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(05/05/11 4:58am)
A new fiscal year may be approaching, but after the College’s Board of Trustees’ final public meeting on April 26, the song remains the same — state aid is low, tuition is increasing and being able to afford admission is only getting more difficult.
“It’s hard to figure out how to swim upstream,” said Christopher R. Gibson, vice chair of the Board. “The Board of Trustees is committed to keeping this a place where you can get the best education.”
The primary focus of the meeting, which took place in Brower Student Center Room 202W, was the annual tuition hearing, a precursor to a July 12 meeting where the trustees will vote on the upcoming year’s budget and establish tuition costs for the 2011-2012 academic year.
A “limited” tuition increase is expected in July, and although there will no longer be a state tuition cap, as there was last year, to control how much an institution can raise fees, the trustees affirmed that they have students’ interests in mind.
“We will do what we can to prioritize the need for affordable education at the four-year state level,” Gibson said.
No figures were presented regarding the increase, but the cause is a usual suspect — continual budget aid cuts by the state. In Fiscal Year 2011, the College received $5.2 million less from the state than in Fiscal Year 2010 — more than a 15-percent slash. According to Lloyd Ricketts, associate treasurer, the College has seen a 6.5-percent drop in base budget appropriation since 2008.
Tuition totaled $13,273 for in-state students and $22,659 for out-of-state students during the 2010-2011 academic year. For each 1 percent that tuition is increased in July, in-state fees will rise $133 and out-of-state will go up $227. Room and board fees would increase $104 for each percent.
“We are in the same position as the last several years,” College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said. “We don’t know how many resources we will have. We can no longer cut back in areas where we have before.”
Areas where the College has scaled back funds in the past, but plans to restore include the information technology department — specifically computer replacement — and maintenance. Purchasing new academic laboratory equipment will also be addressed, an important development according to board member Robert Altman.
“There may be lots of arguing about buying new lab equipment when the state is in trouble, but it takes many years to build a department into something to be proud of and only one or two to cut it down,” said Altman in reference to old equipment.
Gitenstein noted that the established tuition cap of 4 percent is an “interesting kind of problem” in itself.
“It sounds good because the cost to students and parents won’t go up, but some programs will not have the resources to be delivered,” she said.
Revenue strategies for the upcoming year in addition to the tuition increase include a modest overall increase in enrollment of around 60 students, as well as a multi-year operating budget that echoes the College’s overall strategic plan.
Gitenstein will be attending assembly meetings in the coming weeks to oversee how the College’s new budget is shaping up before the Board will need to vote.
“I spend a lot of time making sure the campus is informed,” she said. “I try my best to work with legislature to not be cut any further.”
(05/04/11 3:43am)
Riding the Ferris wheel or chowing down on a funnel cake may be the usual sources of carnival merriment, but patrons of the College’s “fun.ival,” sponsored by Student Government and the College Union Board, were treated to a bit more Friday night — a spirited and passionate performance by the indie-pop band, fun. — as the sun set over campus.
The band, partially rooted in Teaneck, N.J. played nearly its entire debut album, “Aim and Ignite,” an upbeat soundtrack to a day devoted to all things lighthearted. Led by singer Nate Ruess’ strong and fervent vocals, the crowd in Lot 5 chanted in unison to the refrains of several tracks, including the opener, “At Least I’m Not as Sad (As I Used to Be),” and “Barlights.” The repeated lyric, “I feel alive,” from the “Barlights” chorus echoed from an audience full of life … and cotton candy.
The band’s set varied between the bouncy melodies of “Walking the Dog” and “Take Your Time (Coming Home)” and slower, acoustic ballads included “The Gambler” and a new track called “Carry On.”
Fun. played two new songs — “Carry On” and “We Are Young” — which will appear on a new album to be released later this year.
“The album is different, and that’s all I’m going to say. We are trying to keep it secret for now,” said pianist and flugelhorn player Andrew Dost.
Dost noted the College’s generosity in helping him avoid an instrumental catastrophe.
“My flugelhorn got left behind in San Francisco, and it’s a disaster and I don’t know if I’ll ever see it again, and within five minutes of asking somebody, they had brought me a flugelhorn, which is an uncommon instrument,” he said.
Prior to going on stage, Dost was excited to play for a college audience that may not have been familiar with fun.’s music.
“Typically, you get a lot more people who just hear some noise and wander over and aren’t necessarily fans of the band, but that’s cool because it’s a good chance for a random smattering of people to hear the music that wouldn’t otherwise,” Dost said.
Opening for and sharing members with fun. was Steel Train, a Garden State-based rock band fronted by Jack Antonoff, who was on double duty as both singer in the opening set and guitarist for fun.
“I should make a work-out video,” he said. “Performing live is like fighting, or being a ping-pong champion. You just kind of turn everything off and give it your all and when you’re done, you feel like you are going to throw up.”
Steel Train’s energetic sound pumped up the crowd as it played songs from “Trampoline” and the band’s self-titled album, released in June 2010. Heads bobbed throughout the set, especially to well-known tracks “I Feel Weird” and “Bullet.”
Preceded by a juggler, Antonoff mentioned his unfamiliarity with a circus act opening for his band.
“I’ve never had to follow a guy on a unicycle in a straight jacket juggling machetes,” he quipped.
Before the show, Antonoff was ready for a comfortable atmosphere.
“There’s a different vibe when someone pays to go see a show. There’s a more serious vibe to get their money’s worth, and with these shows it’s a good opportunity to kick back and have a good time.”
Concert coordinator and senior journalism major Jillian Polak was content with the event’s turnout.
“The ‘fun.ival’ concert was a great success and I am enormously pleased,” she said. “Both Steel Train and fun. played fun (for lack of a better word), energetic sets. It was evident that the many attendees enjoyed themselves, as did the bands.”
(04/29/11 2:46am)
No student is an island.
Many of us would like to believe that once the minivan is unpacked and we are left at the College, alone and finally unsupervised, that all chains linking us to the past break off and we begin a brand new, independent lifestyle. This is partially true, as college is often about trying new things, turning over new leaves and branching out (sorry for the back-to-back tree metaphors), but it comes to a point where the unadulterated fun comes to an end, and we need to reflect a little on who has helped us get to where we are.
For me, the time is now. Graduation was politely knocking a few weeks ago. Now, I can count my remaining days on my fingers and toes. The knocking has turned to pounding as G-Day longs to break down my front door and fill my house with post-college monotony. I can hear it from upstairs. It’s yelling for me to get a job and asking for a final headcount of who is coming to my funeral — I mean — graduation party. I think it said something about a sale on polo shirts and slacks at Kohl’s.
I have turned up the music to drown out graduation’s nagging, and as I sit in my room, trying to ignore the sounds of the rest of my life, I cannot help but consider my support system over the past four years. I would be wandering blindly through the bamboo forest, trying to find my way back to the dorms without it. Most people are lucky enough to have the same thing: a network of family, friends, professors and other students who have cheered our accomplishments and kept us going through college’s hardships.
Luckily for me, the College’s small journalism department has led to the construction of strong relationships with two professors, with whom I have shared a combined total of seven classes. Both have taught me plenty in the traditional professor sense, but I would say that I have learned more through candid conversations in their offices over pieces of bite-sized chocolate and good-natured Phillies-ribbing. Most students find at least one professor to act as a sort of mentor and adviser for them, providing guidance in and out of class, and I would be nowhere without the boatloads of advice given to me about paper topics, internships and my next move at The Signal. Their seasoned words have been invaluable.
