The Tower - Oct. 27 - Nov. 17, 2011

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TRACK RUNNERS STILL BITTER PG 16 WWW.KEANTOWER.COM

THE TOWER HOTDOGS ARE DELICIOUS PG 5

Cougars to miss post-season By Christine Valdez

By Jackie Tuman

Photo by: Stephanie Musatl

Rapper Fabolous crashed Kean University on October 20 as part of MTVU’s Campus Invasion. Fabolous, along with rock band We the Kings and electro-rap duo Chiddy Bang played for a packed Wilkins Theater to kick off the Homecoming celebration. For more coverage on the concert, see page 3.

Success from field to career for Kean Football Alum By Stephanie Musat Neil Greco walked off the field, his face covered in blood. He was lined up against an All-American defensive end who was making him work harder than he ever did in any other game in the four years he played football. The ball snapped, the two players collided and Greco ended up with a forearm in the face. “It was like my nose exploded,” Greco said. As he sat on the sideline on the cold bleacher, he watched through a blood-soaked rag as the quarterback threw a pass into the end zone, clinching the win against then-named Jersey City State College. The year was 1974. Kean was Newark State College then— “Oh right, you’re a university now,” he said. The mascot was a squire before someone acknowledged the inferiority complex compared to the Rutgers’ Scarlet Knights. It was the first year for the lacrosse program. And the football ended the season with an 8-2 record, the best record in the school’s history. “That game made me play better,” said Greco, now 58. “That team made me better. I’m extremely proud to be part of it.” __________ Greco walked through his back

OCCUPY WALL STREET: ONE STUDENT’S PERSPECTIVE PG 11 OCT. 27 - NOV. 17, 2011

KEAN UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Crime rates drop on campus The crime rates at Kean University have decreased on campus since last year, according to numbers released by the university. The liquor law violations dropped significantly from 70 to 28 on campus and 69 to 19 in Residence Halls from 2009 to 2010, according to “The Guide,” Kean University’s annual publication that provides federally required campus data in a variety of subject areas. Drug related violations went down from 29 to 20 on campus and from 25 to 13 in Residence Halls. Burglary statistics on campus were at 65 in 2009 and are at 21 for 2010. “The change since last year mainly continued on page 15

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office at the Allstate Insurance Agency in Roseland, N.J. into a dark conference room. He flipped a switch, lighting the back wall. Next to leatherbound books and an Allstate sign is Greco’s gold bust, award-

Greco has worked as an insurance agent for 34 years after graduating from Newark State College in 1975. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, and taught for a year after school.

i am kean This article is one of three stories in a series profiling Kean University community members. Next issue: A professor whose dedication to his students is only matched by his dedication to photography.

ed to him after he was inducted in the Allstate Agents Hall of Fame. Only a few hundred agents in the history of the company have been given the honor. Underneath his likeness are two glass goblets, given to the Roseland agency for excellence in sales and customer service in 2007 and 2008. It is given to the top agencies in the 15,000-branch company. And he won it. Twice. “We are so happy to have him,” said Michael Kiel, a principal agent in the same office as Greco. “It’s quite a feat.” Next to his awards and certificates is a football, the thing that got him started.

“I couldn’t stand the little bastards,” he joked. “My sister was a teacher, she loved it. It just wasn’t my thing.” Greco heard of an opening at an insurance agency and applied for the position. He interviewed with a former Army officer. They ended up talking about football and he was given the job on the spot. “I can’t say that my athletics got me the job,” he said. “But it definitely helped.” Thirty-four years later, Greco is the principal agent at his branch. With a little less hair and a little bit bigger pant than his former self, his skills and accomplishments in his career link back to his athletic past.

__________ Patience: When Greco was a sophomore at Newark State, he was hired to clean an elderly woman’s home and assist her with whatever she needed. In the summer, he painted her house. In the winter, he fixed up the inside. In the spring, he painted her house. Again. He got paid $100. “It wasn’t fun, exactly,” he said. “But I got through it. I wanted to help and I got really good at painting.” Determination: At football practice in his junior year of college, Greco led the offensive linemen in seven-man sled exercise. He made everyone stand in a three-point stance with one hand of the ground, crouched in position. His thighs were on fire, but he stayed like that because everyone was following his lead. Right when he felt like he couldn’t hold the pose anymore, he would charge forward and push the sled for 10 yards. They would get thirty seconds to rest and then the process happens again. “It was killer,” he said. “It felt like I couldn’t move. But I pushed through it to show that I could and the other players could, too.” Adventure: The lacrosse program debuted in spring 1975, when Greco was a senior. The coach continued on page 4

The chance to play in postseason tournaments has been cut short for three Kean varsity teams after the university instituted a self-imposed ban from post-season action on the men and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams. Two of the three teams were currently leading their NJAC divisions and another was in second place. . In documents posted on the www.kean.edu website, Kean said it is imposing the ban after the NCAA notified the college of allegations that it is being investigated for a variety of charges, including giving too many “Dorsey” scholarships to the men and women’s soccer and women’s volleyball teams. The other allegations— some already made in a lawsuit against the college and denied by Kean—are that Kean officials changed grades and made up a special TravelLearn course for the college’s winning Region 3 women’s basketball team last year. continued on page 14

Student Org researches new bylaws By Trevor Conlow Kean’s Student Government Organization is creating a constitution and developing new bylaws in the wake of a challenge last semester over the election of the president. Confusion over last year’s election policies led to a delay in announcing a winner for Student Org president. The issue centered on regulations and possible loopholes in election policies. In May, Student Org President Dare Thompson was found guilty of violating campaign policies during the campaign, but he said it wasn’t deliberate. Thompson said the policies weren’t specific enough. The challenge was brought by his opponent in the election, Benito Nieves, who was head of previously Funded Groups, a position that was eliminated in a restructuring last year. “Student Org has a long hiscontinued on page 12 tory, and

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THE TOWER

THE TOWER

Kean University investigating CAS bomb threat

Occupy Wall Street: Who’s In and Who’s Out

October | November 2011

By Daniel Reyes Kean University Police are investigating a bomb threat and arson report that officials believe might be connected. The threat, made inside the Center for Academic Success at around 2 p.m. on October 4, read “10/4=death.” It was found inside one of the stalls in the girls’ bathroom on the first floor of CAS. Kean police, who chose not to comment, responded to the report and im-

mediately evacuated both CAS and Willis Hall before performing a complete sweep of the buildings using bomb sniffing dogs, according to eyewitness reports. Students were allowed to reenter the buildings after forty minutes. “It happened so quickly,” Dr. Christopher Lynch said. “We were in and out of the building. It wasn’t a big deal.” On October 5, police and firefighters responded to a small fire in a Willis Hall bathroom.

When asked whether the fire was related to the bomb scare the previous day, Kean spokesperson Stephen Hudik wrote, “Kean University Police did question suspects involved in the bomb threat and arson incident and believe, based on evidence to date, that there is a connection between the two.” “Kean Police provided information to the Union County Prosecutor’s Office and continue to collaborate with that office and other local enforcement agencies on

By Brittany Irvine

this ongoing investigation,” said Hudik. “The university will have no further comment at this time so as not to jeopardize the investigation,” he said. Students noticed that Kean’s Campus Alert system, which notifies students via text message, email and phone calls—in case of emergencies—did not notify students of the threat.

Occupy Wall Street, the growing movement in downtown Manhattan of people fed up with corporate greed and mismanagement of America, may be happening just miles away from Kean University, but it’s not getting much attention from students here. In interviews on campus by more than a dozen Tower reporters, students generally said they knew of the movement, but have paid little attention to its message what with work and classes and commuting. However, a few curious or enthusiastic students have gone to Zuccotti Park either to express support or just to see what’s going on there. And as the nation’s labor unions have moved to express solidarity with Occupy Wall Street, so has the Kean Federation of Teachers in an official statement from the union representing faculty and professional staff. Some students, however, seemed cynical about the effort. Junior Gustavo Castillo, a Communications major said: “I don’t think they are valid because there are always people in New York fighting about that or (about) corruption.”

Students competes in the battle of the brains By Alexandria Addesso Kean University will be competing in the 36th annual IBM-Sponsored Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest for the Greater New York Regional. The competition, also known as “The Battle of The Brains” or ICPC, will be held at Adelphi University on Oct. 30. Kean will compete at the Greater New York Regional Contest with schools that include Adelphi University, Columbia University, Dowling College, Hofstra College, Iona College, Manhattan College, Nassau Community College, New York Institute of Technology, Princeton University, Saint Joseph’s College, Stevens Institute of Technology, SUNY Stony Brook, Touro College, Yale University and Yeshiva University.

The regional competition consists of a range of IT questions over a vast array of computer disciplines and fields that would encompass one semester’s worth of work in just one five hour period. “The questions designed for the Battle of the Brains are not just mathematical or scientific equations; they incorporate the complex real-world challenges that we face every day. The problem sets will require the finalists to manipulate technologies such as analytics and collaboration software to create solutions for issues from infrastructure to business transactions,” said Salvatore Vella, vice president of architecture and technology at IBM Software Group. “This caliber of material exposes students to the larger global implications of technology and their ability to create a smarter, more sustainable planet.”

Kean University will send three teams of three students to compete in the regional competition and will be led by their coach Professor Lee Wittenberg. Eight of the participants that represented Kean last year had the University’s highest scores to date. The winning team of the Greater New York Regional Contest will move on to the world finals, which will be held from May 14 to the 18 of next year at Warsaw University in Warsaw, Poland. Warsaw University regularly has teams that advance to the world finals and already has two world championship wins under its belt. Battle of the Brains started out as a small local competition held by the Alpha Chapter of the UPE Computer Science Honor Society in Texas in 1970. The competition gained popularity in both the

U.S. and Canada and by 1977, held it’s finals at the ACM Computer Science Conference. By 1997 the increase in people taking part in the competition grew 1000 percent when IBM became an official sponsor and is now worldwide with college student competitors from 88 countries and six different continents. Director of strategy at IBM Software Group and sponsorship executive of the ICPC, Doug Heintzman said, “Thirty years ago, the contest pulled from just a few countries. Today, contest participation has grown more than 800 percent, with teams from 90 countries on six continents participating in their individual Regional phases. The Battle of the Brains is more than just the combination of academia and technology – it has become the breeding ground for a more collaborative global community.”

By Stephanie Musat

Photo by: Ana Ferrer

Norma Cohen and her son.

ÈK?FJ< N<I< JFD< F= K?< 9<JK K@D<J F= DP C@=<%É When she graduated in 1951, she ended up as a part-time guidance counselor and retired in 1991. When she came back to Kean for her fiftieth reunion, which was shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, she was in total shock at how the campus had changed. “The buildings were people,” she kept saying. “That’s what brings back memories.” She described the D’Angolas as a small couple that taught physical education. “Those were some of the happiest times of my life,” she said about her time at Kean. Working in her father’s art supply store in Newark is what drew her to college. She said that she used to teach the customers about the items he sold and then figured she should go to college and learn more about them. “College really opened up my life,” Cohen said. She couldn’t reiterate enough how close and intimate the campus was, how the students really felt like a family and were a complete unit, she even compared it to “Little House on the Prairie.”

As Blanca Rosales-Ahn stood in front of the room, her smile widened as students poured into the room s on Tuesday, Oct. 11, just a little before 6:30 pm. She only anticipated having about 25 students at her new “Networking 101” seminar, but some 40 students were already seated and more were coming. The Center for Career Development and Advancement sponsored the event, which gave a lot of information about marketing yourself in the workplace and creating a professional online presence on sites like Monster, Career Builder and professional social networking sites like LinkedIn. There were also handouts, tips and tricks for networking and invitations to future CDA events on campus, including a job fair for accountings students. “The event was great—I give it a five out of five—I would like to meet with her (Rosales) one-on-one,” Kean student Maria Alguera said. The workshop was promoted with flyers and bulletin announcements, but it seemed mostly Communication majors were in attendance as part of a special project with that department. Two classes in Business and Professional Communication were at the event to learn job skills. The students were expected to use the information to help market themselves in a short “elevator” speech where they will have two minutes —the length of an elevator ride—to sell themselves to a potential employer. They will try out those speeches during a mock try-out in December.

