The Signal: Spring '15 No.6

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Vol. XLII, No. 6

March 4, 2015

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Putting an end to the ‘R-word’ Trafficking

of humans not just a women’s issue

By Julie Kayzerman Managing Editor Ryan Herrington stood before a packed audience of students in the Education Building on Monday, March 2, and asked them to raise their hands if they’ve ever been bullied.

As a slew of people threw their hands up, Ryan explained that using the word “retard” is a form of bullying. He then asked that the “R-word” be changed to “respect,” a request that was met with a huge applause.

“Be an advocate,” Ryan said during his R-word monologue.

“Never give up. Don’t be a quitter. Use Respect.”

With these words, Ryan kicked off “Spread the Word to End the Word” week at the College, hosted by Best Buddies and Students for Disabilities Awareness. Ryan is the 25-year-old brother of Evan Herrington, a junior special education and English double major at the College. Ryan was born with Down syndrome, but according to his brother, “We are more alike than different.”

“Ever since I can remember, my best friend has been my

By Elise Schoening Staff Writer

“I realize that not everyone is lucky enough to have a Ryan to teach them about respect and dignity and love,” Evan said.

“Not everyone is fortunate enough to be instructed firsthand why “retard” is the most hateful word in our language.”

Students who arrived late to any of Project Stay Gold’s “Fight the Traffick” events held last week found the rooms were often full to the brim with students. Little or no seats were left untaken. As such, instead of missing out on the human trafficking awareness events that the club organized, many students chose to sit on the floor and gather in the backs of classrooms.When no space was left in the room, students spilled out into the hallway.

After moving a dozen extra chairs into a classroom in the Social Sciences Building on Thursday, Feb. 26, Matt Newman, the president of Project Stay Gold, addressed the crowd in front of him. He admitted that he had not anticipated such a big turnout, but he was pleasantly surprised by the level of interest that students at the College were granting this human rights issue.

Project Stay Gold is a student organization that was founded at the College just last year.

Its members work together to spread awareness of human trafficking, which is often referred to as modern day slavery. Newman, a

see R-WORD page 4

see TRAFFICK page 12

Julie Kayzerman / Managing Editor

Evan says his older brother, Ryan, is an invaluable role model to have in his life. older brother, my role model, my source of inspiration and a giver of unconditional love,” Evan said in regard to Ryan, who was sitting front and center to hear his brother. “The fact of the matter is, he knows that he has Down syndrome, and you know that he has Down syndrome, but the thing

that people fail to realize is that he knows, (and) that you know, that he has Down syndrome.”

Evan explained that his hero has had massive success in life, graduating from Point Pleasant High School, being on the Prom Court and acting as the captain of his ice hockey team.

Exploring the future A mix of student-directed one acts of higher education

By Leigh Cesanek Correspondent

Kevin Kruger, president of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA), spoke about the major challenges facing higher education today and its effect on the future of colleges on Thursday, Feb. 26, in the Education Building.

Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht introduced Kruger as a notable speaker, leader and educator. Kruger’s background offers more than 30 years of experience in higher education.

He has served as associate executive director of NASPA since 1994 and has been NASPA’s first

executive-level president since 2012.

Kruger discussed a number of challenges facing administrators in higher education, including the increasing cost of college, demographic changes, the learning and achievement gaps present in the U.S., the impact of technology and sexual assault sweeping campuses across the country.

According to Kreuger, the rising cost of tuition has caused parents to question the value of higher education for their children. Yet, he believes that all the evidence suggests college is, in fact, Students give a strong worth it.

Kreuger said one of By Priyanka Navani the major complaints Correspondent see KRUGER page 3

INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5

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The Signal @tcnjsignal

Courtney Wirths / Business Manager

performance in all four one acts.

From murder to philosophy to

Editorial / Page 7

Opinions / Page 9

suicide to swizzle sticks, freshman elementary education major Emma Young can best describe All College Theatre’s presentation of “An Eve-

Features / Page 10

ning of Shorts” as “an emotional roller coaster.” Set on an intimate stage in the Don Evans Black Box Theater on Saturday Feb. 28, an “Evening of Shorts” was a four-play production entirely student-directed, including three plays that were also student written. Each play, though distinct in theme, offered the same amount of quality acting, creative direction and thought-provoking ideas.

The first play, appropriately titled “ALeX” after its main character who happens to be an android, told the story of true friendship, as seen through ALeX’s murder trial. Accused of shooting a pharmaceutical company CEO — who killed a subject during a risky surgery done to advance the company — a judge is hesitant to convict ALeX of a crime he had no motive to commit.

As it turns out, ALeX was only covering for the friend of the killed subject – showcasing an element of humanity despite his android programming. see PLAY page 13

Arts & Entertainment / Page 13

Sports / Page 20

Beautiful Reflections Having everyone realize their true beauty

Mixed Signals A night of classy improv comedy

Lacrosse wins opener Team beats FDU-Florham, 11-8

See Features page 10

See A&E page 15

See Sports page 17

page 2 The Signal March 4, 2015

Engineers Week celebrates relief efforts

AP Photo

Hurricane Katrina’s effects are still felt in the Southern US.

By Jackie Delaney Correspondent

In honor of Engineers Week, a seven-day-long commemoration of the engineering profession, Michael S. Bruno gave an hour-long seminar titled “Humans vs. Nature: Improving Coastal Resilience in the Aftermath of Sandy” in the Mayo Concert Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 11 a.m.

Bruno is currently the dean of the

School of Engineering and Science and professor of ocean engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, N.J. He is also the Director of the Center for Secure and Resilient Maritime Commerce and Coastal Environments, a department of the Homeland Security National Center of Excellence.

“Engineers Week began in 1951 in order to educate the public about the significant contributions of the engineering profession to society,”

School of Engineering Dean Steven Schreiner said. “Annually, engineering schools, corporations and professional engineering societies across the country use this week to celebrate how engineers make a difference in our world by creating innovative technological solutions to today’s most pressing problems.”

This year, Engineers Week — sponsored by the School of Engineering, Sustainable Jersey, the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research and Alternative Break Club — was utilized to bring attention to ongoing campus-wide efforts to respond to those affected by natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina.

Bruno began the seminar by discussing the large amount of coastal cities across the world. Many large and populated cities are located on coasts because of the economic benefit of ports, but according to Bruno, “they are in harm’s way.”

Bruno presented many photographs of areas in New York City and Hoboken, as well as coastal

communities in New Jersey, that were heavily affected by Hurricane Sandy in October of 2012. The storm flooded streets and swept away homes into the sea.

“This was a mammoth storm ... a historic storm,” Bruno said.

The seminar focused on resilience engineering, which, according to Bruno, is “striving to do better when recovering” after a storm like Hurricane Sandy.

The goal for engineers is to create a system that delivers an even better service than it did before the disaster, through innovations and opportunities. Resilience engineering looks to improve coastal cities after disasters have occurred, using these events to progress rather than just simply recover.

Bruno highlighted many strategies that cities could use to adapt and become more resilient. Social cohesion, emergency planning, economic diversity and fortification were among his top strategies.

Social cohesion, Bruno explained, focuses on the interaction of cities with other cities. He

stressed the importance of “being friendly with your neighbor,” after studying that many areas were able to bounce back more easily with aid from nearby cities.

Bruno also discussed the necessity of collaboration when analyzing and creating systems of resilience.

“Linking physics with oceanography and ocean engineering … (to) models of social and behavioral aspects, that’s where it gets to be important,” Bruno said. “Ultimately, the systems that engineers design and build are in the hands of the people.”

The seminar largely focused on lessons learned during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from rebuilding coastal cities to actions that should be taken by authorities when a storm of this caliber is predicted.

“It is important to underscore Dr. Bruno’s emphasis on designing technological solutions that consider human and societal dimensions,” Schreiner said. “I am confident that TCNJ engineers are well-prepared to contribute such designs for the betterment of society.”

Mardi Gras Masquerade allocated SFB funds

By Jonathan Edmondson Arts & Entertainment Editor The Student Finance Board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25, began with a high-volume request from the College Union Board for its annual event, “Funival.”

According to the proposal, this year’s end-of-year event will have a circus theme, featuring a fully-equipped onering circus with training sessions, sideshows, inflatable attractions, food trucks and more.

The organization hopes to hold the event on Friday, May 8, the last day of classes for the spring semester. Due to a smaller amount of staffing, the organization will not be bringing a band to campus this year. Admission for students is free and $10 for non-students.

SFB used the remainder of its yearly highvolume budget on this event, which was allocated funds of $132,157.40.

PRISM proposed next for its annual Queer Wedding, an event that has been featured on campus for the last 12 years. According to the proposal, the event is used to shed light on the inequality of marriage benefits for non-heterosexual couples. PRISM plans to hold a reception immediately following the wedding.

The event, which was allocated funds of $449, will take place on Monday, April 6, in the ABE Drawing Room.

The next organization to propose was the Alternative Break Club, who presented its “Mardi Gras Masquerade” event. According to the club, this year’s event is extra special due to the fact that its the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The event will serve as a celebration of New Orleans, in addition to providing students with an opportunity to learn more about the organization and all the positive work it does in Hurricane Katrina restoration.

Scheduled to take place on Wednesday, April 1, in the Brower Student Center, the event was allocated funds of $5,554.96.

The Student Film Union also presented for Campus Moviefest, the world’s largest

student film festival. The Moviefest has been brought to campus for the last two years and gives students full access to technology needed to make a short film, which they have a week to complete. According to SFU, the event “fosters the creative community at the College.”

The competition, which was allocated funds of $14,000 will begin on Wednesday, April 15, and end on Tuesday, April 28, with a finale in Kendall Hall.

CUB returned later in the meeting to propose for two big spring events — the first being its 2015 Spring Lecture. The club hopes to bring R.J. Mitte III, American actor and producer best known for his role as Walter “Flynn” White Jr. on “Breaking Bad,” to campus.

Mitte was born with mild cerebral palsy and

Photo courtesy of Matthew Iannarone

SFB hopes to bring ‘Breaking Bad’ star R.J. Mitte III to campus.

suffered from bullying as a child. He plans to speak about overcoming such obstacles.

The event, which was allocated funds of $10,925, is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 9, in Mayo Concert Hall.

The second event proposed was a performance from “Baby Wants Candy,” a worldrenowned musical comedy troupe. The troupe performs a 90-minute improvisational musical based on audience suggestions. The event, which is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, March 24, in Mayo Concert Hall, was allocated funds of $2,500.

All College Theater proposed next for “Rock,” an improv comedy festival. The event was tabled.

TCNJ Net Impact, a new organization, proposed for its Social Innovation Challenge, scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 12, in the Business Building Lounge. The event was allocated funds of $733.84 Finally, Student Government proposed for its “TCNJ EPCOT: Celebration of Diversity” event. The purpose of the event is to engage student with the many diverse cultures that are represented on campus. Scheduled for Thursday, March 26, the event was allocated funds of $3,430.81. *Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.

Students discover new opportunities at Career Fair

By Gabrielle Beacken News Assistant Many of the College’s students graduate with three summers of “solid internship experience,” according to Steven Schreiner, dean of the School of Engineering. And whether a student is a rising sophomore or a senior about to graduate, Schreiner said finding internships is always possible.

“Students who look do find opportunities,” Schreiner said.

“I encourage all students to seek internships.”

Sharply dressed students quickly filled the Recreational Center on Friday, Feb. 27, as the College hosted its spring semester Career Fair, allowing students to interact with professionals of a variety of fields and discuss job and internship opportunities.

“It’s important to understand what the marketplace is like,” Allstate Insurance Corporation associate Normeba Lane said. “Especially for graduating seniors.”

According to Lane, it’s important for companies to understand what students are looking

for in an employer.

“New graduates bring a new perspective to the company,” Lane said. “It’s important to have that relationship.”

According to junior interdisciplinary business major Ryan Quindlen, it’s “pretty fun” that, while you’re trying to impress employers, they are trying to impress you, too. Quindlen found several companies that stood out to him while searching for marketing internships, such as Enterprise, Target and Johnson & Johnson.

Allstate is looking for “young,

nice, talented and educated undergraduates,” according to Lane.

Companies such as Unum insurance and CohnReznick, an accounting and tax advisory company, are also looking for “motivated” individuals.

“We’re looking for a young, determined and motivated individual looking for success,” Unum representative Ariella Faccas said. “We’ve met a lot of very qualified, intelligent students …

(We’re) very impressed.”

Two alumni who currently work with WithumSmith+Brown accounting firm were also impressed

with the College’s students.

