The Signal: Spring '15 No.4

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Vol. XLII, No. 4

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

February 18, 2015

MSA vigil pays A conductor of note: Harold Levin tribute to slain UNC students

By Sydney Shaw News Editor

Students from the College joined a worldwide ceremony of remembrance following the murders of three Muslim students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The Muslim Student Association hosted a candlelight vigil in the Alumni Grove on Thursday, Feb. 12, to honor the memories of 23-year-old Deah Barakat, his 23-yearold newlywed wife, Yusor Mohammad, and her 19-year-old sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha. The three individuals were fatally shot in their apartment around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

“It’s not uncommon for us to hear about Muslims being shot or run down or harassed,” said Sarah Cassim, president of the Muslim Student Association. “But I think this one, particularly, hit a lot of students because these were students.”

The students’ 46-year-old neighbor, Craig Stephen Hicks, has been charged with three counts of murder. According to The New York Times, police are investigating whether religious hatred contributed to the killings. see VIGIL page 3

Photo courtesy of TCNJ Orchestra

In 40 years, Levin, a violist and conductor, has composed 35 pieces.

By Jillian Festa Staff Writer

When Harold Levin won a conducting competition during his junior year of college, conducting a movement of a

Shostakovich symphony, he knew he had found his lifelong passion.

Levin, a violist, conductor, composer and teacher, has joined the College’s Department of Music as the

Conductor of the Orchestra and Adjunct Professor of Viola. His steadfast energy and lighthearted sense of humor made him an instant hit with the members of the orchestra, and as a result, he has brought

about an increase in members in the orchestra this semester.

Originally from the Midwest, Levin attended Ball State University, University of Cincinnati and Rutgers University. He has always wanted to be a musician, but it was his years as an undergraduate student that inspired him to become a conductor. Through working on music theory assignments in class, Levin’s affinity with music and composing grew stronger.

It has been 40 years since then and Levin, who started composing as a sophomore, has completed 35 pieces, writing on the side of his teaching and performing career. He said he finds composing to be a completely different experience from conducting in that it is “totally personal.”

A difficulty with composers, Levin says, is trying to pick his favorite.

“My favorite composer is one whose really great piece I happen to be playing or conducting at that minute,” he said. see LEVIN page 10

A ‘Devine’ stand-up routine in Kendall Hall

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

Left: Devine continues to sip from an empty cup. Right: Ray jokes about campus happenings.

By Jessica Ganga Nation & World Editor

If you didn’t already know how the College got its name, comedian Adam Ray made sure to tell the audience.

“It’s a college right? It’s in New Jersey? Fuck, man, College of New Jersey,” Ray said.

Once that was out of the way, Ray, who starred in the

INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5

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film “The Heat,” went on by opening the College Union Board’s spring comedy show. This semester’s show featured the hysterical Ray and the side-splitting humor of the “Workaholics” and “Pitch Perfect” star, Adam Devine, in Kendall Hall on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Ray continued his act by picking up a copy of The Signal and, after saying the College had a great paper, went on to read from his favorite section — Cop Shop.

Editorial / Page 7

Opinions / Page 9

Features / Page 10

“If you go to this school and don’t know what Cop Shop is, you need to get your shit together,” Ray said about the newspaper’s section that includes accounts of crime reports from the week. “It’s easily my favorite thing of 2015.”

He read aloud the beginning of the first story — adding his own sarcastic commentary as he went on. His hilarity became serious as he went on to read another report from the section.

“A pencil case with pencils was taken from an unlocked closet,” Ray read, causing the audience to burst into laughter.

Ray continued to connect to the College’s crowd by mentioning the favorite late-night spot, T-Dubs, which when mentioned later in his act, received claps from the audience.

The comedian interacted with the crowd, unafraid to ask students about their own personal experiences with drugs, in addition to recounting his own interesting experiences.

“It was also my first time talking to a Daddy-Longlegs about Global Warming,” Ray said, referring to the first time he tried shrooms.

Alongside the discussion about drugs, Ray sprinkled various topics throughout his performance with which college students could relate, including sex, Facebook, dating and relationships. He even pointed out a couple in the front row and asked them about their relationship, and how long they’ve been together. see DEVINE page 14 Arts & Entertainment / Page 14

Sports / Page 24

Modern Dating How social media is changing the game

Social Sculpting The intersection of performance and art

Basketball Playoffs Men’s team has first appearance in six years

See Features page 10

See A&E page 14

See Sports page 24

page 2 The Signal February 18, 2015

‘Overall community feel’ flourishes on campus

Jen Rén Alford / Staff Photographer

Wells discusses the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

By Alyssa Sanford Staff Writer

T-shirts featuring Eickhoff worker Eve Cruz, a senior cooking class and a discussion about the positives and drawbacks of life at the College are just some of the highlights from the Student Government general body meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

Sarah Drozd, vice president of advancement, announced that a panel of the College’s alumni will appear before the general body on Wednesday, Feb. 25. Additionally, representatives from the College’s Career Center will speak to the general body on Wednesday, Feb. 18, to “talk to us about networking and how to market yourself when we’re networking with

the alumni,” Drozd said.

Drozd also mentioned that there will be a meet-and-greet prior to Student Government elections at the end of spring semester. The meet-and-greet will be held in early April to “generate a positive response” and interest in running for a Student Government position.

Casey Dowling of Academic Affairs advertised a Washington, D.C. trip that is co-sponsored by the Career Center. On Wednesday, March 4, students will take a bus to D.C. and spend the entire day networking with a variety of business contacts. Availability is limited to 50 students and the trip costs $25 per student.

Academic Affairs is also organizing mock job interviews with

professors on Saturday, April 18, to provide students with the opportunity to work on their interview skills.

President of the senior class council Brian Garsh announced that the Student Finance Board has approved a cooking class that is only open to seniors. For a $5 deposit, up to 40 seniors will learn to make baked mac & cheese, roasted chicken and other recipes that students “can use after graduation.” The event will be held on Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m. in the 1855 Dining Room and will be both a cooking demonstration and a hands-on experience.

The junior class council is holding further auditions for TCNJ’s Got Talent on Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.,

and on Wednesday, Feb. 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, March 11, at 8:30 p.m.

Robert Kinloch, president of the sophomore class council, previewed the sale of Eve Cruz and Dave Muha T-shirts. They’ll be available for purchase online at a later date.

Kinloch also announced that Mr. 2017, an event scheduled for Wednesday, April 1, is still seeking participants. The sophomore class council needs eight people from different organizations across campus to participate.

The freshman class council is organizing a Mental Health Awareness Walk, which will be held on Friday, May 1.

During the open floor session, President Matthew Wells stressed the importance of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is working toward eventually changing the College’s accreditation policies.

The Middle States Commission is visiting the college from Saturday, March 9, through Monday, March 11, to meet with students and faculty to discuss how the campus community feels about the College and this upcoming change to accreditation.

“I can’t put into words how important Middle States is,” Wells

said. “It makes your degrees worth the money you pay for them. It makes your education valuable.”

Next, Wells called upon the senators from each school to discuss pressing issues.

The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is forming a search committee for a new, permanent dean, as Dean Benjamin Rifkin is leaving the College this summer for a new position at Ithaca College. The search committee will consist of faculty, staff and students and will convene in August, working through the fall semester.

Finally, the meeting closed with a discussion about what general body members like about the College’s campus life and about what they believe needs to change.

Notable campus highlights included Sodexo worker Eve Cruz, AVP for Communications Dave Muha, the overall “community feel” and Campus Town.

General body members cited a lack of school spirit, particularly with the College’s athletic programs, as a major problem. A lack of cultural diversity on campus and in student leadership positions is also a significant issue that Student Government hopes to address.

“We want to work towards the advocacy aspect of student governing,” Wells said.

Expensive camera stolen from Spiritual Center

By Colleen Murphy News Editor

the scene.

Campus Police were called to a small fire in a trash can that had already been put out by a student on Tuesday, Feb. 10.

At around 6:15 p.m. a student saw paper towels “glowing” in a trash can of the men’s bathroom on the first floor of the Chemistry Building. The student put water on the flames, and according to Campus Police, the fire was out and an odor of smoke lingered upon their arrival at

...

A camera bag that held a camera and other items was taken from the Spiritual Center sometime between 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6, and 9 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 8. A student went into the Meditation Room for a scheduled meditation session, and after 20 minutes, the student returned to her dorm,

forgetting the camera bag she brought to the session underneath a chair. When the student realized her camera was missing on Sunday, she returned to the Spiritual Center and could not find it. The camera is valued at $1,020, according to Campus Police. ...

Two cymbals were stolen from the

Music Building sometime between Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014, and Friday, Feb. 6, according to Campus Police. The items were taken while the building was under construction, and so the room where they were stored was not secured. The first cymbal is a custom 20’’ Zildjian ping ride cymbal valued at $235. The second is a 16’’ Dream Bliss cymbal valued at $89.

Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.

Celebrating diversity in culture and language

By Jackie Delaney Correspondent Regardless of language or ethnic background, all students were welcome in the atrium of the Social Sciences Building for the Celebration of Language and Culture on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

New international students and permanent students had the opportunity to practice speaking and understanding new languages as well as connect in an informal, friendly atmosphere.

Students wrote their name, country and the languages they have studied on a nametag at the start of the evening. Soon, students of all cultures were milling around the atrium speaking in Spanish, German and Portuguese.

“This event brings diversity to TCNJ students,” said senior

communications major Christina Luchkiw, who has a minor in Spanish.

Currently, the College has international students from Brazil, Spain, Kazakhstan, Mali, Tajikistan, Japan, Germany and Australia, according to Luchkiw.

Senior international studies major Andrew Wallach said the event was inspired by students who attended a similar event while studying abroad. Wallach, who spent time in Spain, met and chatted with Spanish students, finding a connection with them through language.

“It is an awesome opportunity to make friends,” he said.

The event received a high turnout and celebrated many different cultures. On one table, a Chinese Wishing Tree had been set up to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The Wishing Tree encouraged people to write their wish on a piece of

Brendan McGeehan / Staff Photographer

Students gather to chat in new languages and learn about different cultures. paper and place it on the tree.

This celebration of culture and language, according to Luchkiw, is important because “the world is becoming increasingly more globalized.”

Raquel Santos, a junior biology and Spanish double major, agrees.

“It is important to learn a new language to be successful,” she said. “Meeting people is eye-opening.”

The Celebration of Languages and Culture will be held twice more in the Social Sciences Atrium on Wednesday, March 25, and Wednesday, April 22, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

February  18,  2015  The  Signal  page  3

Vigil  /  College  remembers  the  lives  of  three  students

AP Photo

Mourners pay their respects at vigils around the country. continued from page 1 “When Muslims are murdered in North Carolina, Jews in Paris, or Christians in Nigeria, the world is diminished,� Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences Benjamin Rifkin wrote in

an email encouraging students to participate in the vigil.

During the ceremony, dozens of students gathered to light candles, pray and mourn. “When the MSA came together to plan the vigil, a lot of members were saying, ‘It could have

been any three of us sitting in this room, and just like that, we’d be gone,’� Cassim said.

Before the vigil began, Cassim announced that there were going to be prayers recited in Arabic. “This is not to alienate anybody who is not Muslim,� she said, “but just to remember and honor the fact that the people who died were Muslims.�

According to Cassim, many MSA members at the College are deeply mourning the Chapel Hill students’ deaths. “These three people served their community in every way possible,� she said. “Deah had a fundraiser to go to Turkey to serve Syrian refugees. We really related to them because a lot of our MSA members are also heavily involved in philanthropy.�

The fundraiser, which is posted on the online fundraising site, YouCaring, aims to provide dental care to refugee students in Rihaniya, Turkey. Since Deah’s death, donations have climbed to $422,331 —

exceeding the goal of $20,000 over 21 times over.

Cassim encouraged students to donate to the Syrian Dental Relief program during the vigil. “His parents have asked that the fundraiser be kept alive so that the work he started in his life will not end because of his death,� Cassim said.

