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Journalist Soledad O’Brien addresses #MeToo movement at Distinguished Lecture Series By Jennifer Padilla Journalist, documentarian and producer Soledad O’Brien was the second speaker to launch Kean University’s Distinguished Lecture Series on Tuesday, March 20— discussing the #MeToo movement and what women face when coming forward with sexual harassment in the workplace. After posing for a picture with a group of Kean students at a pre-event, O’Brien joked, “See? I didn’t ‘accidentally grope’ somebody; no one said, ‘someone grabbed my butt’ [while taking this photo].” She began her speech with her first experience of sexual harassment, which was while doing a live stand up at a San Francisco sports bar-- she was groped as she stood in front of a group of drunk sports fans. “I told my boss, and I laughed it off, and he laughed it off,” said O’Brien. “He said, ‘it was your fault, you know better than to stand in a bar with your rear end exposed’.’’ The StarFish Media CEO shared her first #MeToo moment— attending a fancy dinner and sitting with reporters from CBS: “I was wearing a strapless, black dress... and a very, very famous anchorman began rubbing my shoulders and my chest,” she said. “I remember how embarrassed I was, and how ashamed I was.” But after twisting her body to discreetly interrupt the shoulder rubbing, O’Brien said the most embarrassing thing she had to do was “Smile really, really hard” to pretend in front of everyone that
everything was fine-- she just wanted to be hired. “The effort it took for me to telegraph that ‘this was no big deal’-- I look back at that with embarrassment,” said O’Brien. “Why does the discomfort always fall on the woman who’s being touched?” The mother of four said she wouldn’t have obtained her job if she had assertively tried to stop the anchorman from touching her. #MeToo is trying to figure out how to give voice and power back to women in these scenarios, added O’Brien. “It can’t remain just a hashtag,” she said. “And it can’t even remain as a conversation starter; we have to figure out what is the action. What are we trying to change?” A former co-worker had asked O’Brien for advice 20 years ago regarding sexual harassment at her place of work: “I tried to tell her the realest version of what would happen if she went to Human Resources: she will never work on TV again.” HR is often sided with the highperforming employees; they want to protect the company’s money and reputation, added O’Brien. “You will always be known as the woman who complained, and they will hold that against you.” Some forms of harassment are considered worse than others; for example, rape, or touching a “more unacceptable” body part, instead of her shoulders-- thus bringing up the topic of a spectrum: “It felt yucky [the anchor rubbing on her shoulders], but he wasn’t hurting me. So what should have happened to him? What should be the continued on page 6
Photo by Jennifer Padilla
Kean history Professor and Chairperson Dr. Elizabeth Hyde sits with O’Brien to discuss #MeToo and answer questions from the audience.
Conflict resolution class discusses gun violence in lieu of the Florida shooting By Lena Zhu The mass shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida hit home for Kean graduate student Susan Landsman, who is the mother of an eighth-grader. Landsman said her daughter has constant shooter drills in her school that involves knowing how to defend herself with a shooter. In these active shooter drills, everyone hides in the little corner away from the doors and windows and sit there until the loudspeaker announces the drill is over. “One office person hid under her desk for 20 minutes,” Landsman said, not hearing the announcement from the loudspeaker. She stayed under the desk pondering whether the drill might be over. However, she did not want to risk her chances and did not know when to get out Landsman’s daughter also had to go through these active shooter drills. “My daughter said ‘there’s a courtyard [near the school],” Landsman said, quoting her daughter. “‘I have to know which one to jump out of or else I’m trapping myself.’” Her comments were part of a lively class discussion on gun violence in the media in Dr.Christopher Lynch’s COMM 3525 Communication & Conflict Resolution course. Dr. Lynch started the class by asking the students if they were concerned as students of a public institution on gun control. The discussion promoted deep thoughts and brought forth some personal stories on gun violence and its portrayal in the media. During the March 22 class, Racquel Ford, better known to her friends as Rocky,
contributed by saying that there was another shooting across the street from Princeton near a Panera. As a worker for Panera Bread, she was shocked, yet underwhelmed. “It’s becoming normalized. When I saw it [on my phone], I was thinking, seriously? This is happening, again?” she commented. In 2016, the NRA spent more than 30 million dollars to support Trump during his presidential campaign, according to LATimes. When Dr. Lynch reminded the class that President Trump wants to train teachers to hold and fire guns. Vincent Legaspi responded without hesitation. “I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said. “Even in certain examples, training might not
even help. There was a cop in Florida who was trained and didn’t do anything. He just stayed outside even though he heard those shots.” Legaspi then related the Florida shooting with American Sniper, starring Bradley Cooper. In American Sniper, Bradley Cooper plays Chris Kyle, one of the deadliest snipers in U.S Military history. In the movie, Kyle works with veterans in a shooting range after being honorably discharged. He works with veterans to help them cope with their PTSD. He was eventually fatally shot by Marine Corps veteran Eddie Ray Routh, who was 25 at the time. Then, Legaspi posed a question.
Photo by Lena Zhu
In-class discussion about gun control in Dr. Lynch’s Conf lict Resolution class.
“What makes a teacher who will get, let’s say, three months of training, be qualified to fire a gun? What makes you think they are able to handle a situation like that?” asked Legaspi. One of the most obvious counteractions to the solution of gun laws and stricter gun violence are the Second Amendment rights -the right to bear arms. “The country has evolved so much,” Ford says. “I don’t know who’s to say we should be doing revisions on [the Constitution]. It’s may be up to...” “Us,” Dr. Lynch offers. “How about it is up to us?” The class murmured and acknowledged the possibility. Dr. Lynch spoke of a recent legislation in the past month that has not been passed as of yet has stated that “if you come from a state where you can carry a gun, you can go into any state or a city like NYC that does have a decrease in gun violence,” the gun owner is allowed to carry a gun into the traveling state if they are able to carry a gun from the state in which the gun was retrieved (example: Florida). “Should that be?” questioned Dr. Lynch. Murmurs and quiet whispers asked important questions in an effort to try to answer the question posed. Some wondered why the second amendment was still in place and so strongly supported since it was referring to militias back in the day. Orella Chichester offered a different solution. “America should look at other countries,” Chichester said. “Japan, for example, has gun continued on page 4
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April, 2018
Evangelina Mendez trailblazer awards By Carolina Guerra As part of Women’s History Month, Kean University celebrates women by hosting many events highlighting women empowerment. One of the events included the Annual Evangelina Mendez Trailblazer Awards. U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) honored six women who have made an impact on their community at the 8th Annual Evangelina Mendez Trailblazer Awards at Wilkins Theatre on March 18. The award was created in honor of the senator’s mother, Evangelina Mendez. “It is a privilege to fight for priorities informed by my mother’s dreams, her struggles, and her courage,” said Menendez. The honorees were Amy Andersen, Wilda Diaz, Uyen (Winn) Khuong, Ruth B. Mandel, Audrey Meyers and Rev. Tiffany Williams. Kean president, Dawood Farahi, and Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who was a 2010 Trailblazer Award honoree, also attended. After each honoree was called, they received their award and gave a short gratuitous speech. Each honoree was awarded due to their achievements in their community. Amy Andersen was honored due to her work in teaching her students American Sign Language (ASL), creating the ASL program in Ocean City High school, and celebrating diversity. Wilda Diaz was honored for being the first female mayor of the city of Perth Amboy, and her constant fight for issues such as expansion of programs for youth and job creation. Uyen Winn Khuong was honored for co-founding Action Together New Jersey, a grassroot organization that has 20 county chapters, which currently has 18,000 members. Ruth B. Mandel was honored for her work with the Eagleton Institute of Politics and the Eagleton Institute for American Women and Politics (CAWP). Audrey Meyers was honored for her work and several high positions with the Valley Health System, including being the CEO and president. Last, Rev. Tiffany Williams was honored for her work with the Esther Project, an organization she founded that aims to empower women and help them find their life purpose.