“We met a lot of great kids,” said Elizabeth Schullstrom, a WithumSmith+Brown associate from the company’s New Brunswick location. “We had nice conversations, and students had great questions.”

CohnReznick June Summer Leadership Program is looking for students “that are motivated, openminded and are able to grow and develop,” according to Lindsay Infield, its human resources specialist. see FAIR page 4

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 3

Thief in Packer: a good excuse to skip the gym

By Colleen Murphy News Editor • A student who went to Packer Hall’s Physical Enhancement Center had $120 stolen from her wallet on Friday, Feb. 13, between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

According to Campus Police, the student put her bag and jacket in one of the gym’s cubbies and then used the elliptical machine. When she went to collect her items, she found that her bag and wallet were missing. Unable to locate it in the immediate vicinity, she went to the first floor of Packer and found the bag left at the bottom of the stairs with its contents missing.

• A total of $345 in property was stolen from a student in the PEC on Monday, Feb. 16, between 4 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., according to Campus Police. The student put his drawstring bag, a hat and sweatshirt in one of the gym’s cubbies. When he checked the bag 15 minutes later, the bag and its contents were missing. The student

later located the bag in the men’s bathroom with its items missing. A Samsung Galaxy S4 ($200), a Visa gift card ($25), an Amazon gift card ($25), a QuickChek gift card ($25), a McDonald’s gift card ($10) and $60 in cash have not been located.

missing, along with all its contents: a black wallet ($15), a TCNJ I.D. ($10), a Visa debit card, a N.J. driver’s license ($15), a police family card ($10), a TCNJ room key with lanyard ($10). The duffel bag was valued at $5. Altogether, the property is valued at $65.

• On Friday, Feb. 20, between 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., $30 was stolen from a backpack that was left in one of the PEC’s cubbies, according to Campus Police. The student reported his missing backpack to staff and searched the building. He found the backpack in a garbage can in the first floor men’s bathroom. All of the contents were in the bag except for $30.

• Two female students were issued summonses for underage drinking in Travers Hall on Friday, Feb. 20, a little after 11 p.m., according to Campus Police reports. One of the girls, to whom Lions’ EMS attended, slurred her speech and had trouble standing. She was visibly intoxicated and found to have bloodshot eyes, as well as an odor of alcohol on her presence. The student said she had consumed three or four shots of tequila. She then vomited, and Ewing EMS transported her to Capital Health Medical Center-Hopewell. Her friend was also found to have slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and an odor of alcohol, but the student was not transported.

• Six items and a duffel bag were stolen from the PEC on Tuesday, Feb. 24, between 11:15 a.m. and noon. The student put the bag on the floor beside the cubbies. According to Campus Police, after a 45-minute workout, the student saw that the bag was

• A car in Lot 17 was left with a 12-inch scratch on the driver-side door on Thursday, Feb. 19, between 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., Campus Police reported. The female student told Campus Police that before parking her 2014 Honda Civic, she got into a verbal argument over a parking space with another female student who was driving a dark-colored car.

• Campus Police said they made an arrest in the display of graffiti across campus.

Police first received an anonymous tip about the graffiti markings of “NEWO” and stick figures. Further investigation of the tip resulted in the development of a suspect who was then charged with criminal mischief. The paint used to cover the graffiti was estimated to cost $250. Police say the suspect, who will be going to court, did not take responsibility for all of the graffiti.

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

Kruger / The changing landscape of higher education

Jaryd Frankel / Staff Photographer

Kruger speaks about how higher education should be handled in the coming years. continued from page 1

associated with the high cost of college is the “administrative bloat.” This term refers to what some feel are unnecessary

expenses, such as student affairs administrations. However, higher education costs have risen because of faculty salaries and cuts in state aid, he explained.

Another challenge for higher education is the drastic change in demographics, Kruger said. Immigration rates are predicted to climb, with Hispanics becoming a larger percentage of the population.

The challenge for this new generation of students will be that they come from low-income households and will have fewer resources, he explained. The issue for institutions is that revenues are not, and will not, be met because this next generation will not be able to sustain the cost.

In order to attract more students from farther, unreached audiences, Kruger said that higher education will be forced to decide whether to reduce its expectations of students to sustain revenues, cut tuition costs or market themselves.

The new generation will take fewer credits, be less involved on campus, attend school part-time and work part-time, he said. For these reasons, “it is more important for higher educators to engage these students,” Kruger said. According to Kruger, all of these factors can lead to lower retention rates for higher education.

For the future, lower-income students, Kruger suggests forming learning community groups to support the changing needs of students. He said that student affairs staff members will need to become “more generalists and less specialists” in order to meet the needs of this incoming generation.

The learning and achievement gap is another obstacle faced by higher education. The difference in the success of students who complete four years of higher

education compared to the success of those who complete two years or even less, is becoming wider.

“Closing the achievement gap should be the civil rights movement of our decade,” Kruger said. “Providing students with cross-cutting skills that set them apart from others when searching for jobs after school is more important than a student’s major.”

Sexual assault becoming predominant on college campuses across our country is another issue that Kruger addressed.

“People can’t stop reading about it,” he said.

Changing the culture on campuses is a major challenge faced by higher educators, according to Kruger.

“We (higher educators) can’t just be crisis managers,” Kruger said. For that reason, higher education must focus on the importance of learning taking place “holistically.”

The impact of technology is another challenge higher education must deal with, according to Kruger. Technology itself is causing the nature of higher education to change by becoming available online. Students in the next generation, which he called “the freestyle generation,” can design their own college experiences.

Utilizing technology to create an environment where students can learn from many, instead of just one individual, should be the focus of higher education, he explained. To “be there (online) with them” is what Kruger suggests to higher educators, so as to create the best possible learning community for this generation.

The biggest pieces of advice that Kruger offered to his audience of higher educators at the College is to dream big, get stuff done, make a serious commitment to future challenges and focus on big goals.

Alumni share how Student Government shaped them

Two panelists give post-graduate advice to SG members

By Alyssa Sanford Staff Writer

In lieu of a general body meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 25, Student Government hosted an Alumni Panel event in Roscoe West Hall.

The panel addressed how their individual experiences in Student Government have shaped their career goals and also offered advice to SG members regarding networking, teamwork and applying skills from involvement in student governance.

“It’s an honor to be reinstating a Student Government Alumni Panel event,” Vice President of Advancement Sarah Drozd said.

“We’re hoping that this promotes learning for our students and communication with our alumni.”

Drozd informed the panel — comprised of Sarah Ross, Class of 2009, and Kevin Drennan, Class of 2002 — of the Student Government scholarship fund to which almost all members have donated. The goal is to raise $25,000 to reach endowment level. Members have donated a total of $21,129 to date.

“I’m looking forward to the day when I can announce that we’ve reached our scholarship goal, which hopefully won’t be too far away,” Drozd said.

Heather Fehn, Class of 1994 and current chief of staff to President Barbara R. Gitenstein, as well as secretary to the Board of Trustees, served as the moderator for the panel.

Fehn was president of Student Government from 1993 to 1994.

“It was a wonderful experience for me,” she said.

Fehn also said that she never could have imagined working at the College after graduation, but she is honored to have worked here 25 years after entering as a freshman.

“I’m thrilled, and I smile every time I cross the gates on campus each morning,” Fehn said before opening the floor to the panelists.

Ross currently works at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in Trenton in the Criminal Justice division. She served as her class council president and a student representative for the Political Science Department.

During the meeting, Ross talked about how her involvement in Student Government has shaped her leadership style.

“I think one of the things I learned the most, especially with the class council and the amount of programming that we had to do, was learning how to work together,” Ross said.

Drennan, an alumnus of the College who left after his sophomore year to pursue a career in politics, is currently the Executive Director of the New Jersey Senate Majority Office. He agreed that Student Government taught him that “as a leader, you can’t do anything alone.”

Fehn posed a series of questions to the panel, asking Ross and Drennan to share advice for finalizing career plans.

Ross told general body members to “put yourself out of your

comfort zone” when looking for job opportunities and to try everything, “even if you love it or hate it.”

“Go ahead and (go to grad school). Why not?” Ross said.

But Drennan had conflicting advice and advised students,“Don’t go directly to grad school.”

Whereas Ross talked about her rewarding experiences at Rutgers-Camden School of Law immediately after graduating from the College, Drennan explained that many students fresh out of their undergraduate schools haven’t figured out how to navigate the corporate world.

“Bottom line is, there’s not one right answer,” Fehn said in conclusion. “You have to do what’s right for you.”

Harvard professor makes a case for diversity page 4 The Signal March 4, 2015

By Nicole Ferrito Staff Writer

In honor of Black History Month, Harvard University professor Charles J. Ogletree invited students, faculty and staff to engaged in a discussion-lecture on the topic of race and justice in today’s society on Wednesday, Feb. 25.

A distinguished author, speaker and the Founding and Executive Director of Harvard Law School’s new Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Ogletree challenged the audience to think about issues of race and class and what actions the next generation will take in order to make positive changes.

Raised in a small town in Arkansas, Ogletree was the first in his family to finish high school. He discussed his love of books and said reading was his “sense of overcoming poverty.”

Ogletree moved on to attend Stanford University, a decision that made his family happy.

“Wow, everybody should go to college,” he thought. What was most important, Ogletree explained, was that “I’m not the last one.” He went on to say that he hoped

to “keep the doors open for the generations to come behind (him).”

Ogletree explained his constant efforts to push for diversity. He began a diversity program at Stanford that aligned with his goal to ensure that the doors are open for other generations to attend college, no matter their race or background.

He discussed ways the United States has changed since the 1950s and ’60s, such as the nation’s first African American president. Ogletree was mentor to both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama throughout their time at Harvard and assisted Obama during his 2008 and 2012 campaigns.

“I was very pleased to be someone who was supporting him,” Ogletree said.

While he mentioned the progress America has made in terms of race and social justice, Ogletree discussed his disappointment in recent events — the killings of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown — and the way in which they have been handled. He questioned what that tells us about race and class.

“In a sense, that makes us worry, ‘Is it really a problem?’ How are we going to address it?” Ogletree said. The problem will not go away, he explained. “It’s going to

stay with us in a sort of memoriam,” Ogletree said.

He spoke of the importance of revitalizing cities like Chicago, Ill., and Ferguson, Mo. Part of Ogletree’s disappointment stemmed from the lack of action taken by the community of Ferguson after Brown was shot. He said that African Americans make up almost 70 percent of Ferguson’s population.

“They, in a sense, control this area ... if they choose to control it,” he said.

Ogletree explained that they have the power to make changes in their government, but only about 20 percent of those registered to vote did so in the last local election.

“You have to think about doing something instead of complaining about the way you’re treated,” he said. He spoke of influential figures such as Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks and the changes they fought for. He compared Martin and Brown to these past civil rights activists, saying “(they) gave their lives to make this a better society.”

Ogletree expressed that he was proud of our nation for starting “BlackLivesMatter” as a way to bring the conversation about race and social justice to the forefront.

“A whole new generation of activism is happening around the world,” he said.

One piece of advice Ogletree emphasized to the audience is the importance of getting involved in politics.

“What can you do?” he asked. “Run for office — as soon as you’re able and willing to make a difference.”

Each year, Ogletree gives out scholarships to the high school he attended, as well as other high schools around the country.

“It’s my way of giving back,” he said.

“Now they are going back and giving back to the next generation.”

But, the scholarships don’t go to the best and brightest students, Ogletree said. He explained that those are the students who will already be receiving scholarships.

“I’m thinking of people who come from a C- to a B+,” he said.

Ogletree elaborated that these are the students that have made progress so that they can attend college.

“He inspired me to vote, now,” said Harmony Kingsley, a freshman elementary education and English double major. She added that his speech made her think about “how anybody can make a difference. It doesn’t matter how old you are.”

R-Word / Students advocate for respect

Julie Kayzerman / Managing Editor

Students applaud speaker and disability advocate Magro. continued from page 1

The word retard was introduced as a medical term to use for someone with an intellectual disability. Since then, however, it has become an offensive term, often used to deem people as stupid.

“By using the word, you are destroying the dignity of the most innocent collection of people,” Evan said. “You are rejecting

a group of individuals with the most to offer and teach.”

Following his words, Kerry Magro, national speaker and disability advocate, joined the College to deliver his own monologue. Magro, an eloquent and confident speaker, explained that he was diagnosed with autism at 4-yearsold and wasn’t able to verbally communicate for several years.

He was called the R-word and

severely bullied in school – an experience that has stuck with him forever.

