The Signal: Spring '15 No. 11

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Vol. XLII, No. 12

April 22, 2015

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

The daily struggles of adjunct profs College loses

$2.4 million in state funding

By Tom Kozlowski Editor-in-Chief Adjunct professor of philosophy Jeanine Thweatt-Bates juggles motherhood and teaching seven days a week. Driving back and forth from her home in Newark to the College, Thweatt-Bates must care for her two young children while catering to the needs of her students, all while shouldering the burdens of life as an adjunct.

In her position, Thweatt-Bates barely receives a living wage. During spring semesters, she shoulders additional coursework from other schools in order to support a family. She scarcely has time to research and has even less time to spend with students. Adding children into the mix, these commitments are bound to conflict.

“More than once I’ve brought my 8-year-old daughter, Clare, to class with me because her spring break doesn’t coincide with TCNJ’s, and there was simply no alternative,” Thweatt-Bates said. “This semester I brought my youngest 3-yearold with me for the same reason. I’ve had very few office hours available to students, typically, because of the need to commute back up to Newark in time to pick them up for school. That’s one of the things that does immediately impact students.”

While this balancing act befalls plenty of educators, it lands the hardest and most consistently on adjunct faculty, academia’s so-called “casual” labor force that’s increasingly become the backbone of college education.

The College, compared to the cutthroat

By Sara Torres Staff Writer

observers worry that higher education has suffered for it.

Colleges and universities, in an attempt to compete with trimmed budgets, have reaped the benefits of cheap labor. Nationally speaking, a 2010 survey by the Coalition on the Academic Workforce found that more than 1.3 million faculty members (or 75.5 percent) were “employed in contingent positions off the tenure track, either as part-time or adjunct faculty

Governor Christie’s proposed budget plan for the 2016 fiscal year slashes funding to public four-year colleges, mainly due to the rising cost of employee benefits.

The budget summary, released in February, reveals an estimated dip in operational funding to the College, specifically, by over $2 million.

“The state provides support to public colleges in two primary ways: direct operating aid and by paying the cost of employee fringe benefits,” said David Muha, vice president for Marketing, Communications and Brand Management.

According to the proposed budget, funding for fiscal year 2016 would maintain the present level of funding provided in the current fiscal year. However, the cost of fringe benefits, such as healthcare and pensions, will increase. This means funding will be taken out of the allotment for direct operating aid to make up for fringe employee benefits.

“Under the governor’s proposed budget, TCNJ will receive $2.429 million less in institutional operating aid from the state next year,” Muha said. “That represents an 8.29 percent cut to our operating budget.”

see ADJUNCT page 3

see BUDGET page 5

Tom Kozlowski / Editor-in-Chief

Nordquist shares a narrow office with several other adjuncts. national attitude, has treated its adjunct faculty better than most, according to professors and union leaders at the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 2364. And yet there is still much to be done to improve the working conditions of adjuncts on campus, both for their benefit and ultimately for the students they teach.

The Adjuncts of America Around the country, adjuncts are being asked to teach more with less, and

A panel to remind us that black lives still matter

Photo courtesy of Natalie Lobman

The #BlackLivesMatter mural stands in solidarity.

By David Brown Correspondent Mirroring the sentiments of many individuals across the nation,

the College’s “#BlackLivesStillMatter: A Panel Discussion” centered on the issues of police brutality toward blacks and how these occurrences gain fleeting popularity, then

INDEX: Nation & World / Page 7

Follow us at...

The Signal @tcnjsignal

Editorial / Page 9

quickly fade on social media sites.

The panel, nestled in ABE’s Drawing Room, took place on Wednesday, April 14 and was hosted by Centennial Hall Community Advisors (CAs) senior English literature major Carly DaSilva and sophomore psychology major Ijal Thompson.

The panel featured English and African-American studies Associate Professor Piper Kendrix Williams, African American studies and history Adjunct Professor David McAllister, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sean Stallings and Black Student Union executive board members Madina Ouedraogo, a freshman sociology major, and Tatiyanna Mingo, a freshman psychology major.

The discussion began with Williams distributing a handout of writings she selected in order to illustrate the historical and contemporary treatment of black people through different Opinions / Page 11

eras, including slavery, Reconstruction and now. Her selections, which included the work of Henry Louis Gates, Ida B. Wells, Claudia Rankine and herself, set the tone for the panel.

Examining racial progress was a big focus for McAllister, who has now been a professor at the College for eight years. After reading a selection from “The Souls of Black Folk” by W. E. B. Du Bois, McAllister said he believes that the commonly held notion of racial progress is misleading.

“There are periods in American history when whites are concerned about black lives — the abolitionists, for example, Reconstruction politicians, the white public during the civil rights movement — but these periods of whites caring about black lives were only short-lived,” McAllister said.

His findings emphasize the purpose of the panel: to have

Features / Page 12

people realize that binding an event to a hashtag often renders it temporary and forgettable in the eyes of the public. One recurring theme that continued to be shared by the entire panel is that the issue of police brutality toward blacks certainly isn’t temporary, and it isn’t just a black issue.

“People who care must continue to push the country into a full recognition that black lives matter,” McAllister said. “It will require concerted actions by blacks and whites, Asians and Latinos, indeed a subset of the whole country. Only this can push the rest of the country into requiring in reality what it proclaims in principle, that all men are created equal.”

Drawing on the concept of inclusivity, Stallings highlighted the need for people who care about these issues to first prove it see PANEL page 5

Arts & Entertainment / Page 15

Sports / Page 24

‘It Happened Here’ Film shows the realities of sexual assault

Cristin Milioti ‘Once’ star shows off vocal talents

100th win in tennis Pierce Cooper hits landmark point

See Features page 12

See A&E page 15

See Sports page 19

page 2 The Signal April 22, 2015

SFB funds free pizza for Finals Fest 2015

Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity earns club status

By Jackie Delaney News Assistant The Student Finance Board convened on Wednesday, April 15, to decide funding for the last few events set to occur this semester. The last two meetings of this semester will review funding for events scheduled for fall 2015.

The New Jersey Christian Fellowship presented for scholarships for its yearly retreat for members in May. After losing funding from the school the group usually appeals to every year, NJCF proposed for $2,000 from SFB to fund scholarships for new executive board members. The five-day retreat will include team-building activities, allowing the group to “collectively communicate as a team.” It was fully funded by the board.

Student Government then requested $7,544.48 for Finals Fest, the traditional event to help students unwind during the most stressful

weeks of the semester. According to the proposal, the event “helps to raise student moral and energy on campus during the stressful week of finals.” This semester, the event will include a free ice cream giveaway as well as offer massages, smoothies and bagels. SFB decided to fund SG with $8,044.48, which includes an additional $500 for extra pizzas for the free Mamma Flora’s pizza giveaway. Finals Fest will take place Tuesday, May 12, through Friday, May 15.

Finally, the freshman class council proposed for the previously tabled funding of helium tanks for TCNJ Cares Week. The board funded the event last week with the exception of the helium tanks to see if a rental was possible.

SG worked out an agreement to have the balloons blown up by an outside company for $1,780. The request was fully funded. TCNJ Cares Week will take place starting on Monday, April 27 through Friday, May 1.

The board was also met with two new club status requests.

Sigma Lambda Beta, a fraternity that upholds ideals of brotherhood, scholarship, community service and cultural awareness, was picked up as a new club. The

fraternity hosted the “Take A Walk in Our Shoes” program last semester. Lambda Theta Alpha, an organization dedicated to educational programs, philanthropies, social activities and promoting cultural awareness on campus, was also

picked up as a new club. *Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Assistant

SFB allocates funds for the New Jersey Christian Fellowship annual retreat.

Intoxicated student recites rap lyrics to police officers Campus Town trespasser arrested for underage consumption

By Colleen Murphy News Editor

• Sometime between 9:20 a.m. on Monday, April 6, and 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, $100 in cash and a $50 Visa gift card were stolen from a Travers Hall room, according to Campus Police. The resident had left her door unlocked and later realized that the items were missing from her wallet, which was located in her dresser drawer. The resident talked to several of her floormates, thinking one of them was playing a joke on her. When she told Residence Life staff about the missing items, they told her to report it.

From a tip, Campus Police developed a suspect. Police met with one of the victim’s floormates at 9:50 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, inside his room. Police told him they were investigating a theft on the floor and transported him to police headquarters where he was questioned.

The male said he didn’t take the money or the gift card and doesn’t know who did. According to Campus Police, there are no other suspects at this time.

• A black backpack with $1,214 worth of items was stolen from a Library computer lab on Saturday, April 4, between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., Campus Police reported. The backpack, which was valued at $50, had a silver iPhone 6 valued at $649, an Asus laptop valued at $400 and a graphing calculator valued at $115.

Police reviewed footage retrieved from a basement security camera where they saw a man leaving the lab area and walking upstairs and then exiting the south entrance of the library. The student had also reported the stolen backpack and electronics to Lawrence Township Police. At 10:17 p.m., Lawrence Township Police called Campus Police saying they had located the suspect in his vehicle by

using the “Find My iPhone” application that was connected to the victim’s tablet.

The suspect fit the description of the man seen leaving the library, and he was also in possession of the backpack and its items. When back at police headquarters, the suspect said, “Man, I shouldn’t have even come here today.” He was warned not to return to campus, and if he does, he will be charged with trespassing, according to Campus Police.

• A fire door that led to a stairwell on Cromwell’s fourth floor had its window broken by physical force on Wednesday, April 15, at 9:28 p.m., according to Campus Police. Residents said they did not hear or see anything suspicious.

• Campus Police was called on Saturday, April 4, at 11:35 p.m. after a report cited two silhouettes seen inside the Campus Town construction site.

The caller then saw a male climb over the fence back onto the campus, where he walked through Lot 4 toward Lot 7. All units responded to Lot 7 where the male was arrested for criminal trespassing. Police were unsuccessful with finding the second suspect. At police headquarters, police observed that the trespasser had slurred speech and a strong smell of alcohol. As a result, he was charged with underage consumption of alcohol. Police observed mud on the male’s sneakers and lower legs and, according to Campus Police, the boy said it was “probably from going through Campus Town.”

• Between 11:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 2, someone dented the rear bumper of a parked vehicle behind Eickhoff Hall, Campus Police said. The vehicle’s owner believes the employee she

had disciplined for “job abandonment” and told not to return to campus until a followup meeting on Thursday, April 9, had done it out of spite for being reprimanded, according to Campus Police.

• Five more bags were taken from the Physical Enhancement Center on Thursday, April 2, between 2:45 p.m. and 3:15 p.m., according to Campus Police. A student worker found four bags in the men’s bathroom. She brought them back to the gym, and three owners approached her to retrieve the bags. All three people checked and said that their bags were picked through.

One student had $40 taken from her wallet. The fourth bag was placed back in the cubby. A fifth person asked if another bag was found, but it hadn’t. One of the students told officers that incidents like this happen all the time, and Campus Police said they recommend that these thefts be reported.

• Three car magnets were stolen off a car in Lot 12 sometime between 7 a.m. on Friday, March 20, and 3 p.m. on Friday, April 3. The three magnets were of the word “Pray,” Greyhounds in a red Volkswagen and Greyhounds in a paw, and each was valued at $10.

• On Saturday, April 11, at 6:48 p.m., a resident on the fourth floor of Cromwell heard a group of about four or five males being loud in the hallway. Soon after, she heard a loud bang and then laughing. When she went out to the hallway, she saw that the glass from the hallway door was broken out. She was unable to identify the males, according to Campus Police.

•

Campus Police found purple graffiti

on the outside of Decker Hall and on the dumpsters behind Cromwell at 7:20 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. According to reports, a stick figure and a cat head, with the words “pussy money weed” were spray painted on one wall. The words “dick spout,” with an arrow pointing to a pipe, was found on another wall.

“HOPES” and “DR DIE” were spray painted on the dumpster, according to Campus Police.

• Two males, one a visitor, were found intoxicated in a New Residence Hall room at 1 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, according to Campus Police. The first male had vomit on his clothes while the second was vomiting into the sink. The second student was cooperative and admitted to having several shots of vodka.

Lions EMS evaluated the first student who went in and out of consciousness and was unable to answer all the questions. The first student shouted, “I had a lot,” when asked what he consumed and then lay down on the bed. While conscious, he was uncooperative, yelled and recited rap lyrics. When the males were told they were being transported to the hospital, the first student became combative, prompting EMS to strap him into a board restraint so he didn’t harm himself or EMS. Neither student said where he drank, Campus Police said.

• At 7:40 a.m. on Friday, April 10, a car on the fourth level of Lot 13 was found to have been sprayed with a fire extinguisher on the front hood, bumper and side of the vehicle, according to Campus Police. The extinguisher was found 10 feet from the vehicle. A second extinguisher was found 20 feet away. Campus Police said that as they drove down to the bottom level, they noticed that all the fire extinguishers on each level of that corner were missing.

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 3

Adjunct / College treats its adjuncts better than most continued from page 1 members, full-time non-tenure-track faculty members or graduate student teaching assistants.” These positions require far less pay than tenured faculty and often go without benefits, voting power within departments, job security or proper office accommodations.

“In many cases, adjunct faculty is being exploited,” said Ralph Edelbach, soon-tobe retired president of AFT Local. “There is no doubt that adjunct faculty over the years have been brought in because of some specific, unique expertise, and they bring that into the classroom as a benefit to the students. But unfortunately, that’s not the motivating factor on most campuses.”

