Breaking news, blogs, and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XL, No. 12
April 16, 2014
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Going the A call to arms for Eickhoff volunteers distance for charity
By T.J. von Bradsky Correspondent
For many, running a marathon is something that is simply talked about in the abstract. Maybe it’s even put on the bucket list. But this is not the case for junior interactive multimedia major Gabe Franc. Franc decided to take action toward achieving the grueling task of running 26.2 miles in one sitting. “I wanted to do it as a challenge and to push myself by accomplishing something that is fairly unique,” he said. But Franc is helping others overcome their own personal challenges in the process. Franc has raised thousands of dollars for brain cancer research through The Kortney Rose Foundation. He ran his first race, the annual New Jersey marathon, as a 17-year-old high school senior in 2011. Since then, he has completed each New Jersey marathon, as well as participating in the Philadelphia Half-Marathon. Franc knew he wanted to help others, so he began searching the New Jersey Marathon website for potential charities. The Kortney Rose Foundation stood out to him, so he began his first 26.2-mile-long journey with a purpose. “I felt attached to the Foundation since brain cancer is really terrible and since it is affecting children who are innocent,” he said. see FRANC page 10
Julie Kayzerman / News Editor
TCNJ Circle K, a student-led community service group, cleans up Eick after hours. By Sarah Holland Correspondent
Ask any student at the College about their favorite employee at Eickhoff Hall and they’ll
more than likely respond with enthusiastic praises for Big Larry or Eve, two of the most animated ID swipers. Whether Team Larry or Team Eve, anyone would agree that the
reason for the popularity of these beloved workers is their friendliness. Waiting in a slow-moving line that trails all the way out the door of the dining hall becomes totally worthwhile after getting
a high five from Big Larry or a cheerful grin from Eve. “When Big Larry says ‘hi’ to me, it makes my day,” freshman special education and Spanish dual major Jenna Finnis said. Her fellow students were passionately in agreement. “Eve is an angel,” freshman open options humanities and social sciences major Megan Vantslot said. One sincere greeting from a pleasant Eick worker is enough to make a student’s day. But what students may often forget is that it’s a two-way street. They don’t consider that their own greetings could have the same effect, potentially making an employee’s day with just one friendly conversation. That’s why dozens of students participate in Siked for Eick, a program in which volunteers help clean the dining hall at closing time and chat with the employees. With the extra help, the cleaning see EICK page 3
Students go ‘All In’ for fundraising By Christine Aebischer Staff Writer
When choosing a college to attend, students weigh many factors, but when it comes down to making a final decision, the one that weighs most heavily is money — how much tuition costs and what scholarships are being offered. Besides the low tuition at the College, three out of four students also receive some kind of scholarship, according to Donna Green, director of annual giving. The College’s newest initiative, known as the “All In” campaign, aims to gain the
support of the entire College community to continue raising funds for scholarships and other campus developments. “TCNJ is a place to be proud of and excited about,” Green said. “(The ‘All In’ campaign) is another way for people to be engaged with the campus.” “All In” is directed at the entire community, including current and future students, faculty and staff, alumni and parents. Donations from these groups not only directly benefit students and the school, but they also help the College receive outside donations from businesses and corporations,
according to John Donohue, vice president of college advancement. “It’s really about growing a sense of ownership and loyalty to their alma mater,” Donohue said. The “All In” campaign stresses participation more than anything else, meaning a donation of any size makes a difference. The amount of people who donate, not the amount of their donations, is what makes a difference, both for potential outside donors and for college rankings. see ALL IN page 2
Mayo Business Plan won by solar iPhone panels By Courtney Wirths Opinions Editor
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
Team Solar Kicks takes home the top prize this year. INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5 The Signal @tcnjsignal
Editorial / Page 7
An iPhone case that charges your phone with solar panels, an app and website for keeping track of student meal points, and a barber shop to go in Campus Town were the three final business models competing in the third annual Mayo Business Plan Competition on Wednesday, April 9. “This competition is a lot harder than you may think,” dean of the College’s School of Business William Keep said. Keep said that 36 teams had signed up for the competition, but Opinions / Page 9
only 22 were able to even submit a business plan by the due date. “It’s very exciting,” he added. The three final student teams had one last chance to impress a panel of judges with a 30-minute presentation, as well as answers to the judge’s many questions. The judges for the competition were all alumni of the College with various business backgrounds. “Students come out of school ... go to their job and are asked to make decisions and judgments under uncertainty, and that’s what this competition fosters,” judge and alumnus of the College Eric Szabo said.
Features / Page 10
The winning team, Solar Kicks, designed a prototype case that used a solar panel attached to an iPhone case with a hinge — working in conjunction with piezoelectric crystals, the case will charge a phone while sitting with a user on a table or while she goes for a jog. Team members, senior finance major Gregory Fitzgerald, junior mechanical engineering major Luke Capritti, junior electrical engineering major Eric Blow and senior accountancy major Steven Leming, were awarded $16,500 see MAYO page 4
Arts & Entertainment / Page 15
Sports / Page 32
TCNJ TED Talk Kevin Breel on depression and humor.
Autism Awareness Honoring the week with speakers and advocacy.
Lacrosse letdown Girls lose to nationally No. 1 Salisbury team.
See A&E page15
See Features page 10
See Sports page 32
page 2 The Signal April 16, 2014
All In / Gaining support for scholarships continued from page 1
Julie Kayzerman / News Editor
The College’s ‘All In’ campaign raises scholarship funds and money for campus developments.
“It’s not the size of the gift that matters,” Green said. “It’s about participation, commitment and the idea to pay it forward. Every gift truly does make a difference — it’s not just something we say.” The campaign also allows participants to choose where they would like their gift to go, meaning they can designate their gift to a specific school, department or athletic team — anywhere they would like to support. “We want to keep people engaged in the life of the institution,” Donohue said. The campaign also intends to grow the culture of giving by getting students in the habit now to give back. Alumni typically do not start donating until about 10 years post-graduation, according to Donohue, so the campaign is also meant to get them engaging with their alma mater sooner. While Donohue acknowledged that it can be difficult for students to donate, their participation in the program is significant. “Part of the reason (current students) are enjoying their experiences is because of people before them doing the same thing,” he said. “Even a small amount drives our numbers up.” Besides raising money, “All In” is meant to increase the energy and enthusiasm on campus. “It’s a good time to celebrate TCNJ as a community,” Green said.
Skateistan assists Google reaches outerspace to empower youth By Carly Choffo Correspondent
Last Wednesday, April 9, many students gathered in the Library Auditorium for the presentation “Skateistan: Using Skateboarding to Empower the Youth of Afghanistan,” which displayed skateboarding as a platform for learning in Afghanistan. The lecture was presented by Benafsha Tasmim as part of the College’s “Art Amongst War: Visual Culture in Afghanistan.” “It’s been extraordinary,” history professor Jo-Ann Gross said as she introduced Benafsha Tasmim. “I’ve learned so much.” Tasmim gave a presentation of video representations and slideshows displaying the life of the skateboarders at Afghanistan’s first skateboarding facility: Skateistan. Skateistan, founded in 2007, aims to provide education for youth, foster relationships and communication amongst kids in Kabul, and build confidence in kids and give a voice to both boys and girls living amongst war in Afghanistan. Skateistan is essentially a school. Skateboarding lessons are what keep the children coming to the facility, but the main goal is to educate them with an art-based curriculum. Skateistan’s mission, as told by Tasmim, is to use skateboarding “(as a) tool for empowering youth, to create new opportunities and the potential for change.” Every day, 400 students — 50 percent former street workers — attend Skateistan. Of these students, 40 percent are girls. Thus, Skateistan is currently the largest female sport facility in Afghanistan, Tasmim said. When creating Skateistan, founder Oliver Percovich realized that even if they’re taught at a young age, girls stop skateboarding at a certain age because it’s socially unaccepted in Afghanistan, Tasmim said. So, he created Skateistan, a gender-neutral place where girls can learn to skateboard because they like it. Every year since 2009, the children of Skateistan showcase what they learn during an event they have created called “Go Skateboarding Day.” Besides skateboarding, Skateistan aims to build community, education and leadership through their art-based curriculum, Tasmim said. “We have very different students, but art is something everyone can do,” Tasmim said. Skateistan believes that art is the best way for these children to express themselves and to bridge gaps between students of different education levels. Skateistan also has a “back-to-school” program for street-working kids. This is a 12-month program that teaches kids three grades of school in one year so they can attend school with their age group. One of Skateistan’s other extraordinary programs is the Children’s Shura, which is a mock council meeting where children are allowed to discuss and propose solutions to their daily problems. Skateistan is not just skateboarding. Skateistan fosters positive growth for the youth of Afghanistan because the youth is the future of their country, Tasmim said.
By Courtney Wirths Opinions Editor
• Google has been expanding into the sky, agreeing to buy Titan Aerospace, a small company specializing in the production of high-altitude drones. The drones are solar-powered and are expected to fly without stopping for several years. The drones will likely be used to bring Internet access to areas of the world without cell phone service or telephone wires, according to the Wall Street Journal. • The Federal Bureau of Investigation and U.S. Prosecuters are allegedly investigating Harbalife Ltd. The company is also currently in
the midst of a civil investigation by the Federal Trade Commission. The commission looks into potential unfair or deceptive trade practices, according to the Wall Street Journal
• Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential Candidate in 2008, is coming back on TV. She won’t be participating in political debates or interviews, however. She is launching a new reality
series on the Sportsman Channel called “Amazing America,” featuring interesting adventures and tales taking place in the great outdoors, as she refers to it, according to the Wall Street Journal.
• Twitter currently has 974 registered accounts and while that’s a tremendous number of users, a new report shows that only 44 percent of those accounts have ever sent a tweet. The social media giant argued that one does not have to tweet to find twitter useful (they can just read others’ tweets), but Twitter’s ad revenue is largely driven by user participation via tweets, favorites and retweets, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Earth Week events funded
Wearable art workshop to come By Julie Kayzerman News Editor
The Art Students Associaton was fully funded for two requests during the Student Finance Board meeting on Wednesday, April 9. SFB allocated $233.50 to ASA for its Wearable Art Workshop. “I like it a lot and I think it’s cool,” programming director Brian Green said. “(ASA’s president Sophie Kay) always does a good job with all of her events,” Green said. The event will allow students to paint tote bags and Tshirts and is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 30, at 12 p.m. in AIMM 125. It was also allocated $100 to pay for the fee to use the wall oustide of the Brower Student Center for its previously funded event, Street Art Workshop, on May 5. Following, Water Watch also presented to SFB for its Earth Week events that will take place during the week of Monday, April 21, and will be co-hosted by the Bonner Center. “I think it’s a great week-long event and really advocates for what they want to acheive,” assistant Student Government representative Hajar Lakhouili said. The week will have different themed days every week that are planned to include Monday’s “flower sale,” Tuesday’s Earth Day, Wednesday’s “Water Day,”
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
SFB funds ASA for two requests this past week. Thursday’s “Green-Consumption Day” and Friday’s “Clean Up Day.” The board was unanimous in its decision to fully fund the request for $120 to fund a reusable bag giveaway, water bottles for a water taste test, organic chocolate strawberries for “Green-Consumption Day” and a banner for advertising. The event will be co-sponsored by Student Chemists’ Association, Alpha Kappa Delta, Beta Beta Beta, Alpha Phi Omega and Sigma Kappa.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 3
Eick / Students get to know employees continued from page 1 gets done faster and the employees are able to go home earlier. As the volunteers eagerly return week after week, they become more familiar with the dining hall staff and eventually form lasting relationships with them. Junior biomedical engineering majors Adriana Chisholm and Anasha Green have been volunteering at Siked for Eick since its formation two years ago. Chisholm recalls talking with Green their freshman year, before the program was created, about how kind the dining hall workers are and wanting to do something in return for their hard work. Unbeknownst to the girls, another student on campus had the same desire. Yohan Perera, Class of 2013, proposed the idea of an Eick outreach ministry within the College’s InterVarsity chapter, New Jersey Christian Fellowship (NJCF). Perera was a leader in the fellowship. Chisholm and Green were thrilled. Already active members of NJCF, the two best friends saw Siked for Eick as an opportunity to serve the people who work so hard to serve the students each day. They eagerly participated every single week. “We loved it so much,” Chisholm said. Chisholm said that her and Green’s involvement started as cleaning tables, but eventually it became “more than
Julie Kayzerman / News Editor
Students from the College work alongside Eick workers after hours. just cleaning, and (they) got to know the workers behind the counters.” The following semester, the ministry was in need of a new leader. Since Chisholm and Green were so involved, they were jointly asked to helm the program. Now as a junior, Chisholm leads the ministry on her own, gathering the eager volunteers on the second-floor Eickhoff lounge every Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. for conversation and prayer before heading into the dining hall.
Since its inception, the ministry has grown tremendously. Volunteers include students who are already members of NJCF, but also “random people who saw us cleaning and wanted to join,” Chisholm said. Not only has the Wednesday night group grown from five or six to 10 or 15 regular volunteers, but also other groups on campus got involved. Now, there are students doing Eick cleanup four nights a week, each night organized by a different
on-campus group. “It was really great to see it get this big all of a sudden,” Chisholm said. “Being able to collaborate is really cool.” But Chisholm strives to make NJCF’s involvement in the program unique among all the groups. “We want to stand out apart from the group, by doing things like praying and making cards for the workers,” she said. These acts of kindness are part of furthering Chisholm’s mission for the ministry. “The purpose is not only to show appreciation through cleaning and giving back, but also show Christ’s love by being in relationships with (the dining hall staff) and having conversations with them,” she said. Now, when Chisholm gets meals at Eick throughout the week, she’s able to relate to the workers on a personal level. “It was cool to go from barely knowing the workers to knowing all of them by name,” she said. Chisholm has advice for students at the College looking to show appreciation to the Eick workers. “Ask them about their day, and it turns into a 20-minute conversation — ask them about their families and their kids, (and) they really appreciate someone caring about them,” Chisholm said. “Saying ‘hi’ with a big smile makes a difference. They notice that.”