But Magro confessed to the audience that when he finally was able to communicate well and made his first friend, he wanted to do anything to prove that he was cool and could make even more friends. Ultimately, this meant calling someone else the R-word. As Magro admitted his biggest regret in tears, he explained that the shame he felt from that moment on led him to become an advocate.

“I can never tell him I was sorry for what I did,” Magro said, having lost touch with the boy whom he insulted.

Other monologues were delivered by Katie Burns and Daniel Lapidow, Career and Community Students; David and Diane Perry, Friends of TCNJ Best Buddies; Karrie Mikotowicz, a mother of a Best Buddies member; and Dr. Jerry Petroff, professor of Special Education at the College. While each speaker described different experiences with the R-word, each united in the same message – the R-word

must to be stopped.

As the event closed, Best Buddies President Rebecca Havens asked audience members to sign a pledge to stop using the R-word. Students will be given the opportunity to sign the pledge throughout the week during 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Brower Student Center.

Magro closed his monologue

with an original poem titled, “I am Kerry and I have PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified).”

“My name is Kerry and I have PDD-NOS. This means that I have autism. It does not mean I am autism,” Magro read.

“My disability cannot define me. I define my disability every single day of my life.”

Julie Kayzerman / Managing Editor

Havens asks students to pledge to stop using the R-Word.

Fair / Building professional relationships continued from page 2 “It’s a great way to introduce (students) to the world of accounting — to a top 10 firm.”

Johnson & Johnson, a healthcare company based in New Jersey, is looking for student candidates for its co-op program.

“We’re looking at a variety of majors with strong leadership experience and for someone who’s really passionate about J & J,” Johnson & Johnson representative Amanda Spicker said. “It’s great to see everybody here today coming out.”

The College’s Career Fair is valued by not only potential employers, but especially by the students in attendance.

“The Career Fair presents great opportunities for students to find internships and job opportunities in students’ areas of study,” sophomore biology major Kate Kearns said. “(The College) did a great job getting a range of employers coming together.”

Schreiner agrees with Kearns, but said that the range of companies can always be increased.

“We work with the Career Center to continuously increase the presence of companies on campus,” Schreiner said.

Students from all years submitted their resumes to potential employers at the fair, hoping to land a job or internship opportunity.

First-time Career Fair attendee, junior

nursing major Christian Dy, was pleased he went to the event, even though it was “a little overwhelming.” Striving to become a military nurse, Dy was able to communicate with the U.S. Army booth, even though there were not many booths directed toward nursing, according to Dy. Sophomore finance major Kurmaine May, who is looking for a summer internship, attended his first Career Fair.

“I’m looking for a good place to start off,” May said. “It’s not what I expected, but I’m glad I found out.”

The younger the students start coming to the Career Fair, the better, according to Mike Holyoak, senior radio frequency architect at LGS Innovations. Holyoak, who

is “looking for the best and brightest engineers” to fill LGS’s internship position, told students not to be discouraged if they don’t receive their desired position.

“Even if you don’t get anything, make relationships with the person at the company,” Holyoak said.

Networking with professionals and building relationships is very important, according to Schreiner.

“Today I spoke with a recent alumnus who returned to recruit more TCNJ engineers,” Schreiner said. “He was taken aside at a TCNJ Career Fair for an on-the-spot interview, which landed him his position. Career Fairs can be powerful, (and) I absolutely encourage students of all levels to come.”

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 5

Nation & W rld

US and Iran close to nuclear compromise

AP Photo

Kerry feels optimistic about negotiations with Iran.

Olivia Rizzo Web Editor After more than a decade of negotiations and tensions, the U.S. and Iran could be close to a compromise on Iran’s access to nuclear activities. The announcement of progress came on Monday,

Feb. 23, after another round of meetings with heads of state.

The deal that’s in progress would restrict Tehran’s nuclear activities for 10 years but then slowly ease up on restrictions, allowing certain programs to make atomic arms.

Despite the nearly historic

announcement, there is still a lot of work to be done and compromises to be made before any final plans are reached by the Tuesday, March 31 deadline.

Additionally, continued backlash from both sides of the issue is anticipated, given that talks and debates over Iran’s nuclear program have been going on for decades. According to the Associated Press, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to criticize the new proposal when he addresses Congress next week.

Others have a more optimistic view of the situation.

“We made progress,” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said as he left the negotiations on Monday. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif commented that both sides were able to “find a understanding,” according to the Associated Press.

Western officials who have been dealing with talks also noted

that the discussions are likened to a moving target. Anytime one area of the negotiation changes, it affects other aspects as well.

The key component of the compromise would reward Iran for good behavior during the last five years of the sanction, allowing constraints on uranium enrichment to be lifted gradually, while also slowly lifting economic sanctions.

An Irananian official stated that they do not want to use nuclear weapons but instead need uranium enrichment for energy sources and for medical and scientific purposes. Nonetheless, the U.S. has always feared that Iran’s programs could be re-engineered to produce the fissile core of a nuclear weapon, according to the Associated Press.

Originally, the U.S. sought to restrict Iran’s nuclear activities for 20 years, whereas Iran pushed for restrictions that would last for less than a decade.

The compromise currently in the works seems to be somewhere in the middle of both time frames.

The current plan would place a strict 10 year control on Iran’s uranium enrichment. If Iran complies over the course of those 10 years, restrictions would slowly be lifted over the last five years.

Critics of this plan are concerned that, once the deal expires, Iran would be able to enrich as much uranium as they wanted without any limitations. According to the Associated Press, the proposed agreement would force Iran to ship out most of its enriched uranium or change it to a form that would be difficult to use for weapons.

However, even if both sides agree to an initial deal by March and a follow up phase in June, the argument will be met with harsh criticism from both Congress and Israel, both of which will contest a deal that fails to limit Iran’s nuclear weapons potential.

Turkish military rescues ancient tomb in Syria

By Roman Orsini Staff Writer

The Turkish military sent a convoy into northern Syria to retrieve a thirteenth-century tomb at risk of being besieged by Islamic State militants on Saturday, Feb. 21. The tomb contained the body of Suleyman Shah, a key figure in Turkish history, who died in 1236 C.E. According to the Atlantic, Shah was a tribal leader and the grandfather of Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire.

The tomb is the only Turkish enclave located outside of its borders. The 1921 Treaty of Ankara — between Turkey and France — designated the area as Turkish territory and gave Turkey the right to station troops there, according to BBC. The tomb was originally located 50 miles

further south in Syria until the construction of the Tabqa Dam in 1973 threatened to flood the site. According to the Guardian, Turkey subsequently moved the tomb to its current location 20 miles into Syria. The Syrian government has not recognized the new location as Turkish territory, however.

One of its ministers described the rescue operation as an “act of war” against Syria.

“We didn’t get permission from anyone,” Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said. “The decision was taken, and the order was given, by the Turkish government.”

According to the New York Times, the Turkish government informed Syria of its intentions prior to launching the operation, but did not wait for approval. The operation involved 572 soldiers, a convoy of 39 tanks and 57 armored vehicles.

The convoy entered Syria through the Kurdish border town of Kobani, recently a major battleground between Kurdish fighters, backed by American air power, and ISIS. Although Kurdish fighters recently expelled ISIS from the town, Syria’s border with Turkey remains porous for rebel fighters and refugees alike, as it is beyond the ability of the Syrian military to secure.

The convoy was able to slip into Syria and recover the tomb, along with the 40 Turkish soldiers guarding it, without engaging any ISIS fighters. Following the removal of the tomb and its relics, the mausoleum containing them was destroyed so it may not fall into ISIS hands.

The tomb has been temporarily relocated to Turkey property and will be transferred to a new site in Syria, even closer to

the Turkish border, according to Reuters.

Turkey, a member of the NATO alliance with the United States, has been accused by its Kurdish population of colluding with ISIS and rendering support to militant groups bent on the overthrow of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad.

The Kurds, now concluding a 30 year civil war with Turkey, point to Turkey’s refusal to defend them against ISIS attacks and the fact that ISIS fighters have not engaged Turkish forces in the area, according to the Guardian.

Turkey’s lax border security throughout much of the conflict in Syria has also given foreign jihadist fighters a passageway into the area, heightening tensions between regional forces in an already heated atmosphere.

Deadly superbug claims life of another victim

Bacterium spreading rapidly through UCLA hospital

By Candace Kellner Staff Writer The same superbug that caused the death of two people in Los Angeles has claimed the life of a North Carolinian, a spokesman told CNN. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, or CRE, is a highly dangerous bacterium that can kill as many as half of CREinfected patients, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two years ago, the bacteria had threatened the country, and now the “nightmare bacteria” is back. According to USA Today, in a Seattle outbreak in 2012, the bacteria infected 32 patients and seven died within 30 days.

Eighteen people in total have caught CRE so far this year, according to Kevin McCarthy, a

spokesman with the Carolinas HealthCare System.

Fifteen of the 18 infected patients had CRE before entering the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, and the other three acquired the bacteria in the hospital, according to McCarthy. One of these three patients died. McCarthy did not disclose information regarding any of the patients, and it was also uncertain how the remaining 15 patients had contracted the infection in the first place.

Seven patients at a Los Angeles hospital contracted CRE after having routine endoscopic treatment for bile ducts, gallbladder or pancreas. The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center told CNN that two of these patients died after becoming infected. However, CRE was a contributing factor to death, not the main cause. The

hospital did not release details of the exact cause of death in those cases, either.

The UCLA hospital officials have said that they had properly carried out disinfection guidelines before using the medical scopes on the patients. The Food and Drug Administration is investigating and reviewing data from two other companies who produce the same duodenoscope as the one used by the hospital during the endoscopic treatments.

As a measure of precaution, the medical center is contacting 179 other patients who underwent the same procedure between October and January of 2014. They are also offering these patients home examinations to test for the bacteria, according to CNN. In a statement, McCarthy said Carolinas HealthCare System

AP Photo

Endoscopes may be contaminated by the deadly batcteria. uses standard methods for preparing its equipment for use. He also said that the hospital’s duodenoscopes have been tested and the devices have tested negative for CRE. On their website, the CDC

warns that some strains of CRE are resistant to most antibiotics.

According to CNN, researchers are also concerned that CRE could start affecting the general public, as well, if the bacteria becomes more widespread in hospitals.

page 6 The Signal March 4, 2015

FALL 2015 COURSE OFFERINGS WORLD LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

ITL-371: ITALIAN TOPICS (In English) century Italian literature was shaped by war, dictatorship, violence, hope, & resistance. Italian authors contributed in significant & meaningful ways to represent Italy’s reality & its people. This course will engage students with the many dimension of Italian society & introduce them to the fascinating creativity, richness, & poetry of Italian novels.

20th

WLC-215: INTRO TO LINGUISTICS This course will introduce basic concepts of descriptive linguistics with emphasis on the analysis of the languages of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, & the Americas.

Students will learn how to analyze languages in terms of phonetics & phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, & linguistic geography.

ITL-211: INTERMMEDIATE ITALIAN COMPOSITION & CONVERSATION This is class is designed for students who want to continue to practice their Italian speaking skills through intensive oral and written practice that goes hand in hand with the exploration of contemporary Italian culture and society.

ITL-171: CONTEMPORARY ITALY (In English) This course surveys the history, culture, and society of Modern Italy from 1861 to the present. Using historical documents, literature, the arts, and films, the course seeks to provide understanding of modern Italy and its current issues. We will cover many aspect of modern Italian society and explore how Italian artistic products engage with key questions and issues such as language, immigration, emigration, family, gender roles, the North-South divide, and the rise of new social and cultural paradigms. In addition, we will draw comparisons between the society in the United States and that of contemporary Italy.

RUS-236/HIS-140/COM-149: HISTORY OF RUSSIAN FILM Join us as we study key works of Russian cinema made by such world-renowned directors as Sergei Eisenstein, Larisa Shepitko, Andrei Tarkovsky, and others. We will trace the evolution of Russian cinema from its beginnings through the Soviet period into the present day. All films will be shown with English subtitles, no knowledge of Russian is necessary.

WLC-371: TOPICS IN FOREIGN LIT This course explores the mainstream Chinese martial arts/Kung-fu films, its sub-genres, & contemporary variations in the context of transnational cinema. Genres range from Hong Kong swordplay films, the samurai warrior & his modern variations, Jackie Chan & Stephen Chow’s comedy kung-fu, heavy metal kung-fu, spooky kung-fu, hip-hop kung fu, to Tarantino’s kung-fu thrillers & the Matrix digital kung-fu. All films screened in class will be in English subtitles.

