The Signal

Time for a snack The Fat Shack is satisfying students’ late-night hunger cravings.

Features, page 11

tcnjsignal.net

Black Box gets ‘lade’

ʻMr. Marmaladeʼ tells the story of a sharp little girl with an imaginary friend.

Arts & Entertainment, page 16

The College of New Jersey Student Newspaper since 1885

March 3, 2010

No. 7.

Vol. CXXXII.

Ewing residents debate Campus Town project

By Arti Patel Copy Editor Ewing Township residents had the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns about the Campus Town project the College is in the process of developing at a community forum held by the Township and College Together (TACT) Committee. A five-person panel consisting of Curt Heuring, the Collegeʼs vice president for facilities management, construction and campus safety, Eric R. Ballou, engineering consultant from Bridsall Services Group and David P. Manfredi, architect from the firm Elkus Manfredi. Also on the panel were Cubie H. Dawson Jr. and Hilary Thomas from the consulting firm Jones Lang LaSalle.

The panel presented a detailed account of the Collegeʼs feasibility study previously shown to students and faculty.

“We are trying to create a sense of place for this college in this community,” Manfredi said. “We want to create buildings that connect the campus to the town.”

Of the approximately 37,000 Ewing Township residents, less than 30 citizens came to the meeting.

tcnj.edu

The public voiced their opinions of the Collegeʼs college town project, which is currently in the initial stages of development.

Of those who were present, members of Trinity United Methodist Church, where the community forum was held, expressed a distinct hostile vibe projected forth by a small minority of disgruntled and irritated Ewing residents.

“We got a lot of feedback,” TACT student member Tom Little, junior political science major, said. “I think we will have success in the long term.”

Little acknowledged the unreceptive attitudes of some residents in attendance, but said this was due to fiscal concerns.

“Everyoneʼs worried about money,” he said.

“I think it went wonderfully,” Heuring said, “(Talking to the residents) helps us design and respond better to peopleʼs needs.”

A major topic brought up by several residents included the effect of new retail stores on existing businesses.

“The plan is not to be disrespectful to any existing businesses,” Dawson said. “The idea is not to have these stores separate from the community.

It is important that we knit those together.”

“The excitement about retail here is that you can walk to it,” Thomas clarified in an effort to show why this development project is different than strip malls and existing retail areas already in Ewing Township.

Another concern for the development included possible traffic issues that may stem from the increase in people visiting the shops and restaurants included in the final Campus Town design.

“At any successful project, there will be an increase of traffic,” Ballou said.

Ballouʼs engineering consulting firm already completed a preliminary study about traffic patterns on Carlton Avenue, Pennington Road and Route 31 around the build site and plans to create a more in-depth survey as the project progresses. see TOWN page 3

Highest number of Scary Guy preaches love and tolerance applicants for College

By Juliana Fidler News Assistant

By Jeffrey Roman Features Editor

The number of applicants for freshman admissions is the highest total in the Collegeʼs history, according to Robert A. Altman last Tuesday, Feb. 23, during the Board of Trustees meeting in Loser Hall.

“We have over 9,900 applicants as of Feb. 22,” Altman, member of the board, said.

Applications have risen seven percent from last year, Lisa Angeloni, dean of admissions, said in an e-mail.

According to Altman, the number of black applicants rose 16 percent and the number of hispanics 17 percent.

During the meeting, President R. Barbara Gitenstein discussed the $2 million cut to the College.

“This is going to be a challenging year regarding budget decisions,” Gitenstein said. “We donʼt have a lot of flex left.”

Jorge Caballero, member of the board, explained some of the Collegeʼs initiatives.

“We will make modest changes to the investment policy,” Caballero said. “We continue to do an exemplary job regarding the budget.”

Donations received from alumni are behind pace so far this year, Eleanor Horne, member of the board, said.

“The challenge here is with the economy,” Horne explained.

“But we have several large gifts expected this year.”

In an e-mail from John Marcy, vice president for College Advancement, dollar amounts are down, but the total number of gifts actually received from alumni is ahead of pace.

“The dollar amount received from alumni so far is behind see BOARD page 3

Covered with tattoos and piercings topped by a patch of bright blonde hair, inspirational speaker The Scary Guy delivered his anti-hate message to a full auditorium in Kendall Hall on Tuesday Feb. 23.

His lecture included a video, “The Scary Truth,” which showed images and newspaper headlines portraying hate and violence around the world, as well as audience participation.

The Scary Guy said his life changed seven years ago when he was hired to talk to “65 people in wheelchairs with black tubes in their throats.”

“I masked my whole life in sarcasm,” he said. “I thought I was a good person, until that day.”

Since then, he said, he has ceased his name-calling completely. Accordingly, he introduced students to the “seven days, seven nights challenge.”

The challenge consists of seven days and seven nights of refraining from name-calling and “making amends” for mistakes in this area.

In order to respond to prejudiced people without becoming prejudiced, The Scary Guy said people must “process what whey see and hear rather than become what they see and hear.”

“You donʼt have to believe or accept their energy.

Thatʼs your choice,” he said.

The Scary Guy explained there are two types of prejudice — “hardcore” and “softcore.” He described the first as “name-calling” and the second as “silent, preconceived notions about people you know nothing about.”

He listed some of the “containers” of “different shapes, sizes and colors” people come in for which they

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Scary Guy challenged students to refrain from insulting others for seven days. receive abuse.

Two of his examples were skinny people who people say “must have had an eating disorder,” and fat people.

“Be overweight sometime in your life and walk down any sidewalk in the world. Thatʼs pain,” he said.

The Scary Guy also talked about “blonde girls,”

Talent night at Kendall Students showcased their musical skills on Saturday.

Students to skate SGA approves new figure skating club.

Afternoon symphony The Eastern Wind Symphony performed at the College on Sunday.

See page 16

See page 2

See page 15

see SCARY page 2

INSIDE

Editorials Opinions Features Arts & Entertainment Funstuff Sports

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page 2 The Signal March 3, 2010

Scary / Speaker espouses love continued from page 1 who are convinced they are “dumb” at a young age, and “bald men,” noting the vast quantity of commercials on television today for various methods of reversing this condition.

“They’re trying to tell us we’re not okay the way we are, and you people are believing it.” he said.

The Scary Guy walked up and down the aisles of the auditorium, talking to students and getting hugs from them. He also asked for volunteers to come to the front throughout the night.

About halfway through the presentation, a female student stood up to confront him.

“You need to update your material,” she said. “I have yet to receive a good message from your material.”

She left the auditorium when another student in the audience called out, “You can leave.”

Later, during the question-and-answer session, a third female student apologized on behalf of the College for the first student’s reaction to The Scary Guy’s lecture.

“I still love her,” The Scary Guy said. “I wish she’d come back and give me a hug.”

The Scary Guy has been a computer salesman, a baby photographer and a tattoo artist and now travels around the world spreading his message. He is hired to speak,

he said, by “schools, churches, synagogues, mosques and detention centers,” among other institutions.

At the end of his career as a tattoo artist, he legally changed his name to The Scary Guy in response to a newspaper ad that labeled him as such.

“We were really excited about him coming … we’re really happy with the results,” said junior psychology major Meghan Lanahan, a member of the Bod Squad and a Student Anti-Violence Education Peer Educator (SAVE PE). Both organizations helped sponsor the event.

“We got to have dinner with him. He is really like that in real life. It’s not just a show,” Jilu Jacob, senior biology major and a SAVE PE, said.

“I’m very pleased with how it turned out,” said Michelle Gervasi, program assistant of the office of Anti-Violence Initiatives and peer educator supervisor. “We were able to fill a majority of Kendall, and it feels pretty good that so many people could hear his message.”

The Scary Guy’s lecture was part of a three-day event at the College. On Monday Feb. 22, he talked to students in Brower Student Center. On Wednesday, break-out sessions offered “an opportunity for dialogue to continue these messages throughout the semester” to promote “acceptance and love on this campus,” Gervasi said.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Scary Guy responded to a disgruntled student by saying he wished she’d return so he could give her a hug.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Student Finance Board (SFB) approved Hillel’s “Dive in Movie” at its Feb. 24 meeting.

SFB allows multicultural buffet

By Kelly Johnson Staff Writer Asian American Association (AAA) appeared before the Student Finance Board (SFB) this week to resubmit its request for $3,404 to hold a multicultural buffet during the Feb. 24 meeting.

AAA’s request was denied during last week’s meeting because of the event’s lack of connection to any other event.

AAA alleviated the problem, proposing the buffet to prelude its annual show, “Mystique,” with fliers and t-shirts advertising the show as well as ticket sales during the buffet.

“They did exactly what we asked, and it seems like it’s going to be good promotion,” said Billy Freyberger, freshman representative and finance major. The buffet will be held on March 3 in the Brower Student Center Atrium.

Hillel will also be hosting a “Dive in Movie,” similar to the one College Union Board (CUB) hosts during Welcome Week, after SFB unanimously voted to approve its request for $1,788.30.

The featured movie will be “Keeping the Faith,” a romantic comedy starring Edward Norton and Ben Stiller.

There was concern among some of the board members about the cold weather deterring students from wanting to go into the pool. It was decided, however, that pushing the date back would be moving

the event from Jewish Awareness Month and would take away from the meaning.

“Advertising for this event will be key,” Greg Rindosh, SGA assistant representative and junior finance major, said. The movie event will take place on March 25.

SFB decided to deny CUB’s request for $66,280 for their Spring Carnival event because of dwindling funds and late planning.

CUB attempted this type of carnival last spring, but most of its events had to be canceled or moved inside due to rain. This served as a major concern to many board members.

“It’s a really expensive event and if they’re going to plan it, they should plan with a rain date,” Ashley LaRose, senior representative and psychology and communication studies major, said.

Many of CUB’s proposed components of the carnival, including hot air balloon rides and a Ferris wheel, would not be able to be rescheduled or moved inside. SFB was also concerned about the expensive cost, which serves as a problem at the end of the year when funds begin to shorten.

“I don’t think we’re in a place financially or strategically to fund this,” said Garrett Hoffman, administrative director and junior mathematics major.

SFB encouraged CUB to base budget for this event next year if they plan on attempting to hold the carnival again.

SGA welcomes figure skating and holistic wellness club

By Emily Brill Arts & Entertainment Assistant The Student Government Association (SGA) passed a resolution to reinstate ProfRecord and granted four new organizations club status at its general body meeting on Wednesday Feb. 24.

Senators and class council members heard first from members of The Perspective, an on-campus news magazine and TCNJ Holistic Wellness, a club devoted to exploring natural stress-combating methods such as yoga and meditation.

The Magic Circle, an organization focusing on video game design and production, and TCNJ Figure Skating, a club for current and prospective figure skaters to explore their passion and potentially compete in collegiate figure-skating competitions, followed with short presentations about their clubs’ missions and long-term plans.

After some discussion, TCNJ Holistic Wellness, The Magic Circle and TCNJ Figure Skating passed unanimously.

Olaniyi Solebo, sophomore political science and economics double major and vice president of legal and governmental affairs, expressed his support for TCNJ Holistic Wellness.

“There is no commonality between this group and any other recognized group on campus,” Solebo said.

Also receiving praise from the SGA for its originality was TCNJ Figure Skating.

“I don’t think we have anything like them, and

I think it’s something that a lot of people could get involved in,” said Trish Krug, junior early childhood education and Spanish double major and vice president of community relations. “It’s interesting and different and fun.”

The SGA was pleased with The Magic Circle’s intention to focus on the design and production of video games rather than the game-play experience.

The Perspective was passed by a majority vote, with some dissent among SGA members about the prudence of putting the College’s name behind occasionally inflammatory press.

“They’re asking to put the name of (the College) behind highly biased opinions,” Thomas Samper, senior engineering major, said.

The club was ultimately passed due to a consensus reached during discussion that the College does not necessarily advocate the opinions voiced in a subjective student publication.

Also passed was a resolution calling for the reinstatement of the course selection tool ProfRecord.

According to R-S2010-03, the resolution’s official title, ProfRecord was “a tool that provided students with grade distributions and student commentary … and has been a valuable tool used by students in (the) registration process.”

It was discontinued in fall 2009 when the amount of data coming into the system made it difficult for ProfRecord’s small staff to continue its upkeep. Since then, the SGA has been searching for a “cost-effective

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Four organizations were approved at the SGA meeting on Feb. 24. alternative from third party vendors,” according to the resolution, but has failed to find one suitable.

