584-6490 or Margaret at 286- 8 PM - Nikki Craft "In Defense of America!!!!!!H!!!!?!!!H!!t!!. are wood, metal, styrofoam, staples, 1012. Disobedience" Javits Room 102: This will be an open-microphone reading rubber, milk crates, plastic, and human Feminist/Activist uses a powerful slide sandwiched by an acoustic and electric set skin. show and discussion on why it is necessary by the band Life Out Of Balance. The Judging will be based on appearance and Music From the to topple the empire that profits from the Anowa Drummers shall perform as well. speed (to make it across the pond). Special rape, death, and the psychological Billy Capozzi will do some new material award (the Roth Cup) for winners. Boats Staller Center destruction of women. with the electric band. will be either speedster or yacht. A Saturday, April 13: Stony Brook Ensemble Thursday, April 11, 10-4 PM - "Rape speedster is piloted by one person, whereas presents the opera, Julius Caesar. 8:00 Awareness Information Session" in the a yacht carries 2-4 people. PM. Tickets are $15, $13, and $11 with Student Union : Day three. Regatta Headquarters can be reached at discounts for students and senior citizens. 8:30 PM - "Take Back the Night March" 632-4015. Main Stage. Begins in front of the Student Union. Wednesday, April 17: Stony Brook Friday, April 12, 6 PM - Angela Davis, Contemporary Chamber Players Preview Javits Room 100 - Feminist/Activist ICON-X presents "Six Premieres." 8:00 PM. Free. speaker sponsored by The Woman of Color Ready for the East Coast's largest sci-fi Saturday, April 20: North Carolina Dance Coalition. There will be a $2 admission fee for Stony convention held here at Stony Brook? Theater. Challenging, entertaining Refreshments served at all events. Call Brook Student, Senior Citizens, Teachers, Look for ICON advertisements soon to choreography. $22.50, $20.50, $18.50. 632-2000for info High School Students and extravagant spread throughout the campus. Meet USB student ticket half price. 8:00 PM in dancers dressed in tutus and high heeled people and talk to purple martians from Main Stage. sneakers. All others must pay $3. planet Z. Contact student coordinator Toddler Project All readers/any age welcome. Read your Ralph Schiano at 632-6472 for complet Children aged 18 to 30 months and their fiction, plays, non-fiction, poetry, prose, schedule and press info. I-CON X will be Rape mothers are invited to participate in an sing your songs! Do your thing! held from April 19-April 21. interesting research project conducted by Thursday, April 11, 1991, 7:30 PM, at the Awareness Week the Department of Pyschology to examine Fannie Brice Theater in Roosevelt Quad's various parenting styles and strategies in an Food Mall. Hands Off! April 8-12,1991 attempt to discover which are most "the music will bring us together" -B.C. Seventeen Marine Corps Conscientious Monday, April 8 - 10-4 PM, "Rape effective. Objectores Awareness Information Session" in the are currently facing court A parenting group will be offered to all martials at Camp Student Union: Literatures on forms of Feminist Lejeune, North Carolina. mothers who participate. The parenting While we bathe in sunshine, violence against women. casually group will provide an opportunity for 8 PM - "Violence and Anger" Langmuir continuing with our leisurely studies and mothers to share discipline problems and Film Theory Fireside Lounge, Victims Information glorifying ourselves with greed and deed, concerns for handling two-years-olds. To The Humanities Insititute Visiting Fellows seventeen Bureau Services (VIBS) : Discussion on men in a shitty situation ask for participate in the study, each mother and Lecture Series will give a lecture on your support and/or rape and violence against women. opinion. Anyone child will come into the lab for one session "Feminist Film Theory Revisited," with interested can write to: Tuesday, April 9 - 3 PM, "Does the Law lasting two hours or less. Lab Teresa de Lauretis from the University of Building H-l Wing A Protect the Victim?" Union Bi-Level : appointments are flexible and may California at Santa Cruz. Time and Place? 2nd Meb, Distinguished lawyer from the DA's Office be MCB scheduled at the mother's convenience. Wednesday April 24 at 4:30 PM in room Camp Lejeune, North will speak about how women are seen Carolina 28540- For further information, please contact Lisa 109 of the Javits Center. 5090 through the eyes of the law. Wolff at the Department 7 of Psychology at PM - "Miss or Myth", Langmuir Fireside 632-7874.

