The Signal

A night of a capella The Trentones and i-Tunes paired up for a musical night in the Rathskeller.

New group to hold discussions, play Quidditch and more.

See Arts and Entertainment, page 17

tcnjsignal.net

Accio Harry Potter!

See Features, page 11

The College of New Jersey Student Newspaper since 1885

February 17, 2010

No. 5.

Vol. CXXXII.

School of Culture & Society may see name change

By Brianna Gunter News Editor

Students of the school of Culture and Society may see some new developments during the next 10 years, including a possible change in the school’s name.

According to Benjamin Rifkin, dean of the school of Culture and Society, a group of alumni, faculty, students and other staff members worked to draft a strategic plan during the Fall 2009 semester.

The plan details the group’s goals for future years and states that in 2020 the school will “stand as a national exemplar in teaching and research in the humanities and social sciences.”

While nothing is final, the proposed new name of the school is currently the “school of Humanities and Social Sciences.” When asked about the proposed name change, Rifkin said the “school of Culture and Society” does not reflect the academic programs within the school.

“If you ask outsiders, people who are not students, faculty or staff at (the College), what academic programs might be in a school with that name, they will more often than not suggest that the school of Culture and Society should be the academic home for courses in art, art history, film, music and theater, because these are what constitute our understanding of culture,” he said in an interview.

“These are all perfectly appropriate disciplines and I’m personally very glad that we teach these subjects at (the College). Of course, they are taught in the school of the Arts and Communication,” he said.

Rifkin also said he understands people may have an “emotional connection” to the school’s current name, but asks

Hair trimmed to raise money

By Hyuna Wong Correspondent Despite the beginnings of a snowstorm, Colleges Against Cancer and Sigma Pi successfully hosted “Cuts for Cancer” on Feb. 9.

As two professional stylists from Great Clips hair salon in Trenton cut hair for $25 per person, the event was able to raise money for Relay for Life, the Colleges Against Cancer’s main annual event, according to its sponsorship chairperson, Melissa Lomiguen, senior nursing major.

Relay for Life is a national event that began in 1985 and consists of teams that try to raise money for the American Cancer Society, according to the event’s official Web site. During the actual relay, members of each team take turns running or walking around a track.

“Because cancer never sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to 24 hours in length,” according to the Web site.

The College will host this event in Mar. 19. Currently, the College has 34 teams and raised $9,024, according to Relay for Life’s Web site.

“We’re hoping to raise $40,000 for Relay for Life,” said Amanda see RELAY page 2

Mass Effect 2 review Find out what our critic thinks of the new game.

See page 17

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The school of Culture and Society (above, Bliss Hall, one of the school’s academic buildings) could be renamed the school of Humanities and Social Sciences. them to consider that just 10 years ago the programs in the School of Culture and Society were part of a larger division called the School of Arts and Sciences. That school no longer exists, and the programs that were once in it have since been divided into the School of Culture and Society, the School of Arts and Communication and the School of Sciences.

Besides the name change, another proposed change is the development of a diversity advisory council, curriculum committee and a student advisory council in order to include students in the governance of the school.

“Currently, we consult with individual students to get their opinion on any particular policy change on an ad hoc basis,” Rifkin said.

The diversity advisory committee would make recommendations to the Dean on how to improve recruiting efforts of students and faculty from diverse backgrounds.

The curriculum committee would review and approve proposals to revise and implement new programs and

A human statue

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

On Feb. 9, Leandre Bourdot, senior fine arts major, stood as still as a statue in the alumni grove. Unlike those around her dressed in coats and scarves, Bourdot wore a sheet and face paint as part of her senior project for her major. According to Bourdot, her project, which was her own interpretation of art, was a response to the Pixels artwork that was installed last semester.

Find health information online Study shows college students know how to navigate health Web sites.

See page 11

see SCHOOL page 2

Students at risk helped by BART

By Amanda Pini Staff Writer In the wake of tragic events such as student deaths on both high school and college campuses around the country, the College has formalized their approach to the reporting of “students of concern.”

According to an e-mail sent out by the College, The Behavioral Assessment and Response Team (BART) has defined “students of concern” as “students who exhibit signs of serious distress or who may be a risk to self or others.” This e-mail also provided a link to a PowerPoint presentation entitled, “TCNJ Managing Students of Concern” which also includes links to the reporting form and a “What to Do” checklist.

“After the tragedy at Virginia Technology however, many institutions of higher education including the College moved to a more formal, comprehensive and transparent process of identifying and assisting these students,” Magda Manetas, assistant vice president for Student Services, said.

These changes included the development of the Policy for Involuntary Health

Lions close to playoffs Men’s basketball won their final game of the regular season.

See page 24

see BART page 2

INSIDE

Editorials Opinions Features Arts & Entertainment Sports

5 7 11 17 24

page 2 The Signal February 17, 2010

CUB L.A. Latenighter approved Exit sign and water fountain damaged in residence halls Did you know?

By Katie Brenzel News Editor

The Student Finance Board (SFB) funded the College Union Board (CUB) $30,201.80 for its annual Latenighter in the Brower Student Center. This yearʼs theme is L.A. and will include entertainment and decorations dedicated to the city. The L.A. Latenighter will be at 8 p.m. on March 20.

Chabad, the College Jewish community, was funded $5,494 for its annual Purim Royal Feast.

The feast, meaning the “Feast of Lots” commemorates the rescue of the Jews from a plot of destruction in ancient Persia, according to hds.harvard.edu. The celebration will feature a live performance from the band Moishy Hecht. The feast will be held on Feb. 27 in the Rathskeller.

SFB approved the Inter Greek Councilʼs $5,000 request to bring speaker Mark Sterner to the College at its brief Feb. 9 meeting.

Sterner, a campus speaker on alcohol awareness, will discuss the dangers of alcohol abuse. According to his Web site, Sterner speaks from personal experience with a DUI that ended in tragedy during spring break of his senior year of college.

The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Kendall Hall.

CUBʼs request for $1,596 to cover ticket prices for its Snowball Weekend Bus trip to York, Pa. was denied

by SFB. The trip includes eight hours of snow tubing at the Heritage Hills Resort, a concert featuring Mark DeRose Band and Huck and a free buffet.

Due to the snowstorm the weekend of Feb. 5-6, the trip was rescheduled for Feb. 20-21. CUB representatives wanted to reduce the ticket price of $70 per person due to the cancellation and inability of many original participants to go on the new date. The ticket price remains the same and the bus departs at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20 and returns at 9 p.m. on Feb. 21.

By Alyssa Mease Production Manager

An exit sign from the basement of Norsworthy Hall was damaged between 4:30 p.m. Monday Feb. 8 and 8:30 a.m. Friday Feb. 12. The wall mount was bent downward and the sign was in pieces on the floor. There is nothing further to report at this time. …

A hallway water fountain was found loosened from the wall at 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday Feb. 9 in Centennial Hall. A bracket was loosed and the drain seal was damaged.

The value of the damage is unknown at this time.

Check Cop Shop ever week for new safety information, courtesy of Campus Police.

According to the Insurance Information Institute at iii.org researchers at the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute used cameras in the cabs of trucks traveling long distances over a period of 18 months and found that the collision risk became 23 times higher when the drivers were texting.

The research also measured the time drivers stopped looking at the road and used their eyes to send or receive texts. Drivers generally spent nearly five seconds looking at their devices before a crash or near crash, a period long enough for a vehicle to travel more than 100 yards at typical highway speeds.

School / Changes proposed, student voices needed continued from page 1 courses. Lastly, the student advisory council would give regular input on matters of importance to students. This council would include one student from each major, one student from each of the six other schools at the College and some other students.

According to Rifkin there are actually very few overall changes to the school.

“Itʼs more a codification of the values that are reflected throughout the College and especially in our school,” Rifkin said. “For instance, weʼd like to do a better job at integrating course-based opportunities for community engaged learning. Thatʼs not anything new on our campus, but now itʼs in writing as a proposed goal for our school.”

Other goals include recruiting more faculty advisors for the … open-options program, encouraging study abroad by making sure students are not hindered by the requirements of their majors and establishing an alumni advisory council that would help foster relationships between current members of the College community and alumni.

There will be a forum for open discussion from 8:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Feb. 17 in the New Residence Hall lounge. Students will be able to share their comments and reactions to the strategic plan, which was sent out to the school of Culture and Society community earlier this month. Another forum will take place from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on March 18 in room 202W of the Brower Student Center. After collecting and reviewing feedback, the strategic planning committee will revise the plan and

Social Sciences building.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

resend it to the community in April. If the final plan is affirmed this spring, it will go into effect during the fall 2010 semester.

BART / Initiative aids students continued from page 1

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Sigma Pi and Colleges Against Cancer held Cuts for Cancer on Feb. 9.

Relay / Cuts help cancer continued from page 1

Timlin, sophomore math major and co-vice president for Colleges Against Cancer. She also said that the money raised will ultimately go to the American Cancer Society.

This is the third year Cuts for Cancer was hosted and its first time taking place in the Student Center Atrium.

Although the event was unable to reach the $1,000 total it raised last year, Timlin remarked that “there was a constant flow” of people as WTSR, the Collegeʼs radio station, volunteered to DJ the event.

“I think our lack of attendance was due to the snow,” she said.

Dan Leva, sophomore statistics and finance major, also thought the event was successful. During the event, he and other members of his fraternity, Sigma Pi, raised around $100 by actively asking for donations in the Student Center. He also appreciated how some friends pooled their money together to pay for one personʼs haircut.

“Finding the cure for cancer is something we want to be a part of, even if itʼs as small as helping (to) promote and fundraise for the ʻCuts for Cancerʼ program.” Leva said. “Thankfully …

Colleges Against Cancer allowed us to cosponsor the event and help raise money for Relay for Life.”

Safety Withdrawal, which allows the College to involuntarily withdraw a student if their behavior “poses a risk to him or herself or others or if the behavior presents a serious impediment to the work of the College.”

The policy also established BART, which is a body of administrators from the campus who convene regularly to discuss “students of concern.”

