April 13, 2016 Volume 22 Issue 11 theknightnews.com Breaking News & Video Journalism in the Interest of the Queens College Community MEET THE NEW SA PRESIDENT Japneet Singh of Students for Change was elected as the new Student Association President SEE PAGE 3 Photo courtesy of Ming Photography QC alum helps refugees Professor elected president stuck in Greece of poetry association SEE PAGE 4 SEE PAGE 6 2 | April 13, 2016 www.theknightnews.com MISSION STATEMENT: EDITORIALS “We aim to serve the Queens College community through a tireless pursuit for truths that may be hidden, obstructed An end to current politics? or otherwise unknown, to empower our readers with the The exceptional performances of the frontrunners are making history— information they need to inspire change.” political outsiders, a high possibility of a becoming unpopular. More than 50 percent contested convention and low favorability of Americans view Trump and Clinton ratings for current frontrunners in each unfavorably, according to a poll conducted Editor-in-Chief: Brandon Jordan major party. This highlights a political by CBS and the New York Times last Executive Editor: Christina Cardona system that seems broken. month. This is historic considering the poll, The question is a solution exists since it began in 1984, does not find any Managing Editor: Candice Samuels without the system becoming undone. other candidate with higher dislike. Managing Editor: Phil Vallone Donald Trump and Sen. Bernie But this is opening up an opportunity Copy Editor: Asher Horovitz Sanders, I-Vt., certainly shook their for third party candidates to not only get respective party’s respective primaries. media attention, but also provide an Copy Editor: Daria Kaczorowska Sanders gave Hillary Clinton, a alternative. Photo Editor: Amanda Goldstein political powerhouse, a run for her money in For example, Fox Business Network Jonathan Baron the Democratic primaries. Superdelegates, aired the Libertarian Party’s debate Photography: still unpledged to a candidate, are the only among possible candidates April 1, and a Photography David Gutenmacher factor giving Hillary Clinton any sense of recent Monmouth University poll found Social Media Editor: Yarah Shabana relief. Libertarian frontrunner Gary Johnson In the Republican Party, Trump polling at 11 percent against Clinton and Sports Editor: Albert Roman continues to turn the party upside down Trump. with his unconventional campaign rhetoric. Libertarian Party Chair Nicholas Reporters Despite fierce criticism against him and his Sarwark encouraged Americans to watch campaign by Republicans and Democrats, the debate. Jake Cohen Trump remains the frontrunner and likely “We urge all Americans to tell their Oyin Falana the nominee in a field that went from 17 friends, co-workers and family to watch Erica Marie Finocchio candidates to just three. this important debate and see they have a If Trump does not acquire 1,237 choice,” Sarwark said. “They do not have Aryeh Gelfand delegates before the Republican National to settle for candidates who are bigoted and Bianca He Convention, then a contested convention insulting.” Mahnoor Mirza will happen in Cleveland, Ohio. Delegates Jill Stein, the Green Party nominee, are free to support Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, also is campaigning across the country and Cheyna Mulligan R-Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich. urging a political alternative. David Rafailovich Moreover, this allows the GOP to “Now is the time to seize this moment nominate any candidate they want, even of crisis together and create the world of Jordi Sevilla Speaker of the House Paul Ryan. democracy, justice and peace that we all we But this denies a large portion of deserve,” she said at the launch of her bid Layout/Graphic Design dissatisfied voters, primarily white, that for president. Devin Lee support Trump. It is a risk the GOP cannot Unsatisfied voters will still threaten Bobby Soohoo take, but doing it can make the party lose the two-party system and a political class legitimacy. protecting it, regardless of the election. Melisa Tekin As each party struggle to unite, Our favorites for participatory budgeting at QC Advisers Gerald Solomon First, we need to congratulate for it? Current and future students will reap Sheryl McCarthy Participatory Budgeting at QC. Getting the benefits made possible through this. ideas—let alone 12—for students to vote Our final choice is a stage ground for Gavin McCormick on is a major achievement and highlights King Hall. In our back issues, we sometimes Phone: 347-450-6054 just why activism is vital for students. cover theater on campus that includes The Knight News reviewed each of students. We applaud these students’ efforts the 12 proposals that students will vote and think a stage ground could support not [email protected] for from April 18 to April 21. We decided only the students, but