Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLVI, No. 14
May 3, 2017
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Activities funding facing major cuts By Chelsea LoCascio and Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-in-Chief and Reviews Editor
Novak brings ‘Office’ to College By Jessica Ganga Staff Writer
Students at the College became the judges of writer and actor B.J. Novak’s jokes on Tuesday, April 25, during the College Union Board’s Spring Comedy show, deciding which ones made the cut and which ones would never again see the light of day. “I did bring some jokes,” Novak said. “I am going to try them out and I do want you to be honest. The jokes that you don’t like, stay here. In New Jersey.” Before Novak took to the stage, the College’s premier improv comedy group The Mixed Signals helped warm the audience up by playing improvisational games on stage. Next, Kiss on the Lips entered the stage to dimmed lights and an intro video on the big screen, giving a little background on the group. The New York City improv sketch comedy group got their start performing in the basement of the their friend’s home in Ewing, N.J. and is comprised see SAF page 2 of College Alumnus Alex
If you are a student employee at the College, then you might be disappointed when you check your bank account next semester and see your income take a hit. For those who rely on the Loop Bus to get off campus, you may find the schedule less convenient than it used to be. When you are thinking of requesting funding for your organization, you could have to spend your own money to fund an event. The Student Finance Board, which is charged with allocating the Student Activity Fee fund to organizations’ events, is in the midst of some major changes. The SAF budget started out with around $1.6 million in the beginning of this academic year. During the Spring 2016 semester, the College’s Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht proposed to remove up to 15 percent, or about $240,000, of the SAF budget every year to hire and new staff during both this semester and the next fiscal year. Of that $240,000, $60,000 of the SAF is used for the club sports and intramural director and an estimated $100,000 will be used for the diversity inclusion representative when they are hired, according to Chris Blakeley, the Student Government representative for SFB and a sophomore civil engineering major.
Novak reads from ‘One More Thing’ during his set. Guaglianone (’15), Alumnus Jonathan van Halem (’16) and Garrett Verdone, a senior marketing major. The comedic trio viewed opening up for Novak as a great opportunity. “What was so nice about opening for B.J. Novak is that the audience was so eager to laugh,” van Halem said. “We had won them over with our first sketch, and from there on out it was smooth sailing.
Performing at TCNJ again was a dream, and we’ll keep coming back until they don’t want us anymore.” Novak had requested for student comedy groups to open up his show, something he does for every college show he performs, according to Verdone. The group was eager to introduce Novak, who brought with him a suitcase and a copy of The Signal.
“I wanted to know what kinds of stuff you guys are used to, so I went through The Signal,” Novak said. “I have a lot of competition tonight because I know that you are used to ‘Fun Stuff.’” Novak went on to inform the audience that, instead of coming to the show that night, they could have stayed home and matched see COMEDY page 18
of trustees discusses Students protest disconnecton with Trenton Board possible tuition hike By Michelle Lampariello Nation & World Editor
Members of the TCNJ Committee on Unity engaged in a sit-in for more than 24 hours to fight the closure of the TCNJ Clinic and support of renaming Paul Loser Hall. TCU occupied a Green Hall conference room from 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, to approximately 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27. Students involved in the protest believe that not renaming Paul Loser Hall and closing the TCNJ Clinic are “Different Symptoms of the Same Problem,” according to flyers posted around campus. TCU believes that both Loser Hall and the closure of the TCNJ Clinic reflect the College’s disconnection with Trenton. “I think that disconnecting programs that were directly helping the Trenton community demonstrates that we don’t really care, or don’t feel obligated to be connected to
By Heidi Cho News Assistant
our mental health services for our students.” TCU presented six demands to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein, the first of which was “an acknowledgement of The College of New Jersey’s intentional and systematic erasure of Trenton from its name, history, and advertising,”
The College’s board of trustees discussed future tuition and budget planning, swore in new board members and said farewell to the current student trustee during its Wednesday, April 26, meeting. Anthony J. Cimino, Carl Gibbs and Rebecca Ostrov were sworn in as new members of the Board of Trustees. College President R. Barbara Gitenstein also shared kind words about the student trustee, Dana DiSarno, a senior mathematics and statistics major, who shared insight during board meetings. This year, Gov. Chris Christie’s budget includes level funding of $2.2 billion for higher education. It might look like flat funding in terms of appropriation, yet there is still a growing expense for fringe benefits, a supplement to an employee’s salary like company health insurance. A portion of state funding to the College is being cut, according to the presentation. “Every college and university in southern New Jersey... is seeing the exact same numbers being projected numbers,” Keating said. While overall enrollment has increased by 200 full time equivalent students, there has been a drop in money from the state per full-time equivalent student. One full time equivalency, or FTE, is a measurement
see PROTEST page 5
see TRUSTEES page 3
Photo courtesy of TCNJ Committee on Unity
Students advocate for renaming Paul Loser Hall and saving TCNJ Clinic. Trenton anymore,” said Keller Gordon, a sophomore English major and sit-in participant. College President R. Barbara Gitenstein told The Signal she hopes to work with students in order to foster a better relationship with Trenton and establish an ongoing dialogue regarding campus issues. “I met with several students yesterday in my conference room. We began the meeting
with them sharing a document that delineated their concerns requested a meeting,” Gitenstein wrote in a statement. “I commend the students for their commitment to making a difference in their world and the community and I hope that we can work together to assure that improvements are made in communication, in relationships with Trenton, and in continuing to enhance
INDEX: Nation & World / page 7 Editorial / page 9 IMM Showcase Follow us on... Seniors present thesis projects The Signal See A&E page 19 @tcnjsignal
Opinions / page 10
Features / page 14 Arts & Entertainment / page 18
Sports / page 24
Body Hair Monologues Students share stories about body hair
Lacrosse Season finishes with winning streak
See Features page 14
See Sports page 24
page 2 The Signal May 3, 2017
SAF / SFB reserves down to $190,000 continued from page 1
The outlook of hiring the SFB business operations manager is not currently being looked at. If this position is not filled, it would save SFB about $80,000, according to Blakeley. Robert Mitchals, the current executive director of SFB and a junior political science major, said that while Hecht did not violate SFB’s Constitution and this reallocation of SAF was ultimately within her rights as vice president for Student Affairs, her decisions have put SFB in significant financial trouble. Though the loss will not cause an increase in the SAF students pay as part of their miscellaneous fees each semester, it will greatly impact how much money SFB can allocate to different club events on campus. According to a letter Hecht addressed to SFB in 2016, both she and Mitchals agreed that no more than 15 percent of the SAF would be used annually to fund positions created to directly benefit students. “I am grateful for the student leadership who stepped up and saw a need on this campus and agreed to fund it,” Hecht said. “The position that is already on campus has made a tremendous difference for our club sports and intramural program. I believe the director of Student Diversity and Inclusion will do the same.” “Student Affairs wants to support students and provide the very best student experience that we can,” Hecht added. “With the support of Student Government and Student Finance Board, we will be able to accomplish even more.” While Mitchals says that he does not regret signing off on the decision and is in full support of the positive impact these positions will have on campus life, he acknowledged that both SFB and SG are facing the financial consequences. If he hadn’t signed off on the agreement made in September 2016, he would have jeopardized SFB’s status in the eyes of the vice president for Student Affairs, according to Mitchals. While he isn’t opposed to the staff hired, he was not in full agreeance with where the money came from. “We fought it tooth and nail,” Mitchals said. “We would have been viewed as someone who was obstructing the agenda of that office.” SFB initially opposed the idea and worked with SG in order to spread awareness for the impending decision during open fora held in April 2016 before the decision was made, according to Mitchals. “No one voiced an opinion,” Mitchals said. “It wasn’t real –– they just saw a number on paper.” Hecht, however, found both student organizations to be in agreeance with the decision. “Some students expressed that they wished that there was another way to fund them,” Hecht said of the overall student consensus on hiring the new staff. “But after much discussion, they realized that this was the only way to have them in the near future.” Although Blakeley was freshman class secretary at the time, he felt assured that SG did what they could to fight the changes. “Yes, everyone could always fight more,” Blakeley said, “but at that moment, you’re in a split decision –– you don’t know what’s gonna happen, you don’t know how it’s going to work out.” Through the fora, SG did what it could to reach out
SFB discusses ways to save money.
Jason Prolieka / Photo Editor
to the campus to make them aware of the issue, yet the consequences of reallocating the SAF has already started to surface. In February, SFB had to dip into its own reserves for $60,000 in order to fund different the remaining events for this semester. According to Mitchals, there is $190,000 left in reserves for any other emergency. When he joined the SFB executive board as a freshman, there was $1.2 million in reserves. According to Mitchals, the SAF won’t likely ever see that kind of money again. “Our reserves won’t replenish,” he said. Different clubs on campus continually look to SFB for funding, and the organization has also had to open its pockets for other expenses over the years. SFB funded more than $100,000 toward the Brower Student Center renovation. While the expense was authorized by SFB in 2015, it highlighted the recurring trend of using the SAF for purposes not specific to student organization funding. According to Mitchals, the College lacks sufficient funds to pay for its own projects. “Every higher education institution’s budget is tight,” he said. The school saw an avenue in excess SFB reserves and took advantage under the reasoning that the renovations benefit co-curricular activities on campus, which is the general goal of the SAF, according to Mitchals. Yet, Mitchals finds fault with that justification. “Student Activity Fees should not be utilized for on-campus building no matter what, even if it benefits students,” he said. He also said that there are other historic budgets, like facility budgets or bonds that are issued by the school, that should be used for that purpose. SFB has become a convenient go-to for funding through the SAF, according to Mitchals. “Just as time has progressed, the amount of requests we get, they’re crazy and just continue to increase,” Mitchals said. In the 2015 fiscal year — when there was $1.2 million in SAF reserves — Hecht had taken $900,000 out of reserves, a separate account from the general SAF budget, in order to fund mascot costumes and other equipment. SFB is in full support of what the money is funding both in terms of the equipment and the new potential staff. The question that
arises, though, is whether or not this money should be coming out of SAF. Ideally, the money should not be coming from the SAF budget at all, yet there is nothing that explicitly says that Hecht is not allowed to take money out to pay for staff, according to Mitchals. In fact, the definition now allows for it. Both Mitchals and Alexandra Wallach, financial director for SFB and a senior accounting major, agreed the definition of SAF’s function, which comes from the Office of the Treasurer, was changed online. While they don’t know exactly when it was changed, they discovered in the beginning of this semester that the definition online had changed sometime in 2016. Whereas both definitions acknowledge that SFB is responsible for the allocation and management of the funds, the updated definition now includes “personnel costs” as part of SAF’s function, which was not included in the original definition. “The No. 1 primary definition you go off of is whatever the Office of the Treasurer is putting out primarily because they’re the ones dealing with students tuition and what I assume is that Student Accounts and possibly (Student Affairs) just haven’t adopted the new definition,” Mitchals said. “But without a doubt, we allocate the SAF, so we know what the definition has and always will be, and now there’s just the change.” Mitchals was concerned that neither SFB nor the student body were consulted in the changed definition. “If you’re changing a definition of what a student’s tuition is used for, shouldn’t students know that?” Mitchals said. “It was 100 percent in correlation with what occurred with the (vice president of Student Affairs) with allocating the SAF with allocating staff wages.” According to Hecht, SAF’s definition was not changed. “The definition of SAF has not changed. This fee was created almost 30 years ago by the board of trustees (like all fees), to enhance student life and programs,” Hecht said. “That does include funding activities by students for students — which is the majority of how those funds are used. However, to continue to enhance student life and program, fulltime staff is necessary and can be considered an enhancement to student life and programs.” see FUNDING page 4
Three new clubs gain recognition during SG meeting By Megan Kelly Staff Writer Student Government approved three new clubs for recognition at its Wednesday, April 29, meeting. The first club that presented and was ultimately approved was Ed2010, a magazine club that will offer internship opportunities predominantly for journalism students, but also for students with other majors such as graphic design or marketing. Ed2010 currently has 15 members and recently went on a tour of Women’s Day magazine in New York City. Ed2010 also has an “extremely involved adviser that is a critical resource to the organization”, and an executive board with experienced members, according to Justin Brach, the constitutional review chair for SG. Club Running presented next. The club has been actively seeking recognition from the College since last November. Instead of waiting for the moratorium on club sports to be lifted, Club Running decided to seek recognition. Club Running
was approved by Robert Simels, the director of a recreation at the College, under two conditions: Club Running will not be a sport, but a club that focuses on fitness and that Club Running will not represent the College in competition.
President Kevin Kim addresses SG.
Club Running’s goal is to promote fitness and wellness on campus and encourage students who enjoy running but do not want the rigorous schedule of a varsity sport to get together and go on runs. Club Running was approved later in the meeting.
Jason Prolieka / Photo Editor
The third club to present and get approved was the Armenian Club. The club will “create a unique environment for students to discuss issues relating to the Armenian genocide” as well as host cultural awareness events on campus, Brach said. The Armenian Club hopes to host an “Armenian Week” or a similar event on campus. The club would like to be a resource for the College’s Armenian students, but also encourages students who are not of Armenian descent to join the club as well. The club currently has 19 members. The Ashley Lauren Foundation presented last at SG. ALF was seeking recognition for sustainability purposes, according to Brach. ALF is a New Jersey-based nonprofit that raises money to help support families with children diagnosed with cancer. College and high school campuses can establish ALF Clubs to help raise money for the organization as well as raise awareness of pediatric cancer and its effects. After some deliberation and discussion, ALF was ultimately not approved for an SGrecognized campus chapter.
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 3
Passe reflects on his time at College as dean
Passe steps down after almost four years. By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor
After nearly four years of serving as dean of the School of Education, Jeff Passe is departing from his accomplished time at the College. “My first initiative was to increase communication between all counselors, educators, administrators and supervisors,” Passe said. “Bringing all these people together was the first step to creating change. The next goal was consulting with fellow deans, talking to students, sharing ideas and emphasizing group learning.” Before his appointment as dean on July 1, 2013, Passe held numerous leadership positions, some of which included chair of the department of secondary education at Towson University and president of the National Council for Social Studies. Passe credits his experience at the National Council for Social Studies for his focus on civic education and social studies. “A lot work had to be done with spreading civil education and social
Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor
studies,” Passe said. “I thought about the best strategies for children to learn about civic duty.” During his time at the College, Passe also focused on increasing the School of Education’s contribution to Trenton public schools. He strived for the College to emulate Columbia University’s service to the New York City Department of Education and UCLA’s service to the Los Angeles Unified School District. “I wanted the School of Education to strengthen its connection to Trenton,” Passe said. “Larger schools such as UCLA and Columbia University have strongly supported their co-existing communities. Our institution is more than capable of serving, educating and volunteering for Trenton’s public schools.” Passe placed an emphasis on helping middle school students because he believes that they are most vulnerable to outside distractions. “The middle school phase is such an important stage in a child’s education. In my experience as an educator and researcher, I’ll witness many middle school children lose focus,” Passe said.
