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(05/07/19 6:56pm)
By Michelle Lampariello, Elizabeth Zakaim, Miguel Gonzalez and Caleigh Carlson
Signal Staff
Kate McKinley (’11) does not trust her tap water. She triple filters her drinking water and uses another filter on her showerheads.
McKinley, an Ewing resident who was also in the running for town council last fall, started losing faith in Trenton Water Works’ — the local water filtration plant — ability to provide her with clean water after she continued to receive violation notices in the mail, which were similar to the letters sent to the College.
The most recent letter the College received from TWW regarding any violations was in February. TWW reported that it had failed to stay under the maximum contaminant level for two disinfection byproducts — haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes — within one year. According to the Centers for Disease Control, disinfection byproducts result when chemicals used to clean the water, such as chlorine, react with dissolved organic material in the water.
While TWW assured customers that this did not define an emergency situation and that no corrective actions, such as boiling water, were necessary, the plant mentioned that customers who are elderly, have a compromised immune system or drank water with excess levels of TTHM or HAA5 over many years may experience health complications and are at an increased risk for cancer.
Residents like McKinley found it aggravating to find out about these violations with so little accompanying information.
“I felt angry,” she said. “They notify us after high levels of anything toxic is detected and never give us any background on the potential danger of the elevated levels. You have to research that on your own.”
However, TWW provided information on how it is seeking to remedy the issue. According to the report, the plant has added a second permanganate feed line used to disinfect the water and is repairing the chlorine contact basins, which will result in the better removal of organics and reduce the amount of disinfection byproducts.
TWW would not comment publicly on its violations or solution policies.
TWW’s stiffness is part of why McKinley remains skeptical of the water quality, but not just for her own sake. Her friend, who has lived in Ewing for 20 years, has had breast cancer twice in the past 10 years. While neither can definitely say whether or not the cancer is correlated with the water quality, her friend represents those with compromised immune systems — the population whose health TWW warns might be at risk when drinking the water.
“She’s definitely at risk,” McKinley said.
Her friend uses filters for most of her water sources in her house and is still taking medication until doctors can safely report that she is in remission.
“She was very angry with the whole situation because of her immune system being compromised,” McKinley said. “This would only exacerbate her condition.”
For McKinley, her friend’s circumstance only added salt to a long-festering wound. TWW’s reputation was first tainted for McKinley four years ago when she was concerned about squatters living next door.
After reaching out to the town council for help with no luck, McKinley and her neighbors decided to take matters into their own hands. They called TWW to find out about the property’s last payments and learned that the residents had been delinquent for almost two years.
“It was a battle to get TWW to come out here and turn the water off,” she said. “The squatters buried the valve in concrete and TWW eventually had to bring in an outside contractor to shut the water off at the main.”
The incident created a health hazard, which then caused the town to board up the house and prevent future squatters. However, McKinley remained dissatisfied with TWW’s negligence.
“In this case, TWW could have prevented them from being able to live there had they shut the water off when payment was first delinquent,” she said. “But no one at TWW was watching. If any other person in my neighborhood didn't pay their water bill, it would be shut off immediately. This property, for some reason unknown to us, was treated differently.”
Because there remains such a concern surrounding the water quality in Mercer County, The Signal conducted its own water quality test and compared it to TWW’s most recent annual Consumer Confidence report.
The College also conducted its own test of the HAAs and TTHMs in October 2018 at different locations on campus, such as the Brower Student Center, Eickhoff Hall and other buildings.
The consultant group who conducted the tests at the College, Site Remediation Group, reported that the sample results did not detect any concentrations exceeding state drinking water standards.
For other measures of contaminants and disinfectants conducted by TWW, the College’s and The Signal’s own testing, see the tables below.
According to Amanda Radosti, the environmental programs specialist at the College, the results will vary between the TWW report and the SRG report in part because there are different sampling locations that are tested and because the concentrated amount that TWW tests at its plant gets distributed — and therefore less concentrated — when it reaches its large customer supply.
Similarly, TWW would report a lead violation at the specific sampling site it tested at, where levels of lead differ from the sampling sites the College tested through SRG, which explains why there is a lead violation in TWW’s report but not the College’s.
“Typically, (TWW) will sample at the curb before its going through (a) residence so it has more to do with their own distribution center and not at a personal residence where they have (lead pipes) installed,” Radosti said.
In 2018, TWW reported a violation of lead and turbidity. These violations occur when the plant has levels of these elements that exceed the governmentally established limits. Most of these elements are measured in parts per million or parts per billion.
Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of the water, according to the report, which can be caused by soil runoff or river sediment. The report said that high levels of turbidity can hinder the effectiveness of disinfectants and provide a medium for microbial growth. The highest level of turbidity, found in 2017, was 1.33 nephelometric turbidity units. According to the report, 95 percent of monthly samples must be at or below 0.3 NTU.
The report also said that TWW did not complete monitoring or testing for lead from Jan. 1, 2017 until Dec. 31, 2017 and for turbidity from Sept. 1, 2017 until Nov. 30, 2017. Because of this lack of data, TWW reported that it cannot be sure of the quality of drinking water during that time period.
TWW also experienced a failure of the combined filter effluent, used to measure turbidity, on Sept. 25 2017 that went unnoticed until Nov. 2 2017. This prevented TWW from providing data on the turbidity levels at the time.
TWW would not comment on the specifics of these or any other violations, but assured residents that there was no need for action.
“There is nothing you need to do at this time,” the report reads. “You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. If a situation arises where the water is no longer safe to drink, you will be notified within 24 hours.”
TWW said in the report that it has repaired the damaged turbidimeter.
According to the 2018 report, out of the 119 samples collected in 2017 between January and June, 14 of those samples exceeded the action level for lead — 90 percent of samples were less than or equal to 17.6 ppb. The federal limit is 15 ppb. TWW reported “corrosion of household plumbing” as the potential source for this finding.
TWW, which gets its water supply from the Delaware River, released a pamphlet in July 2018 informing residents of this violation, the potential sources of lead and some solutions for residents to lower lead levels. According to the report, Trenton used lead in its water service lines until 1960 and in indoor plumbing until it was banned in 1986.
Up until 2014, brass fixtures, such as faucets, with eight percent of lead or less were allowed to be labeled as “lead free,” according to the report. Currently, that standard has been brought down to .25 percent of lead content.
According to the pamphlet, up until 1960 TWW used steel pipes lined with lead for water services to transport the water to customers.
“When treated water leaves TWW’s Filtration Plant, it is lead free,” the pamphlet reads. “The water mains in the street that transport water from the Filtration Plant are made mostly of iron and steel and do not add any lead to the drinking water. The lead from a home’s individual service line or plumbing effects only the tap water inside that home since water travels only one way in home plumbing.”
However, according to the 2018 report, TWW has recommended implementing corrosion control treatment and will replace at least seven percent of its lead service piping, a task for which the report said the plant has failed to proviwne a schedule. The plant also did not provide any documentation to the state indicating the number of lead service lines in its distribution system.
In order to reduce the negative health effects of drinking lead-contaminated water, which includes development impairment in children and kidney problems in adults, TWW recommends conducting lead tests, letting the water run for a few minutes before drinking or purchasing a water filter.
Violation notices are cause for concern for students at the College. Few students are willing to drink straight from their sink or a water fountain after campus-wide emails dated between October and February of this academic year announced the presence of haloacetic acids and trihalomethanes in the water. However, the state Department of Environmental Protection maintains that there are no toxic effects that can result from drinking the water at this time.
Larry Hajna, a press officer for the NJ DEP, explained that while prolonged exposure to these chemicals is shown slightly to increase the risk of developing cancer, the trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids are not in a high enough concentration above the federal limit to pose a risk to citizens as TWW works to remedy the issue.
“In TWW’s case, they were both just slightly above the standard, so they are basically getting customers these notices to let them know there’s an issue and they’re working to resolve it,” Hajna said.
Though water that came from TWW currently exceeds federal limits for disinfection byproducts, the DEP is not urging citizens to take any precautions because the federal limits are set well below the threshold for toxicity.
“The maximum contaminant levels for these chemicals are set to be very conservative,” Hajna said. “You would have to drink water above these levels for many, many years to slightly increase your cancer risk. We don’t tell people you can’t drink the water, because you can. It’s just that over an extended period of time, for many, many years, it may slightly increase cancer risk.”
David Hunt, a professor of organic chemistry at the College, agreed with the DEP’s conclusions. He explained that while TWW should work to remove disinfection byproducts from the water in a timely manner, the water accessible to the campus community at the moment is unlikely to do any harm.
Hunt was not surprised to hear that there are trihalomethanes or haloacetic acids in the water, and stated that it is close to impossible to remove these chemicals altogether.
“Chloroform (a trihalomethane) is a known carcinogen, but that does not mean that if there are trace amounts of chloroform that the water is bad for you,” he said. “It is possible to have trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids in the water that are well below toxic levels — it is hard to get rid of every last trace.”
Hunt believes that TWW’s disinfection byproduct violation is not unique to Mercer County, and should not be viewed as a threat to public health as long as TWW is working to resolve the issue.
“Anything above that normal level yet not in that toxic level is a cause for concern, but if you’re being notified by the water works that there’s an issue and they’re trying to deal with it, to me that’s acceptable. That happens in almost every municipality,” he said.
TWW has multiple options for going about reducing the level of disinfection byproducts in the water. Hunt posits that the company may use activated carbon treatments to help get rid of toxins.
Activated charcoal, which has gained increasing popularity in the health and beauty industries for the same reason, is known for its aboility to trap toxins and remove them from an unwanted area. By having the contaminated water travel through multiple passes of activated charcoal, Hunt proposes that TWW may be able to remove some of the trihalomethanes and haloacetic acids.
Both the DEP and Hunt said that time is one of the most important factors in arguing whether or not the disinfection byproduct violation can harm anyone who drinks the water.
“You probably are not going to get ill immediately, but there can be cases just like Flint,” Hunt said. “Repeated exposure to certain levels of toxins over a long period of time can cause irreparable damage.”
