Features

Driving by, one might not notice it right away. But through the trees and up a dirt path there is a house, where each Friday at sunset, visitors arrive unannounced at an unlocked door. It is the Chabad House in Stony Brook — a place where college students can find a spiritual and social sense of belonging.

Ashley McCarthy has been battling juvenile diabetes since she was a baby. She has suffered diabetic comas and scoliosis, and sometimes faces social troubles because of her illness. But through her struggles with the disease, Ashley has found a unique strength inside herself.

"Breathe." She says it, she sings it, recites it so that it may permeate an individual’s mind, and holds out the first "e" with her teeth showing. It's like a mantra, an "om" of sorts, a reminder to attendees in her yoga, spinning, and total body fitness classes to breathe in and exhale.

The guitar, piano, drums or bass. Many Stony Brook students play these instruments and almost everyone is familiar with their sounds. But what about instruments that are more unusual, like the tabla or the harmonium? You may have never heard of them, but Priyal Bhagat plays both.

Despite the event name sounding like the title for Barbie’s next animated, straight-to-DVD movie, I went into Strawberry Fest optimistic. I had my extra-loose jeans on and had scheduled a date with the Wang first floor bathroom in advance, just in case (strawberries are high in fiber, you know).

Why should the soundtrack to your life be just the sound of the wind and the crowd when it can be the band or artist of your choice? Many people walk around campus plugged into Zunes, iPods and cell phones. But what exactly are they listening to?

Every spring, the great minds of Stony Brook come together to battle. They slave away to erect some of the finest vessels on this side of the Atlantic using only strong will and packaging materials. This is the preparation for the illustrious maritime tradition known as the Roth Regatta.

The popular Food Network show, Iron Chef, took on a new twist as four Stony Brook teams laced up their aprons and showcased their culinary skills. The winning team was awarded a $5,000 dollar check for their chosen charity.

The show on April 22 marked just the third "Battle of the Bands" Stony Brook has ever had. In fact, if it weren’t for a loose group of students who decided three years ago that they wanted Stony Brook to have its own music scene, the school might still be waiting.

They had no names, only numbers, and bore the Stony Brook University logo on their chests. All 600 bobbed impatiently in the water ten minutes before the race. Friday, April 23, with Earthstock happening in the background, the rubber ducks had their big day.

It’s normal at first, but quickly swells, pulsing and rising as the drummers try out different rhythms and adapt to what their peers are doing. Then, in an unspoken agreement, everybody stops. The Stony Brook drum circle has begun.

The yellow caution tape was bound around his bare torso, adorned with an American flag bandanna on his forehead and some seriously worn-out fishnet stockings. It was American patriotism à la Lady Gaga, and it kicked off the LGBTA's annual drag show at the Tabler Arts Center.

Stony Brook University hosted its ninth annual Earthstock celebration this week, culminating in a street festival along the Academic Mall on Friday. Many local vendors, entertainers, and vendors came out in the sunny weather to take part in the university's celebration of Earth Day.

To survive a down economy, most everyone is trying to find ways to cut back, and donating money does not often further that goal. But in a time of tight wallets, Rob Emmerich is working to bring funding into the school’s athletic department.

Kerry Logan has been studying at Stony Brook University’s affiliated school in Florence, Italy, for more than two months. She arrived in the city full of anticipation, and while she had heard about male attitudes there, it wasn’t until her roommate returned one night, barely able to stand after two drinks, that she realized the gravity of the situation.