The Tower-February 2020

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Volleyball’s Zarzycki spikes cancer

Student Spotlight

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TH E I N DEPEN D EN T VOI C E O F KE AN U N IV E R S IT Y

Former General Education professors file whistleblower lawsuit against Kean University

Photo by Joshua Rosario

Five of the 10 General Education lecturers that were laid off.

By Salimah McCullough Six General Education lecturers who say they were fired shortly after complaining about student privacy issues after a move to open office space have filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the university.

The lawsuit, filed in the Superior Court of Union County on Jan. 13, includes six of 10 GE professors who were not reappointed last year.

The plaintiffs are former lecturers Heather Connors, Straubel Cetoute, Fadi Hilani, Andre Jones, Mirela Negoita, and Shayla Ward.

The case, which names Kean University, President Dawood Farahi and Provost Jeffrey Toney; was filed under the Whistleblower and Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). CEPA is “a broad New Jersey Whistleblower law. It helps protect employees

from retaliation such as being fired, demoted, passed up for promotion or harassed because they objected to something that they reasonably believed violated the law,” according to njemploymentlawfirm.com.

In June 2018, the six general education lecturers first raised concerns about the security cameras that had audio in their new, glass-enclosed open office space on the first floor of the Center for Academic Success.

They were concerned that the cameras would potentially violate students' privacy rights, according to the lawsuit.

Originally, the lecturers were located in private offices on the second floor of CAS. They were later moved to the first floor of CAS into an “open-concept office in a glassenclosed space,” according to an Oct. 2018

Tenured Art History faculty told they will be let go

By Erin McGuinness

plan for action.

The three tenured professors first spoke Gov. Phil Murphy, the University Senate, before the University Senate on Jan 21 to concerned Kean students and professors defend their program, jobs and the future from the academic departments of other New of their students. The University Senate, Jersey public universities have been reacting which has authority in academic matters negatively to President Dawood Farahi’s and is supposed to be consulted on the decision to retrench the university’s tenured elimination of programs, was not consulted Art History faculty. in the retrenchment decision, said James Dr. Jacquelyn Tuerk-Stonberg, Dr. Castiglione, KFT president. The Board of Marguerite Mayhall and Dr. Lewis Kachur, Trustees is also required to vote on program Kean’s only tenured Art History professors, elimination, though the announcement to were informed of their retrenchment via email cut was made before a board vote was taken, on Dec 20. Retrenchment Castiglione said. of tenured faculty, which is Students and members a layoff, can be justified for of the senate wore blue “I financial or programmatic Am Art History” buttons in reasons as outlined in their support of the department union contracts, according and its members. Thankful to the professors, but alumna and students of the the letters did not give Art History program, some specifics for the decision. in tears, pleaded with the The university later said the senate to push forward a program is and has been resolution urging the Board struggling financially – a of Trustees to delay the claim the faculty disputes. retrenchment decision.

The Kean Federation On Feb. 4, the University of Teachers, along with Senate voted 17 to four to students and faculty draft a letter to the Board Photo by anonymous members, attended Gov. Phil Artwork defending the Art History of Directors outlining “the Murphy’s town hall meeting program was posted on the Kean bypassing of the Senate University Clock Tower on Jan. 27.

Students protest with a petition, see Page 3 in Maplewood on Jan 29 to raise awareness about this issue and to ask the Governor to "Please Save Art History at Kean University."

The governor commented publicly that he would look into the situation and develop a

with regards to Art History, in violation of the principles of shared governance,” said Constance Hasset-Walker, University Senate chair.

The letter will be voted on Feb 18. Art

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Kean University cancels study Martin Luther abroad semester to Wenzhou King III embraces

By Cindy Lazo

Kean University has announced that it will not be sending students to the Wenzhou Kean campus for the spring semester due to health concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

The cancellation is a precaution as the virus, which originated in Wuhan, China and is 700 miles from Wenzhou-Kean University,

would like to leave, according to Dr. Jonathan Mercantini, Acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.

Mercantini said that no faculty are required to remain there.

“We do have faculty for whom that’s their home, and some of them have opted to stay.

That’s home, they’re comfortable there, they get the supplies that they need, they don’t feel

The cancellation is a precaution as the coronavirus continues to spread across the world

social equality for all at Kean University’s Distinguished Lecture Series

By Tasha Dowbachuk The eldest son of the late revered civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., delivered an impactful calling for Kean University students to embrace the concepts of social justice and to empower themselves through the power of voting.

Martin Luther King III implored Kean University’s students to “rise up” and seize the torch to usher the future generations into a greater future for the right of advocacy inside the Distinguished Lecture Series in North Ave. Building.

Through the reminiscence of Feb. 9, 1961, he reflects upon the visit his father took to Union campus and expresses the impact of continuing his legacy through the measures of human and social justice and the non-violent approach towards unification around the world.

He urges the audience to actively motivate and participate in civic engagement in order to dismantle the effects of affirmative action and devote time to address the betterment of all causes, ethnicities, religious groups, sexual orientations and genders.

Photo by Ian Alfano

Photo Courtesy of Kean University website, featuring his lecture within the Distinguished Lecture Series

“Everyone has to decide whether or not they want to be engaged [in social issues],” Martin Luther King III said. “You must decide what your passion is and once you find that out you can approach the challenge of how you choose to engage [as an activist].”

The heart of his presentation rests within the observation of the history constructed in Black History Month and how the contribution of revolutionaries figures within black culture are overshadowed through the hidden motives of America’s distribution to chronicles of history.

“Taxation without representation,” which is described as the act of being taxed by an authority without the benefit of having elected representatives, is displayed as voter’s suppression for many minority groups in order to silence and exploit their communities.

“My father used to say, ‘we must make America what it ought to be,’” Martin Luther King III said.

King said that people should not fear the institutionalized agenda of this nation, as long as the participation to generate the needed evolutionary change is reached.

“We need masses of people to join the efforts of fair fight organizations and to

“My father used to say, ‘we must make America what it ought to be’”

Photo by Kean Website

The Wenzhou-Kean campus.

continues to spread across the world, and the death toll has risen past 1,000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reporting of at least 13 confirmed cases in the U.S. as of Feb. 12.

As for the Wenzhou-Kean faculty, the university has reached out to those who

threatened or anything so they’re staying,” Mercantini said. “The university has sent out a couple of emails inviting faculty that wish to leave [whether] they are American citizens or citizens of another country. And the Wenzhou staff is assisting with those transportation and travel requests.” continued on page 4

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2 THE TOWER

February, 2020

New Jersey prepares for ban of flavored vaping products

Kean celebrates Black History Month

By Leshay Jones Students and faculty at Kean are celebrating their blackness with pride this Black History Month with a calendar packed full of events.

The Office of Africana Studies, along with other black student organizations, gathered outside of the clock tower Feb. 3 for the opening ceremony for the Black History Kickoff to listen to an opening speech by Dr. James Conyers, the director of Africana Studies.

At the kickoff, the Miron Student Center (MSC) was a sea of melanin. Students of all shades socialized and ate soul food while music played in the background.

Cougar’s Den and listened to fellow classmates and alumni speak about their fields on an open panel.

There was an open mic session where students shared poetry and songs inspired by Black History Month, paired with a networking portion where students interacted with each other and some of the panelists, exchanging words of encouragement and sharing innovative ideas.

“Black people working with black people, we love to see it,” junior Jenny Jean-Louis said.

Conyers stressed the importance of African American students at Kean knowing their history and liberating their minds of what

Photo by Chelsey Jaipersaud

Flavored vaping products.

By Chelsey Jaipersaud

“I’m just really excited to see all of the black students on campus collaborating this month to celebrate our history”

Vaping has become a major topic tied to the lives of growing teens and young adults.

With the market expanding, there has been an increase in regulations, the most recent being the ban of flavored products used in e-cigarettes. A ban took effect this month that prohibits fruit, candy, and dessert flavors but allows mint flavors, according to marketwatch. com, a business news website.

With this new law set to take place, many vape shops are struggling to find a replacement that would guarantee the same profit they earned from their flavored products. A greater concern is the overall health of vaping young adults and customers going back to the usage of cigarettes. Whether or not the two are equally detrimental is what is in question as of right now.

According to Dimitrios Patakos, owner of HubCity Smokes a vaping shop located in New Brunswick, many vape shops are at risk due to the loss of revenue flavored e-cigarettes provided, especially to the youth. In regards to the matter of people going back to cigarettes, it is very likely to happen, he said.

“It is going to bring a lot of people back to cigarettes and I’ve already seen it happen,” said Dimitrios Patakos.

Depending on how severe an addiction is, going back to cigarettes may be the only option for people. It is not recommended, but that is what most people will feel they have to do.

The new law increases the purchase age of vaping products with nicotine from 18 to 21 years old.

It can no longer be said that vaping is the better option, but neither is the use of cigarettes, yet they are still being sold almost everywhere.

“The biggest problem is that there is youth vaping,” Patakos said. “When you have youth vaping, it is not necessarily up to the flavors because then you would be looking at liquor stores, etc. It is up to the distributor or the person selling it to be able to ID people,” said

Patakos.

Although in most vape shops there is an age restriction, once the age of twenty one is reached, vaping products can be legally bought and given to anyone who is underage. Once the product is sold, it is no longer in the hands of the store owner or their employees. There is no way to ensure that the product will not fall into the hands of anyone under the age of twenty one.

The use of flavored e-cigarettes, specifically fruit, candy and dessert, have been targeted due to the overwhelming amount of young adults using these products. These flavors attract many young adults and leave them more susceptible to long-term vaping, according to a study published in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal.

E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) is the newly identified lung disease linked to vaping. Recently, the CDC has reported “over 2,000 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths” due to the use of e-cigarettes.

“The use of it showed me how terrible it is and how much of an effect it had on my body,” said Kean student David Mroczek. “I started having shortness of breath, feeling like I had a cold all of the time and constantly feeling the need for more.”

The effects of vaping have sparked the same concern as the effects of cigarettes once did, but, because vaping once masked and deemed itself as the healthier option, many were quick to try this new sensation. People are now suffering from the aftermath.

“I think the ban will benefit people because it will reduce the illness rate and better people’s health,” said Kean student Brittney Martinez.

In the public eye, vaping is next to cigarettes in terms of how dangerous it can be. People who eventually want to stop the use of cigarettes and vaping, but have severe addictions, will have to seek alternative options.

“I believe that vaping should be banned completely as the harmful effects of it are beyond unreasonable,” said Mroczek.

“I believe that vaping should be banned completely as the harmful effects of it are beyond unreasonable.”

Photo by Cougar Link

A calendar of Kean’s Black History Month events.

Pan-African Student Association President Kevin Preko said he believes that this is the perfect time for black students at Kean to come together.

Not only is there a plethora of events for African American students to attend to celebrate the month, but this is also the first year that black student organizations are collaborating on this many events.

“I’m just really excited to see all of the black students on campus collaborating this month to celebrate our history,” Preko said. “I hope this opens up doors for more collaboration throughout the year. I love to see the unity of our people.”

The National Council of Negro Women hosted an event on Feb. 6 called “Young, Black and Creative,” the conclusion to their all day “For Us By Us” event. Students sat in the

he believes is the greatest enemy of African Americans.