Also a product of a small department has been the ability to build bonds between my fellow journalism cronies and me. Most of us have had almost all of our major requirements together, and when the going gets tough and papers begin to form piles, we have always had each other, from intro classes to our capstone, to help with ideas and most importantly, bitch and moan like there is no tomorrow. I know these major-based cliques to be true of other departments as well, but with such a tight-knit group of lovably pissy writers, my example is a little extreme. I have sat next to, behind or in front of one student in particular for nine different classes in four years, and both of us would be considerably lost without the other. We knew each other in high school, and I can recall a hug of relief on move-in day, as if to say, “We made it to college.” At our graduation parties, there will be another hug: “We made it out of college.”
These relationships built at the College are great, but honestly, family support has been the main proponent of whatever success I have achieved here. Most of us can relate to the fact that I cannot even begin to list all that has been done for me during my college career, but it can probably be summed up as mounds of food and miles of rides back and forth to school, not to mention my mother signing her life away on student loans with me so I could come here in the first place.
All of that is important, but the support of always having someone willing to listen to my bad days, being excited for my good days and being able to cheer me up on days in between has really been my driving force. My family, namely my mom and grandparents, have never once doubted that I would succeed in college, even when I was ready to give up and play Mario Kart for the rest of my life. They always pushed me to go a little further, and to try a little harder, and now as I write my final article for the college newspaper that has controlled my life for the last few years, I am writing to say “thank you.” “Thank you” to my family, “thank you” to my friends, “thank you” to my professors and “thank you” to anyone else who has gotten me this far. You are the best and I will try not to let you down.
I walked down Nassau Street in Princeton on Friday night, “ooh”ing and “ahh”ing at the university’s stoic structures. I jokingly said to my friend with feigned depression, “Why couldn’t we be privileged and go to Princeton?” I am as privileged as anyone. I hope that you are too.
I just turned down my music. I can’t hear graduation anymore. Maybe it left me alone for good? Did it finally break in?
I better go check.
(04/07/11 1:45am)
My New Year’s resolution for 2011 was simple – no regrets.
I have stuck to it to the best of my ability thus far, but as I near graduation and remember the good, bad and ugly times borne out of four years of giving just enough of a shit to get by, it has not always been the most pleasant experience. I am ready to admit my mistakes, but by no means would I go back and change them. That would mean I regret them, right? I do not regret any of it, but maybe future avoidance for those who fall into the same situations might not be such a bad idea. Here we go.
The Sober Ones …
—Worst social mistake: The single most crippling mistake of my college career was trying to maintain a long-distance, college-to-college relationship that was way past its prime. I could never even begin to count the hours I spent arguing with my then-girlfriend while my cell phone melted my brain, trying to reason out why I didn’t text her back after I got out of class earlier that day. The fights usually ended with me falsely admitting my incompetence as a human-being so I could get off the phone and return to playing Grand Theft Auto with my friends. If you walked by the Decker 6 lounge during Fall 2008-Spring 2009, I am sorry.
If you really love someone, you will make it work and it’s meant to be. If it becomes a chore, end it. You are wasting your time. Go enjoy college. It’s going to be over soon!
—Worst academic mistake: taking Early Chinese History. I have no interest in China. I dislike history, and I hate getting up early. This was a match made in heaven. Actually it was a match made through a tight schedule and the need for a liberal learning requirement. “How bad could it be?” I asked myself while searching classes on PAWS. Answer: Really bad. I pulled a B- and learned very little besides the fact that the Han and Yuan dynasties sound shockingly similar in broken English.
If you need to fill a requirement, try not to take any class that leaves you with the “eh … I’ll just suck it up” reaction when you schedule it. Notice the presence of the word “suck” in the previous statement.
—Worst athletic mistake: Sliding in intramural softball. Just don’t do it. You will get called out for messing up the precious football field’s turf, and you will call yourself an asshole for the next month as you rub Neosporin on the outside of your calf where the epidermis was removed.
If you take intramural sports too seriously like me, here is a tip: I have never heard from anywhere that freight-training the catcher on a close play at home gets you called out, or ejected. Give it a try. Let me know how it goes.
And the not-so-sober ones …
—This mistake was my own fault. I fell into the fantasy that when you turn 21, you become invincible and previous alcohol tolerance levels no longer apply. Long story short we had a big, multi-birthday party at our off-campus house with more people than any normal residence should hold. I drank everything in sight, and by 11:30 p.m. I was doubled-over my toilet, trying to keep my insides on the inside as I puked my brains out. I passed out in my bed for a few hours, caught the tail-end of the party and went to the diner … I think.
When you turn 21, do what you feel is right, but expect the consequences. Try not to idealize the night. It’s unlikely you will remember it anyway.
—This mistake was not my fault. It was a cake’s fault. I learned the hard way that Keystone Light and Funfetti cake in large quantities mix a lot like sorority girls and science class. Long story short (again), I was at a friend’s party off-campus last spring, and after a few games of beer pong, I discovered that a friend of the friend had supplied the party with a tray of bite-sized cake treats. Being a few games into pong, devouring these confections seemed like a great idea at the time. The one-hour-later Bobby that sat on the ground outside for 20 minutes and then vomited next to a lamppost might disagree.
Avoid refined sugar at all costs while drinking … except for all of the soda you are mixing with the sugar-infused hard liquor you are drinking, of course. Terrible idea. Jack Daniels on pancakes is OK though. Epic Meal Time, anyone?
—The final mistake involved being in New York City for a friend’s 21st birthday, Fruitopia (throwback!) and an upset best friend. First off, when was the last time you heard anyone reference Fruitopia, the quintessential ’90s fruit beverage of choice? I would guess it’s been a while, but I kid you not, a McDonald’s in New York City had it as a fountain drink selection. I felt the need to text my best friend from home, also a nostalgic ’90s freak like myself, and notify him of my findings. Keep in mind that it’s 4:30 a.m. Well, the text woke both him and his significant other up, and they both angrily texted me in the morning, yelling at me for ruining their night’s sleep.
Just because you are drunk and think something is awesome, it may be best to keep it to yourself until the sun is up. I still think they overreacted, though. I mean, come on. It’s Fruitopia!
If you have made it this far, I hope you learned something from all of this. The less time you have spent at college, the more this should mean to you. Learn from your mistakes, don’t forget them and don’t regret them. Maybe they will end up in a newspaper some day.
(03/30/11 9:23pm)
A few songs into Bayside vocalist Anthony Raneri’s acoustic set, the Rathskeller floor sang the refrain.
“Who let this feeling die?” was the question posed during the chorus of “Duality,” one of the band’s more popular tracks, and as the several dozen fans huddled near the stage, backing Raneri’s voice, it was clear that the casual sing-along feeling was alive and well.
Equipped with his guitar and a crooked smile, Raneri played a dozen songs — some old, some new and some covers on Tuesday, March 22, wooing the crowd with familiar lyrics and an I’m-not-too-big-for-a-small-stage attitude.
Following his performance, Raneri expressed his love for shows like this.
“It’s kind of a nervous energy,” he said. “The stuff with the band is well-planned and well-rehearsed, and this is a totally different animal. It reminds me of when I was first starting out. It was a blast.”
Any nervousness Raneri might have had seemed to be washed away by the voices of the crowded Rat, which met his voice in unison on popular Bayside tracks “The Ghost of St. Valentine” and “Blame it on Bad Luck.” His closing love song, “Megan,” was also greeted with swoons.
In support of Bayside’s most recent album, “Killing Time,” Raneri played two tracks, “Already Gone” and “On Love, On Life,” from the new record released in late February.
Covers included Bad Religion’s “Sorrow,” Death Cab for Cutie’s “I Will Follow You into the Dark” and Counting Crows’ “A Long December,” which he played, he claimed, mainly because it was stuck in his head.
The singer kept the mood light in between songs, noting his approval of being able to purchase beer on campus and playfully berating the crowd for being too quiet at times.
“Sing along if you know it,” he encouraged.