Across the globe, people are taking to social media to share the link to Deah’s fundraiser, as well as expressing anger over the murders and sympathy for the victims’ families by utilizing the hashtag #MuslimLivesMatter. “They were just three, young, beautiful people who were shot out of nowhere,� Cassim said. “Be that it may have been sparked by a dispute over parking, three people were still shot in their apartment.�

Hicks, who turned himself into police, admitted that he killed the three students over a prolonged dispute over parking. The victims’ families, however, are certain their

children’s religion was the motivator. The incident has sparked debate over when it is appropriate to use the term “hate crime.�

Regardless of the motive, students attended the vigil not to focus on how Deah, Yusor and Razan died, but to honor the students’ memories and celebrate their lives. “I think this tragedy is something we can all connect to on a human level,â€? said Andrew Edelblum, a junior psychology major who attended the event. “The vigil allowed for anyone, regardless of religious DIĂ€OLDWLRQ WR UHDOO\ FRPH WRJHWKHU and think about that.â€?

Edelblum hopes the vigil may help students see the world through a new perspective. “Chapel Hill is a stark reminder that acts of terrorism are occurring inside our own country, that acts of terrorism are not the result of any VSHFLĂ€F JURXS RI SHRSOH Âľ (GHOEOXP said. “We lost three special lives earlier this week, and that’s something I think everyone who attended the vigil feels very strongly about.â€?

Bridging the gap between religion and science

By Colleen Murphy News Editor The Barenaked Ladies sing in “The Big Bang Theory’s� theme song, “Our whole universe was in a hot dense state, then nearly 14 billion years ago, expansion started,� spurring evolution. Over the years, scientists have found much evidence that supports evolution. However, according to Evergreen State College biology professor Michael Zimmerman, the United States is only second to Turkey in the Western World for having the largest amount of citizens who don’t believe in evolution.

To kick-off Evolution Weekend and celebrate Charles Darwin’s birthday, Zimmerman gave the presentation, “What the Evolution/Creation Debate Can Teach Us About the Relationship Between Religion and Science,� on Friday, Feb. 13, in Roscoe West, which explored why more Americans don’t believe in evolution. “It’s difficult to imagine that we’re

educating students — that we have an educated sensory — when the basic principle of evolution is so disregarded, disrespected and misunderstood, when it is so important,� Zimmerman said. “It’s anti-intellectual.�

He pointed out, though, that the point of his discussion was not to say which belief is right, but rather to have people understand WKDW ´WKH VFLHQWLĂ€F PHWKRG LV LPSRUWDQW Âľ “If you throw out evolution, if you question the basic premises of what evolution is and what we know about it from the last 150 years, you’ve thrown out the core of what biology is all about,â€? Zimmerman said. “Studying biology without having a framework of evolution is like studying history just by memorizing dates, not having any other context. No one would do that — no meaningful progress would be made.â€?

The biologist also wanted the audience to walk away from the event understanding that there is a way for religion and

science to coincide and that the two are actually compatible.

In an effort to do so, Zimmerman discussed the Clergy Letter Project, a campaign he started in 2004 to bring religion and science together. As of Saturday, Feb. 14, almost 13,000 Christian clergy members from around the U.S. have signed a letter stating that they want evolution to be taught in schools and “that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.� As one clergy member pointed out, the two have different purposes, with religion’s being to “transform hearts.�

There are three other letters on Zimmerman’s site from three other religions that explain how they believe religions and science can co-exist. The letter from America’s rabbis has 514 signatures, while 285 Unitarian Universalist and 24 Buddhist clergy members have signed their faith’s respective letters.

Ariel Moskowitz, a sophomore biology major, was surprised to hear that some reliJLRXV Ă€JXUHV DQG FOHUJ\PHQ DOVR VXSSRUWHG the theory of evolution and said she found Zimmerman’s lecture interesting. “I personally believe in evolution, and it was very refreshing to think about how evolution and religion can coincide,â€?

Moskowitz said. “I always assumed you couldn’t believe in both evolution and creationism, but Zimmerman showed how they aren’t mutually exclusive.�

Zimmerman believes the intersection of religion and science and creationism and evolution is important, but what he cautioned the audience of was fundamentalist beliefs on both sides, saying those beliefs are “equally wrong and counterproductive.� “Only by combating fundamentalism can we generate respect for religion and ensure high quality science education,�

Zimmerman said, adding that he believes there is no reason for someone to have to choose between the two entities.

$12,250  allocated  for  ‘Ambiance’  cultural  event Â

By Jonathan Edmondson Arts & Entertainment Editor

Next up was The Haitian Student Association, proposing for their “Ambianceâ€? cultural event, Over the last two weeks, the which aims to foster appreciaStudent Finance Board has been tion for diversity on campus. met with a number of requests The event was allocated funds of from various organizations $12,250 and is scheduled to take across campus. place on Saturday, The meeting on March 7, in the EduWednesday, Feb. 4, cation Building. kicked off with a reThe Chinese Stuquest from The Asdent Association (CSA) sociation for Computproposed next for their ing Machinery for “HackTCNJ,â€? Chinese New Year Celebration, the College’s annual hackathon, which showcases a variety of food, which is a 24-hour programming traditions and activities to celebrate competition. The event includes the holiday. The event, which is competitors from the College as scheduled to take place on Tuesday, well as from other institutions. March 4, in the Lions Den, was alThe event, which was allocated located funds of $2,505. funds of $1,500, is scheduled to During the meeting on Wednestake place on Saturday, Feb 28 day, Feb. 11, the Class of 2015 through Sunday, March 1. proposed for a cooking class, as The Outdoors Club proposed part of their “Real Lifeâ€? series to IRU WKH Ă€UVW WLPH WKLV VHPHVWHU teach seniors how to cook on a for their Belleayre Mountain Ski/ budget. The event was allocated Snowboarding Trip. The trip, funds of $600 and is scheduled to which was allocated funds of take place on Thursday, Feb. 26, in $1,500, is scheduled to take place the 1855 Dining Room. on Saturday, Feb. 28.

Circle of Compassion returned

to SFB for a second week in a row after adjusting from their previously failed proposal. Their proposed event highlights a lecture with Dr. Jackson Katz on “American Manhood and Violence Against Women.� According to their special appropriation request, the organization hopes the lecture will “create a safe space for men to openly communicate about their role in prevention� and “break down gender barriers.� While the board was split on their decision, the event was allocated funds of $5,836.20 and is scheduled to take place on Thursday, March 12, in Kendall Hall.

Next, the French Club proposed for their “Got Heritage?â€? event with lecturer Gary Kraut, who will speak about the preservation of French culture against American LQĂ XHQFH 7KH HYHQW ZDV DOORFDWHG funds of $300 and is set to take place on Monday, March 2, in the Library Auditorium.

The College Union Board proposed next for two events. The ÀUVW RI ZKLFK ZDV ´$Q (YHQLQJ

Kim Iannaorone / Staff Photographer

SFB approves CSA’s Chinese New Year. with Cristin Milioti,� who is a Broadway actress known for her roles in “Once� and in the television sitcom “How I Met Your Mother.� The event was allocated funds of $9,820 and is scheduled to take place sometime this spring.

The second event was a Spring Latenighter with a “Flashback Friday� theme. The event was allocated funds of $22,760 and is scheduled to take place on Friday, March 6.

Finally, TCNJ Student Alliance

to Facilitate Empathy proposed for an Assertiveness Workshop with Dr. David Krauss. The event, which was allocated funds of $200, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, Feb. 25, in the Student Center.

(YHQ WKRXJK 6)% DJUHHV WR Ànance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.

page 4 The Signal February 18, 2015 SAF FUNDED

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February 18, 2015 The Signal page 5

Nation & W rld

Brian Williams suspended for fabrication of himself and his team in 2003 while on a U.S. military helicopter that was forced down by enAfter Williams’s 2015 segment

AP Photo

By Gabrielle Beacken News Assistant One of America’s most famous and admired TV journalists, Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of “NBC Nightly News,” has been suspended for six months without pay due to the recent discovery of his false account about being in a U.S. military helicopter that was shot down by enemy forces in Iraq.

“We believe this suspension is

the appropriate and proportionate action,” said NBC News President Deborah Turness in a USA Today article. “This was a very hard decision.”

It started with what seemed an honorable gesture — taking a brave and appreciated Iraq veteran to a New York Rangers ice hockey game. Alongside this game invitation, Williams personally thanked veteran Command Sergeant Major Tim Terpak for ensuring the safety

military veterans came forward asserting that Williams’s account was false because he was never actually in the aircraft that was shot down.

“The admission raises serious questions about his credibility in a business that values that quality above all else,” said Fox News analyst Howard Kurtz in a New York Times article.

The issue became a frenzy on social media after Williams apologized on the air, on Wednesday, Feb. 4, saying that he was in the aircraft behind the one shot down ters, the Times reported.

According to the Times, Williams received widespread criticism and ridicule for his apology on Twitter with the hashtag “#BrianWilliamsMisremembers.”

“My inbox is filled today with producers who went to Iraq with me, to Afghanistan with me, to Haiti with me, all kind of wondering how you could mess this up,” said former CNN anchor Aaron Brown in a Times article. “I have no answer for that. I will tell you that getting shot at is not something you forget.”

Williams gained the trust of Americans, as his “Nightly News” show brought in 9.3 million viewers a night — an impressive number, according to a Times article.

In a USA Today article, broadcast journalism professor at the University of Maryland, Mark Feldstein, questioned whether or not Williams can retain his credibility upon his six-month return.

The embellishments in Williams’s story has had millions of Americans questioning the integrity of his past reports, as well as the ethics at NBC news. NBC has initiated

an investigation into Williams and his past news accounts. The investigation is still continuing, according to NBC News.

NBC is hoping that a sixcooling-off period for the network, according to Feldstein.

“We felt it would have been wrong to disregard the good work Brian has done and the special relationship he has forged with our viewers over 22 years,” Turness said in a USA Today article.

NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke urged the millions of “Nightly News” fans to forgive Williams.

“He deserves a second chance, and we are rooting for him,” Burke said, according to USA Today. “Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone’s trust.”

While Williams is on leave, “Nightly News” until his return.

Peace talks are last hope for Eastern Ukraine

By Sean Harshman Staff Writer A series of peace talks taking place in Munich, Kiev, Minsk and Moscow began last week between European, Russian and Ukrainian leaders. The talks are lead and moderated by Germany and France. Some see these meetings as the last chance for peace in Eastern Ukraine. The German and French proposed a plan that includes a Denow rebel-controlled regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, according to BBC. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko did not support the proposal as it altered arrangements set by the ceasefire

agreement signed in September of last year. He went on to state, “We should have the right to defend our country and our borders,” BBC reported.

Kiev and the West have accused Russia of sending troops and armaments across the border into Ukraine to support the Pro-Russian Separatists. Recently, NATO military tech seen in rebel-controlled areas that could have only come from Russia, BBC reported.

According to BBC, at the summit in Munich on Saturday, Feb. 7, Poroshenko called for support while accusing Russia again of sending troops across the border, this time

by displaying Russian passports allegedly ern Ukraine.

Ukrainian leaders continue to ask Europe and the U.S. for lethal military support to combat the rebels.

Some leaders are considering sending arms, like President Barack Obama, but still others, like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, are wary of further involvement in the region. Merkel stated that there is no situation in which “improved equipment for the Ukrainian army leads to President Putin being so impressed that he believes his army will lose militarily,” BBC reported.

Putin, who was not present at the summit in

Munich, stated at a press conference in Sochi that “there is no war,” only forces seeking to harm Russia’s developing economy, according to BBC. tinues amidst the peace talks. On Tuesday, Feb. 10, rebels launched an artillery strike against key military bases in towns within the Kramatorsk region — killing seven civilians. This artillery strike accompanies a tempting to retake land lost to the government forces.

Analysts suggest that rebels want to hold as much land as they can before the peace talks move to Minsk, Belarus this week, BBC reported.

Kayla Mueller confirmed dead by US government

By Candace Kellner Staff Writer American aid worker and ISIS hostage cording to her family and the White House. claimed that Mueller had been killed in a Jordanian airstrike in their de facto capital in Syria. For a year and a half, Mueller’s family has known that their daughter was being held hostage, but did not go public until recently because her captors threatened to execute her if they spoke out, CNN reported. On TuesAP Photo

when they found that Mueller had in fact been killed.

“We are heartbroken to share that we’ve ler has lost her life,” Mueller’s parents said in a statement. “Kayla was a compassionate and devoted humanitarian. She dedicated the whole of her young life to helping those in need of freedom, justice and peace.”

The Mueller family did not elaborate on the cause of Kayla’s death and how they

NBC News, the only details they released was that they had received a message from ISIS with information that American authorities were able to verify.

President Barack Obama offered his “deepest condolences” to Mueller’s family er’s death.

“No matter how long it takes, the Unit-

behind Mueller’s death.

terrorists who are responsible for Kayla’s captivity and death,” the President said in

According to

Mueller’s family struggles to cope with the heartbreaking news. a statement.