Theorist talks US trust and transparency By Jenna Rose Correspondent Presenting his lecture “Trust vs. Transparency in Modern Democracy” to the College, famed communications theorist Michael Schudson filled the Education building on Thursday, April 10. Schudson is an accomplished writer of multiple books and articles dealing with history and sociology of American news media, advertising, pop culture and cultural memory. He is currently a professor at Columbia University. Schudson gave real-life examples depicting the non-existence of transparency in the United States during the 1960s. “In 1960, in the dark ages, there was a land where both the press and the public were unable to learn how their representatives in the national legislature voted on,” Schudson said. “In this same land, 90 percent of doctors of patients who had cancer did not tell their patients … Cartons of milk were stamped with a ‘do not sell after’ date in a code so that store employees would know and so that the consumers would not.” Other examples Schudson cited from the “dark ages” prior to transparency being a common practice include the lack of books written about women’s health by women for the intended purpose of educating women and the ability for lenders to hide information about loans from customers. “There was no uniformity that would allow consumers to
make comparisons,” Schudson said. Schudson’s lecture expanded from there by discussing the rapid changes that America underwent in 15 years. He explained that by 1975, transparency increased dramatically. Though he cited multiple factors, key individuals and businesses that catalyzed this shift to transparency, Schudson and other scholars are still trying to find the actual specific roots to these changes. Giant, the supermarket conglomerate, was an example of a major player in the movement for transparency. The chain was one of the first supermarkets to partake in showing expiration dates and nutrition facts on their goods. The speaker remarked that over time, journalists also came to show more distrust in government leaders, which also pushed for more transparency. The discussion shifted from transparency to a talk focusing on trust. Schudson said that the American people have a great amount of trust in ordinary people in democracy to vote the correct people into office but a great amount of distrust for authority and individuals who hold elected positions. Schudson explained that the intentions of the founding fathers were not for America to be a democracy. In his research, Schudson discovered that the Founding Fathers wanted the American people to never question their elected leaders and allow them to act in the way that they thought was best for the people. Schudson elaborated on this topic by referencing
the First Amendment, which states that “Congress shall make no law limiting the freedom of speech, press, assembly, or religion,” but explained that the Founding Fathers meant to grant these powers to the states to limit these rights instead. Schudson himself was personable and generally regarded as a remarkable speaker. “At major conferences, he’s a rock star — he fills rooms to (their) capacity,” said communication studies professor John Pollock, who spent the day with Schudson. “He was very humble and just as accessible interpersonally as he was in his presentation.” According to Pollock, Schudson even joked that his best-selling book was his Harvard dissertation and that “it’s been downhill ever since.” Pollock believes that the lecture was beneficial for students because it not only enlightened them on the issue of transparency, but also showed that individuals could truly make a difference and mentioned the importance of journalists in the shift for more transparency. Students found the lecture to be enjoyable and valuable as well. Freshman Brooke Buonauro was surprised by much of the information presented to her. “It seemed ridiculous to me that things like finding out which foods had the most calories or grams of sugar was not something that people had access to,” Buonauro said. And so the question of trust and transparency has been sparked in a new generation.
Increase in special apps for SFB budget Sydney Shaw News Assistant
Members of Student Government traveled to the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton for the General Body meeting on Wednesday, April 9. Senator of Humanities and Social Sciences Emily Reyes introduced Assemblymen Raj Mukherji and Gary Schaer who took time to speak with the Student Government. Student Government President Tyler Liberty opened by explaining that the main agenda item of the statehouse meeting was to endorse the Student Finance Board’s budget for next year. Brian Hurler, the executive director of the Student Finance Board, presented
AP Photo
SG held its weekly meeting at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton.
the budget to the General Body as members asked about the changes that are being made for the upcoming year.
One of the biggest changes to the budget will affect Greek life on campus. Greek life organizations and many other
non-SAF funded clubs are now encouraged to apply to use the special appropriations fund. Special appropriations are applications to propose funding for events on campus. There is an increase in funds apportioned for special apps on campus since SFB anticipates an increase in presentations for funds from these organizations. Vice President of Equity and Diversity Sadia Tahir informed members that the third and final issue of Diversity University will be released on Monday, April 21. Finally, Junior Class Council President Brian Garsh announced that the junior class will be having a fundraising night at Applebee’s on Monday, April 21, and Sophomore Class Council President Shap Bahary informed members that the class is selling $5 sunglasses that say “TCNJ” and have a paw print on them.
page 4 The Signal April 16, 2014
Mayo / Entrepreneurs innovate Copper pipe crime swipe
continued from page 1 toward their business. The second-place team, Barber by Touch, received $9,000 and the third-place team, TCNJBudget, was awarded $4,500. “I want to thank Professor Mayo for coming to me three years ago and saying, ‘Hey, why don’t we do this?’” Keep said of the competition. This year, the competition awarded a total of $30,000 to finalists, $10,000 more than previous years. Money for the competition is donated by Herbert Mayo, a finance professor at the College, and by Eric Szabo, an alumnus from the class of 1997. TCNJBudget’s presentation opened with a video of students in the C-store guessing how many points they had and then looking at their actual balance upon receiving a receipt. Most of the students’ guesses were off by a considerable amount. The app and website designed by the students would not only display how many remaining meals a student has with Get-It Points, but would also provide graphs showing where points are spent and on what items. The team, consisting of senior accounting major Howard Telson, senior finance major Steven Schrum, senior accounting major Alexander Pacione and senior English major Chad
By Tom Kozlowski News Editor
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
The runner-up team, Barber by Touch, closes the competition smoothly. Berman, explained that the website will also help to teach students personal finance. “Those points will quickly turn into bills,” the team members explained. Barber by Touch closed out the competition. The team walked in to the cool sounds of jazz, waving and winking to one another as they sauntered their way to the front of the room. “We believe that when you look good, you feel good,” sophomore biomedical engineering major Peter Okoh said in the opening of the team’s presentation.
Barber by Touch, to be opened in one of the Campus Town rentable spaces, would offer males cuts, shaves, manicures and pedicures. What was unique about the team’s plans for the shop, however, was that it would also be a social outing. The shop would have televisions for sports, a billiards table, magazines and an open layout to promote good conversation. Barber by Touch was a team of three students. Okoh was joined by sophomore finance major Ashwin Tatikola and sophomore economics major Karthik Sunkesula.
When the final presentation came to a close, the judges left the room to deliberate and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the three presentations. “This was the toughest year by far,” Szabo said. “Every idea is viable.” The final deciding factor — beyond the details of each plan — was the passion each team showed. The judges felt that Solar Kick showed the most enthusiasm and dedication to their product. “You won’t mind if you fail,” Szabo said. “But you are going to try and succeed like hell.”
On Thursday, April 10, at 1:35 p.m., the window of an off-campus house was broken and several hundred feet of copper pipes were stolen. According to Campus Police, a routine property check found the basement window broken, copper piping on the floor and a small amount of water. After notifying TCS Corporation, officials observed that 60 feet of 3/4” piping, 80 feet of 12” piping and 100 feet of 2” piping were removed, valuing a total of $1,685. ... A female student was observed to be intoxicated at Townhouses South on Friday, April 11, at 2:08 a.m. Campus Police said the suspect was being assisted by someone, as the suspect could not walk by herself. The odor of alcohol was present on her breath, and she visibly swayed as she stood. According to Campus Police, the student said she had been drinking at a friend’s house off campus, and a Horizontal Nystagmus Test confirmed the student had indeed been drinking. Lions EMS was called to further assist in treating her. ... On Sunday, April 13, at 7 p.m., a student reported property stolen after an overnight guest slept in her room. The student housed the guest from Saturday into Sunday in New Residence Hall, driving her home the following morning, Campus Police said. However, upon returning at 6 p.m., the student found cigarettes missing from her cigarette box, which she showed to the guest, and $140 in cash missing from a pouch in the same drawer.
Old sports: earning gold medals in golden years By Gabrielle Beacken News Assistant He doesn’t take any medication. He’s won several gold medals and awards in tennis, and his motto is, “whatever happens, you just have to roll with the punches.” Roger Gentilhomme looks forward to competing in the next National Senior Olympics, as he’s just made the finals in the current Games. At the next Games, he will be 102 years old. As a part of Careers in Aging Week, the film, “Age of Champions,” documenting senior citizens participating in the National Senior Olympic athletics games, was presented in Roscoe West on Wednesday, April 9. The event was hosted by nursing assistant professor Connie Kartoz and sophomore nursing major Angela Ning. “This week is intended to bring greater awareness to career opportunities in the field of aging and aging research,” Ning said. “We hope to garner interest in gerontology around campus.” The College’s first Careers in Aging Week was held from Sunday, April 6, to Saturday, April 12, and was sponsored by the Gerontological Society of America. The Gerontological Society of America promotes progressive research and education in the Gerontology
field. The week also included an interactive career panel on Thursday, April 17, discussing professional opportunities in Gerontology discipline. “We wanted the movie to inspire people to take charge of their health at any age,” Ning said. “You can always live an active lifestyle, even as an 80-year-old.” The PBS award-winning documentary, “Age of Champions,”
takes its viewers on the journey of five senior citizens athletes training for the National Senior Olympics. The film followed 100-year-old tennis player Roger Gentilhomme, a 70-year-old women’s basketball team, The Tigerettes, brothers Bradford, 88, and John, 90, Tatum swimmers, and track/pole vaulting Earl Blassingame, 88, and Adolph Hoffman, 86.
In the documentary, Roger Gentilhomme proceeded to the final round of tennis in the National Senior Olympics, though he ultimately lost to his 94-year-old opponent whom he referred to as “a youngster.” The Tigerettes struggled through a difficult final game and ultimately won for the sixth consecutive time on a three-pointer buzzer shot. “When little kids found out
Photo courtesy of ageofchampions.org
Roger Gentilhomme maintains his health and competitive spirit even at age 100.
we won nationals, they look at us not as grandmas, but active senior adults,” a Tigerettes player said. The Tatum brothers lived in a supportive D.C. community their entire lives. As each brother won the gold, they cheered, “Mission accomplished!” The brothers commented that as children, they were not allowed to swim in the white community pools due to the color of their skin, therefore they swam in the fountain in front of the memorial. Bradford Tatum said it had been an amazing witnessing segregation to experiencing the election of the first black President of the United States. With Blassingame always finishing in second and Hoffman in first, both men — residents of Texas — have sparked a friendly competition with one another over years. “Adolph is the best athlete I’ve ever seen,” Blassingame said. “He’s just terrific.” The film portrayed vibrant and active life possibilities that older adults may have. Careers in Aging Week promotes the professional application of creating new progressive opportunities for older adults. “We hope to see this grow year by year and for more students to become interested in a possible career in gerontology,” Blassingame said.
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 5
Nation & W rld
French high schoolers are DNA-tested for rape crime
By Mylin Batipps Nation & World Editor
Investigators in France have been using DNA testing to discover who sexually assaulted a teenage girl in a high school, according to the Associated Press. On Monday, April 14, the testing of 500 male students and staff in Fenelon-Notre Dame High School commenced in two large lecture halls with DNA swabs. The testing is expected to end on Wednesday, April 16, and students as young as age 14 will be tested, according to the Huffington Post. The investigation is an unprecedented effort to find the person responsible for sexually assaulting a teenage girl inside a dark bathroom in Fenelon-Notre Dame High School last September. The victim was unable to identify the assailant at the time of the assault, but police were able to retrieve a DNA sample from her clothing. Seven months later, police are now investigating to discover a DNA imprint from one of the male high school students and faculty that matches the imprint discovered last Fall. No matches were found
so far, according to AP. This method of investigation could raise questions of ethical concern. According to AP, children’s “civil liberties” are respected in the country. But the issuing of the DNA tests in a school setting could say otherwise. According to the Chantal Devaux, the school’s director, there is not a method more logical to discover the person responsible, especially since police already have a DNA imprint. “This happened during the school day in a confined space,” Devaux told French media, according to AP. “The decision to take such a large sample was made because it was the only way to advance the investigation.” Prosecutor Isabelle Pagenelle said the search for the DNA match should be as quick as possible, even if it means testing hundreds of students at a private school. “The choice is simple for me,” she said, according to AP. “Either I file it away and wait for a match in what could be several years, or I go looking for the match itself.” France’s privacy policy is strict, AP reported. The French government’s DNA database includes over two million profiles and has expanded greatly since
AP Photo
French investigators said DNA-testing school students and staff for rape crime is logical. its first launch in 1998. The high school DNA testing also reflects that. Police have promised, however, to discard the genetic material once they have discovered that it does not match the original imprint.
Writers win most prestigious award for news coverage
AP Photo
Journalists of Florida’s Tampa Bay Times celebrate winning the Pulitzer Prize.
NEW YORK (AP) — The Washington Post and The Guardian won the Pulitzer Prize in public service Monday for revealing the U.S. government’s sweeping surveillance efforts in a blockbuster series of stories based on secret documents handed over by National
Obscure & Offbeat
AP Photo
Officers in California capture an adventurous crocodile.
Flashing headlights for free speech
A man in Oregon was pulled over and fined for using his headlights to warn a UPS driver. A county-court judge favored his appeal, saying that it was speech protected by state law.
An animal in a mall
Wildlife investigators captured a crocodile roaming through a shopping center in Rancho Cordova, Calif. More information from AP
Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden. The Pulitzer for breaking news was awarded to The Boston Globe for its “exhaustive and empathetic” coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and the manhunt that followed. The winning entries about the NSA’s spy programs revealed that the government has collected information about millions of Americans’ phone calls and emails to try to head off another 9/11-style terrorist attack. The disclosures touched off a furious debate in the U.S. over privacy versus security and led President Barack Obama to impose limits on the surveillance. Two of the nation’s most distinguished newspapers, The Post and The New York Times, won two Pulitzers each. The Pulitzer for explanatory reporting went to the Post’s Eli Saslow for reporting on food stamps in America. The New York Times won twice in photography: Tyler Hicks was honored in the breaking news category for documenting the Westgate mall terrorist attack in Kenya, and Josh Haner was cited for his essay on a Boston Marathon blast victim who lost his legs.
