Yan Chen/The Statesman

Students and faculty are always eager to participate in the Stony Brook tradition of Earthstock.  But many are unaware of the history of this event that led it to become a red-hot tradition.

Earthstock officially began in April 2000 and was founded by a small group of passionate and enthusiastic students who were part of the Environmental Club at the time, according to Jeff Barnett, Administrative Co-Chair of Earthstock.

These students strived to inform others about environmental sustainability and global warming.  When Earthstock first began, it was a small event, which included a few tables displaying educational literature.

This event continued to grow and was soon taken on by the President’s office, Barnett said. This initiative provided the funding needed to turn Earthstock into a large campus festival.

“In 2007, the Office of the Dean of Students assumed responsibility and Earthstock has grown even further to become an award winning, week-long series of events featuring over 30 educational programs, while continuing to grow the signature event, the Friday Earthstock festival,” Barnett said.

A variety of programs are offered throughout the week including film screenings, a farmer’s market, lectures from distinguished speakers, panel presentations, a great debate, four music concerts and two student research exhibitions.

Earthstock is recognized as an outstanding program by the State University of New York (SUNY) and Long Island Council of Student Personnel Administration (LICSPA).

This event has also been featured in regional media such as Newsday and the Herald Times, according to the Stony Brook Earthstock website.

But these awards and recognitions would not have been possible without the amount of time and effort that goes into the planning for this event from both faculty and students.

Yan Chen/The Statesman

According to Professor Malcolm J. Bowman, Academic Co-Chair of this event, the Earthstock committee starts the preparations sometime in the beginning of January.

“We are big on trying to articulate what we are doing as a university in a display format,” James T. O’Connor, representative of the Office of Sustainability, said, when asked about the preparations for Earthstock, “so that when students, faculty and staff visit our tables, they can take a look at a board really quickly and see what we are doing in the Office of Sustainability.  This is a challenge that involves many people to work on.”

According to Jeff Barnett, throughout the years that Earthstock has taken place, one of the most significant events has been a panel discussion. This discussion featured and honored four Stony Brook faculty members who shared the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. These faculty members received the opportunity to serve on the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

One of these members, Minghua Zhang, currently serves as the Dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric sciences.

In 2009, Stony Brook University’s first vegetable oil-powered bus received a name after Earthstock’s “Name this Bus” contest.

O’Connor said he felt that this contest was one of the most significant events in the history of Earthstock and said that they chose a winner by picking a name out of a hat.  After receiving 535 entries, the name that was chosen was “The Kernel.”

As for the future of Earthstock, Barnett said that corporate sponsorship of this event has grown and there is always a chance to land a major level gift or sponsorship.This kind of opportunity would turn Earthstock into a major weekend festival that would draw people from all around the Tri-State area.

“I could envision, connected to this, a major outdoor concert,” Barnett said.

When Professor Malcolm J. Bowman was asked what he sees in the future of Earthstock he said, “We want to keep developing the serious side to Earthstock—how best to care for and preserve Mother Earth!”

He also explained that he would like to see more departments, students and faculty involved in strengthening the week-long program of Earthstock.

Compiled by: Will Rhino, Megan Spicer and Sara Sonnack

 Ann Marie Horbey, Writing Department

Will Rhino (WR): Describe your perfect date.

Ann Marie Horbey (AH): It’s been a long time.  We [Professor Horbey and her husband] like to go hiking, camping and backpacking.

WR: What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other on Valentine’s Day?

AH: Also been a long time.  Way back, I went into his bedroom.  I wrote on index cards the things I loved about him, and I put them up on his wall.  It was a heart of index cards.  An emblem of love.

WR: Who’s your celebrity crush?

AH: Not applicable.

WR: How does it feel to know students find you attractive?

AH:  That’s just life.  That’s the nature of being a young professional.  I was surprised.

WR: How do you balance love and work?

