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(12/04/14 10:37pm)
By Amy Reynolds
Former Editor-in-Chief
The secondary education track at the College prepares future educators for the classroom in many ways, according to senior English and secondary education double major Blaire Deziel. But when it comes to sexuality sensitivity training, the School of Education is in need of an overhaul.
“I had noticed that, at least in the secondary education track, we had a lot of racial sensitivity training, but we don’t get any gender or sexuality sensitivity training,” Deziel said. “The School of Education is severely lacking in this.”
About a year ago, Deziel reached out to Jeff Passe, dean of the School of Education, to try to incorporate LGBTQ training into the classrooms, but nothing ever really came of it, she said. She then reached out to PRISM, which had the means to educate people on sex and gender issues.
Megan Osika, president of PRISM and senior English, secondary education and women’s and gender studies triple major, also thought there was a lack of awareness about sex and gender issues being raised in classes for education majors. So she, along with other students and faculty members, organized the “Sexual and Gender Identities Every Educator Should Know” workshop, which wrapped up its fourth two-hour session on Thursday, Nov. 20.
“A lot of people come here with questions, and it allows them to have a face-to-face conversation in a really welcoming, discussion-type format,” Osika said. “It’s a pretty transformative learning opportunity.”
The questions, Osika said, can vary. The difference between sex and gender, why teachers shouldn’t be lining kids up as boys and girls and how to address homophobia in the classroom are a few examples of the questions many future educators have.
David Sanchez, a junior English, secondary education and women’s and gender studies triple major, said the workshop allows participants to gain an understanding of how to start conversations about sexual and gender identities.
“I feel like, a lot of times, we’re not provided with the training that we need in order to engage our students with difficult conversations about sexuality, about gender identity,” Sanchez said. “And a lot of times, it’s because it’s very stigmatized.”
Current faculty need additional resources, too, according to Osika.
“This isn’t just an issue for future educators or current teachers, this is an issue for our own faculty too. They need this information and they need training,” she said.
So far, the workshop has educated about 200 students, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done, Osika said.
“My aspirations are that, one day, we won’t need a comprehensive workshop,” Osika said. “I’m hoping we will be able to put this into the classes, and people won’t have to see this as something extra.”
(03/04/14 6:00am)
Being a student athlete at the College certainly comes with its set of challenges. Student athletes have multiple practices, games and tournaments, all while somehow managing to be a full-time student.
The combined cumulative GPA for all varsity teams at the College this past fall was 3.2, and, in total, 17 of the 20 varsity sports had a team GPA of 3.0.
“That release we put out about 17 out of 20 sports … is evidence that this institution has it right,” said Mark Gola, director of Athletic Communications. “Every team wants to win a championship, but (athletes at the College) have that same attitude and expectation in the classroom and in the community. This institution really has it right in terms of that student-athlete balance.”
This past fall, each of the College’s eight fall sports finished with a team GPA of 3.0 or higher, supporting the belief of many that student athletes actually perform better when their team is in season.
“Track and cross country actually help me manage my time better,” said Megan Flynn, a senior health and exercise science major who is on the track and cross country teams. “It helps me to keep a schedule so I know exactly when I have to do homework. It keeps me from procrastinating because I know I don’t have much time so I make sure to stay focused in the time that I have.”
Flynn said the most difficult part of being a student athlete is the time commitment. In fact, for some races, she’s away for two or three days at a time, oftentimes having to make up missed classes, and each day requires at least three hours of practice. But despite the time commitment, Flynn has managed to earn a GPA of 3.943.
“You want to make sure students are prospering in the classroom, because that’s why they’re here,” Gola said. “At an institution like this, the hope is that it’s a source of pride, that it’s a reflection of the institution’s values.”
Howard Telson, a senior accounting major, has played on the men’s varsity tennis team all four years, but has still managed to earn a GPA of around 3.95 — although it certainly hasn’t been an easy task.
“Sometimes when we’re away, we’re away for a really long time, and I’ll have to study on the bus or study in the hotel when the other guys are kind of just fooling around,” he said. “It’s hard to focus when we’re on a bus or people are sleeping next to me or listening to music or watching a movie — I’d say that’s probably the biggest challenge.”
The women’s cross country team has the highest overall cumulative GPA for female sports at 3.66. The men’s soccer team takes the lead for all men’s sports with a team GPA of 3.38.
“The biggest reward for a student athlete — as just an athlete — is to win a championship,” Gola said. “For the student aspect of it, it would be to excel in your classes, get a degree and have a direction for what you’re gonna do following your education here. The combination of those things is to optimize your time here and develop — develop character, develop as a person and develop a plan you’re gonna use moving forward.”
According to Telson, playing a varsity sport in college can also help prepare students for life after graduation.
“I think it’s really taught me, one, how to manage my time and, two, how to thrive in a competitive environment,” he said. “I’ve learned how to work under pressure in a tennis match, and I think that’ll be really important when I’m working in accounting.”
Compared to other schools, the College has it right in terms of the student-athlete balance, Gola said. In fact, in many schools, according to Gola, athletics are “completely blown up and out of control,” especially at the Division I level. Gola said at many schools, sports have become more of a business.
Although it’s a huge time commitment, for most student athletes, the time has been well worth the reward.
“You can (learn) composure through varsity athletics because, in a game, there’s constant pressure situations or situations where you have to adapt and think and keep your emotions at bay, so I think that’s something that’s learned through athletics,” Gola said. “Teamwork, time management, work ethic, persistence, developing confidence in yourself, understanding your role in who you are — all those things are applicable to your professional life but also your personal life.”
(02/05/14 1:52am)
I’ve had my fair share of pizza from Italian eateries in the Ewing area. Piccolo’s, Mamma Flora’s, Two Brothers — I thought I had tried it all.
Last week, The Signal received a suggestion to review Danny’s Tomato Pie, so I thought I’d give it a try. After discovering that Danny’s is on Parkway Avenue just across from Firkin Tavern, I was surprised I had never heard of it before. But now I’m so glad I know this lovely eatery exists.
Last week, my boyfriend and I decided to order in from Danny’s instead of braving the harsh, 12-degree weather. We decided to split a tomato pie, half with green peppers. We also ordered their fried crispy green beans. The wait for delivery was around 40 minutes, which may seem like a while, but is actually pretty typical for the College area.
