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(10/27/15 5:01pm)
Courtney Wirths Staff Writer
Brian Smith had just put on his new Pink Floyd album. The song switched and “Time” began to play: “And then one day you find 10 years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun.”
That was when the idea struck him — he needed to start his own business.
Smith, former CEO and founder of UGG Australia, had just moved to Santa Monica, Calif., in search of the next big idea when he came to his life changing realization: “There are no sheepskin boots in America.”
The now-famed entrepreneur spoke to the College’s students on Wednesday, Oct. 21, about the journey associated with starting one’s own business and having the determination to overcome the hurdles along the way.
“Brian’s story inspired me to be tenacious while attempting to achieve my goal in starting my own company," said sophomore marketing major Neophytos Zambas, a member of the College’s Entrepreneurship Club. "Through his hard work and consistency, he was able to start one of the most successful companies in the world,”
UGG Australia began in 1979, when Smith and his partner borrowed $500 to get six pairs of sample sheepskin boots shipped to the United States. They took the boots up and down the coast of California, but the road to a multi-million dollar brand was not a quick one.
“Oh, you guys are going to make a killing,” Smith said, describing surf shops’ reactions to the boots. “But we only sell surfboards and shorts and sandals.”
So instead, the pair began selling the boots out of their cars on the beach and developing a following amongst surfers. The boots were appealing to surfers who were just coming in from the cool water after a day on the ocean.
“Once you set down a path, the universe will conspire to work with you,” Smith said.
Every time Smith made a major decision regarding UGG Australia, he explained it was accompanied by a wave of goosebumps across his arms.
“We all have some spirit or energy in us that knows our path,” he said. “Goosebumps are a message that you’ve chose between two paths — a reinforcement.”
The brand began to grow. Smith learned that the best way to appeal to his customers was through great customer service and by using marketing that captured the authentic surfing experience.
In time, the company moved beyond surfers and then finally into casual-comfort footwear.
“Customer service will carry you,” Smith said. “Develop a rapport, because if you want longevity, that’s what you’ll need.”
It’s the loyalty of Smith’s customers that carried the company through its rollercoaster of balancing an ever-rising demand with drastic changes in management and trouble with financing and suppliers.
“Defeat isn’t real until the day you give up,” Smith reminded students.
One of the main ideas behind Smith’s presentation is the idea that one “can’t give birth to adults.” By this, he means that a business takes nurturing and growth before it can become something great and large.
“Brian Smith did not start his entrepreneurship path until he was 29, and it shows that even if students currently are not thinking about launching a company, the story he shared will plant a seed and inspire students to follow through with their business ventures years from now,” said senior finance major Tom Athan, a member of the Entrepreneurship Club.
Wednesday’s event was organized by the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the College and co-sponsored by the College’s Entrepreneurship Club.
“(The SBDC at the College) Counsel and train local small business and students on starting, growing, sustaining and selling their businesses,” Regional Director of the SBDC Lorrain Allen said.
Allen hopes that students come away from Smith’s presentation remembering to follow their instincts, stay present, look for lessons in the obstacles and to never give up.
Most importantly, Smith stressed that students be passionate about what they do in the future and enjoy the path of growth in their business or career.
“I think the quote that Brian Smith brought to our attention will stick with us the most moving forward — ‘The quickest way for a tadpole to become a frog is to live everyday happily as a tadpole,’” said sophomore marketing major Nicholas Gallucci, a member of the Entrepreneurship club.
(05/06/15 9:10pm)
By Jessa Gianotti
Staff Writer
INK, the creative writing club at the College, gathered students and faculty for an intimate night of poetry and creative prose readings at its Student Reading Series on Tuesday, April 28, in the Library Auditorium. The event was hosted by INK’s treasurer, Rachel Friedman, and featured readings from three students — Jonathan Edmondson, Samantha Miller and Marryam Naqvi.
Edmondson, a sophomore journalism major and arts & entertainment editor at The Signal, started the evening with six spoken word poems and one original prose piece: a prequel to the British novel “Rebecca,” in the form of a love letter written by the main character, Rebecca.
Edmondson’s poetry captivated the crowd from beginning to end, starting with a piece entitled “September Sunburn,” which was inspired by the sunburn he received over this past spring break. He also read a poem called “Secondhand Smoke,” a piece that he wrote an hour before the show after being inspired by a conversation with a friend.
Most of his work can be found on his Tumblr page, he explained, as he proceeded to read a piece called “Lifeline,” which was a culmination of quotes from his Tumblr, dating back to August 21, 2009. This piece drew a range of emotions from the audience from laughable one-liners about finals week, to more solemn topics about life and love that were relatable to many in the room.
The next speaker was Naqvi, a junior English major that transferred to the College for the Fall 2014 semester from Brookdale Community College. James Cody, a former professor of Naqvi’s from Brookdale, introduced her performance by comparing her to flattering characters from Shakespeare’s works and describing her switch from a pre-med science major to an English major.
