ACT hosts its 24-hour
The softball team was strong with two wins but fell short with two losses.
annual
competition
See A&E page 19
See Sports page 23
Vol. CXXXVI, No. 10
March 28, 2012
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Junior dies from injuries sustained in car accident
Passenger still in critical condition, accident under investigation
Holcombefisher.com
Ryan Alley and another student were in an auto accident on Lower Ferry Road last Friday, March 16. By The Signal Editorial Staff Junior international business major Ryan Alley passed away on Friday, March 23 after injuries sustained during a car crash the previous Friday morning.
Julia Hill, senior finance major, called him the “nicest guy who got along with everyone.” “I met (Alley) because he worked at my gym in Flemington. He was very outgoing and friendly, so I naturally would talk to him whenever I was working out. I soon found out he attended TCNJ and also commuted just like me, and that his mom had been my middle school German teacher,” Hill said. “It was fun to hang out with (Alley) because you could literally talk to him about anything. He was really funny and was a true friend.” Similar sentiments were shared by senior math education major Jonathan Sisto. “(Alley) was one of the most genuine and nice guys that I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing,” he said. “He was the kind of guy whose positive outlook on life was contagious to all the people around him. To me, (Alley) was a co-worker, a classmate, a friend and a role model.” Even those who only had not known Alley for very long spoke highly of his character. “I only had the privilege of knowing Ryan for a short amount of time, but he was one of the kindest and most hard working people I have ever met,” said Samantha Codner, junior accountancy major. “From the second I met him, I could tell he was a really genuine person and had a heart of gold. I feel blessed to have met him and he will truly be missed.” According to the Ewing Police Department, the accident occurred at 2:05 a.m. on
March 16. A nearby officer heard a loud crash and found a black Infiniti off the roadway and up against a tree on the corner of Lower Ferry and Hillside, reports said. “It appeared the vehicle was traveling northbound on Lower Ferry Road and did not negotiate the bend in the road,” said Lt. Rocco Maruca of Ewing Police. First aid squads arrived and transported the two passengers to the Trauma Center at Helene Fuld Medical Center in Trenton, where both males were in critical condition, police said. Alley was driving with 22-yearold Michael Krassan, a senior studying political science and Rusian, from Easthampton. According to Maruca, the cause of the accident is still under investigation by Officer Frank Provenzano and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office. Dean of business William Keep said Alley took academics seriously and had a 4.0 GPA. Keep also said Alley took on the challenge of learning to speak Russian, and Hill said he talked about potentially using his business and foreign language skills for a military job in the future. According to school of business coordinator of student services Erica Kalinowski, Alley was looking to spend next year studying abroad in Russia. “He was motivated, mature and passionate about his studies as well as his future,” she said. “I always looked forward to our advisement meetings and I’m truly sad at the wonderful individual that our commu-
Wiz and Jay Sean rock the Rec By Alex Wolfe Sports Editor
g/ Lon ley Ash
With some passionately sung hooks and a great stage presence, Wiz Khalifa stole the show in a captivating performance at this year’s College Union Board Spring Concert. Khalifa performed many of his hits from his album “Rolling Papers,” which released to great success last year, as well as a lot of songs from his numerous mixtapes from the last few years, including “Kush and Orange Juice” and “Cabin Fever.” Concertgoers were alive and energetic for Khalifa’s whole set, and at times were a sea of bobbing hands and heads, all singing along. Among the top numbers Wiz played were “No r dito to E Pho
INDEX: Nation & World / Page 7 The Signal @TCNJsignal
Sleep,” “Taylor Gang,” and his radio smash hits “On My Level,” “Young, Wild and Free” and “Black and Yellow.” “On My Level” was one of a few songs where Wiz sang parts of the song more like a rock song, which gave his set a very old school rock concert feel at times. The fact that Khalifa sings a lot of his own hooks gave him the flexibility to alter the songs and add that feel. One of the only downsides to his set was that he didn’t sing all of the words to some of his songs — a lot of it was left to the crowd to fill in the blanks. The audience did know most of the words it seemed, but Wiz even left some of his slightly more obscure songs to the crowd to sing. Jay Sean, who is best known for his hits “Down” and “Remember” in 2009 – the former of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 – preceded Khalifa. see WIZ page 17
Editorial / Page 9
Opinions / Page 11
‘Day Out’ on campus
Kids visit for games and fun
Lindsey Hardifer / Staff Photographer
Alpha Phi Omega hosted its third annual “Kids Day Out” event on Saturday, March 24. Underprivileged children from the Trenton area were brought to the College and engaged in crafts, activities and games with the students. The event was co-sponsored by DREAMS, Delta Sigma Pi, Phi Sigma Sigma and the Leadership Development Program.
Arts & Entertainment / Page 17
Persian New Year Students rang in the Persian New Year with ethnic food in the Stud. See Features page 13
nity has lost.” Funeral services will be held Friday, March 30 at 10:30 a.m. in the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home at 147 Main St. in Flemington, with burial at Rosemont Cemetery to follow. Calling hours on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and then from 6 to 9 p.m., according to the funeral home’s website. Condolences may be sent through holcombefisher.com, and memorial contributions may be made to Jingle Elves, a community outreach program. “It is a tragedy whenever our campus loses someone so young, and our sympathies are with Ryan’s family and loved ones. He will be missed by his classmates, professors, friends and many more,” said Matthew Golden, associate vice president for college relations. Krassan remains in critical condition. “Michael Krassan was the most senior member of our fraternity, an active role model within the fraternity, and incredible organizer and leader of the various functions we as a fraternity endorse,” said Keith Knutzen, president of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity and junior marketing major. “We would like to thank all of TCNJ Greek Life, the school’s administration, Dave Conner the Greek Life Advisor, and all other parties who have offered their support during this trying time. We have reached out to the family of (Krassan) as they have been struggling through this time and we have offered them our support and sympathy.”
CopShop The CUB Spring Concert prompted several arrests and transportations. See News page 3
Features / Page 13
Funstuff / Page 21
Sports / Page 28
SOCS is retiring! Three potential replacements presented their programs. See News Page 5
page 2 The Signal March 28, 2012
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March 28, 2012 The Signal page 3
Debate sparked in SFB over ‘Milk’ screenwriter By Andrew Miller Nation & World Editor
After approximately 40 minutes of intense debate that resulted in a split vote, the Student Finance Board granted Student Government $15,832 to bring Dustin Lance Black — a writer, producer and director — to the College. Black is known for winning an Academy Award for the 2008 film “Milk,” which depicts the story of LGBT activist and politician Harvey Milk. Warren Samlin, SFB administrative director and senior finance and political science double major, asked Cugliotta to estimate the number of people that would attend the event. “SG is known for getting people to events,” she responded. Miguel Vasquez, SFB equipment center manager and senior finance major, disagreed. “If you put Corey Booker on flyers, it doesn’t matter who put him on the flyer — people will show up,” he said. “I don’t think that SG is known for getting people.” To address advertising of the event, SFB executive director and senior accounting major Alexa Kaminsky added that SG would fill up the Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall if they appeal to the right people. After several failed motions — stipulating that the event not occur on Easter Sunday, its planned date — SFB attained a majority vote, and funded the event. Having been tabled last week, the Mars Hill Christian Ministry received full funding in the amount of $7,132 for Love Centered Week, which will feature a candle light vigil, poetry slam, concert, coffeehouse and more. SFB tabled last week’s request because SFB was unable to choose which parts of the budget to fund. SFB decided to fully fund the event, stipulating that the organization have a backup plan in case their movie night is rained out, since they planned to have it outside. Mixed Signals and TCNJ Musical Theatre received $4,560 for their event ROCK! Improv Festival featuring the group UCB TourCo, a theater company of comedians based out of New York City and Los Angeles. It is expected that the event will draw 600 to 700
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Members of SFB debated whether SG could get enough people to attend its event.
people, and that the workshop — which occurs the day after the event — will be capped at 60 people. However, the workshop did not reach 60 people last year. SFB was concerned that the workshop did not fill up and thought that keeping the group overnight for $500 for only 30 people that showed up may not be worth it, but decided it was not an outrageous price. All College Theatre received $2,985.82 to add an on-stage pool for their production of “Metamorphoses.” “‘Metamorphoses’ is a collection of modernized Greek myths about transformation,” said Sam Paternostro, senior communications major and ACT president. Because the transformations in the play occur as a result of water, ACT believed that a pool would remain true to the play while making it very exciting. Despite the fact that the pool may have to be destroyed at the end of the show, SFB voted to fully fund the pool’s purchase. SFB also unanimously voted to approve the French Club’s request of $1,200 for a bus trip to New York City to see the Museum of Modern Art and the French Culinary Institute. VOX was allocated $750 to bring Jill McDevitt, sex
columnist and public speaker, back to the College for an event titled, “Sex? Am I Normal?” “We brought her last semester to do the ‘Female Orgasm,’” Amy Pontrella, treasurer of VOX and senior finance major, said. “We’re bringing her to do a followup performance because people want her back.” Approximately 250 people attended the event last semester. SFB granted The American Society for Mechanical Engineers $518 for an introduction to electronics event, in which the organization would introduce students to the electronics and programming fields. SFB thought that the event would genuinely enhance students’ interests in electronics and voted to fully fund it. Best Buddies received $509.90 to pay for the food for a Buddies Ball, a semi-formal event that would be open to the entire student body. The Protestant Bible Fellowship received $200 to bring author Amy Julia Becker to the College to speak about her experience of having a child with a developmental disability. SFB had no problems agreeing to fund this event, for it was both inexpensive and meaningful, they said. The Spanish Club petitioned for $2,500 to screen the film, “The Other Side of Immigration” with a question-and-answer session with the director afterwards. However, SFB only allocated $500, the cost of the film screening license fee. SFB thought that having a Q&A with the director would be interesting, but was unsure whether the Spanish Club possessed the capabilities to draw a huge crowd to the event since it will be in the Library Auditorium. The Spanish Club also requested funding for a New York City bus trip to a museum, a requirement for the Spanish class. The trip was originally to be in conjunction with the French Club, but due to miscommunication, partnership became impossible. SFB also did not fund a junior class bus trip to Princeton for 250 people that would have cost $1,500. The junior class wanted to socialize as a class by going shopping and eating lunch together, but SFB did not see the event promoting class unity and did not believe that realistically 250 people would attend.
Strategic planning task force Drinking, marijuana and thefts
SG looked at committee’s goals
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
SG listened as the strategic planning task force presented its plan. By Kelly Johnson News Editor
Student Government held a different kind of meeting on Wednesday, March 21, as the strategic planning task force presented a tentative list of goals for the College that was developed after a recent two-day retreat attended by College President Barbara R. Gitenstein and members of the task force. SG members broke into small groups in November to identify critical issues that they thought needed to be addressed within the next three to five years. At the retreat, Gitenstein and the members identified key issues to address at the College, reviewed the mission of the College and created a vision for the next three years. The central challenge, or priority, has been defined by the task force as making
the choices necessary to provide educational excellence on an affordable, sustainable basis. According to the map designed after the retreat, the committee will achieve this priority by focusing on specific areas such as upgrading technology, maintaining and upgrading facilities, improving student life, building a national and international reputation and providing a variety of academic programs. Following the presentation, members of SG were asked to submit feedback on the plan, as the task force explained that the strategic map is subject to change. SG president, senior political science major and member of the strategic planning task force Olaniyi Solebo stressed to the general body that the plan is currently just like an outline for an essay. “But you still have to write the paper,” he said. Comprehensive ideas and ways of achieving the goals will come after the Board of Trustees approves the strategic plan in July, according to Solebo, but creating and enhancing revenue for the College, which is also part of the strategic plan, has already begun. “This is fast for an institution,” Solebo said. Solebo also emphasized the need for students to understand that Campus Town will not fix all of the problems that students have expressed regarding the lack of student life at the College. “Campus Town is not just TCNJ,” he said. “It’s us, Ewing and a developer.” SG held a brief general body meeting after the presentation where the senior class council announced that its next senior night will be at the Field House in Philadelphia on March 30. A junior and senior night will be held at Bar A in Belmar on April 17.
