Jan. 11 - Feb. 24, 2009 by The Tower

Rachel’s Rave

Alice’s Tea Room

A&E P. 4

P. 10

Baseball Q & A Kean’s Team Speaks!

The Tower Kean University’s student newspaper

www.kean.edu/~thetower

BANDING TOGETHER AT KEAN!

What Price a Dorm Room? By Jill Johnson

Game rooms. Flat screen TVs. Studentcontrolled heating and air conditioning. These are juse some of the cool new features of the new dormiroties opening here in Fall 2009. But there’s a catch. They cost more—up to nearly $1,200 more per semester for an uppclassman apartment-style residence. According to Public relations Specialist Paul C.DiNero, the increased costs for the new residence halls reflects the additional amenities, including increased living

space, state-of-the-art dining facilities, computer lab, screening room, recreational rooms and study space. Of the two new dorms one is for freshman and the other for upperclassmen. The freshman dorms will contain laundry services, study rooms, and community kitchens on the first floor of the eight floor building. The building will hold a capacity of 420 students and two resident advisors will be on each floor. The rooms will be 175 sq ft. and will be a suite-style dorm. On the first floor of the seven total floors in the upperclassman (Continued on page 2)

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Volume 9 • Issue 8 Jan. 11-Feb. 24, 2009

Pep Band Cheers for Kean Basketball BY LISA MARTINEZ

THE PEP SQUAD AT PRACTICE.

See page 2

On January 24, 2009 at 1 p.m. Kean University’s pep squad made its debut at the Kean vs. Montclair ladies basketball game, the first athletic event at Kean with a band in 20 years. Kean is one of only two colleges in New Jersey to have a pep band, the other being Rutgers. The 15-piece band was led by Jerry Bryant, Kean University trumpet professor, and Dr. Tom Connors, the band’s director. The band, much like a cheering squad, plays during time outs and halftime. Since the recent budget cut of the cheerleading team, Kean athletics now has the pep band to keep the crowd entertained. Currently, the pep band is scheduled to play at all of Kean’s home games for the remainder of the basketball season. Auditions for next season will most likely be held during fall semester in late October into the first of November. Roughly a year, ago Professor Bryant was approached about leading a pep band by Dr. Anthony Scelba, the only other trumpet professor at Kean and the head of the music department. All band members auditioned to become part of the pep band, which was open to all Kean students. The band currently consists of 15 pieces played by Kean undergraduate students, but has plans to expand to 30 pieces sometime in the future. Of the band’s players, the three flutists are played by Melissa N. Blinkoff, Lea Patterson and Suzanne

R. Delonas, and the three trumpets are played by Christopher A. Aleixo, Cristhian Mora, and Jessica L. Clayton. Carolyn P. Mullay plays the clarinet; Robert E. DeMarco plays the saxophone; Michael Conway plays the trombone; Feggens M. Monbrun plays the electric bass; Liam Cavadini plays the drums and Robyn Koenigberg plays the bells. Monbrun, the electric bass player, played in a pep band while in high school. He first learned of the pep band try-outs from a professor in the music department, then later from trumpet professor Jerry Bryant. Monbrun is also a music major and will pursue teaching music af-

Since the recent budget cut of the cheerleading team, Kean athletics now has the pep band to keep the crowd entertained. ter graduating. “All that matters is how well we play and how much we enjoy playing,” said Monbrun said. Watch out for Kean University’s pep band at all home games this basketball season in the Harwood arena because this years’ basketball season is a trial for the pep band.

Did someone get personal with you? Find out on page 5!

INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER: What is your most memorable Valentine’s Day?

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By kelley pennisi

Deborah Locher Junior, Marketing

Sharon Smith Sophomore, Visual Communications

Andrew Li Sophomore, Visual Communications

Stephan Cooper Sophomore, Economics

“One time my boyfriend made a picnic on the beach for me.”

“Once I dated a guy in high school who made a collage for me.”

“Once I wrote a poem for a girl I was dating.”

“One time my girlfriend took me on a romantic vacation.”

One Artist’s Thought-provoking Work

Editorial & Anger Management

Horoscope & Crossword

Movies: Benjamin Button

Opinion: Following Your Dreams

Say Nuts to Food Allergens

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Rachel’s Rave-Restaurant Review

Women’s & Men’s Basketball

11/12

January 11, 2009 | The Tower

Kean Faculty and Students in Washington D.C. for the Obama Inaugural By Jessie Rivera

The History Department took part in the nation’s historic moment last month when four professors and some 70 students attended Barak Obama’s Presidential Inauguration. Kean University provided two buses for students. One bus was organized by the History Department, and the other by Student Organization. “It was absolutely a once in a lifetime experience. We got so cold, but it was absolutely worth it, said Department of History Chair Sue Ellen Gronewold Assistant Professor of History Elizabeth Hyde said that the original idea to attend the Inaugural began with members of the History Society and History Department, but in the end it was organized by Professor Jonathan Mercantini and Student Organization in December and January. “Thanks to the generous support of President Farahi and the Issues ‘08 lecture series program, the trip was free of charge to students,” said Hyde. Hyde and Mercantini along with His-

Students and Faculty at the inaugural of Barack Obame, the 44th President of the United States.

tory Department Chairwoman Sue Ellen Gronewold, Adjunct Professor Michael D’Angelo and the students arrived in Washington at about 4:15 a.m. on Jan. 20, the first day of school and the day of

the inaugural. Upon arrival, they were sent to the National Mall and then to Constitutional Hall where both students and faculty watched the Inauguration in person and on the

Black Turns Red: One Band’s Story By Rachel Rothspan

Kean student Jackie DaSilva can remember a time when she was going to give up music once and for all. Her first band, Salt, had broken up, and the guitar lessons that she had taken since she was fourteen, seemed to be all for nothing. But just as Jackie was losing hope, she got a call from a friend of hers, Alex Nunez, asking to see some of the songs she had written. Within a few months, her intentions to give up were giving way to a new project; a band known as Black Turns Red. DaSilva is the lead singer of the progressive rock band. The lineup also includes Nunez, who was able to see the potential in a lot of her songs, as the lead guitarist, and Victor Ladoano as the drummer. The trio has a rocky sound that gives the message of hope out to their variety of audiences. Black Turns Red has played at several local venues, recently including a college venue and a youth group. The band has also produced an EP, which can be purchased from their website www.blackturnsred.com. All three band members have been involved with music since they were children. Each has dabbled in several different instruments, and each considers music to be one their passions. Ladoano says that

What Price Dorms?

his life has been about melodies and notes since before he can remember, but rock didn’t enter until he was eighteen, because his parents didn’t like it. He doesn’t feel that this hindered him in any way. “I was able to establish a style of jazz/ pop and gospel and merge it with rock, so I think it was a good mix,” he says. Nunez identifies. “Music is one of my passions and playing in a band is just the normal way to live the passion,” he says.

Pick up The Tower at these locations:

story of dreams coming true at the lowest of points. “My dream is to just being able for my music to change people’s lives, help people become better versions of themselves,”

• Bruce Hall, First Floor Lounge

• Communications Department Office, CAS 402 • ESL Office, Willis Hall 301 Official Black Turns Red website shot.

she says, “and connect people with good emotions like peace, love, joy, etc. in a grand scale!” To the band, that’s what music is all about. You can check out Black Turns Red for yourself at Aftershock, hosted by Primiera Church in Elizabeth, NJ, on February 28th, at 7:30. Check out blackturnsred.com for more information, photos, and song clips.

