The Montclarion 11-19-09

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THE MONTCLARION The Student Voice of Montclair State University Since 1928

Vol.

89

Issue 11 November 19, 2009

The Montclarion.org

Cole Makes a Transition From Corzine to Christie

Hate Crimes on Campus Two Students Plan on Creating a Voice for Victims

University President Named to Chris Christie's Transition Team Gerald Flores Assistant News Editor

University President Susan Cole was named to Gov. Elect Chris Christie’s official transition team which is made up of 10 leaders who will assist the incoming governor in assembling his administration before he takes office on Jan. 19.

“I’m very pleased and hon-

“I'm actively engaged not only in the field of higher education, but also K-12 and I have a good sense of how higher education policies work.”

President Susan A. Cole

ored… this is something very important to be asked to do,” President Cole said.

Cole has worked with the past five New Jersey governors, both democratic and republican. She is the only representative on the team in the field of higher education.

“I’m actively engaged not

(Left-to-Right) Sophomores Ray McKenna and Nick Wolf plan on writing a play about the true stories of people on campus who have experienced hate crimes.

Jillian Keats | The Montclarion

Kulsoom Rizvi News Editor

For sophomores Ray McKenna and Nick Wolf, hearing about the crimes against the LGBT center and homosexuals, inspired the two students to create a play based on true stories from victims of hate crimes.

During the sophomores' Pursuit of English class, the students saw a movie

called The Larimer Project based on the murder of a gay 21-year-old college student named Matthew Shepherd.

“Nick basically had the initial idea of writing a play about hate crimes on campus and we just banded together and through research saw that it does happen at Montclair,” McKenna said.

For Wolf, play writing is his focus; especially when it comes to creative writing and feels more confident in writ-

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The Exonerated

ing dialogues than any other type of writing.

“I just thought of this idea of six people sitting in a semicircle on stage talking about their own problems,” he said.

“I never thought it was going to become [about] true stories from real people.”

When it comes to the actual script of the play, Wolf described the dialogues in the play to be fictional only when there is conversation between characters, but when

it comes to a character having a monologue, the dialogue will not be Wolf’s writing.

“Whenever you hear someone in the play speak monologues, that is the true story exactly in the words of the victim,” Wolf explained. “I have never done anything like this and it’s a huge experiment for both of us. We might have to Hate Crimes Continued on Page 7

A group of students are part of the student production, The Exonerated, which voices the true stories of six individuals on Death Row who were then exonerated after spending several years in prison.

GO TO Page 13 for full story

Transition Team Continued on Page 7

UNEMPLOYMENT FOR HIRE Part I: Where Are All the Jobs?

Kelly Jones Assistant News Editor

With the economy in the shape it is and college seniors graduating each year, are jobs for them in their fields? This is a concern for many students and especially for the class of 2010.

Among college grads, younger workers see a higher number of unemployment.

It is still worth something to have a college degree in the end, even though the unemployment for college grads is overall lower than

INSIDE

the whole population?

The problem is that not only are recent graduates up against themselves in the job market, but now, due to the economic downturn and people getting laid off, they are against more expeThe national unemployment rate is 10.2 percent compared to last year at 6.8 percent.

This is a 26-year high with 190,000 jobs lost in a month.

news Sodexo Can Drive Initiated to Fight Hunger, Preparing to Set a World Guinness Record

pg. 7

rienced people, along with other graduates from a few years ago.

Graduates from majors including fine art, drama, dance and music have been having trouble getting a job straight out of college. Also, students studying computer science have also been up on that list.

But in comparison, students with a medical degree have found jobs quicker with an unemployment rate of 0.17 percent. This data was

Make Way For Hawk Crossings Ashley Enste Staff Writer

undergoing a renovation both inside and out. It seemed an appropriate recognition of these changes.”

The individual apartment buildings, previously only recognized numerically, will have new names as well.

They are all related to the school’s red-tailed hawk mascot: Falconidae, Accipitor and Buteo. In Latin, these words are the scientific terminology for the order, family and genus, used to classify the species of Red Hawks.

Unemployment Continued on Page 6

Montclair State University has decided to officially change the name of the apartments on Clove Road to “Hawk Crossings,” due to the ongoing renovations of the complex.

This new title will be formally adopted for the fall semester of 2010.

According to Dr. Karen Pennington, vice president for student development and campus life, “The complex is

feature

a&e

opinion

2012: Not a Disaster Movie, Just a Disaster

Smoke and Mirrors: Clove Road Renovations

Cooking with Nelson: Thanksgiving Edition

pg. 10

pg. 13

Hawk Crossings Continued on Page 6

pg. 17

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news

The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

The Montclarion

Pelican Police Report

Montclair State University 113 Student Center Annex Montclair, New Jersey 07043 Editor-in-Chief: (973) 655-5230 Managing Editor: (973) 655-5282 News Dept: (973) 655-5169 Main office: (973) 655-5241 Fax: (973) 655-7804

Executive Board

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Editor-in-Chief Kristie Cattafi Managing Editor Mike Campbell

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Business Manager Sam Gherman

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Production Robert Aitken

Editorial Board

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News Kulsoom Rizvi A&E Emily Golloub O p i n io n Katherine Milsop S p orts Nelson DePasquale Chief Copy Lurdes Ruela P h o t o gra p h y Jillian Keats Graphic Design John Pope Editorial Cartoonist Lou Cunningham Webmaster James Carolan

Assistants News Gerald Flores Gail J. Job Kelly Ann Jones Feature Amanda Balbi Arts Blaine Bridges Sports Jake Del Mauro Mike Monostra Copy Catherine Winters Graphic Design Mark Banas

Writers and Contributors Jack Blaszkiewicz, Scott Buchanan, James Carpentier, Cynthia Delva, Ashley Enste, Jon Fazio, Biancia Francis, Vanessa Hargreaves, Jillian Knight, Jade Moskovitz, Mark Ramdular, Jon Reino, Parth Shah, Stefanie Sears, Jessica Sims, Jocelynn Thomas, Lori Wieczinek

Advertising Director Kevin Schwoebel

Bookkeeper Peter Junda

Faculty Advisor Marc Rosenweig

contact us Editor-in-Chief monteditor@gmail.com Managing Editor msumanaging@gmail.com Business Manager montclarionbiz@gmail.com Production Editor msuproduction@gmail.com

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On Nov. 9: A student reported being harassed by a known suspect while in Dickson Hall. The victim has refused to file criminal charges

student reported the theft of her messenger bag and speakers from her 2 On Nov. 10: Aresidence in the Clove Road Apartments.

Diaz was arrested and charged with possession of CDS 3 On Nov. 12 Octavio marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia while on Route 46 East.

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On Nov. 12: A student reported being stalked by a known suspect while on the

5 On Nov. 12: On Nov. 12: 6 7 On Nov. 13: 8 On Nov. 14: 9 10

campus of Montclair State University. The victim has refused to file criminal charges.

Nancy Whelan was arrested and charged with simple assault domestic violence while outside of Dickson Hall.

Mary Frehner, Gillian Petersen and James Ginsberg were charged with underage consumption of alcohol while in the Clove Road Apartments.

A student reported the theft of clothes from her residence in the Clove Road Apartments.

Thomas Kwak was arrested and charged with harassment while in Basie Hall.

On Nov. 15: Three EXIT signs were discovered damaged in Blanton Hall.

On Nov. 16: Alejandro Escobar was arrested and charged with possession of CDS

marijuana under 50 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia while in Williams Hall.

11 On Nov. 16:

Two shuttle bus stops were found broken with shattered glass near Alice Paul Hall and Lot 28.

Anyone who has information regarding these incidents is urged to call the police station from any campus phone at T-I-P-S (8477).

All calls are strictly confidential.

News Editor msunews@gmail.com Feature Editor msufeature@gmail.com Arts and Entertainment Editor msuarts@gmail.com Opinion Editor msuopinion@gmail.com Sports Editor msusports@gmail.com Photo Editor montphotoeditor@gmail.com Graphics Editor msugraphics@gmail.com Copy Editor: montcopy@gmail.com Webmaster: msuwebmaster@gmail.com Advertising Director: montclarionads@gmail.com

The Montclarion is a publication of Montelican Publishing, Inc. Published weekly, except during examinations, summer and winter sessions, The Montclarion is funded by student fees distributed by Montclair State University and incoming advertising revenue. The views expressed in the Opinion section, with the exception of the Main Editorial, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Montclarion. The first edition of The Montclarion, then named The Pelican, was published on November 28, 1928

SGA Notes -Rugby Club was chartered as a Class III SGA organization.

-Japan Club was re-chartered.

The Montclarion The Montclarion is a freely distributed newspaper providing one copy per person.

Additional copies are $0.25.

Corrections In the article titled "Holocaust Survivor Ends His Silence, printed in the Nov. 5 issue, there were 92 members of Maurice Siidmarc's family, not 42 and cannibalism was between the prisoners, not the guards.

November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

news

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'WITNESS PEACE' Team Nicaragua 2010

Photo courtesy of Martha Garcia

Students who went to Nicaragua were able to meet school children from the country and experience what a typical school day is like. and were very passionate about their cause.

"I decided to join the program after speaking with Jhon Velasco. I learned that the goal of the delegation was to learn more about Nicaragua's current state and how we should all be educated on other countries' govern-

dumped and searched through.”

Velasco said that, as of now, this is an annual project.

"We will be implementing another Students looking to learn about dedelegation for January 2011, as we veloping countries have an opportuhave already the team for 2010.” nity to travel to Nicaragua and bring Every year the delegation design their knowledge and experience back changes. This year the team is doto Montclair. ing something new The creator of the proand will study racgram, Jhon Velasco, came ism issues on the to Montclair State UniCaribbean coast, versity in 2003 with the which pertains to dream of creating an interNicaragua. national social justice pro “The hope is to gram, three years ago, this study and underdream became a reality. stand the issues of Teaming with Witness racism in Nicarafor Peace, Montclair sent gua to have a difstudents to Nicaragua with ferent perspective the assistance of Reverend of racism here in Ann Ralosky, the Univerthe U.S.,” he said. sity’s Protestant Chaplain

Currently, and the group has continteam Nica has ued the delegation ever about half of the since. funds needed to en The project is currently able the new projhoused at the Center for ect. The students Non-Violence and Peace have been all over Initiates. campus and the This year's leaders for Montclair commuthe delegation are Velasco, nity to raise money who is the director of the for their delegaCenter for Non-Violence tion. and Peace Initiates and

"Thinking Kevin McGowan, the proabout the hardgram coordinator. ships they have en There was a presentation dured and continue given in University Hall on to endure breaks Thursday Nov. 12, 2009 by my heart to this some of the students who Photo courtesy of Martha Garcia day," Gastulo said. attended the most recent Team Nicaragua takes a group photo at the airport coming home to Montclair.

"When we delegation traveling to Nileft the village, I caragua. remember going mental policies as well as our own,” her story," Garcia said. "Yamileth They discussed the many challengaround saying goodbye to everyone, Michelle Gastulo, a team Nica 09’ es the citizens of this country face is such an inspirational woman; she but I could not find Israel, the little member, said. and the need for help and support helped to create a community out boy who stole my heart. To this day, I Many did not know what to expect from other countries. of the dump by helping families restill wish I had gotten to say goodbye but students were well prepared for cook food found after the garbage is Students shared their experiences and given him one last hug."

Jillian Knight Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Martha Garcia

the journey.

Each member came back to the states with many significant memories.

“Another memorable moment is our visit to La Chureca, which is a garbage dump and having the privilege to meet Yamileth and listen to

Photo courtesy of Martha Garcia

(Left Photo) Students play Duck-Duck-Goose with Nicaraguan children and (Right Photo) spent time touring the country with people from The Los Quinchos program.