AH:  It doesn’t really require any balance.  We have similar goals in different fields.  We respecct what the other does and support each other in what we need.

WR: How do you feel about being judged based on looks on ratemyprofessor.com?

AH: I don’t go on ratemyprofessor.com  It was reported to me.  I find it amusing.

WR: How do you plan on spending Valentine’s Day?

AH: I don’t know.  It’s a surprise.  It’s his turn.

WR: Do you do anything out of the ordinary to make yourself look more attractive on Valentine’s Day?

AH: I wear red.

WR: Have any students ever commented on your looks?

AH: I taught high school, so yes.  Now, I’ve been complimented on the way I dress.  Most college students have more tact.

Frederick Grine, Anthropology

Megan Spicer (MS): Describe your perfect date.

Frederick Grine (FG): It depends upon whether you are referring to an individual or an occasion.

MS: What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other on Valentine’s Day?

FG: A surprise African Safari – flying from Cape Town, South Africa to the Okavango Delta of Botswana for a week of game viewing.

MS: What’s the most romantic thing someone has done for you?

FG: Dinner on a private yacht in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

MS: Who is your celebrity crush?

FG: Courtney Cox.

MS: How do you define love?

FG: It is impossible to define, but you know it when you feel it.

MS: How does it feel to know that students find you attractive?

FG: I am blushing now!

MS: How do you feel about being judged based on looks on ratemyprofessor.com?

FG: As my father would have said, “Those than can, do; those that can’t, teach; and those that can’t teach can at least try to look good (or become an administrator).”

MS: How do you balance love and work?

FG: I don’t!

MS: How do you plan on spending Valentine’s Day?

FG: In the bush … in the Turkana Basin of Kenya.

MS: Do you believe in love at first sight?

FG: Sure, but then I also believe that the Earth is flat!

Steven Reiner, Journalism

Sara Sonnack (SS): What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done for a significant other on Valentine’s Day?

Steven Reiner (SR): Write a special note. Say something special. Say something that, of course, is very private that I would not share with The Statesman.

SS: Who’s your celebrity crush?

SR: There’s so many. They change. I’ve always loved Kate Winslet. I prefer Jennifer Aniston to Angelina Jolie.

SS: How do you define love?

SR: I think love is the ability and the willingness and the desire to put someone else before yourself.

SS: How does it feel to know students find you attractive?

SR: It feels very good. Everybody behaves themselves.

SS: How do you plan on spending Valentine’s Day?

SR: Unfortunately, my wife has to work.  She’s in the fashion industry and this is fashion week in New York, so I will be out in Stony Brook attending “My Life As…” with my colleagues. My wife and I will delay it a couple of days. Of course, I’ll send flowers and a mushy card.

SS: How did you become known as the “silver fox”?

SR: Most years, the graduating seniors do a video at the spring journalism banquet. Four years ago, in that video, they talked about every professor, Selvin, Haddad, Ricioppo,  Dean McGinnis. They were saying things like, “Oh they’re so great,” and so on and so forth. When they got to me, one of the female students said, “Ahh, the silver fox.” That was the first time I heard it, along with like 75  other people. I didn’t know if I should take it badly that they weren’t talking about me as a professor. It was a little embarrassing.

SS: Have any students ever commented on your looks?

SR: No. Maybe the first year I got there. The first group may have mentioned that nickname that I got.

The women have not been able to win a game within the last couple of weeks in their conference schedule. Jia Yao/The Statesman

