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(10/23/18 12:54am)
By Alyssa Louis
Social Media Editor
The School of Arts and Communication continued its fall 2018 faculty lecture series with its fifth presentation titled, “Celebrity Culture and the Criminal Justice System” in Mayo Concert Hall on Oct. 19.
Emilie Lounsberry, a professor in the journalism and professional writing department, shared her experience covering the trial and sentencing of Bill Cosby for Variety magazine.
“How many of you grew up watching ‘The Cosby Show,’” Lounsberry asked the audience.
The hands of students and faculty alike were raised in the air, showing how Cosby has long since been become a household name because of both his celebrity status and the sexual assault accusations against him.
Variety was one of the first news organizations to have reported on the guilty verdict of the Cosby trial, according to Lounsberry.
Lounsberry showed a brief video that documented the life of Cosby from his time as a beloved television star to his downfall as the 81-year-old standing trial for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand in 2004.
The professor and award-winning journalist jumped at the opportunity to cover this trial during the pivotal “Me Too” movement, a campaign that shines light on sexual assault and harassment. According to Lounsberry, the movement served as the backdrop for the Hollywood icon’s fall from grace with protesters often gathered outside of the courthouse.
The influence of Cosby’s notoriety and the growing “Me Too” social media movement cast a shadow of potential biases from jurors, according to Lounsberry.
The jury could not come to a conclusive verdict for Cosby’s first trial, which soon ended in a mistrial.
The former entertainment mogul was found guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual assault and sentenced to three to 10 years in prison in his retrial, Lounsberry, who covered both legal proceedings, explained.
Lounsberry explained the gravity of remaining clinical and unbiased in her articles and other accounts of the trial via Twitter –– a sentiment she echoed consistently in the courses she teaches at the College.
“We don’t have an ax to grind,” Lounsberry said. “We are there to tell the story.”
Lounsberry gave her students the opportunity to join her inside the courtroom of the high-profile trial, proving her passion for both the practice of journalism and educating the journalists of tomorrow.
While she loves teaching at the College, Lounsberry established her journalistic roots within the courtroom while studying at Temple University, and the drama and thrill are still able to coax her back from time to time.
“As strange as it may sound, I love being in a courtroom,” she said, “It’s like getting a free ticket to Broadway.”
Though Lounsberry enjoys the atmosphere of a courtroom, the job is brimming with challenges.
Forbidden from using electronic devices in the courtroom, Lounsberry, equipped with a cup of coffee, pen and paper, would quickly write her notes, though she humbly admitted that she is “not quite as good as the court stenographer.”
The journalist was also faced with the challenge of determining when the jury would cease its deliberations to reveal the verdict. Lounsberry was supposed to teach a class at the College when she had to leave to attend the trial in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She arrived to the courthouse only to see the doors to the courtroom closed. Her heart sank and her mind raced.
Fortunately, her connections from her days as a journalist for the Philadelphia Inquirer procured her entrance into the courtroom for the final verdict of the trial she had followed for months.
“The angels of journalism were looking out for me,” she said.
(09/12/18 3:37pm)
By Alyssa Louis
Social Media Editor
Ladies, what do you do on those walks back to your dorm in the dark after a late class? Personally, I call my mom. I wish I could say that it’s only because I miss her, which I do, but there is another unfortunate reason.
Women are taught not to go out alone after dark. We are told to never accept drinks from strangers. We are raised to tolerate cat-calls from moving vehicles and being touched without our permission.
We keep our head on a swivel because “no” isn’t universal anymore. Society’s solutions include bedazzled pepper spray that can attach to your purse, nail polish that can detect date rape drugs, and pink flashlights that double as stun guns. We shouldn't need self-defense products and we certainly shouldn't need to reinvent them as feminine accessories. Everyone should implement the precautions they feel comfortable taking, but we deserve to live in a world that doesn’t profit off of women’s fear.
We all have our stories. You know, the ones that send a shiver down your spine? Those experiences you are supposed to move on from and even accept as compliments?
Picture a girl walking up the basement stairs of a fraternity house as a boy reaches toward her, grabbing her breast.
As disturbing as it sounds, that story is quite common. The boy gets criticized for his actions, but only until people start to blame the girl for putting herself in such a position, as if she deserved to be violated.