The Signal conducted an independent test of the water quality at the College, replicating its 2017 study, to determine the levels of contaminants including lead, pesticides, copper, iron, chlorine, nitrite nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen. The Signal did not retest for bacteria in 2019, though in 2017 there were no measurable levels.
Both tests were conducted using water from a fountain on the second floor of Forcina Hall using a home testing kit available online. The 2019 results were similar to 2017, but there were a few differences. See the chart below for the test results.
One aspect of the water quality that The Signal examined was the hardness, which is the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium found inside the water.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, hard water is high in dissolved minerals.
The site stated that water hardness is a result of the amount of dissolved calcium and magnesium. Water that is considered “hard” has higher amounts of primarily those two elements.
According to The Signal’s test, copper levels reached the federal limit, although according to the CDC, the level of copper in surface and groundwater is generally very low.
The ways that copper gets into drinking water are “either by directly contaminating well water or through corrosion of copper pipes if your water is acidic,” according to the CDC.
Alkalinity refers to the capability of water to neutralize acid. Because the definition is similar to that of pH, it is important to note the difference between the two. Water pH measures the amount of hydrogen — acid ions — in the water, whereas alkalinity is a measure of the carbonate and bicarbonate levels in the water.
According to Healthline, drinking alkaline water is somewhat beneficial, but can cause some side effects, including reducing natural stomach acidity that kills bacteria and prevents pathogens from entering the bloodstream.
Too much alkalinity may also agitate the body’s normal pH balance. Alkalinity and pH levels were two contaminants for which TWW said it did not properly test last year, according to the 2018 report.
The last portion of the test was for lead and pesticides, in which the results were under the federal limit. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, pesticides have the potential to contaminate drinking water supplies, as they are applied to farmlands, gardens and lawns, and “can make their way into ground water systems that feed drinking water supplies.”
TWW’s 2018 report gave pesticides “a medium susceptibility rating” in the Delaware River, but did not provide a numerical level of potential contaminant levels in the water.
The EPA also said that whether these contaminants pose a health risk depends on how toxic the pesticides are, how much is in the water and how much exposure occurs on a daily basis.
The Signal’s results in this portion of testing were at zero.
Most students at the College have taken on a cautionary approach to the drinking water.
Senior early childhood urban education and psychology dual major Serina Grasso, who lives in Hausdoerffer Hall, said she relies on her Brita filter for clean water.
“Even though I drank tap water for most of my life, I prefer to use the Brita filter for my water just to be safe,” she said.
Senior marketing and international studies double major Karley Panek, who shares an off-campus house in Ewing, added that she and her housemates do not feel safe drinking the water from tap and that they also use a Brita filter for their water.
“Of course I use it to brush my teeth, or wash my face, because I don’t think it’s overly concerning to use it,” she said. “I just prefer not to drink it.”
Senior English and communication studies double major Hope Simiris, who is a Campus Town resident, also strays from the school’s main water source.
“I personally drink bottled water mostly, because I feel the safest drinking that,” she said.
Radosti, who drinks the tap water at the College, conducted her own “pseudo-experiment” while she water tended at the Water Bar, an art gallery exhibition that visited the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building back in February, to challenge student apprehensions about the water quality.
Visitors of the bar were encouraged to drink water from three different locations and were then asked to try to decipher where each sample was from –– the College, Philadelphia or Horsham, Pennsylvania.
According to Radosti, students came in confident that they would be able to tell which sample was from the College.
“Students would say, ‘Oh the water here is terrible. I’m gonna absolutely know which one it is,’” she said. “Nobody got it.”
According to Radosti, the poor reputation surrounding the College’s water quality is based mostly on perception, which she was glad to help try and debunk for students.
“We don’t have the lead pipes. We don’t have the lead soldering. We don’t have the lead fixtures,” she said. “We don’t have those things that really cause concern.”
Despite those reassurances for students at the College, Ewing residents remain skeptical of TWW’s ability to provide adequate service to its customers. Many residents like McKinley feel more comfortable taking matters into their own hands.
“As a resident of Ewing, I'm angry and frustrated,” she said. “We just received another letter about a month ago, so I don't anticipate this problem being resolved any time soon. Filters are about the only way you can deal with this, as boiling the water does nothing.”
Although she was not elected a position on the council, McKinley said that TWW was one of the main reasons why she decided to run for a position.
McKinley hopes that the new leadership at TWW, with former Trenton Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh as the new director, will eventually change its operating methods, though her expectations are low.
“The leadership change hasn't really influenced my impression of TWW,” she said. “You have to be tough and you have to be smart. Trenton requires political brawn. If he cannot navigate that, then he won't succeed.”
(05/07/19 5:44pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Editor-in-Chief
It’s been a tumultuous year. As a campus, we’ve dealt with at least three incidents of racial bias, four student deaths, radical protestors and a controversy surrounding our school’s president.
That was more for me to handle in my senior year than during the rest of my time at the College combined.
It only seemed fitting that majority of these incidents happened during my time as Editor-in-Chief of the paper. This past semester has taught me a lot about working hard, being prepared and healing from wounds.
Throughout different interviews I’ve conducted with students and administrators, I can tell that the campus community has been hurting. But as spring makes its slow arrival, I can feel the same sense of rebirth happening on this campus, too.
I think what this year has taught me most is the idea that we exist for something beyond our own self-interests, and when we come together as a community to support each other, we are practicing that selflessness.
As editor of the paper, I worked with a diligent staff who understood that lesson. We put hours of work into digging into each story, each controversy and each tragedy to put together a comprehensive narrative for our community. I know I could not have done any of this without their time and help.
And, as I leave the College and begin my post-graduate career, I hope to revisit the school to find that it continues to carry out on all of the initiatives promised to its students.
I hope that we have learned that while we live in a world where we unfortunately can’t escape death and doubt and fear, we can nevertheless gather as a community and overcome those challenges.
I hope, perhaps most importantly, that I have done my best as editor to lead a select editorial staff and to serve what I recognize as beyond just myself – the beautiful community that has become my home these past four years, The College of New Jersey.
(04/16/19 10:00pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Editor-in-Chief
As the College begins its recovery process from a rather tumultuous year, The Signal sat down with College President Kathryn Foster to assess how she has been processing her first year so far and what her hopes are for the rest of the semester.
While a typical day for the president might involve attending Gov. Phil Murphy’s release of his new plan for higher education –– think closing income inequality and more transparency around financial aid –– or meeting thousands of College alumni from all over the country, Foster has found some time to reflect on the highs and lows of her presidency at the College so far and what she is still looking forward to come in April and May.
For Foster, one of her biggest challenges was the transition from being just a visitor at the College to becoming its leader. This change involved countless meetings with cabinet members, the Board of Trustees and the foundation board –– all of whom help shape the College’s policies, fundraisers and other programming.
The process also includes putting together the budget for the next fiscal year. Foster wants to see the discretionary budget being put to better use in terms of offering more support for disability services, health and wellness and the new division of diversity, equity and inclusion.
An even longer term investment includes renovating the buildings on campus. Armstrong Hall is still in the midst of some necessary touch-ups, and Foster said that the athletics facilities and the residence halls are likely next.
“Our housing stock is old, we know it’s old, it’s been old for a long time,” she said. “They’re tired and need some attention. We’re being responsible for the physical fabric of the campus as well.”
Foster also had much to say about the recent campus controversies that occurred this past year in terms of how the campus has grown and how she is personally healing from those wounds.
Can you share how you’ve been feeling personally about the controversy surrounding the University of Maine at Farmington since the news first broke in January?
It remains difficult because I can’t satisfy the curiosity. These are issues that hit close to home. This is personal to me. You come to those cases as a decision-maker with a sense of the case and although that’s not satisfying for a lot of people because they can’t get details and people are into the details of it, I think it helped people too and helped me to try to say that these are very difficult situations. There’s a whole other deeper backstory that if only I could tell it. But the good news is, if there’s good news and silver linings here, is that it’s enabled us to focus on safety, Title IX, sexual assault, women’s issues ... so I’ve been to (the Women in Learning and Leadership program), I’ve been to women’s and gender studies, I’ve worked with AVI several times –– had them over to the house –– (I’ve) worked with the dean of students. I think that it helped some people to have revealed to them some supports that are on campus and some work that’s been going on. I hope to feel better about it even if they personally had challenges with what had happened in Maine, even without knowing what happened in Maine. My hope for here, there (UMF), everywhere is that we never have so much hubris, or we never have so much certainty or we never have so much sense of ego that we would ever think we couldn’t have done something better as an institution, as a school, as a process, as a policy. I believe that’s happening there and I believe that that catalytic moment has helped us to do that here.
For more information about how UMF is handling its Title IX controversy, see below.
There have been a number of student deaths and suicides this year –– two last semester and two back in February. How have you dealt with this personally and as the College’s leader? What would you say to students who might still be recovering from that tragedy?
I think there’s no more profound loss than a premature loss, and the two in the earlier part of this year were profound losses (and had) ripple effects. I think people have been walking around very sad. I think we’re all somber. We had the Lions’ Hour on loss and grief (on March 8) that everybody, faculty, staff, students, heard about that. How can we possibly look at that and say, ‘was there something more I could have done?’ And I think that’s a really hard place for a campus and for a community and for individuals to hold themselves. I would say that I think one of the things students were concerned about was how we didn’t celebrate or have the big memorials and vigils, and I absolutely understand that reaction. It’s a national best practice and so the College educated me around this as well — it’s very important to not celebrate a death by suicide. Now, what I would say to the campus community about this is, ‘how could we celebrate the lives? Jenna’s life, Charlie’s life –– how could you celebrate that concentrated life that was inside there and make that be something we could do on campus in a way that didn’t perhaps push some people (in terms of suicide contagion)?’ You’re always walking that fine line. Is there a way we could still celebrate a life without it jeopardizing some of the mental health of people who are here, and at the same time learn better so that maybe we feel more confident about it ourselves? How do we see the signs of someone who may be in distress? How could I recognize, in you maybe, that you might be in some kind of pain and at risk for harming yourself or harming others for that matter? We want to do some more intensive programming around that and see if we can do that and a little of it will happen in April (the THRIVE Expo on April 3 and the ‘Out of the Darkness’ suicide prevention walk on April 7) and some of it will happen more in the year to come.
