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