By Anthony Santigate and Mike Daniello

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team dropped their 10th straight game on Saturday to Albany. Senior Whitney Davis led the team with 16 points in the 57-47 loss to the Great Danes.
Junior Dani Klupenger had 12 points off of four three-pointers, and senior Tamiel Murray had a career-high seven assists. Albany out-rebounded Stony Brook 46-24, 23 of which were offensive. The Seawolves did hold the Great Danes to 37 percent shooting and only turned the ball over eight times, but they could not come back from a nine-point second-half deficit.
Ebony Henry led the way for Albany with 16 points, and Julie Forster had nine points with a game-high 17 boards.
Albany started the game out strong with a 15-8 run, but the Seawolves would tie it at 19, powered by Klupenger, who hit three triples. A put-back from junior Taylor Burner gave the Seawolves their first lead of the game at 23-22.
Nine straight points by Albany gave them an eight-point lead and led them to a 33-25 halftime lead.
The Seawolves shot 43.5 percent in the first half and had an assist on all 10 field goals. Murray led it with six of her own. But the Great Danes out-rebounded the Seawolves in the first half with 11 offensive rebounds, which led to 10 second-chance points.
Stony Brook trailed by nine early in the second half but then scored six straight points. Freshman Kellie Krueger hit a jumper to force an Albany timeout and to put the Seawolves within three.
Senior Destiny Jacobs hit a free throw to put the Seawolves within two, but a Henry jumper put the Great Danes back up by four.
Albany went on a 14-2 run to take a 54-40 lead, and Stony Brook could not get closer than 10 the rest of the game.
Stony Brook also lost to the Binghamton Bearcats 55-46 on Wednesday night, despite Davis’  12- point, 10-rebound double-double.
Junior Sam Landers added a season-high 13 points in the losing  effort.
“I’m really happy with the energy and intensity we played with tonight,” Stony Brook head coach Beth O’Boyle said. “Binghamton just made a few more plays than we did down the stretch.”
Stony Brook’s offense had a few highlights, shooting 41 percent from the floor. Landers’ 13 points came largely in part from her 3-for-4 shooting night from three. Davis grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds on her way to her first double-double.
The Seawolves dropped to 4-19 overall and 1-9 in America East play. Krueger added an early four points, giving SBU a quick 6-3 lead. She finished  with 10 points in the game.
Binghamton out-rebounded Stony Brook 47-34. Viive Rebane and Orla O’Reilly combined for 31 points to secure the Bearcats’ win.
Stony Brook had multiple opportunities to turn the game around, but Binghamton made runs when they needed to, killing the Seawolves’ momentum.
After a slow start the Bearcats went on a 9-2 run mid-first half, seizing control of the game.
They also ended the first half by slowing Stony Brook’s momentum and taking a 26-23 lead into the locker room.
The Seawolves cut the lead down to one early in the first half before Binghamton scored eight of the next 10 points to take a lead midway through the period. After six straight points from Stony Brook, the Bearcats had another timely spurt, going  on an 11-2 run to take a 48-37 lead with five minutes left.
Two Davis free throws got Stony Brook as close as they were going to get within six points but that was all Binghamton needed to take the win.
The Seawolves return to action on Saturday, traveling to take on Albany. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.

Stony Brook football announced the addition of 15 players to its roster on Wednesday.

Eleven recruits as well as four transfers have signed on for the 2012 season, which includes games at Army and Syracuse.

Most notable are running back Marcus Coker, a transfer from Iowa who will help ease the blow of losing senior running back Brock Jackolski, and wide receiver Adrian Coxson, a transfer from Maryland, who will fill the hole left by senior Matt Brevi. Both players were four-star recruits in high school.

The 2012 Stony Brook recruiting class:

(each player’s name is a link to his highlight video)

Dimetrius Bernard
DL • 6-4 • 260
Jamaica, N.Y./ Holy Cross H.S./Fresno City College

Before Stony Brook: A transfer from Fresno City College, Bernard played in nine games, totaling 17 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He also recorded 1.5 sacks, a fumble recovery, a forced fumble and a blocked kick.  “Dimetrius played his high school football at Holy Cross in Flushing, so that’s where we became aware of him,” Priore said. “He should give us an immediate impact after two years at the junior college level and secure our three-technique position on the defensive line.”