People say, ‘what are you going to do to prevent suicide?’ ‘What are you going to do to prevent sexual assault on campus?’ And the answer is –– that’s not the question. That would be a fool’s errand to imagine that the world will somehow not hit the bubble of (the College) and that what’s out there won’t happen here. Instead I think that, and this the silver lining, by being tested you either affirm, or recommit or double down on the processes. You fix them, or you change policy or you support or shore up the kinds of systems or arrangements you might have. We debrief and we say, ‘OK, what went well and what could we have done better and what are the kinds of additional supports we might need?’
Communication has become a theme for us … you can provide information, or say things, or put them in writing or write articles and you may be perhaps stunned –– I think I was a little stunned –– that people would come up to me and say, ‘well you never told us.’ I’m like, ‘yes we did.’ I think that there’s not one place people go to for information. So, really learning about our audiences and saying, ‘how do parents get information, how do alumni get information, how do friends get information, how does the media get information, how do faculty, staff and students get information?’ You’re always trying to get better at that and you never hit every audience exactly the way they want to be hit. That’s especially true with crisis. Some people aren’t ready for certain messages at a certain time. Others say, ‘Why did you wait so long to give me that message?’ But again, the positive spin –– we have been tested in that way and I hope to always have continuous improvement, you always have to hope that.
Let’s talk about the Landmark crash. How did you first hear about it and what was your reaction?
That was an early morning crash, and so I got probably a text very early in the morning. There’s no other way to hear that news and not be devastated. That’s true of every death you hear about. There’s a protocol and the police are typically involved and certainly were in that case. We have public safety, Campus Police and we also have (resources on campus such as) health and wellness, dean of students –– we have teams that burst into action and we all become as present as possible. The campus usually knows before we do, by the way, let me just be real clear about social media –– many times when I’m hearing something, it’s after it’s already happened or gotten out there.
How did you react when you heard students were boycotting Landmark?
That’s a serious case. The state stepped in on that case. Landmark is not our property. They lease from the private partner that we have. It’s not a TCNJ facility, but that said, we’ve been very involved in discussions around that. There’s a legal side to it. The Alcohol and Beverage Commission has put some new rules on Landmark and those rules changed the hours and the serving that can happen and I imagine that business is down.
The College has announced different initiatives, such as the Bias Response Team, to handle any future racial bias incidents. As President, how involved were you in the implementation of these initiatives? How effective do you think they will be?
So, I called for (the Bias Response Team). It was right after the forum. I also called for a vice president for diversity and inclusion and appointed (Ivonne Cruz) in January. This is a commitment for me, and I think a very important part of my presidency will be breathing energy and accelerating the pace at which we make progress in areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. We can do more –– whether it’s through admissions, whether it’s through enrollment areas, whether it’s through faculty, our hiring committees or our recruitment. I went to the diversity council as well. I talked to them about how do we do an audit of every policy that we have and say, ‘how does it reflect inclusion? How could we identify if there’s inequity built into this? Is the language gendered in a way that will be offensive to some or at least make them feel excluded from that policy?’ We’re doing a top to bottom on this. A lot of policy change takes a long time (but other initiatives happen) a little more quickly.
Looking back at this year so far, what are you most disappointed with and what are you most proud of?
I suppose that because of the disruptions and the stresses and the strains all through the year, I haven’t gotten to know as many people in their natural setting. I haven’t been able to just show up to classes, I haven’t been able be as present as much. What I’m proud of –– the search committee and the people that come on campus and say, ‘take us to the next level and push us. Be a set of fresh eyes on who we are and what we do.’ As an institution, we get complacent –– we get successful and once we’re successful we don’t have to push it anymore, and I’m proud to have been that disruption for the campus. I’m proud to have –– through my presentations or through meetings with the board or through meetings I might have with governance groups or the senate –– I’ve been able to say, ‘but have you considered why we do this and have we thought about doing that?’ (I don’t have all the answers because) I’m new and I can’t know all of the possibilities, but in the meantime I can at least ask those questions. Every time I’m on with the board, I’ve pushed the board a lot. Every time I’m with the cabinet, we push a little. This budget will push a little and we’ll see (if it really reflects) our priorities. I think I’m proud to be that person in my first year. I think we’ve tried to not wallow in the pain of (crisis) but say, ‘what is the opportunity to be better as an institution and as a community?’ I guess we can all be proud of that, I mean other people carry a lot of that, but I think I can be proud of sticking with it.
UMF Controversy –– how students, alumni and administration are handling the aftermath
While the College has been handling a variety of change, UMF is also still dealing with the consequences of its sexual assault case controversies. Current students and alumni at UMF have been reacting to the case and the administration has been creating various initiatives to improve the current campus climate.
Interim President of UMF Eric Brown, who was aware of both Title IX cases before the news broke in the Bangor Daily News, said that since the two cases became public, many more students have stepped forward to speak about their own experiences with sexual assault. He appreciated the bravery amongst those who have made their stories known.
According to Brown, a student activist group called Look Us in the Eyes recently formed at UMF and held a demonstration last month to express concerns about how the campus handles sexual assault cases.
“I listened to every word, and considered every request and recommendation,” Brown said. “It was a powerful event with a number of wrenching personal testimonials.”
Brown said the school is making progress to follow through on the initiatives set back in January, which includes the drafting of an addendum to the Student Conduct Code that requires the president to refer final appeals to a three-person review panel, according to Brown.
Some students and former UMF faculty believe that the methods for handling sexual assault cases were poorly managed.
Tullio Nieman, who graduated from UMF in 1976, has since served as associate dean and director of student activities at Fitchburg State University from 1996 to 2006 and later the dean of students at Endicott College from 2006 to 2008, has been involved in many judicial decisions and appeal boards in higher education. From his experience, he said it would be rare that two similar cases, such as those at UMF, be reversed in such a short period of time and that college presidents would usually have an appeal board reverse a decision rather than take on the responsibility themselves.
“I did not know President Foster personally, so I cannot comment on her performance,” Nieman said. “However I found it surprising that she made the decisions that she did.”
From his experience on judicial boards at Endicott College, Nieman recalled the pressure the board felt to make the right decision. During his involvement with two cases there, the president at the time overturned either the decision made by him and the judicial affairs representative. In his opinion, the president’s decision proved to be a disaster in both scenarios.
He also wondered why Foster remains bound by privacy concerns if one of the victims has come forward and revealed her identity.
“Since the victims have come forward and revealed their names, it would seem that the reluctance for the president to not give more details of her decision making is a bit odd –– she can still honor FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and discuss the assailants’ names.”
According to the initial BDN article released in January, only the first student came out with her first and last name (Chloe Woodward). The second victim in the article was only identified as, “Sierra.”
Whether atypical or not, Foster and Brown maintain that due to the legalities at hand, she must remain silent about the specifics of the cases –– a situation with which Brown sympathized.
“Kate was the most student-centered president with whom I have ever worked, so I am certain that response has been especially hard,” Brown said. “It is compounded of course by her being unable to discuss her reasoning in the case because of privacy concerns. Rather than focusing on an incomplete picture, I would encourage students to focus on the actions she is taking now and, if possible, speak with her directly.”
Students at UMF feel that while the school needs to improve its handling of Title IX cases, the campus is doing a lot to spark change, and that there is hope for a more improved campus climate.
“I do feel that UMF is making changes,” said Aurora Bartley, a senior English major at UMF. “Part of these changes are beginning with dialogue and talking amongst ourselves, clearing the air and creating a new atmosphere. Talking about the issue of sexual assault and justice is part of the solution.”
(04/15/19 9:00pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Editor-in-Chief
Ragnarok is upon us. Or at least it was on Saturday, April 13 during TCNJ Manhunt’s annual day-long Humans vs. Zombies event. The club’s members, comprised of students, alumni and the local community, could be seen armed with their usual supply of Nerf ammunition and orange headbands as they took part in this year’s Norse mythology themed event – Ragnarok was the “apocalypse” of the Norse mythology era.
Each year, Manhunt selects a theme through which to play Humans vs. Zombies, where the objective remains for the humans to fend off their zombie counterparts before they themselves get tagged and transform into the brain-eating creatures. The only way for the humans to ward them off is by aiming well with their Nerf blasters, and therefore temporarily stunning them, during each of the six missions in the game. Whichever side has more members by the finale wins.
Maggie Paragian, a senior communication studies major and president of the club, served as the zombie’s moderator throughout the game. She was also in character with the theme – she supervised each mission as Hel, the half-dead Norse goddess of the similarly named “hell,” and ruler of the underworld.
The moderator for the humans, sophomore secondary education major and Manhunt's historian Steven Pae, played Freyja, the goddess of love. He wore a long white fur cape with an angel crown to complete his look.
Paragian wore a black corset and petticoat, and had half of her face painted like a skeleton with a flower crown on top of her head to illustrate her distinct goddess character.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how the players take the theme and run with it, and how they react to certain missions,” Paragian said. “We made them with a lot of fun intended and we were hoping the amount of fun we had in making the missions would translate while they were playing.”
Paragian helped organize each mission for the club members to take part in. During the first mission, “Frying with Freyja,” the humans had to maneuver around the zombies in order to find food for Freyja to eat. The zombie stun time was 20 seconds. The humans made it with enough time to debrief for their upcoming missions.
Sophomore computer science major Kevin Kalendeck, a human, had a great time gathering the food hidden outside between the Business Building and Bliss Hall.
“The humans have actually been doing really well this year, Kalendeck said. “We only lost around 10 people so far and it’s not that bad. The zombies always win, but this year we don’t know.”