For the last year and a half the College has been using BARTʼs Student of Concern reporting form. This form includes physical, behavioral and emotional symptoms and resources for consultations and referrals in dealing with such students. These new forms and policies are only a part of the Collegeʼs plan to keep the campus safe.

Manetas was asked about this policy, its origins and its implications for the College. She discusses the old program in place at the College, a program that has been intensified after the recent tragic events.

“The College has always made an effort to respond to and assist student show signs of serious distress,” Manetas said.

Faculty, coaches, parents, community advisors and many others who observed what appeared to be signs of distress would typically contact the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs or Counseling and Psychological Services to identify

the student and ask for guidance and referral information.

Manetas also discussed the changes to the Collegeʼs plan. These changes include newly developed teams, policies and strategies.

Manetas and Marc Celentana, director of Counseling and Psychological Services have also given presentations on the BART reporting process to students, staff as well as the Athletic Department, Residential Education and Housing Department and student employers.

These presentations are another part of the plan to raise awareness and increase watchfulness in our campus community.

Manetas had some encouraging words for the College community.

“Many individuals have reached out in the past in an attempt to assist a student in distress and this has only grown more directed and informed with the changes the College has made in the process,” she said. “I think our students and the campus as a whole are well-served by the thoughtful way the Involuntary Withdrawal Policy and BART were developed and are functioning to promote a safer and healthier campus.”

The PowerPoint training program as well as the Student of Concern reporting form can be found on the Collegeʼs website at tcnj.edu/~sa/ studentofconcern. For any emergency cases, please contact Campus Police immediately.

Nation & World

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 3

Clinton: Iran is becoming a military dictatorship RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Monday Iran is sliding into a military dictatorship, the first such accusation made by a high-level Obama administration official.

Clinton was reflecting an ever-dimming outlook for persuading Iran to negotiate limits on its nuclear program, which it has insisted is intended only for peaceful purposes.

The U.S. and others — including the two Gulf countries Clinton visited Sunday and Monday — believe Iran is headed for a nuclear bomb capability.

Clinton also was revealing the logic of the administrationʼs plan to target Iranʼs Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with a new round of international sanctions intended to compel Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions before it increases the likelihood of a military clash.

Clinton flew to Riyadh, the Saudi capital, where Saudi Arabiaʼs foreign minister expressed doubts about the usefulness of imposing more sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program. In a joint appearance with Clinton, Prince Saud al-Faisal said that the threat posed by Iranʼs nuclear ambitions demands a more immediate solution than sanctions. He described sanctions as a long-term solution, and he said the threat is more pressing. The Saudi foreign minister didnʼt identify a preferred short-term resolution.

Clinton was driven in King Abdullahʼs private bus about 65 miles northeast to Rawdat Khurayim, a secluded royal hunting retreat where the vacationing king hosted her for lunch. Clinton also met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal in Riyadh and later was flying to Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

Earlier in the day, in Doha, Qatar, Clinton spoke bluntly about Iranian behavior and what she called the Obama administrationʼs view of Iran as increasingly dominated by the Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Last week the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it was freezing the assets in U.S. jurisdictions of a Revolutionary Guard general and four subsidiaries of a previously penalized construction company he runs because of their alleged involvement in producing and spreading weapons of mass destruction.

The Revolutionary Guard has long been a pillar of Iranʼs regime as a force separate from the ordinary armed forces. The Guard now has a hand in every critical area, including missile development, oil resources, dam

AP Photo

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walks with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, right, upon her arrival at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Monday Feb. 15.

building, road construction, telecommunications and nuclear technology.

It also has absorbed the paramilitary Basij as a fullfledged part of its command structure — giving the militia greater funding and a stronger presence in Iranʼs internal politics.

“The evidence weʼve seen of this increasing decisionmaking (by the Revolutionary Guard) cuts across all areas of Iranian security policy, and certainly nuclear policy is at the core of it,” Clinton told reporters flying with her from Doha to Saudi Arabia.

Asked if the U.S. was planning a military attack on Iran, Clinton said “no.”

The United States is focused on gaining international support for sanctions “that will be particularly aimed at those enterprises controlled by the Revolutionary Guard, which we believe is in effect supplanting the government of Iran,” she said.

Private U.S. experts on the Iranian regime said they

agreed with Clintonʼs assessment of Iranʼs drift toward military dominance.

“When you rely on the power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to remain in power it is only a matter of time before the regime becomes a paramilitary dictatorship — and it is about time we realize this,” Iranian-born Fariborz Ghadar, a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said in an e-mail to The AP. Clinton told reporters it appears the Revolutionary Guard is in charge of Iranʼs controversial nuclear program and the country changing course “depends on whether the clerical and political leadership begin to reassert themselves.”

She added, “Iʼm not predicting what will happen but I think the trend with this greater and greater military lock on leadership decisions should be disturbing to Iranians as well as those of us on the outside.”

In her Doha appearance, Clinton also said she foresees a possible breakthrough soon in stalled peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Vatican asks Irish bishops to admit blame News Bits

ROME — A top Vatican prelate has told Irish bishops at an extraordinary Vatican summit with Pope Benedict XVI they must admit their own blame in cover-ups of generations of sex abuse of minors, or risk losing the faith of Irelandʼs Catholics.

But the former Dublin altar boy who helped expose the scandal doubted that any real hierarchy housekeeping would result from the two days of talks behind closed doors in the Apostolic Palace.

Benedictʼs top aide, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, delivered a stinging homily at a Mass before Mondayʼs talks decrying the “particularly abhorrent deeds” of some in the Irish church hierarchy, although he didnʼt name any names.

Bertone, the Vaticanʼs No. Two who participated in the summit with 24 bishops from Irish dioceses, likened the crisis to a “most dangerous storm, that which touches the heart of believers, shaking their faith and threatening their ability to trust in God.” A state report last year found that church leaders in Dublin had spent decades protecting child-abusing priests from the law while many fellow clerics pretended not to see. A separate inquiry documented decades of sexual, physical and psychological abuse or children and teens in Catholic-run schools, workhouses and orphanages.

The Irish bishops made themselves unavailable for comment.

The delegationʼs top member, Cardinal Sean Brady, archbishop of Armagh and primate of all Ireland, described the talks as a first step on a journey toward “penitence,

renewal and reconciliation.”

Clogher Bishop Joseph Duffy had already said resignations were not on summit agenda, defying victimsʼ demands that clerics who involved in protecting pedophile priests step down.

That made Andrew Madden, who in 1995 became the first in Ireland to go public with an abuse lawsuit against the church, pessimistic.

“Itʼs clear that most of Irelandʼs bishops should go, because they conspired in covering up heinous crimes,” Madden told The Associated Press in Ireland. “Most of them will cling to their positions regardless of the anguish this causes the victims.”

A U.S. lobby of clergy sex abuse victims echoed Maddenʼs lack of expectations.

“Does anyone honestly think that the very same men who ignored and concealed child sex crimes for decades can or will do a sudden and complete 180-degree turnaround and suddenly be part of the solution?” said Barbara Dorris, of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.

In a statement, Dorris said Bertone failed to denounce “a centuries-old, deeply-rooted culture of self-serving secrecy perpetuated by a rigid, ancient, all-male monarchy.”

Madden said the pope, in a letter he has promised to direct to the Irish people, must fully and explicitly accept the findings of the two Irish-government ordered probes of how Catholic officials got away with abusing tens of thousands of children since the 1930s in a country where the church was once a pillar of everyday existence.

In the Dublin report, investigators

Dubaiʼs police chief said on Monday that an 11-member hit squad carrying European passports and disguised in wigs, fake beards and tennis clothes was behind the mysterious killing of a Hamas commander in his hotel room last month.

AP Photo

Pope Benedict XVI blesses the faithful at a Vespers ceremony in Rome on Monday, Jan. 25. determined that a succession of archbishops and senior aides had compiled confidential files on more than 100 parish priests who had sexually abused children for decades.

The files had remained locked in the Dublin archbishopʼs private vault.

During pilgrimages to the U.S. and Australia, Benedict has met privately with sex abuse victims. In recent weeks, a new sexual abuse scandal involving Catholic clergy has erupted in Benedictʼs homeland of Germany.

At least 54 aftershocks have shuddered through Haitiʼs shattered capital since a Jan. 12 quake killed more than 200,000 people. Seismologists say more damaging aftershocks are likely and thereʼs even a chance of another large quake.

The director of Madonnaʼs Raising Malawi foundation is denying that there is a land dispute over the charityʼs planned $15 million girls academy, calling reports that some villagers feel the project is displacing them “erroneous.”

Information from AP exchange

page 4 The Signal February 17, 2010

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 5

Editorial

Signal staff comments on snowday fun

I hate snow. Snow is cold. Snow makes my toes go numb. Snow makes my joints lock up like The Tin Man. Snow is God’s dandruff. At least it’s pretty.

— Laura AP Photos

Snow days in my neighborhood have always meant The large snowstorm last week caused fun and enjoyment for some and harder work than sledding, and lots of it. We have this retention basin near usual for others. my house called “The Pit” and its steep hills are perfect for hightailing it down the slopes on a piece of flimsy plastic.

I’ve bruised and bloodied myself plenty of times from a short list of sledding accidents, but every snowfall I return for that miserable cycle of 10-second adrenaline rushes, Where does your allegiance lie when followed by five minutes of arduous hill-climbing. it comes to the XXI Olympic Winter — Bobby Last Wednesday, I made my very first snowwoman. She was fabulous. Her name was Gertrude. It took surprisingly less time than I thought, and she turned out much better than I could have imagined. I have no shame when it comes to playing in the snow, and I think Laura Herzog should get her butt outside.

— Alyssa Although I only did this once my freshman year, my favorite activity on a snow day was using the snow to make my own snow cone. Why go through the trouble of grinding up ice with a machine when all you have to do is scoop up some snow from the top of a mound (make sure it’s clear of foreign contaminants first) and add your favorite cherry-flavored syrup? Best snow day treat ever.

— Garrett My snow day: emerging from my snowed-in bunker, scraping out my car, cranking “The Song Remains the Same” and driving adventurously (but safely) through an icy neighborhood.