“Our school counters the trend by implementing workshops.” This emphasis on middle school students allowed for the College’s School of Education to better connect with the local community. “He wanted to engage with the local community,” said Corey Drake, project coordinator of the dean’s office. “Dean Passe sincerely cares about the people here and pursuing the common good.” Passe also contributed immensely to the department of counselor education. In his tenure, the dean helped renew the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs accreditation of three master’s degree programs in the department of counselor education. The master’s degree programs of clinical mental health counseling and marriage, couple & family counseling and school counseling have CACREP accreditation until Oct. 31, 2021. “Dean Passe was very supportive of us,” said Sandy Gibson, an associate professor in the department of counselor education and the clinical coordinator of the TCNJ Clinic. “He worked hard to write grants and helped three Master’s programs earn CACREP accreditation.” In addition to his contribution to the department of counselor education, Passe supported the College’s Career and Community Studies program. “Dean Passe has always been supportive of the CCS Program,” said Stuart Carroll, associate professor in the department of elementary and early childhood education and an affiliated faculty member for the CCS program. “He was instrumental in having the CCS students integrated into college housing and has always worked with CCS faculty and staff to ensure that CCS students have access to all academic and social opportunities to which they are entitled as members of the TCNJ student body.” Carroll is confident that the subsequent dean will sustain the CCS program’s mission of delivering mentorship, academic rigor and guidance to CCS students. “Dean Passe has already begun to
prepare an information packet on CCS and other programs for the incoming dean and CCS program faculty and staff will meet with the new dean as soon as he arrives,” Carroll said. “We believe that CCS offers abundant benefits to its students and to the rest of the TCNJ student body and are confident that a new dean will be able to appreciate these. To be honest, CCS is one of the things that makes TCNJ as special as it is and it is hard to imagine that any transition would harm the program.” Passe’s colleagues appreciate his dedication to the CCS program. “He’s very invested to his position,” said Victoria Swift, student life coordinator of the CCS program. “Dean Passe goes to great lengths to make sure that everyone is included and respected at meetings. He invites all departments and highlights long-term research and recent accomplishments. He makes it feel like family.” Passe also expanded the College’s off-site graduate programs and sent more students to study abroad programs. “Similarly, Dean Passe has always supported our graduate global programs in Mallorca, Thailand, Taiwan, Egypt and Vietnam,” Carroll said. “These programs are bigger than ever, both because of strong enrollments from teachers throughout the world and participation by New Jersey students who are looking for an international experience. Dean Passe has also supported global student teaching and has sent large numbers of students to schools in Italy, Thailand, Switzerland, France, etc.” Aside from his work, Passe appreciates feedback received regarding decision making. “I would not have been able to make informed decisions without input from everyone at the School of Education,” Passe said. Passe also offered advice for graduating seniors who are in the College’s School of Education: “Be the best teacher you can be. Respect all of your administrators and stay active in your local communities.”
Trustees / Board discusses mental health issues continued from page 1
of how many full time study loads are being completed on campus. For example, one full time equivalent student could be two half-time students. As the percentage of state support has decreased, students and their families are forced to pay more in order to attend. One challenge is negative rates of attendance in graduate programs. In the future, increased maintenance costs and energy usage for the newly designed STEM Building will be an obstacle, according to the board’s presentation. At least one million dollars will be set aside to implement the College’s strategic plan, a long term sustainable plan made with the College’s principles in mind. At least three million dollars will be needed to improve IT facilities, and over a million dollars are necessary for fitness center and educational equipment. To compensate for the rises in costs of running the College, tuition may increase. If tuition increased by one
percent, it would result in an overall deficit, according to the presentation. A two percent increase would result in approximately a $900,000 surplus. While general funding for the College is a struggle, the College’s Educational Opportunity Fund program is one of the best in the state, according to Gitenstein. While the program’s existence
is threatened by possible financial cuts, Gitenstein remains optimistic that the EOF fund will be restored by “huge advocates in legislature.” Several people came to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting to discuss the closing of the TCNJ Clinic. One student became choked up talking about the importance of mental health education in the
wake of a floormate’s suicide during their freshman year. Other speakers called for the members of the board to speak to those affected by the closing of the TCNJ Clinic. Later in the presentation stated that four more mental health professionals for Counseling and Psychological Services will be hired. In response to protests made by staff and faculty without contracts,
Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer
The board considers public opinion regarding the closing of TCNJ Clinic.
the presentation also mentioned that there were funds set aside to raise salaries in 2015 and 2017. The College itself has to pay costs for any additional employees, such as the aforementioned mental health professionals, as only 859 employees are covered by the state, according to the Board presentation. College Treasurer Lloyd Ricketts considers the College’s multiyear financial planning to be very successful, according to the board’s presentation. The business and infrastructure committee of the board met earlier this month to discuss advertising for the College. The first waiver of formal advertising was for College business purposes, and the second waiver was about improving buildings and infrastructure. Both of the waivers were passed unanimously. Overall, Trustee Treby Williams thought that the budget planning was well thought out and nuanced borrowing on what Trustee Rosie Hymerling said. The next board meeting will be on July 11. Its time and location is currently undetermined.
page 4 The Signal May 3, 2017
Possession of weed prompts wild police chase By Brielle Bryan Production Manager
Students fail to flee from Campus Police On April 21 at approximately 11:37 a.m., a Campus Police officer was on patrol when she observed two males loitering on the fourth level stairwell of Lot 13. The officer viewed the two males from her patrol vehicle that was stationary in front of Lot 13 near the Green Lane Fields footbridge. The officer was able to see the first male wearing a gray long-sleeved shirt with black pants and the second male wearing a green shirt with khaki shorts, according to police reports. The two males were accompanied by another person that the officer could not see. The officer could tell that a cigarette lighter was in use after watching the flicker of a flame appear a few times, police said. The officer then notified another officer of the suspicious activity in the stairwell and requested his assistance in investigating. The officer said that there have been several complaints of students smoking in the garage stairwells. Additionally, there have been reports of small fires started on campus. According to police reports, the officer’s backup arrived and drove up to the fourth level while she walked up the stairwell towards the fourth floor. As the female officer approached the third level, she heard the other officer yell “Stop!” as all of the male students fled. One of the male students ran directly towards the female officer. She detained the male student and immediately placed him in handcuffs. He was then searched for weapons and his personal property was removed. The officer’s backup reported that
he had detained the other male student. The two males in custody were wearing the described clothing. A third person, described as a white male wearing shorts and gray Tshirt, ran away, police said. Both students stated that they were running because they were scared. There was an odor of marijuana in the stairwell, however, both parties denied smoking marijuana, according to police reports. The male students reported that the other male who got away was the one smoking. A clear Ziploc plastic sandwich bag with remnants of green vegetation, believed to be marijuana, was found on the third level of Lot 13, police said. It was not near the vicinity of where the accused were detained. According to police reports, one of the male students complained of pain in his right shoulder and believed that he re-injured himself while running down the stairwell. He was transported to the hospital for medical attention and was issued a summons for obstructing administration of law. The other male student was transported to headquarters for proper identification and was also issued a summons for obstructing administration of law. Both male students were advised of court reporting procedures and provided with a case number for reference. Drunk and phoneless At approximately 11:33 p.m. on April 22, a Campus Police officer was dispatched to the Student Recreation Center on report of an intoxicated male. Upon arrival, the officer met with a Community Advisor who said he was concerned about a student’s well-being due to possible intoxication. The CA told
Campus Police that the student was attempting to locate his cell phone inside the rec center and searched with negative results. The officer observed that the male student was alert and conscious. The officer asked if the student was alright and how much he had to drink, according to police reports. The student answered, “I had two to three vodka drinks at the football house.” When the student spoke, the officer immediately detected the odor of alcohol emanating from his breath. The student also exhibited loss of balance and slurred speech, police said. At 11:39 p.m., TCNJ EMS arrived at the scene to assess the intoxicated student. At 11:42 p.m., Pro-staff arrived at the scene. While speaking with TCNJ EMS, the officer heard the student state that he drank beer at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house. At 11:54 p.m., Ewing Basic Life Support arrived at the scene. At 12:04 a.m., Ewing BLS determined that the student did not need medical transport, police said. The Pro-staff member then spoke with the student regarding where he had been that night and what he had to drink. According to police reports, the student told the Pro-staff member that he had seven to eight beers at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon formal. The formal was said to be located at the fraternity residence off campus. The student was unable to produce an address. At 12:24 a.m., Pro-staff determined that the student was able to stay in his dormitory for the night because he did not pose a threat to himself or anyone else, according to Campus Police. The student read and signed the Medical Assistance form and was advised by the officer to contact Campus Police if he was to exhibit any medical issues.
Guest drinks too much, but still has good AIMM On April 18, at approximately 11:25 p.m., three Campus Police officers responded to the men’s bathroom on the second floor of the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building to an individual vomiting. Upon arrival, the officer met with a building services employee who stated that there was a male in the restroom who appeared to be intoxicated and vomiting. The officer proceeded to the restroom and observed a male lying on the ground inside the bathroom stall with vomit covering his shirt and pants, according to police reports. The male was unresponsive and appeared to be in and out of consciousness, police said. The intoxicated male’s friend was with him. The male did not have a wallet or form of identification on him, but his friend was able to identify him. The male’s friend stated that he was not a student at the College and that he was visiting for the night. The friend stated that the male was drinking in one of the lounge areas in Eickhoff Hall, and that he had approximately four shots of Burnett’s vodka, according to police reports. The friend said that he did not consume any alcohol. When asked why they were in the AIMM Building, the friend said, “We wanted to hangout and play video games in one of the rooms.” TCNJ EMS and Ewing BLS arrived at the scene to evaluate the intoxicated male. It was deemed that the intoxicated male required further medical treatment and was transported to the hospital. He was then issued a summons for underage consumption of alcoholic beverages and was given a court date. Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.
Funding / SFB director feels administration misusing SAF continued from page 2 A previous version of the fees reads, “The Student Activity Fee is collected by The College on behalf of the Student Finance Board (SFB). The SFB is responsible for allocation and management of the funds. The SFB is comprised of various clubs, service organizations and activities of the college campus for the purpose of enriching the cocurricular life of the college community,” according to studentaccounts.tcnj.edu/files/2013/10/Description-of-Fees.pdf. The Signal has a physical copy of a document called “Description of Mandatory Fees” printed in the Fall 2015 semester that states, “The primary goal of the SFB is to allocate the Student Activity Fund to various student clubs and student service organizations for the purpose of enriching the co-curricular life of the college community.” A portion of the SAF definition currently reads, “The primary goal of the SFB is to allocate the Student Activity Fund to various student clubs and student service organizations for the purpose of enriching the co-curricular life (including personnel costs) of the college community.” The link to this is studentaccounts.tcnj.edu/files/2016/10/ Description-of-Fees-NEW.pdf, which may indicate this is a more recent file. There has been some miscommunication between the Office of the Treasurer and Office of Student Affairs, according to Hecht. The current definition on the website is inaccurate and needed to be updated years ago, she said. Regardless, Blakeley suggested a different potential financial outlet for Hecht’s financial needs –– Hecht’s own budget. He acknowledged, though, that the Office of Student Affairs’ budget might be tighter than SFB’s. “It’s her staff, her office pays… for all the people in the staff,” he said. “She thought this was a way of getting the staff she needed without trying to impede on other things.” In order to battle the blow, SFB plans on cutting its members’ wages by 10 percent and base budgeting different club expenses like SG. Mitchals said they’re going to be more rigorous when it comes to club applications and deciding what to fund. While this is the most delicate way of saving money, it hurts clubs’ future budgets –– most won’t see growth any time soon. Taiwo Akinmboni, treasurer of the Association of
Students for Africa and a senior business management major, said the organization started facing issues this year with SFB. ASFA holds an annual event called “Akwaaba,” which is a banquet for students interested in learning more about African culture and watching authentic cultural performances with guests from outside the College. This year, with the club’s budget capped at around $4,000, it was hard to find a performer at a good price and pay for the expenses as well as other events throughout the semester. The club wanted to spend $2,000 on a performer for its event, and SFB had to turn down the request. Akinmboni eventually did find one who would perform for a cheaper price, but the search wasn’t easy. Ziyi Wang, a junior finance major and SFB’s current operations manager, will be taking on the role of executive director for SFB next semester. Although his hands will be full with the SAF issues he will be inheriting from Mitchals, Wang is confident about taking on the new position and aims to please different campus organizations while
Photo courtesy of Taiwo Akinmboni
Akwaaba loses some SFB funding.
keeping SFB’s shaky budget in mind. He plans to encourage more club co-sponsorship next year, suggesting that clubs with similar events in mind combine their ideas and host one event instead of two separate ones. “We don’t want collaborations to feel forced,” Wang said, “but at the end of the day, if the balance of the SAF is starting to get pretty low, groups will be forced to collaborate to have events they want to have.” He plans on working closely with Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Angela Chong, who will replace Hecht next year as vice president for Student Affairs, in order to mitigate SFB spending. “Instead of seeing a year-to-year increase in how much a student organization receives, we’ll see a stagnation in the amount they’ll be receiving in terms of funding,” Wang said. While Akinmboni didn’t see a problem with collaborating with other clubs for smaller get togethers, he didn’t see a benefit to co-sponsoring its annual event, a program the club works hard on and looks forward to every year. “It would take away from our mission and goal (as an organization),” he said. ASFA is not the only organization facing budget caps and cuts. In an open forum on March 29, SFB discussed potential expense reduction ideas with different club representatives, which included cutting funding for student employee wages, Loop Bus trips and club retreats. This also includes cutting The Signal’s funding in half. According to SFB reports, $800 of SAF currently goes toward printing each edition. SFB plans to reduce the amount to $400, which could save approximately $11,500 in expenses a year. While Blakely acknowledged how detrimental this seize was for SFB, and that its budget has been greatly misused, there is still hope that the positions the SAF will fund will be money well spent. From a club’s perspective, the options may currently seem bleak, but these new positions may be able to help each club’s goal of enhancing student life. “If these two positions are really going to help us then that’s great, we made the right decision,” Blakeley said. “If (they) are really helping the student body and doing their purpose, it may have been worth it.”