Kean’s Got Talent raises over $1,000 for the children’s specialized hospital
Photo by Gina Trish
Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver, who was a 2010 Trailblazer Award honoree, giving her keynote speech.
Kean University Department of Public Safety police blotter By Sara Ridgway The Kean University Police Department’s daily, public blotter reveals all of the incidents and crimes reported to the police. Between the dates of Mar. 18 and April 4, there was a total of six motor vehicle accidents, 11 fire alarms and 21 cases of property found, among other incidents
Mar. 18 - At Vaughn Eames, there was a report of sexual assault in response to screenshots of an Instagram conversation. Mar. 19 - In the Harwood Arena Lot at about 11 a.m. there was a report of a dog being left unattended in a car.
Photo by Jasmine Kee
Kean’s Musical Movements
By Jasmin Kee On April 5, the Leadership Institute hosted their annual Kean’s Got Talent show to help raise money for the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, New Jersey. The Children’s Specialized Hospital is the nation’s leading provider of rehabilitation services for children with special health challenges like chronic illnesses as well as physical and mental health illnesses. The Kean’s Got Talent show was held in the Little Theatre at the Miron Student Center, located on Kean University’s campus and the show ran from 7-10 p.m. The show performances were divided into three categories. The first category was singing, which featured singers and rappers, the second category was dancing, and the third category was a freestyle category, which was for those who were reciting poetry or anything else that did not fall into the other two categories. There was also a lip sync battle at the end of the three category performances. Throughout the night, audience
members were encouraged to vote for their favorite performer from each category. There came a time for the reading of raffle ticket numbers for baskets that had prizes such as gift cards and cooking supplies and some winners took home multiple baskets. The winners were announced just after the final lip sync battle performance and the winner in the first category for singing was Genesis Guzman who performed a song that she wrote. In the second category for dance, the winners were Kean’s Musical Movements and in the final category, the winner was Sara Ridgway, who performed Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off “ in American Sign Language (ASL). “Well it does feel great to win but we are also very happy to be able to do this for a great cause as well,” said the members of Kean’s Musical Movements. Some other performances included a freshmen named Elizabeth Thorsen who performed “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”, a junior named Lucero Lopez who did a dance routine, and Keith Bell, also known as K-Bellz, who performed a rap.
Mar. 28 - At approximately 1 p.m. there was a welfare check in response to a report of a possible victim of student bullying in a class. Mar. 29 - At approximately 10:45 a.m. suspicious person was reported walking around the halls of the performing arts entrance.
Police Blotter
Mar. 21 - In the Vaughn Eames parking lot a vehicle was towed due to being unregistered at about 1:30 p.m. At approximately 10 p.m. in the computer lab, there was a report of a female having chest discomfort and was transported to Trinitas hospital.
allergic reaction in Harwood Arena. The subject has hives and swelling on the face. On Green Lane there was a report of a male walking within vehicular traffic at about 9:30 p.m. and was transported to Trinitas hospital.
Mar. 22 - At approximately 12:30 a.m. in the Visitor Parking Lot there was a report of a stray dog walking on the university property. At 8 a.m. in the Science Building an unknown actor wrote graffiti in the men’s bathroom on the second floor.
Mar. 30 - At 1:45 a.m. at Burch Hall there was a simple assault involving a subject being struck in the head by two other females. During a random room inspection in Bartlett Hall at approximately 10:30 p.m., CDS items were discovered in the common area of a room.
Mar. 23 - At the child study institute at 3:20 p.m., a knapsack was left unattended and an OCIS worker claimed it as his. A verbal argument took place at the police station at 5:45 p.m. At about 6 p.m. a vehicle was towed for being unregistered.
Mar. 31 - At 1:45 a.m. there was an arrest for possession of paraphernalia and CDS on Morris Ave.
Mar. 24 - At approximately 2 p.m. money was stolen from a subjects wallet.
April 2 - At approximately 9:15 a.m. at Cafe Yumba on East Campus, a student reported slipping on the parking lot sidewalk so that the ice would be cleared from the sidewalk.
Mar. 26 - At approximately 10:45 a.m. there was a report of a gas leak in Downs Hall. In Willis Hall at about 5 p.m., a subject experiencing pain associated with menstrual cramps was transported to the hospital. Mar. 27 - At the basketball courts at approximately 4:30 p.m. a subject hurt her toes and ankle while playing tug of war. A motor vehicle stop was conducted on the service road at about 5 p.m. in response to parking in a reserved spot. At approximately 8 p.m. there was a subject with a possible
April 1 - There was a report of a mulch fire on the Liberty Hall property at approximately 11 p.m.
April 3 - At approximately 12 a.m. there was a report of an unwanted guest in Burch Hall. A female on the trespass list was reported entering the building without swiping in. At about 10:15 a.m. there was a report of a suspicious person in Hennings Hall Classroom 116. The individual was later transported to Trinitas hospital for psychiatric treatment. At the University Center at 3:45 p.m. an elderly female refused medical attention after falling and hurting her knee.
April, 2018
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RSS holds donation event for National Women’s History Month By Sean Calderon In accordance with National Women’s History Month, The Office of Residential Student Services held the Diaper Bash event, a first of its kind, at the New Freshman Residential Hall on Tuesday, March 27. The event involved student volunteers who helped put together gift and aid baskets for two single, poverty stricken mothers (unnamed) who are in need of supplies to raise their children. While no mothers were present, this was merely a community initiative by RSS in order to raise awareness for these mothers across the U.S, and even the globe. “We came up with the idea to do this program and got the supplies to put together and send to mothers in need,” said Senior resident assistant (RA) Kendra Clark, who was one of two people who made this program happen. “With it being Women’s History Month, we thought it would be a great idea.” The program ended fairly quickly, but Clark, along with another Senior resident assistant, Delois Blackmon, stayed behind to lure passerbys to sit down and sign their name in, do crossword puzzles related to to the subject
and inform them of the reason behind what happened in this program. Around 25 students signed in and participated in both the program and its aftermath. Some of the contents in the care packages included diapers, pacifiers, baby formula, powder, rash ointment, and other necessary items for infancy. “It’s really great that none of these student participants did it for T2K community service or anything like that,” said Blackmon. “The makes the value of the program that much meaningful.” According to a 2012 study from the University of Illinois via Urbana-Champaign, 4.24 million single mothers have lived below the poverty line. Twenty-eight percent of all U.S children have lived with one parent. This goes to show that one demographic can affect another, given their relativity to each other. This makes programs like the one Clark and Blackmon put together all so important. “Although this is a one time thing for us, since we’re graduating, it would be great if someone were to take this program and continue it,” said Clark. “That would have the most impact, I believe.”