Sexual harassment is not limited to a party or bar setting –– it has and unfortunately will continue to occur where we work, shop, eat and even earn an education.
My friend called me a few weeks ago, shaken. She was in Walmart and felt a pair of eyes on her. The eyes belonged to a man who said to my friend that he couldn’t help but stare — she looked so beautiful that he just needed to follow her around the store to tell her so. She asked me if she was crazy for feeling uncomfortable because he was only delivering praise, an inquiry I immediately squashed. The reactions people have in these situations are instinctual and should be validated, not twisted into another emotion.
Over the summer, I made a mistake. I went to my job at a local ice cream shop, wearing athletic shorts, exposing my legs. I would come to discover that this gave a middle-aged man the right to ask me if I played rugby or lacrosse. Before I could even respond, he described my legs as “just so muscular and beautiful” as he leaned over the counter, closer to me. The man proceeded to put money in my tip jar as he looked me up and down like a piece of meat.
“Well, at least he tipped,” my co-worker said consolingly.
We are a product of our resilient nature. We get up, dust ourselves off and move on. As much as I would like to disregard the cat-calling, unwarranted comments and harassment that myself and those that I love have endured, future women should not have to.
The purpose of this conversation is not to deter men from hitting on girls. It is to deter men from treating women like objects, speaking about and touching them as if they are not in control of their bodies.
Sharing our stories, accepting that we are not at fault for our experiences and refusing to tolerate inappropriate comments and actions can bring necessary change.
(03/26/18 8:30pm)
By Alyssa Louis
Staff Writer
The fourth annual TCNJam brought students, cancer survivors and their families together to celebrate life, remember those who have succumbed to the disease and raise money for those battling childhood cancer.
For months, students have raised money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, a pediatric cancer charity, which culminated in the dance-a-thon on Sunday, March 25 in the Brower Student Center.
A sea of Greek letters, the space was representative of the College’s fraternities and sororities and their dedication to raising awareness and bettering the lives of children suffering from cancer.
“(TCNJam) ties our whole community together,” said Sophia Grigolo, a junior criminology major and a sister of Alpha Xi Delta.
The dance-a-thon was rightfully kicked off with a spirited performance from the College’s dance team.
Aside from dancing, students could play cornhole and jump rope while money continued to be raised, getting TCNJam board members to their $100,000 goal.
Appearances from the College’s Synergy Dance Company and Waldo Black, an activist and performer who recently visited Penn State University for THON, a similar dance-themed charity event, kept the energy up for the long afternoon.
Joe McDonough, the founder of the B+ Foundation, spoke to the TCNJam participants to show his appreciation for the time and effort devoted devoted to the cause by all of its participants.
“You guys have been a big part of the success of the B+ Foundation,” he said.
McDonough founded his organization in honor of his 14-year-old son who lost his battle with cancer in 2007. The B+ Foundation provides funding for cancer research and alleviates the disease’s financial strain for many families.
“When a child gets cancer, the whole family gets cancer,” McDonough said.
The B+ Foundation also creates a community of support for the children and their families while they endure treatment.
“B+ Heroes” are childhood cancer survivors affiliated with the foundation. Heroes are often paired with Greek organizations at many colleges and universities across the country.
“It’s important to put faces to childhood cancer,” said McDonough as he introduced the parents of some B+ Heroes to share their heart-wrenching, yet hopeful stories.
The B+ Heroes had a blast hanging out with their paired fraternity or sorority. The brothers of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity tossed around a football with their honorary member and B+ Hero, Will, who beamed with happiness. Will is currently in his fifth year of remission.
Darius Horne, a brother of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a junior business management major and entertainment director of TCNJam, was moved by his experience with Will.
“Going to see Will has such an impact on me. We go to see him two or three times a year. He has so much energy,” Horne said.
Allyson Vilanova, a senior history and special education double major, sister of Sigma Sigma Sigma and the public relations chair for TCNJam, also sees the impact that the B+ Foundation and Heroes program have on these brave children.
“When you see the Heroes, they are happy and full of life and it hurts to see part of their childhood taken away because of childhood cancer,” Vilanova said.
A lively B+ Hero, Lilly, was given the stage and a microphone to perform “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys. Students moved closer and closer to the stage, dancing and singing with the inspirational young girl.