The resolution calls for the Academic Affairs Office and Information Technology (IT) and Enrollment Services to reconsider their decision to discontinue the course selection tool and assist the SGA in relaunching an improved ProfRecord.

Gina Lauterio, political science and philosophy double major and vice president of academic affairs, assisted in drafting the resolution, along with other members of the Academic Affairs Committee.

“Students have told us how it’s a valuable tool,” Laeoterio said.

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 3

Town / Authorities voice concern Board / College down in funds and excitement for College town continued from page 1

continued from page 1 “The Department of Transportation (in Trenton) will be in every discussion,” he said.

The panel made clear that pedestrian access is the top priority for the campus town’s architectural integrity. This angle concerned some residents who felt security for the residents visiting the new area needed to take dual precedence.

“I think (the Ewing Police Department) should be there patrolling, without encroaching upon the College’s police force,” District Lieutenant Edward J. DeAngelo of the Ewing Police Department’s Patrol Division said.

DeAngelo felt a crime such as

shoplifting should come under the Ewing Township Police’s jurisdiction whereas the campus police would handle a noise violation.

Despite his professional concerns about the development, DeAngelo is excited about the project.

“I think it’s something we’ve needed for a long time,” he said. “It’s something to do on a Friday night for us.”

“I know the College’s idea is to create a setting that can bring the College’s community together with the town to bring together a harmonious relationship,” Ewing Township City Council Vice President Les Summiel said. “It’s really the will of the people to say whether or not the idea is palatable to the community.”

the pace we set last year by about $600,000,” Marcy said. “This is directly attributed to two large gifts we received last year from alumni donors that we haven’t replaced yet.”

Overall, the College is down about $1 million from last year, according to Marcy.

“As was stated in the remarks at the board meeting, we have a couple of gifts pending that will help make up that deficit,” Marcy said. “And, rest assured, the development staff is working very hard to generate gift support in this environment.”

The board also swore in a new trustee, Joshua Zeitz, at the beginning of the meeting. Zeitz was a senior policy analyst for Jon Corzine’s office, according to

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Board of Trustees met on Feb. 23.

Michael Symons’s blog at app.com (Asbury Park Press).

President Gitenstein also introduced Gregory Pogue, the new vice president of human resources at the College.

“I’m very excited,” Pogue said. “I think this is a fantastic institution. I’m originally from New Jersey so I’m happy to be home.”

‘My Black ... Leaders’ encourages students to stand out

By Alexa Woronowicz Correspondent Despite a delayed start and some technical difficulties on Feb. 22, the interactive program “My Black … Leaders,” hosted by Zeta Phi Beta sorority and Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, brought students together to help them succeed in their future careers.

Four accomplished African-Americans provided their insight on how a college student can utilize the resources available on and around campus in order to have an advantage when beginning to apply for jobs.

After a short introduction that touched on their educational backgrounds and current occupations, the presenters opened he floor to the audience, allowing an intimate discussion.

Though each speaker highlighted something different, they all agreed that one of the best ways to get ahead is to interact with the leaders already on campus, by volunteering, joining a club or merely visiting Career Services.

“Self-worth is more than just the GPA,” said Corey Jackson, an engineer for L’Oreal cosmetics, stressing that grades are not the only important component of a resume.

Janelle Williams, 2006 alumna of the College, now returning to the College to complete the requirements to become a school principal while teaching in Piscataway, agreed with Jackson that a person needs to stand out during an interview. She stated that you “have to have a little bit more” than the other applicants, especially in current times, when there are many college graduates and few job openings.

Becoming involved was definitely a theme of the night, as Doyal Siddell, a public information officer for a state agency in Newark, highly emphasized the importance of finding an internship related to one’s area of expertise.

After a student expressed difficulties with acquiring the perfect position, Siddell again urged him to take whatever he could, regardless of location or salary.

Eunice Samuels Lewis, the Court Director for the

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Ricardo Fabien (left), junior electrical engineering major and chapter president of Alpha Phi Alpha and Danielle Sterling, senior finance major and chapter president of Zeta Phi Beta listen as four speakers discussed the importance of establishing yourself from others in the job market.

Trenton Municipal Court, imparted a different piece of advice, recommending that students should “be up on cutting edge issues in (their) field” by reading professional publications.

As students shared their individual stories and asked for suggestions on how to proceed in their career path, the presenters would often direct them to colleagues in that area, sometimes offering to speak with the student personally afterwards.

“More people should be coming out to programs like this,” Cynthia Rodriguez, senior criminology major, said, remarking how easily people made useful

connections throughout the course of the event.

She also found that “the speakers were very effective” in conveying their points to the audience. Having a wide range of careers supplied each presenter with a unique set of experiences that they could then pass on to their listeners.

“It’s important for undergraduate students to learn ways to hone leadership skills,” Williams said. People often do not know how to properly use their school resources, even those readily available to them. She explained how you, the student, can simply turn to the people here, since they will “help you to excel.”

Unknown man pursues two girls into Travers Hall

By Alyssa Mease Production Manager

A 5’6” black male, wearing a black jacket, scarf and plaid hat followed two female students into Travers Hall at 6:45 p.m. on Friday Feb. 19.

The suspect told the girls, “Don’t walk away! Come back!” and proceeded to follow them up to their floor.

They broke contact with the suspect when he engaged other females on the floor in conversation. He told the females that he didn’t want to go back to jail.

Campus Police searched the entire residence hall but were unable to locate the suspect. There is nothing further to

report at this time.

…

A College place mat was stolen between Tuesday Feb. 23 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 24 from Loser Hall.

The place mat is valued at $5. …

The Head Student Lab Technician discovered that an Epson Perfection V700 photo scanner, valued at $599, was stolen between 3 p.m. Friday Feb. 19 and 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 21 from the new Arts and Interactive Multimedia building.

A female noticed that $106 was missing from her purse at 6 p.m. on Friday Feb. 5.

She said the only opportunity someone would have had to take the money was while she was working on the first floor of the New Library at approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 3.

She said she left her purse unattended while she went to print some documents. …

A Sodexo catering manager discovered that 48 cloth napkins, 40 forks and 40 knives were missing at 9:45

a.m. on Thursday Feb. 18 from Eickoff Hall.

She said that when she left work at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 17, all of the tables had their settings in place and, upon her return, some were missing.

The missing place settings are valued at $464.

Protect yourself!

Protect your personal information.

Shred banking statements, personal information, etc. DO NOT throw away any personal information without shredding!

page 4 The Signal March 3, 2010

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 5

Nation & World

Karadzic: Islamic militants to blame for bloodshed THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Wartime Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic, defending himself against charges of Europeʼs worst genocide since the Holocaust, has told judges he was not the barbarian depicted

by U.N. prosecutors, but was protecting his people from a fundamentalist Muslim plot.

During a four-hour opening defense statement Monday at the U.N. war crimes tribunal, Karadzic barely referred to specific allegations of mass murder at Srebrenica, indiscriminate shelling of Sarajevo, the destruction of Bosnian Muslim and Croat villages or the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people during the 1992-95 war in Bosnia.

But he took personal responsibility for Serb actions, as Yugoslavia dissolved and the region descended into a war in which some 100,000 people were killed, saying he was standing up for ethnic Serbs against Muslim Bosnians.

“I donʼt want to defend myself by saying that I wasnʼt important or that I didnʼt occupy an important post while I was serving my people. Nor will I shift the blame to someone else,” he said. “I will defend that nation of ours and their cause, which is just and holy.”

He claimed Bosniaʼs Serbs were under threat and physical attack by Muslims, led by former Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic, who rejected power-sharing proposals and wanted an Islamic republic in Bosnia.

The Serbs “wanted to live with Muslims, but not under Muslims,” he said.

The image of the Muslims as victims was untrue, he said. The prosecution “is trying to make me out to be a barbarian attacking a good and friendly neighbor.”

The Muslims were the first to attack and their fighters “had blood up to their shoulders,” he said. “Their conduct gave rise

to our conduct.”

Karadzic, 64, spoke forcefully, seldom glancing at notes, peering at the judges over the rim of his glasses or whipping them off to underscore a point. Seated alone at the defendantʼs table, he looked more like the confident politician who delivered wartime speeches and negotiated with peace envoys than the gaunt figure who was extradited to the U.N. court in 2008 after 13 years as a fugitive.

Munira Subasic, head of Mothers of Srebrenica movement, watched Mondayʼs hearing from the back row of the public gallery, separated from Karadzic by a bulletproof glass partition.

“Again after 15 years he did not show any remorse for what he did. He stayed the same war criminal as he was before,” she said.

Karadzic is the most senior person to appear before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia since former Serb President Slobodan Milosevic, who died in his cell before a verdict was reached.

He faces two counts of genocide and nine other counts of murder, extermination, persecution, forced deportation and the seizing of 200 U.N. hostages. He faces possible life imprisonment if convicted.

Prosecutors say Karadzic orchestrated a campaign to destroy the Muslim and Croat communities in eastern Bosnia to create an ethnically pure Serbian state. The campaign included the 44-month siege of the capital of Sarajevo and the torture and murder of hundreds of prisoners in inhuman detention camps. That violence culminated in the massacre of some 8,000 Muslim males in one horrific week in July 1995 in the Srebrenica enclave, the worst bloodbath in Europe since World War II. Karadzic boycotted the prosecutionʼs

AP Photo

In this image from a TV camera, former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic gives his opening statement on Monday at the U.N. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). opening statement last October, forcing a four-month suspension of his trial. He is seeking another four-month recess to continue preparing his case.

Karadzic portrayed himself as a conciliator who had been prepared to compromise on Serb ambitions to preserve the Yugoslav federation or to unite predominantly Bosnian Serb territory with Serbia.

The Serbs “were claiming their own territories, as you will see, and that is not a crime,” he said. “It was never an intention, never any idea let alone a plan, to expel Muslims and Croats.”

In a rare reference to a specific wartime incident, Karadzic denied Serb responsibility

for the 1994 shelling of the Markale market in Sarajevo, which he called “an illusion and a trick.” He showed video of an empty market that he claimed was shot before the shell landed, implying that the bodies were brought later.

Karadzic also blamed the news media, saying they misrepresenting refugee camps as concentration camps where non-Serbs were tortured and killed.

The trial was broadcast in the Bosnian Serb republic, where Karadzic is still regarded as a national hero, but not on the main channels in Sarajevo, the capital, which was celebrating Bosniaʼs independence day from Yugoslavia.

Obama seeks money to stem dropouts News Bits WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama on Monday addressed the nationʼs school dropout epidemic, proposing $900 million to states and school districts that agree to drastically change or even shutter their worst performing schools.

Obamaʼs move comes as many schools continue to struggle to get children to graduation, a profound problem in a rich, powerful nation. Only about 70 percent of entering high school freshmen go on to graduate. The problem affects blacks and Latinos at particularly high rates.

Obama said the crisis hurts individual kids and the nation as a whole, shattering dreams and undermining an already poor economy.

“Thereʼs got to be a sense of accountability,” Obama said in announcing his latest get-tough school proposal at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce during an education event sponsored by the Americaʼs Promise Alliance, the youth organization founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell and his wife, Alma.

The presidentʼs plan would seek to help 5,000 of the nationʼs lowest-performing schools over the next five years.

“In this kind of knowledge economy, giving up on your education and dropping out of school means not only giving up on your future, but itʼs also giving up on your familyʼs future,” Obama said. “Itʼs giving up on your country.”

Obama has been using federal money as leverage to push schools to raise standards and get more children ready for college or work. It is a task that former President George W. Bush and Congress, along with many leaders before them, have long taken on, but the challenge is steep.

Obamaʼs 2011 budget proposal includes $900 million for School Turnaround Grants. That money is in addition to $3.5 billion to help low-performing schools that was included in last yearʼs economic stimulus bill.

To get a share of the new money, states and school districts must adopt one of four approaches to fix their struggling schools— 1) Turnaround Model: The school district must replace the principal and at least half of the school staff, adopt a new governance structure for the school, and implement a new or revised instructional program. In his remarks, Obama said a

Chileʼs south-central coast suffered the double tragedy on Saturday Feb. 27 of an 8.8 magnitude earthquake and the tsunami it caused. The World Health Organization said on Monday that it expected the 723victim death toll to rise as communications improve.

President Dmitry Medvedev demanded that Russian sports officials step down over the countryʼs dismal performance at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver on Monday March 1.

AP Photo

President Barack Obama speaks at an education event sponsored by Americaʼs Promise Alliance where he discussed efforts to improve the nationʼs schools on Monday March 1.