• Harwood Arena, by the basketball courts • Hutchinson Hall, First Floor Lobby • Hennings Hall, First Floor Lobby • Science Building, First Floor in hallway between Rooms 121 and 122 • Technology Building, hallway inside front door • Tower Newsroom, CAS 413

(Continued from page 1)

dormitory will be a screening room, holding approximately 50 students, a computer lab, a game room and a dinning hall. The rooms will be suite-style dorms with two rooms, one bathroom and living space. The building will house 408 students with one resident advisor on each floor. Also, there will be 24 single occupancy rooms in the hall. At right are the rates for the new and existing residence halls for the Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 semesters, according to DiNero.

• Administration Building, First floor lobby

• Center for Academic Success, Lobby

“It’s a story of dreams coming true at the lowest of points.” But aside from just the here and now, Black Turns Red has many aspirations to make it in the music industry. They have penetrated the world of Myspace, which gives them an edge to reaching their younger audience. The band’s dream is to move out of the local shows and go on tour. Ladoano, who is just coming back from touring with another group, says he really loves the excitement of being out on the road. Black Turns Red is still fairly new on the scene, but is quickly gaining recognition and booking shows. For DaSilva, it’s a

large Sony Jumbotron screens. Students also had the opportunity to visit some of the national monuments and museums, such as the Smithsonian Institute. “Everyone was in such good spirits, said senior Kristina Gibson, one of the students who attended the event. “People were very friendly towards one another. The crowd was very diverse and people were very united.” But there was one glitch. Gibson said the trip wasn’t well-publicized among Kean students and most had no idea the trip was being organized. Asked about it, Dr. Gronewold said that “originally it was to be a Historical Society event and one bus, so we contacted all the Kean University Historical Society students and other History Dept people first; Student Activities did advertising through their networks for the second bus. Since it was winter break, it was hard to expand it. We also only had a few faculty members who could act as chaperones. Two buses were all we could handle, given all those constraints.”

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• Willis Hall, First Floor, across from the elevator

Meetings Mondays @ 3:30 p.m., CAS 413

The Tower | January 11, 2009

Community College Students Get More Credit By Charley Falkenburg

Whether it’s scrounging around enough money to pay tuition or worrying about term papers, college students are always stressing about something. But one fear they can forget is whether they transfer seamlessly from a New Jersey community college to Kean University. New Jersey recently has passed a new law making it mandatory for all community college credits to transfer to all public four_year colleges in New Jersey such as Kean called the State-Wide Transfer Agreement and coined as the Lampitt Bill. It states that an Associate’s Degree given by a public county community college must be fully transferable and count as the student’s first two years toward a Bachelor’s Degree at any New Jersey public college. The reason for this change is that in the past, many transfer students were forced to retake courses that they had already received credit for in another college. This was redundant as well as expensive. Thanks to the Lampitt Bill, students will be able to save their money and further their education in a timely manner. According to Dr. Stephen Kubow, the

law doesn’t have a major effect on Kean. “Kean has always been a generous transfer institution,” Kubow says. How will community college classes and four year college classes match up in order for a seamless transfer to occur? The answer is that all New Jersey community colleges’ general education courses must be the same in each school. This will indicate that all the students who have achieved credit in those classes have received the same level of skills. A committee with members from all of the 19 community colleges was appointed to decide what courses should be considered general education courses. As a result every community college is revising its general education course list. Although the Lampitt Bill may not completely alter Kean, it has resulted in a few changes. The College of Education is affected the most partly because the general education program is being changed. For one, there will be two different sets of general education requirements: one for a Bachelor Science degree, which will contain more electives, and one for Bachelor of Arts. As a result, there will be a completely new guide sheet. There are still a few reasons why the

credits still might not transfer to Kean. The law makes it possible for any passing grade in a class to transfer over to a four year college. This is mandatory unless it is a class in a major where a certain grade level is required in order to receive those credits. Also, the skill level of the class must match up to the skill level at Kean. Credits will also not transfer if a student

Thanks to the Lampitt Bill, students will be able to save their money and further their education in a timely manner. chooses to change his or her major. Kean also requires its students to take a minimum of 32 credits and at least half of their required credits in their major at Kean to get a Kean degree. Lastly, the law states that exactly half of the credits required for each major must be transferred. Before the Agreement, Kean used to accept up to 92 credits. For example, if a student’s major requires one hundred credits and he

or she acquires 70 credits at a community college, Kean will only be allowed to accept 50. Before the law, Kean would have been able to accept all 70 credits. The agreement does include several requirements. It will include curriculum standards as well as procedures and policies for transfer issues, a student’s appeal process, annual review and agreement update, and data collection. Since this law is only aimed at public institutions, private colleges do not have to adhere to its rules. If a private college would like to be a part of the Agreement, it would be welcomed and approved. The state legislature will see how each college is adjusting to the Lampitt Bill and will allocate the college grants accordingly. Hopefully with the Lampitt Bill in effect, the typical college student will be able to breathe a little easier. It may have some flaws but it is designed to be fair and simple. Although it has been in effect since Sept 1, students have yet to see the long term results. Regardless, it is a positive step in lending a hand to students who want to continue their education. As everyone knows, a little help can go a long way.

Liberty Hall Presents “The American President” By Dawn M. Phillips

As the 44th president of the United States entered office, the Associated Press and the Department of Communication put together a Presidential Inauguration exhibit at Liberty Hall Museum entitled, “The American President.” The exhibit features 80 compelling photographs of American presidents taken from the AP photo archives, which contains more than 10 million images. The exhibit also displays American flags, Inaugural memorabilia, pins, tickets, and press tags from as far back as 1885. The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news agency, has accompanied American presidents everywhere since Zachary Taylor was in office in 1848. Websites, broadcast outlets, and newspapers take services from the AP, and view its photojournalism as having great importance and impact around the world. The room is set up with 16 exhibitions with the 80 pictures presented. Each exhibit represents a different period of time in the White House with labels such as “At Ease,” “For the Record,” “Assassinations and Attempts,” “Crisis and Scandal,” “International Relations,” “At War,” and “Campaigns and Elections.” The exhibits capture presidents at significant moments ranging from the assassination of Kennedy, to Clinton’s impeachment, to Obama and Hillary Clinton running head to head for the democratic spot. “We hope the images in ‘The American President’ will give Kean students a richer appreciation of our nation’s leaders and also energize those considering careers in the news business,” said Paul Colford, the Associated Press’ director of Media Relations. The exhibit is on display until Feb. 20. Admission is free for Kean students and is open from Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sunday from 12-4p.m. Several events are being held to highlight the exhibit. On Feb. 10 at 12:30 p.m., Dr. Christopher Lynch, chairman of the Communication Department will give a presentation on presidential campaign infomercials, starting with Ronald Reagan. The discussion talks about the power of images as well as ways to become critical citizens. Liberty Hall is hosting a lecture entitled, “Presidential Tidbits and Trivia.” Lecturer Sid Frank will entertain all with tidbits and trivia of past presidents. The lecture

Announcement: Please join Dr. John Bauer, Professor Emeritus in English, at one of three special seminars entitled “Writing Essays for Scholarship Applications.” The workshops will be held on Tuesday, February 17; Monday, Monday, February 23; and Monday, March 2 in the Hennings Hall Auditorium (Room 113) during College Hour from 3:20-4:30 p.m. In addition to being a retired member of the Kean University Faculty, Dr. Bauer also serves on the Foundation Board as the Scholarship Chairman. For more information, please contact Dave Farrokh, Director of Scholarship Services at (908) 737-3481 or e-mail

Liberty Hall exhibit.

will be given on February 10 at 1 p.m., February 11 at 12:45 p.m., and February 12 at 7:30 p.m. The final event is on Feb. 17 at 11 a.m. when Professor Pat Winters Lauro, Assistant Professor of Journalism and adviser to The Tower, hosts a discussion among journalists about news coverage of the 2008 presidential election in a new world of blogs, MySpace and YouTube.