Marcus Coker 
RB • 6-0 • 230 
Beltsville, Md./ DeMatha Catholic H.S./University of Iowa 

Before Stony Brook: The transfer from Iowa rushed for more than 2,000 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with Hawkeyes, and was second in the Big Ten in rushing (1,384 yards – 115.3 ypg) as a sophomore behind Heisman Trophy candidate Montee Ball of Wisconsin, earning second-team all-conference.

Adrian Coxson 
WR • 6-0 • 205 
Baltimore, Md./ City College H.S./University of Maryland 

Before Stony Brook: The transfer from Maryland totaled four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown as a redshirt freshman. He originally signed with Florida before transferring during preseason. 

Pat D’Amato 
QB/ATH • 6-2 • 200 
Wethersfield, Conn/Xavier H.S. 

High School: D’Amato attends Xavier High School and quarterbacked No. 1 team in state on the way to CHSCA Class LL All-State honors. He totaled more than 1,800 yards and accounted for 28 touchdowns (15 pass, 13 rush) and led Xavier to Class LL state title “Pat led Xavier to two state championships as a quarterback/athlete so we’re excited to have his leadership on our team,” Seawolves head coach Chuck Priore said. 

Connor Davis 
TE/DE • 6-8 • 240 
Fallston, Md./Fallston H.S. 

High School: Davis attends Fallston High School, where he was named a first team All-UCBAC by Chesapeake Coaches as well as a Baltimore Sun defensive player to watch. He picked up 235 yards and five touchdowns, and 117 tackles, 12 sacks and a blocked punt as a senior.  “Connor brings tremendous size to either position,” Priore said. “We’re excited to have his talent level and his height at Stony Brook.” 

Angelo DeShields 
WR • 6-0 • 195 
Baltimore, Md./Mount Saint Joseph H.S. 

High School: DeShields attends Mount Saint Joseph High School and was a 2010 & 2011 All-MIAA selection. “Angelo has tremendous skills and the physicality to play wide receiver at the Division I level,” Priore said.

Abiade Granger 
CB • 5-10 • 165 
Riviera Beach, Fla./Suncoast H.S. 

High School: Granger attends Suncoast High School, where he was first team Class 6A-5A-3A and second team All-Area. He was the Palm Beach Post’s No. 36 player in the county and a two-star recruit according to Rivals.com. Granger totaled 35 tackles, nine passes defended and two sacks and was the team’s leading punt and kick returner. He blocked five field goals, and is an all-around athlete, being named All-Palm Beach County in track as a state qualifier in the high jump, triple jump and 4×400 relay.  “We’re excited to have his talent and leadership skills,” Priore said.  “A.B. is an outstanding athlete who will have a great future.” 

Da’Rell Hatcher 
RB • 5-10 • 200 
Amityville, N.Y./Amityville H.S. 

High School: Hatcher attends Amityville High School, where he was second-team All-Long Island and third-team all-state. He rushed for 1,279 yards and 14 touchdowns and led the Warriors to the Division IV Championship game. He rushed for 366 yards and five touchdowns against John Glenn, ending Knights 17-game winning streak. “Da’Rell has really worked his way into becoming a top running back on Long Island,” Priore said. “His powerful running style will be welcomed in our backfield.” 

Carlos Hernandez 
QB • 6-3 • 200 
Moreno Valley, Calif./Rancho Verde H.S. 

High School: Hernandez was the Inland Valley Offensive MVP and first team selection and second team All-State. He was named the  Los Angeles Times quarterback to watch as a senior, and earned Central Division co-Offensive Player of the Year and All-Riverside County honors. He passed for 1,900 yards and 28 touchdowns to lead Mustangs to 14-0 record and threw four touchdowns in state championship game.  “Carlos is an established quarterback who does a lot of the things we look for to play in our system,” Priore said. 

Deshawn Lindsay 
S • 5-11 • 170 
Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation H.S. 