Rhode Island school that recently fired all its teachers is an example of how there needs to be accountability.

2) Restart Model: The school district must close and reopen the school under the management of a charter school operator, a charter management organization or an educational management organization. A restarted school would be required to enroll, within the grades it serves, former students who wish to attend.

3) School Closure: The school district must close the failing school and enroll the students in other, higherachieving schools in the district.

4) Transformational Model: The school must address four areas, including teacher effectiveness, instruction, learning and teacher planning time, and operational flexibility.

The administration also is putting $50 million into dropout prevention strategies, including personalized and individual instruction and support to keep students engaged in learning, and using data to identify students at risk of failure and help them with the transition to high school and college.

About 5,200 nude individuals embraced each other on the steps of Sydneyʼs Opera House on Monday for a photo shoot by artist Spencer Tunick, who is known for his nude group photos in public spaces.

Rescue workers in dinghies cruised flooded streets on Franceʼs Atlantic coast on Monday, searching for people still trapped in their homes by storms that smashed through concrete sea walls and killed at least 62 people across Western Europe.

The Palestinian Cabinet moved its weekly meeting to Hebron on Monday, a protest of Israelʼs addition of a contested shrine in this West Bank city to its list of national heritage sites.

Information from AP exchange

page 6 The Signal March 3,2010

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 7

Editorial

The five people you meet in Eickhoff

This is not an editorial bashing the quality of cuisine presented at Eickhoff Hall’s cafeteria. This is a short piece identifying the people who many encounter each day in the cafeteria, and who make day-today College life a little more frustrating.

The fruit salad girls.

For many of us, getting fruit from the fruit salad bowls near the bagel area is a relatively quick and painless process. The general procedure is take a bowl, scoop fruit salad into it, accept the combination of cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple and orange you have received and WALK AWAY. Fruit is usually my first stop in Eickhoff, and I am often immediately halted by a female (it’s only been females) meticulously picking through the fruit salad with her scoop, finding only oranges, or only grapes, or only … something. Unless these girls have a severe food allergy, here’s a heads up – it is all in the same juice and all tastes the same. Scoop and move on.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Eickhoff Hall is the home of many indigenous species, including fruit salad girls and the friends we make on the grilled chicken line.

The Weekly Poll: What do think of the new Campus Town plans?

The bleu cheese dressing shakers.

Admittedly, I am a bleu cheese dressing shaker. I love bleu cheese dressing, and am determined to eat my salad with bleu cheese dressing on it. But the poorly designed bleu cheese container constantly clogs, leaving us to shake … and shake … and shake the container, trying to get a few tasty morsels onto our salads. We look like helpless morons as we do it, and unlike myself, many shakers have not thought to grab a knife or fork, wedge out the bleu cheese chunks and clear the blockage. This is not our fault, though. Sodexho, make the bleu cheese hole larger, for God’s sake!

• Finally it won’t be so dead around here. Shopping and eating, here I come!

• But won’t it disrupt the lovely town of Ewing?

• I doubt it’s actually going to happen.

• And what, pray tell, is a ‘Campus Town’?

The friends we make on the grilled chicken line.

Let’s face it, grilled chicken is a popular item for students in Eickhoff and during dinner, the one Sodexo worker manning the grilled chicken station cannot always keep up with the rush. I have been stuck on that line, waiting for as much as 15 minutes for an often burned and immediately dry piece of poultry, and have met a few interesting people. Generally, we talk about how the chicken is taking too long, and how they should do something about it. Can they really do anything about it? No, but it is usually nice to share my frustrations with others. After we finally receive the reward for our patience, we move on until we meet again on the grilled chicken line.

Dear Friends,

The picky pasta people.

Similarly to the fruit salad girls, the picky pasta people make my life miserable. These are the people who create a line at the pasta station next to the pizza, as they carefully scoop a little of each pasta, a little of each sauce and just the proper sprinkling of parmesan cheese onto their pasta. After timing myself, I have determined that it takes no longer than 10 seconds to accomplish any pasta-related goals at this station. Again, to these people – hurry up and all of that pasta is the same, tastes the same and sucks the same, it is just shaped differently so move along.

Those who partake in the Eickhoff stare-down Whether you have noticed or not, you have likely been part of an Eickhoff stare-down. This occurs when you already have your tray full of food and someone else, who is trying to decide what to eat, glances at your tray. Only, it’s never just a glance. They look at your food, then look at you, seem to question your character and existence on this earth, then look at your food again and walk away. You feel judged, and a little violated that they looked at your tray. I’m a big fan of the Eickhoff stare-down.

— Bobby Olivier Editor-in-Chief

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Quotes of the Week “If I had to compare my game to an actual game, it would be Boggle Jr.”

— Garrett Hoffman, junior business major, in his comedy routine at “TCNJ’s Got Talent!”

“Hopefully this is the first of many Fat Shacks at tons of colleges all over. I’m hoping it becomes such a part of (the College) that on the weekend you hear people say, ‘Oh, I went out last night and got Fat Shack.’

And people will come to the College and already know about the Fat Shack.”

— College alumnus Tom Armenti on his new enterprise, The Fat Shack “They’re trying to tell us we’re not okay the way we are, and you people are believing it!”

— The Scary Guy

page 8 The Signal March 3, 2010

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 9

Opinions The Signal says ...

Stop: nervous habits, playing video games constantly, leaving work until the last minute, going home every weekend.

Caution: St. Patrick’s Day parades, spring break, dishes, laundry, projects, long car rides home.

Go: to Florida for spring break, shopping, horse back riding, visit friends at other colleges, workout, eat soup, learn another l a n g u a ge , laugh, watch a movie, take a hot shower, get a hair cut, relax and take a break.

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.

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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.

Health care reform meeting strikes debate

The battle for reform of the American health care system roared on this past week in a new wave of political interaction. Currently the system in place does not provide for a large Rob Mangel majority of the American population. Citizens continue to be denied health insurance based on pre-existing conditions and many cannot pay the premiums required by the present system.

This has been President Obama’s big promise since his election in November 2008, but the process has come to a screeching halt due to wicked partisanship and political infighting.

President Obama called a summit to take place on this past Thursday, Feb. 25, with several of the most important political figures from both sides of the aisle, in an effort to make headway on the topic of health care reform. Entering this meeting, Obama promised positive steps toward a reformation of American health care. In a rather unorthodox move, this summit aired on a number of news channels for its entirety. Being able to watch our leaders at work provided a unique opportunity for the American public.

There were times during the summit where I was very impressed with the conversation between the two sides. Both Democrats and Republicans seemed to recognize the importance of the issue, however, many individuals on both sides failed to recognize the dire consequences of inaction. To put it bluntly, those present at the summit were talkers talking, rather than doers doing. But while the Democrats spoke positively about healthcare reform, the Republicans again seemed to want to stop it in its tracks. Many of the Republican constituents brought an oppositional attitude to the summit, presenting yet another roadblock for this important piece of legislature. Republicans used this summit to present information from

AP Photo

President Obama stopped to comment on the health care reform meeting taking place between Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Thursday Feb. 25. their districts in opposition to health care reform, however many of these constituents have a very narrow-minded view of this issue. While many of those they represent do not need or want a reformation of the health care system, those are in no way the majority of Americans.

What many of the more elite Americans fail to recognize is that the majority of urban, working class Americans do not have the same kind of resources that these elite families and individuals have.

Until this realization is made, the health care debate will continue to chase its tail.

Democrats will propose bills and Republicans will vote against them. In the face of this notion of necessary health care, the Republicans proposed an idea of incremental help to those

Letter

‘Scary Guy’ causes a commotion on campus

By Caitlin Forde

On Tuesday Feb. 23, The Scary Guy spoke at Kendall Hall. To say that I was offended is to speak mildly. For a man opposed to hate, I feel that he spoke without regard for anyone’s feelings. His “message,” if one chooses to use that word, revolved around himself. At no point did he ever really address the hate present in our society. He shared stories about himself, yes, but they in no way seemed to relate to his chosen topic. Instead, he focused on attacking the audience for allowing hate

Signal Spotlight

who need health care coverage.

“An incremental approach is like a swimmer who’s 50 feet offshore drowning and you throw him a 10-foot rope. And you say, well, it didn’t reach him but we’ll get it back and we’ll throw him a 20-foot rope next time.

Then we’ll throw him a 30-foot and a 40 — by that time, the swimmer has drowned,” Tom Harkin, a Democratic Senator from Iowa said. Harkin is one of the leading Democrats on health care reform.

It is my most sincere hope that Republicans and Democrats are able to put aside their squabbling and realize this is not a political issue, it is a humanitarian issue.

Sources: cnn.com

to perpetuate and exist in our society. Yes, we are accountable for the hate that exists — it comes from our actions, our words. But The Scary Guy seemed interested only in speaking of his own experiences, rather than expanding on just how we should combat the hate. When a young woman stood up and told him that she was gaining nothing positive from his program, he turned his back and chose not to listen, reminiscent of a child’s reaction to being scolded. I applaud this young woman for standing up and saying what she believed in. She is not alone in her opinion. Only at the very end did The Scary Guy explain any way that the hate could be countered and eventually eliminated from society. All in all, I am very disappointed with this speaker.

What would be your ideal spring break?

“Friends, family, and “Doing nothing and sun.” sleeing in.”

“Going somewhere tropical.”

“A cruise.”

—Shannon Cury, freshman psychology major

—Elaina Horowitz, freshman journalism major

—Jesse Jacondin, sophomore sociology major

—David McNally, junior biomedical engineering major

page 10 The Signal March 3, 2010

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March 3, 2010 The Signal page 11

Features

College alumnus stakes claim in the new Fat Shack

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Tom Armenti, owner of the Fat Shack, works with alumnus Brian Mont to prepare a Fat sandwich for a hungry customer.

By Jamie Primeau Correspondent After graduating last spring, alumnus Tom Armenti realized that, unlike other schools, there was nowhere for College students to find food past 1:30 a.m.

Armenti acknowledged that an ideal business opportunity existed near campus and decided to bring the College its own grease-filled, late-night luxury — the Fat Shack.

“A bunch of huge companies come to big schools like Penn State University, Rutgers with Grease Trucks,” he said.

“No one pays attention to small schools like (the College), Ramapo College, Rider University. But everyone here still likes to go out at night and party too.”

Nestled inside RJʼs Bagel Shop on Parkway Avenue, the Fat Shack delivers sandwiches from 6 p.m. until 4 a.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays to students at the College and its neighbor Rider University.

To weaker stomachs the Fat Shackʼs french fry filled phenomena are too

much, but the Collegeʼs hungry students have been devouring the delectable deliveries.

“I think theyʼre an awesome late night snack,” Ben Swan, junior management major, said.

The Fat Shack began its endeavor by creating a page on Facebook, and within a few days the online group acquired more than 1,000 members.

Although it has only been open since Feb. 2, Armenti said, “Business started off really crazy. I was trying to open slowly so I could train people who hadnʼt worked for me before, but I guess I underestimated Facebook. We had about 100 orders the first night. It was wild.”

Armenti decided to open the Fat Shack at the College after successfully opening a similar store in Ramsey, N.J., two summers ago.

With the help of a few friends, he had opened CARS, another eatery, near Ramapo College, and said, “We were pretty much just trying to think of ways to not have to get jobs when we graduated, so we decided to open our own business.

When deciding to open another store at the College, I mostly just thought of all the things Iʼve eaten in the past four years.”

Fat Sandwiches have become a nighttime necessity to many students at the College.

“Iʼve had the chicken fingers and I know my friends have had sandwiches,” Jason Goldman, freshman open options culture and society major, said. “I think itʼs a great idea. The food is good and itʼs affordable and they deliver to you until whenever. I just wish it was open all seven days.”

But, what exactly is a Fat Sandwich?

When asked how he would define one, Armenti laughed, and at first said he did not know how to answer that question.

“Itʼs just everything. All the foods everyone likes on one large piece of bread,” Armenti said. “Oh, and the sauce really makes the sandwich. We have lots of great sauces. We put a lot on because it holds together the sandwich.”

Sandwiches on the menu include the Fat Roscoe, a cheesesteak with chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, french fries

and honey mustard. Another breakestthemed sandwich is the Fat Hangover, a sandwich with scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, french fries, onion rings and ketchup.

The sauces that make the sandwiches include a golden barbeque sauce and honey mustard, the two most important, according to the Shackʼs owner.

Sophomore urban education and women and gender studies double major Kelsey Martin echoed Armentiʼs statement.