r --- --. LETTE RS continued from page 7 4 p.m. in the Fire Side Lounge of the Student must purchase 750,000 kilowatt-hours arrived upon an appetizer plate (only four BRIGHT of Union. electricity: a total cost of $106.20 for golf-ball styled ravioli) with a piece of garlic Long The second is NYPIRG's Bright Island and New York City residents. Yet toast I got a bit perplexed. "How can anyone ENERGY SAVINGS to Ideas Project By getting rid of incandescent get 10,000 hours of illumination get full from this?" I asked myself. And, from a CFL light bulbs and using compact fluorescent you only need to purchase 180,000 kilowatt- "How can the management do this to paying To the Editor; lights, which provide the same illumination hours of electricity at a total cost students (you can also use your mealcard of $42.90 while using less electricity, students can help and total savings of $63.30. If 5 out here), and, outsiders?" I really wanted a of 27 Environmental disasters like the conserve energy. Compact Fluorescent light bulbs in the average meal, but, what I got was a two course home were burning oil fields in Kuwait and the oil spill Lights (CFL), which NYPIRG's B.I.P. offers replaced, residents could save appetizer. This sucked. "Are we paying more than in Valdez Bay, Alaska have forced many to students at a discount price, need only one- $300 in 3 to 6 years that's a yearly $5.95 for a "meal," or, what?" I only had a return on Americans to question our societies' quarter of the electricity that incandescents your investment of 105% to 52%. certain amount of time to alot for dinner, dependence on oil. Colossal waste is a major require and last 9 to 13 times longer. This Compact therefore, I returned to work hungry (even fluorescent lights are not part of our energy consumption problem, means that an 18 watt CFL produces the same available on a retail level, however, hungrier than when I entered because, the so for which in turn contributes to urban smog, the illumination as a 75 watt incandescent bulb. more information you can food was good) and ornery. I just don't want stop by the greenhouse effect and the inflationary impact During its 10,000 hour life time, an 18 watt NYPIRG office in the to see others getting sucked into believing Student Union of several oil crises. The only possible CFL bulb that replaces a 75 watt Basement, Rm.079, that they'll leave satisfied or call 516-822-BULB. by ordering only solution to this problem is to conserve as incandescent bulb will save 570,000 watts of one meal. much energy as possible and efficiently use electricity. Using CFLs instead of the energy we are already incandescent bulbs not only will help consuming. the Craig Siegel, NYPIRG Thanks, NYPIRG, The New York Public environment by decreasing the amount of Project Coordinator B.C. Interest Research Group, Inc., is offering electricity being used but it will also help students two ways that they can help consumers save money. conserve energy. The first is by holding an To produce light for 10,000 hours Joyce Philius, NYPIRG Energy Awareness Day on April 22 from 10- you must purchase 10 regular incandescent Media Intern F 75 watt bulbs. To operate these bulbs you The Stony Brook Press page 10 I . C"SILB~I~l~i~ 9~ · Il~iE~llP I AýRT Harlem Renaissance by John Sealy commercialized. They stopped writing and instead catered to the amusement and Harlem is a district of the entertainment of white people. In so doing, Manhattan borough North of Central Park the Harlemites tarnished and overcolored and along the East Harlem River. their own material. Nevertheless, this period Renaissance is defined as a flowering, stood out above all others in Black creativity. vigorous activity along literary, artistic and Fire was a magazine created in cultural lines. 1926 by Wallace Thruman, Zora Neale The Harlem Renaissance was the Hurston, Aaron Douglas, John P. Davis, transcendental movement of Black people Bruce Nugent, Gwendolyn Bennett and who committed themselves to change popular Langston Hughes. They decided to publish a negative perception of themselves. "Negro Quarterly of the Arts" to burn up a lot Coming from Florida, Idaho, of the old, dead conventional negro-white California, Missouri, Ohio, Boston, ideas of the past. Washington D.C., and Jamaica, black artists Langston Hughes, a famous and writers flocked to Harlem to begin a new American writers, took advantage of free decade of creativity. According to Trudier verse, then later jazz and blues rhythms to Harris from DLP 51, Afro-American Writers, depict the life styles of blacks, for the black this period began around World War I up to audience. Though he was a young boy the early days of the 1930's. The best way to during Harlem Renaissance, he qualified to examine the relevancy of the Harlem frequent clubs and recitations with the who is renaissance is by focusing on artists of that who (i.e. W.E.B. DuBois). in the Black world time. Afro-American Writers presents most at the time. of the history of the Harlem Renaissance as At age seventeen, Mr. Hughes seen through the eyes of Langston Hughes. wrote a poem that (almost half a century later) was included in a television show Mr. Hughes mentions in his When Susanna Jones wears red Laureate and Dean of Negro Writers in "Beyond the Blues." This program was aimed autobiography that the gay and sparkling life A queen from some time-dead Egyptian America. His The Weary Blues (1926), and at "the sophisticated mind and not the ethnic- of the Negro-renaissance of the 1920's was nightWalks once again. Fine Clothes to the Jew (1927), were written not so gay and sparkling beneath the surface. conscious heart" (The New York Times, Feb. during the Harlem Renaissance. The Big Sea 23, 1964). Hughes would imitate Dunbar and Carl Van Vechlen, as the character of Byron Blow trumpets, is his autobiography (and "brain child"). poetic techniques until he in Nigger Heaven , captured some of the Sandburg's Jesus! Though Langston Hughes played bitterness and frustration of literary Harlem developed his own. Here is the poem: an important role in the renaissance, many that Wallace Thruman later so efficiently And the beauty of Susanna Jones in red others were also vital contributors. Hughes "When Sue Wears Red" poured into his Infants of the Spring. Burns in my heart a lone-fire sharp like pain. credited Jessie Fauset and Alain Locke with Thousands of whites came to Harlem night "midwifing" the Harlem renaissance (Trudier When Susanna Jones wears red after night to see Harlemites read poetry, and Sweet Silver trumpets, Harris). Besides lavish parties, well-dressed Her face is like an ancient cameo sine and dance in cabarets. Some of the Jesus! men, and a lot of galavanting, the "vogue owners of Harlem clubs, delighted at the Turned brown by the ages. spread to books, African sculpture, music and flood of white patronage, made the grievous By 1967, Langston Hughes had dancing. Names now famous became known error of baring their own race, after the Come with a blast of trumpets, founded theaters, wrote plays, volumes of for the first time." Langston Hughs was manner of the famous Jim Crow Cotton Club. Jesus! poetry, novels and other works, until he was surely