— Matt What did I do over the great snow of ’10? Well, I got back from class on Tuesday night and didn’t leave my room until Friday morning. I dislike walking in snow because of an ACL and meniscus tear in my knee. But it means no school … sometimes. And Chinese food (even though Tan May was the only restaurant delivering on Wednesday). And awesome snow ball fights. But mostly no school.

— Carrie Despite its lack of natural sunlight, living in an inside room in Eickhoff has its benefits, especially on a snow day. Instead of trekking across campus from Townhouses or, worse, apartments, arriving a dripping, sniveling winter mess, I can saunter downstairs for a disappointing meal. Or watch my poor peers shuffle in while I lounge with slippers and a cup of tea. The point is, I don’t have to leave my building. Snow days are conducive to a hermit lifestyle, and it is a beautiful thing.

— Katie

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo and Sports editors and the Business Manager, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

The Weekly Poll:

Quotes of the Week

Games?

“I’m a big fan of it.

I was like a club, oh, I’m going to be made fun of, but I don’t really care if people make fun of me. Because growing up reading them, they did mean something profound to me.

I literally grew up with Harry Potter.”

• America all the way, baby. Apollo Anton Ohno and Shaun White are my homeboys.

• I cheer for whichever athlete is the favorite because I like to see people win.

• The American team is overrated — lets go Canada!

• The Olympics are on? Is Michael Phelps winning? cast your vote @ tcnjsignal.net

Due to unforeseen technical difficulties, last week’s poll did not show up online. But never fear! This week’s poll results will appear here next week so be sure to check back.

tcnjsignal.net Telephone:

Production Rm - (609) 771-2424 Business Office - (609) 771-2499 Fax: (609) 771-3433 E-mail: signal@tcnj.edu

Editorial Offices Bobby Olivier Editor-in-Chief Caroline Russomanno Managing Editor Brianna Gunter Katie Brenzel News Editors Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor Jeffrey Roman Features Editor Matt Huston Arts & Entertainment Editor Hilarey Wojtowicz Opinions Editor Alyssa Mease Production Manager Tim Lee Photo Editor Kelli Plasket Senior Web Editor Cameron Prince Esteban Martinez Web Editors Laura Herzog Nation & World Editor Megan DeMarco Senior Editor

Mailing Address:

The Signal c/o Brower Student Center The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718

Donna Shaw Advisor Lauren Gurry Jillian Polak Arti Patel Copy Editors Brandon Gould Sports Assistant Todd Petty Features Assistant Juliana Fidler News Assistant Tom O’Dell Abby Hocking Photo Assistants Business Office Diana Perez Business/Ad Manager

— Jennifer Hurler, sophomore interactive multimedia major and publicist of the Order of the NoseBiting Teacups “You want to go out with your best friends on the team and all the seniors as best you can. We had a comeback win where we were losing and we came back to win by 10, and everyone contributed. It was awesome to see (Aaron Syvertsen) come in with two bad ankles, give us a big spark and play like a champ.”

— Jay Frank, senior guard and captain

page 6 The Signal February 17, 2010

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 7

Opinions The Signal says ...

Stop: getting sick, being lazy, spreading rumors, avoiding your parents, skipping class, eating junk food, watching trashy T.V. Caution: more snow, tests, germs, friends’ birthdays, parties with themes, Activities Fair, random snowball fights, papers.

Go: see the Vagina Monologues, out to eat, play soccer, to the mall, food shopping, for a run, bake cookies, be creative, write a short story, join a club, help a stranger, laugh with friends, make new memories.

Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors.

The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office.

Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words.

The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity.

All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason.

All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs.

The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

Fighting financial crises for education

By Terry Epperson Social Science Librarian and Nagesh Rao Professor of English

From the depths of the Great Recession it is easy to despair about the state of education. Nationwide, tens of thousands of K-12 teachers have lost their jobs since the beginning of the current “crisis.” Layoffs and furloughs have hit higher education hard and union leaders have done little to resist cuts and givebacks. However, the current moment demands not surrender, but resistance. For the first time in our history, public sector workers account for over half of union membership, and while all workers are vulnerable in a recession, we are well positioned to fight against budget cuts and layoffs.

Although N.J. leads the nation in per capita concentration of millionaires and has the second-highest median household income, state funding for colleges has fallen more than 50 percent since 1990, while in-state tuition has more than tripled. As we move away from need-based student aid at a rate higher than the national average, budget cuts disproportionately hit lower-income families. With the highest proportion of students leaving the state to attend college elsewhere, N.J. also has the dubious distinction of leading the nation in “outsourcing” higher education.

In August, our union leadership, the AFT Council of New Jersey State College Locals (CNJSCL), agreed to reopen our contract and accept furloughs and deferral of our negotiated pay raises with the hope, they said, of averting future layoffs. Between furloughs, increased healthcare costs, and deferred pay raises (that may never come), we are now at least eight percent in the hole. While there was discontent among the faculty at these cuts, some of the reaction had an (elitist) un-

Signal Spotlight

Nj.com

Governor Chris Christie wants to raise funding for higher education, but aid to colleges and universities could shrink before things are improved. dertone of “How dare they treat us like workers!” There was also a current of hopelessness among some of our co-workers who seem to have convinced themselves that “the public” hates state workers, and that no one understands what professors do, or why our work matters. Having resigned ourselves to the inevitability of givebacks, we seem to have gone back to business as usual, even though all signs point to further state demands for pay cuts, givebacks and tuition hikes in the future.

However, grassroots opposition is emerging on some N.J. campuses. In early December, we were invited to speak at a studentorganized “Defending Higher Education” teach-in at New Jersey City University, aimed at rallying the campus against the attacks on higher education, tuition hikes, furloughs and financial aid cuts. We were impressed and inspired by the vibrant debate and discussion

amongst students, faculty and staff at this teach-in, as it gave us a glimmer of a spirit of resistance that is sorely needed on our campus.

Such grassroots efforts can help reframe the debate about public funding priorities and, in the process, demonstrate our value to the N.J. tax (and tuition) payers by exposing the lie of “shared sacrifice” that all workers — public and private sector alike — are being fed in this age of bank bailouts, on one hand, and job losses and home foreclosures on the other. What we need today is an engaged, and enraged, grassroots movement that builds solidarity among faculty, staff, students, parents and campus unions. Such a movement can stem the bleeding in the short term, but also widen and deepen public support for higher education in the long term.

Sources: cnjscl.org, njpp.org, online.wjs.com

What is the best way to spend a snow day?

“Making an igloo.”

“Staying away from the library.”

“Doing snow activities.” “Losing my ID in the snow.”

—Dean Cerdeira, freshman criminology major

—Michael Poulose, junior biology major

—Lauren Hyer, freshman physical education major

—Robin Morris, junior sociology major

What do you think about the events on campus lately?

Share your opinions by writing for The Signal! wojtowi3@tcnj.edu

Hilarey Wojtowicz / Opinions Editor

page 8 The Signal February 17, 2010

The SFB Proudly Presents: The Outdoor Education Award & Capital Equipment “What is Outdoor Education?”

Money to finance outdoor activities such as hiking, white-water rafting, snow tubing, and other rewarding outdoor experiences.

“Who is eligible?”

All student groups!

“How can my group apply?”

Applications are available in the Student Finance Board office on the second floor of the Student Center. Completed applications are due back at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 19th.

“My club needs equipment, too.”

All SAF funded organizations are eligible to request capital equipment. Completed applications are due back at 3:00 pm on Friday, February 19th.

“I don’t understand…”

Call the SFB front office at x3187 for details, or email sfboard@tcnj.edu.

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 9

HILLEL PRESENTS COMEDY “JAM” WITH

MICHAEL SHOWALTER

Monday, March 22 8 P.M. Get tickets at the box office on March 2nd and 3rd between 10AM and 3PM FREE for TCNJ students with ID $10 for guests Michael Showalter, most recently known as Michael from Comedy Central’s Michael and Michael Have Issues, was an original member and co-creator of the groundbreaking sketch comedy show The State. Showalter went on to co-write, co-produce and star in the classic summer camp comedy, Wet Hot American Summer. Showalter is cocreator/co-star of the acclaimed Comedy Central show Stella with longtime collaborators Michael Ian Black and David Wain. He was a commentator on VHI’s successful I Love The 80’s program, and also directed, wrote, and starred in the romantic comedy The Baxter.

The Mildred & Ernest E. MayoConcert Hall SAF funded

page 10 The Signal February 17, 2010

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 11

Features

Harry Potter ‘order’ sets spell on campus

By Katie Brenzel News Editor

Exploring a Harry Potter lexicon for “obscure” wizardly terms, sophomore computer science major Siobhan Sabino and sophomore interactive multimedia major Jennifer Hurler settled upon a name for the club they hoped to introduce to the muggles of the College — the Order of the Nose-Biting Teacups (ONBT).

The club, which is currently working to become official, welcomes enthusiasts of all things Harry Potter-related, including the novels, movies and Potter “culture,” a theme the club will thrive on in an effort to “bring together people with a shared love of Harry Potter,” Sabino, president of ONBT, said.

Though some adjustments will be applied, ONBT will incorporate everything from House points to Quidditch.

Club members will be sorted into one of the four “Houses” — Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff — at the beginning of every semester with a ceremony. The different Houses will serve to break the club into groups that share common interests. Though currently members can choose the house they prefer, Sabino said in future “sortings” members will fill out a form to determine where they are placed. Just as in the novels, the groups will be able to earn and compete for “House points.”

Despite gravitational challenges, the club hopes to introduce a Quidditch team to the College. The sport, which is played on flying brooms in the nov-

els, will resemble rugby, but incorporate tackling and, of course, brooms.

“The idea is to have something hindering you. In the books, it isnʼt this little campy thing. Itʼs a rough game,” Hurler, publicist of ONBT, said.

According to Hurler, the club is currently in possession of a Quidditch rulebook and is looking to join the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association, an intramural league that has teams across the country, including colleges and universities such as Emerson College, Harvard University and American University, according to its Web site.

Social activities such as Yule Balls, Deathday parties and Wizard Rock concerts can also be expected to bring members together over a common theme.

“They will be something social so that even if you come here and you feel kind of awkward, and you like Harry Potter, you can go there and thereʼs a room full of dorks who also like Harry Potter, and at least itʼs that one thing you have in common,” Sabino said.