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The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Delegates from Ukraine Experience America's Legal System Ukrainians Visit Montclair, New York City and Courtrooms During Their Stay Biancia Francis Staff Writer

The university’s Global Education Center is hosting a delegation of five Ukrainian court administrators in the Open World Leadership Program.

The delegates are visiting Montclair to learn about the American Court Administration.

The student body already began showing interest and gratitude towards the delegates, as information about their visit is spread around the campus. “I think it is a good thing, they could learn from us while we learn from them. I feel good knowing they choose our school to come to; it’s an honor,� Jennire’tt Whitaker, a commuter said.

The question that is of major con-

“Our campus is diverse, comprising of different things and cultures they can experience, not only about the political system but also other Americans views on the system, itself.�

Daniel Hernandez Sophomore

cern is whether the student body will have the chance of speaking with the delegates.

The delegates attended a small discussion seminar yesterday at the courtyard lounge in University Hall, that consisted of a crowd of graduate

Jillian Keats | The Montclarion

Delegates from the Ukraine discuss American Court Administration at the courtyard lounge yesterday. and undergraduate law students.

"The students will then have an opportunity of a round table discussion where they can ask questions about the issues at hand," Dr. Marina Cunningham, executive director at the center, said.

The group of delegates include six women: Olha Volodymyrivna Davyd, Lina Oleksiyivna Hubar, Svitlana Valeriyivna Koltunova, Olena Oleksandrivna Panchenko, Natalya Vasylivna Sulyatytska and Iryna Oleksiyivna Khymchak, who is the facilitator.

Montclair has been the host of visits from other countries such as Russia and Uzbekiston. However, this is the first time being visited by Ukraine.

The program, which is run by the

Global Education Center, is designed for former Soviet Union members. It was organized about 20 years ago. “This program was designed for young leaders to meet their counterparts, for them to learn about democracy and also to meet each other and exchange cultural and personal views," Cunningham said.

The stay for the delegates is expected to be filled with events such as: visits to New York city, the United States District Court, CNBC studios, Essex County Law and Public Safety and to the Administrative office Court of the State of New Jersey located in Trenton.

This event is not just one that brings outsiders to Montclair State; instead it is a prestigious program

that engages in a strong international focus. It provides the university with the option of continuing its development and extending contacts.

The student body of Montclair State University is indeed grateful to have such an event hosted at their school. “Our campus is diverse, comprising of different things and cultures they can experience, not only about the political system, but also other Americans views on the system itself," sophomore Daniel Hernandez said. “It shows positivity that they chose our school over other schools," sophomore Bodenrin Oluwo said. "As a student, I feel good as this is a good experience."

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November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

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The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Unemployment Continued From Page 1

published by the Higher Education Statistics agency.

The national unemployment rate is now 10.2 percent as compared to last year at 6.8 percent. This is a 26year high with 190,000 jobs lost in a month.

President Obama just passed a new bill to help the unemployed on Nov. 6. The new bill will provide up to 20 additional weeks of jobless benefits to unemployed Americans and extend the $8,000 tax credit for new homebuyers into the middle of next year.

Large companies seem to be hiring less college graduates than ever before. The smaller markets will up their employment for new college graduates which seems like the go to

choice right now for graduates.

Most employers will not increase their salaries for newly hired employees and some may even lower their base pay for a new higher.

Sometimes the best bet for college graduates is do some freelance work and get that experience up so that when the economy turns around they have the upper hand in the market.

But after incurring all the debt of college, it’s even harder for students to pay back loans by just freelancing, which looks even worse for the economy.

So will you get a job in this market when you graduate? Well in the next edition we find out what some MSU graduates from 2009 are doing in these hard times.

IN TWO WEEKS: PART II OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR HIRE: WHERE ARE OUR ALUMNI?

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The NJ State Contractor, Hannon Floors, began replacement of both the carpet and wood laminate flooring at the University Bookstore, which cost $35,000.

The recent slow period of the bookstore cued an appropriate time for this to take place. Both the flooring and carpet have a limited wear life and it has been ten years since the flooring was replaced last.

Preparation was needed for this brief modification to occur. Plastic and a momentarily change of location were used to protect the merchandise

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from the dust, though the dust was not excessive.

“The main preparation was making sure there was ample storage for a number of textbook fixtures,” Andrew Pignataro, director of Montclair State University’s Auxiliary Services Department and the one who decided to initiate the project, said.

Based on the reactions of the University Bookstore’s impressed employees, the work on the floor and carpet was just a slight inconvenience, and for some, made their job more interesting: “It’s fun. It’s not normal; it’s different. The place is getting nice. It is something we needed. I like excitement. It didn’t bother me one bit,” Lynn Hume, sales coordinator, said.

“I’ve been in a lot worse conditions than this. This is not terrible at all, just a minor inconvenience. It was actually done pretty quickly. It only took two days to do the rug, maybe three,” Roy Downes, shipping and receiving clerk, stated.

“It was definitely far from strenuous. I think they did a decent job in a timely manner,” Kaseem Newsome, textbook supervisor, said.

Even the University Bookstore director can agree that working under the minor conditions was far from difficult, “We made sure to focus on the students, faculty and staff that shopped, making sure that they could find what they need during the project,” Richard Ammerman said.

Hawk Crossings Continued From Page 1

Junior English major Christina Caamaño, a current resident in the Clove Apartments said, “It sounds kind of childish naming something after the mascot. Why does a new look mean a new name?”

There wasn’t an electronic voting process done for the students at MSU

to give their input on the new name because the apartments are not new buildings.

Junior Business major Ashley Wohlrab said, “I honestly don’t like the name and think they should keep Clove as a part of the school’s history.”

November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

Hate Crime Play Continued From Page 1

news

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Sodexo Can Drive Initiated to Fight Hunger Preparing to Set a World Guinness Record Gail Job Assistant News Editor

Jillian Keats | The Montclarion

(Left-to-Right) Sophomores Ray McKenna and Nick Wolf explain the steps they are taking in writing the play about hate crimes on Montclair campus. change some dialogue to help things flow but for the most part, it will be exact quotes of the victims.

Wolf said the set design of the play would include a recreation center scene with six chairs in a semi-circle, gym mats and carts filled with basketballs in the background.

“It’s suppose to be a meeting for hate crime victims called G.O.D. or Guides Our Discrimination,” Wolf said.

The two sophomores said there is not much staging involved with the play and everything is mostly firstperson monologues.

“We had the idea of having five people be the hate crime victims and there will be one white male hosting the meeting,” Wolf said. “At the end, myself and Ray are going to have our own monologues basically about our perspective on the stories of the vic-

“People say 'if you haven't experienced it, you can't write about it.' But that is why we are trying to do. ” Ray McKenna Sophomore

tims.”

McKenna said that they are currently in the research stage and added that it is the most important part of developing the play.

“We want it to be real,” he said. “We don’t want to make up six completely fake stories. We want to be like ‘listen, this is what‘s going on our campus and we’re going to tell you about it.’ We want play to feel it.”

Wolf said him and McKenna plan on looking into mostly recent hate crimes around the town of Montclair besides searching for victims on campus.

“There was a little boy at a playground [in Montclair] and he found a bunch of swastikas written on playground and he really didn’t know what it really meant. So he went to his mom and asked her about it,” McKenna recalled. “I saw that as big deal especially seeing a kid sitting in

the G.O.D. meeting and explaining something like that. He’s so little but it is definitely a big problem.”

Wolf added that he and McKenna are not trying to focus on getting the play published and noticed outside Montclair, but to try and get the voices out of Montclair students.

“One of my best friends is gay and over the summer one kid at my house was harassing him a lot for being gay,” McKenna recalled. “You don’t take something like that lightly especially since he is one of my good friends. “There’s still such a discrimination against people and I told the kid to get out of my house. I feel like its not really known about and people aren’t realizing that it is happening at Montclair.”

Once the research and gathering stories from the victims is completed, the outline of the play will also be developed.

“We are not just looking at homosexuals but race and religious discrimination as well. The Larimer Project focused more on hate crimes against homosexuals while we are trying to focus on the broader version of hate crime,” Wolf said.

Flyers will be posted in a few days, McKenna said, which basically announce that “if anyone has a story to tell us and you want it out there, we will get it out there.”

“We just want to hear their stories so we can make a connection with it.

A lot of people don’t tell their story and instead just keep it inside. If your comfortable in telling us your story, we just want to understand your point of view and get it out there,” McKenna said.

Wolf said from a play write standpoint, one of the difficulties he will have is finding a place to put the show on since there are constantly shows being performed throughout the campus.

For McKenna, he had an emotional point of view on what he will find to be difficult as the play progresses.

“We haven’t experienced hate crimes ourselves which makes it hard to connect to. People say ‘if you haven’t experienced it, you can’t write about it.’ But that is what we are trying to do. We want their words and want other people to know that other people have experienced it,” McKenna said.

Transition Team Continued From Page 1

only in the field of higher education, but also kindergarten through 12th grade and I have a good sense of how higher education policies work,” Cole said.

Cole could not provide much information on what the transition team will discuss because of the confidential transition process.

She does admit that it’s too soon to anticipate Christie’s plans for higher education, but claims it will “definitely be different from the previous administration.”

Duties of the transition team include sorting through information from the outgoing governor, Jon Corzine, and providing the incoming governor with advice from key publics across the state. The transition team is also responsible for providing policy guidance to Christie.

Other members of Christie’s transition team include: 1. Senator Joseph Kyrillos 2. Senator Sandra Cunningham 3. John McCormac 4. Alfred C. Koeppe 5. Debra DiLorenzo 6. Jon Hanson 7. George Gilmore 8. Mike DuHaime

Additional reporting by Kulsoom Rizvi.

Sodexo Dining services has involved the Montclair State University community in an annual Cans Across America food drive as a preparation to fight hunger and an attempt to set a new World Guinness record.

Sodexo dining services has been involved in the food drive for two years, and last year, was able to raise $860 dollars.

“Montclair State University has helped with the Food Drive in conjunction with Dining Services. We had money bins all across campus and called our venders for donations.

We collected $460 in money in just a week and a half,” marketing director Kamali Archukan said.

This year, Sodexo will be able to donate a $5,000 contribution to the Food Bank of Hillside, NJ. “Sodexo is also donating a $5,000 grant to the commissary of the New Jersey Food Bank to help the training camp of food service workers. We plan to drop it all off today at the NJ Food Bank in Hillside, N.J.” John Churichello, a unit manager for Sodexo dining services, is very involved at the food bank where he also volunteers as a community kitchen chef instructor.

The food service training academy is a series of classes that takes place for 14 weeks. John attends four graduations per year.

“The commissary has several meanings. One is for people looking for a job, another to build on their career or for those who need a second chance,” Churichell said.

SGA President, Jon Preciado, Archukan and Chirichello went to

the Community Food Bank of Hillside N.J. on Tuesday to donate the check from Sodexo, the money collected on campus and canned goods, totaling 520 pounds.

Students contributed a vast input by collecting cans and making donations for the food drive. Bonner Leaders, a Bonner AmeriCorps program on campus also went door to door asking for canned donations. Three fourths of donations were from the Bonner Leaders' contributions.

Bonner Leaders hosted the first annual Hunger and Homlessness Awareness week. Part of their awareness week included the food drive.

“We would like to continue to get the campus as well as the community aware of Hunger and Homelessness next year," Emerald Rozmester Bonner Leader said. "We sent letters to near by houses explaining who we were, what we were doing and when and why we were doing it as well as left boxes in the Student Center which the SGA helped with.”

On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the group went door to door to receive the letters they had sent out regarding donations.

“We were surprised and very grateful from the great response we received from the community,” Rozmester said.

“Our vendors were also extremely instrumental in this food drive,” Archukan said. Vendors such as Reichenbach Associates Inc, General Mills, Tropicana, GMCR Speciality Cofee, Turkey Hill and Balford Farms also contributed many goods to the drive.