When the food did arrive, however, it was well worth the wait. The pie had the perfect amount of sauce and the green peppers were very fresh, especially considering the season. I would have preferred the crust to be a tad thicker, but it was still really good.
The fried crispy green beans, though, were what really made the meal. At first, we were a little hesitant to order them. I’m not the biggest green bean fan, but I always try to make it a point to order something slightly out-of-the-ordinary when I write a food review.
They were absolutely delicious. They tasted like a mixture of french fries and onion rings, but without all the guilt. Yes, I’m aware they’re still probably not all that healthy for you, but, hey, they’re still vegetables. Dipped in ranch dressing, they were definitely my favorite part of the meal.
I also love to give bonus points for friendly delivery people. Danny’s delivery man was extremely friendly, and after handing me my food he said, “Enjoy your food, sweetie!” I most certainly did.
The one downside of ordering from Danny’s is that you can’t order online. I know, picking up a phone and actually talking to a person can be a tad daunting, but my advice to college students is to get over your ridiculous fear, pick up the phone and enjoy a delicious tomato pie from Danny’s.
(01/28/14 8:00pm)
Many people associate cheerleading with shaking pom-poms and cheering on other athletic teams, and while that is a huge part of what TCNJ Cheer does, they also do so much more.
The week before the start of the spring semester, the College’s cheer squad competed in the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, coming in first place in their division.
In the UCA National Championship, which takes place every year over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, there are 11 different divisions for just cheerleading. Since the College is a DIII school and TCNJ Cheer is an all-girl team, the squad competed in the Open All-Girl division, which consisted of nine total teams.
“We spend more than half our season devoted to cheering on other TCNJ athletes and trying to create a fun experience for all the fans at football and basketball games, but that isn’t all we do,” senior co-captain Angelica Anas said. “While the football season and basketball season is about supporting other teams, competition is a time when we get to do things for ourselves.”
At the competition, each team competes in semifinals. If a team scores high enough, they will make it to finals, but finals are like an entirely new competition.
“You could have the most amazing performance of your life in semis, but if you can’t do it again in finals it could cost you a national title,” Anas said.
Preparing for the annual competition certainly wasn’t easy, though. During the regular season, the squad would practice approximately seven and a half hours per week. Immediately after finals, however, the squad began practicing about 20 to 22 hours per week, sometimes twice a day.
“We spent all of winter break practicing,” senior co-captain Amanda Nicol said. “We only had five days off. Most people would think we’re crazy, but it’s so worth it. I’ve never really known what a college winter break was like, but I just love keeping busy and having practice.”
The College’s cheer squad has competed in the UCA National Competition in previous years, but until this year, they had never placed above third.
“(Last year) was a heartbreaker,” Anas said. “We were 0.5 points away from first place, so you can see how close the competition was.”
The College’s dance team also competed at the UCA National Competition in the Open Hip-Hop and Open Pom divisions, placing high in both. This was the first year they competed in Pom and they took home sixth place.
“While the school considers us (and the dance team) to be one organization, we are two very different teams that completely support each other,” Nicol said. “During Nationals, we sit right in the front while the other competes, cheering them on.”
Although the main competition is over, the squad’s season certainly isn’t. In the upcoming months, the squad will continue to cheer for men’s and women’s basketball games and will practice every week to prepare for next season. They will also host a clinic for potential new members.
“I’ve met some of my best friends through being on the squad,” Anas said. “We spent so much time with each other over the semester and especially winter break — we’re definitely a family. It’s really great knowing that your teammates always have your back whether we’re at practice or not.”
After the multiple practices and sacrifices the squad had to make, the girls are proud to say the hard work paid off on the biggest possible stage.
“Hearing our name announced as national champions is a moment that will live with me forever. If I could, I would go back and relive this season all over again,” Nicol said. “It was amazing and I am so happy to have spent it with this talented group of girls that have become my family.”
(11/12/13 3:33pm)
As I’ve mentioned before in previous food reviews, I don’t like to walk to get food when it’s cold outside. Sometimes I’ll make the trek to T-Dubs, but if I’m already wearing cozy sweatpants and slippers, there’s no chance I’ll walk to Eick when it’s cold.
As you probably know, it was really cold on Friday night, and I did not want to walk anywhere. I didn’t know what I was in the mood for (pasta, Chinese … the list seemed endless), so I turned to my good friend Grubhub and searched the “best” restaurants in the nearby area.
As I scrolled through the list of 30 or so restaurants, Royal Chef caught my eye. The Chinese restaurant’s menu seemed endless — it took me quite some time to decide what to order. Eventually, my boyfriend and I decided we would order the shrimp lo mein and the bourbon chicken combination platters (to share, of course). Each of the combination platters came with an egg roll and pork fried rice, and we decided to order an extra pizza egg roll just because it sounded fun.
The delivery time wasn’t the shortest — it took a little over an hour for our food to get here. We did, however, order on a Friday night at around 7 p.m., so the long wait wasn’t a surprise.
By the time the food got here we were so hungry that almost anything probably would have tasted good, but I’d say that the meal definitely hit the spot. Neither of us knew which meal to start with, so we put them both out in front of us, alternating bites of each meal.
While the shrimp lo mein was good, it wasn’t anything special. The lo mein tasted like lo mein I could have gotten anywhere else, and the shrimp wasn’t super hot, which seafood absolutely should be. I still ate nearly every bite, though, so I wouldn’t say it was a total disappointment.
The bourbon chicken, on the other hand, was absolutely ah-mazing. I’ve never had any type of chicken from a Chinese restaurant that was so good. As the meal reached the bottom, my boyfriend and I had to fight over who would get the last piece. Seriously, though, he has a black eye from it (semi-joking).
As for the pizza egg roll, it was good but not great. I’d rate it as better than a pizza roll but not as good as a bagel bite. My boyfriend, on the other hand, the pizza roll aficionado, would wholeheartedly disagree.
Although Royal Chef certainly doesn’t beat my favorite hometown Chinese restaurant, I’ll definitely be ordering from there again in the near future. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I develop a Royal Chef bourbon chicken addiction.
(11/06/13 8:24pm)
A large construction site and a visually unappealing green fence stand at the entrance of the College — perhaps a turn-off for prospective students and faculty. But what is eventually to come has the possibility to enhance the appeal of the College in new ways.