Adjuncts are a different animal than other positions, though. Not only are the vast majority of adjuncts around the country non-unionized — leading to more vulnerable careers — but their pay scales for doing proportional work to that of full-time or even part-time faculty are skewed.

“People who aren’t knowledgeable about how the system works often get part-time employees confused with adjuncts,” Edelbach said. “Part-time employees and faculty are paid a percentage of salary. So half-time receives half-pay, as opposed to adjunct faculty members who receive smaller, fixed amounts per number of classes taught.”

This means that, as of January 2015, new adjuncts at the College receive $1,300 per course. In addition, adjuncts are capped at teaching just two courses per semester and four a year, adding up to objectively dismal compensation.

What’s striking, or perhaps alarming, is that the College pays its adjuncts better than most, according to Michael Nordquist, adjunct professor of political science. This is, in large part, a consequence of being a public institution; being covered by the union contract, which is “much better than those of private institutions;” and the fact that the “contract augments adjuncts’ salary pay due to the enhanced nature of the courses at TCNJ.” Adjuncts also come from a wide breadth of backgrounds. A minority consist of retired professors or individuals who specialize in other professions — such as Reed Gusciora, an adjunct professor of political science at the College who primarily serves as a New Jersey General Assemblyman.

Gusciora teaches a class issue-specific to his work in the Assembly each semester, but his other career remains the priority. Adjuncts who teach for their love of academia, on the other hand, tend to get a raw deal.

Many spend as much as a decade grinding in strenuous Masters and Doctorate programs, accruing massive student debt along the way. Adjunct faculty positions are often all that’s available to graduates, particularly in an ever-shrinking and volatile market for full-time professors. And unlike the assumptions made by students, these positions have little breathing room.

The reality is that adjuncts “do not live the the idealized version of full-time professors, who have more freedoms to research, write and publish the work they build their careers on,” according to Nordquist. Instead, they spend a substantial portion of time teaching multiple courses at various schools, traveling, finishing PhD programs and grading in order to cobble together a living wage.

In other words, teaching may temporarily pay the bills, but the stresses that come with it present a dangerous trade off.

“Anxiety was a conversation topic all throughout grad school,” Nordquist said.

“Even when you enter the market, and even if you manage to land your academic position after the interview process, there’s huge pressures to publish, be a great teacher, be around on campus, be both an academic and

Photo courtesy of David Muha

The graphs break down the percentages of adjunct, tenured and other professors who teach at the College. personal adviser, make sure your students are happy and, on the side, fulfill your personal obligations. For many adjuncts, especially at low-paying institutions, it’s difficult to see the situation as anything but bleak.”

TCNJ: A Temporary Oasis for Adjuncts No institution of higher education is exempt from the problems that plague adjunct faculty — these appear to be too ingrained in the nature of the industry. Nonetheless, the College has striven to deviate from the norm, working to strengthen the relationships between the union, faculty senate and administration; keep adjunct turnover low; and treat adjuncts with a sense of respect.

Whereas competing schools have pushed for higher ratios of adjuncts to full-time staff, the College has maintained a relative balance between the two in the past several years. According to statistics provided by David Muha, vice president for Marketing, Communications and Brand Management, the percentage of seats taught by full-time faculty “has been relatively consistent at 55 percent” since 2009. Seats taught by adjuncts rose from 29.2 percent in fall 2009 to 34.91 percent in spring 2014, though some of the difference can be accounted for in the reduction of total seats from 31,366 in 2009 to 27,221 in 2014. In short, the numbers don’t lie: Full-time faculty and adjuncts are sharing the workload.

Edelbach believes President R. Barbara Gitenstein has been a stalwart defender of the ratio in spite of “what her counterparts on other campuses have done.” But he also sees concerns across all faculty members, too.

“I think faculty are very concerned about the ratio, if only because they feel having stable, full-time contingent teaching means the workload in the department is shared more equitably,” Edelbach said. “Adjunct faculty are not involved, don’t have to have office hours and don’t have to advise students. More adjuncts in a department means fewer and fewer full-time people to do those things. The other thing is that it’s difficult with adjuncts dashing in and out of work for them to work substantively with students because of their other obligations.”

Faculty satisfaction is equally essential to maintaining good relations, and at the College, adjuncts are generally pleased with their accommodations compared to the horror stories of other institutions.

“TCNJ compensates adjunct faculty better than the typical institution, and I know that some credit for that goes to the work (Edelbach) and AFT have done,”

Thweatt-Bates said. “In addition, I’ve found the Philosophy Department a very welcoming and collegial place.”

What adjuncts like Thweatt-Bates cannot control, however, is the instability of their contracts. When these expire in June, there’s the imminent possibility that Thweatt-Bates and others might be jobless at the College.

“As of now I’ve filed applications with other adjunct positions at local colleges/ universities, a summer ESL program, various nonprofits, government work, private tutoring (as an individual as well as putting in apps with tutoring companies), administrative assistant positions, Panera, Trader Joe’s, Staples and the local diner,” ThweattBates said. “Not kidding, even about that last (my only other lengthy work experience other than teaching is waiting tables)!”

With this June’s contract negotiations on the horizon, AFT Local is beefing up for another round of debate with the state. The concerns of the union remain much of the same, however, as the state and the union engage in a seemingly everlasting gridlock over teachers’ rights.

“Over the years, when every contract comes up for negotiations with the state, (AFT) pushes for pay equity with full-time faculty, benefits, office space, a computer,” Edelbach said. “But every year the state says no, and it’s something that we have not been able to make gains on.”

Two lingering obstacles exist for AFT. On the one hand, it’s difficult to incorporate adjunct faculty into critical union matters. Adjuncts, by nature, rush from school to school and often cannot be persuaded, let alone contacted, to join the fight. And because “things so often go okay” on the College’s campus, catalysts for increased union participation are few and far between. Faculty members devote their attention elsewhere and “don’t pay attention to the activities of the union, at least until there’s a threat,” according to Edelbach.

On the other hand, AFT negotiates its contract alongside other unions across the state, all of which have personal and divergent agendas. What would ideally be a unified rally for teachers splinters into disarray.

“I’ve attended state meetings with hostile unions and heated debate, and while we try to say we’re all in this together, the reality is we’re not, and the state uses a ‘divide and conquer’ strategy to their benefit,” Edelbach said.

Because pushing for financial issues like pension reform would be a quixotic task, Edelbach suggests AFT will focus this June on more casual campus concerns,

such as information sharing, increased faculty participation in campus operations and a more equitable process for reporting faculty grievances. None of these require increasing the budget or threatening to strike, the nuclear option for AFT that’s lost its value in today’s labor environment.

Instead, AFT will push for more internal organization that may help streamline the work of daily adjunct ife.

Adjuncts and the Future of Higher Ed In the increasingly competitive and corporatized industry of higher education, adjuncts have and will continue to play dominant roles in students’ lives. This is not all for the worse. As chair of the Department of Music at Columbia University Susan Boynton writes on Talking Points Memo, “adjuncts are among the finest, longest-serving instructors in many universities, and it’s well known that their lasting contributions can transform the lives of their students.”

Even at the College, where — according to Nordquist — over a quarter of all classes are taught by adjuncts, students rarely differentiate between full-time and adjunct faculty because the quality of work remains generally equal.

That said, a heavy reliance on adjunct labor is a double-edged sword. For adjuncts themselves, the orthodox academic life they desire often remains off in the distance. In its place, the demands and constraints of their positions maintain a stranglehold on their lives in the present.

For administrations, adjunct labor yields both money saved and diminished quality when faculty are spread thin. And for students, not to be forgotten, their education hinges on the decisions of their schools and the limits of what their professors can do.

For the College, enrollments rates are predicted to increase in the near future. AFT remains hopeful that the College will continue to balance its full-time and adjunct labor, but as with the future of higher education altogether, no one is certain what will happen.

“I’ve been told the College is bringing in new freshmen next year,” Edelbach said.

“Was the question asked how those extra students are going to be taught? You have more students coming in — are you putting more students in every class? Or are you hiring new faculty? Are they full-time, part-time or are they adjunct? These questions weren’t asked, but they need to be.

We need to be concerned not just where we’ll house these students, but more importantly, how we’ll teach them.”

page 4 The Signal April 22, 2015

Phi Beta Kappa celebrates new inductees

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

The College inducts new students into Phi Beta Kappa, an honor society that recognizes students who excel in liberal arts or sciences.

By Elise Schoening Features Assistant Students inducted into the College’s prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, on Tuesday, April 14, were met with a standing ovation from the crowd.

“I must say, we’ve been doing this for eight years and we’ve never had a standing ovation,” said Elizabeth Borland, president of the College’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

The induction ceremony, which was held in Mayo Concert Hall, was filled with friends and family members of the inductees. They all rose from their seats to applaud the accomplished students before them.

Phi Beta Kappa, which was founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary, is the nation’s oldest academic honor society. It recognizes and encourages student achievement in the sciences and liberal arts.

“It’s not just about the GPA,” Borland

said. “We’re looking for students who go above and beyond and really embrace the liberal arts.”

Today, less than 10 percent of colleges and universities in the nation hold a Phi Beta Kappa chapter. The College was approved for a chapter in 2006 and is currently one of only four higher institutions in the state that holds this honor.

The selection process for students admitted into the honor society is just as rigorous. In fact, membership is not open to all students and there is no application process.

Students must be nominated for consideration by professors before they are formally invited into the society, explained Rebecca Flores, a senior history and political science double major and new member of Phi Beta Kappa.

In order to be considered for membership, students must be of junior or senior standing with majors in the liberal arts or sciences. Not only must they maintain a high grade point average, but they must also

demonstrate strong moral character and an affinity for the liberal arts and sciences.

“We’re looking for students that have that intellectual spark,” said Janet Morrison, department chair of biology at the College and a member of the selection committee for Phi Beta Kappa.

Morrison gave the final speech of the ceremony. Her address to the inductees encompassed the interdisciplinary nature of the organization. Phi Beta Kappa, she explained, was founded on the tenets of friendship, morality and scholarship and is rooted in the principle that “love of learning is the guide of life.”

She spoke of the connections between the arts and sciences and how inspiration can be found all around us.

She argued that beauty is a source of inspiration for many, though it can take different forms. Some may find beauty in poetry and art, while others may find it in the intellectual thought of an equation, Morrison said.

Morrison urged the new members

before her to find what inspires them, whatever it may be, and to let their vast knowledge from the arts and sciences guide their future.

After taking an oath to maintain the principles of the society, the inductees were granted membership into Phi Beta Kappa. They then signed the chapter registry and received an official certificate of membership.

Membership into Phi Beta Kappa is life-long, Morrison said, and a number of notable public figures have been inducted into the honor society, including Bill Clinton, Eleanor Roosevelt and Sheryl Sandberg.

“Phi Beta Kappa is a great honor society that recognizes not only my academic successes, but also my love of learning,” junior philosophy major Payal Ved said.

“I am honored to be a member of a society that has Presidents and Nobel Laureates in its rankings. Some of the greatest minds in the world have been a part of this society.”

Panelists offer advice to women in leadership roles

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

Panelists discuss hardships women face in business.

By Elizabeth Dinsmore Correspondent

At the final third Wednesday of the semester in the Business Building Lounge, a panel of four professional women exposed their own experiences in the workplace and offered insight to those just beginning their careers.

“I’ve spent my career in a mixed gender environment,

and you’ll spend your career in mixed gender environments,” said William Keep, dean of the School of Business at the College. “It’s what you do.”

The discussion raised important points about communication and management styles, taking on leadership roles and truly balancing work with life at home — not only for women, but for all genders.

“To advance in the workplace

requires learning your own communication style,” said Bellaria Jimenez, managing director at MetLife. “One of the things we need to continue to work on is communication. It’s the reason there are problems in the world, why marriages break up, why there are misunderstandings. We all need to work on it. No matter what gender.”

Confidence, as well as communication, is just as important, according to Jimenez, who is also the coordinator at the North Jersey Gateway Chapter of Women in Financial Services, or WIFS. “Confidence is really key to business,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to be assertive and strong.

Once you find your own managing communication style, everyone will respect you.”

Just one day prior — Tuesday, April 14, 2015 — was Equal Pay Day, the date that represents how much additional time woman must spend working to earn the same pay as men do in just one year. The conversation could not have been more timely.

Calea Stiles-Schatz, a junior

finance major, has researched the gender pay gap in her courses at the College and finds the discrepancies between male and female workers hard to believe.

“I’m taking a statistics classb and my focus has been the gender pay gap. My research data was from 1967 to 2013, and my stats show that the gap was actually widening,” Stiles-Schatz said. “It’s scary! This is the 21st century. Why is this happening?”

The theme of the night was taking control of one’s own future — leave nothing out of your control and blame no one but yourself. No one controls your destiny but you, the panelists said.

“If you have what you perceive to be a problem, don’t walk in and say, ‘This isn’t working and I don’t know what to do,’” said Noel Capuano, senior manager at accounting firm WithumSmith+Brown, member of the School of Business Women’s Leadership Committee and alumna of the class of ’88. “Come up with a solution.”

The professional world is changing. More women now are

entering the workplace for careers in financial services, accounting, tax preparation and other maledominated fields. The panelists agree that although progress has been made, there’s still a long way to go. The pay gap being the biggest hurdle to overcome.