Archukan hopes the food drive can be advocated to incoming students during admission days.

For photos: http://www.themontclarion.org

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The Montclarion

FEature

MSUFeature@gmail.com

Healthy Holiday Eats Jocelynn Thomas staff writer

It may be hard to believe, but the holiday season has rolled around once again… Indeed I am thankful for a great many things. Among them, given my partial Italian heritage, I am grateful my mother does not continue the Feast of Seven Fishes Christmas Eve tradition, followed by pastries, pasta, bread and the like. Yes, I said it.

I’d rather spend the holidays full of good cheer (read as: happy disposition) verses passed out in a painful food coma. Don’t get me wrong, I have a deep appreciation for and love of good food, and my mother is a fantastic cook.

My goal is to help you maneuver the potential pitfalls during this impending, hopefully joyful, yet all too often, stressful season. Here are some tips for not feeling like a bloated sack until it’s time for those New Year’s resolutions.

Tip #1: Don’t Skip Meals We’ve all done it… Turkey Dinner is at 4 p.m., so we skip lunch and gorge ourselves until we can barely get up and crawl to the couch. Resist the temptation to do the Cookie Monster “NOM NOM NOM” right after giving thanks by having a healthy breakfast such as, say, oatmeal with walnuts and fruit and snacking throughout the day, on say, veggies and hummus. This can help maintain your blood sugar levels and avoid overindulging to the point of busting off buttons. If your body chemistry is riding a roller coaster, chances are your emotional state is following suit.

Tip #2: Mental Action Plan Think about both your trouble triggers and favorite warm fuzzies. Is there something you absolutely love that you can’t imagine a holiday would feel the same without? Allow for this and give yourself permission to enjoy it without guilt. Anticipate upcoming parties or family gatherings. Do you find yourself eating out of boredom, or are you a set-to-autopilot social nosher? Visualize how you want to be, who you will be with, how you feel about yourself and the company you keep. Mental imagery is a powerful tool for shaping your life, literally.

Tip #3: Drink More…

Water!

Drinking an adequate amount of water is a smart habit to get into; not just for the holidays, but year ‘round.

It’s good for your skin, so if we are strictly speaking about vanity, you’ll look better if you are well hydrated. Also, considering the human body is composed of about 60 percent water, virtually every function is dependent on this vital nutrient. Don’t wait until you feel thirsty as your cue to sip. Chances are, by then, you are already dehydrated. Water also helps to keep the appetite in check, so curb your stomach’s enthusiasm.

Tip #4: Watch the Alcohol I’m not going to pretend to be a purist here. I enjoy a nice glass of red wine now and then, for the antioxidants of course. We all know alcohol lowers our inhibitions, so beware of this before you grab another cocktail. I’m not just talking about your date, I mean the buffet table here, folks.

If you have a drink, match it with a glass of water. This will help you avoid dehydration, help flush out your body and remind you to go easy on the drinky drinky (winky winky).

Tip #5: Keep Active Social gatherings don’t always have

to be centered around food and drink.

Consider volunteering your time at a food bank or after meals with family or friends, go for a walk. If you have nieces, nephews or kids of your own, play with the little people. Help out with yard work, or challenge yourself to walk or run a 5K or more. If you register with a buddy, it’s harder to give excuses why you can’t workout, especially with the colder weather when it’s all the more tempting to curl up in a ball and hibernate.

Tip #6: Healthy Substitutions I love the smell of pumpkin pie and better yet, the taste.

I am also conscious of what goes into my body. It doesn’t have to be one or the other.

You can still enjoy your favorites.

For example, I experimented and was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Follow the recipe for classic pumpkin pie on the label of plain, canned pumpkin, except substitute the regular eggs with egg substitute or omega-3 fortified eggs, use skim evaporated milk and instead of sugar, use stevia (Truvia or Purevia is available in supermarkets and has the same ratio as granulated

sugar). I also added some ground flaxseeds and walnuts. Then I baked in a regular pie plate with a little nonstick spray or olive oil and enjoyed it without a crust. You can even have pie for breakfast this way. Go ahead, indulge.

Tip #7: Be Grateful and Give Back Take some time to think about those less fortunate than you. There are countless people with more dire stresses than gaining a few pounds over the holidays. Some people don’t even know where there next meal is coming from, or if there drinking water is safe; and I’m not talking Britta filters.

I encourage you to take some time and drop off bags at your local food drive or fill up the boxes on campus. Call up your local food bank and ask how you can help. If you feel you don’t have the time, donate some of your money, even if it’s a little bit. That could mean Thanksgiving dinner to someone who is starving and out of work.

Count your blessings and give back.

Happy Turkey or Tofurkey to all!

Community Food Bank of New Jersey

http://www.njfoodbank.org NORWESCAP

http://www.norwescap.org

Exploring Bloomfield Avenue: Leela’s Trinidad Cuisine

Scott W. Buchanan Staff Writer

Sick of (or from) the food on campus? Take a short ride with me to explore the culinary diversity along the historic thoroughfare that is Bloomfield Avenue —on a college student’s budget, of course.

No exploration of Bloomfield Avenue would be complete without a sampling of some good Caribbean food. I entered Leela’s hoping to find some. A new awning and an immaculate interior betrayed the fact that this restaurant has not been open long. I was surprised to see that the restaurant emphasized table service. I had, judging solely from the exterior, been expecting more of a counter service set-up. The dining room was very attractive and had been decorated with plenty of color, which gave it a warm Caribbean feel. It was apparent that the tables had been set with care and the first thing the woman at the counter said to me was to watch my step because they had just waxed the floor.

I would have preferred to sit and eat, but in a rush (and in order to save a few bucks), I opted for takeout. I was too late for the lunch specials (11 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and I had to choose from a dinner menu that was for the most part identical. If you are not familiar with Caribbean food, there is one thing you need to know—curry. I think it is safe to say that this is the predominant spice used in this style of cooking. The menu had a section

dedicated to curry dishes, the only variation being the vehicle for the spice. Patrons are given a choice of vegetables, chicken, boneless chicken, beef, goat, duck, shrimp, king fish or salmon to serve as the vehicle. Other notable selections on the menu were stewed ox tail, fried fish and jerk chicken. The soup of the day was cow-hoof stew. In case you were wondering (as I was), cow-hoof stew is exactly what it sounds like.

Subtle is not the word I would use to describe Caribbean food.

Most recipes have kick-you-in-themouth kind of flavors. Never was that more apparent then when I inquired about that the composition of a few unfamiliar drinks on the menu, specifically mauby and sorrel. I was treated to a sample of the two as well as a sample of the ginger beer. All three were made in house.

The mauby, made with tree bark, was a little sweet and a lot bitter — painfully so. The sorrel, made with the sepals of the sorrel flower, was sweet and aromatic, but too syrupy for my liking. The ginger beer was sweet, but very potent. I decided I didn’t have what it took to order the authentic stuff and opted to hold out for something more familiar from my refrigerator at home.

As for my meal, I ordered a curry beef roti. Roti is a thin tortilla-like bread made from any of a number of types of flour. It is baked, stuffed full of goodies and rolled up, not unlike a burrito. Mine was full of beef, spices, potatoes and chickpeas. I was forced to eat it with a fork and knife as it was falling apart by the time I got home, but

Scott Buchanan / The Montclarion

Inside of Leela’s Trindad Cuisine

that did not detract from its appeal. The spice was well balanced, the curry was not overwhelming and the beef was tender. It was not cheap at ten dollars ($7.50 during lunch), but it left me stuffed.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a Caribbean style meal I haven’t enjoyed. Personally, it is a break from the norm — a cuisine that has as strong a sense of place as any I’ve ever sampled.

Leela’s is yet

another example of authentic, culture-based food from a distant shore prepared right here in our own backyard. It is a great place to check out if you are in need of a gastronomic adventure.

Leela’s Trinidad Cuisine 180 Bloomfield Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042 (973)744-8118

Price per Meal — $8.00+ Miles from Campus — 4.1 Miles

The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

He said

feature 9

She said

Q: How long should you be dating someone before you ask him or her home for Thanksgiving?

Sincerely, Anxious Lover Thanksgiving can always be one of those t r i c k y holidays.

I can remember a past experience, Turkey Day, 2004. My John Pope brother had Graphics Editor brought his long-distance girlfriend to our aunt and uncle’s house for Thanksgiving and her first ever trip to New Jersey. Then WHAM! Right in the middle of the turkey carving, she gets nailed right in the head with a dinner roll.

Needless to say, she had a less than stellar experience and was a little hesitant to be around my brother ever again.

So, think about this, do you really want to release anyone you love into that kind of environment? I would be scared to ask anyone I’m seeing, no matter how long it’s been,

to come and have the dinner of all dinners with that pack of animals.

In all seriousness though, Thanksgiving is a family holiday. I can’t think back to a year where I wasn’t together with at least my mom and brother for the day.

Considering this, it’s obvious that any budding relationship could be ruled out for spending the day together, not to mention that asking any girl you’ve only been on a handful of dates with is probably only going to scare her away.

You might as well ask whether the kids will be with yours or her parents for Christmas.

Realistically, if you haven’t been going out long enough to have seen the holiday once before, go your separate ways. I swear, you’ll both see each other again and the weekend away from each other should only intensify the attraction between the two of you.

Truthfully, as I’ve said, Thanksgiving is a family holiday. Focus on your mom, your dad and eating yourself into a coma.

You have the rest of your life to worry about bringing that special someone home to see the skeletons you hide back home. Well then, there is always Christmas.

The act of asking a significant other to a holiday celebration can either make or break a relationship. Many people have a hard time determining how long Jade Moskovitz to wait beStaff Writer fore they take the risk. So how soon is too soon to ask someone to Thanksgiving dinner?

The first thing to consider is the “last name test.” If I hooked up with a guy at a party and a few days later he decided to drop the “T-Bomb,” it’s enough to send me out the door and place my keys into the ignition.

If you are dating someone and can’t even remember their last name, assume it is too soon!

In my opinion, asking someone to a holiday celebration is a big step into the direction of commitment, especially a Thanksgiving dinner. If your special someone hasn’t even had the chance to

meet and greet with your parents, bringing them home to meet the whole family tree isn’t recommended.

So even if you think you are ready, consider the fact that it takes two to tango and think twice before you ask.

At the same time, if you’ve been dating someone for few months exclusively and the holiday is around the corner, not extending the invite could create a problem. From a girl’s perspective, in this situation it’s safe to say that a million thoughts would bombard my mind… “Is he having second thoughts about us being so serious?” “Is he embarrassed to bring me in front of his family?” “Is he sick of me?” Granted the guy probably just assumed that the invite was implied, however, that’s not how a girl’s mind works. It’s true that women may think over some situations, but it’s what we do and we do it well.

Personally, if I was dating someone for a long period of time and the question wasn’t asked, my man would be headed for the dog house. So to avoid the chance of getting into an argument; bring the invite to the table and make it known that you want your man or your woman there by your side.

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The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Thanksgiving: An Interesting Word For This Upcoming Holiday James Carpentier Staff Writer

When we think of Thanksgiving Day next Thursday, Nov. 26, what immediately comes to mind?

For many, it’s the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York City. Others have memories of attending or participating high school football games or watching professional football games on TV this holiday. And, of course, others are saving their appetites, awaiting the traditional holiday turkey and trimmings such as sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin and apple pies. But, have you ever stopped to think what the word ‘thanksgiving’ means? Truly, is the word ever used during the other 364 days of the year? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary provides three definitions of ‘thanksgiving’: The act of giving thanks, prayer expressing gratitude and capitalized, it is the fourth Thursday in November, observed as a legal holiday for giving thanks for divine goodness.

Let’s further dissect ‘thanksgiving’ by dividing it into two separate words that are commonly used nearly everyday: thanks and giving.

