Fall '11, No. 10 by TCNJ Signal

A White (Castle) Christmas Justin Mancini reviews ‘A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas.’ See A&E page 17

tcnjsignal.net

Baklava down the block

Mikonos Restaurant on Scotch Road could become a pillar of local Greek cuisine. See Features page 11

The College of New Jersey Student Newspaper since 1885

November 9, 2011

No. 10

Vol. CXXXV.

Fiocco v. TCNJ court date set By Matt Huston Editor-in-Chief

The first trial date in the court dispute between the College and the parents of John Fiocco Jr. has been rescheduled to Feb. 6, according to Dawn Ritter, civil division manager of the Mercer County Superior Court. The

trial was originally scheduled to begin Monday, Nov. 7. Judge Pedro Jimenez has not yet issued a decision on the College’s Oct. 21 motion for summary judgment, Ritter said on Monday. A decision in favor of the College would end the case without a trial.

Chemical odor sends employee to the hospital By Adrienne Slaght Correspondent

Tim Lee / Staff Photographer

Freshman psychology major Vicki Wang blows up a balloon during the College’s Improv Everywhere-sponsored ‘MP3 Experiment.’ Read the story on page 15.

SafeConnect issues frustrate users By Tom Ciccone Nation & World Editor

SafeConnect, mandatory software for all students and faculty wishing to connect to the Internet on the College’s campus, garners an average of two to three complaints per week, according to IT personnel. Campus users have complained of being unable to log on, experiencing slowed Internet and needing to download the software a number of times. Faculty members have also voiced complaints about difficulties with downloading files from the Internet, IT personnel said. According to a Res.net student employee who asked to remain anonymous, the problems usually do not have to do with

SafeConnect but with the person’s computer, as inconsistencies in the computer’s internal files will require them to download SafeConnect a number of times. On the College’s website, SafeConnect is referred to as a Network Access Control device designed “to help prevent a computer from becoming a victim of virus, spyware, spam, or trojans, and also from spreading such malware.” Senior communication studies major Audrey Hix said she has had problems accessing the Internet because SafeConnect continued to tell her she didn’t have updated virus protection. “I use the school’s antivirus program, Sophos, and am always getting messages that it is out of date and I have to update it,” Hix said in an email interview. “I took my

Illustration by Brittany Mastrostefano

computer to (Res.net) to get the virus protection upgraded, but (SafeConnect) still sporadically blocks me from using the school’s wireless and tells me my computer is ‘quarantined.’” After dealing with continuous SafeConnect problems, Hix said, “I think it’s a pain … It’s just another annoying step between opening my browser and doing what I want to do.” An office assistant in the Social Sciences Building who asked not to be named said she had problems downloading outside extensions from the Internet and believed the SafeConnect system was preventing the downloads from succeeding. Res.net staff said they have no such problems with their own computers using SafeConnect and maintain that the problems stem from the individuals’ computers and not from SafeConnect itself. “Every issue that is brought to IT’s attention is taken seriously,” said Alan Bowen, manager of IT security. When asked if there were any plans to assess or upgrade SafeConnect’s system, he declined to comment. The IT and Res.net offices are located in the basement of Green Hall. IT handles phone support and Res.net staff are certified to help with Internet problems.

An employee from the College was taken to the hospital on Oct. 18 after inhaling a chemical odor that entered Armstrong Hall as the result of a roof replacement project. According to Stacy Schuster, executive director of College Relations, “all the proper precautions were taken with regard to closing off intakes from HVAC units, but the odor from the adhesive apparently still entered the building. The work was immediately stopped and the building was aired out.” Senior engineering major Louie Hernandez said he was “unaware of the situation,” but suspected something when he noticed large fans placed in Armstrong’s hallways. The adhesive released into the building was rated low-VOC, short for Volatile Organic Compound, which is expected to release a minimal level of gases, according to Schuster. The name of the individual has not been released. Schuster said that she is unaware of any lawsuits being filed in relation to this incident.

Tom O’Dell / Photo Editor

Construction takes place on Armstrong Hall’s roof.

Professor researches treatment for Alzheimer’s By Melisa Easaw Staff Writer

Chemistry as Applied to Drug Discovery: A Sampling of Projects in the Hunt Lab,” centered College chemistry professor on two of his research topics: David Hunt is engaging multiple myeloma and in research that could Alzheimer’s disease. change lives. “To date, every Hunt sounded off compound that has shown on his research in this promise (in the treatment semester’s Colloquium of Alzheimer’s) has for the Recognition of failed in clinical trials,” HUNT Faculty Research and Hunt said, stressing the Creative Activity on Wednesday, importance of Alzheimer’s research. Nov. 2 in the Library Auditorium. According to Hunt, multiple Hunt’s talk, titled “Organic mechanisms are involved in the

Lions with gills

development and progression of Alzheimer’s. Specifically, the disease is made up of “six pathways that combine for toxic neuronal damage,” including excessive production of APP (amyloid precursor protein) and reduced glucose metabolism in the brain, he explained. “We need to formulate drugs that target all six pathways,” he said. Treatments for Alzheimer’s are a part of Hunt’s research. The pharmaceutical industry is starting to create drugs that penetrate

Bendable Poseable

the blood-brain barrier, which helps protect the brain, Hunt said. Hunt noted the irony: “The thing that protects the brain makes brain diseases difficult to treat.” Hunt’s research in the field deals with using natural antioxidants, including ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), which protect the body against oxidative damage, to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. The other antioxidants he is researching are reservatrol, a plant compound found on the skin of red grapes, and lipoic acid, a

fatty acid found in human cells and in small amounts in certain foods like spinach and broccoli. Hunt’s hypothesis is: “Is it possible to (join) an antioxidant to another antioxidant to use as a transport system to the brain?” Hunt said that this research is promising. “First-pass testing indicates that these compounds are actually penetrating nerve cells and getting where they need to go,” he said.

Slammin’ poetry

Both swim teams went 3-0 on Columnist Samantha Sorin talks yoga and sex. consecutive days last week.

Jive Poetic and student poets shared slam poetry.

See Sports page 19

See A&E page 15

See Features page 13

see LAB page 3

INSIDE

Nation & World Editorial Opinions Features Arts & Entertainment Fun Stuff Sports

5 7 9 11 15 22 24

page 2 The Signal November 9, 2011

SPRING 2012 REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT PERIOD Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students

Tuesday, November 1 through Friday, November 11 !

Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for both the Spring and Summer 2012 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the Enrollment Appointment section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate Students who do not register by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 13th will be subject to a late registration fine. Graduate Students have until 11:59pm on December 15th: Undergraduate: $150 Graduate: $125

The Spring and Summer Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes button.

Visit the PAWS HELP website for complete information on how to log‐in to PAWS, search for classes, browse the Course Catalog, view your Holds, add courses to your Shopping Cart, and register for classes: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/

Use the Validate feature directly from your PAWS Shopping Cart to check for potential pre‐requisite issues before registration! For more information on the Validate feature, visit: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/validate.pdf

Check PAWS for Holds that will prevent you from registering. All Hold Flag information can be viewed under the Holds section in the PAWS Student Center. Advising Holds will be posted on October 5, Health Holds on October 15, and Financial Holds scheduled to be posted on October 25. Check your account early and frequently for Holds.

Access your Academic Requirements Report on PAWS to view your degree requirements via the Advising Tools link.

Make an appointment to see your advisor to discuss your Academic Requirements Report. Your advisor’s name and email address can be located in your PAWS Student Center..

Double‐check call numbers and course sections prior to your registration appointment for schedule changes and periodic updates.

Graduate Students: If you are a non‐matriculant who is applying for Spring matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Orientation program scheduled for January 10, 2012.

THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION EXTENDED HOURS DURING THIS REGISTRATION PERIOD Tuesday, November 1st through Friday, November 11th 7:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M.

November 9, 2011 The Signal page3

Student Government: expect more parking By Kelly Johnson Staff Writer

Students should be gaining at least 50 new parking spots next year as a result of Campus Town renovations, members of Student Government reported during SG’s meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 2. SG Vice President Corey Dwyer, senior political science major, and and Josephine D’Amico, sophomore finance major, met with the Campus Town architect to discuss the parking reconfiguration where Lots 14 and 15 will be shut down, and new lots adjacent to Lots 4 and 5 will be constructed, according to the email sent out by the Department of Campus Construction on Nov. 1. Dwyer and D’Amico confirmed that parking would not be compromised due to the project. “Students should be gaining more than 50 parking spots” following the completion of the replacement lots, D’Amico said. SG also voted to recognize Pre-Vet Society, a club for students interested in applying to veterinary school or for students just interested in veterinary practice.

There are pre-med, pre-law and pre-dental clubs at the College, and although a pre-vet major is not offered, many students are interested in the program, according to senior biology major Tim Manzi. Approximately 25 to 30 students have expressed interest in the club so far, and that is without advertisements, Manzi said. The club will meet at least twice a month to discuss the application process and requirements for veterinarian school and other related topics, such as common animal diseases. The group also hopes to bring speakers from veterinary hospitals and colleges to the College in the future. Although not unanimous, the majority of SG agreed that the club would be new and beneficial to the College and students. Sophomore political science major Chloe Gonzalez pointed out that the club would be good for students who are interested in a pre-vet track. Many may have been deterred from the College in the past because there was no such program, she said. SG also voted to recognize American Society of Engineering Management, a club determined to shed light on the new major of engineering management.

The major, established five or six years ago, includes courses from the School of Engineering as well as the School of Business. According to senior engineering management major Nicole Kennedy, the major’s existence is not widely known at the College and it only consists of 30 to 40 students. Therefore, Kennedy said, the club’s mission is to “spread the knowledge base of engineering management.” The club will also be “bridging the gap between business school and engineering school,” she added. The group plans to host field trips, bring speakers to the College and increase the communication between the two schools. In other business, Student Government unanimously voted to pass C-F2011-02, a commendation for General Manager of Dining Services John Higgins, who is leaving the College this year. Higgins has been working at the College with Sodexo since 2003 and has been responsible for the “transformation of the dining services at (the College),” said Dwyer. “I love coming to work every day,” Higgins said following the commendation and standing ovation from SG. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last eight years.”

Lab / College scientists Citizens can be tyrants too, says prof create cancer inhibitors continued from page 1

Hunt also discussed his research with multiple myeloma, which is the second most prevalent blood cancer and causes more than 10,000 deaths in the U.S. per year. “In multiple myeloma, the body produces an excess of proteins which then attack tissues and bone,” Hunt explained. He said he “was interested in creating a molecule that has the right characteristics” to target myeloma cells without harming other body cells. Hunt collaborated with College biology professor Sudhir Nayak for a new multiple myeloma project using proteasome inhibitors. These inhibitors temporarily prevent subcellular organelles called proteasomes from breaking down proteins, causing cell death. Hunt said cancer is caused by cells that have “run amok,” so certain proteasome inhibitors can help treat cancer by targeting and killing cancer cells. Although there are naturally occurring proteasome inhibitors, the time it takes to

isolate these compounds makes their use as treatments unrealistic, according to Hunt. “It would take you an eon to isolate enough of a naturally occurring proteasome inhibitor to get one year’s treatment for one patient,” he said. Because of this, Hunt said Nayak recommended using High-Throughput Screening (HTS), a compound-testing process used in drug discovery, to test new proteasome inhibitors. HTS has made the process of scientific testing much faster, Hunt explained. Nayak genetically engineered a nematode to make it sensitive to proteasome inhibitors. He and Hunt then tested new compounds on the nematode. Hunt, who also has worked with students on proteasome inhibitor development, said that with this ongoing collaborative project, organic chemistry is being used to aid in the fight against myeloma — and having some success. “To date, we have made about 25 compounds. We’ve seen over 15 active hits,” Hunt said. “The simpler analogs we’re making are more active than commercial compounds.”