It was soon time for the humans and zombies to face off in their fourth mission, “Everything’s Coming Up Loki.” The zombies took turns evading humans while holding a bright red flag that gave them the temporary status of being trickster-god Loki. The humans had to defend one of their gods, Heimdall, against the wrath of his evil enemy. If a zombie got stunned, he or she had to pass the flag off to another available zombie player.
The humans assumed their positions for an offensive attack as the zombies egged them on.
“Do you wanna go,” they called as the humans on the front line kneeled with their Nerf blasters at the ready. “We all have to die someday!”
Heimdall came out alive and the humans emerged victorious.
“The humans won this mission pretty handedly,” said Jonah Dicorcia (’18). Yet he felt that while they may have won the battle, the humans would ultimately lose the war.
“We’re bleeding people,” Dicorcia said. “The humans are slowly losing out to zombies. It’s going to happen inevitably – it’s gonna be all zombies.”
Yet, he admitted he would not be too disappointed to be turned into a zombie.
“It’s my life-long – no, my death-long – goal,” he said.
While the humans were happy to put up some fierce competition, they ultimately succumbed to the merciless zombies, as they do at every finale round.
“I liked seeing how people took the theme to heart and wanted to play the game honorably,” Paragian said in reflection of the event. “Whether they were human or zombie they played the game to the best of their ability and made it enjoyable to both participate and watch.”
(04/09/19 5:17am)
This week, WTSR’s Music Director Brian Marino highlights some of the best new music that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.Band: Tim Cohen
Album: The Modern World
Release Number: 5
Hailing From: San Francisco
Genre: Indie
Label: Sinderlyn
Do you ever wish you could take a step closer to the indie hipster lifestyle? If so, Tim Cohen must have had you at least a little bit in mind while making this album. This album is reminiscent of indie movies and the era of “The Perks of Being a Wallflower.” Soothing and melancholic sounds echo throughout the album, leaving listeners feeling thoughtful. The lyrics of this album are beautifully written and it’s an album to be saved for when you really want to think about life in the dark of the night.
Must Hear: “I Don’t Wear Gold” and “Sleeping In The Bathroom”Band Name: The Dirty Nil
Album Name: Master Volume
Release Number: 3
Hailing From: Ontario, Canada
Genre: Pop-Punk Fusion
Label: Dine Alone Records
Master Volume is full of pop punk intros, quick guitar riffs and loud vocals. A perfect fit for the next Tony Hawk Pro Skater soundtrack, The Dirty Nil captures the essence of punk music. Focusing on distorted guitars, pounding drums and howling vocals, this album was carefully crafted into eleven diverse punk songs for a wide range of listeners. It’s an overall rock out and feel good album that will have you singing the day away.
Must Hear: “That’s What Heaven Feels Like,” “Bathed in Light,” “Super 8,” “I Don’t Want That Phone Call” and “Evil Side”
(02/27/19 2:06am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Editor-in-Chief
On the morning of Feb. 25, President Kathryn Foster emailed the College to report the death of a student.
Charles, “Charlie,” Shulz was a freshman psychology major at the College. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but according to Foster, no foul play was suspected.
“We are particularly grateful for our caring community, which has been in mourning too recently and often this year,” Foster wrote in her email. “Please remember that the college has extensive resources available for anyone in need of support. If you need these resources, please reach out for help and if you know of anyone else who you believe needs these resources, please encourage that person to reach out.”
Jason Dahling, the chair of the psychology department, sent an email on the morning of Feb. 25 to console students who might have been affected by Shulz’s death or who might have known him as a classmate or a friend.
“I'm so sorry to share this news of tragic loss in our department,” Dahling wrote. “I know Charlie's passing is a shock to many of you who knew him through courses and student organizations. Please know that all (psychology) faculty stand committed to supporting you if you need any kind of help or need to talk.”
Foster encouraged students and faculty to use the following campus and local resources should they feel the need — Counseling and Psychological Services, Center for Integrative Wellness, Campus Police, the Dean of Students and the NJ Hopeline.
In addition, Foster urged students seeking care for themselves or others to submit a CARE referral through Symplicity.
According to a campus-wide email sent out by Sean Stallings, the interim vice president for student affairs, on March 1, a memorial service for Shulz will be held on Saturday, March 2 at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, on Cherry Hill Road. All those who knew him are invited to attend.
According to Stallings, Shulz's family requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the PROUD Family Health Program at Robert Wood University Hospital in Somerset. Donations can be made by completing and returning this form and writing “PROUD Family Health” in the Gift Designation line.
The family also asked those wishing to honor Shulz to donate blood if they can, Stallings wrote.
Lauren Toolen, a freshman open options business major, while she didn't know Shulz personally, was still upset to hear about his death.
"It is safe to say that this incident has rocked the community of TCNJ," Toolen said. "My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Schulz family."
This marks the second death of a student this month, and the fourth student death this year.
On Feb. 8, the College was informed of the death of senior psychology major, Jenna DiBenedetto.
This news also came shortly after the community mourned the death of sophomore math major Michael Sot last semester.
Earlier last semester, the College also lost senior music education major Jason Zujkowski to a pre-existing heart condition.
(02/19/19 6:15am)
By Diana Solano
Correspondant
The glowing “V” emanated from the projector on center-stage as crowds of students filled the seats of Mayo Concert Hall. The actors performing in the production sat on the risers and waited to deliver their monologues that touched on topics such as physical pleasures, women’s empowerment and self-love.
The College’s Women in Leadership and Learning program held its annual production of Eve Ensler’s, The Vagina Monologues on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall. The event emphasized the importance of reclaiming the word “vagina” and the stigmas that currently surround the concept of women’s reproductive health. Different performers delivered their own monologues that shared how they each learned to value their womanhood.
This event created a space for people to talk and learn about vaginas in a way that some in the audience may have never experienced or thought about in such a setting.
Mary Lynn Hopps, the director of WILL, spoke about the main purpose of Ensler’s play.
“Eve Ensler traveled all over the country and eventually the world talking to women and getting their stories,” Hopps said of the playwright. “The girls have cards onstage because they are telling real women’s stories through the monologues they perform.”
Hopps stressed the importance of a significant turnout for this type of event.
“You receive more consciousness about the issues and violence that women and girls face,” she said. “It’s a world pandemic. Eve, in the inception of this, had the purpose of raising awareness.”
The audience’s reaction varied depending on the monologue, but most were full of praise for the performers and their courage to talk about vaginas in a public setting. The performers also spoke about topics that addressed sexual assault, gender transition and the right ways to pleasure the vagina. One of the most memorable performances came from Gigi Garrity, a senior finance major. Garrity is a member of the WILL program and is also one of the 2019 Vagina Warriors, which is an honor given to a valued student of the WILL program.
After watching a previous performance of the Vagina Monologues, Garrity knew that she had to be part of the movement.
“I saw the monologue before and I wanted to do it ever since,” she said. “I had to be confident. If I wasn’t, the audience would have known and that would have made things uncomfortable. I had to convey a character. I had to be funny, painful and emotional to create an impact that would stay with the audience.”
Garrity’s monologue, “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy,” showcased the science of satisfying a woman and the art of moaning.
“I really hope that from this event people lessen the stigma surrounding talking about vaginas,” said Gabbi Petrone, a sophomore psychology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies major when asked what she hopes the audience will take away from this event.
Petrone wanted to see an end to the stigma surrounding the word, “vagina.”
“There really shouldn’t be any (stigma) because so many people have them,” she said. “A vagina is a part of life and it gives life. It shouldn’t make people uncomfortable to hear about it. It shouldn’t make women uncomfortable to talk about it.”
Leslie Castro, a sophomore Spanish major, spoke of her experience attending this event for the first time.
“I really thought it was empowering and gave a different perspective on the matter of speaking about vaginas,” she said. “I feel like society fails to shed a light on this topic.”
Castro felt that society should develop a more gender-inclusive perspective on the journey of discovering oneself. She felt women were underrepresented in this process.
“It’s like they want to keep it a secret,” she Castro said. “In society when it comes to the opposite side of the spectrum, I hear more of what satisfies men and their journey to manhood.”
This event did not display a vagina as an organ. It instead gave each vagina a story that the performers relayed to the audience in a way that was meant to honor the vagina, instead of stigmatize it.
Students like Petrone viewed the monologues as a way to lessen the fear associated with discussing what is currently a delicate topic in society.
“The monologues demonstrate that women were scared to talk about their vaginas at first,” she said. “If talking about vaginas makes someone uncomfortable then it’s their problem, not ours.”
(02/19/19 6:06am)
By Julia Duggan
Correspondent
Even through the most frigid weather conditions, the show must go on — and it did on Feb. 12 for the Tuesday Afternoon Recital Series in Mayo Concert Hall. Four students performed at the recital and they brought their own distinctive talent to the stage.
“I believe that an important component of intense music study is the opportunity to share one’s music with others,” said Eric Laprade, a music professor who helped organize the recital. “The Tuesday afternoon recitals provide the perfect opportunity for our students to share their hard work, and to develop performance skills and confidence in a beautiful performance space.”
Lana Holgado, a junior voice and piano double major, gorgeously sang “A Long Time Ago” by Aaron Copland. She explained that the song forced her to use her upper register, or the higher part of her voice range, which proved to be a challenge. Her voice rang in the concert hall and blended beautifully with the piano accompaniment, which was ultimately met with a thunderous applause.
“It is reminiscing on the past and it is about this beautiful girl who is in the forest and you are with her and it is like a summer romance,” she said. “When it turned to autumn she faded away, but it is really pretty.”
Next up was Sarah Sardoni, a freshman music major, who showcased her flute skills with the piece, “Sonata for Flute in C Minor,” by Gaetano Donizetti.
“I think it has all the elements you would probably want in a piece,” she said. “It has the slower section to it in the beginning where you hear the story developing and then it goes into the allegro (faster section) where you have this hop-skip feel where it is a little bit faster and gets more upbeat.”