First, the word ‘thanks’ can either be overused or it can be reserved for special occasions to acknowledge genuine receptiveness for someone going out of their way to help you or

merely return a favor. How often do we say “thank you,” or “thanks a lot,” or “gee thanks, by the way?” Or, “I forgot to thank you last week” or, “Thanks for being there for me during this difficult time?” As you see, the word ‘thanks’ can really go a long way, and can make the person on the other end feel good about themselves for a job well done — by assisting someone else in either a small or large way.

Unfortunately, ‘thanks’ can also be used negatively — when someone sarcastically uses ‘thanks’ in a degrading way. For example: “Thanks for showing up at my birthday party last week,” when the birthday celebrant was hurt when his or her friend did not attend the party. Optimally, if you are indeed truly thanking someone, whether it is a friend, relative or a stranger — be sure to say it in a positive manner and show that you really mean it. And, job seekers heed this advice: displaying ‘thanks’ in today’s competitive job market by sending a ‘thank you’ note following an employment interview may place you above other candidates for the position.

The second word, ‘giving’ also has various connotations. For instance,

Cooking With Nelson!

Thanksgiving Edition!

Nelson DePasquale Sports Editor

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is what you have all been waiting for: Thanksgiving. And boy, do I have a treat for you! The DePasquale family’s finest cooking secrets come out on Thanksgiving Day and I am sharing a piece of the magic with you, my devoted fans.

As you make your plans on where you are going, which football games you are going to watch and who will be the designated driver (definitely not Uncle Jackie), don’t forget the most important part of Thanksgiving: The Feast! If you are the host for the party this year, beware! This next recipe may keep all your relatives, wanted or unwanted (hey, there’s always that one person… or five…), begging to come back. And if you are the one of the moocher’s this year, you can stun your host and all of the guests with this next masterpiece.

Lasagna has been a great tradition in my family and in all Italian families, for years. But when you have lasagna as a first course, before the salad and the Turkey, it just seems to hit the spot the best.

My family’s eight-layer ravioli-lasagna will taste great, and will be able to fill up the stomach of even the most starved sports fans. Lets get to the brass tax: Ingredients: •Four or five boxes of Lasagna noodles •Your homemade gravy •Meatballs •Sausage •Shredded and mozzarella cheese •Grated parmesan cheese •Ricotta cheese •About 20-40 raviolis, •The biggest pan you got •1 gallon of apple cider •1 gallon of HARD apple cider.

Directions: Now, the boiling is the special key!

Make sure to do it as I say, or else, there could be messy consequences. Boil the lasagna noodles and ravioli in a mixture of 3/4 apple cider and 1/4 hard cider. Also, add two cups of water in for balance.

At this time, both your lasagna noodles and your ravioli should be cooked. Ok, first you must put one ladle of your gravy, and spread it on the bottom of the pan.

Now, layer the lasagna noodles over the gravy, overlapping just a little bit. After this, spread another ladle or two of gravy over the noodles. Then, put some ravioli, some crushed meatballs and sausage, ricotta cheese and shredded parmesan and mozzarella cheese. Again, remember to spread this all around, so it doesn’t come out uneven. Continue by putting another layer of lasagna noodles on top and repeat. After your eight layers are complete, top the last layer of noodles off with shredded and grated cheese.

Stick that baby in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and watch that baby cook. It usually takes about an hour to cook. But if the cheese on top starts to melt or burn, then the lasagna is probably done. Stick a toothpick in it to check out the consistency inside and cook to your liking.

I hope you all enjoy this week’s special recipe. I have had this ravioli-lasagna many times throughout my life and it keeps getting better.

That’s all for Cooking with Nelson this week. This Thanksgiving, remember to eat, drink, indulge, have fun with the family and of course, root for the big men in blue. Lets go Giants!

are you a “giving” type of person or just the opposite — selfish or materialistic? Hopefully, you ‘give’ of yourself more than you receive.

How often do we hear of someone “giving up their time” to be of service to others? Or, the old saying “ better to give than to receive.” In this world, there are ‘givers’ and there are ‘takers.’ We recognize those who donate goods — be it food or money to aid the needy or others who donate large sums of money to charities, educational or medical institutions. However, beware of the ‘takers’ or ‘thieves’ out there.

So, for those of us who will observe the traditional American Thanksgiving holiday next Thursday with family or friends, just remember what ‘thanks’ and ‘giving’ mean and how they can best be utilized during the other 364 days of the year.

This Thanksgiving Day and every day of the year be ‘thankful’ for the things often taken for granted such as the ability to see, hear, smell, feel, taste and walk around each day. And, by the way, ‘thanks’ for taking time out to read this article.

Active Minds on the Road Cynthia Delva STAFF WRITER

The past weekend our Montclair chapter of Activeminds attended the national conference in Washington D.C. The location of this years conference was George Washington University. Activeminds is a mental health awareness organization.

It is “the nation’s only nonprofit organization dedicated to utilizing the student voice to change the conversation about mental health on college campuses nationwide.” This was Activeminds’ sixth annual conference.

The theme for this years conference was uniting voices and inspiring change. The conference kicked off on Friday morning with a tour of our nations capital. This was followed by leadership workshops. These workshops consist of activities to help chapter leaders develop personal leadership skills and learn techniques to recruit members.

On the third floor of the Marvin building on the George Washington campus is where the Send the Silence packing campaign was displayed. There were 1,100 donated backpacks arranged in uniformity. Each backpack represented one student who tragically took their own life each year. One thousand one hundred students die by suicide every year. Many of the backpacks have a personal story attached to it and were sent in by loved ones.

The conference consisted of many noted speakers. This year’s speakers included Heather Matarazzo, a star of Welcome to the Dollhouse, Saved and

Princess Diaries. Heather spoke “candid-

ly about her battle with depression and the importance of supporting peers, especially those in the LGBT community.”

Other speakers included Joshua Wolf Shank author of Lincoln’s Melancholy.

The most anticipated part of the

conference was the award dinner.

The Montclair University Chapter received the Uniting Voices Honorable Mention Award.

As the conference came to a close, MSU Activeminds looked optimistically at future of the organization.

They plan to continue their work of destigmitizing the Montclair campus by running programs that educate students about mental health and providing support for those who are affected by it.

Have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving!

Photos by Cynthia Delva / The Montclarion

Games

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Sudoku Korner Puzzle #1 - Easy Puzzle #2 - Easy

The Games Section will return in two weeks. Happy Thanksgiving!

12

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Student Production of The Exonerated Six Individuals on Death Row Tell Their Innocent Stories Kulsoom Rivizi News Editor

Through a collection of interviews, transcripts, letters and case files, The Exonerated presents true stories of six individuals who were sent to death row for crimes they did not commit.

Six Montclair students take on the role of the exonerated and paint a picture through firstperson monologues of wrongful convictions in the American criminal justice system.

“This was an intriguing story and when the audience sees this play, they will raise questions concerning capital punishment and wrongful convictions,” AJ Johnson, a junior theatre studies major said.

The Exonerated, directed by Michael Allen, introduces real people accused of crimes ranging from a man murdering his own parents, an African-American horse groomer who spent seven years on Florida’s death row for the murder of a white woman, an 18-year-old confessing to a robbery and murder he had nothing to do with, a hippie who spent 16 years in prison and a poet who was convicted of rape and murder in the 1970’s.

The rest of the cast members include ensemble members who portray background characters such as wives, police officers and individuals who gave testimonies while on the witness stand.

During the first semester of this school year, justice studies professor Jessica Henry taught a course called Wrongful Con-

victions where students discussed causes of wrongful convictions and what happens when one is exonerated.

“As I was working through the course content, I thought it would be so terrific to get a partnership going for the theatre and justice department,” she said. “This could be the first inter-departmental project at Montclair and it was just such an interesting process.”

The presentational style of the play, which is a setup of just chairs and stools, according to Michael Allen, assistant professor of theatre and dance, focuses more on the monologues presented by the cast rather than theatrical staging.

“The set-up does more justice to the play, where the audience will play attention to the words of characters, their voices, how they sit and how they recall good memories and painful memories,” freshman Hannah Brady said.

Brady plays Sunny Jacobs who was sent to death row, along with her husband who was executed.

“I have never portrayed a real person before, so I ended up doing all kinds of research,” she said. “When I’m up there, the hardest thing for me was the fact that there is nothing to hide, -behind or go off-stage and

take a break. You spend the entire time on stage talking.”

Johnson plays Robert Hayes

from Georgia who was accused for the rape and death of a 29-year-old white women in

Jillian Keats|The Montclarion

(Left-Right) Chris Abbott, Joel Snitzer and Michael Brewer star in The Exonerated.

Super Mario Brothers Find Another Home Brothers Now Available for Wii Console

Mark Ramdular Staff Writer

Throughout the years in the gaming industry, as with any high profit industries, new technology has often brought answers to old problems while simultaneously creating new problems.

While the Wii completely dominated the market and completely tapped into unlikely fan bases, Nintendo still held on to their hardcore fans.

Herein lies the problem; developers, even Nintendo themselves, have been trying to bridge this gap and release a game that appeals to both sets of fans. On Nov. 16, Nintendo, in another at-

tempt to bridge the gap released New Super Mario Bros. Wii. New Super Mario Bros. starts off with almost no need of an explanation. In true classic fashion, Princess Peach gets captured by Bowser and his minions (this time on her birthday) and must be rescued by our heroes.

This game features a multiplayer option allowing you to play with three other heroes at once.

Controls and gameplay are instantly familiar to anyone who has held an NES controller in their life. Players will hold the Wii remote sideways and use 1 to run, 2 to jump and the d-pad to scroll through the 2-D platform-

er. Occasionally, shaking the Wii remote is required as well.

Moves from New Super Mario Bros. on the DS such as the wall kick, butt stomp, double and triple jumps are back. Fortunately, this dog had learned quite a few new tricks in the form of powerups. This time around, gamers have access to an ice flower, penguin suit and helicopter suit along with the classics. Another interesting new feature is the super guide, a figure that pops up and shows gamers how a particular level is done if the level is too challenging. Surprisingly, these few powerups and new additions add a great deal of depth

to experience and make gameplay refreshing.

New modes include a simple mutliplayer mode where everyone cooperates to reach the end goals, a free-for-all mode where it’s a race to the end of the stages and finally a coin battle mode where players must gather the most coins. With all these modes, multiplayer certainly has its ups and downs. On the positive side, it’s one of the more interesting and rare experiences to play a game where literally grandma, girlfriend and hardcore gamer not only collide; they will all be enjoying themselves. Thankfully, the only real downside is that Mario Continued on Page 16

Photo Courtesy of www.gossipgames.com

1990. Johnson added that the real Hayes is currently serving a 25 to 45-year sentence for a similar crime three years before the 1990 crime happened.

Senior Andrea Barnett, who plays Georgia Hayes, the wife of Hayes, said that she was intrigued seeing the theatre department and the justice department collaborate for a piece like this that she commented that this would be beneficial for the university.

Barnett also added that it was an eye-opening experience for the senior, when her and the rest of the cast took a trip to a prison in Rahway to interview and question the inmates and hear their side of the story. “[We asked them] what was the lifestyle like behind bars and what was their life before they ended up in prison,” she said.

“From what I got with speaking with the security officers who gave us a tour was that anyone wound up in prison is guilty and it doesn’t matter if that inmate was wrongfully convicted. There is nothing we can do for you. The longer they work in this environment the more the actors realize the hardships of the inmates.”

Both Brady and Barnett recalled one particular prisoner named John who told the students that he murdered his wife with a tool used in his leather company and was turned in by his mistress who was also his secretary who was stealing money from the company.