“The College has long considered the idea of developing mixed-use amenities for students, faculty and staff near the College,” said David Muha, associate vice president for Communications, Marketing & Brand Management.
According to Muha, there are many goals for the Campus Town project.
“The main goal was not to improve relationships with the Ewing community, although that is one of the expected objectives,” Muha said.
Rather, the goals of the $70 million project are to enhance the appeal of the College to prospective students, faculty and staff, create an environment that is both exciting and vibrant and sensitive to the surrounding local community, and enhance the appearance of the College’s entrance.
The College also hopes to create partnerships with local and regional entities, including Ewing Township.
Although the College did look at other university development projects similar to Campus Town, the project was not based off of another school.
“The idea for Campus Town was not based on any one project at any one school. Instead, we were focused on creating a project that addressed the unique requirements and objectives of TCNJ and the local community,” Muha said.
The anchor store in Campus Town will be Barnes & Noble, Muha said, and the College will operate a health and fitness facility within the development. At this point in the project, the developer has signed letters of intent with a sushi store, yogurt store, sandwich shop and a convenience store. However, the College is unable to release the names of the stores at this point in the process, Muha said.
Negotiations are underway with several other restaurants, a phone/technology store and other retailers.
Given the College’s main goals for the site, many wonder how the new development, as well as the additional housing, will affect admissions.
“We are very excited in Admissions for the completion of Campus Town,” said Erin Barnard, admissions counselor for freshmen & transfer student recruitment. “It’s a great way to connect our campus community with our larger community and we think that’s something that potential students could really be attracted to.”
In fact, she has already spoken with prospective students who are very interested in learning about what Campus Town has to offer.
“In my conversations with potential students, many of them seem to respond very positively when we tell them about the plans for Campus Town,” Barnard said. “For a student who has visited and really loved the campus, they hear about this project and it helps them picture themselves here. I think it certainly has the potential to draw in applications.”
Campus Town will bring an additional 446 beds to the College. According to Muha, it is a bit too early to know exactly how housing will work. If Campus Town draws students who currently live off campus, it might not affect on-campus housing. But if Campus Town draws students from traditional on-campus residence halls, residence hall assignments may change to better suit students at the College.
“The bottom line is that Campus Town provides a new and unique addition to the housing options available to upper-class students,” Muha said. “This gives the College flexibility to adjust its own residence hall programs to meet long-term needs.”
However, the added number of beds will not affect the number of students accepted to the College.
“No large-scale growth in enrollment is anticipated due to Campus Town,” Barnard said.
Construction is expected to begin on footings and foundations once permits are received, which could be as early as December, Muha said. Above-ground construction is expected to start in February or March of 2014 and construction is expected to be completed by fall of 2015.
(10/15/13 3:22pm)
Chicken “Accordion” Bleu
Ingredients:
Chicken Breast (4 pieces)
Deli Ham (1/4 pound)
Sliced Provolone Cheese (1/4 pound)
Olive Oil (2 tablespoons)
Flour (1 cup)
1 egg
*The above measurements are approximations
I’ll admit that I’m not the best cook in the world. Give me a recipe to follow and I’ll fare just fine, but tell me to cook a meal from scratch with no instructions, and you probably won’t like the results. The other night, my boyfriend and I decided we didn’t want to have yet another meal from Taco Bell or Wendy’s, so we decided to cook our own meal for a change. And by “we” I mean that he did the actual cooking while I took the eggs out of the fridge and stirred some pasta.
Afterward, though, I realized that I could, in fact, have handled cooking the meal on my own. It was easy to make and absolutely delicious. Here’s how to make chicken “accordion” bleu:
1. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board or hard surface. Using a meat mallet, flatten the meat to about a half-inch thick. Place two slices of cheese on top of the chicken. Place two slices of ham on top of the cheese.
2. Fold the chicken-cheese-ham combo in half “hamburger-style.”
3. Put the olive oil into a skillet and place over medium-high heat.
4. Crack the egg and put it into a bowl. Whisk. Place the flour in a separate bowl. Dip chicken-cheese-ham combo into the bowl of whisked eggs, coating it completely. Immediately place the chicken-cheese-ham combo into the bowl of flour, coating it completely.
5. Place the chicken-cheese-ham combos onto the skillet. Cook for approximately seven minutes on each side. Then cook for an additional minute on each side on high heat. Once the chicken is cooked completely (you will be able to see on the side of the chicken) and the ends are browned, you are finished cooking.
6. Remove chicken from skillet and place on paper towels. Dab with paper towels to remove excess oil.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this was to cook! All in all, it only took about 30 minutes, and it was absolutely delicious. We accompanied the chicken with a side of fettuccine alfredo, but it would go nicely with potatoes or vegetables as well.
Don’t live off campus? No worries. There are kitchenettes scattered across campus, including in the lounges of Townhouse South, Hausdoerffer, Phelps and Cromwell, available for use.
(10/01/13 4:21pm)
This year’s Homecoming tailgate, which will occur on Saturday, Oct. 19, will include multiple changes to previous years’ events, according to representatives from Alumni Affairs.
This year’s event, according to Lisa McCarthy, who spoke at the Student Government meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18, will be fenced off in Lots 4 and 6, and no cars will be permitted in those areas. All attendees will be required to bring proper IDs in order to obtain a wristband, of which there will be one color for those over 21 and another color for those under 21. Bags will also be checked for glass and weapons.
“The common purpose of Homecoming is to celebrate, with pride, the outstanding history and traditions of the College,” said John Castaldo, executive director of Alumni Affairs. “The changes being implemented this year strive to keep the event safe and the atmosphere enjoyable for everyone attending.”
Attendees of the tailgate will also not be permitted to play their own music. A cover band, Drop Dead Sexy, will play prior to the football game and a student DJ will perform afterward. No music will be permitted during the game.
“It did cause a rave-type atmosphere,” McCarthy said during the SG meeting. “The parking lot is not a club. With the music, the actions and the behaviors, it got a little out of control.”
The hours allotted tailgating will also be shortened to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as opposed to 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in previous years.
Students did not play a part in the decision-making process, said Tyler Liberty, SG president.
“I think it’s really sad that students weren’t consulted at any point during the process,” he said. “And while I do see the need for a safe and fun environment, I think there were alternate ways around getting to the point where we are now.”
During the SG meeting, Alex Brown, vice president of Governmental Affairs, asked McCarthy about whether student input was considered during the decision-making process.