The NSA stories were written by Barton Gellman at The Washington Post and Glenn Greenwald, Laura Poitras and Ewan MacAskill, whose work was published by The Guardian US, the British newspaper’s American operation, based in New York. “I think this is amazing news,” Poitras said in New York. “It’s a testament to Snowden’s courage, a vindication of his courage and his desire to let the public know what the government is doing.” Snowden, a former contract employee at the NSA, has been charged with espionage and other offenses in the U.S. and could get 30 years in prison if convicted. He has received asylum in Russia. While his critics have branded him a traitor, others have celebrated the release of the documents, likening them to the Pentagon Papers, the secret Vietnam War history whose publication by The New York Times in 1971 won the newspaper a Pulitzer. In a statement issued by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, Snowden called the award vindication for “everyone who believes that the public has a role in government.”
Around the World:
Nigeria
Nigeria explosion sparks concern ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Suspected Islamic militants struck in the heart of Nigeria on Monday with a massive rush-hour bomb blast at a bus station that killed at least 72 people and wounded 164 in the deadliest attack ever on the nation’s capital. Survivors screamed in anguish and the stench of burning fuel and flesh hung over the area, where billows of black smoke rose as firefighters worked to put out the fires. Rescue workers and police gathered body parts as ambulances rushed the wounded to hospitals. Visiting the blast scene, President Goodluck Jonathan blamed Boko Haram, the homegrown terrorist network that has targeted schools, churches, mosques, villages and government facilities, killing thousands in its five-year campaign to make Nigeria an Islamic state. Authorities said at least 72 people were killed and 164 wounded, though the death toll was sure to climb because it did not include victims whose bodies were dismembered, the health ministry said. It was the deadliest attack yet in Abuja, the centrally located capital that is hundreds of miles from Boko Haram’s stronghold in Nigeria’s northeast.
AP Photo
Nigerian authorities suspect that the deadly bus-station bombing was installed by Boko Haram, an Islamic terrorist organization. “I can’t count the number of people that died. They took them in open vehicles. People were running and there was confusion,” said civil servant Ben Nwachukwu. A counter-terrorism expert said the bomb appeared to have been buried underground, while the emergency management agency said the explosives were apparently hidden in a vehicle. Bus driver Tunji Adeniran said he was about to leave the bus terminal when the explosion struck. “The bomb shattered my vehicle,” he said.
“One vehicle was in front of me. As he started his car, I heard a loud noise. I thought it was his car that exploded.” Adeniran said his brother, bank worker Mohammed Ochai, was fatally injured in the blast and died on the way to the hospital. The explosion, which struck at 6:45 a.m. in the poor satellite neighborhood of Nyanya, left a 4-footdeep crater and destroyed 16 luxury buses and 24 minibuses and cars, police spokesman Frank Mba said.
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 7
Editorial Making the state-to-state transition Graduating from high school and going away to college can be a scary thought for most. Being an out-of-state student can be an even harder transition. I had grown up in Arizona, and while making the decision to attend college out of state was easy, actually following through with it once school started was one of the hardest things that I had ever done. While I am one of the lucky few who had their family matriculate with me, the transition into New Jersey culture was still terrifying — mostly because I had not anticipated such a drastic culture difference to begin with. seriouseats.com I remember feeling completely bombarded with my own The pork roll/Taylor ham debate is one that new New Jerseyans take part in. mental questions that were constantly swarming my mind, but I was too shy to ask. I mean what is Taylor Ham and a pork roll? And why is this a debate? Homesickness and wishing for familiarity were also issues. Eventually, like all freshmen, I wrapped my mind around the idea that everyone in my graduating class was new to the campus. It was a small thought, but a consoling one that helped me tcnjsignal.net overcome my shyness. Despite being an out-of-stater who throws a kink into introducEmail: signal@tcnj.edu Mailing Address: “(Coach Glus) tions when everybody names where they are from, the students Telephone: and faculty at the College were extremely welcoming. The diverreminded us Production Room The Signal sity at this campus and the small student body — when compared (609) 771-2424 c/o Brower Student Center to execute, to other colleges I had applied to — were all extremely positive Business Office The College of New Jersey contributing factors to making my transition at the College pos(609) 771-2499 maintain our P.O. Box 7718 sible. It is nice to be able to casually bump into people you know, Ad Email: Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 focus and have despite having different majors or interests. This type of interacsignalad@tcnj.edu tions is often lost at larger colleges. trust in ourselves Now a rising junior, I have found my place on campus and made a nice little niche of friends. I have also taken my stance Editorial Staff Mylin Batipps and teammates in the on going New Jersey debates that still circle the campus Nation & World Editor to get the job — my answer is Taylor Ham. Amy Reynolds batippm1@tcnj.edu So these are my thoughts: as you are finishing up the school Editor-in-Chief Mike Herold done but still year, take the time to reflect on how far you have come from reynola1@tcnj.edu Fantasy Sports Editor have fun out that first time that you stepped into the College’s little bubble Chris Molicki heroldm1@tcnj.edu and be proud on all that you are accomplished. Managing Editor Jonathan Edmondson
Quotes of the Week
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molickc1@tcnj.edu Julie Kayzerman Tom Kozlowski News Editors kayzerj1@tcnj.edu kozlowt1@tcnj.edu Peter Fiorilla Sports Editor fiorilp1@tcnj.edu Shayna Innocenti Arts & Entertainment Editor innoces1@tcnj.edu Colleen Murphy Features Editor murphc16@tcnj.edu Courtney Wirths Opinions Editor wirthsc1@tcnj.edu Courtney Wirths Photo Editor wirthsc1@tcnj.edu
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there.”
— sophomore catcher Matt Facas.
“I wanted to do it as a challenge to push myself by accomplishing something that is fairly unique.” — junior interactive multimedia Gabe Franc on running marathons to raise money for brain cancer research.
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 9
Opinions
Women’s reproductive rights are human rights Progress needs to be made for global women
By Stephanie Cervino
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development where nations across the globe, including the United States, declared that reproductive rights are human rights. Over the past two decades, much progress has been made. Yet, around the world, 222 million women in developing countries who want to plan and space their families still lack access to modern birth control and 47,000 women die from the inability to access a legal abortion with an experienced provider. While right here on our campus students can visit the Planned Parenthood office within Student Health Services to obtain sexual and reproductive health services and birth control, off campus and abroad, we still have our work cut out for us. To tackle these significant challenges, in 2015 government members of the United Nations will set new global development goals. And they’ve issued a call for people around the world to contribute to this process by defining the “World We Want” in an online survey and on social media. Beginning last month for International Women’s Day and continuing this spring around major UN conferences, including the Commission on Population and Development, supporters of women’s health and rights are responding to that call with a manifesto defining the world
we want. Planned Parenthood Affiliates of New Jersey (PPNJ) work to make the world we want a reality every day. For nearly 100 years, Planned Parenthood has worked to improve women’s health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advance the right and ability of individuals and families to make informed and responsible choices. And PPNJ is uniquely positioned to
engage in UN processes as global citizens — over 20 percent of our state’s population was born in countries other than the U.S., so lawmakers in the state have a particular duty to represent the interests of these global stakeholders. To that end, here’s a little more about the world we want. In the world we want, access to health care doesn’t depend on your postal code. Or your gender. Or your sexual identity. Or the language
AP Photo
While students are offered resources on campus through Planned Parenthood, there is still a lot of work to do to ensure reproductive rights.
you speak. Or the color of your skin. In the world we want, the College has zero sexual assaults, zero unintended pregnancies and zero obstacles to comprehensive and respectful health services for all students. In the world we want, politicians don’t come between a woman and her health care provider. In the world we want, girls are just as likely as boys to stay in school, go after the jobs they want and become leaders in their communities. In the world we want, there are no new HIV infections, and those living with HIV are able to make decisions about their health and lives, just like anybody else. In the world we want, young people are empowered and trusted with information about sex so they can prevent unintended pregnancy and protect themselves from STDs. In the world we want, all people have equal protection and equal benefit under the law. The world we want is free of stigma, discrimination and violence. And reproductive rights are recognized as human rights. The world we want acknowledges that the only way forward is to protect and expand these rights. In the world we want, all people control their own bodies and their own destinies. This is the world we want. And this is the world we’ll fight for.
Letterman passes the late-night chair to Colbert By Mike Herold Fantasy Sports Editor
AP Photo
Stephen Colbert is a good fit for replacing David Letterman’s slot on late-night television.
As anyone who watched the news, looked at Twitter, logged onto Facebook or listened to the radio last week can tell you, David Letterman is finally retiring after over 30 years of sitting behind a late-night talk-show desk. Of course, for most people in college right now, that isn’t the interesting part of the story. No, the far more intriguing piece of this tale is that Stephen Colbert will be taking Letterman’s place. This also means he’ll be leaving his job on Comedy Central, and “The Colbert Report” will soon come to an end. As I’m sure many of you feel about this move, I wasn’t quite sure if I liked it or disliked it. I love Colbert (which can also be read as, “I am a college student”), so I’m glad he’s being recognized for his abilities with this move, but I also love his current format and will be sad to see it go. I’m also a fan of “Stephen Colbert,” the character the real Colbert plays on his show,
and evidently we’ll be getting the real man on the Late Show, so the character might be retired. But after taking a little while to sit on this and mull it over, I’ve decided that I’m happy about it. And now I’m going to attempt to convince you that you should be happy about it too. See, the first real issue I’ve heard from the people I’ve talked to about this is that no one is really sure how the Real Colbert will be as a host. He’s in character so often — and plays that character so well — that people don’t generally have a good idea of how he acts or thinks in real life — they think the actual Colbert might be boring. But I’m one of the lucky few who actually got to see “The Colbert Report” in person, and something you learn going to that show is that Colbert addresses the audience after the cameras have stopped rolling. And I mean the real Colbert, not the character. Speaking from my own experience, the real deal is still a very funny guy and quick as lightning with his jokes. He’s
also very polite and appreciative — he thanked us in the audience at least three times, which made me feel all tingly inside — and seems completely sincere. It’s a huge change from the character, but in a good way. As for the gaping hole that will be left after Jon Stewart’s half hour is over, I’m sure they’ll find someone to take over from where Colbert will leave off. John Oliver won’t be that guy with his new HBO show, but “The Daily Show” has a whole bunch of talent waiting in the wings. We’ve seen Steve Carell, Ed Helms and Colbert himself launch from spots in the program to bigger and better heights, and I’m sure Aasif Mandvi, Samantha Bee or especially Jason Jones would make great Colbert replacements. So don’t mourn the loss of “The Colbert Report.” Look forward to whatever new show comes in to replace it, and give it some time — great comedy doesn’t always happen overnight. More importantly, get excited: The world is about to meet a whole new Steven Colbert, and I’m sure you’re all gonna love him.
Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.
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Features
Franc / Running for cancer research continued from page 1
The organization itself was created by the parents of Kortney Rose, a 9-yearold girl who passed away from a rare brain tumor in 2006, according to the Kortney Rose Foundation website. It is a nonprofit charity with the goal of raising awareness and money for pediatric brain cancer research. Brain tumors are among the most commonly diagnosed tumors in children. On average, about nine children a day are told they have a brain tumor, according to the Kortney Rose Foundation website. But funding for research is not nearly up to par with other common diseases. In fact, money available for childhood brain cancer research has decreased every year since 2003, the website says. Knowing this, Franc continues to do his best for the cause. He will be competing once again in the New Jersey Marathon later this month. The inspiration he draws from children
like Kortney Rose helps him to stay motivated and consistently place amongst the top runners in his age group. He runs six days a week preparing for marathons. In the past two races, he has been one of the top-three finishers in his age group and finished last year’s marathon in three hours and nine minutes. “The sense of accomplishment with a challenge like a marathon is definitely fulfilling,” Franc said. Franc identifies with the extremely long process that the Kortney Rose Foundation is undergoing in helping to find a cure. Marathons are 26.2-mile-long expeditions that require a tremendous amount of persistence, just like the fight for a cure. “As I start to get closer and closer to the finish line, I think back about how far my journey has been to get to that point,” Franc said. Pediatric brain cancer research may be stalling, but Franc is helping it pick up its pace. After all, he is a pretty good candidate for the job.
Photo courtesy of Gabe Franc
Franc celebrates his finish at last year’s NJ marathon with the executive race director Joe Gigas (left) and his father (right), who also ran.
Autism Awareness Week a huge success Center for Autism educates College students
By Colleen Murphy Features Editor
According to a new report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 68 U.S. children has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). New Jersey has the highest rate in the country of children with autism with one in 45 children having a form of autism. To raise awareness about the disorder, the College’s Center for Autism, which seeks to help support families and children with autism as well as educate the community and campus about ASD, held Autism Awareness Week. From Monday, April 7, to Thursday, April 10, the Center held a fundraiser, showed a movie and had experts speak to teach people understanding and acceptance
of the disorder. “We strive for a world in which inclusion is the norm and people understand and embrace each other’s differences,” senior psychology and special education dual major and Center project assistant Jennifer Pote said. “This includes differences in cognition. Autism is classified as a disability, but it also comes with a whole new outlook as well as incredible abilities — this is true of every disability. We want people to focus on expanding their knowledge and tolerance as opposed to increasing pity or ‘fighting for a cure.’” Another goal of the week was to raise much-needed funds for those with ASD. “We also do want people to understand the amount of resources needed to appropriately
accommodate a student with autism’s needs — educationally, socially, technology, medical bills — which is why fundraising is important,” Pote said. Pote believes the week’s two lectures and film helped in the Center reaching its goals. “Other goals were of course for people to learn something and feel empowered, which I think was also accomplished at both of the talks, as well as the film, ‘Black Balloon,’” Pote said. “We learned about where treatment, acceptance, understanding and education of people with autism has started and how far it has come and how far it has left to go.” The progress that is still needed was especially seen during Richard Blumberg and Jerry Petroff’s presentation, Pote said. Blumberg, special education
professor and director of the Center for Autism, and Petroff, special education professor and the Center’s associate director, discussed their recent work in Africa with the Ghana Autism Project. National Autism Speaks speaker and author Kerry Magro also gave a funny and moving talk. “It was just a great presentation and everyone’s reactions were really positive,” Pote said. “People were still talking about it after — goal accomplished. He was funny, talented and informative. He was open about his struggles with social skills, speaking, certain subjects, fine and gross motor abilities and emotions as a child and says he is still working on learning more every day.” Magro was an example of how far someone with ASD can go. “When no one thought he’d
even be able to fully talk he impressed everyone by not only doing that, but also by being a fantastic basketball player, being a famed national speaker and author and by helping Hollywood writers and directors cast actors to appropriately and accurately represent people with Asperger’s and other autism spectrum disorders,” Pote said. Pote hopes that next year’s week will be even bigger and that the events will continue to have such a great turnout. “People should go to next year’s Autism Awareness Week to continue to promote inclusion, support the movement for disability rights, advocacy and celebrating human uniqueness,” Pote said. “My main hope for next year is that more people will have a better understanding of what autism is.”