Exonerated Continued on Page 16

2012: Not a Disaster Movie, Just a Disaster Blaine Bridges Arts & Entertainment Assistant

Before watching 2012 I gave myself a little pep talk. Looking squarely in the mirror I said these words: “Blaine, under no circumstances will you allow the bitter film snob raging within your bones to take hold of you.

You can control the pimply, phlebitis riddled critic surging through your veins. Tonight you will see unabashed stupidity. It does not matter. Suspend your disbelief at any cost.”

Those familiar with Roland Emmerich’s career of destroying the world over and over again understand my sentiment. Five years ago he gave us The Day After Tomorrow, in which global warming literally chased people down a hallway. Think about that statement for a moment.

Read it out loud. If you’re not laughing at how preposterous it sounds, you have no business being in college.

No respectable critic could evaluate this type of film by the same standards as... uh anything. The disaster movie is a special genre, special like an inbred dog. It gives you those, “aw shucks” looks, but frequently walks into walls for no apparent reason. Some people find this appealing. Of course, some people find eating boogers appealing, so the lines of entertainment are kind of blurred.

The point I’m making is this: I won’t waste your time nitpicking a film like 2012, that would only insult your intelligence. If you’re going to see this movie, logic and reason are probably the last things you’re looking for.

There’s only one real question to ask. Does 2012 blow stuff up real good?

Amazingly my little pep talk worked, or maybe I had a mild stroke. Excuse me, I need to wipe off some drool.

For the first half of the film 2012 Continued on Page 16

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The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Movies You Should Have Seen: Shawshank Redemption Jon Reino Staff Writer

Few books are suited for film adaptations. Of those that do make it past the cutting room floor, few of them are commercially successful, let alone the four adaptations that french director Frank Darabont made of Stephen King’s The Green Mile, The Mist, The Woman In The Room and of course The Shawshank Redemption. The book was actually called Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption because of a Rita Hayworth poster in the main character’s prison cell which plays an important role in the film, but Rita Hayworth’s name was removed for commercial reasons. Shawshank was Darabont’s first major release of a Stephen King adaptation, and was released on Sept. 23, 1994.

The film received very little success in theaters, but through mostly word of

mouth quickly, became the most rented video of all time; and thanks to the internet, it is currently the number one rated movie on IMDb, followed not-so-closely by The Godfather, with about 83,000 votes.

The film begins in 1947, and opens with Andy Dufresne, a young and successful banker played by Tim Robbins, sitting alone in his truck. His wife has been cheating on him, and is inconveniently found murdered with her lover in their home. With no alibi, Andy stood no chance in court, regardless of his innocence, and is sent to one of the cruelest penitentiaries around, Shawshank Prison.

From the moment he arrives, he is pointed out as the underdog, and several prisoners bet on him being the first to break.

His vulnerability makes him a target, but Andy endures everything they can throw at him. In time, he befriends one of the prisoners who had originally bet on him cracking. His name is Red, played by Mor-

gan Freeman, who is a fixer, someone who retrieves things from the outside world as long as the price is right.

The bulk of the film focuses on Andy’s struggles. Throughout the course of the story, there is a feeling of hopelessness and frustration, but what makes Andy different is the fact that he is not a criminal, and that he can make intelligent and calculated decisions. Once the guards and the warden found out he was a banker on the outside, there was quickly a line to have him do their taxes and Andy even expanded the library, both of which earned him special privileges.

But the sinister warden uses these things to keep Andy right under his thumb, and if he shows even a hint of defiance, the warden makes sure he is reminded that everything could be taken away in an instant.

All the while, Andy continues to turn Shawshank on its head and continues

hinting the possibility of escape. Nobody has ever escaped Shawshank Prison before, but that is not enough to stop Andy Dufresne.

Darabont’s visual styling is on point, the complexity of the filmmaking is evident within the first five minutes and an award winning soundtrack matches the look and feel of the film. Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman are at their best, and are only brought higher with a flawless supporting cast. Often referred to as one of the greatest films of all time, with the ratings to prove it, The Shawshank Redemption, is not a film that you would want to miss.

Disagree with anything I have said?

Have anything to add? Any requests for movies you want me to mention or review?

Send an email to msuarts@gmail.com with “Jon Reino” in the subject heading, speak and you will be heard.

Photo Courtesy of www.dubifilmfest.com

Dowland Makes His Way Back Lute Recital Takes the Stage

Jack Blaszkiewicz Staff Writer

The music of John Dowland, who died in London in 1626, rarely finds its way into the modern recital program. What made the all-Dowland lute recital on Sunday, Oct. 25 so special was a combination of beautiful, yet underplayed music and a tremendous display of virtuosity on the part of the soloist.

John Dowland led the life of a modern day singer-songwriter. During the Renaissance, recitals and recordings did not yet exist, so composers made themselves known by traveling Europe and performing in aristocratic circles with the hopes of landing the dream job: court musician for a noble or monarch. According to the soloist, Paul O’Dette, “Court lute players had the highest salaries, after ministers of defense.” Similarly, pop stars today earn more than government officials can fathom.

Dowland established a reputation as the greatest lute player in Europe, but a volatile lifestyle and contacts with the wrong people cost him his life-long goal of becoming court musician for Queen Elizabeth. Frustrated over his career, Dowland adapted the motto “Semper Dowland semper dolens”, translated as “Always Dowland, always sorrowing.”

The melancholy that he endured was channeled into his music, played thoughtfully and expressively by O’Dette. The lute piece, bearing Dowland’s pessimistic slogan as its title, was poignant and grieving, as were the majority of the works presented in the recital. O’Dette also played several upbeat dances to show Dowland’s lighter side, including pieces entitled “A

Coy Joy” and “Mistris Winters Jump.”

Dowland was especially fond of the galliard, a lively dance in triple meter that was popular during the Renaissance. Most of the galliards that Dowland wrote in his career were for students or prospective employers, using their names as titles.

Lute pieces entitled “The Right Honourable The Lord Viscount Lisle, his Galliard” or “The Most Sacred Queene Elizabeth, her Galliard” most likely served as tickets into higher-paying jobs.

Although the soothing sounds of the lute, an avocado-shaped instrument with eight strings, resembling a guitar, put several listeners to sleep, O’Dette’s control over his instrument was masterly. He easily balanced multiple melodies at once, producing the effect of a lute ensemble.

O’Dette’s most skillful playing was in “Farewell,” an eerie piece in which several melodic lines intertwine, creating an intensely dramatic effect. The “Fantasie,” which ended the program, left audience members shaking their heads in awe.

O’Dette raced across the fingerboard in an array of scales, chords and lively rhythms.

It was a pleasant surprise to see John Dowland’s music greeted with a standing ovation.

Lutenist Paul O’Dette has performed in early music festivals in many of the world’s major capitals, including Vienna, London, Paris, Moscow and Tokyo. As both opera conductor and lute soloist, O’Dette produced recordings that were nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2005 and 2006, respectively. He is currently a professor of lute and director of early music at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York and artistic director of the Boston Early Music Festival.

Norah Jones Rocks!

New CD Goes from Jazz to Rock

Emily Golloub Arts & Entertainment Editor

Once again, Norah Jones has outdone herself with another remarkable album.

From start to finish Jones’s creative lyrics, pianist skills and jazz undertone creates feelings of warmth just in time for winter. Jones continues to succeed.

Compared to previous albums, The

Fall, released Nov. 17, gentle rock has become a new ingredient in her usual jazz mix. With no trouble at all, Jones has shifted gears and did a great job doing so.

“Chasing Pirates” starts off the CD with a strong feel that carries throughout the album. Jones will shock many with this album. Can the jazz queen become a rock goddess? The Fall proves she’s rising to the challenge.

Photo Courtesy of www.blogcritic.com

November 19, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ The Montclarion

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16 A&E

The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Exonerated

his mistress, who was also his secretary and was stealing money from the company.

“It was just such a strange story and something you would see in like CSI or shows of that nature,” Brady said. “But it really did happen and just by the way the prisoners were sitting made you see that they regret what they did.”

When the original play was performed back in 2002, Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen co-directed the production.

The cast performed for an audience that included over 40 exonerated death row inmates, Gov. George Ryan of Illinoisand several members of the Illinois State Legislature.

“This show is more important to me than any other show I have ever done, because it points out some huge flaws in the legal system, even though the play takes place years ago,” Brady said.

Jillian Keats|The Montclarion

Freshman Hannah Brady prepares for her performance.

2012

Continued from Page 13

I was hooked. California literally sinks into the ocean. It was all kinds of awesome. The Yellowstone caldera explodes, rock on! This causes the ash cloud to cover all of North America, cool! Earthquake after earthquake strikes the continents as the capitals of the world come crashing down, yeah. Massive tidal waves cover every landmass again and again, ok. The earth’s crust shifts twenty three degrees, uh-huh. The magnetic polarity of the earth is reversed, hmm... More earthquakes, oh.

More tidal waves, yawn. Everyone dies, snooze.

After an hour and a half, I was eager to give 2012 a good rating. The film was played at exactly the right pitch between melodrama and camp. But then, it would not end. It went on for nearly three hours.

I was so exhausted by the end of the movie that not even John Cusack could save it from the overwhelming tediousness.

Hmm, John Cusack... that reminds me.

There were actual actors performing in this movie. Obviously, they were easy to

forget. The movie’s demolition volume is cranked so loud, it sort of drowned out any relevance characters might have had.

Mostly everyone’s tone is somewhere between somber and terror. Few of them seem to realize that they are acting schlock. Why didn’t they try to have some fun? The only person who seems to be having a good time is Woody Harrelson, as a pickle chomping conspiracy nut who doesn’t have nearly enough screen time.

The story is equally uninteresting. Cusack is divorced from his wife, Amanda Peet, has trouble with his children and slowly draws them back into his life as the planet goes to hell. The government has a secret project to save a small portion of humanity, and through a series of happy accidents, Cusack and his brood discover how to be a part of it.

You know, I promised I wouldn’t nitpick, but there’s one moment my comatose brain processed. Unfortunately, it made no sense. At one point, the heroes are in a plane somewhere over the Pacific.

“Defying Gravity” from Wicked Kulsoom Rivizi, News Editor “One Boy” from Bye, Bye Birdie Manda Balbi, Assistant Feature Editor “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago Lurdes Ruela, Chief Copy Editor “Putting it Together” from Sunday in the Park With George Katherine Milsop, Opinion Editor “I Got Life” from Hair Emily Golloub, Arts & Entertainment Editor “Rock Island” from Music Man Katie Winters, Assistant Copy Editor “Time Warp” from Rocky Horror Blaine Bridges, Assistant Arts & Entertainment Editor

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD! Photo Courtesy of www.filmoflia.com

Mario

Submit reviews, photos and articles relating to the arts!

Continued from Page 13

the only real downside is that gameplay is really chaotic in multplayer; which is why single player exists and is also a blast.

Graphically, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is decently average. Visually, there isn’t a huge difference between this and the DS game. Assuredly, some of the textures, such as lava, are much better done and the pixels are sharper. When it comes to the sound, Nintendo did a great job. All of the old tunes are there, but now there is a slick coating of orchestration, which will put a nostalgic smile on everyone’s faces.

Nintendo’s Wii console at launch brought a small cast together, if only for a short while. Then the hardcore gamers became angry at the triviality, or because their mothers kept winning. Once developers saw this, they instantly all wanted to cash in on the multitudes of demographics in Wii owners. Cynics would argue that for Nintendo, New Super Mario Bros. Wii is more of the same. Unfortunately for them, this is one of the few rare games that will easily be enjoyed by everyone, no matter who they are, even if they are cynics.

Send all ideas to: msuarts@gmail.com

opinion

The Montclarion

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17

Smoke and Mirrors: Clove Road things fall apart...like Renovations clove road Clove Road Names GetClassy

Lou Cunningham | The Montclarion

R

ejoice! The Clove Road Apartments are getting a face lift and a name change! Actually, interior renovations have been ongoing since the summer and the exterior beautification began at the start of the fall semester. At any rate, new things are always nice. Onwards and upwards.

