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(11/15/11 5:11am)
By Alyssa Mease
I’m from Penn State Country; my neighbors proudly wave their Nittany Lions flag, and cars up and down my street have those blue paw print magnets on their trunks. A bunch of my friends from high school go to the university and have been posting things on Facebook all week about the child sex abuse scandal.
Unfortunately it seems like the true crime has been forgotten.
My friends are posting things about how Joe Paterno, or JoePa, has been unfairly ousted even though he met his lawful obligations. Some of my friends have posted a letter to “Non-Staters” about how only students from Penn State could possibly understand how a football coach could brighten the lives of thousands of students.
So maybe there should be a letter to the “Staters” from us “Non-Staters.” (Though, maybe we would be the “Stater Haters?”) I’ll write it, and you can post it on Facebook and thank me later.
We know you don’t understand. Usually we spend all day defending our decision to go to a smaller school, with smaller class sizes and a little thing known as professor-student relationships. And right now, we’d like for you to know this: You go to a university that has a pretty good football team. And although you’d like to believe they are the best in the country, they haven’t won much recently. You’re not the only school with a football team. You’re also not the only school with employees who care more about a winning record than an innocent child.
Let me briefly mention those employees, the ones you all “love” and “know” so well: They get paid a lot more money than you will ever make in your lifetime.
It is their job to take pictures with you, to attend other sporting events and to protect all people — students or not —who are entrusted to their care.
Nobody is accusing all of you “Staters” of supporting abuse, but we are accusing you of putting this man on a pedestal.
Taking a picture with him, briefly chatting on the way to class or seeing him on the sideline of a football field each week does not constitute a relationship.
You do not know JoePa.
Nobody wants to see a legendary figure go, but even fewer people want to see an innocent child allegedly get raped and then forgotten.
Joe Paterno is not being made an example of because he is such a celebrity; he is being made an example of because he works at a university and should have had the brains to call the police.
WE ARE… hoping you stop defending scumbags.
WE ARE… proud to go to an institution known more for academics than sports.
WE ARE… upset that you seem to be forgetting about the victims.
(09/22/11 10:46pm)
Eighty-three students took advantage of the College’s pilot project for blended learning courses this summer.
The courses, which ranged from Financial Accounting and Reporting to Stress Management, met on campus once a week, but students did the majority of the course-work online.
“It was the best of both worlds,” said Jody Eberly, associate professor of Elementary and Early Childhood Education, who
taught Multicultural Child-ren’s Literature.
“(Blended learning courses) allow students to do other things without living close by … to adjust their schedule according to their needs,” said professor of economics Bozena Leven, who taught Principles of Microeconomics.
Although the students might have saved time in their commute, they still had to spend ample time doing the assignments.
“You have to participate, you have to be more organized, you have to read the assignment,” Eberly said. “You can’t have an off class like you can in a traditional classroom, where you might just skim the reading for the day.”
The faculty also reported an increase in the amount of time spent preparing for the blended learning courses.
“There is more prep needed and no time saved on the tests. Each student submitted individualized answers that I had to read through, so there was no time saved,” Leven said. “There was excellent software, so I didn’t have to create the whole class from scratch — McGraw-Hill has done it with millions of dollars.”
“(The professor) has to be incredibly organized,” Eberly said. “It’s overwhelming the amount of stuff you do online. I checked my email three to four times a day. You really need complete flexibility.”
Interim Dean of the School of Education Mark Kiselica was instrumental in bringing the blended learning courses tothe College listed for a few reasons for doing so.
“A segment of the faculty had been moving ahead with incorporating distance learning into their course already … more and more students in high school had experience with blended learning, and we felt we might be able to help students accelerate their course of study,” Kiselica said.
According to Kiselica, there was a course designer involved in planning the courses, as well as various workshops and discussions of each professor’s syllabus. The students in each course took a specialized survey at the end, and those surveys are in the process of being evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the blended learning curriculum.
“It’s difficult to do a direct comparison,” Kiselica said, though the students were asked to compare this type of course to the traditional in-class course.
Leven said one of her main concerns was that students who take summer classes generally fall into two groups: those who failed and are trying to catch up and those who are trying to get ahead. “In a typical class, it is easier to target those who are struggling,” she said.
If she taught the class again, she would make sure that the students who are struggling are clear on what is expected, she said.
“I would try to identify the students who are weaker analytically, who are afraid of the math involved with the graphs … and insist on meeting separately with those students and not allow them to meet only on the computer,” Leven said. “The hybrid part allowed them to come back and ask questions, and most did not. It was distance learning. This course required a certain degree of analytical skills. Students didn’t have the same advantage they would have in a traditional course, by hearing the same question asked repeatedly.”
“Distance learning is not for students who can’t budget time. They could theoretically go on vacation and be near a computer,” Eberly said.