High School: Lindsay is a South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s top 50 player and Rivals.com two-star recruit. He accounted for 73 tackles and three forced fumbles as a senior and 68 tackles and two forced fumbles as a junior.  “Deshawn comes to us from one of the better high school programs in Florida,” Priore said.  “He’s a physical safety who can defend the run and pass.” 

Chris Makulik 
FB • 6-2 • 240 
Patchogue, N.Y./Patchogue-Medford H.S. 

High School: Makulik attends Patchogue-Medford High School where he rushed for 607 yards and six touchdowns and had a season-high 196 yards and three touchdowns against Sachem East. He was named an All-Suffolk County player. “Chris is a local product who had impressed us in various combines,” Priore said.  ”His ability to play fullback and our H-back position will be vital.” 

Greg Melendez 
S • 6-1 • 210 
Brooklyn, N.Y./Canarsie H.S./Idaho State/Hofstra 

Before Stony Brook: Melendez spent the last two seasons at Idaho State. He suffered a season-ending injury in 2010, but started all 11 games for the Bengals in 2011, when he recorded 51 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He spent 2007-09 at Hofstra, where he started all 12 games as a redshirt freshman, registering 72 tackles, three pass breakups and a forced fumble and started all 11 games as a sophomore, totaling 72 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and an interception. 

Aaron Thompson 
DL • 6-4 • 240 
Deer Park, N.Y./Deer Park H.S. 

High School: Thompson attends Deer Park High School. He was named a second team All-Long Island, fourth team All-State, and All-Suffolk County. Thompson registered 80 tackles and seven sacks as a senior  “ He has imposing size and strength and will continue to get better,” Priore said. 

Nick Vitale 
WR • 5-9 • 185 
Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand H.S. 

High School: Vitale attends Daniel Hand High School, where he caught 52 passes for 863 yards and 11 TDs as a senior and led the team to a Class L state title. He was named to the 2011 CHSCA All-State Team, 2011 Walter Camp All-State Team, and was the Post-Chronicle Offensive Player of the Year. He’s the brother of current Seawolf Rich Vitale. “Having coached his brother, Rich, we know what kind of player Nick is going to be,” Priore said. “He excelled at wide receiver as a senior, leading his team to a state title.” 

Jaheem Woods 
CB • 6-0 • 180 
Neptune, N.J./Neptune 

High School: Woods attends Neptune High School. He was the Newark Star-Ledger’s Monmouth County Player of the Year and first team all-county, as well as Shore Conference Offensive Player of the Year, Group 3 All-State,first team All-Group 3 and MSGVarsity.com second team All-New Jersey. Woods accounted for 2,473 yards and 30 touchdowns and helped the Scarlet Fliers to a state title after rushing for 257 yards, passing for 164 yards and totaling four touchdowns. He made 76 tackles and five interceptions at cornerback. “Jaheem might be the best athlete in this class,” Priore said.  ”He’s an accomplished athlete who’s equally good on both sides of the ball.  We’re excited about having his athletic talent.” 

Former Iowa University standout running back Marcus Coker will be playing his football at Stony Brook University next fall.

Coker asked for and was granted a release from his football scholarship at Iowa in early January.

He was suspended for the team’s trip to the Insight Bowl for unspecified disciplinary reasons. Earlier in the season, Coker had been the subject of a police investigation involving an alleged sexual assault. That case was later dropped when the victim did not press charges.

Coker, whose 1,384 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore last season was second in the Big Ten to only Heisman Trophy finalist Montee Ball of Wisconsin, was not available for comment.

He released a statement, saying “I’m very grateful to Coach Priore and Stony Brook University for this opportunity.  During this process, I’ve become aware of Stony Brook’s growing football program and outstanding academics.  I’m excited for spring practice and the chance to help my teammates win a fourth straight Big South Championship.”

Seawolves head coach Chuck Priore also released a statement. “”We are excited that Marcus has decided to continue his education at Stony Brook University.  His ability and skill set will fit well in our offensive schemes.  We’re excited to welcome him to the Stony Brook football family.”