Another objective of the club is to explore British culture, Sabino said.

The novels are a playground for mythology, Latin and astrology — all aspects the club plans to discuss, debate and research.

Though the club revolves around magic and myth, it will also work to help charity organizations such as the “Harry Potter Alliance.” The “Harry Potter Alliance” is an activist group that “fight(s) the Dark Arts in the real world” by raising awareness about literacy, poverty, equal rights and disasters such as Haiti,

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Members of the Order of the Nose-Biting Teacups met in T-Dubs to discuss ideas and aspirations for the Harry Potter-themed club they are starting on campus. according to its Web site.

“Itʼs like using the power of Harry Potter to raise awareness of things, and raise money, like literacy, Darfur and Haiti,” Sabino said.

While many members, such as Sabino and Hurler, were disappointed that a Harry Potter club didnʼt exist at the College to begin with, its progress is exciting for those involved in its formation.

“Iʼm a big fan of it. I was like a club, oh, Iʼm going to be made fun of, but I donʼt really care if people make fun of me. Because growing up reading them, they did mean something profound to me. I literally grew up with Harry Potter, ” Hurler said.

Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.

Professors examine online health Web sites

Photo courtesy of Yifeng Hu

The above chart represents the mean average of students who were surveyed on two health messages online. The results showed that, for the most part, students selected more credible sources.

By Jeffrey Roman Features Editor

The Internet contains a pool of information that can sometimes be filled with not-so-clear credibility, according to Yifeng Hu, assistant professor of communication studies at the College, and health information is no exception.

“My mom would often e-mail me health information,” Hu said in an e-mail. “Sometimes I wondered about the credibility of the information and whether I should act upon the information she sent. I realized that online health source is complicated.”

There are complications when it comes to differentiating between Web sites and the information they provide. Scenarios where information has been regurgitated over and over through different sites is common, Hu explained.

“Say my mom would send me some nutritional informa-

tion she saw from a health bulletin board posted by someone who found the information from a doctorʼs blog written based on a health article published in a medical site,” Hu said. “Do people differentiate between sources? Further, does ʻsource layeringʼ of multiple online sources lead to combination effects on user perceptions and actions? I was fascinated by these questions.”

A recent study into health information on the Internet shows college students know how to distinguish between truth and fiction, according to a new article titled “Effects of Online Health Sources on Credibility and Behavioral Intentions.”

Hu and S. Shyam Sundar, distinguished professor of communications and co-director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory at Penn State University, investigated the psychological impact of various online sources and the methods of finding health information using the Internet.

“We are glad that young readers are noticing differences

between online sources,” Sundar said in an e-mail. “This speaks to the high level of online media literacy among college students.”

A total of 555 undergraduate students enrolled in communication and biobehavioral health classes were recruited from a large university at random, according to the article. The students completed an online survey that looked for accuracy and believability, the article illustrated. The students analyzed two scenarios, one discouraging the “use of sunscreen in order to avoid vitamin D deficiency while another advocates raw milk consumption in place of pasteurized milk,” the study said.

Hu and Sundar were looking at the original sources (doctors v. laypersons) and selecting sources (Web sites v. bulletin boards v. blogs v. personal home pages v. Internet) and seeing if students could decide who wrote what.

The results showed that students determined the validity of the Web sites and always went for the more trusted one, but failed to recognize the author of the article.

“While they pay attention to which online media vehicle they are getting their information from, they are not as conscious about who wrote the story,” Sundar said.

“The fact that health information seekers were not aware of the ʻM.D.ʼ title next to the doctorʼs name implies that physicians should make their qualifications more salient,” Hu added.

The study was an eye-opening experience for Hu and Sundar, but it is also beneficial to members of the online community disseminating health information, according to Hu. “Our study is useful to online health planners who want to know how online health information sources can modify individualsʼ behaviors,” Hu said.

“Information is power, but only if it is credible,” Sundar said. “The best way to assure credibility is by noting the source of the information and understanding the motivations and gatekeeping practices of the source so that you know how the information came to be and why.”

Jeffrey Roman can be reached at roman6@tcnj.edu.

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 15

Healthy ways to stay sexually motivated after Valentine’s Day

By Andrea Thyrring Staff Writer Valentineʼs Day and the weeks leading up to it creates an atmosphere of love and romance. Flowers, chocolates and special dates amplify feelings of desire and whether you are in a relationship or not, it is a fun holiday to celebrate. But now that Feb. 14 is behind you, you might feel like the spark of your love life has dimmed – all the excitement of the holiday has left, and it is time to return to the grind of the semester.

If this is the case for you, you are not alone. In fact, almost 60 percent of Prevention.com users say they are not totally satisfied with their sex lives. And remember, your sex life is not limited by your relationship status.

Whether you are flying solo or are in a committed relationship, the following tips will help you reheat your satisfaction.

First, set a goal. Do you want to get closer with your partner or do you want to get comfortable with your own body? Having an idea of what youʼd like to accomplish will help you keep motivated. According to Prevention. com, a 2008 study found that people who approach their personal life with positive goals had less of a dip in desire over time than those who didnʼt or who used negative, passive goals, such as “stop fighting with my partner.”

Getting an idea of the direction youʼd like to take with your sex life will keep you on the path to improvement.

If youʼre a little nervous getting started, take some time and write down at least five things you like about your body. You can keep this list private — this is just for you. Focus on physical traits that make you feel attractive or sexy. A University of Texas study found that

women with more body esteem had higher levels of sexual desire. By feeling better about your body, you are allowing yourself to move away from inhibiting negative self-image, and can focus on moving comfortably towards your personal goal.

Next, set aside some time in your schedule. Do you want to spend the time catching up with your sweetie? Or will you spend it on you time – taking a long shower or going through your feel-good routine? By setting aside time in your busy schedule to devote to yourself or your special someone, you are getting away from your usual grind and focusing on your own satisfaction.

Whether or not your goal was to get to know your body, it is a good idea to do some self-exploration. A Finnish study in the Journal of Sex Research found that

Andrea Thyrring / Staff Writer

By keeping a list of the five things you like about yourself, you will maintain higher sexual desire.

Bring food into the bedroom

By Lauren Gurry Copy Editor Chocolate and oysters are popular aphrodisiacs — foods that release endorphins and make you want to hightail it to the bedroom with your partner.

Itʼs definitely romantic to surprise your significant other with some chocolate cupcakes or a home-cooked meal, but there is definitely a spicier way to make use of aphrodisiacs, and thatʼs by bringing them into the bedroom with you.

For some, the thought of bringing their sex life into a kinkier realm produces anxiety, but the following tips should help your experience with food be as delightful – and delicious – as possible.

Talk about your preferences beforehand. If you start spraying whipped cream on your sweetheart and he or she looks appalled, thatʼs the cue that you should have talked this fantasy through.

Trying new things in the bedroom is exciting, but make sure to get consent before turning your love into a tasty dessert. Your partner may have a dessert idea you havenʼt thought of, so talking about the topic will definitely help.

Make necessary preparations inside the house. Have your food items prepared beforehand. It will ruin the moment to trek into the kitchen, so having everything prepared and near you will make things easier.

Keep in mind that bringing food into the bedroom is likely to produce a mess. It will help to use old bed sheets or put a towel over your sheets before making use of your chosen treats.

You should also make sure you can shower immediately after. Some common aphrodisiacs are sticky, and youʼll want to wash right away.

Determine ahead of time which foods you want to use. Although some common aphrodisiacs include caviar and asparagus, according to the “Good Sex Bible” by Judy Bastyra, it is unlikely your lover will be thrilled about licking those items off of your body. Instead, sweet, dessert-type foods work for this sort of endeavor.

Chocolate syrup and whipped cream are ever-

popular options, but you and your partner can consider other foods like honey, fruit, ice cream and popsicles.

Some people do not enjoy how sticky sweets, like chocolate syrup and honey, feel after they have started drying on skin, so it is important to use these items in smaller portions.

Have a little fun with your treats. You and your lover will enjoy this experience more if you put more creativity into it. For example, you can make patterns on your partnerʼs and have them guess what youʼre trying to draw.

Another option is licking off whipped cream and chocolate in patterns to have them guess the same thing.

You can also use temperature to your advantage. If youʼre using a popsicle stick, you can lightly trace the curves of your partnerʼs body until theyʼre begging for warmth.

Another way to have fun with food is to blindfold your partner and have them guess what youʼre feeding them. You can get tricky by covering fruit with honey, chocolate or whipped cream or making vanilla ice cream into a sundae.

You can also throw them a curve ball by feeding them a kiss instead of candy.

Avoid bodily openings when experimenting with food. The sugars and dyes in many foods can irritate sensitive areas, causing infections and rashes.

Although it may be tempting to use whipped cream in your partnerʼs most sensitive areas, your best bet is to stay away. It is best to use food for foreplay only, and if you must use a little something extra beneath the belt, invest in some specially made flavored creams or lubricants.

Many companies sell flavored massage creams and bodily lubricants for this sole purpose. It is safer to use these manufactured treats because the makers intentionally use ingredients that wonʼt irritate or cause infection.

Many of these products have warming and cooling properties, and you and your partner can choose which consistency is best for you, too.

The products are long-lasting, and you can also take them with you.

For story ideas, e-mail Lauren at gurry2@tcnj.edu.

self-esteem is an essential ingredient for a great sex life.

To feel more comfortable — literally — in your own skin, spend some time exploring your body and what feels good.

Masturbation, for either sex, is not taboo. In fact, it is one of the best ways to ensure that you have a better, more consistent orgasm. By getting your body used to the sensation of being touched, youʼll be able to relax and enjoy the feelings it brings. When you know what you like, you are also better prepared to help your partner make you feel good too.

Donʼt think that you need to be in the bedroom to spice up your sex life. Hold hands, hug or just be close to one another when you are with your significant other.

Before you say goodbye, share a romantic kiss. It doesnʼt need to be a make out session, but just enough to let your partner know youʼre interested in being close to him or her. Doing small things throughout the day will keep you and your partner on your toes.