Faculty members have expressed mixed feelins about the idea of online teaching.
“The dynamics of a classroom are sometimes important and I don’t know how that can be achieved (online),” said Ralph Edelbach, an associate professor in the School of Engineering and the president of The College of New Jersey Federation of Teachers.
“I’ve heard nobody raising major concerns to me about it so that’s a good sign,” he said.
“I feel I definitely got the same level of education that I would have gotten if I had taken an in-class course. I have already started using some of the knowledge I gained this summer in classes this semester,” said Rebecca Turner, a sophomore math, science, technology and elementary education double major.
Whether more blended courses will be added to the schedule in the future will be determined after the students’ and faculty’s feedback is processed. The next step is to present the findings of the students’ surveys to the campus government, then the faculty will do its presentations, then the college government has its input, said Kiselica.
However, one thing is certain, Kiselica said: “The College will never become an online institution.”
(03/24/11 12:02am)
Residential Education and Housing will consider the opinions of students, student organizations and staff members to determine the feasibility of offering gender-neutral housing at the College, according to Ryan Farnkopf, the director of housing.
“As the first step in this process, we’ve identified a number of students with whom (Residential Education) will work closely next year to identify challenges and determine how best to make this option available during future room selection processes,” Farnkopf said in an e-mail.
Gender-neutral housing will be considered for the 2012-2013 academic year and, if it is offered, it will be offered only to interested sophomores and upperclassmen. Residential Education will also need to identify any additional restrictions a gender-neutral living community would require, as well as student programming needs and awareness in the greater residential or academic community.
After Rutgers University freshman Tyler Clementi took his life after his roommate filmed him taking part in a sexual act with another male student last semester, the school announced that it would implement a trial period of mixed-gender dorm rooms. Princeton University implemented this option for students as of the fall 2010 semester, now currently having gender-neutral housing in one of its dormitories, which consists of four single bedrooms and a common living room and kitchen.
According to Farnkopf, the Residential Education office has received a number of requests during the past five years to relax the gender restrictions for housing. While no student would be forced to live in a gender-neutral housing community, the College hopes to offer this type of living situation as an option in the near future. No information can be released at this time to determine a student’s building or room assignment within the gender-neutral housing, according to Farnkopk.
“Residential Education and Housing is committed to creating a gender-neutral housing program,” Farnkopf said. “This is a topic about which I feel passionate.”
Residential Edication and Housing will be able to provide students with more information after the fall 2011 semester.
Alyssa Mease can be reached at mease2@tcnj.edu.
(03/02/11 11:14pm)
One of my friends and I booked our spring break trip to Hawaii less than a month ago. I was so excited about lying around on a beach in Maui until I realized one important thing: I no longer fit into my bikinis. My days of eating baguettes and Nutella while I studied abroad in Paris last semester have come back to bite me in my now flabby ass.
Accordingly, my friend and I started a physical revolution in our house — 25 days of fitness.
We started our challenge with — you guessed it — 25 days remaining before we are en route to paradise. We decided to go to the gym or do Jillian Michaels’ yoga workout every single day. Our motivation? One of our housemates has taken a picture of us every Thursday to visually track our progress.
At first, many of our friends thought this was kind of silly. They doubted how serious we were about our personal challenge. But then one night we went to the 24-hour gym where I am a member at 2 a.m. to prove our serious commitment. There’s something about the looming threat of pictures of my less-than-flat stomach being posted all over Facebook that makes me want to workout even harder.
However, being a full-time student and having an internship makes it a bit difficult to go to the gym every day at a reasonable time. And, of course, since spring break is right around the corner, midterms need to be studied for.
This left me in a bit of a conundrum. Here we are, with spring break fast approaching and my stomach is still not as flat as it used to be. So, my insecurities and I drove to GNC in Quaker Bridge Mall to talk to a man who looked like he could throw me across the mall. His advice was to take a pharmacist-formulated dietary supplement to help me burn an extra 300 calories a day. He also told me to eat nothing but salad for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then he gave me a multivitamin to take because the dietary supplement would rob my body of its nutrients, he said.
Five minutes, $60 and one GNC Gold Card later, I left the store feeling like I was on top of the world. Until I told my friends about what I had done, that is. They berated me with facts about how unhealthy and unnecessary these pills are, and how beautiful I am.
This lasted until I received a text message from one of my housemates that was intended for another housemate. “I won’t tell you where I put them if you don’t want to have to lie to her,” it said. I realized that they were planning to hide the pills from me.
Instead of appreciating their concern for my health and safety, I did what any self-absorbed delusional person would do: I flipped out. I left the house without speaking to them and didn’t return until one of them texted me an apology.