Orpah’s new show, ‘Lindsay,’ is addicting She’s not giving away any cars, but it’s still good By Johnanthony Alaimo Columnist
crazydaysandnights.net
Oprah is going to save the world — first the girls in Africa, now Lindsay.
I’m going to keep it short and sweet this week because, child, I’ve got things to do (and by things to do, I mean people. And by people I mean sitting alone in my room). Anyway gurlfrand, I just want to alert y’all to a little unknown gem in the TV world. God (aka Oprah to mortals) has her very OWN network. Called OWN. Owned by Oprah. OWN. On said channel is a groundbreaking, powerful and incredibly moving documentary. Is it about slavery? No. Is it about human trafficking? No. Is it at least about a gorilla that could paint? No, better. It’s about an ex-actress who can’t get into an apartment. I present to you: “Lindsay.”
Yes, our beloved “Freaky Friday” star gets Erratic Sunday as her show airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. During the one-hour-long episodes, you get to ride the train that has long crashed that Lindsay thinks is still running. Watch how Lindsay is refused keys to her own apartment, as she pays a woman whose career is to be a “life advisor” just to tell her that she “can do it,” and as Lindsay spends an exuberant amount of money on couture clothes even though she has no events to wear them to, nor the money to spend on them. Fascinating. If this were on Netflix, it would be under the category “Dull Trainwreck with a Wonky Female Lead.” The only redeeming thing about this show is that Oprah sometimes appears in her heavenly might and tells Lindsay to literally “cut the bullshit.” So please, tune in at 10 p.m. and watch with me as we witness Lindsay Lohan’s “comeback” fall back into oblivion.
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 11
Fun facts for Easter
Campus Style By Jordan Koziol and Heather Hawkes Columnists With fair weather starting to melt away the wintery blues, fashion begins to bloom once again, eliminating our fear that bulky coats were going to be our permanent fate. In order to kick off this “rebirth” of fashion freedom, we wanted to provide you with some noteworthy blogs to keep your eye on this season:
pragmaticcompendium.com
The average family will spend $131 on Easter each year. By Colleen Murphy Features Editor Easter is a joyous time. Most importantly, it is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, but there are other aspects that help make the day enjoyable, as well: We are welcoming the beautiful spring weather, there is good food, Easter egg hunts, Peeps, jelly beans and chocolate bunnies — lots and lots of chocolate bunnies. Here are some fun facts from DoSomething.org and ABC to help you celebrate the day. Plus, you can even impress your dinner guests with some of this trivial knowledge. • Households spend $131 on Easter each year and $14.7 billion in total.
• What’s the first part of a chocolate bunny to go? 76 percent of people eat the ears first. 5 percent of people eat the feet first and 4 percent eat the tail first. • Americans consume over 16 million jelly beans on Easter, enough to circle the globe three times. • About 120 million cards will be sent or exchanged this Easter. That means it holds the fourth spot of the largest card-sending celebration in the U.S. • The first White House Easter Egg Roll was hosted by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1878.
• After Halloween, Easter is the biggest candy-consuming holiday. In fact, 120 million pounds of candy are bought each year.
• If you lay all of the PAAS Easter egg dye kits sold each year end-toend, they would reach from Miami, Fla., to Chicago, Ill. — that’s about 1,400 miles.
• In the U.S., 90 million chocolate bunnies, 91.4 billion eggs and 700 million Peeps are produced each year.
For all those who celebrate, enjoy the time with your family this weekend. HOPPY EASTER!
Who What Wear: To the busy fashionista who needs style inspiration and needs it fast, this blog basically consists of everything you’d ever need to satisfy your fashion craving. From fashion trends to celebrities to beauty tips to street style, this blog has it all in an easy-access format that doesn’t require you to scroll through pages to find what you’re looking for.
prestigious fashion shows and upcoming lines that are sure to get you pumped for spring. Cupcakes and Cashmere: For our more delicate and LA-loving fashion followers, this blog is sure to set off your spring fever. With outfit inspirations painted in pastels and floral prints, you’ll have a different outfit idea for every day of the spring season all the way into the hot summer months.
Man Repeller: Tailored to the Miss Independent trend-setter, this blog will surely make you feel at home. With everything from harem pants to boyfriend jeans to wild and eclectic jewelry, blogger Leandra Medine offers a new take on fashion dubbed as “man repelling.” Her sarcastic and humor-coated dialect is sure to keep you entertained while getting some of the best fashion advice on the web. Bryan Boy: Shout out to the guys who read our column! We didn’t forget about you. Bryan Grey Yambao, better known as Bryan Boy, offers a ton of noteworthy fashion sense for men in this blog. As a highly successful name in the fashion industry, he provides behind-thescenes glimpses into some of the most
cupcakesandcashmere.com
Blogs can keep you up-to-date with the season’s biggest trends.
Standing together for Ally Awareness Week
Kyle Bennion / Photo Assistant
The Day of Silence ended with a coffeehouse.
By Tiffani Tang Staff Writer
From Tuesday, April 8, to Friday, April 11, the College’s LGBTQ alliance club, PRISM, held Ally Awareness Week. Ally Week is held in order to encourage people to be allies against anti-LGBT, bullying and other forms of harassment. “An ally is somebody who is willing to go out of their way to fight for a cause that is important to them,” junior computer engineering major Kari Gilbertson said. “An ally is not a label, it is an action. Every cause needs allies to spread the word and recruit more allies. They are the gateway for success toward our cause.”
This year, the first event was “Different Spectrums within the Spectrum,” an activity that required everyone to stand up and walk between two pieces of tape, which resembled a “spectrum” of extremes. When prompted with a question, attendees would have to choose a side depending on their answers. The questions started off light and jokingly, asking attendees if they preferred subs or hoagies. As the night progressed, the questions became more serious. The topics ranged from privilege to confronting people who made harmful decisions to bullying to gender policing to standing up for personal beliefs. And with each question, participants were encouraged to expand
their views and explain why they chose their position on the spectrum. “Reporting a hate crime is one way to be an ally,” event coordinator and freshman criminology major Robin Schmitz said. The following day, “RENT,” a famous show and movie about six friends and their struggles with AIDS, was shown in the Cromwell lounge. On Thursday, April 10, students were joined by the College’s professors who stand by the cause. The professors spoke about the importance of being an ally, as well as the different types of allies. Ally Week ended with the National Day of Silence and a “Breaking the Silence” coffeehouse. Students were encouraged to not speak in order to bring awareness and represent those who could not speak up for what they believe in. There was a table set up in the Brower Student Center for allies to sign a banner against LGBT hate crimes. Later on that night, students performed poetry and music that was inspired by the week. The first act took the stage. Bernard Miller, a 2013 English graduate, performed Bob Dylan’s “Tangled up in Blue” before being joined by Daniel Fitzgerald, a junior interactive mulitmedia and communication studies double major, and
Connor Mullin, a sophomore political science major, to cover “Here Comes Your Man” by Pixies. Mullin played “It’s Only a Paper Moon” by Nat King Cole, a sweet solo that left the audience snapping along. He was rejoined by Miller and Fitzgerald for their last piece, an original, “Jessica’s First Love.” Sophomore communication studies major Jared Sokoloff followed next, armed with a guitar and his voice. He dedicated Fleetwood Mac’s “Songbird” to a friend who wasn’t present and then dedicated “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2 to anyone who wanted to break down walls. Ryan Eldridge, a freshman political science and Spanish double major, played two Chopin pieces for attendees. “Nocturne in E major” and “Nocturne in E minor, E5 major” were both sweet waltzes that enchanted listeners. Senior women’s and gender studies and sociology double major Remy Lourenco and Gilbertson sang a cover of “Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. At one point, the background music stopped, but the audience began to clap and the duo continued a capella. It was great to see such a supportive group.
“Awesome performances,” Eldridge said, smiling with approval. The floor was opened up as an open mic and several people jumped at the opportunity. There was some more singing, a poetry chain and several more impromptu performances. “It’s not angry, but it’s about unrequited love,” said the final performer, incoming freshman Amanda Skriloff, about her piece. The piece represented the internal struggle of keeping silent and keeping those strong feelings hidden. It inspired audience members to be an ally so these struggles might one day cease to exist.
Kyle Bennion / Photo Assistant
Sokoloff performs.
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 13
College worker excited for the future By Liane Librizzi Correspondent You don’t have to be a student at the College to learn here. Though the thought seems rather paradoxical, it’s a proven fact that to work diligently at achieving your goals and furthering your passions doesn’t necessarily come with a tuition price. As a matter of fact, quite the contrary — you can even get paid for it instead. Just ask Bessie Gardner. Gardner, of Trenton, N.J., has been wearing many hats since she began working at the College eight years ago. Her day typically begins at 8 a.m. when she works with building services until 4:30 p.m., keeping Travers clean and aiding in snow removal on days that require it.
“I like helping out wherever it’s needed,” she said with a smile. Yet, her eyes began to glisten with true satisfaction as she began to tell of her night shift in the TDubs kitchen. The sound of clanging pots and pans in the background, Gardner stood in front of roughly 60 pieces of wheat and white bread, preparing to make more than 30 sandwiches that would later be sent to the Library and C-store as “To Go” options. It takes about an hour and half to make the orders of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, along with the buffalo and chicken Caesar wraps that would be set out as options for students in a hurry the next day. Gardner, though, is slow to complain — she’s too driven to be drained. “My goal now is I’d like to go to school to further my
education … I want to go for culinary arts,” she said with excitement. “Once I (pay off my vehicle this year), I am looking to move forward.” Gardner further went on to explain how her 28-yearold daughter is soon opening a restaurant in Texas, and she projects that she may be able to work with her there once she obtains her degree. “I love what I do, but I also try to keep my mind focused on trying to move ahead,” she said, wiping the counter before beginning her sandwich-making. Little does she know, with every sandwich she makes, she’s one step closer to achieving that dream, reminding all of us that our work at the College, though sometimes unnoticed, can be just the beginning to greater things.
Liane Librizzi / Correspondent
Gardner looks forward to what else life has to offer her.
Annual disability art show raises awareness
By Kelly Corbett Staff Writer
Whether they were painting pastels, fashioning beads together or creating tools, Mercer County residents and the College’s most creative gathered together in the Education Building room 212 on Monday, April 7, to unfold their artwork. Hosted by the College’s Students for Disability Awareness Club, all the work exhibited was created by individuals with disabilities in an effort to eradicate any negative stigmas associated with being disabled. The art show displayed numerous different types of art, from paintings, to jewelry, to even tools. While many artists create art to please the eye, other artists form art for a specific reason. Freshman undecided major Kristen Windram, for example, created a still-life in memory of her best friend who had passed
away due to breast cancer. Windram said she had a love of art ever since she was little, and she was further inspired by her mom and high school art teacher. Senior Mallika Desai, a member of the Career and Community Studies (CCS) program, also had a passion for art at a very young age. Desai revealed that she started painting her brilliant acrylic paintings in ’97. As a child, she enjoyed learning new techniques in art class and had always found painting so relaxing. “Vincent Van Gogh and Monet are my inspiration,” she said. Furthermore, Julia Sternlieb, a junior and also a member of the CCS program, bedazzled art-show goers with her collection of bracelets and necklaces. At age 13, she was searching for a new hobby and discovered it in a jewelry-making kit. On average, it takes her crafty hands about an hour to make one of her stylish bracelets.
The art show also featured a colorful drip art series created by the Arctists Collective by The Arc Mercer. This organization of Mercer County provides social, recreational and vocational opportunities to individuals with disabilities. The Drip Art Series was composed of both individual paintings and collaborative paintings. Daniel Lapidow, a sophomore in the CCS program, discovered his interest to become a blacksmith at age seven on a visit to a farm. Two years later, at age nine, he had hammered and nailed his way up to being a member of the New Jersey Blacksmith Association. Today, Lapidow can be found in the Hebrew Hammer Blacksmith Shop in Lawrenceville making tools. All in all, the art show was a very creative and flattering-to-the-eyes experience. Stay tuned to see what these crafty individuals have in store for next year’s Disability Art Awareness show.