Professors: Tell Us About Your New Classes Attention Kean professors! The Tower wants to tell the campus community about new course offerings for Fall 2009. Please send the course name, department, and a brief description to thetower@kean.edu. The course will be published in a listing of new courses in the March 11 edition.

January 11, 2009 | The Tower

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Artist’s Work Raises Issues About Politics and Human Rights By Raquel Fernandes

“I’m just one person,” she said. “How can my work bring those questions to surface?” “Who are we listening to? Is what they are telling us true? Can we change it?” Tatana Kellner is one person whose art has been inciting critical thoughts about politics and human rights. Growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, Tatana Kellner is the daughter of two Holocaust survivors, and at a young age adapted dissent toward her political authorities. “As the daughter of Holocaust survivors and growing up in communist Czechoslovakia, I learned to mistrust authority, and question official doctrines,” said Kellner. “The current political landscapes with the erosion of civil liberties, the misinformation fed to us by our leaders, and the manipulation of facts by the media has motivated me to refocus my artistic concern from exploring my personal history, albeit political, to taking a direct stance on contemporary politics.” Kellner’s work is not new to Kean. Her installation, Requiem for September 11, was hanging on display in Kean’s CAS building until just recently. This collection

human suffering as the result of the lies and hidden agendas of political leaders. “I start out with figures, cut them out, and reassemble them. I then draw on the canvas and develop the text from things I read; phrases of what was happening in our time, and what our leaders are telling us.” Another unique work in this exhibit, Re-consider, features a number of individual hand-made paper heads with sketched faces. “I hand make the paper out of pliable, linen fibers,” said Kellner. “It’s about beheading from being at war. It’s a bunch of talking heads, representing the heads of our leaders, leading us on the wrong path.” Kellner’s exhibit, Embarrassing Facts, will be on display in the CAS art gallery until March 16. For more information on the CAS art gallery, visit www.kean. edu/~gallery. For more information on Tatana Kellner, visit her website at www. tatanakellner.com. “What can you do as an individual? Make people think about what we are being told. Is it true? Whose truth do we hear, and who decides?”

Re-consider, sizes of individual heads with transfer drawings on hand-made paper

comprised two rows of hanging banners, for which Kellner compiled hundreds of victim’s images from The New York Times,’ “Portraits of Grief,” and screen-printed these images onto long, trailing sheets of organza. Kellner’s latest exhibit, Embarrassing Facts, uses responsive and distorted images of bodies and faces to direct our focus toward the corrupt and dishonest actions of political leaders. Kellner’s works com-

prise multiple mediums including text from leader’s speeches, legal documents, and sketched faces which focus on both victims and victimizers. “My work makes you question everything,” said Kellner. “It makes you want to turn away and look back. It makes you uneasy.” One specific painting in this exhibit entitled, They Lied, uses text, paint, and separately sketched faces to represent the

Benjamin Button Pleases Crowds Jill Johnson

Brad Pitt grabs the attention of audiences everywhere with his most recent movie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. This unusual, twisted, yet mind-grabbing movie chronicles the story of Benjamin Button, a child born looking like a man in his eighties that ages backwards, appearing younger each year. Set in New Orleans, director David Fincher begins Button’s story with Button’s birth On November 11, 1918, just as the people of New Orleans celebrated the victory of World War I. Shortly after giving birth to her son, Mrs. Button (Joeanna Sayley) passes away. Her husband, Thomas Button (Jason Flemygn), looks at his newborn child only to see wrinkled skin and arthritis—the appearance of that of an 85-year-old man. Angry at his wife’s passing and his child’s ugly appearance, Mr. Button leaves his child on a stranger’s doorstep—the doorstep of a nursing home owned by Queenie (Taraji P. Henson) and Tizzy (Mahershalalhashbaz Ali). Queenie takes the baby into her arms and raises the baby as her own, naming him Benjamin. Although doctors believed Benjamin would not live long, Benjamin’s life unfolds as he grows older and appears

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younger, experiencing war, friendship, and the romance he shares with his long-time friend, Daisy. This mind-capturing movie will have audiences glued to their seats.

EDUCATION • ART • BUSINESS COUNSELING • CRIMINAL JUSTICE HEALTH SCIENCES • MUSIC PSYCHOLOGY • SECURITY STUDIES

Spring 2009 Student Enrollment Rises By Jill Johnson

With registration now officially closed, student enrollment for the spring 2009 shows a slight increase compared to Spring 2008, according to university spokesman Stephen Hudik. Student enrollment as of Feb. 2 was 13,567, an increase of 487 students from the same period a year ago. The numbers, as always, are watched closely, especially this semester because of the new class

schedule and now a sudden drop in the economy that could affect student’s ability to pay tuition. As of Jan. 14, 2009, student enrollment was 12,124 and within less than a month increased by 1,443 students. Yet, this increase is not as big compared to the Spring 2008 semester increase. On Jan. 14, 2008 the student enrollment stood at 10,033, but increased to 13,080 a week later, displaying a 3,047 student enrollment increase.

New Jersey City University Hepburn Hall, Rm. 202 2039 Kennedy Boulevard Jersey City, NJ 07305-1597 TO RSVP CALL TOLL-FREE: (877) 722-1320 OR E-MAIL: GRAD_DEPT@NJCU.EDU

The Tower | January 11, 2009

Valentine’s Day, 2009 Valentine’s Day on a Student Budget By Lillie Morales-Torres

Times are hard and money is tight. But that doesn’t serve as an excuse to skip Valentine’s Day this year, especially if you want to remain on your beau’s list of favorite people. A student’s budget is a small one but there are still big ways to celebrate without going broke. And if you are lucky enough to have a special someone in your life, it is the one day you get to express your love for them. Here are some ideas to help save your low budget on Valentine’s Day. The power of a simple rose. Dating back before the Victorian era, the gift of a rose was how a person expressed their feelings to another. Roses are timeless and they also show a romantic side of you. It’s also how you give the rose. You can be romantic by leaving the rose in your loved one’s car or on their windshield with a little note. Or on their pillow, at their desk, or in their drawer. The list goes on. If you have a little more to spend, get a dozen roses and make a game of it. Place a rose in different places you know your Valentine will find it along with little notes or clues to another surprise. But don’t forget, although the giving of twelve roses is considered one of the ultimate love signs, one rose will surely do the trick.

You can be romantic by leaving the rose in your loved ones car or on their windshield with a little note. Or on their pillow, at their desk, or in their drawer. Love letters. Another old way of sharing feelings is through writing. Whether it is through poetry or a simple letter describing how you feel about your Valentine, it will surely score some points in the romance department. Make sure to write it by hand; it’s more romantic. You can add more flair if you write it in calligraphy style. If you lack in writing skills, you can always steal a poem from one of the greats like John Keats or Mark Twain. Just be sure to give them credit for it. It may not be original but your Valentine will see that you spent time and did your research to find a poem that expresses the way you feel about him or her. For inspiration, try www.lovingyou.com or Forever Yours: Letters of Love. Coupons. Not the kind you use at a supermarket, the kind your Valentine can use on you. If you’re creative, an inexpensive way to give love to your valentine is through coupons. Simply make little coupons, decorate them with hearts or anything that screams Valentine’s Day, and staple the coupons together. Examples: Good for a massage, foot rub, carwash, kisses, hugs; etc.