Raneri commented several times on the clanking of the Rat’s busy kitchen, and his unfamiliarity with it.
“You have no idea how weird this is, with the constant sound of the fryer,” he said with a laugh.
Sophomore communication studies major and Rat co-chair Jane Howell, the event’s organizer, was pleased with the show’s result.
“I was really excited for the show, and thought it went great,” Howell said. “This was one of the bigger Rat shows for the semester, and we were expecting a big turn out and our expectations were met … Even kids who didn’t really listen to the band before said they really enjoyed it.”
Opening for Raneri were two members of Crystal Mountain Music Collective, an indie-rock group from Neshanic, N.J., who played a mix of originals and covers for an attentive Rat crowd.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/23/11 11:14pm)
A few weeks ago, I was met with the question I have repeatedly answered since I began listening to hardcore/heavy metal music several years ago: “Why/how do you listen to this?” More articulately, due to the abrasive nature of the vocals and instrumentals, what pleasure do I gain from having my ears filled with screaming and melodies that can sometimes be difficult to stomach?
In a word — energy. The high I get from screaming along to Killswitch Engage or 36 Crazy Fists while alone in my car or slamming into random strangers in a concert circle pit is a feeling I cannot find anywhere else.
Some get their thrills from riding roller coasters, jumping out of planes, wrestling crocodiles or whatever else it is that makes them feel alive. I have my guitar solos and guttural growls. And if you have ever been near the stage during a breakdown — the most brutal parts of metal songs characterized by slower tempos and chugging guitar and percussion rhythms — you know how the intensity of the moment and the adrenaline can make you feel the force of the music.
In another word — release. If I am having a good day, I listen to metal. If I am having an awful day, I listen to metal. Hardcore and heavy metal music — at least the bands I listen to — are extremely empowering, and contrary to popular belief, the lyrics are often very uplifting and positive. I do not refute the fact that many subgenres of metal like death metal or black metal have more melancholy origins, but it’s all about preference.
A favorite lyric of mine comes from “Become the Catalyst,” a song by All That Remains: “I pound the walls, I shake the cage. I will not fall, I will not fail.” It is messages like these that lift me up, give me reassurance and keep me positive through the tougher times. I would rather not directly compare heavy metal to religion, but for me, certain songs often act as hymns.
I also love and am thoroughly entertained by the dichotomy of the “heavy metal image.” From the outside looking in, heavy metal is often judged as being led by the black shirts, long hair, gauged ears and piercings. Those who are not immersed in the genre might not understand that it is quite the opposite.
Unlike many pop and hip-hop acts, the quality of the music drives the metal movement. Screaming abilities are valued, as they take a considerable amount of talent (believe it or not), and guitarists’ aptitude for music is unlike anything I have encountered elsewhere. I do admit that “metal heads” are more adamant about showing off their favorite bands through demonic apparel, but there is more to the genre than just a T-shirt with dead babies on it.
I consider myself a closet metal head, not because I will not openly discuss my musical preferences, but because you would not know my love for abrasive music by looking at me. I only own two Killswitch Engage shirts, my nails are not painted and I have no holes in my body that should not be there already. I am a prime example of the image not overshadowing the tunes.
I am working toward the point that metal and hardcore are not so bad after all, but to be brutally honest, for those who find the music too loud, hard or heavy, it is your loss.
This is sort of a hipster mentality: I am more than OK with most people not being familiar with bands that I love. It is fun explaining the differences between hardcore, metalcore, post-hardcore, deathcore, death metal and power metal.
It is even more fun when I find a rare fan like me, and I can have a legitimate conversation about the latest As I Lay Dying or Between the Buried and Me album.
Having read this, maybe you can try to have one of those conversations too. All I’m saying is give metal a chance.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/16/11 9:48pm)
The College continued its tradition of excellence on the national stage this past weekend, crowning two All-Americans at the NCAA Division III Championships.
Seniors Justin Bonitatis and Mike Denver each earned their second All-America honor, finishing fifth and sixth at 165 and 184 pounds, respectively, maintaining the Lions’ streak of 38 consecutive years with at least one College All-American.
As a team, the Lions finished 18th out of 60 participating colleges and universities with 20.5 total points. Wartburg College reclaimed its 2009 title with 118 points.
“I am very happy that (Denver) and (Bonitatis) were All-Americans,” head coach David Icenhower said. “I was a little disappointed that we didn’t do better as a team, but we placed in the top 20, and we will go back and try to work on things for next year.”
Bonitatis, a No. 3 seed in the tournament, earned a win early on Saturday in an 11-6 decision over St. Olaf College senior Josef Waples in the consolation bracket. After falling to No. 5-seeded senior Luke Miller of Ohio Northern University 7-3, Bonitatis claimed the final victory of his College career with a 4-1 victory over sophomore James Myers of Olivet College.
Bonitatis finishes his four-year career as a Lion with an impressive record of 136-18, the highest win total for a College wrestler in more than 20 years.
Icenhower noted Bonitatis’s recognition as one of the state’s top wrestlers.
“He is being honored at a banquet in south Jersey tonight for successful south Jersey wrestlers in college, and although he was a little disappointed he didn’t get farther, I think over time he will be proud of what he’s accomplished. With all of the successful wrestlers we have had over the years, (the win total) says a lot about him.”
Bonitatis also earned All-America honors as a sophomore where he finished eighth in the 2009 national tournament.
At 184 pounds, Denver reached his weight class semifinals on Saturday before conceding three consecutive matches for sixth place.
Denver defeated University of Wisconsin-Osh Kosh junior Sam Engelland 6-2 in the round of 16, as well as No. 6-seeded York College junior Alex Martocello 4-1 in the quarterfinals to earn his honor. The win over Martocello was especially sweet, as Martocello had bested Denver in the Metropolitan Conference Championships two weeks earlier.
One win from the final, Denver fell to No. 2-seeded senior Ben Engelland of University of Wisconsin — Stevens Point, 4-0. From there, Denver entered the consolation bracket where he was defeated by St. John’s University junior Dustin Baxter, 6-1. In his fifth-place match, Denver withdrew due to medical forfeit.
Denver finishes his season with a record of 37-6 for 106 wins as a Lion and with another stellar performance next season, he could seriously challenge Bonitatis’s career win total.
The College’s three underclass participants, sophomores Dan Herr and Brian Broderick and freshman Steve Godine, were less impressive. Broderick and Godine won one match each in the double-elimination tournament, and Herr dropped both of his matches.
“Hopefully they learned that if they didn’t win they are obviously missing something and they will come back and work on it next year,” Icenhower said.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(03/02/11 9:28pm)
Despite a second-place finish and a failed title defense in the Metropolitan Conference Championships at King’s College on Sunday, the No. 12-ranked Lions still qualified five wrestlers for the NCAA Division III Championships, a considerable consolation.
“We were there to win, and we are never happy when we don’t but I thought we did a great job,” head coach David Icenhower said. “Two of our top guns (seniors Justin Bonitatis and Mike Denver) both came back, and getting five guys to nationals is huge.”
Although No. 10-ranked Centenary College, who the College defeated at home on Feb. 11, took the MCC title with 104 total points, freshman Steve Godine and Bonitatis each won their tournament weight classes to claim spots on the national stage.
Three at-large bids — set aside for non-weight class winners — were snagged by Denver and sophomores Dan Herr and Brian Broderick as well.
Godine was a perfect 4-0 at 125 pounds, finishing his day with a 3-1 overtime victory over Elizabethtown College’s junior William Bentley. Godine was named the tournament’s co-rookie of the year for his performance.
“I knew I had a shot, but I don’t think anyone really expected it,” Godine said. “It’s a good feeling to know that all of the hard work paid off, not just for me but for the team.”
Godine pointed to his preparation as a key to success.