“After taking a few English courses in college, I realized that it was a field that I truly felt passionate about, and made me feel as though my brain was working, thinking and creating,” Naqvi said. She debuted her creative talents at the series with 11 different poetry and prose pieces.
The Student Reading Series gives students an opportunity to showcase their talents in creative writing, and many times, students like Naqvi use the series as an opportunity to branch out and recite their poetry for the first time in front of an audience.
The third and final performance was by Samantha Miller, a sophomore English and secondary education double major with a classics minor, who also read her poetry for the first time at the reading series.
In the words of Miller, it was obvious that she was a classics minor after hearing her read 10 different prose and poetry pieces, some focusing on mythological creatures, such as the Sirens.
“I think they went well. I was super nervous, but once I was up there, I just sort of went with it,” Miller said. “I had fun up there. But I loved hearing my peers’ work, too — the Student Reading Series is one of my favorite events on campus.”
While this was the last of two Student Reading Series events this semester, the series will return in the fall with two more shows.
(05/06/15 9:03pm)
By Brandon Agalaba
Staff Writer
Kendrick Lamar released his third album, titled “To Pimp a Butterfly,” in March 2015. “To Pimp a Butterfly” was the successor to 2012’s “good kid, m.A.A.d city,” the album that made Lamar a star by receiving critical acclaim. This latest record is Lamar’s most ambitious album yet.
“To Pimp a Butterfly” is a conceptual album that deals with social, political and educational themes. It succeeds its attempt to be an intelligent and emotional album through the well-constructed lyrics of Lamar’s rapping. Lamar manages to effectively tell stories in an evocative way that perfectly complements the music in the album.
The lyrics are sensible, intelligent and thoughtful. They feature great insights into life while perfectly going along with the music. For example, “These Walls” has lines such as, “these walls want to cry tears / these walls happier when I’m here / these walls could never hold up.” This song perfectly demonstrates the intellectual, and at times philosophical, nature of the album.
The lyrics also have political elements in them, particularly in the 12-minute opus entitled “Mortal Man,” which progresses into a spoken word protest about standing up for yourself and fighting the ills of society.
“Wesley’s Theory” is another highlight from the album. It opens the record with a nice beat and storytelling lyrics that are both descriptive and multidimensional. “i” is another notable song, which samples “That Lady” by The Isley Brothers and brings a radio-friendly and funky edge to the album. “For Free?” is a compelling, fast-paced jazz tune complete with double bass, piano and drums.
The album is diverse and varied. It never stays the same for longer than a moment. The songs can be interludes, spoken word pieces or atmospheric tunes with various sound effects.
“To Pimp a Butterfly” arranges its songs in a way that is interesting and never predictable. A number of samples are integrated into the music. The samples range anywhere from funk to jazz and always complement the music without feeling obnoxious. The songs also have various nuances to them that keep the album from getting stale, such as the stereo-panned vocals of “Institutionalized,” the yelled vocals and tempo change of “u” and the relaxing pianos of “These Walls.”
“To Pimp a Butterfly” has an excellent flow despite the album being a massive undertaking with a length of nearly 80 minutes. It is well-structured to keep the listener from being overwhelmed. “To Pimp a Butterfly” jumps from one idea to the next quite naturally and all of the songs have a meaning. Despite the wide range of music, none of the songs feel out of place. Additionally, the songs segue into each other, which makes the album feel connected and shows how well the records underlying themes relate to one another.
“To Pimp a Butterfly” demonstrates that there is still quality hip-hop music being made today. It has an intelligent, socially aware atmosphere that is built up with evocative lyrics and solid rapping on Lamar’s part. The album flows quite well and never feels over the top or overly inaccessible. It is an ambitious album that is pulled off well. Anyone who enjoys hip-hop with a critical, intelligent and diverse edge will surely enjoy this album, as well.
(11/12/14 5:11am)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
The evening’s keynote speaker was Selena Rezvani, leadership consultant, speaker and author of the award winning book, “Pushback: How Smart Women Ask — and Stand Up — for What They Want.”
Rezvani spoke to a room of primarily female students about negotiating, taking risks and making a good impression.
“Women negotiate four times less often than men,” Rezvani said in her introduction, noting certain differences in employment strategies between males and females. “You’re sitting in the dugout watching everyone else play, (but this) is not improving your game.”
In light of this, Rezvani offered the career advice she wishes she had known herself. She said that some of the greatest successes come from the big risks women can take as students, a period when they’re young and with nothing to lose.
Rezvani, although now a successful leadership mentor, initially went to school for social work.
“I love to empower people,” she said.
Once she began volunteering, Rezvani found it difficult to find an area that fit her best. Ideally, she wished she could use her skills for enabling people in the work place.