“There hasn’t been,” McCarthy said. “Just never thought to, quite honestly, because there’s never changes like this happening. It just kept growing and changing.”
Some students have expressed their opinions on the changes via social media while others have consulted the SG president with their concerns.
“I think students by and large are upset,” Liberty said. “This is an event that the large majority of undergraduate students go to, and the fact that changes were made without their input is saddening. People have come to me saying that the changes were outrageous. And while I don’t think it’s that extreme, I think that a large majority of students aren’t happy with what’s happening.”
Alumni Affairs plans to take student input into consideration for decisions regarding the College’s Homecoming festivities in fall 2014.
“Alumni Affairs has heard some concerns from alumni and students and are working with representatives from both groups to communicate the changes, receive feedback and address concerns,” Castaldo said. “Alumni Affairs will be actively seeking to involve students in the process of planning for next year’s event.”
(09/17/13 3:35pm)
Most students at the College have heard of No. 1 China, which is just a five-minute drive from campus. However, few have heard of No 1 Asian Bistro, let alone ventured there and tasted it for themselves. While I love the convenience and deliciousness of No. 1 China (as do Signal editors of the past), I decided to try something new this past weekend. So No 1 Asian Bistro it was.
I ordered from Hamilton this past weekend, so, while it was convenient for me, it may be a little too much of a trek for those of us at the College. Still, it’s only a 12-minute drive from campus, according to Mapquest, and well worth the drive/delivery time. The bang for your buck you get at this restaurant is unsurpassable.
This past Friday, my friend and I found ourselves very hungry with very little food in the house. However, we’re also fairly poor — a predicament that many college students often find themselves in.
We knew we wanted Chinese food, so I turned to my good friend GrubHub and searched “Chinese.” No 1 Asian Bistro was one of the first restaurants that showed up, so I decided to give it a shot. I quickly scrolled through the menu and eventually found a “dinner for two” special. It came with two egg rolls, a quart of your choice of soup (we chose wonton), pork fried rice and two entrées (of which there were about 30 to choose from) — a whole lotta food for just $19.50.
When we ordered the food, we were told that it’d take close to an hour for our food to arrive, but it only took about 20 or 25 minutes. Plus, the delivery man was probably one of the sweetest delivery men I’ve ever encountered — definitely a bonus.
To start, we each took a small portion of each type of food. The first thing I tried was the roast pork with Chinese vegetables. While it wasn’t my favorite part of the meal, I thought the vegetables were fresh and there was a just-right amount of sauce. The other entrée, General Tso’s chicken, could have been a little spicier, but overall I thought it was really good.
My favorite part of the meal, however, was the pork fried rice. Oftentimes, pork fried rice tends to be rather dry, but this rice was perfectly cooked. In fact, it didn’t even need soy sauce, which I’ve grown accustomed to putting on Chinese rice.
The wonton soup and egg rolls were also good, but to me they were just bonuses — they weren’t necessary aspects of the meal.
While the food was delicious and the delivery man was extremely friendly, the best part of the meal was definitely the amount of food you get for your money. The green tea bags they gave us were a nice gesture, too.
(09/17/13 3:28pm)
Most students at the College have spent the majority of their lives in New Jersey. They went to elementary school here, middle school here, high school here — and now they go to college here. Student Government President Tyler Liberty, on the other hand, had a childhood far different from any other College student.
Although born in New Jersey, he spent portions of his life in Hong Kong, Belgium, Holland, Georgia, California, Tokyo and Princeton, and now his family resides in Arizona.
“Growing up abroad is a very different experience than growing up in the United States,” the senior English and Chinese double major said. “Some advantages, some disadvantages to be sure, but in terms of how I view the world and how I view people and how I get along with people, I completely attribute that to my upbringing abroad.”
Although Liberty enjoyed his childhood abroad, he “wanted to stay in a bubble” during his college years. During his junior year of high school he attended the Urban Teacher Academy at the College and instantly fell in love with the energy he felt from the campus.
“And I think a small part of me really liked the fact that Princeton was 15 minutes down the road,” Liberty said. “It was the first time in my life that I’d be moving and I didn’t have to say goodbye to all my friends. Princeton High School is notorious for sending a lot of people to Princeton College, so I knew I’d know a lot of people there … For me, (attending the College) was a combination of a great school, a great feel and in a bubble.”
Now a senior at the College, Liberty is anything but an average student. As Student Government President, he represents the voice of the student body.
“The fact that I can look back at the end of the year and say, ‘I advocated for this, we helped change this, we helped represent students on this’ to me really is the essence of the job. This is a job for students and about students,” Liberty said.
But representing the entire student body certainly isn’t an easy job. An average Wednesday for Liberty, his busiest day, begins at 7:30 a.m., much early than the average student. By 7:45 he’s at the gym and he’s in class by 9. At noon he has a “break,” which he usually spends catching up on emails. From roughly 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Liberty spends his time attending SG-related meetings, which includes the general body meeting at 3 p.m. At 5:30 he has another class followed by more meetings, after which he finally has a chance to relax.
“I tend to think that I have really, really good time management skills,” Liberty said. “And I really do think that I and my fellow Student Government members do make a difference on this campus. I don’t think it’s a singular effort by myself. I think it is a thing that the general body does as well.”
Liberty also works closely with the Town Gown committee to brainstorm ways to create a great living arrangement between the College and Ewing residents. One program the committee is developing is the Neighbor to Neighbor program, in which students would be able to volunteer their time in order to assist Ewing residents with specific projects, such as yard work. Liberty believes this program will help improve the College’s image.
“99 percent of our students are great — they do great things,” he said. “It’s that 1 percent that sometimes can get a little bit rowdy and might make questionable decisions, and we want Ewing to remember us for the 99 percent compared to the 1 percent.”
Although SG has shaped his college career, he didn’t always envision himself holding a position. During his freshman year, his CA, future SG President Christina Kopka, encouraged Liberty and the rest of the freshman floor to get involved with SG.
“I didn’t do student council in high school and the only activities I did were frisbee, community service work and mock UN. But that was pretty much what I did. I had no experience in anything related to student government and it turned out that I came here and that’s how I got involved,” he said.
It’s certainly a time-consuming job, but to Liberty, it’s worth it. Even though it’s a whirlwind of meetings at times, he believes that the changes they’ve been discussing will really go a long way. He believes that students really have the potential to accomplish great things, and he’s very excited to represent students at the College.