FRE 240 – INTRO TO FRENCH LIT (In French) This course offers a reading of representative texts of French literature from the Middle Ages to present day. Each text will be considered in its historical & literary context. Through this course students will make the acquaintance of essential authors & the great currents that characterize different genres such as the novel, theatre, poetry, tale, essay, literary criticism & also will better understand the evolution of literature, society & French institutions.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/wlctcnj

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 7

Editorial

Grades won’t define the future success of students at the College

As midterms begin to approach, the stress of students at the College tends to run rampant ­— reaching levels of absurdity, all in the name of receiving the letter “A” on a sheet of paper. There’s no arguing that grades are important, but are they actually as important as students make them out to be? Students sacrifice sleep, partake in poor eating habits and allow themselves to reach high levels of anxiety — all in the name of the letter “A.” Here’s the thing: While getting good grades in school is a fundamental ambition, it is not the sole purpose of college. What students fail to recognize is the valuable learning that takes place within failure — an inevitable aspect of life — and that it’s not the grade that will guarantee a successful career, it’s the way in which we implement what we have learned into our life outside the textbook.

While it’s great to watch hard studying pay off for a good grade, more often than not, desired grades are not granted, despite the hours of studying that went into getting them. It’s just the way it works — some days are better test days than others, some people work better under stressful time limits than others. But regardless of the conditions, the final grade doesn’t determine one’s future.

While grades are, of course, important especially when looking to get into grad schools, it is the amount of anxiety that students feel over one test that is unfounded. No one is going to ask you what grade you got on your third exam in your economics class. Instead, they are going to be interested in classes you took, the information you learned and how you can implement your major’s core into the workplace. After all, most workplace experience comes from doing — so while the kid next to you might have an “A” compared to your “B,” the route you took to get there might actually be more productive, and allow you to succeed further in the workplace, even without perfect grades.

The pressure of having a 4.0 GPA is just unnecessary. Sure, in high school getting good grades was the top priority because that was indicative of what colleges you could get into. But now, you’re already at the College — whose reputation speaks for itself in the workplace. Now the most important thing to do is not focus everything on grades, but rather on learning the intricacies of what you want to do for a living and partaking in the opportunities that the College offers, including its help in career services, internships or forming a relationship with professors to seek their professional advice.

As a journalism major, I have learned a great deal in my classes, but my true experience in the field has been a direct result of my internships. Working as a reporter for several news outlets, I’ve been able to feel out the real world intricacies of my career path and learn the ins-and-outs of the field, in a way I wouldn’t get from acing a class test.

Too many times I see students letting grades define them, how smart they are, how successful they’ll be — this is an extremely detrimental way of thinking. If you let your grades determine the path your career takes in life, then you are selling yourself short and forgoing your potential. Not everyone is cut out for the grading system of schools and the way in which we are tested. This doesn’t mean you won’t be just as good or better than your peers in your desired career path. What matters the most is your attitude, your effort and your willingness to learn, take opportunities and work harder than everyone else. If you can do that, there’s not reason getting a “C” in class will stop you from being successful.

Getting good grades in college is important, but it is not the end-all-be-all of your future career. The journey you take to getting those grades, including the work you put in and the opportunities you take, are more important and will ultimately be more valuable in the workplace than an “A” on the fridge.

— Julie Kayzerman Managing Editor

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.

AP Photo

Students work themselves up to high levels of anxiety during the semester in fear of getting a bad grade. However, grades are not the only factor in succeeding.

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

Editorial Staff Tom Kozlowski Editor-in-Chief kozlowt1@tcnj.edu Julie Kayzerman Managing Editor kayzerj1@tcnj.edu Colleen Murphy Sydney Shaw News Editors murphc16@tcnj.edu shaws4@tcnj.edu Matt Bowker Sports Editor bowkerm1@tcnj.edu Jonathan Edmondson Arts & Entertainment Editor edmondj5@tcnj.edu Kimberly Ilkowski Features Editor ilkowsk1@tcnj.edu Ellie Schuckman Opinions Editor schucke1@tcnj.edu Samantha Selikoff Photo Editor selikos1@tcnj.edu

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

“(Human Trafficking) shouldn’t be a women’s issue. It should be a human rights issue.”

— Matt Newman, president of Project Stay Gold

“By using the word (retard), you are destroying the dignity of the most innocent collection of people. You are rejecting a group of individuals with the most to offer and teach.”

— Evan Herrington, junior special education and English double major

“You have to think about doing something instead of complaining about the way you’re treated.”

— Charles J. Ogletree, Harvard professor

March 2-7 2015

page 8 The Signal March 4, 2015

#katrinaballads

The Institute for Social Justice in the Arts & Humanities at

The College of New Jersey Presents

Ted Hearne’s Katrina Ballads Monday, March 2

Film Screening: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts [Acts 1 & 2] 7:00PM t Kendall Hall Screening Room t Free & Open to Public

Tuesday, March 3

Presentation: Social Justice and Music Education Dr. David Vickerman and Dr. Colleen Sears 12:30-1:30PM t Mayo Concert Hall t Free & Open to Public Film Screening: When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts [Acts 3 & 4] 7:00PM t Kendall Hall Screening Room t Free & Open to Public

Wednesday, March 4

Dining: Celebration of New Orleans Cuisine 11:00-2:00PM t Eickhoff Dining Hall t $8 at the door Panel Discussion: Contributing Authors of Teaching the Levees Curriculum 6:00-7:30PM t Library Auditorium t Free & Open to Public

Friday, March 6

Brown Bag Lecture Series: Ted Hearne, Katrina Ballads Composer 12:30-1:30PM t Mayo Concert Hall t Free & Open to Public Performance: Katrina Ballads by contemporary music ensemble X Trigger 8:00PM t Mayo Concert Hall t Free & Open to Public Tickets required: www.tcnj.edu/boxoffice

Symposium: Institute for Social Justice in the Arts and Humanities 9:00AM – 3:00PM t By Invitation Only Performance: Katrina Ballads by contemporary music ensemble X Trigger 1:00PM t Mayo Concert Hall t Free & Open to Public Tickets required: www.tcnj.edu/boxoffice

#katrinaballads tcnj.edu/katrinaballads facebook.com/isjahTCNJ @TCNJCFA

For their support, we thank: TCNJ School of the Arts & Communication TCNJ School of Education TCNJ School of Humanities & Social Science New Jersey Council for the Humanities SAF Funded

7

Saturday, March 7

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Is the dress white and gold or black and blue?

Rise of social media to blame for string of viral hits

Photo courtesy of Caitlin McNeill’s Tumblr

Many debate the color of the original dress, seen in the center.

By Ellie Schuckman Opinions Editor

By now, I’m sure everyone has heard about the dress. That’s right, the infamous picture causing friendships to be ruined and people to question their own eyesight. But how has one picture of a hideous dress managed to spread around the world?

Social media.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, the world was suddenly divided. Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YikYak and Youtube became plastered with debates about the true color of a dress — some saw white and gold while others saw blue and black.

Walking into Eickhoff Hall was like

stepping into a war zone — the heated arguments from each table rang with screams of “white and gold” vs. “blue and black.” In the past week alone, reports have surfaced regarding the picture’s origin, simply causing more debate.

The picture was first posted on Tumblr by Caitlin McNeill, a 21year-old from Scotland, according to businessinsider.com. She explained that the dress, which is blue and black, was worn to a friend’s wedding by the mother of the bride. Debates about the color first began when the now famous photo was sent to the bride.

“When my friend showed the dress to her fiancé, they disagreed on the color,” McNeill said in the same article. “All of

our friends disagreed.”

The picture was then posted on Facebook and Tumblr, where others began to comment about the color. It didn’t take long before it took off virally.

People the world over are now obsessed with the dress, prompting psychological analyses and coverage in top-tier publications like the New York Times. But the dress obsession has highlighted an underlying issue — the fragile influence of social media.

In the past few years, we have seen a drastic rise in the amount of people tweeting and posting to other media outlets. All that it takes is one picture to get a few retweets, and suddenly it’s a viral hit. However, there is a thin line between virtual obsessions and reality.

According to Forbes.com, Internet Use Disorder may soon be listed as an actual mental health disorder. Psychologists at the University of Albany have recently found that social media itself is not only addictive, but those who use it excessively may be at a higher risk for substance abuse, according to a Huffington Post article from December 2014.

Now, that’s not saying that a picture of a lousy dress is going to cause a rise in hard-drug use. It’s simply the principle of the matter.

As a society, we are addicted to social media and often latch onto new ‘stories,’ yet we rarely see the harmful side effects of overusing technology. Of course, there

are benefits of news being delivered within a moments notice via Twitter, but people must also realize that constantly having their faces locked onto screens is unhealthy to say the least.

It is mind-numbing how a picture originally posted on Facebook not only spread within a week around the globe, but also caused such uproar and heated arguments between friends — all regarding what color each individual saw.

Scientists have even stepped forward offering their opinions on the apparent color differences seen by many. According to USA Today, those who see blue and black are seeing the photo as overexposed, while those who see white and gold view it as underexposed.

“Color is our perception — our interpretation of the light that’s in the world,” said Arthur Shapiro, a professor at American University who specializes in visual perception, in a USA Today article.

No matter what color the dress truly is, the fact that it spread so far so quickly and caused such fierce debates, is proof of the power of social media.

While there are definite upsides to social media, the negative effects must be addressed, so individuals can be wary of their use.

Social media has drastically become an obsession, an outlet highlighting the often blurred line of virtual worlds and reality.

Celebrities find it difficult to avoid the spotlight

By Alyssa Sanford It used to be that, for someone to become famous, they had to go through the right channels — auditioning, hiring an agent and a publicist, slowly and steadily gaining notoriety.

Now, all someone has to do to reach celebrity status is create their own YouTube channel.

The proliferation of social media has made fame — or rather, infamy — more accessible to the general public. Look at “Alex from Target,” for example.

Before a teenage customer snapped a photo of the cashier and uploaded it to Twitter, he was just an average, 16-year-old Texas teenager. Within a week of his photo going viral online, he was fielding interviews from major news outlets like the New York Times and appearing on “Ellen.”

It’s easier than ever for someone to find the spotlight, through media platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Vine.

Conversely, it’s harder than

ever for celebrities to avoid the spotlight for the same reasons.

There are infinite examples of celebrities trying to shirk their fame, or at least hide from public scrutiny. Sia, the “Chandelier” singer who performs with her back facing the audience; Shia LaBeouf, who once donned a paper bag over his head bearing the message “#I AM NOT FAMOUS ANYMORE”; Demi Lovato, whose struggles with an eating disorder and selfharm forced herself to step back into the shadows for a period of rehabilitation; the list goes on and on. And yet their efforts to keep a low profile often backfire.

“Fame, while fleeting, is often cruel and unfairly revealing.”

Celebrities are nothing new.

But the idea of instant fame, or the way of someone’s private life

being completely eclipsed by the demands of the public, is. And it’s extremely dangerous.

We live in a world where private information is freely accessible, where hackers can seize intimate photos from Jennifer Lawrence’s iPhone and post them online for everyone to scrutinize, where breaking news of Lovato’s eating disorder becomes a public forum and allows people to make cruel comments about her appearance.

“Just because I’m a public figure, just because I’m an actress, does not mean that I asked for this,” Lawrence said in a November 2014 interview with Vanity Fair. “It does not mean that it comes with the territory.”

No wonder Sia wants to shield herself from the public eye.

While celebrities are public figures and subject to a lot of media attention, there is a fine line between free expression and an invasion of privacy.

Alex Lee, better known as “Alex from Target,” didn’t ask for

AP Photo

LaBeouf famously wears a paper bag over his head. attention. Fame was thrust upon him when his photo hit the internet and began wildly circulating.

“I’m kind of scared to go in public,” Lee told the New York Times in November. His sudden fame was overwhelming, unexpected and, quite simply, not always desirable. He would sometimes receive “death threats” via Twitter, and his family’s personal information, “including

Social Security numbers, bank accounts and phone records,” were leaked online as well.

It’s natural for the public to latch onto a celebrity and to have a vested interest in both their public and private lives.

But fame, while fleeting, is often cruel and unfairly revealing. The obsession with fame often leads to a breach of privacy and a breach of ethical conduct.

Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors.

The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office.

Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason.

All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs.

The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

page 10 The Signal March 4, 2015

Features

Students see their ‘beautiful reflections’

By Chelsea LoCascio Production Manager

Students’ moods lit up the Brower Student Center during last week’s campus-wide power outage as they passed by mirrors covered in positive messages for those who do not like what they see in their reflection.