By Brendan McGrath Features Editor
According to reports, the following happened on Friday, March 23: After fighting a member of Strikeforce security outside the women’s bathroom in the Recreation Center, and spitting on an officer, a female student was arrested and issued a warrant and summons. … A female was found vomiting near the porta-potty outside the Rec Center at 9:20 p.m. The accused appeared to be intoxicated, was transported and issued a summons for underage drinking. … After vomiting for 20 minutes in the Rec. Center, an underage female was transported and issued a summons at 8:25 p.m. … A male student was found with a 1-inch long and .25-inch deep gash lined his forehead and was accused of underage drinking. He was transported and issued a summons at 9:05 p.m. … Two girls of legal drinking age were found intoxicated in the Rec. Center and were subsequently transported. … While apparently attempting to urinate, a girl was found next to the tennis courts at 9:50 p.m. When asked her name, she responded “May 27, 2010,” and she was unable to name the current U.S. president. She was transported. An intoxicated male was found near the chapel at 1:20 a.m. on Saturday, March 24, according to police. The accused began vomiting and police issued him a summons. … On suspicion of marijuana, Campus Police were dispatched to a Wolfe Hall room at 11:40 p.m. on Tuesday, March 20. The accused student allowed the police to enter his room and then admitted to smoking marijuana and turned over a four-inch pipe and vaporizer according to reports. He was arrested and issued a summons. … A student left a laptop unattended but hidden under her bag in the Brower Student Center for approximately an hour at 7:50 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, and returned to find that it was missing according to reports. The Black Dell Inspiron is valued at $850. … When a student returned to her table from retrieving cereal in Eickhoff Hall at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 25, she discovered that a large amount of her property was missing including a Samsung Continuum cell phone. The total value of the property was $551, but $37 worth was found and returned. There is no information on the remainder. … After leaving a wallet by the ATMs in the student center at 6:15 p.m. on Monday, March 19, the student returned to find that it was missing, according to reports.
page 4 The Signal March 28, 2012
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Risa Kaplowitz of DanceVision Inc. will be teaching the class on Mondays and Thursdays from 12:30 PM- 1:50 PM in the Travers and Wolfe Fitness Center.
As a two-credit, repeatable course with the VPA prefix, two semesters of the course will satisfy one course unit of the Literary, Visual and Performing Arts breadth requirement.
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 5
College searches for a SOCS replacement Valente showcases MoodleRooms’s many applications
By Melisa Easaw Copy Editor
After more than 10 years of using SOCS as its learning management system (LMS), the College has decided to move on to a different method of managing courses. The three different LMS options the College is considering are Instructure’s Canvas, RSmart’s Sakai and MoodleRooms Joule. An open forum presented by Donna Valente, sales director of MoodleRooms, discussed the proposed benefits the College could receive by switching to MoodleRooms Joule. Two forums were held on March 22 in the Library Auditorium — one at 11 a.m. and the other at 2 p.m. Valente explained that Moodle offers a basic, free program called MoodleCore that is for “self-sufficient” users. “MoodleCore is an open-source platform that you download from the Web,” she said. According to Valente, Joule features “different apps on top of MoodleCore that extend the functionality of MoodleCore.” With some help from Andy Braden, a sales specialist who participated via conference call, Valente demonstrated various features of Joule, including “Joule Reports” and social learning tools. “Joule Reports gives instructors the ability to see what they need to do,” Valente said. Braden explained
that through the reports feature, professors can organize data about student performance in terms of their grades and submissions in graphs, charts and more. This feature can also show professors which assignments they have yet to grade, Braden said. The social learning tool included in MoodleRooms Joule is “a Facebook-like app within your community,” Valente said, adding that this tool can be helpful for collaboration between students, advising between students and professors and mentorship of one student by another. Valente also praised the interface and easy customization of webpages. “There’s a lot of potential for setting up pages the way the instructor likes them,” Valente said, citing the different color schemes and themes that professors can use to customize their course pages. “There’s a very fresh, Web 2.0 look and feel for students and faculty,” she said. Valente said the features that separate Joule from its competitors are the grade book, the rubric tool, the personal learning designer and the streams and alerts feature. Other processes Valente and Braden demonstrated throughout the presentation were how to make surveys, online assignments, how to embed media files and how to use blocks, which are the basic foundation of the layout of Joule pages. Throughout the forum, Braden and Valente described their learning management system as “intuitive,” “powerful” and “clean.”
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Valente explains the different aspects of MoodleRooms’s free program, MoodleCore. The Learning Management System Investigation Committee (LMSIC) was formed in the fall of 2010 and was tasked to recommend a replacement learning management system, said Ryan Gladysiewicz, chair of the LMSIC. To learn more about the LMSIC and the potential LMS’s that could replace SOCS, visit lmsic.pages.tcnj.edu.
DeFonzo explains Sakai’s customability Instructure Canvas debuted
Matthew Mance / Photo Assistant
DeFonzo tells the audience about Sakai’s many special features and tools for professors. By Tom Ciccone News Editor Sakai, another open source platform that could replace SOCS, was demonstrated on Thursday, March 15 in the Library Auditorium. John DeFonzo, a regional manager for rSmart, an independent consulting company, displayed many of Sakai’s comprehensive and customizable features to students and faculty of the College. According to DeFonzo, Sakai has been utilized by a litany of major colleges and universities, including Notre Dame, MIT, Stanford, Rutgers, University of Pennsylvania, Roger Williams University, Providence College, Azusa Pacific University, Tufts University and many more. “The community of Sakai is really built for education,” DeFonzo said. Other open source programs, such as Moodle, are aimed more at K through 12 educators, DeFonzo said.
He stressed the special nature of Sakai’s functions, its many features, its non-profit sensibilities and its ultimately collaborative, community-building user experience. “Sakai really extends beyond the course delivery,” DeFonzo said, showing the many differing interfaces that other institutions have customized, such as New York University’s gateway login screen. After logging in, DeFonzo showed the numerous functions available to the user right on their homepage. “Think of this place like your office,” he said, pointing out that the project sites, collaborative workspaces that can be linked to other university and college communities, portfolio sites, where students can showcase their materials, and course sites, where students can get resources, take exams, etc., are all linked to the very top of the page. Sakai also allows students to make their own profile pages, linking them to their Twitter accounts. The tool bar on the left side of the screen is a dynamic function, changing depending on the type of page the user is on. If the user goes onto a course site, the tool bar changes its features based upon the tools the professor chose to make available when they made the course site. Sakai has a large amount of features that can be made available to students, including a “feedback” tool, dropbox, podcast function, assignments notifier, online lessons, a syllabus page, discussion forums and dozens more. Russell Beauchemin, an instructional designer at Roger Williams University, helped DeFonzo present more of the features available to professors, including the system for uploading course materials and creating online exams. Beauchemin showcased the usefulness of the course calendar, which professors can use to notify students of homework assignments and upcoming exams and due dates. He also demoed Sakai’s simple grading interface, which allows faculty to automatically weight their grades and do their work in a fraction of the time. A Sakai mobile app is currently in production and will be finished as soon as certain problems with the Apple system are fixed, Beauchemin said.
Has Facebook-like features By Kelly Johnson News Editor
Students may not have to do much adjusting for one of the SOCS replacement options. Regional Director Mark Blosil presented Instructure Canvas to students and faculty on Monday, March 12, taking the audience through a virtual tour of the system, which resembles Facebook upon first glance, including a “Recent Activity” wall. It also features a “To-Do List” like the College’s current SOCS system. Blosil stressed “user experience is really important,” and emphasized the user-ability of the system. Also similar to Facebook, Instructure Canvas uses a notification process, where students can receive notifications when a professor posts an assignment, grades a paper or has any other reason to get the students’ attentions. With this, the student can define personal preferences on the frequency and means of receiving notifications. Blosil also explained that when a professor adds an assignment, it appears under the student’s “To-Do List” with the information and due date. Once an assignment is completed and submitted, the teacher is notified and can follow the rubric to grade and provide feedback directly onto the assignment. “Everything’s done in line with the assignment itself,” Blosil said. Similar to SOCS, there is also a “calendar” feature, which can be modified by the student so that they receive notifications from information on the calendar. The program has a messaging center, according to Blosil, where students can participate in “conversations” with other students or their professors. Files, audio and video streams can be attached in the messages as well as text. One detail that seemed to resonate among faculty in the audience was how everything in the program is and looks the same for students and professors. According to Blosil, the only exception is that the “to-do list” is custom to the student.
Professor introduces carpooling website By Chris Rightmire Staff Writer
Students in need of transportation will have a new online tool to help them find rides. The President’s Climate Commitment Committee, or PC3, introduced a new website to facilitate carpooling of all distances among the College’s students and faculty. The website, tcnj.icarpool.com, was researched and brought to the College by political science professor Bryan Potter, the head of the transportation team for PC3, in order to take cars off the road, cut down on carbon emissions,
and increase student convenience. PC3 is the result of a commitment that President Gitenstein signed in the spring of 2007 that calls for a comprehensive plan to achieve climate neutrality by 2032. Heather Camp, a staff member of the Bonner center, joined PC3 this academic year and is helping to promote the iCarpool website. Camp said, “I can see it being a really useful tool for students who have a hard time accessing transportation and it could also be really useful for faculty members trying to carpool to work.” She also envisions the website
encompassing all types of trips, from short rides to Wal-Mart to helping students get home for break. iCarpool has an intuitive format that matches people who have similar trips or commutes to make. To make compensation easy between users the website estimates how much money each trip costs by calculating gas usage and wear and tear on the vehicle used. There is also a trip tracker tool that allows the user to record their commutes and what means of transportation they used. For those concerned about safety, the website breaks everything down into specific networks. The College’s network requires
a valid e-mail address from the College, so students of the College are only showing their information to fellow students. Junior finance major Jakub Libucha said, “This idea sounds like a great way to not only take cars off the road and save people money, but it also could be an interesting way to build cohesion amongst the College community and raise awareness for cutting carbon emissions.” Despite the potential of iCarpool, the College’s online network currently consisted of only ten students as of Monday. “It is essential for people to populate the website for it to work,” Camp said.
page 6 The Signal March 28, 2012
Nation & W rld
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 7
U.S. could bring hate charge in Fla. teen shooting N.J. News
AP Photo
Zimmerman (right) may be charged with a hate crime for killing Martin (left).