According to NBC News, Secretary of State John Kerry said Mueller “represented everything good about the human spirit,” and Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel remarked, “The world is united in condemning ISIS’s murder and imprisonment of innocents.”

The President stressed that the U.S. had done all it could to save the young aid worker, who was believed to be the last American captive held by ISIS. ISIS had previously

beheaded three Americans — James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Abdul-Rahman Kassig.

Mueller’s passion for humanitarian work brought her to Syria back in 2013.

As a teen, she received several volunteering awards and she focused on international causes such as the genocide in Darfur. After graduating from Northern Arizona University, Mueller traveled to India, Israel and the Palestinian territories with aid organizations. In 2011, Mueller returned home to Arizona to work at an HIV/ AIDS clinic and a women’s shelter, but ultimately chose to return to her work overseas.

“This is my life’s work, to go where there is suffering,” Mueller wrote on her blog. “I suppose, like us all, I’m learning how to deal with the suffering of the world inside myself ... to deal with my own pain and most importantly to still have the ability to be proactive.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 10, Mueller’s family released an unpublished letter that she had written to her family while in captivity in 2014.

“I know you would want me to remain strong,” she said. “That is exactly what I am doing.”

page 6 The Signal February 18, 2015

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 7

Editorial

Successful businesswomen inspire the College’s students

In the United States, women make up only 19.2 percent of seats on boards of directors for publically traded companies. Women represent 20 percent of all senior management positions in the United States.

Lastly, of the 500 companies in the famed Standard and Poor’s 500 companies, only 23 have female CEOs, according to research by Catalyst Inc. These are dramatic figures. They do very little, however, when they are just simply sitting on a page.

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer of Facebook, and Adam Grant, Professor the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania wrote an Op Ed for The New York Times that captured the needed efforts of businesses and organizations in order to combat the gender bias in the business world.

The piece, “When Talking About Bias Backfires,” explained that making it known that biases exist without discouraging them could actually perpetuate the problem.

“When we communicate that a vast majority of people hold some biases, we need to make sure that we’re not legitimating prejudice. By reinforcing the idea that people want to conquer their biases and that there are benefits to doing so, we send a more effective message: Most people don’t want to discriminate, and you shouldn’t either,” Sandberg and Grant wrote.

As a female finance major, I know that post graduation I’ll be jumping into a world that is largely dominated by men. Business, more specifically Wall Street, is a field that women have struggled to break into.

I, however, am very lucky.

The College’s School of Business works very hard to not only raise awareness about the need for more women in business, but also follows Sandberg and Grant’s recommendations, pushes women toward leadership roles and gives them significant tools to succeed in business fields.

Each year, the School of Business invites students to sit down to a conversation with a woman leader in business as a part of the Women’s Leadership Summits. Giving students the opportunity to hear about another woman’s experiences and ask questions before entering out into the world gives female students a greater sense of confidence when they leave the College.

I have been able to attend all three years, and I know I have not only taken lessons from these meetings, but have been able to hear from a woman who succeeded herself, challenge young women to do the same — a powerful form of motivation.

“To motivate women at work, we need to be explicit about our disapproval of the leadership imbalance as well as our support for female leaders,” according to Sandberg.

Most recently, the School of Business has moved further than motivating women and is now providing an organization for women to network and provide support to female students. Women In Business (WIB) is a club created by students and alumni, together.

The women of the School of Business understand the importance of being the final push women need to jump into their careers and leadership roles.

Sandberg and Grant close their piece by saying, “So let’s be clear: We want to see these biases vanish, and we know you do, too.” The College’s School of Business clearly agrees.

— Courtney Wirths Business Manager

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo and Sports editors and the Business Manager, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

Courtney Wirths / Business Manager

Selena Rezvani speaks at the Women Leadership Summit. Her inspirational words and success in the business world inspires female students at the College.

Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Business Office (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu

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Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Brower Student Center The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Jessica Ganga Nation & World Editor gangaj1@tcnj.edu Mackenzie Cutruzzula Review Editor cutruzm1@tcnj.edu Chelsea LoCascio Production Manager locascc1@tcnj.edu Olivia Rizzo Web Editor rizzoo1@tcnj.edu Mylin Batipps Social Media Editor battipm1@tcnj.edu Gabrielle Beacken News Assistant beackeg1@tcnj.edu Michael Battista Sports Assistant battism3@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Advisor lounsber@tcnj.edu Courtney Wirths Business/Ad Manager wirthsc1@tcnj.edu

“Chapel Hill is a stark reminder that acts of terrorism are occurring inside our own country, that acts of terrorism are not the result of any specific group of people. We lost three special lives earlier this week, and that’s something I think everyone who attended the vigil feels very strongly about.”

— Andrew Edelblum, junior psychology major

“Those guys are my best friends, and it’s cool that we have the opportunity to work together.”

— Adam Devine, comedian

“(Music) is just something you want to hang on to. It’s hard to get this amazing, out-of-world experience by doing something for a living … I feel lucky.”

— Harold Levin, conductor of TCNJ orchestra and adjunct professor of viola

page 8 The Signal February 18, 2015

The

The Demosthenes Prize TCNJ Public Policy Case Competition The School of Humanities and Social Sciences is pleased to sponsor the Demosthenes Prize. This is an annual team based competition that is open to all TCNJ students. the Demosthenes Prize aims to foster intellectual collaboration, strengthen skill in verbal communication and argument, and promote serious discussion of critical public policy issues. In this competition, the winning team will be awarded $300 and be lauded on the HSS webpage.

The topic of this year’s competition is Renewal in Lean Times. Participating teams are asked to submit a proposal of no more than 2000 words, together with no more than three exhibits, in response to the following prompt: New Jersey, one of the wealthiest states in the country, is facing a number of long-term challenges that threaten to limit the state’s ability to provide an atmosphere of opportunity for its younger citizens. These challenges include a drastically underfunded pension system, a rapidly-aging transportation infrastructure, vulnerability to climate change, drastic inequalities in access to education and health, consistent complaints about a poor business environment, and the reputation as having one of the most corrupt governments in the country. New Jersey needs innovative policies to address these issues with few resources to draw upon. What policy should New Jersey pursue in order to address one (or more) of the issues outlined above.

Rules, procedures and registration information may be found at: http://hss.tcnj.edu/publicpolicycasecompetition/ Questions should be sent to Professor John Sisko, Faculty Fellow in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, at sisko@tcnj.edu Teams must register for the competition by 5 PM on Wednesday, March 4, 2015

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Measles outbreak raises concern for kids’ health

Lack of vaccinations may be to blame for recent epidemic

AP Photo

Many families gather in Disneyland, which has been linked to the Measles.

By Ellie Schuckman Opinions Editor Unless you have lived under a rock for the past few weeks, you have probably heard about the Measles outbreak. While the cause of the recent epidemic is loosely related to Disneyland in California, a lack of vaccinations for the disease is strongly to blame.

The disease, which causes a fever, sore throat and rash, is one of the leading causes of death for children worldwide.

With a reported 644 cases from 27 states, this is the largest outbreak in the U.S. since Measles was declared eliminated in 2000 by the Center for Disease Control.

While the true cause of what sparked

the string of cases is unknown, if those kids were vaccinated as doctors recommend, they would not be fighting for their lives. There is no reason in the 21st century for people to not vaccinate their kids for diseases that can so easily be spread and are heavily known to cause serious harm.

In December 2014, it was first reported that those with Measles could be traced back to Disneyland, with 42 of the state’s 59 cases at the time having been linked to the park. Nine other cases from those living outside of California have also been traced back to Disneyland, according to CNN.com.

Many fear the vaccination because they believe it causes neurological

disorders such as autism. Claims that supposedly link the Measles vaccination to autism are not only absurd — they are unfounded.

Scientific evidence has found no link between the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and the “onset of developmental disorders such as autism,” according to healthmap.org. Studies that have been done show that the average age where some children may begin to show symptoms of autism is coincidental to that when the vaccine is typically given. There is no direct link between the two, according to PolitiFact.com.

So, even when scientists have proven these claims to be false, why is the belief so strong? In 1998 a British medical journal, The Lancet, published a paper by Andrew Wakefield claiming a link between the MMR vaccine and autism. Upon further examination, it was revealed that his study only included about 12 children, some of the work was faked and that he was “paid by lawyers for parents of children in the study,” according to PolitiFact.com.

But the damage was done.

Wakefield started a firestorm which spread around the globe and which many still value to be true. There is no reason for anyone with an open-mind to still believe the lies of a discredited medical researcher. Those who are not vaccinated for fear of other diseases are being ridiculous, especially when they have proven to have a false correlation.

In 2010, model, actress, author and

anti-vaccine activist Jenny McCarthy wrote an article for The Huffington Post stating her views on why vaccines do, in fact, have a correlation with autism. She stated how a Time magazine article on the autism debate claimed that experts are certain that “vaccines don’t cause autism.” However, she refuted this by saying, “That’s a lie and we’re sick of it.” Notably, McCarthy has a 12-yearold son with autism.

When public figures begin spouting these unfounded claims, the general public is more likely to believe them. Product advertisement is pure proof of this. Society has an infatuation with celebrities, and when they start preaching about something or promote a specific product, others follow them.

The recent outbreak has been largely blamed to the anti-vaccination movement sweeping the nation. Since Thursday, Jan. 1 alone, there have been at least 121 cases reported in 17 states. Earlier in 2014, there was an outbreak among unvaccinated Amish communities in Ohio, where 383 cases were reported, according to cdc.gov.

There is a certain understanding that those who do not believe in vaccinations for religious beliefs have a right to their views, yet when those beliefs begin to negatively affect the larger community, it is a problem.

Unless a direct link is found to which the MMR vaccine causes serious harm, there is no reason why every child is not given the shot.

Valentine’s Day not the only time to show affection

By Kelly Corbett

It’s the magical day of red roses, oversized stuffed teddy bears and everything chocolate.

Most people clear their schedules for this romantic day in February, having spent days, or oftentimes weeks planning ahead for it. But with all the stress of Valentine’s Day, is it simply an overrated holiday, or does it actually hold significant meaning?

There are 365 days in a year, and instead of just waiting until Feb. 14 to shower significant others with love, it should be done all year long. Many people rush to the florist or the jewelers to prepare for this special day, but there is nothing wrong with buying someone heart-shaped chocolates in July or October.

Love should be expressed year round, not just on this one day.

Now, I am not saying I hate Valentine’s Day. I love it, and I think the holiday has good intentions. It’s a day to show loved ones how much they mean

to you. Whether you’re single or not, everyone has someone important in their life. I simply hate the hype of showing affection for a loved one like it is an unheard of affair.

Valentine’s Day has become a commercialized holiday, almost taking away its significance.

According to CNN.com, an estimated $18.6 billion will be spent on the romantic holiday each year. $1.6 billion will be spent on candy, $1.9 billion will be spent on flowers and $4.4 billion will be spent on diamonds, gold and silver. All of this going into the pockets of companies looking to make money, not for the price of true romance.

“Jewelry can easily get lost, but good memories won’t ever fade.”

Individuals dish out ridiculous sums of money to spoil their

loved ones with beautiful lockets and the finest chocolate covered strawberries, all in order to give them a magical day. To show someone that you love them, it shouldn’t require reservations at the fanciest restaurant or buying the most elegant jewelry. All of your love for someone shouldn’t be squeezed into just one day, with one set of gifts. Love should be expressed all the time, and not just with material items.

Walk into any department store the week after Christmas, and already you’ll be overwhelmed by the amount of red, pink and heart-shaped items lurking on the shelves. Come the beginning of February, every other commercial on TV will be love-focused or Valentine’s Day related. This is all fine, but it puts such an emphasis on what you should buy for your loved ones instead of what you can do for them to show you’re thinking about them.

Most people would love a personalized song, poem or even a card. All are simple gestures

AP Photo

People race to get gifts for loved ones on Valentine’s Day. that are different than a typical, generic store-bought one. Plan a day trip to their favorite spot for a unique adventure — do something they’ll remember.

Flowers will die, chocolates will spoil and jewelry can easily get lost, but good memories won’t ever fade.

Material items are sweet to receive, and there’s nothing wrong with giving them, it just

shouldn’t be the sole focus or overdone. There’s only so much a giant teddy bear or a charming bouquet can say as opposed to a caring action.