Most importantly, donʼt forget to laugh. This process is all about learning, so donʼt take it too seriously. Increasing your satisfaction is not something that should stress you out. If you find that youʼre having trouble coming to orgasm or getting turned on, relax. Try talking to your partner about why youʼre stressed, and start again at a later time. The point is to be comfortable with your body and to better your sexual experiences.

Just because Valentineʼs Day is behind you doesnʼt mean you need to put romance behind you. Setting a goal and doing some self-exploration will set you on the path to furthered enjoyment. Try stepping out of your normal routine to add some spice. Remember not to take yourself too seriously, and just enjoy the process. In the long run, youʼll thank yourself.

For story ideas, e-mail Andrea at thyrrin2@tcnj.edu.

Campus Style pizzazz to whatever I happen to be wearing.

Where do you typically shop?

Nowhere specific, but I always have things in mind that I want. I find a lot of cool things at Goodwill. I found a Yves Saint Laurent button-down there once. I love Barneyʼs, but only the sale section, because I canʼt afford anything else there.

What types of clothes typically draw your attention?

I like simple designs with tiny, interesting details that set them apart. I once had a pair of shorts with piping that was plaid, and even though no one could really see it, I just enjoyed knowing I had that detail. I also love playing with proportion and texture — it adds a little something.

Kristen Kubilus / Staff Writer

By Kristen Kubilus Staff Writer Sean Devlin, Junior Major: International Business What are you wearing?

The sweater is from Forever21, the shirt is Issey Miyake and my jeans I got in Paris at this store called COS, which is kind of like a highend H&M from Denmark. The watch is Timex. I just happened to buy it and then I noticed my grandma had the same one in silver.

What about your Converses?

My friends call them my WALLE shoes. My interpretation of the artwork on them is that itʼs just like robot feet. I think they add some

So you were in Paris for a semester — what was style like there?

Fashion-wise, I felt not up-to-par.

The high school kids dressed better than I did. The guys all wore button-downs, tight Diesel jeans and leather shoes. It was cool to see people who wanted to present themselves so nicely every day.

People had no reservations on what they would wear — you could wear anything. Iʼd see guys wearing goat-fur vests or tights with long cardigans. It was refreshing to see people dressed so interestingly.

Read the rest of the interview online at tcnjsignal.net.

Want to be featured in Campus Style? Contact Kristen at kubilus2@tcnj.edu with a photograph of your stylish self.

page 12 The Signal February 17, 2010

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 13

page 14 The Signal February 17, 2010

page 16 The Signal February 17, 2010

We Deliver!

Specials:

*Monday-

Pizza Night! Large, brick-oven cheese pizzas for only $6.95. Dine in only. 5-9 p.m.

Phone: 609-434-1188

Order online at: www.mamafloras.com

Only $17.50

Tuesday and Thursday-3 courses for $14.95, includes choice of appetizer, salad and one of three entrees

*

Wednesday- Chicken Fantastico- Any of our great chicken dishes including a salad for only $11.95

* Now offering wheat crust pizza and whole wheat pasta!

Sunday: 12 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.

Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m.- 11 p.m.

2 Large Brick Oven Pizzas & 2 Liter Soda

*

* Only applies to dine-in meals from 4 p.m.-9 p.m. *

1 Large Brick Oven Pizza, 10 Jumbo Wings & 2 Liter Soda

$5 Off

Any order of $25 or more Take out or delivery

Only $13.95 Take Out or Delivery - Toppings Extra Expires 2/22/10

Take Out or Delivery - Toppings Extra Expires 2/22/10

Mamma Floraʼs Expires 2/22/10

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 17

Arts & Entertainment

cross the sea, College a cappella takes Rat stage Mumfords neo-diva packs A-sides

By Matt Huston Arts & Entertainment Editor

The College’s a cappella groups bounced and belted Feb. 12 through an enlivening setlist of American, European and Asian pop and rock.

College Union Board’s A Cappella Night at the Rathskeller brought in two of the College’s all-vocal music groups, i-Tunes and The Trentones, for a pair of characteristically mixed-bag performances. The first group, its name a shortening of “International Tunes,” blended mainstream hits with French and Indian music, while The Trentones sang a collection of dance, rock and pop songs as well as a couple of classics by The Beatles.

The members of i-Tunes opened the show with Sting’s “Desert Rose,” a performance that showcased the group’s lively coordination of shifting harmonies, beat boxing and syncopated vocal percussion.

They progressed through familiar territory with Kanye West’s “Heartless” and Rihanna’s “Disturbia.” Junior civil engineering major and i-Tunes Music Director Maurice Crawley kept time and underpinned the rhythm-heavy R&B numbers with timely vocal beats.

Senior special education and Spanish major and iTunes president Lizzy Kradjel took front and center to solo on a brightly arranged Spanish song, in which colorful and weaving background harmonies lifted up the soloist’s chants. A rendition of “La Jeune Fille Aux Cheveux Blancs” by French singer Camille played a well-performed, expressive melody over an elaborate background of group harmonies that sounded remarkably like plucked or staccato strings.

These were not the only songs to exhibit the singers’ multi-lingual vocal talents.

The group’s most inventive work may have been its combination of “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson and “Nachna Onda Nei,” originally sung by Indian singer Kaka Bhaniawala. The latter featured very strong vocals by senior psychology major Reka Magge, who co-founded the group three years ago.

Additionally, the i-Tunes singers carried out the beatless, round-driven hymn “Lift Ev’ry Voice” with sensitivity and a powerful finish, and their layering of Mariah Carey’s “Always Be My Baby” gave that song a freshly organic feel.

Throughout the performances, the members beamed, moving along to the rhythm and generally emitting the feeling of a fun time. Kradjel said that while i-Tunes rehearses steadily twice a week, its singers keep things relatively laid back.

“We’re very good friends, so sometimes we have a hard time focusing (at rehearsals),” she said. “But then I think a lot of that sometimes comes out on the stage, too … like our chemistry together.”

The Trentones members practice several times a week as well, according to their president, senior education major Nicole Petronio.

In preparation for a Feb. 6 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) competition at Rutgers University — where the group won third place — the schedule included four-hour-long Sunday practices.

Despite having since toned down their regimen, The Trentones gave a

Mumford & Sons “Sigh No More”

By Melissa Virzi WTSR Assistant Music Director

Abby Hocking / Photo Assistant

Junior communication studies major and Signal staff writer Krystal Spencer of The Trentones took on the difficult task of filling a legendary rock singer’s shoes.

solid performance Friday night.

Two of the group’s standout pieces were The Beatles’ songs “You Won’t See Me” and “Because.” On “You Won’t See Me,” junior business major Gina Caradonna sang a soft, patient melody that contrasted the active beats and background, lending the song a trip-hoppy vibe.

“Because,” a lofty, collective chant, focused the energy on the larger group. The Trentones balanced the song’s flowing dynamic changes and beautifully ominious harmonies with skill. With the creative introduction of Trentones beatboxer and sophomore music major Craig Dickert into the mix part-way, the song took on a new rhythmic dynamic and an air of danger.

The rock-oriented motif carried into an outgoing performance of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now.” On the pop-rock hit “She’s So High” by Tal Bachman, The Trentones complmented music director and senior biology major Matt Vaughn’s falsetto with re-arranged Key Tracks: “Little Lion Man,” “The Cave” beats and air guitar solos.

VV Brown Several performances broke outside pop/rock territory, the most “Traveling Like the Light” notable of which were the sweetly melodic and fluttering “Butterfly” by Swedish dance duo Smile.dk and Marc Cohn’s “Walking in Memphis,” which incorporated a solid solo performance and organ-like harmonies.

The Trentones finished with their own splicing of songs, a combination of “Breathe Me” by Sia and “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon, garnished with Dickert’s human approximation of an electronic beat.

The Trentones’ repertoire is co-arranged by Vaughn and College alumnus and former WTSR DJ Pat Lavery, according to Petronio.

‘Mass Effect 2’ pushes storytelling limits Matt Huston can be reached at huston4@tcnj.edu.

By Alex Sisko Staff Writer

Let’s face it, video games are sometimes a shallow form of entertainment, lacking imagination, depth or artistic merit. Even good games may only improve slightly upon their predecessors.

But every once in a while a game is released that redefines its genre, sets a higher standard for future games and even moves video games forward as a medium. This is exactly what “Mass Effect 2” (ME2) accomplishes.

ME2, released Jan. 26, picks up where players left off in “Mass Effect.” They play as either John or Jane Shepard, hell-bent on saving human- and alien-kind from extermination. Players’ decisions, relationships and experience from the first game can carry through to the sequel via saved games. This serves to further personalize a game that is already one of the most personal games ever created.

Divergent plot lines present themselves often and your decisions have far-reaching consequences. These crossroads define Shepard’s identity and the freedom players have with Shepard’s actions and dialogue is not a gimmick. Two people playing ME2 can have very different experiences. Between the characters players choose to recruit to their crew and the places they explore, players get

Frontman Marcus Mumford and his fourman band aren’t related, but they certainly have chemistry and they’re putting a fresh spin on folk. Signed on Glassnote Records the same label that led Phoenix’s mainstream breakthrough into the states this summer, Mumford & Sons have been taking England by storm since, and are working their way over to the U.S. via blogs and rave reviews.

Acoustic sets consist of an upright bass, banjo, accordion and one guitar. Drawing inspiration from groups like the Avett Brothers and Arcade Fire, this latest accessible-folk breakthrough is bound to draw Fleet Foxes comparisons. Don’t be too quick to pigeonhole this band, though. Every song builds beautifully and twists into gorgeous melodies and musical compositions.

The plucking banjo and scratchy-butpassionate vocals on standout tracks such as “Little Lion Man” are just the tip of this iceberg — the album demands to be played in its entirety.

masseffect.bioware.com

‘Mass Effect 2’ boasts a large number of well-developed characters voiced by over 90 actors. what they put in.

The star-studded cast of voice actors draws on exemplary talent from Tricia Helfer and Michael Hogan of “Battlestar Galactica,” Michael Dorn and Marina Sirtis of “Star Trek,” Carrie-Anne Moss of “The Matrix,” Martin Sheen, Seth Green and many others.