When looking for a job and negotiating a salary, the panelists urged students to know what to expect. What is the average for the industry? What about entry level employees?

“You can’t just throw a number out there,” Capuano said.

“Know the company and know the industry. They can’t argue with the data.”

Most of all, though, keep the bigger picture in mind. Your career has more in store than what you plan on — the fun is in seeing where you wind up.

“If someone asked me at the beginning of my career if I was ever going to be in a management role, I would have said, ‘Are you crazy?’” Jimenez said.

“But when people find something about you that they really like you’ll find yourself moving through the ranks.”

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 5

Budget / Proposal ‘a real step backwards’ for education continued from page 1 The budget proposal has sparked abundant controversy. Spokesman for the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities Paul R. Shelly was quoted in an article on Philly.com saying, “We’re very concerned, because the reduction in this budget proposal would be a significant share of our institutions’ direct appropriations, and it would continue a pattern of declining state funding for public higher education.”

The college administration is currently considering options to address this slash in state funding, according to Muha. In the coming weeks, the president, provost, treasurer and vice president of Human Resources will meet with the Student Government, the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate and campus unions to discuss the proposed budget and gather input.

“I can’t speculate on what the ultimate solution will involve,” Muha said.

Senior elementary education and history double major Deanna DeCongelio said the budget proposal is reminiscent of

the governor’s usual pattern of behavior toward education.

Being in the teaching field has exposed DeCongelio to similar situations in which she has witnessed many teachers constantly being denied tenure due to changing qualifications.

“Christie hasn’t been a fan of giving teachers the salary or the tenure that they deserve,” she said. “I think this is a real step back from where we should be going in the educational field.”

When she leaves the College behind, it may not be the same place she entered if the budget passes.

“That’s such a shame, especially for our professors who do so much for us and want to make us the best that we can be,” she said.

“If they don’t have the resources for higher education, what’s the purpose of college?”

It is possible the proposal may undergo changes in the legislative process. The governor’s proposed budget must still be enacted by the legislature and signed by Christie by Tuesday, June 30. The Senate and Assembly have higher education budget hearings set for late April.

Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal is met with controversy.

AP Photo

Bias response team to make a more inclusive campus

By Alyssa Sanford News Assistant In light of upcoming Student Government elections, prospective members and elected-position hopefuls sat in on the Wednesday, April 15, general body meeting.

According to Alternate Student Trustee Kevin Kim, who plays a role in organizing SG elections, candidates for various positions can start campaigning as early as Wednesday, April 15, at 5 p.m.

“Everything’s fair game after five o’clock,” Kim said in reference to the start of campaign season.

Student Government elections will be held on Tuesday, April 28. Newly elected officials will be sworn in on Wednesday, May 6, which is SG’s final meeting of the semester.

President Matthew Wells announced that all current SG members should look forward to the annual State House meeting on Wednesday, April 29. The general body session will be held in the Trenton State House chambers and will be followed by a presentation from

the Student Finance Board.

“The actual budget that SFB proposes requires Student Government’s approval,” Wells said. During the State House meeting, SFB will present their budget proposal for 2015–16 to SG and allow general body members to ask questions before voting.

“It’s kind of an important meeting for you to be there,” Wells said.

Javier Nicasio, vice president of Equity and Diversity, informed prospective SG members about his committee’s ongoing project this semester: the Bias Response team.

“Basically, that is a group of students that deals with bias incidents,” Nicasio said, citing the recent parking garage vandalism that covered 19 student vehicles with offensive and graphic graffiti.

The Bias Response team will investigate such cases and will reach out to the college’s Chief Diversity Officer Kerri Tillett if necessary.

Academic Affairs will have a table in the Brower Student Center during Meal Equivalency on Monday, April 27, so that

Panel / Expanding a hashtag

students can bring any issues to the committee’s attention.

Vice President of Academic Affairs Casey Dowling urged students to provide “feedback” on any pressing academic issues or proposed changes.

Senior Class President Brian Garsh said that “mandatory” Senior Week orientation meetings will be held between Monday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 22 in Roscoe West Hall.

All participating seniors must attend one of three meetings to learn about Senior Week waivers, policies, schedule, and the surprise keynote speaker.

Junior Class President Emily Montagna announced that Coozies with a logo of the College will go on sale at the end of the year for $3 each.

Sophomore Class Vice President Tori Mazzola reminded SG members that Spring Back will be held on Sunday, April 26.

Freshman Class President Ryan Cleary said that the Lions Walk For Hope, scheduled for Friday, May 1, will start on the Green Hall steps.

The walk is intended to “support mental health awareness and to create community on campus,” Cleary said.

Upcoming Events TCNJ Earth Day Events Wednesday, April 22 Professor Panel on Climate Change at 1:30 p.m. in the Physics 101 Sustainability Education Initiative Kick-Off at 5 p.m. in Education 115 “Degrees of Inequality: How the Politics of Higher Education Sabotaged the American Dream” Thursday, April 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Libary Auditorium

AP Photo

Ferguson protests continue to spark a conversation about black lives. continued from page 1 in their behavior, urging people to change the ways in which they interact with one another.

“We have to remember that all lives matter, but we have to carry ourselves in everything we do, in everything we say,” he said.

“If you believe that black lives matter, that all lives matter, are you demonstrating that in the way you carry yourself?”

Carrying oneself in a manner indicative of

being aware of those around you, as well as your own behavior, reigns true for Mingo.

“The hashtag is important, but I feel like people should already have this awareness and knowledge that black lives do matter before the killings started, before the tapes came out and before it became public,” Mingo said. #BlackLiveStillMatter: A Panel Discussion, serves as a reminder that Black lives will always be important, even if the revelation come long after it should have.

PRISM’s Trans Awareness Week: An Evening with Bell’s Roar Thursday, April 23 at 8:30 p.m. in The Lions Den CUB Rat Show with Aaron West and the Roaring Twenties Friday, April 24 at 5 p.m. in The Rathskellar CUB Spring Concert with Paramore and The Wonder Years Saturday, April 25 at 8 p.m. in the Rec Center

page 6 The Signal April 22, 2015

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When: Sunday, April 26, 2015, at 2 p.m.

Where: Brower Student Center basement Positions: Editor-in-Chief, Managing Editor, Production Manager and Editors for News, Sports, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Nation & World, Review, Photo and Web Current staff writers and editors should send a letter of intent by Wednesday, April 22, and any questions to signal@tcnj.edu

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April 22, 2015 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

US and Cuba in process of restoring relations

Obama meets with Cuban president Rául Castro.

By Roman Orsini Staff Writer The governments of Cuba and the United States are in the process of restoring diplomatic relations after more than 50 years of hostilities. On Tuesday, April 14, President Obama informed Congress that he would remove Cuba from the State Department’s list

AP Photo

of state sponsors of terrorism, according to ABC. Following the Cuban revolution in 1959 and Fidel Castro’s subsequent alliance with the Soviet Union, the U.S. extended its Cold War containment policy to the island. Fidel had nationalized businesses in Cuba and, in the process, expropriated over $1 billion in American owned assets

without giving compensation, according to CNN. By 1961, the U.S. broke diplomatic ties with communist Cuba, enacting economic sanctions and a trade embargo intended to cripple the Fidel government and force regime change. Covertly, the Kennedy administration sponsored a failed coup attempt by Cuban exiles in the Bay of Pigs invasion, as well as numerous assassination attempts against Fidel.

These policy efforts culminated in the Cuban missile crisis, when fears of a U.S. invasion of Cuba prompted the Soviet Union to introduce nuclear missiles to the island, which led to a nuclear standoff between the powers.

In spite of sanctions against his country and threats to his life, Fidel has remained one of the longest serving heads of state in the 21st century, succeeding

U.S. presidents Eisenhower to George W. Bush. According to BBC, Fidel decided to leave the presidency to his younger brother, Rául, in 2008, who is the acting head of state.

The Obama administration has sought to put America’s Cold War posture towards Cuba behind.

In a statement last December, Obama said, “We will end an outdated approach that, for decades, has failed to advance our interests, and instead we will begin to normalize relations between our two countries.”

According to Business Insider, the U.S. has taken steps to reopen an embassy in Havana and establish a Cuban embassy in America. Restrictions on travel and the flow of remittances to Cuba, by Cuban Americans, are also being scaled back. Last year, the U.S. also managed to secure the

release of Alan Gross, a USAID worker detained by Cuba in 2009 for alleged espionage, in a prisoner swap.

After Obama signaled his willingness to change Cuban policy, a series of bills were put forth in Congress earlier this year, to follow up on improved relations. In February, a bill to end America’s trade embargo with Cuba was met with other legislative proposals to permit American travel to the island, according to the LA Times.

The base at Guantanamo Bay remains an obstacle to improved relations between Cuba and the U.S. According to the Guardian, Rául has demanded that the U.S. return the base to Cuba. Obama has expressed willingness to do so, yet the administration is unsure where to place the detainees who remain there.

Yazidi woman recounts time as a captive of ISIS

By Candace Kellner Staff Writer Thousands of Yazidis, a religious minority in northern Iraq, were taken captive

by ISIS during an assault back in August, separating the men from the young women and girls. Men had the option to either convert to Islam or to be shot, but women were given no choice and were to be sold as sex slaves, according to CNN. In its online magazine “Dabiq,” ISIS justified the enslavement of the Yazidis in an article entitled “The revival of slavery before the hour.”

“One should remember that enslaving the families of the kuffar (infidels) and taking their women as concubines is a firmly established aspect of Shariah,” according to “Dabiq.”

CNN interviewed a young Yazidi woman named Hanan who was taken from her family by ISIS. “They separated all of us,” she said.

“They dragged us away by our hair. They took married women, young ones. The

youngest with us was just 10. We were all crying. They said we are going to marry you off, you will forget your family.”

Hanan was held with 50 other women and girls, and for the first week, she was regularly beaten, threatened with torture and underfed — eating only a single bowl of rice. Later that week Hanan was taken to a sex slave warehouse, where hundreds of girls and women were held.

“They would line about 50 of us up at a time, in rows of 10. They would say don’t move or we will beat you. The men would come in and describe the kind of girl they wanted, and then they would pick and choose as they pleased,” she told CNN. Eventually, Hanan was chosen along with a group of 25 other women. From that group she was divided into a group of seven and taken to a house in a nearby village. These women were treated like cattle, told to clean and bathe themselves by two ISIS fighters who were guarding the door in preparation for what was to come.

“They brought in a Yazidi girl who had been with them for two months,” Hanan

Women and girls are beaten and forced to convert to Islam . told CNN. “She was wearing a black niqab.

They said to us we are going to do to you what we did to her. The girl spoke to us in Kurdish and said, ‘They beat me, they cuffed me and raped me.’”

That night, Hanan and the other women decided they had to try to escape from their captors. They crawled out of the window of the bedroom where they were being held.

“The fourth girl jumped out, I was the

AP Photo

fifth,” Hanan told CNN. “I crawled to the wall and was about to jump over it, and then I saw their flashlight. They caught the last two girls.”

Like so many others, Hanan is tormented by own her experiences and by what those still held hostage by ISIS are going through.

“If I just see someone with a beard I start shaking,” Hanan told CNN.

Problems in Gulf of Mexico five years after BP oil spill

AP Photo

The Gulf oil spill continues to impact wildlife today.

By Jessica Ganga Nation & World Editor For 87 days straight, oil spilled out into the Gulf of Mexico, making the BP oil spill the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history. On Monday, April 20, it marked five years since oil bursted out of a failed cement seal and methane gas spewed

from an uncapped wellhead one mile below the surface.

According to CNN, the federal government estimated a total of about 4.2 million barrels of oil spilled into the Gulf. BP argued that the number was much lower. A judge ruled that BP was, in fact, responsible for the release of 3.1 barrels of oil.

Today, scientists continue

to study the environmental impacts of the spill, but even five years after, the long-term negative effects remain “unclear” and “highly disputed,” according to CNN. Geoff Morrell, BP’s vice president of communications, said that birds, fish, turtles and sub-sea vegetation were indeed affected by the disaster in the immediate aftermath.

“There’s no question about that,” Morrell said to CNN. “But they have also, according to the data, bounced back and are recovering strongly.”

According to CNN, most longterm scientific studies take longer than five years to determine the effects after an environmental disaster. So far, studies have shown a variety of negative impacts on wildlife immediately after the spill. On a positive note, other

studies have shown some species bouncing back.

Fish landings in the Gulf — the amount of fish caught by the fishing industry — have returned. In many areas, oysters are beginning to recover. According to the FDA, tests on edible seafood have been showing no excess hydrocarbons in the region’s food supply.

Despite some of the positive results, some haven’t been as clear and conclusive. According to CNN, dolphins have been dying at an accelerated rate along the Gulf Coast, even more so in Louisiana where oil had hit the hardest.

The greatest unknown after five years, however, surrounds what effect the millions of gallons of oil at the bottom of the ocean floor have had on the Gulf, according to CNN. “That stuff’s not going to stay put. It’s going to move around,” said

Mandy Joye, an oceanographer with the University of Georgia.

Joye has used underwater robots to collect soil from the bottom of the ocean to test and determine just how far the oil has traveled.

Her research has shown that BP’s oil scattered in patches across more than 1,200 square miles of the seafloor. Her studies also show that the oil residue exists in thin layers in some areas and thick pockets in others.

It’s not just wildlife that are still waiting for the help they need, but communities along the coast are waiting for the billions promised to help recover from the disaster, according to USA Today.