Don’t stress yourself out too much over Valentine’s Day. You have 364 other days in a year to show your loved ones just how deeply you care, and you don’t have to break the bank to pamper them.

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.

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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.

page 10 The Signal February 18, 2015

Features

Levin / Orchestra conductor joins the College

TCNJ Center for the Arts

Levin possesses a passion for music that influences students. continued from page 1

He does have a group of alltime favorites, however. He loves Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — listening to his music renders him “practically unconscious.” He also credits J. S. Bach as one of his favorites.

“You revere him because of

the idea that somebody wrote that much music that perfectly at some point on earth,” Levin said.

He also admires Joseph Haydn for his string quartet music, but at the same time, he doesn’t exclusively listen to classical music.

“In college, I was listening as much to Led Zeppelin as I was to Mozart,” Levin said.

When he’s not conducting at the College or teaching viola lessons, Levin is going out to restaurants in New York City with his wife, taking care of his four cats, studying scores or planning upcoming orchestra rehearsals.

There has been a large increase in members of the orchestra this semester, which Levin was delighted to announce.

When it comes to selecting music for the growing orchestra to play, Levin is like a kid in a candy store. He has to consider the size of the orchestra, take the limited amount of rehearsals into account — they rehearse only once a week — and choose music accordingly.

“What gets to be the challenge is what you can’t do, because you can only do so much,” he said.

He also takes the learning aspect of orchestra into consideration. He views each piece of music as a learning opportunity and aims to expose the orchestra to the many different facets of classical repertoire.

“Undergraduates need a good dose of the standard literature,” Levin said. “We also look at contemporary pieces and baroque string music.”

He plans to take repertoire requests from students in the future, as well.

However, Levin is highly apprehensive about the future of classical music. He believes that two major events are the main causes of classical music’s decline: the 9/11 attacks and the 2008 recession. Both events caused new levels of cuts in attendance and funding.

“The first thing that administrators — who are probably not people in the arts — cut is the art program … This started in the ’70s,” he said.

He notes that the greatest patrons of classical concerts are the people who sang in the chorus or played instruments in high school.

“It’s the people that had public school music programs that are buying tickets and donating to the arts,” Levin said. He recalls from grade school that studying

an instrument was just as commonplace as taking a math class.

“You know why I became a musician? Because I couldn’t not be one,” he said.

Levin’s passion for his career and music at large has certainly rubbed off on the members of the orchestra, who are always eager to improve their musical maturity both individually and as members of an ensemble. He firmly believes that by playing a piece you are talking to the composer, which he frequently reminds the orchestra.

“I still get goosebumps when I play a piece by Mozart,” Levin said. “ I don’t know how many people there are like that in the world.

My wife laughs at me because she can’t believe the love hasn’t faded … It hasn’t faded at all.”

Levin describes being touched by music as ethereal. “(Music) is just something you want to hang on to,” he said. “It’s hard to get this amazing, out-ofworld experience by doing something for a living … I feel lucky.”

Dating landscape experiences major changes

By Frank Festa Staff Writer Imagine sitting in a 1960s high school cafeteria, peering desperately at a girl you’ve been dying to talk to, sitting a few tables away. You don’t have her number to text her and break the ice — you’ve got no phone in your pocket to do so in the first place. You can’t check her Facebook or Instagram to learn her name or interests. You simply have to muster the bravado to glide across the room and introduce yourself, hoping she won’t laugh in your face.

Emelia Stevens, 72, recalls meeting her late husband in a setting all too similar, admiring his courage and honesty when they first met in high school.

“He came across the room of the school cafeteria, head held high, and told me he had admired me for quite some time,” Stevens said. “I couldn’t help but blush. How charming he was.”

Fast forward to modern day, where young adults are glued to their handheld devices and detached from the individuals around them. In a world of selfies and social media, social interaction — particularly the coveted skill of attracting the opposite sex — has suffered immensely. The average person finds a great obstacle in approaching a person of interest. For validation, look no further than a college campus and the common student.

Ryan, a junior finance major at the College who chose not to disclose his full name, describes himself as someone who is inseparable from his phone.

“Having everything I need right at my fingertips makes life a lot easier,” Ryan said. “I’m always checking the news or the weather without having to read the newspaper or turn on the TV, and being able to just text someone who isn’t right in front of you is convenient.”

His demeanor changed when asked how he felt about approaching a girl he couldn’t help but notice from across the Atrium in

AP Photo

Mobile dating apps like Tinder are straining in-person relationships.

Eickhoff — much like how Mrs. Stevens’s husband noticed her all those years ago.

“You know, I’d love to go up to her and ask her to dinner, but to be honest, I’m just nervous when it comes to that kind of stuff,” Ryan said. “I don’t think that’s how it works anymore. She’d probably look at me like I had six heads.”

He was also quick to admit that he’d feel much more confident if he had been given her number by a friend and was able to build up a connection via texting.

Ryan isn’t alone in holding these preferences, nor his apprehension to approach the recipient of his admiration.

A survey of 30 students at the College, both male and female from various backgrounds, reflected Ryan’s beliefs and raised further alarm.

All students that participated in the survey admitted to sending more than 20 text messages per day, with the lowest being 20 messages and the highest being 100 messages. All participants also claimed to have at least one social media account, with 23 of them having two and 18 having three.

It’s clear that college students love their

smartphones and the platform it provides for social interaction.

Despite the newfound trend of electronic dependency, 13 students believed that flirting would be an easier process without texting or social media, while the remaining 17 believed it to be unaffected.

Breaking the ice was believed to be an easier process by 21 of the 30 students, while an overwhelming 27 admitted to being nervous or hesitant when approaching someone to whom they were attracted.

Aside from texting, overconsumption of social media can be detrimental to our actual social skills and face to face interactions.

Writer Kashmir Hill further explains the damage that social media can cause to dating in her recent Forbes article, “Five Ways Technology Allegedly Ruined Dating.”

Hill believes “too much texting, not enough dates,” “unromantic tech speak,” “too easy to meet someone new” and, simply, “Facebook” are damaging contributions to dating. The last factor on the list is possibly the most critical.

“We’ve Facebook-stalked ourselves out of small talk,” Hill said in the article. “Sadly, asking someone to name their favorite TV show is no longer stimulating conversation for the first date.”

In another meeting with Mrs. Stevens in a Sunday morning church pew, she said conversations between the opposite sex should be natural, and often times, confidence can bare a favorable result for the nervous individual.

“It’s difficult to be confident when approaching a lady, there’s no denying that,” Stevens said. “But believe me, you’ll make her day when you do find your confidence — just as my husband made mine. Besides, what’s the worst that can happen?”

It may not be as simple as Stevens depicts, but validity can be found in her thought process. After all, what really is the worst thing that could happen?

“Rejection is hard, but when it comes from somebody you’ve been brainstorming on how to approach, it can be completely deflating,” Ryan said.

Combining the influence of instant messaging, the pitfalls of social media presence and a natural fear of failure leaves our culture in a difficult hole from which to climb out.

However, all the blame cannot be placed on the hidden plight and negative effects of the indulgences of today’s young people. It can also be attributed to the culture that surrounds them.

Ryan believes that chivalry most certainly isn’t dead.

“You can’t blame people for finding comfort in being able to say things in text they wouldn’t normally say in person,” he said. “But to say we’re doomed or unable of conversation isn’t appropriate. I really think that people are still capable of making that connection our grandparents are always talking about. I think being confident and courageous is fully within my capabilities — it just takes a little motivation.”

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 11

Environment

Reducing greenhouse gases, one steak at a time

Decreasing carbon footprints through farming

By Neha Vachhani Columnist

Climate change will always be a controversial topic of discussion. The ongoing debates about the truths behind the severity, causes and solutions of global warming will continue heatedly, but there scientific consensus has isolated a few key factors and policy suggestions.

One of the significant contributors to the planet’s increase in temperature is the emission of greenhouse gases, which absorb infrared radiation and excrete it back into the atmosphere, causing what is most commonly known as the greenhouse effect. These gases are primarily comprised of water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide.

Many people are consciously attempting to reduce their carbon footprints by

simply altering a minor aspect of their lives, such as carpooling to work or recycling. However, another step the environmentally-cautious can take is to step away from beef and make the move towards chicken.

According to GRAIN, a nonprofit organization that advocates for locally produced and biodiversity-based food systems, the food we consume contributes to approximately 50 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. The food we eat affects the climate a lot more than we are aware of, and there are easy steps to take in order to make an impactful change.

Farmers are doing their share as they improve the way they grow produce, and now it’s our turn to change the way we eat. Simply opting for chicken over beef as a meat option makes a substantial

Try to opt for chicken instead of beef for one meal a week.

AP Photo

AP Photo

Greenhouse gases continue to be a major threat to the environment. difference. In addition to cutting back on red meat, increasing your intake of fruits and vegetables is an effortless way to decrease your carbon footprint because they typically take less greenhouse gases to produce. Eating local foods is yet another way to help — it lessens the amount of emissions produced while transporting food. There are countless ways changing a minor component of your diet can help decrease the amount of greenhouse gas emissions.

There are, of course, many sides to everything, including the seemingly small changes you could make to your diet. Cutting out red meat could negatively affect anyone involved in raising and preparing cattle, and that could potentially put jobs at risk. There are nutritional risks to consider, as well.

From the classroom to the corner office.

Although few would argue that eating more fruits and vegetables is harmful to your health, the decrease in red meat could lead to protein deficiencies if a balanced diet is not maintained. For people with lower incomes, it becomes increasingly difficult to afford red meat alternatives that contain the required amount of protein for a healthy diet.

Taking the many factors into consideration, it’s still easy enough to help decrease the amount of greenhouse gases that humans emit. A small sacrifice can reap substantial rewards if everyone contributes. Opting for chicken instead of beef for one meal a week is all it takes to begin reversing the detrimental effects that climate change has been causing to the planet and to all who inhabit it.

Dr. Kathryn Yeaton, Associate Professor of Accounting, and her class engaged in student presentations.

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page 12 The Signal February 18, 2015

Spring 2015 Career and Internship Fair Friday, February 27, 2015 Rec Center 9AM– 1PM Sampling of Employer Representatives

Profit Accutest Laboratories AdMed, Inc. Aerotek All State New Jersey Arete, Inc. Around Campus Group ASRC Federal Mission Solutions Bank of America/Merrill Edge Blinds To Go Brainerd Communications, Inc. Breakaway Technologies, Inc. Burlington Stores Camden Riversharks CBIZ Valuation Group Chubb Cintas Corporation CIT Group, Inc. CohnReznick LLP Covance Core e-business solutions The Creative Group DC Fabricators, Inc. Deloitte Eisner Amper Emergency Medical Associates Enterprise Holdings Epic Ernst & Young LLP (EY) ESF Summer Camps Fastenal Ferguson Enterprises Fortren Funding Grant Thornton LLP Guardian Life Insurance Company Harding Loevner Health Care Software, Inc. (HCS) Johnson & Johnson Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson JPMorgan Chase Kelmar Associates

KPMG LGS Innovations LLC Lockheed Martin Management Planning, Inc. Marathon Data Systems McAdam Financial Group McCann Torre Lazur Mercadien P.C. CPAs Miles Technologies Morgan Stanley New York Life News America Marketing NJ 101.5FM - Townsquare Media Nordson EFD, LLC Northeast Planning Corp.

Northwestern Mutual Central NJ/Bucks County Northwestern Mutual - Morristown Philadelphia Insurance Companies Pickering, Corts & Summerson PLS Logistics Services Power Home Remodeling Group Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) Sage Hospitality Sherwin-Williams Company SHI International Corp.

Six Flags Great Adventure SMC Corporation of America Sordoni Construction Co. South Jersey Industries Sparta Systems Inc. T&M Associates Target ThyssenKrupp Elevator Unum UPS Visual Computer Solutions Vydia Inc. Whiting-Turner Contracting Wilkin and Guttenplan WithumSmith+Brown

Non-Profit Alternatives, Inc. The Arc Mercer Bonnie Brae Catholic Charities CISabroad City Year Community Charter School of Paterson Educational Testing Service (ETS) Easter Seals NJ International Sculpture Center JCC Abrams Camps MSSL Inc. SERV Behavioral Health System,Inc. Teach for America Uncommon Schools Washington Center for Internships Womanspace Government Delaware State Police IRS Criminal Investigation Division Manchester Township Police Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) New Jersey Economic Development Authority New Jersey Judiciary NJ Department of Banking and Insurance NJ State Parole Board NJ Transit Peace Corps Pennsylvania State Police Prince George’s County Police Department U.S. Air Force U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) U.S. Federal Air Marshals (TSA/DHS) U.S. Marine Officer Program

Get a LinkedIn Photo Taken at the Fair by SGA! CO-SPONSORS: Net Impact, Theta Phi Alpha, Junior Class Officers, Delta Phi Epsilon, Phi Beta Lambda, Manhunt and more!