“The greatest enemy that people of color face, especially Africans, is racism in the form of white supremacy,” Conyers said.

Conyers said his goal for this month is to continue his daily work of educating the African American body at Kean of their history and culture.

“The goal is to enlighten Africans all days of the year,” Conyers said. “Black History Month, which should really be called African History Month, is just a time when there is an emphasis on that enlightenment.”

Students will be able to learn more about the culture with all of the events organized this month through the Office of Africana Studies along with other black student organizations.

Beautiful to See, Yet its Roots Create Rot: Sable Arias’s ‘Invasif Desires’

By Siobhan Donaldson

Arias had seen Vincent Musetti’s final show, an artist who t graduated from Kean University in 2016. He works primarily in sculpture, taxidermy, The Student Art Gallery, located in the Vaughn-Eames building, displays and oil paints. large printings of invasive plants on recycled hand-made paper, delicate “When I saw his show, I saw so much more. He did so much mix mediabooks bound together, and the artists' desire to uproot weeds that encroach and it hit me that I don't have to be a painter to be an artist. I can be an on herself. artist,” Arias said. “I was inspired to do what I wanted to do. I wanted to Connecting to the parasitic bamboo that surrounds her home in Little make books, I wanted to improve, to learn more, to know more. Even Egg Harbor, and the most recent infestation of Lantern Flies, Sable Arais though my works don't serve a specific purpose, it’s the experience of hopes to explore what it means to have a healthy life over a beautiful one. thinking things apart that drew me in.”

“I am a repurposed artist; I like to reuse things. I borrowed giant frames In Invasif Species, Arias examines her like and the teachings given to her. from a friend. Some [items] are brand-new but many are recycled,” Arias She speaks on how though some of those teachings were beautiful, they explains while pointing and examining her work on the gallery walls, each were poisonous. The art marks the weeding out the unhealthy things in her signifying her environment and personal self. life. Moving away from thinking ‘it's just life’ to becoming more in control of Arias, who graduated with a BFA in Studio Arts at Kean University and her own. As a Native American and Spanish artist, Arias felt disconnected is a Student Representative in the arts department at Kean University, from her culture when her parents had raised her isolated from it- and now displays her newest exhibit after three years of hard work. Surrounded feels that she may return to it. by art pieces made from recycled, and repurposed materials, Arias creates “I grew up keeping it to myself, and how am I gonna grow without what she hopes to be a ‘connective experience’ with her audience.

Photo by Siobhan Donaldson sharing? And conversing? Seeing how other people feel – not everyone will Sable Arias, the artist, posed amongst her work.

“It started building up to building things like it – but seeing someone see my work beyond me,” Arias explains. “I like to be and interact with me opens a conversation able to impact a person more. It brings not there before. It lowers my anxiety, satisfaction to me and brings me joy that connecting with them, and drives me to they receive happiness when they get a hand keep connecting.” on [the art]. It’s about sharing experiences.”

Arias’s final show ran until Jan. 30. At her With a focus on bookbinding, closing reception, she opened up many of printmaking, and experimenting with her works for sale, from handmade books to paper making, Arias envisions a world prints she made with hand-crafted recycled where she can create tangible experiences paper. There, in the small gallery with huge with various textile feelings. Hand made windows, Arias was greeted by her many paper with differentiating percentages of friends and Kean alumni. A situational Photo by Siobhan Donaldson recycled materials (her crown jewel being Photo by Siobhan Donaldson reflection of the life she had built for herself Invasif Desires Hand-woven macrame. the 100% recycled white paper prints with Invasif Desires portrait, for sale books, and screenprints at her time at Kean. At some points, she the invasive species ‘tree of heaven’), a large on handmade paper. wiped away tears looking about at her work, tapestry made of strips of cotton, old bedsheet, and various other fabrics, and her use of foraged as people filtered in and out. plants around the pine barrens.

"My family saw it the other day," Arias said. "They understood what I was saying and saw how “I grew up entertaining myself. I was homeschooled with 4 siblings growing up and we were much I love my work." taught to do things with our hands – I was always sewing, cooking, going outside to find things to Currently working through commission and her Etsy store, Arias is moving on to the bookbinding use. I thought art was a flat piece on a frame, but when I came to Kean I realized I could do more than master's program at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. You can find her work on Instagram 2-D. I could do a combination of things, pushing myself as far as I could go.” at @sparrow.ht, LaCeibaStudios on Etsy.com, and ko-fi.com/sparrowht.

Tower staff reporter Valerie Sanabria contributed reporting.

February, 2020

THE TOWER 3

“Generation Z” has a voice, but will they also vote?

By Salimah McCullough

From the Democratic debates to the impeachment hearings, the world is in a very political place right now. In America, the voting age starts at 18, and a big question in the current Democratic primaries is: is Generation Z going to come out to vote?

Generation Z consists of people who were born roughly from 1995 through 2009 -meaning a lot of new people of voting age. They are known as the most diverse generation in U.S. history, according to a Pew Research Center report and are speaking up more about making a change in the world.

Growing up with the internet and social media, they are the most technologically advanced generation. Members of Gen Z are more conscious of issues such as racism and sexism than their older counterparts and are believed to be more politically conscious as a result. These are all some of the traits used to define members of Gen Z, according to Pew Research Center Social and Demographic trends.

Some of the biggest activists today are people under the age of 20 who are members of Gen Z. In the last three years, there have been many important political happenings in this country where younger people took a stand.

Emma Gonzalez, Naomi Wadler, and Yolanda King are a few of the young people who spoke at the March for Our Lives that took place in early 2018 following the Parkland shooting; Greta Thunberg gave a speech about climate change at the UN Climate Change Summit; Marley Diaz speaks about diverse representation while donating books that include diversity.

of students who voted in 2016, according to a Based on social media posts, Generation Z 2012- 2016 report from The National Study of seems to be more aware of the issues happening Learning, Voting, and Engagement. in the country and they seem more willing to Additionally, according to a survey done be involved in fixing them. During the midterm

by The Higher Education Research Institute elections of 2018, there were more voters from in 2015, college Gen Z, Millennials, freshmen have shown and Gen X combined patterns of being more than there were voters politically engaged roughly over age 65, than previous decades according to a Pew of college freshmen.

Research analysis that contains Census “Younger people Bureau data. care more about A survey done by voting because the Chegg, an education results will impact technology company our lives more and shows that for the it’s important to 2020 presidential us, especially about election, young people environmental issues will represent a higher because this is the expected turnout than planet we will live on Photo by steevithak, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 the 2016 election. I voted sticker. for many years,” Kean The 2019 State of the accounting student

Eighty percent of college students are expected to vote during this year's presidential election compared to 45 percent of students who voted in 2016.

Student survey says that 80 percent of college students are expected to vote during this year's presidential election compared to the 45 percent

Briana Daquino said.

Climate change is one of Generation Z’s biggest issues. According to Forbes Magazines,

a study done by The New Future of Humanity showed that 41 percent of people between the ages of 18 to 25 across 22 countries “cited global warming as the most important issue facing the world.”

“Environmental issues are so important because they affect each and every one of us,” Daquino said. “We used to say it wasn’t going to affect the world for hundreds of years but it’s happening now. It's going to affect our lives and our children’s lives.”

When it comes to voting, it is a trend that Gen Z will most likely vote for people who look and sound like them, according to Denver South. As the most diverse generation in American history, Gen Z is more understanding and inclusive and has a different set of values than older generations. They often express positive feelings towards ethnic diversity and the LGBTQ community. Some 75 percent say they support same-sex marriage and 56 percent say they know someone personally who goes by gender-neutral pronouns.

Kiani Bowles, 21, says she believes her civic participation matters and exercising her right to vote helps her voice to be heard.

“I look forward to voting in this next election,” Bowles said. “I want to vote because I care about the outcome and how it will affect my future.”

Generation Z, for the most part, isn’t of age to vote just yet. But according to the analysis by Pew Research, their voting patterns already show change. Time will only tell if the predictions that this generation will be one of the biggest, age groups voting in the next election.

Students launch petition to save Art History minor Thousands have signed in support of fair treatment for the program

By Zoe Strozewski Just days before Christmas, the students in Kean University’s Art History department found out that many of their courses were getting cut and their program was in danger of dissolution. Now, they are fighting a fight that they thought most students weren’t even aware exists.

The students, all members of the Art Over All club, an organization that aims to provide a safe and unified space for art lovers to come together and create, launched a petition to save the program on change.org. The petition has received over 4000 signatures as of Feb. 13.

Brandon Bravo, co-president of Art Over All, said it has been an emotional experience and a relief to see the many signatures and support they have received so soon.

“It shows that art is necessary within our world,” Bravo said. “Almost everything you see is something an artist has made: your clothes, your iPhone, what you stare at at the doctor’s office as you’re waiting there for 45 minutes.

It shows that whatever happens, we’ll stand strong together because that’s all that matters.”

The idea to respond to the art history program cuts by petition came from Cheyenne Thompson, an art history minor who founded Art Over All a few years ago.

“We want Kean to open its eyes, and not just Kean, but any doubter out there who thinks art is unneeded,” Thompson said. “We want to

show Kean that programs like these are needed According to the University Senate, the and they can’t push us around because they administration did not get these decisions think that all we do is paint and draw. approved or documented by the Senate, which Bravo and Eric Miele, vice president of Art is required by curricular procedures at Kean.

Over All, spoke at this semester’s first University Additionally, the art history students reported Senate meeting on Jan. 21 to garner support that only the art history faculty informed them for their cause. Both are art history minors and of the program changes, and not the school said that they were itself. shocked and angry While the majority about the cuts. of Art Over All The art history members are Studio faculty were Art majors, many are informed Dec. 18 art history minors at that several sections least in part because of their lower level art their program history courses (AH already requires four 1700 and AH 1701) art history classes. would be cancelled Majors in graphic and the remaining design, architecture, sections would art education and have their course engineering, also caps raised up to 50 require completion students, according of art history to an email sent to coursework. all faculty and staff Bravo said that Photo by Zoe Strozewski by the University Art students have had to work with broken and he is worried that Senate,. Two days overflowing sinks. if the program is later, the tenured art eventually dissolved history faculty were informed that they are being and Kean no longer offers the art history retrenched, or laid off, at the end of the Spring courses that he needs to graduate, he may have 2020 semester, a move that caused the Senate to move to another school where his existing to speculate that the art history program was on credits may not transfer well and he could track to be dissolved completely. graduate later than planned as a result.

“We’re tired of being second class students.”

“I have three more semesters, and I have to take two more art history classes that are required within my major. So what am I going to do next? Will I have to go somewhere else or switch my major?” Bravo said.

The only communication the art history students have received thus far came from Suzanne Bousquet, the vice president for academic affairs, who sent an email first to the art history students and then all of Kean’s faculty, staff and students Jan. 31. Because the email went out after nearly two weeks of the semester had already passed, Miele and other Art Over All members had taken up the responsibility of spreading the news of the program cuts to curtail the university’s lack of communication.

“We’ve been announcing it in all our classes, and the moment everybody finds out, they’re very shocked. Automatically the class gets very serious, and it just gets real,” Miele said. “It changes things because people are questioning why they’re even trying in a class that may not even count for them.”