Photo by Delois Blackmon
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Kean student experiences college and dorm life -- at 59 By Jennifer Padilla In 1958, shortly after Kean student Barbara Dashields was born, her godmother opened a college fund anticipating that her godchild would get a higher education. Instead, Dashields dropped out of high school in her senior year. “I wasn’t interested at the time,” Dashields said. “I missed a golden opportunity.” Her godmother is now deceased, but 59-year-old Dashields is finally fulfilling her goal. Dashields is a student majoring in communication at Kean University where she is also living the full college experience as a resident in a Kean dormitory. In 2015, the mother of four and grandmother of three decided to pursue a higher education following a “downsizing” at her job of 11 years in Account Receivables. Living in Orange, N.J. at the time, Dashields was a commuter, until she purchased a home in Tobyhanna, Pa. last year. She loved Kean University and its professors so much, that transferring wasn’t an option, she said. Her husband, George Perry Dashields Sr., 64, drove her two-hours each way to campus, until she decided to move into a dormitory this school year to relieve him of the long trek. Semetrius Baxter, a 22-year-old psychology senior, was “shocked” to find that her roommate wasn’t the typical student she had been accustomed to. “I dormed last year with people my own age, and we were all still trying to figure out life,” said Baxter. “Barbara gives me a lot of wisdom in certain situations in life that I am going through.” Although Dashields enjoys being alone, she loves the company of her budding roommate, whom she calls “missy.” Walking from Sozio residential hall to CAS is a struggle for Dashields who was diagnosed with Sciatica ten years ago— a condition that causes pain from the lower back to behind the thigh and can radiate below the knee, according to medicinenet.com. “Waking up is very hard, but I can’t quit,” she said. “I haven’t missed a class or been late in three years, and I want to keep that.”
The National Center for Education Statistics calculated in 2015 that 8 percent of college students are 35 and over. But Dashields enjoys being around her mostly millennial classmates at Kean. “They are so nice,” she said. “I’ve met so many friends.” The baby boomer’s room was filled with photographs of her husband, her family and church mates, as well as self-made decorations such as a pair of gem-embedded shoes and the word ‘Believe’ on the closet door in aluminum letters. A picture on the wall reads, “I love red shoes, but my heart belongs to my husband”; and a rug says, “Don’t let anyone dull your sparkle: George [her husband], you are the sparkle in my life. I love you, baby.” “If it wasn’t for him, I know I wouldn’t be here,” said Dashields. “He tells me, ‘Get to your computer and start working.’” Mr. Dashields tells her he admires her strength: “I’m like, ‘What strength?’” added Dashields. “He says, ‘You are stronger than you think.’” There isn’t a particular career Dashields plans to pursue after graduation; however, she has always worked with the public. “I’ve had people yell and curse, that’s why I am taking up communication,” she said. “I want to better myself in speaking with people and have more patience. I want them to know that there are people who are kind.” Dashields communicates daily with her family and goes home every weekend unless weather conditions become difficult. After church on Sundays, she visits her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease and lives in a nursing home in Jersey City. “When I go see her, I don’t call her ‘Mom’ anymore. She doesn’t know I am her daughter,” said Dashields. “I miss talking to her. I miss the tight hugs she used to give me. My mom will always be my hero.” She expressed the importance of good rapport with parents: “Remember there might be a time when you can’t communicate with them, and that’s what hurts the most.” Dr. Jack Sargent, communications professor and executive director, said Dashields raises the education bar for
Photo by Jennifer Padilla
The Sozio Residence dormitory where Dashields resides as a full-time student is filled with self-made decorations and personalized posters.
everyone in the classroom. “She’s a delight to have in class,” said Dr. Sargent. “I think students really appreciate her perspective as a non-traditional student.” The third-year learner is expecting to graduate in the spring of 2019, eight months after her 60th birthday. Mr. Dashields holds a bachelors in pre-law, and a first-year graduate of theology. And following his wife’s graduation, it will be his turn to return to school to pursue a Master’s
Degree in marriage and family counseling. “I’m very excited,” said Dashields. “I can give him in return what he gave to me: Lots of support and encouragement.” Eager to share her story, Dashields wanted others to know that it’s “never too late” to do what you want. “I am fighting to do this to encourage someone else; even just one person,” she said. “It’s very easy to quit, but you have to be a fighter.”
Happy national autism awareness month
Autism awareness ribbon
By Kiara Mays With April being National Autism Awareness Month, it would only be fitting to share some information regarding the disorder that affects 1 in 68 children in the United States. Although many have heard the term “autism”
at some point, many do not know what the disorder fully encompasses. That being said, according to autism-society.org, autism or the full proper term, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental disability that affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Signs of the disorder usually appear before the age of three. ASD is defined as a “spectrum condition,” meaning that it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. According to the National Autism Association, individuals with autism have challenges with verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Aside from that, individuals with autism often times suffer from other medical conditions which may include: allergies, asthma, epilepsy, sleeping disorders, etc. A popular myth surrounding autism is that children simply “outgrow” the disorder, this is not true, however, it is treatable. While there is no known single cause of ASD, increased
awareness and early diagnosis/intervention with access to the appropriate services and support can lead to greatly improved outcomes according to autism-society.org. With that in mind, some early signs of ASD to look for in children include: lack of or delay in spoken language, little or no eye contact, lack of interest in peer relationships, lack of spontaneous or make-believe play, persistent fixation on parts of objects, and repetitive use of language and/or motor-mannerisms (e.g. twirling objects, hand-flapping). A Few Facts & Stats on Autism • Autism is diagnosed four times more often in boys than in girls. • The prevalence of autism is not affected by race, region, or socio-economic status • No two people with autism are alike (it greatly varies from individual to individual). • About 40% of children with autism
• • •
do not speak; 25-30% of children with autism have some words at 12-18 months of age and then lose them; others might speak later on in childhood. Autism itself does not affect life expectancy. Children with autism do progress (early intervention is key). Autism is treatable, and is not a hopeless condition.
For more information on ASD, visit sites like NationalAutismAssociation.org, autismsociety.org, or autismspeaks.org. As a side, if you or someone you know is looking for a family activity that will be enjoyable for children and individuals with autism, according to cbsnews.com, Pennsylvania’s “Sesame Street” themed amusement park, Sesame Place, just became the world’s first amusement park designated as a certified autism center.