For updated list, please check the Career Center website: http://career.pages.tcnj.edu/

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 13

: May 1979

Outdoor concert held

Kimberly Ilkowski / Features Editor

Students frolic in the grass outside Green Hall during the concert.

By Kimberly Ilkowski Features Editor

In the midst of the harsh winter weather of 2015, students can’t help but hope for spring to come sooner. In the Tuesday, May 8, 1979 issue of The Signal, the College celebrated the flourishing spring and warm weather with an all-day outdoor country music festival held on Quimby’s Prairie.

A brilliant spring day with temperatures nearing the 80s, fresh air and foot stompin’ music provided by three country-rock bands combined for a perfect afternoon on Quimby’s prairie Sunday.

Frisbees and spirits soared, and even campus police seemed to enjoy themselves as a well-controlled, mellow crowd lounged on the grassy areas between Green and Holman halls.

Sponsored by the College Union Board (CUB) concerts committee, the country music festival was the first outdoor concert at Trenton State College in several years.

Mad Fables, a five-man rhythm and blues type band, kicked off the musical events shortly after the 1 p.m. starting time. Their set was uneventful, and received little response from the still growing audience. Estimates had put the number of

The

By Johnanthony Alaimo Columnist

people attending between 300-400 for the all afternoon event.

Mad Fables’ set was short and totally instrumental, covering a fairly wide range of musical style, with its root sound being in the country-rock boogie that was to be the day’s precedent.

Following a somewhat lengthy intermission (though most of the crowd didn’t seem to mind the delay), the musical entertainment continued as the Molly Cribb band took the stage hammering out a cover of an Outlaws song.

A Pub favorite, Cribb played what was to be the longest set of the day, doing mostly covers of Southern rock band tunes which brought positive responses from the audience.

The crowd began to get on its feet as Cribb played the Charlie Daniels Bands’ “South’s Gonna do it Again,” the Grateful Dead’s “Truckin,” and Lynrd Skynrd’s anthem “Free Bird.”

The band played multiple encores, the last of which was jumping cover of the Outlaws’ “Green Grass and High Tides.”

Crowd spirit stayed at a peak during the wait for Kinderhook Creek. Many students said that the concert was “the best thing that ever happened to this college,” continuing that it helped to bring people on campus together in a way that no one

Campus Style

By Heather Hawkes Columnist I would be doing you all a great disservice if I wrote this article about anything other than Kanye West’s collaboration with Adidas, that was finally brought to the spotlight on Thursday, Feb. 12. No matter if you like, dislike or are indifferent to Kanye as a musician, it’s evident that he has a serious eye for fashion and art.

The line is sportswear-based and encompasses a worn and torn edge accompanied by military elements from past and present. The color palette is muted and earthy with every piece effortlessly complimenting the others. The greatest feature of this line, however, is the functionality and comfort of the clothing.

There are few things better than a line that can be incorporated into our everyday attire, that has the ability to accent and enhance our different styles. ​T he highlight of this entire line is not only the beauty of the clothing, but rather that for which it stands.

Upon opening his launch show, Kanye spoke about the meaning of his work.

Here’s an excerpt from New York Magazine: “I want to create something better for you. We have been limited. It’s bigger than who I am in this, you know, in my presence living. It’s about, you know, when I was on earth, what did I do to help? I want people to think more — I want people to feel like it’s thought was possible.

Kinderhook, a popular New Jersey country-rock band, concluded the musical entertainment with an hour (or less) set, as the sun began to sink behind Cromwell Hall.

Kinderhook, still awaiting a recording contract, mixed original material among their famous cover versions of Jackson Browne and Marshall Tucker Band, among many others.

Some members of the crowd were obviously disappointed at the brevity of Kinderhook’s performance, remembering the two-and-a-half hour plus outdoor jam they did at Rider College on an overcast day last spring.

AP Photo

West and wife Kim with Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour. okay to create and follow what their dreams are, and not feel boxed in. I want people to feel like awesome is possible. There’s a lack of creativity in every field ‘cause people are afraid. As an artist, and in this world, we can do whatever we want.”

If you haven’t already, I suggest you check out this line and let the message sink in. Most importantly, take Kanye’s advice and don’t be afraid to follow your dreams.

Kinderhook was forced to leave after their short set to make their regular Sunday night appearance in the rock room of the Royal Manor North in New Brunswick.

Kinderhook got its usual warm response from the audience, many of whom danced joyfully in the setting sun.

The audience was well behaved and obviously clean, as the prairie retained its normal tidy look following the concert.

CUB personnel were very helpful for those who needed reminding as to where the trash receptacles were.

On the whole, the CUB country music festival was a huge success and was almost a guaranteed good time for those who attended.

Hollyword: 50 Shades of WTF

The reviews are IN! In what, I don’t want to know, considering we’re talking about “Fifty Shades of Grey.” But film critics have gone where only middleaged women who sit on their spin-cycle dryers have gone before: erotica. How sexually explicit is this film? Can Dakota Fanning watch it? Can I eat cheese during it? I have a lot of questions.

Unfortunately, the critics only answered the first one for me. Claudia Puig of USA Today wrote, “…those looking for hot, kinky sex will be disappointed.

Fewer than 15 of the movie’s 125 minutes feature sex scenes. Discussion of contracts and objections over line items outweigh erotica. Even the graphic nudity grows numbing.” Sounds to me like a commercial for erectile dysfunction is more sexy. The film is getting generally panned, spanked and whipped by the

film-critic community. So much so that the movie had to use the safe word they agreed on. Poor “Fifty Shades!” Well, maybe it just needs a revamping, like a crossover. How’s “Fifty Shades of Avatar” sound? ​While movie lovers are dissing “Grey,”

Jay-Z was doing a whole lot of dissing at the Grammys this past week. During the ceremony, Taylor Swift was seen with Jay-Z, allegedly asking him out to brunch.

Apparently, Jay-Z seemed disinterested in Swift’s invite and nodded blankly in her direction while Swift kept screaming

AP Photo

Less than 15 minutes of ‘Grey’ includes the infamous, X-rated scenes.

“brunch!” One does not simply ask JayZ out for brunch, Taylor! There are certain procedures you need to go through.

Besides, if the “Partition” music video is any indication, Jay-Z likes a whole different type of brunch. Here’s hoping Jay-Z’s indifference inspires a T-Swift brunch song. I’ve taken the opportunity to write the first couple lines. “The eggs are not the only Benedict I see/ ‘Cause there’s a traitor sitting right across from me/Please pour me another mimosa/Before I flip this table all over ya.”

And in shocking news, Jon Stewart has announced he will be stepping down from his post at “The Daily Show” later this year. Stewart has been at the helm of the program for over 15 years, beginning his stint in 1999. There is no word yet on who will replace Stewart’s big shoes, but I’ve heard that Brian Williams and Bill Cosby may be in need of some work.

page 14 The Signal February 18, 2015

Arts & Entertainment

Devine / The ‘Pitch Perfect’ star is aca-mazing continued from page 1

After finishing up his last joke about a man walking in on him while he went to the bathroom, Ray introduced headliner Devine, who received a large cheer from the audience as he walked out to the “Workaholics” theme song.

Before starting, he was surprised when he noticed two photographers on the sides of the stage snapping pictures.

“They’re hitting me from all sides,” Devine said. He then went on to pretend like he was “crushing” his performance.

Devine began to strike a number of poses — ending up on the floor at one point and

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

Ray opens the show with a bang.

causing the crowd to break out in a roaring applause.

Devine had a feeling that the night’s show was going to be a good one from the “vibes” he was getting from the already hysterical crowd of students.

“We’re going to have fun tonight, I feel it,” Devine said. “Good vibes in here, guys.”

The audience did seem to be enjoying themselves, as people couldn’t help but double over in their seats from laughing so hard.

Devine, especially, had the audience laughing when he recounted the time he was first recognized by someone while stopped at a stoplight. The man was crossing the street, stopped and said a famous “Workaholic” line to Devine.

In return, Devine threw a “double-backwards peace sign.”

“That is the ultimate douchey move,” Devine said about throwing up the peace sign. “I just immediately turned into Bieber or something.”

Devine was very animated throughout the entire show, taking advantage of the whole stage. He shared how, as an 8-year-old child, he would run around his house with a cape because he was into magic.

Devine talked about his family, particularly his parents, throughout his performance. In an interview with The Signal, Devine said that he was definitely influenced by growing up in the environment he was provided, which included plenty of jokes involving his family.

“My dad’s super funny, my uncles are funny and my mom thinks she’s really funny,” Devine said. He continued on to explain how sweet his mom is, but that for his comedy, he “took all their bad

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

Devine discusses his work on ‘Workaholics’ during his standup set. qualities,” which he said with a laugh.

Throughout the show, Devine mentioned some of the different shows and movies he’s been involved in, such as “Workaholics,” “Modern Family” and “Pitch Perfect.” What some people might not have known about Devine is that he had once auditioned for the latenight sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live.” When Devine mentioned the audition, people cheered him on.

“Give it up for my audition everybody,” Devine said. “Yeah, give it up for that job that I did not secure.”

Devine was not prepared to do impressions and demonstrated how he poorly impersonated Paul McCartney in front of producer Lorne Michaels, a fan of the British band.

Along with pointing out his failed audition, Devine made fun of his own

jokes by occasionally saying things like “so stupid” or “that’s dumb,” at one point saying that there should be a Tshirt with his “big dumb face” on it and underneath should read “stupid.”

At the end of the show, Devine talked about one of his “Workaholics” co-stars and real-life friend, Blake Anderson, and how Anderson would steal his orange juice on set.

When asked about what it was like working with his friends on “Workaholics” in an interview with The Signal, Devine explained about how great it really is and how lucky he is to be working with some of his best friends.

“Luckily, we don’t have to be that serious on the show,” Devine said. “And it’s so much fun. Those guys are my best friends, and it’s cool that we have the opportunity to work together.”

Brown Bag features the effect of social sculpture

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Review Editor The idea of social sculpting can best be described in the words of Oscar Wilde: “Life imitates art far more than art imitates life.”

On Friday, Feb. 13, conceptual artist Chlöe Bass visited the College as part of The Brown Bag series to explain how social sculpting is used to create a structure that ultimately changes society or the environment. Bass highlighted that the driving force behind social sculpting is the intersection between performancebased art and the idea of perspective.

“Society is both as simple and complex as making art,” Bass said.

Bass’s hope as a conceptual artist using social sculpting is to change the way those who experience the art perceive the world around them. By changing their perspective, she hopes they begin to change the way they live their lives, thus contributing differently to society.

Bass’s art focuses on having a full sensory experience. In her 2013 project, “Process Late Lunch,” she cooked a meal with her “guests” sitting around the table. Rather than having the meal prepared for the guests upon their arrival, a small portion of each ingredient was placed on the guests’ dish to be tasted as it was added to the actual meal. This

Photo courtesy of Amanda Palacios

As a trained conceptual artist, Bass strives to change visual perspectives.

more than doubled the ‘normal’ lunch or dinner meal, which normally last only 30 minutes. Over the course of two hours, the guests were forced to have more intimate conversations as well as be a part of a sensory experience that included taste, smell and touch. Although photographs were taken every 30 minutes over the course of the meal, Bass stressed that social sculpting can be hard to understand in pictures.

“It can be hard to tell exactly what happened from photographs,” Bass said.

“Only being part of the experience can give you the true feel for the project.”

To give the audience an idea of exactly

what being part of a social sculpture feels like, Bass conducted one during her lecture. Giving the audience 10 minutes of free space, her instructions were to convert the concert hall into a different space by changing your emotional or physical perspective. In those 10 minutes the audience members moved seats, sat on stage and began to talk amongst themselves.

After the time was up, the audience remained where they had moved to reflect on how the social sculpture changed the environment and their perspective of the room. The reflections varied between those who moved a little or a lot and those who changed their perspective entirely by

sitting on stage. One student in the audience used his time to buy concert tickets, changing his perspective on the Mayo Concert Hall from a lecture hall to a more social space. Audience members agreed that by opening the stage to the spectators, there is less segregation between the speaker and the audience, creating a more fluid system between the two parties, changing the perspective of the lecture.