That being said, we officially have the new names for the apartments (see Clove Road Names Get Classy). Clove Road will be Hawk Crossings and each section will be called Falconidae, Accipitor and Buteo. That may take some getting used to, but you must admit, it obviously took the deciders at this university some thought and effort to come up with such collegiate sounding names.

So what would be even better than new names for the dorms?

According to residents, they would

greatly appreciate basic maintenance and a thorough fumigation.

Currently at Clove Road, Montclarion staff members have reported several cases of mold from the general dampness that lingers in many areas of the buildings. Residents repeatedly bring up problems with their RAs, who unfortunately can do little other than report the issue.

In addition to mold, residents of Clove on The Montclarion mentioned recent power outages that have lasted all day.

Not every building faces these problems. The 100s and 200s, or Falconidae and Accipitor, reportedly need the most renovation.

Although exterminators were allegedly called three times, cockroaches still infest areas of the apartments. Vibrations from the outside construction shake them free of their hiding places in the kitchen.

Plumbing remains an issue, as residents continue to deal with backed-up toilets and low water pressure.

Considering renovations on the interior began several months ago, it is only logical to assume that basic issues such as electrical wiring, mold, plumbing and insect infestation should be taken care of immediately.

Residents are fully aware of the renovations being done to the façade of their building. Several students report being awoken around 7:30 a.m. not by the screech of our beloved Red Hawk, but by the sounds of drilling and construction vehicles. Construction continues into the evening and students are given little respite from the noise.

Living at Clove Road is not cheap either. Cost ranges from $3,100 to $3,7000 per semester.

Residents have every right to be

disgusted and outraged at the conditions they’re forced to live in and pay for.

The 3,580 students who live on campus may always find things to complain about.

The heat at Alice Paul Hall in the Village Apartments, for example, is hard to control.

Freeman Hall residents still live with the water damage caused by the recent fires.

We’re not looking for penthouses. We have realistic expectations. The university has a duty to provide decent dormitories for its students.

Residents pay enough in extra tuition fees. They deserve clean, functioning, roach free living spaces.

The new names and façade are great, but it’s what’s on the inside that counts.

- KM

Lou Cunningham | The Montclarion

If you haven’t heard by word of mouth, or if you’ve missed the article on this week’s front page, the administration has renamed the Clove Road Apartments complex.

The new name for the complex will be “Hawk Crossings.”

That’s not the only name that changed.

The apartments numbered in the 100s are now called Falconidae as a group, the 200s are named Accipitor, and the 300s will be known as Buteo.

We were wondering the exact same thing that most of you may ask yourselves right now. What the heck do they mean?

In Latin, these words are the biological classification order, family and genus of our beloved mascot, the Red Hawk.

Dr. Karen Pennington, vice president for student development and campus life, went on record stating that because of the renovations, recognition of the changes seemed appropriate. So what better way to show the dorms are new and improved (penthouses, really), than to change the names?

Now don’t get us wrong here, we appreciate their efforts in trying to encourage even more school spirit (as if that were necessary!), and trying to get our mascot more involved with our everyday campus routines.

But here at The Montclarion, we found ourselves asking one question. Were the name changes really needed?

Students at the Clove Road Apartments are still dealing with many problems like insects and waking up to the sounds of construction, drilling and screeching, as in our other editorial.

Instead of putting more effort into fixing those problems, we put time and effort into changing the names of the dorms.

We appreciate the idea, but sometimes it’s better to fix the inside and worry about the re-branding later on.

You know, make the dorms worthy of highfaluting Latin names.

Another obvious, yet lighter, issue is the choice of names.

When we first found out the new names we couldn’t believe how exotic and Latin they were.

We understand that we want everyone to know that Montclair State is an esteemed institution of higher learning, but compare the names to the current state of the buildings and the Latin names sound a little ridiculous.

Are they trying to create a “Hogwarts” atmosphere on Clove? Is Harry Potter an incoming freshman?

Maybe if you’re lucky your dorm can win the House Cup! We have always hoped for the day that quidditch matches would be held on the grassy quad outside the Student Center.

The next thing you know “He-whomust-not-be-named” will show up at your door with two dementors at his side to scrape the mold off of your bathroom ceiling. That is, if you have a working toilet, of course. And hey, at least someone’s coming around to do maintenance.

How much will the new signs cost? Is this money that could be going towards maintenance?

When we discuss the name change with students, about 90 percent of them answered with a “What!

Why?” Watch out though, word on the street is that our new mascot could be Hedwig the Owl. Go figure.

- NDP

18 OPINION

November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

Women Left in Cold by Universal Healthcare A Closer Look: New Health Care Legislation Affects Women’s Rights

R

ecently, the Stupak amendment to the Universal Health Care bill and the influence of the Conference of Catholic Bishops has been in the spotlight.

This amendment forbids Katie Winters Assistant Copy insurance companies to use Editor government money for elective abortions and the bishops pressured lawmakers to adopt this amendment.

The addition of the amendment may seem like a blow for reproductive choice, but when you consider that it has been banned to use federal money for elective abortions for years, it becomes a different story.

This amendment also allows for medical abortions and abortion in the case of incest or rape, as was also the case in the past. The amendment may not be a step forward, but the issue of abortion in the health care bill is not the most important.

It seems women have been left out in the cold by “universal” health care.

First, in addition to not covering elective abortions, the bill does not make it mandatory that all policies include coverage for birth control.

This is not to say that some policies won’t cover the contraceptive pill, but it is a blow for reproductive rights. Sadly, this is not the worst that women have to bear.

Female health care involves more than just yearly check-ups at the doctor. Women also need to have yearly gynecological exams, an expense men do not share. It is mandatory that mammograms and pap smears are covered by the universal health care bill, but most other facets of a gynecologist “well visit” are not, including the pelvic exam.

A pelvic exam is an external and internal

inspection of a female’s genitals, including the ovaries to make sure their appearance is healthy.

These exams can detect ovarian cysts, sexually transmitted infections, uterine fibroids or early-stage cancer. A pap smear, which must be covered, is a collection of cells and only screens for cervical cancer.

While abortion and birth control are sensitive topics due to religion and ethics, a gynecological visit is not reserved for promiscuous women alone.

All women over 18 are suggested to get yearly exams, whether they are sexually active or not. These visits can help screen for cancer and other serious health issues, but it’s possible many women may end up paying for these services out of pocket.

This bill is supposed to serve all: men, women and children. But while the other two groups have all major considerations covered, women do not.

Politicians have been afraid to address this fact because they fear too much harping on “special interest” groups will cause the reform to fail, as a similar one did during President Clinton’s administration.

However, women should not be treated as a “special interest” group; they make up half of the country’s population and have been granted the right to vote.

This issue has been swept under the rug and is rarely mentioned.

The issue of abortion has taken the attention of the American public, even though this issue affects many more women and is a much more basic right. The right to health is more important than reproductive choice.

The Universal Health Care reform has already passed in the House of Representatives and is to be debated in the Senate.

Once more women’s rights have been subordinated and it should be the concern of all in support of “universal” health care.

Katie Winters, an English major, is in her first year as an assistant copy editor for The Montclarion.

Working for the Man

Y Vanessa Hargreaves Staff Writer

ou know you’re a broke college student when you choose to eat Chef Boyardee or Ramen Noodles for the fifth day in a row just so you can use your last twenty bucks on booze, a concert ticket or a new outfit

for a party.

Debt in college may appear to be something that’s easy to blame on students, but that’s not the case for everyone.

Take me for example. This semester, I took 19 credits, joined two new clubs, went to the gym five days a week and still went to work on the weekends. For the first three weeks I stopped working just so I could get adjusted to school and have a nice little break. However, when my bank account began to plummet, returning to work was inevitable.

I’ve had a job since I was 16, and have always strived to save money while still maintaining a social life — which is pretty much impossible for a college kid.

Working on the weekends means having to trek home, like so many other students do, and it is no fun.

Starting a job from seven in the morning until five in the afternoon leaves me time to do things, like schoolwork. Instead, I just fall asleep, exhausted from all my week’s duties.

Some students have time-consuming, exhausting jobs at restaurants. Sophomore Brittany Benevento works late shifts that prevents her from getting her academic work done.

“I feel like school in itself is a job and that I should be focusing on schoolwork instead of working,” argued Benevento. “I did not work last year and although I loved the spare time, I was completely broke.”

Benevento, along with other students, complain that schoolwork should be their main priority; consequently, making money is also a vital necessity in college life.

This year I got my first debit card and that destroyed much of my bank account. At first, I would consistently keep track of the balance and expenditures, but then several restaurants and grocery stores later, I would just add more money onto my card and not realize how much I was using.

It was not an issue of me failing to care about spending money; it was more the fact that I wanted to be able to do all the things I desired and not have to worry about becoming broke or in debt.

Nevertheless, when I realized that I was spending much more money on luxuries such as clothes, restaurants, comedy clubs, concert tickets and booze, I noticed that I did not have money for basic essentials.

Thus, when it really came down to where I should be spending my twenty bucks, I looked at the groceries, toiletries and school necessities. Those are more important for my health and environment, so I decided to spend most of my money on beneficial items and splurge upon frivolous things once in a while.

Now I do not use my card except for paying for my parking so I know that I only have a certain amount of cash and that is it.

I find that I do not need to work as much as before because of my new saving strategy.

However, keeping a job is a must right now to make sure that I maintain a decent income for a typical college student.

The current economy is bad enough as it is. Spend responsibly, and keep track of what you earn. After all, college students will be the ones who have to deal with the effects of the recession, while paying off student loans and starting our lives.

Just something to keep in mind.

Vanessa Hargreaves, an English major, is in her first year as a staff writer for The Montclarion.

Brave New World: Jobs After Graduation

Recession or Not, Life is What Happens While You’re Making Other Plans

T

here comes a point in everyone’s life when adulthood knocks down the walls of comfortable adolescence.

For some, responsibility arrives at age 18, for others, Lori Wieczorek at age 22.

Time does Columnist not care when you are ready for adult life. As each moment ticks by, the hands continue onward towards change.

Arguably, the moment that you really and truly are faced with adulthood is the day you graduate from college. Say, ‘goodbye’ to the controlled environment and ‘hello’ to life and all of its uncharted territory.

The first major step after graduation is finding a job. Today, this is easier said than done.

Since December 2007, the number of jobless college graduates has risen by 136 percent. People go to college to secure their viability and their future in the job market.

Companies are more inclined to hire someone with a college degree over someone

with just a high school diploma. to conform to the ever-changing job market.

While this may be true, people are left “My original career path was the music wondering why there are so many unemindustry,” Giumara said. “But I changed ployed undergraduate students. that due to a tough economic climate, since I found a possible answer to this question then I thought digital media would be a in my brief interview with a Montclair State good fit, but I might have to change that if I graduate of May can’t find a job 2009, Dave soon.”

Giumara.

C u r r ent ly, G i u m a r a “There is little more frightening then he is working a purposed that, part time job to going to an interview that might “A lot of comsurvive the curpanies aren’t determine the rest of your professional rent economy hiring people and has been straight out life.” on six interof college views with no because a lot luck. of the more experienced people are out There is no question that recent graduof work and are willing to work cheaper. ates have a very difficult road ahead of Leaving college grads like myself kind of... them. screwed.”

Despite the bleak statistics, however, hope It seems as though our society has worked should not be completely lost. Giumara’s girlitself into a dismal cycle. National unemploy- friend and three of his friends successfully ment rose to 10.2 percent since October, got jobs after graduating from Montclair after 190,00 jobs were lost.

State University.