After a few very hungry, jittery days, I can now honestly say that diet pills are stupid and I am swearing off them for good. More than that, I can honestly say that I have some of the best friends ever. I know that spring break is going to be awesome no matter how I look. I’m not going to let a muffin top get in the way of my lazy beach days or luau-filled nights. More importantly, I don’t need some stranger in GNC to prescribe me pills to make me feel better about myself — my friends and some homemade cupcakes can do that. Besides, I’m going to Hawaii, damn it! What more could I ask for?
Alyssa Mease can be reached at mease2@tcnj.edu.
(02/17/11 1:01am)
Approximately 20 female students took their shirts off to the Pussycat Dolls’ “Buttons” on Thursday in Brower Student Center room 202.
No, Campus Police was not called.
On Friday night, six students practiced their card flourishing techniques in BSC room 210.
No, this was not Valentine’s Day bingo.
Exotic Dancing for the Everyday Woman and Card Tricks are just two of the 13 BSC Mini-Courses being offered by the Brower Student Center. Each class is taught by a student hired by the College. The classes are funded directly by the Student Center, according to Seth Zolin, the manager of the Student Center.
The Student Center received about 80 responses from students interested in teaching a course. Of those students, 20 received an offer to teach, Zolin said.
Students were required to register for the BSC Mini-Courses, and each class has a limit to the number of students permitted. On the first day, students were given a syllabus outlining the lessons. Each week, attendance is taken.
Sophomore biology major Chika Akparanta finds these classes as a good way to de-stress.
“It’s so fun and is a good reliever from everything outside,” Akparanta said about Exotic Dancing for the Everyday Woman.
According to Sara Wellington, a junior chemistry major, “It builds confidence and you’re free to express yourself, to be sexy.”
Zolin explained how the courses go beyond helping the students directly, and create a better atmosphere for the Student Center for the campus community.
“(The Mini-Courses are) important to the Student Center as part of our ongoing efforts to make the Student Center a more engaging and desirable location for our student population,” Zolin said in an e-mail. “It’s not just a place to come get a coffee, or grab some lunch and sit in the food court. It’s a place where you can stretch your wings to try new things. A place to deepen your involvement in the institution and develop a more meaningful collegiate experience.”
Card Tricks, which was changed to Card Flourishing with the permission of the students, taught moves like “fan,” “dribble,” “spring” and “one-handed cut.” Frank Sung, the instructor for the course and a sophomore special education major, has been performing tricks like these for five years.
“A lot of it is self taught,” he said.
Sung created his own YouTube channel, frankispeace, to show off his card flourishing skills. He films and edits videos of himself doing tricks like the ones he teaches in his class. Card flourishing is a small internet-based industry, with only about 2,000 to 3,000 members, Sung said.
Teri Merry, the instructor for Exotic Dancing for the Everyday Woman, is a graduate student in the counseling education department. She has been teaching classes through the dance company, The Art of Exotic Dancing, for three years.
“This is one way I like to help women build self confidence,” Merry said. “It helps unnerve you. Some women do this and they learn how to make eye contact.”
“I think the goal of most institutions of higher education, and particularly (the College), is to create a community of shared learning,” Zolin said. “Knowledge is not only meant to be passed ‘from teacher to student’ but for education and learning to take place between and among students themselves. This program is an opportunity for students to share their passions and interests among their peers to celebrate their skills and talents.”
More information about these and the rest of the BSC Mini-Courses offered is available at tcnjstudentactivities.com.
Alyssa Mease can be reached mease2@tcnj.edu.
(02/10/11 2:22am)
Rep. Rush Holt of New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District imparted his experience as a scientist last Friday morning to highlight the need for increased support for the science community.
“We need to reach out to the population at large and say, ‘Science is for you, even if you’re not going to become specialized,’” he told students and staff in the Biology Building room 144.
Holt specifically addressed some of the College’s Program to Enhance Retention of Students in Science Trajectories (PERSIST) in biology and chemistry scholars.
“Thanks for persevering, for persisting, in science,” he said.
The PERSIST program, according to its website, was created to “increase the retention of economically disadvantaged students majoring in biology or chemistry at (the College).” The program offers scholarships up to $10,000 a year for two years to each student at the College, the website states. It provides student support services to less fortunate groups who are seeking careers in STEM areas — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. PERSIST has been active at the College for three years.
As a member of PERSIST, junior chemistry major Melanie Hutnick knows the benefits of the program.
“Coming from a Dominican house with a single parent, I had to go to college out of necessity,” Hutnick said. “Without having a scholarship, it wouldn’t be possible.”
Holt said, “Anyone can think like a scientist.” He explained that teachers beginning at the elementary school level need to be more comfortable teaching the subject. “We’ve got
to do a better job of communicating the idea of science.” The way to do that, he said, is to make science more accessible and less intimidating to everyone.
Before running for Congress in 1998, Holt served the U.S. State Department as an arms control expert, taught several subjects, including physics, and worked as assistant director of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a center for alternative energy research.