Given the economy, career services is in demand. Appointments for a one-onone meeting with Ms. Rosales-Ahn, for instance, are booked well into November, however the office does make an effort to fit in walk-in students. The office also offers other more specialized one-on-one sessions and events like a recent drop-in resume clinic where students brought in a completed resume for a quick “check-up,” followed by a

Photo by: Andrea Edwards

Traveling from class to class with the same group of people probably brings back memories of grade school. You and 23 of your classmates went from physical education to math and then lunch and recess together. But for Norma Cohen, it brings back warm memories of her time at what was then, Newark State College. What we know today as the sprawling campus of Kean University, Cohen, who is now 82, remembers it as one building with barely a backyard for 500 students. Most of her classmates were women and the few men that were there studied under the G.I. Bill, which granted money to returning soldiers after WWII. Most of the students who weren’t receiving funds had to work to be able to afford the $50 a semester tuition. She mentioned one of her classmates who worked in an orphanage after her classes during the day. Cohen was a fine arts student, and she remembers one professor, Jane Plenty, who taught math. Cohen laughed as she recalled how Plenty jokingly told the fine arts students to write ‘fine arts’ at the top of their tests so that she could make “allowances.” “We would take lunch, and sit down by the Passaic River and eat lunch, and just talk,” she said, “We would literally sit at the feet of our professors and listen to them talk for hours and sometimes we would forget to go to class.” Cohen explained how, as a fine arts student, she was told to take extra education courses so that it would be easier to find a job after she graduated. “Some towns only have one or two art teachers for the whole town.” They graduated with dual certifications, which is what she did.

By DeWayne Harper

When Fabolous said to put your hands up, you did. When Fabolous said to jump, you did. When Fabolous said to “m****** f******” scream, that’s exactly what happened. Fabolous played the hip-hop Simon Says with a packed Wilkins Theater Thursday night as part of the MTVU Campus Invasion to kick off Homecoming Weekend.

ÈK?< <M<EK N8J >I<8KÇ @ >@M< @K 8 =@M< FLK F= =@M<%É “tune-up” to maximize the effectiveness of their resumes. Appointments were not necessary, and students were seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. i A drop-in clinic was also held for the first time on East Campus. For information about upcoming events students are encouraged to visit the career services office in room 123 on the first floor of the CAS building, or visit online at kean.edu/~career.

Student Andrea Edwards takes a career assessment. See page 13.

Photo by: Stephanie Musat

Fabolous performing concert at Kean. “He sang everything I wanted him to,” said junior Leandra Williams. “It was some new stuff, some old stuff but it was all fun. I was dancing all night. Plus, he’s just fine.” The attraction was mutual, as Fabolous continued his love affair with the ladies at Kean. Each song was accompanied by an ear-piercing shriek that made him smile. “I’m gonna take my jacket off, can I stay for a while?” he asked. Girls screamed. “I guess that means yes,” he smirked as he staggered across stage to put his jacket down by his deejay. Fabolous played hits from his decadelong career including his debut his “Can’t Let You Go,” and last summer’s “You Be Killin’ Em.” His set transformed Wilkins Theater into nightclub as sweat dripped off the walls. But the audience didn’t care – they kept dancing to hits like “Make Me Better.”

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terest to find out what it’s about. “I have heard of it but I don’t know why or what it’s about,” said Ethan Smith, a junior. “I don’t fully know what it is,” said Ryan Clark, a Freshman. “I know they won’t change, but I don’t know the reason behind it.”

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Photo by: John Rosario

Protesters in Washington Square Park on October 8th. Frankie Tierney, a Psychology major ridiculous, they’re nothing but problems. said: “… the organization seems dishevThey’re fighting a lost cause,” he said. eled in putting forward solutions or acknowledging the cause of the problems Not everyone here at Kean knows exwe are facing.” actly what it means. “I heard about it but Student Nick Aversa, a Sophomore PoI don’t really follow or know what’s going litical Science major, went to New York on,” said Paul Volcy, Senior Physical Educity to see the movement firsthand. He cation Major. described the scene as a disaster and just Some students have simply heard the as bad as they say on the news. phrase “Occupy Wall St,” from more than “It’s a bunch of modern day hippies, it’s one person, but still haven’t had the in-

He mixed up his set with songs that he was featured on, including Trey Songz’s hit “Say Ahh.” “Everyone was in tune together,” said Dare Thompson, president of the Student Organization, who put the show together. “The shows keep getting hotter and people love it.” Thompson said Student Organization is working on getting more acts, citing at the possibility of Chris Brown coming to campus. But for those who couldn’t wait, Fabolous played Brown’s “Deuces,” where he was featured in the remix. Fabolous held a 45-minute set after rock band We The Kings and electrohip-hop duo Chiddy Bang kicked off the show. Chiddy Bang started the show by showing rapper Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege’s freestyle prowess. Taking suggestions from the audience, Anamege took four unrelated things and rhymed about them to Noah Beresin’s drumbeat. After, We The Kings took the stage, starting off with hits from the band’s self-titled album. The crowd was jumping and purple glow sticks filled the room with a tinted glow as the band thanked the crowd for their support and asked where to party after the show. “This is for you because all of you helped our dreams come true,” said lead singer Travis Clark as he tossed back his long red hair and started the opening chords for “We’ll be a Dream,” featuring Demi Lovato. When Fabolous took the stage after We The Kings, the audience left their seats and pushed toward the front of the stage for a chance to grab the rapper’s hand. At the end of the show, Fabolous wished the audience a happy Thanksgiving. He’s a little early, but the audience wished him the same. “If Fabolous thinks its Thanksgiving time, good for him,” Williams said. “I hope he invites me over for dinner.”

Students well versed in the movement have strong opinions. “I think it’s about time people start standing up for their own opinions and beliefs, the rich stay up there feeding on the middle class and the lower class never get enough to bring themselves out,” says Anh Tran, a Sophomore Occupational Therapy major. “We fed the monster under the bed too much and now it’s grown and took over the whole house.” Professor Carol Stavraka said it is great for people to talk about an issue that is important to them. “I’m not too sure of the effectiveness, but it would be nice to see some (resolution).”

Q & A with Fabolous

Fabolous turns Wilkins Theater into a nightclub with his top hits

Class of 1951 grad recalls past Networking seminar scores a hit By Ana Ferrer

October | November 2011

Photo by: Stephanie Musat

Fabolous and fans backstage after his concert at Kean. By Stephanie Musat The Tower sat down with Fabolous after his show Thursday night to talk about the show, his upcoming music and how he started. Where do you get inspiration to do what you do? I get inspiration from a lot of places. When I started, hip-hop was a hobby for me. The inspiration came from the passion of doing it. At this point, my inspiration is to make great music that can help other people get through stuff, to party to, to laugh to, to cry to, to impact other people and for people to appreciate it. Some comes from other music, when you hear a song and you want to make music in the same circle of greatness. What’s on your iPod? Everything. There are 7,000 songs on there. Some hip-hop, R&B, reggae, salsa. Just in hip-hop alone, Rick Ross is making great music. Drake is making good stuff. Jay-Z and Kayne just put out a great album so all those are inspiration for me. Who have been some of your mentors? I’ve never had someone sit me down as a so-called mentor. But I’ve had a lot of people give me pieces of advice. I’ve watched other people’s legacies and take pages from their book. My family has always been mentors for me. My mother

has always been in my life. Even when she wasn’t receptive, she was always supportive. I loved how she always supported what her child was doing. And now that translates to me being a man, being a father and supporting my friends and family. What value do you find in education? I greatly value education. A lot of people think that rapping is just something when you write words down but it takes a little bit of education, I would say. My vocabulary is vast, I’ve taken English classes, and you got to know what current events, just watching what’s going on in your surroundings. Staying educated and knowing what’s going on helps you make great music. I greatly value education, and if you want to be a rapper, you should, too. What message do you want your audience to come away with after your show? I hope they have fun. I hope they see the amount of passion I put in my shows. I want to show them wide ranges of music to attach to. It’s not just my mixtape stuff, its not just my mainstream stuff. Some is what I’m featured on. I like to go back to the beginning of my career for my fans to give them a taste of that as well. I just want to give them a good show.

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THE TOWER

October | November 2011

THE TOWER

Four Loko back on shelves with a brand new look By Justine Clini Phusion Project, the makers of the wildly popular alcoholic drink, Four Loko, has agreed to change its labeling and packaging to settle Federal Trade Commission charges of deceiving marketing. The FTC stated, Phusion Project falsely claimed that a 23.5-ounce can of Four Loko at 11 or 12 percent alcohol had the same amount of alcohol as one or two typical 12-ounce beers and a consumer could drink a whole can and be completely fine. The FTC said that a 23.5-ounce Four Loko contains about as much alcohol as four or five 12-ounce cans of regular beer. Phusion Project was also mandated to amend their labels stating it can be dangerous due to the amount of alcohol. Though the young consumers who may have been enjoying the effect from this drink should have realized it in its entirety, this issue is raising high concern for young adults who may have been a consumer of this drink and did not even realize this problem until it was pulled off the shelves at liquor stores. “For one, it’s cheap,” suggested Tosin Oduwole, a senior at Kean. “Second, depending on the flavor, it tastes quite de-

Photo:Courtesy Four Loko

lightful and third: it gets you messed up quick.” Caitlin White, 23, majoring in teaching students with disabilities (K-8), said “I don’t think that Four Loko should be put back on shelves; I heard on the news that people were getting sick from it.” Now that Four Loko is branding new labels, they will name the amount of alcohol content on the cans of their drink

along with comparing it to the amount of alcohol in beer. There is no doubt that hooked consumers will not stop buying Four Loko even though now their ‘accurate’ alcohol content is exposed, but there might be some second guessing into newbie’s purchasing this drink.

Acting Out: professor reenacts events from history By Andrea Parr At first appearance Abigail Perkiss’s class might look more like an elaborate play than an actual class. Half the class is dressed in Togas, the desks are arranged in the formation of a U and a red banner runs along one wall setting the two groups apart. The stage is set and the characters are in a heated debate over the politics of Athens. It is not a play, however, Dr. Perkiss, an assistant professor of history at Kean University, who serves as a faculty advisor for the university’s Pre-Law Society and the Historical Society Formation of Law, teaches with an innovative method she is introducing to Kean known as Reacting to the Past (RTTP). RTTP is based on active learning and elaborate games set in the time of discussion. Each game lasts for around six weeks and students are assigned roles, which they will portray with rules to follow.

The class is entirely student run, with the professor acting as a guide to help the students. Dr. Perkiss first learned of RTTP during graduate school when one of her former undergraduate professors mentioned it to her. Intrigued, she attended a panel at Barnard, a private women’s liberal arts affiliate college of Columbia University, about RTTP.

È@ N8J ?FFB<;Ç@ BE<N K?<I< N8J EF >F@E> 98:B%É “I was hooked—I knew there was no going back,” she said. RTTP was developed at Barnard College by Mark C. Carnes, a Professor of History in 1995 who believes in “setting students mind on fire,” through “active learning.” At present it is in use at more than 300 universities and colleges, both in and out

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of the US. In order to teach using RTTP professors are trained through summer workshops at Barnard. Currently it is used mostly in the humanities such as history, English, and philosophy, but games for science and math are in development. RTTP seeks to create a connection between students and materials by having students form their own ideas and arguments based on the classic texts they must read. It provides students with a practical application that can be used in modern society, answering the time old question of, “how is this relevant to me?” “I have students bringing in articles or telling me about a news story because they can relate it to the texts,” said Perkiss. At current the students of Dr. Perkiss’s Formation of Law class are separated into oligarchs, the elite ruling class and democrats for the Athens game with even a boat race in the pool planned. After the completion of Athens the class will move onto the French Revolution.