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April, 2018
Kean professor publishes first book By Cameron Beall
By Donia Zaky
Professor Martha Salama, who teaches public speaking here at Kean, has dreamed of publishing a book since she was 18 years old. She has been writing poetry almost all her life, and this deep love for poetry is evident in her new children’s book, “I’ll Carry You.” “Something I always wanted to write about with poems is establishing a relationship with someone,” said Salama. The book is about the relationship between a loving father and his daughter, and how their bond grows and becomes stronger over the years leading up to the daughter’s adulthood. “It’s how I always wanted it to be, let’s put it that way,” said Salama when asked if this book is how she viewed her relationship with her father growing up. Salama was raised by Middle Eastern parents here in the United States. Her father was rather strict and “by the book”. Though a big reason for that is the way she was raised, it was a lot of tough love and a rather business-like atmosphere in their household. “As a female, the way we imagine our first man/ first love, is our father,” said Salama. “The way we picture it, we want it to be a loving father. So, we put it on paper.” The “we” she is referring to is herself and Stephanie Calixto, who worked with Salama on the book as the illustrator. Calixto is a graphic design major at Kean, and she and Salama had similar experiences during their upbringing. Calixto and Salama have known each other since they were both freshmen in high school. “She was always a great supporter of my art, and when she asked me to illustrate her book, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity,” said Calixto. “The loving message in her book definitely shows her great heart, and I’m happy to have been able to illustrate that message for her.” Instead of going through a publisher, Salama decided to take the self-publish route. For a first book, this can be a very challenging task. The hardest part for her was all the measurements and alignments she had to go through. Luckily, she found a self-
Professor Salama with title of her work.
publishing brand called Createspace, which helped guide her through the process and made it easier. However, she finds that other aspects of publishing her own book aren’t as easy as they may seem. “When you publish it through a company, they do all the marketing for you,” said Salama. “But when it’s self-publishing, you have to learn how to market.” Her main marketing strategy is through social media sites such as FaceBook and making all of her content public, allowing friends to share it with as many people as possible. She plans on attending daycare centers to read the book aloud to children, so she can get added publicity and immediate feedback. This is just the first of many books that Professor Salama hopes to publish as she is already working on a public speaking book. You can find her current book, “I’ll Carry You” online on Amazon.com.
Outdoor recreation club helps bring students outside their comfort zone By Salimah McCullough Kean student Eyad Khalife knew from the very moment he heard about the Kean University Outdoor and Adventure Recreation Club that he wanted to be a part of it. Now he’s president of the club. “A student asked me if I loved to hike, rock climb, etcetera, and I’m very interested in the outdoors,” Khalife said of the group, known as OAR. The club brings students together with shared interests and curiosities about the outdoors and outdoor activities. The OAR club plans and attends many outdoor events that helps students venture outside of their comfort zones. The club also helps students to become more comfortable participating in outdoor activities. Some of those activities include: hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing. Trips include hiking on the South Mountain Fairy Trail in Millburn, kayaking, and a day trip to the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange. During each OAR trip, each member provides their own food and the members of the Eboard drives everyone in their own cars. Aazeen Nasir, vice president of OAR, said
Gun violence
Disability is not inability
she found out about the club at an event held at the Miron Student Center where all different organizations had tables and invited students to join. “I saw the table for this club and read the flyer,” said Nasir. “I thought it was really cool and I wanted to do something out of my comfort zone.” Nasir said that being in the OAR club “has definitely bought me outside of my comfort zone.” Khalifeh noticed that when Nasir first joined, “she didn’t even like any of this stuff but she’s doing it, she’s a trooper.” The members of the OAR club are enthused about everything the club offers them, and everything the club stands for. “We want to take your free time and turn it into an experience” says Michael Gonzalez, treasurer of the OAR club. Khalifeh’s message to those who are thinking about joining is “expand your horizons, make new friends, and discover something new about yourself.” For more information on the OAR club, you can email them at oar@kean.edu or check out their organization on Cougarlink.com.
Whether it be inclusion in education, performing or teaching, Kean University strives to involve students of all races, religions, cultures, and disabilities, to celebrate the importance of diversity, imitating the vast majority of the American population. The disabled community-- also the largest minority population -- suffers from misrepresentation and under representation within the media. Portrayal of various forms of disabilities have been propagated within the media under negative connotations, or depicted incorrectly overall. With media being the immediate means of information, this fact holds unfortunate for the disabled community. There is a saying that disability is not inability. But, the media has had a long history of treating those with disabilities as unfit. From casting able bodied actors to act disabled, to inefficacious presentations of certain disabilities, hollywood has failed to portray the reality of impairment. “Why not cast an actor with a disability to play the role of the lawyer, neighbor, friend, intimate partner, criminal or teacher? They all exist in real life,” said Millie Gonzalez, media relations specialist at Kean University. The Ruderman Family Foundation, an organization that stresses inclusion of those with disabilities, states that five percent of disabled characters are played by ablebodied actors. In fact, for the past 30 years, Oscar awards and nominations for Best Actors have been given to hale and hearty actors who’ve played disabled. Although the media is currently entering the dawn of change, there is still much to be done. Taking measures of understanding the disabled community is the first means of remodeling the perception and representation of disabled individuals. “There are also creative and skilled people with disabilities ready and capable of working behind the scenes in all stages of production,” said Gonzalez. Therefore, the ReelAbilities Film Festival, created by Anita Altman and Isaac Zablocki, was established to showcase series of award-winning films about-- and more importantly-- by those who have disabilities. Following several festivals in New York City in 2012, the ReelAbilities Film Festival branched out to other cities in the United States-- New Jersey being one in 2013. A fiveday festival was hosted at Kean University, one in 2013 and another in 2014. “Disability is not a “one size fits all” identity,” said Gonzalez.“The gamut of disabilities represented in the films range from visible, physical disabilities, to cognitive and emotional disabilities.” Gonzalez informs that there is a saying within the Disability Rights Movement, “Nothing about us, without us.” Kean University, which is widely recognized for its diverse community, exemplifies this saying.This year, Kean awaits another year of celebrating the disabled community in another ReelAbilities Film Festival. More information is coming soon.
Photo by Salimah McCullough
Cougarlink OAR club f lyer
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laws. People are allowed to own guns, but the process of owning a gun is so rigorous. I think that America should look to other countries which have stricter gun laws and try to learn something from that.” According to BBC.com, in Japan, if one wants to own a gun, one would have to attend an all-day class, take a written exam and pass a shooting-range test with a mark of at least 95%. There are also mental health and drugs tests. One’s criminal record is checked and police look for links to extremist groups. Then the police check relatives and work colleagues. And as well as having the power to deny gun licences, police also have sweeping powers to search and seize weapons. Another solution may be the gun buyback, which occurred in Australia last year according to NPR.org. The three-month amnesty collected almost 700,000 guns in Australia, according to the Library of Congress Report on the Australian gun policy.