“I was honored that Rep. Holt wanted to speak at (the College). His appearance shows that he understands the importance of science and science education,” Hutnick said.
Present at the event were Provost Carol Bresnahan, Donald Lovett, biology department chair — who is also the program director for PERSIST — some of his colleagues and five PERSIST scholars.
“I know how capable you can be,” Holt told the scholars, reminding them of his own background in science.
“I liked the fact that he is for the support of the programs that are promoting science,” sophomore chemistry major Matthew Leon said, “because after graduation these people can help improve the work force in the industries and teaching areas.”
Alyssa Mease can be reached at mease2@tcnj.edu.
(12/02/10 3:13am)
By Alyssa Mease
Foreign Correspondent
Before I left for France, it seemed like everyone had something negative to say about the French. Many people, most of whom have never been to the country, told me that French people were rude, and my brother-in-law told me that the only useful expression in the French language is, “I surrender.” My parents worried about my safety as a foreigner in a big city so many miles from home, and my friends told me I better not take up smoking or wear a beret.
I thought the only true way to prepare myself for such an experience would be to read a book written by an American woman who married a French man and moved to Paris. “This,” I told myself, “will be my bible.” Unfortunately, that book only echoed the same concerns everybody else had. The author warned that it is almost impossible to make French friends, and she said they will almost never invite foreigners to their homes. She wrote of horror stories of people going to buy a baguette in sweat pants and being shot death glares. She said that eating while walking or while on the Metro is a major faux pas, and she said that the French have no problem with butting in line at the store.
By this point, I was more than just a little nervous. Also at this point, I was apartment-less, as I had just been told by the man who was supposed to be letting me an apartment that it was, in fact, unavailable. This was after he ignored my e-mails and phone calls for a full week. You could say that I was starting to develop a hatred for the French.
My dad, who works for a company based in France, e-mailed his coworkers and asked them if they could help me in my search for a place to live. Every single person he e-mailed responded within two days, and they all attached links to websites that proved rather helpful to me. One man even told my dad that my roommates and I were welcome at his parents’ house for lunch when we arrived.
I was confused. I thought these people were just being nice because they knew my dad. “Surely not everyone in France is actually this nice,” I thought.
The day I arrived in France, the taxi dropped my roommate and I off at our apartment with all of our luggage. An older man who lives in the building offered to help us with our luggage and he taught us the security codes on the front gate and on the two doors leading into the building. He called our landlord from his phone and even told us where we could go for a good lunch. Even then I thought that this man must be the exception.
One day I was home with both of my roommates when our doorbell rang. It was our neighbor, who just wanted to make sure someone was home, because our door was ajar and he was afraid someone would break in.
I was rushing through the Metro on my way to school when a woman rushed past me yelling, “Young man! Young man!” The middle school-aged boy to whom she was yelling had dropped 20 Euros by the till, and she wanted to make sure he got it back.
The real test of the niceness of the French came when I was to meet some French friends of one of my American friends. I was still nervous about carrying on a conversation in only French, and I know that my American accent makes my French sound atrocious. I was told the one, Arthur, is a filmmaker, and he was about to leave for six weeks to make a film in America. To say I was intimidated is an understatement. However, Arthur punctuated everything he said in English with, “fucking shit,” so I was immediately put at ease. His girlfriend, Maeva, spoke only a little English, but she was very patient with my terrible French.
After our lunch, they invited me to their apartment for drinks later in the week. I was starting to seriously doubt the credibility of the American author.
At Maeva and Arthur’s apartment, I met a lot of their other friends. We all sang while someone played the guitar and two of the girls invited me to join their gym. They taught me how to curse in French, and told me I spoke French really well.
I guess what I have learned is that it is not always a good idea to heed the advice of others, especially when the people offering the advice have no first-hand experience. Sometimes the best thing to do is figure things out for yourself, and make some mistakes along the way. I have messed up the language here many times, and every time, the person I was talking to kindly explained the correct way to say what I wanted. Once, I tried to tell Arthur’s friend Julian, a guy, that he was always welcome in my apartment, but I referred to him in the feminine. He just laughed it off and told me the right words. I think having a red face sometimes is all part of the experience.
(11/17/10 7:30pm)
By Alyssa Mease
Foreign Correspondent
At orientation for my school in Paris, we were warned of the signs of homesickness. The teacher told us that if we started to hate certain things about the city, we were probably experiencing it. I scoffed at the idea of ever wanting to go back to the United States, where I have considerably less freedom.
That being said, I’ve recently become disenchanted with the land of baguettes and the Eiffel Tower, and I’ve been trying to convince myself that there is no way I could possibly compare a weekend trip to the Jersey Shore with a weekend trip to a Mediterranean island. But I simply cannot escape my desire to sit in the Library Café with my friends and have a genuine conversation about what Perez Hilton said about Lindsay Lohan.