In the email, Bousquet stated that the art history minor will continue to be offered at Kean and all students who wanted to take an art history course this semester were able to enroll. She also pointed out that while Kean is a “longstanding supporter of the arts and artsrelated degree programs,” art history students aren’t numerous enough for the school to allocate financial resources to the program like continued on page 7

Kean volleyball player Steven Zarzycki spikes cancer

By Steven Merrill It was throughout last season when Kean Men’s volleyball player Steven Zarzycki felt a nagging pain in his back.

After receiving an MRI on his lower back in

Photo by Cailyn Ross

Edit made for #StevenStrong.

mid-April when the season was over, a mass was revealed. In late May, just two weeks into summer classes at Kean, Zarzycki received a call from his parents and could tell something was wrong by the way his mom’s voice sounded.

A biopsy showed that Zarzycki had cancer

and was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma, a rare form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He needed to return to his hometown of Rochester, NY to start treatment.

“Cancer was literally the last thing on my mind,” Zarzycki said when discussing the diagnosis. “I didn’t even want to believe it. After about an hour of just sitting there in silence I texted my parents. So sending that text made me kind of believe in myself that it was the worst news I’d ever gotten, but that one day it’d be gone.”

A month after his diagnosis, Zarzycki started chemotherapy. His gallbladder had to be removed due to a piece of the mass being attached to it. Doctors also performed a bone marrow biopsy to see if it was in his blood.

Fortunately, it never spread there.

“It’s pretty awful when anybody in your family or friends gets cancer,” said Zarzycki’s mother, Debbie. “But when it's your own child, it just rips you apart. It was very difficult.”

Zarzycki went through six rounds of chemo.

Although the first round consisted of him being in the hospital for five straight days, it went well.

Zarzycki was able to do the rest of the therapy at home with a backpack pumping chemo through his body. During the entire process, he had to see the doctor for spinal taps and each week he did chemo there were countless appointments.

Throughout this difficult journey, Zarzycki was not alone. An overwhelming amount of support poured in from all over, varying from Olympic skier Mikaela Shiffrin to New

York Mets minor league affiliate Binghamton Rumble Ponies to random people keeping him in their thoughts. Zarzycki said it would take an entire day to respond to messages, but he replied to everyone, usually when he was at the hospital.

being diagnosed with cancer. His family from Syracuse, Rochester, Binghamton, and Virginia all came for the game.

“It was amazing,” Debbie Zarzycki said. “We just can’t describe what that meant to our family and to Steven. Just to have everyone there to recognize him and recognize what he was going through meant a lot.”

His biggest supporters were his family. Already tight, Zarzycki became even closer with his younger brother Matt last summer.

His parents were also with him every step of the way, telling him to take it “one day at a time.” Debbie would show her son different quotes from a booklet or send them to his phone.

“Anything to stay positive and just keep pushing forward to get through the bad days where he wasn’t feeling good,” she said. “It Photo by The Zarzycki Family The Zarzycki family puts their hands in with custom was something to get him ‘Z Strong’ bracelets. through the day and keep Kean Athletics started the motto him focused. Mentally we stayed strong for ‘#StevenStrong’ on social media, posting it in each other. That’s what really got us through every tweet that was sent out. The women's most of it.” volleyball team dedicated its game against Then on Nov. 5 of last year, the Zarzycki William Paterson on Sept. 24 to Zarzycki as family’s hope became a reality. After nearly a it was his first time back on campus since six-month battle with Burkitt lymphoma that

“Cancer was literally the last thing on my mind”

continued on page 6

4 THE TOWER

February, 2020

CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION:

By Dan Papa Dr. Maria Denise Gemmellaro teaches a course called “How to Get Away with Murder.”

In the course, she goes over scientific evidence usually found at crime scenes such as DNA and ballistics.

On Feb. 10, Dr. Gemmellaro ran a Murder Mystery event in Kean University’s Science

Building. The event covered crime scene investigation tactics from law enforcement to how forensics are analyzed. “[The course is] all cases where they have handled the evidence so badly that whoever did it got away with it,” Gemmellaro said.

During the event, she passed around a vial of maggots, let attendees examine a decomposed

“How to get away with murder” pig, and even showed live flies, explaining how they can help determine a person’s time of death. A couple of students were even given an opportunity to dust for fingerprints.

She went on to explain a few different ways cases can be botched.

“People spilling peach juice in crime scenes because it is reactive to luminol,” Gemmellaro

said. “You will now know where you have blood and where you have juice. But what if the whole place lit up? You don’t know what to send to the lab.”

Dr. Gemmellaro made the point that people would be more likely to get away with crimes by learning certain information about how crime scenes are handled.

“Information should still be

“What if that evidence is the only thing that you have to put away a killer?”

given to the people,” she said.

“People are going to do whatever they are going to do but no information should be kept from the general population.”

Crime

scenes

are

very

delicate spaces and it seems that one wrong move can have catastrophic consequences in Photo by Dan Papa

Dead maggots that were passed around in a vial during the event.

Kean University cancels study abroad semester to Wenzhou continued from page 1

Students here who were scheduled to attend Wenzhou-Kean will instead study at Kean’s New Jersey campuses, with the option to study in China for the fall semester.

An email sent to all faculty, staff and students by the Office of University Relations on Jan. 28 said there have not been any confirmed, or suspected, cases of the coronavirus in any of its New Jersey and Wenzhou campuses.

According to the World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronaviruses can be found in animals, such as camels, cats, and bats and humans. Human coronaviruses are common worldwide and can cause mild to moderate illness.

The 2019 Novel Coronavirus strain, now officially being referred to as COVID-19, however, had not been identified until the outbreak was reported on Dec. 31.

Although the source of the outbreak has yet to be identified, the COVID-19 causes respiratory disease and can be transmitted from animals or person-to-person contact.

According to the University Relations email, symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath and can appear within two to 14 days after exposure. Additionally, the email states that the best prevention method is to wash hands with soap and warm water, practice respiratory hygiene, such as covering the nose or mouth when sneezing or coughing and avoid touching the eyes, mouth and nose.

The University Relations email urged any students, faculty or staff concerned that they may have come in contact with the virus to visit Student Health Services or their private healthcare providers.

Photo by Dan Papa

The Professor displaying a jar that was used to humanely kill flies.

Photo by Dan Papa

The professor giving a tutorial on how to dust for fingerprints.

terms of which way a case is going to go.

The Return of Kean’s Helping Younger Hands Club

By Emily Robles In the Spring 2020 semester, Kean University re-introduced the Helping Younger Hands club as they made their comeback after taking a year long hiatus.

Helping Younger Hands is a club at Kean University that raises awareness about disabilities and disorders among children. The club was originally founded in Fall 2018 by Breanna Hernandez. However, she was unable to continue for the revival. The club now has a brand new e-board and is ready to pick up where they left off.

This new e-board consists of President Makenzie Powell, Vice President Madison Dymond, Secretary Nicolette DeFazio, Treasurer Lia DeBono, Director of Public

club, Nicolette DeFazio said it was because she wanted to get more involved on campus.

“I thought this was a great opportunity,” said DeFazio.

Photo by Emily Robles

New Upper’s multipurpose room and students were invited to make Valentine’s Daythemed cards and goodie bags for children in the Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, NJ. “We knew Valentine’s Day was coming up, so we thought this was a cool idea and people would want to come and help out,” said DeBono “Since this is kind of a new club, we’re trying to spread the word out as much as we can.”

The club provided markers and construction paper for students to make and decorate the cards with. They also brought in Play Doh, stickers and bubbles to put into the goodie bags. Students were encouraged to make as many cards and bags as they wanted.

“I think this is a great club to have on

Some of the e-board members at the first event.

“While most members [of the club] are Education majors, all majors are welcome to join.”

Relations McKenzie Alter and Professor Jea Lizz Basubas as the club’s advisor.

“While most members [of the club] are Education majors, all majors are welcome to join,” said Professor Basubas.

Basubas became the club's new advisor this semester and is also a Kean alumnus. Basubas has a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education K-6 with a second major in English Literature from Kean University. She is also an adjunct professor in the Special Education and Literacy Department here at Kean University.

“I was a member before, but Breanna couldn’t continue, so Madison and I and a few other girls stepped up to help,” said Powell.

“I’m really excited to start this back up and do my best.”

When asked why she originally joined the

Photo by Emily Robles

E-board members at the first meeting of the semester.

The club’s first event was held on Feb. 10 in

campus,” said History Pre-Law/Political Science major Chelsea Leon. “Not a lot of people would take the time to do this, so I think it’s great.”

When asked how she found out about the event, Leon said she found a flyer promoting the event slipped under her door in her dorm.

“I believe this is so amazing because not everyone is as fortunate as us,” said Stephen Holman II, a Sustainability Science major. “It’s up to us to make sure everyone knows how appreciated and unique they are.”

The club has many other event ideas planned for the semester such as bake sales, a dance marathon and even a Chipotle fundraiser.

The club meetings are every week on Tuesdays and Thursdays during college hour, 3:15-4:30pm in Hennings Hall room 106.

Lesniak Institute hosts “Stand up for the Other” forum at Kean

By Alexander Valdes

combat hate by standing up for one another, a gesture to show that acts of anti-Semitism or racism that are meant to divide can be fought back with the very act of unifying and aiding one another. Kean University President Dr. Dawood Farahi gave welcoming remarks thereafter and went on to explain the purpose behind the Holocaust Resource Center. Being

“Bigotry, anti-Semitism, and like all other viruses, you can’t kill them,” Farahi said.

“The only solution to it from my perspective is education. You need to teach people about what happened.”

The New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Singh Grewal came up to talk about his views of the ever-growing acts of hatred and violence

but in this state people being targeted for no other reason than the way they look, what they One of the most powerful forms of believe, who they love, where they come from,” expression is through words, and it is through said Attorney General Grewal. “The most words that people will unify. On Jan. 30 inside important thing is what we’re doing tonight the Green Lane building, an event was held by the Lesniak Institute in collaboration with the which is treating an act of hate through this Holocaust Resource Center called “Standing pledge against any one of our communities as up for the Other” dealing with the topic of an act of hate against all of our communities.” anti-Semitic violence and racism, in order to The Attorney General went on to explain his spread a pledge that promotes people to aid experiences with people that were affected by one another and stand up for those that may acts of violence such as the ones that occurred be targeted for their ethnicity, race, or religion.

Introductions were given by Senator in Jersey City and how things like bigotry can Raymond J. Lesniak, deeply affect the lives who goes on to of innocent people show his displeasure who are attacked for towards the growing simply being born anti-Semitic and racist the way they are or acts happening within New Jersey, the United choosing what they States, and across the wish to believe in. globe.