“It’s disappointing that this money has not flowed yet,’’ said Brian Moore, legislative director for the National Society. “We would want those resources sooner, not later, to make people whole.”

page 8 The Signal April 22, 2015

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April 22, 2015 The Signal page 9

Editorial

The end of an era: The Rathskeller closes its doors after 40 years

There was no way of knowing just how big a role the Rathskeller would play in my time here at the College on the very first night I went there. With renovations to the Brower Student Center set to start at the end of the semester, myself and many other faithful patrons will have to say goodbye to our favorite spot for loud, live music.

The weekly concerts put on by the College Union Board’s Rat division have served as my Friday night go-to since my freshman year. Equipped with a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other, I remember marching up to the bar, ordering a chicken parm sandwich and sitting down to cover the first student band night of the semester. Music has always been a significant part of my life, and it was exciting to be able to write about and experience local talent for a newspaper.

I couldn’t get enough, and the next thing I knew, I started going to the shows every single week, running up to band members to get quotes and learn setlists, all while consuming my weight in curly fries and mango smoothies.

The Rat has truly been an important part of this campus and its community. It has served as an outlet for creative expression, as well as a place for like-minded individuals to come together and enjoy their favorite things in the world — live music, poetry performances and art of all strands. Throughout the past three semesters, I’ve forged incredible friendships with people I would have otherwise never met. I cannot thank these people enough for everything they have given me, especially the feeling of belonging.

Whether it was a famous touring band or a kid in your bio class shredding his guitar during student soloist night, everyone that has graced the Rat stage has given it their absolute all. It’s hard to find a place that brings out that kind of passion in people.

It is vital that we don’t lose a creative space like this for good, as it’s brought so much joy into the lives of those who have participated throughout the years. I can’t imagine my college experience without the Rat and the endless memories and good times it’s given me. I can only hope that students can rally together and fight for a new space like this to be established elsewhere on campus. Soon there will be a fresh class of students that will never have had the opportunity to enjoy the open and artistic nature of this venue, and that can’t be the case forever.

A space for art and community is always worth fighting for, and with a newly beautified Student Center on its way, I hope a new, beautiful musical scene can form there, as well.

—Kimberly Ilkowski Features 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.

Kimberly Ilkowski / Features Editor

The Rathskeller has served as the campus bar and live music venue since the 1970s, where it attracted hoards of music lovers for its often wild concerts.

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page 10 The Signal April 22, 2015 Meet with Faculty and Students about Public Health Degrees and Careers

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April 22, 2015 The Signal page 11

Opinions

Presidential hopefuls announce candidacy Time for politicians to be professional and transparent

By Alyssa Sanford News Assistant

Rubio, Clinton, Paul and Cruz.

Three Republican senators and a former Democratic Secretary of State are currently vying for a presidential nomination from their respective parties. While primary elections are still nine months away, there’s a lot that these candidates can do in the meantime to improve their public image before it comes down to the inevitable vote.

For instance, Senator Ted Cruz (R– TX) has a 4 percent Republican backing, according to a CNN/ORC International poll. Perhaps that’s because he has only been in office since 2012 and lacks widespread recognition, as some experts at the Washington Post suggested.

But his staunch conservatism might actually alienate moderates who are looking for a fiscally-conservative president. He may attract support because of his infamous 21-hour filibuster against Obamacare in 2013, but he also holds some radical views that can’t possibly entice a band of truly loyal proponents.

The New York Times posted an editorial on Friday, April 17, about Cruz’s stance on the Second Amendment, in which they quoted him as saying, “(It) is a Constitutional right to protect your children, your family, your home, our lives and to serve as the ultimate check against governmental tyranny — for the protection of liberty.” The suggestion that the right to bear arms might be retooled to mean that anyone can rise up against perceived governmental tyranny is ludicrous, and it could have disastrous consequences.

Strongly held beliefs like these could block Cruz’s path to a Republican nomination.

Senator Rand Paul (R–KY) is faring better than Cruz at this stage; presently, the ORC International poll ranks him at 12 percent backing, which puts him in

third place behind Jeb Bush (16 percent) and Scott Walker (13 percent). Paul is an interesting candidate because he is difficult to define. He holds libertarian views on social issues but has also been affiliated with the Tea Party, a right-wing conservative group.

Like his father, Ron Paul, who was a presidential hopeful in 1988, 2008 and 2012 according to ballotpedia.org, Rand Paul refuses to be defined by traditional party-line ideology. In fact, the Post noted that in his official campaign announcement on Tuesday, April 7, he “frequently knocked the Republican party throughout his remarks.” It could be problematic, but Paul’s real issues lie with his public image.

In recent months, Paul has gained a reputation for being short-tempered with reporters, even going so far as to ‘shush’ a female journalist, according to CNN. If Paul wants to have a serious shot at a presidential nomination, he has to overcome this somewhat belligerent attitude toward the free press and adopt a more stately manner.

“There’s a lot that these candidates can do ... to improve their public image.”

Of course, this is second nature for Hillary Clinton, the former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State who announced her candidacy on Sunday, April 12, in an online video. She is a diplomat with vast experience in foreign policy, White House politics and governance because she’s done it all before and with acclaim.

There’s considerable support for Clinton in her second run for the

AP Photo

Some have questioned Paul’s professionalism amidst his bid for president. presidency. A CBS News poll projects that 81 percent of Democrats would consider supporting her. As for moderates who are socially liberal, Clinton is a compelling candidate because she has a chance at making history by becoming the first woman to earn a nomination from a major political party and possibly the first woman to become president.

However, there are problems with which to contend. The email scandal may continue to plague Clinton, as well as her somewhat hypocritical stance on women’s rights, as the New York Times reports her family foundation accepts donations from Middle Eastern countries that actively suppress women’s rights. She’ll need to be as transparent and forthcoming as possible, something that a skilled politician isn’t always good at being.

For Marco Rubio (R–FL), Clinton is a perfect target. In his campaign announcement on Monday, April 13, he attacked “a leader from yesterday” who wants to take the country back to its problematic roots, according to CNN. But it could also be interpreted as an attack on Rubio’s good friend and potential

candidate, Jeb Bush.

Rubio is the youngest candidate out there at 43 years old, which is promising for voters looking for a fresh-faced politician to lead the nation into a new age.

But because Bush is part of a prominent political family, it looks like he might take support away from Rubio, regardless of his age and his affiliation with the increasingly unpopular Bush legacy. Rubio also only has about 6 percent backing at this point according to the Times, which could keep dropping once Bush formally announces.

The four aforementioned candidates are viable; however, until frontrunners Scott Walker or Jeb Bush announce their candidacy, the race remains wide open.

It might also be interesting to see former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina go head-to-head with Hillary Clinton, but a nomination seems like a longshot.

For now, the candidates should focus on public relations. This is particularly true for Clinton because she is the lone wolf in the Democratic race. Until then, I’m not entirely convinced that any of these candidates are prime presidential material.

Inconsistency for Loop Bus pick-up causes uproar

Ellie Schuckman / Opinions Editor

Some are unhappy with pick-ups by Loser Hall.

By Ellie Schuckman Opinions Editor

With the fencing up around the Brower Student Center, certain changes to campus events and offerings were bound to be effected, and the Loop Bus — coveted offcampus transportation — is no exception.

According to an email sent out from Ceil O’Callaghan,

director of Planning and Administration, on Friday, April 10, pick-up for the bus will now take place on “Metzger Drive, across from the Paul Loser Hall entrance, on the Campus Town side.”

Though the promise was to pick students up from there, that has not been the case on multiple occasions, causing serious uproar.

“I have now taken the Loop Bus more than once from the new location, and each time it has picked me up from a different spot,” freshman open-options humanities and social science major Emily Loevy said.

“What annoys me most is that even though I had been waiting for the bus longer than other people, they still got on before me because the bus didn’t go where we were told it would be.”

Loevy detailed how though she was there for over 10 minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time, others who ran up while the bus was pulling in got on first, taking all of the seats. She then had to wait another hour before the bus came around again.

This is simply unfair.

There needs to be a better system in place where

students can actually form a proper line, and those who arrive first can get on the bus ahead of those who came after them.

The inconsistencies of pick-up locations only adds to the confusion.

When one driver stops by the bus stop where students were told to be and another driver pulls into the loop by Loser Hall, it becomes frustrating.

It is beyond difficult for students to plan accordingly and arrive with enough time to even make the bus initially.

Especially for freshmen who rarely have other means of off-campus transportation, the Loop Bus becomes ever more important. Some students rely on the bus to run errands and stock up on necessities they can’t find here at the College. Others take the bus to get away from campus life for a few hours and take a much-needed break from schoolwork and studying. Then there are those who rely on the Loop Bus to have a ride to the train station to travel home.

Inconveniences were bound to happen with the Student Center being under construction, but the lack of consistency is simply unacceptable.

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page 12 The Signal April 22, 2015

Features

‘It Happened Here’ highlights sexual assault Documentary portrays prevalence on campuses

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

SAVE is an active leader in educating others about assault.

By Chelsea LoCascio Production Manager

The prevalent issue of sexual assaults on college campuses was made all the more real for students at the College during a film screening hosted by the Student Anti-Violence Education, or SAVE, on Tuesday, April 14 in the Library Auditorium.

Students had the opportunity to participate in a crucial discussion after watching Lisa F. Jackson’s sexual assault documentary, “It Happened Here,” as part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

“We want to raise awareness and promote students to be active,” said Anna Poruks, a senior psychology major and SAVE peer educator. “Hopefully people here tonight will spread what they learned.”

The documentary follows the lives of Angie Epifano, Kylie Angell, Erica Daniels, Carolyn Luby and Sarah O’Brien, who were all assaulted during their college careers.

The film shows how a crucial time in their lives at college, designed for students to find themselves and become

independent, was robbed from them in an instant. Epifano called Amherst College the first place she was happy, but that happiness ended when a movie night with a friend turned into a traumatic event that she has since tried to suppress.

Not unlike the other victims, Epifano retreated from society and broke down mentally and emotionally. When she worked up the courage to seek help, an Amherst counselor told Epifano to move on and sent her to a psychiatric hospital against her will after she admitted to suicidal thoughts.

Although the other students were not sent away, they were also questioned and ostracized by their school’s students and staff.

“If women would stop spreading their legs like peanut butter, rape wouldn’t keep happening,” a University of Connecticut cop told Angell, a nursing student at the university, who was assaulted by a friend in her dorm room. Her assaulter was expelled, but the university let him back in after deciding the punishment was too harsh.

He soon started stalking Angell and assaulting other students.

Daniels, another student at the University of Connecticut, was raped by a co-worker and had to quit her job in order to avoid him. According to the documentary, over 85 percent of sexual assaulters are an acquaintance of the victim. Daniels was concerned that other students would fall for the “nice-guy” act friends can put on, and she had to warn others that anyone could be a sexual assaulter.

To put an end to rape culture and victim-shaming, Daniels and the other four women have filed Title IX complaints against their universities in the hope that they will change how universities handle sexual assault cases. These women turned their pain into empowerment by promoting awareness and encouraging victims to speak out against sexual assault.

“Silence is the enemy of change,” said O’Brien, who spearheaded The Clothesline Project at Vanderbilt University. She unveiled a rack of shirts covered in quotes from sexual assault victims and then presented a list of demands of policy changes to their deans.

To prevent students from feeling like they have to fight this issue alone, the

College offers several resources where counselors and peer educators are eager to listen to students, according to Poruks. “(This film) shows how other colleges handle these issues,” Poruks said. “We want it to be empowering and get the word out that (anti-violence initiatives) offices exist. We don’t stand for that at (the College). We want people to feel happy and safe here.”

The AVI office in Forcina Hall is there to prevent and discuss sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. For example, they’ve implemented a green dot initiative where, on a metaphorical map of the College, red dots are acts of violence and green dots are positive actions committed by bystanders who prevent a crime from happening, according to Poruks.

And if someone suffers from an assault, SAVE guides students to the right resources.

“Giving them resources, validating and referring them instead of advising is important,” said Courtney Amster, a junior chemistry major and SAVE peer educator. “Validation is key. It’s big to say you believe them and that it’s not their fault.”

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

Students sign a pledge to help keep men and women safe from assault.

Lions’ EMS: Combating seasonal allergies

By Steven King Columnist Spring is finally here in full force. Say goodbye to the days of freezing temperatures and

hello to actually being able to go outside and enjoy the nature around campus. However, for people who experience seasonal allergies, that may still be a tough feat.

AP Photo

Enjoying the warm weather is difficult due to allergens.

As the days progress, all the trees and plants around campus start producing allergens, which can result in several annoying symptoms like sneezing, coughing and congestion that can keep you from enjoying these warmer months. Lions’ EMS has a few tips about how you can deal with your allergies without having to trade away your ability to have a good time outdoors.

First, it’s important to understand what exactly is causing you to have these nasty symptoms.

Certain pollens have the ability to make your day pretty terrible.

Pollen is the stuff that plants use to fertilize other plants. Pollens are designed to be small and light, which makes it easier for them to travel with the wind. When pollen enters the body, your immune system treats the substance as a dangerous threat and responds to it, despite the fact that pollen is

generally harmless. This response from the immune system is the cause of symptoms such as sneezing, congestion, coughing and itchy throat.

One suggested way to cope with your allergies is to avoid exposure to allergens, although that can be pretty difficult, especially when you are rushing to class, going to your next club meeting or playing a sport. The best thing to do is to be prepared.