“I wrestled most of the kids earlier in the year and I lost to some of them, but I wouldn’t say I was wrestling at my best then,” he said. “My coaches helped me work on what we knew those kids would be doing.”
Icenhower gave credit to his freshman star.
“As a No. 4 seed, he surprised a lot of people,” Icenhower said. “It’s a great accomplishment for him, and not many kids get an opportunity to go to nationals as a freshman. He’s been getting better all year, and he picked the right day to have a great tournament.”
No. 1-seeded Bonitatis also ran his bracket without a loss at 165 pounds, scoring a late takedown against New York University’s senior Matt Magill for a dramatic 11-9 victory.
“Bonitatis is a two-time national qualifier and a one-time placer, so you know he is always going to come through in big matches, and the fact that he was down and came back was big,” Denver said.
The 4-0 performance gives Bonitatis 132 wins for his College career, surpassing almnus Tim Jacoutot for the most wins for a Lion since 1985.
Denver, also a No. 1 seed, managed to escape disaster at 184 pounds and still qualify for nationals, despite an upset defeat at the hands of York College’s junior Alex Martocello, 11-8. Prior to the bout, Denver was 7-0 in his career against Martocello, including a victory over him in the MCC finals last year.
“Yesterday was just his day,” Denver said. “He brought it to me, had a good match and wrestled better than me. I am grateful for a second chance.”
Denver was the College’s lone All-American at nationals last year.
Herr earned his bid at 133 pounds, finishing second as a No. 2 seed.
“My mindset was to not be afraid and to go out there and have fun,” Herr said. “If his best was better than my best, then so be it.”
Broderick finished third at 174 pounds, winning the consolation bracket after a fall in his opening bout. Broderick qualified after the title bout was decided by an injury default.
According to Icenhower, for the five grapplers headed to the University of Wisconsin La Crosse, the group was given Monday off, lifted and ran hard on Tuesday and will begin to “wrestle hard” today through Friday. Next week will call for more verbal and tape-based preparation and much less physical training.
“We want to have two good, hard weeks (of training),” Godine said. “We have so many good wrestlers in the room, everyone makes everyone else better.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/24/11 4:04am)
As I walked around Manhattan, celebrating a friend’s birthday this past weekend, I judged.
From storefronts, I blindly guessed restaurants to be expensive or affordable. From banners and colored lights, I considered bars and clubs to be upscale or seedy dives. From the counter, I judged a Lower East Side McDonalds for still having Fruitopia as a choice of fountain drink.
Our planet’s center of commerce is stuffed with countless gawkers walking around, wearing garb they consider to be chic enough for a day or night in the city and hoping to be seen. Not by anyone specific in most cases, but at least viewed in a light considered positive or favorable. No one wants to be a loser in New York City.
After two nights of bright lights and sensory overload, a chance observation in the most mundane of places turned my view of “judge and be judged” on its head.
It was on a Sunday afternoon NJ Transit train headed from New York Penn Station to Trenton. Each of the single-level train’s cars were filled with people, either two to a seat or one with a large suitcase or bag on their hip, likely signaling their lacking desire for human contact among the worn, brown leather seats.
After a few minutes on the train, I noticed a man standing in his seat a few rows ahead of my friends and I, moving his luggage to the overhead area.
He was a very thin, unshaven white man in his late-20s to early-30s, with an ill-fitting black skull cap and a faded black tank top — the kind that has no fabric from the shoulder going down the side of the ribcage and reconnects near the hip.
A clearer image might be that of a Pantera cover band’s touring bass player. If he had a jacket, I didn’t see it.
The man also had a noticeably large scar on his right elbow. It appeared to be due to some sort of reconstruction due to injury more so than a motorcycle accident’s lasting impression. Whichever the cause, the misshapen ball of his elbow stuck out farther than it should have.
From what I gathered in my passing glances, this man appeared to be fairly rough-and-tumble. I immediately began to paint a picture of his difficult life and drug abuse, which must have led to some bar fight, and consequently, his scar.
It was the Newark Liberty or Newark Penn Station stop when a mid-20s black woman carrying her young son — he was no older than two, I’d say — got onto the train. She entered our car, child on one hip, purse on the other and could not find a place for the two to settle. She walked to the front of the car to stand.
A minute or two later, the man with the scar rose from his seat and grabbed his bag from above. He left with his duffle, walked to the front of the car and approached the woman and child. They returned a few seconds later as the man whom I had absolutely judged to be more of a loner than a Good Samaritan led the woman to his seat. She and her son sat and he went to look for another place to rest.
The middle-aged, black conductor with a grey cardigan who had punched our tickets a few minutes earlier saw this and said something to the effect of, “Chivalry isn’t dead after all.”
I know I am not the only one who saw this exchange take place, but I wonder if I was the only one to feel guilty for not offering my seat first. If I was carrying a toddler on a train, I’d like to be able to sit as well.
I suppose the best way I can relate this random act of generosity to college life is that, despite all of the different types of people who coexist on this campus, we can all learn a lesson from the man with the scar: If we are going to judge someone, judge them on their actions, not their appearance. I don’t want to conclude with the “actions speak louder than words” cliché, but after two days in what is often recognized as the greatest and most entertaining city in the world, sitting on the train and watching my preconceptions fall and get stuck to the floor is what I will remember most of this trip.
(02/24/11 3:25am)
I am a New York Knicks fan, but you wouldn’t know it. I outgrew the last of my blue and orange apparel many years ago and before this year, I had not given the team serious interest since the days of Allen Houston and Latrell Sprewell.
Over the past decade or so, I have developed a sense of affectionate realism toward the Knicks. As some sort of pride-based defense mechanism, I have turned the team into my favorite lovable losers, and I have been able to laugh as just when the franchise seems that they cannot fall any farther from grace, they do.
This year I am not laughing. I actually care when Danilo Gallinari misses a three-pointer, or when Amar’e Stoudemire gets into foul trouble or when Madison Square Garden has to watch its team lose to an under .500 team at home. For the first time since 2000-2001, the Knicks are considered a decent NBA team, New York is a great basketball town when they have decent players to root for and I legitimately care.
As the city collectively held its breath on Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks’ courtship, I must say that the deal, which was said to be New York’s final offer, may be a considerable step in the wrong direction.
The Knicks parted with starters Gallinari and Raymond Felton, sixth man Wilson Chandler, Eddy Curry, a first-round draft pick, and cash to get Anthony, an aging Chauncey Billups and a few fill-in players.
Combined, Gallinari, Felton and Chandler were the Knicks’ three top scorers behind Stoudemire, adding an average of 49.4 points to the score each game. They are also an average of 24 years old. Comparably, Anthony and Billups are combining for 41.7 points per game. Anthony is 26 and Billups is 34.
I know that Anthony has had a love affair with the Knicks for a while now, and his presence absolutely gives the team more of that superstar appeal that the Yankees and now, the Jets, possess. But, at this point, as a fan, I am less than happy that this deal went down.
Gallinari’s development has been fantastic, and at such a young age and with so much
time to continue improving, it was foolish to deal him now. Also, Billups is not the best fit for Mike D’Antoni’s offensive system.
The team finally had a few players that had potential and were not past their prime, but they were ready to gut the roster again, for a big name. Let it go.
I would have preferred they waited to see how realistic it is to get Chris Paul or Deron Williams into the Garden and go from there.
Barring a serious collapse, this season wouldn’t have been a bust anyway, even if a big deal didn’t get done.
If the playoffs began today, the Knicks would be a No. 6-seed, which is more than I have come to expect over the last few years, and as the team with the most famous arena on Earth attempts to rebuild, I could handle a one-and-done appearance against would-be No. 3-seeded Chicago.
Of course, any sort of upset would give me some serious joy and satisfaction, but after watching Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis turn the Knicks into a franchise of parody, I can only expect so much.