also the professors Logo by: Melisa Tekin three ideas that students should vote for: too. composting, heating and air conditioners, We want to emphasize that these are and a stage ground for theater. suggestions students can take. Anyone can Composting, for those unfamiliar, is disagree and say other ideas are preferable. turning organic material, like food, into Besides, the point of participatory soil. It’s found in nature, but it is done by budgeting is allowing students the right to people too. choose. The idea would help Fitness, Still, we think these are the best ideas. Corrections: Our masthead Nutrition and Exercise Science professor After voting ends after April 21, we hope Claire Consiglio’s class. But it also keeps the they are enacted. included Asher Horovitz’s college green, a goal it often pushes with Until then, we’re excited to see the renewable energy. This would strengthen results. that mission. name as “Asher Horowitz.” Another choice is adding heating and air conditioners in classrooms. There We regret the error. are some buildings that suffer from issues relating to heat or conditioning. Students and professors cite the lack of a heater or air conditioner as a problem. Even some transfer to other classes because of this. So why not solve this issue by voting www.theknightnews.com April 13, 2016 | 3 Incoming president hopes to make QC better PHIL VALLONE News Reporter “The biggest thing coming Singh said his biggest government can do so much, but He wants students to realize into my presidential year is challenge in student government when you elevate that to USS, that they control their destiny Japneet Singh, a senior diversifying [student government]. is unifying SFC and getting that which is the student government at QC, and the experiences they majoring in economics, finance, SA hasn’t always been known for message out to the student body. for twenty-four CUNY campuses, have depend on their level of accounting and international diversity. We now have so many “Even though we did all of that’s where you’re heard,” Singh involvement on and off campus. business, will serve as the next different perspectives on the table, these good things, I feel that SA said. “We’re going to keep fighting. “College is what you make president of the Queens College and I definitely look forward to still didn’t have its presence within We’re going to keep doing rallies. out of it, and how active you are. If Student Association. working for everybody,” Singh the student body,” Singh said. We’re going to keep protesting you just take classes and go home, A member of Students for said. Singh will act as president until our needs are met.” you’re not getting the best bang for Change, Singh will replace current Inclusiveness, providing of SA for a semester, since he is Singh hopes to raise your buck. Please be active,” Singh president Christopher Labial at a comfortable environment for graduating next semester. Still, he awareness on issues facing students said. the end of the semester. everybody and making a safe space wants to ensure that he makes QC at QC and wants to see more Singh attributed his where someone can share their better than when he first started at student participation on campus philvallo@theknightnews. unopposed run partially to a ideas and make moves on those the college. next year. com perceived loss of hope in student ideas is very important to Singh. “It’s all the generations that “In my opinion, the tuition government. Singh presently serves as come after me. That’s what student hike battle was a battle many QC “I think it is people losing both the programming chair and government is about. It’s to affect students, or even CUNY students, hope in student government as a vice-chair for Senior Colleges for the people that are going to come addressed as much as they should whole. They don’t know the real the University Student Senate. He after us,” Singh said. “I could have have. Not many students knew change it can actually provide. I previously served as vice-chair for graduated this year, but I feel that about it and that’s not good,” feel that it’s attributed to [a long public relations. I have an obligation, before I leave, Singh said. period] of not having that stable During his time with USS, that I leave something better for Singh said he would tirelessly student government and having Singh achieved numerous things the student body” work to dedicate his final semester that unified message sent out to that students at QC enjoy. For Singh spoke of the important at QC fulfilling his campaign the student body,” Singh said. example, Singh is proud of his role that student government plays promise. During his final year at QC, Singh instrumental role in the extension in defending low-cost tuition for “I want to leave QC better hoped to address issues of diversity of library hours, more food students and their plans for the than I found it.