“I finally stopped trying to make it work,” Rezvani said, steering herself away from social work altogether.
Instead, she found herself taking a position in management consulting. In this position, she was able to empower workers – especially women – and encourage them to reach for the positions and goals they really wanted.
“I used to think success was getting from A to B quickly, that it was linear,” Rezvani said. However, it was only after interviewing female leaders for an independent study in her MBA program at John Hopkins University that Rezvani learned her true passion: helping women move themselves into leadership roles and taking ownership of their paths.
According to a study conducted by Hewlett Packard, men will apply to a position when they have only 60 percent of the necessary skills for the job whereas women will only apply if they have 100 percent of the skills.
“Here’s a challenge,” Rezvani said to students. “Think of four brand attributes that you’d want to have – that you’d want someone to use to describe you.”
She explained that everyone has a leadership brand, described as the way individuals chose to communicate and lead others.
Students came up with adjectives such as determined, dependable, innovative and tenacious.
“One of my most important revelations was that I could be assertive and kind or nice,” Rezvani said.
She explained to students that potential employees should communicate in a way that conveys who they are both expressively and professionally.
“The workplace is becoming increasingly casual,” Rezvani said. “Resist being that casual. I want you to err on the side on formality.”
In addition to speaking to a room full of alumni and female professionals, Rezvani also took an hour to speak with students and answer questions about the art of negotiation.
“We’re aiming to help propel women into top leadership roles,” said Mary Lynn Hopps, professor at the College and director of the Women in Learning and Leadership (W.I.L.L.) Program. W.I.L.L. was also a cosponsor to Wednesday’s event.
When asked by a student how to know when one is speaking up too much, she told students, “I wish it was simple – that I could give you a formula.” She proceeded to ask the audience to consider the environment in which they are working.
“How do people debate? How do people spar?” she said. “Be savvy about the culture – the unspoken rules.”
She told students that 67 percent of businesses listed confidence and decisiveness as the most valued quality in an employee; 28 percent listed sharp speaking skills and the ability to be articulate; and 5 percent listed appearance.
Though only 5 percent of companies surveyed listed appearance as the most important quality, Rezvani stressed the truth behind the expression, “dress for the job you want, not that job you have.”
“I’m making it so you don’t have to use your imagination to see me in that next role,” she said of dressing for success in the workplace.
Finding your dream career, however, is a process of trial and error, according to Rezvani. She advised students to try to expose themselves to a few industries that excite them and ask themselves where they have inkling to learn more.
“My regrets,” she said, “are whenever I told myself ‘you can’t.’”
Rezvani closed the discussion by telling the women of the room to vocalize their interests and be ready to put themselves out there.
“My hope for all of you is that you be bold,” Rezvani said.
(11/06/14 2:36am)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• The number of first-time home buyers is the lowest is has been since 1987 — only 33 percent of new homes sold were to first-time buyers. Young would-be buyers struggle to come up with the savings for a down payment. When student debt is at record highs, rent becomes more expensive and the job market for recent grads is sluggish. This is all in addition to a relatively tight lending environment. Lastly, new home prices have actually been rising which further adds to the difficulty young home buyers face.
• Taylor Swift pulled her music from Spotify. The decision came after months of back-and-forth between the music streaming service and the once country, now pop star. Swift had initially wanted her new album, “1989,” to be only available to stream outside the United States. When the service declined, Swift only released the album for purchase. Spotify issued an apology to its users which led to Swift’s entire catalog being pulled by her recording company, Big Machine Label Group.
• Thirteen years after the Twin Towers fell on the morning of September 11, 2001, the first employees of the World Trade Center entered through the doors to go to work on Monday, Nov. 3. The 175 individuals work for the publishing giant Condé Nast. The rest of Condé Nast’s 3,400 employees will be moving down to the lower Manhattan offices over the next several months.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department fined Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Motors Corp. $300 million for improperly overstating vehicles’ fuel-economy claims. The punishment is the largest of its kind ever issued by the U.S. government and sets a precedent for other car companies. An estimated 1.2 million Hyundais had overstated milage capabilities – over a quarter of those 2011-2013 models sold in the United States.
* All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(10/29/14 9:58pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• Gas prices are dropping. In most stations across the nation, a gallon of gas has dropped below $3 which has created relief for American consumers and will lead to a slight boost for the U.S. economy. If prices continue to fall, however, it poses a risk to oil-producing states and the large companies within them.
• Twitter’s slow growth, especially when compared to Facebook Inc., is a cause for concern for many investors. A year after the company’s initial public offering, the internet giant has more than doubled its revenue, however the weak growth in user still caused shares to drop 10 percent.
• Yes, they now have bananas. Chiquita Brands International Inc. agreed to be acquired by a Brazilian orange-juice maker and its investment-firm partner for $742 million. The deal would give the famed banana company access to Cutrale-Safra’s farming and logistics expertise.