“It’s okay to fail and fail again,” Liberty said, offering advice to current students. “But more so, just get involved. I think TCNJ fosters a community of people and individuals … who really allow you to explore any interest that you have. And at the end of the day, yeah you can look back on how stellar of an academic life TCNJ provides, but it really also is about what you were involved in and what you were able to participate in.”
Although he’s not sure what type of job he’d like to have immediately after graduation, he does know that in his years following college he’d like to hold a panda, go skydiving, get in a fight, and live a happy life.
“No matter where I work, I want to make an impact,” Liberty said. “I see myself in a place where I’m either being a change agent or facilitating change, and that’s really important to me.”
(08/28/13 2:04am)
This summer, something totally unexpected happened. I found myself missing Eickhoff, and it wasn’t even halfway through June. Unlimited food just a five-minute walk away — what’s not to love? However, after just five convenient, yet incredibly average, meals at the dearly-missed Eick, I found myself craving something new. I guess you always want what you can’t have.
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="269" caption="The shrimp in creamy alfredo pasta dish makes the meal worthwhile. (Amy Reynolds / Editor-in-Chief)"][/caption]
Besides, Eick was closed on Saturday night, thanks to the freshman class picnic earlier that afternoon, which was also quite average, I might add. So at seven o’clock at night I found myself hungry with no on-campus food options.
For some reason, the only two takeout options in my mind are either Italian or Chinese (I have never once tried Indian or Mexican takeout and I don’t plan to in the near future). I searched “Italian” on Grubhub and, of course, Ewing favorites like Mamma Flora’s and Two Brothers popped up, but I was feeling slightly adventurous and wanted to try something new. I decided to try Special Pizza City (not the most appealing name, I’ll admit), both because it was cheap and not very far from campus.
Because Italian restaurants are usually very generous with their portions, I decided to order just one meal (which came with a side salad for an extra $1.65) and an appetizer to split with my friend. I was in the mood for shrimp, which I often am when ordering from an Italian restaurant, so I decided to order the shrimp and broccoli alfredo. We also decided to order mozzarella sticks as our appetizer simply because it’s hard to go wrong with mozzarella sticks.
After ordering, we were told that it would take about an hour to get here, which is — sorry, freshmen — pretty typical when ordering food around here. Luckily though, “Too Cute! Puppies” was on, so the hour flew by pretty quickly. (Sidenote: If you haven’t heard of “Too Cute! Puppies” yet or haven’t watched it, I highly recommend that you do. New episodes are on Saturdays at 9 p.m. on Animal Planet. You’re welcome.)
Now to the food. The shrimp and broccoli alfredo was OK. I think it would have greatly benefitted from some more sauce. The shrimp, however, was absolutely delicious. Some of the best shrimp I’ve ever had. And I guess that’s the most important part. I’d also like to add that on the website it said that the pasta comes with garlic bread and it did, in fact, come with actual garlic bread. You’d be surprised by the amount of places that advertise garlic bread but actually just give you a roll.
While I loved the shrimp and the pasta was OK, the mozzarella sticks were subpar. They weren’t awful, but then again I don’t think it’s possible for mozzarella sticks to be awful. They would have been a lot better if they had been fried for just a little bit longer. Nonetheless, I still enjoyed them and we ate every single one.
The salad, which I paid an extra $1.65 for, I could have done without. The lettuce was super watery and it didn’t have that crunch, but at least I know that it was rinsed. It came with tomatoes, onions, sweet peppers, cucumbers and both types of olives, but it wasn’t anything special.
I’m not dying to head back to Special Pizza City, but I wouldn’t say that I wouldn’t give it another try eventually, either. Give it a try for yourself to see what you think. After all, even if it was just OK, I’d still says it’s a great break from Eick.
(08/27/13 8:17am)
Take advantage of the small classes the College has to offer, ask questions, go above and beyond all expectations — these were among the many pieces of advice given during Monday morning’s convocation ceremony, in which the freshmen officially became members of the College community.
During the ceremony, which took place on Quimby’s Prairie, representatives from the faculty, alumni association and the student body shared anecdotes of their experiences at the College, offered advice, and explained what the College community has to offer.
“We have committed to the creation of an open, inclusive and welcoming community where leadership is a shared responsibility and privilege,” President R. Barbara Gitenstein said in her welcoming speech. “We prize diversity and have a full appreciation of the cultures of the world.”
Although the College has changed over the years, including five name changes, the faculty and staff have always taken pride in their students.
“The College of New Jersey gathers some of the very best students from the state and the nation and provides them with the resources and opportunities to become leaders in their chosen fields,” Gitenstein said. “As you participate in shaping our college community, you must continue to challenge yourself and others. You owe that to one another...You owe that to yourselves.”
Cynthia Curtis, president of the Faculty Senate, spoke on behalf of the faculty. She advised freshmen not to limit themselves and to take classes beyond their major.
“Ultimately, your professional success and your ability to contribute to substantive arguments and informed opinions as responsible citizens of a democracy will be determined by the breadth, as well as the depth, of your knowledge,” Curtis said. “The most important thing you can take away from TCNJ is a love of learning and an interest in a great diversity of ideas.”
On behalf of the Alumni Association, president Megan Flanagan (‘03 graduate) shared an anecdote from her own College experience.
During her senior year of high school, she visited 20 different colleges in and out of state. Although her parents had wanted her to go to the College, she didn’t think she had to attend the same school both her parents went to that was just 12 miles from her home. However, when she arrived at the College, “something clicked … it just felt right,” she said.
She said that while the name of the College has changed multiple times, the legacy has not. She’s envious of the Class of 2017 today, but not jealous, because she had amazing experiences as a student and she continues to have great experiences as an active alumna.
Flanagan then presented the Class of 2017 banner, which will be hung in the Brower Student Center to represent the best years of the students’ lives.
After the presentation, Student Government president Tyler Liberty spoke on behalf of the current students at the College.
“Even though I can’t remember what was said during my convocation ceremony, I know that from that day on I had found my home. I knew that my decision to attend TCNJ would change my life in many ways,” he said.
During their time here, Liberty said, students will learn to embrace their new home, to immerse themselves in uncomfortable situations, and to push themselves to new horizons.