With the job market in its current state, Giumara’s girlfriend and her friend landeven graduate students have been forced to ed jobs as teachers. Another works in human improvise. resources at Sony music and a fellow class Graduates have no other choice then mate was recently hired by a music public to temporarily put aside visions of their relations firm in New York City. ideal job to increase their chances of being As a freshman at Montclair, I find my employed. heart sinking with dread at the thought of Giumara, a communications major, had graduating during an economic recession.

I can’t help but have my doubts that the economy is going to see major improvements within the next four years.

I thought applying for college was terrifying. There is little more frightening then going to an interview that might determine the rest of your professional life. But as I mentioned earlier, time doesn’t stop because the economy is bad.

If you’re still trying to decide what to do for a living, think realistically. What’s available on the job market?

Do not pick some fantasy career to pursue in college. We can’t all be the next Thom Yorke, Ernest Hemingway or Barbara Walters. Pick a career that interests you, but still remains attainable.

Unlike most of my peers, I remain painfully aware that statistics show a rough future for college graduates.

But that does not mean that I have lost my work ethic, and neither should you.

Companies are going to be looking for the graduates with a high GPA, internships and work experience.

The only thing that we can do as students is work harder and hope for a better tomorrow.

Lori Wieczorek, an English major, is in her first year as a columnist for The Montclarion.

November 19, 2009 â&#x20AC;˘ The Montclarion

OPINION 19

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CLASSIFIEDs

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PERSONALS! Howdy there, Pilgrims ... I’m John Wayne at the first Thanksgiving, Pilgrims ...

Laura, I miss you.

I’m going to miss you even more since I won’t see you.

Because you picked the wrong time again! Love you!

Lou is not The Boss!

This guy right here? He is the MAN!!!

Missed you Kel Kel. Have a Happy Turkey Day! GO NEWS! Happy Thanksgiving CL 203B! Nick Wolf, stay away from my sister!

Hey Katherine.

Friday will be fun.

The Law Offices of

Geoffrey T. Mott, P.C. Serving the MSU Community throughout the State of NJ in ALL Municipal and Superior courts.

Representing students and their families in all civil and criminal matters, including immigration, family law, DUI’s, traffic violations, bankruptcy, personal injury, landlord/tenant, debt and credit related issues, and all other legal matters impacting your family and the Community.

Saturday and evening appointments available.

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Tel: (973) 655-8989 Fax:(973) 655-0077

546 Valley Road Upper Montclair, N.J. 07043

email: gmott@geoffreymottlaw.com web: www.geoffreymottlaw.com

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Hey Lou! Our space music will be out of this world!

But ... I don’t want to be Karl!

Sleep easy, and know that I am on your side.

What can I say? I am good at acting like a girl.

Farmville will be the bane of my existence.

Kristie, oh Kristie. Kristie.

KRISTIE!!!

I’m so happy to go. By the time you read this. I will be home. At DQ! Remember when the balloons in the Macy’s parade popped every year? Good times ...

Can you people of Montclair please send personals?

I’m running out of ideas.

How did we start a game where we throw around a ball saying things with the “ja” sound?

I’ll miss you Kulsoom.

What’s Friday night?

The carousel just keeps on turning.

Hey guess what!

Lou is so cool. I wish I were him.

Wait a minute ...

I feel bad for Thanksgiving.

Never gets respect. By noon, people are already talking about Christmas.

Remember Peter Schaus?

Gobble gobble, suckas!

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

sports

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Women’s Basketball Falls in Home Opener

Red Hawks Come Up Short in Second Half Comeback Attempt Kris Hunte Staff Writer

Jillian Keats l The Montclarion

Senior Catherine Cristino blocks a Ryan Mooney shot in MSU’s 71-65 loss on Sunday at Panzer Athletic Center.

Everything just seemed to go right for the Scranton women’s basketball team as they faced the Red Hawks in the season home opener. The sharp-shooting Lady Royals shot over 65 percent from the field in the first half, 48 percent overall, making perimeter jump shots almost at will.

MSU showed tremendous hustle for the entire 40 minutes, but were down 42-27 at half. They made a significant push to pull a comeback in the latter 20 minutes, outscoring Scranton 38-29.

However, the hole they were put in initially proved too deep, as the Red Hawks were defeated 71-65.

“When Scranton shoots 65 percent from the floor in the first half that’s not necessarily defense, that’s good shooting,” Head Coach Karen Harvey said.

“They’re the fifth-ranked team in the country.”

Scranton’s offensive runs were largely contributed by their ability to spread the ball around and run successful picks, giving their teammates opportunities to make open jumpshots. Four different players had seven or more points, led by Megan Kopecki with 22.

“We didn’t get our post players involved as much as we wanted to today; we have to work harder to get them a little more involved,” Harvey said.

Montclair struggled throughout the game offensively, especially during the first half, as they were down 30-9 at one point, and finished the game with a shooting percentage of 34 percent. Open shots were a rarity and last season’s top scorer Kisandra Ayanbeku was constantly double teamed. She scored only one point in the first half, finishing the game with 10 on four of 11 shots and team-leading eight rebounds.

Following half time, however, the Red Hawks emerged with colossal intensity. They found success driving into the paint, which caused Scranton to commit fouls, sending Montclair to the charity stripe 33 times. The Red Hawks struggled slightly making them count, sinking only 18.

Senior All-Conference guard Jackie Berry, who had three points and seven

rebounds, was the centerpiece for Montclair’s increased energy coming out of the locker room, contributing to three of the team’s eight steals, and making the perimeter shooting that helped Scranton create a large deficit much more difficult.

The heated comeback attempt was led by junior guard Jamilee Pflug, scoring 21 points on seven of 14 shots. She sprinted down the court on every fast break opportunity, which lead to four assists.

The offensive pressure in the paint created open shots for senior forward Catherine Cristino and sophomore guard Jamie Ericson, scoring nine and 11 points respectively, with Ericson making three of her six shots from beyond the arc.

Other notable players include freshman guard Rhonda Shariff, scoring four points off the bench, while showing respectable ball-handling skills. Senior forward Kara Burnham, playing strong from the paint, also finished the game with four points. The Red Hawks’ next home game is Saurday, Dec. 5, at 3 p.m. versus Kean. For the full schedule, log on to www.montclair.edu/athletics

Jillian Keats l The Montclarion

Sophomore guard Jaime Ericson defends against Scranton guard Megan Kopecki during the Red Hawks 71-65 loss on Sunday.

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22

sports

The Montclarion • November 19, 2009

Red Hawks Season Ends with Loss to Stevens Montclair’s 4-0 Loss is the Largest Deficit Since 2001

Jillian Keats l The Montclarion

Junior forward Larry Geraghty goes to move the ball forward in MSU’s 4-0 loss to Stevens in the second round of the NCAA Division III Playoffs on Sunday.

Jake Del Mauro Assistant Sports Editor

MSU went nearly two years with less than two loses on their record.

In the last three weeks alone they have lost two and their second loss ended the season.

In stunning fashion, the Red Hawks were defeated by the Ducks of Stevens, last year’s NCAA Tournament runnerup, 4-0 at Pitzer Field and Soccer Park.

Stevens started out with the early momentum as they got their first shot off in the second minute of the game and then just two minutes later, a Terrance Johnson header in the bottom right corner of the goal put Stevens up 1-0, shocking the packed house of just over 1,000 people.

Stevens continued to keep the ball on MSU’s half of the field for the next two minutes, when another goal, this

time Zach Adler scored a goal off a pass across the box from Johnson. With 5:56 into the game, MSU was already behind 2-0. While Stevens was jubilant on the field and on the sidelines, MSU looked shocked.

“I’m not so sure it shook our confidence, but it definitely did put us on our heals,” Head Coach Brian Sentowski said. “Instead of playing the game, we were now forced to chase it ... which is never a good thing.”

Eventually, MSU fought through their tough start and found their way towards Steven’s goal. However, a barrage of corner kicks led to nothing. At one point, Will Griffin headed a Larry Geraghty corner, which lead to another corner with the header stopped.

Stevens had more opportunities, but Teddy Ritter did what he could, including sliding out for a ball, with Griffin backing him up, in an attempt to clear the

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ball.

Both teams finished with eight shots on goal in the half and MSU had a 9-3 advantage in corner kicks, but the scoreboard still showed 2-0 for the visitors.

MSU tried to strike quickly to start the second half, however a Geraghty shot was stopped just two minutes in. MSU continued to try and deliver, with shots from Mike Cullen and Sean Pauls both sailing wide.

Stevens, then, delivered a huge blow to any comeback opportunities. Johnson struck again, flipping the ball over Ritter in the open field, giving the Ducks a 3-0 advantage. The Ducks added one more goal ten minutes later from the top of the box and MSU’s season came to an end soon after.

“We just couldn’t get anything going,” Sentowski said. “It was very frustrating for [us] all. What I’m most disappointed in is that we didn’t compete at the level

The Cullen Brothers Finish Their College Careers with a Bang Jon Fazio Staff Writer

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we needed to. That is out of character for us and I wish I could figure out why.”

The season might have ended on a tough note, but MSU has once again established themselves as one of the top teams in the country. The team took the NJAC Championship for the eighth time and set many records along the way.Next year’s team will look a little different, as six seniors, including goalie Ritter, both Cullen brothers and Griffin, are leaving.

“They all have been the backbone of this program for the past four years,” Sentowski said. “I’ll miss everything about them, it’s impossible to pin-point one specific thing I’ll miss. I’ll miss it all.

Besides their soccer abilities and talents, they are all real good people.”

Next season starts in about nine and a half months. If the returning players use this as a learning experience, fans should get ready for the same Red Hawks next season.

As the Montclair State University men’s soccer team wrapped up its fourth straight NJAC title early this month, so did a couple of seniors on the team.

They were lucky enough to win the title throughout their collegiate career as soccer players. In fact, they’re brothers.

“It’s an incredible feat,” Joseph Cullen said. “I am lucky to win one, let alone four. Most people go through their college careers not winning the conference, especially in the NJAC because the winning is usually so split up.”

“Winning four straight conference championships is unprecedented and it might not happen again,” Mike Cullen

the first to accomplish the feat in the era of the NJAC Tournament, which began in 1999. Montclair State also earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Unfortunately, they lost to Stevens 4-0 at MSU Soccer Park on Sunday to be ousted out of the NCAA Division III Sectional Tournament. But, there is nothing the Cullen brothers would do to change the outcome of the season.

“This season has been a success,” Joseph said. “I am proud of every single player on our team and proud to have been part of this season. To cap off my career with a fourth NJAC championship and the longest at home winning streak in NCAA history is pretty special.”

“Looking back on my career, I wouldn’t

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Photo Courtesy of Jeff Leavy

Seniors Joe and Mike Cullen (both on the far right) won four straight NJAC titles.

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said. “It’s something I’ll never forget and I’m glad I could help put that mark in program history.”

Twin brothers Mike and Joseph, 21, have been playing soccer together since they were five years old. They have always played on the same teams growing up and it has been that way up to this point in their careers. Although they did have their disagreements on the field at times, they seemed to have worked around it, like true brothers and stuck to what they worked for on the field during practices and games.

“I wouldn’t know what it’s like to play without him,” Mike said. “I’ve had the pleasure of playing the game I love, at a very high level, with all my best friends.”

MSU became the first team in 21 years to win four consecutive NJAC titles and

change anything,” Mike said. “We had a great run, winning four out of four conference finals. That’s something no one will ever take away from us.”

As for life after college, both brothers are not sure if they are going to continue to play soccer on a higher level. But one thing is for certain; they are going to miss playing for the Red Hawks and working with their coaches and teammates.

“Playing soccer here at Montclair has been one of the best experiences of my life,” Mike said. “I can’t imagine anyone that could have a better experience, and I owe it all to my teammates and coaches.”

“It has been an incredible time on and off the field,” Joseph said. “To all the coaches and to all the players I have shared this experience with over the four years playing at Montclair, I thank.”