Good Old Fashioned Chocolates. Who doesn’t love a sweet treat? Even on a student’s budget, one can afford to give a box of chocolates. They can run from $1 to $40. The size doesn’t matter. Pair the chocolates up with a poem or love letter and you’re good to go. A Picture Show. What better way to celebrate your love than through photos. Depending on how long you’ve been with your Valentine, a picture show can be a fun way to celebrate. Gather your best couple’s photos from when you first started dating until now. Put them together on a slideshow, Power Point presentation, or DVD. You can add your favorite song(s), captions and more. If you plan on a candlelight dinner at home, you can compliment it with the picture show playing in the background. Candlelight Dinner for Two. Create your own candle light dinner. A bottle of wine, candles, soft music (make a playlist), and pizza or even take-out. But do it with class. Make sure to toss the pizza box and place the pizza on a nice platter. Set the table. Use wine glasses. Maybe add a salad to your menu. Think restaurant style. After dinner, turn the music up a little and ask your Valentine to join you to a dance. A Broadway Play. Students can enjoy a Broadway play for almost more than half the price off with Student Rush tickets. But you have to be prepared to hustle for this one. Here’s the catch. Tickets have to be bought as early as ten in the morning when the box office opens. Be sure to have your student ID on hand. You can purchase up to two tickets per ID. Deciding which play to see and calling the box office ahead of time is best. For more information, check out nytix.com/broadway Bake. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his through his stomach. So, think back to your easy bake oven days and start a bake fest! Make a heart out of cupcakes, say ‘I Love You’ on a cake, or make heart-shaped cookies. You’ll certainly get on your Valentine’s sweet side. Display your Love. A gesture that made the news a few years ago was the story of a man who took a can of red spray paint and wrote across the snow in his front lawn, ‘I Love You, the Love of my Life’ to his wife. You may not have a front lawn full of snow but you can be creative. Make a sweet message out of rocks, construction paper or flowers. Write a message in lipstick; that’s always a classic. There are countless ways to show you care on this special holiday. And even though money may be tight, it’s not how much you spend but what you do and how you do it. Your beloved will cherish that forever.

Happy Valentine’s Day! See if someone sent you a personal message! Even if this will never get to you, I just want to finally tell you, that today tomorrow and always I love you.—tam Babe-Happy Valentine’s Day. I love you!—Me To Liana, my lil love bug Happy Valentine’s Day Xoxo Love always, mami

❤ Oli, Happy V-day Love you always, Bebe Kerry-Lynn, Happy Valentine’s Day baby. You are amazing. I hope all of your dreams and wishes come true. Love always and forever, John James

Sam, You are very lucky to have me as your wife, Love Always Michelle

❤ My boyfriend and I have been together for a year and seven months. We have absolutely nothing in common. Yet, our relationship is great. We support each other in our different interests and hobbies and have learned to grow together. He’s been there for me in times of need and helps me in anything. I just want him to know how important he is to me and how thankful I am to have him in my life. I love you, Andrew!

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To: Carmine I thank the Lord everyday because you are a part of my life. From, Norma

Polar bear!!!!!!! I love you so much and I’m so glad that we can make the best uh-oh Oreos together!! Love you!

I love you with ALL my heart Noel! You are my best friend and I can’t wait to become your wife. Love, Vanessa

To: Krunal, I love you. From: Priyanka Carolyn, I love you and only you forever. —Bart

Mike- Another Valentine’s Day together! Just want you to know I love you and good luck this season. Love, Your biggest fan

❤ Mac, ketchup, and honey mustard: I love you guys!! We are the most fun people I know and my life would definitely not be the same without you! Love always, cheese!

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Q&A

By KELLY NEMETH

CAMPBELL 1.

Do you feel that there is more pressure on the team h

There will always be pressure in every game we play because every team will have us already marked on their schedule before their season even starts. But we will be very prepared and used to every situation due to every little detail that the coaching staff puts us in day in and day out during practice.

I will miss seeing all of the guys on a daily basis at practice and games. Also the team trips are a great time. The thing I will miss the most is playing baseball at the level we play at.

What is your most memorable moment?

Getting two wins in one day in the freezing cold when I think my arm went numb by the end of the second game.

We are a close-knit bunch of guys on and off the field. We have a lot of fun, most of the time in the form of pranks. The young guys catch on real quick to our sense of humor as a team; we make fun of each other a lot.

What will you miss the most about playing for Kean?

I will miss all the jokes everyone makes inside the locker room or out on the field that keeps everyone loose at all times.

There is always going to be some kind of pressure on Kean Baseball. Teams come out to beat us. Our coaches put us in pressure situations all the time to prepare us to deal with big games, so even though the pressure is there, we have a way of handling it.

What makes the Kean Baseball Team unique?

The team is very unique due to the fact that there are no selfish players only concerned about themselves. Everyone works very hard and we all know that if we do not fulfill our certain roles, then we will not be successful in achieving our goals throughout the course of the year.

MANGANIELLO

I think being a part of the Kean baseball team that won our region, our conference, and the national championship is pretty memorable. Most importantly, I will miss all the good times throughout my four years here.

What are your goals for your final year?

Walk away with every trophy possible.

We want to win every game; the regular season title, the conference tournament, the region, and the national championship.

Photography and layout by Ana Maria Silverman

AICH

RIZZO

MURPHY

FENEIS

having been to the College World Series twice in a row? There is always pressure from year to year to top what you accomplished last season but pressure is something we deal with on a daily basis in practice. So to most of us, it’s just business as usual.

No not at all because the team believes that we should be part of the World Series every year or at least be competing for the chance to go to the World Series. The only pressure that I feel the team has is learning everything the coaches want us to learn about the game. If we execute them, we will be fine.

No, I think there was more pressure last season after winning the World Series and trying to defend the title. There is always pressure because of our schedule and conference games. But after we finish this last month or so of practice, Neil prepares us for whatever the season may bring.

Naturally, Yes. We’ve been fortunate to have very talented players over the past few years and it’s not every day you come across good talent and good team chemistry. Hopefully, we can overcome the pressure. You are only as good as last game you played and as of right now, we’re starting from a clean slate.

What makes us unique is that some of the guys that come in as recruits could’ve went to larger, d1 schools but didn’t. They chose to play here over other colleges because they want to be a part of what Kean Baseball is all about and it’s that dedication to the team and the program that makes playing here so enjoyable.

The team is unique because it’s more of a family atmosphere. We do everything together and that’s what makes us so successful throughout the years.

Kean Baseball team is unique because of the tight bond we share amongst each other including the players and coaches. I’ve been on a lot of teams in general and never have I been this close with my teammates and coaches. It’s such a family atmosphere here at Kean. You know the guy next to you would do whatever it takes to help you out.

Our close knit family atmosphere filled with superstitions and great memories. I’ve played on many teams throughout my life but none compare to Kean.

Traveling to California and playing games out on the west coast.

What I will miss the most is going out every day, hanging out with the team in the locker room, and playing for a chance to win another National Championship.

I’ll miss having fun with all my teammates and coaches who I became so close with throughout my years playing here.

: I played at a college prior to Kean, and having both experiences makes me realize how lucky I was to come here. I have been a part of an amazing team with great guys on and off of the field. I’ll miss playing baseball with these guys that I consider my family. I also learned a lot from the coaches and I’ll miss their help and support over the years.