Grewal also goes “How can anyone on to explain how hate Jews who have he is taking steps suffered the loss of six Photo by Alexander Valdes Photo by Alexander Valdes Photo by Alexander Valdes million of their faith Anti-Semitism welcome board. towards improving Round table discussion about anti-Semitism and for the pledge Slide of the pledge attendees took towards during the Holocaust,” for kindness. anti-Semitism. upon hate violence Lesniak asked. “Why through means of law enforcement. But what that teachers are trained to educate students and what he believes the pledge taken by do people have that much hate that they would the pledge really hopes to convey is that one to never forget atrocities like the Holocaust, everyone at the attendance of the meeting attack Jews just because they’re Jewish, gays doesn’t need to be in a position of power in which was history’s greatest act of violence means. because they’re gay, Muslims because they’re order to make a difference, one just needs to towards a group of innocent people, that were “We are no doubt in this moment living Muslim, Hispanics because they’re Hispanic, persecuted and murdered simply for their through a difficult time.

We are seeing today and the list goes on.” be willing to speak up and be willing to act for beliefs. not just across the country and other places, Lesniak goes on to encourage people to others.

“You need to teach people about what happened.”

February, 2020

Inside the Inventive World of Leonardo da Vinci: A Kean Exhibit

By Wynter Aiken Historic Renaissance phenomenon Leonardo da Vinci, whose artistic vision is embedded in inventions, paintings, drawings and much more was showcased for all to see at the grand opening of the Da Vinci-Inventions exhibit at Kean’s Liberty Hall Academic Center on Jan. 25.

The interactive exhibit, in collaboration with Grande Exhibitions, opened with the audio introduction of da Vinci’s life, giving exhibit goers a vision of a man who was way ahead of his time while seeing reconstructed figures of da Vinci’s artistry brought to life for all to celebrate.

Guest Experience Associate Sean Salomons wanted to express how Kean University in collaboration with Grande Exhibitions, wanted to give the public, students and faculty the chance to experience da Vinci’s work in

artist but as a stellar inventor who had more than a story to share with viewers.

“I didn’t know much about da Vinci’s machines, but he’s truly multi-faceted, done so many things, his vision of the world is reflected in these creations, creations we don’t truly understand,” Chad Warrington, an exhibit attendee said. “I’m an engineer myself, been building all my life and it was good to see how his mind worked. It was all over the place, but he had a steady path.”

Exhibit goers were also able to view famous paintings, one of da Vinci’s most passionate interests. Da Vinci’s interests with the human body, how it’s created through perfect proportions and the study of anatomy led to the design of the Vitruvian Man, science and art coming together to create the perfect man.

Da Vinci’s art has no end, for he believed that optics (lights and shadows) life could be

Photo by Wiki Commons

Real life painting of Leonardo da Vinci.

Photo by Wynter Aiken

La Vergine Delle Rocce painting.

Photo by Wynter Aiken

The famous Mona Lisa painting.

“It’s an interactive exhibit that anyone can be absorbed in” Photo by Wynter Aiken

Gru a Piattaforma Anulare Invention.

real-time, using all available resources to make this exhibit possible.

“Da Vinci has multiple aspects to his life and creations, and we wanted to show viewers through the history that he was a creator, artist, engineer, scientist. It’s an interactive exhibit that anyone can be absorbed in,” Salomons said. “The audio and physical roots of the technology that came from the 1400s is what students and faculty can enjoy and be fascinated by. It’s a big attraction so we’re hoping to generate 10,000 people in a span of four to five weeks.”

Italians artisans, according to Kean News, put time and dedication to studying da Vinci’s codices and sketches in order to bring detailed versions of his machine inventions such as the Aerial Screw and the Gru a Piattaforma Anulare.

Da Vinci’s inventions ranged from tanks, bullets, cities and even a robot, showcasing his ability as not only a military strategist but applying himself to the worlds of geology, astronomy, anatomy, and even cartography.

The heavy craftsmanship not only emphasized da Vinci’s impressive talents as an

created through art and technique.

The exhibit’s display of the Mona Lisa and the La Vergine Delle Rocce are examples of da Vinci’s superior experience in the renaissance period.

“The Mona Lisa was one of the first paintings I ever discovered about da Vinci. Learning about it in art class was a fun experience but to see it in person is another,” Mary Williams, an exhibit attendee said. “All his paintings tell their own stories and through this exhibit, the stories come to life.”

Though the exhibit will only be open from Jan. 25-April 12, students who wish to volunteer and or participate in the exhibit may contact Executive Director Lynette Zimmerman of the Liberty Hall Academic Center.

The da Vinci exhibit isn’t just a visual experience for those interested in art history but also for those who wish to dive into the inventive world of Leonardo da Vinci, a man whose artistry will continue to live on because as da Vinci once said: “Art is never finished, only abandoned.”

Experts inform students of the horrors of Female Genital Mutilation

By Alejandro Arcos The world’s people and their cultures contain many secrets and wonders that baffle, stupefy and amaze the populace with its intrinsic values and moral lessons.

One practice, however, leaves empathetic people reeling and wincing from its mere utterance – Female Genital Mutilation, or FGM for short.

As the name implies, FGM is the act of circumcision against a female to ensure that they remain compliant with their spouse, and as a rite of passage into womanhood typically at a young childhood/teenage age and often against their will.

On Feb. 6, the Holocaust Resource Center hosted three experts at Kean University’s East Campus to discuss the issue of the United Nation’s “Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation” day. Brett Dreyer, a member of Homeland Security Investigations; Mariama

Diallo, Project Director of the African Initiative; and Prisca Anuforo, Executive Director of the School of Nursing at Kean University joined together to spread awareness of the brutal

“The consequences of undergoing this procedure are vast and traumatizing for the women.”

Photo by Cougar Link

practices still used to suppress women around the world. They hope awareness will lead to its abolishment.

Diallo said it is especially important for the women of Kean University to be informed because New Jersey is home to many people who may still believe in these practices and send their daughters back to their homeland for the procedure. The operation is illegal here in the U.S. The FMG operation is as agonizing as the continued on page 7

THE TOWER 5

Police Blotter for JANUARY

By Breanna Palzer January 3 ■ Alarm set off in Liberty Hall due to work being done in the building January 5 ■ Fire alarm went off in Hillside due to cooking

■ ■ ■

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January 6 ■ Report of theft in the Technology Building ■ Footprints were found in and across the callers workplace in D’Angola Gym

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January 7 ■ USB thumb drive found

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January 8 ■ Background check done on candidate ■ A window was open and bent on East Campus, no sign of entry ■ Damage to car reported in Hennings Hall parking lot January 10 ■ Background check done on a potential candidate ■ Background check done on a potential candidate ■ Background check done on a potential candidate ■ Suspicions of stolen hubcap reported ■ Alumni using facilities reported by staff, unwanted guest ■ Suspicious caller reported ■ Found peacoat ■ Background done on a potential candidate January 11 ■ Juveniles making using facilities directed off campus January 12 ■ Man reported hearing voices and suicidal thoughts. Transported to Summit Overlook ■ Fire pump running and requested for repairs to be made ■ Damage to vehicle reported January 13 ■ Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 1 at fault due to inattention ■ Laptop reported stolen January 14 ■ Medical emergency ■ Unregistered vehicle towed from Lehigh Ave, Union January 15 ■ Female behaving disorderly and asked to go somewhere else January 16 ■ Found suit jacket ■ Background check done on a potential candidate January 17 ■ Found wallet January 18 ■ Background check was done on a potential candidate ■ Man reported hearing voices and was suicidal. Taken to Summit Overlook ■ Information about a dorming student’s online activity was provided ■ Alarm activated in Dougall Hall due to heat detection January 20 ■ Found back of America visa card ■ A phone reported stolen but was later found in dorm room ■ Alarm in Cougar Hall was activated due to burnt popcorn ■ Male was arrested with possession of over 50 grams of marijuana ■ A backpack found along with various items ■ Found NJ driver’s license ■ Found Wells Fargo Visa January 21 ■ Visitor was denied entrance due to expired license. Matter was handed over to housing ■ Car was parked in police only area, owner had a warrant, later checked out and was let go with a summons ■ Female reported having abdominal pain.

She refused further medical assistance ■ Victim was reporting harassment, incident was reported, however, there were no criminal actions ■ Room has CDS odor but no other evidence, case was handed over to housing ■ Alarm activated in Cougar Hall due to attended cooking ■ Female was uncomfortable from professor vaping January 22 ■ Motor vehicle accident, no injuries.

Vehicle 1 struck bicyclist pulling into a parking space ■ Alarm set off in Hardwood Area due to fault beam ■ Female had postoperative complications and was taken to Trinitas Hospital

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Find and give information about missing person Found laptop Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 1 struck vehicle 2 while backing out of a parking space Vehicle towed due to expired registration Actor was sleeping in running car Found wallet Hit and run reported Female was light-headed and losing consciousness. She refused further medical assistance Found NJ driver’s license Found Apple Ipad Background check was done on a potential candidate Background check was done on a potential candidate

January 23 ■ Background check done on a potential candidate ■ Victim hit by car, refused medical assistance ■ Found Chase card ■ Vehicle towed due to expired registration ■ Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 1 was pulling out of parking lot and struck vehicle 2 ■ Suspicious male reported in building ■ Ziplock bag containing CDS confiscated ■ Male actor followed student into bathroom and made inappropriate comments ■ Hit and run reported ■ Dispute amongst residents reported ■ Actor reports being scammed by unknown caller January 24 ■ Physical altercation over parking spot ■ Found NJ driver’s license ■ Actor was hanging suspicious signs all over Liberty Hall Academic Center ■ Alarm activated due to shower steam in Freshman Hall ■ Found backpack and clothes ■ Found wallet and bank book ■ Male experiencing chest pain and numbness was taken to Summit Overlook ■ Vehicle towed due to being unregistered ■ Male accused of threatening handgun motions toward other students January 25 ■ Male transported to Trinitas Hospital ■ Female was intoxicated and unresponsive. She was taken to Trinitas Hospital ■ Secured door had malfunctioned and is to be repaired ■ Vehicle was disabled and posed a hazard to traffic January 26 ■ Alarm in Cougar Hall activated due to unattended cooking ■ Alarm on Surrey Road was activated due to cooking ■ Male suffering from full body pain was taken to Union Overlook Hospital January 27 ■ Alarm activated in UC Hall due to hairdryer ■ Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 1 struck Vehicle 2 trying to pull into a parking space ■ CDS complaint. No CDS was found but the odor and ashes were found. Case was handed over to student conduct ■ Alarm activated in Freshman Hall due to steam from bathroom ■ Alarm set off in Maintenance Annex Lot. No known cause of activation, panel was reset ■ Male requested ambulance because he wasn’t feeling well. He then walked away and refused further medical assistance January 28 ■ Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 1 struck vehicle 2 while backing into a parking spot ■ Found probationary license ■ Male was complaining of multiple ailments and was taken to Michael Medical Center in Newark ■ Suspicious signs were hung inside CAS building ■ Female was sleeping in lobby of Hardwood Arena. She was asked to leave and did so ■ Motor vehicle accident. Vehicle 2 struck vehicle 1 while backing out of a parking spot ■ Alarm activated by smoke caused by lint left in a dryer ■ Dispute over a parking spot ■ Two men reported selling candy and not giving any change back ■ Dispute over studio reservation almost got physical ■ Actor slipped and fell while at work January 29 ■ Faculty realized they were missing their laptop ■ Suspicious tweet and link was posted about the University

6 THE TOWER

February, 2020

Kean volleyball player Steven Zarzycki spikes cancer

Department of Communication Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0470; Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: thetower@kean.edu; www.kutower.com

continued from page 3

included six rounds of chemotherapy, roughly 15 days of admittance in the hospital and times where he couldn’t leave his bed or even move, Steven Zarzycki was cancer-free.