David DiGiacobbe, a flute professor and Sardoni’s private flute instructor, was eager to praise his student’s performance.
“She was really spectacular especially because she is a freshman and the Donizetti Sonata she played is a good 7 to 8 minutes long,” he said. “She played beautifully in tune, with gorgeous musicianship, an understanding of the musical line and genre of the Sonata. I could have not been more pleased.”
Ryan Haupt, a freshman music education major, followed Sardoni and took the stage with his trombone, performing “Prelude and Fanfaronade” by Paul Koepke.
“None of it sounds like a fanfare, but it is has two contrasting parts where one is the slow more melodic part,” he said. “It bumps up tempo in the allegro section, and so it gets faster, but it’s the contrast between those two sections that makes the piece what it is.”
Haupt’s sound surrounded the audience members and kept them in awe throughout his performance. The cheers echoed in the hall after he was finished.
Ian Walden, a junior music education major, closed the recital with a trumpet performance of “Supremacy of Right” by Herbert L. Clarke. Waldman described his piece as a celebration and described how it felt to perform in Mayo Concert Hall.
“The sound is the best sound you will ever hear coming out of your instrument here at TCNJ,” he said. “The whole ambiance it’s amazing.”
After the recital, the audience left the concert hall and proceeded to the lobby where they waited to greet the performers, whom were met with praise.
“It is interesting to hear the different levels from the freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors,” DiGiacobbe said. “It is incredible to hear the talent that we are getting now at TCNJ that the freshmen can play a full Sonata like that. It just shows the kind of talent we are attracting to the music department here at TCNJ, and that is always exciting. What I love to see is the family aspect of the students — the way they react to their peers onstage and the warmth and applause they give them.”
Laprade echoed DiGiacobbe’s pride and love for teaching in such a supportive community full of talented young musicians.
“One of the things I love most about Tuesday recitals, and all department of music events for that matter, is the sense of community and peer support that are present at TCNJ,” he said. “The audience is always filled with TCNJ students and faculty members who are there to support the performing students. I always look forward to seeing our department come together to celebrate the accomplishments of our students.”
(02/06/19 7:00pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Editor-in-Chief
Tension, anguish and raw emotion surrounded the circle of students and administrators as they watched the College’s president slowly break down in tears.
“I am devastated,” President Kathryn Foster said, after one student at the Lions’ Hour forum stood up in front of everyone and admitted that he could not trust her.
Nicholas Cernera, a junior philosophy and math double major, described a traumatizing moment in his and his friends’ lives — he had to stop his best friend from raping another one of his best friends. He said that since that day, the victim of the incident has never been the same.
“I’ve seen her mentally deteriorate,” he said. His friend confided in him and her family, but otherwise remained uncomfortable confronting the incident. “I saw it destroy her life and I know it’s strongly, strongly impacted mine, even though I was just a witness.”
He said that once he heard about Foster’s decision to overturn Chloe Woodward’s case at her previous institution, the University of Maine at Farmington, and once he realized that he would never learn the details, he didn’t know what to think.
“I can’t trust you, and I don’t think anyone here can trust you,” he said. “That sucks and that hurts — I’m scared of these feelings.”
Every word the student spoke pulled at Foster’s heartstrings.
“I knew I couldn’t make it better, or make it better in the ways that people are asking me to make it better — and I can’t talk to people about that,” Foster said, alluding to the fact that she had to respect federal privacy laws associated with an investigation of this nature.
It hurts even more for her, she explained, because she is still so new to the institution and is still trying to establish rapport with the student body.
“This is an institution I love,” she said. “I would have never wanted to sit in a room and have people say, ‘we don’t trust you and we’ll never trust you.’”
She asked the campus for what those at the forum tried to give — the benefit of the doubt.
“We don’t know each other yet and we only can get to know each other if we give each other a chance,” Foster said as she rubbed tears from her eyes. “I don’t want to make it sound like I did something wrong. I had a role to play and I played that role and a decision was made.”
On Monday, Feb. 4, Foster and other campus administrators, including Dean of Students and Title IX Officer Jordan Draper, Assistant Director of Anti-Violence Initiatives Michelle Lamming and Chief of Campus Police Timothy Grant, held a forum in the Decker Social Space at 4 p.m. to address student concerns regarding Foster’s involvement in overturning a sexual assault case at UMF.
The administrators and students asked Foster questions concerning her attitude toward Title IX and AVI; other students shared their perspectives concerning how she handled the case.
Foster wanted students to know that she was more than willing to hear from them about what she could do to help restore a sense of understanding between her and the student body, to affirm her advocacy for Title IX and to reinforce her support for its campaign and policies.
“One of the most tragic parts of all of this is that sense, especially as a new president, that people think, ‘well maybe she won’t have my back, or maybe she’s indifferent to survivors or maybe she isn’t concerned about sexual violence on campus or protection’— that is not true,” Foster said. “I can’t tell you how committed I am to that and in trying to make sure that this journey that we’re on is a journey that we can do together and that I can take your lead.”
Students also had the opportunity to continue to express personal concerns over Foster’s involvement in the controversy.
Ryan Soldati, a junior communication studies major, said he felt dissapointed with the way Foster handled the situation at UMF and that it impacted his opinion of her as a president.
“I am a sexual assault survivor, and I feel betrayed by Dr. Foster’s actions in this case and I feel less safe on this campus because of that,” he said.
Another student, Katherine Reese, a senior special education and women’s gender and sexuality studies dual major, asked Foster why she had not been more transparent with the College community about this controversy.
“How did you think it was fair to not bring this up until the media broke?” she asked. “I think it was unfair for students to find out that day, and I’m really curious as to why you chose to hide this for so long.”
Foster was quick to explain that this wasn’t a matter of hiding information or trying to keep secrets from the campus community.
According to Foster, the case only came out because it was leaked to the media and she responded as quickly as she could. Normally, cases such as these remain confidential to protect the privacy of the parties involved. She said that even when the case reaches a resolution, she still will not be able to talk about the details.
“This was not a cover-up,” she said. “This was simply a situation of following the federal privacy laws.”
Foster urged students to understand that neither she nor any member of administration was trying to hide something from students.
“There is no such thing as sweeping it under the rug, but what there is is privacy,” Foster said. “And I think sometimes when people don’t hear what the resolution is or don’t hear what the outcome is, the assumption is maybe that nothing happened or there was no resolution.”
Foster also clarified that while she had the role of handling cases on second appeal at UMF, no such policy exists at the College.
Draper also explained the appeals process at the College, which is outlined in more detail on page five.
Foster described her role in handling appeals as one that requires a lot of sensitivity and care. She said that she had received training in the Title IX field at UMF (which was organized by external partners) such as bystander training and annual training with Title IX and other organizations.
“These are really difficult cases,” she said. “You bring care, and you bring whatever integrity. Your role is prescribed. In that way, your role is in a quasi-judicial process — here, the Vice President of Student Affairs will do that.”
However, she could not specify whether or not it was typical of her to handle appeals in her position, or if she only handled it in that case specifically.
“As the news article said, on second appeal in that conduct code it went to the president,” she said.
The worst part of this controversy for Foster is the frustration behind not being able to speak on her own behalf. It also concerns her that students’ knowledge of the case, which primarily came from the Bangor Daily News, a Maine publication, would make them feel uncomfortable under her leadership.
“The fact that I was the source of hurt and anger and memories and triggers and all of that is anguishing,” she said. “It is excruciating to not be able to talk about this case … it crushes me that anything I was associated with would have had this impact.”
Media Coverage of the Case
Foster took the unusual step on Jan. 30 of letting the campus community know about certain media reports that included information about her involvement in overturning a sexual assault case that occurred during her former presidency at UMF.
In an email to the campus, Foster acknowledged her authority to hear sexual assault cases on second appeal and that she ruled in favor of the male respondent involved in the case. Legally, however, she said she was unable to provide more detail due to privacy laws and because the case is currently the subject of a complaint before the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.
“Now as always, the safety and well-being of all campus members is my highest priority,” she wrote.
On Jan. 28, BDN released a story that documented the cases of two female students at UMF who were allegedly sexually assaulted in 2017. They both went through the Title IX process where both investigations confirmed that they were assaulted. However, through what BDN reports as “errors in the handling of their cases,” that involved typos in the student conduct code and problems with due process, the initial findings were overturned and the accused perpetrators were allowed to remain on campus.
Woodward, now a junior, had her case overturned by Foster, who was serving as president of UMF at the time.
After she reported the incident to campus police, BDN reported that Woodward went to a Farmington district court in Feb. 14, 2018. The judge granted her protection from abuse, ruling that the defendant posed as a credible threat and that he could be arrested if he tried to contact her.
Her case had to also be settled through Title IX at her school, after Woodward told BDN that she believed campus police had reported the incident. The hearing was initially scheduled for March 22, 2018 but was rescheduled to April. Just five days after the original hearing date, the College would announce Foster as its new president.
However, according to Foster, the two timelines do not connect.
Foster later explained in the Feb. 4 forum that she did not make a ruling in the UMF case until May, which was long after the search and interview process for the presidential position at the College, which lasted from December to March.
Woodward, her mother, Grant, and her lawyer, Nicole Bissonnette, were only told that the hearing was rescheduled after they called to confirm the location. Grant, frustrated, called Foster to complain. Foster then told her that since she had spoken to the alleged victim’s mother, she would be unable to rule in the case because she was no longer an “unbiased arbiter,” according to BDN.
Foster, however, would be seen intervening in the case after it was appealed. The hearing was moved to April 2 where the committee hearing the case found the accused guilty, and he was suspended for two years, according to BDN. However, Woodward saw her alleged rapist on campus just a few days after the hearing.
The man involved had appealed the case and was therefore allowed to be on campus. The case was brought back to the original committee, according to BDN, who further wanted to clarify whether or not Woodward was legally incapacitated, as she had been drinking the night of the assault and since she was not unconscious and could remember the rape.