“When I had Fat Shack, I thought it was really good because it combined the most delicious things into one sandwich,” she said.

After attaining recent popularity, Armenti hopes that his new business will eventually become an integral part of the Collegeʼs culture.

“Hopefully this is the first of many Fat Shacks at tons of colleges all over.

Iʼm hoping it becomes such a part of (the College) that on the weekend you hear people on campus say, ʻOh, I went out last night and got Fat Shack.ʼ And people will come to the College and already know about the Fat Shack.”

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

An employee prepares the Fat Hangover, one of the many sandwiches available at the Fat Shack.

BSU celebrates Black History Month with closing celebration

By Alexa Rozzi Correspondent

Music blasted from 202 East in the Brower Student Center on Saturday Feb. 27, as the Black Student Union (BSU) commemorated the hard work put into the celebration of Black History Month.

Members and supporters of BSU dressed to impress as students danced, read poetry, listened to guest speakers and enjoyed a meal.

The annual event not only brought together BSUʼs current members, but also captured the attendance of former affiliates, illustrating the organizations close-knit and family-like nature. With members sharing the mission to promote an understanding of African-American culture, involvement in BSU empowers and unites students of all ethnic backgrounds.

“This is not just a celebration, itʼs a part of us,” Valisha Edwards, junior chemistry major and coordinator of Black History Month at the College, said.

Edwards oversaw the weekly events that took place throughout February, battling snow days and working hard to ensure that the Black Student Unionʼs voice was heard this month.

“People got an understanding and a sense of what (our culture) means to us,” Edwards said.

This yearʼs message included fulfilling your destiny — leaving behind a legacy and paving a path for the next generation. Members spent months preparing for Black History Month festivities, along with a dayʼs worth of setting up and decorating for the Closing Ceremonies Formal.

Otasha Clark, sophomore political science major and president of BSU, reflects on the many small successes brought on by the celebration of Black History Month. From entertaining and informative performances, to networking workshops with alumnus, to the contributions of the many new freshmen members of BSU, the month was a success.

“Itʼs little things like that,” Clark said.

Excitement resonated through the room, as the crowd prepared for poetic expression, singing and speeches including a state of the black community speech as well as the BSU presidentʼs own words.

“Itʼs about the studentʼs showcasing their talents,” Clark said.

She explained how this event does not only recap and commemorate the past month, but also prepares BSU to take their next steps into the future.

Students like Shavonne Flavaney, junior chemistry major, and Dania-Lee Virgo, sophomore early childhood education and sociology major, are active members in BSU. Both attended many of the events throughout the month. Virgo particularly enjoyed Black History Jeopardy, expressing a responsibility to remain informed about the past. The trivia inspired her to learn more about the history of her culture.

Virgo mentioned the involvement of students outside the black community in the events as something she feels is important in “promoting the growth of the black community, and progress as a whole.”

Flavaney appreciated the way the events represented multiple parts of African culture, capturing the diversity of the community along with its multifaceted origins.

“I think they did a good job opening up to everyone, not just the BSU community, but everyone else, but other (College) students,” she said.

Former president of BSU, Paul Harris, senior political science major, attended the Closing Ceremonies Formal. Harris was impressed with BSUʼs success in the year so far. Harris points out that the BSU is an organization that “offers a safe haven for people of color who may not have an opportunity elsewhere to express themselves.”

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 13

A step-by-step guide to understanding organic food

By Andrea Thyrring Staff Writer On a college studentʼs budget, you might be wondering if buying organic food is worth the money. Sure, science tells us that the less pesticides and antibiotics used, the less harmful chemicals we will ingest. However, blindly buying organic food is not necessary to reap the benefits of a balanced diet. Shopping wisely and choosing foods that are worth the organic splurge will keep your spending in check and diet nutritionally sound.

We have all heard that it is better for our health. But why buy organic in the first place? Studies show that average nutrition levels are up to 25 percent higher in organic produce. According to Prevention.com, research found that rats fed an all-organic diet had lower weight, less body fat and stronger immune systems.

Not only that, but the organic rats slept more soundly and were calmer.

Aside from the direct health benefits, eating organic produce also protects you from consuming harmful chemicals. Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables exposes you to about 10 pesticides a day, according to the Environmental Working Group. In a study supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, pesticide levels in childrenʼs urine were measured before and after they were switched to an all-organic diet.

In just five days, their chemical levels

decreased to undetectable levels. Eating organic will keep these harmful chemicals out of your body.

So how do you know which foods are worth the price of going organic?

Remember these two guidelines: First splurge on those with the highest chemical residues (listed in the table) and second, on the foods you eat most often.

The 12 foods in the left column have the highest pesticide residue, even after a thorough washing. Eating them in their organic form will lower your dietary pesticide load. If you eat a particular fruit or vegetable more than three times per week, changing to its organic cousin will also prevent you from overloading your body with chemicals.

If you frequently purchase meat and poultry to cook on your own, consider choosing organic options. According to a study in the journal, Meat Science, organic chicken contained 28 percent more Omega-3 fatty acids, linked to reduced rates of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and even Alzheimerʼs disease. Animals raised organically are not allowed to be fed growth hormones, antibiotics or feed made from animal bi-products, which can transmit mad cow disease, like conventionally raised animals.

Similarly, organic milk is also worth the extra money. According to Prevention.com, it contains 75 percent more beta-carotene — as much as a serving of brussels sprouts. It has 50 percent more vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that aids the immune system and fights cancer and heart disease. It has about 70 percent

Worst (Highest Pesticide Residue)

Best (Least Pesticide Residue)

Peaches Apples Bell Peppers Celery Nectarines Strawberries Cherries Kale Lettuce Imported Grapes

Onion Avocado Sweet Corn Pineapple Mango Asparagus Sweet Peas Kiwi Cabbage Eggplant

more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional milk. Organic milk also contains more conjugated linoleic acid. This good fat has been linked to numerous health benefits, including stronger immunity, less belly fat, a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and healthier arteries.

But be wary when you are shopping.

Donʼt be fooled by fancy packaging. A lot of stores now carry their own name brand version of organic meats and produce. This budget friendly option provides you with the same nutritional benefits, but without the name brand costs.

You are bound to find an organic version of just about anything when you are shopping. But because it contains fewer chemicals does not mean the food is necessarily better for you. Remember, cake

Prepare yourself when selecting roommates

By Lauren Gurry Copy Editor As freshmen, most of us were able to choose who our roommates were.

Sometimes, this system turns out well and sometimes itʼs disastrous. We think it is good news that we get to choose our roommates after freshman year, but sometimes itʼs not so good at all.

You might have numerous people fighting to have you pull them into New Residence Hall next year, or you can live with your best friend and realize you are incompatible roommates.

When choosing your roommate for next year, it is helpful to take a step back and consider what kind of person you can relate to, and the following factors should be considered.

Living habits – It might not bother you now that your friend down the hall goes for a 6 a.m. run daily, but it probably will bother you when he or she becomes your roommate, and you pulled an all-nighter the night before.

“Talk to your roommate about your living styles,” said Kyle Williams, the residence director of Allen, Brewster,

Eickhoff, Ely and Norsworthy halls. “Donʼt be afraid to ask questions like how do you study or what time do you go to bed.”

Personality – Many times, personality overlaps with living habits, but as far as personality goes, youʼll be considering factors like party habits, behavior under stress, music preferences and tolerance of company.

If your future roommate is very social, ask yourself how often you have people in your room right now. Maybe you prefer visiting a social place to living in one, which will make it difficult to live with a very social friend.

“Are they more of a private person, versus someone who is more social?” Williams asked.

“Especially as many Upper Class Experience (UCE) rooms exist in a townhouse or apartment as well as some Second Year Experience (SYE) rooms being in suite style rooms or independent rooms versus community bathroom style.”

Consider other valuable factors like trust, respect, comfort and being considerate.

Say you donʼt think your roommate respects you as a person and your wallet is missing. Youʼll probably assume your roommate had something to do with it, leading to the

Information courtesy of the Environmental Working Group (EWG)

The above chart represents the top 10 most contaminated fruits that expose you to pesticides and the top 10 least contaminated fruits.

bigger issue of trust.

Itʼs also important that you and your roommate be considerate of each otherʼs space, belongings and living habits, and also that you feel comfortable spending a lot of time with them.

Rooming with your best friend isnʼt always the best idea. As the housing lottery approaches, you may decide you want to live with the new best friend youʼve made at the College. Unless you have a deep understanding about personality and living habits, this probably isnʼt a good idea.

Living with your friend can also tear your friendship apart, sophomore English major Emily Dusedau said. She said she has observed many friends having falling-outs this year because they lived together with clashing habits.

“Never room with your best friend, especially if you have different lifestyles or expectations regarding guests, study versus sleep time, cleaning habits, etc.,” Tina Tormey, the area director of the Sophomore Year Experience (SYE), said. “Itʼs an awkward and frustrating experience when you canʼt vent to the person you are closest to because (he or she is) the same person that you need to complain about.”

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

is still cake, organic or not. Sticking to whole, organic foods is the best way to improve your health and to cut out nutritionally void extras. If you still want the junk foods, compare labels and decide which is the best deal. You donʼt need to spend organic prices on cotton candy.

Organic foods clearly provide a beneficial boost to your diet and overall health. But with the high costs associated with organic foods, it is important to shop wisely, especially on a college budget.

Evaluate your diet and current spending habits. You might find that you can even save money each month with smarter, and organic, shopping practices.

For story ideas thyrrin2@tcnj.edu.

email

Andrea

at

Campus Style and a couple of the standard mall shops like J.Crew and the Gap.

Kristen Kubilus / Staff Writer

By Kristen Kubilus Staff Writer Shaun Quigley Senior English major What are you wearing?

Sunglasses by American Optical, jacket by Zara, bandana by The Hill-Side, shirt by the Gap, jeans

by Atelier de Production et de Création, and the boots are by Red Wing.

Where do you like to shop?

I like to shop at lots of different places. I shop at a lot of small boutique shops online or in New York or Philadelphia, but I also like thrift stores, army/navy surplus stores

Whatʼs the first thing you look for when selecting an item of clothing?

The first thing that I look for when choosing an item is craftsmanship and build quality. I would rather invest in an item that will stand the test of time, physically and aesthetically, than buy a cheaper piece that is trendy and will fall apart after its first wash. Fit is also extremely important, which can be hard on a college budget. Itʼs pretty difficult to find an item that fits perfectly and doesnʼt cost a fortune, so it often takes a lot of trial and error to pick out the right piece. Form and function are equally important. Iʼm very attracted to a piece if I know that it will look better in 10 years than it did the day I bought it.

How has your style changed over the years?

In years past, I often bought items that were just fads. I was really bad at putting outfits together. I shopped at the mall too much and wore pieces together that did not mesh at all and probably fit really poorly. Luckily, one day I realized that baggy jeans and shirts that are three sizes too large arenʼt flattering.

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

Want to be featured in Campus Style? E-mail Kristen at kubilus2@tcnj.edu.

page 12 The Signal March 3, 2010

page 14 The Signal March 3, 2010

Arts & Entertainment

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 15

Pulitzer winner warns of ‘unfettered capitalism’

By Emily Brill Arts & Entertainment Assistant

An expectant silence fell over the Library Auditorium. A College representative had just introduced the night’s speaker, rattling off a list of his journalistic and authorial achievements, publications to which he contributed and places to which he had traveled. The audience sat at attention, waiting to see the face behind the cadre of experience — or, perhaps more importantly, waiting to hear the voice.

Chris Hedges, acclaimed journalist, author and war correspondent met a packed library auditorium on March 1 to deliver a lecture based on his latest in a series of political bestsellers, “Empire of Illusion.” Hedges worked for The New York Times as a war correspondent, spending years in El Salvador, South America and the Middle East, before he resigned in 2003 after refusing to heed the paper’s admonition to stop disclosing his political opinions to the public. He has since authored several books primarily concerned with extrapolating upon and sharing those opinions.

Hedges certainly didn’t intend to keep his political musings cloaked at the College. His lecture, “Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle,” was publicized as a reflection on the “dramatic and disturbing rise of a post-literate society that craves fantasy, ecstasy and illusion.”

However, though the lecture was grounded in an exploration of this perceived cultural shift, the author also divulged his thoughts on corporate capitalism, consumerism

and governmental deceit, issues he deemed relevant to the United States’s changing society.

He began by discussing Michael Jackson.

“In celebrity culture, we destroy what we worship,” Hedges said.