Consumer corporations and wind energy IKEA looks to build its own wind farm
AP Photos
Major corporations like Intel, Whole Foods, Walmart and Google have invested in wind energy. IKEA plans to build its own wind farm by 2015. By Neha Vachhani Columnist Wind energy is becoming the goto environmentally cautious option for energy-consuming corporations across the country. Windmill farms are primarily composed of multiple wind turbines that convert kinetic energy from the wind into electrical power that can be used to power factories. Corporations like Intel, Whole Foods, Walmart and Google have been active investors in wind power as well as alternative renewable energy
sources, and the popular Swedish furniture store Ikea has joined the club. The Ikea Company recently purchased a 98-megawatt wind farm in Illinois, acquiring the company’s largest source of renewable energy. The company has been taking steps in hopes to lessen its carbon footprint — it has committed to using renewable energy and minimizing its carbon emissions as much as possible. Although things such as solar panels are not the fiscally responsible choice, there are many environmentally friendly options that double
as economically smart business decisions. With goals to be energy independent by 2020, Ikea, along with a handful of other corporations, has taken an initiative to keep the planet safe. The company hopes to have the wind farm up and running by 2015. It is expected to generate up to 380-gigawatt hours of renewable energy a year. This amount of energy is equivalent to removing over 50,000 cars off the road each year. Ikea executives say the proposed outlook is that the wind energy will cover up to 18 percent of the electricity used
by the Ikea organization worldwide. Ikea is not an American company, so although this is its first wind farm in the U.S., Ikea owns a substantial amount of wind farms in various countries such as Canada, France, Sweden, Germany and Denmark. In addition to wind energy, the Ikea Company has been increasing its reliance on solar power. As of 2012, 90 percent of Ikea stores within the United States generate solar power. As Ikea proceeds to move into the environmentally cautious business world, we can only hope that others will follow.
page 14 The Signal April 16, 2014
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 15
Arts & Entertainment
Synergy puts choreography to emotional stories
Michael Cort / Staff Photographer
Illuminating lighting work and precise choreography of popular radio hits help convey deep and inspirational messages to the audience. By Sydney Shaw News Assistant Synergy Dance Company proved that hard work does pay off at the 14th annual Spring Spectacular, held in Kendall Hall on Saturday, April 12. The show opened with an immensely energetic performance to Fergie’s “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody.” The fullcast dance certainly caught the audience’s attention. Afterward, the performers Kristina Kondakji, McKenzie Montana, Danielle DiPasquale and Erin O’Connor moved almost perfectly in sync to A Great Big World’s hit, “Say Something.”
Kondakji, a sophomore, poetically choreographed the emotional dance about lack of communication with someone you love. “I lost a very good friend this past year because of a lack of understanding and communication,” Kondakji said. “So I wanted to express that in the best way I know how to: by dancing and getting caught up in the movement. I love how you can tell a story without saying one word on stage.” At the end of their performance, all but Kondakji shed the men’s dress shirts they had worn. “(The shirts) symbolized the relationship and how it is fragile and can wrinkle so easily, like
a shirt,” Kondakji explained. “I had the girls shed them away at the end, signifying giving up. I, however, kept my shirt on, still clinging to the minuscule hope I had left.” Kondakji also choreographed the “World Town” dance. The girls were dressed in leopard print and moved to the tribal beat of the song. After, audience members were treated to a guest performance by The Trentones, who sang renditions of “You Remind Me” by Usher and “The Morning Comes” by Delta Rae. Choreographer Lauren Rodgers and Alexa Abraham wore matching blue leotards and skirts
as they danced to Birdy’s song “Skinny Love,” played by pianist and senior accounting major Mike Halperin. Later on in the performance, Hannah Beal, Toni D’Amato, Alex Dispensiere, Mackenzie Hickey, Emilee Kim, Lauren Langbein, Danielle Lukas, Cecilia Muscarella, Danielle Nagle, O’Connor, Rebecca Shaber and Alyssa Scull danced to Jason Derulo’s new popular hit, “Talk Dirty.” “I actually didn’t know about this song until a friend told me about it, but once I heard it I knew it was exactly what I wanted,” choreographer Hickey said. “This was back when it wasn’t on the radio every day.”
The dancers utilized strobe lights in their performance and wore sweatpants and brightly colored tank tops. “I knew I wanted bright colors to reflect the intensity of the song and the dance, so that’s how the red/orange/yellow color scheme came about,” Hickey said. The epic finale was the senior dance, choreographed by the senior class — Abraham, Carmella Holl, Langbein, Muscarella, Rodgers, Michelle Sanders, Alex Skula and Briana Williams. Synergy succeeded in illustrating the power of music and dance as a tool for conveying stories and emotions in their truly “spectacular” performance.
‘Phantom of the Opera’ reboot stuns By Zachary Dzierzgowski Staff Writer
For over 25 years, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical, “The Phantom of the Opera,” has dazzled audiences with its beautiful sets, haunting story and moving score. This year, the musical has received its first makeover in the form of a new North American tour, and the rebooted spectacle is an absolute must-see. Phantom tells the story of Christine Daaé, an orphaned dancer who receives vocal training from an unknown spirit lurking in the chasms of the world-renowned Opera Populaire in Paris, France. After a series of mysterious happenings at the venue, the new managers of the Opera House lose their leading soprano, and Christine Daaé is thrust into the spotlight with a positive critical reception. She catches the eye of her childhood sweetheart, Raoul, the Vicomte de Chagny, and he tries to woo his way back into her heart. However, his intrusion upsets Christine’s “tutor,” the Phantom, and the three characters struggle in one of musical theater’s most memorable love triangles. The new production preserves the lavish feel of its predecessor, but boasts an impressive array of new technical effects, choreograph and scenery. For starters, central to the set is a giant, rotating brick tower that serves as the Opera House backstage, manager’s office, catacombs and ultimately the Phantom’s
Udine excels in her role and Grodin lacks a haunting presence.
lair. The set changes are seamless, and as the audience is transported from scene to scene, it’s nearly impossible to hold back an awe-inspired gasp. From a technical standpoint, the show ups the ante with new special effects and embellishments. More fire, smoke, shadows and firecrackers make this rendition a much more “action-packed” Phantom experience. The opening overture reveals a revamped chandelier, which, at the end of Act I, explodes with an array of firecrackers and drops yards away from the
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audience’s heads. During the performance that I attended, a group of people sitting in that section actually got up and moved into the aisles to avoid being crushed. Luckily, their fears did not come to fruition. Perhaps most impressive was Julia Udine, the female tour de force making her touring debut as Christine Daaé. Her role is a demanding one, combining all the most difficult aspects of singing and acting. I have seen the heroine performed by
actresses who could sing the role but failed to portray the character with the complex sensitivity that make it extraordinary. Udine taps deep into the role, drawing out Christine’s inner conflict as she struggles to make sense of her desperate situation. Her rendition of “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” brought me to tears — it was one of the first times I felt as though Christine was pleading with her deceased father and not just singing through notes in the score. Though overall a dazzling production, my one complaint was the weakness of the show’s title character. Cooper Grodin failed to capture the duality of the masked lead and instead came off as a solely psychopathic kidnapper. I felt no sympathy for the Phantom throughout the entire musical, and I was disappointed that the show’s star-vehicle lacked the haunting presence that the character necessitates. Fortunately, the talented cast and novel innovations more than compensated for the Phantom’s shortcomings, though the touring production would benefit from reconsidering their principal actor. As someone who loves the musical, I was quite content with the rebooted approach. Seeing such a classic Broadway piece injected with new life after 25 years was a wonderful experience and shows that Phantom is sure to stand the tests of time. If you have the opportunity to see this new production, be sure to buy your ticket!
page 16 The Signal April 16, 2014
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 17
‘Silicon Valley’ script shows promise
Despite the show’s slow start, ‘Silicon Valley’ has room to grow.
By Karl Delossantos Staff Writer
HBO’s new comedy series “Silicon Valley” had two things in its favor: its concept and Mike Judge. In this age where being on the bleeding edge is necessary to be successful, a look at a group of young programmers trying to make it big in Silicon Valley is something that begs attention. Its creator, Mike Judge, is best known for bringing us the genius that is “Office Space” and the long-running FOX series “King of the Hill.” However, a concept and name do not make a show. “Silicon Valley” is yet another
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case of this. It is clear this show has a lot of potential and that is what must be focused on here. The pilot of any show tends to be one of the worst representations of a show, especially for comedies. Comedies usually take a few episodes to hit their strides, but “Silicon Valley” has the disadvantage of airing only eight episodes in its first season. Only time will tell whether the creative team is able to pull the series together before the season’s end. The first 10 minutes of the series were not terribly inspired. The first scene of the series was Kid Rock performing in front of a less-than-enthusiastic crowd. The scene seemed a bit gimmicky, but it was
not a disastrous opening scene. What surprised me is the absolute lack of wit in the script from the scene following it. The characters are introduced with expositional dialogue to remind the viewer of how hard it is to be successful in the industry, while also pointing out the perks of reaching that success. It felt unnecessary and weighed down the episode. To make matters worse, the same expositional dialogue returned in a later scene. The amount of time the writers took to set up the world that seems so familiar to us was taxing. But when the actual plot began to move forward, the show began to display its promise. Following being bullied by two programmers at the company he works for over a website that he created, Richard Hendricks is called by Gavin Belson, who is looking to acquire the website, which contains an algorithm that will revolutionize the industry. Then, Peter Gregory (Christopher Evan Welch) offers Richard an investment in the company and his mentorship. Thomas Middleditch as Richard is a surprisingly competent lead. Not to take away from his ability, but he had to contend with a less-than-developed character. Instead of falling into the endless pit of awkward but extremely talented geeks, Middleditch pulls the character out into something endearing. The premise is incredibly interesting and has a lot of potential for an extremely fastmoving forward show, but what is lacking is a clear comedic approach. There is some dry humor mixed with the ridiculous, with some witty one-liners. This inconsistent
writing is difficult to pin down and does not allow the viewer to find a way to watch the show. One of the better scenes of the episode comes in a doctor’s office where Richard is being examined after suffering a panic attack following the bidding war between Gavin and Peter. The doctor offers Richard the use of an app to monitor his vitals and then asks for an investment, reminding us that everyone wants to be an innovator. The show knows its world. However, it does not really know how to populate that world. The characters are not anything to marvel at. There is no comedic performance that exudes greatness. The writing is not particularly smart or innovative, but with its strong concept, “Silicon Valley” still has the potential to be great.
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Lack of comedy hurts storyline.
Acoustics take to the Rathskeller stage By Kimberly Ilkowski Staff Writer
Audience members were serenaded with acoustic sets by Hit The Lights and Paper States in the Rathskeller on Friday, April 11. The show opened with the pop punk unit from Pittsburgh, Pa., Paper States. Ryan Stack and Mike Desmond, both on guitar and vocals, made their debut at the College playing songs off their 2012 EP “Be Alone.” They performed “Day Spins,” “Be Alone,” “Old Soul” and a song they have not even recorded yet from their upcoming release “Old Fashioned,” which highlighted their slow and soft sound. The audience especially perked up when Stack crooned about “surviving the semester” in one of his songs. Stack and Desmond seemed to strum in perfect unison as
they did a cover of Taking Back Sunday’s “Decade Under The Influence.” “If you guys see Major League next week, tell them they suck,” Desmond teased about his close friends. A music video for their song “Aim To Please” is on YouTube. Next up was the pop rock band Hit The Lights from Lima, Ohio. Normally comprised of five members, Nick Thompson was the sole representation on stage, while his bandmates hung out in the back of the Rat and cheered him on. Everyone sang along as Thompson played the songs “Liars and Cheats,” “Speakers Blown” and “Stay Out” from their 2008 album “Skip School, Start Fights” and 2006 album “This Is a Stick Up … Don’t Make It a Murder.” He also played “Fragile Eyes,” a song about his sister who was in a coma. She eventually came out of it and graduated
from college. Thompson said the song is about being scared of never being able to talk to someone you love again. In late May of this upcoming summer, Hit The Lights will go on the “Skip School, Start Fights Tour” with Major League, Light Years, Brigades and July. The band, who took a short break while deciding what direction they wanted to go in, will come out with a brand-new record this summer on a to-be-announced record label. At one point, Thompson told the crowd that he spent $25 to get his guitar case to New Jersey. Unfortunately, when it arrived, he realized he had left his guitar at home and the case was empty, leaving him to have to borrow someone else’s guitar. Hit The Lights state their musical influences as New Found Glory, All Time Low and Four Year Strong. Make sure to come out to the Rat next Friday, April 18, to support a student band at the College, Save Face.
Breel shares the struggles behind his TED Talk
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
Breel tells students to find a positive outlet in their lives. By Paul Kibala Correspondent
Kevin Breel, outgoing, funny and confident TED Talk sensation,
appears an unlikely advocate for mental health. “It’s rewarding to see people bring this conversation to campuses,” Breel said of the organization
To Write Love on Her Arms, which helps people talk about and overcome issues of depression, anxiety and suicide. In a talk given at Roscoe West on Tuesday, April 8, the 20-yearold writer, stand-up comedian and British Columbia native, realized he must openly discuss his depression and contemplated suicide after winning a high school basketball tournament. “I felt like I was living two different lives: one on the surface and another that lurked beneath,” Breel said. “I felt alone, like I was living a lie.” In the forthcoming weeks, Breel talked to coaches and counselors and finally a therapist, realizing that the prospect of social exile mattered little compared to keeping his detrimental feelings hidden. Though initially finding it “difficult to be honest, vulnerable,” Breel said this outlet had
a positive influence on him. While attending these sessions, Amanda Todd, a 15-year-old who had comitted suicide, became an international story in 2012, but faded fast from the headlines. As she was also from the British Columbia area, Breel recognized the persisting emotional toll the community felt long after the news media had forgotten the tragedy, which spurred him to take action. Twelve to 15 teenagers commit suicide every day in North America. In Canada, suicide is the leading cause of death for people above age 20, and yet it remains a taboo subject and is largely ignored. At 19, Breel gave a talk at his former high school, sharing his personal battle with depression. Afterward, most of the students approached Breel to say how they related to his story. This eventually led to Breel’s TED Talk. After creating his TED Talk, Breel
received an estimated 20,000 letters from people encouraging his candor and courage. “Kevin was incredibly relatable,” senior elementary education major Amanda Zabel said. “I kept thinking how he’s 20 years old and has accomplished so much in the face of his own struggles.” He shared one such message with the audience. It was from a girl named Amber who credited him with saving her life by way of his TED Talk. Breel concluded by urging the audience to “be a character in someone else’s story who’s looking for hope, for redemption. And maybe we’ll have a lot less stories like Amanda’s, and a lot more stories like Amber’s.” “I thought this was just going to be funny, but Kevin opened my eyes to a world I didn’t know,” senior marketing major Alex Black said.
page 18 The Signal April 16, 2014
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 19
Double dose of Mixed Signals during show
Jonathan Edmondson / Review Editor
Veterans and newcomers come together for Mixed Mixed Signals improv comdey show in an effort to bring relief to stressed students. By Jonathan Edmondson Review Editor Despite the first sweltering heat of the season, Cromwell Lounge was packed on Sunday, April 13, for the second annual Mixed Mixed Signals Show, featuring the College’s premiere improv troupe dressed as each other. The event, which was sponsored by ResLife, aimed to provide comedic relief to the campus during this hectic time. As always, The Mixed Signals performed a variety of games featuring all of their members. An
audience favorite, Party Favors, forced one member (a party host) to try and guess distinct character traits of three guests attending his party. The night’s ‘party guests’ included someone who was in love with the host, someone who was always sick and God. Performing their second-to-last show of the semester, it is evident how much chemistry has developed between the new and old members of The Mixed Signals. Time and a lot of practice has strengthened the troupe’s ability to work quickly with each other in any given situation.
