Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLVIII, No. 6
February 28, 2018
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Board dedicates library to Gitenstein By Tom Ballard Copy Editor
Live from Kendall — it’s Saturday Night By Heidi Cho Arts & Entertainment Editor
On Feb. 20, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to rename the TCNJ Library the R. Barbara Gitenstein Library and to grant Gitenstein the title of president emeritus. Trustee Robert A. Altman, the chair of the Outgoing Transition Committee — which seeks to reflect and celebrate the impact Gitenstein has had on the College — read aloud the resolution which commended Gitenstein for the nearly 20 years of service that she dedicated to the College. The resolution also notes some other advancements made under Gitenstein’s administration, such as an improved four-year graduation rate, comprehensive fundraising campaigns, an improved governance model and numerous construction projects. “I think all of us could agree that the library is really the heart and soul of this campus,” said Trustee Jorge A. Caballero, chair of the board. “It is exceedingly fitting that we name the library after Dr. Gitenstein to commemorate 19 years of leadership.” The Library was one of 12 new buildings constructed on campus during Gitenstein’s tenure as president. Gitenstein’s official portrait will be unveiled at an event on March 17, and will then be hung in the library, see LIB page 6
Saturday Night Live came early to the College on Friday, Feb. 23, when the College Union Board presented the Spring Comedy Show featuring SNL cast member Alex Moffat and former cast member Vanessa Bayer, with an opening set from writer Streeter Seidell in the Kendall Mainstage Theater. Moffat began his act with an intense German accent, performing as a character Moffat called “Max Gremer.” Before the bit, which some students found hard to understand, dragged on too long, Moffat switched topics. “Is the Git here, my favorite queen?” Moffat asked their crowd. The comedians tailored their sets to what they learned about the College before the show began. “Kianna wrote half of my set,” Moffat joked, pointing out a CUB staff member standing to the side of the auditorium. The comedian shared a nugget of wisdom with the audience through an anecdote about his experience in New York City. Once Moffat said “bless you” to a woman walking alone at night after she sneezed “a girthy slapper” right into his open mouth. The woman responded by clutching her purse to her chest, then ran away from him. Moffat then asked the audience what they learned from that story, and the audience responded by saying “nothing.” Moffat played himself off with a hilariously horrible rendition of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel to the captive audience. “(Moffat) made it seem as though he could
Bayer does a satirical impersonation of Miley Cyrus.
actually play and he had us all sing along to Piano Man,” said Amanda Mrotzek, a sophomore early childhood education and English double major. Moffat hyped up Vanessa Bayer, the next act, as “a most amazing comedian” and also as what Bayer told him to say — “(his) best friend in the world.” Awkward and genuine, Bayer often poked fun at herself in her routine. Bayer acknowledged that while comedians usually made sex jokes, she thought she did not do a good job delivering them, but for the sake
Meagan McDowell / Photo Editor
of an audience of college students, she would do an impression of herself making sex jokes. After a solid 15 seconds of indiscernible murmuring, awkward shuffling and lack of eye contact, the audience could finally make out a few phrases between long pauses. “Because his dick was so small … little league ... because he has a small dick,” Bayer mumbled. Bayer ripped on the show “Friends” in one bit, and pointed out all the show’s see LAUGH page 14
health expert College lacks affordable healthy dining options Public discusses medical
Fresh produce is hard to find on campus.
By Breeda Bennett-Jones Nation & World Editor
Despite the plethora of cafés, stands and micro-restaurants on the College’s campus, finding a fresh meal that goes beyond being simply edible is a challenge
INDEX:
for some students. Hundreds of students stream through Eickhoff Hall’s automatic double doors each day, swipe their cards at the counter and set out to find something to eat. After they load up their plates, grab utensils, pour themselves a drink
Nation & World / page 7
Follow us on... The Signal @tcnjsignal
Editorial / page 9
Michelle Lampariello / Managing Editor
and find a table with their friends, the meal seems complete except for one key component –– fresh fruits and vegetables. In Eickhoff, the Brower Student Center, the Marketplace C-Store, the Education Building Café and the Library Café, fresh Opinions / page 11
in-season fruits and vegetables are either hard to find, of poor quality or too expensive for penny-pinching college students. While Sodexo, the College’s food supplier, offers mindful, meatless and gluten-free options, the College’s student body suffers from an absence of greens and other fresh sources of vitamins and nutrients. This conundrum became apparent months ago to Daniela Pareja, a freshman biology and secondary education major. Pareja stood at the counter of the 31 North Deli in Eickhoff, waiting for an answer that would mean the difference between eating in the dining hall and eating in her dorm room. She had asked if the pineapple behind the glass was fresh. “I don’t know,” Pareja recalled a worker replying. “We get it from some random company.”
geography in Brown Bag
see FRUIT page 5
see MEDICINE page 3
Arts & Entertainment / page 14
By Elizabeth Zakaim News Editor International medical geography and public health expert Amy Blatt presented her lecture, “Geomedicine: How Locations Affect Your Health,” as part of the College’s weekly Brown Bag Series on Friday, Feb. 23 in the Library Auditorium. Her lecture, based on research and insights from her latest book, “Health, Science and Place: A New Model,” focuses on the role of geography in healthcare and the importance of residential history in the progress of disease –– a perspective on medicine Blatt finds many physicians have largely overlooked. Blatt is a medical geographer and public health researcher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University and her PhD in geography from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently employed at Vanguard,
Features / page 17
Sports / page 28
Student Soloist Night Performers showcase vocal talents
‘I Am Not Racist’ Students discuss racial stereotypes
Track and Field Women win indoor championship
See A&E page 14
See Features page 17
See Sports page 28