Football

Playoffs

Continued from Page 24

Continued from Page 24

a top notch run defense that will have its hands full with the Mariner ground game. Much of the outcome for this week’s game will ride on the shoulders of that defense, if they cannot shut down the running game, Maine-Maritime will have a huge advantage.

Likewise, the Red Hawk offense will need to put up points this week. Montclair State has put up big points against weak defenses such as College of Brockport and Morrisville State, but has shown signs of inconsistency. The offense will need to score points, and possibly lots of them if Maine-Maritime is able to let their offense run loose.

The Red Hawks expressed their eagerness to play next week following Saturday’s win over Kean.

“We have something to prove,” senior linebacker Brian Tweer said. “Every time we play we have something to prove.

Until they give us the respect we deserve, we’re going to keep giving it to everyone we face.”

“We definitely don’t think our season is over yet,” senior running back Jeff Bliss said. “I think we have a good team.

We may not blow teams out, but we have a resiliency.”

For the Red Hawks to be able to defeat Maine-Maritime, they need another solid day from their run defense to win. They were able to shut down Kean’s rushing offense last week, and they will need to play similarly to win again this week.

The battle between the Mariner rushing game and the Montclair State front seven on defense may be the deciding battle of the game. If the defense can at least slow down Maine-Maritime’s ground game and the offense is able to open up a little bit against a suspect Mariner defense, victory can easily be achievable for the Red Hawks.

The winner of this week’s Montclair State-Maine-Maritime game will move on to the second round to play the winner of number one seed Mount Union and number eight seed Washington and Jefferson.

Mount Union is currently the number one team in Division III Top 25 poll and has reached the Stagg Bowl every year this decade except for 2004 and has won five times in the last ten years.

November 19, 2009 • The Montclarion

sports

Football NJAC

zone. Eventually, the Cougars settled for a Daniels field goal that cut the Red Hawk lead to 7-3.

Kean’s biggest threat to take the lead in the game came early in the fourth quarter, as D’Ambrisi found Chunn on a screen pass that Chunn would take down to the Red Hawk 11 yard line. However, the defense stepped up in the clutch, as linebackers Dan Poehls and Brian Tweer both made huge stops on the next two plays, forcing Kean to kick another field goal, making the score 7-6 in favor of the Red Hawks.

The Cougars would get the ball again on their own six yard line with 2:22 left on the clock. However, four straight incomplete passes led to the ball being turned over on downs. Two plays later, the Red Hawks would score again as Jeff Bliss ran the ball in from nine yards out to make the score 14-6.

Kean would get one last shot at a comeback, but D’Ambrisi failed to, again, complete a pass on the drive and another turnover on downs gave the Red Hawks the win and the championship.

The win was huge for the entire team,

23

who had never experienced the victory of a conference championship before.

“It means a lot because we came out here in August and all our hard work paid off,” senior fullback Ron Litz said.

“This is why we come to Montclair, to play games like this.”

“I’ve never had the opportunity to win the NJAC before,” senior running back Jeff Bliss said. “We left this to us, we didn’t have to have another team lose for us to win the NJAC, we won out the NJAC and it felt good that this was the last game of the year.”

Despite the great defensive play, there was not a single turnover in the game and a combined 20 punts. In the end, it would be the excellent defensive play, special teams and offensive success in the red zone that gave the Red Hawks the victory.

Montclair State now enters the NCAA Division III football playoffs for the first time since 2003, with hopes of winning their first national championship since 1970. They will host Maine Maritime Academy at Sprague Field on Saturday in the first round. The game will be on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 12 noon.

MSU

Overall

9-0

9-1

Kean

8-1

8-2

Cortland

7-2

7-3

Rowan

6-3

7-3

William Paterson 4 - 5

5-5

TCNJ

3-6

4-6

Brockport

3-6

4-6

Buffalo State

2-7

2-8

Western Conn.

2-7

2-8

Morrisville St.

1-8

1-9

This Week 11/21 vs. Maine Maritime 12 p.m.

NCAA Tournament 1st Round Last Week 11/4 MSU 14 Kean 6

Men’s Soccer NJAC MSU TCNJ Rowan RU-Newark Stockton WPU RU-Camden Ramapo Kean NJCU

Overall

7 - 1 - 1 17 - 2 - 2 5-2-2 7-6-4 5 - 2 - 2 13 - 6 - 2 4 - 3 - 2 13 - 6 - 4 4 - 4 - 1 12 - 9 - 1 2-2-5 8-5-6 3-4-2 8-9-3 3 - 5 - 1 10 - 5 - 2 2-6-1 7-8-4 1-7-1 7-9-2

This Week --Season Over-Last Week 11/15 Stevens 4 MSU 0 2nd Round NCAA Tournament

Women’s Soccer NJAC

Photo Courtesy of Jerry Goldman

Football captains Brian Tweer (left), A.J. Letizia (middle), and Jeff Bliss (right) accept the NJAC trophy after MSU’s 14-6 victory over Kean on Saturday.

Who’s Hot This Week Danielle Altersitz Defender — Field Hockey Altersitz was named the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament Most Outstanding Player, as MSU did not allow a goal in it’s three games on their way to the Championship.

Rowan TCNJ WPU Stockton Kean MSU NJCU RU-Camden Ramapo RU-Newark

9-0-0 7-2-0 5-2-2 5-4-0 4-3-2 3-4-2 3-6-0 2-6-1 2-6-1 1-8-0

17 - 2 - 1 18 - 2 - 1 13 - 7 - 3 14 - 7 - 1 7-8-4 9-6-2 13 - 9 - 0 7 - 11 - 1 8-9-1 6 - 11 - 1

This Week -- Season Over-Last Week -- Season Over--

Field Hockey NJAC

Jamilee Pflug Guard — Women’s Basketball Pflug scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds while dishing out four assists in MSU’s near upset of fifthranked Scranton 71-65.

Overall

Rowan TCNJ MSU Kean W. Paterson Ramapo Stockton

6-0 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 0-6

Overall 14 - 5 9-6 15 - 6 11 - 5 9-9 6 - 11 4 - 15

This Week Season Over

Game of the Week Football Nov. 21, 12 p.m.

NCAA Tournament, 1st Round Sprague Field vs. Maine Maritime FIRST 200 MSU STUDENTS WITH MSU ID GET IN FOR FREE! MSU is making their first appearance in the NCAA’s since 2003 and has made it to the post season for a third straight season.

Last Week 11/15 MSU 3 Hartwick 0 ECAC CHAMPIONSHIP

Volleyball MSU Stockton Ramapo WPU Rowan RU-Camden NJCU RU-Newark Kean

NJAC 8-0 7-1 6-2 5-3 4-4 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8

This Week --Season Over--

Last Week --Season Over--

Overall 14 - 16 27 - 12 25 - 11 21 - 8 13 - 17 11 - 14 7 - 17 4 - 26 11 - 15

Women’s Basketball Falls in Home Opener

Men’s Soccer Falls in Second Round p. 22

p. 21

MSUSports@gmail.com

Next Stop: MaineMaritime Academy Mike Monostra Assistant Sports Editor

Montclair State football will be looking to make an impression on the nation this weekend, as they play in their first NCAA playoff game since 2003. They will host the Maine-Maritime Academy at Sprague Field on Saturday Nov. 21 at noon.

The NCAA Division III football tournament, unlike the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, is a 32 team playoff bracket, with four regions of eight teams each. The tournament games will take place every Saturday for the next five weeks, culminating in the Stagg Bowl in Salem, Virginia on Dec. 19. The Red Hawks have been seeded fourth in the East region, giving them a first round home game.

They will do battle with the Maine-Maritime Mariners, champions of the New England Football Conference.

The Mariners, like Montclair State, finished the season with a 9-1 record, Maine’s one loss coming at the hands of Bridgewater State back on Sept. 26.

Since that loss, MaineMaritime has won seven straight games, including a dramatic 48-42 victory over Curry College last week that decided the conference champion. It was the Mariners first conference championship since 1994, when they split the championship with Massachusetts-Dartmouth.

Montclair State, meanwhile, has won its first NJAC championship since 2003. In that playoff season, the Red Hawks edged out Allegheny College 20-19 before falling to Ithaca College 33-13 in the second round. Since then, Montclair State has played in three ECAC bowl games.

They defeated Widener College in 2005, Albright College in 2007 and played Albright again last season, but lost.

For the Red Hawk defense, Maine-Maritime is going to be a very tough challenge as they have had an explosive offense the entire season. The Mariners have averaged 42.8 points per game, by far more than any team that the Red Hawks have faced this season.

The Mariners are strictly a running team, as they average a ridiculous 416.9 yards of rushing per game. They are led by senior running back Jim Bower, who led the NEFC with 1467 yards rushing on the season and 20 touchdowns. Sophomore running back Nicholas Bourassa has also been a solid runner, gaining 815 yards on just 70 carries, scoring nine touchdowns.

Outside of the dynamic rushing offense, the Mariners have shown some holes. Their defense has been inconsistent at best this season, allowing 29.4 points per game, third worst in the NEFC. They have allowed 40 or more points in three games this season, and only once this season have they allowed less than 20 points.

For the Red Hawks, they come into this week’s game with

CHAMPS

Photo Courtesy of Jerry Goldman

Red Hawk Football won their 18th NJAC Championship this Saturday. With this 14-6 victory versus Kean, they advance to the NCAA Division III Playoffs.

Solid Defense Handles Kean as Football Advances to Tournament Mike Monostra Assistant Sports Editor

Defense wins championships.

This certainly holds true for Montclair State football, as they won their 18th NJAC Championship, a first since 2003, after a 14-6 over the Kean University Cougars on Saturday at Sprague Field.

“No one could get a good night’s sleep all week, especially after last year with them stealing our playoff hopes,” senior linebacker Brian Tweer said following the win. “We just wanted to come out, give it all we had, and come away with no regrets.”

In what has been a consistent theme for the Red Hawk squad the entire season, the

defense once again dominated against the top rushing team in the entire conference. Kean’s star running back Jared Chunn, came into the game with over 1000 yards rushing in just nine games. The defense managed to hold Chunn to just 57 yards on 21 carries.

With their running game slowed down, the Cougars were forced to air the ball out, something they have done fewer than any team in the NJAC all season. Cougar quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi withered under the spotlight of the big game, completing just 10 of 39 passes on the day for 88 yards. All together, Kean was held to just 192 yards of total offense for the entire game.

On the flip side, the Montclair State offense struggled to put

up any big numbers offensively. On the afternoon, the Red Hawks mustered together just 132 yards of total offense as the Kean defense held them at bay for much of the afternoon.

With both offenses at a stalemate for much of the first half, the punting game for both teams became huge. The Cougars controlled the field position early in the first quarter, but as the half wore on, the Red Hawks began to move further up field into Kean territory. Much of this credit goes to both the solid play of the defense and splendid punting of Steve Layden, who was awarded the NJAC Special Teams Player of the Week award after punting 11 times for an average of 38.8 yards. Meanwhile, Kean punter Billy Daniels punted nine times for just 33.9 yards per kick.

Playoffs Continued on page 23

Those extra yards would pile up as they game wore on.

Late in the second quarter, the Red Hawks got a golden opportunity as they received the ball on the Kean 23 after the Cougars were forced to punt from their own one yard line.

The Red Hawks, who had gone three and out on every previous drive, finally got enough offense going to drive into the red zone and score on a Tom Fischer quarterback draw from three yards out to make it a 7-0 MSU lead.

In the second half, the Cougars offense finally put together a sustained drive early. The Cougars embarked on a 13-play, 47-yard drive, but stalled when they hit the red Football Continued on page 23

Photo Courtesy of Jerry Goldman

Senior fullback Ron Litz shrugs off Kean cornerback Andre Dozier en-route to a 14-6 victory.