I have tried rationalizing my newfound disdain for Paris and the Parisians, but it has proved impossible. It is true that the French like to go on strike, but even the worst of the strikes since I’ve been here have not affected me terribly. For example, my TGV train to Brussels was canceled, but I was able to catch a train just an hour later. And I have had to sit in a Metro station for 15 minutes, just to cram into a Metro car with about 1,000 of the smelliest people in the city. But even that has not made me angry or uncomfortable enough to book a plane home.
I have been to coastal cities, bustling cities, the countryside and the prostitution capital of the world, but every time I think, “This is nice, but I think Pennsylvania is better.”
Maybe it’s just my classes that have me in a slump. After all, I am a lone journalism major in a school of business students. I’m taking a math class for the first time since high school, and on top of that, my French civilization teacher is very anti-feminism.
I know that I probably sound like the most spoiled person in the world, but the truth is that there’s really just no place like home. As much as I am grateful for the opportunities I have had this semester, I look forward to going home and being spit upon by my beautiful three-month-old niece.
(10/28/10 12:37am)
ByAlyssa Mease
Foreign Correspondent
I recently noticed that I have gained weight since coming to Paris. It’s a little like the Freshman 15, but I have coined the term “Paris 15.” And as I thought about how this happened, I realized that I am perfectly fine with my extra pounds. The food in Paris is delicious unlike food in New Jersey, my mother would be disappointed if I didn’t eat it all. Let me explain:
Baguettes
Baguettes are sold at the boulangerie. Many parisians eat them every day. But the boulangerie is tricky because besides selling bread, it sells about 30 of the most delicious cakes and pastries, and you have to stare at them while you wait in line for your baguette. Usually I cannot resist their deliciousness.
Nutella
Nutella is sold in 1000-gram containers, and it goes wonderfully with just about anything. I try to be healthy and eat bananas for breakfast, but Nutella is oh so delicious on bananas. Probably I should eat more bananas and less Nutella, but what fun is that?
Gelato
Being right next to Italy, obviously France imports tons of yummy gelato. There is one store that shapes the gelato in a cone in the shape of a flower, and I really like flowers. And gelato.
Dark chocolate
Paris sells mainly dark chocolate, which is my favorite kind. Not to mention there is one brand, Bio, that costs 56 centimes per bar. It would be a sin to not buy one every time I go to the store.
Cheese
In moderation cheese isn’t terribly unhealthy but I eat it every day. I eat a lot of it every day, and that is because it is so much better here than in the United States. Plus my roommate buys it a lot, and I wouldn’t want to offend him by not eating it.
Alcohol
I’m only putting this on the list because I am legal here I drink beer and cocktails at bars when we go out, but I’m excluding wine because in moderation a glass of red wine also is healthy for you. The bottle of wine my roommates and I drink at dinner is solely for health reasons.
These things might be considered my weakness, but I’d like to think of them as strengths. From now on when people ask me “what’s your favorite food? I can list something super French and impress them. Besides, winter is coming and I can just bundle up in bulky sweaters.
(10/06/10 5:36pm)
By Alyssa Mease
Foreign Correspondent
Despite my misgivings about Amsterdam and its sordid reputation, I hopped on a bus last weekend and headed on my way to the city of pot and prostitutes.
First of all, let me warn anyone who thinks that an overnight bus is a good idea — it is not. Heed my warnings and never take a seven-hour bus ride. I sat upright in a chair for the entire time and tried, though unsuccesfully, to sleep, while about 50 obnoxious Americans screamed about how excited they were to legally get high.
When I got to Amsterdam I was disappointed by the lack of wafting pot smoke — not that many people smoke joints as they walk around anyway. Also, don’t expect to find prostitutes wandering the streets like in shady neighborhoods in the United States. Prostitutes in Amsterdam have their own “offices,” usually equipped with a chair and privacy blinds.
My favorite place in the red light district was a place named Condomerie — a store that specialized in the sale of condoms of all shapes and sizes. There were colored condoms, scented condoms, oddly shaped condoms, oddly textured condoms, glow-in-the-dark condoms and even condoms that aren’t approved for use.
It’s also important to note that coffee shops don’t always sell coffee, but with names like “Smokey’s” and “Bob Marley’s Café,” what would you expect them to sell? Signs in the windows read, “Smoking allowed but no tobacco.”
So back to my original point of being disappointed in the lack of craziness, Amsterdam is actually a gorgeous city. There are a bunch of canals and cobblestone streets, and everyone there rides a bike. There a three-story parking garage just for them.
Of course, I had to visit the Anne Frank house. I would have walked right by the house, if it wasn’t for the sign on the door.