“It’s so hard nowadays to zone in on (positive aspects of yourself), because people are more inclined to find (the) negative,” said Ashley Attinello, a senior communication studies major and co-chair of CAPS Peer Educator’s National Eating Disorder

Awareness Month. “We’re just trying to encourage them to see why they’re beautiful, just like everyone else.”

Peer Educators from CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) set up a table and a few mirrors in the Student Center Atrium on Monday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that allowed students to write an optimistic message for themselves and others, as part of National Eating Disorder Awareness Month.

“It’s the idea that when you look in a mirror, you’re supposed to see the positive aspects of yourself and focus more on

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

MacLean writes positive sentiments on a mirror.

those,” Attinello said.

The mirrors, which were displayed in the lobby of the Library all last week, had messages such as “Love who you are,” “You are be-you-tiful” and “Keep smiling.”

Although the main reason to have the event was to encourage a healthy body image, CAPS Peer Educators also wanted to promote their upcoming events in March.

“The main idea is to spread awareness,” Attinello said “We are trying to engage people who come to our table (and) spread information by word of mouth.”

CAPS Peer Educators told passersby about their next event, the NEDA Monologues on Tuesday, March 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Auditorium, where students will share their personal encounters with eating disorders, no matter their gender.

“We have a male speaker, (and) we’re really excited about that,” said Taylor MacLean, a junior psychology major and cochair for CAPS Peer Educators National Eating Disorder Awareness Month. “We try to make it gender-neutral because some people think it’s a female issue, but, really, it affects everyone.”

CAPS Peer Educators will host

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

‘You’re gorgeous’ and other messages are on display. another event on Tuesday, March 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Cromwell lounge featuring Meghan Tomasek, a Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program Coordinator at Timberline Knolls residential treatment center in Lemont, Ill. Tomasek will focus on mindfulness and eating disorders.

Members of CAPS Peer Educators encourage those who have an eating disorder to attend these events, along with CAPS Peer Educators meetings, and to seek professional guidance.

Attinello said there are several

different people to reach out to, such as CAPS, the campus dietician and the medical clinic located in Forcina Hall.

“Don’t hesitate to seek help,” MacLean said. “A lot of people get nervous. They don’t want the stigma that they have a mental illness, but more people than you think suffer with poor body image even if it’s not to the degree of an eating disorder. So definitely reach out to people, because everyone wants to help you. No one should be feeling let down.”

CSA hosts annual Chinese New Year celebration

By Jessica Ganga Nation & World Editor

It was a night filled with good food and good luck as students and faculty at the College celebrated the Year of the Sheep during the Chinese New Year celebration in the Brower Student Center on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Located in the Lions Den, the area was decorated in red, the color of good luck in Chinese culture, with hanging lanterns that added to the celebratory atmosphere.

The event was a chance for Chinese students and friends alike to celebrate the holiday together.

“I don’t get to be home for Chinese New Year,” said Melody Hwang, a sophomore urban education and English major and covice president of the Chinese Student Association. “(It’s) really cool to celebrate it with my TCNJ family.”

The event, which was hosted by the CSA, featured various performances from students. Lion dancers, dressed in traditional pieces, opened the event. As a drum pounded, the dancers swayed back and forth to its beat. Their performance moved down to the audience, weaving around the tables of people, where students were encouraged to touch the lion’s head for good luck.

During the performance, attending families gave out red envelopes to their children in a Chinese New Year tradition.

In China, elder family members give the envelopes filled with money to their children, a way sending good wishes and luck to them.

Zachary Lo, a sophomore biology major and co-vice president of CSA, then introduced the Rutgers CSA Chinese Dance

Troupe. Two female students performed with fans to a Chinese version of “Colors of the Wind.”

The dancers matched their elegant movements to the classic song as they glided fans and sashes through the air.

The audience was also entertained by the College’s Chinese yo-yo team. The young men performed various tricks, and at one point, effortlessly spun their yo-yo’s with one hand while the other was behind their backs.

Later in the evening, people were invited to fill up their plates with authentic Chinese food. Delicious spring rolls, bok choy and dumplings were served among other appetizing options.

Next to the food, people were encouraged to make Chinese paper lanterns and

learn how to create different images by cutting paper.

One adjacent table held a small tree adorned with paper wishes from students for the new year. Many of the wishes included “happiness” and “good health,” while others contained fun wishes. One which said, “to eat all the food in the world and never get fat.”

Later in the evening, Chinese language professor Celia Liu had some of her students model traditional Chinese outfits in a fashion show for the audience. Students walked out in the colorful costumes from each dynasty.

The highlight of the night was not just the performances and food, but rather the gathering of students from all different cultural backgrounds coming together,

Photo courtesy of Hubert Hsu

Students perform a traditional dragon dance to end the night.

something Liu was very happy with.

“Seeing students from different ethnic backgrounds taking parts in showing the Chinese cultural practices (and) the program is a sign of TCNJ students’ acceptance of culture diversity,” Liu said. “The cultural experience on campus stimulates global exchange activities. Culture exchange is a phenomenon that can be seen everywhere from our community to the world.”

Assistant Professor of Communications Yifeng Hu also enjoyed the evening and believed it was “eye-opening” for students to see how another culture celebrates a holiday.

“It’s a great opportunity to introduce the culture to American students.” Hu said.

Also in attendance was Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Benjamin Rifkin and Center for Global Engagement Director Jon Stauff.

“The Chinese New Year celebration has evolved into a wonderful tradition at TCNJ, with students and faculty working together to introduce Chinese culture to the community, practice Chinese language skills and encourage people to learn more about China,” Stauff said.

Both Rifkin and Stauff enjoyed the event and felt it was a great way to bring the College community together. Rifkin, especially, liked the wishing tree.

“In addition to providing all members of our community a chance to experience a taste (both literally and figuratively) of a culture representing approximately 25 percent of the world’s population, the celebration of Chinese New Year is another of many opportunities for our campus community to take a moment to mindfully enjoy the present and, with a wishing tree, articulate hopes for the future,” Rifkin said.

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 11

: March ’10

Campus Town begins

Kimberly Ilkowski / Features Editor

Open forums help Ewing residents voice their opinion on construction.

By Kimberly Ilkowski Features Editor

With Campus Town nearing completion and residents and shops set to move in five months from now, it’s hard for current students to remember a time before the construction began. Almost five years ago to the day, the March 3, 2010 edition of The Signal discussed the debate between the campus and Ewing Township community members alike about building Campus Town when the plans were first created. Written by copy editor Arti Patel, the story is an interesting look back on the developmental stages of a project over which the campus is now abuzz with excitement.

Ewing Township residents had the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about the Campus Town project the College is in the process of developing at a community forum held by the Township and College Together (TACT) Committee.

The five-person panel consisting of Curt Heuring, the College’s vice president for facilities management, construction and

The

By Johnanthony Alaimo Columnist

campus safety, Eric R. Ballou, engineering consultant from Bridsall Services Group and David P. Manfredi, architect from the firm Elkus Manfredi. Also on the panel were Cubie H. Dawson Jr. and Hilary Thomas from the consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

The panel presented a detailed account of the College’s feasibility study previously shown to students and faculty.

“We are trying to create a sense of place for this college in this community,” Manfredi said. “We want to create buildings that connect the campus to the town.”

Of the approximately 37,000 Ewing Township residents, less than 30 citizens came to the meeting.

Of those who were present, members of Trinity United Methodist Church, where the community forum was held, expressed a distinct hostile vibe projected forth by a small minority of disgruntled and irritated Ewing residents.

“We got a lot of feedback,” TACT student member Tom Little, a junior political science major, said. “I think we will have success in the long term.”

Campus Style

By Heather Hawkes Columnist So many inspirational collections were presented during this Fall/Winter 2015 Fashion Week that absolutely blew my mind and revamped my love for fashion. If I could, I would write a spotlight on every single line presented, but I will just mention a few: BCBGMaxazria: This line mixed tons of camel tones and warm colors to create a minimalist look that made the perfect fall statement. The collection incorporated some deep Aztec patterns that added rustic accents to each piece. Oversized pieces were mixed with elegant silks and sheer fabric to create balance and form wearable ensembles that can be taken straight from the runway.

Tome: This collection consisted of a variety of cool, blue tones, accented by crisp whites with a touch of stripes and deep, olive tones. The line incorporated turtle and cowl-necks in almost every piece. Tome effortlessly paired simple silhouettes with bold patterns or a pop of color to give the collection character. The line had a few sheer and shimmery pieces that were tastefully done in earthy tones, with a beautiful gold or silver to accent and enhance the femininity.

Ralph Lauren: My all-time favorite designer never fails to take my breath away with his work. His Fall 2015 collection is absolutely aweinspiring. The combinations of rustic browns, greys and creams effortlessly Little acknowledged the unreceptive attitudes of some residents in attendance, but said this was due to fiscal concerns.

“Everyone’s worried about money,” he said.

“I think it went wonderfully,” Heuring said. “(Talking to the residents) helps us design and respond better to people’s needs.

A major topic brought up by several residents included the effects of new retail stores on existing businesses.

“The plan is not to be disrespectful to any existing businesses,” Dawson said.

“The idea is not to have these stores

Lauren inspires with furs.

AP Photo

blended accents of fur and fringe in all the right places. And for all of you animal-lovers out there, Mr. Lauren made sure to include a statement that “Ralph Lauren has a long-standing commitment to not use fur products in our apparel and accessories. All furlike pieces featured in the collection are constructed of shearling.” Just when I didn’t think it was possible to love Ralph any more, it is. separate from the community. It is important that we knit those together.”

“The excitement about retail here is that you can walk to it,” Thomas clarified in an effort to show why this development project is different than strip malls and existing retail areas already in Ewing Township.

“I know the College’s idea is to create a setting that can bring the College’s community together with the town to bring a harmonious relationship,” Ewing Township City Council Vice President Les Summiel said. “It’s really the will of the people to say whether or not the idea is palatable to the community.”

Hollyword: Dancing with D-listers

In not-news that should have been not-news years ago, Lady Gaga has joined the cast of “American Horror Story: Hotel,” the next itineration of garbage to grace our television screens.

Gags released a promo video of the upcoming season on her Twitter. In it, the real life American horror story stands in black and white with a garb over her head. She announces the upcoming season by raising her hand in her iconic “monster paw” and rips off her mask revealing, well, her. We all scream and fall down.

Honestly, after last season’s “Freakshow,” which on a good day can be described as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, how could anything be worse? Maybe, just maybe, Gags can act.

She did prove to us at the Oscars that she could still sing hella

well, even if she considers wearing potato-peeling gloves as fashion. I guess you could say I’m ready to stay at the Lady Motel Hotel Holiday Inn. That is, if I don’t have to consider myself a Little Monster.

In other television news, “Dancing With the Stars” is returning with more questionable people dubbing themselves as

“celebrities.” Sometimes, I think throwing “American Horror Story: Freakshow” on DVD into the air would constitute a better star than some of these people.

But here are your contestants, I’ll try to explain why they’re famous as I go. Michael Sam (famous for being the first publicly gay NFL star and the reason why ESPN got so into gay sex),

Rumer Willis (famous for being the daughter of Demi Moore and possibly having a crush on her ex-stepfather Ashton Kutcher), Suzanne Somers (famous for being on “Three’s Company” and for having a failed talk show on the LIFETIME NETWORK), Patti Labelle (famous for being an iconic singer and for throwing shade every which way), Willow

AP Photo

Semi-famous contestants perform dance routines in the hopes of winning the show.

Shields (famous for being in the “Hunger Games” films and for being in countless inappropriate fan-fictions), Charlotte McKinney (famous for being a model and disrespecting herself by eating a Carl’s Jr. burger on a car), Noah Galloway (famous for being a double amputee and serving our country), Riker Lynch (famous for being on “Glee” and for being forgotten for having been on “Glee”), Redfoo (famous for being one half of LMFAO and for ruining your senior prom), Nastia Liukin (famous for being a gold medal winning gymnast at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and for kicking some serious ass) and Robert Herjavec (famous for being a member of the “Shark Tank” crew and for ruining people’s dreams). Sounds like an all-star cast! Here’s hoping they will not be staying at the Gags Hotel during the competition.

page 12 The Signal March 4, 2015

Traffick / Students fight for human rights February 18, 2015 The Signal page 17

continued from page 1

sophomore communications and interactive multimedia major, explained the organization is founded on the belief that citizens can aid the government in ending both forms of human trafficking: forced labor and sexual slavery.