MIAMI (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department could bring a hate crime charge against the shooter in the killing of black Florida teenager Trayvon Martin if there is sufficient evidence the slaying was motivated by racial bias and not simply a fight that spiraled out of control, legal experts and former prosecutors say. So far, only one such clue has surfaced publicly against 28-year-old George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who fatally shot the 17-year-old Martin on Feb. 26 in the central Florida town of Sanford. On one of his 911 calls to police that night, Zimmerman muttered something under his breath that some listeners say sounds like a racial slur. Zimmerman’s father is white, and his mother is Hispanic. “It sounds pretty obvious to me,” said Donald Tibbs, a Drexel University law professor who has closely studied race, civil rights and criminal procedure. “If that was a racial epithet that preceded the attack on Trayvon Martin, we definitely have a hate crime.” Others, however, say the recording is not clear enough to determine what Zimmerman actually said. And many experts say more evidence would be needed that he harbored racial prejudice against black people and went after Martin
for that reason alone. There had previously been burglaries in the complex committed by young black males, possibly heightening Zimmerman’s suspicions when he spotted Martin. “They are going to have to show he was specifically targeting this individual based on his race, creed, color, et cetera,” said David S. Weinstein, a former federal prosecutor in Miami. “Not that he was chasing somebody down and got in a confrontation that may or may not have been based on that.” Zimmerman’s parents, in a letter to a local newspaper, insisted their son is not a racist, and several black residents of the neighborhood where Martin was shot have only good things to say about Zimmerman. Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime and is claiming self-defense under Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which eliminated a person’s duty to retreat when threatened with serious bodily harm or death. He claims Martin attacked him as he was walking back to his truck, according to police. Those “Stand Your Ground” laws, in place in about two dozen states, have come under increasing scrutiny. U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., on Sunday sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking for a federal investigation into whether killings are going unprosecuted because the laws put too much of a burden on local authorities. Martin’s parents and hundreds of supporters say Zimmerman should have been immediately arrested and charged with the youth’s killing, but local police say they have little evidence to disprove his self-defense claim. A grand jury will be convened April 10 to consider whether to bring state charges, which could include seconddegree murder or manslaughter. Civil rights activist Al Sharpton, who has been appearing at rallies with Martin’s parents to call for an arrest, said the Justice Department
News Bits
Two U.S. senators are asking Attorney General Eric Holder to investigate whether employers asking for Facebook passwords during job interviews are violating federal law, their offices announced Sunday. ... France’s president proposed a sweeping new law Thursday that would see repeat visitors to extremist websites put behind bars — one of several tough measures floated in the wake of a murderous shooting spree. ... Britain’s government is introducing a plan to ban the sale of super-cheap alcohol in hopes of clamping down on irresponsible drinking. The plan announced Friday calls for placing a minimum price per unit of alcohol and banning multi-buy discount deals. The idea is to prevent the sale of very cheap alcohol that is used to draw in supermarket customers for other purchases. ... It is still not known if the soldier accused of killing 17 Afghans on March 11 was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder — but even if he had been, that alone would not have prevented him from being sent back to war. Many returned to the battlefield after mental health providers determined their treatment worked and their symptoms had gone into remission. Courtesy of the Associated Press
should investigate the case as a hate crime. “Any time you have a pattern of engagement based on someone’s having a particular group in mind, that qualifies for hate crime inquiry,” Sharpton told The Associated Press. The Justice Department’s civil rights division and the FBI are conducting their own probe in the case, and a federal hate crimes charge could come out of that no matter what state authorities do. The hate crimes law carries a potential life prison sentence when a death is involved. Tibbs said one key is determining whether Martin’s race alone was the reason Zimmerman decided to follow him in his vehicle. Martin, who was from Miami, was staying in the neighborhood with his father and father’s fiancée and was returning from a convenience store with Skittles and a can of iced tea when the confrontation took place. He was not armed. “He was not suspicious. What makes him suspicious in the moment is the fact that he was black. If Trayvon Martin was white, would any of this have happened?” Tibbs said. But Zimmerman was a volunteer watch captain, and even though he had a permit to carry his Kel Tek 9mm semiautomatic handgun, he didn’t have any official law enforcement or government authority. Another possibility is an investigation of the Sanford Police Department itself, including questions about whether any evidence was destroyed or covered up, or whether there has been a pattern of problems involving black people. Bonaparte did acknowledge last week that the police department has had issues with the city’s African-American residents. Ultimately, much depends on the results of the state grand jury investigation. If Zimmerman ultimately is charged in Martin’s death, the Justice Department may not bring its own separate case depending on the outcome of any trial.
Retirees get perks back WOODLAND PARK, N.J. (AP) — An arbitrator has ordered the Port Authority of N.Y. and N.J. to restore toll-free passage on its bridges and tunnels and free airport parking for some retirees. The benefits were pulled more than a year ago at the behest of Gov. Chris Christie, who was critical of the perks given to nonunion employees. Last Tuesday, an arbitrator restored them for the agency’s retired electrical workers. It’s unclear whether the decision will impact other lawsuits by retirees who also lost the perks. In its ruling, obtained by The Record, the arbitrator also ordered the agency to reimburse the retirees for tolls and parking they have personally paid since the perks were nixed. The employees were enjoying free tolls at the Holland and Lincoln tunnels and the Outerbridge Crossing, Bayonne, Goethals and George Washington bridges. The workers’ union filed a grievance when the perks were cut, claiming the Port Authority had violated a collective bargaining agreement. According to the arbitrator, the last union contract with the Port Authority, which expired in 2006, granted the benefit to retirees for life. Port Authority spokesman Steve Coleman said the agency will appeal the arbitrator’s decision. “We believe that these retirees don’t deserve a free ride on the backs of toll payers and we will fight this bad decision,” Coleman told The Record.
N. Korean rocket test would isolate regime SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Warning North Korea from its doorstep, President Barack Obama said Pyongyang risks deepening its isolation in the international community if it proceeds with a planned long-range rocket launch. “North Korea will achieve nothing by threats or provocations,” Obama said during a news conference Sunday in Seoul, South Korea, where he was to attend a nuclear security summit. From the DMZ, Obama returned to Seoul for a private meeting with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and a joint news conference. Both leaders warned there would be consequences if North Korea proceeds with its plans to launch a satellite using a long-range rocket next month, a move the U.S. and other powers say would violate a U.N. ban on nuclear and missile activity because the same technology could be used for long-range missiles. Obama said the launch would jeopardize a deal for the U.S. to resume stalled food aid to North Korea and may result in the tightening of economic sanctions on the already-impoverished nation. The planned launch is yet another setback for the U.S. in years of on-again, off-again attempts to launch real negotiations. The announcement also played into Republican criticism that Obama had been too quick to jump at a new chance for talks with the North Koreans. North Korea walked away from international disarmament talks in 2009. Years of fitful negotiations had succeeded in ending part of North Korea’s nuclear program but failed in stopping it from building and testing nuclear devices
AP Photo
Obama met with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak to assess North Korea’s capabilities of using nuclear weapons. that may be able to carry bombs. The U.S., China, Japan, Russia and South Korea are involved in the talks. The negotiations were aimed at offering North Korea economic and diplomatic incentives to give up threatening elements of its nuclear program. China has the greatest leverage in the talks as North Korea’s only ally. Obama was blunt Sunday in assessing China’s success so far in promoting better behavior from North Korea, saying its approach over the past decades has failed to alter the North’s behavior. China maintains that it must move slowly in influencing North Korea, and says its political influence is limited. Obama’s trip comes as North Koreans mark the end of the 100-day mourning period for longtime leader Kim Jong Il, who died of a heart attack in December. Since Kim’s death, son Kim Jong Un has been paying a series of high-profile visits
to military units and made his own trip to the “peace village” of Panmunjom inside the DMZ earlier this month. Obama said he had not yet been able to make a full assessment of the North’s new leader, saying the political situation there appeared to be “unsettled.” “It’s not clear exactly who is calling the shots and what their long-term objectives are,” Obama said. Lee said it was “premature” to assess the North’s new leader. He said that while he had some expectations that the young Kim might take a different approach than his father, he found news of the rocket launch to be a “disappointment.” Obama and other world leaders will gather in Seoul this week for meetings aimed at securing nuclear material and preventing it from being smuggled to groups intent on mass destruction. Obama has called nuclear terrorism the gravest threat the world may face.
page 8 The Signal March 28, 2012
Flow & Co. Michael Arnone, Patrick Chirchirillo, Frank Piazza
The Elite Club Laura Mendez, Dan Bucher, Albert Matlock, Anthony Grullon
Mashup Ryan Dolan, Frankie Nwafili, Davis Craig
3 Teams...
$20,000 Finale: April 4, 4:30-6:30PM Business Building Lounge Spectators welcome. http://business.pages.tcnj.edu
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 9
Editorial Let’s get our acts together Sure, people frequently say “shit happens,” but shitting shouldn’t happen on the Rec. Center floor. It may not have been included in this week’s Cop Shop, but we are aware that someone defecated on the ground at last weekend’s Spring Concert. This takes the phrase “communal bathroom” to a whole new level, and quite frankly, that is disgusting. As seen in Cop Shop, when asked what her name was, one intoxicated female responded with the date “May Ashley Long / Photo Editor 27, 2010.” Humorous, yes, yet sad at the same time. At last weekend’s Wiz Khalifa concert, students may have acted a little too ‘wild’ Numerous other students were transported and an- and ‘free.’ Behavior was reminiscent of a trashy reality TV show. other individual spit on a police officer. One student had a gash on his forehead, while others couldn’t hold their bladders waiting in line for a Porta Potty and urinated elsewhere. In honor of CUB’s North vs. South It sounds like utter chaos, or a scene out of a reality Jersey T-shirts, what do you call a certain TV show. processed pork item? An especially fitting comparison is to VH1’s “Flavor • Taylor Ham. of Love.” Remember when Pumkin spit on New York? “I could not have • Pork Roll. Or when Somethin’ took a dump on the stairs? done as well • What’s that? Yes, it is exciting that your favorite performer is without my coach coming to the College, but what fun is it if you are or my teammates — cast your vote @ tcnjsignal.net ! blacked out for the whole thing? they all pushed me The fact of the matter is that to actually enjoy a conto work harder and Previous poll’s results cert, you should be able to remember it. believe in myself.” We are in college, so of course getting rowdy at What do you think of The Signal’s school functions may seem to enhance the overall ex— division III new front page design? perience of an event, but there definitely is a limit to diving champion • Love it! 81% Danica Roskos what is acceptable behavior. • The front page changed? 13% Regardless of whether or not you choose to drink, at • It genuinely sparked my interest. 3% least be responsible about it. You should be mindful of • Hate it. 3% yourself and authority. “I feel blessed to As a college known for attracting some of the best and brightest, the behavior at this past weekend’s conhave met him and he cert certainly takes away from that status. It is a poor will truly be missed.” reflection of our student body. — junior accountancy tcnjsignal.net Yes, it is true that students have been able to get by major Samantha without so much as a documentation from a CA, but Mailing Address: Telephone: Codner on Ryan Alley The Signal Production Rm - (609) 771-2424 the conduct at this concert takes inappropriateness to c/o Brower Student Center Business Office - (609) 771-2499 The College of New Jersey Fax: (609) 771-3433 a whole new level. Basically, we cannot just do whatP.O. Box 7718 Email: signal@tcnj.edu ever we want whenever we want. We’re bound to get Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu in trouble if we continue to act like animals. And if the “I feel like no stone Editorial Staff authorities don’t catch us, our peers will still take notice. was left unturned.” Do you want to be remembered as the boy who Brianna Gunter Ashley Long Editor-in-Chief Photo Editor — senior religious clunked his head into a cement wall? Would you want gunter2@tcnj.edu longa1@tcnj.edu studies major Jake to literally make your mark at this school with fecal Jamie Primeau Sydnee Weinbaum Managing Editor Production Manager Ehrlich on Mystique matter? primeau2@tcnj.edu Andrew Miller Let’s get our shit together people — before we let it Tom Ciccone Nation & World Editor News Editor Melissa Easaw out in public.
The Weekly Poll:
– Editorial Staff
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.
tomcasey@live.com Kelly Johnson News Editor johns244@tcnj.edu Alex Wolfe Sports Editor wolfea1@tcnj.edu Brendan McGrath Features Editor mcgrat28@tcnj.edu Julia Corbett Arts & Entertainment Editor corbetj3@tcnj.edu Frank Orlich Opinions Editor orlichf1@tcnj.edu
Copy Editor Chris Molicki Sports Assistant Matthew Mance Vicki Wang Photo Assistants
Emilie Lounsberry Advisor Business Staff Dan Lisi Business/Ad Manager Natalie Schiavi Business Assitant
Quotes of the Week
“It’s very important to eliminate the fear mongering in people.” — president of the Central Eurasian and Middle Eastern Studies Society Jessica Sparano
page 10 The Signal March 28, 2012
SUMMER SESSION AT TCNJ
MAYMESTER: May 7 - May 24 SESSION A: May 29 - June 28 SESSION B: July 2 - August 2 summer@tcnj.edu http://intersession.pages.tcnj.edu
THE COLLEGE OF
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March 28, 2012 The Signal page 11
Opinions The Signal says ... Stop: being so pessimistic, hashtagging on Facebook, spending all day on StumbleUpon, stressing over internships. Caution: deceptively cold mornings, really strong wind, group projects. Go: study for that test, stand up for what you believe in, eat chicken parm pizza, work on your beach body.
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.