For the typical college student in the city, the Heineken Factory is a must-see. The tour was really fun, and it afforded my friend and I the opportunity to sing a Dutch song and send it to our friends and family. The tour guides also gave us a free tasting of the beer, and two free beers at the end. We probably should have had the beers before embarrassing ourselves with the singing.
For those who prefer mixed drinks, the House of Bols is a great way to spend an hour or two. Bols is the maker of a variety of liqueurs, and the tour of its old factory lets the tourists test their senses, primarily taste and smell. At the end of the tour each guest receives a free cocktail and two free shots.
After you have been sufficiently liquored up, you will be prepared to visit the infamous red light district. I was expecting red lights Las Vegas style, but there were none. Mainly, it was girls dressed in lingerie dancing in floor to ceiling windows and trying to attract male tourists. However, like in any profession, there were many girls ignoring the passersby and instead focusing on texting on their cell phones, and one girl was even seen eating a bowl of pasta. But hey, I guess some guys are into that.
(09/16/10 6:47pm)
ByAlyssa Mease
Foreign Correspondent
It never occurred to me that Parisians, who seem so fashionable and luxurious, could be so different from Americans, but believe me, they are.
Everyone in the city is always dressed up, no matter the time of day. Even when people go running, their outfit is matched perfectly and it looks like they could stop in a café for lunch after they finish. People waiting in line for their baguettes at the boulangerie at eight o’ clock in the morning are dressed perfectly, and anyone who dares to enter wearing sweat pants is glared at.
When I arrived in France just one week ago, I assumed that the people would be sort of rude to me, a stupid American. Thankfully though, my experience has been the complete opposite. Almost everyone I have encountered can tell right away that I am not French, and so they start speaking to me in English. In America, not many people speak two languages, let alone fluently.
Of course, one of the first things I did was visit the Moulin Rouge in Pigalle, with all its visions of glamour and sex and beautiful women. I quickly found that the Moulin Rouge is just one building on a street full of sex shops. There is a six story building called the “Sexodrome,” and I can only imagine what it’s like inside.
During that same day, I also visited the Centre Pompidou, a modern art museum. It currently houses a feminist art exhibit, which I thought would be something I would really enjoy. Turns out that most of the exhibit was pictures of naked women or of people having sex. There was even a video of someone’s backside.
It’s not that I am a prude — I can handle nudity. But is seems that Paris, specifically the museum and the Pigalle, is on a different level. Our tour guide in Pigalle said that Paris’ red light district is more of a pink light district compared to that of Amsterdam. And nobody in the museum seemed bothered by the graphic images — not even the children. While I am very grateful to have this opportunity in Paris, I don’t think I will be going to Amsterdam until I build up my tolerance a little.
I suppose the most exciting cultural difference, however, is the drinking age. or lack thereof. In the United States, students are always needing to flash their IDs to prove how old they are, but in France, students are always flashing their IDs to prove how young they are so they can get discounts on things like entrance fees for museums and tours, and pitchers of beer during happy hour.
And though I am still adjusting to being in a new place, I am hopeful that one day I will feel like Paris is my home away from home. Of course that probably won’t happen until I am about to leave.
Alyssa Mease can be reached at mease2@tcnj.edu.
(04/27/10 6:05pm)
A Vera Bradley wristlet was stolen between 10:15 and 11 a.m. on Sunday April 18 from a cubby in the Physical Enhancement Center in Packer Hall, campus police said.
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Spray paint was found in various locations at 8 a.m. on Friday April 24 in Lot 9 and the sidewalk between Cromwell Hall and Travers Hall. According to police, some cans of spray paint were found, and the Grounds Department was notified for removal of the paint.
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Two individuals were found with a metallic container with a smiley face on it and green and brown leafy vegetation, believed to be marijuana, inside at midnight on Wednesday April 21 at the Green Lane Fields. One male was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia and was released, police said.
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An underage male was found staggering outside at 12:50 a.m. on Sunday April 18 outside of Eickhoff Hall. According to campus police, the male said he was 21 years old, but according to his identification, he was 18 years old. He said he consumed two beers at an off-campus party and was issued a summons.
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A wooden bench and some garbage cans were found knocked over at 4:40 a.m. on Sunday April 18 in Lot 17 and the walkway next to Packer Hall, police said.
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A bike was stolen between 6 p.m. Friday April 14 and 4 p.m. Sunday April 18 from outside of Travers Hall. The victim put the lock around his bike but is not sure if he locked it. Police said that upon his return, the bike was missing and the lock was found on the ground. The bike is valued at $190.
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An intoxicated female was found walking up the stairs at midnight Friday April 23 from the Travers Hall Link. She was alert, conscious and cooperative. She said she consumed several shots of vodka at an off-campus party. A member of Residential Education documented the incident and it will be referred to the Office of Student Affairs for unacceptable behavior, according to campus police.