As a final piece of advice, he said, “Don’t just break the status quo, shatter it.”
(04/16/13 4:00pm)
I’ll admit that I’m the biggest baby in the world when it comes to rain and cold. And, as you probably know, it was pretty darn rainy and cold on Friday. So, to put it simply, there was no way that I was walking to Eick for mediocre food.
Because I refused to walk anywhere for food, I decided to order in from Fedelo’s Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria.
I’d never had Fedelo’s before, and I can’t quite remember how I heard about it in the first place, but I figured it couldn’t be too awful, as most Italian Pizzerias and Restaurants are pretty good.
My friend and I split two entrées: shrimp scampi and chicken parmigiana. Both dinners came with garlic bread and a side salad.
When we ordered, we were told that it’d be about a 50-minute wait for our food, which was a little disappointing because we were so hungry. What was even more disappointing, however, was the fact that our food took well over an hour to get here. We ordered at around 7:20 and our food arrived at around 8:45.
By the time it did get here, though, we were really excited.
We started with the salad, which came with one slice of a tomato, one slice of a cucumber, white onions and olives — it was pretty typical. The dressing was also just straight up olive oil, which was a little disappointing (as well as really messy).
After eating half of our tiny salads, we dug into our meals. I started with the chicken parm as my friend started to devour the shrimp scampi.
I’d say that it’s pretty hard to screw up chicken parm. And I’d also say that’s exactly what it was: not screwed up. It was certainly good, but nothing special. In my opinion, it would have greatly benefitted from more cheese, and I definitely prefer the chicken parm at my hometown’s diner. It was definitely a large portion, though. In addition to a massive amount of pasta, there were three large pieces of chicken included in the meal.
The shrimp scampi was also average. The sauce was really good — a mix of lemon, garlic and butter — but I wish there had been more shrimp (there were only five pieces). Lately I’ve been on a seafood kick, and there definitely wasn’t enough to satisfy my craving.
Somehow we managed to finish all of the food, including the “garlic” bread (of which there was no actual garlic). I kind of felt sick the rest of the night, though. But I guess that’s what happens when you’re starving and forced to wait over an hour for your meal and then stuff your face.
Fedelo’s definitely wasn’t bad — it’ll beat Eick any day. It was a little expensive, though. Each meal was approximately $15. There were cheaper items on the menu, but anything with meat or seafood in it was at least $12.
I don’t think I’ll be ordering from Fedelo’s any time soon. But if you want to give it a shot, go for it. It won’t be terrible, but you won’t be wowed either.
(04/09/13 4:37pm)
In the United States, one out of every 88 children has Autism.
In New Jersey, however, that number jumps to one in every 49 children, according to Debbie Schmidt, a mother of a child with autism and a presenter for Autism Awareness Week at the College.
Events on Monday, April 1 kicked off Autism Awareness Week, a tradition that was started just two years ago.
“I believe autism is an experience,” said Shridevi Rao, associate professor in the department of special education, language and literacy and graduate coordinator for the special education graduate programs. “We need to peel the layers and try to understand how people with autism experience the world and engage with the ways in which this experience is different from or similar to ours.”
According to Richard Blumberg, director of the Center for Autism at the College, preparations for Autism Awareness Week began in the fall of 2012. Preparations included inviting presenters, creating visual representations, fundraising and planning a variety of activities.
“The mission of TCNJ is to prepare this generation to change the world,” Blumberg said. “Autism awareness is about everyone being involved in that change.”
The week consisted of a parent-professional panel, the presentation “Representations of Autism in Films: body, behavior, identity and presence,” the presentation “What does Autism Look Like?” by Just 2 Moms, a human puzzle piece, and more.
According to Rao, the assumption
of many people is that people with autism don’t want friends and want to be alone. In fact, many people believe that these autistic behaviors are purposeless. However, while some of these assumptions can be addressed through activities that promote awareness, it is very important to interact with people who have autism in order to gain a better understanding.
Christy Carlson and Schmidt both advocated bringing autism awareness to people of all ages at their presentation on Wednesday, April 3. In 2007, the two began their nonprofit organization, Just 2 Moms, in order to provide education and awareness of autism at elementary schools.
“Autism is a neurological disorder. It starts in their brain and it means they might think a little different than someone without autism,” Schmidt said. In fact, Asperger’s is “like not having a filter on your mouth.”
According to both moms, kids with autism and Asperger’s simply notice different things than other kids, and promoting awareness is the first step in gaining acceptance from other children. They both stated that, as parents, the main goal of Autism Awareness Week is to increase awareness, educate the community and foster advocacy.
“(Autism Awareness Week) provides a wonderful opportunity to challenge some of the preconceptions about autism and appreciate autism as a part of human diversity,” Rao said.
In the upcoming year, both Rao and Blumberg hope to see more involvement of the College’s faculty and students during Autism Awareness Week. They also hope to get the outside community involved and have presentations by people with autism.
“We have a lot to do in terms of making the world a welcoming place for people with autism and their families,” Rao said. “Autism awareness helps to promote this goal.”
(03/19/13 4:44pm)
From red solo cups to the average yellow school bus, there’s something about the College, and the United States for that matter, that’s “just like the movies.”
For many international students at the College, this is the first time that they’ve visited the United States. However, the International House, located in Townhouses South, has helped to make the transition easier.
“It was my dream to come to the U.S.,” said Laetitia Vong, an international business major at Université Blaise Pascal in France. “It sounds so cliché, but it’s true.”
Vong chose to study at the College, as opposed to a larger school, mostly because of its proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. However, she also viewed the College’s small size as a positive. In fact, she has friends who are studying abroad in Oklahoma, and there are many French students there already, so they’re not forced to speak in English all the time.
“At first it was really difficult to adapt to speaking English all the time,” she said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to get into a conversation.”
The goal of the I-House, according to their website, is to create an environment for international and domestic students to engage in a variety of learning activities, such as culture nights, trips and special events.
“Initially it’s similar to when ambassadors help freshmen on campus,” said English major and domestic student William Westerman. “Where you go for food, if you need help with classes, things like that.”
(03/19/13 4:00pm)
Now that we’re well into March, it’s safe to say that I am more than excited for warm nights and summer.
And with summer, as everyone knows, comes great barbeque food. Because I’ve been craving summer all week (okay, actually the past three months), I decided to order from a BBQ place that had scattered their take-out menus all across campus: Chuck’s Big Time BBQ.
