March 10- april 6, 2010

Basement Legend Discovered P. 3

Breaking a Sweat With Kickboxing P. 6

Student Director Takes his Film to the Ropes P. 3

The Tower Kean University’s student newspaper

www.kean.edu/~thetower

Volume 10 • Issue 5 Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

Student Org Campaigning Underway

By Joseph Tingle

Kean University Student Joe Rutch attends Olympic Games in Vancouver. (See page 16)

Roads to Kean to Become Toll Roads?

By Megan Muller

It’s bad enough that Kean students have to fight for parking on campus. Now, some of the roads commuter students take everyday to get to school may become toll roads.

“east-west interstates I-78, I-80 and I-95 would be the most likely candidates.”

Governor Chris Christie raised the possibility of toll roads, suggesting tolls on NJ highways such as Interstate 78, 80, 195, 287 and 295 to raise funds in the face of a budget crisis.

Over the next ten years, New Jersey will

face an estimated funding shortfall of $35 billion. The Transportation Trust Fund, an agency that finances the cost of maintaining the state’s transportation system, released a report on Jan. 22 that stated it will run out of money in 2011. Currently, the system can barely cover the cost of its $895 million debt.

The lack of funds to improve roadways would also halt much maintenance and expansion.

Nearly half of the major roads in New Jersey are rated deficient and provide motorists with a bumpy ride. Deficient roads often have potholes or other visible signs of deterioration and need to be resurfaced or reconstructed. Driving on New Jersey’s roads cost motorists an average $596 annually in vehicle maintenance.

(Continued on page 2) The report has

Some Kean students might be surprised to know that the deadline to apply for candidacy in this year’s Student Government elections has already passed, and accepted candidates have already began preparing for a month of campaigning.

While reporters at The Tower learned that as many as two separate “tickets” planned to run for Student Org positions, this could not confirmed by the time the March issue went to print.

For students to be eligible to run for Student Org, they must meet certain GPA and disciplinary requirements set by the university, and not everyone who says that they are running for office will be permitted to. Others who’ve been at Kean for two or three years may find themselves to be under or over the necessary credits, and unable to run for specific classes. And nothing is final until the first candidates’ meeting: until then, prospective candidates may decide to join or combine tickets, drop out, or start new tickets.

Over the past three years, Student Org and Student Trustee elections at Kean have had varying degrees of student involvement. In the spring of 2008, the “All Stars” ticket ran almost uncontested for the second year in a row. However, last spring, three nearly-full tickets, the “All Stars,” “Team Change” and “X-Pect Change,” competed for positions on Student Org in what was by far the most competitive Student Org campaign season that even most seniors can remember. It was so competitive that, according to the April 28 issue of last year’s , election results were delayed due to complaints lodged during the election process.

Still, many students who aren’t running feel as if they’ve been left out of the process.

Ruth, a Kean student who is a junior Business Management major and lives in the residence halls, said she had “no idea” that the applications to run for Student Org was already due.

“I never know elections are happening until someone comes up to me with a laptop and asks me to vote for them,” Ruth said.

And Shena, a sophomore and commuter student, says she had no idea that Student Org and Student Trustee elections were being held, but would have liked to know.

“They didn’t make an effort to tell us, and that makes me think they don’t really care if we’re part of it or not,” Shena said.

“The less opponents you have, the more chances you have to elect someone you personally endorse.”

“Student Org and Student Trustee elections at Kean have had varying degrees of student involvement.”

However, Carminda Bandeira, the current president of Student Org, says that Student Org has advertised just as often—if not more—than in years past and has already received a number of applications from not only students already involved on council, but other students as well. Bandeira noted that advertising for both elections began in early February 8, when a banner announcing the election (Continued on page 3) was posted on Stu-

ALWAYS A BRIDESMAID, NEVER A BRIDE (see page 11) By brett Williams

Photos: Brett Williams

INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER: Have you ever had a stroke of luck?

Joseph Favors Senior, Management

Athena LaPenna Junior, Speech Language Science

Tierney Young Senior, Interior Design

Douglas Jackson Senior, Business Economics

“One time on the train to New York my friend called to me. I turned around and found $20 on the floor.”

“Once I lived in a separate dorm from my sister. One day, I received a call from Kean and they asked if we wanted to live in the new upperclassmen dorm together.”

“One time my car broke down in Newark. I managed to flag down a cop and he took me to a tow place where they fixed my car, free of charge.”

“I was once in a car accident and that was very serious, but luckily I had my seat belt on.”

Discovering a Local Basement Legend

3

Arts & Entertainment

Spring Break

4

Editorial & View

10

One Student’s Visit to the Olympics

16

Word to the Wise

5

Health & Fitness

12

Celebs and Crime: John & Junior

16

8-9

Sports

13-15

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

2

Human Rights Club Launches at Kean

By Junior Jean-Baptiste

It all started when a few student workers from the University Center decided it was time to talk about human rights.

And now, with an enthusiastic executive board and a blessing from Student Trustee Scott Herman, the Kean Human Rights Club is here.

“We want to work together as a group to help students be aware of human rights issues,” says Janine Rivera, president of the club. “We also want to get involved with the issues that are going on today.”

The new Human Rights Club at Kean conducted its first meeting on February 16, 2010 at the CAS building and discussed future plans to help build awareness at Kean University about Human Rights issues.

With a newly constructed Human Rights Center, and the recent passing of

the third annual Human Rights Convention at Kean, the Human Rights club could not have had better timing.

The idea of forming a group centered around human rights formed when Scott Herman, the current Student Trustee and

“There are many human rights issues” a Kean graduate student, introduced to Rivera the idea of a group where attention could be brought to students regarding human rights issues.

“I believe she will make a huge impact because she already has, and I don’t see her stopping anytime soon,” said Herman.

Each of the members say they have set out to work toward one common goal: to empower students and inspire awareness about current issues around the campus.

(Left to right) Janine Rivera, president, Samir Abdul, treasurer, and Katie Pagan, vice president.

“There are many human rights issues around and we’re open to attack these certain issues,” says Anthony Kershaw, a member of the group. Issues of the environment and human rights, and also children’s rights to education and healthcare are among the issues they hope to address, he said.

Most of the original members work in the University Center, assisting students on a daily basis. Since the group’s inception others have joined.

“I felt the need to get up and do something about the issues that are going on right now,” says Derick Felix, a member of the group who does not work in the University Center.

So what does the group have planned?

It’s still early, but the group already has at least one event planned for this semester. On Apri 8, 2010, the group will promote the Invisible Children Screening project, which will help children in Uganda learn about this project. The group is expected to eplain more about the project in the next meeting and are asking students to come and participate in event. Times will be posted around campus to inform students of the event.

Nu Sigma Phi Fraternity Demonstrates Commitment and Progress

By Jillian Johnson

Two years after pulling their fraternity back to life, the Nu Sigma Phi brothers have been steady in their brotherhood commitment. “…we became bigger and better,” said Steve Sedano, Treasurer of Nu Sigma Phi. In 1993 the fraternity was suspended for one semester for violating the pledging rules. At that time, many of the active members were seniors soon to graduate, which also led to the fraternity disbanding.

In May of 2007, alumnus Michael Delicio came to Kean and raised questions about how his old fraternity could be brought back to life. After speaking to Valeria Winslow of the Student Life office, a table of interest with flyers and brochures

was set up at a Meet the Greeks event.

Some 24 students signed up and a month later, on Oct. 27, 2008, Nu Sigma Phi presented themselves to the Greek Senate, and were accepted.

Members of the Nu Sigma Phi fraternity.

“We were never really apart,” said alumnus Dan Deweaver.

Today, the alumni and active members

keep their brotherhood bond strong and the alumni showed much pride in the progress of their active brothers.

“We are proud parents,” said Delicio.

The fraternity recognizes individuals for their strengths and uniqueness, in which students are brought in from across the spectrum.

The alumni said that the active members did as expected to keeping a fraternity together and alive.

“There are certain unique skills to governing a [fraternity],”said Deweaver.

Actives carry the skill of self-governing and creating ideas to keep their fraternity alive and recognized.

“We are going to keep the progress going,” said Paul Medeiros, President of Nu Sigma Phi. The active members have contributed

Bandeira Serving as New Student Org President

By Megan Muller

Student Organization, the elected governing body representing Kean’s estimated 10,000-plus full time students, has a new president following a shake-up, but details about the process were not announced.

Student Carminda Bandeira has assumed the position of President of Student Organization, which according to its website maintains an operating budget of just under $1 million dollars and employs a professional staff of four.

Bandeira assumed the post after Kean permanently removed elected president Carmello Scott Ramos. Kean suspended Ramos from his post last fall on an inter-

im basis pending the outcome of a Student Conduct investigation related to criminal charges of misconduct that were dropped by the prosecutor’s Offfice.

According to Kean University spokesman Paul Dinero, the Office of Student Conduct has concluded its investigation, but its ruling is private.

“All Office of Student Conduct proceedings are kept confidential pursuant to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,” DiNero said.

Bandeira assumed the position of President of Student Organization in January, but refused to comment to The Tower because she said she needed to get permission to speak to the press. However, in an

article in the Cougar’s Byte, which is run by a university department, the Office of Student Life, Bandeira is a senior elementary education and earth science major.

Known as “Mindy,” she was formerly vice president of funded groups.

The article stated that Bandeira never intended to be president, but has embraced it with confidence. She also is quoted as saying: “My expectation for our executive board and council is that we jump right back onto our feet and move forward.

We must stay true to our mission statement and be the leaders that we have come this far to be, regardless of any bump on the road.”

Pick up The Tower at these locations • • • • • • • •

Administration Building, First floor lobby Bruce Hall, First Floor Lounge Center for Academic Success, Lobby Communications Department Office, CAS 402 ESL Office, Willis Hall 301 Harwood Arena, by the basketball courts Hutchinson Hall, First Floor Lobby Hennings Hall, First Floor Lobby

• Science Building, First Floor in hallway between Rooms 121 and 122 • Technology Building, hallway inside front door • Tower Newsroom, CAS 413 • University Center, across from the cafeteria entrance • Townsend Hall, First Floor reception area • Vaughn-Eames Hall, First Floor Lobby • Willis Hall, First Floor, across from the elevator

greatly to charity through events raised such as Toys for Tots. The fraternity has also sponsored dance offs and interacted with underprivileged children this past winter. On Tuesday, March 2 the fraternity hosted their ‘Dine to Donate’ charity event at Applebee’s on Morris Ave. Their goal was to raise money for breast cancer, the fraternity’s philanthropy. Those interested were given flyers from the fraternity’s website, http://nusigmaphi. com/ to bring to Applebee’s. The fraternity received 10% of the final bill to be donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

The fraternity also has demonstrated a commitment to the press by distributing The Tower student newspaper to students on campus. In return, the students receive community service credit.

TOLL ROADS

(Continued from page 1)

made six general recommendations to raise revenue, including the one to turn some roads into toll roads. One recommendation is to raise the tax on gasoline. However, doing so would raise only enough money to cover the debt payment this coming July.