Find out which days are going to be particularly bad for people with allergies so that you know in advance. There are various websites, such as accuweather. com, which can warn you about the allergen condition outside in your area. Using these resources can help you plan ahead for a particularly bad day.

In order to treat allergies, get an over-the-counter antihistamine. Over-the-counter eye

drops and decongestants are also very helpful in dealing with symptoms. Through a combination of knowing which days allergens might be worse and having the right medication, you can alleviate your symptoms.

Overall, having allergies can really make spring time difficult to enjoy. Having these symptoms makes it hard to enjoy the warmer temperatures and stay focused during classes. The symptoms of seasonal allergies, however, can be dealt with. By making sure you know whether or not the pollen in our area will be bad, you can prepare yourself by getting the proper medication to help deal with symptoms. Everyone reacts differently to allergens, but if you know that you have suffered from allergies in the past, take the proper steps to make sure these warmer days are not ruined.

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 13

:Dec. 1987

Failing out senior year

Kimberly Ilkowski / Features Editor

Senior Spring can get the best of students pining for graduation.

By Kimberly Ilkowski Features Editor

Just when you thought you beat the Sophomore Slump, Senior Spring is waiting for you right around the corner. It seems impossible to get any work done with the promise of graduation and summer on the horizon. In the December 1, 1987, edition of The Signal, Patty O’Connor wrote of how the path to graduation isn’t always as easy as everyone makes it seem.

First, you graduate from high school.

Next you attend the college of your choice, and pick a major that will lead to a fabulous and exciting career. Four wonderful years go by. The next thing you know, you are walking across Quimby’s Prairie and are handed a diploma that will surely be your one-way ticket to success.

For many Trenton State students, it’s not easy. All the things they’ve hoped for count for nothing when they find themselves on the verge of failing out.

Lisa, a senior business major, may be one of those students. (Lisa and her roommate Kathy are both fictitious names.)

“When you first start college, all you can think about are the great things you’re going to accomplish,” Lisa said. “I thought it would be easy. I guess I wasn’t prepared for how difficult it was going to be.”

Lisa came to Trenton State College in the fall of 1984. She had graduated 11th

The

By Johnanthony Alaimo Columnist

in a class of 194, and earned an A-B average all through high school. She was a member of the honor society, and lettered in varsity track. She chose Trenton State because of all the good things she’d heard about the division of business here.

“I picked my major on the basis of one business course I took in twelfth grade — I thought it was interesting,” she said. “An uncle of mine is an accountant, and he really encouraged me to pursue a career in the field of business. So, I jumped right in.”

In her freshman year, Lisa took a few introductory business courses, as well as the usual liberal arts courses. Her firstsemester grade-point average was a 3.2.

In the spring semester of that year, she pledged a sorority.

“That was a big mistake,” she said. “I was so busy with all the pledge activities, I didn’t have time to study. My GPA went down to 2.8, and I’ve never been able to bring it back up again.”

Her average continued to drop through her sophomore year. “A close friend of mine died that September, and it really upset me. I couldn’t concentrate on work at all,” Lisa said.

And, by then, I was taking more and more business courses and getting in deeper and deeper. But I still thought I could buckle down and do well.”

By her junior year, Lisa was on academic probation. her GPA was 2.0. In November, right as she was starting to study for finals, she broke her hand, making it very

Campus Style

By Heather Hawkes Columnist This spring season, suede has made a big impression at Fashion Week.

Top designers such as Michael Kors and Chloe have brought the material to life through simple yet chic ensembles that can be snatched straight from the runway and incorporated into your everyday routine.

Often, the suede trend favors a neutral color scheme, but it can also be found in a variety of colors such as cool forest greens and maroon. Since it is a heavier material, you want to try to balance it out with a lighter fabric such as a silk or light cotton.

Another option is to go for the all-suede ensemble, but make sure to keep it all in one neutral-based shade so that it looks effortless and clean.

Compliment this look with a cool pair of strappy gladiator sandals and a simple messenger bag to make a chic, Spring 2015 statement.

If you’re not quite ready for the all-suede ensemble, look out for cool suede accent pieces that can be easily incorporated into your wardrobe.

Perfect for the on-the-go fashionista, a suede backpack with leather strap accents is a hot item this season. Not only is it a statement piece that goes with almost any outfit, but it is a functional accessory that is sure to prove worthy of your investment. difficult to study. “The pain was ridiculous, and the pressure of finals made it worse,” she said. As a result, she failed a course that was a requirement for her major.

Lisa began her senior year with a GPA of 1.96 and the School of Business requires a 2.5 for graduation. She is on academic probation again, and is taking 15 credits.

In order to graduate next spring, Lisa will have to take a full load of 18 credits — but only if her advisor will allow her.

“I have to pass the class I failed last year,” she said. “So far, I’m not doing too great. If I don’t get a C or better, my advisor will only let me take 12 credits, and that won’t be enough to let me walk in May.” As she talked, Lisa lit a cigarette and picked up her varsity track letter, which hangs on her wall. She stared at it for a

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Try suede accents this spring.

The main takeaway here is that you don’t always need loud patterns and colors to make a statement. Rather, simply adding new materials into your wardrobe can take your look to the next level. Just as with any other art form, diversity is key. Fashion is not solely about what you wear, but it is more so about how you wear it. moment, then frowned.

“It’s so easy to rattle off excuses for myself,” she said. “I really should have seen this coming, but I didn’t. I kept thinking, hey, I’ve got another year to turn it around.

But I can’t say that anymore.”

Lisa remains optimistic. She can see a light at the end of the tunnel, she says, and it’s getting closer every day. “That’s my prime motivation,” she said. “Graduation will be here soon, whether I’m part of it or not.”

Lisa’s advice to underclassmen comes from experience. “Even though it seems like graduating seems far away, it gets here sooner than you think,” she said. “Doing well now when it seems like it’s for nothing will make being a senior that much easier and enjoyable when you get there.”

Hollyword: Kendall and Coachella

Do you know nothing about Native American headdresses but enjoy wearing them? Is your idea of a good time spending thousands of dollars to go to the

middle of the desert? Do you have a friend named Tiffany who is, like, a total bitch but, like, you, like, totally love her? Then Coachella is the place for you.

The infamous music festival known for gathering the most annoying people on the planet

AP Photo

Jenner enjoys Coachella with singer Fergie by her side.

and baking them in the sun was held last weekend, and the pretentiousness was in full force.

Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner were in attendance together, and when the Biebs tried to get Kendall into a 21+ area, things got out of control. Kendall was obviously denied entry, and the security would not budge, no matter how far Bieber’s peach fuzz moustache stood up. Incredible, honestly. Eventually the Biebs and Kendall left, probably to go ruin another spot on Earth.

Not to be outdone, Kim Kardashian revealed what she eats in a single day. Amazing. Groundbreaking. My ass cheeks clap for her. I was going to tell you all but do you really care? Will it change your life? Go outside.

DING DING DING. That is the sound of one of my favorite shows, Celebrity Deathmatch,

Kardashian reveals what she eats in a single day.

announcing its return. Famous in the late ’90s for showing us what our beloved celebs would look like killing each other in Claymation, the show is set to return on MTV2. Will we get to see Kendall Jenner fight a cactus

AP Photo

at Coachella? How about Lady Gaga covered in more blood than usual? Maybe we’ll even see Kanye fight himself. Whatever match they think up, I’ll be watching and placing bets like the good American that I am.

page 14 The Signal April 22, 2015

SOMETHING BIG IS BREWING!

AND IT’S GOING TO BE HUGE! PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT THAT MEANS EVERYTHING FOR TCNJ’S FUTURE. Saturday 3:30 p.m.

Quimby’s Prairie

IT’S ALSO REUNION WEEKEND! Visit reunion.tcnj.edu for a complete schedule of events

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 15

Arts & Entertainment

Tony-nominee Milioti charms with acoustic concert

Jonathan Edmondson / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Left: Milioti discusses her work from Broadway to “How I Met Your Mother.” Right: The singer belts her favorite tunes with her bandmates.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Review Editor Cristin Milioti is no stranger to Kendall Hall at the College — she spent the summer when she was 16 years old studying theater in The Don Evans Black Box Theatre with the Governor’s School. She was excited for the transition to perform on the Kendall Main Stage on Tuesday, April 14, where she once received her Governor’s School diploma.

Milioti returned to the College for an evening of music and conversation, a “real treat” since ending her run as Girl in the Broadway musical “Once.” Performing with her former “Once” co-stars, Will Connolly and David Abeles, the trio brought a laid-back but fun atmosphere to the stage.

“We hadn’t played together in nine months,” Milioti said. “It’s something we get to do together

a couple times a year, but I wish it was more.”

During her performance, Milioti chose her small setlist to be comprised of the songs that most inspired her and had the biggest impact on her life. It was only fitting that she began with “Gold” from the Tony award-winning musical that started her on the road to success and formed the friendships she brought along with her on stage.

Later, in a moderated discussion, Milioti talked more about her time working on “Once,” from starting out in a bar basement in Cambridge, Ma. to how those small beginnings affected her reaction to the show’s slew of Tony nominations.

“I have a regret in that time in my life — I wanted to protect the show and keep it a gem,” Milioti said. “I wish I had taken more time to enjoy everything that was happening to me.”

Milioti’s role in “Once” led to

her instant classic, last-season casting on the hit sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” as none other than the Mother, also known as Tracy McConnell. Milioti admitted she had never seen the show before landing the role and didn’t truly understand the significance of the part.

Unlike other characters that were able to bring lots of pieces of their own life into their “HIMYM” roles, Milioti didn’t have as much freedom playing McConnell. She did, however, bring one piece of herself into the role — her ukulele that she carries everywhere with her, including her performance at the College. Confessing that she was pretty sure her dad bought the instrument from Target, she said she only feels comfortable playing that one specifically. Even when the producers of “HIMYM” gave her a brand new one to play in the show, she kindly refused it and played her personal one.

Milioti kept her performance at the College personal by providing the audience with a listen to her very first original song, “Glacial Sentiment.” The song was extremely poetic with lyrics such as, “You are halfway across the globe, near glaciers and sea birds, and there is no earthly way to hold your hand.”

Milioti admitted before singing that sharing her own music is frightening to her, and she has been trying harder to face that fear. The audience greeted her with roaring applause that surely put her nerves at ease.

Milioti joked about her nerves by pulling from her Jersey roots.

“It’s the Jersey in me,” Milioti said with a Jersey accent. “I always say, ‘I don’t care what you think about my song,’ but I secretly do care.”

Milioti grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J. and noted that even though she played a “typical Jersey girl” as Teresa Petrillo Belfort

in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” it was not a role she was used to playing. She did, however, love the role because it embodied what she loved most about acting — having a wig and an accent. She continued that trend in her music, providing the squeaky voice in what was supposed to be her closing number, “Four Five Seconds.” However, Milioti has taken up an interest in improv comedy of late and thus included an impromptu encore. The trio did an acoustic cover of “Skinny Love” with no mics or amps — just two guitars and a stool.

Milioti ended the show with a vibrant exclamation —“We did it!” After imparting both wisdom and laughs to the audience, she laughed about her next adventure — finding the nearest Wawa, which she confessed backstage she was looking forward to finding on her trip to Jersey.

Jaar emphasizes importance of cultural spaces

By Jack Meyers Staff Writer

With just a few powerful words and images, communities can re-imagine their struggles and recover from catastrophe, explained celebrated artist Alfredo Jaar, who spoke about his work with memorials in the Mayo Concert Hall on Wednesday, April 15.

“It’s really about the power of a single idea,” said Jaar, whose artwork is based on the importance of traveling and learning about other cultures. “Before acting in the world, I need to understand the world.”

Born in Chile and having experienced the infamous dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, Jaar has visited and worked across the globe.

He is perhaps best known for his work in helping commemorate the deaths from state-sponsored terrorism in Latin America in the 1970s and 1980s. Most notably, Jaar created a massive lightbox memorial to the “Disappeared” — the people tortured and kidnapped under Pinochet in Santiago, Chile and a similarly evocative memorial in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“When we feel we have the (keys), we begin to feel responsible for this place,”

Kim Iannarone / Photo Assistant

Born in Chile, Jaar has been influenced by his travels across the globe.

Jaar said about his motivation to travel and support community renewal and growth with his art.

Jaar was even recently invited to create a memorial out of found and refurbished blackboards in a city in Japan that was devastated by the 2011 tsunami. The exhibit, titled simply “We Shall Bring New Life,” showcased the countless hours the community had poured

into their children’s education.

“I saw something in destruction that was the start of an idea,” Jaar said.

From the discovery of the blackboards, Jaar encouraged surviving students to contribute to this project by signing the words “We Shall Bring New Life,” which were projected, fading in and out onto the boards for a public audience.

“What you have to do is find problems

and get together with friends and solve those problems,” said Dean of Arts and Communications John Laughton, praising Jaar for his transformative artwork.

At its core, the art Jaar puts forth not only has brought tremendous change to many people, but has also illustrated the importance of simplicity.

“I’m always looking for ways to articulate ideas in the most minimal way possible,” Jaar said, explaining that “poetry is very important in my work; it is fundamental.”

“I like the economy of means of poetry, when you’re capable of saying so much with so little,” he added. This minimalism is the essence of Jaar’s work, which has touched lives and helped put grief-stricken communities back on their feet.