• In Apple’s world of popular products, the item bringing in the highest revenue gain wasn’t the latest versions of the iPhone, but rather the Mac. During the year of the product’s 30th anniversary, the line of computers saw a 21 percent jump in sales causing it to pass the iPad and become the company’s second largest source of revenue behind the iPhone with total sales of $6.625 billion this past quarter.
• The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to place a tariff on sugar imports. The tax defends against the preliminary opinion that Mexican sugar producers dumped the sweetener into the U.S. markets, lowering prices and undermining U.S. farmers. The preliminary tariffs will range from 39.54 percent to 47.26 percent on top of tariff fees as high as 17.01 percent on Mexican sugar imports.
*All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(10/07/14 4:40pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• Yahoo’s early investment in Alibaba recently paid off big time when the Chinese web colossus had its IPO, earning Yahoo tens of billions of dollars. The influx of cash allowed CEO Marissa Mayer to give half to shareholders and keep some around for future investments. Yahoo now plans to invest an estimated $20 million in the popular messaging app, Snapchat. Snapchat has the potential to be a powerful partner for the web portal as it looks to expand its reach on various tech platforms.
• One of the world’s most famous value investors is getting into the car-selling business. Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. has agreed to buy the nation’s fifth-largest auto retailer. The company would be called Berkshire Hathaway Automotive and will aim to make retail auto sales a more consolidated and efficient business.
• A morning cup of coffee is set to get a bit more expensive. Coffee prices surged to a two-and-a-half year high due to dry weather in Brazil posing a threat to next year’s crop. Brazil is the world’s largest coffee grower.
• Hilton Worldwide is selling the famed Walfdorf-Astoria in New York City to a Chinese insurance company, Anbang Insurance Group. The deal valued the luxury hotel at $1.95 billion. Hilton will continue to operate the hotel for the next 100 years, but, under new ownership plans, are set to renovate the building back to its original art-deco glory.
*All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(10/01/14 5:37pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• Japanese telecommunications company, SoftBank Corp. is looking to acquire or partner with DreamWorks Animation. The deal could help the two companies continue to compete with other international rivals. SoftBank’s strategy has been to acquire content providers (mainly video game companies) as a way to lure mobile subscribers in the future. A potential price for the Hollywood studio was not disclosed.
• American Apparel, the L.A. based manufacturer known for creating clothing basics, has appointed a new interim chief executive and replaced its chief financial officer. The new leadership enters as a temporary replacement for the company’s founder, Dov Charney who was removed as CEO in June over allegations of misconduct. Charney is accused of misusing company funds and allowing nude photos to be published on the Internet of a former employee who sued him alleging sexual harassment.
• Tesla Motors Inc. was in “drive” and ready to hit the streets of China in full force. The cars’ charging stations, however, are proving to be a considerable roadblock. Weary property managers and neighbors often get in the way of the stations’ installations, because many Chinese citizens live in urban areas or apartment complexes and have to park in community lots or garages. The delays and lack of charging stations have caused buyers to become frustrated with the luxury car maker. Tesla continues to attempt to spread new information.
• GoPro, the camera company for the adventurer, is attempting to woo the more mild traveler. The new Hero collection offers one cheaper option to its more professional cameras, but also has two higher-end cameras with touch screens that make them easy to use for the everyday vacationer. The products exemplify GoPro’s new strategy of making the brand more accessible to a larger group of consumers.
* All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(09/24/14 8:48pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
Perfect September afternoons are made up of sunshine, crisp breezes, great music and the company of friends.
Last Sunday, Aug. 31, Princeton held its 23rd annual JazzFeast on the Green at Palmer’s Square. JazzFeast, which lasts all afternoon, is a free open-air jazz and food festival put on by the town.
Walking down Nassau Street, the sounds of the performers drew listeners in from the roads and down the cobblestone paths lined with the booths and tents of local restaurants.
The colors of fall were everywhere, from the turning of summer leaves to orange and red to the window displays of the town’s shops. Children were running around clutching caramel apples covered in candies that they had just gotten from Thomas Sweets Café – an autumn classic. Parents ran behind with a handful of napkins.
My friends and I arrived early in the afternoon, and the festival had already begun. After some exploring, meandering and a little toe-tapping, we decided to grab a quick lunch. There were so many options it was difficult to decide – crepes, noodles, a booth dedicated exclusively to roasting corn on the cob – the Square smelled marvelous.
My group decided on Triumph Brewery’s tent. We each ordered a falafel and dug in while we sat on the sidewalk and people-watched. The food was delicious. Messy enough to make you smile and cover your face, but not too much of a hassle to eat in your lap on the nearest park bench.