At this moment, I continue to be cautiously optimistic, but if Carmelo comes to the Big Apple, blows out his knee and sets the franchise back another few years, I’m crawling back into my hole.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/17/11 12:14am)
As a senior in my final semester at the College, I often consider which aspects of my four years in Ewing have shaped my college experience. I search the back walls of my mind for meaningful phrases spoken by professors, extra-curricular accomplishments and chaotic nights of drinking and diner-ing, but I always seem to return to one common concept — my friends.
I have been lucky in finding — and sticking with — a core group of guys who have been with me every step of the way as I slowly amble toward graduation. The eight of us, myself included, all met as freshmen on Travers 9, seven of us shacked up on Decker 6, and as seniors we continue to live in an off-campus house in testosterone-laden harmony. We scream in each other’s faces, verbally defile each other’s mothers on a daily basis and eat each other’s food, but the love is apparent … in guy world, anyway.
I’m not sure I would be who I am today without their sarcastic support, and their “man up” and “stop being a bitch” slogans, and this is a message to College students both under- and upper-class — never underestimate the influence those with whom you associate on campus have over you. It can be powerful.
Even for freshmen with inherent social phobias, I hope that you have branched out and connected with someone with whom you would never speak in high school.
Admittedly, my roommate through freshman and sophomore year would likely not have been in my circle of friends in high school. Entering college, we were opposites: I spent my teenage years playing baseball and listening to heavy metal music. Upon my first pre-college phone conversation with my soon-to-be roommate, I learned that he was in marching band and enjoyed “Norwegian gypsy rock.” When I hung up the phone, I was unsure of how I would relate to this person. Three years later, he is one of my closest friends, and I would do anything for him. Who knew that the oddball roommate who counted pixels and created computer games would be the same person to drive to campus at 4 a.m., pick me up and get Slurpees with me at 7-Eleven after I broke up with my girlfriend. Not me, but I know now that first impressions are worth their weight in feathers, and friendship can come from anyone.
As the years fly by — and for all the bright-eyed students with empty program planners, I can assure you that it does — if you find a group that you want to stick with, make it happen. Housing selection is approaching, and if your group gets varying lottery numbers, settle for wherever everyone can fit and live together. Just because a few friends got great timeslots and want to run off to New Res, don’t let them. Deal with Norsworthy or Centennial for a year. At least your group can complain together. My friends and I were fortunate to get enough good numbers to pull everyone into Decker, but I know this is a rare case. One of our close friends and one of my current housemates was left out and got a single room in Allen during sophomore year. To this day he complains about how he didn’t get to live with everyone else. Endure the dust and public restrooms for friends next door or down the hall. You will remember the conversations more than the hair in the sink.
Speaking of conversations, have as many of them as possible. This sounds obvious, but it is amazing what you can learn from people from varying backgrounds, and the beauty here at the College is that not only are you smart since you go here, so is almost everyone else. Where else are you going to find an abundance of individuals within your age group and your intelligence level? A better question: Who can relate to you, and to whom can you relate more than your peers at college? We hear the broken-record “college is about finding yourself” babble all the time. Do not go at it alone, because you are surrounded by people in the same shoes, literally walking in the same direction. You can use their help, and they can probably use yours.
The cliché is that the friends you make in college last a lifetime. Damn it, I hope so, because the bonds I have created with my friends here are stronger than any that I have built anywhere else. Some of the most meaningful conversations I have ever had have been over a death-brick Eickhoff burger, or lying prostrate on a futon in my off-campus house, contemplating life and love while compulsively flicking my cell phone open and snapping it shut.
I firmly believe that the lessons I have learned outside the classroom have been infinitely more valuable than anything I have been formally taught, and without the friendships I have enjoyed, I would not have grown nearly as much as a student, a writer and a person in general. Being a journalism major, I have learned plenty regarding writing and editing from my professors, but through my housemates, I have learned how to live as an independent almost-adult from a bunch of learning-to-be-independent almost-adults. We don’t always do things correctly the first time, and sometimes we end up lighting fires in the kitchen, but having someone next to you to put out the flames is a great thing.
Bottom line: Enjoy your time at the College and meet as many people as possible. Don’t be too cool for anyone and do not settle if you do not like with whom you eat your meals and spend your time. Branch out until you are happy. You’ll be happy you did. And for my housemates – Acap, Anthony, Basso, Chris, Daren, Eric and Justin – thank you for keeping me sane. I hope I’ve done the same for you.
(02/16/11 11:20pm)
After seeing their own win streak fall on the road last week, the No. 12-ranked College returned the favor at home against No. 10-ranked Centenary College on Friday.
Led by three consecutive pin falls at 165, 174 and 184 pounds, the Lions bested their opponents 25-17, snapping a streak of 11 consecutive dual-meet victories for the Cyclones.
The College finishes the regular season at 19-2, the school’s highest win total since the 2007-2008 season. The Cyclones fell to 11-2.
Following a narrow defeat against Delaware Valley College, the College’s wrestlers stressed the importance of the victory.
“After the loss to (Delaware Valley College), it left a sour taste in our mouth, so this win was huge,” sophomore Dan Herr said. “Centenary is known for being a really physical team, but we were more physical, stepped up and beat some of their best guys.”
Senior Mike Denver praised the team’s ability to bounce back.
“This was a really big, important match for us, because Centenary had beaten (Delaware Valley College), and they thought they were going to come into our gym and beat us, but we proved who is going to be conference champions,” Denver said.
Following a back-and-forth battle throughout the first five bouts, senior Justin Bonitatis’s pin in 5:44 at 165 pounds gave the College control of the match and a lead that it would not relinquish.
Bonitatis was one of five seniors enjoying his final dual meet in Packer Hall on Friday. Senior Day kicked off the match, as Bonitatis, Dan Hughes, John Barnett, David Kiley and Adam Koziol were honored with a short ceremony prior to the first bout. The five Lions have a combined career winning percentage of .720 and have totaled 322 wins as a group, led by Bonitatis’s career record of 129-16 — the second-highest win total for a College grappler since 1985.
Sophomore Brian Broderick followed Bonitatis by making quick work of his opponent, pinning him in only 42 seconds at 174 pounds. Broderick finishes the regular season with an impressive 27-3 record.
Senior Mike Denver both sealed the College’s victory and claimed his 100th career victory with the Lions’ third-straight pin, claiming victory at 6:11 at 184 pounds.
The next two weeks will be spent preparing for the Metropolitan Conference Championships on Sunday Feb. 27, hosted by Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. The College will be defending its 2009-2010 MCC title as it attempts to have as many wrestlers qualify for the NCAA Division III Championships as possible.
“It’s getting down to the nitty gritty,” Herr said. “The next two weeks is what our coaches call ‘selfish time.’ We will still have team practices, but it will be specialized for the 10 guys that will be competing in the conference championships.”
Denver added, “Now it’s all about fine-tuning. We have the whole season to practice and train for the conference championships. Now it’s about getting bodies and mind-sets ready, and we are looking forward to beating some good guys. It would be great for our seniors to go out as conference champs.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/10/11 1:41am)
With only one dual meet remaining before the Metropolitan Conference Championships, the No. 14-ranked College’s 14-meet win streak fell at the hands of No. 23-ranked Delaware Valley College 21-16 on Monday.
The win streak that stood for nearly a month was erased in the College’s (18-2) final bout, a 9-2 lost decision by an otherwise reliable freshman, Steve Godine, at 125 pounds.
The Aggies (7-7-1) led 18-16 heading into the deciding contest.
The Lions led 16-12 heading into the final two bouts, but junior Kenny Amponsa’s pin-fall loss in the heavyweight bout gave the Aggies a lead that they did not relinquish.