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@ 8D B<8E (Continued from page 1) (“I’m bad at remembering names,” he said.”) recruited a majority of the football team to play for lacrosse. Greco thought it would be easy. He was pretty athletic and thought he could adapt to any sport. “It took serious energy,” he said. “It was unnatural.” They had no stadium to play in, no personalized equipment, no proper training. They trained liked they did with football, but with sticks, he said. It was the most fun he had in school. Discipline: Greco moved nine times for work after he took the job at Allstate. His daughter, Kristina went to three different high schools. He’s lived in every state “this side of the Mason Dixon line,” he said. The moving cost him his marriage, he said. His wife couldn’t handle the inconsistency. But it’s what he had to do to move up in the company and now his achievements speak for themselves, he said. But somehow after all of his traveling, he ended up 15 minutes away from his alma mater. __________ Greco got a phone call from the Kean College Athletics Department in 1988. He didn’t know what Kean College was. The person on the phone told him he was invited to join the school’s athletic hall of fame, along with other members of the 1974 football team. The timing worked out – it was the same year he moved back to New Jersey and was able to come for the ceremony. “I was so honored,” he said. “I did athletics because I loved doing it. It was very personal for me so being acknowledged for something that I loved to do, it was really special.” That was the last time he was on campus. He’s never seen the new dorms or the University Center. He has no idea was CAS stands for. “It wasn’t a big college experience, but it was my college experience.” __________ The current Kean football team has a 6-1 record, chasing after Greco’s record. After a huge win over Morrisville State College for Homecoming, the morale of the team is high as they look to its next opponent. “Heart, perseverance, character, will, determination, our team chemistry is phenomenal, our leadership in the locker room is phenomenal,” said Dan Garrett, head coach of the football team. “Those are all the things that have enabled us to be 6-1.” Greco couldn’t be happier. The success of the team means that the program is becoming a staple in the NCAA. The athletic program is making a name of itself, and he was happy to be part of it. “I wish they have success,” he said. “It’s the best thing for the university.”

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October | November 2011

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Haunted houses, hot Halloween parties-cool stuff to check out By Nicole La Capria

grants you admission to any venue for the nights of Friday, Oct. 28, Saturday, Oct. 29, and Monday, Oct. 31. One-day passes are also offered. To purchase tickets, visit pubcrawls. com, or call (973)596-6553. You will receive your ticket in your email—just print it out and arrive at the designated venue to register. There you will get your wristband that permits entry to all of the bars and grants you drink specials, plus a map with the bars’ locations.

It’s finally that time of year - the air becomes crisp, the leaves turn to bold shades of red and gold, and we are suddenly overwhelmed with the urge to be scared out of our wits and chased around the woods by masked men with chainsaws. It may be too late to enjoy the candy bestowed on you by strangers as you did when you were a child, but there are many ways college students can enjoy the Halloween season. Whether you have a passion for fear, partying, or classic autumn fun with your whole family, there are tons of great attractions in the area to visit.

4. Williams Nursery in Westfield

1. Newark Bears’ Stadium of Screams; Tickets: $20

A three-level haunt at Newark High School that circles around the entire stadium. “It is based around the baseball team and the owner, and we incorporated the earthquake into it,” said Kim Gossar, a coordinator for the event. “The plates shifted and chemicals were released, so now the owners have gone mad trying to transform players and their fans into creatures.” Walk through the locker room, the main concourse and an upstairs suite through scenes that reflect a science fiction, “mad doctor” theme, as baseball players-turned-zombies stalk you for the 25-minute duration of the walk. It’s perfect for the sports and horror fan. For the faint of heart, there is a more “family-oriented” hayride around the track, and a “Fun Zone” featuring 25cent carnival games, arts and crafts and pumpkin carving.

2. Halloween River Cruise Tickets: $20

You will set sail on Friday, Oct. 28 at 7:30 p.m. from Pier 40 on West Houston Street and the West Side Highway where you can dance, drink, and dine on a Halloween river cruise down the Hudson aboard the Star of Palm Beach boat. The cruise is a $20 general admission, with a cash bar and cash buffet dinner available. Enjoy a view of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty while you dance to the DJ spinning a mix of top 40, hip-hop, 80’s classics and dance hits. This event is 21 and over, and a costume is required to board. A cash prize of $150 will be awarded to the best costume, so be creative! Tickets are available for purchase at snaptickets.com. 3. Halloween Pub Crawl in NYC Tickets: $40 for a three-day all-access pass

With more than 150 featured venues -

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If you have had enough partying and are looking for a little wholesome family fun, make a visit to Williams Nursery in Westfield. A festive fall day for those young and old consists of pumpkin-picking, tractor-pulled hayrides, fresh apple cider and cider donuts. Your younger siblings can romp in the hay-bale maze, or enjoy pony rides. On Oct. 29 at 2 p.m., there will be a costume contest in three age categories and first prize is a $50 gift card. 5. Brite Nights Event at Wagner Farm Arboretum, Warren Tickets: $10 adults, $7 children

Will you be in the mood for something scenic and ambient? Walk along a path lined with 1,000 carved pumpkins at the Brite Nights event at the Wagner Farm Arboretum. This impressive sight will be available for adults and children on Oct. 28, 29, and 30. You may also enjoy the witches and flaming cauldron, the haunted house showcase featuring actor and designer Bill Ward, making your own scarecrow for use on the farm or the refreshments offered at the Black Hat Cafe. Tickets are available for purchase at wfafnj.org.

RAVE: Take your tastebuds on a trip that’s “Out of This World” By Ana Ferrer Never again will you crave only ketchup and mustard on your hot dog after you have a specialty dog from Out of this World Hot Dogs on Westfield Avenue in Elizabeth, N.J. Blue cheese slaw and homemade sweet potato mustard sit atop the perfectly cooked Thumann’s Own hot dog to create their signature Area 51 dog. Are you in the mood for something a little sweeter? Try their Hawaiian Dog with pineapple chunks and fried bacon pieces and a touch of barbecue sauce. Owner Sandra Dennis and boyfriend Stephen Restrepo opened up shop in March of 2011. As former owners of a grille and bar in Garfield, N.J., they honed their hot dog skills and translated them into something gourmet at their new restaurant. After closing their grille in Garfield, Dennis saw that the corner lot where the restaurant is located, was for sale, drove by at 2 a.m. one Friday night, and “fell in love.” Their theme came out of a story they heard of a little spaceship landing near someone’s home. The man who lived there had signs depicting the fallen ship and out of that story spawned Out of this World Hot Dogs. Dennis, who’s favorite is the Texas Weiner, said, “I really wanted to open a place where everyone could come and hang out, kids, teenagers adults, every-

one.” She added that she was really hoping for a “Happy Days” kind of feeling as she fixed her five-year-old daughter’s, Skylar, hair bows. As for the dogs themselves, they offer Thumann’s Own, which is a combination of pork and beef, Vienna Beef, and for vegetarians, they also offer veggie dogs. The storefront is covered in signed memorabilia from “Mork and Mindy,”

È@ I<8CCP N8EK<; 8 Ê?8GGP ;8PJË B@E; F= =<<C@E>%É a Darth Vader autographed headshot, space ship cutouts with alien hot dogs, and even a picture of Drew Barrymore kissing “E.T.” The hot dog shop is located on the busy corner of Galloping Hill Road and Westfield Avenue just minutes away from Kean’s campus, but if that’s too far, they also deliver. “We’ve delivered to the Port Authority, so it won’t be a problem to deliver to the campus,” Restrepo said. (From experience, the hot dogs travel surprisingly well, despite the mountain of toppings on each one.) Speaking of toppings, there’s no shortage of them. From chili to cheese, sweet potato mustard to sweet and sour cole slaw, jalapeño relish to onion sauce, there are endless combinations for you to choose.

Photo: Ana Ferrer

Owner Sandra Dennis and Daughter Skylar outside of Out of this World Hot Dogs. Or you can leave the thinking to them and choose one of their already thoughtout dogs, like the Cryin’ Saucer. The Cryin’ Saucer has New York style sauerkraut, yellow mustard and their own special onion sauce. If you’re craving something from the windy city – try the Chicago dog with relish, pickles, mustard, tomato, and sports peppers on top of a Vienna Beef hot dog. They also have their own version of the ever-popular Italian-style hot dog, which has mustard, fries, grilled peppers and onions tossed in Italian seasoning. The menu also offers sides and dessert.

Sweet potato fries, onion rings, bacon cheese fries and the New Jersey diner staple – disco fries will complete your order. All the Saturn sweets are homemade and include things like “jumbo” chocolate chip cookies, chocolate covered cheesecake pops and even flan, which is a caramel custard. Take a trip out of your hot dog comfort zone and stop by the shop where they’ll welcome you with huge smiles and you’ll leave satisfied and never wanting just plain ketchup and mustard again.

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È@= PFL ;FEËK D@E; K?< :?8E>< @E JKPC<# 8E; @= PFL <EAFP GFG GLEB# K?<E ÈE<@>?9FI?FF;JÉ @J ;<=@E@K<CP NFIK? K?< C@JK<E%É DeLonge and Hoppus trade off lines throughout the verses, talking about the struggles people go through. It’s a track that everyone can relate to, with a heavy guitar riff running throughout the song. Those who aren’t fans of the newer material may appreciate tracks like “After Midnight” and “Wishing Well,” which seem like throwback tunes. “Heart’s All Gone” is a fast-paced song with the lines “you seemed so sweet at the start but the start’s all wrong” as the refrain. The bitter lyrics seem like they’re aimed more at modern politicians than anything. “This Is Home” is an upbeat ode to the bands lifestyle of tours, onstage performing, and the debauchery that surrounds it. Personally, my favorite tracks on the album are “Kaleidoscope” and “Love Is Dangerous,” the tenth and final track on the album. “Love Is Dangerous” in particular has DeLonge and Hoppus singing a double lead vocal, which reminded me of Beatles’ songs like “She Loves You.” In his “Rolling Stone” review, writer Jon Dolan starts by saying, “Do not expect to see Blink 182 streaking through the Nineties-nostalgia party.” He couldn’t be more correct.

During Oct. 14 to Oct. 22 the Zella Fry Theatre in Vaughn Eames welcomed students, faculty members and visitors, waiting to see its most recent production; “Intimate Apparel,” a play presented by the Theatre Department at Kean. The play is written by Lynn Nottage, an African American playwright, whose play “Ruined,” won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2009. Directed by Ernest W. Wiggins, who is a professor in the Kean theater department, “Intimate Apparel” filled the audience with laughter and surprise. The story takes place in 1905; lower Manhattan, and focuses on the life of Esther Mills (Rachelle Dorce), a 35-year-old African-American woman who lives by herself in a boarding house, ran by Mrs. Dickson (Natalie C. Bailey). Esther, who is both an honest person and talented seamstress, designs and sews elegant lingerie and has been saving money to one day realize her dream of opening a beauty parlor for colored women.