The need for safe drivers By Gary Bethea
By now, TCNJ’s student body is surely aware of the loss of Ryan Alley. Thursday, March 15, Ryan and Michael Krassan’s car struck a tree on route back to Mike’s off-campus apartment. They had been dropped off by a shuttle at the Brower Student Center after spending the night at Havana, a bar in New Hope. I was in Boston for St. Patrick’s day when I got that ominous text. “Call me.” Before that, I’d only received those words in an otherwise empty message from my girlfriend and my mother. The former because she loves being melodramatic, the latter because she doesn’t really know how to text. And it’s actually more likely to say “Ball of.” But from Damien, this was strange. But I called him with no real apprehension. He could hear that I was at a party, and he didn’t want to talk until tomorrow. “It’s nothing serious,” he reassured me. I’m grateful for this lie. And so it wasn’t until two days after the accident that I found out about Mike and Ryan. There are not many people I’ve met who command more respect and affection from me than Mike. I did not have the pleasure of close friendship with Ryan, but meeting him just once was enough to tell that he was a special person. And so I’m grateful for Damien’s lie because by the time I called him back, at least we knew that Mike was in stable but critical condition. Ryan was not as fortunate, and he passed away on Friday. That Saturday night I walked the brisk streets of Boston alone and turned over in my head, “Why?” If they were intoxicated or too tired, why didn’t Mike and Ryan call someone for a ride back to Mike’s apartment when the bus shuttled them back to campus from New Hope? They are popular students, and the list of volunteers who would have answered is endless. Maybe they didn’t want to bother anyone. Maybe everyone was busy. If only they had had someone else to call… So why doesn’t TCNJ have a Safe Rides program? Neighboring Rider University does. Nearby Rutgers University does. Is it because TCNJ lacks the resources to protect its students? The Safe Rides program I’m proposing is based on volunteerism. All the College would have to do is perhaps compensate volunteer lifesavers for their gas money. Besides, we are already allocating a great deal of resources towards sober rides. Stopping them, that is. Anyone who has run sober rides for a fraternity party knows that once a campus police officer identifies you, you’re likely to
be harassed throughout the night. One driver told me a certain officer once spat in his face while yelling that he was holding up traffic by “improperly loading passengers” (read: picking up a friend) outside of Phelps Hall. At midnight. When the officer was the only other car on Metzger Drive. And he was going the opposite direction. Indeed, financial resources seem to be a paramount concern of the college. In a 2009 interview, “Joe Hadge, TCNJ’s director of Alcohol and Drug Education Policy, claimed that “finance is one of the big (concerns).” He reiterated, “Who pays for it?” Rider University spends approximately $16,000 a year on their Safe Rides program, which is run by a cab company. Once again, towns across the country run Safe Rides programs on a volunteer basis. But even if the College resisted the hassle of indemnifying drivers (a process Safe Rides US walks you through for free) and employed a system like Rider’s, what’s $16,000 a year against the life of a TCNJ student? Against the personal worth of Ryan Alley? In the end, Joe Hadge balked at endorsing a Safe Rides program. Is it because TCNJ doesn’t want to encourage drinking? This was another theme of Mr. Hadge’s in 2009, when student journalist Michael Tracy brought the possibility of starting a Safe Rides program forward. But this is misguided. College students will drink. Period. An in-touch administration knows this, and should take whatever actions are necessary to stop these flourishing young people from endangering themselves. Is it because TCNJ is afraid that this policy will create a kind of moral hazard? Will students become “too drunk to fail” and throw caution to the wind when they’re out and about, and wind up driving drunk anyway once they’re in a less sane state? Unlikely. In the past decades, Safe Rides programs have proliferated around the country, and incidents of DUI arrests have declined since their peak in 1986, despite increasingly strict enforcement. Besides, there is no good evidence that knowing you can count on a ride will encourage you to drink more. Most off-campus TCNJ parties are within walking distance, and it’s easy to spot crowds of partiers in transit on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights. But evidence suggests walking drunk is even more dangerous than driving drunk. Is it because TCNJ has no responsibility in the matter? The College allows Havana, a bar in New Hope, to plaster the campus’ academic buildings with fliers advertising a shuttle to the bar and back to the College. The administration
surely knows that only about half of all seniors live on campus. And they must know the calculus of how students make decisions about how to get home. Sure, if a student has money and the right phone number, they can call a cab. If they have a strong social network, they can bug a friend for a ride. But having a Safe Ride program would alter the calculus of how students make decisions. Of course, in a perfect world, everyone always makes the right decision and does whatever they have to in order to avoid driving tired or drunk. But the more inconvenient the alternatives, the more appealing “Oh, it’s only a short drive, and I’m only a little b-b-buzzed!” becomes. One promising young student is dead. Another is badly hurt. Culpability for this calamity is shared. But surely a considerable portion of the responsibility falls squarely on an administration that believes in shuttling students to a bar, but not shuttling students to their homes. Finally, perhaps TCNJ doesn’t have faith that its student body is responsible enough to call for a safe ride home. As Mr. Hadge put it, “Will they do that? Can they do that?” If the Rider model, and the model used in townships around the country is any indication, yes they will. Yes they can. Hindsight is 20/20 and tragedies sometimes write silly policies. I doubt the orange sticker on my sister’s license plate has saved her life too many times. But in this case, it’s clear what needs to be done. Car accidents are the top killer of college aged people, and it doesn’t need to be that way. That’s why I’ll be starting a Safe Rides program at TCNJ, with or without the College’s support. I’ve seen far too many hypermasculine fraternity brothers break down in tears this week not to. But I hope the administration can do the right thing, because they can help make this program more effective. But what I really need is all of you. I have set up an account and registered TCNJ with Safe Rides US. When you email me at tcnjsaferides@gmail.com, I can add you to this group. Obviously, there is no obligation to run rides at any particular time. You are in complete control. Remember that this is a volunteer service, and will look great on your resume. The organization will also need leadership, and this will help you hone your organizational and leadership skills, while helping save lives and making yourself look good. You can’t lose! Let’s do this for Mike and Ryan, for ourselves, and for our college community. By Gary Bethea, with help from Mike and Ryan’s friends, in memory of Ryan Alley
and I’m not squeamish. I’m fond of saying, “A Letter to the Editor prude, literary work can’t be Great Literature unless it has a
Like my colleague Prof. Felicia Jean Steele, I’ve been distressed by the recent spate of articles in The Signal about how to get laid on Valentine’s Day or how to get drunk on St. Patrick’s Day. If they are meant to be taken seriously, these articles make me very sad. A lot of young people seem to think that men ought to be players, always on the prowl for the next buzz or the next sexual conquest. But in actual fact, grown men — real men — are too busy with other things to waste their time on emotionally stunted behaviors and soulless pleasure seeking. Grown men — real men — are too busy contributing meaningfully to society, building the future, living the life of the mind, raising families, looking out for the less fortunate, creating a better world, and so on. When is the last time you saw a mature man hitting the bars and picking up babes? If you see such a man, you probably think, “Gross!” And with good reason. They should grow up. Perhaps so should the authors of the recent holiday articles. If those articles are meant to be a joke, they’re not very funny. I’m no
fart in it (like ‘The Canterbury Tales’ and ‘The Divine Comedy’).” But snickering over getting drunk or getting laid isn’t humor. Sometimes it passes for humor among six-grade boys, who haven’t yet grown up and recognized what real humor is. George Carlin is a good example of real humor. He had a famous routine about farts. It was hilariously funny. But what made it funny wasn’t that he snickered over farts behind Mom and Dad’s back. What made it funny was that he reminded us about the truth of farts and he drew attention to the ways in which social conventions try to cover up the needs and functions of our physical bodies but, ultimately, fail miserably. The fart will out. For the authors (and readers) of the childish holiday articles in The Signal, I can only say, “Grow up, boys. Be men.” —Glenn A. Steinberg Associate Professor English Department
Feel strongly about something? Send your opinions to Orlichf1@tcnj.edu!
page 12 The Signal March 28, 2012
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JOIN THE TCNJ FRENCH CLUB FOR THE CULTURAL and CULINARY TRIP OF THE YEAR! Travel in style on coach bus to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and for dinner, enjoy a three course meal at
!! !
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March 28, 2012 The Signal page 13
Features
New Persian year brings festive fun
Vicki Wang / Photo Assistant
Traditional music and food reigned over the Persian New Year, as CESMES threw the celebration in the student center for the third consecutive year. By Kevin Schlittenhardt Staff Writer The Central Eurasian and Middle Eastern Studies Society (CESMES) ushered in the first day of spring with an array of delicious food and exotic music during their third annual Nowrūz Festival in the Brower Student Center. The festival was funded by the Student Activities Fund and cosponsored by the Islamic Society, Interfaith Council and the history department. “In Iran the Persian New
Year celebration is called ‘Nowrūz,’ which means ‘new day’ in Farsi,” said Roya Soleymani, CESMES public relations chair and senior biology major, in an email. “The Persian New Year marks the exact start of the spring equinox and is a holiday that is celebrated by Iranians as well as communities in the Middle East and Central Asia.” Students poured into the Stud for the cultural festivities and were eager to dig into the food catered by King Pita Palace, Baku Bakery, Silk Road Treasure Tours
and Olive’s. The Iranian cuisine prepared for the festival included pita bread with hummus, Greek salad with feta cheese, lamb kofta and chicken kabob. “This is all Halal meat,” said Mokhtar Ramadan, owner of King Pita Palace on Rutgers University’s New Brunswick Campus. Ramadan has catered the Nowrūz festival at the College every year since its inception. The term “Halal” refers to the prescribed method of slaughtering animals per Islamic law. “This method assures that all animals are treated with mercy
and respect,” Ramadan said. As everyone enjoyed the Iranian cuisine, Roya Soleymani and Sarah Cassim, CESMES vice president and sophomore biology major, explained a major traditional Nowrūz table setting called “Haft Sīn”, which means “seven S’s” in Farsi. The Haft Sīn consists of seven items, each with its own spiritual meaning. “Senjed,” the sweet dry fruit of the lotus tree, symbolizes love and affection. “Sumac,” a crush spice of berries, symbolizes the sunrise and spice of life. “Serkeh,” vinegar, symbolizes patience and age. “Samanu,” wheat pudding, symbolizes fertility and sweetness of life. “Sīb,” or apples, symbolizes health and beauty. “Sīr,” garlic, symbolizes good health. “Sabzeh,” sprouted wheat grass, symbolizes rebirth and the renewal of nature. Persian musician Amir Vahab and his ensemble completed the Nowrūz celebration with festive Iranian songs about love, life and family. “The music is so good, so is the food.” said Georjean Barcebal, senior nursing major. “I love hearing new music and experiencing different cultures.” With the negative perception of Iran perpetrated by politics and the media, celebrations such as the Nowrūz festival help to put
the Iranian people and culture into a new perspective. “It’s such a joyous holiday and Iranians are such joyous people,” said Joann Gross, history and international studies professor at the College who will be teaching courses on Afghanistan and Persian Film Literature in the fall 2012 semester. “There is so much misunderstanding and groups like CESMES are a big help in breaking through these barriers.” Jessica Sparano, president of CESMES and sophomore in international studies major, had similar thoughts. “Celebrations like this are very, very, very important,” Sparano said. “As diverse as America is, many people are still not aware. When people think of Iran, they think of bombs and war. It’s very important to eliminate the fear mongering in people.” There was not a trace of tension at the festival as students stuffed their smiling faces with kofta and laughed over Iranian music. Students of all cultural backgrounds joined in to celebrate Nowrūz the same way Middle Eastern countries of all different backgrounds take part in the Iranian festivities. Nowrūz proved to be more than just a celebration with food and music, but also a unification of people with mutual respect for Iranian culture.