Photo courtesy of the School of Science

Professor of Chemistry David Hunt has also worked with student researchers in his lab to develop small molecule proteasome inhibitors.

By Andrew Miller Staff Writer

“The tyrant is not the president of the United States,” said Associate Professor of Classical Studies Holly Haynes during a public presentation on Thursday, Nov. 3. “It’s all of us.” Haynes spoke about tyranny, modern moral failings and how modern issues are paralleled in ancient Greek and Roman society at the forum in the Social Sciences Building. Her arguments form the basis of her upcoming book, “Making Tyrants of Ourselves: the Crisis of Democracy in the Age of Spectacle.” Haynes’ explained the title of her book to the audience. Defining tyranny as “the power to punish arbitrarily,” she said that spectacles are “not just flashy events, but the relationship that a spectator has to an event.” “Each individual is a tyrant … A spectacle is tyranny,” Haynes said. She added that in democratic societies throughout history, people have acted like tyrants if they felt society was so stratified that their freedom was called into question. “The desire for freedom will start to become a hatred of the idea that such a stratification exists,” she said. “In the worst-case scenario, this will produce tyranny out of this feeling of hatred and anger, which becomes the desire to punish.” Haynes said her book will have three parts. The first part will analyze Plato’s theory of tyranny, the second will evaluate the tyranny of the Imperial Roman government, and the third will investigate recent history to determine how present tyrannical society is compared to ancient civilizations. “There has been a development of tyranny in our own attitudes. As a society, we are experiencing a breakdown of social relations,” said Haynes. In order to support this, she drew upon Plato’s “Republic,” and the history of the Imperial Roman Empire. “Plato is misread as an elitist because people think he advocates that some people should have a

Tim Lee / Staff Photographer

Associate professor Haynes gets heated talking about her upcoming book. higher social status than others,” Haynes said. “But I think what he is saying is that there always will be some kind of stratification, so people have to find a way to deal with it.” According to Haynes, individual tyranny is present in modern American society as well. “Society has become more concerned with putting the other guy down than building oneself up,” she said. She specifically mentioned reality TV shows, noting “how individuals identify with the success in themselves and the failures of others.” Because of these attitudes, people today are intrinsically tyrannical, similar to the ancient Romans, according to Haynes. Her talk, which also included references to the strange behavior of some imperial Roman officials, had an impact on several audience members. “I can’t wait to read this book. I really appreciate how she uses the ancient world to mirror what is happening now,” said Henry Coslack, a junior political science major who attended the talk.

Student admits pot use; profanity spray painted in Eick

By Shaun Fitzpatrick Arts & Entertainment Editor

Campus Police issued a resident of Centennial Hall two summonses for possession and being under the influence of a controlled substance at 9:45 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31. Reports said Campus Police was contacted to investigate what was believed to be the smell of marijuana emanating from the accused’s dorm room. The officer noticed that the student had glassy, bloodshot and watery eyes. His clothes were also disheveled and smelled strongly of burnt marijuana. The officer asked the accused if he was aware of the smell, saying that the scent was very

strong in the room. The student said that the marijuana was his, but he had already smoked it. … A female was found vomiting in the Travers Hall basement women’s bathroom at 12:05 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, according to Campus Police. Lions EMS arrived to evaluate the accused, who police say admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the evening at a fraternity house. She said that she had taken shots but could not remember what type of alcohol she drank or when she had consumed it. She was vomiting

into a toilet bowl and could not raise her head from the rim, reports said. Pennington Road EMS arrived and transported her to Capital Health System, Mercer Campus. Campus Police issued her a summons for underage drinking. … The word “fucker” was found spray-painted on the block wall of the Eickhoff Hall thirdfloor garbage room at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3. Police say the words “Nick was here” was spray painted below it. Building Services was informed in order to schedule removal.

… Campus Police arrested a male for criminal mischief after writing on shelves in the College Bookstore at 1:35 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The bookstore’s manager contacted Campus Police after witnessing the unidentified suspect writing on the shelves. Reports said Campus Police reviewed security camera footage and saw the accused writing “shit or get off the can” on two separate areas. A male matching the description was found sitting at a table in the Brower Student Center. Campus Police obtained his identity from his N.J. Driver’s License, and the bookstore’s manager positively identified him as the suspect.

page 4 The Signal November 9, 2011

Nation & World

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 5

Informant testifies against ‘Lord of War’ NEW YORK (AP) – The most bankable star witness at the trial of an ex-Soviet officer known as the Merchant of Death was a former drug dealer turned U.S. governmentsponsored actor who became one of the highest paid informants in history. Carlos Sagastume, 40, earned more than $9 million over 15 years by convincing drug dealers and a weapons merchant that he was as bad — if not worse — than they. Collecting evidence against Viktor Bout was another major achievement in a remarkable career for Sagastume. He posed as a member of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the FARC, to coax Bout to travel from Russia to Thailand in March 2008 to arrange to send deadly weapons to Colombian rebels to fight Americans. The month-long trial in federal court in Manhattan ended Wednesday with Boutʼs conviction on conspiracy charges. The arms dealer, the inspiration for the character played by Nicolas Cage in the 2005 film “Lord of War,” faces a potential life sentence. Sagastume made most of his millions through the State Departmentʼs Narcotics Rewards Program, collecting $7.5 million from two rewards for work he did for the Drug Enforcement Administration. Another $1.6 million was earned through work on 150 investigations, though some of the money covered expenses. He was paid $250,000 for the Bout probe. In all, the State Department has paid more than $62 million in rewards since Congress established the program in 1986 to reward individuals who provide information to help arrest and convict drug dealers. Myrna S. Raeder, a Southwestern Law School professor, said she found it interesting that Sagastume had lived a life of disguise for so long. “One would think that oneʼs cover would

be blown much earlier,” she said. “This sounds like fodder for a movie with that kind of background.” Thomas Pasquarello, a former DEA special agent who headed the Bout probe in Thailand, said Sagastume was among the DEAʼs best informants. “If youʼre looking at big fish, you need big bait,” he said. “Thatʼs what guys like Sagastume are good at. Theyʼre pros at what they do and they have deep connections.” A good informant risks his life and can fake underground connections to reassure someone like Bout that heʼs authentic, he said. “Look at Viktor Bout. He wasnʼt going to fall for a rookie informant. Guys like that could see through a rookie undercover in five minutes,” said Pasquarello, now chief of police in Somerset, Mass. The Guatemalan-born Sagastume did not seem a likely candidate to be a prosecutorʼs best friend when he began transporting drugs — after he finished a five-year stint in Guatemalaʼs Army, where he specialized in gathering intelligence on subversive activity and guerrilla activists. Speaking through an interpreter — even though he could be heard on taped conversations speaking English — he testified at Boutʼs trial that he was paid $450,000 for helping transport up to 3,000 kilos of cocaine and $3 million in cash for drug organizations. He said that after he was kidnapped by federal police in Mexico and a $60,000 ransom was paid to free him, he contacted the DEA in Guatemala, looking for a new line of work. By 1998, he had moved to the United States and was steadily delivering successful results in DEA investigations. In January 2008, he was summoned to join a sting operation designed to catch Bout, who was known as a supplier of weapons that fueled civil wars in South America, the Middle East

News Bits High-profile discrimination attorney Gloria Allred said Monday that another woman is accusing Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain of sexual harassment and appeared at a news conference in New York later in the day. Allredʼs client is the first woman to go public with accusations that Cain has engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior, and the fourth to allege misconduct. U.S. District Judge Richard Leon blocked on Monday a federal requirement that would have begun forcing tobacco companies next year to put graphic images including dead and diseased smokers on their cigarette packages. A new census estimates that the ranks of Americaʼs poor are greater than previously known, reaching a new level of 49.1 million — or 16 percent — due to rising medical costs and other expenses that make it harder for people to stay aﬂoat. Information from AP Exchange

Viktor Bout is escorted by prison officials as he arrives at a criminal court in Bangkok on Aug. 20, 2010. In 15 years, Carlos Sagastume made over $9 million for his undercover work, which included collecting evidence against Bout. and Africa. His clients ranged from Liberiaʼs Charles Taylor and Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to the Taliban government that once ran Afghanistan. Sagastume was assigned to pose as a FARC member who wanted to buy 100 surface-to-air missiles, 20,000 AK-47 rifles, 350 sniper rifles, five tons of C-4 explosives and 10 million rounds of ammunition, among other weapons. He teamed up with Ricardo Jardenero, 52, a Colombian-born informant who posed as “The Commandant,” a commanding officer in the FARC, classified by Washington as a narco-terrorist group. Jardenero was one of the DEAʼs better-paid informants as well, making $500,000 during four years working undercover. He was paid $320,000 for the Bout probe. Like Sagastume, Jardenero also was a

former drug dealer who could project himself like a rebel commander after a decade in the Colombian Army and time spent shipping weapons for a paramilitary group that opposed the FARC. Karen Greenberg, a history professor at Fordham Law School, said large payouts make sense in pursuit of targets like Osama bin Laden and Bout as the government rewards informants who lived in a criminal world themselves long enough to mimic the language and attitudes of those they must catch. “You still have to be careful with how much government money youʼre throwing around,” she said. “Once that kind of money is out there for the pool of people who can help, it will be harder and harder to discern who you can trust. Who wouldnʼt take that kind of money?”