She longs for love, but refuses to marry just for the sake of being married, but becomes excited when one day, she receives a letter from George Armstrong (Walmbegan N’Dure), a Carribean man working on the Panama Canal. However Esther, being illiterate, cannot read George’s letters or write back to him, and so she enlist the help of two of her clients; Mrs. Van Buren, the socialite (Amber Adeline) and Mayme, the prostitute (Brenna Singman) to help her conquer George’s heart. Mrs. Van Buren, a wealthy lady who cannot conceive and whose husband is never home, helps Esther with the first letter, while Mayme, the prostitute who desires to

ÈK?< :8JKËJ G<I=FID8E:< N8J FLKJK8E;@E># 8J N8J K?< @EK@D8:P F= K?< J<K ;<J@>E%É become a concert pianist, helps Esther to write the rest of the letters to George. In the meantime, Esther and Mr. Marks (Daniel Pellicano), a Jewish merchant who sells fabrics in the store that Esther frequent, begin to form a strong bond. Both attracted to each other, but their cultural differences keep them apart. Mr. Marks, being Jewish, is engaged to a woman whom he never met and Esther does not want to interfere with his culture. They glance and smile at each other, but they never verbally express their attraction for one another. All this is taking place as Esther and George continue their long distance relationship until George asks her to marry him. Esther agrees and soon after, she is a married woman. Now a married woman, Esther is unhappy, and soon realizes that George does not love her and he is not the man she thought he was. Esther soon discovers that George never wrote the letters he sent her and that he has been cheating on her with Mayme, the woman she called friend. Heartbroken, Esther confronts George and he admits of not being happy and to not loving her, but somehow manages to convince Esther that the only way that he can be the man that she wants him to be, is if she gave him all of her savings in order for him to start his own business with draft horses. Filled with desperation, Esther rips apart the quilt on her bed, where she kept her savings. Frustrated, and angry, she throws the money at George, who picks them up without wasting any time. Pleased with himself, George walks out on her, without intentions of coming back. Alone once again, Esther returns to Mrs. Dickson’s boarding house, where she continues sewing, hoping to fulfill her dream someday. While the story is sad, some scenes brought laughter among the audience, while other scenes were shocking and surprisingly intriguing, especially during the second half of the play. The cast’s performance was outstanding, as was the intimacy of the four-scene set-design which placed the cast so close the audience; one could reach out and touch them. This allowed the audience to fully appreciate the costumes that were so beautifully made.

November boasts on the most exciting release schedules this year for games. With a blockbuster hit dropping every week this month, it’s hard-pressed not to find something that you can’t play. Topping the list off, November 1 graces us with “Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.” This game continues the story of Nathan Drake searching for an ancient 16th century treasure bringing his adventure to the heart of the Arabian Desert. In his search for the fabled “Atlantis of the Sands,” he encounters a shady organization hell-bent on stopping Drake from retrieving this treasure. Not only will Drake have to be one step ahead of this opposition, he’ll have to outwit the leader of the organization and fight for survival.

ÈN@K? 8 9CF:B9LJK<I ?@K ;IFGG@E> <M<IP N<<B K?@J DFEK?# PFLËCC 9< ?8I;$GI<JJ<; EFK KF =@E; JFD<$ K?@E> K?8K PFL :8EËK GC8P%É Next on the roster is the highly anticipated “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” which will be released on the 8th. Following the events of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2,” the Russian Federation continues their assault on the United States, and has extended their attack on several European countries such as England, France, and Germany. Aside from the gripping storyline, the multiplayer has been revamped with changes to how perks and weapons work, as well as new game modes such as “Kill Confirmed,” where players have to collect dog tags to earn more experience for your team. “Team Defender,” was also added, in which teams fight for flag possession and the longer you hold the flag, the more points you earn. In the same week, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” will be released on the November 11. Set 200 years after the events of “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” things in

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After five albums and 13 years together, Blink 182 split up in 2005. The band members had entered a tense phase in their relationship and decided to go on an “indefinite hiatus.” But now, after starting separate music projects, Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker have reformed Blink 182. “Neighborhoods,” their sixth album is a result of this reunion. Does the album live up to expectations? Will it please longtime fans of the band? I can’t speak for longtime fans, but I can tell you that Neighborhoods is a satisfying rock album. Admittedly, my knowledge of Blink 182 mainly comes from their singles. “What’s my Age Again” and “All The Small Things” were mainstay hits back in my childhood. Blink was known for its irreverent lyrics and fast pop-punk style. I can safely say that this is pretty much the case with “Neighborhoods” as well. But, instead of songs about youthful debauchery, the band has taken on more adult themes. Hoppus, DeLonge, and Barker are no longer twenty-somethings looking for a thrill on Friday night. They’ve gone through marriages, divorces, and parenthood. They’ve lost people, such as their longtime producer Jerry Flynn. DeLonge was admittedly addicted to painkillers for a time, and Barker survived a highly publicized plane crash in late 2008. Listening to the 10-track album, you can tell that they’ve brought their personal experiences to the music. The opening track “Ghost On The Dance Floor” has DeLonge lamenting the loss of a loved one. It reminds me of their song “I miss you” off their self titled album. The second track, “Natives” has Hoppus verbally beating himself up in a singalong chorus. Somehow, instead of feeling bad for Hoppus’ apparent low selfesteem, I found myself headbanging to Travis’ impressive drum work. “Up All Night” is the first single off the album, and its easy to see why.

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EFM<D9<I1 K?< DFEK? >8D<IJ 8I< K?8EB=LC =FI By Eric Albuen the world have calmed down. However, the calm would soon be broken when a civil war broke out amongst the Nord race where some wanted Skyrim to secede from the Empire and other wanting them to stay with the Empire. This event leads to the revival of a God of Destruction that was foretold by the Elder Scrolls. Your character is the last of a clan of dragon hunters, and you must help fend off the God of Destruction in the land of Skyrim) Finally and most noteworthy since the Kean gamers love their fighting games, “Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3” is slated to release on the November 15. The game rebalances many elements from the previous “Final Fantasy.” installment and introduces some new characters to the game. Some notable changes are the ability to activate the X-Factor in the air, as well as the damage and speed boosts being adjusted. An improved netcode allows up to six players to be able to watch online matches between players. Some of the standout characters in the bunch of newly introduced characters include Dr. Strange, Hawkeye, Dragon Fist from the Marvel side, and Phoenix Wright (Ace Attorney series), Vergil (Devil May Cry), and Nemesis (from Resident Evil 3: Nemesis) from the Capcom side. Some other titles worth picking up that I can’t fit in this article are “Assassin’s Creed: Revelations,” “King of Fighters XIII,” “Super Mario 3D Land.” November is chock full of amazing games just waiting to be played.

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K?< :FJK F= =8J?@FE1 HL8C@KP# FI 8 D8IB<K@E> J:?<D<6 By Ayana Gibbs and Lee Burrell Would you be willing to throw down $1,660 for a blazer from Band of Outsiders? No? Really? Why not? Is the price too high for the product or do you know that you could get a similar one much cheaper somewhere else? What determines the price of clothing and why do some brands cost so much more than others? Can anyone really justify the price of a shirt that costs $295 when you can get a shirt made out of the same materials with the same cut for a ¼ of the price? When designers start racking up the prices on clothing there are a lot of things they have to take into account. They need to cover the cost of the material, how much it took to ship the material, and the cost of labor. Not to mention that the designer wants to make some money so they have to double or triple the price in order to make a good return on investment. Manufacturing the clothing is the big one, that “made in” tag in the back of your shirt does tell you a lot more than just what country your shirt was made in. Companies like H&M and Zara get the majority of their merchandise produced overseas by independently owned manufacturers who hire highly skilled workers doing long hours for little pay. Wages in places like Bangladesh are on average $60 to $70 a month. Now, contrast that with a manufacturer like Martin Greenfield who pays his workers $13 an hour and you can see how the price jumps up when a garment is made in the U.S. But other than the financial number crunching, the name on your clothing does mean something when it comes to the pricing. Take a designer like Burberry, this line is worn by movie stars, has been

around since 1856, and is a cornerstone of fashion shows all around the world. The amount they will be able to charge

The group of students varied in different majors, ethnicities, and ages. Most of us who are traditional students around 17-23 years of age can’t afford the luxuries of designer duds. During my research, I found the bulk of students questioned shared the same values of not buying high-priced clothing. It wasn’t because they couldn’t afford them, they just didn’t see the point. “The feel of name brand clothes feels different”, says Psychology Major, Kenny Matthews …or are we conditioned by marketing companies to feel this way? When asked if she buys high-priced clothing, Kiwanna Colwell,

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Why would students spend money on high-priced clothing? “A lot of people want to wear it because they see their peers wearing it—I like to wear what’s comfortable. I’m not going to lie there was a time I would want the newest pair of Jordans when they came out.” —Greg Lopez , Communication Major “It’s part of self esteem issues I personally wouldn’t do it.”—Josh Spear Photos: Ayana Gibbs

for a trench coat is way more than most brands will be able to. It’s about what people are willing to pay to have a top of the line Burberry coat, and without the word Burberry on your new coat the price plummets considerably. As my partner in crime, Lee, asked the question “Why does clothing cost so much”? I decided to take it to campus and ask my peers what they thought.

pay less—nobody wants to be talked about, you have to be fly!“ said Physical Education Major, Sunni Amos. The disparities between cultural norms also became a major factor between what students spent on clothing. I found people of ethnic backgrounds were more prone to wearing brand names as they expressed their favorites. Buying Jordan sneakers (some with a price tag over $150) when released on a Friday was an expectation in their cultures. It’s understandable how clothing prices can vary depending on the quality of the materials used, but sometimes I think we buy into a certain

Special Education Major, responded, “I don’t want to pay for an expensive thing like a shirt that cost like $200 when I can go to T.J. Maxx and buy it cheaper.” Other students felt they would be more reluctant to buy high-priced items for the quality; like spending $450 on Prada sneakers. “They see rappers wearing it—they rather pay more than

aesthetic. Most people want to live in the upper echelons of society and the most obtainable luxuries are material things. There is a serious cost to trying to keep up with the Joneses. But, does wearing luxury brands validate your self-esteem?

Kean  spirit  on  Kean spirit on display at annual homecoming display  at  annual  homecoming

By Dasia Brown Photos by Stephanie Musat

More than 4,000 current students, alumni and future scholars flooded Kean campus this weekend for the annual homecoming celebration that kicked off Thursday night and ran through Sunday. By  Dasia  Brown Fabolous, We the Kings and Chiddy Bang started the weekend Photos  by  Stephanie  Musat with a packed concert. Kean hosted a pep-rally Friday night in preparation of the football game against Morrisville State CollegeMore  than  4,000  current  students,  alumni  and  on Saturday. The stars were shining and the wind was whistling as students IXWXUH VFKRODUV Ă€RRGHG .HDQ FDPSXV WKLV ZHHNHQG made their way to Harwood Arena for the 2011 Homecoming IRU WKH DQQXDO KRPHFRPLQJ FHOHEUDWLRQ WKDW NLFNHG Pep Rally. off  Thursday  night  and  ran  through  Sunday.  The evening was filled with school spirit –students came dressed in their blue and white and packed the stands to welFabolous,  We  the  Kings  and  Chiddy  Bang  started  come the sport teams and get the football team excited for their WKH ZHHNHQG ZLWK D SDFNHG FRQFHUW .HDQ KRVWHG Saturday game. a  pep-­rally  Friday  night  in  preparation  of  the  â€œI wish pep rallies were like this when I was here,â€? said Naim football  game  against  Morrisville  State  College  on  Chisolm, a Kean alumnus. Saturday.  Students were given the chance to win prizes such as John Legend tickets by showing off their school spirit through their The  stars  were  shining  and  the  wind  was  whistling  outfits. There was also a dance contest that gave away tickets to as  students  made  their  way  to  Harwood  Arena  for  the homecoming party. the  2011  Homecoming  Pep  Rally. Resident Life got involved by having a poster competition be7KH HYHQLQJ ZDV ÂżOOHG ZLWK VFKRRO VSLULW ÂąVWXGHQWV tween the dorms. Each dorm circled the arena showing their creative posters to the crowd and was judged by Res Life workers. FDPH GUHVVHG LQ WKHLU EOXH DQG ZKLWH DQG SDFNHG Cougar teddies were given away along with big blue hands to the  stands  to  welcome  the  sport  teams  and  get  the  students. Students ended the pep rally dancing to the tunes of football  team  excited  for  their  Saturday  game. the deejay all together to a mixture of club songs. Âł, ZLVK SHS UDOOLHV ZHUH OLNH WKLV ZKHQ KH ZDV The next day, pregame activities got students motivated for thehere,â€?  said  Naim  Chisolm,  a  Kean  alumnus. homecoming game against Morrisville State College, and brought the Jersey Shore Boardwalk right to our backyard in Students  were  given  the  chance  to  win  prizes  such  Harwood Arena parking lot. DV -RKQ /HJHQG WLFNHWV E\ VKRZLQJ RII WKHLU VFKRRO “It was like being at the beach without the sand,â€? said Tinisha VSLULW WKURXJK WKHLU RXWÂżWV 7KHUH ZDV DOVR D GDQFH Mansaray a senior student and member of Beta Kappa Sigma SoFRQWHVW WKDW JDYH DZD\ WLFNHWV WR WKH KRPHFRPLQJ rority. The lot was filled with hair feathering extension stylist photo party.  booths, jugglers, boardwalk games, mimes and a live band. Resident  Life  got  involved  by  having  a  poster  The Greek Organizations on campus showed their school spircompetition  between  the  dorms.  Each  dorm  circled  it and boardwalk excitement by having games of their own that the  arena  showing  their  creative  posters  to  the  captured the spirit of the boardwalk and picture cut outs for stuFURZG DQG ZDV MXGJHG E\ 5HV /LIH ZRUNHUV dents to take pictures as their favorite Jersey Shore stars. “It’s always a great time,â€? said Alyssa Rodriguez, a Kean alumCougar  teddies  were  given  away  along  with  big  nus. “There are some things I look forward to every year, and this blue  hands  to  students.   Students  ended  the  pep  is one of them.â€?