Heart-clogging goodness on a roll By Alex Wolfe Sports Editor
So last week I took on a famous pizzeria. This week, I decided to take on a campus celebrity — the Fat Shack. For full disclosure, I have had Fat Shack before — it’s pretty hard to be here more than a few months and not try its late-night offerings. That’s right, this place is only open at night, from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. on most nights, to be exact. Translation: It’s pretty much the perfect place to get some grub if you’re drunk one night and don’t want to (or can’t figure out how to) work the oven. Speaking of grub, my favorite site, campusfood.com, was bought out by grubhub.com, and if you had an account with Campus Food you can move over and get free money. And free money is awesome, so do that! And now on to the Fat Shack. Just as a warning, if you’re not into eating a whole day’s worth of calories in one sitting, this place is not for you. So here’s the jist of what Fat Shack’s specialty is — fat sandwiches. Originated at our neighbor up north, Rutgers University, these sandwiches have a whole bunch of stuff thrown into a hoagie roll. Ingredients include mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, cheesesteak, jalapeño poppers, French fries, etc. etc. I browsed the list of sandwiches (names included the Fat Doobie, Fat Roscoe, Fat Hangover and Fat Veggie) and settled on the Fat Slob, which consists of cheesesteak, chicken fingers, French fries, mozzarella sticks, mayo and ketchup. There are probably two or three other sandwiches that are pretty similar in composition to this one, but
the ketchup and mayo sold me. I also decided to order a quesadilla with bacon, mostly since I had to meet the order minimum. All in all, it ran me $6.99 for the sandwich and $5.74 for the quesadilla (bacon was 75 cents extra), for a grand total of $12.73 and a dollar for delivery. For the amount of food I got, it was not a bad price at all. The food took about 25 minutes to get there, and they even gave me a courtesy call to let me know they were at my house. That was a nice touch. So I took my food in and ripped into it (I was pretty much ready to eat my own arm off, as usual) and was greeted with a wonderful fat sandwich. Wonderful tasting, that is. One thing about fat sandwiches, they are super delicious, but they don’t look all that appealing to the eye. More about the taste, though. It was phenomenal. If you’ve never eaten mozzarella sticks, cheesesteak, chicken fingers, French fries, ketchup and mayo together you should. Another good thing is that it gets you full, too. I mean, it’s probably only around like 1,500 calories, no big deal. I ate one of the four slices of the quesadilla for the purpose of the review and it was really good too. Not overly crispy, but well melted and the bacon tasted good. That being said, I actually had some leftovers this week! I warmed up the remainder of the quesadilla for breakfast the next morning and it warmed up really well. Good stuff there. Overall, I was very satisfied with my experience at Fat Shack. Definitely not the healthiest food, but as far as taste goes, it was extraordinary.
Alex Wolfe / Sports Editor
Cheesesteak, chicken fingers, french fries, mozzarella sticks, mayo and ketchup line a delectable and filling Fat Slob. Fat Shack Where: 1410 Parkway Ave Hours: Tuesday - Thursday: 8:00 p.m. - 3:00 a.m. Friday & Saturday: 8:00 p.m. - 4:00 a.m. Number: (609) 323-7654 Web orders: grubhub.com
Ratings (out of 5): Appetizer:
Specialties: Speed: Cost: Reheatability: Overall: 21/25
page 14 The Signal March 28, 2012
Please join us…
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Thursday, March 29th David Finch NY Times Best Selling Author “Journal of Best Practices"!
Monday, March 26th DSM Panel What is Autism? Time: 7:30 PM Place: Science Complex 101
Tuesday, March 27th Amy Gravino Higher Education & Aspergers Time: 7:30PM Place: Science Complex 101
Wednesday, March 28th Applebee’s Fundraiser ALL DAY!
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Time: 8:30PM Location: Roscoe 201 SAF Funded
HES
Friday, March 30th Blue-Out Bingo! Time: 8:00PM Place: Student Center Food Court
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INTERNATIONAL AUTISM AWARENESS DAY! Monday, April 2nd Human Puzzle Piece Time: 11:20 AM-12: 15 PM Place: Grass in front of TW
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Cupcake Celebration Time: 12:15 PM Place: Student Center
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 15
British Invasion: Looking back towards the States Dear Signal, Emily’s term has ended, and she’ll be back in good ol’ New Jersey in a few weeks. However, I’m sticking around until the end of May, so it looks like you’ll all be at my mercy for the next couple of columns. (You lucky readers, you!) I admit, being here has definitely left me out of the American political loop. I was following the primaries fairly closely before I left. (Because, let’s face it, Republican debates make for some great comedic fodder, not to mention drinking games.) Being in England, however, and traveling so much has distracted me from the issues back home, and I’ve been living in somewhat blissful ignorance. Lately, however, I’ve been following the transvaginal ultrasound and birth control debates, and I just have to ask: Have you all lost your goddamn minds? If, as a woman, I decide to take control of my own body and terminate an unwanted pregnancy, you first want to stick a periscope up my vagina and, what, admire the view? Republicans, I know you’re constantly looking for ways to fuck over women, but this is getting a little too literal. I decided to do some research (and by research, I mean Google) and see if the U.K. had any of the same ass-backwards ideas that are currently spilling out of America. Great Britain continues to observe the Abortion Act of 1967 (started roughly six years before Roe v. Wade), which states that “a person shall not be guilty of an offence under the law relating to abortion when a pregnancy is terminated by a registered medical practitioner” so long as two registered medical practitioners
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For the amount of sandals, shortshorts and sunglasses that were flaunted across campus over the past two weeks, it seems highly plausible that The College of New Jersey has been a victim of a highly contagious strain of Spring Fever. It’s spreading fast, and the symptoms are showing up in rather lax work ethics and by transforming wardrobes into what may be appropriate for a toasty Fourth of July weekend. The “Fever,” usually induced by what seems like a never-ending cycle of glorious weather, often brings a fluke of high temperatures and a truckload of smiling student-faces boasting outfits fit for a close-to-theequator climate. When Mother Nature flips the switch, the short-lived strain of Spring Fever
Cheers, Shaun
Month of history brings enlightening events Women’s History Month brought a variety of events to campus this past month reflecting on various women’s issues. Many organiztions and departments cosponsored this series of events. Rita Arauz (right) of Fundación Nimehuatzin spoke on Wednesday, March 21, about the human rights issues involving HIV/AIDS in Nicaragua. The final event is a film viewing of “Journey to Hope” at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 28 in the Library Auditorium.
Campus Style By Victoria Moorhouse Columnist
agree that it would be more hazardous for the mother to continue with the pregnancy than to abort it (according to legistlation.gov.uk). In Regina v. British Broadcasting Corporation ex parte Prolife Alliance, a judge went on to say that there was evidence that all pregnancies are more dangerous to the welfare of a woman than an abortion, making it legally easier to obtain one. This doesn’t mean that the entirety of the U.K. spends its weekends getting drunk and aborting babies. There are, of course, Christian groups that are against the Act, and in September Tory defense secretary Liam Fox tried to call for tougher abortion laws. However, when I asked a British friend whether anti-abortion protests were the norm here, he responded with a resounding “No” (along with a funny but fairly offensive joke that I won’t repeat). A quick Google search backed him up; in fact, the few that did mention protests called them “U.S.style” and mentioned that some, such as the “40 Days for Life” protestors, actually originated in Texas (shocking). So it’s not like the rest of the world has been waiting for the U.S. to show up to their anti-abortion party. Why, then, is America suddenly taking huge steps backwards when it comes to women’s rights? We’re supposed to be the leaders of the free world, right? Well, then, I’d like my uterus to be free from a bunch of suits in Washington. (And, you know, probes.) Can I not leave the country for a few months without everyone losing their shit?
Symptoms of Spring Fever
will be temporarily conquered, resulting in a significant change of weather with students shivering outside in what is basically beachwear. At this point, the mindsets of these young victims return to normal, as they come to the quick realization that it is, indeed, only March. If you’re unsure of the severity of your case of Spring Fever, before consulting a specialist, glance over the style symptoms below. Style Symptom # 1 Skin, Skin, Skin Those suffering from Spring Fever will first have an overwhelming urge to show off their limbs, either arms or legs (or both). Pants are ditched for bikinibottom inspired shorts and shoulders miraculously come out of a long winter hibernation. Style Symptom # 2
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
A missing hemline Don’t fret. No one stole it. But as temperature ups in numbers, hemlines seem to rise exponentially. Style Symptom # 3 Feet in March? All shoes mysteriously disappeared and feet are unveiled to the public. A student suffering from Spring Fever usually eagerly insists on ditching any closed-toed shoe in their closet for a pair of flip-flops. Unless that student is taking a trip to the gym, socks are found to be completely out of the question. Style Symptom # 4 Colors explode Students’ ensembles appear to be a multi-colored canvas of pastels, florals and bold printed textiles. Those inflicted with this strain make no sense of a monochromatic outfit.
shopbop.com
Don’t spring ahead of yourself.
page 16 The Signal March 28, 2012
FALL 2012 REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT PERIOD Initial i Registration s Period e for Under U gradduate and Graduatte Studentts
Tuesday, Appril 3 through Friday, April 13 �
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THE�OFFICE�OF�RECORDS�AND�REGISTRAATION� EXTENDED�HOURS�DURING�THIS�REGISTRATION�PERIOD� Tuesday, April 3 through Friday, April 13 7:30 A.M. – 5:00 P.M. �
Arts & Entertainment
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 17
Wiz / Students live ‘young, wild & free’ continued from page 1
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Wiz Khalifa entertained 2,500 students with hits like ‘Black and Yellow’ and ‘Roll Up.’
Sean started off slow and had a hard time getting the crowd going at first. He played “Remember” pretty early on, which built up the excitement, but then lost it with a slew of slow songs. In a strange move, Sean then left the stage for about 15 minutes and let his DJ spin a few songs for the crowd. Surprisingly, this tactic worked, and the crowd was much more energetic when Sean returned to the stage. Sean then played a few more upbeat songs and added in an interesting sequence where he beatboxed Lil Wayne’s song “A Milli” — words, bass and beat included. He ended his set with “Down,” which got the crowd all ready for Khalifa. Ceej opened the concert with a short set, which didn’t really get the crowd going until the group started using some industry beats towards the end, including Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “No Church in the Wild.”
Overall the concert was a great success, with Khalifa stealing the show and holding the crowd in the palm of his hand.
Wait! There’s more!
Check out tcnjsignal.net -Our exlcusive interview with Jay Sean -An ode to Emily Dickinson at ink’s Visiting Writing Series -WTSR’s review of Oberhofer’s new album These will all be there … will you?
Mystique puts on a mystical display
Matthew Mance / Photo Assistant
A beautiful and traditional dragon dance captivated audience members. By Julia Corbett Arts & Entertainment Editor Country-hopping with an enormous die dictated three prospective students’ futures as they toured the make-believe College campus full of Bollywood dances, Chinese yo-yos, a fashion show and much more.
“Mystique of the East,” the annual cultural fusion experience sponsored by the Asian American Association, took Kendall Hall Main Stage on Saturday, March 24, with this year’s theme based on the game of Jumanji. The three players — sophomore biomedical engineering major Allyn Calvis, senior mechanical engineering major Chris Hurler and English and senior secondary education double major Nicole Magno — led audience members on a journey of various organizations at the College that showcased cultural traditional performances. The prospective students found the game box with a description that read, “A game for those who seek to find a way to leave their world behind.” Audience members escaped into this world as traditional taiko drums, tai chi dances, tinikling — a popular Filipino dance — Korean pop /hip hop and a dragon dance dictated the outcome of the game. Scene changes occurred when the room went dark, only for the three players to re-emerge onto the stage, usually in a frantic or confused manner. The trio of actors provided a lighthearted atmosphere, though some of the dialogue was awkward at times. Some of the actors stumbled over their lines while
other scenes were a bit corny. “I was pretty psyched about the acts as opposed to the in-between skits,” said senior religious studies major Jake Ehrlich. Each individual performance was highly energetic with colorful backgrounds and costumes. The utilization of lights and colors were especially important to the overall event as they provided scene changes and added extra, visually appealing components to sets. During the tinikling dance, the screen behind the performers changed from green to pink to yellow with every break in the beat of the song. The Chinese yo-yo dance was a favorite of the evening as audience members applauded individual tricks as well as group efforts. The group initially appeared on stage with glow-in-the-dark yo-yos. Sher Bhangra, a dance group that meshes Western and Indian music, capitalized on the upbeat energy of the hall. The men were dressed in traditional red and white bejeweled garb. “I feel like no stone was left unturned,” Ehrlich said. A fashion show that, according to the event pamphlet, “is a celebration and reflection of traditional and modern Asian
culture,” was another hit that generated ample applause. Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, Filipino and other cultural ensembles were featured on the catwalk. Fortunately, the prospective students were able to get out of the College’s Jumanji game alive, perhaps thanks to audience excitement. Similar to what Ehrlich said, pieces were not left untouched at this event.