He described Jackson as a victim of the “moral nihilism and personal disintegration” that our society has ascribed to celebrity culture. “He was a reflection of us in the extreme,” he said.

Hedges talked about how the “lurid drama of Jackson’s personal life” played out on television screens throughout Jackson’s own life and the lives of millions of people. He suggested that celebrity culture devalues human life and “licenses a dark voyeurism into other people’s pain.” He described how Jackson, as a celebrity under constant scrutiny, was objectified.

“Human beings are used and discarded in a commodity culture,” Hedges said. “It is the celebration of image over substance.”

His lecture then took a sharp turn toward the political. Hedges held that a society based on illusion is apt to believe anything thrown its way, and that that naïveté would preclude political and economic progress, especially during times of economic crisis. He believes the root of the problem is what he refers to as “unfettered capitalism.”

“The tantalizing illusions offered by our consumer culture are collapsing as we head towards collapse,” he said. “The jobs we are shedding are not coming back.

Freedom can no longer be equated with a free market … It is the rapaciousness and the savagery of

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Journalist and author Chris Hedges argued that the ‘celebration of image over substance’ in American society is contributing to a national downfall. unfettered capitalism that is being seen now.”

Hedges’s lecture berated the current state of democracy, the American population’s willingness to buy into what he referred to as “political brands” and corporations.

“We must opt out of the mainstream. We must stand firmly and unequivocally on the side of working men and women. We must become as militant as those seeking our engagement. If we remain passive, we will become serfs,” Hedges said. “If we fight back, we have a chance.”

He concluded his lecture by tying his political opinions back to his thoughts on celebrity culture.

“The fantasy of celebrity culture

is not designed simply to entertain us,” he said. “It is designed to keep us from fighting back.”

Students in attendance had mixed reactions to Hedges’s oftenincendiary speech.

Some loved it. “I thought it was incredible,” Andressa Leite, sophomore international studies major, said. “I wish everyone got a chance to listen to this guy, besides just the people that agree with him.”

Others admired the lecturer’s storied journalistic past. “I think he captures the political climate in a very nuanced way, with an eloquence that speaks to his unparalleled experiences as a war correspondent,” Mike Tracy, senior political science major, said.

Some were more critical. “It brought to light a lot of things people should be considering. I think the only thing it was lacking was an action plan,” senior accounting major Matt Ravaioli said. “He talked a lot about problems, but he didn’t offer up any solutions.”

“In order to promote his populist agenda, Chris Hedges delivered a sermon that relied heavily on grandiose doomsday rhetoric,” Kyle Greco, freshman open options major, said in an e-mail. “It poorly hid the gaping logical holes in his shocking argument.”

Whatever attendees took from the lecture, one thing is for certain. Chris Hedges had a lot to say, and he is no longer keeping quiet.

Veteran clarinetist joins alumni for packed concert

By Matt Huston Arts & Entertainment Editor

A Feb. 28 classical performance practically filled the Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall to capacity with members of the College’s extended community.

A performance by the Eastern Wind Symphony, conducted by College music professor George Balog and sponsored by the TCNJ Music Alumni Chapter, attracted classical enthusiasts young and old. A number of them were excited by the scheduled appearance of a notable guest — clarinetist Stanley Drucker, a veteran former member of the New York Philharmonic.

The Symphony swept into its program, titled “Winter Winds,” with nearly breathtaking power. “In Storm and Sunshine,” by New Jersey-born composer John Clifford Heed, set the sounds of woodwinds and brass whipping about like an icy gust. In the enlivening joy ride, the players hung tightly to quick-march percussion.

The first part of the program continued with the French “Zampa Overture” and “Eternal Father, Strong to Save,” a hymn often associated with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

The overture featured a smart, simply melodic clarinet solo by College alumna Anne Marie Stolting and saw the musicians collectively float through airy pastures and rise into a rousing, shining climb of notes. “Eternal Father” seized attention with a perilous intro that snapped back and forth between high blare and low buzz with pendulum precision.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

College professor George Balog led the Eastern Wind Symphony through a series powerful marches and a layered clarinet showpiece.

After a brief intermission, throughout which the members of the ensemble roamed the audience in conversation, a spokesperson for the Symphony presented junior music performance major and TCNJ Wind Ensemble vice president Rachel Smith with its Eric L. Maybury Scholarship, named in honor of a late member.

Afterward, the Symphony prepared for the concert centerpiece, Carl Maria von Weber’s “Concertina for Clarinet.” An announcer introduced guest soloist Drucker, who performed with the Philharmonic for 60 years and holds the Guinness world record for “Longest Career as a Clarinetist,” according to

the program.

“He’s one of the most renowned clarinetists of the last 100 years, so that was what really sold me to come today,” senior music education major Ben Krupit said.

Drucker certainly met expectations with his diverse and emphatic solo performance on “Concertina.” In the bulk of the piece, Drucker negotiated through a series of ensemble outbursts, softly chipping upward and smoothing into colorful, extended trills.

The interaction between Drucker and the ensemble gained a call-and-response dynamic as the soloist met bold group proclamations with rapid, up-and-down runs.

Dipping forward and backward, cheeks red from playing, the clarinetist took on an air of playful competitiveness. “Concertina” came to its conclusion with a final, high-pitched and defiant clainet cry.

The large audience met Drucker’s performance with a standing ovation.

Assistant Conductor and College alumnus Todd Nichols took the mantle on “Symponic Dance No. 3 ‘Fiesta,’” which combined a giant, woodblock-adorned Latin rhythm with bustling, airy wind and brass melodies.

The concert concluded with an interactive performance of an “Armed Forces Medley,” during which military veterans in the audience were asked to stand while the group performed the march of their particular branch. As the Symphony progressed seamlessly through the snare and bass drum-driven marches, a dozen or so men stood to the applause of the crowd.

“Winter Winds” was the first of three Mayo Concert Hall performances scheduled for 2010. Additional concerts will take place on May 1 and June 17.

The Symphony is based at the College and includes members from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Delaware.

“These are players that I’ve played with in the past, these are all (College) alumni, so it’s good to see everyone come back to perform,” Krupit said.

“It was excellent,” he said. “The blend, the balance, the control was really solid … and Drucker was just unbelievable.”

Matt Huston can huston4@tcnj.edu.

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page 16 The Signal March 3, 2010

‘Mr. Marmalade’ stirs with dark childhood specters

By Katie Brenzel News Editor

Lucy’s life is a playground for infidelity, suicide and drug abuse. Lucy is four years old.

All College Theatre’s (ACT) production of “Mr. Marmalade” transformed the Don Evans Black Box Theatre into a warped world of imagination on Feb. 27, detailing the shockingly mature relationships — both imaginary and real — of young Lucy.

Abandoned to boredom by a neglectful mother, Lucy creates a series of comically disturbing scenarios involving a set of peculiar characters that reflect the actual dysfunction surrounding her.

The play serves as a caricature of reality, manifested in a surprising context — the imagination of a little girl.

When asked what challenges he faced in introducing “Mr. Marmalade” to the College, director Daniel Student said the dimensions of the characters proved difficult.

“Dealing with the levels of violence and hatred that come through the characters for such sweet actors was a challenge,” Student said. The play is Student’s second show at the College, following “Star Wars! the Musical,” though “Mr. Marmalade” is his first endeavor with ACT.

Melissa Mastro / Staff Photographer

As unsettlingly imaginative youngster Lucy, Liz So plays ‘doctor’ with the despondent Larry, portrayed by Justin Mancini.

“I thought (“Mr. Marmalade”) would be a nice step forward, a type of play that is harder to swallow … but does it with great humor and charm,” he said.

Liz So, sophomore self-designed international study major, played the precocious Lucy. Though initially her dialogue became slightly tangled in her ‘baby voice,’ her childish mannerisms easily convinced of her age. So’s irresistible charm as Lucy masterfully

contrasted with her snarky comments and her often mature grasp of the world.

John Cherney, sophomore cognitive science major, was Mr. Marmalade, the product of Lucy’s hyperactive imagination. Cherney’s serious and often-frightening demeanor met the challenge of authenticating an abusive, cocaine-addicted imaginary friend. His uninterrupted poise received laughter and gasps from the audience — from

extreme instances such as spilling a suitcase concealing pornography to striking Lucy.

Matt Daley, junior English major, played Mr. Marmalade’s personal assistant, Bradley. Daley conveyed his nervous loyalty to Mr. Marmalade with composed sincerity, broken only to reveal the decline of Mr. Marmalade.

Justin Mancini, sophomore English major, as Larry, Lucy’s first real friend, expertly portrayed the awkward, suicidal preschooler. With eyes consistently downcast and a soft tone of voice, Mancini captured Larry’s embarrassed existence and impressively prevailed through standing in just his underwear as he was “examined” by Lucy, without breaking character.

ACT’s careful attention to detail in this play was apparent — in everything from Larry’s Velcro shoes to abandoned Barbies strewn across the set. The use of trap doors enabled the rapid appearances and disappearances of Lucy’s imaginary friends, while red lighting revealed Mr. Marmalade’s rage.

Despite the fantastical nature of the play, its characters became real, clearly conveying the sardonic soul of “Mr. Marmalade.”

Katie Brenzel can brenzel2@tcnj.edu.

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SGA talent show fuses flavors of College creativity

By Krystal Spencer Staff Writer

In a rare, large-scale collaboration, “TCNJ’s Got Talent” on Feb. 27 showcased 15 acts of some of the College’s best musicians, comedians, dancers and much more.

Co-hosts Christina Kopka, freshman business open options and Spanish double major, and Olaniyi Solebo, sophomore political science major, started off the Student Government Association (SGA)-organized show with a parody of Kanye West’s infamous MTV Music Awards gaffe.

Kopka sang most of the way through Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” before being interrupted

by Solebo, mimicking West. He then proceeded to introduce the first act.

Solebo appeared in a different outfit every time he was onstage, paying humorous homage to Lady Gaga.

Sophomore mechanical engineering major Ian Bakst played “Fallen by the Wayside,” an original song about heartbreak. Accompanied by high school friends Sam Judkis on drums and Mike Morrongiello on bass, Ian Bakst’s guitar skills and soulful tune were reminiscent of John Mayer.

Comedian and junior business major Garrett Hoffman livened up the crowd with jokes about pornography and his luck with the ladies.

“If I had to compare my game to an actual game, it would be Boggle Jr.,” he joked. Also trying his hand at comedy was freshman biology major Frank Liu.

Tom O’Dell / Photo Assistant

TCNJ Musical Theater officers Vinny Scafuto and Cat Cosentino performed a duet.

Liu won the crowd over with his awkward delivery of encounters with the dean of the school of science and his first milkshake at the College.

The show included two individual tap dances from sophomore nursing major Jackie Caruso and junior accounting and Spanish double major Kathy Sikora.

Caruso danced to “Hit Me Up” by Gia Farrell and Sikora danced to Michael Jackson’s “Beat It.” Senior communication studies majors Vinny Scafuto and Cat Cosentino showed off their musical theater skills in their performance of the duet “Come What May” from “Moulin Rouge!”

Signal Arts & Entertainment Editor and sophomore journalism major Matt Huston performed two original songs titled “Curtains” and “Barracuda.” Armed with only an acoustic guitar and plagued by a small microphone problem in the beginning, Huston serenaded the crowd with his singer-songwriter ballads.

Junior interactive multimedia major and slam poet Esteban Martinez intrigued the crowd with two slams about love and living life to the fullest. Martinez used his charisma and humor to deliver long fluid cadences describing the battlefield of love and the world of tomorrow to close the first act.

Guys with guitars aimed to capture the hearts of all the women in the audience. Freshman engineering major Alex Matteson sang an original song called “Waves,” closely resembling Incubus frontman Brandon Boyd.

Junior business major dedicated his combination of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” John Lennon’s “Imagine” and Bob Marley’s “One Love” to his girlfriend.

The sophomore trio of history major Brian Gross, statistics major Andy Spedick and political science major Greg DiSipio entertained with “The First Single“

by The Format.

Also rocking out were bands The Magic Rats and Ali Jaeger and the Jaegermeisters.

The Magic Rats consisted of six freshman floor mates from floor six of Wolfe Hall. The Jaegermeisters included junior biology major Ali Jaeger on drums, Matteson and junior health and exercise science major Ben Johnson on guitar and freshman open options science major Johnny Arnold on bass. They made the crowd go wild with their covers of “Taper Jean Girl”

by Kings of Leon and “Tick Tock” by Kesha.