The sheer variety of personalities you can meet and environments you can explore conveys a relentless impression that the world of ME2 is alive and complex.

ME2 improves upon its predecessor in every way. The combat in ME2 is greatly

By Chris Payne WTSR Music Director Hailing from Northampton, England is VV Brown, a 26-year old singer whose promising debut brandishes the appeal of thinking man’s pop singers like M.I.A. and Estelle.

Her album “Traveling Like The Light” debuted strongly in the U.K. last year and has recently taken on the stateside market. Among the flashy singles and modern production of her first batch of songs is a fundamental interest in retro R&B and pop.

Trained in jazz piano and nurtured on classic soul and jazz artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin, Brown almost always keeps at least one foot entrenched in the “classic” side of her genre. However, her style retains a strong contemporary viability, with tracks like “Shark In the Water” and “Game Over” sounding like potential hits in 2010.

Of course, having a record that sounds like a collection of singles is a double-edged sword.

“Traveling” struggles to maintain any real flow and clearly stacks its Side A with its sharpest songs.

Still, Brown has made a promising opening statement to the pop world. In a best-case scenario, she could find mainstream success in the footsteps of similar revivalists like Amy Winehouse and Adele. At worst, she can at least flaunt a significant amount of critical acclaim that’s ranged from the BBC to The Los Angeles Times.

improved. Squad commands are streamlined as is inventory management. Cover mechanics are more fluid. Level design encourages improvisation and a variety of tactics.

Those who neglect the side quests in this game will miss out on hours of some of the best character development and action. Players can learn much about their companions, who all turn out to have quite compelling stories of their own. The universe is just fuller in this sequel.

There is more to explore and more to do.

The art design in ME2 is fantastic. ME2 is the kind of game where you see things and go places that are visually stunning, so much so that you may find yourself stopping simply to look around.

Additional downloadable content is already available for ME2 with more on the way.

Flexibility of narrative and numerous decisions also bolster replay value.

ME2 is as epic in its scale as it is nuanced in its design — masterful storytelling combines with finely tuned game play mechanics to create a truly immersive experience.

“Mass Effect 2” is a landmark storytelling achievement in the video game medium with over 90 voice actors portraying 546 distinct characters that speak, grunt and digitize more than 31,000 lines of dialogue. Even those who have never played a role-playing game or prefer other genres should still check out this Key Tracks: “Shark in the Water,” “Game mind-blowing accomplishment.

Over”

page 18 The Signal February 17, 2010

5x8

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 19 Track and Field

College runners shatter school records

Lion athletes fly past competition in Boston

By Krystal Spencer Staff Writer The indoor track and field team had two record-breaking performances during their meets in New York City and Boston this past weekend.

At the Valentine’s Invitational at Boston University, senior sprinters Deshard Stevens and Jianna Spadaccini broke the College’s 500-meter and 800-meter records with times of 1:04.22 and 2:10.57 respectively. Spadaccini’s time was a provisional National qualifier.

Senior Priscilla Senyah broke her own school record in the 55-meter hurdles with a swift time of 8.21 seconds.

The girls’ Distance Medley Relay team of Spadaccini, fellow senior Michelle Wallace, junior Meryl Wimberly, and sophomore Katie Nestor also broke the school record and ran an automatic National qualifier with an 11:46.66.

Junior distance runner Dennis Waite also ran a provisional National qualifier in the mile with a 4:11.64, while junior Rob Nihen ran an Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) qualifier in the 5,000-meters with a 14:57.

“Boston is a big trip for relays and distance runners,” Waite said. “It has a lot of deep competition. Rider-Lafayette is also a very solid meet, but it isn’t as competitive at the very top.”

The Rider-Lafayette Invitational at the 168th Street Armory in NYC was the second time the College raced against Rider this season. Last week the boys’ team fell 85-78. But the surprising loss motivated the team to perform better.

Sophomore Justin Worthing took first out of 48 runners in the 500-meters with a time of 1:04.50, only 28 hundredths of a second behind Stevens’ record in Boston. Also performing well was the men’s 4x400 relay team of Worthing, juniors Jule Brooks and Kyle Gilroy, as well as freshman Robert Searby. They finished second with an ECAC-qualifying time of 3:17.38.

Photo courtesty of the Sports Information Desk

Senior Jianna Spadaccini.

With the indoor season winding down, the Lions have a busy schedule ahead of them. Next week they will return to the Armory to participate in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship (NJAC) on February 22nd. The College Indoor Track team has never lost the NJACs and plan to keep the streak alive this year.

“After this weekend, I am pretty confident that both our men’s and women’s team will sweep the NJAC title once again,” Stevens said.

Just four days later, the Lions will race one last time at the New York University Fast Track Invite, the final opportunity for individuals on the team to qualify for the ECAC at the end of the season on March 5-6. Some of the Lions have already qualified by meeting a preset standard in any given event.

The same type of rule applies to the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships March 12-13. The times that Spadaccini, Waite and the girls distance medley relay ran this weekend bring them once step closer, as the NCAA takes the top 16 times in each event. Even with the underlying pressure of qualifying for multiple championships at every race, the Lions continue to keep their cool and stay focused on the task at hand.

“Our team is on a good pace to place high at nationals this year, having several people already qualified,” Stevens said. “As a team, we are establishing a name for ourselves, showing why (the College’s track and field team) is the best program in the State and one of the best in the country.”

By Steve Hofstetter, Keith Alberstadt, Ryan Murphy and Chris Strait 108,000 fans attended the NBA All-Star Game in Dallas. It’s the largest crowd ever to be bored by a professional basketball game.

Tyrus Thomas could be headed to the Minnesota Timberwolves. In related news, Tyrus Thomas’ agent could be getting fired.

David Stern expects the Charlotte Bobcats to be sold in the next 60 days. We look forward to discovering which fool and his money will be parted.

Larry Bird says the Pacers’ rebuilding plan is right on target … for 2030.

And boxer Floyd Mayweather believes he could have played in the NBA when he was younger. Or now, if he wants to play for the Nets.

AP Photo

For more of the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com

Cheap Seats

Drew Brees goes from shoulder surgery to the Super Bowl

Super Bowl MVP has made huge impact throughout NFL

By Brandon Gould Sports Assistant The New Orleans Saints did the unthinkable last Sunday as they took down arguably the best quarter-

AP Photo

Drew Brees admires the Lombardi Trophy.

back ever and gave a city was starving for a Super Bowl an early start to Mardi Gras.

The first player to hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the Saints was their quarterback and the Super Bowl’s Most Valuable Player Drew Brees.

Brees has been a leader on and off the field for “Who Dat” nation ever since he arrived in New Orleans four years ago and this game was no different. The Saints emotional leader completed 32 of his 39 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns.

His partnership with the New Orleans Saints seems to be pure destiny, but how close was this dream scenario from never happening at all?

It all began on Dec. 31, 2005 when the San Diego Chargers faced off against the Denver Broncos. Brees — who started for the Chargers at the time — attempted to jump on a fumble when a Bronco defensive lineman landed on him and tore his labrum.

The injury brought Brees to Dr. James Andrews who had to use 12 dissolvable staples, the most he has ever used in surgery, to repair Brees’s shoulder.

After the injury the Chargers decided they would move forward with Philip Rivers and Brees was left to look for a new home.

The only two teams that were willing to take a chance on Brees were the Saints and the Miami Dolphins. Brees’s first choice was the Dolphins, but Nick Saban, then head coach of the Dolphins, was not optimistic about the surgery and opted instead to trade for Daunte Culpepper.

Culpepper flopped in Miami during the 2006 season and with Culpepper went Saban. Saban left the NFL and returned to the college game after that season to

become the head coach at the University of Alabama, who just won the 2009 National Championship.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins, who haven’t had a great quarterback since Dan Marino, have gone through eight starters since Brees signed with the Saints.

Their lack of an elite quarterback led the Dolphins to introduce the Wildcat craze that is spreading through the league. If the Dolphins had a 4,000-yard passer on their squad it would have been less likely for the Ronnie Brown to touch the ball as much and the Wildcat may still be a college thing.

The irony of the whole situation is that as good as the Saints look for making arguably the greatest free agency signing of all-time, Brees wasn’t even their first choice.

Sean Payton had just been announced head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006 as Brees sat out there in the free agent pool.

Payton, who previously was the assistant head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, tried to acquire a former undrafted free agent quarterback out of Eastern Illinois University from his old boss Jerry Jones.

Payton’s request was denied by Jones and the Cowboys kept that quarterback — you may know him as Tony Romo. Romo went on to supplant Drew Bledsoe as the starter of the Cowboys and has been scrutinized every since by the fans in Big D for not being able to perform in the playoffs.

After all of that drama and both sides being stood up, Drew Bress ended up in the Big Easy, either by fate or by voodoo magic, and the organization put the S back in Saints, which also allowed Saint fans to take their heads out of those hideous paper bags.

It all could have never happened — thank Brees that it did.

page 20 The Signal February 17, 2010

4 6

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 21

LIONS

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Brandon Gould “The Ref”

Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor

Mike O’Donnell Staff Writer

Mike Leatherwood WTSR Sports

It’s week five of AtD and three new contestants will get the chance to pick up their first win of the season. Sports Assistant Brandon Gould will be asking Sports Editor Garrett Rasko-Martinis, Staff Writer Mike O’Donnell and WTSR Sports Director Mike Leatherwood will argue the impact of Mike Martz signing with the Bears, if Lane Kiffin’s signing of 13-year-old Evan Berry will pay off and if Ilya Kovalchuk will propel the Devils to the Stanley Cup.

1. The Chicago Bears recently hired Mike Martz to be their offensive coordinator. Is Martz the mentor quarterback who Jay Cutler needs to elevate his game and make the Bears offense the “Greatest Show on Sod”?

AP Photo

GRM: It’s funny that the same guy who criticized Cutler’s attitude after his season opening loss to Green Bay is going to be his offensive coordinator now. Regardless, Martz is a coordinator who has had tremendous success making potent offenses (“Greatest Show on Turf” just to name one). However, the pieces just aren’t there to make this offense the best even in its own division. Cutler will still be working with a young and unimpressive corps of receivers, and without a consistent running back to establish a running game I don’t see this offense flying very high. I think Martz will certainly improve the offense as a whole, but that’s about it.