By Anthony Santigate and Mike Daniello

The Stony Brook’s women’s basketball team had a tough stretch over winter break, going 3-6 with three of those losses coming on its home court.

Overall, the Seawolves are 4-16 on the season with a 1-6 conference record.

First year coach Beth O’Boyle’s team has struggled specifically on the road, going 1-9. But SBU did rattle off a three-game winning streak from Dec. 21 to Jan. 2, beating Morgan State, Youngstown State and a big conference win at Vermont.

In their most recent game, the Seawolves fell to Maine 57-44 on Saturday.

For Stony Brook, junior Taylor Burner had 11 points and senior Whitney Davis added 10 points of her own with five rebounds. This loss was the Seawolves’ sixth in a row.

A highlight for the women’s team over break was the play of Kellie Krueger. At one time, she won the America East rookie of the week honor three times in a row.

In the win over Morgan State, Krueger posted a career-high 14 points to go along with six rebounds. She hit five of her eight shots from the field and went 4-4 on the foul line in the 65-48 win. The Seawolves trailed by one with 13:31 left in the game, but junior guard Sam Landers three-pointer started a 12-0 run.

Stony Brook won its next game 54-47 over Youngstown State. Junior Dani Klupenger led the team with 11 points and went 3-for-6 from behind the arc.

The team continued its winning streak with a 54-47 victory over Vermont, the first conference game for both teams. Klupenger had a career-high 18 points and went 4-for-6 from three.

The win streak was quickly snapped at three, with a 44-32 loss to conference rival Binghamton. This started the team’s decline over the break. SBU went on to lose its next five games, all against conference opponents. These included losses to Albany, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Boston University, New Hampshire and Maine.

In the 57-32 loss to Albany, senior Destiny Jacobs led the Seawolves with nine points. Ebone Henry led the Great Danes with 20 points and six rebounds.

Klupenger led the Seawolves with 17 points against UMBC, but the Retrievers prevailed with a 73-47 victory.

The junior went 6-for-10 from the field and 5-for-6 from beyond the arc for the Seawolves.

The losing streak continued at four after a 69-34 loss to Boston University. The Terriers shot a season-high 51.8 percent to outplay  the  Seawolves.

Landers had eight points for the Seawolves, and junior Jessica Previlon had a career-high 12 rebounds.

Stony Brook was able to cut a first -half deficit of 15 points, but New Hampshire was able to hold on for a 63-53 victory.  Davis had a season- high 17 points for the Seawolves.

The Stony Brook men’s basketball team continued its brutal start to the season with a 67-58 loss to Rutgers at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

The game marked the first time the Seawolves (3-6)  have played at the Garden as a Division I program, and the first time since 1995.

A career-high 17 points from sophomore Dave Coley wasn’t enough to keep the Seawolves from losing for the fourth time in the last five games. Senior Bryan Dougher added 14 points, and Tommy Brenton picked up his second double-double of the season with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

It was poor play on the offensive end that once again doomed the Seawolves, as Stony Brook shot an icy 26.7 percent from the field.

“We didn’t make enough shots,” Stony Brook head coach Steve Pikiell said in a press release. “Had we done what we needed to do on offense, we would have been in better shape to win the game. Moving forward, we have to get better and get ready for league play.”

Stony Brook led just once in the contest, taking an 8-7 lead on a Coley jumper with 14:33 left in the first half.

But an 11-0 run by Rutgers in the latter portion of the first half pushed the Scarlet Knights ahead for good.

Stony Brook doesn’t play again until Dec. 28, when it will host Cornell at Pritchard Gymnasium at 7 p.m.  The Seawolves have not lost at home this season, but haven’t earned a road win, either.

The most important part of the Quidditch season is past. The World Cup has ended, practices have slowed down in preparation for finals and all seems fairly quiet in the most magical sport on campus.