Matthew Mance / Photo Assistant
A throw of a die transitioned one cultural display to the next.
Pianist performs Chopin on new Steinway
Andrew Bak / Staff Photographer
Two students won a master class instruction from esteemed pianist Jon Nakamatsu. By Thalia Ortiz Arts & Entertainment Assistant
Classical piano melodies filled the Mildred & Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall during pianist Jon Nakamatsu’s performance on Tuesday, March 20.
The event — “An Evening With Jon Nakamatsu” — featured a performance and master class offered by the worldrenowned and established pianist, who has showcased his talents in a number of recitals both in the U.S. and Europe. The program kicked off with several piano pieces, such as “Op. 22” by Chopin. Nakamatsu played with such precision and assurance that would also make each song more impressive than the last. He was able to perform on one of the College’s brand new Steinway grand pianos as part of the recent launch of the AllSteinway Campaign in February — which is the College’s effort to replace all current pianos with Steinways. During the master class portion of the evening, Nakamatsu explained that during a musical contest for young aspiring pianists, two students won the chance to be taught and given piano classes by the performer himself. The students were given several classes over a period of time as well as a public master class with Nakamatsu after his performance where the audience could observe the instruction being given. “Master classes are rare and not always public,” Nakamatsu said. The first student to perform was David Geng, a freshman at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School. The piece he played for the master class was Beethoven’s “Sonata Op.53.”
Overall, Geng showed superior skill and experience beyond his years as he played impressively. At the end of the Geng’s performance, Nakamatsu said, “Every time I give you classes, I feel like I learn so much.” As part of the class, Nakamatsu also made it a point to offer constructive criticism to Geng. Specifically Nakamatsu noted several issues that affected the sound of Geng’s performance, such as the size of the venue where he was playing. “There is so much space in a big concert hall like this that if you don’t play it right, it feels like everything blends together. You may hear it right but we (the audience) don’t,” Nakamatsu explained. Nakamatsu also told Geng to play slower in spite of performance nerves in order to articulate and deepen the sounds of the keys. Nakamatsu also worked with another winner of the competition — Brynn Elcock a senior at Delaware County Christian School. For her performance, Elcock played Chopin’s “Ballade No. 1.” Unlike Geng’s performance, Nakamatsu said he liked Elcock’s pacing. However, he recommended that Elcock remember the piano’s natural tendency as a bass-heavy instrument when playing songs with higher tones. “You have to think about the basic concept of the piano. There is what the piano wants to do, and then there is what you want it to do,” Nakamatsu said.
page 18 The Signal March 28, 2012
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‘Hunger games’ keeps you hungry for more By Brendan McGrath Features Editor
“The Hunger Games” is the most thrilling set of books to hit the pop fiction market of our generation. If the millions of readers and moviegoers haven’t convinced you yet, please allow me to try. I thought “The Hunger Games” was written for an audience of 14-year-old girls. In fact, while working at Barnes & Noble, nearly every person I sold the book to was a teenage girl. So, it was quite a revelation to find out that the book was centered around a fight-to-thedeath competition amongst 24 kids in which only one survives — it was enough to convince me to read the first 10 pages. Still, I was guilty of thinking that no matter how interesting the concept, the story would likely be of about the same quality as “Twilight.” After all, I like a good vampire story as much
as anyone, but even Kristen Stewart’s wonderful acting could not bring life to the plot of this troubled work. About 20 minutes after I began reading “The Hunger Games,” I realized that I wouldn’t be able to stop. Don’t get me wrong Potterheads, I’m not saying it’s better than the series that you live your lives by, but it is more intense. The character development is decent, but the real key to “The Hunger Games” is the constant turmoil that the characters go through as they play the game — just as the readers do when they follow the story. The heart of the story is the way that Suzanne Collins, the author, really brings out the pain involved in these games and questions the disregard for the individual. As the games proceed, Katniss, the main character, seems to have a chance of making it out, but you find yourself stuck — by rooting for her to win, you’re
theblaze.com
The popularity of ‘The Hunger Games’ may seem offputting to many, but once the book is given the chance, readers realize that the hype is well-deserved. actually rooting for 23 other kids between the ages of 12 and 18 to die. So, as the story progressed I found myself favoring some characters, pitying others and even almost hoping that some would die, so that the ones I liked could survive longer. When I realized that I was hoping for the death of one of Katniss’s stronger opponents, it caused me to step back and question what was happening.
That’s when I realized just how well this book was written. It’s not difficult to understand, a 12 year old could probably take a lot away from reading it, but at 21, I could too. I came to hate the abuse of power, the indulgence of the rich and the plight of the poor. The fact that I would start rooting for one character to kill another really made me think about my own perception of humanity. So, “The Hunger Games”
really packs a punch to start off the three-book series it is part of, and Collins follows up well with “Catching Fire.” These two books will bring you through a rush of emotions and prime you up for a great finale. Unfortunately, the third book doesn’t really deliver. It seems to stumble through teen angst in a way that provides no great entertainment, while at the same time diminishing the most significant plot points to a few short lines. My advice would be to pick up the first book as soon as you possibly can and read the first 20 pages. If you’re not hooked, then maybe it’s not for you. If you want to take the easy way out, go and see the movie. Despite the team Peeta/team Gale type of advertisement (which plays up to the Twilightesque of romance), the movie stays pretty true to the story and is an enjoyable and quick 142 minutes. All in all, the rave around “The Hunger Games” is fairly justified.
Wired
All College Theatre and TCNJ Musical
Photos courtesy of Colleen Duncan
Theatre put on their annual producton of “Wired” on Saturday, March 24 in the Cromwell lounge. This 24-hour competition started on Friday as 12 writers teamed up to create six 20-minute plays. The scripts were then given to directors to cast on Saturday morning. This year’s theme was ‘alternate realities.’ Each play was set in a reality show and had a specific time period. ‘The Devil is Red’ won best play, ‘Oregon Fail’ won best writing as well as best actress, and ‘The Ex Exchange’ won for best stage manager.
A ‘Stoned’ and ‘Lovesick’ night at the opera
By Kevin Schlittenhardt Staff Writer
“Warning, a cap gun will be fired during ‘The Stoned Guest’” read a sign outside of the Don Evans Black Box Theatre, alerting guests to stay on their toes during the performance on Thursday, March 22. There was no warning, however, for the utter ridiculousness and hilarity that would ensue on stage as the Lyric Theatre and the Department of Music presented two oneact comic operas — “Captain Lovelock” by composer John Duke and “The Stoned Guest” by the fictitious P.D. Q Bach, a character created by composer and professor Peter Schickele — for the Comedy Double Bill. “Captain Lovelock” — featured an eccentric, elderly widow, Terentia (music professor Nora Sirbaugh) who has been mulling over the thought of remarrying, much to the dismay of her laborious maid Pernille (senior music education major Nicole Cascione), and her tongue-incheek daughters, Leonora (junior music education major Amanda Gorzynski) and Laurentia (freshman music education major Diana Befi). To snap Terentia out of her lovesickness, her daughters and her maid hatch a plan with devious matchmaker,
Kirsten (senior music education major Laura Grant), to dress Pernille as a striking young soldier and trick Terentia into falling in love with “him.” Sirbaugh leapt from emotion to emotion throughout her performance as Terentia, shaking the matchmaker in a love hungry fury, falling in love at first sight with the “soldier” and ultimately abandoning the young thought of remarrying at her age after the maid revealed herself. Cascione had to hold for applause as soon as she stepped onto the stage disguised as the soldier and only induced more laughter as she pretended to seduce the crazy loon. Grant had the audience laughing even when her character was not speaking, flashing hilariously devious smirks as she tried to convince Terentia that she was as young then as she has ever been. Gorzynski and Befi embodied the feelings of the audience acting as the two daughters who, like the audience, fought to stifle their laughter throughout the whole debacle. After a brief intermission, the cast for “The Stoned Guest” took the stage. The second play was a hysterical meta-opera that had a trace of a storyline but ultimately set out to parody famous plays and poke fun at its own genre.
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Characters with varying emotions kept audience members laughing during the Comedy Double Bill. Donna Ribalda (junior music education major Allison Gibbons) played a highborn lady of the lowlands tossed off of her balcony by her hopeless, pathetic brother Don Octave (freshman music education major Kyle Sheehan). There, she almost immediately engages in back-and-forth competition with her swiftly established nemesis, Carmen Ghia (junior music major Hannah Adamy). The entire play was funny as the
characters jumped in and out of the story — at times realizing they were in an opera and then snapping back into their roles as characters. Gibbons and Adamy were priceless as their snowballing feud included pointing out each other’s off-pitch notes, a singing contest and bickering over who would be the more convincing looking man — Gibbons character got stuck with the job insisting that Adamy’s character would give it away considering she always “gives it away.” Sheehan gave a fantastic portrayal of the generic underdog trying to get it together but ends up stabbing himself while trying to slay the stoned character played by Binnix, who had the crowd in stitches as he managed to prompt death in all of the characters — he blatantly shoots Ghia after she chokes out Ribalda — despite his little stage time. The shows were phenomenal and went off without a hitch. “Lyric Theatre always puts on a high quality of shows,” said Noah Franc, senior international studies major. “The first show was funny in a southern, Oscar Wilde kind of way where the comedy is inside the show. And the second show is just a Monty Python-like parody of opera. It was a very good mix.”
page 20 The Signal March 28, 2012
Mini Fun Stuff
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 21
Sudoku
Easy
Hard
Check out this maze!
Meme of the week
...And maybe solve it too. Kudos to Kevin Kremenich
$18.50
Join our VIP Club! Text 91944 “Mamma” for discounts and specials. Holding an event soon? Ask about our catering!
page 22 The Signal March 28, 2012
Att
n o i t n e
GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL STUDENT APPRECIATION WEEK APRIL 2–6
TUESDAY, APRIL 3
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4
THURSDAY, APRIL 5
Graduate Student Drop-In Session for Resume Review and Career Tips
Cupcakes and Conversation with Faculty, ������������������
Discussion on Stress, Healthy Eating, and Brain Foods with a Registered Dietician
4–6 P.M.
4–5 P.M.
4–5 P.M.
Roscoe L. West Hall 102
Forcina Hall 227 Education/Counseling
Brower Student Center 210
Paul Loser Hall 201 Nursing/English
For more information or to RSVP, see www.tcnj.edu/graduate
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 23
Lions dominate Cabrini College on the road Lacrosse
Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The team now sits at 7-1 for the season. By Brandon Gould Staff Writer Once junior attacker Trenna Hill’s shot met the back of the net, the route was on for the College as they walked away with an 18-4 victory over Cabrini College on Saturday, March 24. Hill’s initial goal was followed by three scores by junior attacker Alex Spark, who led the No. 4-ranked Lions with six points in the game. The duo was two of eight Lions who scored goals against the Cavaliers. “Out on the field we are all players of the game, we all have
the ability to score and win games,” Spark said. “It shows that we have a good balance on our team and we like to work for each other.” Spark was able to work with sophomore midfielder Lauren Pigott, who scored two of her team-high five goals off of assists from Spark. “Both times I was able to find her, I had already drawn more than one defender,” Spark said. “Pigott continued to make the cut into the open space, allowing me to make the pass.” Senior attacker Sara Keating was another Lion who recorded multiple goals, tallying three in the first half. The scoring for the Lions in the second half was led by the freshman class as midfielder Lydia Carra and attackers Erin Healy and Kendel Borup recorded points. Healy started it off when she notched herself a goal after receiving a pass from senior midfielder Kathleen Notos — the assist was Notos’ first of the season. Carra registered two goals in the second half, getting assists from Borup and Healy. Although Erin Waller is the only freshman to get a nod in the starting lineup this season — opening the game against Frostburg State University — Spark has been impressed by the overall play of the rookie class. “The freshman class has some really strong players, and when they get their chance on the field they take full advantage of it and work their hardest,” Spark said. The Lions defense was strong again against the Cavaliers in front of sophomore goalkeeper Kelsey Zinck, who only surrendered three goals. Zinck was able to use her communication skills to keep the defense unified, and the results showed it as the Cavaliers only got ten shots off. “Kelsey had a great game today and always plays well,” Spark said. “She looks like a natural goalie and is very vocal on the field which helps the team stay organized.”