Senior Dan Herr, who won his 133-pound bout by major decision 9-1 to kick off the match felt the College performed well, despite the loss.
“We out-wrestled them and we were in better shape,” Herr said. “Just a few things didn’t go our way. A couple of kids let their guard down on the edge of the mat and we need to wrestle for a full seven minutes.”
Bright spots for the Lions came from usual winners: senior Justin Bonitatis at 165 pounds, sophomore Brian Broderick at 174 pounds and senior Mike Denver at 197 pounds.
Each won their respective bouts and are a combined 53-2 in dual meets this season.
Coming into the match, the College was riding high after a 24-18 victory over No. 15-ranked Wilkes University on Friday.
Freshman Zach Zotollo came up big for the Lions, defeating Colonels junior Shane Everett 5-2 at 157 pounds in only his second dual meet of the season. The College had dropped the previous two bouts as junior Brian Bollette and sophomore John Darling both fell by decision at 141 and 149 pounds.
Herr stressed the importance of freshmen contributions.
“The younger guys stepping up this year has been huge,” Herr said. “I respect all of them tremendously.”
Herr also mentioned the fact that Zotollo had moved up a weight class against Wilkes.
“(Zotollo) has wrestled at 149 all year but he weighed in at 157 against Wilkes and looked great against a quality opponent. He was a big part of our win.”
The College jumped out to an early lead on the road, winning its first two bouts as Godine won by injury default at 125 pounds and Herr pinned his opponent in 1:58 at 133 pounds.
After Zotollo’s big win, the College tacked on two more victories, a 6-2 decision from Broderick at 174 pounds and a pin at 1:08 by Denver at 184 pounds.
Although the College and Wilkes split the matches 5-5, the extra points provided by the two seniors’ pins sealed the victory.
The College’s final match will be yet another difficult test, as the Lions will host the No. 10 –ranked Cyclones of Centenary College at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 11 in Packer Hall.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/03/11 5:14am)
As nationals near, the business of winning carries an increasing amount of weight, and after four more victories this weekend, adding to a now 13-dual meet win streak, winning has become business as usual for the Lions.
The No. 14-ranked College hosted Springfield College in its most recent match, downing the Pride 27-15.
Freshman Steve Godine continued his impressive rookie season, gaining the Lions’ first win of the day with a pin two minutes into his 125-pound bout. Godine is now 18-10 on the season.
Head coach David Icenhower attributes the team’s success to a true group effort.
“The main reason for our success has been that our stronger guys know that they have to get extra points while our guys who are more up and down are doing a good job of not giving up extra points,” Icenhower said. “We have been getting a lot of splits but are still coming out on top.”
After dropping bouts at 141 and 157 pounds, the College rattled off three victories to secure the overall win. Senior Justin Bonitatis won at 165 pounds by injury default, sophomore Brian Broderick won by decision 10-3 at 174 pounds and senior Mike Denver pinned his opponent at 184 pounds in 2:11.
With a stellar career record of 97-16, Denver is approaching a milestone. If the All-American wins his next three bouts, he will reach win No. 100 at home versus Centenary College on Feb. 11.
“I’m happy for (Denver) and he is very deserving of it,” Icenhower said. “I’m not a big numbers guy though. I don’t know exactly how many guys have done it before, but I would rather see him perform well at nationals.”
The College’s busy weekend began on Saturday as the team hosted the six-squad METRO/New England Duals, winning each of the three dual meets in which they competed.
The Lions’ first victory of the day came in a 26-12 win over Roger Williams University. Jump-started by a 4-3 decision by Godine, the College took the first four bouts, balancing four consecutive losses to end the match.
The College followed the victory by pounding the U.S. Coast Guard Academy 39-9.
After a shaky start that saw Godine and senior Dan Hughes fall at 125 and 133 pounds, the Lions took off, winning seven of the next eight matches, with all of the wins coming on technical or pin falls, for an easy win.
The team finished the day by defeating its only ranked opponent, No. 3-ranked Williams 36-13. Following a major decision loss by Godine, the College scored wins in the following seven bouts, highlighted by two quick pins — one by Bonitatis (1:12) and another by sophomore John Darling at 149 pounds (1:19).
The Lions’ schedule does not get any easier, as the College will travel to Wilkes University (14-7-1) on Friday, Feb. 4 before taking on ranked opponents Delaware Valley College and Centenary College.
“We have three very tough matches ahead of us with all ranked opponents,” Icenhower said. “We have a tough road ahead of us.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(02/03/11 5:00am)
For most who partake in enjoying the biggest night of the sporting year, the Super Bowl means more than just football.
For tens of millions of viewers, the first Sunday in February is a night of the year’s best commercials, a time to spend with friends and family and an evening to engorge oneself with food. Many a fan takes pride in his or her Super Bowl spread, but the centerpiece is often the same — a massive sub or hoagie fit for a small army of beer-bellied former Pop Warner superstars.
I have been in charge of Super Bowl party food for the better part of a decade, and I know as well as anyone that a high-quality hoagie can make the most boring Super Bowl watchable, while a poorly constructed monstrosity can throw off the whole night. Lucky for me and other party planners near the College, there are two local sub shops, as well as an unconventional late-night eatery, that are ready, willing and able to accommodate students’ need to feed while glued to the largest television they can find.
FD Subs: 1980 Olden Ave., (609) 882-6888
Hidden away in Ewing Plaza on Olden Avenue is FD Subs, a shop lesser known to students but a delicious sandwich stop nonetheless. When I am craving over-processed lunchmeat and condiments on a roll, this is always my first stop. The meat is sliced thinly, the lettuce and tomatoes are always very fresh and the bread, which for me, makes or breaks a sandwich, is firm enough to hold things together, while soft enough that I do not chip a tooth. If you are afraid to venture too far off campus, I beseech you: Give FD a shot.
For Super Bowl purposes, FD offers all 28 hoagie varieties in six-foot, three-foot and party platter forms. Prices vary from sub to sub, but a traditional Italian sandwich is $72 for six feet, $48 for three feet and $40 for party platters. FD also offers 10 free buffalo wings on Sundays with the purchase of two whole, 16-inch subs ($9-12 each).
During the week, popular items include roast beef, turkey and pork subs ($11 whole, $5.50 half), all of which are roasted in-house daily. Also a favorite is the Belly Buster, a combination of ham, peppered ham, capicola, salami, pepperoni and provolone cheese ($11 whole, $6 half).
Ray’s Sub Shop: 1540 Pennington Rd., (609) 771-8006
A College students’ favorite, Ray’s Sub Shop on Pennington Road is also a popular place for a hoagie, panini or anything else available on their rather large menu. I have eaten at Ray’s several times, and I am not sure if it is me or them, but whenever I order an Italian sub, I am greeted with a stomach ache afterward. Despite my digestive problems, the sandwich is tasty, and comparable to FD, with the meat being sliced a bit thicker and the lettuce being cut more finely.
Ray’s offers several specials as well for the Super Bowl season. Like FD, six-foot, three-foot and party platter hoagies are available at $72, $40 and $33 respectively, in addition to buffalo wings combos — a party platter of subs and 50 wings for $56, or 100 wings for $50.
Super Bowl or not, Ray’s features a 10-percent discount for College and Rider University students every day. According to management, the selection of Belly Buster-style sandwiches are a big hit with the college crowd. Unlike FD, a Belly Buster at Ray’s is not a specific, individual sandwich, but a type of hoagie that is six inches wide, 14 inches long and features two pounds of meat — enough to feed four people, according to Ray’s. Prices of the nine hoagie varieties, which include Italian, turkey, roast beef and other common sandwiches, range from $12-14 for whole subs and $6-7 for halves. Ray’s is pick-up only, no delivery.
