Breaking news, blogs, and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIII, No. 1
Beloved professor passes away
Stud construction well underway
By Chelsea LoCascio Opinions Editor Robert Carlton Cole: “father of journalism,” “fearless,” “one of the great ones.” A stream of positive comments poured in on the College’s Facebook post announcing the death of the 78-year-old English professor emeritus on Tuesday, Aug. 4. According to the College’s website, he died from pneumonia and complications from Parkinson’s — a disease that made the once outgoing and enthusiastic professor grow quieter over the years. “That was the cruelest of all, to see someone whose career was based on dissemination and communication slowly go inside a shell that robbed him of both joys,” Ray Hennessey, editorial director at Entrepreneur, wrote in his tribute to Cole entitled, “What the Death of My Teacher and Friend Taught Me About Mentorship.” Like Hennessey, many students can fondly recall the outspoken man that Cole was before his descent into silence. “He looked like he was something from the backwoods … a combo of a hippie and Abraham Lincoln,” said Charles Stile, a political columnist for The Record and ’82 see COLE page 2
August 26, 2015
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
A wall replaces the old bookstore and information desk. By Alyssa Sanford Web Editor Between Campus Town, the upcoming STEM building and the Brower Student Center renovations, various construction projects are well underway at the College this semester. In the months between commencement and the arrival of the new freshman class, the green fencing around the Student Center has extended, indicating significant progress.
According to Student Center Manager Seth Zolin, the demolition of old spaces and construction of new ones are in progress. “From my perspective, (the construction team, KSS Architects) have built the temporary office suites in what used to be the game room, George Jackson room and Simon Bolivar room,” Zolin said. “They have cleared the Sundial Lawn in preparation for the building addition and have begun demo of the bookstore space, info desk, box office, Rat, old student organization areas and suite
BSC 230.” Demolition of these spaces will pave the way for modern-looking additions to the 40-year-old building, Zolin said. Though the ubiquitous presence of trucks, drills and fences might be a tiresome sight for students, administrators hope there are more benefits than drawbacks for the Student Center renovation. The Student Center, while shutting down basement offices and hotspots like the old college bookstore and the Rathskeller, will allocate spaces for students to hold club meetings or to simply lounge around. “During the 2015-16 academic year, students will have access to the atrium, which now houses our pool tables and ping pong tables in addition to soft seating; the Lion’s Den; and student organization office spaces in BSC 202,” Zolin said. Students can also reserve BSC 210 and BSC 211 for events, according to Zolin. The large space on the ground floor of the Student Center is mostly cordoned off, making it difficult to accommodate as many students as the building did in previous years. Now, residence halls will host students who want a large space for recreational activities. According to Zolin, Decker Hall will unveil the “Decker Hall Social Space” as a solution to the Student Center’s slightly smaller accommodations. “A space in the basement of Decker Hall, see RENOVATIONS page 2
Family, friends remember Donohue Highly-awaited Campus By Julie Kayzerman Editor-in-Chief
Pat Donohue didn’t dedicate his life to community service and helping others for accolades or awards. He simply did it because “he felt that part of the responsibility of being here on earth was to try and make things better,” said Pete Donohue, 50, Pat’s twin brother. Donohue, the former assistant provost who died tragically last month after jumping off the George Washington Bridge on Tuesday, July 7, had spent nine years at the College with the Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement and was dedicated to serving the community of Trenton. He retired from the College on Wednesday, July 1, in part because of job-related stress, according to Pete. Donohue is the fourth suicide related to the College in three years. “I knew he was doing good stuff, but I was just blown away by this turnout (at the funeral),” Pete said in a phone interview last month. “It’s just crazy to me. I mean there was like a threehour wait to get into the wake … there were people coming up to me saying, ‘He changed my life doing this work.’ Really mind blowing.” The wake, held on Friday, July 17, had a wide turnout of about 700-800 people at the Sacred Heart Church in Trenton, Pete said. Under the leadership of Donohue, the Bonner
INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5
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program increased from 24 to 101 students and the number of First Seminar Program community engaged learning sections grew to over 40, according to a May email from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jacqueline Taylor, that announced Donohue’s retirement. “He just works to try to improve things, make things better, in Trenton particularly,” Pete said. “He spent many, many years trying to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate in the city of Trenton itself.” Donohue also helped create the Trenton Violence Reduction Strategy two years ago to help teens turn away from lives of crime, according to the New York Daily News. He also worked closely with the Institute for Prison Teaching and Outreach and TCNJ TrentonWorks. According to The Times, Donohue was instrumental in opening a satellite office of the College in downtown Trenton to offer classes, lectures, movie screenings and workspace. “Pat was a charismatic leader who saw potential in the projects and the people he worked with,” said John Laughton, dean of the School of Arts and Communication who worked with Donohue for six years. “He understood the need for social engagement and connecting people with a shared vision.”
Editorial / Page 7
see DONOHUE page 3 Opinions / Page 8
Town opens for students and town to enjoy
Photo courtesy of Chris Flannery
Officials welcomed in Campus Town on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The nine buildings now house 446 students, as well as retail stores, many of which plan to open this coming fall. Pictured above are Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, College President R. Barbara Gitenstein and CEO of PRC Group Robert Kaye.
Features / Page 11
see full story page 2
Arts & Entertainment / Page 15
Sports / Page 20
Campus Movie Fest Winners advance to Hollywood
New professor Haikes joins staff at the College
Field Hockey Reigning national champs aim high
See Features page 11
See A&E page 15
See Sports page 20