Greek prime minister will step down ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greeceʼs embattled prime minister and main opposition leader agreed Sunday to form an interim government to ensure the countryʼs new European debt deal and oversee early elections, capping a week of political turmoil that saw Greece facing a catastrophic default and threatening its euro membership. Greek leaders had been anxious to end a severe political crisis with some positive result before Monday, when the country heads to a meeting of eurozone finance ministers in Brussels. The initial agreement, which will see Prime Minister George Papandreou step down, came after a week of drama sparked by his announcement he was taking the debt deal to a referendum. He withdrew that plan Thursday after intense opposition from European leaders and his own Socialist lawmakers, many of whom called for him to resign. Papandreou “has already stated he will not lead the new government,” the statement from the presidentʼs office said. He is to meet again Monday with opposition leader Antonis Samaras to seek agreement on who will head the new government and who will be included in its Cabinet, the presidentʼs office said. A planned meeting with the leaders of all political parties represented in parliament, which was to take place Monday evening, was canceled after parliamentʼs two leftist parties refused to attend, the office said. The statement came after a late-night meeting between Papandreou and Samaras called by President Karolos Papoulias to end a two-day deadlock. Direct talks had failed to get off the ground as Papandreou had agreed to step aside but only after power-sharing talks settled on a new government makeup, and Samaras insisted he wanted snap elections and would not start negotiations unless Papandreou resigned first. An opposition conservative party official said Samarasʼ party is “absolutely satisfied” with the outcome of the talks and that party officials were to hold meetings late Sunday night with Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos and his

Greeceʼs Prime Minister George Papandreou exits after a cabinet meeting at the parliament in Athens on Sunday, Nov. 6. advisers to discuss how long it would take to finalize the new debt deal and when elections could be held. “Our two targets, for Mr. Papandreou to resign and for elections to be held, have been met,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the process. The crisis was sparked after Papandreouʼs shock announcement on Oct. 31 that he wanted to put a new European debt deal aimed at rescuing his countryʼs economy to a referendum. That plan caused an uproar in Europe, with the leaders of France and Germany saying any popular vote in Greece would decide whether the country would remain in the euro. European officials also said the country would not receive the vital eight-billion euro installment of its existing 110-billion euro bailout until the uncertainty in Athens was over. Papandreouʼs announcement also spooked international markets, leading stock markets to tumble and led to calls in Greece for Papandreouʼs resignation — even from among his own Socialist lawmakers and ministers — with many saying he had endangered Greeceʼs bailout.

page 6 The Signal November 9, 2011

Tcnj’s MSA cordially invites you to…

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011 Room 202-BSC (Brower Student Center) STARTS AT 7:30 PM

Free Food!! Questions? Comments? Contact us at: Islam@tcnj.com

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 7

Editorial Text alerts could be more informative

In late September, I was sitting on the 601 bus, en route to campus from the Trenton Transit Center, when my phone buzzed, indicating a new text message. It was an emergency alert, informing students of a sexual assault that had occurred off-campus and directing us to check our emails for more details. This past Thursday, we received another emergency alert, telling students about a luring attempt at Rider, which barely said much besides that fact that more information could be found in our Gmail inboxes. Screenshot of TCNJ email Admittedly, whenever I see that random five-digit combi- Unlike email (above) text alerts from the College do not give vital information, and nation of numbers denoting a text alert from the College, I therefore are not very helpful to students, says Features Editor Jamie Primeau. hold my breath for a second as I scroll down to see what it’s Quotes of the Week about this time. Though sometimes a relief (indicating class cancellations) “Not everyone has and sometimes terrifying (men with dreadlocks and knives), to be spectacular. there’s really no telling what these messages will say. Sometimes they even warn about a bear on campus (which, though It’s okay to be Did you vote this week? it may be a threat, I can’t help but find it adorable). ordinary.” This sense of uncertainty increases tenfold when an emer- Yes, it is important. — Tim Ouyang of Tim gency alert provides minimal details and concludes with - No, I don’t think it matters. Be Told about his song’s “See TCNJ e-mail for details.” - There was an election? inspiration. I understand there’s not much space to tell an entire story via text message, but a bit more vital information could be Last week’s results included. “When one person cast your vote @ For example, with the invention of Twitter, we’ve become scores, it feels like capable of constraining comments to 140 characters — that’s tcnjsignal.net we all score.” 20 less letters than a typical 160-character text message. I’m sure there’s someone adept enough to condense important — Junior defender info into a text message without being so vague. What do you think of the parking situation on Camille Passucci on Thinking back to the initial text message alert I refercampus this year? the field hockey team’s enced, how does a “timely warning” that gives minimal deNJAC win. -It still doesn’t make the College responsible. 44% tails about a sexual assault “off-campus” help at all? -Both residents and commuters have issues. 33% If we’re being literal, “off-campus” could literally en“The tyrant is not -Meh, I don’t have a car on campus. 17% compass any location beyond our campus circumscribed by -It’s fine, I always find parking. 6% the president of the Metzger Drive. United States. Especially since I was in Trenton, sans computer at the time when I received this message, I felt slightly uncomfortIt’s all of us.” able. — Associate professor When these warnings are in fact “timely,” it only adds of classical studies on extra time to the delivery of information to us as we find a modern tyranny. computer and log in to our email. tcnjsignal.net I think that if emergency alerts are going to serve their Mailing Address: Telephone: “I think it’s a pain purpose, they should tell you things you can read on the go. The Signal Production Rm - (609) 771-2424 c/o Brower Student Center Business Office - (609) 771-2499 … it’s just another Not all of us are equipped with smart phones. The College of New Jersey Fax: (609) 771-3433 The luring attempt email informed us to keep an eye out annoying step P.O. Box 7718 Email: signal@tcnj.edu Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu for a bright blue car and provided a description of the subbetween opening ject — a perfectly useful message, but not many cars pass by Editorial Staff Julia Corbett my browser and Production Manager one’s dorm room window, or the Library (locations where Matt Huston Tom Ciccone doing what I want individuals would go to check their email). This is the kind Editor-in-Chief Nation & World Editor of situation where a text that someone reads while out and to do.” huston4@tcnj.edu Juliana Fidler Brianna Gunter Melissa Easaw about could be beneficial. Managing Editor Kelly Johnson — Senior I do understand and appreciate how emergency alerts are gunter2@tcnj.edu Copy Editors communications advantageous, and something previous generations didn’t Emily Brill Kevin Lee studies major Audrey News Editor Sports Assistant have to transmit urgent information. It is a great technologibrill3@tcnj.edu Brendan McGrath Hix on SafeConnect. cal advance. Laura Herzog A&E Assistant However, a little less ambiguity could go a long way. News Editor Annie Montero

The Weekly Poll:

—Jamie Primeau, 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.

herzog2@tcnj.edu Alex Wolfe Sports Editor wolfea1@tcnj.edu Jamie Primeau Features Editor primeau2@tcnj.edu Shaun Fitzpatrick Arts & Entertainment Editor fitzpa28@tcnj.edu Danny Pazos Opinions Editor pazos2@tcnj.edu Tom O’Dell Photo Editor odell3@tcnj.edu

Features Assistant Janika Berridge Kate Stronczer Matthew Mance Photo Assistants Emilie Lounsberry Advisor Business Staff

Dan Lisi Business/Ad Manager Natalie Schiavi Business Assitant

Correction

On page 14 of last week’s Signal, 2004 graduate Mariano Pellegrino was incorrectly referred to as “she” in the “Students urged to surpass society’s expectations” story. We regret the error.

page 8 The Signal November 9, 2011

MAYO BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION What's your original idea for a business start-up? Who would you want on your team? Are you up to the challenge? This is your chance to pitch your business plan and possibly win seed money to launch your company. E-mail Dean Keep at keep@tcnj.edu for details, or visit: http://business.pages.tcnj.edu/events/mayo-competition/.

CASH PRIZES:

1st place team wins $6,000 2nd place team wins $3,000 3rd place team wins $1,000

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November 9, 2011 The Signal page 9

Opinions The Signal says ... Stop: Spending so much time indoors, playing a lot of videogames, forgetting to wear a jacket, eating greasy foods, working past 2 a.m. Spring Caution: 2012 registration, midseason NFL, basketball lockout, Christmas music, Oscar bait. Go: Meet a new friend, call an old friend, learn a new language, keep up on current events, buy some w a r m clothes, save a turkey.

Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is ﬁnanced by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Ofﬁce. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

‘V’ masks are more trouble than they’re worth

By Danny Pazos People criticize the “Occupy” movement for many reasons — one of which deals with the movement having no clear goals. Despite various commentators, pundits, and newscasters trying to assign some kind of large goal to the protests, many of the people involved are there for different reasons. Some people come out to protest the wealth gap in the United States. Some people are protesting the actions of CEOs and bank executives getting bigger paychecks while the workers suffer. Some people are protesting because their generation might be the first to make less money than the one before it. Others still come out because they are afraid politicians arenʼt properly representing their points of view. Recently, the movement has hidden itself even more by adopting a symbol from a popular movie/graphic novel; the mask of the main character from “V for Vendetta,” V, is appearing at protests around the country. In the novel, V is a man who was genetically experimented on by a totalitarian government that kidnapped and killed homosexuals and dissenters. After escaping a horrible prison, V seeks vengeance against those who wronged him, and through actions deemed terrorism, he sparks a revolution to overthrow the tyrannical government. The Guy Fawkes mask which V dons throughout the film and novel becomes a symbol of resistance for the people. It shows their solidarity and their drive to get back the basic freedoms that have been stolen from them. So, where is real the connection to the “Occupy” movement? If you havenʼt found it yet, I canʼt blame you. The problem with people donning these masks during the protest is the distorted

Letter to the editor Bike paths increase creativity When I heard of the Collegeʼs Campus Town Project, I was extremely excited. This is the type of development that can enhance not just the College campus, but the surrounding community as well. As someone who grew up in Ewing, I always felt the township and College never truly lived symbiotically. Instead, it seemed they were two neighbors who rarely spoked to one another. Now this timing is extremely important. The College can be made greener, more prosperous and less reliant on cars with one additional component: a 10-mile bike path. The College could work with the townships of Ewing, Lawrence, Hamilton

AP Photo

Protesters wearing ʻV for Vendettaʼ masks make their points even harder to grasp in a movement with an already cloudy purpose. message they are sending to those already skeptical of their purpose. The character V lives in a world where freedom of speech is non-existent, and police brutalize anyone seen on the streets after dark. This is an extreme difference from the America in which we live today. V blows up buildings and assassinates political leaders. Someone doing that from the “Occupy” protests would not be hailed as a hero by the majority of Americans. I agree that some of the problems we face as a nation stem from terrible decision making by the wealthiest business owners and puppet politicians. Some of the signs that the protesters hold up make valid arguments. The violence and brutality shown by police in handling the protests is disgraceful. But making the comparison to the world of “V for Vendetta” is a stretch. By wearing these masks, protestors not only shield their faces from recognition, but shield their real message, painting a

broad stroke of “government is bad” all over the movement. These masks give commentators and pundits a chance to write off the entire protests as crazy and irrational. It allows those opposed to the protests to miss whatever important message is trying to be brought about. Worse still, many in the online hacking group “anonymous” use the V mask as a way to hide their cyber crimes. This connection is yet another that could potentially cloud the good messages buried within the “Occupy” movement. While I appreciate the connection that the protestors are trying to make between government oppression and what is happening in America today, they have to focus on what it is they really want and not get caught up in the fever of protesting itself. The protesters have a real message and want to bring about real change. It should be shouted out in the open, not from behind a mask.

and the state to make the area surrounding campus the absolute envy of every other state college. The plan would go like this: Connect the D&R Canal Path on the Delaware River and to the West Trenton SEPTA, then finish at the College. It would span all of three miles. This would make these high-volume stops walkable and could be used to entice future students from Pennsylvania. For the cynics, it would also likely go right by the Firkin Tavern. Additionally, campus could even be connected to Rider University, another three miles. (Though it should be blockaded off during and after sporting events). The hardest part would be the most vital — connecting Rider or the College to the Hamilton, N.J. Transit Rail stop, about four miles.