When we finished, we moved down toward the music to claim a seat on the busy lawn. Most of the chairs were filled, so we opted for a patch of grass at the very front. Sitting on denim-jacket picnic blankets, we could finally sit back and give the performers our full attention.
Cynthia Sayer & Sparks Fly were starting up just as we had a seat. Front and center was Sayer – absolutely full of life and strumming on her jazz banjo, she captivated the crowd. Sparks Fly did an excellent job contributing to each piece.
Some of the more memorable pieces included their own version of “I Love Paris;” an original tune called “You Talk Too Much,” which earned numerous laughs and applauses from the crowd, and finally, a cover by the bass player of Louis Armstrong’s classic “By and By,” which took the audience back to the Jazz Age itself.
The audience was active, frequently clapping and dancing along with the performers.
Overall, Princeton’s JazzFeast was a beautiful event. When the jazz stopped, a bittersweet silence fell over the Square as listeners gathered their things to head home. It was the perfect way to ring in fall, and my friends and I will certainly be making it an annual tradition.
(09/24/14 2:30pm)
• Scotland decided to remain a part of the United Kingdom in a historic independence referendum. A large campaign had built up a considerable following in the weeks before the election, forcing Britain to make concessions to Scotland regarding powers of taxation and spending. The final vote came in at 55 percent rejecting independence and 45 percent favoring independence.
• In an effort to keep up with technology giants such as Apple and Samsung, BlackBerry plans to offer a lower-priced smartphone called the Passport. The new phone has a 4.5-inch square screen, BlackBerry’s signature physical keyboard and will retail at $599 in the United States – much lower than the $700 pricemark for competing phones.
• Exxon Mobil said it would begin to wind down its drilling projects in Russia to comply with sanctions set by the United States in response to the continued Russian-Ukraine conflict. The world’s largest energy company was drilling an exploratory well in the Kara Sea of the Russian Arctic. The project was monumental in exploring oil possibilities in areas with less technological advances than Western oil companies.
• Alibaba, a Chinese internet retail company, had its initial public offering last week. In an effort to avoid first-day humiliation, the company’s offering price had been conservative. As a result, the price rocketed over 30 percent in the first day of trading. Now, for the winning IPO, the challenge lies in justifying its new value and maintaining high growth.
*All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(09/16/14 4:52am)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• Apple Inc. sold over four million iPhone 6 devices within the first 24 hours of the preorder period — a figure the company is calling a record order. Many will have to wait until October to receive their phones due to the unexpectedly high demand. Wireless carriers, such as Sprint and Verizon Wireless, are taking advantage of the Apple craze by offering special deals on the iPhone 6 if a customer begins a usage contract.
• Online quizzes are increasingly becoming a source of information for marketers looking to provide more specific and appealing ads to consumers. Companies like VisualDNA offer users a quiz that will tell them their personality type and then license information gathered such as gender, number of children and if the user drives a vehicle. This information is then paired with Cookies to determine consumers’ travel patterns across the internet. Popular sites Buzzfeed and Zimbio say they do not gather information from quizzes.
• Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., the Chinese e-commerce firm, has raised the price range of its initial public offering deal to $66 to $68 from the initial $60 to $66 a share. The company did not change the number of shares it plans to make available. The price increase is due to continuously increasing demand leading up to what will most likely be the world’s largest IPO.
• Sears Holdings Corp. needs a loan after burning through cash this summer. The retailer plans to borrow $400 million from Chief Executive Edward Lampert’s hedge fund. The loan is part of a plan to reevaluate the company’s capital structure and raise additional cash along with selling off some of its assets and closing stores.
* All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(09/09/14 4:53pm)
• Harvard received its largest donation in the school’s 378-year history. $350 million was donated to the university’s School of Public Health from alumnus and current investor Gerald Chan. The donation brings to light disparity between donations to already wealthy schools (67 percent of all donations) and schools that have smaller endowments, which collect only 3 percent of total donations to colleges and universities.
• In an effort to appeal to consumers’ taste for organic foods, General Mills has agreed to buy Annie’s Inc. Famous for their macaroni and cheese and their bunny-shaped snacks. The company will add additional options to General Mills’s collection of cereals and snacks. Amid sluggish consumer spending and changes in the way Americans food shop, General Mills is hoping the acquisition will let them jump in on a new craving.
• Home Depot confirmed that its payment systems were hacked at nearly 2,200 stores in both the United States and Canada. The breach may stretch back to April, the company told the public. The information is a result of an investigation the home improvement giant began when banks and law enforcement reported suspicious activity.
• The Dodge Viper, one of Detroit’s most famous muscle cars, is losing its strength. Disappointing sales in a relatively healthy sports-cars market lead to a rare price reduction of $15,000. Now Viper will retail for about $85,000, as opposed to a starting price of $100,000.