Ford, hearing this, chimed in and said, “I think that would work. America is so money hungry.” Another controversial issue was brought up when Ben Carson, the 17th and current United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development under the Trump Administration, stated that if we had given Germany guns we would not have had the Holocaust. Scoffs and angry murmurs could be heard throughout the entire classroom. “How are you going to fight the government? A lot of people are saying that they are going to keep their guns, but how is your AK-15 or AR-15 going to stop an army tank or a trained professional?” Susan Landsman asked, incredulous. Rida Hassan brought up the issue of NRA lobbying. “I feel like we can also get [to Germany’s level of mental health treatment], but the thing that is in our way is the NRA. Before we can look at whether or not someone
wants to commit mass murder, we need to look at whether someone can. And right now, they can.” Hasan said. Chichester brought up a hypothetical situation. Looking at the politicians in Washington, they are funded by the NRA, says Chichester. “I’m not going to speak out against the NRA when they are putting food in my children’s mouths or if they’re allowing me to afford a mansion and 12 cars,” Chichester said. “They are not going to say anything because [the NRA] are giving these politicians massive amounts of money.”. Ford believed that instead of trying to create laws now that might not even work, she said to educate the younger students and people who are in jails so this does not happen as often in the future. So how do we raise children and future children who have to live in this grim future? How do we teach empathy?
“We have to understand that everyone comes up different from abuse or difficulties that may make them a person who you may not like, but you have to understand that’s how it works in the real world.” Landsman also said to talk to one’s own children (or future children) about what happens on the news and the emotions that may arise with the event itself and how the children might feel if they were in that person’s position. “Gun control is a multifaceted issue,” Chichester said. “We, as a reprimanded society, need to be able to help people with their trauma because no one teaches them how to deal with their issues, so they project and act out their traumas on others.” As the class came to a close, Dr. Lynch left the students with one final thought. “It seems like the key thing for conflict resolution is patience. The reality is that this is not going to change overnight. What we have to do is become aware and make one step at a time.”
April, 2018
THE TOWER 5
Utilizing Kean’s services can help build a GPA By Petruce Jean-Charles GPA stands for grade point average and it is a calculated average that students earn in school on a 0 to 4.0 scale. Every semester, a student receives a GPA based on the grades they earned in all of their classes during the semester. Kean University is home to the writing center, tutoring services, Tutortrac and many more. These services help build a students’ knowledge, confidence, understanding and overall GPA. The writing center is located in the library room 108 where it provides peer writing and one-on-one support. They provide guidance in brainstorming, grammar and final drafts with students of all writing levels. Graduate assistant Richonda Fegins and academic specialist Holly Wood wanted to explain the importance of the writing center and the resources it provides. “A service we provide for our students are all writing extensive things like writing projects, papers and creative work,” said Fegins. “We provide assistance in those fields for students so when they come in they will have a one-onone session with us to go over things. Some of our services can range from brainstorming all the way down to polishing a literature review for research papers.” Along with that statement, Wood added that there are many benefits attributed with the writing center. “I think the benefit is that here students can have a conversation about their paper and that
includes any issues going on in their paper or things direct as citation help. It’s always good to get another set of eyes on your paper,” said Wood. Fegins wanted to add in the aspect that the best thing students can do is have a conversation about the paper. She emphasizes the importance of going over writing as a tool to help students improve their skills and self correct their work. “A tip I have deals with students that come in with assignments that deal with citations, cite as you go so that you don’t have to go back in the end. It is so much easier to cite as you go along and always make sure you have a grasp on how to do it manually, instead of depending on generators,” said Fegins. Wood notes the importance of taking a break from writing to ensure a better sense of mistakes and errors that may be written in a span of time. “My go to tip is when you are done with a paper give distance between you and that paper, whether an hour it’s good to seperate yourself from writing. It helps revisions and gives you a new set of eyes to catch mistakes and make changes,” said Wood Fegins and Wood encourages students to visit the writing center where they help with many styles of writing and editing. They also want students to understand that the writing center is a welcoming environment and that the end of the semester are the best times to make an appointment. “Our main motto at the writing center is it’s not so much about improving the paper it
Graduated. What’s next?
about improving the writer,” said Wood. Hours of Operation are Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tutoring and learning support services is located in the Nancy Thompson Learning Commons where tutoring is offered in wide range of undergraduate courses. Students can make appointments through Tutortrac or walk-in where they train student and professional students to implement strategies to help students succeed. Through Tutortrac students can login and make appointments that work for their schedule, this service can be used for many outlets on Kean including the writing center and tutoring. Caleb Dagnall, an academic specialist for the tutoring and learning support services spoke of the services they provide and how they seek to improve each students academic success. “We are open to one-on-one tutoring and group tutoring and essentially what we do is we have tutoring for most of the academic subjects, primarily math, science and business courses. We also have offerings for other courses as well,” said Dagnall. “We focus on the student traffic of each course and the courses I named before are the most in high demand. We also supplement what is going on in class, however students are being taught we do the same. We just want to help them understand concepts better and give them additional help.” Dagnall notes that it is important for students to know themselves and their
Photo: Cameron Beall
Need photo academic capabilities when trying to improve a GPA. “We work with students to help build their knowledge and that’s why we have one-on-one sessions. A lot of studies show that reviewing notes and re-reading them can be the best way to retain information,” said Dagnell The department’s goal is to provide students with the opportunity to achieve a high grade and build their GPA, through one-on-one and group sessions. “Each student learns differently and each student needs to study differently,” said Dagnall.
Best study spots on campus besides the library
By Petruce Jean-Charles When trying to obtain a bachelor’s degree, four years can go by quickly. In the span of those four year, one can forget about the daunting reality of life after Kean University. Sooner or later, students will outgrow Kean and will be confronted by the real world. Graduating seniors can make the decision of continuing their studies at a graduate school, heading straight into the workforce or even take a break from education. For some students continuing an education is the best route to go because it allows them the benefits of getting a job in the field of their major. For example, biology majors who are looking to become doctors may want to continue their education for their master’s or PhD. It should also be noted that in some instances, the higher the degree, the higher the chances of a person receiving a high-paying job. It is better for students to think of their options before the impending day of graduation to ensure that all options are met to suit the student. Jessica Goldsmith Barzilay, the acting director of career services here at Kean believes it is important for the students to look for graduate school with effective career development programs. Career development services can include career counseling, internship workshops or resume and cover letter workshop that aim to be beneficial for the workfield “A robust career services department is something to look for when choosing a graduate school. You should be considering career options at the start of your studies,” said Goldsmith Barzilay. “Career Services helps put you on a pathway towards a career and provides you with resources, support and leads to obtain employment.”