one of them. In effect, the Renaissance became unofficially granted titles such as Negro Poet C%"Ir A Ior~ -S TAGEJI Concrete Anti-Christ Eastern Yearning Radical Local Author Speaks by Edward DeFelippis during the course of the play; actors became by Josh Gazes communist party were being blacklisted and more focused and actions became more real. arrested, di Donato considered himself a true Eastern Standard, a play by By the second act, most of the bugs had "I'm as evil as ever," said author proletarian from years of hardship and hard Richard Greenberg, is a moving but apparently been resolved, and little stood in Pietro diDonato, as he began his lecture on work. lighthearted story of young upwardly-mobile the way of this heartwarming story. The "What it is to be a writer." Di Donato, author Other than being slightly side- couples in love, whose lives become masterful direction of professor Tom of Christ in Concrete, spoke to a standing tracked by the topic of sex, of which he said, permanently enmeshed one fateful afternoon Neumiller brought the entire performance to room only crowd in the Stony Brook Poetry "The flesh is the sacred temple, not the in an uptown Manhattan restaurant. Peter life. Center on April 4, one day after his eightieth goddamned church, sex is what should be Kidde, played by Jason Price, has a lot on his The set was simple, yet very .glorified and revered." birthday. * mind during his lunch date with his sister effective: a posh restaurant during the first Students, "The flesh fs the sacred Di Donato expressed Phoebe. Across the room, Stephen Wheeler, act, wide open and simply decorated with teachers and other guests the qualities he played by Brad Griffith, agonizes over his columns and plants, and a beachfront deck were treated to a templedj not the possessed that helped feelings for Phoebe while his longtime friend during the second act, furnished with patio powerful and revealing goddamnee church, sex him in his writing. Drew Paley, played by Jeff Tusch, admires tables and chairs, and framed with reeds. The narrative of These included curio- her handsome brother. Through an encounter performance was not encumbered by diDonato's is what IShould be life, beginning with his kib sity, sympathy, and with an apparently demented street woman complicated or unnecessary props and childhood in Hoboken, glorified aIid revered. empathy. His most (Rose Brown) and a spirited waitress (Valerie scenery, and every part of the set was used by where he could see -important concern, Clayman), the two couples are brought the characters. immigrants arrive at Ellis Island. Di Donato's however, was in find-ing out the truth. One together to make their rocky romantic start. Eastern Standard will be performed "no bullshit" attitude became quite clear as he such truth is that everything must die, a point The acting improved steadily at the Staller Center's Theatre Two from related the events of his past, including the he used to encourage his listeners to enjoy throughout the performance. In the first act, April 9 through 13 at 8:00 pm with matinee pride he held in his ancestry. This pride life. When someone suggested to him that the dialogue resembled machine-guns: dry, shows on April 13 and 14 at 2:00 pm. Tickets separated all of the immigrants of different even when he dies, his books (Christ and staccato, and hastily delivered. Much of the are available at the Staller center Box office nationalities, even those who came from Concrete) will live forever. He said, "I time, the dialogue was delivered directly to during regular hours and one hour before different regions in the same country. would rather live and let the book die." the audience; the characters were not making curtain on the nights of the show. The lecture became quite emotional Pietro Di Donato spoke for about eye contact. All seemed very tense, which as di Donato remembered his father's tragic two hours, frequently saying something in was understandable for an opening night death. Holding back his tears, he spoke of Italian, and often commenting on a variety of performance. However, as the actors became the last time he saw his father, when di topics; love, money, war, the rich, and the more comfortable with their characters on Donato was at the age of thirteen, and how he masses. His main concern, though, was how stage, the performance loosened up and the was then forced to support his family. our lives contribute to our writing, and he dialogue flowed more easily. Conviction on He became a bricklayer, and laid said at one point to his listeners, "we are all the part of the actors was inconsistent at the foundation for his communist ideology. tragedies, each and every one of you, and you times; actions were performed on occasion At a time when many members of the are all stories, all authors." without real reason. This, too, improved April 11, 1991 page 11 r_ I u ~L'~ -- s~ae~---s~--=- _ I ___,POEMS While my sparse splatterings i stoop down in the middle of the road Courtly Manners were easily cleansed, i'm looking close at the space between Well Learned Guilt has stubbornly saturated your very soul. the yellow lines the boundry of the black Now they say that I must bid adieu to you. and of the yellow picking at it inspecting Though my heart may adore you, the small yellow painted road rocks corn Case Against the Manic My dislike for you is strong. paring them with their tar covered baby Reality strikes hard neighbors they are glued to each other "Your Highness, Your Highness!" although vision may be clouded. shriek the peasants, Take counsel that intent is very long and hard there appears to be a white bubble of dead "What do you wish to be done with him?" to prove. flesh on my heel i pick at it it's bubbly and Head held high, the Highness snorts, gummy finally it bursts and warm vinegar "Why hang him of course!" Eulogy of the Accused pours out fermented runny skin liquid then Eyes open wide in horror, they foolishly dare i peel back the defeated bubble i expose to question Their leader: layers the smell "Why, you haven't got a shred of evidence!" screaming red underdermal 'Hang him, Your Highness?" at being woken... I screech of which inflicts it's rage Enraged, she glares down at them and To the array of idiots seated before me. bellows, "Why of course! mac Eyes darting everywhere, yo mama" he yells and she drives Are you not aware of rhetoric? Dare you to place angry she shifting nervously in their seats, trucking up the stairs to her question me?" when she They witness the startling sight before them. didn't get comfort and strength Bowing their heads in shame, with cheeks of As my head jerks violently to and fro, as my really needed to she got suggestions burning scarlet, the Peasants turn away, salt Features twitch spastically, lewdness like lemon juice on cracker their tails caught between their legs. her face in I return their accusations. caustic it eats her as she smothers How easy it is to stir those emotions of "You sit before me, charging me with acts of a vcr in a blinking 12:00 in a snow which are civil disobedience, incongruent cable scrambled dish soap Manipulated by bureaucratic strings; When the truth is that I am only