MO: Cutler’s woes were more than just thanks to former Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner. The entire offense was abysmal last year for “Da Bears.” From the underachieving offensive line to the pathetic run game led by Matt Forte, and not to mention the reliance on no-name receivers, Chicago’s offense was … well … offensive, and not in a good way. The hire of Martz was solely based on his reputation. Martz has the stigma of a football genius, and he does have a positive history with Lovie Smith dating back to the “Greatest Show on Turf” days.

However, despite his accolades, Martz was simply the best available choice in this situation. He had come out on record and said he really wanted this job, and appeared desperate in the process. He can certainly do no worse than the Bears did on offense last season, and that always allows potential for success. Despite last year’s terrible offense, Cutler has proven he is a good quarterback, and he can’t do much worse in 2010. He will bounce back next year, and if the line and running game plays as it did before Cutler arrived, then Martz may reap all the benefits, whether it was his doing or not.

ML: First of all, I don’t think that Mike Martz is the right hire for this team. Martz will bring to Chicago a pass-happy offense that loves to get the ball down the field. However I don’t think that the Bears offensive personnel fits that style. Matt Forte is by far their best offensive weapon and this type of offense will not utilize him as much as it should. As far as Jay Cutler goes, it doesn’t matter who you bring in, Cutler will have a hard time working with him. He has shown that he cannot get along with coaches throughout his career, especially during his time in Denver. I think if Cutler has patience and they bring in a receiver, he could improve. But this team is headed in the wrong offensive direction.

BG: Garrett gets 3 for pointing out the

Bears lack of a consistent running or passing game. O’Donnell gets 2 for labeling Martz as the best option out there and for using the term “Da Bears.” Mike gets 1 for giving just a little too much credit to Matt Forte.

2. Lane Kiffin recently got the verbal commitment of a 13-year old quarterback from Delaware. Is Kiffin a recruiting genius or proving that he wasn’t worthy of the University of South California (USC) job?

GRM: Time will tell if this recruitment will be a sign of genius or just a publicity stunt to make him look like the right man for the job in USC. However, there’s no guarantee that Evan Berry will join his brother when he graduates high school. Look back to 1998, when an eighth-grader named Chris Leak verbally commited to Wake Forest because of his brother, but ended up leaving for the University of Florida when his brother left for the University of Tennessee. So who knows if this verbal commitment even pays off in the long run? If the kid turns out to be a superstar when he finally does reach puberty, then it looks like Kiffin is a recruitment genius. If not, then he took a risk and he pays the price for it.

MO: First of all, much of the credit of this “find” has to be placed on 13-year-old David Sills’ personal quarterback coach Steve Clarkson, who has also coached other USC quarterbacks in their youth, such as Matt Barkley and Matt Leinart. His longstanding relationship with Kiffin also contributed to Kiffin’s offer of a scholarship to Stills, as the former Tennessee head coach did not actually seek out this kid until he was told about him.

But in terms of recruiting as a whole, this is who Kiffin is — a glory hound. He wants to silence his critics since his days in Oakland, and be viewed as an upstanding head coach in a high-profile situation. That’s why he left Tennessee. He knows the advantage of having a program as prestigious as USC at his fingertips, and he knows how easily he will be able to attract three, four-and five-star recruits. Want proof? He even cut his hours of recruiting down to 12-15 per week. Despite that, he has the best recruiting class of 2010, according to Rivals.com, and he ended up with the most five-star high schoolers committing to be a Trojan. Kiffin is a very smart man, and for all intents and purposes, is a recruiting genius. How do you get the best recruits? Go to the school that gets the best.

It was a brilliant move by a man who simply knows how to get to the top — by any means necessary.

coach Jim Caldwell recruited Chris Leak as a middle school player. It has happened before and I have a feeling it will happen again in the future. However I think Lane Kiffin and all of these coaches are not making the most of their recruiting time. The kid hasn’t finished growing yet and at that age, you never know how good he’s really going to be. If Kiffin wants to be successful at USC, he needs to focus on developing Matt Barkley and his No. 1 incoming recruiting class and get USC back to the National Championship.

BG: O’Donnell gets 3 for stating that Kiffin is becoming a genius by taking advantage of the perks that come with being the head honcho at USC. Mike gets 2 for arguing that Stills is a waste of time right now and Garrett 1 for talking about the wrong kid.

AP Photo

3. The New Jersey Devils recently acquired left winger Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers. Will adding Kovalchuk give the Devils the edge they need to beat out the Washington Capitals and the defending Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins for the East?

GRM: I rarely follow hockey except during the playoffs so I will answer this question armed only with my fresh knowledge of the NHL provided by SportsCenter.

The Devils offense has been struggling to score goals lately so they went out and got a great winger in Ilya Kovalchuk. Add a great scorer to an already excellent defense and the Devils look in prime position to pass the Capitals for first place in the East and make a run at the Stanley Cup. MO: It’s obvious what Kovalchuk brings to the table for the Devils — a winger who can produce scoring on whatever line he’s placed on. The former No. 1 pick of the Atlanta Thrashers back in 2001 already has 60 points this season, and that is exactly what New Jersey needed to compliment their tops-in-the-league scoring defense.

Kovalchuk will provide that spark the Devils have lacked in many of their games this season, because the offense has often times been stagnant and hard-pressed for goals in

key situations. However, the Capitals and Penguins are just too good for the Devils to handle this season. Washington has run off 14 wins in a row and counting, and the Penguins clearly look like the defending champions with how hot they have been as well. If New Jersey is going to secure its first Stanley Cup since 2003, they are going to have to channel those conversions of scoring at the right time. If the team decides to place Kovalchuk on the same line as Zach Parise and Travis Zajac as coach Jacques Lemaire has hinted at, that line may be too top heavy to keep a balance on offense, and the output could suffer. The key will be keeping that balance of offense and defense, and although Kovalchuk certainly helps their chances of doing that, the two teams they are chasing are just too good this year.

ML: Devils fans, including myself, have to be excited about bringing Ilya Kovalchuk to New Jersey. This is the first time in a long time that Lou Lamoriello brought Jersey a big-time goal scorer like Kovalchuk. The Devils are normally a defensive-minded team that wins by scrounging out a couple of cheap goals and relying on Martin Brodeur to carry the team. Kovalchuk now brings offensive firepower that they haven’t had in recent years. However, Devils fans need to be patient. It will take time for Kovalchuk to create chemistry with his linemates and for the Devils to adjust to a new style of play. I think this acquisition though will certainly put them up there with Washington and Pittsburgh, if not past them.

BG: I was very tempted to give Garrett 3 for making me laugh, but I’m giving it to O’Donnell for pointing out the Capitals dominance this season. Mike gets 2 for acknowledging that Kovalchuk will need time to adjust in New Jersey. Garrett, your answer made me laugh, but you get 1 for lack of hockey knowledge.

O’Donnell wins 8 - 5 - 5

AP Photo

ML: Well, before I get into whether Lane Kiffin is a genius or an idiot, let me start off by saying that this is not the first time we have seen this in college football. When he was head coach for Wake Forest, now Indianapolis Colts

“Like Kobe to LeBron, I’m head and shoulders over the competition.”

—O’Donnell

AP Photo

page 22 The Signal February 17, 2010

ClassiďŹ eds Classified Word Ad Rates: Up to 20 words $5 per insertion; $2.50 for each additional 10 words.

Puppies for Adoption 2 Maltese pups available for adoption. If interested, contact collinsjames55@live.com.

Classified Display Ad Rates: $8 per column inch per day (off campus). See Ad Manager for on campus rates.

Contacting the Ad Office: The Signal business office can be reached at (609)-771-2499 or signalad@tcnj.edu Terms: 1. All classified advertisements must be paid in full at time of placement.

Absolutely no exceptions.

2. Deadline for ads is 12 p.m.

Friday preceding publication.

Advertisement may be placed at the Signal business office, (TCNJ Brower Student Center Basement), or mail with full payment to The Signal Classifieds, Brower Student Center, TCNJ, P.O. Box 7718, Ewing, NJ 08628-0718.

3. Classifieds are non-cancellable.

There are no refunds for any classified ads. There will be a $1 charge for any changes made in the ad after it has been placed.

4. There is no commission or agency discount on classified ads.

5. Tearsheets or proofs will not be provided for classified ads.

6. All advertising is subject to acceptance by The Signal, which reserves the right to reject copy at its sole discretion at any time prior to publication.

7. The Signal will not consider adjustments of payment for any advertisement involving typographical errors or erroneous insertions unless notice is given to the Advertising Manager within ten (10) days of publication. The Signal shall not be held liable for more than one incorrect insertion of any advertisement. If any error in an advertisement is made by The Signal, its liability shall only be for such portion of the entire cost of the advertisement as the Advertising Manager shall determine by the extent of the error in relation to the entire advertisement.

8. The Signal will make all reasonable efforts to see that advertising is published as accepted; however; The Signal will not be liable for any consequential damages resulting from failure to do so.

9. The advertiser assumes full and complete liability for the content of all advertising printed pursuant to this agreement and shall indemnify The Signal harmless against any demands, claims or liablity.

10. Ads placed by mail, accompanied by payment and placement authorization, will be accepted subject to compliance with the above conditions. Insertion of such ads will constitute acceptances of all terms listed above, even if the advertiser has not signed a contract form.

Your ad here!

February 17, 2010 The Signal page 23

LIONS ROUNDUP Menʼs Swimming

Date 10/23/09 10/31/09 11/1/09 11/7/09 11/13/09 12/5/09 12/6/09 1/16/10 1/16/10 1/23/10 1/24/10 1/30/10 2/19/10 2/20/10 2/21/10 3/17/10 3/18/10

Date 12/17/09 1/4/10 1/6/10 1/9/10 1/11/10 1/13/10 1/16/10 1/20/10 1/23/10 1/27/10 1/30/10 2/1/10 2/3/10 2/12/10 2/13/10 2/17/10

@ vs. @ vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ vs. @ @ @ @ @

Opponent

Time/Result

Montclair State University Ramapo College Stevens Ins. of Tech.