TCNJam raised $102,740.78 for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation this year, surpassing their goal.
The College has been increasingly successful in raising money and awareness for childhood cancer –– but there is still a long way to go.
“We’re not close to winning at all. We have a lot of work to do and we need you on our team,” McDonough said.
(02/19/18 10:29pm)
By Alyssa Louis
Staff Writer
Students beamed as they received red carnations, courtesy of the brothers of Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity and the College’s Counseling and Psychological Services, on Feb. 14 in the Brower Student Center.
This Valentine’s Day marked the fraternity’s fourth annual “Operation: Beautiful” event.
“This event is designed to spread positivity and mental health awareness,” said Michael Rojas, a junior mechanical engineering major and the president of Sigma Lambda Beta.
A red carnation, the fraternity’s flower, was given to anyone walking by the brothers’ table in the Student Center. The faces of most of the recipients immediately lit up with joy and gratitude when offered the flower.
“I knew when I walked by that they were giving out flowers for free, but it still made me so happy when they told me ‘Happy Valentine’s Day,’ and I couldn’t help but smile,” said Lee Smith, a freshman elementary and special education double major.
Valentine’s Day can serve as a magnifying glass on relationships –– or lack thereof –– but the fraternity is trying to change the negative stigma associated with the holiday by implementing the simple act of kindness to make students feel special.
“Handing out these flowers is a great way of spreading positivity, and they can spread the love to their significant other or anyone,” said Cesar Cruz, a senior biology major and vice president of Sigma Lambda Beta.
Stress and anxiety often consume those with or without a significant other on this annual day dedicated to celebrating love. According to a Forbes article by Johns Hopkins University professor of public health Bruce Y. Lee, the holiday can make people question the relationships they are in, summon painful memories of past relationships and overwhelm and sadden single individuals.
“For the first time, the fraternity paired up with CAPS to make more of an impact,” Rojas said.
“The expectations that accompany Valentine’s Day, the holiday intended to celebrate love and romance, can lead people into a cycle of depression,” Rojas explained.
Social media contributes to the high-stress Valentine’s Day culture, according to Smith.
“Sometimes while scrolling through social media it almost feels like everyone is just competing with each other to prove how amazing their girlfriend or boyfriend is,” Smith said.
On the other hand, many people also used the holiday to show their love and appreciation for other important individuals in their lives –– including themselves.
“Though I saw a lot of couples posting on Instagram, there were a lot of people simply celebrating friendship and self-love which is pretty awesome,” Smith said.
The fraternity hopes their actions can raise spirits while encouraging fellow students to love themselves.
The relatively simple gesture of distributing flowers is CAPS’ and Sigma Lambda Beta’s attempt to combat the negativity and despair affiliated with Valentine’s Day, while simultaneously delivering a meaningful declaration of compassion and tenderness towards members of the campus community.
“If you can’t love yourself, you can’t give love to others,” Cruz said as he unwrapped the carnations, eager to distribute them to classmates. “It makes me feel good to make others feel good.”
(02/13/18 12:06am)
By Alyssa Louis
Staff Writer
“Dear Brave Girl” was written on the tops of papers distributed to volunteers attending the Students For Life Club’s first meeting of the semester on Wednesday, Feb. 7. Embracing the power of the written word, participants gathered in the Social Sciences Building to write meaningful letters to support single mothers embarking on the wild adventure that is motherhood.
Students for Life paired with Embrace Grace, a non-profit organization that discourages women from getting abortions and provides them with support during and after their pregnancies.
Students for Life requested that students donate a baby item to join the optimistic and reassuring letters, so that Embrace Grace could make care packages for the brave mothers-to-be, explained Victoria Kiernan, a junior nursing major and the president of Students for Life.
Both members of Students For Life and fellow students wrote words of encouragement to single pregnant women. The intimate group that gathered for the meeting was comprised of pro-life students on campus.
“Even if it could help one girl, it would be worth it,” said Grace Gottschling, a senior English major and vice president of Students for Life.
While Students for Life’s roots were established on an anti-abortion platform, the club reformed its goals under the leadership of Kiernan.
Kiernan, a transfer student, saw a “choose life” sign when she visited the College and grew enthusiastic about becoming part of a community that was pro-life and pro-women.