reacting to an operas... Nostrils flaring, countenances of sudden Incompetent parody of a government who is fervid determination, ceramic Miserably failing to carry out its im bleeding" doubled over on the They cry in unison, "Onward to the evil one!" baby responsibilities." cool comforting ceramic as drips of Perched in the tower above, the Highness Self-induced seizures dissolve in water how is it why do things go looks on with deep and after are a tool for convivncing after growing why is it love growing as they succumb Pleasure The masses that you are vilely disturbed. getting crack your selling your body to a to her iron-plated will, odor You will be pitied by a few, ignored by many, pervert who doesn't mind your pregnant Barking out the judgement you've begun to show the heartbeats the arm ever so logically deduced, And endlessly mocked by most of society. But when insanity is coupled with twitch the legs wrap the movie stills the clock "Ah, yes, it is he who threatens to topple each stops the mind dies the house burns... organization in sight! intelligence, The reality of potential is horrifying and the It is he who is dangerous to every Condescending ones will not be so inclined to im calling the cops... establishment!" Shut you up in some dark corner of their Crows Can't YOU see that wild look world. in his eyes and the Their accusations are hollow and foolish. You get so egocentric- MJXII Twisted grin on his dreadful face? A handful of blind puppets stand behind and then there are crows. Can't YOU hear his high shrill voice as he them. A little girl Desperately struggles to defend himself? Their threats are empty and ludicrous . clasps You grab one limb and I will grab another. Intelligent subjects laugh behind their backs. her Together we can rid of this menace to Exactly what they have chosen to hang me by hands law and order. Is only manifestations of their erratic together. Listen to the echoes of his freakish laughter Mimicking Imitation As we carry him off to paranoia. One night, in the midst of unguarded serenity, of late. where we know he belongs. Indiscriminating madness will creep into their And points. Bid adieu, farewell, and good riddance to our Private sanctuaries, "Look," Friend as we carefully and purposefully hang unmercifully claiming dues she cries him. From the secluded shadows, escaping with glee unidentified. watching the In Defense of the Observer Impress the image of my twisted grin in your big black 110' mind's eye, bird reT Why yes, of course Capture the echoes of my freakish laughter in peck and fly. I am aware that you are the your ears. Dangerous one they have been whispering My limbs may be torn now, my neck may be -Lara Jacobson about hung soon. Naturally, they have been so kind as to You may bid adieu, farewell, and goodbye at To Be Inform me of your many malicious crimes. this time. Despite well meaning advice, What I am will never alter, and always will I I am sitting on the beach, I remain independent. recall The purple lady came to me at night. watching my painting on the sand Brushing off capricious threats, The courtesy of my unforgettably gracious The man in black, her pimp, waiting outside. constantly drifting and re-creating I am quite amused. hosts. The window is a mirror of your heart (she an existence of its own, Rhetoric should have told them that since it is On another day of reckoning we will meet, said), puddles collect the falling sadness, independent I who has slithered in the shadows with you, Your Highness, your warmth blushes through the clouded of my yearning. Crept into private sanctuaries behind you, And you will see how well I have learned my western sky. And witnessed first hand your seizing courtly manners. Even the wind and the waves Of other's territories, Anyone can die lying down. are joining in That more so than any of them, I am -Debra McKee Take a Stand (she said). the co-creation Vividly and acutely aware of exactly And up I rose, and felt it deep inside of a masterpiece, What you are capable of. with the sun-and the moon in charge But my friend, I do believe that even you It poured that night. of the shading and the tone. Fail to realize the extent of my awareness. You had better laugh (she said leaving me) or "What you are is what you are," you might cry. It is an illusion were the light-hearted of my composition Words you carelessly flung at me one night -JOSh Gazes at the edge of the land. not so long ago. And now, on this day of reckoning, It has its own destiny I return that very beyond my vision Same critique, now a blackened prophesy. and understanding. Do not tell me that my trust has been hey cough drop lady destroyed; your heavy heavy heater halls From now on, It is not possible to lose are melting off your lipstick I just let it be what it is. what has not been invested. you smell like a koala It is a lesson Together we covertly washed stop breathing on me for my hands to draw without expectation, the invisible blood for my eyes to see without projection. That stained our hands scarlet with incrimination. -Eddie Sullivan Suk-hang The Stony Brook Press page 12 -- ·nAIr I- I -I I S1· II I - ] 4I I - SoIso# ANCE Slamming at the Bi-level

by MJXI lighting were great and the people were really with it. "Juvenile delinquency is always Some prominent campus and off- rooted in adult delinquency...." A pit hastily campus personalities were there that night. formed as the first strains of Ministry's "So Jade (whose band just played the other night What" played over two walls of speakers. at the Checkmate), Brian the skater, my Grinding to a crescendo, the metal screams man with the dreads (who was wasted and caused twenty or so punks to engage their going off outside the union), Charles the bodies in a frenzied, twisted, exchange of life bassist, Don the keyboardist (who is and limb. I threw myself into this pit, and transferring here next semester), Etc. and etc. bounced and slammed into a writhing mass Hopefully this event, which of bone and muscle. But it was pretty much featured some of the harshest music heard on good-natured fun - I was knocked to the campus to date, will show the administrative ground a couple times, but always someone puppet, Vice-President of Student Affairs grabbed me and pulled me up, so I wouldn't Fred Preston (Moses-see the Press, of March get trampled. People who didn't slam threw 22), that students and non-students can people who did into the pit, but no one got assemble, even aggressively, and there be no hurt and everyone had fun. "incidents", just a really great time (isn't it As I joined these punks in funny how we didn't see any sign of the slamdancing to what was one of my favorite power-tripping Public Safety Clowns?