Getting a save in the semi-final game of the College World Series on my 20th birthday and getting a cake smashed in my face as soon as I left the stadium.

My most memorable moment would have to be the 2007 trip to the World Series. How we won regionals in extra innings really gave us the belief that we are a top team in the country. Then, how we had to head to Wisconsin to try to win a national championship. All we kept saying is just don’t go two and out and win one game and build from there. The thing that mostly helped us in the World Series was the fans that made the trip out. There were people driving 18 hours just to see us play. That was my most memorable moment as a cougar.

Defending the title and heading back to the World Series. Winning it all in 2007 was something I’ll never forget, but then last year, being back there trying for another national championship was unbelievable as well.

The most memorable moment for me was pitching the Regional Championship game in 2007 that led us to the programs first World Series. Of course, being a member of the 2007 National Championship team was also something that I will never forget.

The same thing we do every year, try to take over the world.

This year my goal is to go out there and be healthy for the whole season and help the team in any way I can. To have a presence on the mound that allows the team behind me to know that we have a great chance to win. A goal that I have for the team is to get back to the College World Series.

Go out strong, and hopefully end up back in Wisconsin.

My goals for this year are to help continue with the team’s success and go back to the World Series for the third straight year. Baseball is something I hope to never stop playing. Being a senior is ending one chapter of my life but also the beginning of a new journey.

January 11, 2009 | The Tower

EDITORIAL

The Tower Department of Communication

CHOCOLATE IS THE GIFT THAT KEEPS GIVING Valentine’s Day is here once again. Maybe couples will appreciate each other more than usual on this special day or singles will celebrate their independence from commitment with their own festivities. Either way, turns out there is one common treat in which we can all indulge. Chocolate. As a sign of love or a cure for a broken heart, chocolate had been a friend to many. This time of year especially, many give chocolate as a sweet gift, but, what many don’t know is that chocolate offers more rewards than they actually realize. Chocolate contains more than just cocoa beans and sugars. In fact, it has beneficial chemicals that can better your Valentine’s Day mood. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter that increases brain activity that allows you to have positive feelings. Also found in chocolate are opiods, which help reduce pain and an even lift the spirits. Another chemical that can make your Valentine’s Day memorable is Theobromine. Theobromine has the potential of giving off a buzz, an uplifting that can also provide energy to make your night last longer. Studies show that chocolate can have a significant impact on “lovers” because it contains aphrodisiacs that enhance romance. So, if you want to make someone happy this Valentine’s Day, or you just want to make yourself feel good, ditch the aspirin, the coffee, or the cigarettes and go ahead and have a piece of chocolate. Bon appétit!

Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0468 Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: tower@kean.edu

The Tower is an independent, laboratory newspaper of Kean University’s print journalism option in the communication major program. It is published biweekly through the regular academic year and supported by advertising and the Department of Communication. The Tower is not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. The Tower is a public forum and is free from censorship and advance approval of content by the university administration. The Tower staff is responsible for its content. Editor-in-Chief Kelly Nemeth Deputy Editor Jill Johnson Sports Editor Nicole Von Gonten Arts and Entertainment Editor Raquel Fernandes Staff Kevin Adams John Cherry Charley Falkenburg Lisa Martinez Lillie Morales-Torres Kelly Pennisi

Kelly Nemeth Editor-in-Chief

Robert Pereira Dawn Phillips Aydin Reyhan Carlos Reynosa Jessie Rivera Rachel Rothspan Ana Maria Silverman Copy Editor Jay Hicks Business Manager Egdanis Torres-Dominicci Faculty Adviser Pat Winters Lauro Designer Stephanie Skirvin

Opinion pieces and letters to the editor The Tower welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor from any source. Such material should be submitted to tower@kean.edu or left at The Tower’s offices. To verify sources of written material, submissions must include the writer’s name and contact information. Students should include their class (sophomore, graduate, etc.) and major. Faculty and staff should include campus title or position. On request, names may be withheld from publication if The Tower staff determines there is a legitimate reason to do so, but no anonymous letters will be accepted for publication. The Tower reserves the right to edit, and refuse publication of any submission.

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Tower publication schedule Spring: Jan. 28, Feb. 11, Feb. 25, Mar. 11, Apr. 1, Apr. 22.

ANGER MANAGEMENT LIKE MOM ALWAYS SAID, PROFESSORS: JUST CONTACT US By Kelly Nemeth

Every student loves to hear those two special words, “Class canceled.” However, when that is not the case it can become not only a dangerous hassle, but an annoyance as well. When there is snow falling and you do not have the luxury of living on campus, you need to drive. In some cases, you need to drive at least an hour to get to school on a normal day and when it is bad weather it could take even longer. Kean rarely closes school because apparently it feels blizzard conditions are not hazardous enough to cancel classes. Instead, we need to get in our cars—or in buses and trains—and face the ice, traffic, and road closures. When you finally get to school, thankful to have made it, you face your next battle. We have to walk on icy paths to get to class. We cling onto our bags and slowly slide

our way through campus. When we finally reach our class late, due to the slow drive and walk, you realize that there are only five other people in the classroom. A discussion about how ridiculous it is that we had to come to class is heard until we get interrupted by a teacher who is not ours. “Your professor cancelled,” she says as she walks out of the room. We have not come all this way just to have our professor cancel. Couldn’t he or she send an email to tell us this? The professor has decided it is too dangerous to drive all the way to Kean, yet makes us go all the way tp school just to turn around and go back? Now, you have the journey home to think about the pointless trip you just made. We ask our professors this: next time, please somehow let us know in advance. Or, maybe, Kean should actually close for once.

The Tower | January 11, 2009

OPINIONS

Is Chivalry Dead or Is It Just In Hiding? By Rachel Rothspan

Once upon a time, princes rescued princesses from the evils that befell them, valiant soldiers went into war to bring back honor to the women that they loved, and toads were royalty, waiting for their perfect mate to come along and kiss them back to their handsome and stately form. Fast forward to today, when the closest thing we get to a knight in shining armor is a guy in New York City covered in metallic paint pretending to be the Statue of Liberty. It is common place to hear the cliché “chivalry is dead” being thrown around. Can it be true that there is no one left who has a heart of decency? Chivalry is a term that stems from knighthood—the concept is based on the

ideals of virtue, love and honor. A chivalrous mate is one who goes out of their way to make life easier for their lover— little things like opening the door or pulling out a chair to big things like protection and consideration for the feelings of the other. But today, it seems like all we hear is unconventional language to express the attractiveness of the opposite sex. Relationships have been reduced to fleeting affairs, and even those that make it to the long term seem to be growing more and more inconsiderate at best. This shouldn’t be surprising when you take into account the fact that even in our every day lives, the world seems just plain rude. No one holds the door anymore; those who do find that people usually don’t say thank you. Asking a quick “How

are you?” to the person serving you is often met with a snappy answer of “Fine”, or

worse, nothing at all. Manners all over, it seems, are dead. But maybe chivalry isn’t completely gone. Maybe it’s just hiding—camping out waiting for our generation to get tired of living without it. Maybe when the time is right, chivalry will pop back out into the world and bring back the element that once wowed the people and now seems to only exist in bad chick flicks. How do we get to it? I think it’s just a matter of holding the door for the people behind you, or saying thank you when they do it for you. If we make small gestures, we might find out the meaning of honor and all kinds of things that once made relationships—and just living in general—a lot more pleasant. It might go a long way. Save chivalry; start using it.