By Valencia Stevenson
Photo by Patruce Jean-Charles
Nathan Weiss Graduate College
When applying for graduate school students should keep in mind a few things. Most graduate schools require students to take the graduate record examination (GRE) which is an admission test for graduate school that is similar to the ACTs or SATs. Next is outlining a list of goals and criteria for the school of choice, considering the financial support given or the career services department. Some financial support include assistantships, fellowships and scholarships. Assistantships are paid academic appointments made to a graduate student that involves part-time teaching or research and fellowships are merit-based awards. Genesis Algaba, a senior studying communications with a concentration in public relations and minor in psychology understands that after she graduates with a bachelors degree it will be beneficial to attend graduate or law school. “I would continue my education because it might help excel my chances of a good career,” said Algaba. “I would choose a school with my desired field of study, affordability, scholarships and a possible graduate assistant (GA) position. I also believe that Linkedin, career fairs and networking would help develop my career.”
Finals are approaching and a popular studying “hotspot” on Kean University’s campus is the Nancy Thompson library, causing it to be regularly crowded. That being said, are there other places on campus where a student can study? The answer is yes. Naheid Shahsamand, sophomore at Kean, said she prefers Green Lane as her studying “hotspot” because of how quiet it usually is and also because of how nice it looks. “If you’re hungry, you can grab a snack at the Starbucks in Green Lane and there is never a line because I know the library line takes so long,” said Shahsamand. Kean has many buildings that provide seats and rooms specifically for students to get some work done. The Green Lane building, connected to the Barnes and Noble bookstore, is a perfect example. The building is six stories high and has seats and study rooms for students to utilize while they wait for their classes to begin. Students are treated to a wonderful view of the city as well.
Students also tend to find any place to study in the buildings they have class in. Bruce and Townsend Hall, which are connected to each other, have a hallway where there are several seats with tables that students use to study on before their classes. If you have a music class in Wilkins Theatre, there are seats at the entrance as well. “In the Vaughn-Eames building. I have a lot of classes in there, so whenever I have time in between I’ll just sit in the little area and there is a lot of light,” said Emily Yataco, sophomore at Kean. The New Jersey Center for Science, Technology & Mathematics (STEM) building is also a great place to study as each floor has sets of chairs and couches for students. For those that dorm, in the New Upperclassmen building and New Freshmen building, there are study rooms on each floor to provide a quiet space for students to get work done. A change of scenery is always good, especially for studying. Try giving these places a try instead of going to the library for a change.
Green Lane building at Kean Photo by Valencia Stevenson
Hollistic health, a class worth taking? By Dan Papa Professor Rita Mehta was teaching her class on Holistic Health and she was kind enough to let me observe her class. Unfortunately, by the time I arrived, the class was just about over. Still, she spoke with me about her class and a few other things. Mehta has been teaching the class for over three years at Kean University. She also teaches at Rutgers University. She was born in India and learned Yoga from home. After she moved to New Jersey, she visited an Ashram, a sort of monastery in Indian religions where she learned Hatha (a more physical posture kind of yoga). When she went to college, she kind of lost
touch with yoga. It was not until she went to a battered women’s’ shelter that she rekindled her relationship with it. While going through therapy with the women there, she felt like she was only getting so far with her clients. After she introduced yoga/meditation to the women, she “saw a shift in the women,” one that would not have been easy to achieve with traditional counseling. “It is more than just a physical practice,” said Mehta. Professor Mehta has students from all walks of life. People with “double hip, double knee replacements, pregnant students...,” can all be taught yoga. “Think about the time that we’re living in and we’re constantly connected. Between Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram… we’re not in touch with our bodies,” said Mehta. “I love teaching at Kean. What’s unique about my students at Kean vs. my students at Rutgers is a lot of them are first generation in their family to go to college, they usually work 2-3 jobs, they are super motivated,” said Mehta. In yoga, not everyone’s body will be as naturally accustomed to whichever particular type they choose to practice. However, this is okay because provided the person actually practices at the yoga, their body is likely to eventually adjust itself and become acclimated to it. While this particular class focused on yoga, it is a holistic health class and Mehta also teaches about “traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, cupping…”
Practicing yoga
“We talk about herbs, we talk about supplements, we do energy medicine,” said Mehta. “If you look in the journals, there is data supporting yoga in terms of mental health, yoga and depression, yoga for anxiety, [and] yoga for addiction.”
6 THE TOWER
April, 2018
Kean history:
Liberty Hall and the Livingston Family
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: SARA RIDGWAY MANAGING/NEWS EDITOR:
JOSHUA ROSARIO Photo courtesy of Kean University
Liberty Hall as it looks today
By Leanne Manna Liberty Hall is a hidden gem of Kean University. Located across the street near the STEM building, not many students are aware of its existence and even fewer could share anything about it. Liberty Hall was built in 1772 by William Livingston, a New York lawyer who would go on to become the first elected governor of New Jersey and signer of the Constitution. Livingston built Liberty Hall to be his countryside estate away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Unfortunately for him, his four daughters who lived for the active city lifestyle decided to bring New York society to Liberty Hall and the Livingston’s frequently had guests including Alexander Hamilton and John Jay who would go on to marry Sarah Livingston in Liberty Hall’s great hall. In 1776 the United States declared Independence from Great Britain and the Revolution was in full swing. As the wartime governor, Livingston was a wanted man and as such, had to spend a lot of time away from the manor. His wife, Susannah French Livingston, elected to stay at the house despite the great danger she faced. She believed that her presence in the house would save it from being burned or otherwise destroyed by the British. She may have been right because although the house was raided several times during the war it was left standing. Most other houses in the area did not have the same luck and were burned by the British. Regardless, the Livingston women who stayed in the house and faced great danger as the war progressed. One daughter, also named Susannah, wrote later in her life about an incident where she and a servant girl were alone in the house and had to hide in the cellar while shots were exchanged both in the house and on the grounds. Wealth and privilege did not guarantee women protection during the war either. A few miles down the road, Hannah Caldwell, the wife of pastor and patriot James Caldwell was murdered and most likely robbed by the British. This incident is so infamous that it is depicted in the Union County Seal today. Nevertheless, the Livingston women persisted and protected their home and livelihood. One story goes that after the murder of Hannah Caldwell, the British went to raid Liberty Hall during the night. That night it had started to storm and as the soldiers climbed the stairs one daughter, either Susannah or Catherine, stood at the top and was illuminated by lightning. The British, who were also probably drunk, thought she was the ghost of Caldwell and fled the house. The war had greatly depleted Livingston’s funds and his wife, who had been managing their finances, suggested selling Liberty Hall. Livingston refused on the grounds that he wanted all of his children, especially his then unmarried daughters, to have a substantial inheritance. He also said that he did not want his wife to be at the mercy of a landlord should he die before her. Livingston would end up living in the house until his death in 1790. His son, Henry Brockholst Livingston, would inherit the house and sell it. Liberty Hall was out of the family for several years until it was purchased in trust for Susan Livingston, the governor’s niece. She marries John Kean, a merchant from South Carolina, and their descendants lived in the house until 1995. Liberty Hall is open for public tours Tuesday-Saturday from 10 am- 3 pm with tours leaving every hour. Thank you to Liberty Hall Museum and the Kean University Archives and Special Collections for the information and images.