(04/20/10 11:48pm)
A male and female refused to leave a room after a fire alarm went off at 4:30 a.m. on Wednesday April 14 in Norsworthy Hall. A Community Advisor found the two together in bed. They were issued summonses for Disorderly Conduct.
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An intoxicated male was found drinking a Keystone Light at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday April 15 in Eickhoff Dining Hall. He said he consumed one beer and was taken to the hallway because of his disruptive behavior.
A member of Lions EMS asked him to sign a “Refusal for Medical Treatment” and he laughed. He was then handcuffed and taken to the College Police Department for processing. He was issued a summons.
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An anonymous caller reported a white male with a pink shirt was writing on a wall at 1:45 p.m. on Thursday April 15 in Lot 6. The individual was found on the soccer field and arrested. He was issued a summons for criminal mischief.
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A golf cart rented by Conference and Meeting Services was damaged on Thursday April 15 in the Eickhoff parking garage. The golf cart was parked at 7:30 p.m. the previous day and was found damaged in the roadway. There is no further information at this time.
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Prescription Adderall pills were stolen out of a backpack between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday April 13 from the Brower Student Center. The victim kept her backpack unattended. There are no suspects at this time.
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The New Residence Hall basement hallway and laundry room were sprayed with a fire extinguisher between 2 a.m. and 10:35 a.m. on Thursday April 15. The extinguisher could not be found and there are no witnesses at this time.
(04/06/10 11:04pm)
Several individuals were illegally in possession of fireworks at 10:25 p.m. on Saturday March 27 on Metzger Drive East.
The fireworks were recovered, logged and placed in the evidence room.
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An intoxicated male was found sitting covered with scrapes and with a bloody nose at 1:20 a.m. Sunday March 28 at the rear entrance to Wolfe Hall.
He said he consumed four to five beers at Slocum’s, and his speech was slurred. He said that he was not a student of the College and gave Campus Police someone else’s drivers license.
Lions EMS called Pennington Road EMS and the victim was transported to Capital Health Systems at Mercer Medical.
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A backpack was stolen between 6:20 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Monday March 29 from the front desk of the Recreation Center.
The victim left her bag unattended and, upon her return, discovered her bag was missing.
A search of the area yielded no results. The bag and its contents are valued at $65.
(03/30/10 5:39pm)
A male fled a taxi cab without paying the $15 fare at 12:15 a.m. on Tuesday March 23 behind Wolfe Hall. According to Police, the taxi driver drove the male from the Trenton train station to the College. The driver was unable to catch the male when he ran out of the taxi.
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A purse was stolen during the Relay for Life event at 10:30 p.m. on Friday March 19 in the Recreation Center, Campus Police said. The victim left her purse unattended near a table and when she returned, the purse and all of its belongings were missing. The stolen items are valued at $195.
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Two cartons of printer paper were stolen at noon on Thursday March 18 from the Art & IMM building, according to reports. A staff member said two males were seen exiting the copier room with two cartons of what looked like school projects. Later in the day, it was noticed that all of the paper in the copiers was missing.
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Two violas were stolen from an unlocked locker between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Friday March 19 from the Music Building, according to Campus Police. The violas, valued at $935, were on lease.
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A male was found lying on the ground, breathing but unconscious at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday March 20 on the sidewalk in front of Cromwell Hall. The victim was unable to answer questions and smelled like alcohol, police said. Pennington Road EMS took him to Capital Health Systems at Mercer Medical and was issued a summons.
For Your Safety
Legislation was signed into law Jan. 18 requiring all occupants to buckle up, regardless of position in a vehicle. For a secondary offense, police can issue summonses to unbuckled seat occupants 18 and older when the vehicle is stopped for another violation.
(03/23/10 5:53pm)
As the health care bill was being passed through the Senate, millions of Republicans simultaneously pounded their heads against the wall, my parents included. Call me a crazy, tree-hugging Democrat, but the new health care bill seems pretty good. Let’s review the main points, shall we?
1. By 2014, insurance companies will not be able to deny anybody for coverage.
2. By 2014, children up to the age of 26 will be able to stay on their parent’s plans, provided that they are not able to get insurance through their
employer.
3. By 2014, the number of uninsured Americans will drop by more than half.
I understand that America is in a recession right now, but can we really put a price on health? The benefits of this overhaul greatly outweigh the disadvantages. And while I understand that Americans don’t want to shell out any more money than they already are, they can take solace in the fact that government tax credits will be made available to working middle-class families.
Health care debates have ruled elections for years, but this is the first time something is really being done about it. I’m not saying this bill is perfect, but it’s a start, and it is putting us one step ahead of where we were just last year, and that alone is something to be proud of.
As I watched C-SPAN Sunday night, I couldn’t help but think how ridiculous all of the opponents (mainly Republicans) to the bill were acting. I understand that that was really their last chance to stop the bill from being passed, but they sounded like a bunch of barbarians.