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 5
Protest / Students fight for better relationship with Trenton continued from page 1
according to an official list of demands produced by TCU. Additional demands included “a reversal of the closure of the TCNJ Clinic” and “an open forum so that the campus and local community can discuss the Clinic and its proposed closure with the administration.” “TCU chose to take on the Clinic as its own charge, believing in its value as a connection to the community in which the College exists,” said Jennifer Sparks, director of the TCNJ Clinic. “This speaks to the importance of the Clinic on campus. “We were surprised by TCU’s decision to fight for the Clinic, and at the same time incredibly honored and grateful for the support and awareness it has brought to our community,” Sparks added. Gitenstein responded to TCU at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, with a written statement after a brief meeting with the sit-in participants. “TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein met with students this morning who were staging a sit-in in her conference room,” said Luke Sacks, head media relations officer for the College. “The students had not requested a meeting with the president prior to the sit-in. Had they requested it, the president would have certainly met with them.” Gitenstein acknowledged concerns about both the TCNJ Clinic and Loser Hall in the written statement. “I agree with your concerns regarding the troubled historical and current relationship between The College of New Jersey and the city of Trenton,” Gitenstein wrote. “Because of my agreement with these concerns, I named ‘The College of New Jersey Advisory Commission on Social Justice: Race in Educational Attainment.’” Gitenstein also acknowledged TCU’s concerns for the TCNJ Clinic. “We discussed a number of activities we are actively pursuing to ensure that the long term counseling needs of our students are met with the highest level by professionally licensed clinicians,” she wrote. “We expect that these opportunities will also be available to the external community… the needs of our graduate students to accumulate the necessary clinical hours to graduate on time will be met through our
current placement process.” TCU acknowledged Gitenstein’s response as “a great first step in helping to repair the relationship between Trenton and the College,” according to a document produced by the TCU entitled “TCNJ Committee on Unity Response to President Gitenstein.” However, TCU argues that their demands for the future of the TCNJ Clinic and Paul Loser Hall are yet to be met. Their reasons were detailed in the aforementioned document. TCU states that Gitenstein has “taken the closure of the clinic as a given” and that “closing such a vital institution that provides mental health services to the Trenton community is once again a slight against Trenton.” With regard to Paul Loser Hall, TCU claims that in her response, Gitenstein “merely restated that she has already created a commission to address this problem” and did not “outline the further responses to this issue and receive input from residents and students on how to go about repairing this relationship (with Trenton).” In addition to the sit-in organized by TCU, over 1,300 students and community members have signed a petition entitled “Save the TCNJ Counseling Clinic: Wellness is Worth It!” “The emphasis behind the petition is basically to have the administration know our disappointment that the key constituents were not sought for input in the decision,” said Jennifer Peck-Nolte, a supervisor of students in the Counselor Education Program and the author of the petition. “We felt that those that are most impacted by the decision to close the TCNJ Clinic are students and clients. Neither of those groups had input.” The low cost of mental health care at the TCNJ Clinic made it a popular resource for students and community members. “I’ve used the Clinic for a year and a half now, and I honestly wouldn’t be here at TCNJ if it wasn’t for the affordable mental health care that they provided,” said Ariana Chuba, a junior history major and sit-in participant. “This is affordable not just to TCNJ students, but to the community, and they’re shutting it down… (the College has) been continually distancing themselves from the Trenton community.” TCU says that the closure of the Clinic will cut off access to affordable mental healthcare for Trenton residents who may not be able to afford services at InFocus Urgent Care. TCU also maintains that the closure of the
Photo courtesy of TCNJ Committee on Unity
TCNJ Clinic supports TCU with pizza.
Clinic, compounded with the lack of a new name for Paul Loser Hall, highlights the College’s strained relationship with Trenton. “Both of these items are symbolic of a greater distancing that the College has done over the last 20 years,” said Chris Loos, a sophomore history major. “Since we are one of the major schools in the area, it is our duty as community leaders to respect and work with the people of Trenton.” While long term mental health care will be available at InFocus Urgent Care, which opens this summer in Campus Town, opponents of the TCNJ Clinic closure maintain that the Urgent Care will not be as affordable as the Clinic. “As with most private clinical settings, InFocus requires insurance. All students are required by the College to carry insurance, but that does not mean they have access to mental health. Insurance often requires a copay or includes a large deductible, both of which can be barriers to receiving treatment,” Sparks said. “This is no different for community members, same issues apply. The only difference is that community members, especially in this area, are often uninsured. And who thinks to go to Urgent Care for therapy?” TCU provided a closing statement at the end of the sit-in, which stated: “Until the TCNJ Committee on Unity feels that our demands are adequately addressed and met by the administration of The College of New Jersey we will not yield in our pursuit for justice.”
page 6 The Signal May 3, 2017
DO YOU ENJOY KEEPING UP WITH THE LIVES OF CELEBRITIES?
Are you interested in writing for the College’s award-winning newspaper??? We are looking for a new celebrity columnist for the Fall 2017 Semester!!!
Contact us: signal@tcnj.edu Located in room 204 in Forcina Hall.
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 7
Nation & W rld
Fox News ousts O’Reilly following scandal By Chloe Freed Correspondent
Bill O’Reilly, the so-called “king of cable,” has been fired from Fox News due to allegations of sexual assault against him by multiple women, according to The New York Times. The start of an investigation was prompted by a New York Times article that discussed settlements between O’Reilly and five women who accused him of harassment and sexual misconduct, according to ABC News. Throughout the investigation, both Fox News and O’Reilly remained fairly silent, CNN reported. Women’s activist groups are looking at O’Reilly’s release from Fox News and hoping it causes more action to be taken regarding sexual assault incidents, according to The New York Times. However, many are worried whether or not the treatment of women at Fox News will improve, The New York Times reported. The concern is not unfounded, as Fox News helped pay for five women that complained of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior from O’Reilly to not pursue litigation or speak about their accusations, according to
O’Reilly moves on from Fox News.
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The New York Times. The agreements were reportedly around $13 million in total. Two of the five women had worked at Fox News as former employees, and one is a current employee as of April 5, according to ABC News.
Yet, the Times reported in a statement from 21st Century Fox, the parent company that owns Fox News, that, “no current or former Fox News employee ever took advantage of the 21st Century Fox hotline to raise a concern about Bill O’Reilly, even anonymously.” That was until Wendy Walsh, a former guest on “The O’Reilly Factor,” called the hotline to report O’Reilly with her attorney on April 5. This is not the first sexual harassment allegation towards one of Fox News’ workers either. Roger E. Ailes, the former chairman of Fox News, was released last summer under similar accusations, according to The New York Times. Repercussions of O’Reilly’s alleged behavior are beginning. Since the allegations, 50 advertisers have withdrawn ads from his show, according to The New York Times. O’Reilly’s show “The O’Reilly Factor” has been shortened to “The Factor” as a result of these allegations, according to CNN. While “The Five” replaced Tucker Carlson’s slot, Carlson has replaced O’Reilly at 8 p.m., according to The New York Times.
French election boils down to Le Pen and Macron By Jahnvi Upreti Staff Writer
The top two candidates who emerged from the first round of France’s presidential voting on Sunday, April 23, were Marine Le Pen, a controversial nationalist, and Emmanuel Macron, a pro-European Union leader of the new centrist party, Vox reported. France’s political atmosphere has been dominated by socialist and center-right opposition Republicans for decades, CNN reported. However, the parties of the two top candidates for this year’s French presidential elections greatly differ from the most prominent political ideologies. France’s controversial election follows other major events like Donald Trump’s victory in the United State’s presidential election and the Brexit referendum. Le Pen took over France’s far
right political party, the National Front, from her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was convicted for saying that the Nazi occupation of France was not “particularly inhumane,” according to The Guardian. After taking the party over in January 2011, Le Pen has henceforth attempted to soften the image of the National Front, which has aided her during the first round of voting, Vox reported. But, in a symbolic gesture to show her commitment to the entire country, not just to one party, Le Pen has stepped down as leader of the party, according to BBC News. While she has tried to rebrand the National Front, Le Pen did not believe the French state was responsible for the 1942 Vel d’Hiv roundup of 13,000 Jews by French police. She proposed banning all religious head wear in public places, according to Vox. Another promise was to follow
Britain’s lead in exiting from the European Union, according to Vox. Macron, however, promotes a political stance contrary to Le Pen’s. As the founder of his newlycreated centrist party known as “En Marche,” or “On the Move,” the candidate has tried to project a liberal image of himself in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential victory in the U.S., according to the Telegraph. “I have seen the emptiness of (France’s) political system from the inside… I reject this system,” Macron said, according to the Telegraph, while calling for a “democratic revolution.” Macron is projected to win against Le Pen during the second and final round of voting taking place on Sunday, May 7, according to BBC News’s assessment of opinion polls. There is concern about this projection because Macron has never
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Le Pen is a populist calling for a shift of French politics.
been elected to public office before, according to The Telegraph. Prior to his entrance to the political sphere, he was a banker. Following the first round of voting, in which Macron and Le Pen emerged as the clear victors, other nominees withdrew from the race. Upon conceding, Francois —
once the favorite candidate — offered his support to Macron in order to prevent a Le Pen presidency, according to Express. “Extremism can only give rise to division within France and so I urge you to vote against extremism,” Fillon said on April 23 in his concession speech.
Florida fires trigger state of emergency
Scott reserves one UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter for fire fighting. By Mallory McBride Correspondent
More than 115 wildfires burned in parts of Southwest and Central Florida as of Saturday, April 22, according to CNN. The fires, which have “already burned
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250 percent more acreage in the first three months of 2017 than during the same period of time last year,” prompted Florida Governor Rick Scott to issue a state of emergency on April 11, according to the Governor’s official website. “Wildfires are burning more than 20,000
acres in Florida right now, and we haven’t seen this active of a season since 2011,” Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said, according to Scott’s website. ABC reported that one blaze in Collier County, near Naples, has destroyed nine homes and has wreaked havoc over 5,500 acres of land, according to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office. Governor Scott’s office noted that mandatory evacuations were in effect in Collier County, where 20 percent of the wildfire was contained as of April 23, ABC reported. Additionally, 13 homes in Lee County, also located in Southwest Florida, have been destroyed by a 400-acre wildfire, CNN reported. The wildfires have not been contained to Southwest Florida, however. CNN reported that wildfires ravaged through Polk County in Central Florida, as well. According to Governor Scott, 60 percent of a 700-acre wildfire in Polk County was contained as of April 22, CNN reported. The Polk County Fire Rescue said, in a
Facebook post, that “several structures are on fire. Fire crews need residents to leave the area so firefighters can protect structures.” While the wildfire is still under investigation, authorities suspect that the initial Polk County blaze could be a result of arson, according to ABC. The dry and breezy weather of South Florida makes it easier for such wildfires to thrive, according to Broward County Florida’s daily newspaper, the Sun Sentinel. Luckily, scattered showers in Southwest Florida have helped firefighters tame the blaze, CNN reported. Director of Collier County Bureau of Emergency Services Dan Summers said that, while the rain is helping the situation, it “doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. It takes an awful lot of water to put a fire out this big, ” according to CNN. As of Wednesday, April 26, the Florida wildfires continued to pose as a threat. As for now, Governor Scott is “encouraged to see (the) entire state working together to help one another,” according to CNN.
page 8 The Signal May 3, 2017
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 9
Editorial
Editor-in-Chief reflects on her time at The Signal
Imagine a journalism major attending a college without a newspaper or any other media organizations. Unfortunately, that illogical hypothetical was my reality until I transferred to the College in the Spring 2014 semester. Without getting into the complexities of my past, I will say that the long journey to editor-in-chief of The Signal was hard, but worth it. In the film “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix,” Harry says of his accomplishments, “It all sounds great when you say it like that. But the truth is most of that was just luck. I didn’t know what I was doing half the time, I nearly always had help.” I’m not saying I’ve faced Harry Potter-level challenges, but what he’s saying is still applicable. College has been a series of confusing, frustrating and exhilarating experiences. I’ve always felt like I was thrown from one crazy experience to the next, and, luckily, I’ve almost always had help. Before I completely part ways with the College and The Signal, I’d like to recognize some of the people — aside from the intelligent, inspiring and kind journalism professors — who helped me along the way. When I served as production manager, alumnus Tom Kozlowski (’16) was editor-in-chief at the time. He surprised me both literally and figuratively. When he wasn’t sneaking up behind me — which, without fail, always ended in me screaming — he taught me that you don’t necessarily need to be a journalism major to be a great writer, editor and leader. He also taught me to watch my back. When I was opinions editor, alumna Julie Kayzerman (’16) successfully piloted The Signal through challenging stories, including a breaking news story the day of production, which is a daunting additional responsibility on an already stressful day. As an editor, she was tough, fair and honest, which I could not fully appreciate until I was put in a leadership role and learned that I wanted to mirror those qualities. As I took on the role of news editor, alumna Colleen Murphy (’16) showed me how to look for the best in people, but remain objective when necessary. Perhaps most importantly, she made me realize that it’s essential to do your job, but you have to have fun while you do it. This was especially true when sleep deprivation kicked in and she made me laugh by, say, seeing people walking around the lake outside of Forcina Hall at 6 a.m. and communicating what they were wearing through song and dance. Honestly, I’d hang out longer in the newsroom, so we, along with Sydney Shaw, the managing editor at the time and a senior journalism major, could get breakfast at Eickhoff Hall in the morning. Somehow, I still wanted to joke around with them after spending more than 12 hours together. More recently, though, I served as managing editor last semester under Shaw’s guidance. I learned a great deal from her on how to be a better writer and trust my gut. Luckily, she also taught me how to be a better friend. While my personal experiences may not affect you, I think it’s important to look at the people who have come before you and learn from them. Before you know it, those people won’t be around and you’ll be left to your own devices to piece everything together using the wisdom they tried to impart on you. Although no one is perfect, I did my best to instill some wisdom in The Signal’s staff for the Fall 2017 semester. As they transition from their old jobs to new — and me from editor-in-chief to a debt-ridden graduate living in a cardboard box — I have faith that they will continue to carry out quality, honest and thorough journalistic work, and learn some lessons along the way. — Chelsea LoCascio Editor-in-Chief
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, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, 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.