Jaar claims his love for this kind of home-town heroism is rooted in having traveled abroad and having been wellcultured at a young age.

“I think we are the response to all the stimuli we receive,” Jaar said, encouraging the audience to take care of the cultural spaces they identify with. “The birthplace is an important stimulus, but it is not the only one.”

page 16 The Signal April 22, 2015

‘Thrones’ premiere promises exciting, bloody season After a long year of anticipation, HBO premiered the first episode of “Game of Thrones” on Sunday, April 12, to its millions of fans across the world. From its inception, the show has garnered a place in the hearts of its viewers due to the intricate storylines, well-developed characters and gratuitous amounts of nudity.

It would be a lie to say that the nudity wasn’t a draw for most people at the beginning of its run. Now, however, the show has turned into a cherished time of the year where people see their favorite characters massacred from the comfort of their homes.

Last season ended with a bang — and several deaths — which made the season premiere even more exciting. We left the series following Tyrion’s (Peter Dinklage) double murder, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) heartbreak and Stannis’ (Stephen Dillane) takeover, amongst many other things. Many of those plotlines were picked up by the premiere, but there are several characters left out from the moment we last saw them — mainly a certain Arya Stark (Maisie Williams).

We last saw her boarding a boat to Braavos, but she was gone from this episode. She will probably be featured in the second episode, and we will hopefully figure out what happened to her once she sailed from the shore.

Excluding Arya, most of the main characters were focused on during the course of the episode. Brienne of Tarth (Gwendoline Christie) even made an appearance, which bodes well for future storylines.

Throughout the episode, a large majority of the sequences feature events in King’s

AP Photo

Daenerys contemplates her future as a ruler in the latest season.

Landing as well as Jon Snow’s plight at the Wall. In King’s Landing, Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey) has the first ever flashback in the entire series. The showrunners revealed last year that they would break their flashback rule, and they did so with beauty.

The flashback showed a young Cersei having her fortune told by a frightening old woman in a dilapidated hut in the woods.

It was both creepy and fulfilling, as any “Game of Thrones” flashback should be.

It gave further insight into Cersei’s deepest fears, humanizing her while also turning her into a desperate creature. Her fears mainly consisted of being removed as Queen to have a younger, more beautiful woman replace her. Basically, this was nothing new to intuitive fans, but it was an interesting scene and expertly shot.

The young actresses did a beautiful job and, as usual, the production value was on par with any “Lord of the Rings” type

big-budgeted film. All of Cersei’s scenes throughout the episode fixated around this theme of losing everything she holds dear, from her father and sons to her crown.

Along with Cersei in King’s Landing, the episode featured the Wall pretty heavily. Politics of the new Lord Commander were discussed, but that was not the main focus. It was, instead, Stannis’s desire to rule the Wildlings. In order to take control of Westeros, Stannis decided the only course of action was to force the Wildlings to fight under his command. One person really stood in the way of that: Mance Rayder (Ciarán Hind). Rayder, truly, is the only capable ruler throughout the entire series thus far. People follow him because they love and respect him, not because they fear and resent him which is a common theme throughout the other rulers. The only other similar ruler was Renly Baratheon (Gethin Anthony), but he wasn’t respected nearly as

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much as Mance and could never command such an army.

In the end, Stannis gives Mance an ultimatum: bend the knee or die. And thus another strong, interesting character dies before we can understand them further. In the best scene of the entire episode, Mance refuses to bend fealty to Stannis. Instead, he is led to be burned alive on a pyre. Jon Snow, in another effort to make the entire female population love him, puts Mance out of his misery with an arrow to the heart. While audience members got a taste of Mance’s personality, I truly wish we could have gotten the opportunity to see him challenge Stannis as a ruler. There is a good chance that Snow’s action may make the Wildlings swear fealty to him instead of Stannis, but such events will be shown next week — or never, depending on my predicting skills.

What does this say about the entire show?

Everything is hitting the fan. Tyrion may be helping Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke); Sansa (Sophie Turner) is going somewhere with Petyr Baelish (Aidan Gillen); Brienne and Podrick (Daniel Portman) may be going to find Sansa, but no one is really sure; King’s Landing is full of deceit and lies (but that’s not really new); and Jon Snow creates another reason that he should be King.

Predictions aside, this episode was an incredibly strong start to another exciting season, and fans are already clogging the internet with discussion and speculation.

However, when does the show ever follow fan speculation anyway? Well, fans shall see next episode if their predictions have come true. For now, the biggest question remains: Who shall be the next to die?

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April 22, 2015 The Signal page 17

ACT’s risky, abstract spring production pays off Strong acting and expert design aid ‘Cell Phone’

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gomez

Friedman and McGovern share a tense scene in ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone.’

By Ellie Schuckman Opinions Editor

Set on the verge of the modern smartphone revolution, All College Theater’s interpretation of “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” had audience members questioning metaphysics their own use of electronics throughout its five performances last week in the Don Evans Black Box Theater.

The play, detailing one introvert’s journey as she tries to form relationships with others, explores modern technology’s ability to both isolate and unite people together.

With white, circular lanterns hanging from the ceiling and soft blue and purple lighting, audience members were immersed into the theater from the instant they entered.

Instrumental music from jazz to Debussey (designed by Glenn Nunez Rodriguez and Sorraya Brashear-Evans) added yet another layer to the story, driving it forward.

Senior music major Shannon McGovern kicked off the show with her quirky interpretation of Jean, a woman in her late thirties who picks up the cellphone of a man (later revealed to be Gordon) in a cafe to stop it from ringing — that is, to stop it from bothering her work. Unbeknownst to Jean, the man is dead, sending the play into motion.

McGovern brought Jean to life, engaging the audience while raising awareness to the dangers we so commonly ignore.

Junior philosophy major Nick Muoio

dominated the stage as Gordon with a fierce voice and charisma, enlivening the crowd.

Commanding his lines and a lengthy monologue, Muoio divulged the narcissistic and truly troubled man his character is while playing him with style. He even invited the audience into his performance, his gestures and forceful eye contact roping them in.

Freshman communication studies major Lauren Vogel further livened the show with her performance as Gordon’s mother, Mrs. Gottlieb, a difficult, complex woman trying to cope with the loss of her beloved son.

“It was a lot fun getting to work with a small cast as you really get to know everyone,” Vogel said. “Being 19, it was kind of difficult to find the character of a 65-yearold woman — it was a challenge to get into that mindset. We all played characters that were well above our age.”

Written by esteemed playwright Sarah Ruhl, the story begs the question: Can people truly connect to one another in a world dominated by technology, where each individual has their eyes constantly locked on artificial screens?

Professional director Noah Herman offered an aesthetically compelling interpretation of the play. As the story itself has a message prevalent to modern society — the lack of communication with others in a society obsessed with cellphones — it only makes sense to push that message a bit further through sound, color and the moods these

effects establish.

Adding to the “real-world” feel of the play, lighting (designed expertly by Jen Dall, Liz Farrell and Kim Bernstein) played a significant role, changing the mood of each scene. While the story itself has abstract qualities, lighting and sound cues are used to draw the audience into the show.

Even when the text of the show begins to get confusing, the strong aesthetic choices of the director and the production staff help to communicate the show’s overall theme.

The tones of a cellphone, for example, rang throughout the play, signifying a change in Jean’s character as she becomes more withdrawn from those immediately around her and obsessed with who is on the other end of the phone calls.

“Through the imagination of the play, and especially through Gordon’s cell phone, (Jean) gains a little bit of power in her life, and she uses her storytelling, lies and confabulations to create a world that she wants to live in,” McGovern said.

“However, it doesn’t necessarily turn out exactly as she thought it would, and that realization changes her for the better.”

The cast also included junior communication studies major Jackie Kuczinski playing Hermia, Gordon’s widow, as she struggles to cope with his death, fearing their relationship was never truly whole. Junior political science major Sam Waxenbaum starred

alongside McGovern as Dwight, Gordon’s younger brother who constantly lives in his shadow. Rounding out the group of six actors was junior history and education double major Rachel Friedman, who put on a convincing role as The Other Woman (Gordon’s mistress) and The Stranger.

But not all was seamless. One of the production’s few flaws was perhaps the text of the play itself. While delivering a message important to society, the absurdity in Jean’s lines and actions — continuously answering and cherishing his cell phone while forming rapid relationships with his relatives — is almost too outlandish. That said, the cast did everything it could to embody the characters, create visceral effects and reveal our obsession with electronics, for better or worse.

“Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” with an underlying humor coursing throughout, is simply captivating, with particular thanks to the production staff that pulled off a two-hour, technical feat.

“The show is very abstract and has so many wacky technical elements, but the production staff has done such an excellent job bringing it all together,” McGovern said. “Because of their hard work, the show and story is really able to shine amongst this weird world of falling paper, eerie lighting and a symphony of cell phones.”

Photo courtesy of Ronald Gomez

Jean and Dwight share a romantic moment in the stationary store.

‘Challenger Deep’ is a completely captivating novel

By Kayla Whittle Staff Writer Whether you’ve been a fan of Neal Shusterman or you’ve never heard of the author, you’ll quickly be enraptured by “Challenger Deep.”

The novel is everything I wanted in a book and more. I’ve been a fan of Shusterman for years, and though he is most well-known for his “Unwind” dystology — a dystopian that’s barely short of horror — this fictive narrative that depicts mental illness in the modern age is equally as brilliant.

Now I know that whatever Shusterman writes, whatever the genre, his writing is powerful enough to transcend every obstacle and transform his characters and ideas into something epic.

“Challenger Deep” is emotionally packed, stressful and more grounded in reality — some of the time. The novel follows Caden, a typical high school student who begins to no longer tell the difference between what is real and what are the things that only he can see. Caden pretends to join the track team, but instead spends his time walking for miles trying to understand what is going on in his head.

This book ended up feeling more surreal than most actual fantasy books, as the reader needs to piece together what is happening before revelations are made in the book.

I think that Shusterman did a fantastic job in writing

about mental illness. The novel approaches an issue that many who suffer with mental illness face — trying to put their feelings and thoughts into words. Caden is trying to work through his illness as depicted by the overarching metaphor that he is on a ship that’s headed for the deepest point on Earth: Challenger Deep, the southern part of the Marianas Trench. Trying to piece together his words, Caden is designated as the ship’s resident artist and begins to find his voice through his art.

Though I’ve never experienced something like this myself or known someone who has gone through this kind of illness, I was touched even more when I found out that the author based his characters around the real-life experiences which people close to him have had. While I didn’t think Shusterman would approach such a topic lightly, it’s a heavy reminder that this book which can feel so reminiscent of fantasy in its tumultuous scenes is reality for some out there. It’s a depiction of the daily struggle they go through.

To me, mental illness can seem more terrifying than any sea monster or treacherous ship captain, referring to some of the things Caden can see. It’s something most people prefer not to speak of and there are so many stigmas attached to labels of illness, even now when most think we’ve made so much progress. Shusterman wrote about that, too. There were so many major issues that he managed to thread into this novel without throwing his messages in the reader’s face, which I

think is yet another thing that made this novel so beautiful.

It’s one that I’m definitely going to reread, and I need to buy a physical copy of it to add to my collection. I think anyone could learn something from “Challenger Deep” — and enjoy reading it while they’re at it. Even though it can get dark, there’s Caden’s humor to light the way, and you’ll find yourself rooting for him through every step.

AP Photo

‘Challenger Deep’ contains inspiring characters.

page 18 The Signal April 22, 2015

LIT 370/HIS 354 The History and Literature of Apartheid in South Africa Instructors: Dr. Matthew Bender and Dr. Mindi McMann

This course fulfills Civic Responsibility and LL requirements in Global Perspectives, Race and Ethnicity, Historical Perspectives, and Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts, as well as course requirements in History, English, International Studies, and African American Studies.

Students will be based in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The course includes a weekend at Pilanesberg Game Reserve, and excursions such as Robbin Island Museum, a township tour, and a soccer or cricket match.

Study Abroad with the English Department Winter 2016 Two great study abroad courses, one info session: Tuesday, April 28th at 12:30pm in Bliss 228 Both LIT 367 and LIT 370/HIS 354 are open to students of ALL Majors, with NO prerequisites.

For more information visit: http://english.pages.tcnj.edu/courses-advisement/j-winter-term-2016/.

LIT 367/ENGL670 British Theater in London and Stratford-upon-Avon Instructors: Dr. Jean Graham and Dr. Lincoln Konkle

This Course fulfills the Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts LL requirement and a course requirement in the English major. Participants will see 7-8 plays, participate in Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe workshops, and visit sites such as the Tower of London and Westminster Abbey.

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 19

Sports Softball

Softball sweeps Stockton, splits with Kean

By Michael Battista Sports Assistant

The softball team continued their season over last week, sweeping Stockton University, splitting a set against Kean University and losing efforts against Muhlenberg College.

On Wednesday, April 15, the team traveled to Galloway, N.J. to face off against the Stockton Ospreys in a pair of games.

The first game between the pair was close from the very beginning. Neither team was able to make a dent for the first two innings, thanks to the excellent work on the mound by both pitchers.

However, the Ospreys struck first in the third inning. A throwing error, double and sacrifice hit brought in a total of three runs to give them a lead. The Lions regained control later on in the fifth when junior Deanna Utter continued her impressive season at the plate by singling in a run to make a dent in Stockton’s lead.

