TMT packs the RAT with cover songs on Friday See A&E
page
Boys will be ... girls? Prism hosts its annual Drag Show. See Features page 15
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Vol. CXXXVI, No. 12
April 11, 2012
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Deaf actress helps promote awareness at the College
Marlee Matlin signed her inspiring story to audience members
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Marlee Matlin (right) and her interpreter Jack Jason (left) appeared at the College on Deaf Awareness Day to speak and promote her book. By Jamie Primeau Managing Editor Academy Award-winning actress, bestselling author, finalist on Donald Trump’s “The Celebrity Apprentice,” guest star on television shows ranging from “Law &
Order: SVU” to “Blue’s Clues,” activist, wife and mother of four — as evidenced by her extensive résumé, Marlee Matlin has held numerous roles over the course of her career, despite being Deaf. “Deaf people can do anything they want to do,” Matlin told an audience at
the College last week. “The only thing ington for closed captioning, which is they can’t do is hear.” now guaranteed for all television content This quote came from a statement placed on the Internet. given by I. King Jordan, the first Deaf Diagnosed as Deaf at 18 months, Matlin president of Gallaudet University, the was kept at home by her family instead of world’s only university specifically for sending her away to a school, which was deaf students. the suggestion of physicians at the time. Overcoming obstacles and pursuing Matlin credits her family for instilling one’s dreams was the focus of Matlin’s her with confidence, saying, “Despite the presentation at the College on the eve- many barriers I faced, I was inspired by ning of Wednesday, April 4, as part of my family to dream big.” the Deaf-Hearing Connection’s second Her family also taught her how to annual Deaf Awareness Day. combat criticism and teasing from other Joined on stage by her longtime in- children while growing up in their Chicaterpreter Jack go suburb in the ’70s. Jason, Matlin “Growing up as a “Despite the many barriers Matlin signed to the meant you had crowd using I faced, I was inspired by my an answer for everyAmerican Sign family to dream big.” thing,” she said, which Language, acincluded taking her companied by a father’s suggestion projector so all — Marlee Matlin and saying her hearing in the Kendall aids were bubble gum Hall audience could see. in her ears. Her brothers attributed how Topics ranged from her acting career to she spoke to a mysterious accent resulting advocacy work, which currently includes from parents who were foreign spies. trying to make contacting 911 in an emer“I envisioned my life as one long epigency accessible through text messaging, sode of ‘The Brady Bunch,’” Matlin said, since this is currently not an option. Matlin previously lobbied in Washsee DEAF page 17
The writings on the wall Prejudice high in colleges Words of bias dismantled
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Senior political science major and Student Government president Olaniyi Solebo spoke at the tearing down of ‘Writings on the Wall’ on Friday, April 6 outside the Brower Student Center. Students wrote discriminatory words and phrases that they have been called on the wall. A hoodie and a bag of Skittles were also hung on the wall to symbolize the alleged racial profiling of Trayvon Martin. The wall was torn down during a ceremony, and students were given pieces of the wall to keep. INDEX: Nation & World / Page 7 The Signal @TCNJsignal
Editorial / Page 9
Opinions / Page 11
By Mark Marsella Correspondent
Students and faculty were challenged to think about student inequality in the lecture “Celebrating Diversity: Creating a More Equitable Environment for Learning,” held in the Physics Building on Wednesday, April 4. The purpose of the lecture, presented by professor of integrative studies Paul Gorski of George Mason University, was to illustrate the problem of how college students are often treated differently based on their race, religion, appearance and socioeconomic status. Gorski is the founder of EdChange, an organization that visits colleges and universities throughout the country to collect data through interviews, focus groups and surveys of students in minority and disenfranchised groups. Gorski said that he was not here to assess the College in this way, but to present the problem and make the campus community aware. “Although we find things to different degrees, we basically find the same things on every campus — white people tend to think that there is a lot less racial inequity on campus than people of color, on average. Men tend to think there’s a lot less gender inequity. Heterosexual people generally don’t see what the issue is around sexual orientation,” Gorski said. “We can talk about the same thing Features / Page 15
Yoga in dorms Money = happiness? Expand the walls of Professor presents studies your cramped dorm concluding that money rewith some yoga. ally can buy happiness. See Features page 17 See News page 5
Ashley Long / Photo Editor
Professor challenged the College to make ending discrimination a priority on Wednesday.
across class, across religion, across any other dynamic.” Gorski’s mission is to challenge colleges and universities to stop spending too many resources on superficial “international food fairs” and “diversity fashion shows,” instead of concentrating on eliminating racist, sexist and socioeconomic prejudices on campus. see DIVERSITY page 3
Arts & Entertainment / Page 19
Sports / Page 32
Loss for lacrosse After beating the best last week, lacrosse lost to a No. 8 team. See Sports Page 27