Students can garner wisdom from their peers.
Sydney Shaw / Former Editor-in-Chief
Quotes of the week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Business Office (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu
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Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Brielle Bryan Production Manager bryanb2@tcnj.edu Kyle Elphick Web Editor elphick1@tcnj.edu Ashton Leber Social Media Editor lebera1@tcnj.edu Jason Proleika Photo Editor proleij1@tcnj.edu Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant maxburgos66@gmail.com Heidi Cho News Assistant choh2@tcnj.edu
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“We don’t want collaborations to feel forced, but at the end of the day, if the balance of the SAF is starting to get pretty low, groups will be forced to collaborate to have events they want to have.” — Ziyi Wang, a junior finance major and SFB’s current operations manager.
“I did a lot of open mic nights and the jokes were all bad except for one, then all bad except for two.”
— B.J. Novak, writer, actor and comedian
“I commend the st dents for their commitment to making a difference in their world and the community and I hope that we can work together to assure that improvements are made...” — R. Barbara Gitenstein, College president
The Signal
Opinions Intramural sports break down gender barriers By Michael Battista
do not single out one gender. Instead, any rule-change applies to both guys and girls. There are no exceptions based on gender. At the College, intramural indoor soc-
When I was growing up, I never saw gender as a dividing factor in sports. As someone who enjoys playing soccer and baseball, I always liked being able to participate in activities with girls. While professional sports like to keep men and women separated, intramural sports at the College have helped break down gender walls. Many of the College’s intramural sports options can be played recreational leagues, which is something I highly admire. Shawn Dean, the coordinator for sports clubs and intramural sports at the College, said he’s seen the program be very successful during his time running it. With volleyball being one of the more successful programs, Dean said certain groups on campus really enjoy the games. “I think (intramural sports) are very popular, especially within Greek life,” Dean said. “Fraternities and sororities team up together and they get awarded points for participating.” I went to a Jesuit prep school in Jersey City, N.J., for high school, which is an allboy school. When I was in high school, I saw many of my friends take part in intramural sports and playing games using the full extent of the rules. When I began paying attention to the co-ed version of the
either be three males and two females, or vice versa. In Greek league softball at the College, each team must consist of at least four of each gender. While an alternating gender batting line-up still exists, the rules are still applied evenly to both guys and girls. “We changed the format of our leagues this year,” Dean said. “We added a bunch
games we would play at my high school, I started to notice the rules were being bent. In some co-ed programs, the guys are required to pass the ball to a girl in soccer before any shots can be taken. In the game of baseball, if a guy walks then the girl who is next in line to bat is given a choice of whether she wants to be automatically tensive defense around a girl is prohibited and only one-on-one blocking is allowed.
I’ve never liked these sorts of rules, which vary depending on the program, because I always felt they implied that one gender was better than the other at sports. While arguments can be made such as the fact that guys usually have larger physiques than girls, I still think it’s wrong to assume that one cannot compete with another athlete just because of their gender. I’m happy to say that the College’s rules when it comes to intramural sports
It was sort of a test run by us to see if that would make sense for the future and so far it’s been positive feedback.” The College’s intramural programs abide by rules set forth by a parent organization, the National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association, which many other institutions use as well, Dean said. I’m extremely happy to see students get the chance to play sports without genderfreshman, I loved participating in intramural games and I always tell others to give it a try. It’s a great way to bond with freshthat doesn’t single anyone out.
Students are increasingly distracted by technology
By Kristen Frohlich In a modern day classroom setting, it’s evident that technolway students learn. Students are encouraged to use devices such as laptops and cellphones to help further their studies. While technological advances have created for students to connect with their professors and access study materials, are these new tools essential to our education?
Whenever I’m in class, it’s safe to say that most of the students have laptops on their desks that appear to be there for the use of taking notes. Still, more than half of the them seem like they’re not paying attention to what’s going on in class. Students using their laptops during classroom lectures can be spotted playing computer games, shopping online, browsing through social media, working on assignments for other classes or doing various other activities not relevant to the class.
While typing notes on a computer is easier than writing them by hand, overall, allowing the use of laptops in a classroom negatively affects students by making it easier for them to get distracted. As the semester progresses, most students will begin to stop focusing in class, regardless of the presence of laptops. Therefore, adding laptops to the equation makes it much more challenging for students to stay focused in class. Laptops aren’t the only technological devices that keep students from focusing during class. Nowadays, many students have a cell phone in their pocket. Even though most professors tell students they are not allowed to use them during class time, students still manage to
having to look at our phones at least once during a lecture. The way students misuse technology is a major issue that is also seen outside of the classroom. Across campus, students can be seen walking with their heads facing down and looking into their phones rather than communicating with the individuals around them. The sad truth is students have become victims to technology. Although it may appear that the problem students have with
technology will become worse as technology advances, there is a way out of this growing trend. I challenge you to look up. Look up from your phone and start conversation with the person next to you. Handwrite your notes during class instead of typing them. Spend time outside throwing a football around with your roommate instead of watching initiative to be more personable, technology will not be able to control your life.
their latest Instagram post. I’m not saying that professors should impose stricter rules on students who use technological devices during class time. I’m simply acknowledging a major problem in modern society: technology. It’s scary to think that most of us cannot function in a classroom environment without
Policies signal@tcnj.edu should not exceed 300 words. signal@tcnj.edu.
Intern discusses importance of TCNJ Clinic
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 11
By Alex Batterman
I wish to contribute to the current debate over the TCNJ Clinic’s closure by providing my own personal experiences as an undergraduate intern at the Clinic. I will preface this by mentioning how choosing to attend the College has been one of the best decisions I have ever made, as it has enabled me to thrive with the small class sizes, knowledgeable professors, and an abundance of research and internship opportunities offered. This said, my internship at the TCNJ Clinic has been one of the greatest opportunities offered to me by the College and its closure would prevent students from gaining the same experiences and insights in the future. Some of my responsibilities during my internship at the Clinic involved screening attendees of the Mercer County Intoxicated Driver Resource Center and facilitating Self-Management and Recovery Training meetings. I am fortunate to have gained such
valuable clinical experience as an undergraduate student, which has certainly benefitted my professional development. As a SMART Recovery facilitator, I helped run self-empowerment-based recovery meetings for individuals seeking abstinence from their addictions. SMART Recovery has evolved tremendously at the Clinic. Attendance at the meetings started with two people and grew to 20 individuals. Meetings have been taking place every Thursday night and became popular with returning members, taking on more of a family atmosphere. A man suffering from alcohol addiction said the group is close-knit and provides an alternative to the more prevalent and traditional support programs which he found intimidating. All treatment programs have their advantages and disadvantages, but many individuals have gravitated toward the Clinic’s SMART Recovery meetings due to the program’s emphasis on self-empowerment, intellectual discussion and extensive use of scientific research.
SMART Recovery employs an approach that differs from traditional twelve step programs, which another attendee agreed does not work for everyone. The SMART Recovery meetings offered by the TCNJ Clinic are the only ones available to the public in the areas of Trenton and Ewing, N.J. A Ewing resident who suffers from food addiction stressed how the Clinic is very valuable to the recovery community and how its offering of SMART meetings has made the College seem progressive and ahead of the game. She then mentioned how the Clinic’s closure would represent a huge step backwards. Everyone understands that in order to run an institution such as the TCNJ Clinic, there needs to be funds. The College has also made it clear in an email to students addressing the Clinic’s closure that there is a need for additional access to mental health resources. Many members of our student body and local communities agree with this specific point very strongly, and feel
Students stress over the Clinic’s closure. that simply replacing the TCNJ Clinic with another facility is not enough. While the walk-in clinic opening in Campus Town, which will be called InFocus Urgent Care, may save the College money, it will not benefit everyone in the long-run, particularly financially-strapped families that would be getting priced out. The Clinic has distinct advantages such as tremendous opportunities for students to gain professional experience, SMART Recovery meetings and a sliding scale
Miguel Gonzalez / Sports Editor
means of payment for community members. Closing the TCNJ Clinic would represent a significant step backwards from the College’s goal of serving the student community as well as providing effective community engagement. I strongly encourage the administration to reconsider its decision to close the TCNJ Clinic. Reversing its decision would send a strong message to students and members of local communities by letting them know that their voice and their mental health are highly valued.
College responds to TCNJ Clinic concerns
Photo courtesy of David Muha
College’s provost clears up clinic questions.
By Jacqueline Taylor and Amy Hecht Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, and Vice President for Student Affairs Over the past few weeks there have been questions, statements of concern, and some inaccurate information put forth regarding the TCNJ Clinic, the reasons for its closing and the impact this will have on our students and the community. We’d like to address some of these concerns and state for the record why we believe closing the Clinic is the right decision. (Note: the TCNJ Clinic should not be confused with either Student Health Services or Counseling and Psychological Services.) While the TCNJ Clinic was created to provide a site for marriage and family therapy interns, it ultimately proved to be a poor fit for this goal. MFT students need “relational hours,” which is time spent doing marriage and family related counseling. Because the Clinic had challenges recruiting families to utilize its services, MFT students had difficulty accruing the required hours for their degree and frequently graduated late. Understandably, they increasingly looked to outside agencies to gain the needed experience. In fact, no MFT MA students chose the Clinic this year as their site. Historically, students in the Educational Specialist program would not choose the Clinic either. In the past, it actually hosted interns from another university so that it would have enough counselors to operate. The College eventually mandated that EdS students intern there, but the number enrolled in this program is small. There are four now and that number will shrink to one next year. The Clinic is staffed largely by interns in the counselor
education master’s program, who work there as one of many possible internship sites. The numbers who choose it are, again, small. Of the more than 50 MA students in the field right now, only five are at the Clinic. All students for the summer and fall practicums have secured internships at outside clinical sites. From a care standpoint, the Clinic has limitations as well. Dedicated as they may be and not to discount the compassionate care they have provided, the Clinic’s counselors are primarily unlicensed master’s-level graduate students. As such, they tend to work with a limited number of students with milder mental health concerns. Continuity of care is also a concern. Since this is a training clinic, graduate students rotate in and out of the Clinic depending on their internship needs. This means that students with long-term needs wind up having to change therapists for ongoing care. The longer-term counseling option provided by the Clinic should not be confused with the same scope or level of service being provided by CAPS. At CAPS, licensed, experienced professionals provide the care and have the training and ability to assess for the appropriate level of care required and the ability to make referrals to a higher level of care (hospitalization, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, drug rehab, for example) when necessary. In fact, the Clinic has traditionally relied on CAPS to do this work when required. The College is finalizing an agreement with an urgent care facility opening in Campus Town this summer. It will house a mental health unit staffed by licensed counselors, who will be able to offer long-term individual counseling for a wide variety of student concerns, including but not limited to anxiety, depression, relational problems, trauma, and substance use. Additionally, because the clinicians will be experienced, they will be able to evaluate walk-ins and make recommendations for the appropriate level of care, similar to what CAPS does and likely in consultation with CAPS when appropriate. The college has created an emergency fund, to be administered by Student Affairs, to help those with financial problems obtain care. The Career and Community Studies program has also developed a plan to ensure its students’ needs continue to be met after the Clinic closes. It’s important to remember that the majority of social and emotional support for these students has always come from CCS’s trained teachers and administrators. Another concern expressed is the fact that the Clinic serves the neighboring communities. While this is true, it is far from the only option for residents. Local mental health agencies have long been providing the kind of lowcost services that community members seek, and will continue to do so. Additionally, our students will be completing their internships in the community and in this way the
College will still be providing student clinical services to local residents. Our hours will boost these existing programs and expand their ability to serve. The College will also continue to serve area residents through the Intoxicated Driver Resource Center, which had previously been run through the Clinic. Last year it served about 900 residents in Mercer County, providing each person with 12 hours of psychoeducation regarding alcohol and other drug use with a focus on preventing driving under the influence. Additionally, it did individualized screenings on each person to determine if they should be referred for a full substance misuse assessment to determine if there may be a need for formal treatment. If there was such a need, IDRC counselors evaluated the appropriateness of the referral and will monitored that treatment on a monthly basis for a minimum of 16 weeks, but in some cases will continue to monitor for up to 10 years. The Clinic costs $180,000 annually to operate, and requires an additional $70,000 investment to upgrade the technology to bring it into compliance with regulations. Given the availability of good off-site internship opportunities, our plans to provide new counseling options that represent an enhanced level of care to students who had been utilizing the Clinic and the number of mental health agencies serving the local community, it simply did not make sense to continue to operate it. We appreciate the support shown to the Clinic this semester and don’t discount the many people it has helped over the last 10-plus years. We believe our plans for the future allow us to expand and strengthen what we offer to address student long-term care needs and to ensure a quality graduate internship experience.