According to BDN, neither Woodward, her mother nor her attorney knew that Foster had reversed the original decision, asked to have the case reheard and had overturned the man’s suspension. The paper also reported that Foster had urged Woodward to seek alcohol counseling.
The section of the student conduct code that Foster said gave her the right to intervene contained a typo, according to BDN’s report. Instead of referring readers to V.E.1, where it should clarify the university’s right to be involved in the case, it cited V.F.1, according to BDN. Bissonnette was first told of the error on Jan. 2.
The school has since revised its conduct code, according to BDN.
While Foster could not give BDN a specific explanation for why she reversed the case and why she disagreed with the judge and committee’s original ruling, she said after the Feb. 4 forum that after the appeals process, she had to provide a two-and-a-half-paged rationale for her decision.
While Foster could not respond to specific aspects of the case that the BDN article brought to light, she acknowledged that the role the media played in shaping the story and the perspectives of those who read it.
“It’s very frustrating — it’s very difficult for a decision maker to not be able to speak to something that is a perspective,” she said. “People have jumped to conclusions from an article — you can’t unring that bell, and I can’t speak to it.”
UMF Responds
UMF, where Foster served as president for six years, is one of the seven public universities of Maine, which fall under the umbrella of the University of Maine Systems.
Eric Brown, the interim president at UMF, made a statement at his campus shortly after the story broke. He provided the UMF community with a number of ways it plans to respond to the incident.
UMF and the other University of Maine Systems plan to collect data via two campus climate surveys that seek to measure the presence of an array of campus issues.
The school will also begin a search process for a new Vice President of Student Affairs, whose main responsibilities will include ensuring a safe campus environment for students.
Other changes include hiring a new mental health counselor with expertise in issues regarding sexual assault and sexual health and conducting ongoing examinations of current campus culture and policies.
“Nothing is more important to our well-being as an institution than the safety and trust of our students,” Brown said in the statement. “I look forward to open conversations in the days ahead about how to ensure UMF is the best possible guardian of both.”
Students and Alumni React
The news of Foster’s involvement in Woodward’s case has not been sitting well with current students and alumni at the College, and despite Foster’s allegiance to federal law, many students still want to know why she overruled the decision on second appeal.
Michael Lore (’17) wondered if the College knew about the controversy surrounding Foster during her days at UMF, and said that if it was known, the school should have been more transparent about the new president’s past.
“It just makes it seem more sinister and shady when it looks like the College is trying to hide things and sweep them under the rug,” he said.
He compared this controversy to a previous scandal surrounding Trenton Hall and its name change.
“If (the College) had made a statement acknowledging (Paul Loser’s) prejudice while also accepting that it was in the past … the whole episode could have been avoided,” he said.
Lore said the same steps should have been taken regarding Foster’s actions, and that he expects the College will do what he thinks it usually does in times of controversy — “probably put out a limp-wristed statement about their continued devotion to fostering a diverse and safe campus for students of all backgrounds.”
College spokesman David Muha assured that the presidential committee conducted an extensive search for the College’s next president and that Foster continued in her role as president at UMF for three months between the time she was announced as president and her arriving to start the position.
“In that time, she was called upon to make many decisions, including this one,” Muha said. “There was no obligation to notify TCNJ of the actions she was taking in the course of fulfilling her role as president of UMF.”
Rather than try to hide information about the case from the College, Muha also reiterated that due to an adherence to federal privacy laws, Foster could not have told anyone of her case.
“Title IX cases can be complicated and it is critical to protect the privacy of those involved,” Muha said. “President Foster is legally constrained from speaking about the case and thus cannot respond to the media coverage or provide context and substantive rationale for her decision. Although this is frustrating for her and the campus community, we understand why privacy rights must take precedence.”
Rosie Driscoll (’18) was disappointed with the actions of the College’s current president.
During her time at the College, Driscoll was the chair of Women in Learning and Leadership and a peer educator for AVI.
“I didn’t know much about her track record at previous institutions, but at this point disappointment is my strongest feeling,” Driscoll said. “What I hope comes out of all this is that the survivors at UMF know that I, and I’m sure many other TCNJ alumni, stand with them and believe them and wish they had a different experience. They did not deserve this. They deserve a learning and living community where they can be safe and heal.”
Danielle Bruno (’17), was upset to hear the news about Foster’s overruling on the case.
“Quite frankly, this is inexcusable,” Bruno said. “To completely disregard their decision and to victim-blame is careless and ignorant.”
Jessica Kopew, a senior biology major, did not understand how Foster could have the clearance to make such a decision.
“I saw her email and I was like, ‘this does not make me on your side,’” Kopew said. “I just don’t understand how an entire committee can say a man is guilty of sexually assaulting a woman and somehow one woman has the power to overrule that decision without ample evidence.”
Title IX at the College
Students are also concerned as to whether or not the College has policies similar to UMF in terms of how it handles Title IX cases. While Title IX is a federal law and must be implemented into every institution, there are policies that are still specific depending on which university a student is attending, according to Draper.
If a member of either party disagrees with the initial ruling in a Title IX case, they have the right to appeal as long as they can provide evidence to defend the decision.
The case then goes to Vice President of Student Affairs Sean Stallings, the highest appeal officer, who can implement one of four decisions, according to Draper. On second appeal, as is typical in New Jersey, the case would go to the New Jersey Superior Court.
As cited from the College’s Title IX Policy, the four decisions are as follows — Stallings could affirm the decision of the original investigator or he could alter the sanctions already imposed on the guilty party (either increasing or decreasing them or changing their requirements). He could also decide to conduct a new investigation with new investigators or have it reviewed — depending on that review, the original ruling could be overturned.
This situation, known as a remand, usually happens when there is a significant amount of information that is provided — such as a discovered bias or missing information — that could potentially change the outcome, according to Draper.
During her tenure as Title IX officer both at the College and at other institutions, Draper has seen many cases go through an appeals process.
“I’ve worked in conduct and Title IX for quite a few years,” she said. “These appeal decisions are pretty typical amongst almost all of the colleges I’ve worked in.”
No matter what decision is made, however, a reason for the choice must be provided.
“In our process the appeals officer provides a rationale for each decision,” Draper said. “He’ll explain why he made that decision even if it is affirming (the original outcome).”
Although students such as Kopew were confused about why an appeal that overturns a case is valid despite little evidence, a lot of Title IX cases are decided even when there is not evidence provided that lets the investigator believe that the situation happened “beyond a reasonable doubt,” where they are 99 percent sure that the story is true.
According to Draper, the standard for evidence in a Title IX case is much lower. Even if there is a “preponderance of evidence,” which means that “more likely than not,” (more than a 50 percent chance) the reporter’s case is true and an initial ruling can still be made.
However, there might be an opportunity for more evidence to be reported or other discoveries to be made.
“If there was some type of error committed, or there was bias or there was an opportunity for information to be submitted that could have severely impacted the decision that wasn’t available at the time, we want the opportunity for that to be available for us,” Draper said. “(An appeals process) is one extra layer to make sure that what we were doing is in the guidelines of our policy.”
Additionally while at UMF, a committee is tasked with overseeing a hearing, at the College, there is only one person that makes a decision on a case both initially and in the appeals process.
“When you have a committee trying to get people together to find a time, conduct accurate training to make sure no one is asking insensitive questions — it’s hard,” Draper said. “Our process isn’t a committee. It’s one person that makes a decision on what is best practice.”
For more information on the College’s Title IX and AVI policies, please visit their pages on the College’s website.
(01/30/19 7:37am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim, Camille Furst and Nicole Viviano
Editor-In-Chief and New Editors
In light of the recent racial incidents that have occurred on campus, the administration has addressed feedback and questions from the community regarding what actions will be taken to better manage any future instances of racism and discrimination.
On Feb. 1, Interim Vice President of Student Affairs Sean Stallings announced the resolution of the student conduct investigation concerning the students involved in the racial bias incident that occurred in and outside Wolfe Hall on Nov. 16.
According to Stallings, the investigation, which ended Jan. 31, found four students responsible for violating the Student Conduct Code's prohibition of bullying, intimidation and harassment. The students have been suspended until the fall semester of 2020, after the student reporters involved are expected to graduate. They must also complete educational sanctions before returning to the College.
Three of the four students have been banned permanently from campus housing.
Stallings also made clear that this case poses as an extenuating circumstance and that the campus community should not expect to receive updates on other conduct cases due to the expectations of reasonable privacy and due process.
"I want all members of our community to know that discrimination and bias intimidation have no place at TCNJ," Stallings wrote. "Reports of such conduct will be investigated thoroughly and, when substantiated, appropriate sanctions will be imposed upon the individuals found responsible for the prohibited conduct."
President Kathryn Foster announced in an email sent out on Jan. 2 that Ivonne Cruz, the current director of the Educational Opportunity Fund and the Center of Student Success, will now serve as the Acting Vice President for Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
Cruz’s office is located in Green Hall, while Chief Diversity Officer Kerri Thompson Tillett and Director of Student Diversity and Inclusion Don Trahan can be found in the Student Center.
According to Foster’s email, her new role will involve working with Trahan and Tillet to create a Bias Response Team. This team will better organize how the College responds to future incidents of discrimination. According to Stalling's Feb. 1 email, more information about this online reporting outlet will be announced in the next two weeks.
“We didn’t have a formal structure and system prior to that situation,” Trahan said regarding the school’s responsiveness to previous issues of discrimination. “While we were able to be extremely responsive, the objective as we move forward is not have to be responsive but (to be) proactive (and) have the procedure in place.”
While the team is still in the process of completion, Trahan said that it is one of the many goals the College is aiming to complete as part of its six-month plan to better arm itself against future incidents.
“There’s not a day that goes by where I do not get something that comes across my desk or in an email … that pertains to the concern of diversity equity and inclusion,” Trahan said. “That sense of inclusivity becomes what’s the most problematic.”
Students have had varied reactions to both the recent racial incidents and the ‘I Am TCNJ’ Forum, which sought to open dialogue about the current campus climate. While some reacted to the forum positively, others felt it would not do much to cause any real change.