This would simultaneously help make the College more environmentally friendly and even enhance the Collegeʼs ability to attract the most talented students and professors in the area. For instance, Richard Florida, an influential urban studies author, has theorized that people who walk, bike or take public transportation to work enhance their surrouding communities. The College, Ewing, Mercer County and New Jersey all should benefit from this. It would make Ewing the college town it always had the potential to be and it would make your reunions more fun. If China can build a massive convention and exhibition center in eight months, surely we could build parts of a bike path in a couple years. Well, maybe . . . —Steve Chernoski

Weʼve heard their opinions. Now itʼs time to hear yours. Send your opinions to pazos2@tcnj.edu

AP Photos

page 10 The Signal November 9, 2011

INTERNATI'NAL FILM FESTI-AL T.ESDA0, N'-EMBER 35 5600 P.M. LIBRAR0 A.DIT'RI.M

LEM'N TREE, Eran Riklis, dir. (Israel, Germany, France, 2004) Arabic and Hebrew with English subtitles

The rare ability to make intelligent, entertaining cinema from hotbutton current issues is beautifully illustrated by "Lemon Tree" www.variety.com

Lemon Tree is set on the border between Israel and the West Bank, where the widowed Salma, whose three grown children have all moved away, earns a modest income from the grove of lemon trees planted by her father 50 years earlier. But just beyond the lemon trees, on the Israeli side of the border, Navon, the Israeli Defense Minister, has built a new house and his security men decide that the lemon grove could afford cover to terrorists planning an attack. They order the grove to be razed to the ground and Salma seeks the help of a young Palestinian lawyer to help her. Thought provoking discussion led by Dr. David Stillman and Dr. [oAnn Gross following the film Sponsored by6 Department of World Languages and \ultures School of Humanities and Social Sciences School of Arts and \ommunication \enter for Global Engagement T\N[ \enter for the Arts

2012 Summer Programs in England— Info Sessions with Dr. Tarter

Wednesday, November 16, Bliss 153

June 20July 8—Harlaxton—1:00pm Literary Landscapes in England

July 8July 26—Cornwall– 12noon Magic of Archival Research

www.tcnj.edu/global goglobal@tcnj.edu Green Hall 111

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 11

Features

Students open up about on-campus jobs Position: Student Finance Board Executive Director Location: SFB Office (the Brower StuBy Annie Montero dent Center) Features Assistant Wages: full tuition stipend Hours: approx. 20-25 hours/week Four on-campus jobs were featured last Do you enjoy it: Yeah, I love it. week. This week, an additional five stu- Worth your salary? Yes, it is really time dents share their employment experiences. consuming. Once you make the commitment, you have to do it. The Sports Information poHow’d you get this job? I had sition involves working in the an internal interview within Sports Information Office, anSFB. The executive director nouncing varsity sports games needs a year of experience in and keeping track of stats for SFB. I filled out an application the sports teams. and then had an interview. The process is all internal. Name: Paul Searles, sophomore Best part: Being involved with Spanish and secondary education everything at once. I have a hand Photo courtesy of Sports double major in everything on campus. Information; All other photos by Annie Montero Worst part: Sometimes it gets Position: Sports Information/Announcer stressful. Sometimes it’s hard to Location: Sports Information Office/ put homework and school first. Sports Box How difficult is it to balance with school Wages: $7.25 hourly or EC? It’s not that hard to balance because Hours: approx. five hours/week or two I’ve focused my time here. It’s doable. events at the stadium … Do you enjoy it? Yes, it’s an awesome job. Worth your salary? Yes. How’d you get this job? I applied via the Career Center student employment online, and I also knew someone. Best part: I get paid to watch all the different sporting events. Worst part: Staying impartial in the press box. I’m technically not allowed to root for (the College’s) team. How difficult is it to balance with school or extra curriculars? It’s really easy and announcing games is so much fun. Building assistants cover customer … service for all events taking place withThe Student Finance Board ex- in the campus buildings, including setup ecutive director oversees the SFB as a and breakdown of conference rooms. whole and chairs meetings. A person They are also responsible for the stucan only be elected to this position after dent center’s safety and cleanliness. a year in SFB. Name: Joe Borsellino, junior statistics major Name: Alexa Kaminsky, senior accounting Position: Building Assistant and politics double major Location: Brower Student Center

for a job. I started that summer. Best part: It’s a flexible schedule and people cover your shifts well. Worst part: I can’t think of anything. How difficult is it to balance with school or EC? It’s not really difficult because it’s really flexible. Someone can always pick your shifts up for you.

PART 2 OF 2

Wages: not given Hours: approx. 12 hours/week Do you enjoy it? Yes. Worth your salary? Yes. How’d you get this job? I applied online through (the Career Center), then I got called in for an interview. Best part: It’s easy to work with my coworkers. Worst part: When there’s a ton of stuff to do and when lots of different clubs have contracts for rooms that we have to set up and break down. How difficult is it to balance with school or EC? It’s not hard to balance at all. … Supervisors in the Recreation Center and Packer Hall oversee operations in their respective buildings. They also provide security in Lions’ Stadium. They must be First Aid/CPR Certified. Name: Kenny Amponsa, junior health and exercise science major Position: Supervisor Location: Rec Center/Packer Hall Wages: $10.50 hourly Hours: approx. 17.5 hours/week Do you enjoy it? Yes. Worth your salary? Yeah. How’d you get this job? I worked a track meet two years ago in May, and after that, I asked my (now) boss

… Desk Assistants check student IDs in the residence halls at night and issue guest passes to visitors. Name: Shelby Allen, freshman chemistry major Position: Desk Assistant Location: Decker Hall Wages: $7.25 hourly Hours: approx. 20-23 hours/week Do you enjoy it? Yes. Worth your salary? Probably not. How’d you get this job? I applied online and got an email for an interview. I came in, and I guess I did well because they notified me within a week. Best part: Meeting all of the new people, getting to know sophomores. Worst part: The hours, especially when I work at night late (the 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. shift). How difficult is it to balance with school or EC? Not difficult at all.

My big fat Greek dinner: Local spot offers authentic cuisine By Katie Occhipinti Columnist The Mediterranean diet is famous for being one of the healthiest in the world. Popular dishes are full of vegetables and provide a healthy combination of fats and lean proteins from foods like fish, nuts and olive oil. It is not easy to emulate Mediterranean-style cooking in an area dominated by all-American classics like pizza, burgers and fried chicken. This past March, however, Paul Tapsas and co-owner Kostas Skordas brought basic, authentic Greek cuisine into our backyard. Their new restaurant, Mikonos, located at 50 Scotch Rd. in Ewing, has a diner-style feel with a “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” flair. Mikonos got its name from one of the most popular destinations in Greece and home to its founders, the island of Mykonos. The small dining room is half sunroom, which perhaps is meant to simulate dining in Greece, which more often than not takes place outdoors. Booths and tables are covered in blue-and-white-checkered tablecloths complete with matching bright blue chairs. Walls are decorated with large, scenic images of the motherland. Granted, the atmosphere surely will not transport you to the beautiful island of Mykonos, but the authentic Greek food just might. The owner and chef are not new to the scene of Greek cuisine — they have over 20 years of experience in the industry. They have been involved with

restaurants in Greece and own other Greek restaurants in Toronto, Canada. The most important thing on their résumé, however, is that they are really Greek. The traditional Greek ingredients used in the restaurant, including feta cheese, olive oil and yogurt, are directly imported from Europe, according to manager George Piergaro. “Greeks come from quite a bit away to eat here,” he said. Kim Hartzell, a senior psychology and early childhood education double major at the College, started serving at Mikonos in September. “I may be biased, but I just love the food here,” she said. Having spent some of her summer traveling through Greece with her mother, she has something to compare it to. There is nothing fancy about Mikonos, but then again, anyone who has been to Greece knows it is not a very fancy place. They currently serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, but plan on stopping breakfast in January because of the restaurant’s failure to draw a morning crowd. Overall, the menu is fairly priced and portions are generous. “For college students on a budget, the lunch menu is great,” Hartzell said. The most popular lunch item is the chicken or beef and lamb gyro served with pita, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, onions and a side of tzatziki sauce for $7. The best way to order at Mikonos is family style. Agree on getting several traditional dishes to share, and start off with Dolmanthakia, the Greek name for their homemade grape leaves stuffed with rice and

herbs. If you are feeling brave, try the tender octopus grilled to perfection, served in olive oil and vinegar and seasoned with parsley and oregano. Although a Greek salad and a piece of baklava for dessert would taste a lot better on a beach overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, Mikonos is definitely a fun night out with friends, and it’s completely worth the cost for a taste of healthy, authentic cuisine. “Greek food leads to healthier living, and there is no other restaurant in the area like it,” Piegaro said.

Katie Occhipinti / Columnist

Mediterranean-style cuisine is now available locally at Mikonos in Ewing.

page 12 The Signal November 9, 2011

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www.tcnj.edu/global goglobal@tcnj.edu Green Hall 111

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 13

A little history on the Prairie

Brianna Gunter / Managing Editor; The Seal 1940

Quimby’s Prairie (left), located behind Green Hall, is named after John S. Quimby (right), a former business manager of the College. By Brianna Gunter Managing Editor Every day, people walk across the open area in front of Green Hall. With two intersecting paths that divide the lawn into four parts, some refer to it as the “quadrangle.” Quimby’s Prairie is this area’s official name, however, and unlike the vast majority of namesakes at the College, this one did not necessarily come about out of respect for the man it is named after. This man was John S. Quimby. A couple years ago, an Ambassador told me that allegedly, Quimby was an administrator who worked in Green Hall but lived in a house on the other side of Lake

Ceva, and, thinking his wife was cheating on him, ordered all of the trees chopped down so that he could spy on her during the day. This story is certainly very interesting, but it is not exactly the reason that Quimby’s Prairie received its name. Quimby was not just any administrator; he was the College’s business manager. Throughout the ’30s and ’40s, he handled financial transactions and oversaw much of the current campus’ development (in previous articles, I’ve mentioned that the College used to be located in Trenton). Above all, however, Quimby was known for his immense dislike for people walking across the

grass in front of Green Hall. “He took his job very, very seriously, and one of the things that gave him the most headache was when people insisted on walking across or making paths on ‘Quimby’s Prairie,’” said former faculty member Adelbert K. Botts in a filmed 1982 interview that was part of the College’s “Living History” program. Botts came to the College in 1940, becoming the head of the geography department and later the dean of men. Botts said that at the time, there were no paths on the lawn. In order to get to buildings on the other side, people therefore had to walk all the way around it or brave their way across the grass.

Campus Style Polo Ralph Lauren, yet I rarely frequent the mall. I usually have in mind something I’m searching for so I’ll just directly visit the store or go online.

In a 1981 interview, also for the “Living History” program, Professor Emeritus of Industrial Arts Conrad J. Johnson remembered how the area’s name came about: “That lawn was his and he didn’t want it disturbed, so it became known as Quimby’s Prairie. And I hear it, and I’ve laughed about this many times, that name came up as sort of a derision. ‘Quimby’s Prairie, don’t put a foot on it.’” According to Johnson, the only time it was “acceptable” for people to walk across the grass was during graduation. Graduates held candles and sang to each other around Quimby’s Prairie, he said, after which they would walk across. Although there are no records that say it was because he wanted to spy on his wife, Quimby did order trees to be cut down (past maps of the Ewing area show that a small forest used to extend in front of Green Hall). This did not sit well with students. “Wait till you see the footprints across Mr. Quimby’s lawn on the morning of the first big snow,” wrote the editors of the Dec. 4, 1936 edition of The Signal. “And speaking of the front lawn, we’re still sore at him for cutting down all those nice trees.

Only God can make a tree, but boy we can cut them down!” Quimby’s overall demeanor likely played a role in students’ opinions of him. In the 1939 edition of The Seal, he was compared to none other than Ebenezer Scrooge. “And Scrooge … well, some say he reminded them of Mr. Quimby!” This note, printed in a section describing that year’s holiday festivities, was followed immediately by a note from the yearbook editor that said “Whoever it was, was on the right cent!” Of course, as members of the College community in 2011, we may never really know what Quimby was truly like as a person. Still, may we think of him often as we walk across his prairie, particularly when we walk on the grass.