Photo courtesy of David Muha
Hecht addresses student inquiries.
page 12 The Signal May 3, 2017
College can better address mental health By Kelly Corbett
“Are you concerned about someone?” section, a self-help section that includes links to TED Talks and adult coloring pages. If you asked me what I’ve learned at the College these past There is even a featured section that gives students tips on four years, apart from my course load, I’d have a lot to tell how to cope while waiting for their appointment, as well as a page 8 The Signal April 19, 2017 forge small talk you. I’ve learned how to disguise my demons, schedule of all mental health related events on campus. I feel with a classmate or professor while my mental state was in that it takes too much digging to find valuable resources on shambles, listen to weird music at 2 a.m. while looping around the CAPS website and many students are unaware that there the track and stop myself from crying in class when someone is more in it besides general information on the facility itself. would say something ignorant, all the while managing to not Fourth, in order to better cater to the schedules of varilet my GPA take a plunge. Basically, I learned how to hide that ous students, CAPS should consider making its counselors’ I wasn’t OK. schedules more versatile. Counselors have a typical MonNot only did mental health become a theme in my life, but day through Friday workweek schedule from 8:30 a.m. to it also became a theme on this campus. Three students and 4:30 p.m., which provides a very limited window for fullFlickr one assistant provost committed suicide during my time here. time students seeking help. Instead of scheduling all counThis wasn’t some over-the-top fictional movie I was watch- Students seek the best mental health care possible. selors at the same time, shifts should be staggered. Perhaps ing: this was real life. The people around me were struggling problematic? I feel like CAPS peer educators screen appli- half of the counselors could have a noon to 8:00 p.m. shift with mental health. cants far too intensely for these events and only try to se- to offer students a more flexible appointment time. While Over the past couple semesters, I’ve voiced a few frustra- lect students that share certain messages in their accounts. it is understandable that the current hours are ideal for the tions I’ve had with the mental health facilities at the College. The monologue events would be much more enriching if counselors, having later shifts would better accommodate Many of the pieces I’ve written have involved actions that everyone’s voice was incorporated. the student body. weren’t necessarily a quick fix. I thought I’d use this piece to Second, I think the College’s social media channels could Lastly, communication about mental health at this school list a few easy solutions that the College and Counseling and use a little reboot. If there is an event on campus dealing with is a weak point. In a previous article I wrote, I spoke about Psychological Services should take into consideration for bet- students discussing mental health, why not toss a post about it the parking garage barriers that exist as means restriction for tering mental health on campus. Spoiler: they don’t involve on the College’s official Facebook or Twitter beforehand with suicide prevention. The students were notified by email that construction or additional funds. details on its time and location? Better yet, since it’s mental construction would be taking place in the parking garages, but First, I think CAPS should nix their application process for health awareness month, would it be so out of line to com- were never told that this was the reason why. Also, since my monologue events. Every semester CAPS hosts events that memorate it on the College’s Instagram, and post links in the freshman year at the College, I’ve been told that CAPS is the provide students the opportunity to share their personal stories photo’s caption that lead to a list of resources for students? I’m go-to place for students who are struggling. It wasn’t until I in the form of a monologue. Every monologue series has a not just talking about mental health issues — LGBTQ+ issues, went to counseling at CAPS and poured my heart out that I theme dealing with mental health. In the past, CAPS has used racism and environmental issues all deserve attention. discovered the way counselors help students is by referring the idea of stigmas or eating disorders as topics for students to I have recently seen more facile posts on the College’s so- them to off-campus providers. When I expressed to CAPS that talk about. Monologues are raw, honest and exactly the type cial media channels, celebrating events like denim dayContact and I didn’t the transportation to go to therapy, I was told to us:have signal@tcnj.edu of rich dialogue that members of the College should have on promoting selfies for self-care. I’ve also seen posts showing rent a car. While the College has addressed this transportaLocated in room 204 in Forcina Hall. their radar. The issue is not every student who is willing to off our picturesque campus and honoring alumni with jobs at tion issue recently with the opening of InFocus Urgent Care, it everybeSunday atits5:30 p.m. share is allowed to share. elite companies. There simply aren’t enough postsMeetings that show shouldn’t forgotten that rejection of vulnerable students Monologue events require students to sign up using qual- how we, as a school, can be deep. We need to show that the has been a reality. trics, which is an online survey. After students sign up, only College is a school that cares about touchy topics, like menWhen I was in an emotionally disheveled state in the CAPS certain stories are chosen for the lineup. This system is in- tal health. The school tends to only shine a light on academic office the idea hit me that I wasn’t the only one that wasn’t resanely selective. Shouldn’t everyone’s story be told? Mental achievements. However, the ability for students to be compas- ceiving the help I needed. I realized that there were other stuillness involves one dealing with their day-to-day demons and sionate and share what makes them vulnerable is also a major dents besides me who weren’t being provided the emotional it takes so much courage to be vocal about this. I was rejected accomplishment that should not go unnoticed. support that they deserved. The College, along with CAPS, at first from the eating disorder monologues last spring and Third, while professional help is ideal for those trying to have kept the topic of mental illness hush hush. Everyone has I was only allowed to speak after someone in the lineup had cope with their own personal issues, we shouldn’t oust small- experienced vulnerability and it’s important to acknowledge dropped out. It made me2085 feel like myPennington experience with an eat-Road er-scale resources. The CAPS website can serve as a resource that overcoming our weaknesses is what has made us successing disorder was not as valuable as someone else’s. for students, but it is not marketed well. I checked out Ra- ful students. Therefore, the conversation about mental health Ewing Twp, N.J., 08638 While I understand that there are time constraints with mapo College’s mental health counseling website and was on this campus should be constant, candid and limitless. including everyone’s stories, would extending the pro- impressed by what its site has to offer: It has an anonymous I challenge this campus to speak more about mental health, gram or breaking it up into a multiple day event be that screening portion that assesses all forms of mental illness, an to share more experiences and above all, listen.
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May 3, 2017 The Signal page 13
Students share opinions around campus “Do students abuse technology in the classroom?”
Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor
Britani Raynor, a junior communication studies major. “It depends what kind of class, but yeah, lectures are boring.”
Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor
Frankie Ochman, a freshman open options business major. “Maybe a little bit. There are positives. Students can take notes quicker.”
“Should there be gender-specific rules for co-ed sports?”
Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor
Levi Klinger-Christiansen, a senior political science and English double major. “It seems like it’s mostly up to the teams.”
Brielle Bryan / Opinions Editor
Jack Purcell, a junior marketing major.
“No, I don’t think there should be. Everyone should have an equal playing field.”
The Signal’s cartoons of the week...
page 14 The Signal May 3, 2017
Features
Speakers share hairy details at monologues
Left: Frank embraces her curly hair. Right: Students challenge the misconception that hair defines sexuality.
By Shannon Deady Staff Writer
“Hair is something everyone has, but people rarely talk about (it). It is a bit of a ‘hairy’ subject.” Bridget Appleby, a senior psychology major and member of Women in Learning and Leadership, joked as she started off the evening. Student’s opened up about the hairiest details of their stories with body and head hair at the Body Hair Monologues: The Fault in our Follicles on Thursday, April 26. The event was part of the women’s, gender, and sexuality studies capstone course, which also included a week of games, facilitations, documentaries and monologues. This year, the activities focused on the politics of hair. The event was different in past years, with last years focusing on menstruation. The first speaker, Alumna Rachel Fikslin (’16), facetimed into the event and detailed the story of a woman who read, “A Love Poem to Her Bush” at a menstruation conference she had attended. “I was awestruck that this woman spoke so openly and
so positively about her bush,” Fikslin said. “(The poem showed) how powerful it can be to grow your body hair in ways that are rebellious, that are contrary to expectations.” She went on to talk about her own experiences with hair, specifically on her head, as she received her first pixie haircut after her freshman year at the College. Many other female students spoke about the responses they received after making the decision to cut their hair, and the assumptions regarding sexuality that can be tied to a short haircut. Some students cut their hair as a reflection of their sexuality. For others, it was simply a choice they made for themselves — just another haircut. The relationship between hair and racial and religious identities was also discussed. Elissa Frank, a junior political science major, shared her story about having curly hair. When Frank was a child, she was unable to find a barbie doll that looked like her, and felt different from other girls in school who had silky, straight hair. She explained how her hair led to others assumptions regarding her race and religion, which made her feel left
Jason Proleika / Photo Editor
out in high school. For Hanukkah one year, Frank asked her parents if she could chemically straighten her hair. She underwent this hair treatment every nine months until she was a junior in high school. “(In) college, I realized it was okay to have curly hair and to be proud of your curls,” Frank said. “Embrace who you are and your identity, even if you are so different from all of your friends.” As students went up to share personal stories, others who hadn’t intended on speaking were inspired to share their own. Many students connected with one another over similar struggles with hair, telling stories they may not have even shared, even with a best friend. In a society where hair is rarely discussed, the event was refreshing. Ariel Moskowitz, a senior biology major and WILL member, closed the night as the final speaker with a simple and important reminder. “If you weren’t supposed to have hair, it wouldn’t grow,” she said.
Students bring Habitat for Humanity to campus
Volunteers give back to local communities. By Michelle Purri Correspondant
From cutting wood to painting walls and building roofs — student volunteers in the College’s new chapter of Habitat for Humanity do it all in order to help the local communities that need their help the most. Habitat for Humanity, an international
Photo courtesy of Kerstin Baran
nonprofit organization, partners with communities around the world to help them build a place they can call home. Habitat for Humanity’s chapter at the College became official on Feb. 8, 2017. Kerstin Baran, a freshman biology major and president of the College’s chapter of Habitat, was motivated to bring the club to campus. After contacting the
public outreach coordinator of Trenton’s Habitat for Humanity, they set up a meeting to discuss the process. Baran worked alongside Kendall Edwards, a freshman public health major and a general member in Habitat for Humanity, to form the club. “The first step was to see if students had an interest in being a part of the club, so we held an information session in November,” Baran said. “We had more than 40 people attend, which determined that there was a demand for this club on campus.” Finally, Edwards and Baran joined Josh Trif, a freshman mathematics major and the club’s treasurer, and presented in front of Student Government to propose the new club. Now approved by SG, the College’s chapter has helped build communities in the local area of Ewing and Trenton, N.J. to contribute to the nonprofit’s overall goal of providing affordable housing to those in need, according to Baran. Baran said the club has been a great addition to the campus because “it exposes students to the realities of poverty and gives them a chance to take action and help the community.” With more than 80 students on their roster, members of the club are eager to expand. “For now, (our builds) will mostly be local, but in the future I hope we will be able to travel and to volunteer with the other Habitat chapters in different states and
counties,” Edwards said. “Habitat is like a project due a year from now that you work on little-by-little each day. It can be hard to see success in one day, and that is also what brings people back because they want to see progress and watch the house grow from the ground up.” Kaitlyn Gallagher, a freshman nursing major, likes the club because it connects her with the local community. Gallagher wanted to get more involved both on and off campus in a positive way, and Habitat has allowed her to do that. “The chapter can be really beneficial for the students on campus and it is a great opportunity to learn some useful skills and give back to the community,” Gallagher said. The club is also open to partnering with other clubs on campus. “We are excited to collaborate with the clubs on campus, and we hope to gain more members by becoming more involved on campus next semester,” Baran said. Trif also emphasized the importance of partnering with other clubs on campus. He added that the club “also plans on cooperating with other Habitat organizations in nearby colleges such as Princeton. Aside from hoping to connect with other Habitat organizations and actively looking for new members, the club is still working on spreading awareness to the College community, as next semester will be its first full semester as an official club.
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 15
:Nov. ‘74
Campus Style
Professors protest against state
Faculty members voice frustrations with the state.
Ashton Leber / Social Media Editor Flickr
Every week, Social Media Editor Ashton Leber hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories.
Left: Rompers are a must-have this summer. Right: Floppy beach hats are a stylish trend.
In 1974, professors and faculty at the College went on strike because the state refused their proposals. On April 12, Production Manager Brielle Bryan spoke to faculty members who protested working under expired contracts. Although the faculty explained their love and passion for teaching, they are worried about bills and their other expenses. With lack of compensation and health insurance on the rise, faculty is frustrated with the administration.
By Jillian Greene Columnist
demand than the popular two-piece suits we see season after season.
As the school year comes to an end, summer vibes are almost in full effect. It’s hard to believe there’s only one more week of classes. Students across campus will soon be cramming for finals, submitting last minute assignments or, for seniors, preparing for the real world. One thing is on all of our minds: summer. More specifically, we are all wondering what fashion trends will be most prevalent over the summer. At least once a day, I’m reminded of the upcoming warm summer months as I scroll through my Instagram feed and see fashion bloggers posting stylish trends. Here are some summer trend predictions:
Bell bottoms: From jeans to sweatpants, the bell bottom pant style has been making its way back into the fashion world. We’re now seeing them in more colorful and patterned styles. These are a great alternative to yoga pants, as they’ll add just a little more spunk into your style.
Professional staffers at the eight state colleges across New Jersey rolled through the second day of their strike today with no hope of negotiations in sight. The Council of New Jersey State College Locals (CNJSCL), an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, (AFT), began striking Monday because, according to Union officials, “The state has refused to bargain in good faith; they have said no to all of our proposals.” At Trenton State College, early reports showed that only 34 percent of the faculty honored the picket lines set up at all campus gates. The remainder of the classes
were held as normal. These first-day figures were tabulated by computer center staffers who are not members of the bargaining unit. According to Dr. Paul DuBois, Director of the Library, “One third of the professional staff is present. All the clerical staff, secretaries, shelvers, etc. are in.” Security had extra people on the first day of the strike and according to Nate Lomax, Director of Security, “Things went relatively as expected.” Security guards were posted at both the main entrance on Pennington Road and the Green Lane entrance to make sure traffic flowed smoothly. Ewing Township’s Police Department was contacted several times throughout the day by non-striking faculty members, students and Ewing Township residents who complained about the flow of traffic. Ewing Police dispatched officers to both entrances, where they told the strikers that if they receive another complaint about the flow of traffic, they would have to start arresting. No further incidents were reported.
One-piece swimsuits: This is an easy one. Last summer, we saw a wave of new styles and we’ll definitely be seeing more. From funky patterns to sleek styles — these options seem limitless. The desire for these swimsuits may be in higher
Rompers: Whether worn casually or formally, rompers are becoming a staple item everyone should invest in. Sun hats: Of course we will be seeing the classic and cute straw sun hats this summer. However, big floppy beach hats, in my opinion, are the next hot thing. Not only are floppy hats adorable in their simplest style, but some have sayings like “Hello Sunshine” and “Do Not Disturb” sewn into them. They are the perfect beach accessory.
Celebritease : Capping off four wild semesters
Styles announces a world tour and debut album. By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist
Life was dramatically different for both me and celebrities when I started writing this column two years ago. While some of the most iconic personalities in Hollywood passed, new stars were born. When “Celebritease” began in the Fall of 2015, Taylor Swift was dating Calvin Harris and we were planning a presidential campaign in 2020 for
AP Photo
Kanye West to lead our nation. As for a “Sign of the Times,” Harry Styles was leading One Direction while Zayn Malik broke off his engagement to Perrie Edwards. A lot can change in two years. Currently, Swift is lurking around Nashville gearing up for a more country style album to release in 2018. Styles recently announced he will be kicking off his solo career this summer on a world tour. Tickets go on sale May 5,
while his debut album will release on May 12. Niall Horan is finishing up his first solo album and is rumored his next single will be called “Slow Hands.” One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is Prince William and Kate Middleton’s love for each other. The two tied the knot in 2011 and had two adorable children, George and Charlotte. The royal family continues to inspire the world with their dedication to mental health awareness and other charitable causes. In 2015, Chris Soules was America’s heartthrob on the 19th season of “The Bachelor.” The farmer from Iowa thought he found love with Whitney Bischoff, but they split later that year. In 2017, Soules was arrested for a fatal hit and run accident in Iowa. It was reported he rear ended a truck in front of him, leaving the driver dead. Soules was not charged with driving under the influence, and his lawyers claim he stayed with the victim trying to resuscitate him. Stars who came out to the Stagecoach Festival had a blast at country’s biggest musical festival.