When Going After a Dream Seems Like an Endless Journey By Lauren Buttacavole

Maybe you don’t want to be a princess or an astronaut anymore, and pretending to fly around the house like superman would be a bit bizarre at this time, but what’s wrong with having a dream? Yes, it’s a good idea to drop the far-fetched, crazy ideas from long ago, but why are so many students today giving up on what they really want to do with their lives? Many college students consult friends, families, professors or professionals to seek advice about courses or career paths, but too often they walk away confused or doubtful. Our university should be a place to find answers. So where are these answers found? Behind Door Number One? Or is it Door Number Two or Three?

Sometimes just getting out there into the real world can be a difficult and exhausting adjustment. Sometimes, the advice that students may receive is based upon other people’s beliefs, experiences, and their own career choices. This might not be the best advice for you, and it can be difficult for students to discover what to do or what’s out there for them. To them, school just seems like an endless journey. Other times, many people hold on to dreams for so long and just don’t see anything happening. These individuals have dreams inside, waiting to be achieved. They want to pursue their passion instead of the road to realism. Richard Oathout, a sophomore majoring in English, with an emphasis in Writing, dreams of publishing a Fantasy/Science Fiction book he is writing. He said that he is confident about what he wants to do, but he is discouraged from finishing his book. “Sometimes I get grades that discourage me” said Oathout. “And a bad grade will keep me from getting my book published.” The endless doubts are like walking into a pit of despair. Hearing mixed messages from people, (seemingly everyone) soon turns your hopes into discouragement. You are not alone. If you truly believe something is meant for you, don’t give up on it. Instead, get more information. Yoelle Almonte said she changed her major four times. Her previous major was in Accounting but an accounting professor said the business industry is “evil,” which

led her to change her major to Chemistry. She said she knows that she made the right decision. “Going to college is very challenging,” said Almonte. “And not everyone can handle it.” Almonte thinks students need more career counseling to help figure it all out. Unfortunately there isn’t a Confusion 101 class that features all the essential lessons such as finding a career path and overcoming a lack of confidence. However, I discovered options are available on campus to help give you the confidence needed or a push to someday open a door to a future career. Carolyn Galligan, career specialist at Kean’s Career Development and Advancement, says students may be doubtful about what they want to do, and sometimes they are living what their parents want and not fulfilling their own dreams. Many times, they don’t have the right amount of career information and that also can be frustrating. Kean’s career counseling is provided to help students with resumes, interviews, and finding a career choice. She said career counseling holds workshops and sit-down conferences to help you become knowledgeable and give you the right amount of information. She said counselors sit down with students and help them know themselves and their values. They won’t tell you what you should do but instead help you decide for yourself. “It’s first important to understand yourself,” Galligan explained. This sounds like good advice. Students can also take a test to help find their interests if they are unsure about choosing a major, or even if they want to know whether they are in the right one now. Going to career fairs are also a good idea. Kean is having a career fair on April 23 in the CAS building that could be beneficial to students in preparing resumes and talking to people in various fields. Sometimes just getting out there into the real world can be a difficult and exhausting adjustment. Career Development and Advancement, located in room 123 on the first floor in the CAS building, is there to help. But for now, know that in life you never know what could happen- and it’s ok. Sometimes the best things in life happen when you’re not looking for them. Keep aiming at your dreams-through fears and doubts, struggles and hardships that may bring obstacles in your course. Always keep an open mind because opportunities are everywhere. It’s up to you to find those ways to gain experience and put yourself out there to one day fulfill your dreams. But you will never know what you are capable of unless you continue to pursue your potential. School is just the beginning. Lauren Buttacavole is a senior who is majoring in English.

Mother of Six Didn’t Need Eight More McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Some 4.1 million babies will be born in the United States this year. Whatever the actual total, it’ll be eight more than it should have been. The birth of octuplets to single-mom Nadya Suleman last week has raised a ruckus, not the least of it from anguished medical ethicists throughout the nation. So naturally there’s talk of legislation to prevent this kind of misuse of fertility treatment. But let’s hold off. Medical guidelines already in place should have stopped this travesty. One isolated case is no reason for legislators to veer into the quagmire of reproductive regulation when they’ve got more urgent things to worry about.

A new law couldn’t make it any more clear that this multiple birth was unacceptable. Here’s what two leading experts in the field told reporters: “If she is fertile and was given infertility treatments, then we’ve left ethics and we’re into malpractice,” said Arthur Kaplan, the University of Pennsylvania’s director of the Center for Bioethics. “When we see something like this in the general fertility world, it gives us the heebie-jeebies,” said Michael Tucker, a researcher in infertility treatment. “If a medical practitioner had anything to do with it, there’s some degree of inappropriate medical therapy there.” Higher-order multiple births—the medical term for three or more babies—are

considered dangerous for both the babies and the mother. Infertility experts with a shred of ethical sense discourage anything more than twins because of the huge risks, not to mention the high costs to the mother and the hospitals where such babies are born. Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center reportedly used a 46-member team to deliver the babies, and the cost of raising the octuplets is estimated at $2.5 million. Of the 4 million babies projected to be born in the United States this year, only 7,000 will be higher-order multiple births —less than two-tenths of 1 percent. And 95 percent of those will be triplets. This shows that the current guidelines are effective.

To more firmly prohibit cases like Suleman’s, lawmakers would have to set a limit on the number of embryos a woman could have implanted. Italy and Germany have done this, deciding on three. But imagine the debate it would spark here, raising religious questions and giving new meaning to a woman’s right to choose. Maybe anyone considering having triplets or more should have to spend a few weeks in a nursery trying to care for multiple babies with no help. That wouldn’t have stopped Suleman, who already had six children. But for practically anyone else, it would do the trick. The above editorial appeared in the San Jose Mercury News.

January 11, 2009 | The Tower

RACHEL’S RAVE

Alice’s Tea Room Imagine the enchantment of a childhood tale, soaked in the warmth and comfort of a cup of tea. Now place it in the middle of the hustle and bustle of New York City, and you have Alice’s Tea Cup. The venue opened its doors in three separate parts of Manhattan. For brunch or just for an afternoon snack, Alice’s Tea Cup serves a variety of teas, pastries and cakes within its walls decorated with quotes and scenes from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. Despite the busy streets outside the walls, Alice’s Tea Cup is one of the few escapes from the stressors of the world. The teas have creative names such as Sunset, which is an artful blend of lemon, orange, rose petals, rosehips and hibiscus. There is also Birthday tea, which is a mixture of black teas, tropical fruits and

flowers. To appease hunger, the tearoom is known for its seasonal and year-round scones and jams. But the enchantment does not have to stop within the walls. Chapter I, the first to be built, offers a selection of teas and souvenirs in a gift shop that precedes the tearoom. In addition, alicesteacup.com sells many items and teas, and also lists the menu and products. All three store locations now serve breakfast on the weekdays, brunch on the weekends and lunch every day. So, step away from reality and indulge in Alice’s Tea Cup. Alice’s Tea Room can be found on 102 West 73rd St. (Chapter 1), 156 East 64th St. (Chapter II), or 220 East 81st St (Chapter III). Each location is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

