alumni Panel discusses post college lives
Kevin McCartney nails the game-winner for men’s soccer
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See Sports page 20
Vol. XXXIX, No. 5
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
September 25, 2013
A beautiful wall Reflecting on a US journey
Debunking the ideal
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
Read about how the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon raises awareness for eating disorders on page 11.
By Annabel Lau Staff Writer Fulbright scholar and Trenton State alumnus Yassin El-Ayouty returned to the College to speak to students on Monday, Sept. 16, the anniversary of his arrival on campus from Egypt 61 years ago. El-Ayouty, a true Renaissance man, has served many notable positions in the U.N. over three decades and founded SUNSGLOW, a private corporation that specializes in legal and judicial training in developing nations. He is a member of many bar associations within the United States and Egypt, and, as an expert in international law, has taught political science and law at various universities in both countries. But before his successful career, El-Ayouty was a 24-year-old student of primary education and psychology at Trenton State College, which transformed his life. “I would not be where I am now without having started as a Fulbright,” El-Ayouty said. “I would not have done the things that are good enough to mention without my (fulfilling) the Fulbright tradition of action.” Upon arriving on campus in 1952, El-Ayouty met with William H. Hausdoerffer, the dean of men at the time, and Hausdoerffer’s
wife, Rosemary, in Bliss Hall, which had been used as a dormitory. Rosemary gave the famished El-Ayouty a glass of milk — “the most delicious glass of milk (he’d) ever had.” Hausdoerffer became a mentor to El-Ayouty throughout his stay at the College. Within the next few weeks, Hausdoerffer brought El-Ayouty to meet Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was campaigning for president, and later, Harry S Truman. “Hausdoerffer said, ‘You want to meet Truman?’ I said, ‘The president of the United States? Yes!’” El-Ayouty said. Among other Trenton State faculty whom El-Ayouty remembered fondly were English professor Alfred P. Holman and former president Roscoe West, after whom Holman Hall and the Roscoe L. West Library are named. “All of these people were really the basic plaster of my interacting with the College,” El-Ayouty said. While in the United States, ElAyouty ran into financial troubles because he was unable to access the money that his father had allocated to him in Egypt. Hausdoerffer assisted El-Ayouty by finding him part-time jobs. ElAyouty was assigned the job of fixing a storm window in a faculty member’s home. When he had
Tim Lee / Photo Emeritus
El-Ayouty speaks at College.
finished, one of the ladies in the house invited him up for tea and cookies and asked him about the Egypt Revolution of 1952. “I told them about the Egypt Revolution and by the time I was done, each one of them had an envelope with $5 in it,” El-Ayouty said. “I felt like Donald Trump.” Another job that Hausdoerffer found for El-Ayouty was babysitting for two young children in the neighborhood. As soon as the parents left for their dinner dance, El-Ayouty was met with the challenge of entertaining the children for the night. “In Egypt, I used to write see ALUMNUS page 13
Helen Shaw Award presented for achievements
Outstanding staff recognized by the College at ceremony
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
Conner, middle, poses proudly with his plaque at the awards ceremony.
By Regina Yorkgitis Web Editor
The 10th annual Helen Shaw Staff Excellence and
INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5 The Signal @TCNJsignal
Special Achievement Award was presented to Scott Sferra, supervisor to Lions EMS, and Dave Conner, assistant director for Fraternity and Sorority Life, on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The award was created in January 2003 in honor of Helen D. Shaw, who graduated from the College in 1936. The award recognizes staff members for their exceptional efforts to advance and improve life at the College. After months of evaluating all of the accomplished nominees, the selection committee chose Sferra and Conner for the award. Sferra, associate director of Student Accounts, was commended for his service as supervisor of Lions Emergency Medical Service. When Sferra took over as head of Lions EMS, he jumped aboard a sinking ship. Joe Hadge, the Alcohol and Drug Education program coordinator, who presented Sferra with the award, explained how, at the time, the program was at risk of being shut down. “Without Scott’s acceptance of leading, Lions EMS might not be here today,” Hadge said. see AWARDS page 2
Editorial / Page 7
Opinions / Page 8
Features / Page 11
Courtney Wirths / Photo Editor
Sferra, left, accepts his award. Arts & Entertainment / Page 15
Sports / Page 24
PHILADANCO Dancers put on a show at the College
Compassion Talk Students lectured on the self empowerment
Chipotle Ad Meat from factory farms no longer used
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See News page 2
See Features page 12