Once Kiernan arrived on campus, she discovered that there had been a lack of interest in the club and that it was essentially dissolved, so she decided to revive it with Gottschling’s help.
Students for Life sometimes faces difficulty as a pro-life organization on a predominantly liberal campus.
“The group had written a message in chalk with contact information for those that are pregnant and in need of assistance (and) it had been washed away within a few hours,” said Peter Shenouda, a club member and sophomore political science and history double major. “How do we get our message out there when we are being silenced?”
The club’s association with pro-life values has hindered the progress of establishing a child care facility at the College. Gottschling has taken the issue to professors and Student Government, while petitioning to see if students and faculty are interested in it as a potential resource.
Development of a family service facility should appeal to all, “no matter what their viewpoint is or what identity they subscribe to,” Gottschling said.
According to Kiernan, Students for Life is responsible for collecting donations for organizations like Embrace Grace and Good Counsel, a home for single pregnant women, and they are looking to become involved with local crisis pregnancy centers.
Members of Students for Life made it clear that they are not a club focused on promoting a political agenda — the organization operates with the goal of assisting women and children.
“We are a group that advocates for the betterment of mothers and children, especially under difficult circumstances,” Shenouda said.
(10/30/17 2:07am)
By Alyssa Louis
Staff Writer
The thick fog dressing the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building hallways clouded Kayla Kolaritsch’s better judgement.
Despite her tendency to get frightened easily, Kolaritsch, a freshman health and exercise science major, decided she would step into a haunted virtual reality.
“Even though I knew I wasn’t in it, I still felt like I was going to pee myself,” Kolaritsch said after being unable to travel the entirety of the digital world.
The Haunted Hallway, hosted by the College’s Association for Computing Machinery's Special Interest Group on Computer GRAPHics and Interactive Techniques, the Association for Music Production and Discussion, Rebel Art Movement and WTSR, was held in the AIMM Building on Oct. 27.
Rooms and hallways were transformed into a scarily impressive display of student art.
The virtual reality experience, or VR, was created by Matt Kahrer, a senior interactive multimedia major, for his senior thesis in April. He felt that his design was very fitting for the event.
Kahrer provided the most “high-tech VR experience” that Dorian Armstrong, a junior mechanical engineering major, has ever had.
Each individual that wanted to go into the digital world would wear goggles to display the realistic images, a controller to navigate and headphones that played ominous music, according to Kolaritsch.
“‘Descend unto hell’ was written on the wall with blood,” Armstrong said. “Then you jumped down to find yourself in a dungeon.”
While monotonous, Kahrer’s reminders to each student about possible nausea and dizziness were necessary.
“It was not bad for a student project,” Armstrong said.
Outdoors, live music from students performers and vendors selling jewelry, T-shirts and food gathered a crowd.
Ben Spizuco, a freshman interactive multimedia major and AMPD member, was among the performers with his band, Hello Whirled.
Spizuco knew he wanted to perform at the Haunted Hallway and was thrilled when he was approached by a fellow AMPD member.
A white room with red balloons hanging from the ceiling reminded Kolaritsch of the Stephen King novel, and newly released horror film, “It.”
A splattered black mural coated parts of the walls with projected images of a train pulling into the station in red, orange and brown tones played on repeat. The eerie sounds of the wheels rushing along the track were interrupted by sporadic train whistles that echoed in the small space.
The College’s chapter of ACM SIGGRAPH was responsible for the room that contained many elements of craftsmanship and media.
Chris Raya, the SIGGRAPH vice president and a senior interactive multimedia major, described the tremendous effort of those involved with making the Haunted Hallway a success.
“A lot of hours, going to supply stores, and creativity,” were among the necessary components, Raya said.
The second room was converted into the bloody demise of a teacher’s pet.
SIGGRAPH tried to create a narrative within a classroom space, according to Raya.
Desks were strewn all over the room, fake blood was dripped onto the floor, and a person made of paper hung from the ceiling by a rope strung around its neck.
They wanted viewers to be able to interact with the exhibit, so they painted “teacher’s pet” on the wall, surrounded by red handprints and caution tape. There was also a chair in front of the display, which allowed students to sit and take pictures, according to Raya.
“I thought it would be more of a haunted house, but it was more of an art exhibit,” Kolaritsch said, amazed that she was able to be frightened by art and digital media.