- alternative bands, I thought to myself, "Gee, something always seems to follow them it's been a long time since people like this around...). Maybe Preston will lift his have had this much fun at a campus event." arbitrary anal retentive policies (which I The event was last Thursday's alternative daresay stink of racism), on the music the dance party, Technitium Crossfire, staged by campus community is really interested in, DJ. Circuit and DJ. Slide. and we can use the Sports Complex, which At first I was extremely annoyed at the students are paying for-all the students, the beauracratic handling of the party (people for concerts, including punk, reggae, and rap. had to have Stony Brook I.D., or be with Anyway, I hope we can see the someone with Stony Brook ID.). So at the continued high success of Technitium prompting of one of the DJ.'s, I agreed to Crossfire, and thanks and congratulations to wait on line with people who had neither so Chris and Wayne, D.J. Circuit and DJ. Slide, they could get in. Once in, everyone was for a really great party. subjected to a search, which I found degrading, but worth it. The music and F · ' ~I II I:ILM mesmerized state. A scene showed us a man with a fake face washing himself in a bathtub in a violently joyful manner, splashing himself with soapwater furiously while singing and laughing like a madman. This senseless scene was absorbing and strange as several parts of the scene occurred repeatedly. The water-drops in the background turned into a crescendo of pulsating echoes. Another scene depicted a routine day of bookkeepers rummaging through countless books in a large room of tall bookshelves. With fake faces of the cold humbug stereotype, they work mechanically. Next, they were shown running through a hellishly vast landscape of the underworld like a blood-hungry mob. At the far end, a clear box imprisoned a naked woman imitating a silent film actress in fright. A repetition of explosions burst out of the screen as we saw the men break down the Two from the Nuthouse wall of the box. The fate of the woman was left unknown. The final sequence of the movie led us through a room of blinding L'Ange by Rick Teng this "living thing" was eyeing everything lights flickering wildly by the shifting of around it, a piece of hair that stuck out of the magnifying glasses that were producing the Directed by Patrick Bokanowski We spent a bright Easter Sunday in skull continued to scratch a rough bump on lights. After a while, the film ended with an Music by Michele Bokanowski Film Forum I's small Manhattan theater. its head. As the focusing increased its speed, orgasmic finality of lights, shadows, strange France, 1982 70 mins. Rehearsalsfor Extinct Anatomies, an English the "thing" moved its single wired arm and and haunting sounds, as figures were seen on black and white film, barraged the viewer was also scratching and feeling its bump with a huge stairway. Rehearsals with near-microscopic images of "industrial conditioned curiosity, causing flickering Both films were very strange. icons" (hand-made industrial sculptures), movements. Another strange scene depicted Admittedly, they were meaningless when For Extinct Anatomies staged within open view rooms and hallways, the day-to-day life of two puppet couples in reflected upon immediately after the Directed by The Brother Quay appearing with photo-montage-like editing, their miniature bedroom, within a diorama. screening. French surreal images came into Music by Lescek Jankowski which brought life to a strange world of Watching this strange robotic relationship in mind in both films. The nightmarish regions Great Britain 1988 14 mins. otherworldly light and strange aloofness. The a silent routine became even stranger when of the "netherworld" presented here created background music was very strange but the music was added. an interesting voyage into the evil and dark Film Forum 1 appropriate for the film's subject matter (if When Rehearsals was over, the space of the unknown (or limbo, to be there was any). A very strange string section screen went dark for a few seconds before 209 West Houston St. accurate). However, as soon as we arrived on (violin, cello) instilled a strange mood for a coming back to life with L'Ange, a French Stony Brook campus, these films began to New York, NY 10014 miniature, non-verbal, alien world of eternal b/w film with surrealist landscapes and dark make sense from a USB perspective. Box Office: (212) 727-8110 recurrences of rapid movements and their purgatorial surroundings. Series of images Nightmarish landscapes and hellish images of Admission: $7 Non-Members/ shadows. Split-second camera-focusings performed their abstract self-explanations in the mundane crawl back into my brain as the $4.50 Members were also strikingly strange, as images endless repetition. The music in the toilet flushed into a crescendo of evil revealed to us their grotesque surfaces. background appropriately accompanied this laughing echoes. There were two rapidly moving echoing existence . Sound effects were eyeballs on a papier mache skull attached to a repeated noises of the mundane, such as wired limb as the camera zoomed back and waterdrops and footsteps, created a strange forth from this image with light speed. As rhythm, bending our eardrums into a April 11, 1991 page 13 TUNES

C fNICr-S1!I5V40--- _ · I · I ~I by Scott Warmuth tape included a great number from the guitar riffery on top makes this stuff churn. vocalist, and the sleeve is a funny, cut and band titled "Bush Christmas," about "Be Your On Guru" is available from paste reworking of the Ramones' first The most exciting CD so far this holidays when the money is tight. A few Snatch-O-Matic Records, P.O. Box 718, album cover. Youth Gone Mad also have a year has come out on the Arthon label. years later they released their first single, East Northport, NY 11731....The Ramones new EP, titled Yesterday's Inno- Arthon has just released the debut disc by "Dog Show." The B-side, a cut called "Fat have been the inspiration for a batch of cence...Tomorrow'sInsanity out on Smilin' Barrelhouse Wiener. Wiener is a honky Boy" is a great tune. Driven by a tuba with tunes by a variety of artists recently. Ear Records. On the back of the sleeve is a tonk piano player with style and great an oom-pah beat, singer Greg Geraci Motorhead have a song about the band on message to Joey Ramone. It says, "You've technical prowess - despite the fact that he rallies against oppresive bosses and dares their new LP 1916. The sonn clocks in at been doing it a long time, now you should has no arms! Barrelhouse was one of those the listeners under two upgrade." The EP has an excellent track thalidomide babies, deformed due to the to quit their minutes. called "Ode To Darby," about deceased side effects of the drug taken by his mother jobs. After " Pigmy Love Germs vocalist Darby Crash. The song is during pregnancy. Never having had arms, some line- Circus have hooky punk rock with a pop edge. To get a he uses his feet in the way that average up changes, a new single copy send three bucks to Smilin' Ear people use their hands. He started playing the band out on Tri- Records, P.O. Box 47655, San Antonio, piano at the age of five and has been released ple X Re- Texas, 78265. Youth Gone Mad will have startling audiences around the country on their first cords. The another single out in May on Vital Music his first nationwide tour. His first disc, L P A-side is a Records. Vital Music has released a These Arms Of Mine, was released in Lagoona, cover of the number of interesting singles including last February. The title track, a boogie-woogie last year on Ramones' year's phenomenal "Alaska" by