Yoga with benefits: off the mat and into the bedroom

Do you have a favorite item of clothing or accessory? My leather Timex watch is by far my favorite accessory. I don’t own many accessories, but the ones I do have are all my favorites. I also like things that get overlooked, such as socks, undershirts and hats. Small details make a big difference.

Photo courtesy of Albert Matlock

By Albert Matlock Columnist

Anthony Grullon, senior electrical engineering major What are you wearing? A striped crewneck T-shirt, a herringbone utility shirt, 501 Levi’s jeans, naval anchor socks, desert boots with my own navy blue laces and a brown leather Timex watch. How would you describe your style? I’d say it’s classic American intermixed with urban and prep. My style has been influenced by different parts of my life. The classic American look comes from my pops. The urban feel comes from growing up in a city, so hoodies, jeans, a hat and sneakers were my usual wardrobe. The touch of prep, well, I just love everything about it: letterman patches, the colors, elbow patches, club collars … I can go on for days. Where do you like to shop? “The Crew,” Gap, Banana Republic,

Where does inspiration for your style come from? I’m inspired by classic American looks. I want to continue to add to my wardrobe rather than reinvent it. I have an appreciation for classic clothes that look better with time. Are there any fashion blogs in particular that you follow? UnabashedlyPrep.com, ValetMag. com, TheMidwestStyle.com, TheStyleBlogger.com, YouHaveTheBrokenInternet.blogspot.com, NickWooster.com and RL’s Rugby blog. Do you have any fashion secrets or tips? Invest in clothes that get better with time. Never throw clothes out, because you can always use them down the road. An old shirt can be turned into a handkerchief or a patch for a pair of pants. I have tons of clothes in my room that I just can’t get rid of because I still see life in them. Do you have any fashion mishaps? My pockets and sleeves always get caught on doorknobs. It’s almost as if doorknobs and I are the perfect height. They’re the death of my clothes, ruining jacket pockets, two pairs of khakis and a hoodie.

Samantha Sorin / Columnist

Yoga moves increase the body’s flexibility, control and stamina. By Samantha Sorin Columnist

Whenever men find out I do yoga, they usually ask me one of two things: Can you do a split, and can you put your legs behind your head? Many people seem to associate yoga with sexuality — which they aren’t wrong about — but what exactly are the sex benefits of yoga? Yoga tones, stretches and strengthens the entire body, allowing a greater range of motion. This is particularly beneficial to athletes — more specifically, runners — who have taut hamstrings and hips. Massaging the muscles and lubricating the joints help to ease any pain or tension the body may feel in various sex positions. Yoga also increases stamina. Having to hold oneself in a position, balance or focus on moving the body in a specific manner translates into a longer sexual experience. Our society consists of coach potatoes and desk jobs. We lead sedentary lives. Our hips are tight and the muscles that surround the pelvis are unremittingly restricted. Poses such as garudasana, or eagle pose, and upavista konasana, or wide-legged straddle pose, increase blood flow to the pelvis. This heightens one’s sensitivity, leading to an accessible orgasm. Also, yoga provides for a great way to increase the intensity of one’s

orgasm. Many yoga poses require a practitioner to engage the pelvic floor muscles, which strengthens the muscles involved in climax. If a yogi were to take her practice off the mat and into the bedroom, this could lead to stronger contractions and releases, resulting in powerful orgasm(s). Not only are there physical benefits to yoga, but mental benefits abound as well. Yoga breeds confidence. As stated previously, yoga helps to sculpt the body. With a greater sense of awareness of the body and how to move it, one can increase confidence in the bedroom, too. Also, yoga is a form of exercise, and exercise releases endorphins. Not only does yoga improve mood in this manner, but it also amps up one’s energy. Specifically, backbends like setu banda or bridge pose help to energize the body and awaken the mind. All in all, yoga allows one to be confident and aware of one’s body both on and off the mat. The control, stamina and flexibility manifested through yoga helps one to feel a deeper physical and mental connection with one’s partner. Finally, yoga helps one to feel relaxed in vulnerable positions — whether it’s giving a speech, picturing the crowd in their underwear, or you yourself in your underwear in the bedroom.

page 14 The Signal November 9, 2011

WINTER SESSION! AT TCNJ JANUARY 3 -13:

ECO 101 / PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS ECO 102 / PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS FIN 239 / PERSONAL FINANCE HIS 365 / TOPICS: NORTH AMERICAN & US HISTORY LIT 200 / INTRODUCTION TO POETRY WGS 328 / GENDER IN 20TH CENTURY US

In London December 30 - January 12: LIT 370 / STUDIES IN LITERATURE

TCNJ/PA January 3 -13: LIT 374 / AMERICAN LITERATURE TO 1800

Visit: www.tcnj.edu/intersession

2012 FacultyLed Summer Study Abroad in Women’s and Gender Studies

Tanzania—May 14July 5—Dr. Jaksch Italy—May 12June 2—Dr. Nicolosi

and an adventure! www.tcnj.edu/global goglobal@tcnj.edu Green Hall 111

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 15

Arts & Entertainment

Whose MP3 is it anyway? Flash mob strikes College By Thalia Ortiz Staff Writer

What do flash mobs, pants-free train rides and freezing in public have in common? These acts were the brain children of improvisation performer Charlie Todd, who spoke about his work on Tuesday, Nov. 1 in the Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall. The comedian was introduced as the creator of the long-form improvisation troupe Improv Everywhere, which carries out pranks, or “missions,” throughout the country. Todd began by asking the audience if anyone had previously participated in one of his skits. Incidentally, Improv Everywhere had undergone a mission at the College that very day, conducting one of its “MP3 Experiments,” in which a group listens to and follows a set of pre-recorded instructions on individual MP3 players or iPods. After the Alumni Grove experience, some of the students were able to say that they did have experience working with the group. Since the start of Improv Everywhere, Todd’s videos have gone viral, attracting over 200 million views on YouTube. Despite the success of Todd’s enterprise, he entered the industry almost accidently. It was

Tim Lee / Staff Photographer

Students participate in Charlie Todd’s ‘MP3 Experiments’ in the Alumni Grove before his lecture on Tuesday, Nov. 1. in 2001, during his time as a college student, that he took an interest in comedy. Todd explained that one night, he was at a bar when a friend turned to him and said, “Hey, what’s up Ben Folds?”, referring to the ’90s alternative-rock musician. Since Todd was wearing a shirt similar to Folds’ signature collared look, his friend suggested that Todd impersonate Folds for the rest of the night. “A random person came up to me and said ‘Oh my God, Ben Folds, I’m a huge fan’ … it lasted, like, three hours,” he said. From then on, Todd began building off of

comedic acts such as that one, explaining his intent as “changing reality for the better.” One of Improv Everywhere’s most popular projects is its annual “No Pants” subway train ride in New York City. Todd showed a clip of the group’s second train ride, where seven participants were filmed with a hidden camera nonchalantly riding the 6 train in their underwear. Some people on the train had very confused expressions on their faces, while others received the unusual behavior with laughter, he said. The next “No Pants” ride will take place in New York on Jan. 8.

Another video from 2007, titled “Frozen Grand Central,” attracted over 30 million views on YouTube. The mission was simple: Organize over 207 Improv Everywhere agents to freeze in place in Grand Central Station at the exact same time. Once the participants froze, people began staring and taking pictures, he said. The freezing didn’t end in New York, however, as people everywhere took notice. “People all over the world went out and froze in places like China, South America, college campuses,” he said. Todd said that one of the reasons for his success was that he began his improv career during a time when VHS videos cameras started being replaced with portable handheld filming devices. “You don’t need a TV exec today to be able to produce your work. That’s what’s exciting about YouTube,” he said. “If it’s good, hopefully millions of people will see it.” Currently, the comedian is constantly looking for ways to enhance his acts as the popularity of Improv Everywhere grows. Throughout all of this, Todd explained that he has kept “a clear goal in mind: Put a smile on people’s faces.”

Jive, rhythm and rhyme take control of the Rat By Gary Kehoe Correspondent

A tidal wave of rhythm slammed the Rathskeller Friday night as members of ink and professional slam poet Jive Poetic combined to deliver a stellar performance at the College Union Board’s Poetry Night. A blend of poetry, theatre and groove turned a nearly full audience into a temporary family and spread a deep appreciation for personal expression. Though the lights in the Rat were bright, it was raw poetic passion which most lit up the stage. The audience was quiet, awaiting a sound from the imposing headliner. “I’m from Brooklyn, so I get nervous in quiet rooms. Usually when a room is quiet, someone is gonna rob you,” he said jokingly. Poetic quickly robbed the audience of its breath, producing a torrent of rhythm and rhyme that would steal away the night. He hit the crowd with a soulful declaration of self: “I write auditory hallucinations in sign language,” he said. “My free verse writes itself. Sinking or swimming in my words is determined by how closely you are listening.” “You guys still with me?” he called afterward, which was met with rousing “yes.” Poetic was in control. The New York-based slam poet was not always the forceful stage-man the Rat experienced Friday night. In

2001, he quit his job as a PR man at ABC and began the full-time chase for his dream. “I found myself working ten hours a day and writing seven,” said Poetic. “It was time to make a move.” Poetic’s soulful, fast-paced poetry resonated. Pieces ranged from funny to politically poignant, all driven by noticeable passion for expression and connection. The poet capped a tremendous night of rhythm and rhyme. As the lights came up, the spotlight remained on this brilliant display of poetic prowess. Not a word was wasted. Senior sociology major Lou Klein kicked the night off with a piece inspired by a Signal article published last year that misinterpreted one of his poems as being about masturbation. Klein responded with a piece entitled, “This Poem is About Masturbation.” Though the poem came to a subtle climax, Klein’s overall set was impressive. “I plan to continue writing in some form or another after college, professionally or simply keeping a book,” he said. “It is too important to let go of.” Freshman finance major Dave Gazarian resurrected a work from his senior year of high school, a satirical yet genuine account of young love. Most notably, his poem, “To Have Pride and Sincerity,” decomposed the word “fuck,” revealing the way men often speak degradingly of women. When senior English major Jeff Harrison modestly approached the microphone, no one expected a highpitched Southern cry of “Amen!”, but that is what they got.

Matt Mance / Photo Assistant

Jive Poetic went from working in public relations to becoming a full-time poet in 2001. Harrison’s “Southern Baptist Anglo Saxon Denomination,” a critique of good old down-home hypocrisy, was a hit. Dan Mundy, junior English major, was last to go before the headliner. Mundy’s dry delivery, read from an iPhone, was no match for the impact of his words. His “Joke Houses” assured that though one may laugh at a poet’s words, there is something more serious underneath. With this in mind, the crowd was ready for something serious.

Alumnus returns to show film about local football star

Matt Mance / Photo Assistant

Drew Pearson speaks about filmmaking at Friday’s Brown Bag. Amy Reynolds Correspondent

If anything’s true about independent filmmaking, it’s that it is no easy task and is

extremely time-consuming. Alumnus Drew Pearson came back to the College on Friday, Nov. 4 to show and discuss his most recent documentary about a Princeton football player who has had many serious medical setbacks. The film began with a background of Jordan Culbreath’s life as both a hard-working student and a determined athlete. However, a couple of years into his football career at Princeton University, he was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia, a condition in which his bone marrow does not replenish his blood cells. “It was really hard to find out that I wouldn’t be playing (football) anymore and my career was over,” Culbreath said in the film. After more than six months of therapy, Culbreath, as well as his family and teammates, were thrilled to discover that he would once again take the field, despite all previous doubts. In fact, the athlete even scored a winning touchdown for Princeton in overtime.