So. Conn. State University Franklin & Marshall Co. Franklin & Marshall Inv. Franklin & Marshall Inv. West Chester University John Hopkins University New York University William Paterson U. Rowan University Met. Conference Champs.

Met. Conference Champs.

Met. Conference Champs.

Division III Champs.

Division III Champs.

W 154-90 W 160-91 L 118-144 W 164-121 W 135-71 1st Place 1st Place W 203-167 W 183-175 W 179-101 W 159-116 W 177-122 9:30 a.m 9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

TBA TBA

Jay Frank

Menʼs Basketball

Menʼs BasketballTime/Result Opponent @ @ @ @ vs. vs. vs. @ vs. vs. @ vs. @ @ vs. @

Davidson College Delaware University FDU-Florham New Jersey City U. Drew University Rutgers U.-Camden Rutgers U.-Newark Kean University Montclair State University Richard Stockton College Ramapo College Penn State-Brandywine Rowan University Rutgers University-Camden Kean University Richard Stockton U.

L W W W W W W L W L L W L L W 8

Lion of the Week

49-90 71-61 86-69 66-60 OT 77-66 73-60 71-63 54-61 96-70 67-75 75-76 110-64 49-70 68-70 73-63 p.m.

Senior guard Jay Frank scored a game-high 24 points to keep the Lions playoff hopes alive against Kean University on Saturday. Frank hit shot after shot in his last home game as the Lions defeated the Cougars 73-63. Frank also had a strong performance earlier in the week as the Lions fell to Rutgers University-Camden. Frank tied junior Steven Siracusa with 18 points to lead the Lions.

Unfortunately, Frank’s effort was in vain as the Scarlet Raptors defeated the Lions 70-68 on a last second jumper by senior guard Joshua Askew.

—Brandon

Gould, Sports Assistant

This Week In Sports Menʼs Basketball

Wrestling

Date 1/9/10 1/12/10 1/15/10 1/15/10 1/16/10 1/16/10 1/16/10 1/20/10 1/22/10 1/30/10 1/30/10 1/30/10 1/31/10 2/21/10

@ vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ vs. @ @ @ @ @

Opponent

Time/Result

Morrisville State College Elizabethtown/York College Muskigum College Olivet College Roch. Inst. of Tech.

SUNY-Cortland Ithaca College Centenary College Wilkes College Worchester Poly. Inst.

Roger Williams U. Williams College Springfield College Metropolitan Con. Champs.

W 43-6 W 20-13/38-0 W 48-0 W 33-4 W 50-0 W 18-16 W 18-16 W 35-10 L 18-20 W 42-3 W 28-12 L 21-22 L 16-25 9:30 a.m.

Trivia Question

Womenʼs Basketball Feb. 17 @ Richard Stockon University, 6 p.m.

Track and Field Feb. 22 @ NJAC Championships, TBA

Swimming and Diving Feb. 19-Feb. 21

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Question: Super Bowl XXXVII

Evgeni Malkin extended his point-scoring streak to 13 games on Sunday in a 4-3 victory over the Nashville Predators by recording an assist on a power-play goal scored by Sidney Crosby. Wayne Gretzky set the mark for most consecutive games with a point scored in the 1983-1984 season while playing for the Edmonton Oilers. How many straight games did Gretzky score a point in that season?

Feb. 17 @ Richard Stockon University, 8 p.m.

@ Metropolitan Conference Championships, 9:30 a.m.

Menʼs Tennis Feb. 20-Feb. 21 @ Salisbury University Tournament, TBA

Wrestling Feb. 21 vs. Metropolitan Conference Championships, 9:30 a.m.

AP Photo

SignalSports Lions edged out of the playoffs by Cougars Seniors win final game at home in dramatic fashion

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Steven Siracusa looks for an open teammate.

By Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor The men’s basketball team had its back against the wall and was trailing the visiting Kean University Cougars 32-23 early in the second half of the Lions’ regular season home finale last Saturday, Feb. 13.

Although the team’s struggle would end up being all for naught a few days later, the Lions were determined to send its seniors off with a win on Senior Day. The College had just lost its fourth straight game to a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rival in a last-second road loss to Rutgers-University Camden and desperately needed a NJAC win to keep the postseason within reach.

Determined not to end their senior years with a loss in their

last regular season game at home, senior guard and captain Jay Profs 73-70 to clinch the third postseason spot in the NJAC Frank and senior forward Aaron Syvertsen sparked the slumber- South. Even though the Lions can win the last game of the ing Lions’ offense with back-to-back three pointers. Syvertsen season to earn the same conference record as Kean, the Couentered the game despite sustaining ankle gars clinched a better record in the NJAC injuries last week and made a huge contriSouth.

68 bution to the Lions’ comeback. The College Lions The College desperately needed this win 70 after a heartbreaking 70-68 loss against the Scarlet Raptors sprang to life and took the lead.

“That was definitely one my favorite Scarlet Raptors last Friday, Feb. 12. Before 63 this win, Rutgers-Camden was a dismal 0-10 games and I’ll remember it for a long time,” Cougars 73 in the conference and only 6-17 overall.

Frank said. “You want to go out with your Lions best friends on the team and all the seniors as Frank and Siracusa both led the Lions in best you can. We had a comeback win where scoring with 18 points. Siracusa’s 18 points we were losing and we came back to win by 10, and everyone were a career-best, and he shot 8-11 from the court. Jett added 10 contributed. It was awesome to see (Syvertsen) come in with two points and six rebounds, and sophomore guard Pete Kelly also bad ankles, give us a big spark and play like a champ.” had nine points.

The Cougars and Lions exchanged the lead several times beThe Lions held a slim 40-37 lead at halftime, but the Scarlet fore Frank and Syvertsen once again scored back-to-back three Raptors shot 50 percent as a team from the floor in the second pointers to give the Lions a 53-48 lead with six minutes left in the half and the two teams fought back and forth until the game’s game. The College held onto this lead to remain in the postsea- final seconds. Senior guard Joshua Askew made a running jump shot with three seconds left in the game to earn his team its first son hunt with one game remaining in the regular season.

Frank scored a game-high 24 points in this victory, and he win in the NJAC. The Lions will end the regular season tonight, Feb. 17, in an also added three steals, assists and rebounds. Syvertsen added 13 points, all in the second half, including three three-pointers. Se- 8 p.m. road game against NJAC-rival Richard Stockton Univernior guard William Jett added seven points and four assists. Ju- sity. The College has a tough game ahead as the Ospreys lead nior forward Steven Siracusa contributed another double-double the NJAC South with a 17-6 overall record and 7-4 record in the with 12 points and rebounds. Sophomore Albert Matlock also conference. scored 13 points.

“We hate Stockton, and it’s a great rivalry so it should be a The contest started as low-scoring affair, as both teams’ stout great game,” Frank said. “It’s their Senior Day, and it’s either defenses led to only a 26-21 score at halftime in favor of the Cou- our playoff game or our last game of the season. We’ll play exgars. But Frank and Syvertsen led their team towards an emo- tremely hard and either way whatever happens, if it’s a game tional 73-63 win. that can get us into the playoffs, or the last game of our season, Unfortunately the Lions still needed the Rowan Universi- I’ll make sure that our team is ready to go.” ty Profs to defeat the Cougars on the road last Monday night, Feb. 15. After three overtimes the Cougars just edged the Garrett Rasko-Martinis can be reached at rasko2@tcnj.edu.

Women’s Basketball

College wins on the road but falters in home finale

Lions prepare for must-win game against Ospreys

By Hilarey Wojtowicz Opinions Editor

Kean University, the No. 1 team in the Division III Atlantic Region, proved to be a much tougher game for the Lions on SatThe Lions are just one game away urday. The Cougars took the win 87-52 for from determining whether they will the team’s 23rd straight win, leaving them qualify for post-season play after the with a record of 12-0 in the NJAC and 23-1 team’s loss to Kean University on Sat- overall.

The Lions felt the competition as the Couurday, Feb. 13.

The women’s basketball team fell gars pulled ahead 43-28 by halftime. Junior Tiffany Patrick of Kean 87-52 to the Cougars had a game-high 18 points despite riding high 82 and 12 rebounds. on a 82-38 road win Lions Prall led the Lions against Rutgers Uni- Scarlet Raptors 38 with a career-high versity-Camden on 87 14 points against the Friday night. The win Cougars against the Scarlet Lions 52 Cougars. Junior Keri Washington and sophRaptors put the Lions omore Jessica Imhof to 6-5 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). How- each netted nine points. Washington ever, the team’s loss to Kean caused the also snagged five rebounds. However, record to become 6-6 in the NJAC and the Lions offense was no match for Kean University’s top NCAA Division 13-11 overall this season.

On Friday, the Lions took control of the III defense.

“Kean is a dominant force this year court as sophomore Hannah Tait led the team with 15 points going 6-8 from the in Division III basketball,” said freshfloor. By the half the women’s team held a man Megan Hartline. “They have a comfortable 49-19 lead over Rutgers Uni- lot of talented young players and we versity-Camden. Juniors Kelsey Kutch and knew it would be tough to pull out a win against them. But it’s hard to beat Stephanie Prall were right behind Tait.

Kutch netted 14 points and Prall a team with a player who shoots 50 scored a solid 12 pints to help the team percent from the three-point line and grab the win. Sophomore Jessica Imhof another who is a deadly threat in the also contributed nine points, and junior paint.”

Senior Melissa Beyruti of Kean UniJamie Cresbaugh hit a career high of eight points. The Lions achieved a sea- versity is currently three three-pointers son best with a total of 82 points for the shy of the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) record of 392, which win over the Scarlet Raptors.

was originally set by Laurie Koehn of Kansas State University back in 2005.

The 87-52 loss now sets the Lions up for a must-win game against Richard Stockton College on Wednesday, Feb. 17 in order for the women’s basketball

team to continue into post-season play.

“The key to winning the game on Wednesday is within our team,” Hartline said. “We need to play our game, together.

Heart and desire are going to lead us to the win and carry us through to the playoffs.”

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Freshman center Candace Vigo backs into a defender.