Project Stay Gold originated at a middle school in Newman’s hometown of Jefferson Township.

He headed the efforts to bring the organization to the high school during his senior year and then decided to continue the fight against human trafficking at the College.

“This is something that, being a man myself, I feel like more men should be involved in the conversation,” Newman said. “It shouldn’t be a women’s issue. It should be a human rights issue.”

“Fight the Traffick” is the biggest programing the organization

has held thus far. The anti-trafficking week consisted of various speakers and events, as well as a performance by the College’s Blackout Step Team.

Perhaps the most powerful speaker of the week was Danielle Douglas, a victim of sex trafficking, who spoke in the Library Auditorium on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Douglas was trafficked in 2000 during her freshman year at Northeastern University. For two years, she was repeatedly beaten and forced to engage in sex work.

In a room full of college students, Douglas was able to personalize the topic of sex trafficking. She explained how, because pimps are often cunning and intelligent people who prey on the weaknesses of others, anyone can fall victim to their manipulation.

Douglas shared her story with students, detailing the years of

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this cycle of violence and abuse.

Newman, who led the panel, explained that human trafficking is so dangerous because people often do not talk about it or its underlying issues, such as consent and unhealthy masculinity. Both are important topics that relate directly to sex trafficking, but are also relevant to the lives of all men.

“I don’t know if there’s anything more damaging to a man than being told to ‘man up’ or ‘grow some balls,’ because what does that turn into?” said Levi Klinger-Christiansen, a sophomore political science and English major. “That turns into violence, and usually against women.”

All five men on the panel encouraged their peers to set higher standards for themselves and others, which includes calling people out on violent or inappropriate behavior.

Photo courtesy of Brandi Brooks

The club raises awareness about human trafficking.

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Although Project Stay Gold is a relatively new organization at the College, it is clear that it has been well received by the community and that many students enjoyed the programming for the week.

Ultimately, the goal of “Fight the Traffick” week was to educate students about human trafficking and spark a discussion on the issue, Newman said. He encourages any students who wish to learn more to attend Project Stay Gold’s bi-weekly meetings.

In the coming months, Project Stay Gold hopes to expand.

According to Lauren Monaco, a sophomore elementary education and English double major and the public relations representative for the organization, the club wants to establish chapters at other colleges and universities to gather as many people as possible in the fight against human trafficking.

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Newman discusses the world of enslaved immigrants.

mental, emotional and physical abuse that she endured. She explained how she was forced to work as a prostitute for most of the 24-hour day and became so exhausted that she couldn’t even think of escaping, since all of her energy was focused on survival.

“It really is brainwashing,” Douglas said. “People usually ask, ‘Why didn’t you leave?’ But you don’t need a physical chain to stay.

It’s very, very possible to be mentally chained, and unfortunately, it’s very easy for people to do.”

Douglas believes it was a miracle that she was able to escape that life, and she can now share her story and offer a perspective of human trafficking that isn’t readily available.

Decontee Davis, a sophomore sociology major and secretary of Project Stay Gold, was moved by Douglas’s lecture and called her “an inspiration.”

“Because human trafficking is such a major international crime, it is at times discouraging and daunting to claim that I want to help end it,” Davis said. “However, when I hear Danielle speak, my hope is restored, and my passion is rekindled … Her story is evidence that it is possible to help rescue and restore women, girls, men and families affected by human trafficking.”

Another highlight of the week was the panel “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls,” where male students of the College discussed the role of men in the issue of sex trafficking, as well as how they can help end

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 13

Arts & Entertainment

Play / ACT shows what just one act can do

Courtney Wirths / Business Manager

Left: Shannon McGovern ponders as Sylvia Plath in ‘American Writers.’ Right: Sam Waxenbaum and Michael Krakower talk during ‘ALeX.’ continued from page 1 Co-written by sophomore interactive multimedia major Kathleen Fox and sophomore English major Emily Albright (who also directed the production), “ALeX” was a light and touching play that left the audience laughing with every bang of the gavel.

Next up was “Dead American Writers,” written and directed by sophomore English major Jake Burbage. “American Writers” provided a look into the shared space of Ernest Hemingway, Jack Kerouac and Sylvia Plath and the disagreements that came with such individual intelligence.

Filled with intense discussion, fist fights and plenty of crude jokes, the acting displayed

in the play was truly impressive with the script often calling for one-liners, spit-fire debate and a severity found only in philosophical writing. With each esteemed writer advocating his or her view on what is real, Terra Heinzel-Nelson, a freshman psychology major, described this production as her favorite because she “had a lot to think about” after it finished. The audience, who was completely silent as the lights dimmed on the production, seemed to agree with Heinzel-Nelson.

Following a short intermission, senior English and secondary education major Blaire Deziel showcased her production of “Hometown Glory,” the story of lesbian couple Jo and Cassidy who dated throughout high school. After committing suicide, Cassidy

continued to play ghost to Jo, who was subsequently unable to come to terms with her death.

This changes during the night of their high school reunion, where the two finally discuss their feelings, allowing them to part amicably and for good.

“I wanted to write a show that inspired hope in spite of such negativity,” Deziel said.

Reflecting on her own experiences and stories she read as a “queer young adult,” Deziel wanted her audience to know that “it will get better. Even if it’s not better right now, there is potential. It will get better.”

The final play, “For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls,” was a welcome laugh written by Christopher Durang and directed by sophomore communications major Brooke Buonauro.

Set in the home of a wonderfully strange Southern family, “Belle” describes the life of a mother who desperately wishes her two sons were normal.

Her oldest son, Tom, brings home Ginny, a practically-deaf warehouse worker who has no interest in men; the younger son, Lawrence, can’t seem to focus on anything but playing with and naming his collection of swizzle sticks. Adding humor to the show was the lovely Southern accent with which each actor spoke and the natural stage presence each seemed to have.

Co-production manager and junior English secondary education major Rachel Friedman, who also starred in “Belle,” appeared proud of this year’s productions.

“It’s an amazing time for

students to really take the lead and choose the shows,” said Friedman, who also noted the large amount of proposals All College Theatre (ACT) received this year for a spot in the production. Having acted in six shows for ACT, Friedman spoke with passion when she described the impact of the organization. She believes ACT provides an outlet for “students to use the skills that they wouldn’t ordinarily get to show in professional productions.

Another thing out of the ordinary was the absolutely flawlessly rehearsed nature of the entire production. Not one line was dropped in any of the four plays. Indeed, Saturday proved to be a job well done for all involved in “An Evening of Shorts.”

Dear Judith — Staying together even when apart

By Judith Signal Advice Columnist Dear Judith, I had a really good best friend (lets call him George) in high school and at the beginning of college. But we have since grown apart. I guess we are busy.

But I feel bad and sad that we are not friends, and I think that it’s too late to fix it. Any advice? This happened with other high school friends, too.

—Growing Apart Dear Growing Apart, I think on many occasions people take their friends for granted. Now, I’m not saying you have done this, but stick with me for a second. Friends are there for you when you need them. You can laugh with them, cry with them and experience life with them. They don’t control you like your parents and they don’t break your heart like a lover gone wrong. They are just a friend — a human being in which you share mutual interests and passions. Someone who understands you when it seems like no one else does.

On the flip side, friendships are fragile. We move on. We transition to a different chapter in life. Sometimes those

friends come with us, and sometimes they don’t.

I’m going to tell you a story about my best friend, Growing Apart, and I’m hoping that this will bring some insight into what you’re feeling.

I’ve known my best friend — let’s call him Tommy — for seven years. We met in middle school when I was in 8th grade and he was in 6th grade. The difference in grade level meant that there was no reason we should really have become friends, but we did, and suddenly I had found someone who would quickly become my best friend.

Seven years is a long time to be best friends with someone. Tommy has seen me at my lowest and my highest points.

He’s seen me cry when I was denied to colleges, scream when I was accepted, mourn the loss of a family member and more. Also, he was there for me for the mundane moments — stress over an exam, feeling physically ill and more. He was, by our definition, my best friend.

Since he’s younger than me, I graduated high school and moved to college and he was still in our home town. He was still surrounded by the same culture and people that we’ve always known, and I was experiencing everything that college has to offer. We loved each other, and cared so deeply for one another, but we felt ourselves splitting. How

could we not? We are in virtually two different worlds. I would come home and we would hang out and talk and laugh, and it would be like old times — but I would always go back to school.

I would always have to leave, and he would always have to stay, thus pulling us apart further.

It was revealed to us recently that, at separate times, both of us thought it would be easier to give up. To end the friendship. After all, both of us have other support systems. We are not alone in our separate little universes. So we could have easily broken things off, said “I’ll see you when I see you” and stop trying desperately to pull something together that was very clearly shifting apart.

But that’s when we realized something else. This is life, Growing Apart.

This is what we do as humans. We move. We get old. We find new people.

We leave old friends. But we also keep old friends, too.

My best friend and I realized how deep our love ran. We understood how important we made each other feel. We knew that, despite the distance, our friendship could not be denied. So yes we could give up. Yes we could be happier by just going to our other friends and seeing each other months down the road.

But sometimes, taking the easy way out isn’t the option. We decided we

would rather fight everyday and miss each other like hell than have to deal with the idea of not being best friends.

Our friendship runs deep. It’s rooted in history and secrets and love.

The most beautiful part? It’s still blossoming. We are a tree whose branches are growing in two different directions, but we are still a part of the same trunk.

The point of the story is to tell you this — friendships are hard to maintain. But it runs deep. Growing a part, or feeling as if you are, is totally understandable. College is the most transitional period of our lives thus far. We are dealing with so much, and trying to maintain friendships with people from home is extremely difficult.

I don’t know your relationship with George, Growing Apart. But if your friendship is meant to be, it will be.

You can’t escape those roots. They are the foundation of your very being. Is George a part of your new life? Only the both of you can decide. But know that it’s never too late to fix things and make them stronger than ever before.

Enjoy college, but don’t forget where you came from.

The tree of life is large enough for everyone. Branch out, but don’t forget your roots.

Love,

Judith

page 14 The Signal March 4, 2015

Become an Unofficial Ambassador – 2015 Summer Service Internship Program Do More with Your Summer. The 2015 Summer Service Internship program with America’s Unofficial Ambassadors offers a unique opportunity for students and recent grads to travel, earn TCNJ academic credit, and gain hands-on professional experience.

Unofficial ambassadors intern with schools and grassroots organizations working in fields like health, human rights, youth leadership and education while learning about the language and people of their host country. Interns serve for 6 weeks in Indonesia, Morocco, Tajikistan or Tanzania.

Apply Today. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until March 5, 2015 and grant opportunities are available. To learn more, visit www.unofficialambassadors.org or contact stefanc@creativelearning.org

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March 4, 2015 The Signal page 15

Mixed Signals host a classy evening of comedy

Jonathan Edmondson / Arts & Entertainmant Editor

Munoz announces the next game the Signals will play.

By Jonathan Edmondson Arts & Entertainment Editor

To performing members of the Mixed Signals, laugher is the best medicine.

“When I made the audience laugh from something I said or did, it was the most rewarding feeling I ever got,” freshman communications major Nolan DeVoe said.

DeVoe was thrilled with his first official show with the Mixed Signals, the College’s premiere improvisational comedy troupe. The show, which took place on Sunday, Feb. 22, featured this year’s new Signals performing in their first show alongside improv veterans.

The troupe, which now contains 13 full members, entertained the crowd in one of their best shows of the year. In honor of the Oscars later in the evening, the Signals dressed up in their finest attire and walked into the Library Auditorium arm-in-arm, ready for an entertaining evening.

Every show was led by president and junior English secondary education major Steven Munoz, who announced each game before members of the troupe played. Some games include only two members, while others include the entire troupe.

A few classic games are almost always played, such as “HalfLife,” in which the members perform a scene and then do it

again in half the time, and so on. Other games are brand new, keeping the audience laughing and always excited for what they are going to see next.

Early this year, the troupe accepted five new members, who officially became part of the group earlier last week before the show.

“I have wanted to be in the Mixed Signals ever since I came to the College,” Junior graphic design major Alyssa Hess said.

“I think improv comedy is such an art, and I was so inspired and in awe of the troupe when I came to this school. I promised myself I’d keep auditioning until I got in.”

Hess, along with DeVoe and the other new members, performed with comedic expertise and held their own against veteran members. During a game called “Worlds Worst,” the troupe took suggestions that the audience wrote down before the show and had to act them out. Every member was invited to perform in this game, and it was hilarious to see how they all work together.

Not only are the Mixed Signals a cohesive unit, but they also have distinct personalities and comedic styles that add for consistently dynamic and high energy performances.