Pigott has been effective for the Lions on defense yet again — she’s been named the NJAC Defender of the Week three straight times this year — compiling six draw controls and four ground balls. Notos was also strong defensively with five draw controls, two ground balls and a team-high two caused turnovers. Meanwhile, senior midfielder Leigh Mitchell moved closer to history as she scored one goal and added two assists against the Cavaliers. Mitchell is now only 15 points away from tying former teammate Ali Jaeger’s record of 364 career points. Mitchell’s next step toward that mark will be challenging, as the Lions — who now stand at 7-1 — will be back in action on Friday, March 30, when they meet the top-ranked team in the country, Gettysburg College.
Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
A big showdown with No. 1 Gettysburg looms.
Softball
Softball team takes two of four games for the week
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
The Lions split a pair of series.
By Mike Pietroforte Staff Writer
The College’s softball team went
2-2 this week, taking two games from Muhlenberg College on Wednesday, March 21 and losing two games to SUNY Cortland on Saturday, March 24. In the first game, the Lions piled it on early by putting up seven runs in the first two innings, and closing out the game with a final score of 9-1. Senior outfielder Crystal Lee went 3-4 at the plate with a stolen base, an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore shortstop Kristen Lake and junior centerfielder Liz Huttner also had two hits apiece in the offensive effort. Senior pitcher Lauren Fitzsimmons was dominant on the mound, allowing only one run in five innings while striking out five. In the second game, sophomore pitcher Alex Carisone held Muhlenberg scoreless through seven innings, striking out three and walking only two. The College struck first, scoring one in the first inning when Huttner doubled to
bring in Lee. Junior third baseman Kelly Hommen hit a two-run home run in the third inning to add to the lead. The Lions’ fortune turned later in the week, when they dropped both halves of a double header in their home opener to SUNY Cortland. Cortland took the first game with a final score of 6-2. The Lions held a 2-0 lead after three innings of play, but saw it disappear in the later innings when Cortland’s bats awoke, accounting for two runs in the fourth inning, one in the fifth, one in the sixth and then two more in the seventh. Fitzsimmons took the loss on the hill. Huttner had another good game at the plate, going two for three with an RBI and a stolen base. The Lions lost the second game to SUNY Cortland by a decisive final of 9-1 in only five innings of play. Carisone allowed nine runs in four and one-third innings of work, and the Lions mustered only four hits in the loss.
The games scheduled against Franklin and Marshall College for Sunday, March 25 were cancelled. The Lions will resume action in a doubleheader at home on Wednesday, March 28 against Messiah College.
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Messiah comes to town on Wed.
Baseball
Baseball takes four games for the week The baseball team had a strong week, winning all four of its games culminating with a sweep of Muhlenberg College on Saturday, March 24. Senior first baseman Jimmy Ruzich came through in the first game, a 7-3 win, with four RBI in the final three innings to push the College to the victory. Junior pitcher Robert Graber tossed a strong game, allowing three runs in seven innings to give him his first win of the season. In the second game, a 13-10 slugfest over the Mules, the Lions were assisted by a shoddy Muhlenberg infield, scoring five runs in the fourth inning without the ball ever leaving the infield. — Alex Wolfe, Sports Editor
Lisa Nitzsche / Staff Photographer
page 24 The Signal March 28, 2012
Helen Shaw Staff Excellence and S p e c i a l A c h i e v e m e n t Aw a r d 2 0 1 2 N O M I N AT I O N S A R E N O W B E I N G A C C E P T E D ! A l l s t u d e n t s , f a c u l t y a n d s t a ff a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o n o m i n a t e a n y e l i g i b l e T C N J s t a ff m e m b e r, d e p a r t m e n t o r t e a m & r e c o g n i z e t h e i r extraordinary service! For nomination forms & award criteria visit: h t t p : / / h s h a w. p a g e s . t c n j . e d u / Deadline:
M o n d a y, M a y 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 a t 4 P M
2 0 1 2 N o m i n a t i o n F o r m s & Aw a r d C r i t e r i a a l s o a v a i l a b l e a t : i i i
B r owe r S t u d e n t C e n t e r In f o D e s k L i br a r y a n d F a c i l i t i e s S e l e c t D e p a r t m en t O f f i c e s
CLASS OF 1936
H E L E N S H AW
International Film Festival Cape No. 7 (Hǎijiǎo Qī Hào海角七號. Taiwan, 2008, 129 min) Director: Wei Tesheng Set in a picturesque coastal town of Hengchun, Taiwan, this film tells of two stories. In the 1940s when Taiwan was a Japanese colony, a Japanese teacher, dispatched to Hengchun, fell in love with a local girl name Kojima Tomoko. After the Japanese surrender, he was forced to return to Japan. On his trip home, he confessed his love in seven letters which he never found the courage to deliver. He locked them away until his death. His daughter discovered the letters and decided to mail them.
Discussion led by Celia Liu and Jia Yan Mi, Chinese Professors.
Sponsors Department of World Languages and Cultures The School of Humanities and Social Sciences
Some 60 years later the letters falls into the hands of a struggling young Hengchun-native singer Aga who could not find success in Taipei and has returned to Hengchun as a postman. Aga comes across a Tomoko, a Japanese model assigned to organize a local warm-up band for the Japanese super star beach concert in Hengchun, and a new love story is written. Director Wei Tesheng weaves the two disparate stories skillfully into a powerful film about the forbidden love, romance and nostalgia. Cape No. 7 is the highest grossing local film in Taiwan's history and has won the 2008 outstanding Taiwanese film at the 45th Golden Horse Awards. 3 April 2012
The School of Arts and Communication The Center for Global Engagement TCNJ Center for the Arts Taipei Economic and Culture Office in New York
6:00 PM Library Auditorium Questions or comments? Contact the Department of World Languages & Cultures @ 609.771.2235.
4 6
March 28, 2012 The Signal page 25
LIONS
AROUND THE
DORM 5 3
Peter Fiorilla “The Ref”
Chris Molicki Sports Assistant
Mike Pietroforte Staff Writer
Kevin Black Correspondent
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Peter Fiorilla, challenges Sports Assistant Chris Molicki, Staff Writer Mike Pietroforte and Correspondent Kevin Black to answer questions about whether the Tebow trade will be good for the Jets, how the suspensions from BountyGate will affect the Saints this season and who will win the vastly different NL this year.
AP Photo
1. Tim Tebow’s trade to the Jets has garnered a lot of criticism, especially since incumbent QB Mark Sanchez just signed a hefty contract extension in the offseason. Sanchez will be under more pressure than ever, and the Jets may have created a future QB controversy by bringing in Tebow. Was getting Tebow a good football decision for the Jets, or should they have let him go somewhere else? CM: I don’t understand why people hate this move, because I love it. This is a great lowrisk, high-reward move for the Jets. With Tebow, you get a capable backup who will be able to run the Wildcat under offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, play multiple positions, and push Mark Sanchez to become the quarterback that everyone is expecting him to be. Tebow will also be a great locker room presence as a leader for a team who clearly had some difficulty in that area last season. Plus, the Jets only gave up a fourth round pick for him, it was well worth it. Yes, there will be plenty of fans screaming for Tebow and plenty of pressure for Sanchez, but if he can’t handle it, he may just not be good enough. This was a great move for New York and, although they need to fill plenty of other holes, this is a good start. MP: Getting Tebow will be a good football decision for the Jets as long as they are very clear on what their intentions for Tebow and Sanchez are. Sanchez was under some fire this past season from both the fans and even his own teammates regarding his work habits. Expect Tebow to light a fire under Sanchez, by presenting some kind of competition on the practice field. In addition to being a quality BACKUP quarterback, Tebow could be very valuable if used correctly for gadget-plays or third and short situations. In order to prevent the trade from blowing up in their face the Jets need to make sure that the fans know that their starter will be Mark Sanchez. I still don’t think that Tebow is a capable starting quarterback, and if the Jets make it seem as though he has an option to contend or be their starter, they leave the window open for the team to be perceived as a debacle by the fans and the media. From a football standpoint, this could be a useful pickup, but this could also prove to be a mistake. KB: I think the thing we are forgetting with the Sanchez situation is that he really is on a short leash despite his deal — 2012 and 2013 were his “do or die” years anyway if you believe what you had heard previously. So even though they signed that deal, they could get out of it just as quickly due to opt-outs. But what they did in trading for Tebow was hope-
fully light a fire under Sanchez. Regardless I think it’s still a bad decision because the Jets are not the place that he is seriously going to develop. He wants to be a true quarterback and not some gimmick wildcat QB every now and then. He would not work as hard as he does to be a QB if he did not believe it possible. He needed to go to a place where he could develop himself into more of a QB, but the Jets looked at the number of wins he had and how they could make a splash in the N.Y. media in any other month but when it counts (something they have yet to learn from the Giants). If this move was to make the team better, they still have a ways to go. PF: Chris gets 3 points for noting the Jets did not end up paying much for a QB who can play in the wildcat system and has a good locker room presence. Michael gets 2 points for pointing out that Tebow can be a quality addition if the Jets make it clear he is their No. 2 QB. Kevin gets 1 point because if Tebow did not want to be a gimmick in the Wildcat system, he would have gone to Jacksonville or somewhere else instead of N.Y. 2. The Saints are paying for institutionalizing a bounty system, with several assistant coaches and head coach Sean Payton being suspended for as long as the entire NFL season. What will the lasting effects of BountyGate be, and are the Saints still the favorites to win the NFC South? CM: The lasting effects of this event will be good. There is absolutely no place in football for bounties, especially when the sport has been more concerned about players’ health than ever. Because Roger Goodell came down so strongly on the Saints, the rest of the NFL has gotten the message and won’t consider any of this nonsense, making the league better. As for the Saints, they’re still the favorite to win the South. Losing Sean Payton is a huge blow, so it hurts their title chances, but Drew Brees is a monster and basically a coach on the field. He will continue to run the Saints’ high-powered offense to perfection. Plus, with New Orleans basically being unbeatable at home, they look more popular than Atlanta, whose quarterback has yet to break out, or upstart Carolina, whose breakout quarterback is really the only thing going for them. MP: The Saints are paying a hefty price for their bounty system. They lose one of the best head coaches in the NFL, Sean Payton, for a full year. Their GM is banned for the first eight games of the season, and they will also be losing their second round pick from this year and next year. The loss of the two picks will definitely put a dent in the team’s future, but the loss of their beloved head coach looks to be crippling for this year. The Saints are a very talented team. They’re led by Drew Brees, one of the best passers in the league, they have an explosive offense, and a competent defense, but so much of their success in the past few years has been due to the system implemented by Sean Payton. With the Atlanta Falcons and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers nipping at their heels, I no longer think the Saints are the favorites to win the NFC South. By losing Sean Payton, the Saints have essentially had their head cut off. KB: The Saints’ offense will probably still go like clockwork, they have won games without coach Payton before. The problem is going to be the defense and after the individual suspensions take place. Yes, they could rally
around these suspensions and still make a season out of it, and the loss of cornerback Tracy Porter to free agency already hurts them, so let’s look elsewhere. Atlanta is in the same boat basically with a good offense and a soso defense. New coaches are a question mark, especially first-year coaches in the league, so who knows with Tampa. This leaves the Carolina Newtons (Panthers). Yes, they finished poorly even with Cam Newton’s amazing season but if you take a closer look, if not for some key missed field goals in late games, they’d probably finish 8-8 or even better. The defense is OK and nothing really has changed with the core nucleus still in tact. Couple that with the fact that he will be a year wiser and the fact that very rarely does anyone in that division repeat, I think Carolina could surprise everyone and take this division. PF: Chris gets 3 points for noting that Drew Brees is like an on-field coach, and that the Saints’ punishment might be the end of bounties in the NFL. Kevin gets 2 points for predicting a Panthers division title on the back of ultra-talented QB Cam Newton. Michael gets 1 point for observing that Sean Payton will not be around to implement his system, but not picking a favorite to win the division. 3. The National League looks pretty wide open this year. St. Louis is the defending world champion, the NL West is always up in the air, Philadelphia is always good, and there a few other teams with pennant potential. Who is your pick to win the NL? CM: There is a lot of parity in the NL. The Brewers and Cardinals have declined and one has to wonder if the Marlins, Diamondbacks, or Giants are really the favorite, so I have to go with the Phillies. The pitching staff is still dominant with the best one-two punch in the game of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, plus Cole Hamels and youngster Vance Worley. Signing Jonathan Papelbon gives them a reliable closer something they didn’t have in the past. Finally, the lineup has a good mix of young talent (John Mayberry and Hunter Pence) and veterans (Chase Utley, Shane Victorino, Jimmy Rollins) to make the Phillies the clear-cut favorite in the inferior National League. They ran into a red hot Cardinal team in the postseason last year, but this year, they have a somewhat easy path to the world series. MP: A lot of good hitters left the National League this off-season, and a few NL teams made some big moves to bring themselves into the playoff picture. Contenders from the NL Central, like the Brewers and Cardinals, still hold big pieces but lost cornerstones in Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder. After these large losses, the NL Central almost seems up in the air to me. The Giants have a powerful pitching staff, and the Rockies boast a solid lineup, but I feel like the real threats come
AP Photo
from the NL East. The team that made some of the biggest additions is the Miami Marlins, by adding an MVP candidate from last year, Jose Reyes, a shutdown closer, Heath Bell and a veteran starter, Mark Buerhle. The Marlins also brought in a fire-starter manager in Ozzie Guillen to change the culture of the club as they open up their new stadium this year. Other competitors who are sneaking into contention are the Atlanta Braves and the Washington Nationals. Both teams return extremely strong cores of young players. The incumbent Phillies are still my favorite to control the NL East; they boast three of the top five starting pitchers in the NL and shored up their bullpen this offseason by adding Jonathan Papelbon. However, injuries to key hitters Chase Utley and Ryan Howard create some offensive worries. KB: I am going to pick the Miami Marlins to make the jump and get back to World Series. Yes they were huge players in the free agent market and got Jose Reyes, manager Ozzie Guillen and pitcher Mark Buehrle to add to what was a pretty solid young team that could only get better. St. Louis is weakened by the loss of Albert Pujols and Philly, even with Halladay, is getting a bit up there in the age department and the ever unpredictable-butsolid NL West may have a new team at the top this time around. I think Miami has a real good shot at winning the pennant. Yes, they are going to need some time to gel it together, but with 162 games, you have that luxury and also having that extra wild card helps their chances considering how tough that division really is but regardless I think they will get there by possibly needing that spot. We will see. PF: Kevin gets 3 points for predicting a Marlins pennant as a reward for bringin in huge free agents and renowned manager Ozzie Guillen. Chris and Michael get 2 points for playing it safe with the Phillies, who have retained an all-star pitching rotation and a quality lineup from year-to-year.