Musicians like Nick Jonas and Niall Horan hung out with country duo Dan and Shay while the biggest names in country like Shania Twain took the stage. As festival season picks up for summer, we can’t wait to watch our favorite artists rock out on stage. Writing this column each week has been such a rewarding experience. From award shows to engagements, I have loved gossiping
as you read along. Johnanthony Alaimo wrote the celebrity gossip column before me. In his final article he wrote that he hoped another sociopath would take his place. It has been an honor to fill those shoes, and to the next sociopath, I can’t wait to see where you take the column. I will leave you with these wise words from Kanye West, “I made that bitch famous.”
Swift returns to making country music.
AP Photo
page 16 The Signal May 3, 2017
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Dear World unites College community May 3, 2017 The Signal page 17
Left: Impactful personal stories bring students together. Right: Bueno opens up about his grandfather’s death. By Nicolas Waters Correspondant “If you had to share one story with the rest of the world, what would you say?” This question was introduced by Dear World, an interactive award-winning portrait project that strives to unite people through pictures in their impactful and distinct message-on-skin style. Dear World provided students with the opportunity to share these personal stories on Thursday, April 27, in the Brower Student Center. The evening included a two-part event: a storytelling portion and a photo reveal of the College’s many participants of the project. Katie Greenman, a facilitator and storyteller, has worked with the project since 2015. She led the event in a welcoming fashion. “Working with the Dear World team is one of the reasons I feel so lucky in this life,” Greenman said. “I get to do work that I love, meet people at their most real and honest moments and get to work with people who are truly driven by a love of people.” A dimly lit lamp glowed on each speaker’s face from behind the podium, and their individual portraits fixated on the audience before them. Delisson Bueno, a sophomore health and exercise major on the pre-med track, opened up for the first time about the tragic death of his grandfather. Bueno’s grandfather passed away in a motor vehicle accident caused by black ice
after a severe snowstorm. Around 3 a.m. on the morning of the accident, his father woke him to break the devastating news. “I leaned over on the sink, and I felt like I was going to pass out,” Bueno said. “My best friend was gone and I didn’t even know why.” Bueno lost his grandfather at an early age, but assured himself that the inseparable love and relationship with his best friend would live on forever. Carlie Horton, a sophomore iSTEM and urban elementary education double major, described her experience after she had a breakdown over spring break. Horton strives for perfection. Being snowed in as she watched her friends on social media enjoy spring break made her feel excluded. With school and caring for her family leaving her little free time, Horton found herself overwhelmed. “Every little thing that had just been building up, I finally let go,” she said. Through additional help, self-reflection and the undivided support from her family, she expressed her significantly improved grasp in handling her extensive responsibilities and recognizing that no one is perfect. Gabe Salazar, a junior interactive multimedia major, shared his experience facing judgement from others based off his ethnicity, skin color and sexual orientation. One time, when Salazar was walking home from school in seventh grade, three male classmates began shouting homophobic and racially-charged slurs in his direction.
The Culinary Club Presents...
Lions Plate By Julia Dzurillay Columnist Every family has a traditional go-to recipe. To this day, my mother makes a dozen of empanadas and they leave me snacking for days. They’re simple, customizable and taste great leftover. The ingredients in an empanada depend on the chef’s nationality. I’ve had empanadas with almonds, olives, raisins and even hard boiled eggs. Because my mother is from Nicaragua, our recipes are made of traditional and simple ingredients: ground beef, onions and spices. Make your own empanadas with chicken or use cheese and spinach for a vegetarian option. You can even enjoy them baked or fried. Ingredients: 1 tbsp of olive oil 1 1/4 lb package of ground beef 1 medium onion (finely chopped) 1/4 cup of tomato sauce 12-16 pimento stuffed green olives (sliced)
Not unfamiliar to the treatment, he remained passive and ignored the group, until they began throwing rocks, water bottles and garbage. Salazar ran home in fear. The incident had undoubtedly rattled him, as he immediately found long-term refuge in his bedroom. “That was the moment in my life that my identity as a gay, Filipino immigrant would change my life. Not for the better, but for the worst,” Salazar said. He further admitted that his personal journey hasn’t been easy. It continues to this day. Salazar confidently expressed that he’s “thriving,” and proud to be at the current point in his life. Sabrina Arauz, a sophomore graphic design major, shared her lifelong struggle to find acceptance through multiple situations involving people within the white and Hispanic communities. From an early age, Arauz and her Spanish-speaking family had been approached on a variety of occasions by strangers who were not accepting of her family. People would urge Arauz and her family to go back to their own country or attack them with racial slurs. Arauz has taken additional action in combating these slurs and stereotypes through personal projects. At an art critique, she was told that she didn’t know what it was like to be a true minority, and was even accused of being “too pale” to belong to her own family. “My pride for my country, my culture, my family is all I have,” Arauz said. “It’s hard to
Photos courtesy of Dear World
feel not accepted by the Hispanic community, the white community, any community.” Although puzzled by the lengthy degree of rejection and disapproval of her and her family from both Hispanic and white communities, Arauz remains resilient. She is proud of herself, her family, her country and her culture with a contagious level of confidence. It evidently wasn’t difficult for the audience to quickly relate with the speakers on a personal level. “It was unbelievable to me how connected the room was in each of those moments,” said Lauren Plawker, a senior psychology major. “I think people were finally beginning to understand that they aren’t alone in their struggles.” The heartfelt unveiling of personal experiences was followed by a video montage, featuring a multitude of different representatives who participated in Dear World’s open portrait shoot. “Bringing Dear World to (the College) was such an important experience to help highlight issues and conversations that people were hungry to have, but thought they were alone,” Greenman said. Although each person had a different story to tell, Dear World portrayed that as a community, we’re not so different after all. “So many students were bringing up stories and experiences, while at the same time sharing how much they wanted to really get to know people and feel more understood,” Greenman said. “These portraits are the conversation starters to make that happen.”
: Personalized empanadas
4 garlic cloves (finely chopped) 1 tsp of dried oregano 1/2 tsp of cumin Vegetable oil or corn oil 2 dozen “discos” or empanada shells. Directions: 1. In a large skillet, heat one tbsp of oil over medium heat. 2. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Break up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. 3. Add chopped onions to skillet and cook for about five minutes, or until soft. 4. Stir in tomato sauce, olives, garlic, cumin and oregano. Simmer mixture until it thickens for about 15 minutes. 5. Drain excess oil from mixture and set aside to cool for five minutes. 6. As the meat mixture is cooling, sprinkle flour on the counter. Roll out discos with a rolling pin until they’re 1/2 inch larger in diameter. 7. Add a spoonful of meat mixture into the middle of each disc. Moisten the edge of each disc with water, and fold in half. Use a fork to press the edges of the disc’s
perimeter, enclosing the meat inside. 8. Fill a deep saucepan with about 2 1/2 inches of oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees and add empanadas in small batches. Cook for about two minutes on each side, or until crisp. 9. Transfer empanadas to a paper towel to drain excess oil.
Empanadas are customizable.
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page 18 The Signal May 3, 2017
Arts & Entertainment
Comedy / Novak makes fun of ‘Fun Stuff’
The Mixed Signals opens for Novak. continued from page 1
flowers, which was the content for that week’s edition of “Fun Stuff.” “Now, I really want to be sensitive to any potential color blind editors, but this is a black and white paper,” Novak said. “Imagine how much more ‘Fun Stuff’ it could be if this fun game were colored.” He didn’t stop there. Novak continued going through the paper, turning to last week’s edition of “Cop Shop.” The audience cheered at the mention of the column that reports on College crime. “Oh, you’re proud of this?” he said. “Interesting.” Like most comedians that perform at the College, Novak did his research. He joked about the numerous name changes the College has been through in its 162-year history. When the College was first established, it was called New Jersey State Normal School, a title Novak did not hesitate to point out.
Kim Iannarone / Staff Photographer
“It’s really shady when someone keeps switching their name around, like another example of that would be The College of New Jersey,” Novak said. “‘So where do you go to school? Normal College. Just Normal College.’” Novak, who is well-known for his role as Ryan Howard on the comedy series “The Office,” along with being a writer, producer and director of the series. Novak talked about the success of two great comedic writers –– Charlie Chaplin and Benjamin Franklin. According to what Novak read in a book about the silent film actor, in 1917 Chaplin entered a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest and came in third place. This narrative is what made Chaplin a superstar and, to Novak, posed as a lesson for those trying to reach that level of fame. “The story had a great moral… even Charlie Chaplin can’t catch a break sometimes,” Novak said. “If you think about it, that was the biggest break in show business
because if Charlie Chaplin had won that look-alike contest — which we should have every expectation he would have done — the moral of that story would be the complete opposite. The moral of the story would have been ‘Charlie Chaplin is a fucking dick.’” Novak continued talking about Franklin who was not only a comedy writer, but was also a contributor to historical U.S. documents. “I’ve been in some pretty good writer’s rooms, (but) this guy was in the room that wrote the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and he just kept upping levels,” he said. “He discovered electricity, separately… and he did it by flying a kite in a rainstorm, which I consider his greatest accomplishment right there.” For other aspiring comedians, Novak is admired as highly as he regarded Chaplin and Franklin. “B.J. is an incredible writer. I’m inspired by how witty and smart he is when it comes to his one-liners and bits,” Guaglianone said. With a stack of note cards in hand, Novak showed the audience his talent for writing when he trusted them to decide which of his jokes were funny. “I spent four years in college myself,” Novak said. “Didn’t learn a thing. I learned literally nothing in college. It was my own fault –– I had a double major in psychology and reverse psychology.” In reality, college was quite the opposite for Novak. He graduated from Harvard University and was a member of the university’s undergraduate humor publication, The Harvard Lampoon. Novak would occasionally perform in different
shows with fellow classmates. Novak got his own big break while performing stand-up in Los Angeles, where he was discovered by Greg Daniels, the creator of “The Office.” Daniels noticed how Novak used facial expressions between each joke like he was smarter than other people –– a quality Daniels thought made sense for a temp. It wasn’t easy getting to where he is now, according to Novak. Like his joke test run at the comedy show, he went through a lot of trial and error. “(It was) telling a lot of jokes that didn’t end up in the trash, essentially,” Novak said. “I did a lot of open mic nights and the jokes were all bad except for one. Then all bad except for two.” During his performance at the College, some of his jokes ended up, literally, in the trash as he dropped each failed attempt in a trash can beside him. “I used to sponsor an orphan in South America until I saw an ad on TV that said for the same cost I can buy myself a cup of coffee every day,” Novak said. “I have so much more energy now. That ad changed my life.” The joke was followed by some scattered boos prompting Novak to trash the joke and move on. Despite the failed joke, Novak is known for his sharp comedy writing. He also has written a couple of books that landed on The New York Times bestseller list. “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” is a compilation of funny short stories that were inspired by his own personal life. One story that Novak spoke about
involved a robot that was able to express the human emotion of love, to only be rejected by her owner. “He becomes a famous national punch line because he’s the guy that returned the landmark piece of robotics that felt love because he didn’t want a relationship,” Novak said. Along with the book, Novak wrote a children’s book that he took inspiration from reading to his friend’s children. “The Book with No Pictures” is what the title suggests, and has readers say ridiculous things and make the words come alive. “You have to say everything the book says,” Novak said. “So you end up saying, ‘Yes I am monkey. Also I’m a robot monkey. What?’” Students couldn’t resist asking Novak questions about “The Office” such as who’d he want to play other than Ryan He would have played Toby. One student asked if the actor and his co-star Rainn Wilson was similar to his character on the show, Dwight K. Shrute. “Want to call him?” Novak asked the audience as he pulled out his cellphone and proceeded to call the actor, who didn’t answer. The audience left a voicemail shouting “Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica,” a famous line from the show. “To answer your question, he’s a huge asshole,” he said. It was evident that despite almost four years since its series finale, the show still has a special place in Novak’s heart. Novak showed his gratitude to the audience for being fans of a “very weird, little, soft, bizarre show” that might ultimately define his career.
Senior art students showcase array of creative works
Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer
Students admire poignant artwork.
By Ashley Mackoul Correspondent
The atmosphere was full of excitement as people began lining up outside the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building at around 1 p.m. The College’s new art gallery attracted alumni, students, family and friends with an inviting “welcome” sign outside the building. Everyone who attended the reception was offered free h’orderves and refreshments. The exhibition called “That On Which
We Are Standing” showcases artwork by a senior bachelor of fine arts professional practice class of 10 students. Each of them presented a different perspective. As a whole, their work challenges the concepts of body image, self-identity, memory and mapping. The gallery room consists of various art mediums such as photographs, interactive sculptures, GIFs and projections. Walking into the gallery, the first eyecatching exhibit is a bench that appears to be composed of magazine shreddings. Emily Vogel, a senior art education major, named this work “Gravitas Vanitas.” Vogel finds well admired artistic value in using repurposed building materials and disposable household items. The next exhibit was titled “Pictures of Myself” by Alyse Delaney, a senior visual arts major with a lens-based specialization. Delaney used exactly 675 black and white digital inkjet prints to record her life. Delaney explained her inspiration for her art. “I was interested in documenting my different selves throughout my life from when I was a little girl up until now,” she said. “I think it’s interesting how we interact with the camera at different ages.”
She also had another interesting work of art in which she “started at the latitude where (she) lived and worked (her) way around the circumference of the Earth.” This exhibit hung in multiple strips from the ceiling to the floor. Delaney pieced together numerous pictures of the Earth’s surface from land to water to make her vision a reality. Rachel Perrotta, a senior visual art major with a lens-based specialization, is the brains behind a projection of photographs
called “Live.” Her videography focuses on the ins and outs of heavy metal music displaying a personal viewpoint of the musician’s life. “I am thrilled that TCNJ has an art gallery,” said Sandra Arnold, whose son is a student in the class. “I think it is awesome that there is the ability to utilize the area,” she added. The exhibit is open to the public and will remain on display until Thursday, May 4.
Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer
Vogel’s bench is made entirely of magazine clippings.
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 19
Senior showcase brings pride to IMM majors By Ashley Skowronek Staff Writer
The Arts and Interactive Multimedia building housed the senior showcase for interactive multimedia majors on Friday, April 28, which provided a stage for seniors to present thesis projects. Exhibits ranged from websites, video games, performances and physical installations. Each creator invited the public to interact with their displays. The project “HouseMate,” included a red sofa across from a flat screen television and two lamps radiating a warm glow. The project explored the possibilities presented when “native” limitations of consumer home technology are bypassed, coupled with better understanding of how smart hardware affect human emotions and moods. The interactive display conceptualized a smart home automation platform, which allowed hardware and software to seamlessly work together, creating a powerful home living experience. “My project really started as a hobby/side project that I ended up having a ton of fun with, and built it up into my thesis project,” said Ryan Laux, a senior interactive multimedia major. “As someone pursuing film and animation, I never expected that my thesis would be in the home automation
and physical computing field.” His project was inspired by videos of other students “making their dorms or apartments ‘smart’ with controllable lighting, voice control and other connected devices.” The project’s goal was to fashion a home around the user by allowing its interior to adapt automatically to the user’s daily activities and preferences. “I really wanted to show the audience that the future is now and hopefully inspire someone to create something they never thought was possible,” Laux said. “Having the freedom to learn and create something completely different is one of the best parts about being in IMM.” The 25 minute video, “Modern Reveries,” also examined themes of artificial intelligence and human interaction with technology. The experimental video editing project delivered an anthological cinematic experience. Chris Lundy, a senior interactive multimedia major, was inspired by his love of storytelling and cinematic experiences. “My college career has focused on becoming a better editor, filmmaker and content creator,” he said. “‘Modern Reveries’ is both a summation and representation of that aspiration.” Senior interactive multimedia major Angela Arguson’s project “Diversity Snapshot” transformed
the College’s admissions data into physical artifacts through the use of data visualization: the display of data in a graphic format. “Rather than design an infographic to be viewed on a screen, I aimed to create a physical exhibit that was visually appealing but also revealed a data driven story in a new way,” Arguson said. “In contrast to yearly admissions data that the college collects, I wanted to convey the more personal side to the numbers. A survey was sent out to the student body, so this visualization is representative of their personal opinions, stories, and experiences with diversity.” The exhibit depicted the ethnic composition of the College’s yearly undergraduate students and digitally fabricated graduation caps whose appearance corresponded to data obtained from annual diversity surveys. “I believe that the audience was interested in the physical visualization aspect of the exhibit and the way the information was displayed,” Arguson said. “Several viewers mentioned how eye opening the data was and thought that it was an important topic to discuss.” Art and animation was expertly paired in “Art Evolution” which featured characters like Pikachu from “Pokemon” and Link from the “Legend of Zelda,” along
Jason Proleika / Photo Editor
Students explore different multimedia projects. with others from anime, cartoons and video games. Characters were drawn in sequential order based on the digital animation process; black outlines transformed into complete figures by means of canvas. “To me, the thesis showcase is a place to sell yourself to employers –– this is what I do and this is how good I am at it,” said Miranda Karetny, a senior interactive multimedia major. “When people recognized the anime or game on which the art was based, they would get excited. They took a lot of pictures as well as asked about
commission prices.” The exhibit aimed to show how stylistic illustrations connect with fine art in a fun and accessible way. “I think as far as my intent to showcase my best work to prospective employers, this was a sign of great success,” Karetny said. “The message that I wanted to convey is to always create something that you yourself enjoy. I love what I do and I wouldn’t change it for anything.” The senior showcase was student-run in all aspects, from budgeting to scheduling.
New Kendrick album makes listeners say ‘DAMN.’
Top Dawg Entertainment
Lamar’s sound is intricate and deep. By Thomas Infante Arts & Entertainment Editor
Kendrick Lamar is without a doubt the most unpredictable figure in mainstream music. His 2012 album “Good Kid M.A.A.D. City” solidified his reputation as a master lyricist and storyteller, while his 2015 follow-up “To Pimp a Butterfly” showed a more philosophical and introspective side to his music. Kendrick’s called himself the greatest rapper alive, a claim that many of his fans fervently support. After constant shifts in his musical style, in both lyrics and production, I had no idea what to expect from his latest album “DAMN.” Upon its release on April 14, “DAMN.” shot to No. 1 on the Billboard 200. It sold more than 350,000 albums and had more than 340 million streams in its first week. The attitude of this entire project is perhaps summarized most effectively on the cover of the album. Kendrick stands in front of a brick wall in a white T-shirt, head tilted down with his shadowed face staring coldly into the camera — a look of complete indifference with a hint of menace. It is fitting because “DAMN.” is by no means a happy record. It’s fascinating, exciting and, at times, shocking both lyrically and musically — but it is not happy and neither is Kendrick.
The album opens with “BLOOD.,” which begins with a voice that sings, “Is it wickedness? Is it weakness? You decide, are we gonna live or die?” The song continues with a narration by Kendrick, who is shot to death on the street by a seemingly harmless old woman who he tried to help. The track is surreal and eerie. It sets up a recurring theme of weakness and wickedness. “BLOOD.” is followed by “DNA.,” a bombastic and bass-heavy track produced by Mike Will. Kendrick’s lyrics juxtapose the different values that are inherent in his “DNA.,” which symbolically represents his racial and cultural upbringing as well as his literal genetics. Halfway through the song, the beat changes up considerably, with different percussion and a vocal sample that comes out of nowhere. He explained that he prepared the first beat, but created the second in the studio as Kendrick rapped a cappella, according to NPR. “I wanted it to sound like he’s battling the beat,” he said. “He said he wanted the shit to just sound like chaos, I think in his head he knows what he’s looking for, but he doesn’t really tell me anything to put me in any kind of box.” Will also solely produced the lead single for the album, titled “HUMBLE.” Despite the title, Kendrick’s lyrics are quite aggressive; he tells his competition in the rap game to “sit down” and “be humble.” Will’s beat, primarily featuring a basic low-pitched piano riff, gets catchier after multiple listens. Tracks like these show that for all his artistic experimentation, Kendrick has not lost the ability to make a song that is enjoyable on a surface level. “HUMBLE.” is lyrically and musically contrasted with the track “PRIDE.,” which is much more laidback and psychedelic. While his lyrics in “HUMBLE.” make Kendrick seem wicked, his performance and lyrics on “PRIDE.” show a more vulnerable side. A number of the tracks on this album seem to function as a pair, with contrasting
values of wickedness and weakness. “ELEMENT.” is a trendier sounding trap song driven by drum machines and synthesizer samples. Kendrick’s lyrics are braggadocious as he talks about his superiority as a rapper as compared to others. The following track, “FEEL.,” is much more insightful and contemplative, and a mellow, jazzy beat complements Kendrick’s downplayed lyrical delivery. Kendrick lists many thoughts and realizations that have come as a result of his fame and success, most notably feelings of loneliness and frustration. In one breath he brags about being the best rapper alive, in the next he contemplates what it’s even worth. Thematic similarities aside, most songs on the album are really good, with the lesser tracks being more forgettable than bad. Some, such as “YAH.” and “GOD.,” stray a little too far out of Kendrick’s musical comfort zone, and seem especially boring as compared to the raw energy and emotion of songs like “DNA.” and “HUMBLE.” “LOYALTY.” featuring Rihanna is a decent song, but lacks the same lyrical depth and signature sound. On the other hand, the song “FEAR.” has more complex lyrics, but with a sleepy beat and nearly eight-minute runtime, the song drags. Luckily these are offset by the remaining tracks. “LOVE.,” which features singer Zacari on the chorus, is undeniably catchy. Over a soft and tranquil beat, Kendrick raps about the unconditional love that he hopes his partner reciprocates. The song naturally contrasts from “LUST.,” in which Kendrick’s distorted voice raps over a beat that sounds like it’s being played in reverse. “XXX.,” which features rock band U2, is a bizarre song that perfectly captures the vibe of the album as a whole. The track begins with a minimal beat driven by drums and record-scratching sounds. Kendrick grows more energized as the beat features sirens and a pulsating bass that sound like someone trying to start a leaf blower. After a short chorus by Bono,
the beat changes again to feature more soulful and melancholy instrumentation. Kendrick’s lyrics deal with the difficulties of staying out of gang life as a young black person in America. His expository lyrics become more passionate and personal, and finally resign to political commentary. The album ends with the song “DUCKWORTH.,” after Kendrick’s own last name. The song tells the true story about how Kendrick’s father was robbed by Anthony Tiffith, the future founder of the record label Top Dawg Entertainment that would go on to sign Kendrick to a record deal. Kendrick’s father, who worked in a KFC, ingratiated himself to Tiffith after numerous other employees at the store were assaulted or shot in various robberies. When Tiffith robbed the store, he left Kendrick’s father unharmed, leaving the two to meet again years later after Kendrick’s rap career began to take off. Kendrick ends the album with the lyrics, “Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence? Because if Anthony killed Ducky Top Dawg could be servin’ life. While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight.” After that, we hear a gunshot similar to the one at the beginning of the album, followed by what sounds like the album being rewound. This implies that the album is cyclical, indicating that his being shot at the start of the album is his fate had his father been killed in that robbery. According to Kendrick’s longtime friend and producer Sounwave, cohesiveness was an important factor in the making of “DAMN.” “The album is half the battle. The real battle is making everything cohesive. We’ll sit there for hours eliminating songs — that are so amazing — because (they) don’t fit. It has to make sense. (It has to be) a perfect circle. It has to connect,” he said in an interview with Revolt TV. Kendrick creates his own universe to weave his own inner narrative. “DAMN.” shows the level of bluntness that he is willing to use to convey his stories.
page 20 The Signal May 3, 2017
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 21
Alumnus advises aspiring millionares
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Kuderna writes about financial savviness. By Matt Baginski Correspondent “Millennial Millionaire: A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30” by Alumnus Bryan M. Kuderna (’09) is far from the average self-improvement book. It pinpoints understandable and applicable habits that can be established and adapted the moment you put down the book.
Kuderna expertly reaches a young audience by delivering sound financial advice combined with humor and historical insights. He tells a variety of stories from losing his savings in poor stocks because he listened to “experts,” to becoming a Certified Financial Planner. Throughout the book, he reminds readers that not many people are aware of many complex
intricacies of the finance world. Something I found particularly interesting is Kuderna’s philosophy on how to become a successful entrepreneur. Those who wish to be entrepreneurs and leaders need to be open-minded, according to Kuderna. He goes as far as to say aspiring entrepreneurs should do something out of their comfort zone, however big or small, once a day. He also expresses the importance of seeking out a reputable fiduciary to help one reach their goals of financial independence. After all, that’s why we go to college, no? I think it is safe to say that this is not the last leg of our journey — we all wish for massive success after graduation. Kuderna’s tips on asset allocation, entrepreneurship and investment planning are useful tools to help us do so. Kuderna’s advice is accompanied by a healthy dose of excellent storytelling and some crass humor. At 134 pages, the paperback is concise in its message. It gets directly to the point in each of its 16 chapters, something most
other business-related novels fail to do. Without an ounce of filler, this book includes insightful quotes from incredible historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln and Sun Tzu. The book also covers plenty of topics from personal debt to macro-economic policies from the past until today. As a student in the College’s reputable school of business, I am a fan of books that can help me to hopefully one day become a leader, and this one is probably my favorite. The fact that it was written by an alumnus makes it that much sweeter. It is an easy read. Any financial jargon is defined, so even the financially illiterate will be able to pick up this book and be much better off after reading it. Bias for the College aside, this book really is super helpful to anyone looking to become wealthy and financially independent in their future. At a relatively low price point, the book’s return on investment is astronomical.
John Mayer’s album inspires listeners
Columbia Records
Mayer’s album is lyrically uplifting. By Samantha Roberts Staff Writer John Mayer’s seventh studio album “The Search for Everything,” was released on April 14. With each and every song written by Mayer himself, the album is a return to the soulful songwriter’s pop and rock ‘n’ roll roots. The album, which was released in two waves of four songs before its full April release, contains hits reminiscent of his glory days in the early-mid 2000s. Specifically, “Love on the Weekend,” a single to come from the first wave of songs released, has a similar sound to Mayer’s album “Room for Squares,” which includes hits “Your Body Is A Wonderland” and “Back to You. “Love on the Weekend” is about a weekend getaway between two lovers and how it is to get caught up in love after time apart. Mayer feels himself falling for the subject, saying, “I hate your guts ’cause I’m loving every minute of it,” an ode to “the old John Mayer” who famously sang about fighting his feelings in “Gravity,” one of his biggest hits of all time. “The Search for Everything” is very much an album about love and lost love. Songs like “Still Feel Like Your Man,” which is rumored to be about his ex-girlfriend Katy Perry, “Moving On and Getting Over” and “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me” are deeply personal and discuss the difficulties of getting over a relationship. Many have said that “The Search for Everything” is Mayer’s most
intimate album to date. “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me” is different stylistically from much of Mayer’s past work. The song, which is simple in its sound, has deep lyrics about an intense, allconsuming love. Mayer sings, “Parts of me were made by you, And planets keep their distance too. The moon’s got a grip on the sea,” implying that no matter the distance between the two lovers, they will always be intertwined and have a “grip” on one another. Although the two lovers will not reunite romantically, Mayer acknowledges that this love is so deep that it will live forever in his own heart. Mayer has no ill will towards this ex-lover, instead he alludes to his presence at her wedding day: “And when the pastor asks the pews, for reasons he can’t marry you. I’ll keep my word and my seat.” The song is filled with beautiful metaphors about the strength of this love, alluding to the fact that it will even survive the end of the world. “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me” will absolutely go down as one of Mayer’s greatest hits lyrically. “Never On the Day You Leave” is another song about leaving a love behind. Mayer explains, that when ending a relationship, you never consider all the seemingly little moments that you will grow to miss. “No, it’s never on the day you leave that you remember Christmas Eve, and all the
things you miss about her crazy family,” Mayer sings. “You’ll hear an old familiar sound and hope it’s her when you turn around. But never, never on the day you leave.” The song ends with a reflection by Mayer: “So maybe it’d be better off to write her and leave a little note right there beside her that says maybe we’re not perfect, but I’ll be damned if I ever leave.” “In the Blood” is another standout song and is a departure from the album’s love song continuum. The track will undoubtedly make listeners ask themselves: how much of our lives are predestined, do we really have any control over who we are and who will we become in our lifetimes? “How much of my mother has my mother left in me?” Mayer asks. “How much of my father am I destined to become?” The lyrics reveal the impression Mayer’s family members have had as he begs the question: “Could I change it if I wanted? Could I rise above the flood? Will it wash out in the water or is it always in the blood?” “In the Blood” is one of Mayer’s absolute best lyrically, and is reminiscent of old school Mayer’s sound. “My record has one name in the parentheses on every song, and it’s my name,” he told the New York Times. “That’s important.” For fans, at the very least, the album is a testament to Mayer’s longevity as a triple threat: a lyricist, musician and singer.