But that is not the case, for while Stony Brook University’s Varsity Quidditch team may not be on the Physics field every night practicing now that the Cup is over, the team has been working harder than ever to build the program into a well-run organization.

SBU Quidditch founder and team captain Daniel Ahmadizadeh has completely reorganized how the team is managed, creating an administrative group that boasts of tournament organizers, marketing leaders and a new Quidditch program president.

“We felt that it was time to radically reformat how we operate as a sports club,” Ahmadizadeh said. “We needed a fresh batch of dedicated and enthusiastic leaders to ignite our future endeavors.”

And what future endeavors they are.

First on the agenda for the spring season: a trip to New Orleans, La.,  for a Mardi Gras Quidditch tournament on Feb. 18, 2012.

Stony Brook will be competing against the likes of Texas A&M, LSU, Kansas, Duke and Arizona State, to name but a few of the teams currently signed up for the tournament.

The most important part of the Quidditch season is past. The World Cup has ended, practices have slowed down in preparation for finals and all seems fairly quiet in the most magical sport on campus.

But that is not the case, for while Stony Brook University’s Varsity Quidditch team may not be on the Physics field every night practicing now that the Cup is over, the team has been working harder than ever to build the program into a well-run organization.

SBU Quidditch founder and team captain Daniel Ahmadizadeh has completely reorganized how the team is managed, creating an administrative group that boasts of tournament organizers, marketing leaders and a new Quidditch program president.

“We felt that it was time to radically reformat how we operate as a sports club,” Ahmadizadeh said. “We needed a fresh batch of dedicated and enthusiastic leaders to ignite our future endeavors.”

And what future endeavors they are.

First on the agenda for the spring season: a trip to New Orleans, La.,  for a Mardi Gras Quidditch tournament on Feb. 18, 2012.

Stony Brook will be competing against the likes of Texas A&M, LSU, Kansas, Duke and Arizona State, to name but a few of the teams currently signed up for the tournament.

“This will be the first time our team will be literately flying to compete in a tournament. It is safe to say that we are beyond excited to compete [in New Orleans],” Ahmadizadeh said.

But it won’t be the only big tournament that the SBU Quidditch team will be playing in. Stony Brook University is scheduled to host the North American Cup the weekend of March 31, 2012.

It will be the first time in school history that a Quidditch tournament will be played on Seawolves’ turf, with a grand total of 32 teams expected to sign up.

“Villanova, Boston University, Penn State, and Rutgers are a few of the teams that have signed up [for the North American Cup] so far,” Ahmadizadeh said. “It is bound to be an absolutely epic weekend, with food stands, music, and up to 10 games being played at the same time.”

And while Ahmadizadeh said that the North American Cup will be SBU Quidditch’s “biggest event of the semester,” he claims that another event, scheduled to take place April 2-6, 2012, will be “by far the most epic thing [SBU Quidditch] will be a part of,” in the upcoming semester. The grand event? A trip to Finland, hosted by the University of Vaasa, Finland.

“We were one of three teams that hosted [the Univeristy of Vaasa's Quidditch team] last year. We have established and maintained an unbelievable mutual appreciation for one another, and our friendships go beyond the Quidditch field,” Ahmadizadeh said by way of explaining how a public college on Long Island made a connection with a university in Finland. “They are now working very hard to get our team to fly to Finland from April 2-6, 2012. We are going to be the first American team to ever compete in Europe. Apart from the competitive games we will be playing in, we are very excited to learn more about their culture, language, and country.”

Seven players will be selected from SBU’s Varsity Quidditch team to travel to Finland in April, although Ahmadizadeh made it very clear that all of the spots are still wide open to anyone who is interested in joining the program.

“Every semester, our team starts from scratch. The team that competes and travels at tournaments is selected amongst all the members, [and] we encourage everyone to join.”

So if you think you have what it takes to play a magical sport on a broomstick, then contact the team via its Facebook page (Stony Brook Quidditch), or email its directly at sbuquidditch@gmail.com.