The team wasn’t done, however, as they scored five runs between the sixth and seventh innings off

singles from freshmen Madison Levine, Bria Bartsch, junior Jamie Purcell and sacrifice hits from Utter and junior Ashtin Helmer.

Freshman Sam Platt picked up the save after allowing two runs in the seventh, making the final, 6-5.

Utter said their opponents were on top of their game all day, making it hard to get something going.

“Stockton was a tough team that fought hard,” she said. “Nothing was given in the game, and we had to fight even harder than them.

Their defense made great plays to shut down rallies.”

The second game between the two was just as even, but it took awhile for the Lions to fully get a grip at the plate.

Three scoreless innings lead to the fourth, where the Lions were able to take a quick lead off a sacrifice fly ball from junior Steph Vuono, only to have it tied up again in the bottom half of the inning.

Two more scoreless innings on both sides followed before the College was finally able to finish off the Ospreys in the seventh.

Purcell walked with the bases loaded, bringing in a run, followed

by a single from Utter bringing in a second run. After an error trying to throw out a stealing Utter, Levine scored from third.

The team returned home on Saturday, April 18 to face off against Kean University’s Cougars.

The first game was a one-sided affair, with Kean taking control early on and holding it throughout as they downed the College, 3-0. The team was able to make the most of their hits in the second game.

Bartsch singled in the fifth down the right field line to bring in a run, and Utter belted another home run, her fifth of the season, to score one run. That score held as the Lions picked up the win, 3-2.

The team took a break from its usual set of double headers to play Muhlenberg College’s Mules in one game on Sunday, April 19.

The game was a pitching duel throughout, with neither team getting a hit up until the fourth inning when the Mules were able to reach base. Platt pitched incredibly to get the team out of a tight situation with two runners on base and only one out, without letting up a single run.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The Lions’ defense holds up in a sweep over Stockton.

“(I) just kept fighting for strikes so the team could get more chances at the plate,” Platt said.

The Mules scored first in the fifth, but the College struck back quickly after junior Kristen Fitzsimmons scored on a throwing error.

Later on in the sixth, Utter singled to center field, bringing in one more run and giving the team a 2-1 lead, leaving them three outs from a win.

However, it was not to be, as the bases ended up loaded in the seventh with one out, and Platt

was not able to get out of this one unscathed. Five runs were scored off three separate hits and errors before the inning ended. The team could not come back from this, and the Lions took the 6-2 loss.

Platt said she hopes the team can learn one thing from the last game.

“Just next time seal the deal,” she said. “Don’t give it up late.”

The team now looks towards their last set of regular season games next week at Montclair State University on Tuesday, April 21, and finally at Ramapo College on Saturday, April 25.

Lacrosse

Tennis

Cooper scores 100th win Lions keep up with top team Men and women sweep

By Josh Kestenbaum Staff Writer

Both of the College’s tennis teams had successful weeks with each winning both of their matches. The men and women both defeated Ithaca College while the women added a victory over New York University and the men overcame Muhlenberg College.

Against Ithaca and Muhlenberg, the men only surrendered one match in their 8-1 and 9-0 victories, respectively. In addition to the impressive play, one Lion reached an impressive milestone against Muhlenberg. Junior Pierce Cooper, playing both No. 1 singles and doubles in the match, earned his 99th and 100th career collegiate individual victories. In the doubles match, Cooper and junior Billy Buchbinder doubled up their Muhlenberg opponents, 8-4. Then, in the singles round, Cooper shut out his opponent, grabbing his 100th win with a 6-0, 6-0 victory.

Also claiming a successful week, sophomore Jack August completed two individual match shutouts between his Ithaca and Muhlenberg opponents. Against Ithaca, August won his No. 2 singles match by a score of 6-0, 6-0. Then, against Muhlenberg, August and doubles partner sophomore Mike Stanley shut out their No. 2 doubles opponents 8-0.

These two wins bump the Lions’ record up to 10-2 and got them back to their winning ways. They will play again on Wednesday, April 22, against Stevens Institute of Technology, which will be their final regular season match.

The women’s team had two relatively close matches this week, defeating Ithaca, 7-2, and doubling up NYU, 6-3.

Against Ithaca, junior Victoria Michels,

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The women down NYU, 6-3.

along with junior Jasmine Muniz-Cadorette, lost the No. 1 doubles match by a score of 8-1. However, in the singles portion of the match, Muniz-Cadorette shook off the doubles loss and a losing first set of 4-6 to emerge victorious, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

“Having a doubles loss only means that now we get one more chance to win a point for the team,” Muniz-Cadorette said.

“We will work even harder than in doubles to be able to claim a point for the team.”

Across the two matches, freshman Maddy Stoner and Brittany Reedman each recorded 4-0 records between doubles and singles. The two teamed up in both matches to play No. 2 doubles and earned a win for the College in both of them. Individually, Reedman and Stoner only surrendered nine games over their two matches and four sets on their way to their singles victories.

With these wins, the women’s team improved to 11-1 on the season and are undefeated in eight matches at home.

The women will return to the courts on Sunday, April 26, and will face St. Lawrence University.

By Anthony Caruso Staff Writer

The College’s women’s lacrosse team had a tough game in the middle of the week when on Wednesday, April 15, they hosted the No. 1 team in the country.

The Trinity College Bantams traveled from Hartford, Ct. to play the Lions.

The visiting team traveled three-plus hours for the 7 p.m. game.

They traveled more time going back and forth than in actual game time, which lasted just an hour and 54 minutes. Yet, that did not matter, as the top-ranked team won 15-8, over the Lions.

“Playing against the topranked team in the country was a game we, the seniors, had been asking for since the end of last season,” senior attacker Kendal Borup said.

“We made the most of our small victories, like caused turnovers and ground balls, and I think we ultimately learned a lot to prepare us for more competitive games in post-season.”

This was their first loss since Sunday, March 19, at Gettysburg College, where they lost 13-12 in overtime in Lancaster, Pa. In the first half, the Lions jumped out to a 3-0 lead with goals by junior Courtney Natalicchio, Borup and sophomore Mia Blackman.

Abby McQuillian made it 3-1 for the Bantams before senior Erin Healy and Blackman scored to make it 5-1 for the College.

But the Lions’ lead did not last long as Trinity College scored six straight goals to take the 7-5 lead at halftime.

Borup scored back-to-back goals to tie the game at seven before the Bantams went on another goal-scoring streak.

They then scored eightstraight goals, including two more by Griffin and another one by McQuillian.

Natalicchio scored the final goal of the game with 37 seconds left.

Sophomore Kelly Schlupp picked up the loss after allowing 15 goals in 60 minutes.

She made three saves.

On Saturday, April 18, the Lions returned to action at home against conference rival, Montclair State Redhawks. Like Wednesday night, the home team jumped out to an early lead – however, this time, it was a 5-0 lead.

With the win, the Lions are a perfect 4-0 in the conference and 11-3 overall. The Redhawks dropped to 4-1 within the conference and 8-5 overall.

“The Montclair State game was the biggest game for our conference this year,” Borup said. “Because we beat Montclair, we will be able to host the NJAC

tournament, which gives us an important home field advantage. Montclair played really well, so I wouldn’t be surprised if we see them again in the NJAC Finals.”

Natalicchio scored twice, while Borup, senior Ava Fitzgerald and Blackman also scored. Montclair’s Sophomore Francesca Verrone scored her 25th goal at 14:35 before Borup and Natalicchio added additional goals.

Freshman Amanda Muller also scored, to make it 8-2 at the half.

Natalicchio began the second half with her 32nd goal of the season before Bussiere scored her 29th for Montclair. Borup scored her 54th before Erin Healy joined the party with her 13th to make it 11-3. Schlupp picked up the win while allowing seven goals in 60 minutes.

“We would not be doing as well as we have been this season if it was not for (Schlupp),” Natalicchio said.

“She really steps it up in the big games and pulls through big for the team when we need her.”

On Tuesday, April 21, the Lions host the Richard Stockton Ospreys at 7 p.m.

Then, on Thursday, April 23, the team hosts their final regular season game and also Senior Day against the Neumann University Knights at 7 p.m.

page 20 The Signal April 22, 2015

Fun Stuff

Thought of the day: April didn’t tell the truth to her friends May and June. So I asked her...

Horse?

or frog?

“...Why did July?”

duck?

donkey?

or rabbit?

or seal?

This is a blank space, baby.

Now write your name...

Name: Water you doing? Do this maze!

4 6

LIONS

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 21

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Matt Bowker “The Ref”

Chris Drabik Staff Writer

Josh Kestenbaum Staff Writer

Otto Gomez Staff Writer

In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matt Bowker, asks our panel of experts three questions: Who is the favorite to win the Stanley Cup, what has been the biggest surprise of the MLB season so far and should the Redskins give up on RGIII and draft a quarterback?

1. Who is your pick to win the Stanley Cup? Chris: My pick to win the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers. The key to winning any hockey game, especially the Stanley Cup, is whether or not you have had Wayne Gretzky play for your team or not. Well guess what, friends?

Wayne Gretzky used to play for the New York Rangers. He played with the squad for three years, scored 57 goals and had a sweet head of lettuce in The Big Apple.

Partner all of that up with a New York Rangers team that had the best record in the National Hockey League, and you have yourself a recipe for success. The lean, mean, swedish goaltending machine Henrik Lundqvist will lead the blue shirts to a title.

Josh: My pick to win the Stanley Cup is the New York Rangers. The Rangers have one of the deepest rosters of any team in the playoffs, and they play in front of one of the best goalies in the world, Henrik

AP Photo

Lundqvist. During the regular season, the Rangers were the only team in the League to be top-three in both goals-for (most) and goals-against (fewest). After

making it to the Finals last post-season, the Rangers made some major improvements to the team. Defenseman Keith Yandle is one of the best puck-moving

defensemen in the league, and Kevin Hayes has shown himself to be very effective in his rookie season. Hayes had four goals and 13 points in the last 13 games of the season. This team is built to go deep and possibly bring a parade back to the Big Apple.

Otto: I think the Stanley Cup this year is about stopping the Rangers. I believe that the Tampa Bay Lightning have the ability to beat them in the Eastern conference championship. They are coming into the playoffs really hot and, more importantly, have a very strong offense, having guys like Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Drouin and Nikita Kucherov who can score at any time. They have had some success even with some players out due to injury, something that hurt them significantly last year. Once those guys get back to health, they will be even more formidable. The Lightning are also a lock to win at home, having posted the best home record in the entire league.

Josh gets 3 points for mentioning the team’s upgrades. Chris gets 2 points for his analysis of Gretsky’s flow, and Otto also gets 2 points for not picking the Rangers.

AP Photo

2. Which team or player has been the biggest surprise in the MLB so far?

Chris: The biggest surprise for me early on in this MLB season has been the mediocrity of the entire American League West.

We all expected the Texas Rangers to be in a down year, but other than that, there is no excuse for the play we’ve seen in what was supposed to be one of the most competitive divisions in the league. The Seattle Mariners’

revamped offense hasn’t produced enough wins early on, and the Oakland A’s are struggling to gel as a team after a busy offseason. In my opinion, this division will be taken by the Los Angeles Angels, and they will be the team to step ahead from the rest thanks to reigning AL MVP Mike Trout.

The best part about this division right now?

The rebuilding Houston Astros currently sit in first place.

Josh: The The biggest surprise of the MLB season so far is the success of the Colorado Rockies. The Rockies finished last season with a 66-96 record but have started this season 7-3. Their success is partly to do with their batting. The Rockies currently have the third-best overall batting percentage in the league, hitting .292, and the player with the second-best batting average in the league, D.J. LeMahieu. Since the beginning of the season, the Rockies have been 6-1 on the road, sweeping both

the Brewers and the Giants each in threeaway-games series. In those six games, the Rockies outscored their opponent 30-9. If they keep up this strong play, the Rockies could become a force in the NL West.

Otto: Honestly, Alex Rodriguez has really surprised me this season. He has as many runs batted in as he has games played and is leading the Yankees in almost every team batting statistic. While his numbers are really incredible league wide, he has given the Yankees exactly what they needed this season — offense and a leader. He has stepped up in the locker room because of his production, and his teammates are starting to see him differently. No one expected a 39-yearold to have this type of impact, and he has just shown he’s still got something left in the tank. If he continues to lead the offense, others will follow suit and actually give the Yankees some sort of chance.

Otto gets 3 points for remembering A-Rod. Josh gets 2 points for using statistics to back his argument, and Chris gets 1 point for taking the safe bet with Trout.

3. Should the Redskins give up on RGIII and draft a quarterback with the fifth overall pick?

Chris: We’re getting close, but it is not yet time to give up on Robert Griffin III. This is going to be year four of the RGIII project, and quite frankly, the Redskins gave up too much in the trade to acquire the No. 2 overall draft pick. Trading Bobby Griff would mean the move was an absolute failure and that Washington essentially wasted three years of rebuilding. The biggest thing is, there really is no better option at quarterback within the organization, and you are not going to get the quarterback you want at the No. 5 pick. To keep your franchise and fan base from giving up this year, keep Robert Griffin III in the lineup, and let him regain that Heisman magic.

Josh: The Redskins should absolutely not draft a quarterback with the No. 5 pick. Not only would that be giving up on RGIII but also on Kirk Cousins. Also, interestingly enough, their offense is not their biggest issue. Last season, they were

just outside the top-10 in terms of passing yards per game. The Redskins were much worse on the other side of the ball.