Another recommendation explores tolls on various interstate highways in order to pay for the improvements on those highways. According to transportation experts, East-West Interstates I-78, I-80 and I-95 would be the most likely candidates. Other high volume highways such as I-287 and I-295 would be considered as well. However, considering that these highways are federal roads, state officials would be required to demonstrate why toll money is needed to fix the problems on each specific highway.

According to Jonathan D. Peters, associate professor of finance at The College of Staten Island who studies toll road finance, a road with a high traffic volume that is steadily growing and has few tolling (entrance or exit) points would test well in regards to this project.

It is unclear what direction Governor Christie will take the state of New Jersey in raising funds for transportation projects. As Christie researches all possibilities in this matter, motorists need to be aware of the probable changes.

Right now, it looks like you could be paying a toll to get to class.

The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

3

Discovering a Local Basement Legend

By Matthew Marchesano

Luckily there is no shortage of talented musicians in New Jersey. The Garden State has continuously provided fertile soil for musical artists of all genres such as the Boss, Frank Sinatra and Count Basie.

Some great artists never achieve acclaimed recognition; some are not in search of it. Trevor Pennsylvania, of New Brunswick, is the type of artist who enjoys making music regardless of the recognition. He has become an ever- progressing force in New Jersey’s illustrious underground DIY-music scene. He makes a unique brand of music; passionate with honesty and laden with poise.

Pennsylvania operates as a divine auditory Vishnu of sorts, with each hand leading a different musical project, collectively covering a broad range of styles and genres. His brainchild, Human Adult Band is a self-proclaimed ‘gunk and roll’ band, implementing cyclic drumbeats beneath agitated guitar lines and his trademark deep-fuzzed bass. With his other project, Pots and Powercells, Trevor relies on the communal improvisation of a rotating cast of local musicians. Multiple electric guitars, various percussion, toy instruments, amplified distortion boxes and countless other sound making tools create dazzling voyages, flowing between reverberated laid-back collage pieces and more cohesive, synchronic parts.

Here’s what musician, Pennsylvania, had to say about his art: How long have you been making music/ touring with your music?

“I’ve been playing bass and guitar since 1992. My first band, Alter, formed in 1993 and we played a friend’s birthday party and smashed a guitar that we didn’t even play during the set. Middle school grunge antics! I went onto NJ punk band, Mohawk Barbie (1996-2002). In 1998 we went from NJ to Montreal and back. In the

of chicken fried tofu, the wine flowed, and on the bill were 3 very original and eclectic bands made up of best friends; Dogo & Crackerjacks, Magnet City Kids and an early 5 piece line up of Human Adult Band.

This was my favorite New Brunswick basement show. Possibly my favorite show.

Those were the glory days.”

I notice that seeing your live show, regardless of moniker, the line-ups are hardly ever identical. Is this purposely

“He makes a unique brand of music; passionate with honesty and laden with poise.

Photo: Mike Kryskowiak

Trevor Pennsylvania performs live with Human Adult Band at the Court Tavern in New Brunswick.

years that followed we went to Montreal and Toronto and back a bunch more times and down to Florida and back. Also during our 6 year run, we must have played 200 shows in the tri-state area. But my main project from 2002-present has been recording, touring and playing the tri state area in Human Adult Band. In Human Adult Band, I have the duties of front man, song writer, bass player, ‘singer’ and manager. Out of all of my bands, Human Adult Band has been the most places; we have toured the whole East Coast a handful of times, the Mid-West and Europe.

Next stop, the West Coast!”

Are there any shows that are remembered as your favorite?

“At the end of the summer ’03 all the weirdos of New Brunswick decided to throw a party. We dubbed it ‘Mort Fest’. It was a lot like that song ‘Hoodoo Bash’ by the Unholy Modal Rounders et al., because all the weirdos, artists and musicians that turned out, all contributed. There was of tons original visual art on the walls, plenty

STUDENT ORG CAMPAIGN Kean University Bookstore Hours MONDAY 9:00 AM-6:00 PM TUESDAY 9:00 AM-6:00 PM WEDNESDAY 9:00 AM-7:00 PM THURSDAY 9:00 AM-6:00 PM FRIDAY 9:00 AM-4:00 PM SATURDAY CLOSED SUNDAY CLOSED

chosen or just coincidental? Most bands remain rigid in their members and the roles of those involved.

“Hmmm, After Mohawk Barbie broke up due to drummer, Shawn P. moving 5 hours away, the remaining 3 members (including myself) searched and searched for a suitable drummer. Probably for about a year. I was pretty depressed for a while. I didn’t really have a band, and I was used to playing in a band rigid in the members and very rigid in song structure. After a year, I realized that we weren’t going to replace Shawn, and that’s when I opened my mind up to playing with people with different styles and many different skill levels. John Cage and a lot of the early experimental composers included people of all skill levels and no skill, in their compositions and performances and that made it interesting and real.”

How do you decide who to play music with? Is classical training a must?

After some time, I realized that playing with varying styles and skill levels made me a better player and really made for some interesting music. It was a learning experience. You can’t duplicate the way a

beginner plays. I mean did you ever hear like some guitar aficionado/guitar teacher type play smells like teen spirit? It usually sounds pretty lousy. Not to say that Kurt was a beginner, but skill wise, he sure wasn’t up there with B.B. King. He just played with a lot of feeling; you don’t have to be taught that. So when I play music with someone and they can play with feeling, no matter what the skill level, I usually have a ball and can create music I like. Now I play with many people to keep it interesting, keep me on my toes, and to keep it real.

Anything in the works for fans to look forward to? And how can people find out more?

“New stuff still available from Human Adult Band: ‘Samantha’ b/w ‘Samantha (Song Poem) By Jad Fair 7” Single on Third Uncle Records, ‘Mugwort & Sage’ One Sided LP on Scumbag Relations, ‘LaDee-Frickin-Da’ Cassette on Abandon Ship Records. Upcoming stuff: New full length Human Adult Band LP with all new material on Heat Retention Records, Possibly a new full length Human Adult Band CD with all new material featuring many past and present members, a double tape from Log Cabin Recordings by Pots & Powercells, and a Mohawk Barbie ‘Outtakes & Demos’ CD-r on my vanity label, dihd. Look for Human Adult Band and Pots & Powercells gigging in the tri-state area and beyond…”

Pennsylvania’s band, Pots and Powercells, will be performing live on The Big Surprise – Internet Radio Show on Thursday March 11th 6pm-7pm. Tune in for live stream or download from the archives from www.hearnewbrunswick.com. His record label, with information on upcoming gigs, record reviews, and more about his crew can be followed online at www.dihd.net.

(Continued from page 1)

dent Org’s website. That website is located at www.kean.edu/~stuorg. “[The election flyers] were posted on all C.L.S. posting policy boards. [They] were posted on the Student Org bulletin board in the University Center. Additional flyers were created on March 2. It was announced at our council meetings by our Vice President of Committees, Carlos Rojas, at various times.”

In addition to the information above, and the two additional e-mail blasts and The Cougar’s Byte article sent to students on Tuesday, March 2. Bandeira also asserts that elections were even announced at Kean at Ocean County.

“The candidates must be given enough time for campaigning before the elections take place on April 5 and 6,” Bandeira went on to say.

Hanan, a freshman who lives in the residence halls and plans to major in both Political Science and Public Administration, said that he couldn’t say what Student Org did—or did not do—in terms of advertising. Hanan is more concerned about how Student Org operates as a governing body.

“I know they were involved with ‘Score 4 Haiti,’ but I don’t know what they’ve done

as a political body, or what issues they’ve voted on,” said Hanan.

“The duties of each Student Org official varies depending on the position,” said Bandeira, who also asserts that students are always welcome to come to the Student Org office or come to Student Org meetings in order to find out how the Organization works. “However, our main focus is always to be the voice of the students and to service their needs, regardless of what our position is. All students are welcome to come to the Student Government’s office to take a look at a copy of the job description for each position and ask any questions regarding them.”

This year, the positions available are President, Vice President of Committees, Vice President of Student Affairs, Vice President of Funded Groups, Vice President of Kean at Ocean, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Director of Promotions and Advertising, and then also a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary for the senior, junior, and sophomore classes. There are also nine Representatives for the sophomore class and 10 Representatives for the junior and senior class, two of which are Kean at Ocean Student Government Representatives.

The Treasurer and Secretary positions are not available, as students who win spots on the board as Assistant Treasurer and Secretary are automatically promoted their second year.

Students who are curious about the upcoming Student Org and Student Trustee elections should contact Student Organization at 908-737-5190 or e-mail stuorg@ kean.edu.

Student Org meetings are held every other Friday, at 3:15 pm in UC 228.

It’s too early to tell whether this Student Org election will be competitive or a landslide, but most positions are up for grabs and candidates have a whole month to prepare until votes are taken on April 5 and April 6. During the actual election, Kean students are able to log onto their KeanGoogle e-mail account and vote electronically through a service called Election USA. Students who are running under certain tickets will have the name of their ticket written on the ballot as if it were their middle name. For example, Barack “Democrat” Obama; John “Republican” McCain.

4

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

Kean Student Takes His Film to the Ropes

By D.J. Jean

It’s not everyday that a student produces a feature-length film.

But after three-and-a-half years of hard work, on Saturday, February 13, Kean University Media & Film student, Tim Disbrow held a private screening of his feature-length documentary film, titled “Card Subject to Change” in the little theatre located at the University Center.

The film, an inside look at independent professional wrestling, allows the audience to see the industry from the perspective of a local wrestling promoter, a veteran, and other types of wrestlers.

According to Disbrow, his inspiration for making this film came from his involvement in the “indie” world of wrestling when he was younger. “Indie wrestling” refers to independent professional wrestling or the independent circuit of professional wrestling.

“I want people to take away an appreciation for pro wrestling,” Disbrow said.

“I sort of wanted to open up the world of wrestling to the general public. That was my concept.”

Photo: Courtesy of Iron River Films

Promotional piece for the documentary, “Card Subject to Change.”

Disbrow’s “Card Subject to Change” was a product of three and a half years of research, said Communication Department Professors Scott McHugh and Brian Oakes, who helped Disbrow

in this documentary.

“Tim and I met every week from April to November, even over the summer, to work on the film’s structure and post production,” said Dr. McHugh. “We worked on the editing, sound, and music for most of the sequences in the movie. We would try different approaches to the scenes and then Tim would work on them and bring them back the following week for additional discussion.”

According to Oakes, the film has great timing because people are taking an interest in the world of professional wrestling, “It was a great experience working with Tim on this project. He was extremely dedicated to creating a professional documentary,” Professor Oakes said. “I was able to advise him during the production and also helped with the titles. I think he has created an excellent documentary and we are proud of his work.”

The film is currently entered in several film festivals across the country.

If you would like to know more about “Card Subject to Change”, visit the website, www.cardsubjecttochange.com.