MYSTIC STARS

WEEKLY HOROSCOPE By Linda C. Black Tribune Media Services

The front of the west side location

02.14.09

Rachel Rothspan

Today’s Birthday (02-14-09) Caution is advised this year. Have a few good backup plans. If the first, second or third doesn’t work, you’ll know what to do anyway. Or pretty close. You’ll still have to think on your feet, but you can easily do that. To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging. Aries (March 21-April 19) Today is an 8 By now you should have your priorities set and know what you can afford. Review your finances again before you go shopping. Allow someone else to pitch in. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Today is a 5 Postpone your excursion until after the chores are finished. They’re taking longer than expected, but that’s the way it is. Get somebody to help. Gemini (May 21-June 21) Today is a 7 Harsh words can hurt, especially when they come from somebody you love. Don’t make too big a deal of it, though. Forgiveness is the key. You get to do it first. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Today is a 5 You’re getting into a more favorable position, but don’t drop your guard. Don’t believe every rumor you hear, either. Communications are apt to be garbled. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Today is a 7 The more you learn, the more you realize that you don’t know enough. It’s like that now. Proceed with caution, but definitely proceed. This is the exciting part. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Today is a 7 It’s hard to turn down a request, especially from someone you love. You’ll have to do it, though, for their own good. They might not understand now, but they will later. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Today is a 7 Now that you know what you want, figure out how to produce it for less money than it would cost people who don’t have your imagination. That’s the challenge. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Today is a 6 Complications continue to arise for the next few days. Proceed with caution. Check and double-check any “facts” you receive. Don’t gossip, and don’t believe what you hear. Build a watertight argument. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Today is a 6 Good idea to think before you speak. Complete honesty is your standard, of course. You don’t know exactly what that is, so don’t offer comments. First, assess the situation further. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Today is a 6 You’re walking on the edge of the sword. You must be vigilant, yet relaxed and confident. Get as far on that path as you can. It gets easier with practice. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) Today is a 6 Don’t race off on a wild goose chase. Find out more before you go. You may decide to abandon that mission. Think long before you take action. Think of good reasons why not. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Today is a 5 Hold back on your final decision. You don’t have enough information. You may have to invent something that has never existed before. To hurry would be foolish, at the very least.

Visiting Scientist to Speak at Meteorology Club The Student Chapter of the AMS/NWA at Kean University (the Meteorology Club) will host visiting scientist, Paul Kocin on Thursday February 19th at 7:00 p.m. on the Kean University Campus. Kocin will present his research of winter weather as well as discuss a few notable winter weather events. Kocin and Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of the National Center for Environmental Protection are co-authors of a comprehensive book set on winter weather in the Northeastern United States. The two meteorologists also co-developed the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS) to classify snowstorm intensity on a scale of 1-to-5. Kocin was also the face of the “Storm Update” segment on The Weather Channel as the winter weather expert. The chapter asks guests to bring one item of non-perishable food to the event as part of the chapter’s donation to the local community food bank in Union, New Jersey.

The Tower| January 11, 2009

HEALTH & FITNESS

The FDA and Peanut Butter Dr. Josh Palgi and Dr. Dr. Jessica Adams

The U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for protecting and promoting the Nation’s public health. The agency is organized into the following subdivisions each focused on a major area of regulatory responsibility. • The Office of the Commissioner (OC) • The Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) • The Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) • The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) • The Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) • The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) • The National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) • The Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) To help Americans avoid the health risks posed by food allergens, Congress passed the Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act of 2004. The law applies to all foods regulated by FDA, both domestic and imported, that were labeled on or after January 1, 2006. (FDA regulates all foods except meat, poultry, and certain egg products.) Now the labels must clearly identify the source of all ingredients that are—or are derived from—the eight most common food al-

lergens. As a result, food labels will help allergic consumers to identify offending foods or ingredients so they can more easily avoid them. The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is the branch of the FDA which is responsible for ensuring the safety and accurate labeling of nearly all food products in the United States. While more than 160 foods can cause allergic reactions in people with food allergies, the law identifies the eight most common allergenic foods. The eight most common allergenic foods are: 1. Milk 2. Eggs 3. Fish (e.g., bass, flounder, cod) 4. Crustacean shellfish (e.g. crab, lobster, shrimp) 5. Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans) 6. Peanuts 7. Wheat 8. Soybeans These eight foods, and any ingredient that contains protein derived from one or more of them, are designated as “major food allergens” by the law. FDA has developed a comprehensive Food Protection Plan to address the changes in food sources, production, and consumption that we face in today’s world. Building upon and improving an already sound food safety protection capability, the new plan presents a robust strategy to protect the nation’s food supply from both unintentional contamination and deliberate attack. More than 11 million

Americans including 3 million children are estimated to have food allergies, most commonly to milk, eggs, peanuts and soy. The prevalence among children has risen 18 percent in the past decade according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although most food allergies cause relatively mild and minor symptoms, some food allergies can cause severe reactions, and may even be life-threatening. As of January 17, 2009, the FDA has extended its warning about possible salmonella contamination of peanut butter. Salmonella is a type of bacteria. It is usually found in poultry, eggs, unprocessed milk and in meat and water. It may also be carried by pets like turtles and birds. The salmonella bacteria causes much of

the food poisoning in the world each year. Salmonella is a general name for a group of about 2000 closely related bacteria that causes illness by reproducing in the digestive tract. In more serious causes, the bacteria may enter the lymph tracts, which carry water and protein to the blood, and the blood itself. The FDA announced it was working with the Justice Department to explore possible criminal charges against Peanut Corporation of America for shipping out products after it was known the facility was contaminated with salmonella and failing to comply with federally mandated manufacturing practices. At least 23 New Jersey residents have fallen ill as part of a nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to the peanut products. Some 529 people in 43 states have been affected by the outbreak. Eight people are believed to have died as a result of the infections. Some congressmen have suggested giving the FDA more authority and power. President Obama promised a “complete review of FDA operations”. “I think that the FDA has not been able to catch some things as quickly as I expect them to”, President. Obama said in an interview on the Today show. The President said Americans should be able to count on the government to keep them, including his daughters, safe when they eat peanut butter. Dr. Josh Palgi, Professor, Physical Education, Recreation and Health Dept. Dr. Jessica Adams, Professor, Physical Education, Recreation and Health Dept.

SPORTS Kean Stays Tough Against NJAC Opponents By Nicole VonGonten

Coming off two straight victories the Cougars looked to continue their recent success. Kean’s next opportunity came when they hosted the College of Staten Island on January 19. Kean came out in the first half shooting. Staten Island cut the Cougar lead to two once early in the first half. The Cougars biggest lead of the game came after a layup by Vinnie Darpino extended the lead to 20, 35-15. Akinwande Oshodi extended the lead back to 20 seconds later, after Staten Island had scored. Kean took their commanding 18 point lead, 39-21, into half time. In the second half the Cougars continued to dominate. Kean never let Staten Island reduce their lead to less than 12. The Cougars cruised to a 16 point victory, 75-59, over Staten Island. Oshodi scored a game high 21 points, along with Brian Lytle who finished with 14 points and

seven rebounds. The Cougars hosted conference rival Montclair State University on January 24. The Red Hawks took the quick lead over Kean early in the first half. With 12 minutes remaining in the half the Cougars answered back with a scoring run of their own. Kean took a three point lead, 1310, when Eugene Tolliver connected on the three pointer. Montclair then began to take away the Cougars lead. The Red Hawks went on a 12 point run for a lead of 22-13. The Cougars tried to cut the lead before the half to pull within six points. Montclair extended their lead to 15 points, 43-28, as the half came to a close. Montclair continued to extend their lead in the second half. Kean cut the lead late in the half. Jonathan Jones cut the Red Hawk lead to eight after connecting on a layup, with four minutes in the game. The Cougars continued to try and cut the lead, but Montclair did not let that hap-