rally  dancing  to  the  tunes  of  the  deejay  all  together  to  a  mixture  of  club  songs.  The  next  day,  pregame  activities  got  students  motivated  for  the  homecoming  game  against  Morrisville  State  College,  and  brought  the  Jersey  6KRUH %RDUGZDON ULJKW WR RXU EDFN\DUG LQ +DUZRRG $UHQD SDUNLQJ ORW Âł,W ZDV OLNH EHLQJ DW WKH EHDFK ZLWKRXW WKH VDQG ´ said  Tinisha  Mansaray  a  senior  student  and  member  of  Beta  Kappa  Sigma  Sorority. 7KH ORW ZDV ÂżOOHG ZLWK KDLU IHDWKHULQJ H[WHQVLRQ VW\OLVW SKRWR ERRWKV MXJJOHUV ERDUGZDON JDPHV mimes  and  a  live  band. 7KH *UHHN 2UJDQL]DWLRQV RQ FDPSXV VKRZHG WKHLU VFKRRO VSLULW DQG ERDUGZDON H[FLWHPHQW E\ KDYLQJ games  of  their  own  that  captured  the  spirit  of  the  ERDUGZDON DQG SLFWXUH FXW RXWV IRU VWXGHQWV WR WDNH pictures  as  their  favorite  Jersey  Shore  stars. “It’s  always  a  great  time,â€?  said  Alyssa  Rodriguez,  D .HDQ DOXPQXV Âł7KHUH DUH VRPH WKLQJV , ORRN forward  to  every  year,  and  this  is  one  of  them.â€?

Photos: Laura Urban

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October | November 2011

THE TOWER

THE TOWER

EDITOR’S NOTE 9<?@E; K?< GFC@K@:J# K?<I< 8I< JFD< ;F@E> >FF; A job of a newspaper is to report the news, whether it is as large as The New York Times or as hyper-local as a college newspaper. In many cases, politics and scandal dominate the news scene regardless of how large the readership is. It is the same on Kean’s campus. But under the political influence and constant disagreements between administrators and faculty that’s spread on campus, there are gems. This month’s issue kicks off a series called “I am Kean,â€? which profiles three people who embody the ambitious spirit rooted in the foundations of the university. t "O BMVNOVT XIPTF TVDDFTT JO IJT QSPGFTTJPOBM ĂŤFME TUBSUFE BU UIF GPPUCBMM ĂŤFME XIFO ,FBO XBT TUJMM Newark State College.

Department of Communication Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0460; Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: thetower@kean.edu; www.keantower.com

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.

These people are not caught up in the volatile nature of the campus that usually fuels the content for the newspaper. These people took advantage of Kean—and some still are—and remember fondly how the university shaped their lives. If anything besides a good read, these stories show how the right college environment can foster someone’s own intuitive spirit. There’s nothing about NCAA scandals, funding problems with the KFT, or Dawood Farahi in these stories. They are people, just like you and me, who are doing something worth mentioning so they get the spotlight. Maybe their 15 minutes of fame starts now. Stephanie Musat Editor in Chief thetower@kean.edu@keantower

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By Nicole Marie Padinha While watching Dr. Oz the other day, I rapidly took notes as he introduced some magical herb that when added into our meals, could cut our calorie intake in half. However, when he cut to a commercial break, my mouth began salivating as the newest double-bacon-heart-attack-on-a-bun from Burger King rolled across the screen. Thirty seconds later, Dr. Oz is back on his rant about how fast food is the devil and we should all cook our meals at home. I look at the clock and it’s half-past 11; if I don’t leave now I’ll never make it to class in time‌ so much for packing lunch. Even though the media drills images of disproportionately thin women, and super ripped beefcakes as attractive human beings, they still try to convince you to go to Taco Bell to buy a $5 Big Box meal because it’s a ‘great deal’. We all know it’s easier to buy fast food. Heck, just this afternoon I as I was rushing to class, I walked into the UC dining hall and purchased my chicken salad and a medium iced tea (something I could have easily made at home) for a whopping $8.50! Every time you step into the UC, Cougar’s Den, or any lovely dinner off campus, and you buy that seemingly harmless whole-wheat tuna wrap with fries, your hard-earned money is going down the drain. Livingsocial.com released a survey that claims that the average American eats about 5 dine-in, or fast food meals each week! That’s can add up to 250 meals each year! That’s money that you could be spending on a gym membership, a new pair of shoes, or even on gas. If you spend $8 on fast food every day, within a week, that amounts to roughly $56, or even $224 a month!

Ăˆ@= PFL JG<E; / FE =8JK =FF; <M<IP ;8P# N@K?@E 8 N<<B# K?8K 8DFLEKJ KF IFL>?CP ,-# FI <M<E ))+ 8 DFEK? É The thought of how many pairs of Steve Madden pumps I could buy, by simply brown bagging it is enough to get me into an apron. So what can we do to fill our bellies and not empty our wallets? How can we eat healthier without breaking the bank? The answer, my friends, is cooking. An article in The New York Times, states that the age old concept of ‘McDonald’s being cheaper than cooking a healthy meal at home’ is simply propaganda we lazy Americans put into our minds to get out of the tedious task of cooking. As a matter of fact it isn’t cheaper to eat these unhealthy foods. The photo shows that an order for a family of four — two Big Macs, one cheeseburger, six chicken McNuggets, two medium and two small fries, and two medium and two small sodas — costs about $28. Whereas, a meal of chicken, potatoes and salad with toast and milk not only has better nutritional value, but costs half as much, only $14. Sure many of us ‘don’t have the time’ to cook, while we rush to work or class. After all, time is money, right? But should your hard earned coin be going towards wraps, salads, or other foods you can easily prepare at home? Chefs such as Rachael Ray, host of ’30 Minute Meals’ on the Food Network, shows us how easy it can be to make tasty, nutritious meals at home in less time than it takes to go out to eat. More importantly, unlike fast food, meals at home can be prepared ahead of time, or even in excess, to accommodate busy week schedules. Come on, a little leftovers never hurt anyone. So, next time you find yourself lusting over that new iPhone, coveting thy neighbor’s new Michael Kor’s bag, or crying because you don’t have enough cash to fill up your gas tank, remember that tuna wrap you bought for lunch every day last week. It may have filled up your belly, but I’m sure a couture handbag lasts longer than 24 hours.

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THE TOWER

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October | November 2011

Stephanie Skirvin

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

F::LGP N8CC JKI<<K1 K?@J @J N?8K ĂŠ;<DF:I8:PĂ‹ CFFBJ C@B< By Zachary B. Lynch If you haven’t heard about it by now, then you just aren’t paying attention. Occupy Wall Street is an ongoing movement in New York City that started on September 17 and just celebrated it’s one1 month anniversary. As a matter of fact, it is still going on as you are reading this right now. The occupants who have settled in Zuccotti Park in New York, sleep on the ground and have fashioned themselves a kitchen, medical team, sanitation unit, media center, art center, general assembly area and even a library in order to keep the operation running smoothly. Although OWS built it’s foundation, social sites such as Facebook and Twitter These protests are centered around not only government corruption, but the excessive influence of ‘big business’ and the (wealthy) 1 percent on U.S. laws.. The participants protest social and economic inequality, corporate greed, and the powerful influence of corporations. In order to truly grasp what’s going on down there I ventured out to NYew CYork and got in the mix right away. I spoke to people, got involved and observed the happenings of Zuccotti Park. I even sat in at one of the generally assemblies; listening to a speaker whose speech echoed throughout the park. His voice amplified by not a machine, but by his fellow occupants due to the fact that megaphones require a permit to handle. This alone was awe-inspiring. The collective unit of people working as one, repeating the sentences of the speaker, such that everyone could hear and interact with the words resonating in the air. As unorganized and overly ambitious, Occupy Wall Street may seem, ironically it’s quite the opposite. Not only is it highly organized, but a noble way to understand the plights and problems of the American people. Everyday there are meetings held in a public forum. At these meetings everyone is encouraged to talk and bring up topics for debate. In fact, I opened a discussion on the NYPD’s “Stop and Friskâ€? policy, which exploit people on the streets, and how occupants can work together to help change this. It was an elaborate discussion, which resulted in

TOWER PUBLICATION SCHEDULE FALL 2011: Sep. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 8 SPRING 2012: Feb. 9, Mar. 1, Mar. 29, Apr. 19

Ăˆ8 :FDDFE D@J:FE:<GK@FE 89FLK K?< GIFK<JKJ @J K?< =8:K K?8K K?<P 8I<EĂ‹K 89FLK 8 J@E>LC8I >IFLG F= G<FGC<2 K?<P @EMFCM< <M<IPFE< <HL8CCP%É like you’re at home and welcome you in with open arms. There is finally a movement where I can put my faith into whole-heartedly. There are people who I can actually attach faces to and interact with at my leisure, not some bourgeois politician campaigning on the television. These are people like me that actually want to discuss contemporary issues in a liberal setting, without regard for wWhat you look like or the amount of money in your pocket. They care about the words that come out of your mouth. They believe the everyday person is the foundation of the American economic structure. In order to combat economic instability and governmental injustice the people of America have stood up and taken a direct action in there Democratic government by assembling in public spaces to list there grievances and to talk to there fellow man in general assemblies, where everyone is referred to as brothers and sisters. The people of Occupy Wall Street are coming together in this humanist movement in order to figure out how to make this world a better, more fair, and just place for everyone to live in together.