*All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(09/09/14 4:57am)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
It has been over nine years since Hurricane Katrina and the city of New Orleans filled the front page headline. Even almost a decade after the tremendous wind and rain, the city remains damaged and in need of assistance. Recognizing the need for volunteers, the College’s Alternative Break Club takes trips south during winter, spring and summer breaks to help rebuild the Mardi Gras city.
“Disasters can only get better if something is done to bring it back up,” said junior elementary education and iSTEM major Toni D’Amato. D’Amato has been involved in the club since her freshman year and has gone of two of the club’s summer trips to New Orleans.
During her first summer volunteering, D’Amato’s group helped to rebuild the home of an elderly man named Wendell.
“He would stop by to give us food and help out while we were rebuilding his home,” she said. “ He always taught us his church songs on break time and really gave us a feel of the culture of New Orleans.”
This past summer, the group had the opportunity to return to Wendell’s new home, take a tour of the finished house and listen to the thank-you speech he gave at the home’s dedication.
“It brought so many people together to have the greatest feelings of hope,” D’Amato said.
The Alternative Break Club spent this summer on Desire Street in New Orleans.
“Our homeowner was an older blind man who was living in this large two story house all by himself,” junior nursing major Elena Shupak said. “ The downstairs was completely empty, with only studs and beams, and he was living on the second story with no running water and hardly any electricity.”
The club worked for the entire week installing hardwood floors on the second floor and finishing some of the construction that needed to be completed down on the first floor, she explained.
The locations for the clubs trips are ultimately chosen by the ABC’s executive board, but members of the club can provide input if they wish, according to club member and sophomore finance major Jonathan Sheridan. Due to the tremendous need for volunteers, however, the club plans to continue returning to New Orleans in the future.
“A group of 20 TCNJ students got in cars to drive over a thousand miles barely knowing each other,” he said. “And when we go in the cars to come back to N.J., I knew I had made some life-long friends.”
In addition to the experience of volunteering, travelling to a new city and making new friends, the club’s members emphasize that it’s the people of the city that have made the most impact on their lives while they have been in the away.
“They teach you through not just their words, but with their actions that nothing in life is ever too tragic to recover from,” Shupak said. “Their positive spirits shine through in the darkest of moments, and that is something I never forget to take home with me when I leave Louisiana.”
(09/03/14 9:05pm)
By Courtney Wirths and Tom Kozlowski
Features Editor and Managing Editor
A large tree fell across the walkway behind the Music Building on Tuesday, Sept. 2, striking the building and narrowly missing several students on their way to afternoon classes.
“I was walking down the path toward the Social Sciences Building, and I heard a loud cracking sound,” junior sociology major Alyssa Scull said. “I didn’t even see the tree falling since it was right next to me, but the next thing I knew, there were branches and leaves all around me.”
The tree broke into several pieces upon making contact with the corner of the Music Building, and branches littered the pathway. The impact of the tree caused the sidewalk to crack and bricks on the building to chip.
As for the tree itself, rotting wood had spread across the trunk, but its presence only became apparent to observers after its collapse.
“The tree was dead and hollow at the base, although this could not be seen from the outside,” said David Muha, vice president of communications, marketing and brand management at the College. “It is only visible now that the tree has fallen and one can see inside. There is no evidence of physical damage associated with adverse weather conditions.”
Fortunately, no students were harmed by the tottering tree.
“I didn’t get hurt, but it was way too close and so scary,” Scull said. “Someone could have been seriously injured.”
Although it is difficult to gauge the health of trees around campus from an outside view, a local arborist, Nelson Tree, has recently been on campus to address tree concerns, according to Muha. The arborist measures the decay of trees using mechanical drilling and other tools to assess their density and hollowness. Those that pose a danger to surrounding buildings and populated areas are then marked to be cut down.
The fallen tree near the Music Building had been assessed by Nelson Tree several years ago. The arborist noted a vertical crack coursing through the tree and recommended a 1/3 to be cut in order to reduce the “weight and potential for damage,” according to Muha. While still alive, the trunked was marked by a red ribbon for scheduled cutting. The College further labeled the tree for removal this year, but the tree had died before it could be taken down.
“This tree would have been next on the list,” Muha said. “The grounds department had a plan to act, but unfortunately, the tree fell before the plan could be implemented. Most importantly, we're thankful that no one was injured this afternoon.”
Students immediately posted the incident to social media, taking photos of the fallen tree sprawled across the pathway.
(09/02/14 7:46pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
• California is sacking plastic bags. A new piece of legislation passed through the state legislature last week that would ban the use of plastic bags for purchases in grocery stores, pharmacies, liquor stores and other businesses. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk. Gov. Jerry Brown has not stated his position on what would be the nation’s first statewide plastic bag ban. The bill would allow reusable plastic bags to be sold in stores as well as paper bags for a minimum price of 10 cents.