Now, by the time I decided to order, I had lost the menu that I found in the laundry room on campus, so I was forced to rely on the online menu on allmenus.com. I ordered the three-piece southern fried chicken platter, which came with two sides and cornbread, whereas my friend ordered the sloppy BBQ chicken sandwich meal, which came with one side and a drink. For my two sides, I decided to try their spicy fries and macaroni and cheese, while my friend decided to play it safe with cheese fries and an orange soda.
Although every item on the menu sounded delicious, I was most excited about the prices. My meal, listed online, was just $5.25 and my friend’s meal was only $6.
After about a 40 minute wait, our food arrived and we could finally dig in.
To start, the portions were huge. Rather than just three pieces of chicken, my meal actually came with five. While there were only a few fries, the large amount of mac and cheese made up for that.
Quality, on the other hand, wasn’t that great. None of the food was that warm, the fries were a bit soggy, and my “cornbread” was actually just half of a hoagie roll.
My friend also said that his BBQ chicken sandwich was good, but nothing special, and his cheese fries were also a little limp. On top of that, he received a can of Mountain Dew rather than the orange soda that he ordered.
In addition, the prices online did not match the actual prices. In fact, my friend’s BBQ sandwich meal was $2 more than what was listed online. Also, the three-piece southern chicken platter that I ordered wasn’t even listed on the take-out menu that came with our food, so who knows if it’s actually on the menu.
Although the prices online were cheaper than the actual items, everything on the menu is still pretty well-priced. Most of the sandwich and burger meals are around $7 and all of the large sides are under $4.
I definitely wouldn’t call this a great meal. In fact, I think “very average” suits it pretty well. The prices were good and the portions were large, but other than that, this place doesn’t really have anything going for it.
Chuck’s slogan is “The Best Darned BBQ in Mercer County” and, although you do get a lot of food for your money, I’m sure it’s not difficult to find better BBQ in the area.
(03/06/13 7:42pm)
Last semester, my Italian professor told our class that we should all read at least one long classic novel each year. At first I thought, “Who, as an average college student, has the time for that?” After all, many of us are involved in an array of campus clubs and activities that take up nearly as much time as all of our classes. In fact, even I, who has enjoyed reading my entire life, didn’t think that this was a possible task, at least during a hectic school year.
Then I thought about it for a little while. Maybe reading a long classic novel each year is not only beneficial, but extremely important. In fact, with the advancement of technology, our attention spans are greatly decreasing. Rather than reading thought-provoking articles online (or in print), truly grasping an understanding of what’s going on in the world around us, we barely glance over 140-character tweets, learning close to nothing. In fact, getting through a long article, let alone a long novel, has grown increasingly difficult for our generation.
Taking this into consideration, I think it’s necessary for us to all take a step back from technology. Thanks to autocorrect, people no longer know how to spell correctly. Thanks to Google, people no longer remember what they’re researching. And thanks to texts and emails, people no longer appreciate in-person conversations.
Because of all these technological innovations, people are quickly losing their creativity. When I was a kid, I could spend hours playing “house,” writing and acting out plays, using what was called an imagination. These days, it’s much different. In fact, the kids that I babysit literally can’t spend more than a half -hour away from their iPad or DS. I remember getting so excited when my mom would read me a book when I was younger, but as soon as I suggest that idea to the six-year-old I babysit, she screams “No!” and turns immediately to her computer.
According to an article in Atlantic Magazine, “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” the human brain still develops and changes in the adult years, and because of the Internet, millions of minds are altering all around the world. Worldwide, innovative thoughts are becoming a rarity. The same concepts shared on common websites are what people know, learn and spread — new ideas are not frequently generated.
Considering how much our thinking processes have changed in the past decade, it is difficult to imagine where technology will take us in the next 10 years, or even 50. “Learning” will take place at home, social connections will dwindle and creativity will have vanished. The human brain is capable of things that the modern computer can’t quite handle, yet as computers advance, our brains are headed in the opposite direction.
The human population is headed toward a place where thinking isn’t a necessity, but more of an annoyance. Children no longer play “house” or even use their imaginations at all, because sadly, they no longer have to. We’re headed toward a place that revolves around technology and our brains are quickly evolving from intricate thinkers to mere controllers of technology.
I can’t stress enough how important it is to take the opportunity to rely on your brain for once, rather than technology. Spend a day reading a novel. In fact, skip out on the Internet all together. See where your mind takes you.
(03/05/13 5:00pm)
This year, approximately 140 rising juniors and seniors who applied for housing did not receive a time slot, according to Emily Dodd, communications officer for Media Relations & Marketing, causing students to question many aspects of housing.
“Historically, about 200 upper class students do not receive a time slot, although recent construction projects have caused this number to fluctuate a bit,” said Ryan Farnkopf, director of housing operations. “For the last few years, the wait list has been smaller than average.”
The College currently has about 6,100 full-time students enrolled on campus. However, there are only 4,000 campus beds, so in order to guarantee on-campus housing for all students for all four years, the College would need about 2,100 more beds.
However, according to Farnkopf, not all students choose to live on campus. In fact, while about 95 percent of first-year students and 90 percent of second-year students apply for housing, only about 50 percent of juniors and seniors choose to do so.
Students who apply for on-campus housing but do not receive a time slot are encouraged to sign up for the wait list, which takes a student’s distance from home, class year, gender and date of application into consideration.
“Wait list offers are not made on a first-come first-serve basis,” Farnkopf said. “However, since we make offers as soon as vacancies arise, putting your name on the wait list early increases your chances of receiving on-campus housing.”
Although it is too early to say with absolute certainty, Farnkopf believes that most students who did not initially receive a time slot will be offered housing by the start of the fall semester.
“Some of those offers will be made immediately after room selection if we have any vacancies,” he said. “The rest will be made throughout the spring semester and summer as existing students take leaves of absences, transfer, go abroad, etc.”
Although housing is not guaranteed for typical juniors and seniors, some students are granted this luxury. In fact, out of state students, as well as some specific scholarship recipients whose funding includes on-campus housing for all four years, are guaranteed housing for their duration at the College, as long as they apply on time.
In addition to rising juniors and seniors, transfer students are also not guaranteed housing. However, there are two separate wait lists — one for current students and one for transfers. The goal is to get through the wait list of current students before focusing on housing for transfer students over the summer.