?FN D8EP J<O G8IKE<IJ 8I< KFF D8EP6 By Dasia Brown “How high of a number is too high when it comes to sexual partners?�-Mr. Sex Talk Like the new movie “What’s your Number� starring Anna Faris and Chris Evans, the topic of the number of sexual partners between females and males has been talked about for years. Sex is seen everywhere throughout our society and has been a big impact on young adults and peoples’ perception on what sex is and how it should be handled. According to a survey by the University of Arizona, “89 percent of undergrads who have had sex reported two or fewer partners during the last year and 33 percent of undergraduate students claimed to be virgins.� When it comes to the number of sex partners that a woman has compared to a man, there’s a double standard. If a woman has too many meaning normally more than three in some people’s opinion she is considered to be loose but, when a man on the other hand has that number or more he’s “THE MAN�. “How high of a number is too high when it comes to sexual partners?’ is at the end of the day up to the person that is going to either accept or reject the person that he or

she may be into based on their comfort zone. In fact, when you really examine this question there’s really no clear answer that I could give. I can’t give you that two is too high or that 100 is. According to MSNBC Sexual Health “the median number of lifetime female sexual partners for men was seven and for males sexual partners for females was four.� Knowing some ones sexual partner numbers is always going to be a situation that you will never really know the truth about. You just have to be willing to trust that the person is being honest. From there you could decide what’s too high and what’s not. What really needs to be questioned is have you ever been tested for HIV or STDs? And an adding factor is that not everyone in college is having sex; sometimes because you’re not that makes your number to less and you become just as set apart as the boy or girl who has too many sex partners deciding on your standards. If you have any questions or concerns about anything that you would like advice about please send an email to thetower@kean.edu. I will advise you the best way I know how, with truth, Remember it’s strictly anonymous!

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a consensus to march on Oct. 22 and show their support for changing this policy. When I took a step back, I realized how beautiful it all was. They are ordinary people like you and me, with something to contribute to society. Collaboratively, they are coming together to listen to issues in order to assess them and try to figure how to put in a plan of action to fix them. One of the most awesome aspects of the protests is the fact that at any given moment you can eat for free, no strings attached, just the audible thank you is enough to please the organizers of the protest. They want to make you feel

By Dr. Josh Palgi It was the article in the Star-Ledger headlined “Waiting for his match� on Saturday, October 8 that inspired me to write this article. The article is about Robert Buckley, a 20-year-old heart transplant candidate at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Robert is a former football player and wrestler. He has been waiting for a new heart for nearly 60 days. While he is waiting he relies on a mechanical heart pump that has already failed once because of a blood clot. There are 346 people between the ages of 18 and 34 awaiting heart transplants in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Robert is optimistic that an acceptable donor will be found. However, Mark Zucker, director of the transplant program said it may not be easy. t .PSF UIBO QFPQMF OFFE lifesaving organ transplants in the United States, 1,784 are pediatric patients. t " UPUBM PG PSHBOT XFSF USBOTplanted because donors gave the gift of life. t *O B UPUBM PG QBUJFOUT died while waiting for organ trans-

plants in the U.S. (about 18 people a day) t "MNPTU QFSDFOU PG QFPQMF XBJUJOH for organ transplants are between the ages of 18 and 49. So should the above statistics keep Robert optimistic? The extraordinary human and medical progression, which is accelerating in recent decades and taking us toward a world in which we can help each other in ways those previous generations could never imagine. Organ allocation policies are designed as equitable as possible while making the best use of the limited number of organ donors. Race, gender, religion, social economic status, or personal behavior history are not taken into account in organ allocation policy. Organ allocation policy gives every transplant candidate an opportunity at receiving the organ they need in a time of need. Despite continuing advances in medicine and technology, the need for organ and tissue is vastly greater than the number available for transplantation. Despite continuing efforts at public education, misconceptions and inaccuracies about donations persist. Learning the facts can help better understand organ donation. While it is important to talk about end

of life decisions, including organ donation, it is becoming more common to donate organs and partial organs while living. Kidneys are the most common organs donated by living; other organs that are donated include a lobe of lung, partial liver, and pancreas or intestine. While many people are willing to be living donors, not everyone has the qualities necessary to participate in living donation, Donations must be done carefully in order to avoid outcomes that are medically and psychologically unsatisfactory. Individuals considered for living donation are usually between the ages of 18- 60 years of age. Gender and race are not factors in determining a successful match. Donate Life America is a not-for-profit alliance of national organizations and state teams across the United States committed to increasing organ, eye and tissue donation. Donate Life of America manages, promotes and executes effective multimedia donor education programs to motivate the American public to register as donors. Contact information: Donate Life of America 701 E Byrd St 16th floor

Richmond, V.A. 23219 804 377 3580 Donatelifeofamerica@donatelife.net The fourth annual National Donor Designation Report Card show 94.7 million people were enrolled in state donor registration at the end of 2010. (36.5 percent increase since 2007). Nationwide, 40 percent of people age 18 and older have registered as donors. Interestingly enough, 31 percent of adults would be more likely to register if the decision was not shown on their driver’s license. This figure is equally high among adults who wish to donate all their organs and those who are undecided (both 34 percent). The driver’s license issue is not a concern for those who do not wish to donate. (7 percent). According to a new survey by Donate Life America, 45 percent of people are undecided, reluctant, or do not wish to have their organs and tissue after their death. So learn the facts and support organ, eye, and tissue donation and see it as the final act of love and generosity toward fellow human beings. Dr. Palgi is a Professor in the Physical Education, Recreation, and Health Department.

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THE TOWER

THE TOWER

Drugstore dupes for high end products

Don’t know what to do with your life? There is help at Kean

October | November 2011

By Brittany Irvine Though Nars’ Orgasm blush, a shimmery peachy-pink blendable cheek color, was named a “best beauty buy� in 2011 by “InStyle Magazine,� at $27, it is a little steep. Especially if you wear the blush daily, it runs out much faster than if it’s not your everyday blush. The soft texture and application of this blush is hard to match, but check out e.l.f. blush in, Mellow Mauve. This blush is only $3! You might think that it couldn’t possibly be a quality item, but you’d be wrong. For an easy fake-out for your natural-looking flush, e.l.f. is the way to go. All of their other products are on www.eyeslipsface.com and come in a variety of colors and they even have gift sets. If you don’t feel like spending $15 on M.A.C.’s Fluidline Gel Liner, check out Maybelline. Maybelline’s Eye Studio Gel Liner is probably one of their best-kept

secrets. (Which explains why it’s usually sold out at my local Target.) Sometimes, I have to admit, I like the texture and application of this liner better. Check out this product for $8.49 at any drugstore near you, the precision will astound you. Now don’t get me wrong, I love the classic Zoom Lash from M.A.C. What I don’t love about it is the $15 price tag. If

Premiere Stages looking for script submissions Kean University is accepting submissions to the 8th Annual Premiere Stages Play Festival from Premiere Stages, the professional theater company that is located at the university. The competition for unproduced scripts offers developmental opportunities to four playwrights that were born or presently living in the metropolitan area of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut.

along with helping other playwrights display their talent by reaching out to other theaters and to start securing productions for long-term successful outcome. Throughout its seven seasons, the festival has produced over 25 plays. The most recent productions included “Follow Me to Nellie’s� by Dominique Morisseau, starring Lynda Gravatt, of television’s Law and Order and James Christy’s “Egyptian Song,� the 2011 Runner-Up.

Ăˆ8 )#''' I<N8I; 8E; 8 =LCC <HL@KP GIF;L:K@FE @E B<8EĂ‹J GI<D@<I< JK8><J )'() J<8JFE N@CC 9< 8N8I;<; KF K?< N@EE<I%É A $2,000 reward and a full Equity production in Kean’s Premiere Stages 2012 season will be awarded to the winner. Second place will receive $750 and an Equity workshop in June. Finally, Staged Readings in March and a cash prize of $500 will go to two other writers in participation. In addition, Premiere Stages acknowledges future success for festival writers

A current National New Play Network nominee, and 2010 winner “The Good Counselor� by Kathryn Grant, which was the runner up for the 2011 American Theatre Critics Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ ATCA New Play Award, was also featured as part of the line-up. compiled by Justine Clini

I am feeling like I need some more mascara and want to try something new or more affordable, I will hands down go for Loreal’s Voluminous line. Voluminous Carbon Black and Voluminous Million Lashes are two of my absolute favorite drugstore mascaras. The combination of them on your eyelashes is perfection. Carbon Black will

give you gorgeous volume, while Million Lashes separates for a curled effect. Each one is about $7 and purchasing both together is still less than one M.A.C. mascara. One of my absolute favorites for the fall, well, actually anytime, is the Naked Palette for eyes by Urban Decay. The palette costs about $48 and is an amazing investment. There are deep hues to use for a smoky eye effects and neutrals for every day. For a much lower cost, check out Revlon’s CustomEyes line in, “Naturally Glamorous.� This beautiful array of colors will let you create your own looks just like the Naked Palette for just around $8. So, if you’re ever feeling like it’s time to replace your high-end products with some sweet drugstore fake-outs, go ahead and indulge. Think about it, you’ll be able to buy more and experience more variety in your makeup styles. Saving a few bucks never felt so good.

JKL;<EK FI> (Continued from page 1) it has been years since the bylaws have been brought up to date,� said Olushola Brown, the treasurer of Student Org. A committee led by Thompson is currently looking into a detailed strategic plan to get a more updated document of bylaws and a constitution for vote by the end of the semester, he said. “By coming up with a strategic plan, we’ll be able to create specific mission goals and a clear set of guidelines for Student Org. that will be brought up to date with all of our student’s needs,� Thompson said. “We’re very proud of what we’re doing here.� After several attempts to get information about student government, Stephanie Faser, a Kean employee who serves as Student Org director, commented that the whole process has been proceeding very well and that the group hopes to bring the new set of bylaws to a vote by the end of November. However, getting a copy of the current set of bylaws for Student Org. is not easy. The links that direct students to Student Org.’s bylaws on the main Kean website are broken and lead to error messages. Student Org. representatives said there is a copy on the group’s website, but the bylaws are short and don’t offer a comprehensive outline of their rules and regulations. In comparison, a visit to Montclair

State University immediately yielded a more transparent response. When asked, the student government office produced a 63-page document entitled “Statutes of The Student Government Association of Montclair State University Incorporated,� which contained the bylaws and a detailed constitution outlining everything from the structure of the association to detailed financial policies, was freely given out. Montclair’s current student government vice president, Jarred Shababb, also freely gave out his contact information out freely and encouraged students to contact him. Similarly, William Paterson University provides easy access on its website with updated documents of their student government’s bylaws and constitution. Thompson said that Kean’s student government has looked at other schools as a model to see how they can create a constitution and a set of bylaws that work for the students, staff, and other departments. Thompson made it clear that getting more information out to Kean’s student body is something they are making a top priority. “We realize that we don’t have a lot of PR (public relations),� he said. “This has been a problem in the past and it is something we are actively working to fix.�

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By Andrea Edwards Often times, students are at a loss as to what subject to major in. The dilemma is hardly a new one, but one that further complicates the quest to finding the right career-path that matches their likes and passion. But for Kean University students, finding the right major or career path need not be that difficult. All one simply have to do, is to take advantage of any one or perhaps all three assessment test offered at the Center for Career Development and Advancement (CDA), which sits diagonally across from the one-stop desk in the CAS building. As a senior slated for graduation in May, I was—well, shock to learn that this service had been available to me all along. Certainly, like so many other countless students scurrying by to make the next class, I’ve past it a thousand times. Frankly, not once did it every occurred to me to see what was inside, nor do I ever recall seeing any literature, posters or the like, aimed at persuading me to come in an sit a spell, they are there; displayed in a glass case just outside the entrance. It wasn’t until a few short weeks ago, when a new marketing professor of mine alerted the class that such evaluation is made available to all students of Kean. Now, intrigued with what I now knew to be behind room 123, it quickly became the somewhere I needed to be. Upon arriving at my destination, I was greeted by a warm, welcoming lady name Caroline, who after learning what brought me to the CDA—patiently explained the purpose of each assessment as well as what I could expect to get from each of the three assessment. On the day of my assessment, I was greeted by another woman who, like Car-

oline was just as professional and polite. Caroline was not available now she stated, but that she would start me off with my first assessment. Each evaluation is designed to help students uncover their likes and dislikes, and how they perceive and make decisions. On a broader note, the main pur-