• Google unveiled a plan to receive permits to fly commercial drones in the United States. The plan comes just months after Amazon revealed its plans to potentially use unmanned drones to deliver packages. Others in the industry (technology and defense) are encouraged by Google’s entrance into the field because the company has the resources, cash and experience to make a difference when lobbying for legislation changes. As of right now, the Federal Aviation Administration effectively bans all commercial drone use in the United States.
• A stabilization in coal prices may signal long-awaited relief for many small coal-mining towns across the world. Coal makes up about 40 percent of the worlds electricity generation, making it the largest source of energy globally. The stabilization is due to a combination of demand increase in countries, such as China and India, as well as pit shutdowns finally beginning to impact supply.
• T-Mobile US’s game of playing hard-to-get is paying off. The French telecommunications company, Iliad SA, said it would continue to pursue the cell company and is currently looking into taking on partners to form a more enticing bid for the US’s fourth largest mobile operator by subscribers. The company has received several bids over the past year, including one from Sprint Corp.
* All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(08/26/14 5:32pm)
By Courtney Wirths
Features Editor
Odds are, most students have seen Joshua Lewkowicz on campus. Between winning Campus Moviefest with his team, his job with the College’s Department of Communications, Marketing and Brand Management, and now an internship with DreamWorks, the senior interactive multimedia major is rarely seen without his camera.
Lately, however, Lewkowicz has been letting his camera out of his hands and into the sky.
“I’m always looking at what other filmmakers are doing,” he said. “A lot of people are beginning to move toward using drones for video.”
The idea for making a campus video had stemmed from Lewkowicz sharing some of his personal footage, using the video drone, with the Communications Department.
The Department loved the footage and thought it would be a unique way to look at the campus.
One sunny afternoon, and an especially busy day on the College’s athletic fields, Lewkowicz set out to film campus with his DJI Phantom 2 Aerial Video Drone. The result was a hugely successful aerial video of the College’s athletics facilities, including the Lions’ baseball, softball, lacrosse and track and field games for the Communications Department.
“We knew it was going to be a really big day for the TCNJ campus to show off our facilities, how many sports we have and how many people are coming to them,” he said.
The drone is a quadcopter (four propellers) that is made to hold a GoPro video camera while flying. The drone is controlled by a remote control on the ground, according to Lewkowicz. A smartphone can be wirelessly connected to the device so the controller has the same view as the GoPro while flying.
Operating the drone takes a lot of practice.
“When I was a kid, I used to play with Air Hogs and I would just be happy to get the thing up and moving away from me,” said Lewkowicz laughing.
The technology for these devices has greatly improved since then, he explained. The drones now not only have the ability to stabilize themselves, but can also land themselves if connection with the controller is lost or if the user doesn’t feel comfortable landing the device.
“You are always supposed to have a direct line of sight when flying,” he said.
The footage found in the campus video is taken from anywhere between 200 and 250 feet above the ground.
“There’s also a lot of magic going on in the editing room,” he added, explaining how the full video came to be. “We are, of course, showing you the best of our footage.”
And his camera isn’t the only thing on the rise for Lewkowicz.
Now in his senior year, Lewkowicz has used his time at the College to create experiences that will better prepare him for a career in film.
He and his team are two-time Campus Moviefest winners. This year, the team took its film, “Iris,” to Los Angeles for the national level of the competition.
The film took first place nationally for visual effects, and they were nominated for Best Picture and Best Drama.
“About 55,000 films were entered in the competition nationally,” Lewkowicz said.
Additionally, he spent his summer in Los Angeles interning for DreamWorks Animation in the company’s videography department.
He had applied cold call to the internship during the semester and hadn’t heard back from the company until 3 months later when he and his team were at the screening of the Campus Moviefest finalists.
“During Campus Moviefest, I saw a call come in from California, and I thought I don’t know what that is I am just going to let it go,” he said. “It turned out to be DreamWorks.”
The experienced has solidified for Lewkowicz that his ideal future within the industry.
“I’ve always loved film – the shooting and the cinematography of it actually going out and shooting coming up with shots, lighting and all of that,” he said. “So I am still trying to figure it out, but hopefully I’ll be doing something having to do with film or the industry in general.”
(08/26/14 6:11am)
• Facebook is changing its newsfeed algorithm in an effort to cut down on the amount of “click bait,” seen in user feeds. Click bait is a term used to describe headlines put on social media that intrigue a user enough to click on the link, but then provides little to no information on the website. The social media giant says it can detect which stories are click bait by tracking how much time a Facebook user spends on a page after clicking a link.
• McDonalds Corp. posted its largest decline in revenue in over a decade earlier this month. One of the largest reasons for the decline is a large drop in the amount of young customers eating at the famed golden arches. Customers in their 20s and 30s, a demographic once loyal to McDonalds, are now turning to fast-casual dining options such as Chipotle and Panera Bread. The switch stems from younger consumers opting for healthier eating options.