“I definitely gained a new perspective on sitting on stage,” freshman communications studies major Nicole Natale said. “It makes the whole hall feel a lot smaller than it is.”

Bass draws inspiration for trying to change visual perspectives from her theatre background. She is trained in directing and writing but was dissatisfied that theatrical arts could only be seen from one perspective. She wanted to participate in art that could be tasted, smelled and touched. Leaving the stage opened the door for her to change her own perspective and explore this more abstract concept. Bass has explored the relationship between individuals and groups through her concept art and, over the next two years, she will be exploring the concept of pairs for her next project.

“I feel very motivated by my anxiety to ask questions,” Bass said. “I will seek answers from as many different people as possible on this journey.”

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 15

King’s inspirational life is celebrated in ‘Selma’

AP Photo

Oyelowo plays King with poise and authenticity.

By Shannon Kelly Staff Writer

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is most famously remembered for his “I Have a Dream” speech, but his fight

By Judith Signal Advice Columnist

for the rights of African Americans didn’t end on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Years later, King was still campaigning for the right for African Americans to vote. “Selma,” which hit theaters mid-January, showed a side of the civil rights crusader that many people seem to forget or consider. Portrayed as a conflicted man with the weight of a race on his shoulders, actor David Oyelowo’s rendition of King shows finesse, strength, despair and even guilt in the face of the great adversity plaguing his people.

Produced by Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt, “Selma” features a host of talented actors and actresses. Oyelowo, a 38-year-old native of Oxford, England, has been in a handful of movies including ‘The Help,” “Lincoln,” the “Butler” and “Interstellar.” The pinnacle of his career so far would be his success as King, for he flawlessly embodied the character, speech patterns and voice inflections of the leader.

Equally important to the civil rights struggle was King’s wife, Coretta Scott, played by British actress

Carmen Ejogo. “Selma” touches on the Kings’ marital problems, namely how Coretta deals with Martin’s infidelity. In the end, she is credited with fighting for her husband’s birthday to become an honored federal holiday — as more than just a day off from school but a celebration of the accomplishments of the Reverend through nonviolent protests.

Although Oyelowo did not win a Golden Globe for his impeccable performance, “Selma” did win for Best Original Song with John Legend and Common’s “Glory.” The music was often understated throughout the movie, subtly beginning so it didn’t register fully until the climax of the scene, beautifully adding to the drama. The cinematography expertly captured the tension between light and dark colors through lighting and wardrobe, supplementing the literal dichotomies of the civil rights conflict.

“Selma” is truly a masterpiece in artfully capturing history, style and the celebration of a great man into an emotional and empowering film.

– Future Plans The Awards Forecast: The best picture race

Dear Judith, I’ve been on a path here at TCNJ to have a career in law, which was always the plan. But recently some strange things have been happening to me, and I think they might be signs that I should do something else with my life, some kind of higher calling. I’ve never been very religious exactly, but now I’m conflicted. Should I stick to the plan or follow my gut?

- Distorted Plans Dear Distorted Plans, I think there’s something incredibly exciting and deeply terrifying about having plans for your life. Let’s examine your plan, shall we? You have come to the College to pursue a career in law. Seems simple enough. I don’t know anything about your background or how you feel about the legal field, but it’s clear now that, regardless, you are having trouble accepting that this could very well be the career you are attached to for life.

First, know that your anxiety is totally valid. As young adults, we are often forced to jump into a life that we are not entirely sure of. College is about exploring that path and figuring out if the light at the end is where you want to be for the rest of your life. I think it’s clear, Distorted, that you may not be suited to continue down this path.

And that is completely OK! Do you know how many people feel that way at this school? A very small population of students actually have cemented their life paths. After all, college is about the exploration you

are able to do. Take advantages of opportunities. Slowly, but surely, you will begin to form an identity that you will be proud of.

Now, this is not to say that you are definitely not cut out for law school. You very well may be. But it’s so important that you listen to that feeling inside that is telling you that maybe it’s time to pursue something else.

I think the best course of action is to, as always, breathe. Remember that you are not alone. You do not need to have your entire future planned out for you tomorrow, regardless of what people may tell you. If you’re a senior and already super committed, keep in mind that most people today don’t stay in the same careers for more than four or five years. There’s more to life than “this or that” — there’s always “this and that.” Who says you can’t have it all, Distorted? I say you can.

Regardless of your religion (or if you even believe in a higher being), it is very natural to feel like you are meant to be doing something greater. So many of us go through that “holy shit, am I actually doing what I’m supposed to be doing with my life?” moment during our college career. Again, it’s natural.

I know it seems like the future is fast approaching and you need to make a brash decision, but I guarantee that is the worst possible course of action. Slow down. Breathe.

Listen to your gut. Explore. Take chances.

And remember that you can always come back to your initial path.

After all, that’s what college is truly about. You have the rest of your life to be boring and serious.

Love, Judith

AP Photo

‘Boyhood’ is set to win.

By Jonathan Edmondson Arts & Entertainment Editor

A few years ago, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences opted to expand the Best Picture category to include up to 10 nominees. This decision has allowed multiple independent films to make the cut in a stacked category of films from all different genres.

This year is no different. Three of the films nominated for Best Picture —“Whiplash,” “Boyhood” and “The Grand Budapest Hotel” — were all given initial limited releases and

created on a tight budget.

Other films, such as “The Imitation Game,” “Selma,” “The Theory of Everything” and “American Sniper,” fell into the Oscar-bait category of historical biopic.

Then there’s “Birdman,” which stars Michael Keaton, Edward Norton and Emma Stone in careerdefining roles. The film is a piece of creativity, unlike any other film in recent memory. “Birdman” is an example of risky filmmaking that pays off.

With so many outstanding films, it’s hard to imagine that there will only be one winner that captures everything it means to be a Best Picture winner — amazing acting, flawless production and a daring screenplay.

Throughout the year, there has been one film that has consistently been mentioned by reports, celebrities and audience members alike, and that’s “Boyhood.”

Released in July of last year, Richard Linklater’s film has been gaining momentum instead of losing it — a rare feat for a summer movie.

Linklater shot the film over 12 years, chronicling the life of a young boy named Mason (Ellar Coltrane), his sister Samantha (Linklater’s daughter, Lorelei Linklater) and their parents — Patricia Arquette as Olivia and Ethan Hawke as Mason Sr. The film had a unique production process. Linklater and his cast shot the film for a few weeks every year since 2002, and the whole time they were writing the screenplay. The actors were involved creating the plot and used real life influences to shape their characters.

“Boyhood” has claimed the number-one spot on many critics year-end lists — and for good reason. The film is unlike anything I have ever seen before. Compared to the other nominees, “Boyhood” rises above in its uniqueness and authenticity. While “Birdman” and “American Sniper” aren’t far behind, it would be an utter shame if “Boyhood” did not take home the ultimate prize this Sunday, Feb. 22, when the Oscars air.

‘Ringer’ fails to shine due to mediocre script

By Chris Minitelli Staff Writer

Sometimes, when a movie idea sounds relatively original and shows some promise, it completely misses the mark and

any expectations of it. This is the case for the recent comedy, “The Wedding Ringer.”

“The Wedding Ringer” reminded me of a combination of “Hitch” and “I Love You, Man,” but it was not nearly as entertaining as

AP Photo

Hart’s jokes consistently fall flat in his latest comedy.

either of these films. “Ringer” tells the story of Jimmy Callahan, played by Kevin Hart, who is in the unique business of pretending to be a groom’s best man at his wedding. Soliciting his services is Doug Harris, played by Josh Gad, who is about to get married.

However, he has neither groomsmen nor a best man. After piecing together a fake wedding party, the gang works to seem as if they have been friends for years and are a cohesive group.

Although this concept sounded pretty funny, the script definitely did not translate well to an entertaining film. The comedy throughout the film used a lot of unoriginal and unimpressive comedy tactics. “Ringer” often relied on slapstick comedy,

which was not funny in this particular movie.

Much of the film’s humor was heavily based on crude and rudimentary jokes that just fell flat.

Although the comedy and the humor of “The Wedding Ringer” seemed to follow similar methods of other Hart movies, these did not translate well to the audience, and they did not provide any real entertainment.

Also, this film’s script lacked any real depth and any substantial character development. I felt that, as I was watching this movie, it was just a bunch of separate clips with flat characters that I knew nothing about. Scenes did not tie very well together or give any real insight into the situations the characters were in. This entire film

was very basic and also extremely predictable, with a storyline that went absolutely nowhere.

While the script certainly left the characters quite flat, so did the actors portraying them.

Hart and Gad gave mediocre performances in this film with very little chemistry. The supporting cast of “The Wedding Ringer” was also pretty lacking, which included a lackluster performance from Kaley CuocoSweeting as Harris’s fiancé.

Although these actors were definitely given a mediocre script, they still could have done something more with their own characters to provide at least some character development. Ultimately, I would recommend skipping “The Wedding Ringer.”

page 16 The Signal February 18, 2015

The Division of Student Affairs invites students to apply for:

the 2015 student engagement scholarships

Dorothy Taylor Haas ‘32 Award

Graduating senior with a minimum 3.0 GPA, who demonstrates strong leadership skills, character, great promise for the future, and an extensive commitment to the College through involvement with campus or community events.

Greg Caiola ’79 Scholarship

Rising Junior or rising Senior, who demonstrates outstanding engagement and leadership in a recognized student organization at the College. This student shall show dedication to the organization(s) of which he or she is a member, and shall strive to make the campus and the community a better place through his or her active commitment and leadership. Must be nominated to apply.

Harold W. and Rosa Lee Eickhoff Fund

Rising juniors or rising seniors who maintain at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate through their actions that they will leave The College a better place for having been here.

John Wandishin ‘79 Scholarship

Rising sophomore, rising junior, or rising senior who has the potential to make positive contributions to the TCNJ community. This student may not necessarily receive great public attention, but exemplifies honor, courage, leadership, scholarship, and service in their efforts to use available resources to further the TCNJ community.

Wade Watkins ’84 Scholarship

Full time undergraduate student that plays an active role in campus programs, and has made positive contributions to the TCNJ community. Although this student may not necessarily receive great public attention for their efforts, he/she must exhibit the qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service; while having fun in the process.

William M. Klepper Scholarship

Undergraduate student with a minimum 3.0 GPA who is involved in campus programs, demonstrates academic achievement, and is active in at least one student organization, preferably in a leadership position.

For guidelines and to apply visit:

studentactivities.tcnj.edu Deadline: Monday, March 2

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 17

First CUB student comedy show a wild success February 18, 2015 The Signal page 17

Gabriel Salazar Correspondent A room full of laughter and hysterics started off the weekend during CUBRat’s Student Comedy Night on Friday, Feb. 13, at the Rathskeller.

This was the first-ever student comedy show ran by the College Union Board, and it was full of performances ranging from a hip-hop rap duo to stand-up comedians to improv groups.

The show started promptly with the opening act: Matthew Fishman and junior marketing major Erik Hess, also known as Fat Matt and EHess, a hip-hop duo part of the collective group, Gang King. They started off their set by walking up on stage only in shirts and their underwear to sing a fitting song called “Forgot My Pants.”

“Give me one more chance, I won’t forget my pants,” they sang on top of a funky synth beat as the audience laughed at their synchronized dancing.

The second song they sang was called “Attractive Guys,” a song about handsome

men getting all the ladies.

“I’m lookin’ cool, I’m lookin’ cut, I’m lookin’ slick, I’m lookin’ sly,” was just one of many sleek lyrics in their song.

Their set went on for two more songs about french fries and the recent cold weather that the College has experienced.

After the comedic hip-hop songs of Fat Matt and EHess, the much anticipated stand-up acts were next in line.

The first act to start the stand up sets was Otto Gomez, a sophomore communication studies major.

Gomez’s set consisted of jokes about his early childhood in Cuba, coming to America in 2003 and how being Cuban has its perks.

He told a story about growing up in Cuba and how the mothers of children who don’t behave have stronger throwing arms than the men.

“I was complaining about something, I don’t know what, and this woman, my own mother, threw a potato at me,” Gomez said retrospectively.

His set continued to incite laughter

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love to see it happen every semester. It’s always nice to see some new flavors at The Rat.” After the three students’ stand-up sets, improv groups Kiss on the Lips and Mixed Signals gave the audience a different and refreshing form of comedy by interacting with the audience and asking for help with their improv acts.