The most exceptional act of the night was the sophomore juggling trio of math and secondaryeducation major Pat Catalano, sociology major

Tom O’Dell / Photo Assistant

Johnny Arnold of The Jaegermeisters takes a leap. The rock band was one of three to perform at Saturday night’s show.

Mark Kaplan and philosophy major Jesse de Agustin.

They kept the crowd alive while juggling a multitude of light-changing balls and even a set of clubs to the sound of Muse’s “Knights of Cydonia”.

The College’s Taiko club closed the show. The drummers were sophomore math secondary education major Alissa Abad, freshman english major Mariko Curran, Martinez, sophomore music education major Mike Smith, senior computer science major Matthew Tom-Wolverton and freshman international economics major Russell Wolf.

The event, hosted by SGA, was the first talent show at the College in four years.

“I thought the show was a success ... thanks to all of the phenomenal acts,” freshman international business major Dustin Paluch said.

Check out more College entertainment @ tcnjsignal.net.

Brooklyn dance bands crash Rat

Players mash big beats and melodies

By Emily Brill Arts & Entertainment Assistant

The blue flyers adorning the walls of bulletin boards all around campus called for a “night of dance-worthy tunes from some of Brooklyn’s best up-and-coming indie rockers.” Advertising the College Union Board (CUB)-sponsored “Sounds from Brooklyn” show at the Rathskeller, the flyers were not shy in their advocacy of the featured bands’ music, calling it “quirky” and “sure to entertain.”

It was a lofty promise to make about a show that had been canceled once due to the snow and was rescheduled to a bleak Tuesday where the snow was still in abundance.

But the two bands, The Bloodsugars and Project Jenny, Project Jan, delivered.

“It’s kinda shitty out there tonight,” shouted Jeremy Haines, lead singer of Project Jenny, Project Jan, “but we’re really happy to be in here with all of you!”

Haines’s band kicked off the night with a rousing set of electropop, synth-heavy tunes that relied heavily upon his bandmate Sammy Rubin’s use of a keyboard and a laptop. The keyboard provided the hooks for nearly all of the songs, which were powered by a pounding, insistent beat and keyboard-driven melodies. The computer provided the effects — a slide show of eclectic images that was projected onto a large screen behind Haines, providing a playful complement to his wail and constantly shimmying feet.

Project Jenny, Project Jan has seen its predominantly underground music flirt with the mainstream scene over the past several years. The band’s single “Negative” appeared on the soundtrack to the 2008 film “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist.”

The band assaulted the Rat audience with an onslaught of color, energy and sound. They pulled from their 2007 album “XOXOXOXOXO” to deliver songs such as the bouncy “Summertime” and “Train Track,” a song, Haines announced, “about public transportation.”

They also played “Negative” — but not right away.

About halfway through the band’s high-energy set, the crowd took up a chant.

“Play ‘Negative!’” shouted a voice from the audience, rising above the steady chant of the song’s name.

“Yes! We will play that!” Haines responded enthusiastically. “But not right now!”

They played a well-received cover of Laura Branigan’s “Self Control” before giving the crowd what it wanted.

“This one is by request,” said Haines before launching into the frenetic “Negative” to close Project Jenny, Project Jan’s set.

Next to take the stage were The Bloodsugars. The four-man outfit gave the Rat a dose of their signature rocking, multilayered indie pop.

The driving beat and dancing melodies had feet tapping and students dancing in front of the stage.

The band played at the Rat last year, and made a note of it in their introduction.

“We’re called The Bloodsugars, and we’re from Brooklyn. It’s really good to be back here, really good to be back at the Rat,” said lead singer Jason Rabinowitz.

The Bloodsugars provided a lighthearted, fun performance with

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Yacone

The Bloodsugars frontman Jason Rabinowitz joked with energized College fans on his return visit. lots of interaction with the audience. At one point, Rabinowitz sheepishly admitted his failure to bring a keytar — the lightweight keyboard strapped on like a guitar that had been one of the highlights of last year’s performance.

“This is usually the part of the show where I bring out the keytar,” he said. “I failed on bringing the keytar. Just imagine that there’s one — a big, red keytar.”

“A little red keytar,” amended Brendan O’Grady, The Bloodsugars’s bassist.

The Bloodsugars played songs from their 2009 album, “I Can’t Go On, I’ll Go On,” and their 2008 EP “BQEP.” They closed the show with a cover of Thomas Dolby’s “She Blinded Me With Science.”

Estephanie Betances, senior psychology major and CUB-Rat co-chair, cited the band’s ’80s influence as one of the reasons she brought the band back to the College.

“The Bloodsugars came last year and I liked the music,” Betances said. “I liked the ’80s vibe. I thought it would go off well with a student crowd.”

She said she was pleased with the overall results of the show.

“We thought we’d expose the campus to something different. We wanted to have one more traditional ’80s-sounding band with The Bloodsugars, and one that was different with Project Jenny, Project Jan,” she said. “We would have preferred to have more bodies at the show, but the bands were very enthusiastic. They enjoyed themselves.”

By Hyuna Yong Correspondent

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Mark Smith’s stand-up tackled the tribulations of ‘Where’s Waldo?’and unresponsive audience members. communication studies major, played next. Singing “you always put my mind at ease,” on her fourth song, Cosentino in fact put the audience at ease with her skillful voice and guitar playing.

Wedding singers fantasize, Natives rock ‘Gorilla Manor’ Dinosaur Feathers “Fantasy Memorial”

By Melissa Virzi WTSR Assistant Music Director

Once again, CUB-Rat covers snowbound students Friday night’s frigid weather did not stop the College from enjoying some solid, College Union Board (CUB)-sponsored entertainment. Four students performed music and comedy in the place of cancelled acts Cannonball Jane and Wakey!Wakey!, who could not make it to campus due to inclement conditions.

Junior graphic design major Colleen Napolitano opened the evening with a mix of covers, including “Sulk” by Radiohead, and originals such as her opening song “Manifesto.”

Napolitano, who has been a frequent performer at the Rat since the beginning of her sophomore year, seemed totally comfortable performing and chatting with the audience, interspersing her acoustic guitar-playing with down-to-earth humor.

Cat Cosentino, senior

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 17

“She has such a wonderful voice,” said Cara Yuknis, senior history and early childhood education major. “She’s a natural.”

The third performance brought

a change of pace as Mark Smith, junior communication studies major, made the audience laugh with his stand-up comedy.

Finally, Jake Ehrlich, a sophomore communication studies major, closed the night with mix of originals and covers, such as “Girl Scout” by Peter A. Clabby.

Some of the performers discussed their aspirations beyond the campus. Cosentino announced that she is currently working on an album in Woodstock, N.Y. Napolitano said she is finishing up her first album, “Love Songs for Strangers,” which she plans to release before the end of the school year.

Allie Axel, junior sociology major and CUB-Rat co-chair, discussed the possibility of Cannonball Jane and Wakey!Wakey! coming to the College at a later date. “So far we don’t have another date,” she said, “but we will definitely be rescheduling them.”

Dinosaur Feathers has described itself as “the only wedding band in Brooklyn, specializing in elopements.” The band has been busy playing everything from nuptials to bar-mitzvahs since their formation in early 2009, but were recently featured as a Paste Magazine Artist of the Day and are lined up to play South by Southwest, an influential music festival in Austin, TX. With all the enthusiasm you would expect of a brand new band, Dinosaur Feathers is a perfect combination of folk and indie pop. Its debut album is self-released, so the band has said it is psyched to hear feedback from fans.

Quick and responsive, the members have suggested you contact them if you’re interested in “Booking/Couches/Ginger Cake Recipes.”

Obvious comparisons to Fleet Foxes or Beach House are apparent, but tracks like “Family Waves” contain all the unconventional instruments you might expect with folk and all the vocal harmonies and catchy hooks from a good pop song. “History Lessons” and “Know Your Own Strength” offer up the same harmonies and fun Vampire Weekend-style drum beats are added to the equation, but also provide a relaxing moment.

Key Tracks: “Family Waves,” “History Lessons”

Local Natives “Gorilla Manor”

By Chris Payne WTSR Music Director If you’re wondering what an online buzzband sounds like in 2010, look no further than Los Angeles’ Local Natives. They draw influence from Vampire Weekend and Talking Heads, feature Fleet Fox-ian vocals and even named their debut record after the locale in which it was recorded, a la Animal Collective.

Fortunately, the quintet’s debut “Gorilla Manor” expands its use of influences beyond mere cutting and pasting.

Local Natives’ musical formula frequently involves chirpy guitars tossed over jittery drumbeats, and while they may not be Grizzly Bear or Fleet Foxes when it comes to harmonizing, the Natives’ vocal work is enough to drive their ramshackle dancefloor numbers. This is most evident on “Sun Hands,” a rousing indie-rocker driven by stop/start vocals, a meandering bassline and a cathartic, shouted vocal breakdown.

The album’s second strongest track just happens to be a Talking Heads song. On “Warning Sign,” a cut from Talking Heads’ 1978 album “More Songs About Buildings and Food,” Local Natives flesh out a spastic, skeletal song with more vibrant guitar and vocal harmonies and create an experience that sounds very much their own. This knack for realigning accepted styles makes Local Natives an excellent new band for 2010.

Key Tracks: “Sun Hands” and “Warning Sign”

page 18 The Signal March 3, 2010

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March 3, 2010 The Signal page 19 Track and Field

Lions speed ahead to first place

By Steve Hofstetter, Keith Alberstadt, Ryan Murphy and Chris Strait The United States won the medal count at the Winter Olympics for the first time since 1932. When the economy goes downhill quickly, so do we.

Minnesota Timberwolves star Al Jefferson was arrested for DWI. And everything had been going so well for them, too.

The NHL is considering keeping their players out of the Olympics in 2014. They’d take them off TV, too — but they’ve already done that.

Shaquille O’Neal will miss the rest of the season due to surgery and being freaking old.

And after beating the Boston Celtics, the New Jersey Nets set a season record for winning streak at one.

AP Photo

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

By Krystal Spencer Staff Writer

Wintry conditions didn’t stop the College’s Track and Field team from competing at the New York University Fastrack Invitational on Feb. 26. After winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) for the 13th straight year on Feb. 22, a few members of the team returned to The Armory in one last attempt to qualify for the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships this weekend and the NCAAs later this month.

“We’ve never lost an indoor NJAC, so the Fastrack Invite is an opportunity to represent our school and show the conference why we’ve never lost,” junior Dennis Waite said. “The fact that we do win, individually and as a team is motivation to do better and keep racing.”

Freshman Brielle Doremus was the only Lion to break a College record during the meet. Her triple jump distance of 10.85 meters earned her an 8th place finish.

The throwers made high marks, with multiple Lions placing in the top 10 of their events. Senior Ashley Krauss finished fifth in the weight throw with 14.04 meters, the best result by any Division III competitor at the invitational. Junior Cristina D’Amato and freshman Mary Chismar placed eighth and 11th in the same event respectively.

The men’s team also had a strong performance. Senior Steve Liccketto took fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 15.72 meters, also the best distance for

all Division III athletes. Fellow senior Zach Goldstein was right behind him in sixth with 14.93 meters. Junior Alexander Necovski placed 10th in the shot put with a throw of 13.65 meters.

Following her first place finish in both the 55-meter dash and 55-meter hurdles at the NJACs last week, senior Priscilla Senyah continued to turn heads by finishing eighth in the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.86 seconds. Also performing strong was NJAC first place finisher and senior Jianna Spadaccini, who placed 11th in the 400-meter with a time of 57.71. She also competed in the 4x400 relay with senior Meghan Miller, as well as juniors Kayla Ghanavati and Meryl Wimberly. The team placed seventh with a time of 3:56.58.

The men’s 4x400 relay team of senior DeShard Stevens, junior Kyle Gilroy, sophomore Justin Worthing, and freshman Robert Searby also came in seventh with a time of 3:19.38. Gilroy placed well as an individual too, placing 10th in the 60 meter hurdle event with an 8.40. While junior Rob Nihen already qualified for the ECACs in a previous meet, he improved upon his time in the mile, achieving a personal best of a 4:18.01. Junior Dennis Waite who took first in the mile for the third consecutive year at NJACs, finished 9th in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:54.14, an NCAA provisional mark.

“You have to think of every meet as an individual experience, with nothing beyond it,” Waite comments. “At NJACs, you don’t hold anything back because

you’re worried about Fastrack, or any other meet. There is always a focus to run hard at the meet you’re at today, and not worry about later.”