“It was awesome. I saw my oncologist in the hallway and I didn't even want to make eye contact with her because I didn't want to see like a little smile or a smirk,” Zarzycki said. “I didn't want to get any weird hints so I looked at her a little bit and I knew I shouldn't have

signs of cancer coming back.

“It's going to be a long process,” he said about dealing with the nerve damage. “I'm doing acupunctures right now and I've already noticed the difference with that so hopefully I just take my time with it and it gets better.”

Zarzycki added that he is once again working out every day and gaining back the 30 pounds he lost from being sick. He will make it to as many volleyball matches as possible this season

The Tower is an independent, laboratory newspaper of Kean University’s journalism option in the communication major program. It is published monthly 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: CRAIG EPSTEIN NEWS EDITOR: ZOE STROZEWSKI

Photo by The Zarzycki Family

The Zarzycki family in custom made ‘Z Strong’ shirts.

and she had the straightest face and I was like ‘wow it's not going to be it.’ And then we went back to the room about 10 minutes later and she came in and took one step and just said ‘congratulations.’ I was like ‘thank you so much for everything.’”

Roommate Dylan Colatrella was easily inspired by Zarzycki’s fight. Living off-campus with him, he saw some of his worst days up close. He knew it couldn’t have happened to a stronger, more determined person than Zarzycki.

“The best thing about him was that he rarely ever let it affect his personal life,” said Colatrella.

“He would go to the gym while receiving chemo treatments and when you were around him it was like nothing was wrong. I know there were tough days but he wouldn’t let anyone hear about it.”

Zarzycki knew he couldn’t battle alone and gave thanks to everyone who reached out along the way. He wanted to especially thank Cori Dengel, a recent Kean graduate and women’s soccer player for doing a lot of work to make custom bracelets on his behalf and sending

and stay in touch with teammates while doing so. After taking the fall semester off, he is back at Kean taking classes and working at Panera across from the main campus.

Zarzycki, 22, still wants to play volleyball and hopes to return to action with Kean’s team next season. When he does, he will not be the lone senior because three of his teammates are sitting out this season so the group can finish what they started three years ago.

Jay Bynum, Ian Capp, and Jake Milnazik will not play this year for Kean Men’s volleyball and will complete their final year of eligibility on the court next season with Zarzycki. They also plan on graduating with Zarzycki in the spring of 2021.

“We’ve all been very close since freshman year, and last year was so tough for Steve so we wanted to be able to go out without any ‘what if’s,’” said Milnazik, who also lives off-campus with Zarzycki. “We are dedicated to making it worth it.”

Once he completes his degree at Kean next year, Zarzycki wants to work in the human resources field or be a college volleyball coach.

While being sick, he helped out with his high school’s varsity volleyball team to already start gaining experience.

As a human resources major, Zarzycki sees himself specializing in recruiting or doing payroll for a big company.

“I like interacting with people and Photo by The Zarzycki Family fixing problems so I Steven with his mother Debbie, father Tom, and brother Matt after learning he think it will work out was cancer-free. well for me,” he said. them out to people.

With cancer in the rearview mirror, Zarzycki Now three months cancer-free, Zarzycki still is on the path back to having a normal life, deals with effects from chemotherapy such as remaining determined and family-oriented, the nerve damage in his hands and feet. Earlier way his mom said he always has been. His story this month, Zarzycki returned to Rochester for has impacted and touched many lives, and the his first quarterly checkup with doctors. The Kean community and beyond remains Steven appointment went well and doctors found no strong.

OPINION

By Valerie Sanabria

During the fourth annual Women’s March in Washington D.C. thousands of people sang “Un violador en tu camino '' or “A Rapist in Your Path” in front of the White House. But the performance that went viral started in Valparaiso, Chile and has become a feminist anthem around the world.

The first time I saw a video of Lastesisthe feminist collective that created the performance- together with many other women in Chile I got goosebumps. Then, the second time I saw a video and did research about the hidden symbols in the protest song/chant I cried. I cried because as a Latinx woman it was hard to learn about the horrendous things that happen every day to girls and women just like me.

In Latin America there are laws that are supposed to protect women, but these laws don’t protect them. Latin-American countries are dangerous for women and the violence against them is hardly changing. According to the United Nations, 14 out of the 25 countries with the highest number of femicides are in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is painful to hear that girls and women are killed every day around the world because of their gender.

The now known feminist anthem was performed a second time on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Santiago, the Chilean capital.

Thousands of women gathered to point at all the rapists including those who are supposed to protect women.

I was shocked when I saw the video of women in unison dancing and singing “Y la culpa no era

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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 thetower@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.

Op-Ed: From Valparaiso to the White House

mía, ni dónde estaba ni cómo vestía. El violador eras tú.” (And it’s not my fault, not where I was, not how I dresses. And the rapist was you.) Why wouldn’t I be shocked? Not only I but many other women have been blamed for wearing

heads and squatting down. Squatting is part of the choreography because women in Chile, when detained, are forced to squat and sometimes they must do it naked. How scary and unbearable it must be for women to go

It is a scary time for minorities and the feeling of performing a feminist anthem that was created and started in Latin America made me so proud of who I am and where I come from.

Photo by Valerie Sanabria

People marching.

“revealing clothes” but rape is not our fault or a reaction to our actions.

Lastesis created “Un violador en tu camino” in an intent to bring feminist theories to life.

The song talks about femicide, rape, women disappearance, and impunity for killers. It talks about issues that affect women around the world, but it also references what women in Chile go through.

One of the hidden messages in the choreography that impacted me the most was seeing women with hands behind their

Photo by Valerie Sanabria

Keep abortion legal sign.

through this, not forgetting that they can easily be raped.

The performance went viral because women everywhere suffer of violence and are victims of rape, femicide, and patriarchy. Around the globe thousands of women have performed their own version of the feminist anthem.

Women in London, France, Mexico, Berlin, Buenos Aires and other countries including the U.S. have pointed their finger and screamed to those in power and to everyone who has hurt a woman. Violence against women is a massive

problem and that is why we can’t be silenced.

When I heard that Lastesis were going to be leading a performance of “Un violador en tu camino” in front of the White House at the Women’s March, I was proud of my Latinx sisters and what they have done for women, not only in Latin America, but for women all around the world. I was planning on protesting in New York but when I heard they were going to be in D.C. I knew I had to be part of that.

The day of the Women’s March, I woke up at 3 a.m. and went to D.C. in a Rally Bus. When I finally got to Freedom Plaza (where the march was going to begin) I was feeling happy and excited to be part of that. It was cold, then it started snowing, and then freezing rain but I just kept thinking as many of the posters said, “Rise Up.” Not only was I marching with my blood sister Naomi, but I was marching with my feminist sisters. We were marching all together for our planet, for our reproductive rights, for immigrants. We were marching for equality.

As a woman, an immigrant, latinx and feminist I felt so powerful to be singing in Spanish and English in front of the White House. It is a scary time for minorities and the feeling of performing a feminist anthem that was created and started in Latin America made me so proud of who I am and where I come from.

There is nothing like the feeling of being part of something. Seeing women in Washington who don’t speak Spanish trying to sing, seeing women helping each other, dancing and walking and marching for what we deserve will always be one of my favorite memories.

February, 2020

OPINION Op-Ed: Skip the nostalgia,

pause the cartoon-watching experience

By Craig Wilson

not only promotes little appreciation for the creators of the show, but again key themes and You wake up and your alarm clock says 9 lessons may be overlooked. It also promotes a a.m. The toothpaste smeared on your shirt “gimme-gimme” behavior which is the kind catches your eye but you don't have time to that got adults hooked on binge-watching in clean it. You make your way to the kitchen and the first place. pour yourself a bowl of cereal fit for a king.

More and more children are feeding Everyone is asleep so no one can bother you. their zero patience attitude by switching to The sofa reclines, the television turns on, and streaming which is only getting more popular your favorite cartoon Dragon Ball begins with with services such as Disney Plus which a recap of last Saturday's episode. launched in November 2019.

This is the feeling Like a fallen many children do not cigarette in the have the opportunity woods, streaming of experiencing in is catching fire and 2020. They do not will continue to until know the joy of a the industry finds a week-long cartoon means to contain it. hiatus abruptly However, one has to coming to a halt with wonder if they want the start of a new to do that considering episode. They will it’s making a whole never understand lot of money. the appreciation “Since making of viewing one its content available episode followed by a on Netflix earlier weeklong digestion of this year, Cartoon each episode.

Network has seen Where have these ratings in households cherished childhood with the service drop experiences gone to 10 percent compared you may ask? I believe with those without a that streaming Netflix subscription,” services are to blame. according to Streaming services Bernstein Research like Hulu and Netflix analyst Todd Juenger.

Photo by IainStars is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 are redefining Dragon Ball Z seasons 1-9 on DVD. Some of Cartoon the expectations Network's most standards of the popular shows such viewing audience and changing what television as “We Bare Bears,” “The Amazing World of means to each of us, especially children. Now Gumball,” and “Pokemon” are now streamed children can access a full season of their on Hulu and Netflix. favorite shows without having to wait for a So, how do we make sure our youth can new episode in a week. enjoy their time watching television without In my opinion, this type of viewing killing their sense of freedom? In my opinion, experience limits the ability of children to be a breath of fresh air and the warm sunlight able to digest as well as comprehend and learn beaming on their sleep-deprived, sun-sensitive lessons from what they have viewed. eyes should do the trick.

For instance, if I binge-watched “The Magic However, if we must have binge-watching School Bus” as a kid I probably would not children in 2020 then I suggest having a brief be able to remember half of the scientific discussion after each episode. Not only would definitions that were explained in the show. this help the youth understand key themes However, if I viewed it weekly, it is reasonable and lessons in each episode, but parents can to think that I would have ample time to also monitor how much and what children are digest what I saw which would result in a watching. better understanding of key themes. Besides, Maybe someday the Saturday morning isn’t that a major reason we have children's cartoon kid hiding deep within our busy lives programming anyway? will awaken again. But just remember, no Additionally, children can skip episodes or cartoons after 8:30 p.m. because you have scenes like skimming through a book. This work in the morning.

They do not know the joy of a weeklong cartoon hiatus abruptly coming to a halt with the start of a new episode.

Craig Wilson is a Communication major with a focus on Media and Film.

THE TOWER 7

Studies show more NJ millennials live with parents than any other state

By Anastasia Zhelezova

According to the most recent study featured in the Washington Times, 35 percent of millennials live at home with their parents.

The state of New Jersey has the most stay-athome millennials. The underlying issue is that the rent is too high and the salaries are too low, making living on your own almost impossible for millennials today.

Neighborhoods like South Orange and Maplewood that provide residents with easy access to New York City are often the ones with the highest rent. Towns without a direct train to the city offer cheaper apartments.

However, that does not mean that they are more affordable.

An important factor to consider is the safety of the neighborhood. According to CityRating. com, the crime rate for Newark was higher than the national violent crime rate average

and collect some money,” Christov said.