“Spring Awakening,� one of the most controversial theatrical works of the Nineteenth Century, comes to life on stage at Kean University’s Wilkins Theater, beginning the second week of November. Directed by Holly Logue and choreographed by Michele Mossay, “Spring Awakening� depicts the lives of self-discovering teens living in 1891 Germany. The production will be held in Wilkins Theatre, November 11-13, 16-19, and on November 17, there will be a question and answer period with the cast and creative team after the show. The production may not be suitable children under the age of 15. “Spring Awakening,� by Frank Wedekind was taken and turned into a modern rock-opera by Steven Sater. Although Wedekind published the work in 1891, it was not performed on stage until 1906, due to its theme of sexual “awakening� among young adults in Germany. Director Holly Logue chose “Spring Awakening� because the contemporary rock-opera was very different from plays that have recently been produced on

star. Pleased with the result of the first, my soul-searching quest lead to yet another evaluation and by this time, Caroline was back. Sitting directly beside me Caroline proceed to give me the complete run-down about the “test� I am about to take. “Now

Ăˆ@E$FK?<I$NFI;J# >F N@K? PFLI >LK# 8E; ;FEĂ‹K KIP KF 9<:FD< 8 9<KK<I G<IJFE%É poses are to understand your strengths and the kind of careers best suited to that profile. The CDA offers a career assessment also known as Career/Occupational Preference System (COP), which matches your interest within a selection of occupation, i.e., Science, Technology, Business: finance/ management/promotion, Computation, Outdoor occupations, Communication: Written/Oral, and the Arts. This was to be my first evaluation on my mission to see whether or not the result of the test would match my own internal beliefs about who I know myself to be. As an older student with many years in the workforce, now pursuing what I believe to be my “passion (writing);â€? the result of the test only confirmed for me, what it had taken me decades to be convinced of. It also showed some strong interest in the areas of business management, all of which were dead on. Knowing myself to be an entrepreneur at heart, who very much enjoys business, I thought okay—evaluation number one gets a gold

“Spring Awakening� set to open at Kean University By Ziana Keith

October | November 2011

campus. Logue also said another reason behind the choice of production was its relevance to college students. Logue is not only the director of the play, but is also the chairperson of Kean University’s Theatre Department. “The Department of Theatre always works to provide exposure to a variety of genres for both our students and our audiences,� Logue said. “In training students of theatre, it is important that they become familiar with a wide range of theatrical literature, theatrical repertoire. When selecting the musical, I went back over the past four or five years of musicals we have produced, and decided that it was time for a rock-opera,� she added. Logue is currently the Acting Dean of Kean’s College of Visual and Performing Arts after joining the faculty in 1984. She has directed over 50 productions throughout NY and NJ. For more information about the production, contact Kean University’s Theater Department at (908) 737- (SHOW) 7469.

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this next test is the Myers-Brigg Type Indictor (MBTI).� “It access how you receive and process information, your approach to life and others.� This will be helpful in finding careers best suited for your personality type Caroline said. She continues, “for example, if you’re extroverted v. introverted—you likely have an high energy level, Sensing v. Intuition—you do well taking in information, thinking v. feeling—you are a decision maker, and judging v. perceiving—means that you’re good at handling situations.� Caroline looks me in the eye and in the most pleasant of tone tell me to take my time; that there are no wrong answer, and in the most motherly of ways says, “in-other-words, go with your gut, and don’t try to become a better person.� So, after resisting the urge to become a better person than I already knew myself to be, I sat with Carolyn once again to go over the results of my MBTI evaluation. Carolyn explains that the characteristics are separated into four parts, each containing two opposite personality traits.

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Now, from the eight characteristics stemming from the four opposites, each are given an assigned letter and are then arranged in a combination of 16 personality types that based upon your answer during the evaluation, will determine the characteristic frequently associated with your personality type. “You are an INTJ� Carolyn says. I (Introversion): prefers to focus on the inner world of ideas and impressions, N (Intuition): tend to focus on the future, with a view toward patterns and possibilities, T (Thinking): tend to base your decisions primarily on logic and on objective analysis of cause and effect, J (Judging): you like a planned and organized approach to life and prefer to have things settled. Carolyn then proceeds to hand me a pamphlet containing, every, conceivable information associated with my type (INTJ). I move on to the snapshot that says, You are perhaps the most fiercely independent and skeptical of the 16 types and are single-minded and determined in pursuit of your vision despite any skepticism or opposition that you may face. Frank Sinatra’s “My Way� is your theme song. Further, add icing to the cake, it goes on to say, “Your type is one of the four most likely to rise to the top of large and complex organizations.� I could continue, but as I began to feel myself swiftly becoming a better person— a far more sensible side of myself, that cautions me to stop at once. All evaluations are on an ongoing basis within the CDA office. All interested student only need go to the office and schedule an appointment, for one or all three. As mentioned on their pamphlet, “It’s no magic bullet.� However, what it can do is to help you confirm, highlight or help direct you on a clearer path.

Meet, drink and be Scary at the Harwood Arena Instead of sitting home and watching scary movies or even scarier—football, why not try something different this year on the eve before Halloween? Come to Harwood Arena for the “Meet, Drink and Be Scary� event from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. , Sunday Oct. 30 Sample wines, beers and champagnes in costume and even enter to win a free vacation or various door prizes through The Star Ledger’s Travel Show and Bridal Extravaganza, which will also be there. There will be prizes given out for fun-

niest, scariest and best costume, so make sure you go all out. Not to mention just showing up in costume, gets you a free souvenir pilsner or wine sampling glass. Check out Groupon.com for a reduced rate on two admissions. The $15 coupon gets you two admissions, 28 drink sampling tickets and one free glass. If you want to pay at the door, it’s still $15 but you get less drink tickets. Compiled by Ana Ferrer

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THE TOWER

THE TOWER

NBA lockout threatens rest of basketball season

Kean Cougars clinch Homecoming win

October | November 2011

By Justin West If you’re a fan of the National Basketball Association then you have every right to panic. The reason being is because the NBA is currently in a lockout. On July 1, the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement expired. The first two weeks of the season have already been canceled and if the players and owners don’t agree on a new deal soon the entire season will be canceled. The collective bargaining agreement is the legal contract between the league

and the players association that sets up the rules for which they all operate. It relates to the salary cap, which regulates how much each team can spend on their players, it sets up the rules for trading between teams and, it also regulates the NBA draft and free agency. The league cannot function without one. According to Yahoo Sports, The NBA owners are trying to get a 50-50-percentage split of all basketball-related revenue. The players want around a 53-47 split lower than the 57 percent than the last collective bargaining agreement. The

NBA commissioner David Stern said “the gap is so significant that we just can’t bridge it at this time.” NBA players association executive Billy Hunter says “there are certain things that we must have and that makes a lost season a possibility.” The players seem to stand firm on getting what they want. ESPN has recently reported that some NBA players are planning a six game world tour to showcase their basketball skills abroad, during what would be the first two weeks of the season.

There has even been talk of the players forming an alternate league. NBA superstar Lebron James recently tweeted to a National Football League analyst “when is the deadline for a team to sign a free agent.” Numerous NBA players have blamed David Stern for the lockout. According to ESPN, David Stern along with the NBA players association and owners of the NBA recently sat down with a federal mediator for about 30 hours within a threeday time span and no deal was reached.

INTERVIEW: Football Coach, players agree team’s toughest opponent is itself DG: Us. Our second toughest has been Wesley. They were talented, fast, strong and big. They were probably the best team that we will see on film or on the field that we will see all season. The final score of that game was 31-28. What did 5-0 mean to you? DG: to

get

to

6-­‐0

because

the

target

gets

bigger. Who has stepped up this year in a big way?

By Eric Haftel The Tower sat down with football Coach Dan Garret, Quarterback Thomas D’Ambrisi- and Running Back Chris DiMicco to talk about the success of the season so far. The team is 5-1, after Kean suffered their first defeat of the season as the College at Brockport upset Kean 28-20 Oct. 15.

What was the best season before this season?

Dan Garrett: In 2009, we were 9-2. The record is 7-0; do you think have a chance to get there?

DG: We have chance to get to 6-0 first, we worry about one at a time. I’m not even worried about whose number seven because we Photos: have Laurato Urban get six. You said that you haven’t played your best football yet and you haven’t played a full four quarters, why? DG: I think we start out slow and work the kinks out during the game. I think our guys perform best under

pressure. We have won in all three different phases; offense, defense and special teams, but I don’t know why we haven’t played a full game with that effort that we need. We just need to be consistent with our execution. On every play, we need 11 guys working as one. What has made your team go 5-1 so far? DG: Heart, perseverance, character, will, determination, our team chemistry is phenomenal, our leadership in the locker room is phenomenal. Those are all the things that have enabled us to be 5-1. This season who has been your toughest opponent?

Tom D’Ambrizi: T.J. Denehy. Our offensive line did what I expected. It’s a veteran OL led by our center James Pratt who is unreal. T.J. has set the tone for the way we practice, from the way we stretch, to the way we’re going through our team and our plays. When it comes game time, clutch time, fourth quarter last week, he’s the one to go to. What do you think is something that hurt each one of you last week? TD: I had some bad balls that I threw that I missed, some dropped balls on our team, so the hardest thing holding in that frustration and staying composed. Staying composed and keeping our guys together and making them step up and making myself step up. I think that is something that was hard but in the end it got it done for us.

Hearing that 5-0 is only the second time it’s ever happened, is it special to you? TD: Right now, it’s a dream come true but being 5-0 makes me want to work that much harder. It makes me realize that something that I want so bad is right here. Even though we’re number 10 in the country there are still nine other teams that we have to outwork every day. Being number 10 in the country, being 5-0, all that means that is we got to act like it, we got to prepare like it, we got to practice like it, we have to take it to the next level. We’re on the map and we want to stay on the map. CD: Like coach said, the target gets bigger and bigger each week so every team is going to bring their best game against us. Who has been the toughest opponent for you two? CD: As coach said its ourselves. We need to stay consistent and play every quarter as a team. Position wise, I would have to say Wesley. They were talented up front, big guys who could move. TD: Wesley definitely had the most talent on the field but we were well prepared. I also had a lot of trouble against TCNJ. They kind of confused me and I struggled in that game. I think they definitely brought the toughest secondary.

Chris DiMicco: I fumbled so I just had to have a short-term memory. I just tried not to think about it after I did it.

:FL>8IJ (Continued from page 15) That issue remains unresolved; Kean is scheduled to appear before an NCAA hearing in March, after which a decision is expected some four to six weeks later. The scholarship allegations are against Kean for giving too many scholarships, which the NCAA has rules about, and are not against the students who received the awards. The recipients met the Dorsey Scholarship requirements of a 3.0 GPA and a score of 1100 on the SAT’s. “In order to get that scholarship you have to be a very good student and that’s what all the student athletes that got it, they exceeded those numbers, ” University spokesperson Matthew Caruso said. Players questioned about the order de-

clined to discuss it, and one said teams were told not to talk to the press. Caruso, however, said there is no gag order. According to Athletic Director Chris Morgan, banning post-season play for those teams was the only solution that would be accepted by the NCAA, and he was not happy to do it. However, he said Kean took the necessary steps that it was expected to take. “It was a significant blow to a lot of student athletes who didn’t deserve it, but based on what the NCAA says what we’re suppose to do and how we correct administrative oversight, this was the course of action that we’re expected to take,” he said.

Several of the athletes and their parents met with the athletic director and President Dawood Farahi in a private meeting after the self-imposed ban was made. Caruso said that the main issue with the Dorsey scholarship dates back to several years, and that the teams are being penalized for something that they had no control over. “It’s a heart wrenching thing it really is,” said Caruso. “You sit there and see the looks and see the tears on the student athletes faces for something that they really didn’t have any control over. They’re being penalized for being some of the best students that we have at the university; it’s a terrible thing for them.”