The Lions continue their season with the ECAC Championships this weekend at Smith College.

Photo courtesty of the Sports Information Desk

Junior Cristina D’Amato.

Wrestling

Broderick brothers lead Lions on the mat

By Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor

Through the trials and strains of training and competing in wrestling, bonds form between teammates. Athletes who were once strangers come together to battle through a season of both physical and emotional exhaustion. But for two Lions, those ties were bound more than a decade before they came to the College.

This season junior Ed Broderick welcomed his younger brother, freshman Brian Broderick to one of Division III’s most dominating wrestling programs.

“Well, we grew up together, we played on the same tee-ball team, shared the same friends and went to the same high school,” Ed said. “To be honest, being together is something I’m used to, yet something I never take for granted.”

“We were always doing something, trying new things,” Brian said. “We aren’t just brothers, but close friends as well. He was a skinny little dude when we were growing up and now he’s heavyweight.”

The Brodericks took up wrestling at a very young age because, according to Ed, their parents were looking for a way to harness their energetic natures.

“It was very crazy growing up with my brother,” Ed said.

“We were both very active kids and I think that’s why our parents got us involved in wrestling — to calm us down. We’ve been wrestling for nearly 15 years. I started when I was six and he started when he was four. We wrestled at Southern Regional High School and shared two, well-spent years together on the team.”

But the Broderick family had to accept a harsh reality when Brian was diagnosed at age 12 with type 1 Diabetes in February of 2003.

“Well, it hit my parents and I the hardest. Obviously because I’m their child and I did not want to have to test my blood sugar and take insulin injections everyday of my life. But I do and I’m used to it,” Brian said. “I’m constantly taking insulin injections and testing my blood sugar but I have no other choice, it’s part of my daily routine.”

But he refused to let Diabetes keep him off the mat and away from the sport he had grown to love and learned how to handle the disease and continue competing.

“Presently, wrestling and diabetes present challenges such as keeping my blood sugar within a certain range when I wrestle because if my blood sugar is either low or high, it will alter my performance out on the mat,” he said. “I always test my blood sugar right before practice and another time right before we

wrestle live during practice. Besides, when I’m testing my blood sugar or taking injections, I forget that I have diabetes and feel like anyone else.”

In his time at high school, Brian won district champ four times, region champion once and was ranked third in the state his senior year.

Ed transferred to the College last year after wrestling for Wagner College his freshman season at 184 pounds.

“I was given a decent scholarship,” Broderick said. “I decided to trasnfer after my first year. My father had recommended (the College) because it is known as a very competitive school, academically and athletically.”

In his first season as a Lion, Broderick compiled a 25-9 record and qualified for Nationals in his weight class.

“My career with the Lions has been a unforgettable fortune for me,” he said. “I am fortunate enough to workout with not only some of the best wrestlers I’ve ever known, but some of the best people I have ever gotten to know. And despite some of the success that I have shared with my teammates and coaches, it’s when we’re down that brings us closer as a team.”

Brian following his brother to the College the following year.

“What led me to (the College) were my parents, my brother, the education, and obviously wrestling as well,” he said.

Brian has turned heads this season as he compiled 30 wins in just his first season on his way to a 30-5 record. Although he was the top seed in his weight class he was defeated 5-3 in the conference championships and was denied a bid to Nationals. However, he was still named a co-Metropolitan Conference Rookie of the Year.

“My first season here has been quite a long season because the season is about five months long but it certainly had its positives and negatives and my brother and I hung out a lot of the time dur-

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Ed Broderick pins an opponent to the mat.

ing the season,” Brian said. “He showed me the ropes, but me and him are friends so we hang out when we can and try not to take things too seriously.”

But Ed was a proud older brother who saw his younger brother grow as a wrestler this year and he expects bigger things ahead.

“Personally, I do not think he finished the season off as well as he had hoped,” Ed said. “However, I do expect Brian to succeed later on in his wrestling career as far as becoming an All-American. But at that point in time, it is not what I expect of him, it is more of what he expects of himself.”

Meanwhile Ed turned in another dominant season as he went 26-7 on his way to winning his weight class at the conference championships for the second season and advancing to Nationals.

But beyond all the competition and rigorous training are two brothers who try to have as much fun training as they did growing up as kids.

“My brother and I, when paired to wrestle are the worst wrestling partners for each other,” Ed said. “When I’m wrestling my brother in the room, nothing can be taken seriously. Regardless of the atmosphere, he is still the same kid who I collected Pokémon cards with, put a hole in the wall with and went skateboarding with. We spend a lot of time together, but usually not in the training room.”

With his season ended Brian now looks forward to next season when he can improve upon the strong foundation he laid ins his freshman debut.

“As far as my career goals I would just like to keep getting better and place at Nationals,” he said. “And the future of our team as a whole looks to be a strong in the years to come.”

But Ed still has one more meet to look forward to as he and three other Lions travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa from March 5-6 for the NCAA Division III Championships.

“To prepare for the METS and Nationals, (head coach David Icenhower) has had us doing two-a-days for the past few weeks to physically and mentally prepare us for what we need to do,” he said.

Although next season will be the last chance for the Broderick brothers to compete and battle on the same team, they will continue to train with the same up-beat attitude they have embraced since they first started wrestling.

“My brother and I are definitely good friends, and as far as teamates go, I would say we try to have the most fun while we are wrestling because like anything, it can become boring if its repetitive everyday — so we try to keep it fresh,” Brian said.

Garrett Rasko-Martinis can be reached at rasko2@tcnj.edu.

Funstuff Fluky

page 20 The Signal March 3, 2010

By Brianna Gunter

4 6

March 3, 2010 The Signal page 21

LIONS

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Jason Cantor “The Ref”

Matt Hammond Correspondent

Dan Neyman Correspondent

Andrew Amadeo Correspondent

With the Olympic torch being extinguished and the baseball season right around the corner, there’s plenty to talk about in Week Eight of AtD. Correspondent Jason Cantor will quiz correspondents Matt Hammond, Dan Neyman and Andrew Amadeo on the future of LaDainian Tomlinson, which team in the MLB had the best off-season and if Dwight Howard can live up the Superman title originally held by Shaquille O’Neal.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson was just released by the San Diego Chargers. Do you still think he can be an effective back in the NFL? If so, what team do you think would be a good fit for him?

AP Photo

MH: In all likelihood, a screaming “no” is the short and simple answer. But I’ll take the road less traveled and the allotted space for kicks.

Assuming his 30-year-old body holds up, Houston could make sense for all parties. The Texans have been fringe contenders for years.

A relocation aligns LT’s “No. 1 goal” — a Super Bowl hunt — with Andre Johnson and the league’s No. 1 pass offense (30th in rush yards per game in 2009). Houston’s already got the serviceable compliment LT needs — RB Steve Slaton — and splitting carries might even help curb Slaton’s fumble issues (Slaton with five fumbles, 2nd among NFL RBs in 2009). Houston’s front office isn’t shallowpocketed, so I’d believe it if General Manager Rick Smith rolled the dice (NFL’s 3rd highest payroll in 2009, 21st in 2008). In an uncapped year of free agency, I know I would.

DN: LaDainian Tomlinson is a sure-fire hallof-famer, but his best years are behind him. He has seen a significant decrease in production ever since his record-setting year in 2006 (31 TD), and failed to break 1,000 yards for the first time in his career last year. There will be very little to no market, and his fate will be similar to Shaun Alexander’s, meaning he will most likely have to wait for an injury in order to find a home this season. Don’t expect any team to bring him on as a starter, but he would be good in a backup RB/mentor-type role.

AA: LaDainian Tomlinson will not be a good back in the NFL no matter where he goes. He has not had a very good season in nearly three years. His yards per carry the last two years were 3.3 and 3.8, while his touchdowns went from 28 in 2006 to 12 and 11. He had only 20 catches and no receiving touchdowns last season. When comparing Tomlinson to great players like Barry Sanders and Jim Brown who have never had a season under 4.3 yards per carry and one season under 1,200 yards, you can see that Tomlinson is nowhere near the greatness he once was. He is too old for a running back and cannot perform at a high level like he used to. He will get a job somewhere, but will not produce anywhere close to three years ago. He is past his prime and his days are nearly over.

JC: Wow … everyone is hating on LT. I agree with everyone that his best days are far behind him, but I think he can still contribute to a team. His ability as a pass catcher adds to his value. Matt gets the 3 for bringing up

that this year is an uncapped year of free agency. Dan gets 2 for mentioning it being his first sub 1,000 yard rushing. Andrew brings up some great points, but gets the 1.

2. With baseball season just around the corner, which team do you feel had the best off season and why? Which team fared the worst?

MH: Since the L.A. Angels’ World Series win in 2002, any AL West exchange was either sob stories or punch lines. But now, a power shift in baseball’s softest division might have left one club October-bound.

Free agent pick-ups in second baseman Chone Figgins and first baseman Casey Kotchman spackle Seattle’s porous 2009 infield (105 errors, tied for 4th-most in AL), while swapping out a disaster in pitcher Carlos Silva (free agency) for pitcher Cliff Lee (trade with Philadelphia) improves the AL’s stingiest rotation (3.87 ERA in 2009).

Snagging Figgins from the reigning AL West champs Angels benefits Seattle in an intra-division multiplier effect, and favorably stacks its odds in one of 2010’s tossups. Needless to say that the Angels — who reported to spring training without two franchise fortifiers (lost pitcher John Lackey, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero to free agency) and Figgins, and with Kendry Morales’ mind on missing money — might have had baseball’s worst winter.

DN: Without a shadow of a doubt, the best off season goes to the Seattle Mariners. They added Cliff Lee and locked up Felix Hernandez long-term, forming a terrifying 1-2 punch.

They’ve also added all-star Chone Figgins, while dealing the abysmal Carlos Silva for a potential power bat in Milton Bradley. The worst off season goes to the Dodgers. They lost a couple of starters in Randy Wolf and Jon Garland, along with Juan Pierre and Orlando Hudson, all of whom they didn’t replace. The McCourts are also going through a divorce and ownership of the team will be determined in the near future, making spending money on players impossible.

AP Photo

AA: The best offseason I think went to the Seattle Mariners. They picked up Cliff Lee, to solidify what I believe to be the best 1-2 punch in the game in Lee and Hernandez. They picked up Chone Figgins to replace Beltre who will bat right after Ichiro and have the fastest 12 batters in the game. They also picked up Kotchman and Ryan Garko to split time at first, and re-signed Erik Bedard to add a solid number three to the rotation, as well as re-signing Franklin Gutierrez to keep the young center fielder. Finally, they re-signed Ken Griffey Jr. who according to a number of reports has

been a lot of help mentoring the young guys in the clubhouse, and can still put a few over the fence. The worst was the Angels. They lost their ace in Lackey, two of their better players in Figgins and Guerrero and picked up Matsui who is not as good as Guerrero.

AP Photo

JC: Very similar answers. Dan makes a great point when he mentions the Dodgers lack of spending and bleak future and gets the 3. The Angels knew they were going to lose Lackey which is why they acquired Kazmir (who I think has more upside anyway). The Angels are a small ball type of team. Also Vladimir Guerrero’s on-base percentage is way worse than Matsui’s. Andrew gets the 2 for mentioning Griffey’s role. Matt gets the 1.

3. Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal have been arguing over the Superman title …

O’Neal has had an unbelievable NBA career, but do you think when it’s all said and done that Howard is capable of having a better career? Why or why not?

MH: In his heyday, O’Neal was a monster. He was so indomitable then that his four-to-six year run is probably untouchable now. Gauging potential, Howard’s best won’t be enough to supplant the O’Neal’s prime as the most imposing low-post showing in recent history. My advice to Howard — if you can’t be Barry Bonds, strive for Hank Aaron. If the position’s greatest glimmer is out of reach, redefine its longevity.

Carry the “perennial All-Star” tag into your late 30s — based on yearly performance, not career-achievement props. Howard doesn’t have the power and presence that O’Neal did, nor is that in Sensei Chewing’s curriculum. But the lean build that can’t bulldoze seven-footers can keep Howard in lineups (and on stat sheets) in ways an oversized and oft-shelved O’Neal couldn’t (O’Neal-missed 15 plus games in 11 of 17 seasons). When he retires and we compare, that could be enough.

DN: This a difficult comparison, but I believe if you could see O’Neal in his prime vs. Howard in his prime, O’Neal would come out victorious. That being said, I feel like Howard will end up having a better career then O’Neal, statistically, but will come nowhere near O’Neal’s four rings. I only say that Howard can trump O’Neal in the stats department because Howard doesn’t have to face the same level of competition that O’Neal did.