Journalism Speaker
(Continued from page 1)
punishment? I don’t know.” O’Brien said that social media has given very long-standing problems some needed attention, however, what has to happen to make real tangible change is “confusing.” “It’s clear that this is not new behavior, and something many people have just come to accept as ‘normal’,” said Miranda Brenton, Kean communications student. “ The systematic abuse has to stop, and result in real, institutional changes
RUFF DOGS
where cultures of abuse and silence are no longer tolerated.” Kean computer science major, Jose Varela, said what he learned from the event is that women have to constantly prove themselves in ways their male peers don’t have to. The diminishment of power and retaliation against women is a “Civil rights struggle,” O’Brien said, in which she hopes will not continue to be a topic of discussion a decade from now.
By Quincy Rodgers
ONLINE EDITOR: CODY LOUIE SPORTS EDITOR: CRAIG EPSTEIN ONLINE EDITOR: RAFAELA TEIXEIRA A&E/FEATURES EDITOR: KIARA MAYS SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: JENNIFER PADILLA
WRITERS CAMERON BEALL SEAN CALDERON CAROLINA GUERRA ESTEFANI HERNANDEZ PETRUCE JEAN-CHARLES JASMIN KEE
SALIMAH MCCULLOUGH DANIEL PAPA GREGORY PATUTO VALENCIA STEVENSON DONIA ZAKY LENA ZHU
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.
April, 2018
OPINION
THE TOWER 7
A march against swedish fish oreos
By Joshua Rosario On March 24, I watched millions around the world march for their lives while I marched against swedish fish oreos in Asbury Park, NJ. They just didn’t know it. You read correctly. Swedish fish flavored creme oreos are a thing now. Like swedish fish oreos, the gun debate leaves a taste that can only resemble a hobo spitting robitussin in your mouth. Like guns, swedish fish oreos were once something more simple, but now the only resemblance is in their name. What happen to that basic chocolate vanilla creme cookie I loved? The founders would never recognize what its creation has become today. How do we the people continue to bare watching people act like this isn’t a problem? I get how some of you are feeling. You deserve the right to enjoy whatever oreo you please. If the founders did not want us to have this capability it would have never been included. What do I know about oreos? All fair points! I don’t know why you’re yelling about the constitution, sir. This is about oreos. We got to find a way to compromise. I am all for thoughts and prayers but it’s all thoughts and prayers until you’re the one dodging the bullet. Until you’re the one burying a friend, brother, sister, son, and/or daughter. How long before little Susie has to wear a Dora the Explorer bulletproof vest before being dropped off at kindergarten? On a more serious note, what if she bit into a swedish fish oreo? It’s not her fault. She got excited when she saw those chocolate cookies. She didn’t expect this tampered cream. This poor kid, I can’t afford therapy for a fictional child.
These shootings have been going on long enough. We don’t want to wake up 10 years from now shopping for school clothes with kevlar for our own kids. We shouldn’t have to wonder whether kids should be sent off to school with a bookbag or Captain America’s shield. Also, can we stop pretending teachers having guns is a good idea? They got enough problems and they barely get paid. Some aren’t even that good. My middle school teacher once let a kid urinate himself because he was interrupting prayer and pushed a girl because she wasn’t moving fast enough. Does she sound like someone who should have a gun? My concern is for the class clowns of the world. “ Hey Timmy. What’s two bullets in the chest plus one bullet in the foot? The answer is….. don’t mess with me, Tim. Whose funny now, funny boy?” What was I talking about again? Right... swedish fish oreos! Finally, who asked for swedish fish to be combined with oreos? What monster thought this was a good idea? No one likes swedish fish. It’s just the only candy you can have without killing a kid with a peanut allergy. We regulate peanuts more than we do guns. How about that? When are we going to do better? We need to do better. Nutella oreos! That is what the people need. See some things need to be regulated and like guns oreos is one of those things. Some people tend to get out of control. With great power comes strawberry creme oreos. No? Why not? It will be like chocolate strawberries, a romantic oreo. Ugh! Fine! You think anyone realized this was actually about guns and not about swedish fish oreos? Yeah. Me neither. I actually prefer chips ahoy.
Photo by Joshua Rosario
Asbury Park, NJ’s March for our lives.
April is Alcohol Awareness Month By Dr. Josh Palgi In 1987, the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) designated April as Alcohol Awareness Month. The goal is to help reduce the stigma so often associated with alcoholism by encouraging communities to reach out to the American public each April with information about alcohol, alcoholism, alcoholism and recovery, and to educate people about the treatment and prevention of alcoholism. Particularly among the youth and the important role that parents can play in giving a better understanding of the impact that alcohol can have on their lives. According to a national survey, on colleges campuses across the U.S., almost 60 percent of college students, ages 18-22, drank alcohol in the past month. And almost two out of three of them engaged in binge drinking during that same time frame. Drinking affects college students, their families, and college communities at large: • Researchers estimate that each year about 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes. • About 696,000 students between the ages of 18-24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking. • About 97,000 students between the
ages of 18-24 report experiencing alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape. • About one in four college students report academic consequences from drinking, including missing class, falling behind in class, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall. • Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a broad term for any drinking of alcohol that results in mental or physical health problems. When alcoholism sets in you become an alcoholic. Essentially, alcohol becomes the most import aspect of your entire life. About 20 percent of college students meet the criteria for an AUD. Other consequences include suicide attempts, health problems, injuries, unsafe sex, and driving under the influence of alcohol, as well as vandalism, property damage, and involvement with the police. On the other hand, alcohol abuse is very different from alcoholism. Alcohol abuse refers to the overuse of alcohol, or the inappropriate use of alcohol. Usually alcohol abuse proceeds alcoholism. Binge drinking is the act of drinking a lot of alcoholic beverages in short period of time. According to the National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse binge drinking has strict guidelines. It is defined of any drinking pattern
Turning 30 in College By Joshua Rosario Turning 30 hovers over you like the unpleasant and lingering smell of Axe Body spray. Everyone you know reminds you you’re turning 30. I can’t help but wonder if they think I can’t keep count. You would think I stopped counting at 21. I have never been that drunk… at least this year... month...week. When you turn 30 in college, you think your classmates are wondering who brought their dad to class. No one really cares. You sometimes endure people’s shock when it slips out your mouth. “ Wow! You don’t look 30.” You listen with all your insecurities and hear “ Wow! Where did you screw up in high school?” You hear all the cliches. People tend to
think they are so profound like they gave me the keys to life. “Everyone goes through life differently.” “It’s better late than never.” “It’s never too late.” Someone once told me we all peak at different points and I could peak at 50 or 70. Deep inside I’m concerned I peaked at three years old. What if me getting potty trained was the highpoint of my life? I just feel like most people want to tell you the good things about life, but never the bad. People tell you you’re going to grow up someday get a car, get a job, buy a home, get married and maybe have kids. When you’re a kid no one tells you about the upkeep, that Human resources is there to protect the company not you, that while a mortgage is less than rent you still got to afford a down payment, that punching someone is assault even if you tell the judge he had a punchable