The Fat Shack: 1410 Parkway Ave. (Inside RJ’s Bagels), (609) 310-6797
For those who want to eat away the fact that their team did not make it to the big dance, The Fat Shack is the definition of deep-fried, college gluttony … in the tastiest way possible, of course. I may be in the minority of students who soberly enjoy these artery-clogging concoctions, but I must say that in my four years of college, I have enjoyed no eating experience more than biting through a day’s worth of calories in one sitting, and I can think of few better ways to get over the Jets’ loss in the AFC Championship than with a Fat Shack coma.
For Super Bowl Sunday, The Fat Shack is offering several combos: two 12-inch sandwiches and 25 wings ($30); four 12-inch sandwiches and 50 wings ($55); 30 mozzarella sticks ($20); and 30 chicken fingers ($25).
All fat sandwiches, minus the mammoth Fat Shack, cost $6 for an eight-inch hero, and $9 for a “Fatty Foot Long.” The Fat Shack is cheese steak, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, onion rings, French fries and choice of sauce on a bun and costs $7 (eight-inch) or $10 (12-inch). Delivery is available.
(01/21/11 11:00pm)
Let’s face it. New Year’s resolutions are made to be broken — almost immediately in many cases. Once the ball drops, all ages vow to lose weight, find a new job, get laid and/or better themselves in some way that requires more legitimate work than they are usually willing to do.
New semesters follow the same pattern. We make a laundry list of ways to increase our overall productivity at the College, and in more cases than not, if we weren’t making the dean’s list or going to the gym three times a week in the fall, chances are we will follow lazy suit in the spring. Admittedly, I am one of these ignorant dreamers. I never learn.
The following is more or less a life cycle of my personal “New Semester’s resolutions” and how they tend to deteriorate as the weather gets warmer and my cares get left floating in half-empty cans of beer.
Late January: OK, I’m back. This is going to be the best semester ever. I am going to work off the three trays of mom’s chicken parm from Christmas, make up for getting a C in one of my major requirements, spend even more time bullshitting with my friends and work enough at my on-campus job to cover beer and Fat Shack money each week. No problem. I even printed out my syllabi already. This semester, I am going to be on top of my shit.
February: Jesus Christ, why is it still so cold? This campus is like a wind tunnel. It wasn’t windy at my off-campus house. Why is it windy here? Screw the gym today, I’m going to class and going back home to warm up. I went to the gym on Sunday anyway. Wait, what’s today? Damn, I’m walking in the wrong direction. I’m still on track, though. I have been raising my hand in class, and I have only skipped twice so far. No papers are due for a while anyway. I don’t dare to look at the next page in the syllabus, though. Anyone know if the groundhog saw his shadow?
March (pre Spring Break): Work sucks. School sucks. Thank God we are off soon. I need to get away from this place. I think I’ve eaten chicken nuggets for the last four days. The gym is still packed. All the time. Shouldn’t the stragglers have thinned out by now? Why is it that I only have time to work out when the rest of the school has time to work out? Maybe I should get up earlier. Eh, that would involve going to sleep earlier, which cuts into my bullshitting time. Forget that. (Looking at syllabi), why do I have three papers due the day before Spring Break? This is torture.
March (post Spring Break): That was a break? I thought I would be refreshed. I’m just hung over. OK, new plan. Only six weeks left of school. I screwed around long enough this semester. No more skipping class. Go to the gym — a lot (notice that a specific amount is no longer mentioned) — and work off all the beer fat. Buckle down and start early on your finals. You can do this. And at least it’s getting warmer, right? Boner day will be here soon.
April: I need to shave. And shower. Stupid warm weather, making me all sweaty. A warranted consequence for all the miniskirts, though. I need a haircut too. Where’s my hat? Yeah, it’s as filthy as it was yesterday. I need to stop wearing it to the gym. I need to go to work tonight; I’ve called out for my last two shifts. I’m such a slacker. But it was my housemate’s birthday. What was I supposed to do? Sit at the front desk and not do homework for four hours? The longer I am here, the more I realize that key social interactions are infinitely more important than ethical journalistic behavior. I think Fat Shack is beginning to cut time off my life. It’s so good, though. When was the last time I talked to my mom? Just a few more weeks …
May: Get me off this fucking campus. My finals are so much more intense than I thought they would be, and I have had enough of my housemates. Wash a dish for God’s sake! I would go to the library if it weren’t so crowded. I’m better off staying at my house. But it’s so hot. I wish it were cold again. I am never happy. OK, new plan: locate the smartest friend / acquaintance in each class and shamelessly beg for help because they have actually been doing the mindless homework all semester. Nerds. Don’t call them nerds to their face. What happened to integrity? Oh well. The gym has been relegated to solely a method of procrastination and stress relief. If I eat one more beef chalupa, I’m going to puke. Just make it through this last week, then it’s smooth sailing. When do I have work? Shit, that’s tonight?
I may have embellished for entertainment’s sake, but hopefully some of you ardent optimists can relate. We start off with the best of intentions. Then college happens. Good luck, everyone.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu
(01/21/11 9:12pm)
As the College’s student body wipes the sleep from its collective eyes and prepares to begin a new semester, the Lions can finally get some rest.
After competing in seven dual meets in a five-day span, it is reasonable to consider that the College may have come out a bit flat-footed in the final round of the Budd Whitehill Duals hosted by Lycoming College on Saturday.
The No. 15-ranked Lions had just narrowly defeated No. 16-ranked SUNY Cortland, 23-21 in the tournament’s semifinals, sealing the win with a pin by senior All-American Mike Denver at 184 pounds.
Following such a contested victory, a letdown may have been imminent for some squads. But that’s just not how head coach David Icenhower’s team operates.
The Lions forged ahead, out-dueling No. 22-ranked Ohio Northern University 19-13 to take the Budd Whitehill title for the second time in five years.
Denver was the stopper for the Lions again, scoring a 10-3 decision following sophomore Brian Broderick’s 8-1 decision at 174 pounds. The College stands at 13-1 after claiming five victories in the two-day tournament. Denver is 22-2 this season and 91-16 in his impressive career as a Lion.
“It feels good to come back after winning,” Denver said. “We are on a win streak right now even though we have people out, and it feels good.”
Denver credited his less-experienced teammates, specifically freshman Steve Godine and sophomore Michael Kiley for the win.
When asked what gave his team the edge, Denver said, “Our underclassmen, Steve Godine at 125 pounds, really stepped up and even though his shoulder was messed up, he was still working hard for us, and Mike Kiley coming in at 197 pounds pulled through for us with a few wins as well. That kind of depth gave us the advantage.”
Sophomore Dan Herr shined in both of Saturday’s meets, scoring two decisions on the day at 133 pounds — 2-1 against Red Dragons senior captain Dave Colagiovanni and Polar Bears sophomore Jeremy Jones 13-5. Herr currently stands at 21-4 this season and 55-12 in his career at the College.
The Lions were then able to defeat two ranked opponents less than 24 hours after gathering three dual meet wins on Friday in the tournament’s earlier rounds. Adding to what is now a nine dual-meet win streak, the College downed John Carroll University 29-15, No. 28-ranked Wabash College 23-14 and SUNY Oswego 24-18.
After a few days of rest and icing muscles, the Lions will be back on the mats on Friday to take on No. 17-ranked Wilkes University on the road at 7 p.m.
“I think it will be a tough match but with the way we are wrestling and our team morale, I think we will come out on top,” Denver said. “We take it one match at a time and never take any matches lightly.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(12/02/10 3:41am)
Commence swooning … now.
Armed with power chords and the power of pop culture, co-headliners All Time Low and Plain White T’s played to a sold-out Kendall Hall crowd on Saturday, Nov. 20, likely instilling jealously in many a little sister.