“Promises have been made to make a difference which is a good thing,” said Ashley Ean, a sophomore accounting major. “But to be honest, I would have liked something more tangible than simply promises.”
Others applauded President Kathryn Foster for her timeliness in addressing the racial incidents and plans for the future.
“When President Foster brought out her plan of action at the forum, that actually took me aback for a couple minutes,” said sophomore elementary education and English major Evan Berrios. “Having to face something like this is completely difficult.”
Stallings addressed the campus in an email sent out on Dec. 5 that included information about the administration’s responses to questions asked at the ‘I AM TCNJ Forum.’
“The high level of engagement and authenticity displayed by members of our community is a testament to how important it is that we come together to work towards building and sustaining a campus climate that is inclusive and celebrates the richness of diversity,” Stallings wrote.
According to the written forum follow-up, posted by the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, both the Student Conduct Code and the faculty and staff handbooks will be in review to ensure that they speak to the expectations of everyone at the College. Students will also have a chance to be more involved in this process.
Many students were also dissatisfied with the way student staff of Residential Education handled the racial incident at Wolfe Hall, and wanted to know why the police were not called at the time.
According to the follow-up, the student staff member who was called to the incident was not on duty at the time and did not have a crisis manual to consult as a resource.
However, according to the follow-up, all staff members are trained on how to handle harassment scenarios, and part of that protocol involves calling the professional staff member on duty and the police.
Student staff members were since provided with an electronic copy of the crisis manual and were given more in-depth training sessions over winter break that addressed how better respond to these incidents and create more inclusive communities. According to the follow-up, staff members will also be held more accountable for the learning outcomes required of them during training.
In an email sent out on Dec. 17, Foster discussed how the OIDEI is also planning on implementing more skills training for everyone on campus and monitoring issues of equity, which will be done through a universal inclusion survey.
“Responses have led also to an additional campus climate survey for the LGBTQ+ community and a special focus group for black students on campus,” Foster wrote. “More generally, the OIDEI is crafting a list of ‘what success looks like in six months.’”
While the College already trains Campus Police on anti-discrimination practices on a regular basis, the six-month plan will also include monthly educational sessions to keep diversity and inclusion an active initiative among faculty as well, according to the follow-up.
Some students are still skeptical about how effective training programs will be for campus employees.
“Training the employees is well and good, but I don’t believe one can train racism out of people,” said Kieran Nashad, a freshman open options arts and communications major. “It’s not TCNJ’s fault, but they have to find a way to communicate anti-racism to the students.”
Students wanted to change how freshmen are educated on racial bias, as a way to nip future incidents in the bud.
According to the follow-up, the Liberal Learning Task Force, which came into formation again last semester, is currently reviewing the Freshman Seminar Program course topics after students requested that a liberal learning requirement regarding the topic of diversity be more widespread amongst freshmen classes. Currently, only some of these courses address topics of diversity and inclusion.
Other students are pleased with the training initiatives among all levels of campus life.
“I can already see where changes are being made,” said Viane Villanueva, a sophomore nursing major. “I recently completed training, for my on-campus job, which covered harassment prevention.”
Prevention and proactivity are two of many serious measures that the College is taking to ensure a more inclusive community.
“People have the capacity to learn and the capacity to change,” Ashley Ean, a sophomore accounting major. “We can prevent as many incidents like the one that caused the TCNJ forum to occur and punish those who continue racist behavior.”
While some students felt the perpetrators from the racial incident that jump-started the College’s diversity and inclusion initiative were properly dealt with, others expressed that disclosing the situation, participants and outcome of future situations should be brought to students’ attention via a campus-wide acknowledgement.
“After the incident, I expected more information on what specifically occurred and what was done to the students that committed these hate crimes,” said Viane Villanueva, a sophomore nursing major. “I would like for there to be more transparency regarding matters like this.”
According to Luke Sacks, the head media relations officer at the College, the case involving the students responsible for the incident is still in progress and no formal comment can be made on its status.
The follow-up also addresses students’ demands that all slurs to be treated as hate crimes.
“Although slurs are clear instances of bias intimidation, they may not be hate crimes under the law,” the follow-up reads. “TCNJ will continue to follow applicable law regarding hate crimes and bias intimidation, and will follow up accordingly. Review of the conduct codes may make explicit the scope of hate crimes versus other acts that fall under New Jersey law in a category of ‘bias intimidation.’ Consequences would vary depending on the act itself.”
Students also want to see more transparency from the administration throughout every step of the various processes. Although there are restrictions on what information can be disclosed, according to the follow-up, the OIDEI can compile data to indicate the numbers and nature of bias incidents, and how they may have been resolved –– all while protecting privacy.
The College’s addressal of diversity and inclusion has begun to grow strong roots in the institution. Administrators such as Trahan hope to see the College’s efforts make an impact on its population and that students take advantage of the current developments he has implemented in his year here, such as the Critical Conversations and other open dialogue events.
“Do we have areas for growth? Absolutely,” Trahan said. “But that’s the nature of change management –– its a process.”
With time, training and understanding, Trahan believes that the campus has potential to reform its identity as long as the process remains a collaborative effort of the school’s students, employees, faculty and administration.
“I think the one thing I’ll emphasize is that we are moving forward, and I’m very confident in our ability to do that,” Trahan said. “I’m very confident in what we will see as years go but it’s a process that will require all of us to collectively work together.”
More information about specific responses to campus concerns regarding racial tensions can be found on the College’s website.
(12/23/18 12:48am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim and Nicole Viviano
Editor-in-Chief and News Editor
She was known for putting a smile on everyone’s faces and being the most enthusiastic about the weekend –– all while lifting the spirits of even the most exhausted strung out college students.
Yvette “Eve” Cruz, a dearly remembered employee, has died at age 44 on Dec 14. While the cause of death remains unconfirmed, the former Sodexo cashier at Eickhoff Hall was known by members of the campus community as “the boss of all bosses.”
Born July 26, 1974 in Brooklyn, New York, Cruz grew up with many close friends who were proud to know her.
“She wasn’t just a friend she was also a sister,” said Unique Ruby Frizzell Hickson, a close friend of Cruz’s. She met Cruz at age 15 in Brooklyn and kept in contact over the years — they would affectionately call each other cousins. “I’m definitely going to miss her she was the epitome of real and rare.”
Cruz’s warm personality was always on display at the College, where she worked from 2007 to 2016. Many of students commented over social media to express their condolences. There were alumni who were upset to hear of her death as well.
“Eve was the most kind and selfless person I knew,” said August Pfluger (’18). “Eve put a smile on the faces of all the TCNJ students who ate in Eickhoff Hall, whom she called her ‘kids’ or ‘the bosses.’”
Cruz’s love and dedication to the College’s students were demonstrated through the care packages she gave out during exam times, her attendance at sporting and Greek Life functions and her unwavering positivity each day at work.
The Signal interviewed Cruz back in 2015 to learn more about her and her role at the College. Former Editor-in-Chief Julie Kayzerman (’16), who wrote the story, fondly remembered the chance to sit down and speak with Cruz.
“She was just a staple at TCNJ,” Kayzerman said. “When you walked into Eick … she just brightened your day the minute you walked in. You would go there just to see Eve.”
Kayzerman explained how Cruz’s positivity created a chain reaction throughout the College. Cruz was known for her effervescent encouragement — phrases like “you got it boss” and “we’re getting through it” were commonly heard coming from Cruz in Eickhoff Hall.
Even after she was let go from her job at Sodexo in November of 2016, Cruz made efforts to stay in contact with her “kids” and “bosses.” Pfluger recalled when Cruz brought him a care package even after she left the College.
Other current students also appreciated her efforts to keep in touch with them after she left.
“Even beyond school she made sure those connections were both possible,” said junior journalism and African-American studies double major Marcus Allen. “(They) weren’t just staged relationships just because she was working here, but relationships that she really truly did care about.”
Larry Stevens, a Sodexo employee who worked with Cruz for six years, shared his devastation and shock after hearing of Cruz’s death.
“It was like losing a family member,” Stevens said. “It really was a shock to me.”
Adored by her co-workers, students, friends and family, Cruz leaves a legacy of kindness, positivity and friendship. She is survived by her son, Mikey, and her mother, Maria Cruz.
Cruz’s services were held at Funeraria Juan-John's Funeral Home in Brooklyn, New York and the viewing and service were held on Thursday, Dec. 20.
(11/29/18 1:35am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim and Gianna Melillo
Managing Editor and Nation & World Editor
As a response to the recent incidents of racism at the College, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs and Student Government hosted a panel titled, ‘I Am TCNJ’ at noon on Nov. 28 in Kendall Hall to address concerns about inclusivity on campus.
While the campus community crowded into Kendall Hall to take part in the event, coverage was also transmitted live to audiences in the Brower Student Center and in the Education Building Room 115.
The panel included College President Kathryn Foster, Ivonne Cruz, director of the Equal Opportunity Fund and Center for Student Success, Winnifred Brown-Glaude, chair of the African-American Studies department and Eashwayne Haughton, senior philosophy major and Student Government’s vice president of diversity and inclusion.
Foster relayed the College’s failure to properly deal with instances of prejudice both recently and in past years. She offered specific directives to help ensure more immediate changes both at an academic and administrative level.
“Many on campus labor consistently to make this campus a healthy, safe, welcoming and inclusive place ... but our racist incidents reflect that we are not yet healthy, safe, welcoming and inclusive to the level that we aspire to and must demand,” Foster said.
Foster spoke of her plan to appoint a vice president for inclusion on campus and elaborated on the need for an individual in administration to take charge on responding and preventing incidents of racial bias on campus.
“What’s important is that we have a person sitting on the cabinet that is reporting to the president, crafting and implementing a strategic agenda and waking up every day to work on these issues,” she said.
She went on to ask each member of the panel what they would expect from such an individual.
Cruz responded to Foster’s inquiry by emphasizing the need for protocol in situations of racial bias.