that brings the individual’s BAC level to .08 within two hours. For men, this means drinking five drinks during that period. For women, it means drinking four drinks. New data published by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) indicates that alcohol consumption played a role in nearly one out of every 10 deaths among United States adults between the ages of 20 and 64. The CDC’s study also revealed that between the excessive alcohol use led to approximately 88,000 deaths in this country alone. These statistics are alarming. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Heath Services Administration (SAMHSA) more than half of Americans
Alcohol Awareness Month: “help for today, hope for tomorrow”
over the age of 12 report that they currently consume alcohol. That is approximately 176.6 million American drinkers. Of this population, and estimated 17 million people have an “alcohol use disorder” pursuant to the criteria published in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). CDC researchers found that nearly one in three adults are excessive drinkers and most of them ‘binge drink’ usually on multiple occasions. Taken in conjunctions with the SAMHSA data, the number of American adults who consume an excessive amount of alcohol in a short period of time and on a regular basis is staggering. Concurrently, the Department of Transportation data shows that there are over 200 million licensed drivers in America. Therefore, and by definition, the population of American drivers contains an overwhelming number of ‘binge drinkers’ and individuals who meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders. The theme for Alcohol Awareness Month is “help for today, hope for tomorrow”. If you or someone you know is struggling with alcoholism, consider looking for alcohol abuse treatment options in your area. For more information about alcoholism and Alcohol Awareness Month, you can visit NCADD’s website, available at: www.ncadd.org/about-ncadd/eventsawards/alcohol-awareness-month
face, or that the economy is something everybody pretends to understand. So to those entering their twenties I want to share what I wish I knew. Your parents opinions should sometime be ignored. They mean well but you’re an adult now, you should know they can be wrong. Remember they can barely program their cell phone. Some days you won’t be sure whether you’re going to laugh or cry. The line will thin between them and you’ll laugh in public, so no one panics. You get home then you can’t find the remote or the most mundane problem and start crying as if you just saw Mufasa die for the first time. Even worse like when you first saw Chucky in Rugrats find the picture of his dead mother. It feels as if you’re a flight attendant pretending the plane isn’t crashing. You will feel like you’re falling behind everyone else in your age group, especially amongst old high school classmates. On social media they might seem like they are living the life, but I promise you they aren’t
always. I ran into a high school classmate who made me feel inadequate about where I was in life. The next day I saw them again outside their job going through the same emotional turbulence of dread and misery I feel too. I felt great watching not because I want to see them suffer but because I’m not alone and haven’t found what brings me joy. Okay….it was a little because I enjoyed seeing them suffer. Last, no one really cares. They care to a point. You ever had a friend cry while you’re trying to watch your favorite show. You always feel bad because you know the right thing is to see if they’re okay. You really want to ask them “ Do you have to cry here? Can you cry in private in the shower like a normal person?” They feel that about you sometimes. I’ll be doing this on my birthday because I am a good person who doesn’t burden others with my problems. Unless I’ve had too many drinks then all bets are off. Just don’t ask how’s life and I won’t yell “IT JUST WON’T END.”
Photo: Goodfellow Air Force Base/Creativecommons.org
April, 2018
SPORTS
8 THE TOWER
Kean goes on historic winning streak but has sights set even higher By Craig Epstein The Kean men’s volleyball team has kicked the door down and has proven that they belong in the Continental Valley Conference (CVC). At 29-2, the Cougars set the program record for most consecutive victories (17) on March 16 with their wins over both Dominican and Aurora University. Even through this historic accomplishment, Head Coach Charlie Ginex remains solely focused on what lies ahead of him and his team. “Setting a new mark for consecutive victories is nice but to be honest it is not our focus,” Ginex said. “Our focus is on winning when it matters most, at the end of the season.” Winning has not only become a habit for the Cougars, but they have done so in convincing fashion in most of the games they’ve played. Out of their 29 wins, 20 have come in the form of sweeping the other team three sets to zero. Not only is Kean experiencing a lot of success as a team, but as individuals as well. On March 7, sophomore outside/right side hitter Dylan Flor was announced as the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Player of the Week. “Dylan receiving this award is a testament to not only his personal hard work and growth as a player, but to his teammates who push him in practice and support him during matches,” Ginex said. “Volleyball is a team sport, one that is not possible to be successful in if the team is not playing well, so Dylan certainly benefits from having such an outstanding team around him as well.” Although Flor is proud of this accomplishment, he doesn’t view it as being important in the grand scheme of things. “It was nice but it has little to no meaning,” the Quakertown native said. “ My goals and the teams’ goals extend far beyond that of one player on one week.” Much like his coach, Flor remains concerned about what he and the team face going forward. For him, improving on the court and getting the victory is the only thing that matters. “The only thing moving forward is winning,” Flor said. “We have a great group of seniors that want to win and are all on the same page.” In regards to the historic winning streak that the Cougars are on, Flor believes that it shows how well the team is prepared and how much they are on the same page. “I think that it’s fantastic that we have been able to have a great win streak,” Flor said. “It just shows how hard our guys are working and how we are focused at the right times.”
Photos by Larry Levanti
Above: Sophomore Dylan Flor preparing to hit the ball Below right: Head Coach Charlie Ginex discussing gameplan with Jared Warner
“Our focus is on winning when it matters most, at the end of the season.” - Coach Charlie Ginex
Right: 2018 Kean Men’s Volleyball team
Photos by Larry Levanti
Softball Team makes their presence felt By Estefani Hernandez The Kean University softball team is making sure that their presence is felt this season and with a record of 14-2, these girls are driven to win. Under the guidance of Head Coach Margie Acker, the team has been taking win after win this season. Recently, the softball team extended their winning streak to three games with a doubleheader sweep of Gwynedd-Mercy University at the Cougar Field. However, with plenty of games left in the season, the girls are still pumped more than ever to take as many victories as they can. “I love playing here, every one of the girls comes in with ambition, and they’re so hungry to win,” stated Olivia Zengel, a junior who has been playing for Kean for the past three seasons. After winning the NJAC Championships last year, the girls are determined to take home another championship. Acker guided the softball team to its sixth-straight season of at least 20 wins in 2017. “Coach is great, she has a lot of experience on her belt and she approaches the game a little differently and we all really enjoy it,” Zengel said. “Overall she’s supportive but is all about that tough love.” Aside from all the hard work put onto the field, the girls try to do their
best and always give back whenever they can. Coach Acker created a #DoGoodDay where each player has to do a good deed when their number has approached. The team does things like donating food to animal shelters, donating canned food to Community Food Banks, and giving homemade blankets to the Children’s Specialized Hospital. You can learn more about #DoGoodDay on the teams instagram page, @KeanSoftball.
Photos by Olivia Zengel
Top right: The team poses after winning NJAC Championship last year Lower left: smiles for a picture in home field.
“...every one of the girls comes in with ambition, and they’re so hungry to win.” - Junior Olivia Zengel