Senior members, including the troupe’s president, history and secondary education dual major Jonathan Dowler, have recently been featured in a variety of skits. Graham Mazie, Lindsey Nice and Nina Shulgach also showed off their seasoned skills, appearing in multiple acts throughout the evening. Every Mixed Signal show is always met with thunderous applause and howling laughter, and after surveying some loyal audience members, it is easy to see why. “I like attending Mixed Signals shows because it’s a great way to
just relax and have a good time,” freshman women’s and gender studies major Mary-Elizabeth Thompson said. “It gets your mind off of whatever else is going on in your life.” That kind of loyalty has made The Mixed Signals a staple of the College’s campus. As each class graduates, another new class comes in and experiences the comedic magic for the first time. From then on, they are hooked. “I appreciate improv because it is hard — you create the entire scene from absolutely nothing, and then you have the added
pressure of being funny,” said senior journalism and political science double major Jenna Rose, who has attended Mixed Signals shows since the fall semester of her freshman year. This improv troupe has more than proved itself as a highly respected and admired organization on campus. “Improv is something you don’t get to see too often, so when you have that opportunity, it only makes sense to take it,” Thompson said. Having that opportunity be with The Mixed Signals only makes the experience that much sweeter.
Kalstein explains the Guitarist rocks recital evolution of Opera By Tiffani Tang Staff Writer
Friends and family filled up Mayo Concert Hall on Sunday, April 13, for Steven Thompson’s installment of the College’s senior recital series. Armed with a black suit and his guitar, Thompson began his first piece, “Prelude No. 3 in A minor,” by Heitor Villa-Lobos — a nice way to start the program. In one section, there was a build up to hit one high note before going back to the repetition of a high melody into blocked notes. The next piece, also by Villa-Lobos, was “Prelude No. 4 in E minor,” which started off with a slow prominent melody answered with a piano response. The song built up to a high intensity before slowing down to twanging high notes. The high notes melted away back into lower ones, and the song ended with a single clear strum. “Ricercare,” by Francesco da Milano, was the third piece played. It was very reminiscent of a folk song from the Renaissance, bringing the audience back to that time period. In the middle of the performance, there was a slight pause to retune and Thompson began again. This part of the song took a braver tone, with more prominent dynamics and a smooth ending. “Danza,” by an anonymous composer and arranged by Oscar Chilesotti, followed. This short piece had slight rests between measures, giving off breaths and the impression of passing off partners while dancing. The fifth piece of the afternoon was “Variation on a Theme by Handel, Op. 107,” by Mauro Giuliani. The melody was very strong and he was singing
straight out to the audience. Notes climbed up by half steps in a crescendo and then they climbed back down in a diminuendo and ritardando. It was as if the piece was running back and forth between two very different sections. The mezzo forte music accelerated into a new melody with constant bass notes. It took a lighter, sillier feel before coming to an end of three notes, the pretty little bow on a present. Thompson stretched his fingers before performing his last piece, “Capricho árabe,” by Francisco Tárrega. It started off as a slow piece integrated with spurs of fast rhythms. Then the piece took on a calm and casual tone. Although the music was complicated, Thompson played through it with ease. It was a lovely piece that mirrored the beautiful weather outside. As he stood on stage to take his bows, the audience gave him a loud and long standing ovation. Thompson beamed, grinned largely and mouthed “thank you” to everyone in attendance. When he walked out into the lobby, everyone began clapping again. “The rush after you’re done is amazing,” Thompsom said. “For the next four hours, you’re on adrenaline.” He paused to take some more pictures and to thank friends for coming. “The last one,” Thompson said in regard to which song was his favorite piece to play. “I heard it my freshman year and I thought, ‘I need to play that for my recital!’” Thompson has been thinking about his senior recital since he was a freshman, and all of his hard work has finally paid off.
By Samantha Serra Staff Writer
An elegant Steinway and Sons grand piano sat in the center of a polished, hardwood floor as the performance began. The four students each took turns showing off their unique and beautiful operatic voices for the quiet crowd. The dome-shaped room was filled with voices ranging from soprano to tenor, displaying not only the talent of each performer, but also how the composition of opera has evolved. Opera is an art form that has been crafted by talented composers and musicians over thousands of years. It is popular for its use of beautiful voices of all ranges accompanied by the harmonic blend of orchestral instruments to tell stories. From Claudio Monteverdi to Giuseppe Verdi, opera has developed into more than just narration with actors. “To me, it is some of the most beautiful pure music that has ever been created,” said Jerry Kalstein, president of Boheme Opera NJ. Kalstein hosted the Evolution of Opera event on Friday, April 11, in Mayo Concert Hall, where he not only spoke about the transformation of opera and played example pieces, but also shared the stage with his co-founder and managing director, Sandra Pucciatti, and four of the College’s talented School of Arts students, who each performed an operatic piece for the crowd along with Pucciatti on the piano. “I have worked with two of them already and they are wonderful,” Pucciatti said. Two of the students, junior music education major Diana Befi and senior music major Raquel Nobile, have worked with Boheme Opera and Pucciatti before with much pleasure. “We did this a few semesters ago and I actually played her,” Befi said, regarding the her
character she performed as during the event. Befi’s piece was used to portray the early development of opera as a form of depicting emotion through song, which she did perfectly, draping her right arm across the piano as she emoted anguish and despair even those not fluent in the foreign language could comprehend. “Looking at the audience and seeing their reactions makes it all worth it,” said Nobile, who has also worked with Boheme Opera. Nobile’s soprano range was used near the end of the event to portray how, through the developments of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Giacomo Puccini, opera had become more realistic and dramatic in its storytelling. “Puccini brought to the table passion and emotion,” Kalstein said. Beginning 45 years ago when he met Edward Bogusz, an acclaimed bass-baritone, Kalstein has been working in the production and narration of opera. He is a strong advocate of giving students interested in pursuing careers in the field hands-on experience and chances to perform for audiences. “We would love to have them attend the dress rehearsals and do more programs like this,” Pucciatti said.
TCNJ School of the Arts & Communication
Kalstein performs with students.
page 20 The Signal April 16, 2014
All College Theatre Presents
{PROOF} Directed by: Pat Albanesius
By: David Auburn
April 23rd-25th at 8pm April 26th at 2pm and 8pm Don Evans Black Box Theater SAF Funded
Students: $5.00 Public: $8.00
act@tcnj.edu
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 21
Lions Fantasy World Nothin’ But Net I couldn’t really think of a great column idea this week. The regular season is somehow still dragging on, and I’m super excited to talk about the playoffs, but I can’t yet because they still aren’t set. So I’m going to do what all columnists do when they run out of good ideas and need to bide time for a little while: I’m going to come up with a list of bulleted things, which may or may not be funny. Without further ado, the wackiest and funniest story lines from this NBA regular season: •The New York Knicks. Just everything about them. From the win-now attitudes to the preseason swagger to the failing to get a playoff spot when no one else really wanted one. •The time Jason Kidd spilled his soda on the court after asking his player to bump into him. The best part of this story: The Nets still lost to the Lakers that night. The even bester part of that story: Kidd is getting consideration for Coach of the Year. •Speaking of the Lakers: The Lakers. The most exciting players on the Lakers this season were Kobe Bryant’s bench rantings and a man nicknamed Swaggy P. Remember when this team won back-to-back titles within the last five years? Even Pepperidge Farm can’t figure out how that happened. Anyone else think Mike D’Antoni was secretly sent to the Lakers as a spy for the Suns? Also, evidently the Lakers are looking to part ways with D’Antoni without actually firing him. This is somehow even funnier than when they fired Mike Brown five games into the year. •Phil Jackson is now the president of the Knicks while living in LA with his Lakers-running girlfriend and making millions of dollars a year. Yup, the Zen Master chose the Knicks over the Lakers. While still living with the Lakers. This should be a sitcom. •The Cavs rehired Mike Brown in an attempt to lure LeBron James back to Cleveland, less than four years after the Cavs fired Mike Brown in an attempt to convince LeBron to stay in Cleveland. Hold on, I have to check if my brain is still functioning properly, typing that made my logicprocessor explode a little. •JR Smith untied people’s shoes while playing basketball. After he did it the first time the league specifically told him not to do it again, and then he did it again. Oops, that’s the third Knicks mention, sorry. •Mark Cuban got intentionally fined by David Stern personally, as a farewell gift to the Commish. I’ve always said those two would make a cute couple. •Amar’e Stoudemire claimed recently that the Knicks are the best team in the league on paper. I don’t know what kind of paper he’s using, but I’d like to get some and see how many drugs it’s made of. That’s the fourth Knicks mention, I know. I can’t help it — this team is the funniest part of the NBA. I’m not even sure anyone can hate them anymore, it’s hard to hate a team that does all of this in a single season. Stuff like this is why I love the NBA. Sure, it has problems — lot of problems. But in the end, I watch sports for entertainment. And all of this just screams entertainment to me.
By Mike Herold Fantasy Sports Editor
The Scoreboard*
(1) Fantasy Guys (20-0)**
2858
(3) Love Train (16-4)
3618
(2) Off the Backboard (14-6)
2976
(4) Team Vazquez (12-8)
3113
Team Reynolds (6-14)
1687
Team Amaral (12-8)
2295
Team Molicki (8-12)
1857
Team Matos (5-15)
1682
Owner: Mike Herold Owner: Gabe Allen
Owner: Bryan Dunphy-Culp Owner: Victor Vazquez
Owner: Amy Reynolds Owner: Marco Amaral
Owner: Chris Molicki Owner: Rob Matos
Rasheed Wallace (7-13)
886
Team Jha (0-20)
995
Owner: Pete Fiorilla Owner: Ashray Jha
*Scores reflect first two weeks of a two-and-a-half week match **Championship Game
Fantasy Player of the Week
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I May Be Wrong, But...
Here’s what I would do in Fantasy Basketball this week: Add: Mason Plumlee. He blocked LeBron to end a game, he’s been putting up numbers and he’s helping people think the Nets might actually be contenders (due more to the depth he adds to the team than his actual contributions, but still). There are two days left, what do you really have to lose at this point?
Be Cautious Of: The Eastern Conference. I am now pretty convinced no one actually wants to win this conference. The Pacers and Heat are trading losses to inferior teams, the Hawks somehow tanked their way into a playoff spot and Amar’e Stoudemire still thinks the Knicks are the best team in the league on paper. This is all hilarious.
Drop: DeMarcus Cousins. I know, it isn’t often you hear a suggestion to drop the player who scored the most fantasy points in the last week, yet here we are. The reason you want to drop Cousins? He’s suspended for the final game of the season because he’s had one too many technical fouls. Think Rasheed Wallace has been coaching him on how to get more of those? Look Out For: Andre Drummond. Something of a bright spot amid Detroit’s ever-darkening horizons, the second-year player is a beast in fantasy play and has been putting up consistently big numbers all year. If he can do all this on a team with Josh Smith missing 40 shots a game, imagine how good he’d be on a real squad.
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page 22 The Signal April 16, 2014
The College of New Jersey Celebrates:
Student Employment Appreciation Week April 13th-20th, 2014
Thank you to all student employees for your commitment and hard work! The Career Center
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 23 Cheap Seats
Payne, ‘little sister’ stars of March Madness Unlikely pair a beacon of friendship and love By Kevin Luo Staff Writer
March Madness is one of the most exciting times of the sports year. Upsets like Mercer over Duke, Cinderellas like Dayton, and emerging stars like Frank Kaminsky are often the on-court highlights from March Madness, but it is often off-court stories that really leave a lasting impression on the sports world. This year was no different, as March Madness introduced us to the beautiful relationship between Michigan State star Adreian Payne and 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, also known as “Princess Lacey.” Lacey had a fatal nerve-cell cancer called Neuroblastoma, which caused her to be hospitalized constantly in order to get treatment and chemotherapy. During one of her stints in the hospital, fate united her with Payne, and they had an immediate connection. Payne would constantly visit Lacey in the hospital and invited her to a few home games. Their bond grew stronger and stronger, and Payne even called Lacey his “little sister.” He even carried her around the court after Michigan State’s senior night
and brought her to cut down the nets with him after Michigan State won the Big Ten Tournament this year. Lacey was a small celebrity to Michigan State fans and in Big Ten country, but the whole country was introduced to this beautiful little girl during Michigan State’s run in the NCAA Tournament. She was at all of Michigan State’s games during its run in the East Regional and accompanied Payne to the NCAA Dunk Contest, where her smile and resilience through such hard times really made the country fall in love with her. Payne always reiterated how hard he was playing for Lacey, and you could see through his passion and emotion that he was determined to make his little sister proud. Then, tragedy struck. This past week, the sports world was stunned to hear that Lacey Holsworth had died in her home. This was extremely devastating, not only because she was so young, but because Lacey seemed so strong and happy as she cheered on Payne just days before in the Dunk Contest. I know I struggled to hold back tears as I was reading and hearing about this story and as I wrote this article. Following Lacey’s death,
Payne’s ‘little sister,’ 8-year-old Lacey Holsworth, helps him cut down a net. Payne tweeted: “It was time for my lil princess to go home & feel no more pain, now she’s happy & she’s my angel watching over me.” It’s obvious that Lacey changed Payne’s life just as much as he changed hers. Support from all over the sports world came pouring in through social media and various media outlets as well.
This story showed the bond between two strangers from two completely different backgrounds whose paths crossed and taught the country the power of friendship and love. This unlikely bond touched everyone who followed or watched the tournament this year. Even though Lacey is gone, I expect her to live on with Payne as he moves
AP Photo
on to the NBA and continues to spread her spirit throughout the country. Prior to the tournament, we all knew what a great player Adreian Payne was, but now everyone knows what a great person he is too. I think it’s safe to say that if more athletes and people in general were like Payne, the world would be a better place.