“My favorite part of improv is the ability to leave my reality for a little bit and be someone else, in a different setting, and just live out what life would be

like in that situation,” DeVoe said in a post-show interview.

The Signals are as diverse off the stage as they are on, with many of the members involved in other activities. Munoz and sophomore interactive multimedia major Beau Aranosian are in TCNJ Musical Theater’s production of “Carrie: The Musical,” while four other members are also on the executive board of All College Theater.

Despite their busy schedules, most of the members, even the newer ones, agree that being a Signal is an absolutely incredible experience.

“My experience with the troupe has been phenomenal,” Hess said. “I’ve made so many

new friends, I’ve gotten so much closer with the friends I already had and every practice is so hysterical. In improv you get to really experiment and try weird things. It’s nice to know I have so much support behind me regardless of whether I succeed or flop.”

And for some members, performing is about more than just spending time with friends and making others laugh — it’s a therapeutic experience.

“My anxiety can be fierce at times, but I pour all of that anxiety into my acting and it acts as a great release for me,” DeVoe said of performing with the Mixed Signals. “It offers a way for me to just let everything go.”

Jonathan Edmondson / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Garrett Verdone gets laughs from the audience and cast.

‘Parks and Recreation’ goes out with a hug

Final episode leaves longtime fans satisfied

By Joe Passantino Staff Writer

“Heartwarming.” Fans and critics alike have used that word to describe the beloved sitcom “Parks and Recreation” for much of its seven-season run. It’s only natural that the finale, “One Last Ride,” encapsulated so much of that spirit.

The episode opened with our heroes coming together to perform one last task in their fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana: fix a broken swing at a local playground. This was certainly a much smaller task than some of the others that the Parks department has tackled over the

years, its most recent accomplishment being the establishment of the new Pawnee National Park.

In some ways, this was fitting. The group had already accomplished about as much as they could do together, and since their biggest problem was a broken swing, it meant that it truly was time to move on.

Moving on was the real theme of the hour-long episode, as the broken swing plot served largely as a backdrop to the revelations of the characters’ futures.

Tom Haverford attempted to expand his Tom’s Bistro restaurant, but crashed and burned alongside the stock market.

Youtube

The cast of ‘Parks and Rec’ assembles for one last task in the finale.

What was a disturbing reminder of the harsh realities of life, turned into an uplifting realization that no failure is permanent. Indeed, Tom achieved his greatest success by acknowledging his failures and turning them into a bestselling book, “Failure: An American Success Story.” It was the kind of falland-rise epithet that “How I Met Your Mother” attempted with its polarizing 2014 finale.

Unlike “Mother”, though, “Parks and Rec” did not have to destroy years worth of character development to get to that goal. Tom’s unconventional idea was befitting of the once-mogul wannabe who had learned to channel his passion into practical endeavors.

Ron Swanson’s ending summed up perhaps “Parks” most popular (and quoted) character perfectly: simple and dignified. Upon realizing that the aptly named Very Good Building and Development Co. had become just that, he consulted with his friend-turned-enemy-turned-friend again Leslie Knope to decide on a new path. Leslie granted him a job as the superintendent of the new Pawnee National Park, which was the ideal vocation for the outdoorsy Ron. While he may have had difficulty smiling for the closing group photo, he had no such trouble while seen paddling alone in his canoe.

Garry Gergich finally escaped being the butt of every joke, earning 10 terms as Pawnee mayor before his death in 2048.

Not only was this a great ending for a character who endured his fair share of

torment, but Garry’s funeral featured one of the finale’s most brilliantly understated moments: A man wearing a black suit telling Leslie and Ben Wyatt, “it’s time to go.” The viewers were left to wonder if Leslie becomes president, without such a narrative overpowering the other characters’ stories.

We did get to see quite a bit of what the future has in store for the ambitious Pawnee couple. A shift to 2025 reveals that both Leslie and Ben were offered chances to become governor of Indiana.

Ben took it upon himself to name Leslie the candidate during an emotional group reunion. We also saw the returns of former stars Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, reprising their roles as Chris Traeger and “Ann Perkins!” respectively.

It was a beautiful moment of closure for the entire cast that featured the reunions of great friendship pairings like Leslie/Ann and Tom/Donna Meagle (who had spent much of her life traveling the world). We also got to see the children of Leslie, Ann and April. Andy and April had had a son named Jack, and April revealed that another was on the way. Perhaps this was the show’s greatest example of the most immature characters being capable of substantial human growth.

Fans of “Parks and Rec” will miss it dearly, but they can hold comfort in the fact that its finale was a moving tribute to one of the best sitcoms of the 21st century. It proved that it was more than an “Office” rip-off: It was a show based on government, but more consciously about love, hope and friendship.

page 16 The Signal March 4, 2015

International Film Festival

March 9, 2015 7:30pm-10:00pm Library Auditorium Two young Palestinian men, Khaled and Said from the Gaza strip are just 48 hours away from carrying out a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. The two men are allowed to spend what is presumably their last night alive with their families. However, since absolute secrecy must be maintained, they can tell nobody of their mission, and there are no proper farewells. The next morning, the men are brought to the border and the bombs have been attached to their bodies. However, the operation does not go according to plan and the two friends lose sight of each other. Separated from each other and left to their own devices, it's up to them to face their destiny and stand up for their convictions.

Presentation given by Prof. Nelly Taha (wlc@tcnj.edu)

*Sponsored by the Department of World Languages and Cultures, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Arts and Communications, Center for Global Engagement

SUMMER AND WINTER SESSIONS

AT TCNJ

MAYMESTER: MAY 26–JUNE 12, 2015 SESSION A: JUNE 15–JULY 16, 2015 SESSION B: JULY 20–AUGUST 20, 2015 Travel and blended courses may begin sooner.

summer@tcnj.edu http://www.tcnj.edu/intersession

Check for winter courses, too.

On campus, blended, and travel.

March 4, 2015 The Signal page 17

Sports Cheap Seats

NCAA and Baylor to blame in Nacita case

AP Photo

Nacita is ruled ineligible for the upcoming season.

By Kevin Luo Staff Writer

Every couple of weeks or so, I hear a story that makes me ask the question, “NCAA, what is wrong with you?” This week, the NCAA was not alone in their lack of common sense.

The University of Baylor had equally questionable decisionmaking in the choice to remove Silas Nacita from the football program this past week.

Nacita was a walk-on running back for the Bears who became a fan favorite this past season after his story was brought into

the national spotlight. He was also named to the Academic All-Big 12 team and scored three touchdowns during his one season in Waco.

He transferred to Baylor from Cornell two years ago. He spent this first year taking classes at community college and sleeping on the floors of friends’ apartments. Once he earned enough money from academic scholarships, to attend school, he walked onto Baylor’s football team.

Although he earned enough to attend school, he was still broke and homeless. At first, he was content with continuing

to sleep on floors, but when he was offered some financial assistance for an apartment from a family friend, he couldn’t turn it down.

This past week, he paid the price for accepting this assistance. Baylor announced that Nacita was being ruled ineligible for an NCAA rules violation since he received “impermissible benefits.”

The NCAA quickly made a statement to cover their behinds in the court of public opinion.

Right after the decision came out, the NCAA Twitter account tweeted, “The NCAA did not declare Silas Nacita ineligible and Baylor has not requested a waiver for him.” The NCAA was trying to be the “good guy” and put all the blame on Baylor.

Good job, NCAA. Whether it was the NCAA or Baylor that officially declared Nacita ineligible, who comes out of this a winner? No one wins in this case.

Even if Nacita was declared ineligible officially by Baylor, is anyone really dumb enough to believe that the NCAA didn’t directly or indirectly affect that

decision, especially with rumors that the NCAA was investigating this case for months?

Although this is a horrible situation, Nacita took the high road in this case. He has come out and said publicly that he has made a mistake and should not have taken the housing assistance. But why was this such a mistake? This wasn’t a greedy kid. He just wanted somewhere to live. This kid was a walk-on.

He wasn’t getting an athletic scholarship. It’s a shame that a player like Nacita gave so much to help Baylor and the NCAA as a whole, and now he’s getting penalized for something like this.

Next season, Baylor will be very good. I’m sure this story won’t be a big deal a year from now, but I just hope something good happens for Nacita and his story doesn’t become forgotten as he seems to be a great kid who just wants to play.

Baylor coach Art Briles has said that he will gladly have Nacita back if he’s ruled eligible.

I wish he would make a stand in this situation, but I’m sure his hands are essentially tied.

The NCAA should start using some common sense when it comes to their rules. There shouldn’t always be strict letterof-the-law decisions. A homeless player who is sleeping on apartment floors getting a handout to live semi-comfortably is different than a player getting thousands of dollars in cash and gifts from boosters and agents.

The fact that a player receiving housing assistance is getting crucified is a flat-out crime, and the decision is indicative of everything wrong with the NCAA.

AP Photo

Nacita celebrates a win.

NBC revives boxing Lacrosse wins season debut Cheap Seats

Women’s Lacrosse

Primetime fights coming

By Michael Battista Sports Assistant A few weeks back, I wrote a piece about the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao possibly becoming a reality after years of buildup. Well, since then, not only has the fight been announced for Pay-Per-View in Las Vegas for Saturday, May 2, but NBC has announced that boxing will make its return to network cable within the next few weeks.

The Premier Boxing Champions series will make its television debut this Saturday night, March 7, on NBC in one of five primetime telecasts scheduled for the network. Both NBC and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) will combine for 20 matches overall, with a deal being worked out with CBS for up to eight afternoon fights starting Wednesday, April 8, and a few Friday night matches on Spike TV beginning in mid-March.

This effort to bring boxing back to the mainstream is one of the best ones I’ve seen in a while and looks very promising to the sports world.

UFC/MMA did this a few years back — having more matches on networks like Spike and NBCSN while still having Pay-Per-View cards — and it has increased the sport’s overall appeal from niche to a more broad group.

What sets this apart from UFC/ MMA, however, is the broad set

of channels on which boxing will be available. NBC and CBS are both basic cable channels and will definitely garner a good amount of viewers. Spike and NBCSN are also great to have, as each has shown in the past to hold their own when broadcasting sporting events. NBC also is staking not only the boxing cards, but the announcing one too, bringing in Marv Albert for NBC, Kenny Albert for NBCSN, Sugar Ray Leonard as an analyst and Al Michaels to help the debut broadcast.

With the network pushing this heavily on it, boxing has a lot to live up to again, and I personally hope this sport can hit a nerve with the American sports culture and become big like it once was.

AP Photo

Pacquiao defeats his opponent.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Fitzgerald scores one of her four goals vs. FDU.

By Anthony Caruso Staff Writer

The women’s lacrosse team had an early start to their season. Traditionally, they have begun the first week of March, but this season, they started the season just days before the end of February.

The snow limited the team’s practice leading up to the game. According to coach Sharon Pfluger, the team was only able to practice at Lions Stadium just two days before the game because of the inclement weather.

The team struggled at times as they opened the season, yet were able to escape with an 11-8 win over the FDU-Florham Devils at home on Friday, Feb. 27.

“I’m really happy that we

won,” Pfluger said. “I don’t think we played our best, but it’s only our first game.”

In the second half, senior Ava Fitzgerald added two goals, bringing her total to four on the day. Senior Kendal Borup also scored another goal, while fellow classman Erin Healy scored her first of the year. Freshman Amanda Muller scored the final goal of the game.

“I think overall the team played well,” Fitzgerald said “There are things we need to do better and things we successfully carried out. This first game was a good opportunity for us to begin to mesh in the game setting.”

The Devils saw goals by Courtney Rendinaro and Brianna Capobianco. Joelle Manganella scored twice in the half, while Brienna Reasoner added

her second of the game.

“Rendinaro definitely drove hard to goal, which was a great way for us to see what we need to work on as a defensive unit,” Fitzgerald said. “Our team works hard at breaking things down and using every opportunity we can as a learning experience to continue to grow and improve. I have no doubt that moving forward teams will have a harder time breaking through our eight-meter defense.”

The Lions led 6-3 at halftime. Junior Courtney Natalicchio scored a first half hat trick.

Fitzgerald added two goals, while Borup had the other goal in the half.

“Natalicchio was able to step up and provide the team with some momentum to keep our lead, and our transition game allowed me to capitalize on scoring opportunities on the attacking end,” Fitzgerald said. “Moving forward, we are expecting big things from a lot of players, given the depth we possess.”

Rendinaro had two goals in the first half for the Devils. Reasoner had the other goal.