Christov thinks he will be in his mid-tolate 20s when he gets a place of his own. He currently lives at his home in Bloomfield with both of his parents.

Svitlana Hoffman, 21, is a Communications major at Rutgers University and lives in Bloomfield, NJ with her boyfriend and shares a two-bedroom apartment with another couple.

The walls are beige, the rooms are spacious, and each couple has their own bathroom.

“The best part of living on my own is independence, freedom, and personal space,” Hoffman said.

However, independence comes with a price, a $2,200 price to be exact. Sharing the apartment between four people also means splitting the rent between four people.

Hoffman and her boyfriend, Nojus, contribute $800 in total at the end of each month.

Since their room is smaller compared to the other couples room, they pay less.

“The worst part about living on my own would have to be the financial aspect of it,” Hoffman added. “At the Photo by Anastasia Zhelezova end of the month there’s always that anxiety of having enough money to pay my share on top of buying food and other expenses.”

While some prefer to save money and live at home, others prefer to make the move earlier.

Whether a person is struggling to pay for rent or struggling to achieve their independence, the struggle is real.

“The worst part about living on my own would have to be the financial aspect of it.”

South Orange, NJ downtown.

by 135.96 percent. The average price for an apartment as spacious as a three-bedroom there will cost less than a studio in South Orange.

Iassen Christov, 24, is a Criminal Justice major at Kean University and says that he has thought about moving out.

“I plan to move out when I have a steady job

Experts inform students of the horrors of Female Genital Mutilation continued from page 5

summary implies, especially as painkillers are rarely administered for the woman and restraints are necessary. The woman is often held down with force by family members, according to Diallo.

“There are multiple forms of FGM with varying levels of injury to health,” Diallo said.

TYPE 1 is the partial or total excision of the

crippling menstrual processes and difficult urination Often there are complications in childbirth that can result in death for both mother and baby.

The panel went on to say that this is a violation of human rights. Why some nations

Students launch petition to save Art History minor continued from page 3

it has in the past.

“While we understand that is frustrating to its faculty, we need to spend our limited resources wisely to support programs that are in high demand from our students,” Bousquet said in the email. “The University remains committed to offering an Art History minor as well as Art History courses to students in other majors to help facilitate a well-rounded education.”

These decreases in the scope of Kean’s art history sector aren’t the first that the program has experienced. Two years ago, the art history major was reduced to a minor, and hand in hand with that, the students said, came an increasingly deteriorated facility for art students in Vaughn Eames Hall.

to Miele. Bravo said that the there are certain appliances that have been out of commission for so long that art students often attempt to fix things themselves.

“We have talent here, but it’s hard sometimes for us to express ourselves because the state of our studios is so bad,” Miele said.

For these reasons, the call to action created

by Art Over All has also come to encompass the larger problems art students have been experiencing long before the cuts to the art history program.

“We just felt that enough was enough. We’re just like every other student. We’re equal to everybody, and we’re tired of being second class students,” Bravo said.

Despite their gaining attention with the Photo by Kean University Human Resource Center

Mariama Diallo, Project Director of the African Initiative, spreads awareness about Female Genital Mutilation.

Photo by Zoe Strozewski

Photo by Zoe Strozewski

Students had to patch up leaks in one of their Vaughn Eames studios with pieces of cardboard.

The art wing of Vaughn Eames has experienced multiple cases of water damage.

According to Bravo and Miele, the art wing of Vaughn Eames has various faulty fixtures and cases of water damage that have been ignored by the school despite work orders that have been submitted for long periods of time. These faulty fixtures include broken and flooding sinks that can’t produce hot water, which forces photography students to rely on a coffee machine to get the hot water they need to properly develop film.

Studios in the wing have also had ceiling leaks that were patched up with pieces of cardboard, and classes have been disbanded early because of the smell of fumes, according

petition and attendance of the University Senate meeting, Miele and the other Art Over All students plan on continuing their fight to protect their minor because of their belief in the importance that art and art history holds as an outlet in the world.

“Art is something that just stirs people regardless of who you are and how involved you are with it. You can’t get art unless artists are able to tell the truth and express ourselves,” Miele said. “We all want to succeed and create these pieces that stir people’s emotions, and we can’t do that if we’re not being taught and we keep being stripped of everything that we work for.”

This current version is updated from the original posted to kutower.com on Jan. 29, 2020.

clitoris and surrounding prepuce (the woman’s foreskin).

TYPE 2 is the partial or total excision of the clitoris and surrounding prepuce, as well as the partial or total removal of the labia.

TYPE 3 is often regarded as the most extensive and severe form of surgical vaginal destruction, this Type’s goal is to completely seal the entire vagina with only bare minimal openings for urination and menstrual processes. Typically, this is done through cutting and repurposing the labia to form a fleshy barrier or by sewing the vaginal walls shut through needle and thread. Partial or total excision of the clitoris and surrounding prepuce will likely also occur.

TYPE 4 is all of the above.

“The consequences of undergoing this procedure are vast and traumatizing for the women. Specifically, wound infections, chronic and severe pain, hemorrhaging, inflammatory swelling, fevers, wounds that won’t heal themselves, intense shock and deep psychological trauma are common effects felt after the operation,” Diallo said. “Death may sometimes occur.”

It also has long-term effects including

continue this practice in spite of its obvious and traumatizing effects lies within the various culture of the practitioners. These reasons vary from location to location, but the primary reasons are religious beliefs, cultural loyalty, peer/community pressure and outdated patriarchal be-liefs that ex-pect women to be obedient to their husband, and have the circumcision to prove it.

“Africa, the Middle East and Asia, in particular, have the highest rates of FGM procedures done on a yearly basis, with millions of women castrated as part of their culture and religious demands,” Diallo said. “Guinea, a country in West Africa, has upwards of 95 percent of its female population circumcised in this way.”

Similarly, Sudan has upwards of 85 percent of its female population circumcised. Despite this practice being made highly illegal around the world, the tradition thrives in the criminal underground where the criminal act’s illegal state is not enforced as a crime by the law.

8 THE TOWER

February, 2020

OPINION

Student Spotlight:

Op-Ed: The Power of Your Pocketbook: Why You Should Be Boycotting

By Crystal Robinson

effort and quickly lose attention.

I believe this happens because of our quick Mass shootings, climate change, corruption. shift in what we deem as newsworthy. When We students are no strangers to turmoil. We one conflict dies down we move onto the next live in it day-in and day-out. even if the first one was never resolved. We We constantly read the news to learn about lose ourselves in a constant cycle of protest. the latest tragedy or the next big scandal. And as But, when we focus and commit ourselves to I read the news, my heart fills with a deep sense boycotting the results of hopelessness. can be astronomical.

I think to myself, One of the best “What can I do to examples of this was stop this?” the Montgomery Bus Like many Boycott during the Americans living in Civil Rights movement this political climate, organized and led by I want to see change.

Martin Luther King Jr. But, how exactly and the Montgomery do we enact said Improvement change? How do we Association. It ultibegin to escape this mately proved that shroud of unrest? the organization I think the first step and an unwavering is to acknowledge that we can no longer commitment of the continue to support average American companies that fuel citizen can successfully the very things we change public opinion. say we stand against.

According to the You cannot pray Martin Luther King, for gun victims and Jr. Research and protest for stricter Education Institute, gun laws while buying from the start of the from businesses Photo by Martin V. Morris, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 boycott 90 percent of like Amazon that Civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. delivering the black community share ties with a speech. stayed off the public the National Rifle buses. The overwhelming Association. You cannot support allowed the claim to love the LGBTQ+ boycott to grow into a community and then full fledged fight for equal eat at restaurants like rights.

Chick-fil-a that actively Protestors were met with donate to anti-LGBTQ+ intimidation, violence, and organizations. even jail time.

But, they did If we want to see not let that break them. change we need to start “My intimidations are a with ourselves. small price to pay if victory We need to boycott can be won,” said King at an companies that don’t executive board meeting align with our morals according to The Papers of Martin Luther King, no matter how much you love their chicken sandwiches. While I know it's hard to give up Jr. Volume III: Birth of A New Age. the things you love, I promise you it will be After months of boycotting, the mass protest worth it in the end. ended with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling the I'm sure you are wondering, “How do you segregation of public buses unconstitutional. know?” You are Ima g ine probably even what we could questioning accomplish if we if boycotts were to replicate actually work. the passion and The honest dedication that answer to burned in the that question hearts of the is sometimes protestors of they do and the civil rights sometimes era. If we could they don’t. possess that According same energy and to Maurice finally say no to Schweitzer, a Photo by Wyliepoon, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 the addicting professor of The bus stop where the Montgomery Bus Boycott began. consumerism operations and that binds us to information management at the Wharton companies we know are destroying us, who School at the University of Pennsylvania, many knows what kind of world could we live in. boycotts fail often due to a lack of sustained

“My intimidations are a small price to pay if victory can be won”

Youtuber Mary Linen

By Lena Zhu

Linen is a full-time student who, in addition to having a job on campus, also has a side hustle Summer of 2019 was overwhelmingly as a non-professional hairstylist. distressful for 21-year-old Mary Linen, working Admittedly, at first, she was doing it for her a summer job that did not offer her many hours. mother, but then other students were eager to “I went almost a month and a half without book an appointment with her even before she any money and I was very depressed,” Linen, a agreed. Now, she happily accommodates. senior Media and Film major and Photography “It could be six to eight hours where I am minor, recalls. “So my friend said, ‘Why don’t on my feet,” Linen said. “I could start at eight you just Youtube a.m. and go until four about it because p.m. and it’s just me somebody might constantly braiding.” be going through She uses the what you are going payment from her through.’” on-campus job to Linen launched pay off bills and the a Youtube channel hair hustle for pocket and has almost 200 money. Linen is a true subscribers so far. believer in investing Her Youtube chanin oneself. The money nel focuses mainly on that she makes from life updates, skincare, hairstyling she spends Photo by Mary Linen haircare and self- Mary Linen, 21, Youtuber. on equipment to aide improvement. her channel.

For Linen, Youtube “For videos I do in is an outlet for stress. my room, I use my “I think that’s why Canon T6i, which is a I’m doing it. When you DSLR camera. I have figure something out, a tripod and lighting you want someone equipment because I else to figure it out, am a photographer,” too,” said Linen.

Linen said. “I have This semester, mics because I like to Linen got into the have things with clear Photo by Mary Linen habit of waking up Mary Linen shows off her photography and sound. When I vlog, I early at around 6:45 hairstyling skills. use my phone because a.m. and going to it has 1080p HD. I bed at 11:30 at night have a mini tripod to get her full six to for my phone and am seven hours. also working to get “[Getting six to a specific camera for seven hours of sleep] vlogging.” has given me energy Linen aspires to throughout the whole have two personas day to do everything for her YouTube I need,” Linen said. “I channel and follow Photo by Mary Linen don’t feel tired at the in the footsteps of Mary Linen, senior Media and Film major smiles for end of the day.”

Issa Rae, creator of the camera outside her house.

As a senior, HBO’s Insecure and Linen has a lot on her plate. She credits time ColorCreative, a company that represents management, saying no and bullet journaling underrepresented writers. to keep her on track.