www.keanathletics.com/landing/index

pen. Kean could not pull any closer than nine points in the closing minutes. The Cougars fell to Montclair 80-67. Jones finished with 13 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in the loss to the Red Hawks. The College of New Jersey traveled to Kean on January 29 to face the Cougars. TCNJ proved to be a battle for Kean. The Lions commanded the lead early in the first half. The Cougars took the lead from TCNJ off of a layup by Akinwande Oshodi for a 13-12 lead. Kean and TCNJ exchanged the lead for a couple of minutes after. Tied at 21 with five minutes in the half the Cougars took the lead for the rest of the half. As time expired on the half the Cougars held a 10 point lead, 32-22. Kean built their lead to 12 early in the second half. TCNJ began to cut the Cougar lead minutes into the half. The Lions took the lead, 42-41, with 11 minutes remaining off a layup by Jay Frank. There would be three ties before the Cougars took back the lead. With the game tied 49-49 with

three minutes left, Vinnie Darpino made a layup. After the Darpino layup Kean never let TCNJ take the lead back. The Cougars went onto win by five, 59-54. Kean traveled to William Paterson University, to face their third straight NJAC opponent on January 31. The Pioneers and Cougars exchanged the lead several times in the early minutes of the game. Tied at 9 barely 5 minutes into the half, William Paterson started to build their lead. The Pioneers had built their lead to 12, 34-22, with a minute to go in the half. William Paterson took their double digit lead, 34-24, into half time. The second half saw the Pioneers continue to build their double digit lead. William Paterson’s biggest lead came with three minutes left in the game, when they extended it to 20 points. The Cougars could not cut the double digit lead to any less than 10. Kean fell short to William Paterson by a score of 62-49.

January 11, 2009 | The Tower

SPORTS

Cougars Top William Paterson By John Cherry

Kean University women’s basketball team remains undefeated in the New Jersey Athletic Conference after defeating William Paterson University, 81-74, on January 31. With the win, Kean improves to 17-3 overall and 9-0 in the NJAC. The key to Kean’s victory was two long runs, a 17-2 run in the first half and a 13-3 run in the second half. The second-half run became much more important, for it crippled William Paterson’s comeback efforts and halted all of their momentum. Junior forward Cardiss Jackman led the way for Kean, scoring a season-high 26 points, adding five rebounds and four assists. Sophomore forward Tiffany Patrick had a very solid game, scoring a doubledouble with 18 points and 12 rebounds, while shooting a very efficient seven for eight from the field and four for five from the free throw line. Down 8-6 after four minutes into the game, Kean was jump-started with the same shot, a three pointer, which won them the last game against TCNJ. This time, it was Jackman that hit the shot. Kean proceeded to go on a 17-2 run,

Tiffany Patrick (left) and Cardiss Jackman (right) help lead the Cougars to victory.

the first of their long runs that helped spark this victory. Jackman caught fire after the three and scored 10 of the 17 points in the run. Jackman could not be stopped in the first half, shooting 70 percent from the field and going a perfect four for four from the line. Kean held an 11-point lead at the half, 43-32.

A slow start to the second half let William Paterson right back into the game and it appeared that the game was slipping away from Kean. William Paterson outscored Kean 23-12 in the first 8 minutes of the second half, tying the game at 55. The second of Kean’s long scoring runs came at just the right time. Kean went

on a 13-3 run, stealing all the momentum from William Paterson and taking back control of the game. William Paterson, however, did not go away that easily, responding with a 14-4 run of their own, putting them ahead by the score of 72-71 with 2:37 left in the game. After a missed shot by senior guard Ebony Jackson, junior Danielle Brown came up with the biggest offensive rebound of the game. This gave Jackson another chance; she was fouled while shooting and connected on both free throws to give Kean the lead. After two huge misses from the free throw line by William Paterson, Tiffany Patrick buried a jumper to put Kean up by three. While most teams cripple under the pressure of the last minutes of the game, the Cougars get stronger. Kean put the game away on the line, by going a perfect six for six, after going only four for ten throughout the half. The perfect six for six gave William Paterson no chance for a last-second comeback. Thus the game ended, 81-74. When the pressure is on, the Lady Cougars shine.

Cougars Stay Perfect Against NJAC By Nicole VonGonten

With a four game winning streak on the line the Cougars traveled to Baruch College on January 21 to try to extend the streak to five straight. Kean held a nine point lead, 16-7, with 11 minutes left in the first half. Baruch tied the Cougars at 18 with a layup from Monique Salmon. The teams kept each other close for the rest of the half. They tied once more, and Baruch never let Kean extend their lead past seven. The Cougars took a six point lead, 32-26, into half time. Baruch took their first lead of the day less than two minutes into the second half, 3332. Kean held a 55-48 advantage with nine minutes to go, but Baruch slowly started to make their comeback. With a minute and a half remaining the Cougars held an 11 point lead, 68-57, Baruch then went on a scoring streak to cut the lead. A three-pointer by Awa Diop tied the game 70-70 with 23 seconds to go. Ebony Jackson broke the tie with 11 seconds to go with a jumper to give the Cougars the 72-70 advantage. Danielle Brown secured the win for Kean by blocking a layup by Salmon. Kean returned home to face conference rival Montclair State University on January 24. Both the Cougars and Red Hawks came into the game undefeated in conference action. The Cougars held the advantage for the first half. Montclair tied once early in the first half, but was never able to take the lead from Kean. With 12 minutes remaining the Red Hawks cut the Cougar lead to one, 13-12. Kean extended their lead to seven three times in the half, the last coming with seven minutes left, 25-18. Cardiss Jackman extended the lead to five, 30-25, with a three pointer to send the teams into half time. The Red Hawks never took the lead from Kean in the second half. They cut the lead to two on two occasions, but never got any closer. The Cougars went onto win by eight,

67-59, to hand Montclair their first conference loss. The Cougars and the College of New Jersey paid tribute to a women’s basketball coaching legend when the two faced off at Kean on January 29. The head coach of North Carolina State University, Kay Yow, lost her 20 year battle to breast cancer recently. In honor of Yow, Kean players wore pink uniforms and both coaching staffs wore pink ribbons. The Lions jumped out to a six point lead early in the half. Kean went on an eight point run to take the lead from TCNJ. The Cougars took their biggest lead of the half, 12 points, off of a three pointer by Alysha Taylor with ten minutes to go. With three minutes to go before the break the Lions tied Kean, 32-32, on a layup by Alexandra Gregorek. TCNJ took the lead into half time 42-34. The Lions continued to extend their lead early in the half. With a three pointer by Taylor the Cougars got with two points, 47-49, with 12 minutes to go. Ebony Jackson tied the game 51-51, with her first free throw, and then gave the team the lead with second. The last two minutes of half saw the teams flip the lead back and forth. The first tie, 67-67 came with two minutes left in the game as the Lions tied it up. Jackson gave the Cougars the two point lead that was quickly tied by TCNJ. With 34 seconds TCNJ’s Hillary Klimowicz made two free throws to put them ahead, 71-69. Ten seconds later Jackson tied the game, 71-71, with two free throws of her own. Klimowicz was fouled again with 12 seconds remaining, making the first free throw, but not the second. The Lions lead was now 72-71. Olivia Triano entered the game after the foul, with three second to go she sent the Cougars to their seven straight win. Triano nailed a three pointer to win the game for Kean, 74-72. Photo caption: Ebony Jackson goes for the shot, while Kean wears their pink uniforms to honor the loss of a coaching legend.

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MEN’S BASKETBALL: 02/04 Kean 66, Richard Stockton College 70 (In overtime)

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02/07 Kean 55, Rowan University 87 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 02/04 Kean 81, Richard Stockton College 54 01/24 Kean 54, Rowan University 57

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