Spring Break: A Different Approach

By Junior Jean-Baptiste

The sound of Spring Break in the college atmosphere is often equated with partying, drinking and going to faraway beaches like those in Cancun or Florida. However, quite a few Kean students have other ideas about how to spend spring break.

and my friends will be able to get served at the bars.”

Harris also said the economy is preventing many students from heading to Florida or Cancun because they just can’t spend the ample amount of money needed on hotels and airfare.

“I want to spend a little amount of mon-

plish want I want to do,” says Yeanafehn.

“It’s a sacrifice, but it’ll pay off at the end.”

Another factor that could be affecting plans is that students are aware of the dangers in faraway locales. They cited the stories in the news about kidnappings in Cancun and the murders in Mexico.

One result is that more students are

“I want to spend a little amount of money, but still have a good time.”

Group of spring break college students at the beach.

Whitley Harris, 20, Junior and a Broadcast major is spending his spring break in Montreal where a group of friends recommended he go to for the break. On draw, apparently, is that the drinking age is 18.

“The weather won’t bother me there,” said Harris, acknowledging that it will still be very cold in Canada this time of year. “I’m saving a lot of money and me

ey, but still have a good time,” said Harris.

Some students decided to take advantage of the spring break to work and focus on school. Nya Yeanafehn, 20, a junior and marketing major has decided to work for the week and finish up projects for classes.

“I felt I needed to get my priorities straight and save some money to accom-

Academic Calendar:

finding other alternatives to enjoy themselves for spring break.

Valbona Pahumi, 22, a Senior who is majoring in Broadcast Media, is spending her spring break in Puerto Rico.

“I didn’t plan on going anywhere for spring break until my friend told me we can stay at their grandmother’s house,” says Pahumi. “This is my first time going somewhere for spring break and I’m excited to go.”

Elliot Fant, 25, a senior English major, decided he wanted a change of pace from the usual. He is going to Las Vegas with his girlfriend.

“I decided to change the pace and go to Vegas,” says Fant. “I want to go somewhere where there aren’t too many people around and enjoy the strip in Vegas.”

Whatever students decide to do for spring break, most said they will use their time to take a break from notebooks and exams.

• • • •

REVIEW: “Card Subject to Change”

By D.J. Jean

“Card Subject to Change” is a film that will take you into the looking glass of the wonderland that is independent professional wrestling.

Kean University Media & Film student, Tim Disbrow, directed this 94 min. featurelength documentary film depicting the side of professional wrestling people don’t normally have a chance to see.. It delves deep beneath the lights and glamour that

Photo: Courtesy of Iron River Films

A photo of a scene from the documentary, “Card Subject to Change.”

people are familiar with and into the extraordinary underground world of what is independent professional wrestling.

The film follows a local wrestling promoter, Johnny Falco, who went from wanting to be a roller derby skater to the business of professional wrestling. The film also shows what it means to be a struggling professional wrestler trying to make it. Nothing is shielded in this documentary. Viewers see everything from the hardcore-hitting, highflying action of the industry, to bouts with drugs. There is even a scene where the anabolic steroid Winstrol is shown being injected.

The cast includes numerous notable wrestling figures such as “Taskmaster” Kevin Sullivan and local wrestling promoter Johnny Falco.

The end resolves, and the audience does find out what happens to individuals the film primarily focuses on, in a seemingly then and now fashion. This is essential, as the viewer tends to feel emotionally involved.

Overall the 94 min. feature-length documentary is a perfect storm of music, interviews, and footage, imagery, not to mention, a bit of nostalgia. Disbrow’s piece is truly brilliant, a must see for anyone with even a passing interest in wrestling, or the wrestling world.

SPRING BREAK by Dan Pata

March 15 - Spring Recess Begins March 22 - Classes Resume April 2 – Good Friday – No classes Feb 17-March 31 – Lenten Mass every Wednesday 12 PM in UC Room 226A

The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

5

A WORD TO THE WISE

By Lisa Martinez and Dawn M. Phillips

House Guest Overstaying Welcome A very good friend of mine had fallen on hard times and in turn had no place to live. I offered her my couch until she could find somewhere else to stay. She works evenings so she stays up late and sleeps into the afternoon. She goes out with friends about three days a week and obviously spends money. I don’t want to ask her for rent money or anything, but I just do not see how she can be saving up to get back on her feet if she’s constantly going out. I would never overstep my boundaries and ask her what she does with her money or how much is in her savings, but at this rate I don’t think she’ll ever get off my couch. What should I do? Should I ask her to leave or should I wait and let her leave on her own? Am I being a terrible friend for feeling this way?

you do want to set rules, regulations, and deadlines in your apartment. As friends, you should be able to sit down and talk maturely about living arrangements. You can offer her a low rent rate per month, or ask her to pay for utilities or for food. She must understand that while you are her friend, money doesn’t grow on trees, and bills have to be paid. Being that you guys are good friends, you should be concerned about her well being, so don’t feel bad for wanting to establish guidelines.

“Am I being a terrible friend for feeling this way?”

Signed, Landlord Dear Landlord, A good friend that will be there when you need them is always desired. Your friend has come to you in her time of need, and it is generous that you decided to help her out.

While you don’t want to count her money,

Disruptive Class Hurts Student I’m currently taking a class that’s pretty difficult for me. I try to pay as much attention as possible and write down any form of notes that I can in order to get me through the class. Unfortunately, a few of my classmates take it upon themselves to be a bit disruptive and distracting. They laugh, make jokes, and make sarcastic comments to the professor and none of this makes my time in this class any easier. I feel like a party pooper for even complaining about this because these are my peers and I suppose they are just trying to make the best of their situation (a long

NEW JERSEY CITY UNIVERSITY

double period class). However, their good time is making my hard time that much worse. Should I just suck it up and get a tutor, or should I have a talk with my professor or maybe even them?

Signed, Party Pooper Dear Party Pooper, College is your gateway to learning. No one should get in the way of your education, especially when you may be paying for it with your hard-earned money. Speaking with your professor regarding the disruptions may be beneficial in that the professor will gain better control of the class. If this problem continues, speaking with your distracting classmates may be an option. You may not be the only one in your class who feels this way; more than likely other classmates agree with you. You have to take control of your education. If you don’t, who will?

His Cheating Heart I’ve been seeing this guy “Rob” for a little under a year. When Rob and I first started dating, he had a girlfriend that I knew of and he was cheating on her with me. They have since broken up, now the girlfriend is out of the picture and I don’t know what to do. I’ve developed feelings for Rob, but

WILL

EXCEED

MY HIGHEST

GOALS

GRADUATE BUSINESS OPEN HOUSE

Tuesday, March 23 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Harborside Campus

Application fee will be waived for those who attend the session.

MBA • MS Accounting • MS Finance

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TO RSVP CALL (866) 586-7823 OR E-MAIL GRAD_DEPT@NJCU.EDU NJCU AT THE WATERFRONT HARBORSIDE FINANCIAL CENTER, PLAZA 4A 286 WASHINGTON STREET, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07311

Signed, Anxious Dear Anxious, It’s hard to expect much when you entered the relationship knowing that he had a girlfriend. You must take into consideration his actions, and how they will affect you in the long run. What are you willing to accept when it comes to Rob and the notion of trust?

Consider how Rob has treated you thus far, and his intentions. Be direct with your concerns with him; ask him his opinion on what you have developed. His responses (good or bad) will confirm what steps you need to take. Good luck! Keep in mind your value as a person.

Have questions for us? Email us at wrd2thewise@gmail.com and we’ll respond!

Sincerely, Lisa and Dawn

Beauty Report Do Men Really Prefer Au Natural?

By Fiordaliza Martinez

Celebrating 50 years of Graduate Education

he has yet to ask me to be his girlfriend. I don’t even know if I could trust him being that he cheated on his ex (once a cheater always a cheater, or so I’ve heard). Should I just dismiss my relationship with Rob as a fling and find someone else or should I stick around and see what happens?

You’re getting ready for a date night with your significant (or insignificant) other. You’re putting the last finishing touches on your hair, applying that last coat of perfection from your mascara, and that irresistible layer of kissable lip gloss. Just as you’re ready to pat yourself on the back for your flawless finish your boyfriend says, “Why do you need to do that anyway? I like you natural, just the way you are.”

So what exactly does he mean by “natural” anyway? As natural as the scantily clad, professionally made-up video vixens he gawks at? Perhaps as natural as his favorite playboy playmate? The idea of natural needs dissection.

He says he prefers when girls wear no makeup, their hair in a ponytail, without the frills. While it’s possible he does really prefer that, it may be that he just does not know what he really likes.

According to Dr. Rose Windale, health and wellness coach, men are especially attracted to women who are comfortable and confident with being natural.

“Even when it comes to making up and enhancing beauty, the natural “feel” seems more appealing. A woman should look her best, but she should not be ashamed if a

man catches her off guard. A man can find it charming to see her with a towel on her head, for instance,” Windale says in her article “What Captivates Men to Natural Women”.

Men are ultimately attracted to confidence. A woman that can carry herself like a million bucks even when she just looks like a dollar coin is ahead of the game.

Ladies, don’t be too quick to toss your

“A woman who can carry herself like she looks like a million bucks, even when she just looks like a dollar coin, is what ideally attracts the average man.” makeup brushes out of the window. Instead of changing up your grooming routine, change your self-image. Look in the mirror and appreciate your beauty without makeup as much as you do with makeup. Always carry yourself as if you’re the best you that you can be. This attitude will radiate off of you and not only attract the men, but people in general.

6

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

Kickboxing at the Harwood Arena

By Carlos M. Reynosa and Rachel Rothspan

There’s a new way to make Kean’s students break a sweat at Harwood Arena, or at least have an excuse to kick and punch: kick boxing. Instructor Natalie Seals offers free lessons in teaching this popular form of self-defense.

“People believe that you have to be a prize fighter in order to join a program,” said Seals, who noted that is a myth.

In fact, Seals said the class is great to

Seals has been interested in self-defense since she was six years old when she learned the art of Ti Kwon Do. Later, she enlisted in the Army—(not the Navy, despite her appropriate name)—where she learned a combination of hand-to-hand combat, Aikido and other mixed martial arts styles. At the age of 23, she entered and won several kick boxing tournaments.

However it wasn’t easy.

“I had to face opponents who were bigger, taller and I had to be faster,” she commented.

way to throw a jab.”

To teach, Seals earned certificates from the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM). She then started a kick boxing class in New York for adults, ranging in age from 55 to 67. Seals feels there is much to be learned in mixed martial arts.

“I want to show people the correct way to throw a jab”

help students feel better about themselves and also get out some frustrations in a stressful world.

“I believe by coming to this class, [students] can let out some stress, and feel they can accomplish something,” Seals said.

Although she has officially retired from competition, her passion for mixed martial arts hasn’t, and so she formed her own kickboxing program.