“Basically what happens is that people “I do bullet journaling in a minimalist way. I submit her videos to her company and they write out everything, making it nice and neat post on their channel so [the creators] can get for myself,” Linen said. “I do it every Sunday for a bigger recognition,” Linen said. “That’s what the week coming... and it’s easy for me to put I want to do.” [tasks] in.”

Linen also hopes to start a channel in the Right now, she schedules the weekend as her future where the content will feature films and “no school, no work” days. shows that she helps to produce.

“I make Youtube more of a priority for “I’ve always wanted to see an Asian superhero myself. I do it whenever I can,” Linen said. “I like or a Muslim girl whose image isn’t centred on to schedule specific times when I am going to the fact that she’s a Muslim. She just happens film and what it’s going to be about.” to be Muslim,” Linen said. “We never get to see Pencilling in her film and editing blocks helps that. I think people dehumanize others because her to manage her time in the most efficient they don’t see them in other lights.” way possible. Linen noted that she tries not to For students who are wary about starting put too much on her own plate because that’s their Youtube journey, she advises doing what when things can get a little tricky and it can be makes them happy. easy to forget.

“Do what you like to do and I promise you will “I hate when I have to record and post in the make money or get a following from it because same week because it makes the content seem people love people who love what they do,” rushed and not thought out,” Linen said. “I Linen said. think they [the viewers] deserve better thought You can follow her on Youtube at MaryLanae out [videos] because a lot of them come to me or Instagram on @therealmarylanae and for college advice, hair advice, etc.” @lanaethecreator.

Tenured Art History faculty told they will be let go continued from page 1

History departments from public universities including The College of New Jersey, Rutgers University and New Jersey City University have sent letters to the Senate in support of Art History colleagues at Kean University.

The letters will be shown at the next Board of Trustees meeting March 9.

There are no legitimate financial reasons to eliminate the Art History program, according to calculations performed by the KFT. About 700 students enroll in Art History courses each year, and the program makes a profit of more than $840,000 per year, according to the calculations. The Art History program is run at no cost to the university.

In an email to all faculty and staff at Kean, University Labor Council Ken Green argued that Kean must support growing programs and Art History is not one of them.

“To best serve our students in growing programs, we must discontinue programs that have little or no potential of success,” Green said in his email. “Art History, by all objective measures, is one such program.”

The university is open to alternate solutions at this time, Green said.

In 2016, the Board of Trustees voted to eliminate Art History as a major, instead dissolving the program to a minor. Since this decision, the number of Art History minors has increased by 18 percent, Tuerk-Stonberg

said to the senate.

In 2017, Kean announced its intention to reassign faculty in Art History, but only Katchur was given non-teaching related work such as advising the internship students and doing administrative work. He was permitted to teach one course on a fluke during the Fall 2017 semester because the university had difficulties hiring an adjunct, he said. Katchur has been blocked from teaching 14 Art History courses since, he said. He noted that as a longtime professor at Kean, he is the highest-paid professor in the Art History department – a salary that he continued to acrrue during reassignment.

The KFT filed a complaint to the state, and in November a grievance process proved that contractually the university was not permitted to reassign more than 50 percent of Katchur’s duties to non-teaching related work because he is a professor. A full-time faculty member is required to teach four classes per semester.

As a result of this decision, Katchur is now allowed to teach two Art History courses.

On Dec 18, Tuerk-Stonberg and Mayhall were informed that they would also be reassigned to non-teaching duties and only permitted to teach two courses during the spring 2020 semester. The retrenchment notices came two days later.

Art History courses are a requirement

for the accreditation of five different Kean University programs; Fine Arts, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Graphic Arts and Architecture. There are about 650 students majoring in these programs.

“Art History courses and the Art History minor will continue to be offered at Kean to support the requirements of the General Education, Fine and Studio Arts and Design programs,” Suzanne Bousquet, Vice President of Academic Affairs, said in an email to students. Faculty and staff. “The labor issue has no implications whatsoever for students taking Art History courses this semester or in the future.”

Design and Fine Arts programs at Kean are accredited through the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, which requires ten to 15% of course work to be Art History, Tuerk-Stonberg said. The courses are expected to be taught by professors with Doctorates in Philosophy in their field. It is difficult to find qualified Art History adjuncts that meet the requirements listed by the NASAD, Castiglione said.

“You can’t run a program if you don't have resident faculty,” he said. “Without full time faculty to run the program, it is very likely to fail and die out.”

The next evaluation for Kean by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education,

the accreditation agency in charge of New Jersey colleges, is in 2021-2022. Without accreditation, an institution’s credits are untransferable to other colleges or master's programs, and the university loses eligibility for federal funding. Kean was granted a 10-year-long accreditation in 2012 after serving a probation period for violating some accreditation standards.

Cutting Art History is an elitist action, the professors argue. Art History programs have been cut at several lower-tier universities throughout the country, making the only students with access to a liberal arts education those from elite universities, typically from higher class socio-economic families, Mayhall said to the senate.

“An introduction to art history can unleash what college professors all wish for their students, and something Kean University used to encourage: a desire for lifelong learning,” she said.

Students and faculty in support of the Art History program are continuing their efforts to convince the university to revisit the decision.

“We’re hopeful that with educating our own administration and getting outside entities to pressure the university to do the right thing for our students and our staff, we’re cautiously optimistic that we can save the program in some form,” Castiglione said.

This current version is updated from the original posted to kutower.com on Feb. 6, 2020.

SPORTS

February, 2020

THE TOWER 9

Kean baseball looking to swing for the fences as the new season is underway

By Eric Salas Kean baseball is back in full swing for the 2020 season and the team is looking to make a strong push for the College World Series and a chance at the Division III National Championship.

“Every year the goal doesn’t change regardless of what team we have,” said head coach Neil Ioviero.

“Last year's team got a game short of a Super Regional, where we really felt like we let it slip away so I think there’s a lot of unfinished business.”

Kean had a strong 2019 season, finishing 31-16 and garnering a total of 22 wins on their home field.

The Cougars are currently ranked 11th in the country for Division III programs on NCAA.com “In our older kids’ and Junior Zachary Marzano coaching staff’s minds, the sky’s the limit for this group if they can concentrate, focus, be determined, and come humble every day,” Ioviero said.

With great success comes with plenty of expectations for this group of guys as they have a lot more experienced players returning to build back up what they achieved last year.

“Expectations for us aren’t so much wins, our

expectations lead us to wins,” said junior Zachary Marzano. “We as a unit expect to play very good defense around the pitchers and we expect to keep the score down by doing so.”

Marzano started and played in 46 games last season while racking up a .373 batting average in 177 at-bats. What stood out the most were his four home runs and 41 RBI which were the most home runs by anyone on the team.

Photo by Matt Kipp

Senior Derek Walker

“Personally, I’m working on my defense at both first base and the outfield as well as becoming a more dynamic hitter in terms of taking more walks and hitting my pitch,” Marzano said. “On the pitching side of things I am working on slider location on 0-2 counts versus when I need to throw it for a strike.”

Senior outfielder Derek Walker started 46 games in 2019 and finished the season with a .298 batting

average. In 168 at-bats, he drove in 19 runs on 50 hits. Walker had the fifth-most hits on the team last season and is looking to bring those numbers even higher this year.

“I’ve been working on a more consistent approach at the plate to where I can do damage in any count and add more value to our lineup than I have in previous seasons,” Walker said.

Above anything else, the team’s goal is to improve each day, starting with one game at a time.

“The big thing with this group is consistency,” Walker said. “This year everyone pretty much understands how pivotal each game is to where we need to go later on and Photo by Matt Kipp that we can’t afford to give games away. It has to be 110 percent every day with consistency in all facets of the game.”

Marzano summarized what the Kean baseball program values as a whole. Wins don’t always come from the talent on the field.

“Our program is built around love and hard work,” he said. “That alone will win us some games this year, all talent aside.”

Kean Women’s softball looks to repeat excellence and reach Super Regionals

By Ruben Nieves

Players revealed what they worked on in the off-season to improve, including lifting four times a week with Kean’s strength and conditioning coach.

“During the winter break I went to my CrossFit gym at home in order to stay in

would like to see to further benefit the team in her 21st season with Kean.

“I think we need to figure out what works best together,” she said. “We have a young pitching staff and are anchored by a three-year starter, so we need everyone in the bullpen on

“I am looking to improve my hitting, mentality at the plate, and being the absolute Coming off an NCAA Tournament Regional best teammate I can be,'' said sophomore Final appearance, the Kean Women’s softball infielder Sarah Zengel. team looks to continue their success this A particular aspect about this team is how season. they manage to be great teammates to one “I'm looking to continue another and perform with where we left off from last excellence on the field. year,” said head coach “My teammates are my Margie Acker. “We lost in best friends and there is the regional at home and never a dull moment,” said obviously we would like Bonfanti. “We are always to win the conference. together and having fun.”

We would like to go to Both the players the Regional Tournament and coaches have their again and the Super expectations set for this Regionals.” season. Zengel received This season, the team NJAC Rookie of the Week will be without key last season and posted contributors who helped a .278 batting average lead the team to 39 wins with 21 RBI in 44 games. last year.

However, she wants to put Photo by Sarah Zengel Photo by Maria Bonfanti Photo by Maria Bonfanti “One of our starting Sarah Zengel making a play on defense.

Maria Bonfanti ready to swing at a pitch.

Maria Bonfanti waiting for a pitch. up even better numbers in pitchers and one of 2020. our better bats in the lineup graduated and shape for the season,” said junior outfielder the same page.”

“My expectations for this season are for us our starting outfielder Olivia Zengel also Maria Bonfanti. “We also hit and throw on our Some players are looking to improve to work harder than last year,” Zengel said. graduated so we are still figuring out who we own or with teammates in Harwood Arena or themselves as players in order to help the team “Learn more and push each other every day to are going to put out there,” said Acker. “We’ve outside if the weather permits.” win as many games as possible. This includes be the strongest and best team we can be.” focused on the little things in the off-season Despite the team coming off of a great working to become a better teammate both on Kean will open the season at home against so that’s what we're going to continue to do.” season, there are still a few things that Acker and off the field.

FDU-Florham on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 11 a.m.

“We would like to go to the Regional Tournament again and the Super Regionals.”

Former General Education professors file whistleblower lawsuit against Kean University continued from page 1

article published in The Tower.

The first-floor office space used to be the tutoring center, which is why cameras were installed in the space. The new offices were equipped with open cubicles and cameras which raised many concerns for the faculty.

The biggest concerns were that the new office spaces violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law “applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education,” according to the FERPA website.

The six professors frequently raised concerns at several meetings that the environment was having a chilling effect on students who needed to have private and confidential communications with lecturers to share protected and/or highly-sensitive information, including health-related information, according to the lawsuit.

In Feb. 2019, each of the professors now suing, were recommended for reappointment for the 2019-20 school year by Executive Director Bridget Chapman and Dean Jonathan Mercantini, according to the lawsuit.

Then, in April 2019, they all received written notice from Kean president Dawood Farahi that they would not be reappointed. Lecturers are professors who work on one-year contracts and several of them had been working at Kean for years.