• Burger King is heading north. The hamburger royal is currently planning to purchase Canadian coffee-and-donut joint Tim Hortons Inc. The deal is being called a tax inversion move because it would relocate Burger King’s base to Canada for the lower tax benefits. If completed, the deal would create the third-largest quick-service restaurant provider in the world, valued at about $18 billion.
• New home sales fell 2.4 percent in July. The rate essentially matches the July numbers for 2013, a sign that national home sales remain stagnant, failing to show signs of improvement. While new homes only make up about 10 percent of home sales in the United States, the numbers are an important indicator because new home building provides a large number of well-paying, middle-class jobs.
*All information according to the Wall Street Journal.
(04/30/14 2:31pm)
• Since Taco Bell introduced the “waffle taco” and the subsequent line of breakfast options, McDonald’s has been nervous. The fast food giant, with its popular Mc-breakfast options, has started an ad campaign that boasts of a fresh cooked breakfast and quality ingredients to combat the Yum Brands Inc. competition. The company says it hasn’t noticed any decline in its breakfast business since Taco Bell introduced the breakfast options.
• This week brought bad news from the magazine industry. The Ladies Home Journal, one of the oldest monthly publications in America, announced it would no longer be offering a monthly subscription. The magazine will be converted to a quarterly, newsstand-only magazine this coming fall. The change is a result of continuous declining profits, subscriptions and changes in consumers’ reading habits.
• While it was an unfortunate week for print publications, Apple investors had one of their best weeks in recent memory. After far exceeding the market’s expectations for first-quarter earnings, the Silicon Valley-based tech giant rewarded investors by adding $30 billion to its stock-buyback plan, increased its dividend eight percent and declared a 7-for-1 stock split. The stock price rocketed during after-hours trading, rising over eight percent, after the news was delivered.
• If you think a cup of coffee is a bit expensive now, then you may want to consider switching to tea for the future. Coffee prices are on the rise, and have almost doubled year-to-date. The increase in prices is a result of an unforgiving drought in Brazil — which is the producer of about one-third of the world’s coffee and the primary producer of Arabica beans, which are used for creating gourmet blends. While it may take some time for the price increases to effect consumers, eyes remain on May’s crucial bean harvest.
*All information is according to the Wall Street Journal.
(04/28/14 7:57pm)
At 1:30 p.m. the College's students were notified via text message that PSE&G, the College's gas and electric provider, had given the all clear to return to evacuated buildings. Classes resumed at 2 p.m. and all buildings and parking lots were re-opened.
Students, staff and faculty were reminded to "exercise caution entering and leaving campus." The warning was due to emergency vehicles and high volumes of traffic as roads and buildings were being re-opened.
The initial leak was caused by a contractor working for the College who hit one of the campus gas pipes near 1971 Pennington Road, according to PSE&G's corporate communications and media relations assistant Annette Hicks.
"PSE&G was notified of the leak at 11 a.m.," Hicks said. PSE&G crew arrived 10 minutes later and the area was made safe by 12:50 p.m.
"We currently have crews making repairs on the line," Hicks said.
Hicks explained that today's gas leak was entirely unrelated to the gas leak and explosion at a condo complex in Ewing, N.J., on Tuesday, March 4.
(04/22/14 10:09pm)
• The home improvement store Home Depot is known for offering consumers tools, lawn materials, appliances and construction material. Despite the bulky nature of its key products, the retailer is now expanding its online shopping options. This past year, the home-improvement giant opened more distribution centers than stores. One store it did open, however, was in North Dakota, stationed in the oil and gas town of Minot. The oil and gas boom has created large population growths in remote areas of the country as construction and oil production workers move to new extraction and exploration sites.
• Google Inc. is taking apps to a new level. In a phone being designed by the tech giant, consumers would be able to not only purchase apps, but also hardware accessories that could be attached to a standard phone body through slots and magnets. Some of the potential hardware options would be various cameras and blood sugar monitors.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill is raising its prices, menu-wide, for the first time in three years. The company says the reason for the increase is the continuously rising prices of key ingredients such as beef and avocados.
• China’s own version of Twitter, Weibo Corp., raised $286 million in its initial public offering last week, rising 19 percent from its initial price of $17 per share. The tech company, which means “microblog” in Chinese, allows users to post short statuses, comment on other users’ posts and repost. While the IPO did not live up to expectations, still over 33 million shares exchanged hands on the first day of trading.
• Gas and oil prices are on the rise due to the approaching summer season, which means more Americans are traveling long-distance and exports of American gas are increasing to foreign countries. The national average for gas prices has now risen to $3.63 per gallon, or 12.1 cents per gallon higher than last year’s rate. New Jersey alone has seen prices jump nine cents per gallon.
All information courtesy of the Wall Street Journal.