Students had no trouble singing along to the College Union Board’s annual Fall Concert, as lyrics to “Hey There, Delilah,” and “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” among many other hits, were belted out with the passion of vocal sessions held alone in the car with the windows rolled up.
Despite the seating, All Time Low turned Kendall into a high-octane pop-rock-palooza, at the request of lead vocalist Alex Gaskarth. Dressed in, appropriately enough, a plain white tee-shirt, the singer asked a question to which he already knew the answer.
His inquiry: “Is it cool if we have a dance party right now?” was met with plenty of cheers as students bounced around to the hooks of “Damned if I do ya, (Damned if I Don’t),” “Break Your Little Heart,” and “Weightless.”
More or less, everything the group said was met with support, including Gaskarth’s “Remembering Sunday,” the lone acoustic song of the night, and guitarist Jack Barakat’s desire to experience “four years of college in one night.”
The band’s teen-level energy and on-stage antics were a welcomed reward for the slews of fans who stood outside the Brower Student Center as early as 4 a.m. to purchase tickets .
Despite college students not being All Time Low’s primary audience, the band welcomed the support.
“A lot of our crowd is kind of younger, so whenever we book a college show, we are always a little apprehensive about it, but I was stoked,” drummer Rian Dawson said.
“Our fans are growing up, just like we are!” Barakat added.
The group also expressed its excitement to play a show with Plain White T’s again, joking that they only seem to tour together outside of the U.S.
“They’re like the kid we don’t talk with in school, but secretly hang out with anyway,” Gaskarth joked.
All Time Low plans to release a new album sometime next year.
Plain White T’s immediately engaged the audience with its opening song, “Our Time Now.” The opening “oh’s” of the song featured in promotions for ABC Family’s “Greek,” were chanted in unison, as well as
several other tunes played throughout the set. The Chicago-based group played fan favorites including “1,2,3,4,” and “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You),” in addition to a few new tracks off its new album, “Wonders of the Younger,” which will hit shelves Dec. 7.
When asked how the new album differs from past projects, vocalist Tom Higgenson said, “It’s our biggest step forward. We took a lot of chances this time around, we did a lot more experimenting musically, lyrically, thematically and I think all of it worked out for the better for us.”
As the band’s set went on, and each time vocalist Tom Higgenson was handed an acoustic guitar, it seemed as though the time to sing along to “Hey There, Delilah,” was approaching. Plain White T’s saved its monster hit for the finale, and Higgenson encouraged everyone to sing along, although that was quite unnecessary. Higgenson’s voice and guitar were drowned out by a sea of voices emanating from seats.
Before the show, Plain White T’s were ready to hit the stage.
“We haven’t played too many shows this year because we’ve been recording a new album, so this being one of our first shows back, we are excited,” said Mike Retondo, bassist.
Opening for All Time Low and Plain White T’s was MuteMath, an electro-rock quartet based out of New Orleans. The group performed several singles from its self-titled album and 2009’s “Armistice,” but what won over the crowd was a stage show best described as organized chaos. Before one song, drummer Darren King poured a bottle of water onto his drum kit, causing rhythmic splashes as he played.
King also used the stage itself as a drum, hammering away just in front of the front row. Vocalist and keyboardist Paul Meany also joined in the bedlam, doing a front flip over his piano, running through the crowd and allowing a female fan to play his synthesizer.
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(12/02/10 2:54am)
After placing in the top five in their respective weight classes at the East Stroudsburg Open, the Lions are off to yet another great start early this season.
Sophomore Brian Broderick finished second overall at 174 pounds in a tournament comprised of Division I,II,III colleges, club teams and unattached wrestlers. Broderick won his first four bouts, three by way of decision and the fourth by medical forfeit. In the title bout, Broderick, who is currently ranked No. 7 in his weight class in Division III, narrowly lost, falling 5-4 in a tiebreaker to Division I University of Binghamton freshman Tyler Beckwith.
Head coach David Icenhower was content with Broderick’s performance.
“He has more experience this year, after he had a strong freshman year,” Icenhower said. “He’s a very fundamentally sound wrestler and I thought he did great.”
Seniors Mike Denver and Justin Bonitatis also fared well at East Stroudsburg. Denver finished fifth at 184 pounds, winning five bouts, the last of which on a medical forfeit. Denver lost his second bout in the winners’ bracket to Millersville College’s junior Jason Foor, but did well in the losers’ bracket, winning four matches.
Bonitatis finished fourth at 165 pounds, advancing to the semifinals of the weight bracket before falling to Penn State freshman Dirk Cowburn 5-4.
College sophomores Dan Herr and John Darling also chipped in with four wins each. Herr fell in his second match, but gained m mentum in the loser’s bracket, pinning two opponents on the day. Darling won four consecutive bouts after dropping his opener.
“I feel that we fared very well,” Icenhower said. “Our starters each won four or five bouts and it’s a great experience for the team to win in competition.”
The College (3-0) will host its first match of the season tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 1 against King’s College. The Monarchs (0-8) will look for an upset against a Lions team that will be sitting a few starters due to medical reasons, according to Icenhower.
”Hopefully our backups can do a good job,” he said. “Our goal is to be healthy by the end of the year and get a little better every time out.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.
(12/01/10 5:15pm)
More than midway through the season, the Lions have finally found their stride through a potent rushing attack and an opportunistic defense.
The College showcased its ground game on the road on Saturday against Buffalo State College (1-6), pounding the Bengals for over 300 yards rushing in a 48-29 win. Led by sophomore running back Joe Falco’s 169 yards and three touchdowns, the Lions (3-4) poured on the offense in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points to seal the team’s first back-to-back wins of the season
The Lions have gained more than 300 yards rushing in both wins, and head coach Eric Hamilton, now with 199 career victories, is content with the team’s success.
“The running game was solid due to a couple of factors,” Hamilton said. “Quarterbacks recognizing fronts and executing, the ability of the backs — especially Falco — to find the creases created by the offensive line and hitting them hard and our ability to spread the field and keep Buffalo State guessing.”
Junior quarterback Jay Donoghue only needed to throw four passes against the Bengals, and has no problem handing the ball off to his stocky running back.
“We honestly were so dominant up front this week that our passing attack wasn’t necessary,” Donoghue said. “I would like to throw it around a little more obviously, but they whole point is to move the ball, score, and win. And that’s what we did consistently this weekend.”
However, he doesn’t expect the trend to last against stronger teams.
“I have a feeling that in the coming weeks were going to need to throw to win,” Donoghue continued. “Teams will start stacking the line of scrimmage, forcing us to beat them through the air.”
Donoghue and Falco were not the only Lions handling the ball. The College’s defense capitalized on three interceptions and one recovered fumble, collecting 10 turnovers in the past two weeks.
“Winning the turnover game is one of our primary objectives,” Hamilton said. “We have a great turnover differential because we work on creating turnovers, as well as not having turnovers of our own.”
Senior defensive back Matt Kreider is ready to continue the trend.
“We’re taking advantage of offensive mistakes,” he said. “We’ve forced nine interceptions in the last two games and we want to up that number this weekend against (Western Connecticut State University).”
On Saturday, Oct. 16, the College was even more dominant on the defensive side, intercepting six Morrisville State (1-6) passes in a 30-6 win. Leading the Lions with two picks was junior defensive back Derek Goreczny.
Falco, as well as senior running back Michael Yetka and sophomore quarterback Nick Tyson found success on the ground, combining with Donoghue for 338 total rushing yards.
Heading into an away game against winless Western Connecticut State University at noon on Saturday Oct. 30, Hamilton – one win away from 200 — is not worried about his approaching milestone.
“The only number that counts is getting the W at West Connecticut and getting No. 4 on the season,” he said. “That would work us back to .500 on the season overall and on the plus side in the NJAC.”
Bobby Olivier can be reached at olivier6@tcnj.edu.