Track & Field
Lions impress at home in NJ Invitational Women’s team gets three first-place times By Peter Fiorilla Sports Editor
The men’s and women’s track teams excelled at home in the College-hosted New Jersey Invitaional, as a handful of Lions won their events in a competition that included athletes from Divisions I and II. For its part, the women’s team took home three first-place finishes in the 1,500-meter race, 3,000-meter race and 4x400 relay. Senior runner Anginelle Alabanza paced all 25 runners in the 1,500-meters with a time of 4:43.89, more than five seconds ahead of the second-best finish, and senior Sarah Polansky placed fifth with a time of 5:00.16. Junior Tara Nealon won the 32person 3,000-meter race with a time of 10:07.23, while sophomore Marissa Lerit completed the race in 10:38.06 to place sixth. In the 4x400 relay, junior Michelle Cascio, sophomore Kristen Randolph, freshman Nicole DeStefano and junior Katelyn Ary ran a time of 4:04.30 for a first-place finish, while the 4x800 relay team crossed the line in second place in 10:14.70. Rounding out the top-three finishes, senior Bridgit Roemer tied for third in the high jump with a clear of 1.54 meters.
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions earn several first-place honors on their home track on Saturday, April 12, and Sunday, April 13. The men’s team picked up its fair Sophomore Jake Lindacher impressed place and two Lions — freshman Matt share of accolades as well, including in the 100-meter hurdles, topping all Rafferty and Lisa — finished in the another tremendous result for senior Division III athletes with a time of top-five in the javelin throw. Dominic Tasco. 15.22. This week, the Lions will travel to Tasco, whose previous best in the It was a successful event for the Princeton University for the Larry El800-meter was 1:53.49, ran with a time field teams, as well. Senior Scott Lisa lis Invitational on Friday, April 18, and of 1:52.09 to finish runner-up among 62 won the high jump with a mark of 1.95 the Greyhound Invitational on Friday, athletes. Freshman Alex Carry placed meters, junior Juan Giglio cleared 4.70 April 18, and Saturday, April 19, hostseventh in the race. meters in the pole vault for second ed by Muhlenberg College.
page 24 The Signal April 16, 2014
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 25
LIONS
AROUND THE
DORM 5 3
Chris Molicki “The Ref”
Gabe Allen
Matt Bowker
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Andrew Grossman
Production Manager
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Chris Molicki, asks our panel of experts three questions: should college athletes like Connecticut’s “hungry” Shabazz Napier be paid for what they do, which of Kansas’s two NBA prospects — Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins — should go first in the draft, and are New England’s winning ways worth a controversial culture criticized by Brandon Spikes?
1. The men’s Connecticut basketball team won the national title, but other stories surfaced from the team — namely Shabazz Napier saying there were nights he went “hungry.” Do you think college athletes should be getting any sort of payment for what they do? Matt: College athletes should absolutely be paid for their play. Major universities make millions of dollars a season for ticket sales, memorabilia and jersey sales and TV deals. All of these things are a direct product of the athletes’ performance on the field. Student-athletes are the reason schools like Notre Dame, USC and Florida State are so popular. Look at Florida Gulf Coast as an example: Two years ago, nobody had ever heard of FGCU until their Cinderella run in the NCAA tournament, and now the university is reaping the financial benefits the athletes have earned the school. FGCU saw a 35 percent increase in admission applications after the school’s tournament run. Playing a sport in college is a full-time job, and athletes
should be paid. Gabe: This is an extremely layered issue. On one hand, many of these athletes are receiving compensation in the form of free education via scholarship. On the other, the degree to which some of these athletes are being educated is indeed questionable. This is certainly no rule of thumb, as there are plenty of institutions that
AP Photo
don’t excuse their athletes from being held to the same academic standard. Then there’s also the fact that the NFL and NBA don’t allow players to enter their drafts immediately after graduating from high school — and these schools, and the coaches of these programs, are raking in a ton of money. While the rules of entrance to the professional sports leagues are not up to
the NCAA, it can’t hurt to provide a little bit of compensation for these athletes. Is it really too much to ask the colleges to compensate the athletes enough that they can eat well? These athletes don’t have the time to get adequate jobs during their seasons. Logically, it doesn’t seem to add up, and I think paying or providing meals for athletes should seriously be considered. Andrew: Under no circumstances should college athletes get paid for playing their designated sport. One could argue that Napier is already getting paid through an athletic scholarship. While Napier may say he was hungry, throughout his four years, he received a free education worth over $120,000. That money saved is more than enough to cover the cost of food. The other problem with paying college athletes is there are a lot of gray areas. Johnny “Football” Manziel believes he deserved to be paid. While statistically he is more valuable than the second-string punter, universities would have a very difficult time determining who should be paid and figuring out their worth.
Matt wins for saying athletes lead to an increase in admissions, Gabe gets 2 points for saying schools can afford to pay, and Andrew gets 1 point for explaining the difficulties with paying. 2) Kansas teammates Joel Embiid and Andrew Wiggins have both declared for the NBA draft. Not considering Jabari Parker who may stay, if you were an NBA general manager, would you go the big-man route in Embiid or shoot for the forward potential in Wiggins? Matt: Lottery teams will have a tough time choosing between the two. If I were a GM with the first pick, I would take Wiggins without hesitation. Wiggins averaged 17.1 points as a freshman in what was considered an upand-down season. He showed flashes of how dominant he can be, scoring 41 points in 39 minutes played against West Virginia. Wiggins has ideal NBA size to become a scoring forward like Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Paul George. He averaged more points per game than eight of the last 10 first overall picks. On the other hand, Embiid has the potential to be a dominant center, a player that comes along once every decade. However, Embiid is coming off of a stress fracture in his back that made him miss the team’s last six games. Teams should be worried about the severity of this injury. Just think back to Greg Oden. The center is also a dying position in today’s NBA. The Miami
Heat have won the past two titles without a true center. The NBA today is all about star scorers, and Andrew Wiggins is exactly that. Gabe: Conventional wisdom of the last decade says take the forward in Wiggins. Both guys definitely have loads of potential, but the safe bet (based on the recent years) says the big man is less likely to avoid injuries. The hype surrounding Wiggins entering his freshman year at Kansas was the highest it’s been for an incoming freshman in some time. Embiid is a 20-year old, seven-foot, 250-pound center from Cameroon — he’s only been playing basketball for a few years now, and his nimble footwork has seen him draw comparisons to Hakeem Olajuwon. The last time it came down to taking a big or a wing like this, the Trailblazers chose the clunky Greg Oden over the slender, wiry Kevin Durant. For much of the college season, Embiid was number one in most mock drafts, but when he was forced to miss the last several weeks of the season and the NCAA tournament due to a back injury, Wiggins ultimately regained his spot at the top in most mocks. While I acknowledge that Wiggins has plenty of potential, I truly do not believe he is going to be the next Slim Reaper. In fact, I’m really not nearly as sold on
AP Photo
this draft class living up to all its hype. But if I had to take Wiggins or Embiid, I’d take Embiid. I wouldn’t be able to pass on the best big-man prospect to enter the draft since Tim Duncan. Andrew: The decision is a toss-up. While big-man Embiid is definitely the better pick, his health is a major concern. After hurting his back and missing the NCAA Tournament, one can only wonder his true value. If, however, Embiid remains healthy, he is definitely a nobrainer and an immediate impact player. It is
tough to find an elite center, and for teams in need of a big man, Embiid fits that role nicely. As for Wiggins, he began his career with Kansas as being the biggest prospect out of high school. That said, while the sky is the limit for him, I question how his skills will translate to the NBA. Depending on what team I was managing, the big question I ask myself is whether I want to win now or wait a few years for Wiggins to develop. With everything considered, Embiid is the better pick.
Matt wins for saying teams are built around wing players, Andrew gets 2 points for highlighting the rarity of good centers, and Gabe gets 1 point for talking about big man fragility. hallowed “Patriot way,” while entertaining, was not a good move. Spikes, who signed with Buffalo this offseason, said he was “4 years a slave” in New England. What Spikes doesn’t realize is he was also four years a winner. Although they have not won a Super Bowl in almost 10 years, the Pats have won 51 games during the span of Spikes’s time in New England, more than any other team during that time. I do not believe the Patriots have a culture problem. Yes, Bill Belichick is probably the strictest coach in the league, but I find it hard to believe that the conditions in New England are that bad. If there were slave-like conditions in New England, players would be leaving left and right. The Patriots have already re-signed five of their free agents, so clearly players are happy with their 3) Brandon Spikes went on a Twitter spree, situation. I doubt veterans like Vince Wilfork saying his time with the Patriots was “4 would re-sign if conditions were truly terrible. years a slave.” If Spikes is speaking the If the “Patriot culture” means winning football truth about the Patriots’ culture, do you games, then Brandon Spikes is the problem think New England should change the way here. Maybe he simply didn’t fit in with the they do things despite their winning ways? Patriots’ expectations on player conduct. Either Matt: Brandon Spikes’s Twitter rant about the way, get used to losing, Spikes. All three players get 2 points for making the same argument that the Pats keep winning and Spikes seems like a disgruntled player.
Gabe: While the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2005, they should not and will not change anything about their culture. The opinion of one man, Brandon Spikes, means next to nothing in the big scope of things. If Tom Brady had said it, it’d be a big deal, no doubt. The Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since the Spygate controversy, and they may not have enough talent to win another one in the Brady Era, but Bill Belichick isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Andrew: In football, it doesn’t matter how nice a person is. It doesn’t matter when
someone was drafted. All that truly matters are the results. While Spikes may say he was a slave during his time with the Patriots organization, no one can argue the Pats’ success over the past four years. In that time span, New England won all AFC East Titles and reached the Super Bowl in 2011. The Bills — who have not had a playoff appearance since 1999 — will predictably have a similar year to last one. It will be interesting to see what Spikes says after his one-year contract runs out and whether he misses his winning ways.
Matt wins Around the Dorm, 8-5-5
page 26 The Signal April 16, 2014
TCNJ’s 7th Annual
Student Leadership
Awards WednesdaY, aPRIL 23, 2014 The Student Leadership Awards ceremony will be held in the Brower Student Center Reception - 5:30pm, Brower Atrium • Ceremony - 7:00pm, Room 202
Leadership
Scholarships
Emerging Leader of the Year Award Robert Kinloch • Angela Panagiotopoulos • Rachel Redelico • Noelle Skrobola • Symone Yancey
Annie F. Stout and Kate Stout 1882 Scholarship Kristin Dell’Armo • Tara Siesputowski • Jessica Stranix • Jill Turner Bessie Cutter Perlman ’25 Scholarship Samantha Altman • Chris Napoli • Hannah Pawlak
Outstanding Student Leader of the Year Award Margaret Allen • Jennifer Doughan • Ashley Garguilo • Tyler Liberty • Erik Marcus • Kevin Mount
Dorothy Taylor Haas ’32 Scholarship Margaret Allen • Caraugh Ball • Jennifer Doughan • Grace Moran • Julia Nelson • Jennifer Toth
Student Organization President of the Year Kristin Dell’Armo • Tyler Liberty • Grace Moran • Amanda Parks • Christine Rehm
Elizabeth Allen 1869 Scholarship Genesis Arteta • Colleen Murphy • Jennie Sekanics • Veronica Steele • Lindsay Walheim
President’s Cup Award AZ Seven Year Medical Society • The Financial Management Association • Physics Club • Society for Parliamentary Debate
Harold W. and Rose Lea Eickhoff Fund Carla Cirelli • Darrel Frater • Robyn Gold • Kevin Mount • Colleen Murphy • Swet Patel
Harold W. Eickhoff Outstanding First Year Student Award Leah Duford • Laurence Hochman • Matthew Newman
Student Employee of the Year Award Niveda Harishankar • Sarah Hirsh • Shayna Stemmer
John Wandishin ’79 Scholarship Jillian Manzo • Colleen Murphy • Megan Osika • Swet Patel • Chelsea VanOrden Memorial Scholarship April Bullock • Darryl Frater • Kristin Dell’Armo • Robyn Gold • Swet Patel • Theresa Soya Wade Watkins ’84 Scholarship Carla Cirelli • Daniel Kaplan • Colleen Murphy • Swet Patel • Jennifer Toth
Blue and Gold Award Margaret Allen • Jenise Banks • Brian Broderick • Alexandra Brown • Josephine D’Amico • Claire Huynh • Tyler Liberty • Erik Marcus • Grace Moran • Kevin Mount • Amanda Parks
William M. Klepper Scholarship Caraugh Ball • April Bullock • Carla Cirelli • Robyn Gold • Kevin Mount • Lana Rahal • Jennie Sekanics • Rebecca Shaber
Programming Excellence in Advocacy PRISM - “Queer Wedding” • SAVE Peer Educators - “Domestic Violence Candlelight Vigil” • TCNJ Circle K - “The Eliminate Project” • WILL - “Redefining Sex Week” • Zeta Tau Alpha - “Pink Out Week” Excellence in Collaborative Programming Residential Ed. and Housing, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Delta Lambda Phi, International House, and Dining Services - “Sushi & Samba” • CUB, Swing Dance Club, and Phi Alpha Theta History Honors Society - “TCNJ Wants YOU... to Swing!” • CUB and PRISM - “CUB and PRISM’s Big Gay Nooner” • Delta Epsilon Psi and Career and Community Studies - “UNI Day” • Residential Ed. and Housing, International House residents, TCNJ Center for Global Engagement, Delta Sigma Theta, Black Student Union, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc., Japanese House, Hellenic Society, Union Latina, Barkada, Italian Club, Department of Language and World Culture, Chinese Student Association, TCNJ Taiko, Haitian Student Association, and TCNJ Jiva - “A Trip Around the World” Excellence in Diversity Lakeside andCentennial Residence Hall Staff - “TCNJ’s Next Top CA” • Delta Epsilon Psi - “Indian Republic Day” • Indian Student Association - “Garba” • PRISM - “Queer Awareness Month” • New Residence Hall Staff and Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. - “Sex in the Dark” Excellence in Service to the Greater Trenton Community ABE Residence Hall Staff, All College Theater, Sigma Lambda Beta, Lambda Theta Alpha, United Greek Council, CAPS, Beta Beta Beta, RHA, and NRHH - “Haunted ABE” • Norsworthy Student Staff - “SOUP-er Bowl Party” • Delta Epsilon Psi - “Project Come Together” • Student Government - “Youth Outreach Day” • Alpha Phi Omega - “Kids Day Out” Excellence in Service to The College of New Jersey Phi Sigma Sigma - “Homefront Philanthropy Week” • Lakeside Residence Hall Staff - “Young and the Stress-less” • SAVE Peer Educators - “Sexual Assault Awareness Month” • Student Government - “Know Before You Vote” Excellence in Sustainability Lakeside Residence Hall Staff - “You Can’t Spell Recycling Without Pizza and Tie Dye” • PRISM - “For Those We Have Lost Vigil” Outstanding New Program of the Year College Union Board - “College Cooking with Fox TV’s MasterChef Monti Carlo” • IFC, Panhellenic Council, UGC, and IGC - “Rush TCNJ” • Omega Psi Phi - “Resources for Success” • SNJEA - “iPad Technology Workshop” Outstanding Program of the Year Colleges Against Canter - “Relay for Life” • Delta Epsilon Psi - “Project Come Together” • Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. - “Hispanic College Day” • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. - “Resources for Success” • Sigma Kappa - “Second Annual Car Show” Programming Legacy Award Class of 2014 Class Council - “TCNJ’s Got Talent” • College Union Board, Student Finance Board, and Student Government - “Funival” • Kappa Delta Pi - “Conference for Aspiring Teachers” • Leadership Development Program - “Leadership Lock-up” • Student Government - “Finals Fest”
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 27 Baseball
Baseball / Lions ready for final stretch continued from page 32
The College followed up Thursday’s win with back-to-back losses to fifth-place Ramapo College. The team dropped the first game by a final of 9-4 before a 7-1 defeat in the second game. The Lions’ schedule does not get any easier this week with games at Farmingdale State College and a home-andhome with fourth-place Montclair State University. The team will then travel to Rutgers-Camden University for a doubleheader with the first-place Scarlet Raptors on Saturday, April 19. “As long as we stay positive and continue to go out there and keep working
hard, we’ll be fine. We are still in good shape for the last three weeks of the season and we just need to get back into a rhythm, start winning some ballgames, and build up our confidence as a team going into the final stretch of the regular season,” sophomore catcher Matt Facas said. If the Lions can do that, there’s plenty of time remaining to improve their standing in the NJAC — and they can start by getting back to the win column this week. “Baseball’s a long season. There’s a lot of ups and downs, but the character of this team is strong,” Volpe said. “I’m sure we’ll bounce back this week and get a few wins.”