the band run-through of the old Otis Redding their own "Beat On Karen Black. Vital Music Records' latest number, is excellent. Other outstanding Snatch-O- The Brat." release is a single by Joe Christ Christ is cuts include his version of Jerry Lee Lewis' M a t i c They slow it known in subversive circles as the director "Great Balls Of Fire." Barrelhouse credits record label. down a lot, of a film called "Holy Communion in Room the killer as his inspiration. Apparently, as Kramer, of which gives 410." The film features a fat woman who a young boy, Barrelhouse saw Jerry Lee on Shimmy it a much cuts crosses and swastikas into her arms television punding away at those 88 keys. Disc fame, different and breasts with a razor blade while Christ At one point, Lewis lifted his leg and helped the feel. Ima- and another woman lap up the blood with pounded out a few notes with his shoe. band get their sound down on wax. To gine if Black Sabbath covered the tune, and bread and eat it Nothing in the film was Barrelhouse doesn't wear shoes and his keep the ball rolling in '91, the Pranksters you will be pretty close to what this is like. faked and it is very disgusting. Christ's toes are more limber than the average have just released a new single called "Be The singer has a throaty shout that sounds single has Chris Spedding (known for his person's fingers- and he can play! This is Your Own Guru." The A-side, apparently great. The single's B-side is a tune called work with the Sex Pistols and Robert the best down home, old fashioned about self-enlightenment, commands the "Mick Jagger Killed Brian Jones." The Gordon) on guitar and Chicken George of rock/blues record that I have heard this listener to "be your own guru baby/ lose singer threatens, "I'll get you Mick/ I'll get Letch Patrol playing bass. The copy I saw year. Do yourself a favor - run to the store yourself and all your possessions too." you/ ll get you for Brian." The single is was pressed on orange wax. For more now and buy it....East Northport's The B-side, "Spaceman," begins with pressed on attractive maroon vinyl, with information on Vital Music Records' Pranksters have been turning out quality backwards drums like Hendrix's "Are You white swirls. Youth Gone Mad does a plethora of releases, write to 81 Second rock and roll for years. I first heard of the Experienced" and has a touch of country cover of the Ramones' "Loudmouth" on a Ave., New York City, New York 10003. band through a compilation tape put out in influence. Bass player Jim Allen keeps new split 7" with Urgent Fury on the '86 called The Origin Of Grapefruit. The things a little bit funky, and the loose Piggybank label. The cut features a female

111 a I, , a, _ - _JL - · ·~ _ r I I r

in the performance of contemporary and 20th century music. The quartet, which was founded by WUSB 90.1 FM Irvine Arditti in 1974, appeared at the Staller Center's recital hall on Saturday, April 6. WUSB TOP 35 The quartet consists of Arditti, David As Of 4/12/91 Alberman, Garth Knox, and Rohan de Saram. The program, which consisted of works from 1) Hundley's Machine the 20th century gave a good indication of the 2) The Feelies Arditti Quartet's mission. 3) TAD The first piece performed was the 4) ED OG & Da Bulldogs String Quartet No. 5 by Bela Bartok. This 5) Spaceman 3 piece, which dates from 1934, is one of 6) Front 242 driving intensity which betrays the transition 7) Dinosaur Junior that took place as Romanticism was aban- 8) Dream Warriors doned in favor of modernism. 9) Lunachicks The second piece was a Piano 10) Darkside Quintet, composed by Anton Webern in 11) Lemonheads 1907. Webem is best known as a composer 12) Butt Thorn Park of small atonal pieces in which melodic 13) Bongwater fragments are left adrift in frequent silences. 14) Horseflies This piece, though more conventional, was 15) Screaming Trees by no means traditional. Stefan Litwin, a 16) Citizen Fish doctoral candidate at the university, played 17) The 3 60's the piano in this quintet. 18) Jeff Dahl The next piece played, Autumn 19) Reality Inversion A Most Rhythm for String Quartet, is interesting for 20) Leaving Trains two reasons. First, it's a fairly recent piece, 21) 2 Nice Girls having been composed in 1984. Second, it 22) Cocteau Twins Contemporary was inspired by a most unique work of art - 23) Jesus Jones the painting Autumn Rhythm No. 30, by the 24) Naked Norm Abstract Expressionist Jackson Pollock. 25) Chickasaw Mudpuppies Quartet The final piece of the evening was 26) Hallow Heyday by Arnold Schoenberg. This piece, entitled Scholarships, 27) Southern Culture On Skids Ode to Napoleon Bonaparte, is worth noting 28) Tony D by James F. Bama because a poem by Lord Byron of the same Fellowships, 29) Dead Mutha Goose & Brothers title was recited throughout the piece. Grim The string quartet is a musical form The Arditti Quartet played these Grants 30) Metal Flake Mother that has been avoided by many modern pieces wonderfully. Their virtuosity and the 31) Nova Mob excitement composers. Its structure is too rigid, and its of the pieces themselves made for Ed's Services 32) Naked City history too deep to be utilized expressively in a most exhilarating evening. Stefan Litwin's Box 3006 33) Havanna 3 AM the eclectic styles that characterize piano playing was technically impressive, 34) Eleventh Dreamday contemporary music. Don't tell that to the and tremendously expressive. Contemporary Boston, MA 02130 35) Betty Boo Arditti String Quartet, however. The Arditti music has found a holhe in the Arditti Quartet has gained notoriety by specializing Quartet. ---A- A The Stony. Brook press page 14 TUNIES Dead have tried to break their "keyboard March 28 proved to be perhaps the Return Of The player curse" by enlisting the talents of both shortest Grateful Dead show I've ever Dead new-bandmember Vince Welnick and Bruce witnessed. However, what the show lacked Hormsby, the latter was absent from both the in length it made up for in quality. The first Albany shows and the Nassau shows. Thus, set was standard, featuring a very enjoyable many were wondering if Welnick would "Bertha" opener, followed by "Greatest Story fulfill the role of keyboardist better than he Ever Told." After a flawless "Loser," the had when he played (sans Hornsby) during band performed Weir's "Black-Throated several concerts on last year's Fall Tour. Wind" (only the second New York area Anticipation also grew around the performance of the song in 15 years!). After question of exactly what the Dead would play a sweet "Ramble On Rose," the band closed at these shows. In Landover and Albany, the the first set with a long, energetic "Let It band played several songs that had not been Grow." The second set of the night was also heard by deadheads in recent years (or at all). very short, but featured great guitar playing "New Speedway Boogie," which re-debuted on "Foolish Heart," and "China Doll." The at the February Chinese New Year shows, night's encore was a surprising "Terrapin had not been played since 1970. The song Station" ("Terrapin" had not been played as made its way into the first Landover show of an encore since 1978). the tour and the first Albany show. Landover The final show