“What I see in some instructors is that they don’t teach their students the correct biomechanical movement,” she said. “I see people being taught in ways that could be unhealthy for themselves, and I want to show people the correct

Apparently, Kean students agree. Her first day of class in the Hardwood Arena in February, Seals had a turnout of 80 students. Yet, she still encourages other students to join. She said many of the students who first attend are insecure about their bodies, whether it’s because of their age or their physical appearance. She often talks to students to allay their fears.

“I enjoy the feed back I get from students,” Seals said. “I want them to have fun as well as work out,” Seals said.

At one recent class, Melissa Blinkoff said though she went through an hour of intense kickboxing, she she looks forward to returning. And next time, she said she will bring her friends.

“I’ve done other types of exercise and I want to try something new,” said Blinkoff, who said she wanted to get in shape. “I love that she is tough.”

Kickboxing classes resume March 12 and will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 PM to 8:30 pm in Harwood Arena. Contact the Harwood Arena for more detail or Natalie Seals 908 279 2166 or email her at Reel005@yahoo.com

At Kean, Writing isn’t Just for English Majors

By Casey Murphy

English majors and others who want to advance their degrees need not look any further than their own university. Recently, Kean created a Master of Arts in Writing Studies. However, through the continuation of the National Writing Project, Kean also is attempting to recognize that writing isn’t just important for English majors, but also teachers and students who want an advantage in their careers.

The Master in Writing Studies program, which launched in the Fall of 2009, is meant to be unique in a region abundant with “creative writing” type programs because it caters to both English and nonEnglish majors.

“We did some research on what kinds of programs were available both nationally and in our region, and found that while there are many Master of Fine Arts programs for writing - particularly creative writing - there were not so many Master of Arts programs available for teachers who want to learn more about how to teach writing or for writers who want to learn about different professional opportunities for their work,” said Dr. Sally Chandler, a professor at Kean and the coordinator of the Writing Studies program.

The M.A in English Writing Studies program is 30 credit hours and can be completed in two years. The courses being offered range in three different areas of study: theory and practice for teaching writing, creative writing, and professional writing. Not only will students be able to focus on their professional aspects, but also on their creative aspirations.

This is also the third summer Kean Uni-

versity is holding the National Writing Project, or NWP. During the National Writing Project in July, teachers in the region from different areas of study and different grade levels will meet every Monday through Thursday to participate in workshops that will help improve their teaching in writing. Before the program begins in July, everyone participating first meet in June for two days of pre-institute meetings.

“The idea is to help teachers explore the best practices for teaching writing, the theory in pedagogy, reflecting on classroom teaching, building teams for writing, collaboration and also personalized coaching for personal writing,” said Kim Kiefer, one of the co-coordinators of Kean’s chapter of the National Writing Project.

“We start with two pre-institute days in June to prepare the readings so that they can get started,” Kiefer said. “You know, hit the ground running in essence with pedagogy and the theory so we have a common language and know where we’re going and know what the purpose is. Introduce the main ideas.”

Some of the workshops include workshops on technology, teacher inquiry workshops that go over the best practices in teaching writing, workshops where the teachers will respond to the readings, and portfolio workshops. Overall, the program is worth six credits (two classes). At the end of July, students present their portfolio, which will be assessed.

For questions on the National Writing Program, students should contact Dr. Linda Best. Questions about the Graduate Program students go to Dr. Sally Chandler.

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The Master of Social Work program prepares students for a career that is dedicated to improving the quality of life for vulnerable individuals, families, and communities worldwide. Monmouth offers the only Master of Social Work program in the nation with a specific concentration in International and Community Development.

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The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

7

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: Jacqueline DaSilva

By Rachel Rothspan

JOIN THE TOWER!

This Summer… London & Paris, with visits to Stonehenge, …for pleasure …or 3 credits

the D-Day beaches at Normandy, the island monastery at Mont St. Michel and the scenic Loire Valley.

Travel with Kean University’s Department of Communication For more information, contact: Gabriel Gluck, Adj. Prof kean.edu

Itinerary…

We will visit the following sites: +In London, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Parliament and Buckingham Palace +Stonehenge , the ancient astronomy observatory of the Druids +Salisbury & Portsmouth +Ferry to France, with dinner aboard the ferry +The D-Day Beaches at Normandy where the allies landed in WWII to retake Europe from the Nazis +Mont St. Michel, the medieval abbey and village perched atop a rocky island +Loire Valley +.Chenonceau, a jewel of Renaissance architecture, and Chambord, the giant hunting lodge of François I. +Chartres cathedral +Versailles + Paris, museums & historic sites

ggluck@

This Summer: Bring a relative…Bring a friend Open to all current and former members of the Kean Community…

July 12 – July 20, 2010

Tour Package includes:

All transportation--airline flights, airport shuttles, bus tours, English Channel ferry--hotels, museum admissions, breakfast and dinner, just about everything except souvenirs

Cost: Program fee: $3,662 University fee: $100

All participants need to register and send a deposit to ACIS(www.acis. com) by Feb. 26. Full payment is due by Mar. 3. Prices do not include any academic course fees or tips. Participants must also register with Center for International Studies in Kean Hall.

Name: Jacqueline DaSilva Age: 20 Year in School: Third Year. Graduating in May Where You’ve Seen Her: With her camera in the park, photographing love as it walks by.

Humble beginnings: Jacqueline got into photography right here at Kean with a black and white photography class.

Her Inspirational Figure: “I love wedding photographer Joe Elario. He’s basically one of the only wedding photographers I truly admire. “ An artist through and through: DaSilva is also in a band; she is a singer and a songwriter.

Major to the field: DaSilva suggests practice for anyone trying to get into photography. “The best way to do anything is to actually go out and do it,” she suggests.

Making Memories: “I like capturing moments that might have been overlookedtaking a photograph of it pauses that moment forever,” says DaSilva.

Life Ambition: DaSilva aspires to be a wedding photographer- she loves to photograph love.

Wedding Bells: Should you see our artist, congratulate her - she’s getting married in November!

What was your best memory of taking pictures?

Every time I’m behind the camera taking photographs of couples is my favorite.

I loved this one photo shoot I did in New York City at Central Park. It was raining and seemed like the most horrible day to

be outside, but I had so much fun. I love seeing people in love and capturing great artistic pictures of that.

Why do you think that art is important for other people to be part of?

Art is the only thing that differentiates us from animals. We all need to connect to art in some level. For most people listening to music is their art, painting, or look-

“I love seeing people in love and capturing great artistic pictures of that.”

Photo taken by Jacueline DaSilva.

ing at painting. Whatever it is, we need art because it is a way for us to express ourselves in a extravagant manner.

What would you like to say to other students here at Kean?

Do what you love because life is too short. It’s not worth it spending time doing something you don’t love. You’ll only really succeed in life once you are doing something you truly enjoy and love.

For those wishing to earn college credit: Students will be immersed in European culture, learning how the American press was shaped centuries ago by philosophers who paved the way for what was then the revolutionary idea of news free of government control. Students will visit international news organizations to learn first-hand the challenges facing these operations and how they are responding to the sweeping changes brought on by technology and social forces that have undercut American newspapers.

EMPOWERED From London to Paris…

Itinerary:* ACIS TRIP ID: 51549 GROUP LEADER: Gluck For more information, contact Gabriel Gluck, Adj. Prof, Dept. of Communication ggluck@kean.edu 908-403-3848

Jul 12, 2010: Overnight Flight to London.

Jul 13, 2010: London Arrive in the theater capital of the world and familiarize yourself with the city by taking the Tube. (D) Jul 14, 2010: London A local guide shows you St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament and Buckingham Palace for the Changing of the Guard, if available. The afternoon is free for exploration—perhaps visit the Tower of London or one of the city’s many museums. (B,D) Jul 15, 2010: Caen Visit mysterious pre-historic Stonehenge , then continue to Salisbury, to see the tallest Gothic spire in England. It’s a short drive to the seaside town of Portsmouth, where you board the ferry to France, porterage included. After dinner aboard the ferry, drive to Caen for a night’s rest. (B,D) Jul 16, 2010: Loire Valley This morning, experience the D-Day Beaches then continue to the awe-inspiring island monastery of Mont St. Michel. This medieval abbey and village perches precariously atop a rocky island, surrounded by sandy flats at low tide and by the sea at high tide. Continue to the Loire Valley for dinner. (B,D) Jul 17, 2010: Paris Today, visit some of the most impressive castles in the Loire Valley. Your first stop is Chenonceau, a jewel of Renaissance architecture. It features a moat, drawbridge, towers and turrets. Next drive to impressive Chambord, the giant hunting lodge of François I. Continue to Chartres to view the magnificent cathedral and its stained-glass windows. Arrive in Paris for dinner.

(B,D)

INSTANT

DECISION

DAYS

Attend and empower yourselff with an answer before you leave campus mpus and

we’ll waive your $35 application plication fee!

TRANSFER TUESDAY Y March 23 • April 6 & 27 3:00 – 6:00 p.m.

Transfer Students must bring to the he Office of Undergraduate Admissions (Hepburn epburn Hall, Room 207): Official transcripts from om all colleges attended, completed application and an essay.

All transfer students must have earned a minimum of 12 college credits with ith a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Jul 19, 2010: Paris The morning is free for a visit to the Musée d’Orsay or to do some last-minute shopping. In the afternoon, see Louis XIV’s magnificent palace at Versailles, including the Hall of Mirrors. (B,D)

*Itinerary subject to

TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT, PLEASE CALL 866.586.7823 OR E-MAIL ADMISSIONS@NJCU.EDU 2039 KENNEDY BOULEVARD JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305-1597

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Jul 18, 2010: Paris A local guide shows you the city’s most famous monuments—from Notre Dame to the Arc de Triomphe. This afternoon use your ACIS Walking Tour to discover the beautiful Louvre. Enjoy the works of da Vinci, Rembrandt and Delacroix. (B,D)

Jul 20, 2010: Depart for home

NJCU has everything you need to succeed, personally and professionally, in the global economy.

Post-Valentine’s Day Musings: The Day After Love

By Rachel Rothspan

Wrapped up in the flowers and candy that it is so well known for, Valentine’s Day is a picture of hearts, slow dances, and romance. The hallmark holiday has become a staple of relationships; jewelry companies and restaurants have jumped in on the couple directed market. February 14th has become the official day to tell the one that you love how you feel, and in the biggest way possible.

But then comes February 15th, and 16th, and so on. And as the month progresses into its normal speed, and even starts to flow into March, it seems easy to forget the important parts of the day. Saying things like “I love you,” or “You’re special to me,” or even “You amaze me” become cliché as the world spins back into its normal, unemotional state.

Now that winter is starting to melt into spring, I am reminded that we are lucky to be surrounded by people who are crucial to our lives. We have friends, we have family, and we have the freedom to love them. It seems silly to me that we have elevated one day to tell people that we appreciate them.

My solution is simple. While Valentine’s Day is a terrific opportunity to let someone know how much you care, don’t make it the be-all-end-all.