“I think (the first student comedy show) went pretty well, and I would love to continue this event more,” Guaglianone said. “I think this kind of student performance event fosters a feeling of community on campus.”

Brendan McGeehan / Staff Photographer

Barr performs sarcastic standup.

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Fat Matt and EHess, a comedic hip-hip duo, rap with quirky humor.

from the audience with his stories about getting weather notifications from David Muha to his own struggle with paranoia.

He ended his set by talking about his girlfriend of two months, making jokes about how he cannot believe they are actually together.

With the show on a roll, the second comedian, first-timer senior graphic design major Alex Guaglianone, took the stage with his own personal jokes.

He started his set by talking about how pretentious some bands are. But what made the audience laugh the most were his personal stories about being gay and coming out. He said that his family and friends were very supportive when he decided to open up about his sexuality.

“The only thing that sucks is that I can’t eat penis-shaped foods in front of my dad anymore,” Guaglianone said.

While he still had the audience’s attention, he ended his set with a public service announcement: “If you’re gay, don’t Google pussy foods.”

The third and final student comedian was junior economics major Thomas Barr.

He began his set by asking the audience, “how’s everyone doing?” and proceeded to answer himself, “No one cares.”

He then continues by talking about his misfortune of slipping on ice and going to the doctor, only for the doctor to say, “Just put a little ice on it (his bruises).”

“He finished his last joke about his freshman year high school English teacher who looked like Hagrid from Harry Potter, and how his wife resembled a “female version of Hagrid,” which elicited a large laugh from the audience.

When asked about how the first student comedy show went, Barr was enthusiastic.

“I thought it went great,” he said. “I’d

page 18 The Signal February 18, 2015

Success: More than just an attitude ee your goal nderstand the obstacles

reate a positive mental picture lear mind of self doubt

mbrace the challenge

tay on track how the world you can do it Jump back into Good Habits with The Center for Student Success! 

Personalized Coaching

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Academic Success Workshops

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Supplemental Academic Advising

Follow Us! To set up an appointment: Center for Student Success Roscoe West 131 609-771-3452 css@tcnj.edu

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February 18, 2015 The Signal page 19

Sports Track and Field

Track and Field earns multiple record bests

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Mazzarella holds the lead against Boston.

By George Tatoris Staff Writer

The men’s and women’s track and field teams split up this weekend to take on competition in two different meets: the Monmouth University Winter Collegiate Open and the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational.

The Boston University Track and Tennis Center houses one the fastest tracks in the country. This is due to the extent to which the track is banked. The effects were manifested in the

Lions’ spectacular times.

“It’s a strange feeling — you don’t feel like you’re running faster,” said sophomore Brandon Mazzarella about the track. “But as you come around each lap, you look at the clock and you realize you’re running faster than you thought.”

The women’s team had their best weekend this season. Senior Katelyn Ary proved herself the fastest Division III runner in the nation in the 800 meters, which she completed in 2:11.56, a personal best.

“This weekend showed me that I am a lot stronger than I

ever expected,” Ary said.

Ary was not alone in her phenomenal success. Senior Joy Spriggs was the top Division III runner in the 400 meters that meet, boasting an impressive 57.21 finishing time, which, in addition to being a personal best, put her in the top 10 Division III runners in that race this season.

Ary and Spriggs, along with senior Michelle Cascio and freshman Emily Mead, were the first Division III and 19th overall quartet to finish the 4x400 with a combined time of 3:54.5. Ary and Spriggs were also part of the distance medley that took place on the day the men’s team ran.

They, along with freshman Allison Fournier and senior Megan Stack, teamed up in the distance relay for a finishing time of 12:10.71, finishing 13th overall.

At the same meet, junior Jake Lindacher was the fastest amongst the Division III runners in the 60-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.37 seconds, placing 12th overall.

Lindacher is ranked 6th in the nation, according to head coach Justin Lindsey.

Mazzarella scored a personal best in the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.10. This put him 32nd out of 206 runners.

Mazzarella, with junior Laron Day, freshman Daniel Lynch and senior Erik Moutenot placed 18th in the 4x400 relay with a time of 3:19.44 — their first sub 3:20 of the season. Both the men’s and women’s relay teams have been doing well this season, and this breakthrough performance is testament to that.

Mazzarella attributed the finish to teammate Moutenot’s anchor leg, who also had a personal record in the 800 meters.

At Monmouth, senior Joan Hales did not get a personal best like last week, but still threw an ECAC cut of 14.42 meters, placing fifth in the weight throw.

In the 3,000 meters, junior Kayla Glynn finished fourth with a time of 11:07.60.

Junior Jon Stouber and senior Andrew Wilson topped off the 5,000 meters at Monmouth — Stouber in first at 15:21.29 and Wilson in second with 15:33.71.

“We had many breakthrough performances (this weekend), and the goal is to keep building on this energy until the end of the season,” Lindsey said.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Spriggs finishes strong in an impressive turnout.

Wrestling

Tennis

Lions finish season Tennis opens season with win Lose to ranked opponents

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The Lions celebrate their seniors.

By Christopher Drabik Correspondent

The College’s wrestling team put on a couple of gritty performances against two top-10 teams in the country. Despite their best efforts, the Lions (12-9) dropped back to back matches to No. 10 Delaware Valley College and No. 8 Messiah College.

The College started off the week with a tight contest last Thursday, Feb. 13, against Delaware Valley College (11-3). Despite holding on to a 13-12 lead with two bouts remaining, the Lions suffered losses at 197 pounds and heavyweight for a decisive Delaware Valley victory.

The Lions started off slow, finding themselves down 6-0, but picked up big wins from freshman Ryan Budzek and Kellen Whitney, junior Antonio

Mancella and senior Zach Zotollo.

Zotollo (15-0) came into the week ranked first nationally at his 174 pound weight class. He posted a 10-3 victory to keep his undefeated season alive.

The College then set its sights on Messiah College (19-1) in order to finish the regular season on a high note. As if the Lions needed any more motivation, they were looking to send off their senior wrestlers in style, as they took to their home mats at Packer Hall one last time.

Seniors Zotollo and Nathaniel Leer were honored in a brief ceremony prior to the match.

Once the match was underway, it was a back-and-forth affair that featured six different lead changes. Once again, the Lions found themselves in the lead with just two bouts remaining, but they could not hold on as they suffered a hard fought 20-15 loss.

Down 7-6, juniors Steve Schneider and Mancella picked up backto-back wins at 149 pounds and 157 pounds, respectively, to give the College a 12-7 lead.

Sophomore Brandon Simon provided the College with its final points of the night, picking up a victory at 184 pounds to set the lead at 15-13.

From that point, Messiah College picked up wins in the final two bouts to secure the victory.

Although the regular season is officially over, the College will continue to train and prepare for the NCAA Regional Tournament, which begins Sunday, March 1, in Ferrum, V.A.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The Lions sweep Vassar College in season opener.

By Josh Kestenbaum Staff Writer

In their first match of the season, the Lions men’s tennis team posted an impressive win after defeating Vassar College by a score of 9-0 on Saturday, Feb. 14. The College swept both doubles and singles in this match to take all nine points.

“We need not just a win,” said coach Scott Dicheck to his team after going up 3-0 after the doubles round. “We want to put on a dominating performance.”

The Lions did indeed put on

such a dominating performance.

The top doubles pair of sophomores Pierce Cooper and Billy Buchbinder defeated their opponents 8-6, while the second doubles pair and fellow sophomores Jack August and Jason Prezant earned a victory of 8-5.

To cap the Lions’ sweep of the doubles matches, freshmen Chris D’Agostino and Sean Fernandez were victorious by a score of 9-7.

The Lions’ success continued into the singles round. At first singles, Cooper dispatched his opponent 6-3, 6-1. August, playing No. 2 singles, fought back after losing the first set

to defeat his opponent 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 10-6. Buchbinder defeated his No. 3 opponent 6-2, 6-3. No. 4 singles was another close match and, after dropping the first set and climbing back, D’Agostino came out on top 4-6, 7-5, 10-5. Fernandez made short work of his opponent at No. 5 singles, winning impressively by a score of 6-1, 6-0.

The No. 6 singles match was the last match to finish, and it came down to the wire. Junior Dan Presuto won the first set 6-4 but consequently dropped the second set 0-6. With all members of both teams looking on, Presuto and his opponent moved on to a super tiebreak: first to 10 points wins, but it must be by two points. The two players traded serves and points but ultimately, it was Presuto coming out triumphant, by a score of 10-7.

“You got to block out what happened negatively in that second set,” said DiCheck about how he coached Presuto going into the super tiebreaker. “We were able to win the supers by kind of blocking out any of the past negative stuff.”

With this victory, the Lions start the season with a record of 1-0 and look to build on this win as the season goes on.

The team is back in action next Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. in the Rec Center, where they will host the Dickinson College Red Devils.

page 20 The Signal February 18, 2015

THE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CENTER FOR INNOVATION AND ETHICS PRESENTS:

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Mayo Concert Hall

Interdisciplinary conversations that inspire change

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4 6

LIONS

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 21

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Matt Bowker “The Ref”

Chris Drabik

Otto Gomez

Correspondent

Staff Writer

Michael Battista Sports Assistant

In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: Are the Padres the favorite to win the NL West, who should be the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft and will Tiger Woods ever win another major?

1. After multiple off-season acquisitions, can the Padres beat out the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West?

Otto: Even after all of the additions to the Padres this off-season, I still think the Dodgers will win the National League West. We know what they’re going to get from their starting rotation, and now they have added Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson to close out the five-man group. While they got rid of hard-hitting Hanley Ramirez, they added Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins to play up the middle. Adrian Gonzalez and Yasiel Puig will still be effective and have been more consistent than Matt Kemp in recent years, and overall, the Dodgers have more experienced players on their roster than the Padres, who, while getting James Shields, as well, have a lot of young names left to prove themselves.

Chris: As spring training is quickly approaching, it’s clear that the race for the NL West crown will be one of the most interesting storylines of the season. After

AP Photo

having one of the most active off-seasons in recent memory, the San Diego Padres are in prime position to overtake the San Francisco Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Led by free agent signees Matt

Kemp and Justin Upton, the Padres will feature one of the most dangerous offenses in all of baseball. The biggest signing of them all for the Padres was starting pitcher James Shields. Shields provides the pitching staff

with the ace they desperately need while also providing postseason experience. Combine this with the Giants’ loss of Pablo Sandoval as well as the Dodgers’ dependence on injury-prone hitters, and I feel that this is the Padres’ year.

Michael: The Padres can definitely overtake the Giants and Dodgers in the NL West.

In his first off-season as the new general manager, A.J. Preller revamped the team in multiple areas, including pitching with the acquisition of James Shields. Still, they have their work cut out for them in the West, where the Giants have recently signed third baseman Casey McGehee and have been resigning the same talent that helped them win the World Series last year. The Dodgers have also been busy, trading away Matt Kemp and catcher Tim Federowicz in a fiveplayer deal to, of all teams, the Padres. With players like Kemp, Shields and left fielder Jason Upton, amongst others, the Padres have enough new talent to get into the playoffs past one or both of the other teams.

Chris gets 3 points for calling the Dodgers injury-prone. Michael gets 2 points for praising Preller, and Otto gets 1 point for mentioning the Dodgers’ rotation.

AP Photo

2. Should Marcus Mariota or Jameis Winston be the first pick in the NFL draft?

Otto: Jameis Winston without a doubt. Winston is definitely more NFL ready, and history shows us that mobile quarterbacks who come into the league as projects do not fare

well. Winston is more adept at making decisions on the field and adjusting to adversity, having so many come-from-behind wins this season. Mariota most likely cannot be a dayone starter, and the Buccaneers need someone to step in right away. Winston has the better

physical attributes and also has proven that he can win the big game. Some people will forget what happened during his Heisman season because of last season’s struggles, but he was able to lead Florida State on a gamewinning drive against Auburn in the National Championship as redshirt freshman.

Chris: Who do I think will be the Tampa Bay Buccaneer’s newest quarterback? Winston.

While both QBs have a whole lot that they bring to the table, Winston’s big, accurate arm will fit in perfectly with Tampa Bay’s pro-style offense. Recently hired offensive coordinator Dirk Keotter will be responsible for using Winston’s skill set to his advantage in their first year together in Tampa. Mariota is an outstanding talent but is unproven at running a pro-style offense and could be a big risk as the No. 1 overall pick. Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht needs to get this right, and keeping Winston in his home state of Florida is the right call.