There were people speaking out of turn, disobeying their allotted time to speak, and literally booing others.
These are professionals who we elected to represent us, and they could hardly respect one another. The whole ordeal was more comical than productive, unfortunately.
Support the new bill or not, at least make sure you have all of your facts straight about it. Don’t rely just on what you hear on the news, or what your parents tell you. Actually take the time to read through it or at least the main points of it. There’s nothing worse than arguing with someone who doesn’t even have the right facts.
(03/23/10 4:13pm)
An iPod Nano was taken from an office between 8:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesday March 16 in the Biology building.
The owner left his iPod Nano and a computer bag on his desk and walked out of the office several times without closing the door.
No other items were taken, and there is nothing further to report at this time.
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A sink in the first floor men’s bathroom was partially pulled off of the wall between 6 p.m. Wednesday March 17 and 8:30 a.m. Thursday March 18 in Norsworthy Hall.
Did you know?
About half of all thefts that have occurred at the College since Jan. 1 have been the result of items being left unattended. Always keep an eye on your personal belongings, and never leave them unattended for any period of time.
(03/16/10 7:13pm)
A 1994 Mercedes along with the boot that was placed on its tire were discovered to be missing at 1:20 a.m. on Monday March 6 in Lot 6, said Campus Police. The car was booted on Feb. 26 due to unpaid parking tickets.
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A jacket was stolen between 4 and 4:30 p.m. on Thursday March 4 from Packer Hall, according to reports. The victim said she left her jacket in a storage cubby and when she returned, she noticed it was missing. She conducted a search of the area to no avail.
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An intoxicated male stumbled, banged into a security desk and dropped his ID card at midnight on Sunday Feb. 28 in Norsworthy Hall, Campus Police said. He said he drank about seven or eight drinks of wine and vodka at a house party, vomited and then received a ride back to campus.
(03/03/10 8:23pm)
A 5’6” black male, wearing a black jacket, scarf and plaid hat followed two female students into Travers Hall at 6:45 p.m. on Friday Feb. 19.
The suspect told the girls, “Don’t walk away! Come back!” and proceeded to follow them up to their floor.
They broke contact with the suspect when he engaged other females on the floor in conversation. He told the females that he didn’t want to go back to jail.
Campus Police searched the entire residence hall but were unable to locate the suspect. There is nothing further to report at this time.
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A College place mat was stolen between Tuesday Feb. 23 and 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 24 from Loser Hall. The place mat is valued at $5.
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The Head Student Lab Technician discovered that an Epson Perfection V700 photo scanner, valued at $599, was stolen between 3 p.m. Friday Feb. 19 and 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 21 from the new Arts and Interactive Multimedia building.
A female noticed that $106 was missing from her purse at 6 p.m. on Friday Feb. 5.
She said the only opportunity someone would have had to take the money was while she was working on the first floor of the New Library at approximately 1 p.m. Wednesday Feb. 3. She said she left her purse unattended while she went to print some documents.
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A Sodexo catering manager discovered that 48 cloth napkins, 40 forks and 40 knives were missing at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday Feb. 18 from Eickoff Hall.
She said that when she left work at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 17, all of the tables had their settings in place and, upon her return, some were missing.
The missing place settings are valued at $464.
Protect yourself!
Protect your personal information. Shred banking statements, personal information, etc. DO NOT throw away any personal information without shredding!
(02/23/10 7:35pm)
Between 11 and 12 filled water bottles were thrown onto parked College vans between 2:30 a.m. and 2:50 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 14 from the upper level of Wolfe Hall. Two summonses were issued, according to Campus Police.
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A Dell laptop, Logitech USB for a wireless mouse and iPod headphones were stolen at 11:20 a.m. on Friday Feb. 12 from the fourth floor of the New Library. The student was working in a cubicle and left for five minutes to print something, Campus Police said. When she returned, she found the aforementioned items were missing, although the power source from her computer was still plugged into the outlet and none of her other things were missing.
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A wallet was stolen between noon and 3 p.m. on Friday Feb. 12 from a table in the Brower Student Center. The student said he left his wallet on the table while he ate and does not remember taking it when he left, according to reports. When he realized it was missing, he went back to the Student Center but could not locate his wallet.
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Seven books were stolen at 1 p.m. on Wednesday Feb. 18 from the bookstore. The suspect put seven books in his backpack and left without paying for them. Campus Police found him sitting at the bus stop and found the books in his back pack. He was issued a warrant for shoplifting, could not make bail and was transported to Mercer County Correctional Facility, according to reports.
Be involved:
Being aware of your surroundings at all times promotes a safe community. If you see suspicious activities/persons, contact Campus Police at (609) 771- 2345, or dial 911. As always, Campus Police welcomes your support as a community partner.