Pearson spoke about the difficult work and time involved in making the documentary. “The most challenging part is doing it yourself, basically … you have to formulate it yourself,” he told the audience. In two years, Pearson made approximately 10 trips to the outskirts of Washington D.C. to meet with the Culbreath family. In addition, nearly 100 hours of film had to be cut down to just a 40-minute documentary. “It was a bigger project than I anticipated, but like I said, you gotta just go with it,” Pearson said at a documentary film workshop later in the day. Pearson was filming Princeton football highlights when Culbreath was diagnosed, and it was the story of the season. “It was pretty extraordinary,” Pearson said about how the story kept getting more and more in-depth. “Everything from there just kind of snowballed.” As for funding — well, there was none. “It came out of my own pocket, my own

bank account,” Pearson said. “You just have to be really driven ... If you’re going to do something of this caliber, you have to accept that,” said Pearson. At the workshop, Pearson gave advice to film students. He encouraged them to create close relationships with those who are being filmed and always to shoot more rather than less. “If you have to ask yourself, ‘Should I shoot this?’ you probably should,” he said. Pearson also stated that criticism should always be appreciated. “Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to make something groundbreaking. The story makes itself,” he said. Despite all the challenges of independent filmmaking, for Pearson, it’s a passion. “With me it wasn’t really an artistic vision at all … but then as things go on, you just have to recognize what caliber story you’re working on,” he said. “There has to be a conflict … that’s where your artistic vision comes in.”

page 16 The Signal November 9, 2011

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November 9, 2011 The Signal page 17

Only Tim can tell: concert draws crowd

Janika Berridge / Photo Assistant

Tim Ouyang performs despite being diagnosed with a condition that threatens his vocal cords. Sydnee Weinbaum Correspondent Students crowded into Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2 for a performance by pop-soul band Tim Be Told. The fall concert was run by the Asian American

Association and co-sponsored by the Chinese Culture Club, Japanese Club, Barkada and the Mars Hill Christian Ministry. Tim Be Told, a big hit with the audience, has played with acts such as OK GO, Far East Movement and Hawk Nelson. The band is comprised of

three members: lead singer and keyboardist Tim Ouyang, drummer Caleb Wu and guitarist Andrew Chae. Before playing one of the band’s first hits, “Ordinary,” Ouyang spoke to the crowd about his inspiration for the song. “Be okay with who you are and be happy with who you are. Not everyone has to be spectacular. It’s okay to be ordinary,” he said. The band also played its songs “Humanity,” “Winners and Losers” and “Reach for the Light.” “Everything is perfect,” said senior international business major Kittiwan Skiassawaprasert. “I liked his voice. His songs try to convey his feelings. I can feel what he is saying.” The audience was in for a surprise when Ouyang announced that about two and a half years ago he was diagnosed with a condition that eats away at his vocal cords. There was no cure for this disease and the drugs were not effective, he said. At first, Ouyang was shocked and he started falling apart physically. The band’s song “Lament” is a reflection of Ouyang’s reaction, although

the song ends with the hope that he will one day be free of this illness. Although Ouyang is still battling the disease, he said, “There must be some kind of reason for why I got sick.” As the band began to play its last number, Ouyang said, “I hope you leave here with hope tonight.” “Reach for the Light” conveyed this sense of hope with lyrics like “Hope is alive.” “Their music is not generic Christian music. It is from the soul,” sophomore chemistry major Vincent Wu said of the band. Charlene Kaye opened the concert. Although Kaye claimed that she “never really plays solo,” she recieved a positive response from students. Kaye’s songs included “Strike a Chord,” “Bring the Poison Apple to You” and “Animal Love 1.” She also sang two songs alone, though she usually sings these songs, “Dress and Tie” and “Skin and Bones,” with good friend and “Glee” star Darren Criss. Vivacious on stage, Kaye interacted with the audience by breaking down her songs and allowing students to sing with her. Kaye’s new album, “Animal Love,” will be released by next spring.

Beach Boys still cruisin’ with new CD The Beach Boys The Smile Sessions

By Matt Jannetti WTSR Music Director Back in 1967, the Beach Boys tabled the recording of “SMiLE,” the follow-up to their seminal album, “Pet Sounds.” The recordings from this session were never released — until now. The harmony-filled, summer-like and surfy sound pioneered by the Beach Boys has become one of the biggest trends in modern music, especially in the indie scene. Songs like “Wonderful” and “Surf’s Up” will provide Beach Boys fans with new listening material, and a new version of the classic hit “Good Vibrations” (which was originally intended to appear on “SMiLE”) appears to the delight of music fans everywhere. “The Smile Sessions” is near perfect for what it is: a collection of songs that form a semblance of the original intention. However, the general unpolished and unfinished production breaks the illusion. If this was released when it was supposed to be, it could have been one of the greatest albums in American music history, much like its predecessor. Focus Tracks: “Wonderful,” “Surf’s Up,” “Vega-Tables,” “Good Vibrations”

Sophomores take center stage at soloist night By Brendan McGrath Arts & Entertainment Assistant

Winter’s renditions of The Decemberists “Red Right Angle” and Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You Into the Dark” highlighted her set. The Rathskeller saw some skillful guitar play at CUB’s Sophomore economics major Rick Kauffeld next took to the Student Soloist Night on Tuesday, Nov. 1 as four sophomore stage and covered classic tracks from Dave Matthews Band, artists performed a variety of classic covers, while sticking in The Beatles and Pink Floyd. It was his own music, however, some creative work of their own. With different styles and that brought his performance to another level. “Life’s attitudes, they provided a great mix of lively and soulful music Road” and “Go Back” had a quality of deeper thought for what ended up being a sizeable crowd. that fit well with Kauffeld’s approach. Ellen Winter, sophomore philosophy and English Jacob Cafaro, sophomore history major, followed double major, led the show off. She had never and was a bit more interactive with the audience than performed at the Rat before, and, she said, had the other performers. Although rarely played in front of a crowd at all. That he performed many of his own didn’t stand in her way, though, as she boldly songs, he made the most of the covered some great songs and played a couple few that he covered. Cafaro displayed his of her own tunes as well. Though she described range as he took on both Ray Charles’ “I Got a the experience as initially “nerve racking,” she Woman” and Jackson Browne’s “Take it Easy.” overcame any butterflies and put on a stellar show. The way that he decided to cover Death Cab “It was a lot of fun,” Winter said. “I hope I can for Cutie, however, stood out as a defining Seiichi Villalona / Staff Photographer point in the show. do it again.”

“I’m gonna ask Ellen to come up here,” Cafaro said without revealing exactly what he had in mind. Winter, who stuck around after her set, seemed happy to oblige. Cafaro jokingly asked if it was all right to have a duet during a Student Soloist Night, and the two played an impromptu version of “I Will Follow You Into the Dark.” Winter’s vocals complemented Cafaro’s guitar well, though they had never played a song together before that. To cap the show off, Katie Miller, sophomore political science and history double major, came onto the stage. Among her covers were River City Extension’s “Today, I Feel Like I’m Evolving” and Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More.” Alison Sotolongo, a senior psychology major and the CUB Rat chair who put the show together, was enthusiastic about the way the night turned out. “All four of the performers are extremely talented and really dedicated to playing music,” Sotolongo said. “I really enjoy putting on programming where students love to get involved.”

Harold and Kumar return to wish you a very smokey Christmas By Justin Mancini Signal Movie Critic “A Very Harold and Kumar 3D Christmas” is rated R Warning: this review contains spoilers

Apparently nothing says the holidays like a comedic stoner duo, and so now Harold and Kumar have their own Christmas film. Hence the movie’s awkward title. White Castle, alas, has been replaced with “the quest for a 12-foot Christmas tree.” The jokes are still broad, the setups contrived, but hey, you have to respect the film’s lack of pretensions. Chances are, if you enjoyed the past two installments, you’ll enjoy this latest entry in the stoner comedy series. Rampant profanity and scatological humor abound — pretty much par for the course in American comedies these days.

We greet our inebriated heroes, one who has chosen a life of respectability, and one who has not: Harold (John Cho), a hardworking Wall Street investor, and Kumar (Kal Penn), who has apparently dropped out of med school and lacks direction now that his girlfriend has left him. Harold is living the good life, possibly joining the ranks of the 1 percent the 99 percent of Americans are complaining about. But life is far from easy — after marrying the beautiful girl of his dreams, Harold has a new problem in the form of his father-in-law, played by Danny Trejo, never more the curmudgeon than here. Ensuring his father-in-law’s happiness means that Harold is willing to do anything, ANYTHING, to ensure his happiness, including finding the perfect Christmas tree. Kumar has his own personal dilemmas, and he hasn’t seen his old buddy in a long time. And so through a series of

misunderstandings, comic contrivances and spontaneous explosions, Harold and Kumar find themselves thrust together in the wildest night of their lives, for the third time. The film strains for ridiculousness. It will do anything for a laugh — shoving jokes in its audience’s faces, figuratively and literally (damn 3-D gimmick). I’m tempted to make comparisons to the “Naked Gun” franchise, but even that seems like Tom Stoppard-level intelligence compared to these gags. We get everything: a pot-smoking Santa, an infant who gets high on pot, cocaine and even ecstasy and an homage to “A Christmas Story” involving not a tongue stuck to a pole, but some other … extremity Fortunately, the film, like the other installments, is blessed with two actors who have a natural chemistry. It’s a shame they don’t benefit from a better script. Still, we root for our two main characters because they are genuinely good people — when we do

AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Darren Michaels

White Castle is replaced with a white Christmas in this stoner film.

laugh at them, we laugh out of love, not out of mockery. And Neil Patrick Harris is good here — his scene works quite well, as he lampoons his public image bluntly and unabashedly. Both previous efforts were sporadically entertaining, and so is this one, but some scenes go on far too long. Still, you could find worse ways to waste time this holiday season.

page 18 The Signal November 9, 2011

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November 9, 2011 The Signal page 19 Swimming

Men’s and women’s swimming still unbeaten By Kevin Lee Sports Assistant

The College’s swimming and diving teams had an incredible week, winning three matches. The wins push the teams’ season records to 4-0 for both the men and women. “This weekend has been great. We swam with a lot of energy today against Southern, and we’ve been able to jump to early leads and win a lot of races,” junior Xavier Moran said. “We’ve been training hard this season and have been able to dominate meets from the first events.” Facing Montclair State University, Southern Connecticut State University and Franklin and Marshall College over consecutive days required a true team effort. That is exactly what the Lions brought, defeating the three opponents by at least 50 points each. Sophomore Stephen Tarnowski continued his torrid 2011-2012 campaign, dominating last week. Tarnowski won multiple events in all three matches and was the only Lion to do so against Franklin and Marshall College. Tarnowski had his stake in the pool, plac-

ing first in butterfly, freestyle and backstroke events throughout the week. Overall, the team showed its balance. Against Franklin and Marshall, it boasted 11 first-place finishes from 10 different swimmers. One swimmer that showed the depth of the Lions was freshman Aleksander Burzynski. Against Montclair State University, Burzynski won the 50-back and raced in the 200-medley relay. “We graduated a lot of fast swimmers last year, but we have seen improvements across the board with our

returning guys,” said Moran. “This weekend has been great. We swam with a lot of energy.” The women exhibited dominance of their own by also picking up three wins. The minimum score they defeated their three opponents by was 65. Senior Laura Pierce showed why she is one of the best swimmers in the country, winning a slew of events. Pierce won multiple free and butterfly events throughout the meet, and her time in the 100-butterfly against Southern Connecticut State University was an NCAA pro-

Lauren Del Turco / Staff Photographer

The men’s and women’s teams both won three straight meets.

visional qualifier. Junior Danica Roskos, the winner of the three-meter diving event of last year’s Division III diving Championship, opened up her diving season with a splash. Against Montclair State University and Southern Connecticut State University, she won both one- and threemeter diving events. The team received strong contributions from several other swimmers as well. Senior Melissa Hessler took home two first-place finishes against Southern Connecticut State, winning the 100-yard and 500-free events. Junior Kayleigh Shangle placed first in individual events in all three meetings, including a medley relay. Both the men and women’s swimming and diving teams look strong heading into the season, showing their true depth and experience. They look to continue their winning ways at the Princeton University Invitational on Nov. 11. “Our strongest competition is yet to come, which we have to stay focused on,” Moran said. “We just need to stay focused on our long-term goals, keep training hard, and not be complacent with what we’ve accomplished so far.”