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Mayer pleases fans with articulate, passionate sound.
This week, WTSR Assistant Music Director EJ Paras highlights some of the best new music that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Name: Father John Misty Album Name: “Pure Comedy” Release Number: 3rd Hailing From: Rockville, Md. Genre: Indie Folk Rock Label: Sub Pop (U.S.) / Bella Union (U.K./EU) Musically, “Pure Comedy” consists primarily of simple folk melodies and piano ballads; at times, it feels derivative of his past releases, it does offer periods of musical grandeur, namely in “Things it would Have Been…” and “Pure Comedy.” Throughout the album, Misty contemplates a range of topics with a level of adroitness not before achieved on his prior albums. He navigates issues like politics and religion in a manner that makes you question his role in today’s society. Must Hear: “Total Entertainment Forever,” “Things it Would Have Been Helpful to Know Before the Revolution” and “Ballad of the Dying Man”
Band Name: Vallis Alps Album Name: “Fable” Release Number: 2nd Hailing From: Sydney, Australia Genre: Creamy Smooth Electronic Pop Label: Vallis Alps Vallis Alps is an electronic pop duo that hails from Australia. In 2015, Seattle-based producer David Ansari and Canberra-bred Parissa Tosif rose through the ranks of Australian public radio and eventually were included in the 2015 and 2016 Triple J Hottest 100. With silky smooth production and incredibly pleasant vocals, this is one group that you’ll want to listen to all the time. The CD inside the case may look like something you’d get at Johnny’s ninth birthday party, but these guys have over 1.5 million monthly Spotify listeners so they’re pretty legit. Must hear: “East” and “Run”
page 22 The Signal May 3, 2017
Sports
Track and Field
By Nicole DeStefano Staff Writer The College hosted the Lions Invitational on Friday, April 28, and Saturday,
Lions Invitational.
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dash, placing eighth overall. Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk
Noah Osterhus sprints the 400-meter dash in 49.36. at 4:09.12. -
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across all divisions. -
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Softball
Softball ends its season on bitter sweep by Cougars By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant -
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urday, April 29. The Lions lost
single to keep the inning going.
Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk
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Lions to take the lead. the season.
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ers in the third inning to give the
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eight hits. The Lions ended their season
other three runs and sealing the
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Lions 9-4 victory. -
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they had a shot at the postseason
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spin on such losses is that our players have not given up and the College proud.
May 3, 2017 The Signal page 23 Cheap Seats
Recapping an unpredictable year in sports Two semesters full of triumphs, tradegies, comebacks and controversies
AP Photos
Left: Army beats Navy for the first time in 14 years. Right: South Carolina wins the National Championship. By Michael Battista Staff Writer Another school year is coming to a close and while the College’s students study for final exams and finish up projects, I feel it’s important to look back at the year in sports. Though it’s impossible to recall everything, as I look back, it seems as though fans nearly got to witness the impossible. To start the school year off, the World Series was one for the ages. It was a must-watch for the seven games it took to determine a winner. A combined 176 years without a championship between the two teams, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians looked to make history by avenging years of failure. Cleveland took a 3-1 series lead after four games, but this time, unlike the Cavaliers in the NBA Finals last summer, it was Chicago who came back to win it all in an incredible seventh game. That cool November game saw a home run lead it off, back and forth scoring, and a rain delay. Then, after nine innings the teams were tied before the Cubs earned the 8-7 win with a single run. When first baseman Anthony Rizzo told catcher David Rosss that he was in a “glass case of emotions,” I wondered how many fans in both cities could relate. Another streak was broken only one month later on the college gridiron. The annual ArmyNavy game saw the former win for the first time in 14 years, 21-17, in M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. While not a bowl game, it deserves to be among the highlights of the college football season and ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt explains why on his 1 Big Thing segment. “These are not men who are gonna play on Sundays,” Van Pelt said, according to ESPN. “But the men and women of our military academies are the best of us. Smarter, disciplined, more vigilant.”
Army saw their lead fade away in the fourth quarter, but tough resolve and a solid defense helped them achieve the win. The win was inspired not only for every future servicemen in that stadium, but for the fallen Army cornerback, Brandon Jackson, who
Playoff National Championship game, the University of South Carolina make it to the Final Four of March Madness and the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team lost for the first time in more than three years. Whether it be disdain against
“These are not men who are gonna play on Sundays. But the men and women of our military academies are the best of us. Smarter, disciplined, more vigilant.” - Scott Van Pelt On ESPN was killed in a car accident earlier that season. Also this year, college sports set the biggest upsets of the school year. Clemson knocked off Alabama in the College Football
Alabama’s head coach Nick Saban or rooting for the underdog once your bracket was busted, sports fans found themselves drawn to these incredible events. February was a tough month
Marlins pay tribute to fallen teammate José Fernández.
for everyone here at the College. We were all returning from a relaxing winter break, the cold days seemed far from over and the New England Patriots won Super Bowl LI in an improbable fashion, 34-28, against the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Tom Brady was in full-on vengeance mode after being suspended four games during the start of the season. He carried his team to make a 25 point comeback. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had a lot to think about when it comes to the final plays of that game, such as running the ball to clinch a win. His team played like champions for three quarters, but in the end you can’t sleep on Brady no matter how big the lead. I can’t deny that No. 12 is the greatest quarterback I’ve ever seen play the game. But where there is great triumph, there is also great loss. This school year was no exception. When athletes die, fans can’t
AP Photo
help but hope that they are remembered fondly and try to remember them at their glorious moments. This year saw a few major deaths, all with varying emotions and reactions. The baseball world mourned in unison last September, when the news broke that Miami Marlins pitcher José Fernández was killed in a boating accident off the coast of Miami. In tribute to the Cuban athlete, the Marlins retired his number and erected a statue outside their stadium to show how much the young man was loved. However, Fernández’s reputation suffered when the final investigation report determined that the pitcher was driving the boat recklessly while intoxicated and on cocaine. This leaves many wondering where the young star’s legacy stands. The tragic loss of nearly the entire Brazilian Chapecoense soccer team also rocked the entire sports world in late November 2016. We saw these players, 19 in total, taken away in the blink of an eye as they traveled to compete in their team’s first ever Copa Sudamericana final. I think we can all agree it was tragic. But the moments of strength and unity that came from the event were inspiring. The team was awarded the title after their opponents, Atlético Nacional, requested it be done. The Brazilian fan base also came together for 90 minutes of silence. And while the owner of the airline, LaMia, continues to be investigated for poorly handling fuel requirements for its planes, the players will remain to be known as heroes. The sports world had a wild and chaotic year. Players on the field put their hearts into each play, and reporters worked all hours of the day and night to bring us the news. We can look forward to more big news next year. Whether you get your news from Sports Illustrated or The Signal, the sports world doesn’t stop for anyone.
Signal
Sports
Baseball ends regular season No. 1 in NJAC
The baseball team celebrates its win.
By Maximillian C. Burgos Sports Assistant The Lions baseball team snapped their three-game losing streak by winning their last three games. Their late push clinched the top seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament. The Lions started off the week with a 10-5 loss against Gwynedd Mercy University on April 24. They then conceded another loss to Arcadia University, 9-3, on Wednesday, April 26. They returned home and defeated the William Paterson University Pioneers, 2-1, on Thursday, April 27. Then the Lions traveled to Wayne, N.J. and outlasted the Pioneers, 6-5, on Friday, April 28. The team ended the regular season at home against Kean University and swept the Cougars, 14-1 and 9-4. In the first game of their exhaustive
innings. The loss marked the first time in the season that the Lions dropped three consecutive games. During the loss, freshman catcher David Cardona III hit his first career home run as a Lion in the fifth inning. The Lions offense did not produce too much, only scoring three runs in the game. Playing against William Paterson University at George Ackerman Park on Thursday, April 27, the Lions held off the Pioneers in a tight defensive game. The Lions took the lead in the ninth inning, 2-1, but it was a nail-biter all the way to the end. Junior pitcher Brandon Zachary had another strong outing for the Lions, striking out four batters and allowing only three hits. Junior pitcher Matt Curry wrapped the game up and shutted down the last two batters, Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk giving him his sixth save of the season. Shindler put the Lions on board in the week, the Lions fell to Gwynedd Mercy third inning with an RBI-single. Sophomore University, 10-5. They played a solid game infielder Tommy McCarthy pulled a clutch with several standout solo performances, walk-off hit to win the game for the Lions in despite the score. the ninth inning. Junior infielder Patrick Anderson re- The Lions and Pioneers continued to play covered from his injury and went 3-for-5 until the last pitch on the following day. Mcwith a solo homer and went six for his last Carthy came through in the second straight eight at-bats. day with a double to score two runs in the After the team strung together three hits eighth inning for the Lions 6-5 win. in the first inning, junior utility Austin Lind- The Lions to started to manufacture runs say hit an RBI and allowed freshman out- to earn an early lead in the first inning. The fielder Thomas Persichetti to score the Lions Pioneers answered by scoring twice in the first run. Junior infielder Zachary Shindler fourth and fifth inning. McCarthy tripled reached base safely for the 23rd straight and then scored on a heads-up play when game after ripping a hit to right field. In the the Pioneers pitcher threw a wild pitch to midst, sophomore infielder Ryan Fischer in- put the Lions ahead. creased the Lions lead to two. Freshman pitcher Nickolas Kleftogiannis The Lions then traveled to Arcadia pitched two scoreless innings and earned the University on Wednesday, April 26 and victory. Curry came into the game to wrap it lost a rough game, 9-3. The Lions started up and managed to lower his ERA to 0.23. flat, giving up seven runs in the first three The Lions came home on Saturday to
wrap up the regular season against Kean University. The Lions swept the Cougars in the doubleheader, helping them clinch the top seed in the NJAC. There were three standouts in the doubleheader. Junior infielder Patrick Anderson had a big weekend, going 6-for-9 and batting with two RBIs and three runs. Junior outfielder Mike Follet scored four RBIs and four runs while batting 4-for-8. Freshman outfielder Jacob Simon also stood out among batters with five RBIs, four hits, and two runs. The first game was nothing short of a blowout. The Lions won 14-1 with a stellar performance from junior pitcher Joe Cirillo. Cirillo threw his fifth complete-game victory, striking out three batters. The win puts his season record at 5-0 and his career record at 19-3, giving him the sixth highest overall record in Lions history. The first game was blown open in the fifth inning when the Lions rallied for 6 runs and 7 runs in the seventh inning. Only one run was allowed by Lions defense, allowing the 14-1 score to hold for a major conference win. In the second game, the Lions secured a 9-4 victory and sophomore pitcher Michael Fischer got his sixth win of the season. The game was highly contested until the seventh inning when the Lions rallied for five runs, blowing the game open for a win. Shindler hit his sixth triple of the season. It was his twelfth triple of his career, making him the third overall triples hitter. Curry wrapped the game up by striking out the last two batters. The baseball team now hopes to continue their success into the postseason. The Lions play William Paterson University at home on Tuesday, May 2, for their first NJAC Tournament game.
Lions wreck conference opponents in season finale By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Editor
Maura Twiggs. After junior attacker Emily Kratz netted the Lions second goal, Blackman struck The lacrosse team finished its again. She scooped up a pass from season on a dominant nine-game junior midfielder Amanda Muller winning streak, going undefeated and hurled it into the goal. in the highly competive New Jer- The Lions offense kept poundsey Athletic Conference. ing the Ospreys for the rest of On April 25, the team capped the game. At the same time, Bak, of their Senior Day celebration O’Neill and junior defender Elizawith a 13-0 shutout against Stock- beth Morrison shut out the Ospreys ton University at Lions Stadium. and forced nine turnovers. The Lions then thrashed Kean On the road for their last reguUniversity on the road, beating the lar season game, the Lions finished Cougars, 19-6. undefeated in the NJAC and tram The senior trio of attacker pled Kean University, 19-6. The Mia Blackman, defender LeeAnn Lions offense kept steamrolling Bak and defender Ellie O’Neill goal after goal. were playing in their prospective At the fifth minute, Blackman roles against the Ospreys. Black- notched her 100th career point man netted in five goals while when she scored on a free position O’Neill and Bak slowed down shot. Freshman midfielder Alexthe Ospreys. andria Fitzpatrick and Muller led The Ospreys were not able to the scorching Lions offense and land a single shot in the first half, scored four goals each. while the Lions shot eight goals. The Lions concluded this year’s Blackman scored the Lions first season with 13-1 record. Their goal after her shot broke through only loss came at the hands of Ospreys sophomore goalkeeper the reigning national champions,
Lions Lineup May 3, 2017
I n s i d e
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Middlebury College, earlier in the season. The team’s offense and defense has been stellar this season. The Lions scored 173 goals while just surrendering only 44 goals. “It’s actually really cool to see how this team turned around and
won every game,” said Brooke Lionetti, a sophomore defender. “It was an overall very strong team effort.” Sophomore midfielder Kathleen Jaeger led the Lions offense, scoring 37 goals. Blackman
The lacrosse team honors its seniors.
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followed second with 35 goals. The Lions also outshot their opponents, 366-119. The first-seed Lions are scheduled to compete in the NJAC tournament semifinals at home on Wednesday, May 3 at 7 p.m.
Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk
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