Campus Town will also create more housing options for students in the future.
“Campus Town will likely alleviate some of our demand for housing and provide an opportunity for commuters to live closer to campus,” Farnkopf said.
Although housing doesn’t drive enrollment numbers, Residential Education and Admissions work together to make sure that there are enough bed spaces for first year students, who are guaranteed on-campus housing.
In addition, some students with physical challenges may need access to rooms with special accommodations. In these specific cases, students who are registered with Disability Support Services can go through a modified room selection process.
“At TCNJ, we keep fairness and equity at the center of our housing policies, so we don’t manipulate time slots or wait list placements,” Farnkopf said.
(02/26/13 5:00pm)
For many young adults with intellectual disabilities, attending a college or university simply isn’t within reach. However, the career and community studies program at the College gives these students the opportunity to attend classes and participate in campus activities as any other college student would.
“(The CCS program) is a liberal arts course of study for students with intellectual disabilities who would not otherwise be admitted into college,” said Rebecca Daley, the director of the CCS program. “(It) gives these students the opportunity to engage in a college experience that is, as close as we can, mirrored to an experience any other student would have on this campus.”
At the College, students in the CCS program attend two different types of classes. CCS classes are specifically designed to support independent living skills, self-advocacy skills and skills they may need for adult living. In addition, they also take regular College classes, of which there are approximately 90 to choose from, that are based on their interest and career path.
Typically, students take one CCS class along with one TCNJ class each semester; however, some students take two TCNJ classes, depending on their ability to do well in those classes.
Each year, 10 students are accepted into the CCS program at the College. In addition to showing an apparent intellectual disability, prospective students must also show a willingness to learn.
“We are looking for students who have basic literacy and math skills,” Daley said. “But we’re looking for students who are highly motivated to go to college and who will show the social skill development and the motivation to attend classes like any other college student would.”
All CCS students live in one of nine off-campus houses that are all within walking distance of the campus. A house mentor, a typical student at the College, also lives in each CCS house in order to help problem solve, make sure each student is being responsible, and to be a role model of what a good college student needs to do to be successful.
“It’s a job that requires a lot of responsibility, but it’s also been very rewarding,” said sophomore house mentor Jon Michaels. “And you make new friends doing it.”
In addition to house mentors, the CCS program also provides academic mentors, job coaches and social mentors to help CCS students succeed. While academic mentors help students make the connection between what they’re learning in class and what their assignments are, social mentors help students become a part of the College community by making sure they are involved with clubs and other social activities on campus.
Eric Santora, a freshman in the CCS program, does intramural wrestling and is a member of the Harry Potter club, as well as Best Buddies.
In addition to social mentors, Best Buddies at the College is a chapter of an international organization that helps form friendships between students with disabilities and typically-developing students.
Through an interview process, students are paired with one or two “buddies” and these “buddy” pairs participate in social activities such as pumpkin picking, flag football with the varsity football team, game nights, holiday celebrations and the annual Buddies Ball.
All CCS freshman are required to participate in Best Buddies; their involvement after that is optional, but nearly all CCS students continue to participate in social events in the years following.
“Without a doubt, Best Buddies’ biggest accomplishment thus far has been its ability to form such strong, lasting friendships among its members,” said sophomore Best Buddies treasurer Niki Haas. “Alumni remain close to the organization, are still friends with their original buddies years later, and often come back to visit the current members.”
Through the CCS program, students with intellectual disabilities gain confidence, become more independent, and create lasting friendships among their peers.
“We see a huge increase in self-esteem and confidence that makes them more mature and more able to be independent and better problem solvers,” Daley said. “Our students become better self-advocates and more self-determined based on the confidence that they have developed over four years of saying, ‘I go to college.’”
In addition, the CCS program provides students on campus, especially in the education field, opportunities to understand disability, be with people with disabilities, and become better prepared as teachers.
“I think this type of experience strengthens who they’re going to be when they go into their occupations,” Daley said.
Overall, the CCS program gives students the opportunity to attend college just as any other student would.
“I think the kids in the program benefit greatly from it,” Michaels said. “Basically, they get a fun college experience … they have the opportunity to be like regular college students. It’s awesome.”
(02/26/13 5:00pm)
According to an email sent to graduating seniors by Vicky Triponey interim vice president for Student Affairs, departmental ceremonies will be held in five sessions occurring on Thursday, May 16 and Friday, May 17. The main ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m.
According to Heather Fehn, executive assistant to the president and secretary to the Board of Trustees, in case of severe weather, the main ceremony will be moved to Friday morning, which will allow the ceremony to remain in the stadium rather than the Recreation Center.
There were numerous reasons for implementing this change, according to Christina Kopka, Student Government president.
For example, there is lack of adequate and attractive space for all departmental ceremonies to be held in one day. Some departments graduate students in tents and others in less attractive parts of campus.
In addition, in case of severe weather, ceremonies that take place under tents must be moved to inside rooms, resulting in overlap.
The field is also about 10 degrees hotter than other outside areas. Avoiding heat-related issues on the field during the main ceremony and keeping families comfortable and safe was also a main concern.
“Graduation has never happened this way before so, like all students, I don’t know what it will be like,” Kopka said. “I think the overall success of both days is going to depend on the attitude students have and how willing everyone is to be flexible and embrace change.”
According to Kopka, many logistical issues have made a one-day graduation difficult. The College does not want to limit the number of guests students can bring to the ceremonies; however, this means a greater need for large spaces that don’t exist in large numbers on campus.
Also, the schedule for graduation in one day previously left students and families running from one ceremony to another, which made for a stressful experience rather than an enjoyable one.
In addition, traffic has been a major concern in the past because parking is limited and the number of vehicles coming to campus has backed up surrounding roads.
Although there are some advantages to separating graduation into two days, many students have voiced concerns about their families having to choose between attending just one day of graduation or staying in a hotel overnight.
“Students have been pretty vocal about these changes and are frustrated that the change was made with little student input and that the announcement hadn’t been made sooner,” Kopka said. “I have brought this issue up with the organizers of graduation to ensure that students are heard and that the process is more transparent next year.”
Students should expect to receive more information regarding graduation in the beginning of March.
“Our primary goal for commencement is to ensure you and your families have the very best experience and most fitting opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments,” Triponey said.