University Spokesperson Margaret McCorry did not directly comment on the pending legal case but said that the lecturer’s teaching skills and contributions to the university are reviewed by administrators each semester before recommendations for re-hires are made.

“We recognize that people who are not recommended for another contract are often upset and may put forth explanations that are

Martin Luther King III embraces social equality for all at Kean University’s Distinguished Lecture Series continued from page 1

irrelevant, which is the case here,” McCorry said. “Nevertheless, Kean’s personnel recommendations are based solely on what is best for our students and any suggestion otherwise is entirely false.”

The suit also names Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Jeffrey Toney who in May sent out an email to all Kean students defending Kean’s actions.

“He falsely alleged in essence that the terminated lecturers had failed to meet Kean’s rigorous standards, did not serve the best interests of Kean’s students and would be replaced,” the lawsuit stated.

According to the lawsuit, the lecturers did perform their jobs competently, as evidenced by their performance reviews, student evaluations and feedback from their supervisors.

The lecturers had a lot of support among students and faculty. Before the May 6 Board of Trustees meeting, a walk-out took place as staff, students, and lawmakers protested the planned firing of the professors. Some students and faculty were allowed into the room to plead their case during the board meeting. However, the board approved of Farahi’s decision.

“All of these colleagues, their termination was a tremendous loss for the university,” said Kean University Federation of Teachers President James Castiglione. “These were outstanding instructors and advisors for our students and valued colleagues among the faculty and staff.”

The professors are being represented

by Gary Roth, a certified employment law attorney with Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins.

“The filed complaint appropriately sets forth the factual allegations underlying my client’s claims,” Roth said via email. “They are [all] looking forward to litigating this matter.”

write to our senators and representatives demanding that they help address the issue

Photo Courtesy of Ian Alfano

Martin Luther King III speaking at Kean’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

of voter suppression,” Martin Luther King III said. “With all this wealth and opportunities in this country, all votes need to be recognized and valued within our country in order to combat injustice.”

After placing a spotlight upon movements such as the #MeToo movement and Black Lives Matter, he feels as though there is an abundance of diversity that should be reflected

by the country and our administration. In his words, the representation within these social groups is essential to pioneer the progression of our country and to showcase awareness.

He continues by addressing underprivileged communities within America, such as Flint, Michigan, who have yet to receive clean water to consume. He expresses that everyone within the nation deserves the right to quality jobs with better wages, housing, education and medical care.

“King believes that we cannot celebrate our victories until we address the economic injustice given to the multicultural society we live in.”

“In order to cultivate the spirit of democracy, I hope that [the year of] 2020 can resolve the discourse of our nation to achieve brotherhood and sisterhood in solidity,” Martin Luther King III said. “The greatest enforcement is our spiritual strength which creates the foundation we need to remain encouraged for change.”

Photo by Ian Alfano

Martin Luther King III taking a group photo with various students.

10 THE TOWER

February, 2020

Kean Women’s basketball looks for redemption

By Dorian Alerte

it a perfect shot and really playing as a team.”

After a disappointing end to last season, the Kean Women’s basketball team seeks to redeem themselves on the basketball court.

“Losing the way we did in the championship game was definitely heartbreaking,” said senior guard Payce Lange. “But we want to show everyone that we should have won and can win this season.”

Lange says that the loss to Rutgers-Newark in the NJAC championship game is something that fueled the team heading into this season.

This was a sentiment echoed by Payce.

“Our chemistry definitely plays a part in our total number of assists,” she said. “We all know each other very well.”

A major part of the team also putting up great scoring numbers has been the defense that they have played along with a large scoring output by McCoy. “Winning NJAC rookie of the year really put a target on my back,” said McCoy. “In the off-season I wanted to work on my off the

Photo by Larry Levanti

Kean Cougars gather around in team photo.

“Our theme this season was redemption because we know we can win”

Photo by Larry Levanti

Photo by Larry Levanti

Payce Lange shooting between two Montclair defenders.

Payce Lange (left) and Shannon McCoy (right) congratulating each other during a game.

“Our theme this season was redemption because we know we can win,” Lange said.

Lange has been a big part of the team’s success this season, helping lead the team to a 16-7 record, while leading them in points. She is posting career highs in steals, rebounds, and shooting percentage.

“Heading into the summer my shot is definitely something I worked on,” said Lange.

“I focused more on improving my game by driving into the paint and inside scoring, rather than the perimeter shot.”

The team has been clicking on all cylinders this season, racking up top four statistics in every important statistical category. Ranking near the top in 3-point field goal percentage, scoring offense, scoring margin, and assists, it has led them to the fourth seed in the NJAC conference.

“Our coach really pushes passing the ball,” said sophomore guard Shannon McCoy. “She really pushes giving up a good shot and making

ball movement and finding ways to get open to help the team. The coaches always yell in a good way for me to shoot when I get open.”

Doing this has proven success for the team as McCoy is currently second on the team in scoring and first in made 3-point shots.

The team is hopeful that its efforts can push them back to the championship where they hope to bring one to Kean.

“It felt good to beat the team that we lost to last season early on,” said McCoy. “It gave us confidence that we know we belong. We want to show that last season was not just a fluke.”

The Cougars have tallied 16 wins and are in position to have home court advantage in the playoffs. The women are seeking to finish off the regular season on a high note heading into postseason play.

“This whole season is about getting back to the finals,” said Lange. “We want to get back

A new approach to reigniting those New Year’s resolutions

By Dr. Josh Palgi and Dr. Amanda Rodrigues Every year millions of people make New Year's resolutions to change an undesired trait or accomplish a personal goal or focus on something specific that can improve an aspect of their life.

In fact, the top 10 most common New Year's resolutions are: 1. Exercise more, 2. Lose weight, 3. Get organized, 4. Learn a new skill or hobby, 5. Live life to the fullest, 6. Save more money/spend less money, 7. Quit smoking/vaping, 8. Spend more time with family

and friends, 9. Travel more, and 10. Read more.

For college students, it can be hard to set goals or resolutions and actually stick with them due to the crazy and erratic schedules they have. The following are a few specific resolutions that college students can incorporate into their busy schedules without making a lot of change all at once: 1. Do one thing a day for someone else 2. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day 3. Add some daily “me time” into your hectic schedule 4. Get a specific number of hours of sleep each night, preferably seven to eight.

5. Save a certain amount of money each week 6. Spend more time outside 7. Spend less time on social media However, once the glow of the fresh New Year wears off, many people struggle to make good on their plan. According to US News and World Report, the failure rate for New Year’s Resolutions is 80 percent, with most losing their resolve by mid-February.

Many people feel they just don’t have the willpower to continue, or it is a lack of discipline, but many people don’t take into consideration their environment. In order to be successful, there are a few options that can not only keep one motivated, but also ensure that they have the belief in themself that they can do it.

A key concept to consider is becoming a choice architect. What is that you might ask?

Choice architecture is presenting options in a way that encourages one to make a desired decision. To become a choice architect, you need to make accessible the behaviors you want to do and make inaccessible the behaviors you don't want to do, or at the very least, make them less accessible.

Here are some examples: 1. If you are trying to avoid watching

TV, remove the batteries from the

remote control and put them a few

Photo by Stephen G. Pearson, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Sticking to New Year’s resolutions is tough but rewarding.

Photo by Rasimu, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

A new year brings new resolutions.

2.

3.

rooms away or even on the second floor of your house. Most people will be unwilling to go get the batteries and move towards doing something else such as reading a book, going outside, or spending time with loved ones.

If you are trying to be more active, always have your workout clothes on your bed, your sneakers bedside, and a gym bag packed and ready to go. It’s easier to go when you take out the work to prepare, and everything is ready.

If you are looking to eat better, have healthy options available as soon as you come back to your dorm room or enter your house. Fresh fruit on the counter, pre-sliced vegetables in the refrigerator or bags of nuts in the pantry are all easy to grab and when they are in plain sight it will be your first option. Don't even bring things that can tempt you into your environment.

A choice architect will have taken all the temptations out of the environment. By removing temptation and nudging yourself towards good choices, it will be easier to believe you can do it and stay motivated.

You can read more about the psychology and the research supporting these methods in two books we recommend: Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness by Thaler and Sunstein and The Happiness Advantage: Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work by Shawn Achor.

The groundbreaking research in these books can further expand upon the power of setting up your environment for reaching goals and keeping your 2020 resolutions. Remember, when a positive behavior becomes the path of least resistance, it becomes an easier path to forge in the future.

Choice architecture is presenting options in a way that encourages you to make a desired decision.

there and show that we deserve to win.”

Dr. Josh Palgi and Dr. Amanda Rodrigues-School of Health and Human Performance

Kean reacts to the death of basketball legend Kobe Bryant

By Harold Carias Shock waves were felt across the world as the news of Los Angeles Lakers icon and five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant’s death in a helicopter crash was reported in Calabasas, California on Jan. 26.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, Bryant, 41, was on board with eight other passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, as they were making their way to one of Bryant’s basketball camps.

“My first reaction was that I didn’t want to believe it,” said senior business major Garfield Hylton. “I thought it was fake news. Unreliable news outlets want to report things first and I did not accept his death until I finally saw it on CNN and ESPN.” Many students across campus felt this same sentiment in not believing the initial reports from certain news sources as they are known to overblow news for their viewers.

“I saw it from the Instagram perspective so I didn’t believe it at first,” said Justin Brown, a Communications major. “I called my suitemate and asked if this was real, then it was on ABC News.”

The Los Angeles Police Department condemned the actions of tabloid celebrity news website TMZ, as they broke the news before the officials even had a chance to notify the families of the victims.

“There has to be a moral barrier for breaking news and allowing the families to hear about the incident first,” said junior biology major Nicholas Soares. “It shouldn’t have happened that way but I guess it’s part of the business.”

The other victims in the accident were Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, Ara Zobayan, John Altobelli,

Photo by beast120815, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Shock waves were felt across the world over the death of Kobe Bryant.

“My first reaction was that I didn’t want to believe it”

Photo by themmg, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Kobe Bryant leaves behind a legendary legacy.

Keri Altobelli, and Alyssa Altobelli.

Across all levels of competitive and recreational basketball, Kobe Bryant has been honored and remembered. Former NBA players have told stories of when they used to play and mentioned his work ethic.

“I admire his work ethic, but I appreciate it even more,” said Kean Men’s basketball coach Adam Hutchinson. “He [Kobe] showed up every day, even when he struggled.”

Since his death, it has been a very somber past few weeks in the NBA with the Lakers honoring Kobe before their game on Jan. 31. R&B artist Usher participated in the opening ceremony, in honor of the lives lost and then the purple and yellow lights were on once again in the Staples Center as the Lakers hosted the Trail Blazers.

With every opportunity the fans had, they chanted his name and for a moment you could sense the healing process starting to begin. Although it was the beginning, it is far from over.

Kobe Bryant will forever be remembered as a loving husband and father of four daughters, who played the sport he loved at the highest level. He showed his team and counterparts what it took to be the best and how pushing yourself will only lead to more opportunities for success.

Kobe and Gianna Bryant were laid to rest in a private ceremony near their family home at Pacific View Memorial Park in Corona del Mar on Feb. 7. There will be a public memorial on Feb. 24 inside Staples Center.