Lions goaltender Kelly Schlupp made three saves, while giving up seven goals. Her counterpart, Grace Warburton, made five saves and gave up 10 goals.

The Lions will return to action this Saturday, March 7, in their second game of the season, which will also be home. This game will be at 1 p.m. against Neumann University.

page 18 The Signal March 4, 2015

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March 4, 2015 The Signal page 19

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Kevin Luo “The Ref”

Michael Battista

Matt Bowker

Sports Assistant

Sports Editor

Chris Drabik Staff Writer

In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Kevin Luo, asks our panel of experts three questions: Who were the winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline, who is the best NBA draft prospect after Duke’s Jahlil Okafor and who is the NHL MVP at this point in the season?

1. Who were the biggest winners and losers of the NBA trade deadline?

Matt: No deal really stuck out as far as making a team a true contender, but the winner to me is the Minnesota Timberwolves for reacquiring Kevin Garnett. At his age, Garnett will not help the team on the court, but he can mentor the Wolves’ young nuclei, Andrew Wiggins and Ricky Rubio. The deal will almost certainly help the Wolves’ last-place attendance. As for the losers of the deadline, I still have no idea what Sam Hinkie plans to do with the 76ers. After trading Michael Carter-Williams, last year’s Rookie-of-the-Year, it appears the team has finally recommitted to rebuilding again. Currently sitting 14th in the East, it was clear this year’s team needed to be rebuilt in order to preserve their ongoing suckfest, especially if they want the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

Michael: The biggest winner would have to be the Oklahoma City Thunder, while the biggest loser would be the Phoenix

AP Photo

Suns. Sam Presti helped fortify an aging Thunder roster without giving away too much. Joining the likes of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are D.J. Augustin, Kyle Singler and Enes Kanter, all players who, under the right coach, can perform and bring up a team. They got rid of Reggie Jackson, who made it obvious he didn’t want to play for the Thunder, and

Kendrick Perkins, someone whose contract had been weighing the team down.

Meanwhile in Phoenix, Robert Savar boasted he would never give in to Goran Dragic’s trade demands. Now here we are, with Dragic on the Heat and the Suns out of one of their best players. Savar continues to bad mouth Dragic, while his team continues to flounder in the West. It’s at

times like this it’s better for an owner to keep quiet and rethink his strategy rather than run his mouth, making himself look even more pathetic.

Chris: My NBA trade deadline winner has to be the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers are a talented team on the fringe of championship contention, and they made moves that made them legit contenders out west. The team shipped out some bench pieces and a draft pick for Aaron Afflalo, who will provide some big time scoring off the bench as well as a legit threat from 3-point range. Afflalo could be the extra boost of depth that Portland needs come playoff time. My trade deadline loser has to be the Philadelphia 76ers. No one really knows what Philly is doing. By dealing out Michael Carter-Williams and K.J. McDaniels, the 76ers are basically playing with a glorified D-League lineup. The 74 draft picks they have over the next four years will be great, though.

Michael gets 3 points for discussing OKC’s quality moves. Chris gets 2 points for discussing the Afflalo pickup, and Matt gets 1 point for saying the Sixers need to rebuild.

AP Photo

2. Who’s the best NBA draft prospect not named Jahlil Okafor?

Matt: I believe Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell may be the best prospect in the draft, including Okafor. The center position has become less important over the past decade.

Except for Tim Duncan and the Spurs, teams

do not need a good center to win in today’s NBA. However, teams do need a scorer and Russell fits that bill. He is a freshman point guard/shooting guard that can score at will in a tough conference, while still getting his teammates involved. Russell Westbrook of the Thunder has shown over the past month

just how important it is to have a point guard that can score. In the end, Russell will probably be drafted by the 76ers, where he will inevitably be traded in two years for more first-round picks, launching the 76ers most recent rebuild.

Michael: The second-best NBA draft prospect is Karl-Anthony Towns. The New Jersey native has scored an impressive 269 points this year for the University of Kentucky and has averaged about nine points per game. Now, that may seem low, but ever since Kentucky implemented their “platoon system,” each player has been getting less time on the court. So, Towns’s performance this season shows he can do a lot in a very small amount of time. In his last five games alone, he’s scored 51 points and 33 rebounds, all in winning efforts against good schools such as the University of Arkansas and the University of Tennessee and also helped clinch the SEC title for the team.

Towns is expected to go early in the draft, and it’s easy to see why, so the 76ers, Timberwolves or Lakers all have good reason to pick this kid up.

Chris: Karl-Anthony Towns might just be the best prospect in the whole draft, so he is the easy choice here. The Kentucky big man is an absolute freak of nature and is still an extremely raw product on both ends of the court. That being sad, Towns can still protect the rim and score the basketball just as well as any center in college basketball right now. Towns had an outstanding month of February and is currently challenging Jahlil Okafor for the No. 1 draft pick. A continue of this trend, as well as possibly a national championship, could put his draft stock at an all-time high. If I’m an NBA general manager, I know I want a big man who can pass, rebound, dribble, shoot, dunk and defend as well, if not better, than anyone at his position.

Matt gets 3 points for discussing the devaluing of centers. Chris gets 2 points for discussing Towns’s multitude of talents, and Michael gets 1 point for saying nine points is impressive.

3. Who is the NHL MVP at this point in the season?

Matt: This may be the first time in 13 years that a goalie wins the Hart Trophy. With nobody running away with the scoring title, it comes down to Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and Montreal’s Carey Price for MVP. Between the two, I would go with Rinne. The two have similar stats, but Price is playing with a much better team in front of him to boost his stats. Rinne has led the Predators to the best record in the NHL through three quarters of the season. Last season without Rinne, the Preds missed the playoffs entirely. Rinne has single-handedly lifted Nashville to the top of the NHL standings and looks unbeatable on most nights. Rinne truly exemplifies why he is the most valuable player to his team, more so than any other player in the league.

Michael: The NHL MVP right now is John Tavares of the New York Islanders. He has helped push that team far beyond where it has been over the past few seasons and is one of the key reasons why they are where they are right now. He has played in every game for the team so far this season and has

an impressive set of 30 goals with 35 assists over that span. In the last 10 games Tavares has scored six times and assisted eight times in a stretch that included competition like the New York Rangers, Washington Capitals and the Vancouver Canucks. For his impressive work helping to keep his team on top, John Tavares is the NHL’s MVP, and coming from a Rangers fan, that’s a hard thing to say.

Chris: With Patrick Kane done for the season, my MVP is going to have to be Alex Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals franchise player has been a VIP member of the Red Light District, finding the back of the net 41 times so far this year, and has currently put the Washington Capitals in the playoff picture in the Eastern Conference. Leading the league in goals is always a key part of any NHL MVP’s resume, and Ovechkin is most certainly on pace to do so. John Tavares of the New York Islanders also deserves some serious recognition, pacing the Isles with 30 goals and 35 assists and consistently battling all season long for the NHL points lead. These are my two contenders for the NHL MVP award, but ultimately, Ovi takes the cake.

Michael gets 3 points for discussing Tavares carrying the Islanders. Matt gets 2 points for mentioning Rinne’s season, and Chris gets 1 point for focusing on Ovechkin’s goals.

Michael wins Around the Dorm 7-6-5.

AP Photo

Signal

Sports

Men’s tennis falls short against RPI

Lions start strong, falter in singles matches

By Matt Bowker Sports Editor

The men’s tennis team suffered its first loss of the young season on Saturday, Feb. 28, dropping a close 5-4 decision at the hands of Rensselaer Polytechnic University.

The Lions quickly jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the visiting Engineers in the frigid weather.

The team’s top doubles pairing of juniors Pierce Cooper and Billy Buchbinder got the Lions off to a hot start, doubling up their opponents, 8-4. The win gave the College a 1-0 lead and kept the duo undefeated on the season.

The College continued to roll with second doubles pair sophomores Jack August and Mike Stanley defeating their counterparts, 8-5. The win was August’s first of two wins on the day and kept him a perfect 4-0 in both singles and doubles on the season. August’s partner, Stanley, picked up his first win in his season debut.

The Lions’ freshmen pairing of Chris D’Agostino and Sean

August picks up two wins in his matches against RPI.

Fernandez were unable to complete the doubles sweep of RPI, falling, 8-2.

While the College was dominant in the doubles competition, the team was unable to carry its momentum over to singles competition.

The team lost four of six singles matches en route to their

first loss of the season.

First up for the Lions was Cooper. Cooper, the seventhranked tennis player, was bested

by RPI’s McKinley Grimes in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to tie up the overall score of the meet at two apiece.

August promptly put the Lions back in the lead by defeating RPI’s

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

senior captain Brandon Mazzara, 6-2, 7-5.

The Engineers took the next two matches to open a 4-3 lead with just two matches remaining. Both Buchbinder and D’Agostino picked up their first singles loss of the season.

D’Agostino was able to take his match to a third and final set —

the only match of the day to go to a third set — before dropping the deciding set, 6-3.

With the meet on the line, Fernandez was able to steal a victory for the College to tie the meet at four with just one match remaining.

The meet came down to Stanley, making his 2015 singles debut vs. RPI’s junior Sherman Uyeno. While Uyeno had experience on his side, Stanley was coming off a tremendous freshman season in which he went 12-4 and won seven of his last eight singles matches.

Unfortunately for the Lions, Stanley was unable to pull out the victory, and the team lost the meet, 5-4, dropping their record to 1-1 on the season.

Next up for the Lions, Ramapo College will come to campus for a 2:30 p.m. start on Wednesday, March 4. The meet will be the College’s last before a well-deserved, three week break, after which the team’s schedule heats up with three meets for the remainder of the season.

Track and field endure mixed results at NJAC

By George Tatoris Staff Writer With around 300 meters left in the 800 meter event, sophomore Brandon Mazzarella was convinced he would win — but two Ramapo runners blazed past him.

“My arms and legs were just dead, and I had nothing left in them. It was a very strange sensation,” said Mazzarella, who wound up finishing fourth just behind a Stockton runner.

The NJAC were steeped in competition this year, according to Mazzarella. He pointed out how, last year, he won the 800 meters with a time of 1:56, but this year he barely came in fourth with his 1:55.

The stark competition this year resulted in a third-place finish for the men with a total of 141.5 points behind Ramapo and Rowan, ending the Lions’ 17-year reign over the NJAC. The women came in second out of nine with 174 points, just behind Rowan.

“Our team is obviously disappointed with the overall performance at the NJAC meet, but I believe this loss will motivate us to improve going into the last couple weeks of the indoor season,” senior Erik Moutenot said.

Despite the end of the streak, many Lions had great performances.

Junior Jake Lindacher set an NJAC

Lions’ Lineup March 4, 2015

I n s i d e

AP Photo

The men finish third overall, ending their 17-year NJAC win streak.

record and reclaimed his conference championship title with his performance in the 60-meter high hurdles, clocking in at a swift 8.28 seconds.

In the pole vault, senior Juan Giglio became the second two-time conference champion, clearing the pole at a height of 4.65 meters.

The Lions also won the 4x800 relay, which saw sophomores Alex Cary and Ed Bohi, junior Roberto Guiducci and

freshman Dale Johnson finishing with a combined time of 7:55.91.

Many Lions secured new personal records that day, as well.

“The girls’ team showed up and never stopped fighting,” senior Katelyn Ary said. “Even though we didn’t come out with the win, there were many incredible performances.”

Senior Michelle Cascio took first in both the 400 and the 200 meters with times of

58.53 seconds and 25.49 seconds, respectively, earning new personal bests for Cascio.

Cascio debated whether or not to run again after she tweaked her hamstring in the trial of the 60-meter dash — she eventually ran the 400 meters to see what would happen. Cascio was nervous because there was only one event in between the 400 meters and 200 meters.

“I’m happy I did it ... I was able to get another win, and the points we needed,” Cascio said.

Three Lions in the mile also ran personal bests. Senior Megan Stack finished first with a time of 5:02.38. Freshman Allison Fournier and junior Kayla Glynn came home with their best times, as well.

“We were motivated to put in our best effort after watching how well our teammates had been performing in previous events,” Stack said.

Ary also finished first in her event, the 800 meters, with a time of 2:12.51.

In the triple jump, junior Courtney Paciulli leaped into first with a distance of 11.30 meters.

Coach Justin Lindsey said he hopes the third place finish acts as a “wake-up call” for the guys.

“We will regroup and reclaim the titles outdoors,” Lindsey said.

46 53 Around the Dorm page 19

Lacrosse page 17

Silas Nacita page 17

Boxing revival Page 17