In his prime, O’Neal had to face the likes of Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning. That seems a lot more difficult then Howard having to face Chris Kaman, Chris Bosh or Josh Smith.

AA: I know that O’Neal, after it is all said and done, will go down as a much better center than Dwight Howard. O’Neal averaged more points (24.1 to 17.5), more assists (2.6 to 1.4), blocks (2.3 to 2.1) and less minutes played.

Howard has a slight edge in rebounds 12.7 to 11.0 but these numbers are inflated for Howard because O’Neal is beyond his prime and is in the tail end of his career. O’Neal may go down as a top-five center of all time and Howard will not be in the top 10. O’Neal is superman and Howard is reaping the benefits of a not-so-great center class in the NBA right now.

O’Neal played against greats in David Robinson, Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing.

Howard’s best competitor may be Pau Gasol, who is not in the same class. O’Neal may not be better now, but in his prime he was much better. O’Neal also has four rings — Howard will not sniff any more than one if that. I give this one to O’Neal.

JC: Matt, couldn’t have put it better myself — you get the 3. Dan and Andrew have very similar answers (great job mentioning the lack of competition), but I like how Andrew mentioned O’Neal’s numbers deflating because his playing at the tail end of his career — so you take the 2. Dan gets 1.

Matt wins 7 - 6 - 5

“From worst to first — don’t call it a comeback.”

—Matt

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page 22 The Signal March 3, 2010

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March 3, 2010 The Signal page 23

LIONS ROUNDUP Baseball

Date 3/5/10 3/6/10 3/7/10 3/8/10 3/8/10 3/10/10 3/11/10 3/11/10 3/13/10 3/14/10 3/17/10 3/18/10 3/19/10 3/23/10 3/24/10 3/26/10 3/27/10

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

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

Rochester Instit. of Tech.

St. John’s (MN) Rockford (IL) Monmouth (IL) Rockford (IL) Wartburg (IA) Concordia (IL) Monmouth (IL) Keene State (NH) Western New England College Muhlenberg College Ursinus College Haveford College Moravian College Gwynedd-Mercy College Penn State Abington Alvernia College

1:30 p.m.

11 a.m.

Noon 9:30 a.m.

1 p.m.

Noon 10:30 a.m.

2 p.m.

11 a.m.

9 a.m.

4 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

3 p.m.

3:30 p.m 3:30 p.m.

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

Time/Result

University of Rochester Dominican University The Sage Colleges Wisconsin Lutheran College Pine Manor College Rensselaer Poly. Institute Simmons College Pitt-Bradford Western N.E. College Wesleyan University Moravian College Muhlenberg College Messiah College SUNY Cortland Gwynedd-Mercy College

11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

3:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

11:30 a.m.

1:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

3 p.m.

1 p.m.

3 p.m.

Steve Liccketto

Track & Field Senior Steve Liccketto finished fourth in the weight throw event at the New York University Fastrack Invitational with a distance of 15.72 meters — the top distance for all Division III competitors.

Gould, Sports Assistant

This Week In Sports Baseball Mar. 5 @ Rochester Institute of Technology, 1:30 p.m.

Mar. 6 @ St. Johnʼs (MN), 11 a.m.

Mar. 7 @ Rockford (IL), Noon Mar. 8 @ Monmouth (IL), 9:30 a.m. @Rockford (IL), 1 p.m.

Softball

Mar. 7 @ University of Rochester, 11:30 a.m.

Opponent

Time/Result

Skidmore College University of Rochester Carthage College Vassar College Muhlenberg College Swarthmore College Kalamazoo College St. Lawrence University Hobart College Drew University Salisbury University New York University Trinity College Bates College

L 4-5 TBA TBA TBA 4 p.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

11 a.m.

5 p.m.

4:30 p.m.

TBA Noon 1 p.m.

10 a.m.

@ Dominican University, 1:30 p.m.

Mar. 8 @ The Sage Colleges, 3:30 p.m. @ Wisconsin Lutheran College, 5:30 p.m.

Wrestling Mar. 5-6 @ NCAA Division III Championships, TBA Track & Field Mar. 5-6 @ ECAC Championships, TBA Mar. 6

Trivia Question Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Question: 1960

Kevin Durant’s 29-game streak of games with 25 or more points came to an end last week when he scored only 21 points against the San Antonio Spurs. Durant’s streak was good enough to pass Allen Iverson’s 27-game streak, but ranks second alltime in NBA history to Michael Jordan’s streak during the 1986-1987 season. How many straight games did Jordan put up 25 or more points during that season?

Lion of the Week

—Brandon

Opponent

Menʼs Tennis

Date 2/28/10 3/7/10 3/8/10 3/9/10 3/17/10 3/20/10 3/21/10 3/27/10 3/27/10 4/7/10 4/11/10 4/17/10 4/18/10 4/21/10

Time/Result

Softball

Date 3/7/10 3/7/10 3/8/10 3/8/10 3/10/10 3/10/10 3/12/10 3/12/10 3/13/10 3/13/10 3/20/10 3/23/10 3/25/10 3/27/10 3/30/10

Opponent

@ IC4A Championships, TBA Menʼs Tennis Mar. 7 @ University of Rochester, 12:30 p.m.

Mar. 8 @ Carthage College, Noon Mar. 9 @ Vassar College, 12:30 p.m.

Womenʼs Tennis Mar. 7 @ University of Rochester, 12:30 p.m.

Mar. 8 @ Emory University, 2 p.m.

Mar. 9 @ Coe College, 12:30 p.m.

Womenʼs Lacrosse Mar. 4

AP Photo

@ Ramapo College, 4 p.m.

SignalSports Saturday tennis meets postponed by snow

Lions slighted in season opener by Thoroughbreds

By Karissa Hearn Staff Writer Last week’s daunting winter weather put cramps in the schedule of both the men’s and women’s tennis teams. The women’s home match scheduled for

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Fernandez returns the shot with his backhand.

Saturday, Feb. 27 against New York University was postponed. The men were set to battle Christopher Newport University last Saturday, but that too, has been rescheduled.

On Sunday, the men’s team opened its season against Skidmore College. The Lions lost the close match, 54. The men are 0-1 this season and Skidmore College now has a 5-1 record.

According to junior captain Jonathan Yu, many of the players were feeling winter jitters.

“Once we get a few wins under our belt I think we’ll have the confidence and determination to get wins against ranked teams,” he said.

The match consisted of six single matches. Both Yu and freshman Dean Thompson defeated their Skidmore opponents. Yu finished with scores of 7-6, 7-4, and 6-2. Thompson won 6-2 and 6-3.

In the doubles matches, sophomore brothers Steven Fernandez and Stewart Fernandez defeated the Skidmore duo 9-8 and 7-4. Thompson and freshman partner TJ Riley were also victorious with a score of 8-6.

Yu says the team is very solid and has a competitive edge.

“I don’t think we have faced a team that has wanted to win more than we do,” he says.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Lions were moved inside for practice by snow.

During spring break the Lions’ men’s team will head to Orlando, Fla. to take on the University of Rochester, Carthage College and Vassar College. The women’s team will open this season on the road as it ventures to Orlando to face off against University of Rochester, Emory University and Coe College.

Cheap Seats

U.S. conquers Olympics with gutsy winter efforts

By Caroline Russomanno Managing Editor So, they beat us.

Yes, it’s true. Canada reigns supreme in the hockey arena. Now they won’t have to kick their players out of the country and hang their heads in shame in front of the world. They at least have their hockey.

And five more gold medals than the U.S. Now, I don’t play favorites when it comes to the Olympic Games, but I really wanted America to win everything ever at the XXI Winter Games. Some may call it crazy … I call it patriotic. I console myself by thinking about the fact that it was the first time Canada ever won home gold (they failed to do so in Montreal and Calgary).

America did kick some serious booty, though. A goal to tie the gold medal match with only 24 seconds left in the third period? That’s some good hockey. And yes, Sidney Crosby had to puncture a nation’s hopes and dreams shortly into the sudden-death overtime. That’s what the sportscasters get for comparing this team to the 1980 miracle team — no sports moment will ever come close.

But beyond the agony of hockey defeat, the

U.S. did pretty well for itself at these winter games. The 37 total medals racked up by America are the most for any country in a single Winter Olympics. Like I kept repeating last night after the U.S. Men’s Hockey Team got their silver medal, the color of the medal doesn’t count.

For instance, Apolo Anton Ohno didn’t win gold at the games, but he did win 3 medals (one silver and two bronze), making his eight total medals the most any U.S. athlete has won at the Winter Games. And because of Korean team-skating (which is technically against the rules but almost impossible to prove) and the subsequent falls of Lee Ho-Suk and Sung Si-Bak, first time Olympian J.R. Celski went home with a bronze (he also won bronze in the men’s relay).

Many Americans did win gold. Most notably was Evan Lysacek, the gold medalist in men’s figure skating. Lysacek beat out Yevgeny Plushenko of Russia to take home the first U.S. medal in the event since since Brian Boitano in 1988, and he was the first reigning world champion to win since Scott Hamilton in 1984. It was the first time in their Olympic history that Russia didn’t take at least one gold

AP Photo

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police take down the Olympic flag.

medal in figure skating. Times appear to be changing.

While she wasn’t American, I couldn’t help but cheer for South Korean women’s figure skater Kim Yu-Na, what with the announcers repeating how much pressure she was under from her home country. And I may have crossed my fingers that American Mirai Nagasu not pass Joannie Rochette, the Canadian in third place who had just lost her mother a week earlier and still skated like a champ. Scott Hamilton choking up in the background didn’t help much. But Yu-Na got the gold and Rochette got bronze. That was the only time I was happy when non-Americans won.

I wasn’t so pleased when Canadians Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir beat Americans Meryl Davis and Charlie White to become the first North American duo to win an ice dancing gold. Davis and White got silver, but their “Phantom of the Opera” free skate was so powerful, I’m still disappointed.

The American four-man bobsled team won the first U.S. gold medal in the event in 62 years. Maybe the Jamaican bobsled team’s notable absence (they didn’t qualify — the first time since ’88 in Calgary) helped the U.S. come out on top.

The Americans also showed their skills on the skis. American alpine skier Bode Miller, after an all-talk and no-result stint in Turin, redeemed himself with three medals (one of each color) in Vancouver. Lindsey Vonn, among talk of injury and rumors of fake injuries, won the race she came to win — the downhill — and became the first American woman to do so. She also won bronze in Super-G. Her teammate, Julia Mancuso, won two silver medals in the downhill and combined.

Americans rocked snowboarding, too.

Shaun White delivered, winning his second gold medal in men’s halfpipe in as many games. And his debut of the Double McTwist 1260 at the Olympics was the best victory lap I’ve ever seen.

The women’s team was equally successful, even though they dropped the gold to a

technically brilliant Torah Bright of Australia.

Hannah Teter and Kelly Clark got silver and bronze respectively.

Seth Wescott also repeated his Turin gold in men’s snowboard cross. However, Lindsey Jacobellis (you may remember her as the overly-confident American who threw in a board grab at the end of the snowboard cross course and ended up falling and winning only silver) disappointed again, not even making it into the final.

The newest Olympic event, ski cross (exactly like snowboard cross, except on skis), while having no American winners, is sure to become a favorite.

Speed skating was another event where America came out big. Shani Davis, the first black athlete (from any nation) to win a gold medal in an individual Winter Games sport (the 1,000-meter), won the same event, becoming the first man to win the event back-toback. He also won a silver in 1,500-meter.

Curling is awesome. I am the first person to admit that. But the American teams didn’t do overly well this time around. The Canadian men won gold and the Swedish team won a nail-biter against our neighbirs to the north.

Finally, America had another first at these games. Bill Demong, Johnny Spillane, Todd Lodwick and Brett Camerota won the large hill/ 20km nordic combined event — the first time an American team medaled in the event. And Bill Demong won gold in the 10 km individual large hill, the first American man to do so.

All in all, the XXI Olympic Winter Games were pretty killer, not just for the U.S., but for all of the countries that participated, whether they won or not. There were sad moments, like the death of Nodar Kumaritashvili, and there were moments of pure joy, like when Swiss ski-jumper Simon Ammann again won double gold medals in the normal hill and the large hill.

I’ll only have fond memories of these games.

Even if Canada did beat us at hockey. And win more golds. Hey, there’s always Sochi.

Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.