Over at the women’s soccer team, the news was hard to take at first, but according to Coach Brian Doherty the team continues to move forward. “Well it’s disappointing but after you process it you move on you have a job to do,” said Doherty. “You still get to go play soccer and do what you love so we try to stay positive as a team. Clearly they weren’t happy when it happened, but sometimes things you don’t want to happen, happen.” Doherty said he only knows the details that were in the university’s press release. He believes that the university and the athletics department are taking the steps necessary so that the situation

By Quashon Davis On a bright sunny autumn day, it appeared as if there wasn’t going to be much offense for Kean at the annual homecoming game. The Cougars and visiting Morrisville State College couldn’t move the ball at all for the first 10 minutes. And then Kean’s Darius Kinney showed up. The junior running back ripped off a 55-yard touchdown run on Kean’s third possession. This got the momentum going for Kean’s team, who took the win over Morrisville 26-13. He followed that up with a 20-yard touchdown catch to start the second quarter. Coming off a three -eek high ankle sprain injury, the humble back gave all the credit to his offensive line. “The team believed in me.” Kinney said. “ They told me to run hard, and that’s what I did. The offensive line opened up great holes all day for me.” Kinney ended the day with 177 yards on just 13 carries. Kinney posted the numbers in front of

October | November 2011

15

the largest crowd the team has seen this season, as part of the Homecoming Celebration. At halftime, the Kean team left the field with a 13-0 score. Morrisville State tried to make a game of it, but they couldn’t stop the Cougar offensive drives.

ÈN< <O<:LK<; 9<KK<I% N< I8E K?< 98CC N<CC 8E; ;@;EËK ><K 8 CFK F= G<E8CK@<J%É Photo: Stephanie Musat

With 8:47 left in the fourth quarter, Kean put the game away and secured the win in front of a cheering crowd when quarterback Tom D’Ambrisi hit wide receiver T.J. Denehy with a 16-yard touchdown pass. D’Ambrisi completed 14-of-23 passes for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Kean Football defeated Morrisville State College in the annual Homecoming game 26-13. Coach Dan Garrett was proud of his team after the game, and praised their effort. “We executed better.” He said. “We ran the ball well and didn’t get a lot of penalties.” The win locked in a 6-1 record for the

team, which is on its way to beating the previous best record, held in 1974. Kean will host Rowan University in the team’s final regular season home game on October 29. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

beneficial that they have installed more blue emergency lights around the residence halls, said McCarson. “I feel safer from last year because of the amount of cops I see now and the new emergency stations provided,” said resident of Kean University for more than three years, Hannah Byrom. Although the police department has taken action in decreasing some of the crime rates, some Kean students still say it’s not enough. Student resident Lauren Kusik said last fall semester when she had to leave campus at 3:30 a.m. to get to her internship at 4 a.m. that she would call campus police every morning to pick her up and take her to her car. “In order to feel safe I need to go out of my way and ask for assistance,” she said. “I think the campus police needs to make more of a presence when it gets dark out rather than the unnecessary over abundance when it is bright and sunny during the middle of the day,” said Kusik. Another student who lived on campus for three years does not feel safe with the amount of security she sees at night. Prior to getting attacked on campus last year by someone under the influence of drugs and alcohol, she thought Kean University had good security. “I’m not as scared during week days, but Thursday nights I will not walk around campus alone. I keep my keys in between my fingers of a hand, if i need to hit. I also now have pepper spray, which I keep out ready to use on my way to the parking lots,” said student JoAnne Small. She also commented on the specific security she sees on campus. “I still don’t see as many cops at night when they are needed. In the parking lots the security in the booth barely keeps the blinds open. They say there are cameras but cameras just record it, not stop it,” said Small. The police department added one new

officer since last year. The department has a staff of 49, including 15 police officers, two detectives, one detective sergeant, six sergeants, two lieutenants, one associate director and one chief, according to Kean spokesman Stephen Hudik. “The Kean University Police practices a community approach to policing, which emphasizes building relationships with all constituencies on campus so as to better understand specific needs and concerns,” said Hudik.

The police department is involved in training initiatives with local county task forces. Some include the domestic violence and sexual assault response teams that provide expertise and services for crime victims, according to Hudik. “The Kean University Police work closely with the local law enforcement authorities at the local and county levels in efforts to promote awareness and to reduce criminal activity on campus,” said Hudik.

:I@D< I8K<J (Continued from page 1) has to do with the police and student body being vigilant on campus and reporting any suspicions right away to campus police.” said the Director of Campus Police, Adam Shubsda. Only, motor vehicle theft—which went from one to five—and aggravated assault, which grew from zero to three, showed an increase. There was no explanation provided from the school as to why this might be but precautions are taking place. He said as the university expands, the police’s responsibilities have grown as well. More security cameras have been installed since last year and there are now more security patrols in the security booths every afternoon, and most evenings in the parking lots such as the Vaughn Eames and the Stem building lots, said Shubsda. The bulk of the crimes reported involve people who are not students here, and incidents do not necessarily represent students’ behavior, explained Shubsda. “I am impressed with the student conduct I’ve seen at Kean,” he said. “The RA’s (resident advisors) and RHD’s (resident hall directors) promote constructive behavior with the police and are trained to create awareness,” said Shubsda. One RA agreed. Brittany McCarson, RA of the new freshmen dorms, said the RAs have a strong relationship with the campus police and everyone works closely together to enforce Kean’s safety policies. She also said a new “advocate” room is available to residents to go if they ever feel unsafe. “This year the communication between the RA’s and campus police has really improved,” McCarson said. “We are trying to show the residents that campus police is on the student’s side and they do their best to protect us.” The security and campus police are more visible this year, she said, and it is

:FL>8IJ (Continued from page 14) doesn’t get any worse. “I know as much about it as you know,” said Doherty. “I don’t know any more and there’s a whole lot more that I’m sure went into them taking the steps that they felt they needed to take. I think that

they’re doing things so that the situation doesn’t get any worse. They don’t want it to get any worse. They want to get it resolved.” Justin West contributed to this report.

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THE TOWER

October | November 2011

JGFIKJ Runners still bitter after Track & Field Cut By Daniel Reyes The players and coaches of Kean University’s Track and Field still have a sour taste in their mouth, a year and a half after the athletic department decided to axe the team. In the spring of 2010, Kean University unilaterally ended to the Track and Field team, leaving team members and coaches alike disillusioned to the athletics department. The dissolving of the team came just one year after Kean decided to also close the Cross Country Team. Rolland Y, who transferred to Rutgers-Newark after the teams were removed, said the real reason there were less runners for the Cross-Country team was because of the coach. “It’s almost as if they wanted to cancel it but just couldn’t find the right time to, until runners didn’t want to come in because the coach… So they blamed it on the lack of runners when the real reason is that new runners did not want to run for a low level coach”. The decision to remove the track team, which was attributed to both budgetary concerns as well as not enough interest, was reached by former Athletic Director Glenn Hedden, who could not be reached for comment. According to the team, they were the last to know about the ruling. “There was a [New Jersey Athletic Conference] meeting going on and it was brought up then,” said one of the former coaches Michael Brito “One of my athletes knew someone that was at the meeting so that’s how I found out.” Brito, who asked various athletic personal if the news was

Kean men’s basketball faces tough schedule without leading scorer By Ryan Gaydos

Photo: courtesy of Kevin Paiva

Kevin Paiva at a TCNJ meet in 2009. true, was told no. “I must have heard it 10 different times during the entire year, but we were only told when the season ended,” he said “It left a nasty taste in your mouth that they would lie and hold that kind of info.” “I was told it was budgeting but what makes no sense is that Mr. Hedden never had told anyone,” said Ashwin Anantharaman, captain of the track team “he just told [a runner] who actually was on the track ‘why are you still practicing I cut the track program.’ It really just

makes no sense that he never told our coaches anything about cutting us.” Kevin Paiva, a distance runner with plans to return to the Track and Field team for the 2010-2011 season found out through the grapevine that the team was no more. “Track was a big part of my life and it was sad to see it go and on the year that I was intending to return to it. It was also really disappointing to see it go especially with the group of dedicated individuals that it had.”

The Kean Cougars are looking to continue their success coming off from their 2010-11 campaign when they almost defeated New Jersey City University in the semi-finals of the NJAC tournament to get into the NCAA Division III tournament field. Kean finished with a great record of 18-8 and a conference record of 10-3. The Cougars are at least losing one player to graduation and that is forward Jonathan Jones from Linden N.J. Last year, Jones led the team with 23.9 points per game. He dominated the glass with 13.7 points per game as well. Jones will surely be missed and the rest of the young Cougar team will have to step up. Kean does bring back the No .2 and No. 3 leading scorers from last year in Michael Burton and Diego Gutierrez. Both players will have big shoes to fill if they want to try and match Jones’s numbers from last season. The Kean schedule is a hard one. They will have to play two

Photo: nj.com

Top scorer Jonathan Jones. tournaments on the road as well as facing the hard non-conference opponent in DeSales who went 20-9 last year and made it to the NCAA tournament. They will also have to take on the always-tough Montclair State on the road but they do get New Jersey City at home. Coach Rob Kurzinsky will try to guide his team to a second straight NJAC South Regular Season Title as well as their fifth NJAC tournament bid.

Key Games on the Schedule Nov. 18-19: Rotary/F&M Tip-Off Classic (Lancaster, PA) Dec. 12: @ DeSales Dec. 29-30: Kay Jewelers Coaches Classic (Ashland, VA) Jan. 7: @ Montclair State Jan. 16: @ College of Staten Island Jan. 28: vs. New Jersey City Feb. 1 vs. Rowan Feb. 15: vs. Stockton

GO COUGARS!

Kean Women’s Basketball expected to continue winning streak By: Darien Evans-Raines After another 20-win season and deep run in the NCAA Divison III Women’s Tournament, the Cougars plan to continue the trend. Since Michele Sharp has started coaching the Women’s Basketball team 13 years ago, Kean has become an elite Women’s Basketball team, with five consecutive NCAA Women’s Tournament appearances and huge seasons. Continuing this streak, the Kean Women’s Basketball Team is going have to do it without their All-American Tiffany Patrick. Tiffany Patrick was a huge part of last year’s campaign as she led the team in rebounding (8.8 rebounds a game) and blocks (52). This wasn’t the first time she was an All-American either. The season before she

was awarded the All-American nomination. Another spark plug for last year’s team was Angelica Bermudez, who has made it to the big leagues. Angelica was drafted by the Atléticas de San Germán. San German is a Puerto Rican team currently in the National Superior Basketball Female league. She now has a chance to play in the Summer Olympics for the Puerto Rican National Team. With these key star losses this year’s cougars will have to rely on fresh new blood and unproven commodities. For instance, Emily Cristaldi who was the NJAC Rookie of the Year and top Freshman scorer of the NJAC. We will see soon if Cristaldi can follow her big sister’s footsteps in either Patrick’s or Bermudez’s shoes.

Photo: Sportspagemagazine.com

Kean looks to pass ahead of the Sweet 16 this season.

On the bright side the core of the team is returning for an attempt at six straight NCAA Division III appearances. Starting Point Guard Naimah Clemons will have to lead this year’s cougars. Last season she was a good compliment to All-American Tiffany Patrick and Puerto Rican National Team Angelica Bermudez. Beat Prediction: With Simone Simon replacing Angelica Bermudez at center and the emergence of Emily Cristaldi Kean Women’s Basketball has a lot to look forward too. But this year I say they finally make it to the promise land, which is NCAA Tournament Finals for the first time ever in school history. For the last five years coach Sharp has gotten as far as the elite eight but she wasn’t able to get over the hump this year things will change.

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