Take every day to let someone know how special they are. And it doesn’t always have to be your significant other. Maybe May 4th is a good day to take your best friend out to

A&E ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ROmance

➦

Lexus Presents its First Super Car

By Charley Falkenburg

“This vehicle pushes out 552 horsepower and 354 pounds of torque effortlessly.”

carbon fiber plastic. This reduces a significant amount of weight from the car making it quick and nimble. This vehicle pushes out 552 horsepower and 354 pounds of torque effortlessly and is able to reach a dangerously high speed of 202 mph.

Lexus has also decided to incorporate a six-speed paddle shifting transmission into the LF-A. Although old school stick drivers detest paddle shifters, paddle shifters are actually more efficient than using the traditional clutch. This transmission acts like a manual, but instead of pressing in the clutch, you hit the paddle. This promises a faster shift between gears, which reduces driver error making the shifts very smooth and quick. This transmission comes with four driving modes that include auto, sport, normal, and wet.

According to Caranddriver.com, the LF-A drives like a dream and is

“But then comes February 15th and 16th and so on…” brunch. July 13th may be a great opportunity to take your mom to the movies. September 3rd could be the best day to take your favorite classmate for a before school picnic.

And as for that significant other, for that person you choose to spend the day of love with, they must be pretty special. Show them. Each couple goes through their own ups and downs, but relationships stay together because people genuinely want to be together.

A reminder that you feel that way never hurts that situation.

We are people; we are social creatures, and we have other people who help to make us.

Whoever may be important in your life, tell them while you still have the chance.

If you spend your life waiting for Valentine’s Day every year, you’re going to regret all the time you’ve wasted.

➦

Money talks in all different languages. Whether it’s Euros or a couple of American greenbacks, money can fulfill an array of wishes and desires. Unfortunately, money can’t buy everything. It can’t buy love, respect, or the new 2011 Lexus LF-A super car.

Lexus is releasing its first high performance model that is designed to compete with Audi R8s, Ferraris, Lamborghini Gallardos, and Porsche 911s. As if the $350,000 price tag isn’t daunting enough, Lexus is going to complete a thorough background check on interested buyers. Potential owners will be hand-picked by Lexus, based on criteria such as the cars they have previously owned, where they live, and how often they drive. Lexus is being selective because they only want the most ideal owners, the refined types who drive often to the most-respected and high-profile locations. They want the coolest of the cool to reinforce the car’s super status. So if Bill Gates doesn’t emulate their ideal LF-A driver, not even all of his money could plant this super car in his garage.

Accepted owners can look forward to feeling the power of the LF-A’s 4.8 liter V10 engine that is capable of reaching 62 mph in 3.7 seconds.

According to Lexus-lfa.com, the chassis of the car is made up of mostly

CARs

very stable even at high speeds. It’s easy to drive to the supermarket as well as a smooth ride on the parkway where 80 mph is the standard. After the car hits approximately 50 mph, a large wing emerges from the back. Don’t worry. It’s nothing like the 10-foot spoilers on the Honda Civics that only serve as flashbacks to The Fast and the Furious. The wing on the LF-A comes out at high speeds to keep the car balanced and stable. As soon as the car slows down, the wing retracts and becomes invisible once again.

Let’s face it, the car is impressive. Each LF-A is hand-built by a team of skilled craftsmen, ensuring top quality and class. Each engine is hand assembled by a single engineer making every model unique and special. If you’re interested, start applying now because only 500 LF-As will be released worldwide. If you want to check the car out, the Lexus LF-A will be at the New York International Auto Show from April 2 to April 11. Who knows, maybe even Bill Gates will be there to check it out too.

"Drops Like Stars": Relationship between Creativity and Suffering In many forms of media, like in movies, for instance, life is sugar-coated. Every story has a happy or meaningful ending. Every story gets resolved in one way or another. However, living in reality, many things do not get resolved. Many stories cannot be scripted to have a happy ending. And when things go wrong, people find themselves traveling down a new road.

Rob Bell is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grandville, Michigan and author of Velvet Elvis(2005) and Sex God (2007). Drops Like Stars (2009) is his most recent piece, in which he has been on a speaking tour for the book that began in January 2009.

In Drops Like Stars, the reader is invited to travel down this road together with Bell, who writes as a tour guide into the depths of human suffering and the relationships between suffering and creativity. Suffering is inevitable and in his book, Bell tackles the question of “what now?” instead of “why this?”

Published in 2009 by Zondervan, Drops Like Stars is an original piece that lets the reader see pain up close, and highlights the creativity that comes from the empty places insides. Bell drives this point home through photographic messages and scenarios that tells the story. The book offers insights into the unspoken world of pain through what Bell ironically calls the “arts”, which includes the arts of disruption, honesty, the ache, solidarity, elimination, and failure.

Disruption strips people of normal routines and plans, and forces each to wander outside of their comfort zones. Bell discusses the fact that there is no other option than to learn how to live from this totally different place. Each person

MOVIES

By Eric Albuen

I was thrilled with the random opportunity to travel to National Harbor, MD this past February to attend Katsucon. Katsucon is an anime and gaming convention held in or around Washington D.C. and has currently been running strong for the last 16 years. Plans for their 17th convention to be held next year around the same time are already underway.

I was able to attend Katsucon 15 last year when it was held in Arlington, Virginia at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. It was my first anime convention and I was pretty impressed with it. The convention itself spanned about three floors and had a video game room that showcased many console games as well as some arcade games they were able to acquire, and even the panels were interesting. There was more than enough to go around.

I had such an enjoyable time there last year, I was hoping that the short time I had at this convention this year would live up to the thrill I had last year.

Sadly, I was mistaken.

While the venue for the convention, the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor, was a complete upgrade from last year, I couldn’t help but feel they fell a little short in some areas, which they excelled in last year.

Verging on the border of Virginia, the convention was placed in a very isolated area from a bunch of other things. If you didn’t have a form of transportation to get around the area, then you were limited to the lack of food options as well as jacked up prices for the weekend. The area does realize the amount of people who attend these conventions, so sudden price inflation is inevitable for the weekend.

Because of the lack of options, my friends and I were forced to drive a couple of miles on the highway to an area with cheaper food.

Normally at these types of conventions, the Artist Alley, which features various amateur artists commissioning off their artwork, the Game Room, and the Dealer’s Room, which features various stands containing different products available to the convention goers ranging from clothing, collectables, and video games, are usually held in different areas. I was distraught to find this year they were all smacked in the same place.

Furthermore, the content was lacking. While they had many of the popular games out on the floor, there just weren’t as many games available to play as last year. There was also a distinct lack of arcade games as well.

Another thing that upset me was the lack of good panels to attend. My friends and I wanted to make the best of our short time, but found nothing good to attend while we were there. The lack of anything interesting definitely boggled down my experience this year.

The musical acts weren’t interesting enough to stick around for either. Their two musical guests this year featured, Unicorn Table, who had some songs featured in the anime School Rumble, and Temp Sounds Solutions, a video-game cover band.

Overall, I was a little under-whelmed with Katsucon 16. I was impressed with them last year, but this year kind of felt like a slight downgrade. While the location of the convention itself was an upgrade, everything else seemed to be sacrificed in the process. I have hope for next year, but after this, I’m not sure I want to attend…

I give this convention a .

"The Wolf Man"

➦

A Review of Katsucon 16 [February 12-14th]

BOOKS

➦

GAMES

needs to suffer when they give up pretending to be okay. Bell notes that suffering is essential to revealing the truth.

The ache that tags along with suffering moves people because it is real, and it is a reminder that life is not about the superficial gestures and words spit out on a daily basis. The ache creates a bond that connects people and reaffirms the fact no one is alone in feeling this way. Through this bond, each person gains solidarity in understanding pain is universal. Pain allows for eliminating the hype and gloss that surrounds the world on a daily basis. And Bell believes that a failure is not just a mistake, but an opportunity “to grow, expand, evolve, and learn.”

The book has been added to the “To Write Love on Her Arms” booklist that can be found on www.twloha.com for purchase. It can also be purchased at www. zondervan.com, its publishing site or on www.amazon.com and ranges from $20$40 for either soft cover or hardcover.

➦

“The question is not 'why this?' it’s 'what now?'”

By Melissa Jewels

By Carlos M. Reynosa and Rachel Rothspan

Before werewolves became the good guys, one horror movie brought the creatures into the limelight: Wolf Man. The classic 1941 film has been remade by director Joe Johnson and shows a new reason why people should fear the full moon.

Benicio Del Toro stars as Lawrence Talbot, a young man who left his family estate after the death of his mother. After hearing of his brother’s disappearance, Lawrence returns home to discover his brother was found dead.

From the stories of the villagers, Lawrence learns that a werewolf attacked his brother, and after being bitten by the creature, Lawrence becomes one himself. Lawrence must find a way to free himself from this curse before he hurts someone.

Anthony Hopkins stars as Lawrence’s estranged father, Sir John Talbot. Since the death of his wife Sir John has been unable to establish a substantial relationship with his son. In the turning point of the movie, Talbot reveals his dark secrets to Lawrence that will forever change his life.

Emily Blunt plays Gwen Conliffe, the wife of Lawrence’s brother. Throughout the movie, Conliffe becomes the love interest of Lawrence, and ultimately tries saving her from himself.

Johnson recreated this masterpiece with CGI to enhance the scariness of the werewolf, and the movie is filled with drama, suspense and action, plus a thrill that movies such as “Underworld” and the “New Moon” have failed to capture.

So if you’re looking for a scare and want to be in fear of werewolves instead of in love with them, then watch TheWolf Man—and beware of the full moon.

“If you want to be in fear of werewolves instead of in love with them…”

10

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

EDITORIAL

The Tower Department of Communication

COLLABORATION IS KEY TO ADVANCING NEW TEACHING METHODS Knowledge is not just something that you acquire in class; Knowledge is something that you acquire by collaborating with informed people who have had different experiences. This month, a number of important collaborative projects are underway at Kean that advance the acquisition of knowledge though collaboration with informed people outside of Kean who can share their different experiences.

As Casey Murphy writes in her article on page six, Kean’s Writing Project is a regional site of the National Writing Project (NWP), a federally funded network with over 250 sites across the country that focuses on teachers collaborating to better understand their craft in order to help their students. In the School of Visual and Performing Arts, The Educating the Creative Mind Project is a collaborative work between various departments at Kean, including music, dance, theater, fine arts, and early childhood education.

Educating the Creative mind is holding a Conference from March 4-6 for educators to learn and discuss future teaching methods. Among the guest speakers will be Dr. Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, who will be giving the Key Note address, and Dr. Janet Barrett, Associate Professor at Northwestern University.

The goal of this project is to create and implement new ways of teaching that help nurture the creativity of young students. This is the first time a conference like this is taking place at Kean, and it shows true interdisciplinary scholarly activity.

It’s important, especially in this fast-paced, digital world that students have the opportunity not only to express themselves through the arts, but also to learn in an art-based academic system. We can only speculate what the outcomes of these programs will be, but there’s a good likelihood that future generations will greatly benefit from these types of collaborations.

Now if only our members of Congress could collaborate.

Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0468 Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: thetower@kean.edu www.kean.edu/~thetower The Tower is an independent, laboratory newspaper of Kean University’s print 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 Raquel Fernandes Deputy Editor Jillian Johnson News Editor Joseph Tingle Sports Editor Nicole Von Gonten Arts and Entertainment Editor Rachel Rothspan Features Editor Megan Muller

Raquel Fernandes Editor-in-Chief

Staff Eric Albuen John Cherry Matthew Chin

Andrew Czirjak Charley Falkenburg Jay Hicks D.J. Jean Junior Jean-Baptiste Melissa Jewels Fiordaliza Martinez Matthew Marchesano Casey Murphy Dan Pata Dawn Phillips Carlos Reynosa Brett Williams Laura Urban Faculty Adviser Pat Winters Lauro Business Manager Eileen Ruf Designer Stephanie Skirvin

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

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Tower publication schedule FALL: Feb. 10, March 10, April 7, April 28.

VIEW FREEDOM RINGS AT LIBERTY HALL By casey murphy

“Oh Freedom! Blacks on the Battlefront and in the Aftermath of the American Revolutionary War in New Jersey” is a traveling art exhibit that is at the Carriage House over at Liberty Hall Museum from February 1st until March 31st. The exhibit focuses on the efforts of black slaves fighting for freedom around the time of the Revolutionary War. There is a display showing the names of those who fought in the war for their freedom in New Jersey, as well as information on different blacks who achieved their freedom.

There are also display cases showing newspaper clippings advertising slaves for sale and documents that prove John Kean owned slaves.

Although I thought “Oh Freedom!” was educational, I also thought there could have been more to it. The Carriage House consists of one room and the display took up a only a quarter of it.

Later, I talked to the workers in the Blue House over at Liberty Hall who told me that they think the exhibit is there for Black History Month. If that is true, I personally think it isn’t enough. Throughout the year, Kean University has many different displays around campus, usually educational. There have been speakers about the Holocaust, and this semester Kean is educating students on campus and in the community about the Vietnam War. Why can’t they celebrate Black History Month the same way?

The display at Liberty Hall is out of the way. Although students have classes on East Campus, rarely do I hear students talking about taking a trip over to Liberty Hall unless

they have to for a class. I think if the university put a display on the main campus and advertised it, they would get more students interested in visiting the exhibit.

And even if the exhibit isn’t for Black History Month, I still think the same rules apply. Having educational displays on different races and religions is a good way to get

“There have been speakers about the Holocaust, and this semester Kean is educating students on campus and in the community about the Vietnam War. Why can’t they celebrate Black History Month the same way? other students interested in another culture, but the university could do a better job at advertising and choosing where to put the displays. Otherwise, a lot of students miss out on what’s going on around campus.

For those who would like to make the trek to check out the “Oh Freedom!” exhibit, the Liberty Hall Museum is open Monday-Saturday 10am to 4pm and admission to the exhibit is free…but there isn’t much to see.

The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

11

OP-ED YOU Are Too Big to Fail

By Joseph Tingle

Initially, I had intended to write this column about my frustration with the Tea Party protesters.

A few weeks ago, I had read the feature article in the New York Times about the Tea Party, and I was outraged to see such ill-informed and unconstructive “protesting” going on about the current administration. Then, I realized that writing an editorial about the Tea Party would be giving them exactly what they’re begging for: attention. What is the point of complaining about the complainers? What is constructive about that?

Then, it hit me. The problem isn’t the Democrats or Republicans; it’s that political discourse itself is no longer about problems and solutions as much as it is about ideological ranting.

Right now, our nation is at a critical stage in its history. The United States—the most incredible experiment in democracy and free enterprise history has to offer— is coming to a stall. Our politicians have become unwilling to work together. Our bail-out of the nation’s financial industry has once again failed to do anything other than plant the seeds of its future destruction, both from its inability to create jobs and unwillingness to solve the problem of

the Federal Reserve. Our publically funded programs—whether they be focused on health, education, or transportation— often times cost more and accomplish less than those of the world’s other prosperous nations.

Our businesses—big and small—are failing. Our politicians are failing. Our citizenry is unable to see beyond the rhetoric of the right and left.

George Orwell was right. Rhetoric is destroying our nation.

Rather than focus on solving problems, our politicians and their constituents would rather hang out in an ideological fantasy realm: a realm of extremes where on the left, any kind of war is evidence of “insidious U.S. imperialism” and on the right, giving lower income people a chance to afford healthcare is “the government taking over your life and stealing your money.”

In this fantasy world, President Bush was a “dangerous fascist” and President Obama is a “scary Communist” who “pals around with terrorists.”

Unfortunately, the rhetoric we wallow in now wasn’t what convinced strong men like the Founding Fathers to draft the Constitution when the Articles of Confederation were no longer working.

It wasn’t rhetoric that convinced strong

leaders like President Dwight D. Eisenhower to push for the Interstate Highway System.

It wasn’t rhetoric that inspired Theodore Roosevelt to turn against his own Republican party when they became ineffective and lazy.

“Political discourse itself is no longer about problems and solutions as much as it is about ideological ranting.”

It wasn’t rhetoric that inspired the alltoo-often demonized Jimmy Carter to provide an absolutely essential role in getting the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signed.

It wasn’t rhetoric that inspired the alltoo-often demonized Richard Nixon to open the door for relations with China.

And it isn’t rhetoric like the kind we hear all around us now—the kind that is espoused by pundits and politicians in order to keep the nation divided and the kind that keeps me from getting a good night’s sleep—that is going to fix the world’s problems.

This is a message to my fellow college students. Do you know how many people

in the world have a college education?

Not many. We—those with a college education—are supposed to be the intellectual elite on the world scale. How can we still be so narrow-minded and misguided when it comes to thinking of ways to fix our nation’s problems?

After talking to a friend, I realized that our family and forefathers who served in the armed forces didn’t fight so we could find our opinions on The Glenn Beck Show or on the Keith Obermann Show; on the editorial pages of the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal, or in books and on websites set up with the sole intent to persuade viewers with unethically presented information. We don’t belong at tea parties—or at Starbucks parties. Homebrew coffee is better, anyway.

Our job, then, is to block out these opinions and become the problem solvers. This is not an option. The sacrifice of our forefathers and our incredible status on the world scale demand it.

Don’t form opinions—gain understandings, and then form solutions.

The world needs the help of intelligent people who can turn away from ideology and apply their mental energies to creating policy that works.

We, the free and the educated, are too big to fail.

Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride

By Megan Muller

Many girls dream of the day that they will be married from the time they are little girls. But not me, my dreams are more practical. Now I know I’m going to be stepping on toes when I give you my rant and rave, so if you’re a sensitive soul please do not read any further. I love “LOVE,” but I don’t see the point in spending money on a wedding.

The cake, the food, the colors, the flowers, the clothing, the jewelry, the venue, the bridal party... my brain hurts just thinking of what goes into a wedding and an engagement is not even in my near future! It’s no wonder that the wedding planning process takes, on average, 12-18 months! Not to mention the thousands of dollars you dish out to recruit a wedding planner when the going gets too tough.

The average wedding costs $20,398 (not

to six hours for the reception. Let’s break it down even further. We’re talking about $20,398 for a maximum of seven hours to enjoy. That brings us to $2,914 an hour.

Yikes!

“The average wedding costs $20, 398! That’s $2,914 an hour!”

including the engagement ring and honeymoon). It lasts approximately 30 minutes to an hour for the ceremony, and five

I’ve been in a few weddings myself, attended numerous ones as a guest and am currently in the middle of dropping my “I didn’t have a baby, yet I still have 30 pounds to lose” weight for my best friend’s wedding in September. Yes, the pictures last a lifetime and remind you of the great time you had with people only your parents know, but why do you need to pay $1,200 for a photographer to come

and snap all of those pictures when just about every person in the United States owns a digital camera? Am I depressing you yet?

I love attending weddings. I promise to everyone who reads this that if you invite me to yours, I will have one too many drinks and make a fool of myself for your enjoyment, but will hand over one amazing gift. I will indulge in the fabulous food you have chosen for me and taste the cake you just adorably cut into. However, you will not be invited to mine, sorry.

I understand that the point of a wedding is to show everyone else how much you’re in love. Isn’t that the point of PDA (public displays of affection)? Or are the couples that sit next to me waiting to be seated at TGIFridays just doing that for a little mouth exercise? I’m sorry folks, I’m just not buying the whole “wedding” thing.

Dr. Rich Hosts Faith-Inspired Revival for Emily Dickinson

By Joseph Tingle

Nineteenth century New England hymns sound through the halls of the CAS building. English department professor Dr. Susanna Rich, donning a powdered wig and tricorn hat, has taken on the identity of the fire and brimstone evangelical Jonathan Edwards, and is asking—no, demanding—that students who hope for salvation throw down their worldly possessions (i.e., cell-phones) so that they might be saved.

Many students are all-to-willing to conform. Still, some students resist. These “no-hopers,” armed with the poetry of Emily Dickinson, reject the authoritarian demand for conformity coming from Dr.

Rich’s re-enactment of nineteenth century evangelicalism.

“I stage The Revival of Emily Dickinson so that students can get a more visceral appreciation for the challenges Emily Dickinson faced in maintaining her integrity in the face of religious pressures,” said Dr. Rich, who is now transformed back to her normal self. “We enact a nineteenth century New England religious revival, which, scholars say, were more like those in the eighteenth century when Jonathan Edwards was delivering his fire and brimstone sermons.”

The Revival, according to Dr. Rich, is a special event that she holds whenever she teaches an Emily Dickinson class. The special event is meant to parallel Emily Dick-

Dr. Rich’s Emily Dickinson Class.

inson’s private doubts about salvation with the fear-pandering and guilt-driven tactics employed by the overwhelming majority of religious figures in the nineteenth century.

After the drama is completed, students universally remark how they felt fear and

pressure to conform, notes Dr. Rich. Dr. Rich also says her revival gives students a much deeper appreciation of Emily Dickinson’s achievement in maintaining her traditional Puritan practices of entertaining doubts.

“In [Emily Dickinson’s] case, reason and art prevailed over dogma.”

So far, Dr. Rich seems to have been successful in helping students recognize an appreciation for Dickinson’s poetry, with several students both in her class and elsewhere committed to spending the semester reading every one of Emily Dickinson’s many poems.

Dr. Rich hopes that her students will be able to further their appreciation for Emily Dickinson this semester.

12

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

HEALTH & FITNESS

Dietary Supplements Don’t Replace a Good Diet

By Dr. Josh Palgi and Dr. Jessica Adams

Taking care of your amazing machine, your body, requires you to keep a healthy lifestyle. A healthy diet is one important component of a healthy lifestyle. Making sure your body gets all of the important nutrients it needs to function properly.

We get some of the nutrients we need from food, but due to poor manufacturing and handling processes, a big portion of the food we eat is depleted or even completely devoid of essential nutrients.