Wrestling

Tom O’Dell / Photo Editor

The wrestling team prefaced its season on Nov. 1 with an intra-squad scrimmage. It officially began the season against Stevens Institute of Technology on Tuesday, Nov. 8 and will be participating in the Ursinus College Fall Brawl and East Stroudsburg University Open this Saturday.

LeBron who? Give me NCAA Field hockey / win NJAC Cheap Seats

Field Hockey

By Chris Molicki Staff Writer

I’m sure a lot of you are thinking I should talk about the NBA, but unfortunately, I’m not. See, college basketball is finally here. The season started on Monday, but the real action begins on Friday, Nov. 11, when most teams open. It’s time to look at the matchups and see who will get an early leg up on their rivals in non-conference play. The Tar Heels of North Carolina make their much-anticipated debut against the Michigan State Spartans — on an aircraft carrier on San Diego Bay. How cool is that? The Spartans should prove some tough competition led by Draymond Green, but I expect North Carolina to run wild in the season opener. The trio of Harrison Barnes, John Henson and Tyler Zeller will be too much to handle. Another exciting matchup is the battle between UNC’s ACC counterpart Duke and the Belmont Bruins. Belmont is receiving a ton of hype this year. It’s a mid-major that made it to the tournament last year and looks to punch another ticket. The team has a fairly tough schedule out of conference, so this will show everyone what it’s made of. And how about Duke? A lot of people are picking them to be a top team regardless of the loss of Kyrie Irving. This game will tell us a lot about the Blue Devils. A sleeper game to watch is the matchup be-

continued from page 24

AP Photo

NCAA basketball is in for a big season.

tween Oregon and Vanderbilt. A lot of people are high on Vanderbilt this year, myself included. John Jenkins is a silky smooth shooter who could definitely be in the running for player of the year. Jeffery Taylor is an all-around threat, both scoring and rebounding. The key is big man Festus Ezeli, who has improved quite a bit and looks to give the Commodores the balance they greatly need, but don’t count out the Ducks. They picked up some steam in the Pac-10 tournament last year by knocking off UCLA. Oregon could be one of those dangerous teams this year that isn’t very good, but could pull off some big upsets. So who’s ready for some basketball? I know I am. The opening slate of games looks to provide us with a tasty appetizer to start the season. With so many elite teams this year, it’s going to be an incredibly exciting season and looks to produce an unforgettable March.

The freshman defender hustled all the way back just in time to knock the ball away from Hagel and extinguish the advance. The Red Hawks would threaten again toward the end of the first half, but the squad didn’t flinch. “You have to play like that,” Head Coach Sharon Pfluger said. “There’s no give in that situation. You have to play, you have to come through.” Coming through on offense was an issue for the Lions in the first half as they failed to capitalize on six penalty corners and seven shots. Pfluger reacted by reassuring her team that they just needed to keep the pressure on and good things would come. “We were on goal for a while,” Pfluger said. “I told them that they were playing great at halftime and that they just needed to get the reward of getting the goal. And for them to feel that reward made me really happy.” Although Waller (two goals) and Passucci (two assists) are the only names on the stat sheet, Pfluger praised her entire team for the win. “I thought there were some great moments in the game,” Pfluger said. “I thought there were a lot of girls who made great contributions. We walk out of this game thinking, ‘I don’t remember that many mistakes.’ What I’ll remember is great teamwork and kids making up for each other’s errors.” Before its rematch against the Red

Hawks, the College had to get through Kean University in the first round of the tournament. That hurdle was cleared with ease as the Lions overtook the Cougars with a score of 5-1 on Nov. 2. Leading the way for the Lions was senior forward/midfielder Leigh Mitchell as she punched in three goals. Two of Mitchell’s goals were assisted by junior forward/midfielder Kathleen Notos, who also recorded a goal. The Lions’ other goal came off Passuci’s stick, while Waller and fellow freshman Erin Healy each added an assist. “I feel like we have a lot of balance on the team, and I feel like we have a lot of forwards that can go in and do the job,” Pfluger said. After receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament by winning the NJAC, the Lions will now look ahead to a secondround matchup on Nov. 12 with the winner of the William Smith College-Washington & Jefferson College contest. Pfluger hopes that the win over Montclair will help her team grow as well as bring a sense of momentum when the NCAA tournament begins. “We had five freshmen on the field to start the season, so we’ve really come a long way,” Pfluger said. “I think this is a great confidence boost and it’s something to remember, this thrill, because if you feel that, you always want it.”

page 20 The Signal November 9, 2011

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4 6

LIONS

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Alex Wolfe “The Ref”

Peter Fiorilla Staff Writer

Danny Pazos Opinions Editor

Kevin Black Correspondent

In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Staff Writer Peter Fiorilla, Opinions Editor Danny Pazos and Correspondent Kevin Black to answer questions about the fate of the NBA in the heated lockout and labor negotiations, where college football is headed with the constant conference realignments and who Kim Kardashian should shoot for next. will lose a lot of the fans it may have gained just in the past year. Last year was one of the best seasons in a long time, and to follow that up with having no season would just kill the league’s momentum. Fans are already starting to turn away and look toward other sports, like hockey, so the process is already beginning. The process of gaining the fans back if the season is lost would be a long struggle. Ask the NHL how long it took for them to win people back. AW: Kevin gets 3 for pointing out the ugly situations on both sides of the lockout. Peter gets 2 for stating that niche sports like soccer could take over in lieu of the NBA. Danny gets 1 for stating that the players don’t have much competition overseas.

AP Photo

1. The NBA labor talks have stalled again, and the league may end up missing more than just November (which has already been canceled). What are the chances that the NBA has a season, and what would be the ramifications if the season is canceled? PF: The chances that the NBA has a season are small but alive, because some of the players can’t afford to lose too much money and know that the league’s offers will only get worse from here on out. The chances are still low, though, as the union will do everything it can to oppose the NBA’s unfriendly terms. The ramifications of a lost season could be hugely negative for both parties. People will lose interest and start spending their money on other sports leagues, which grow while the NBA becomes weaker. For proof, just look at Major League Soccer’s (MLS) average attendance in 2011, which grew 6.6 percent to make MLS the third-best attended league among pro sports with 17,870 fans per game (ahead of the NBA’s 17,319). This stat is flawed in a few ways, but the point is that there are a lot of alternatives to basketball. The NBA loses casual fans to those alternatives each day people don’t get their daily dose of Big Three drama or Blake Griffin play. DP: The NBA season has to happen this year. It is too popular of a sport in the U.S. and generates too much revenue to not have a season. Obviously the NBA doesn’t generate as much money as the NFL does, but you can’t deny the fact that in a situation where there is no season, everyone loses out. You can’t ignore how this hurts the fans as well; they have to go an entire year without basketball. It’s just not right. Also, when playing in foreign leagues, players don’t get the experience they need playing at the highest level. They won’t progress properly when not playing with their teams in the best league in the world. Finally, it has players possibly doing ridiculous things, like LeBron thinking about playing football. He is a basketball player. Get him and his colleagues on the court somehow. KB: There’s a 15 percent chance, because you would think that once players start losing paychecks on a regular basis, they will come to the table and be more willing to make a deal. What I feel may put a hold on things is if the players are taking a look at decertifying if things do not improve after this past weekend (and I don’t expect them to). Things look very bleak with the talk of dissension on both sides. The big-market owners versus small-market, players versus Derek Fisher (player representative in the Players’ Union) and players versus Billy Hunter (the president of the Players’ Union). If there is no season played, the NBA

2. The major conferences in college football seem to be in constant flux lately, with teams perpetually jumping ship. What is going to be the end game for this game of conference musical chairs? PF: Regardless of which teams are in which conferences when the dust settles, one thing is crystal clear about conference realignment: Fans will ultimately suffer because of it. The fans of smaller schools, which the NCAA is trying to make obsolete, obviously have the most to lose. They will feel left out after the rise of a handful of “superconferences,” which will essentially keep small schools from winning the BCS. And fans of big schools will not like the changes that come from conference realignment, either. Historic and regional conference rivalries will die, and new conference rivalries will feel manufactured and contrived. The fans of Texas A&M, for example, are going to have a tough time finding reasons to hate their new SEC foes, none of whom are located in Texas. In the end, conference realignment just sucks for the fans. DP: The college football conference system is already difficult to understand for someone who doesn’t follow it closely. The BCS bowl system and the way these college teams are sorted is under constant review and generates countless arguments about how teams should be organized and ranked. For someone following most other sports, it is easy to see why each team lands in a particular division or conference. Most people don’t understand how or why a team lands in the national championship or a seemingly meaningless bowl game. Money and exposure are the real driving forces behind appearing in bowl game. I can’t see many fans being happy that their team won the Little Caesar’s pizza bowl. No matter how these teams are organized within conferences and eventually ranked for a playoff system,

the general public will still shake their heads at the confusion that is college football. Luckily, the games are still somewhat entertaining. KB: I feel like this is only the beginning, because it looks like some conferences may be set for now while others are scrambling to keep things together. The best example would be the Big East. They are sending out offers to Boise State, Houston and SMU. Geographically, those places make no sense (neither did TCU before they backed out), but it’s all about money in the end. Some of the other big conferences, like the Pac-12, Big10 and ACC, are set in their ways and want to stand pat for now, but they realize the money that is at stake. This is more about football than anything, which the Big East realized by not picking places like Temple or Memphis, which would have made more sense. At the end of the day, there is more money out there to be had by these major conferences, and getting an automatic BCS bid is the end goal for these conferences. This is what the schools want, and if moving to a bigger conference or the merger of conferences here and there help, we are well on our way to having maybe 4-6 complete superconferences. AW: Peter gets 3 for pointing out that rivalries of the past stand to suffer. Kevin gets 2 for pointing out the absurdity of how some of these conferences are aligning. Danny gets 1 for pointing out that the realignment could confuse casual fans. 3. Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries are splitsville, and the whole world is weeping (at least the tabloids would have you think so). Kardashian has already been involved with Reggie Bush as well, so who do you think her next marginally successful athletic beau will be? PF: Kim will want to ruin a new athlete in a new media market, and why not Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots? A Kim-Gronk relationship might make Bill Belichick’s blood boil, but that’s just one of the many positives which make this a good match. The young Gronkowski proved how desperate he is for attention (and women) a few weeks ago when he released photos of himself and porn star BiBi Jones together in an apparent publicity stunt. A relationship with Kim would get him a lot more of the publicity that he craves, and it would get Kim a golden opportunity to permanently connect herself with the Golden Boy’s (Tom Brady’s) wildly successful team, the Patriots. And unlike Kim’s past boyfriends/ husbands/etc., Gronkowski is actually good at what he does. He is considered by many to be a premier tight end in NFL, a reputation that would be great for the Kardashian brand. This is a win-win scenario for both parties, and ultimately, Kim-Gronkowski would be a (media) match made in heaven. DP: Kim has a plethora of options in this situa-

Kevin wins this week’s AtD, 8 - 6 - 4.