Michael: Marcus Mariota is the obvious choice here, just because he’s shown more in 2014 then Jameis Winston. The 2014 Heisman winner lead the Pac 12 in rushing touchdowns this season while leading Oregon to 13 wins and the College Football Playoff National Championship. Winston, on the other hand, has had a year including improvements and disappointments both on and off the field. While his regular season with Florida State showed a lot of improvement from 2013, his Rose Bowl game against Mariota and the Ducks ended in a crushing 59-20 defeat. The 2013 Heisman winner also has dealt with multiple incidents off the field including sexual assault charges, shoplifting charges and suspensions for yelling a vulgar Internet phrase in public. Mariota’s clean record and more recent accomplishments should land him the first pick in the draft, or at the very least a higher pick then Winston.

Michael gets 3 points for his concern about Winston’s issues. Otto and Chris get 2 points each for saying that Winston is more pro-ready.

3. After announcing he will take yet another break from golf, will Tiger Woods ever win another major?

Otto: Absolutely. He’ll win one more for sure, maybe two or three, but that’s it. Unfortunately, we won’t see Tiger break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 majors, that at one time was sure to fall. Tiger is past his physical prime and has been dealing with injury after injury for the last couple of years, and that’s impossible to really get back from.

That being said, you cannot deny that in his prime, Tiger Woods exemplified greatness in a way that very few in sports ever have.

And that’s a quality that never goes away. It’s ingrained forever. He will find a way to rise to the top once more at the very least, but as we all know, Father Time is undefeated and will continue to be so, and I’m afraid we have almost seen the very last of Tiger Woods.

Chris: Tiger Woods’s golf career has taken yet another hit. Heading into the season, Tiger seemed primed for a big comeback campaign, stating that his body had finally started to cooperate with him again. However, after withdrawing last week at Torrey Pines, no one

can be confident as to whether or not Woods will ever return to his No. 1 in the world form. It always seems to be one injury after another for the 14-time major champion, which is why I think that same title will remain when he retires. Tiger Woods winning is a great thing for the world of golf, but capturing another major tournament victory has become too large of an obstacle, both mentally and physically, for the best player of our generation to overcome.

Michael: With another year off due to injury, I think Woods’s time winning majors and being the world’s best golfer is over.

Next year he’s going to be 40, and with the injuries he’s already sustained, you have to wonder how much more he can take. Right now, people need to watch the newer talent like Jordan Speith or Hideki Matsuyama, whose rising stardoms show they have a chance to be great players in the sport.

While they may not ever be as good as Tiger Woods, it’s clear now that he himself will never be as good as he once was, and that’s something both we and he need to accept.

Chris gets 3 points for looking at Woods’s mentality. Michael gets 2 points for looking at young players, and Otto gets 1 point for not giving up hope.

Chris wins Around the Dorm 8-7-4.

AP Photo

page 22 The Signal February 18, 2015

Fun Stuff Thought of the day: WHAT DO YOU YELL IF YOU SEE A SNOWMAN STEALING SOMETHING?

mad lib

“FREEZE!”

how many triangles

do you see?

word puzzles

1) Piggy Back Ride 2)Side By Side 3) Laptop Computer 4) Parallel Bars 5) 40 Days And 40 Nights 6) All Hands On Deck

There are 38 triangles in the picture above.

February 18, 2015 The Signal page 23 Cheap Seats

Women’s Basketball

biggest match Lions win to stay alive Boxing’s Pacquiao v. Mayweather is set Anthony Caruso Staff Writer

With only a handful of opportunities left to play for the College coming into this week, seniors Jessica Goldbach, Kylie O’Donnell and Kelly Coughlin made it count.

Each has scored over 20 points in the past two games. Goldbach had 24 points following back-to-back 12-point performances. O’Donnell had 23 including 18 points on Saturday, Feb. 14. Coughlin had added 21 points.

On Wednesday, Feb. 11, at the Bradley Center on the Ramapo College campus, the Lions won 62-44 in front of the 125 in attendance.

Coughlin led the Lions with 13 points, while Goldbach had 12 and junior Angelica Esposito had 11.

There were only two lead changes, with the Lions holding the largest lead at 20 points in the second half. The score was tied three times. Ramapo’s only lead was 14:25 into the first half.

On Valentine’s Day, the Lions rolled to a 78-68 win at Packer Hall. This game was Senior Day, as the coaching staff and the crowd of 163 recognized the efforts of the three seniors.

“We had a lot of family, friends and former teammates in the stands. It just makes for an exciting atmosphere, and you just have to thank them for the support,” O’Donnell said.

“The game got close a couple times, and it gave us the edge to push through.”

O’Donnell led the way with 18 points, while Esposito had 15. Goldbach had 12 and sophomore Katy Amato scored a career-high of 11 points.

The Lions had a 15-point lead with 36 seconds left in the first half. The game was

tied once and there was one lead change.

“We’ve been swinging back and forth all season, so it’s nice to swing upwards with a five-game winning streak,” coach Dawn Henderson said. “We’ve fought so hard and especially with these seniors to get us moving in the right direction. It wasn’t pretty the entire time, but we embraced ourselves, worked our butts off and were able to come out ahead.”

Wednesday, Feb. 18 is the regular season finale, as they face Kean University at 6 p.m. at Packer Hall.

“I have looked ahead as any coach would, and I’ve said, ‘Maybe this person will beat that person,’ but there’s a lot of basketball left in one game,” Henderson said. “If we Pacquiao gears up take care of our business at home against Kean, we’ll finish in fourth place and we’ll By Michael Battista have a home game (in the playoffs).”

Sports Assistant

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Amato looks to pass the ball.

AP Photo

for a fight.

You know that scene in every slasher film over the last 20 years? You know the one where the young guy is stumbling around in the dark, alone, with the ominous music playing in the background?

You know the killer is going to get him, you just don’t know when. Then the music stops, and you’re really expecting it to happen, and it still doesn’t. That summarizes the proposed fight between boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

Between 2008 and 2009, the two fighters were experiencing a lot of success in their respective careers. Mayweather had come out of his brief retirement to face Juan Manuel Márquez, and Pacquiao had become one of the top fighters in the world, beating Márquez once and also scoring an eighth-round TKO over Oscar Del La Hoya, one of the sports’s best fighters. Over the next few months,

Mayweather would take shots at Pacquiao and his accomplishments, saying they weren’t impressive since he’d beaten the same people.

Then, the media and public went insane, demanding this fight. In late 2009, it was leaked that a fight was being planned for May of 2010, but after Mayweather required “Olympic style drug testing,” negotiations fell through. Then in the middle of 2010, reports of another negotiation were being circulated, but neither fighter would comment on it fully, and promoters said they knew nothing. Since then, the situation has been continous, with people saying every so often that, “Hey, maybe it’s happening,” followed by nothing.

This entire ordeal can be made into a professional wrestling storyline, and it would make perfect sense. It has the drama — the over-zealous guy who can’t be beat against the small guy that everyone loves, while the media and fan attention around it is absurd.

But the long ordeal may finally be over.

Currently, reports say that both fighters have agreed to a $250 million fight in Las Vegas sometime in May. If this happens, this can be the biggest match in boxing since Ali vs. Frazier.

Even if you’re not into boxing, chances are you’re still going to watch this if you are a sports fan. The same way the Super Bowl draws everyone in, this fight will have viewing parties. It’s only a matter of time before these two meet, and when they do, expect a lot of ads, a lot of sponsors and a lot of people wondering why Sportscenter suddenly cares about this sport.

Attention Seniors!

Apply now to graduate in May, August, or December 2015

Graduation applications can be found in PAWS under Advising Tools.

The deadline to apply is February 19th Graduation fee is $100 A late fee of $35 will be assessed after the deadline.

For more information visit http://advisingresources.pages.tcnj.edu/graduation-info/

Contact Records and Registration should you have any questions

Signal

Sports

Men’s basketball heads to NJAC’s First playoff appearance in six seasons

By Otto Gomez Staff Writer

For the first time in six years, the Lions men’s basketball team qualified for the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Tournament after a 76-71 come-from-behind win against Ramapo College on Wednesday, Feb. 11.

The Lions managed to fight their way back after being down 36 of the possible 40 minutes of the game to defeat the Roadrunners and improve to 13-10. While both teams ended up with the same record after the final whistle, the Lions possessed a better conference record, having swept the Roadrunners in their two-game season series. With only two games left in the regular season, it’s too late for Ramapo to catch up.

While the team was down 10 points in the first half, the Lions showed no sign of giving up and slowly diminished the lead in the second half. They showed their depth on offense as leading scorer, senior Jayson Johnson,

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Senior Jayson Johnson goes up for a shot against Ramapo College. dropped 16 points along with nine rebounds. Freshman Eric Murdock, Jr. scored 12 points and dished out five assists, and sophomore Eric Klacik finished with 11 points.

The big story on offense, however, was junior Bobby Brackett, who stepped up in an incredible way with a game-high of 25

points and 11 rebounds.

“This year I haven’t been the main guy to score for us because so many other guys have stepped up throughout the season,” Brackett said. “Against Ramapo, it was just my time to step up, try to be more aggressive and score for us, and it was really nice to get that win.”

With four minutes left in the game, he sank a free throw to even up the score for the first time all day. It was not until very late in the game — when Brackett and Klacik hit a pair of free throws each — that the game was sealed.

The Lions continued their strong play into their matchup

with 22nd-ranked William Paterson, a team that beat them 78-60 earlier in the season. In similar fashion to many of their previous games, the team got off to a slow offensive start in the first half, but this time around they were able to pick up the pace right before halftime, leading 38-37 at the break.

Johnson led all scorers with 25 points, putting his career total at 964, backed up by 17 points and 11 rebounds from Brackett.

“I definitely make it my main focus every game to rebound the ball,” Brackett said. “The coaches tell us all the time if we outrebound the other team and limit our turnovers, we’ll have a great chance to win. So I really try to make an effort to rebound the ball as much as I can.”

Klacik and freshman Kevin Johnson finished with double digit scoring with 13 and 10 respectively, contributing to the 80-70 win.

The Lions look to finish off the season strong on a high note against Kean University in Packer Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.

Little League scandal unfairly harms youth sports

By Kevin Luo Staff Writer I wouldn’t call myself a baseball fan, but I find myself watching, or at least following, the Little League World Series every year. It brings out the best that sports have to offer — groups of young kids make lifelong friends from the same area playing a game they love. It brings all sports fans back to the days where they were playing youth sports with kids from their town.

Most of these kids aren’t going to become professional athletes. Most of them will never be on television or part of the national news after this tournament. That adds to the intrigue surrounding the LLWS scandal. Obviously, the greatest individual storyline from this past LLWS was the rise of Mo’ne Davis, but the biggest team storyline was the Jackie Robinson West team, which came from the South Side of Chicago to win the hearts of America, as well as the United States title.

During the tournament, Jackie Robinson West embodied everything good about youth sports. However, this past week, the worst aspects of it were put on display when Jackie Robinson West got

Lions’ Lineup February 18, 2015

I n s i d e

AP Photo

Jackie Robinson West celebrates its Little League World Title.

stripped of their national title by the Little League International.

A formal investigation showed that the adults who ran the team decided to bend the rules. It was discovered that they had falsified documents relating to the team’s boundary map and used players from outside their district to put together a South Side all-star team.

It really is a shame when things like this happen. Those kids worked so hard and still have every right to be proud of themselves, but greedy adults took advantage of these kids, and now they’re paying the price. An accomplishment and the experience that these kids could’ve cherished for the rest of their lives is now tainted.

This isn’t the adults running the Bronx Baby Bombers using 14-year-old Danny Almonte over a decade ago. Some of the ineligible kids that were used by Jackie Robinson West lived only a couple miles outside the proper boundary map, but these adults knew what they were doing. The league manager, league president and district administrator have all been suspended and/or removed from their positions.

All in all, when we hear about scandal in sport, it makes for a good talking point and peaks the interest of the sports world. However, there really isn’t any good coming out of this situation. When an event that should be as pure and innocent as the Little League World Series is marred by this kind of controversy, no one wins.

As someone who used to love playing and coaching youth sports, I’m just sad for those kids. The job of the adults running these programs is to teach the kids the game alongside valuable life lessons that will shape them into better adolescents and adults. The adults in this case failed their young players. I just hope these kids can keep their heads held high, because they deserve to be proud of what they accomplished.

46 53 Around the Dorm page 21

Track and Field page 19

Boxing page 23

Men’s Tennis Page 19