Dietary supplements are vitamins, minerals, herbs and other substances meant to improve your diet. Dietary supplements, also known as food supplements or nutritional supplements, are intended to supplement the diet of some people but not to replace the balance of the variety of food important to a healthy diet.

According to a study conducted in 2009

by IPSOS Public Affairs on behalf of the council for responsible nutrition (CRN), 65% of adults in the U.S. report taking dietary supplements (48% regularly, 15%, occasionally and 3% seasonally). 72% of women take supplements compared to

59% of men. 68% of adults aged 35 and older take supplements compared to 59% of those under the age of 35.

Multivitamins are by far the most consumed supplement of all, with 54% of the U.S. adult population reporting to take a multivitamin; 78% taking it regularly, 20% occasionally and 2% seasonally. The proportion of adults who are confident in dietary supplements has increased from 79% in 2006, 80% in 2007, 81% in 2008, and 84% in 2009. Women are more likely than men to be confident in the safety, quality and effectiveness of supplements ( 86% vs 80%).

The U.S. Congress defined the term “dietary supplement” in The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) of 1994. A dietary supplement is a product taken by mouth that contains a “dietary ingredient” intended to supplement the diet. The dietary ingredients may include vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and substances such as enzymes, organ tissues, glandular, and metabolites. Dietary supplements can also be extracts or concentrates, and may be found in many forms such as tab-

lets, capsules, softgels, gelcaps, liquid, or powders. They can also be in other forms, such as a bar. Whatever their form may be, DSHEA places dietary supplements in a special category under the general umbrella of “foods”, not drugs, and requires that every supplement be labeled a dietary supplement. Information that must be on a dietary supplement label includes: a descriptive name of the product stating that it is a “supplement”, the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, a complete list of ingredients, and the net contents of the product.

The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) determines what food is grown and how it’s used in this country.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA determines what ingredients and chemicals are allowed in our food. The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical services, our good supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The Federal Trade Com-

mission (FTC) regulates advertising of dietary supplements in national or regional newspapers and magazines and in radio and television commercials. The FTC requires that all information about supplements be truthful and not misleading.

Many people take dietary supplements in an effort to be well and stay healthy. To take a supplement as safely as possible: • Tell your doctor about any dietary supplements you use • Do not take a bigger dose than the label recommends • Stop taking it if you have side effects.

Read trustworthy information about the supplement The bottom line is that a poor diet plus supplements is still a poor diet. Food is still your #1 option for getting the nutrients you need for healthy living.

Article submitted by: Drs. Josh Palgi and Jessica Adams—Kean University, Physical Education, Recreation, and Health Department.

KEAN LACROSSE SCHEDULE MEN’S • March 13 1 PM vs Mount Ida College (Home Game) • March 17 6:30 PM vs SUNY Cortland (Home Game) • March 20 1 PM vs The College at Brockport (Home Game) • March 24 7 PM vs Centenary College (Home Game) • March 27 2 PM vs Bard College (Away Game) • March 31 7 PM vs Western CT State University (Away Game) • April 6 4 PM vs Castleton College (Home Game)

WOMEN’S • March 11 4 PM vs Western Ct State University (Home Game) • March 14 2 PM vs Wells College (Away Game) • March 17 3:40 PM vs St. Mary’s College, Md. (Away Game) • March 21 2 PM vs Mount Saint Mary’s College (NY) (Away Game) • March 24 4 PM vs Ramapo College (Home Game) <NJAC> • March 27 12 PM vs Bard College (Home Game) • March 31 7 PM vs Rutgers-Camden (Home Game) <NJAC> • April 6 7PM vs Montclair State University (Away Game) <NJAC>

Save 15% tuition on two on more undergraduate classes Save 20% on housing Limit impact of future tuition increases

register now!

Stockton is an equal opportunity institution encouraging a diverse pool of applicants.

See www.stockton.edu/affirmative_action.

Register today at www.stockton.edu/summer

The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

13

CAMPUS SPORTS

The Cougars Look for a Roaring 2010 Season

By Andrew Czirjak

Last season the Kean baseball team had another successful season, winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Regular Season Championship and the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Championship. Most notably, the Cougars achieved this success with an inexperienced squad that featured many freshmen.

“Last year we lost a lot of guys from the team,” said Neil Ioviero, head coach of the Kean baseball team. “[The Cougars] were practically starting every game with five to seven inexperienced freshmen.”

But that was then and this is now. Ioviero has confidence that his Cougars can go all the way to the College World Series.

“Now [the Cougars] have the experience they lacked last year,” said Ioviero. “Now the team knows what to expect. The squad is prepared to play.”

The Cougars’ season opening game against Stevens Institute of Technology is a repeat of last year’s opener. Even with a winning record against Stevens Institute, the Cougars are not taking this game lightly.

“Typically, regardless of whomever you

play, once you put on the uniform everything changes,” said Ioviero. “[The Cougars] have a good record against Stevens Institute. Still, [Stevens Institute has] played two games already so they may be more prepared than us. But if we stay focused, we should be in good shape. Winning is more about doing what you have to do and giving more effort then you have to offer.”

The Cougars are more than thankful their first nine games will be played at home and they plan to take full advantage of playing at Kean.

“Four or five years ago, I would have said there wasn’t any advantage playing at home,” said Ioviero. “When you’re traveling and you are the visiting team everything is already prepared for you. All any team had to do was get on a bus and go play ball. However, now with our stadium so comfortable and the overwhelming support from the fans, I find it much easier for the guys to play at home. Fan support can be a key factor in deciding the outcome of a game. Still, ultimately, you have to be able to play and win everywhere; not just at Kean.”

Only one pitcher is returning to the

mound for the Cougars and the bullpen will have six freshmen. This is the one area that Coach Ioviero and the Cougars have been stressing. The team is looking to pitch well and stay ahead in the count in each game.

“I can literally say that the one area we have been working hard on is the mound,” Ioviero said. “The squad has one return-

“Typically regardless of who you play, once you put on the [baseball] uniform everything changes.” ing pitcher this season. [The pitchers are] new. But, I can honestly say that we are extremely happy with the abilities of the new pitchers. And with these young guys eager, I don’t see why we couldn’t have another great season. Basically, what it all comes down to is pressure. You can practice all you want, but not till game time will you truly know how these young guns will respond to pressure.”

However, Ioviero has an ace up his sleeve

in senior Mike Moceri, one of the best baseball players in Kean’s history. Ioviero considers Moceri not only the ace of the pitching staff, but also the team’s leader.

“Mike Moceri has been one of the Cougars’ best ball players for awhile now,” said Ioviero. “This is his third year on the team, and what stands out most about Moceri is his character. He plays like a monster, but brings so much more to the game than just athletics. In every aspect of the game Moceri pushes the other players hard to make the team better.”

Needless to say, Moceri isn’t the only player to watch out for this season. The Cougars are welcoming some new blood to the squad with a lot of potential and talent. “[For] offense we have Ken Gregory,” said Ioviero. “Gregory is a transfer student from the University of Miami. [He] is a hard worker and has tremendous ability.

Also, there is third baseman “Big” Stephen Nappe, who stands at 6 foot, 4 inches and weights 240 pounds. He has a lot of potential and is coming along. I believe these guys can bring a lot to the table and help us achieve our goal, winning the College World Series.”

KEAN SOFTBALL SCHEDULE • • • • • • • • •

C

M

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

March 13 9 AM vs Nicols College (Away Game) * March 13 11 AM vs College of Staten Island (Away Game) * March 14 1 PM vs Illinois Wesleyan University (Away Game) * March 14 5 PM vs Anderson University (Away Game) * March 16 9 AM vs Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (Away Game) * March 16 1 PM vs Millikin University (Away Game) * March 17 9 AM vs Framingham State College (Away Game) * March 17 11 AM vs McDaniel College (Away Game) * Kean University OL 10.16 x 7.5.ai 1 2/22/2010 11:02:38 AM March 19 9 AM vs Utica College (Away Game) *

• • • • • •

March 19 1 PM vs Hood College (Away Game) * March 25 3 PM vs Moravian College (Away Game) March 26 3 PM vs Oneonta State (Away Game) March 28 1 PM vs DeSales University (Home Game) April 3 1 PM vs Rutgeters-Camden (Home Game) April 6 3 PM vs The College of New Jersey (Home Game)

* Represents Rebel Springs Games at Kissimmee, Florida

14

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

CAMPUS SPORTS

Melissa Beyruth Continues to Climb the Charts

By Matt Chin

After arriving late to practice, Melissa Beyruti, (better known as “Princess Melly” to her teammates and coaches), sprinted through her basketball practice drills as she prepared for the semifinal playoff game against Montclair State University.

“When she first got here she was high maintenance,” said Michele Sharp, Kean’s Women’s Basketball Head Coach. “So I’d always say ‘Princess Melly.’”

Off the court Beyruti may be a princess, but on the court she is willing to do whatever it takes to help her team score goals.

“Yesterday we finished practice and she wanted to shoot extra so I came back and she shot over 650 shots,” said Sharp.

Beyruti, 22, is the middle child of four.

She started playing basketball in the sixth grade.

“My mom put me in a couple of sports and I just kind of did that for a while. And I figured out I was good with basketball, so I stuck with that,” said Beyruti.

Beyruti played for Union City High School’s women’s basketball team all throughout high school.

“I never had to play [junior varsity] or anything. I guess they saw how much potential I had,” she said. But it wasn’t only the high school that recognized Beyruti’s

Coach Sharp knew that it wouldn’t be easy for Beyruti to adjust quickly to the stress of college life. Beyruti matured quickly after gaining a starting position on the team her freshman year.

“She’s definitely matured since her freshman year,” Sharp said. “Her fresh-

“She wants the ball in her hands at crunch time”

Photo: Tara Polen/Sportspage Magazine

Star guard Melissa Beyruti drives in a layup.

potential.

“We recruited her. I thought she was good,” Sharp said. “She was a fierce competitor in high school and she didn’t like to lose.”

man year she didn’t want to talk at all. She was a really quiet person. I’d have to bring her in to talk to her because she didn’t like to talk.”

Eventually, Beyruti loosened up and embraced her leadership on the team.

“She’s definitely not quiet any more,” said Sharp. “She’s taken a more vocal role with our team on and off the court. She’s a more lead-by-example type of person.”

Beyruti had to lead by example during her first game as a freshman.

“It was me and another freshman,” said Beyruti. “One of the other freshmen was supposed to start but she had gotten sick.

And then they told me I was starting, and I was kind of nervous. They gave me water and I spilled it on myself. I haven’t, not started since then.”

Since then, Beyruti has done nothing

GO COUGARS!

but play hard and work hard. After Kean’s win against Montclair State, in which Beyruti scored six more three-point field goals, she now has the NCAA all-division three-point field goal record.

“I was surprised to hear about it,” said Beyruti.

But she’s not all about winning individual accolades. She wants to see her team succeed and play well.

“The most important thing is us winning, and us bringing it. I want to win tomorrow’s game. And I want to win the championship and then go to the NCAA tournament,” said Beyruti.