Chris wins this week’s AtD, 8 - 6 - 5.
“My bracket is busted, but I can still win AtD.” — Chris
page 26 The Signal March 28, 2012
Graduate Studies & Summer Term
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March 28, 2012 The Signal page 27
LIONS ROUNDUP Lion of the Week
This Week’s Picks Chris Molicki (17-19)
NCAA National Championship
Mavericks vs. Heat
Bulls vs. Thunder
Flyers vs. Penguins
Danica Roskos
Alex Wolfe (14-22)
Swimming & Diving
Brandon Gould (12-24) Joe Caputo (14-22)
Danica Roskos, junior diver for the College’s women’s swimming and diving team, had a remarkable feat this past weekend by winning back-to-back national championships in the 1-meter dive event. She is the only Lion to ever do this. Roskos continued her strong performance by placing third in the 3-meter dive event.
Baseball
—Chris Molicki, Sports Assistant
This Week In Sports Baseball Mar. 28 vs. Alvernia University, 3:30 p.m.
Mar. 31 vs. Kean University (DH), 11:30 a.m. Apr. 3 vs. Widener University, 3:30 p.m.
Countdown to History
Softball Mar. 28 vs. Messiah College (DH), 3 p.m.
Senior midfielder Leigh Mitchell is on her way to breaking the College’s alltime points record in women’s lacrosse. Track her journey with The Signal!
Mar. 31 @ Rutgers-Newark, 1 p.m.
Points Record 349 365 (Ali Jaeger)
Apr. 3 @ Rutgers University-Camden (DH), 3 p.m. Men’s Tennis Mar. 28 vs. Kutztown College, 3 p.m.
Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Trivia Question
Mar. 31 vs. Skidmore College, 1 p.m. Apr. 1 vs. Franklin & Marshall College, 12 p.m.
Last Week’s Answer: Four
Ohio pushed North Carolina to overtime, but they couldn’t quite pull out the victory. The win would have made the Bobcats the lowest seed to ever reach the Elite Eight. Which team, seed and year were the lowest to make an Elite Eight in NCAA tournament history?
Women’s Tennis Apr. 1 @ University of Mary Washington, 10 a.m. Lacrosse Mar. 30 vs. Gettysburg College, 6 p.m Apr. 3 vs. Rowan University, 7p.m.
AP Photo
Track & Field Mar. 30-31 @ Danny Curran Invitational (hosted by Widener University), TBD
Signal
Sports
Roskos wins D-III diving championship
Both swim teams finish high at Nationals meet
Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Roskos finished in first in the three-meter dive. By Chris Molicki Sports Assistant
The College made its mark at the NCAA Division III championships, both individually and as a team, with the women getting seventh place and the men getting 12th place nationally. Junior Danica Roskos became the first-ever Lion to win back-to-back national titles, as she won the 1-meter dive with a score of 450.60. She also grabbed a third place finish in the 3-meter dive event. “I am extremely excited about winning the national championship on one meter,” Raskos said. “However, I could not have done as well without my coach or my teammates — they all push me to work harder and believe in myself. (Sophomore) Sabrina Lucchesi is a great teammate who helped keep me focused and positive throughout the week.” The women had several top performances on their way to a strong finish. Senior Laura Pierce was truly a leader and sparked the Lions in the early going. She reached a total of 22 All-American Honors, giving her the most in Lions’ history. Pierce was fourth overall in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-butterfly with times of 23.31 and 55.20, respectively, and ninth overall in the 100-free with a time
of 51.02. Pierce also placed in the top 15 on four relay teams. Her 200-medley relay team included sophomore Hailey Growney, junior Kayleigh Shangle and freshman Brennah Ross and finished at 1:46.63. Her 400-medley relay team was the same as the 200-medley relay team and finished with a time of 3.52.76. Finally, Pierce and her team of Shangle, Ross, and senior Melissa Hessler were 11th in the 400-freestyle relay and seventh in another relay event. “Laura is a great leader,” Roskos said. “She inspires the team through her actions and encourages the team to all do their best. All of the girls on the team are extremely supportive of one another, so we are all able to remain positive throughout the long grueling week.” “Being in Indianapolis this year was especially exciting because of the surprise comebacks in relays that we weren’t expected to place so high,” Shangle said. “The team really fed off of these successes.” Shangle also placed 11th in the 100-yard breaststroke event with a time of 1:04.17 and 14th in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:21.56. She was also given honorable mention All American honors. “It was exhilarating swimming some best times, having amazing relays, and feeding off the energy of such an exciting meet,” Shangle said. “Our ‘mini team’ of girls — just seven — did a lot more than expected.” The team also brought a more laid-back approach to the meet, which helped them finish as highly as they did. “The team approached this meet differently than in the past, focusing on the race, not our times,” Shangle said. “Both the swimmers and divers went into this ready to race, and treasured the experience.” The men kicked off the first day by coming up just short in the 200-medley relay. The team of freshman Aleksander Burzynski, sophomore Michael Oliva, junior Adam Schneider and senior Ryan Clark raced to a finish of 1:31.85, missing the finals by three-hundredths of a second. The team proceeded to bounce back to win the consolation finals. The 200-freestyle relay brought more success for the Lions. Coming in at an impressive sixth overall nationally, the
team of Schneider, sophomore Stephen Gibson, sophomore Philip Halwey and Clark blazed to the finish of 1:21.63. The 800-free relay was also strong for the College, as they placed 14th. Sophomore Stephen Tarnowski, Clark, senior Jesse Taylor and junior Brian Giacopelli completed the race in 6:48.42. The men ended the final day of competition with a ninth place finish in the 400-freestyle relay at a time of 3:03.33. The team consisted of Clark, Taylor, Schneider and Gibson. Senior T. J. Burns was strong in the 1-meter diving event. Burns was 12th overall with a score of 424.65. Tarnowski made it into the top 20 in both the 200 and 400 individual medleys at the times of 1:52.84 and 4:05.75 respectively. Schneider also finished 15th in the 50-free by swimming at a time of 20.74 in the consolation finals. The swimmers are proud of their accomplishments this season. “We are all really excited about this season, it is great that we had a top ten finish two years in a row,” Roskos said. “It was a great way to end the season, everyone worked hard and had fun.” Alex Wolfe contributed to this report.
Courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The women’s team took sixth overall at Nationals.
Two tennis players reach 100-win milestone By Peter Fiorilla Staff Writer
The women’s tennis team took a pair of matches this week to improve to 11-1 on the season, with seniors Felice Trinh and Emily Petersack reaching the 100-win milestone on the way. Trinh and Petersack started the Lions’ 8-1 victory against Stevens Institute of
Lisa Nitzsche / Staff Photographer
The women’s team won two matches.
Lions’ Lineup March 28, 2012
I n s i d e
Technology by winning a doubles match 8-2, their 99th wins for the College, while juniors Paige Aiello and Lauren Balsamo combined for an 8-5 win. The Lions kept the momentum going in singles, where they swept the Ducks and Trinh and Petersack earned their 100th career wins. “They’ve had a great career to get to that 100-win mark. They’ve been a doubles team the last two years, and they’ve been very very successful as a team,” head coach Scott DiCheck said on Monday. “I know they were both very excited the way it played out, that they got it on the same day.” Aiello (second), Balsamo (third), freshman Deborah Wu (fourth) and freshman Sarah Lippincott (fifth) also won in singles to secure the home victory. The Lions continued their good form by beating a solid Swarthmore College squad, 7-2. “We were geared up for the Swarthmore match since we had a great match against them last year,” DiCheck said.
“We expected another great match and it turned out that way.” An early sweep in doubles would set the tone for the Lions. Juniors Karisse Bendijo and Allison Tierney won a dramatic contest in doubles that ended 9-8 (7-5), and the pairings of Trinh-Petersack and Aiello-Balsamo won for the second time in as many matches, 8-4 and 8-3. “We played some really good tennis and took advantage of doubles. Doubles was the turning point, once we got a 3-0 lead it really turned the match around,” DiCheck said. Petersack’s win in doubles was her 65th, putting her in a tie for tenth on the program’s all-time winners in doubles, while Trinh is just behind at 64. Bendijo (first), Trinh (second) Wu (fifth) and Petersack (sixth) picked up points in singles to give the Lions the victory, their 11th in 11 games against Division II and III teams. The women’s team next heads to University of Mary Washington this Sunday, while the men’s team will compete against
Kutztown University, Skidmore College and Franklin and Marshall College on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, to continue its season. The men’s and women’s tennis teams were scheduled to play New York University on Sunday, but the matches were cancelled due to impending inclement weather.
Lisa Nitzsche / Staff Photographer
The team is undefeated vs. D-II and -III.
46 53 Around the Dorm page 25
Baseball takes four straight page 23
Softball goes .500 page 23
Lacrosse dominates page 23