Allyson Lambros is a member of the Stony Brook Qudditch team.

The Stony Brook men’s soccer team, which won the America East championship with a 4-2 win over Hartford on Sunday night, will travel to play against Monmouth in the first round of the NCAA national championship playoffs, it was announced by the NCAA on Monday.

The winner of that match will play against the University of Connecticut.

The Seawolves last played in the NCAA tournament in 2009, when they fell to Brown in overtime in the first round.

Various facial components come together in this artwork. (Efal Sayed / The Statesman)

It was a chance for Stony Brook artists to show off their true talent at the MAMA Art Exhibit in the Union on Halloween night.  Accompanied by the “RockYoFace” electronic show, it was a night of true expression that filled the room from all corners.

The display was intriguing from the moment students walked into the dark tent with glow lights attached to its black, curtain-like “walls.”  It really gave the exhibit a cool, urban feel.  This feeling continued from the tented entrance to the gallery.  The bright lights and the electronic beat pumping in the background from the show in U Café made it appear as though you were at an underground gallery in New York City.  The art was well-spaced throughout the room, making it really easy to get around and see every work of art on display.

“The presentation’s really impressive,” said Christine Bilfinger, a 20-year-old Spanish major, as she pointed at the multiple works placed on a sort of gated frame.

However, it was not just the presentation of the art that struck the viewers of the gallery that night; it was the art itself that made its impression.

“It’s very nicely presented,” said Erika Ocampo, an 18-year-old biology major.  “There is a general theme of the entire exhibit and each piece has a deep, underlying meaning.”

That theme was fear, as was stated on the art exhibit’s Facebook page.   The meanings emerged when pieces were viewed, one by one.  The presence of immense detail and artistry was astounding, which allowed the artist to invoke such emotion and fear.  You could see the expression on a drawing’s face that really made you stop and stare and think about the image staring back at you.  It was this stirred-up emotion that caused several of the viewers to have their favorites of the night.

“It’s pretty diverse,” said Adam Meier, a 22-year-old environmental humanities major.  In addition to saying that the show was “organized well” and that the artists were “very talented,” when asked to say which work was his favorite, he said it was “Feel,” a piece that had drawings of expressions all that surrounded a mirror in the middle that forced you to see yourself amongst all the other faces.

Verna Solomon also had her favorite.  The 17-year-old biology major said that she really liked the piece “Rhythms” because it was “looking directly at you.”

All in all, the gallery was a success.  It great portrayal of what Stony Brook has to offer as a place with a lot of diversity allowing each and every person to express themselves in their own way.  Through this exhibit, it allowed everyone, artists and viewers alike, to express themselves.

Former Stony Brook University offensive lineman Paul Fenaroli has been added to the practice squad of the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers, it was announced on Monday.

Fenaroli started 38 straight games for the Seawolves. In his four seasons, he twice blocked for two 1,000-yard rushers in a season, and was also twice named to the first-team all-Big South.

Fenaroli fell victim to the final round of cuts in Atlanta during the 2011 preseason, which he spent with the Falcons. He will wear number 64 for the Packers, according to the Stony Brook athletics website.

The Stony Brook men’s soccer team catapulted to second place in the America East standing with a resounding 3-0 victory over the University of Maryland, Baltimore County at Retriever Soccer Park on Wednesday night.

Will Casey got things started early, finding the net in just the second minute of play. The sophomore intercepted a UMBC pass at the top of the penalty area and slammed it in for the tally that would go the distance.

Serigne Sylla (28′) and Raphael Abreu (74′) also scored for the Seawolves.

Stony Brook improves to 4-1-1 in America East play, two points out of first place. A win over Hartford in the conference finale on Sunday at LaValle Stadium (5 p.m.) coupled with a Boston University loss could give the Seawolves the regular season title and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

A win or a UMBC loss or draw grants Stony Brook a first-round bye in the America East playoffs.