at the Coliseum also saw the debut of the Jerry Garcia Band's began with a first set flawed by serious "Rubin And Cherise" (the song had never technical problems. During a rendition of before been played by Grateful Dead). So, as Dylan's "When I Paint My Masterpiece," the the band made its way onto Long Island, the PA emitted sounds that made thunder seem fans were rampant with breathlessness as to calm and soothing. The band decided not to what was "up" in the song rotation. chance a reoccurrence of the noise, and left The Grateful Dead's first concert, the stage after "Masterpiece." The evening's on March 27, began with a fairly standard second set featured "New Speedway Boogie," first set. Highlights included a masterful "Truckin'," and a hot "Other One" among version of Dylan's "Maggie's Farm" (on other selections. The encore was a fitting one which the bandmembers alternated the lead for the final Long Island show, the lullabye- vocals, even giving Welnick a verse!), and like "Brokedown Palace." the deadhead favorite "Loose Lucy" (which Although the shows saw over 140 re-debuted last Spring Tour after a 16 year people arrested on some kind of drug hibernation). The set closed with "Rubin charges, no arrests were made inside the The Dead's Phil Lesh, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Homsby Eric Penzer And Cherise," to the great approval of all in arena itself (contrary to past Long Island attendance. Set two, however, made the Grateful Dead concerts where Nassau County night much more than a concert. It is often Police pulled people out of their seats and said that you can tell how good a Grateful arrested them for smoking a joint!). Aside Dead concert is by only listening to Jerry from the tight security in and around the By Eric Penzer Landover, Maryland. The Landover shows Garcia's brilliant lead guitar work. Garcia show, a good time was had by all present. (and the Albany shows that followed) saw the opened the set with a version of "Scarlet The Grateful Dead played with great skill, Surrounded by the anticipation and band in good form, and with high spirits. The Begonias>Fire On The Mountain" that was and displayed a jovial disposition. In intensity that usually characterizes a Grateful one word that I would use to characterize the sparkling with energy (the energy being addition, they have, once again, proved that Dead concert, the band pulled into Long atmosphere surrounding the Nassau Coliseum transmitted right from Garcia's fingers!). The their music is built to last Island recently for three sold-out shows at on March 27, 28, and 29 is "anticipation." band finished the set on much the same Uniondale's Nassau Coliseum. Their Spring This anticipation stemmed from playing level, making the show one of the Tour had gotten underway 10 days earlier in different sources. First, although the Grateful best Nassau Coliseum has ever seen.

Making Love In The Sails Cocteau Twins in Concert

By Scott Skinner & Edward DeFellippis Galaxy 500 was the opening act, a neo- hippy ensemble in the classic gloomer- After being concert-starved for so doomer tradition. Although they tried their many weeks, we could scarcely control our darndest to depress us with their plodding jubilations at the thought of seeing Cocteau twangy tunes, we were immune. After being Twins in concert. Try as he might, Fred concert-starved at Stony Brook for so long, Preston was not going to stop us from we even found the blue coma riffs to be attending this show. downright cheery. Although we didn't find Roseland was a far cry better than anything particularly exceptional about the Ritz, Cocteau's previous concert site. Galaxy, we must admit that they were a good While the Ritz was reminiscent of an ashtray, opening act. Roseland was extraordinary. The ceiling was The music of Cocteau has a wave- a hypnotic array of sail-like stretched canvas, like chiming quality which bathes its listeners which provided a multi-faceted target for the in a sonorous ocean. Elizabeth Fraser's voice lasers. The wide open dance floor was does not merely soothe; it stimulates with its thoroughly accommodating, and tables were sensuous character. Her reciprocating and "Heaven or Las Vegas." At this point, neatly filling in the bounds of the music present for the weary. Overall, Roseland was warbles beckons one to passion. She Cocteau abruptly left the stage, most without overpowering it. Softened lasers a living, breathing sight of spacey elegance, appeared before the crowd with an air of probably for an ice-tea break. The encore played across the stage and throughout the an ideal setting for Cocteau. confidence that was lacking at their Ritz featured "Pink, Orange and Red," followed audience, accentuating the gentle washes of After checking our coats down- performance. Missing was her breast-beating by "Aikea-Guinea." Again, Cocteau took a color which illuminated the background. stairs, we mixed and mingled with the crowd. gyrations and manic-giddiness. Elizabeth brief recess and ended the show with "Loves After Elizabeth fucked us silly with The general topics of discussion included sex, wasted no time in weaving her fi-st spell, Easy Tears." her voice, we very much desired to go home death, and the color black. For some strange "Blue Bell Knoll," with sublime clarity. The Elizabeth's voice was well miked and have a good smoke. As she left the reason, we got the impression that the bulk of spell was cast, and the audience was and perfectly mixed. Our main problem was stage, we managed to catch her gaze for one the mass were newcomers. That may have mesmerized. that she would sometimes sing in a lower brief delirious moment, a look which seemed been the reason why many chose to sit on the The set continued with the octive than was expected. Cocteau also had a to ask, "Was it as good for you as it was for following songs: "From the Flagstones," dance floor while waiting for the opening act. slight problem with their mid-range bass, me:?"IM1 The oldtimers meanwhile chose to flaunt "Lorelei," "Iceblink Luck," "Whales Tails" prompting a few shouted technical sug- their alternative dance styles while enticing (Scott's favorite), "Cherry-coloured Funk," gestions from various members of the others to join them. Overall, the crowd was the extremely danceable "Pitch the Baby," audience. The sound levels hovered around passive and retroflective. Although we could "Road, River and Rail" (Ed's favorite), "Cico 100 decibels, loud enough to satisfy without not see the sparks, somehow, somewhere, Buff," "Sugar Hiccough," "A Kissed Out Red causing our ears to bleed. The light show deep thoughts were being exchanged. Floatboat," "Ella Megalast Burls Forever," was a beautiful complement to the band, 74 .April .1, 1991 page 15 - -SPOTLIC 3HT Conversation With A True Blues TravelBer

Interview Conducted By Eric Penzer

Blues Traveler's unique blend of rock and blues has earned them success nationwide. The band's self-titled debut release (on A&M Records) is rapidly growing .in popularity, earning the band a cult-like following. Currently on tour in support of the record, drummer Brendan Hill took some time out of his busy schedule to talk with The Stony Brook Press.