They were tied for 21st in the league in total sacks and, on average, gave up 357 yards and 27.4 points per game. The best option for the Redskins would be Clemson’s OLB/DE Vic Beasley, an incredible athlete and a huge threat on the edge.

Otto: The Redskins should definitely not give on RG3. Not this year. There is no quarterback worth drafting fifth overall that will still be available. Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota will most likely go one and two, so assuming they do, no other quarterback should even go in the front half of the first round. While Washington has had some issues with Griffin, he still is a young talented quarterback. I think the organization needs to get Griffin healthy and give him another season. He still has potential, and it would be a real waste to reach for someone who is unproven instead of working with someone who the organization knows can perform.

Josh gets 3 points for offering an alternate fit. Chris gets 2 points for not wanting to call the pick a failure yet, and Otto gets 1 point for realizing Griffin’s potential.

Josh wins Around the Dorm 8-6-5.

AP Photo

page 22 The Signal April 22, 2015

Alan Dawley Memorial Lecture Phi Beta Kappa Lecture

[

EXPLORING ECONOMIC

]

JUSTICE

NEW JERSEY, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD

DEGREES OF INEQUALITY

HOW THE POLITICS OF HIGHER EDUCATION SABOTAGED THE AMERICAN DREAM Presented by DR. SUZANNE METTLER, Clinton Rossiter Professor of American Institutions in the Government Department at Cornell University

Thursday, April 23 2015 at 6:30 PM Library Auditorium *Book signing to follow This program is made possible by a grant from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, a state partner of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities or the New Jersey Council for the Humanities.

Sponsored by: TCNJ Federation of Teachers, Local 2364 | The School of Humanities & Social Sciences Phi Beta Kappa, Delta Chapter of New Jersey | The Alan Dawley Center for the Study of Social Justice The School of Education

The College of New Jersey | 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, NJ 08628-0718

April 22, 2015 The Signal page 23 Baseball

Lions falter, cling to playoff hopes

By Jessica Ganga Nation & World Editor

After a winning weekend, the College’s baseball team suffered some tough losses, but they also had an important win against conference opponent Rutgers UniversityCamden to put their season record at 13-15.

The Lions suffered a loss against Rowan University on Monday, April 13. The team jumped out in the beginning of the game by scoring two runs after juniors Patrick Roberts and Garen Turner ripped singles to score the men on base. The two runs weren’t enough, though, with Rowan adding one run in the bottom of the inning and then adding two more in the bottom of the third.

In the fourth, the Lions tied the game at three. Senior Josh Limon led off the inning with a double, making it his 10th double of the season. Sophomore catcher CJ Gearhart got a base hit to plate Limon, the tying run. In the bottom of the fifth, Rowan scored the final runs of the game, and the two runs were enough to hold their 6-4 win over the College.

In the loss against Farmingville State College, the freshmen were the stars of the game. Freshman pitcher Jacob Anderson made his first collegiate start and, despite the loss, pitched a great game against the Rams. Anderson went six innings, walked one and had one strikeout. Freshman Zachary Shindler had three hits in the game. In the seventh, Shindler prevented further damage by cutting down a runner at home who attempted to score from third on a grounder.

Fresman pitcher Matt Curry talked about

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Cirillo tosses six innings in the team’s win over Rutgers. the dynamic of the team with the freshmen and the upperclassman.

“We have a tight-knit group of freshman — there’s like nine or 10 of us, so we are all really close,” Curry said. “All the seniors and upperclassman are really close, and they’ve been great to us. I think with the way our team works, it doesn’t matter if you are a freshmen or a senior — we have guys contributing all over the field.”

Freshman pitcher Joe Cirillo had a strong performance against Rutgers University-Camden on Thursday, April 16.

Cirillo went six innings, allowed only three hits to RUC and gave up one run in the fifth. In the fourth inning, Cirillo escaped a bases loaded jam with ease. With the 6-1

win, Cirillo approved his record to 4-1 for the season.

The Lions’ bats came out swinging, with senior Michael Murray and juniors Patrick Roberts and John Rizzi all getting two or more hits in the game. Roberts got the team started by singling to plate Rizzi and give the Lions an early 1-0 lead.

With Cirillo silencing the RUC bats, the Lions’ offense took off in the fourth to increase their lead to 5-0. Gearhart and Murray started off the inning by hitting back-to-back singles. Junior Mark Mari hit a grounder that was misplayed, and three players were able to touch the bag at home, giving the College a comfortable lead.

The next couple days were tougher for

Cheap Seats

the Lions, with a loss against RUC on Friday, April 17 and a pair of losses in a doubleheader against Ramapo College on Saturday, April 18.

Curry got the start for the Lions against RUC and pitched five and one-third innings, only giving up one run in the second. In the top of the sixth, the Lions lost their 2-1 lead when a RUC player hit a grand slam to clear the bases, allowing RUC to take a strong, 7-2 lead against the College.

RUC eventually scored two more runs in the eighth, and the College answered back by scoring two more runs in the bottom of the inning. But it wouldn’t be enough to rally a win, as the Lions would go on to lose, 9-4.

Even with the loss, Curry knew what he needed to work on for the next time he took the mound.

“I just got to see what I need to work on … I got behind on a lot of hitters today,” Curry said.

The College suffered a sweep against Ramapo with a 3-1 loss in the first game of the day and a devastating 8-1 loss in the later game.

The team doesn’t let the losses affect them, though. They continue to keep a positive mindset and focus on what they need to do.

“We just need to get the bats going,” Curry said. “Once our offense gets rolling, there’s nothing that could really stop us.”

The team is now 13-15 in the season and 6-8 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

The Lions return home on Friday, April 24, against Rutgers University-Newark after a stretch of away games.

Lacrosse

NBA players pick MVP Fitzgerald / 100th goal

By Kevin Luo Staff Writer

The last few years, the NBA MVP has been an obvious choice for the media voters. This year, the NBA MVP has been a huge point of debate. Whether the MVP goes to Steph Curry or James Harden, there isn’t a wrong answer. However, the media MVP might not be the most sought-after award this season.

The NBA Players’ Association announced a couple weeks ago that there will now be a Players’ Awards voted on anonymously by all the players. The awards will include the players’ MVP as well as a number of other awards.

I think this is a fantastic idea, and I think it may eventually become the more significant award amongst NBA players. The respect from media members is cool, but there’s no respect like the respect of your peers. NBA players have a strong brotherhood, and getting recognized by the rest of the league is the ultimate acclaim.

A couple of criticisms have been generated about this idea. Many in the media claim that NBA players don’t follow or watch as much basketball during the year as the people who cover it. This means that the NBA players won’t have the smartest opinion on who should win the big awards.

I say this criticism is utterly ridiculous. First of all, on off days, I’m sure many NBA players are watching ESPN, TNT or ABC games, and many players probably have League Pass. Players also have scouting reports on players they’ll be playing against. Lastly, players play against players. Whether you play in high school, college, the pros, at the park or the YMCA, the best way to know

who the best players really are is to play against them or with them. That’s something the media doesn’t have the benefit of doing.

Another criticism of this new system is that the media claims the awards will be too biased, and players will only vote for their friends and teammates. Although I must admit this is possible, I think now that these are official awards, players will take their voting seriously and take it as a sign of respect to the game to vote properly. Also, I’m sure the media has its fair share of biases and votes for their favorite players who always give good quotes and answer their interview questions.

Overall, I think these new awards are great for the league. Having players select these awards should make them even more special for players, and I hope they become the official NBA Awards sometime in the future.

AP Photo

Harden is a top MVP candidate.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Fitzgerald is second on the team with 39 goals this season.

continued from page 24

“To be honest, I hadn’t realized I scored my 100th goal until one of my teammates saw the article posted online after one of our games,” Fitzgerald said. “But what I can say is that having the opportunity to make the most of my last two years as a collegiate athlete has meant the world to me. Scoring my 100th goal was just a result of being in an environment where I love what I am learning and love playing my favorite sport again. I am a firm believer in surrounding yourself with people and things that make you happy, and once I did that, the rest just fell into place for me.”

Fitzgerald is currently second on the team with 39 goals. Fellow senior Kendal Borup leads the team with 55 goals.

The eighth-ranked lacrosse team is 11-3 on the season with three games left in the

regular season.

“The level of lacrosse at TCNJ is much like that of a DI level,” Fitzgerald said. “I think that the major separation for me is the decreased level of stress and increased focus on academics. Aside from making some amazing friends, Stony Brook as a whole was not the best fit for me. Transferring to TCNJ gave me the ability to chase my dreams in terms of my career, and to have fun playing lacrosse again.

The move was not only about academcis, though.

“The level of play at TCNJ is very competitive, always keeping you on your toes and I think that is one thing I love so much about it,” Fitzgerald said. “The athletes here play because they want to be here and because they love the sport, and surrounding myself with those people has only made the transfer that much more enjoyable.”

Signal

Sports

Lacrosse’s Fitzgerald scores 100th goal Finds comfort at the College after transfer

By Anthony Caruso Staff Writer

Ava Fitzgerald has found a home on the College’s lacrosse team over the last two years. The senior midfielder has been a clear leader for the Lions, recently scoring her 100th career goal.

But her collegiate career did not start that way, as she decided to stay close to home with her first institution.

She started out thinking that she was going to attend Adelphi University in Garden City, N.Y. After committing to attend school there, she joined a list of seven players who transferred to Stony Brook University, two months after Adelphi head coach Joe Spallina became the head coach at Stony Brook.

“I guess you could say that Stony Brook chose me,” Fitzgerald said. “Without a clear direction as to my future plan, lacrosse was a large portion of my original college decision. Committing to a big name, successful program meant a lot to me at the

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Fitzgerald recorded her 100th career goal in a win over Rowan University. time. Being that I had committed to Adelphi University first, the switch to Stony Brook happened pretty fast after finding out the coach was moving schools.”

After two seasons at Stony Brook, it was time for her to move on. Fitzgerald made the switch to the College, which she said was very necessary for her

at that point in her life.

“After two years at Stony Brook, I finally had my priorities straight and could see a clear future path for myself,”

Fitzgerald said.

She explained that she realized Stony Brook was ultimately not making her happy and didn’t have her desired major of Health and Exercise Science.

“Once I decided to make the transfer, TCNJ was the only school I could see myself at,” Fitzgerald said. “Having already developed a relationship with such an amazing coaching staff, I was comforted and excited knowing I would be playing for them. Knowing that this school had the major I finally saw a career for myself in, along with a very prolific lacrosse program, I put all my energy into making sure it would be the school I would attend after my transfer.”

At the Division III level, Fitzgerald has dominated with 67 goals in her first campaign at the College, which led the team in scoring. This season, as a senior, she has 39 goals with the Lions, including her 100th career goal scored on Tuesday, April 7 against Rowan University. see FITZGERALD page 23

Hales breaks hammer throw school record

By George Tatoris Staff Writer Senior Joan Hales broke the College’s record in the hammer throw on Saturday, April 18, at Moravian College’s Greyhound Invitational, and she didn’t quite know how to respond.

“It was definitely a little surreal when my event coach told me I broke the record, and I was speechless at first,” Hales said.

Hales had a few throws left, and like all athletes, she hoped she would be able to throw better each time. In fact, she didn’t even think the record breaking throw was “technically sound” because she didn’t follow through.

Despite this, the 46.82 meter throw overtook a toss by Sarah Wehrhan ’10, Hales’ former throwing coach, by almost two meters.

“I don’t feel any different really, but it’s humbling knowing that it was previously held by my former coach, especially since I respect her so much as an athlete,” Hales said. The throw landed Hales in second place.

Senior Joy Spriggs finished fourth in the 400-meter race with a time of 56.43, which was the College’s fourth fastest time in that race since 2000.

Lions’ Lineup April 22, 2015

I n s i d e

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Hales sets a record with a throw of 46.82 meters.

In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Lauren Straub beat 20 other runners to come in first with a time of 11:39.25. In the same race, senior Alyssa Silver placed seventh, crossing the finish line at 12:24.47.

Senior Jeremy Garrell also enjoyed a successful opener in the steeplechase, earning fourth place with a time of 9:41.58.

Garrell called the steeplechase “unique” due to its implementation of water pits along the track and because it was based off of a race originally designed for horses.

“It is important to run the race controlled in the beginning and just try to hang on after the first mile,” Garrell said.

Junior Tyler Grimm gave a top performance in the 5,000-meter — his finishing

time of 15:31.53 gave him both a new personal record and a second place finish.

Soon after Grimm crossed the finish, senior Andrew Wilson and junior Jonathan Stouber took fourth and seventh, respectively, with times of 15:34.33 and 15:40.77.

Freshman Dale Johnson performed admirably as well in the 1,500-meter — Johnson took fourth with a time of 4:01.00.

A number of Lions also partook in the Princeton-hosted Larry Ellis Invitational on Friday, April 17.

Senior Katelyn Ary was the second fastest Division III athlete on the track for the 800-meter event with a time of 2:12.12.

The finish roped her in 25th place overall and was an ECAC qualifier.

On the men’s side, junior Scott Savage was the fourth-fastest Division III athlete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:20.55. He was the 24th fastest overall on the track that day.

Hales’s feat on the field at Moravian College caught the attention of her hometown as well as around campus.

“It’s a little crazy with the amount of people from high school and back home who saw the article (on tcnjathletics.com) and reached out to congratulate me, and the number of people on campus who have reached out is so nice,” Hales said.

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