“Third time’s the charm.” — Kevin

AP Photo

tion. There are many bench players in the NBA, MLB and NFL who would gladly spend some of their off-season time on her reality show and jet-setting around the world. Speaking of Jets, I actually think that Ms. Kardashian might decide to ditch her second-string tendencies and sack up with Jets QB Mark Sanchez. Now he isn’t the best quarterback in the league when it comes to putting up stats, but he knows how to win (everything except AFC Championships). They can spend plenty of time in New York together when Kim and her sister tape yet another fantastic season of television with “Kourtney and Kim Take New York.” Maybe with a little encouragement, she can help get Mark Sanchez to a Super Bowl. KB: Everyone knew that this marriage wouldn’t last, but 72 days was a bit of a shock. Knowing the Kardashians, Kim will be in the news very soon dating another athlete. The question is, who? She has gone from the super famous (Reggie Bush) to the unknown (Kris Humphries). My guess is the next guy will be kind of something in between. Enter Mark Sanchez. Why? He plays football and she is used to football players. Every guy has been younger, so that shows she likes younger men. The Jets are never out of the spotlight, so wherever the Jets are, be sure that she won’t be too far away from it at all. Plus, the Jets fans could have someone to blame if things go wrong for Sanchez at any point during the season. He also has money and is in the city of New York, which is another market for her to conquer. AW: Kevin gets 3, because with Sanchize, Kim could broaden her media-whore horizons. Danny gets 2, because what makes for better TV than Kim on the sidelines cheering on Sanchez during a game? Peter gets 1 because Kim wouldn’t like getting a porn star’s sloppy seconds. Great answers all around, though.

page 22 The Signal November 9, 2011

Fun Stuff

Kris is so yesterday! Find Kim a new husband! Read more in AtD, page 21!

Cut out your favorite and bust out the old glue stick!

Tiger. Need I say more?

A.I. might be too old, but he’s short like Kim

DRAMA!

Gordon is Hollywood and country

Sanchez is young and is used to big city livin’

Kim has a sextape. Gronk likes pornstars

Maybe there’s a reason Kim hasn’t been able to find the right man. Enter Serena

Big Ben may take Kim whether she wants or not

Romo tends to go for A- celebrities

Shaq’s the man. Period.

Are the lines straight or curved?

November 9, 2011 The Signal page 23

LIONS ROUNDUP This Week’s Fantasy Football Picks Quarterback Kevin Lee (428) Alex Wolfe (403) Brandon Gould (379) Ketul Shah (477)

Michael Vick

Running Back Ray Rice

Wide Receiver Greg Jennings

Sleeper Chris Ogbonnaya

Tim Tebow

Willis McGahee

Greg Jennings

DeMarco Murray

Aaron Rodgers

Maurice Jones-Drew

Dwayne Bowe

Torey Smith

Aaron Rodgers

LeSean McCoy

Calvin Johnson

DeMarco Murray

Field Hockey

Lion of the Week

Joe Russo

Soccer Joe Russo, coach of the women’s soccer team, led the Lions to their 15th New Jersey Athletic Conference title in 18 years. The win punches the Lions’ ticket to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The title was a milestone achievement in Coach Russo’s legacy: His career includes an impressive record of 40028-28 and three national championships. He is the fourth coach in Division III to reach 400 wins. —Kevin Lee, Sports Assistant

This Week In Sports Football

Nov. 12 @ Rowan University, 1 p.m. Field Hockey

Women’s Soccer

Nov. 12 vs. NCAA Tournament, 11 a.m. Women’s Soccer TBA vs. NCAA Tournament Swimming and Diving

Trivia Question

Answer to Last Issue’s Trivia Question: Iverson ranks second Major League Baseball’s free agency period started last week, and one of the top talents is pitcher Yu Darvish. At 25, Darvish is already considered the best pitcher ever to come from Asia. Darvish’s career ERA in Japan is 2.12, complemented by his 97-mph fastball. Darvish should command big money from the big-market teams and should have a lot of success in the majors. Which Asian pitcher currently has the most wins in Major League Baseball?

Nov. 11 @ Princeton University, TBA Cross Country Nov. 12 @ St. Lawrence University, 11 a.m.

AP Photo

SignalSports

Lions’ Lineup November 9, 2011

Women’s soccer takes NJAC crown Lions best Ospreys, earn Russo 400th win By Mike Pietroforte Staff Writer The women’s soccer team won two big games last week on the path to its third consecutive New Jersey Athletic Conference championship. On Nov. 1, the team outplayed Montclair State for a 1-0 victory in the semifinals, and on Friday night it took home the title with another close 1-0 win against Richard Stockton College. Despite controlling the possession of the ball and the pace of the game in the first half against Montclair, the College had few scoring opportunities and no goals to show for it. Montclair seemed hesitant to press on offense, pushing only two or three players forward and keeping its numbers heavy on defense. The Lions controlled possession, but the ball was pressured by multiple Montclair defenders at all times. The game-clinching goal came on a free kick from about 40 yards out. Senior defender Nikki Migliori lined up and lofted a ball into the box, looking for a head to put the ball in the net. Instead of getting redirected, the ball skipped at the six-yard box, past the stunned Montclair goalkeeper. “I thought, ‘I can strike a ball from here and if I put it on net, it can go in or it will be in the vicinity for my teammates to put the ball in,’” Migliori said. “When it went in, I was ecstatic.” On the other side of the bracket, Stockton upset top-seeded Rowan University 4-3, setting the matchup for the NJAC finals on Friday night. Fortunate to be playing at home, the Lions continued to play their brand of soccer against the Ospreys. They dictated the pace, out-shooting the

opposition at a lopsided clip of 29 shots to two. Despite all of the shots, the Lions found the back of the net only once. Leading scorer Brittany McGinley put home a rebound off of a free kick from Nikki Migliori in the 21st minute. “We need to finish our chances,” Migliori said of the Lions’ scoring struggles. “Opportunities will come less and less as the tournament goes on, and we need to finish those few chances we get.” Freshman goalkeeper Cristina Gacos continued her stellar season by posting clean sheets in both contests, giving her nine on the year. Friday, Nov. 4, was a huge night for the women’s soccer program. They clinched their

third NJAC championship in as many years (and 15th in the last 18 years), and Head Coach Joe Russo achieved the huge milestone of 400 victories as a coach. In his 22-year career, Russo has compiled an outstanding record of 400-4828 with three national titles. “It made winning the NJAC that much more special,” Gacos said. “Not only were we playing for the championship, but playing for our coach.” By winning the NJAC, the Lions have clinched a spot in the NCAA Division III Tournament and will face Roger Williams University in the first round on Saturday, Nov. 12 in Middlebury, VA .

Inside

46 53 Around the Dorm page 21

Both swim teams undefeated page 19

Wrestling set to start season page 19

Cheap Seats page 19 Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

The team celebrated its third straight NJAC title and Russo’s 400th win.

Lions trounce Colonials 47-10 Field hockey wins the NJAC Go 5-0 at home for the season By Alex Wolfe Sports Editor

With bitter rival Rowan University on the horizon to end the season, the College’s football team came out and took care of business against Western Connecticut University on Saturday, downing the Colonials 47-10. In what was the final home game of their careers for a large group of seniors, the Lions brought their A-game and hung 26 points on the Colonials in the first quarter. Realistically that number could have been 33 points, since the Lions scored within the first couple plays of the second quarter. “All of the guys gave it their all today,” senior safety Shawn Brown said. “They made it known that the game was played for the seniors, and really being able to win at home is great. Nobody likes to lose in front of a home crowd, nobody likes to lose period, but these guys make it worth playing.” Senior quarterback Jay Donoghue was dominant, rushing six times for 102 yards and a touchdown as well as passing for 148 yards

Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Donoghue threw for 3 TDs Saturday.

and three touchdowns. Great as Donoghue’s individual performance was, he asserts he was only concerned with getting the team a win in the final home game of his career. “It feels great,” he said. “I mean, I just wanted to get a win, that’s all I really cared about. So we got it done.” This season was a grand culmination of Donoghue’s career at the College, as he ran the team’s run option offense to perfection throughout the entire season while gaining more and more confidence in his arm with every game. Donoghue credits his teammates for making his success possible. “Our offensive line, man, when they’re protecting me I can just stand back there and pretty much hit anybody,” Donoghue said. “Our receivers are good enough to get open, so when I’ve got enough time, I’m going to take it.” The defense was dominant as well, holding the rushing attack for Western Connecticut to under two yards per carry and rendering its passing game useless. Brown picked off a Colonials pass early in the game, his fifth on the season, while senior defensive lineman John Kinzel dropped the quarterback for a sack, led the team in tackles with eight and had 2.5 tackles for loss. Now the team has rival Rowan to look forward to, and a road showdown for its season finale. “Rowan, man, big game, our biggest rival and we want to come out and win,” Donoghue said. “It was nice this one to get six wins and make sure we had a winning season this year, but it doesn’t mean anything if we don’t beat Rowan.”

By Brandon Gould Staff Writer

After sending in the ball on a penalty corner, junior defender Camille Passucci barely had enough time to take a step forward before freshman midfielder Erin Waller directed her shot into the back of the cage. Passucci jumped around as she celebrated Waller’s goal, but her dance became even more ecstatic minutes later when Waller scored off yet another penalty corner started by Passucci, supplying the College with a 2-0 edge over No. 6-ranked Montclair State University on Nov. 5. “It was really a team effort,” Passucci said. “It feels great to be a little part of it, but it’s a total team effort for those goals. When one person scores, it feels like we all score.” Waller scored the only goals of the inaugural New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship Game, but she would not take personal credit.

“We played awesome,” Waller said. “We just wanted to go out and win the entire time and that’s exactly what we did.” The victory was anything but easy for the No. 4-ranked Lions, however, and their offense struggled to produce early on. In response to that inability to score, the Lions (20-2) had to ask their defense to increase its level of play — a challenge that was met with mastery. Although the College controlled possession for most of the first half, the Red Hawks (18-2) came on strong offensively several times. Nothing was more threatening than junior Montclair forward Michelle Hagel’s breakaway opportunity 15 minutes into the game. Hagel slipped past the defense and it looked like she was headed for a one-onone duel with senior goalkeeper Shannon Syciarz. However, just when it seemed like Hagel was home free, Lauren Pigott propelled herself into the picture. . see FIELD HOCKEY page 19

Lisa Nitzsche / Staff Photographer

The Lions won the first NJAC tournament for field hockey vs. Montclair.