Her selfless attitude is evident in how she’s carried herself throughout the course of this season. Statistically, she’s playing 10 less minutes a game and averaging six less points a game than last year - and she’s still on the verge of being the most prolific scorer in NCAA history with over 2,000 points.

“This year, we don’t need that from her, she’s accepted that role,” Sharp said. “Not that we don’t need her as part of our team, our team is much more balanced. When she’s on the court she takes the pressure off the people and she’s willing to take the game in her hands if it’s a win-loss situation. She wants the ball in her hands at crunch time.”

The Tower | Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010

15

CAMPUS SPORTS

Men’s Basketball Loses in Opener of New Jersey Athletic Playoffs

By Andrew Czirjak

The Cougars’ post-season dreams for a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) championship abruptly came to a bitter end on February 20.

The Kean men’s basketball team was bounced from the tournament as they fell to Rutgers Newark 66-44, suffering a first-round loss to close out the 20092010 season.

OLYMPICS

The Cougars, led by Senior members Vinnie Darpino, Eugene Tolliver Brian Lytle and Akinwande Oshodi, and Junior standout Jonathan Jones, were not able to recover from the double-digit deficit inflicted by the Scarlet Raiders.

Still, the Cougars did not go down without a fight. Jones achieved his 18th double-double of the season, scoring 14 points and grabbing15 rebounds during the NJAC play-off game.

But, the Cougars’ efforts were not enough to overcome their Rutgers-Newark opponent The Scarlet Raiders would go on to score the next four points and never relinquish the lead again.

Darpino closed out his illustrious basketball career at Kean University with 14 points in the game.

“The Cougars’ efforts were not enough to overcome their opponents.”

As the second half opened, Kean’s Darpino made a small run of his own, pulling the Cougars back in striking distance of the Scarlet Raiders.

(Continued from page 16)

background noise for the week.

At the events we attended, it was always a good time. We were at the women’s hockey game where the USA beat Russia 13-0. Sportsmanship was evident as the Americans refrained from piling up the score and didn’t take any shots on goal in the third period. The crowds, even those waving American flags, were at the end, rooting for the Russians to score and avoid an embarrassing shutout. At the cross-country sprint, it was Slovenian Petra Majdic who earned the crowds’ support as she fell and broke ribs during a pre-match practice run, only to race in pain and earn the Bronze Medal. At curling, where once we got the gist of scoring and strategy, the matches would get more intense. And although the USA finished their match early, we just had to stay and cheer on with the exuberant Canadian crowd as their women battled in overtime to beat the Germans. The house was definitely rocking that afternoon.

On our last day, we got busy, running around and squeezing two events in, spending the morning at aerial freestyle skiing and the evening at short track speed skating. The aerial skiing was fast, high in the sky, breathtaking to watch and just plain crazy. As my partner Theresa commented “How does a parent let their kids do that?” But their skill and hard work was evident and the crowd cheered everyone on, from the beginners, like Ka-

zakhstan’s Zhibek Arapbayeva doing the simplest tricks just to get Olympic experience, to the highly ranked athletes doing triple flips and landing cleanly -- just another day at the office for them. By luck of the draw we also had tickets to one of the coveted events (at least from

Americans and Canadians and the men’s final, which featured athletes from these three countries, was nothing short of hold your breath, edge of your seat excitement.

But in reality all of the matches that night were like that. The spirit of the games infuses you as you watch and pretty much

an American’s point of view), the match where Apolo Ohno was to set the record for most medals for an US winter Olympian, which he did with a bronze medal in the 1000 meter final. A rough and tumble event had the crowd roaring as each of their favorite’s fortune went up or down.

The crowd was a raucous mix of Koreans,

wind up cheering on everyone participating. There truly is an Olympic spirit.

But perhaps some of the brightest memories we’ll bring back from the games is that of a beautiful city (shiny glass skyscrapers surrounded by blue water and snow-capped mountains), a well-run city (a great mass-transit system that got you

everywhere), and a walk-able city (full of neighborhoods that begged exploring).

But even more will be the memories of such friendly people, that to believe it, we had to pinch ourselves at times. We both at one point said we needed to write down some of our encounters for when we get disgusted with human nature. There was the bus driver who promised us a great Italian restaurant and made sure during a crowded ride to announce several times “and the couple who are going out to eat, I haven’t forgotten you it’s just a few more stops.” The people who would fight with you over who would be the one NOT to take the last open seat on a bus. Locals who would chat with you while waiting and riding the busses, pointing out tips and making recommendations. But I guess the winner for our favorite person, who when we told her that we were shut out of the sold-out red Olympic mittens, (which were the fashion fad must-haves), took her own pair off her hands and offered them to us. Perhaps that is what the other reporters should be focusing on, not the negatives or foul-ups, but the spirit that was thriving when you throw thousands and thousands of visitors at a city whose residents still need to run their normal lives while throwing a world-class event for two plus weeks. Well done Vancouver!!!!!

Joe Rutch is a senior at Kean.

Kean Stage • March 20 at 8 PM – Highlights of the Russian Ballet at Wilkins Theatre. Public Admission $30; Alumni, Faculty, Staff, Seniors $25; Students and Children $20.

• March 21 at 2 PM – Sleeping Beauty (Matinee for Kids & Families) at Wilkins Theatre. All Seats $12 • March 25 at 8 PM – Jazz on the Fazioli. The Gene and Shelley Enlow Recital Hall • April 1 at 7:30 PM – Jewish Studies in U.C. Little Theatre. A conversation with Daniel Liebeskin with Samuel Norich, Publisher, The Forward. Admission is free; recommended donation of $10.

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16

Mar. 10-Apr. 6, 2010 | The Tower

SPORTS

Ultimate Fighting Championship vs Boxing?

POINT

COUNTERPOINT

By John Cherry

Junior Jean-Baptiste

There is no doubt about it - Ultimate Fighting Championship is now the premiere fighting sport in America. Boxing has taken a back seat to UFC ever since it became more than just a Pay-Per-View show.

Once UFC became a weekly event on Spike TV, viewing blew up. While many fans were waiting three and four months between televised boxing matches, no one has had to wait long to see the next UFC match. Why? It airs every Tuesday night on Spike. If no new show is on that week, then the best knockout show could be on, which shows the best TKO’s over the past year. This is more entertaining than an actual match.

Boxing also does not have the superstars like it did back in the 1990s. This has severely hurt boxing’s popularity. Sure, individual boxers have some popularity, but none are in the heavyweight division, which is what used to bring in the big fights. Just think, can you name one person in the heavyweight division right now? No. And Evander Holyfield does not count.

UFC is much more entertaining than is boxing. During every second of a UFC match, viewers are literally at the edge of their seats waiting for that huge knockout - the array of punches, or the single lights-out punch where the fighter falls limp to the ground. It’s intense and no one gets that kind of feeling watching a boxing match any more.

Ever since Mike Tyson left the heavyweight division, boxing has just become a bore. All the fights seem to go either twelve rounds or two minutes. They are not intense like they are in the octagon of UFC.

There is no doubt that boxing has lost its entertainment value in the heavyweight division, especially when you compare today’s pugilists to Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali. However, reports from the boxing fan house website stated that the Floyd Mayweather Jr. versus Juan Marquez fight did four or five times better in Pay-Per-View buys than UFC 103. Numbers don’t lie—boxing is still alive.

Even though there are more fights in the UFC than in boxing today, a single boxing match generates more money. Also, Pay-Per-View buys more than UFC. Before the Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao fight was cancelled, the fight itself

“[The] UFC is just much more entertaining than boxing…”

Even boxing regulators are changing corners because they notice that UFC is where the popularity is. In an article written by John Eligon from the New York Times, Marc Ratner, the executive director of the Nevada State Athletic Commission for 14 years, was among the most respected boxing regulators in the country. However, in May 2006, Ratner defected to UFC and became the vice president for regulatory affairs.

As you can see, even executives that have worked for boxing for years realize that the UFC is the up and coming fight sport in America, and boxing is being left in the dust.

“If boxing is dead, why are two superstars like Mayweather and Pacquaio generating more money on Pay-PerView than UFC with all the superstars they have?”

Manny Pacquaio.

was estimated to be the highest of all Pay-Per-View buys in fighting history. UFC can’t match those types of numbers right now.

Sure you have many superstars like Anderson Silva, Georges St. Pierre, former WWE Superstar Brock Lesnar, and many others are the main attraction in the sport. But if boxing is dead, why are two superstars like Mayweather and Pacquaio generating more money on Pay-Per-View than UFC with all the superstars it has?

Also, if it weren’t for boxing, UFC wouldn’t be as popular as it is now. Boxing created the path for UFC athletes to create a name for themselves.. Fans have to respect what boxing is trying to accomplish. The March 13 fight between Pacquaio and Joshua Clottley will be held at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium this year.

Why can’t the UFC be held in a huge sports complex like the one in Dallas?

Even though boxing lost most of its excitement in big heavyweight fights, it’s still alive and is not taking a back seat to UFC. Like Mayweather says, if it doesn’t make dollars, it doesn’t make sense. Since boxing still generates more money than UFC, how can anyone say boxing is dead?

Curling Anyone? Kean Student Returns From Winter Olympics

By Joe Rutch

Don’t tell my professors, but spring break came a little early for me this year, as I took off for a long-dreamt of trip to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. And spring time it was, as anyone who followed the Olympic news heard. We left New Jersey’s snow piles behind and landed in what seemed like the tropics with warm sunshine and temperature in the Fifties everyday. Even at the events in the mountains (Whistler and Cypress), we were blessed with gorgeous conditions. It must have been Murphy’s Law at work as most of the cold weather gear we bought in preparation for the trip went mostly unused.

Although there has been a lot of negativity in the press about the games, I figure it came from jaded writers who look for the negative rather than cheer the positive. But for me, being in the midst of such a pretty city with an abundance of friendly residents (who had to endure an overflow of visitors and extra busy locales), the hospitality and cheerfulness

when it came to that were a bit skewed.

But again, the main reason for going were the games themselves and they were all incredible to watch. As most sports fans know, watching something live is always more exciting than watching on TV. We managed to get tickets for five events.

We are not experts on what we watched, but we were able to figure out the action, and in the spirit of sportsmanship,

“The good vibes were infectious, and for once trumped the politics of division.” was incredible. Granted there were overflow crowds and long lines that maybe better planning could have prevented a bit at the free events, but it is, after all, one of the world’s largest parties and that is bound to be a result. We were pleasantly surprised at the ease of getting to and from, and in and out of all the events

we attended. Perhaps the only thing that turned me off during the whole week was the alcohol-infused insanity that seemed to surround the downtown area. It was more out of control than New Year’s Eve in Times Square. The fact that they did set up one small, fenced-in, alcohol-free zone for families indicates that their priorities

we would cheer on all the athletes (albeit a little louder for the Americans). The good vibes were infectious, and for once trumped the politics of division. Everywhere you turned there were televisions with the games on. The sound of cheering, cowbells and the commentator’s smooth tones became the (Continued on page 15