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Baseball slides down the NJAC standings, going 1-4 on the week.
Softball
Softball continues to look for NJAC win Lions winless through 10 conference games By Chrissy Onorato Staff Writer The softball team’s struggle for wins this season continued, as they played Rutgers-Camden on Tuesday, April 8, and lost both games in a doubleheader. The Lions (6-20, 0-10) are keeping a positive mindset on the matter and keeping it all in perspective, though. When a team has a multitude of freshmen and sophomores, it is critical to build the team up and get the technique perfected before games will be won. The Lions are in the process of building up their team, and it looks promising for the end of the season and next year. As they play more games, it will become easier to tack on those wins, and the Lions are confident they will get there soon. In the first game of the doubleheader against Rutgers-Camden, the Scarlet Raptors scored early and often in a 6-2 victory. Scoring three runs in the first inning, Rutgers took the early lead, and the Lions fought hard to catch up. Despite good pitching and defense, the Scarlet Raptors scored two more runs in the fourth, but the Lions refused to be shut out. In the fifth inning, the Lions rallied and scored a run when freshman right fielder Olivia Fahr singled and was sent home by sophomore left fielder Christine Desiderio’s single to left field. The Lions scored
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions’ winless streak continues against Rutgers-Camden. once more in the seventh when Fahr doubled and was again sent home by Desiderio with another base hit. In the next game of the doubleheader, the Scarlet Knights took the second victory with a score of 9-4. The Lions took the early lead when freshman second baseman Colleen Phelan had a two-run single, which scored senior center fielder Lindsey Williams and senior shortstop Kristen Lake. However, their opponents came back strong in the bottom of the inning and
scored three runs of their own. With the score tied at 3-3, the Lions tacked on one more run in the sixth when Williams singled, allowing freshman pinch runner Rachel Cipolla to score. The Lions offense was then silenced as the Scarlet Knights scored six more runs, defeating the Lions 9-4. On Saturday, April 12, the Lions took on Montclair State University in a hardfought battle. Despite their opponents taking both games, the Lions looked improved
and hopeful. In the first game, the Lions fell in a 2-0 Montclair victory. Stellar defense began the game as the Lions held off a basesloaded first inning. Senior pitcher Alex Carisone was on the mound for the Lions and pitched a strong couple of innings to start off the game. Sophomore catcher Jamie Purcell aided the Lions’ strong offense, going two-forthree on the day. However, in the eigth inning, the Lions let up the only run of the game, ending the hard-fought battle. The next game again resulted in a defeat for the Lions, as they fell 0-5. The scoring began in the fifth inning when the Red Hawks put three on the board and were then able to shut out the Lions for the remainder of the game. The Lions, though, are learning from each game and are confident they are where they need to be, continuing to improve one game at a time. “This season hasn’t gone exactly how we envisioned,” sophomore pitcher Ashtin Helmer said. “But we are focusing by remaining positive and by improving each game. We are taking each game as an experience to learn and improve. We are going to continue to battle until the season is over.” This week, the Lions will take on Rowan University on Tuesday, April 15, and New Jersey City University on Friday, April 18.
Tennis
Lions split games as Telson hits milestone By Peter Fiorilla Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Telson earns his 100th career win against Skidmore College.
The men’s and women’s tennis teams had nearly identical schedules and shared the same results this week, splitting their games with Ithaca College on Friday, April 12, and Skidmore College on Sunday, April 13. The men’s team (8-5) started out the week at home with Skidmore in a 8-1 defeat, with No. 2 sophomore Pierce Cooper netting the only point for the Lions in singles. The Lions turned the tables when they hosted Skidmore, opening the game by sweeping doubles and winning five of six singles for an 8-1 win. No. 1 senior Howard Telson hit the 100-win milestone in doubles, teaming
up with Cooper for an 8-5 win, and added his 101st career win in singles. The men’s team returns to action on Wednesday, April 16, as they travel to New York University. The women’s team (10-5) went on the road in an 8-1 loss to Skidmore, as No. 5 freshman Anna Prestera went to three sets in a 6-2, 3-6, 10-3 win for the Lions’ only point. The team then rebounded with a 7-2 victory over Ithaca, winning two of three doubles matchups and five of the six singles. No. 2 freshman Katie Buchbinder, No. 3 senior Tara Criscuolo, No. 4 sophomore Emma Allen, Prestera and No. 6 junior Sarah Lippincott won for the Lions, who host New York University on Wednesday, April 16.
fun stuff
page 28 The Signal April 16, 2014
The Thought I once worked at a bakery... of the Week:
Fun Facts with Morgan Freeman
•There are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. •No matter where you stand in Michigan, you are never more than 85 miles from a Great Lake. •Dr. Seuss coined the word nerd in his 1950 book, “If I Ran The Zoo.” • The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Libraries. • Dreamt is the only English word that ends in the letters amt. • It is illegal to frown at cows in Bladworth, Saskatchewan.
You know you read these in my voice.
...it was a piece of CAKE!
April 16, 2014 The Signal page 29
derpy exchange of the week:
“Dude, help me think of a column idea.” “You should do a row.”
page 30 The Signal April 16, 2014
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April 16, 2014 The Signal page 31
ports Week In Review AP Photo
Like us on Facebook to follow the College’s breaking news.
Number of wins per season Women’s Soccer 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 0
Follow @TCNJSignal on Twitter to get all the latest updates and more!
5
10
15
20
25
Check out the new and improved Signal web page! Team total: 204 Alex Spark 53 Jillian Nealon 35 Jen Garavente 34 Lauren Pigott 23 Erin Waller 20 Kendal Borup 11 Lauren Karpovich 9
ST U D E N T AT H L E TE O F
The Horizon For
THE WEEK
Sports Baseball April 17 @ Montclair State University, 3:30 p.m. April 18 vs. Montclair State University, 3:30 p.m. April 19 @ Rutgers University-Camden (DH), 11:30 a.m.
Howard Telson Men’s Tennis
Won 100th career match
Softball April 18 vs. New Jersey City University (DH), 3 p.m. April 8 @ DeSales University (DH), 1 p.m.
Senior captain Howard Telson had a memorable day on Sunday, April 13, after clinching his 100th and 101st victories against Ithaca College. Telson’s milestone win at first doubles came when he and sophomore partner Pierce Cooper won 8-3. Telson then followed that win up with a 6-2, 6-0 victory at first singles.
Women’s Lacrosse April 19 @ Montclair State University, 1 p.m.
This week’s picks from the staff Point leaders
(MLB) Rangers (MLB) Cardinals (MLS) Union
vs. Mariners
vs Nationals
vs. Red Bulls
(EPL) Everton
vs. Man. Utd.
Track & Field April 18 Larry Ellis Invitational April 18-19 Greyhound Invitational
Chris Molicki 5 Julie Kayzerman 4
Men’s Tennis April 18 vs. Muhlenburg College, 4 p.m.
Mike Herold 4 Andrew Grossman 3
Women’s Tennis April 17 vs. Muhlenburg College, 3:30 p.m.
Amy Reynolds 3 Peter Fiorilla 3
?
Signal Trivia
?
What was the first football team to put a logo on its helmets?
AP Photo
Last week’s Signal Trivia Answer: Gold medals haven’t been made of solid gold in 102 years. The last time athletes recieved medals made of pure gold was during the 1912 Olympics. Today, the medals are silver-coated with gold plating.
Signal
Sports
Lions ‘run out of time’ against Salisbury Lacrosse rally comes up short in first loss
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions cut into the Sea Gulls’ five-goal lead but cannot complete the rally.
By Andrew Grossman Production Manager
All good runs eventually come to an end. After winning the first 11 games of the season, the women’s lacrosse team ran into Salisbury University, the
nation’s top-ranked Division III school. And while the Lions kept the game close and remained strong, it wasn’t enough to overtake the Sea Gulls, as they fell 9-6. “I knew it was going to be a competitive game, regardless of where each of the teams are
ranked, so I wasn’t surprised that it was close most of the game,” Lions head coach Sharon Pfluger said. “I think the girls worked really hard to prepare, so I don’t think that we did anything different, because we are always looking to be as organized and ready for the
next game.” The Lions started the game off strong when senior attacker Jen Garavente scored the opening goal, giving the women their lone lead of the game. After a tough battle and an exchanging of goals, the College headed into half time down 4-3. “I just told them to tighten up on some of the things that they were doing, create some flow with the ball movement on attack and minimize (their length) of possession,” Pfluger said. Unfortunately for the Lions, they did not get off to a great start at the beginning of the second half. In a 10-minute span, Salisbury took control of the momentum to score four consecutive goals, increasing their lead to five. “I think they capitalized on some opportunities and we didn’t (capitalize) as much as we should have,” Pfluger said. “Then we got ourselves down by (five) and we were scratching our way back up.” Despite trailing 8-3 with under 15 minutes remaining, Pfluger and the women never
felt the game was out of reach. “I felt like we were always in it — we just needed to maintain the momentum,” Pfluger said. “We fought hard, we got the ball back and converted a lot of opportunities for ourselves, (but) we just ran out of time.” While the loss was not the women’s ideal result, Pfluger remains optimistic. “Anytime you walk off the field losing it is an eye opener, but then we can say, ‘Let’s pick it apart, let’s figure it out, let’s solve it and let’s get better,’” she said. “I am confident that we will because we have a great group of girls and they work very hard.” With the Salisbury game now behind them, it is time to look ahead for the remainder of the season. “When I think about the things that could be corrected, they’re all fixable,” Pfluger said. “It doesn’t matter who we are playing because we need to fix those things. We just need to play really well in the remaining games and just keep getting better.”
Baseball outplayed in reversal of fortune Lions looking to get ‘back to the basics’ By Matt Bowker Staff Writer
Coming off an eight-game win streak, the Lions stumbled this past week, losing four of five games. “We’ve just been getting outplayed,” sophomore pitcher Steven Volpe said. “If we get back to the basics and fundamentals of the game, we’ll be fine.” All four losses came against conference opponents. The one win and four losses dropped the College all the way from first in the division down to sixth place out of 10 teams. With a 4-5 conference record, the Lions sit four conference points back from top-seeded Rowan, with 11 conference games left in the season. “(Coach Glus) reminded us to execute, maintain our focus and have trust in ourselves and teammates to get the job done but still have fun out there,” sophomore catcher Matt Facas said. Volpe picked up the team’s only win this week on Thursday, April 10. He pitched into the sixth inning, on his way to his fourth win of the season. Volpe
Lions’ Lineup April 16, 2014
I n s i d e
Baseball’s early advantage in the NJAC slips away during a rough week.
worked his way out of jams all afternoon, before leaving the game with runners on first and second and no outs in the seventh inning. Sophomore relief pitcher Mike Correa was called on to protect the team’s three-run lead. Correa gave up a single
that cut the Lions’ lead to 5-3. Sophomore center fielder JC Rizzi made a nice catch on the run for the first out to limit William Paterson’s damage. Correa dug in to record the force, a pop up, and then a strikeout to end the Pioneers’ threat. Junior pitcher Benito Gonzalez shut
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
the door on the Pioneers in the ninth inning, picking up his first save of the season and giving the Lions a 5-4 win, avenging the previous day’s shutout loss to eighth-place WPU. see BASEBALL page 27
46 53 Around the Dorm page 25
Tennis teams split games page 27
MVPs of March Madness page 23
Softball winless in NJAC play page 27