Stony Brook Press: How would you describe your music to someone who's never heard Blues Traveler play?

Brendan Hill: I'd say it's blues influenced rock 'n' roll. Second generation rock 'n' roll, influenced by a lot of different players like Jimi Hendrix, Zeppelin, Grateful Dead, Santana, all those old groups that had that jamming style that we're really into, that improvisational style..

SBP: Why don't you tell us a little something about the band's history?

BH: We started in Princeton, New Jersey, where we all went to high school. 1987 was the first year we were all together, and that was also the year we graduated. Chan (Kinchla), Bobby (Sheehan), and myself graduated and moved to New York. John (Popper) was already there at the New School. I went to the New School for a year, Bobby went for a half a year. At that time we were all scrimping and saving, living in New York, with the occasional gig here and there.

SBP: The standard life of a struggling musician? really putting out the energy we had live, and Oregon. We had 1500 people come out there. up-beat melody. I don't know where he BH: (Laughs) Right! So, by the Spring of I think you have to do that on a record, even I think it's due to a few factors, like the comes up with those ideas, but he does. 1988, we started playing gigs a little more with our kind of music. We're not the album, and other bands telling their fans regularly. We got a regular gig at the greatest studio musicians because our main about us, and also the Letterman show SBP: I was told that Blues Traveler had a Nightingale bar, every Monday night we'd thing is live. I think the second album is helped. I think all around the country it's small part in The Doors movie. What was the play there. The word just got around. First, going to get into the gritty performance we do pretty much the same. story behind that? we started playing to nobody but the live every night. bartender, then we had friends from school SBP: Your live show has featured a lot of BH: Actually, its gotten smaller and smaller. come see us, and then word really started SBP: "But Anyway" has received a decent new songs. Are there plans for a new record? If you look really closely, you can see us in spreading around. We'd play for about four amount of airplay. Is this the strongest track the background. We were gonna be in it; hours, four sets, just really experimental, all on the album as far as you're concerned? BH: Actually, we're recording when we get they were talking about us doing a song in it, the songs we had done up to that point, and back to New York. We have three more like a groove during the San Francisco park just writing new songs, going at it full-force. BH: "But Anyway" is a good one because its weeks on the road, then we're going to record scene. Then we started moving up, trying to find got a catchy melody. I think people really the next album. We have about 12 songs now other gigs and make some more money. relate to that song. I really like "Crystal that we're going to record, and we have a SBP: Was that Bill Graham's Then we moved up to the doing? Wetlands scene in Flame" and "Sweet Talking Hippie." These couple of other ones in the works. We're '89, in about October. We started playing are standards in our live show- they're all going to -take the best from those. We have BH: Yeah, that was Bill Graham. He was a there every Thursday night. By this time very powerful, and we change them every been playing a lot of the new music live, so major contributer to we'd that movie, and he have about four or five regular gigs, so night. we can tighten them up for the studio. we could fill up our month. We made pretty thought it would be really good if we were in the park. I think it just got lost on the good money. It was about that time that a cutting SBP: How long have you been on tour in SBP: Who are the principle songwriters in room floor. few record companies got interested in us. At support of this record? the band? that same time we got interest from Bill SBP: What does the future hold for Blues Graham Management They said, if you go BH: Actually, since the record has been out, BH: Chan and John. Chan is the principle Traveler? with us, we'll make sure you guys go where we've been on tour. It came out in riff-writer in the band. He writes all the riffs. you want to go. So they helped us get the September, we only had a couple of breaks. BH: Well, we're just happy record contract, a pretty to be on the road good one. And that's We did the Allman Brothers tour, 17 dates. SBP: Even the harmonica riffs? up to the signing point. as much as we are. Being able to go around Then we went out to Texas, Colorado, the country and have new audiences all the California- we've done that three times now BH: No, songs like "Gina," John just wrote time is really an asset for us. SBP: How long did it take you to record your We're building since the records been out. the original riff and the words, and we all album? our show so we can do a two and a half, three came in with the other parts. It's a very hour show. We've been doing 200-1500 seat SBP: Do you feel the music has gone over as communal thing. Usually there's a riff places until BH: It took about three weeks; one week to now. I think next time around well in other geographic territories as it has in written, and someone has an idea for all the we'll do theaters, anywhere record the master tracks, one week of from 1000 to New York? parts. We just go through them. Then John 2000 seat places. overdubs, and a week of mixing. sits down in another room and writes the BH: Actually, we had a really good response lyrics. SBP: I hope you'll SBP: Was the change from playing to a live keep playing the in Colorado. We did 11 shows, and we sold Wetlands! audience to playing in the studio a difficult them all out, which I think is about 6 or 7 SBP: rye heard one song based on characters change for the band? thousand tickets. So I think that was great, to in The Jungle Book; do the ideas for songs BH: Yeah, the Wetlands will always be our have such a good reaction from them. It was always come from such diverse sources? home. I think we'll always play there. BH: Actually, that was the one thing that we kind of like New York. People were dancing all talked about after the record was done, really hard, and getting into it, calling out BH: That was because it sounded like a sort Blues Traveler will be appearing that it was a little bit too tight. We weren't at New tunes. And the same reaction was in Eugene, of jungle rhythm. John just came up with this York City's Roseland on April 12.