“We need to make sure the staff and faculty know where to go,” Cruz said of future incident reporting. “We have blurred the lines between feeling uncomfortable and unsafe on campus.”
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Sean Stallings, the moderator at the forum, opened the floor for questions and feedback while Foster took diligent notes.
Many students and faculty members were adamant about having comprehensive training sessions for students, faculty, administration and Campus Police, that would address the importance of racial sensitivity.
“You can’t have one office holding the responsibility of changing the climate,” Brown-Glaude said. “We all have to be responsible. We’re going to need anti-racist training on this campus. It has to start from the top, all the way to the bottom.”
Community adviser Vanessa Jimenez, a senior history and secondary education dual major, felt that Residential Education’s student-staff also needed more deliberate training to help CAs better respond to incidents involving hate crimes or racial bias.
“I can attest to the fact that our training isn’t as valuable as it could be with inclusion and diversity,” she said. “It was a little better this year but it was more of a conversation about what inclusion and diversity is, less about how to handle conflict situations.”
Furthermore, as McKenna Samson, a sophomore English and African-American studies major and Secretary of the College’s NAACP chapter, pointed out that the College’s student conduct code does not include explicit information or guidelines about hate crimes or instances of prejudice.
The legal definition of a hate crime in the U.S. is one that “involves threats, harassment, or physical harm and is motivated by prejudice against someone's race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability,” according to USLegal.com.
When asked how she thought the forum went, Samson said she was filled with mixed emotions.
“I think it’s very productive that we’re having this conversation,” she said. “I wish it was longer — they should dedicate an entire afternoon to this discussion.”
Another audience member happened to be the father of one of the students, junior African-American studies and journalism and professional writing major Marcus Allen, who was recently verbally harassed on campus. Aaron Allen, who said he worked at the College as a building services employee for about 15 years, gave an impassioned speech, demanding that the College take action so that his son would not have to feel unwelcome on his own campus.
“I pay this college and Campus Police way too much money for my son not to be protected and safe,” his father said, addressing the panel directly amid cheers and standing ovations from the audience. “You keep talking about words and all this, it looks pretty, it looks nice, but where are the actions at? I don’t want to hear about tomorrow, or next week, or ‘we’re going to have a meeting, we’re going to get a group.’ The group is right here. Look at all these people. These people are your group.”
He then stepped forward closer to the stage to address Foster directly, saying that administration in charge during his time at the College did little to change the attitude of racism on campus.
“I’m telling you face to face,” he said. “You know what you did? You did what you’re doing now — you sat down and never stood for nothing.”
The members of the panel promised that this forum was only the beginning of a longer discussion of inclusiveness on campus.
“We will have action,” Haughton said. “This will not end here. I feel it with you. I can promise you we will continue to fight. This does not stop here. As students, as your peer, I feel you and I understand you. Keep holding us accountable. We will not allow this to be brushed under the rug.”
Students in attendance were glad to have the open forum, but felt that more time could be dedicated to such discussion. Other students felt that more needed to be done to hold the students who spoke the racial slurs accountable for their actions.
“I expect to see a punishment,” said sophomore biology major Damion Anglin. “I expect to see something implemented to prevent this from happening again.”
The forum was held in response to racial tensions on campus and two incidents of bias in particular.
On Friday night Nov. 16 three African-American students and members of Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. were the targets of racial slurs that came from the third floor of Wolfe Hall.
In addition, a police report filed last month details a racial incident that took place in the Art and Interactive Multimedia building. A racist slur was written on the stall in the third floor women’s bathroom, with an arrow underneath pointing to a toilet overflowing with feces. According to police records, officers currently have no leads on the suspected perpetrators of the vandalism.
(11/19/18 3:09am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Managing Editor
College president Kathryn A. Foster released an email emphasizing the need for inclusion and diversity on campus on Saturday, Nov. 17. This announcement came just a day after one student on campus took to social media to post about a racial encounter he experienced Friday night.
Marcus Allen, a junior African American studies and journalism and professional writing double major, tweeted early Saturday morning about how students on campus yelled racial slurs at him from their residence hall on Friday night.
“I am truly disheartened by this incident,” his initial tweet read.
Foster stressed that the school does not tolerate instances of racial bias or any other forms of discrimination targeted toward any population in the community.
“Race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, abilities, and other differences enrich the TCNJ community, are fundamental to our values of universal inclusion, and demonstrate the rich diversity of our broader society,” Foster’s email read. “Individual behaviors of bias, incivility and disrespect undermine what it means to study, teach and work at TCNJ. We value the very characteristics that some have chosen to demean.”
Allen recalled in more detail what happened to him Friday night at around 11:30 p.m. He was walking to Tdubs with other friends and fellow members of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Inc., when he thought he heard shouting coming from the third floor of Wolfe Hall.
He said he couldn’t tell what they were saying at first, but he eventually understood that the words were racial slurs targeted toward him and his friends.
“‘N*****, n*****, n*****, you’re a porch monkey n*****,’” he heard the people yell.
When Allen moved closer to identify where the sound was coming from, he heard them continue to exclaim slurs.
“‘Get down, those n****** are gonna shoot us,’” Allen heard.
He and his friends went to report to Wolfe Hall’s community adviser on duty, who went to the third floor to investigate. According to Allen, the CA knocked on the door to the room where the slurs were heard. No one answered the door. The CA asked other students next door who were walking back and forth from room to room, but no one claimed ownership of the room where Allen had heard the slurs coming from.
Later that night, a little before midnight, Allen turned to Facebook and Twitter to vent his feelings. He said he felt Foster was prompted to send her email after his tweets because he knew that a lot of faculty and administration follow him on social media.
“I’m glad the school is taking the steps that are needed in this situation but I know this is not an isolated incident,” Allen said. “I’m not the only person on campus who does not feel welcome here, who does not feel safe.”
Allen could not specify which incidents he was referring to that may have occurred at the College where students felt unsafe, but said that he heard of such instances from other students who did not want them reported.
Allen, who grew up in Ewing and now lives in Trenton, considered himself to be a voice for the local community. He is hurt and feels unsafe at a school where he has invested so much of his time effort.
The past couple of days have been an emotional roller coaster for him as he has been processing what happened.
“Honestly it was a shock,” he said. “I’ve cried, I’ve been depressed and I’ve been angry. It’s traumatizing for any person of color to deal with –– specifically a black person.”
Professors at the College responded to Allen’s tweets with messages of support.
Kim Pearson, a journalism and professional writing professor at the College, expressed her sympathies. She had not only had Allen as a student, but she wrote on Twitter that she had known him since he was a baby.
Pearson, who is a longtime faculty member at the College, said she is tired of hearing about incidents like Allen’s in her 28 years here.
“I’m horrified, but I’m also kind of weary,” she said. “I’ve seen this movie before.”
According to Foster’s email, the College will be holding a campus-wide meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at noon in Kendall Hall. The event, which aims to initiate open dialogue about ways to improve the College’s efforts to foster an inclusive community, is cosponsored by Student Government, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs.
“For many decades the TCNJ culture has provided a safe and enriching environment, the benefits of which continue long after a student graduates,” Foster wrote in her email. “Together we will protect and enhance this valuable culture and commit again to dignity and respect for all.”
(11/06/18 5:08am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Managing Editor
I’ve never really been a girl with a plan. I’m very much a cross my fingers and do it by the seat of my pants type of person. This attitude has long irritated people who know me well, especially my parents, who have tried to arm me with skills to improve this character flaw.
I’ve been fueled by impulsivity my entire life, so why now, as a senior in college, am I suddenly paralyzed with panic over the fact that I have no idea what my plan is after graduation?
I have to admit that for the past few months, I’ve been struck by the same stomach-dropping feeling I assume most people feel standing at the edge of a cliff, except I’m contemplating what to do with the rest of my life.
Every time someone mentions they have a job lined up after graduation, I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck. Why don’t I have a job yet? Why didn’t I apply to graduate school? Visions of me, homeless, picking through garbage in the streets of Manhattan fill my daydreams.
My mother always threatened she’d change the locks when I turned 18 (she didn’t) but I always worry that living back home would be worse than living in the streets.
I know I won’t be a bum, but I think I’ll just need to accept the eerie feeling of uncertainty that comes with choosing a career. I don’t have a career plan yet because I don’t know what I want to do. I didn’t apply for graduate school because I don’t know what I want to study. Why should I waste time and money into a future I’m unsure about?
I also need to realize that, for once, I’m not the only one without a plan. Every time I gripe to someone about my impending doom, I hear them reassure me that I’m not the only one stuck in this boat. I’m not the only one who feels cornered into choosing a career right after they leave school.
As generations go by, peoples’ roles change. “Adultolescence” is a word generally defined as 20-somethings who have the emotional maturity and the responsibility level of a careless teenager.
However, according to bigthink.com, there is more to word than the negative connotations imply. The timelines of society are changing – instead of getting married in their early 20s and having babies soon after, people are waiting until their late 30s or even early 40s to start a family.
People don’t start at one job and stick with it for the next 30 years, but they jump around from place to place searching for different experiences. Why? Because we’re living longer and we have more physical lifetime ahead of us. According to the site, the average lifetime has doubled since the mid-19th century.
How we view our future, and how long we perceive our lifetimes to be, greatly affects our attitudes. Why bother rushing to bend to the wishes of a society that was modeled for people living years ago?
Even if I don’t know what I want to do for the rest of my life, and even if I move back in with my parents until I can find a job and save up enough to move out and start paying rent, I think I’ll survive. I’ve put in so much work during my four years here that I’m sure I’ll be qualified for some sort of job after I leave.
So my plan for now is to not have a plan, because deciding what I want to do for the rest of my life is a plan that is bound to fall to pieces at some point. I’ll be dusting off my resume and looking out for job opportunities, but I’m going to graduate with an open mind, and, most importantly, options –– though I should probably still run this by my parents, just in case they’ve been talking to a locksmith recently.
(08/29/18 7:57pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
Managing Editor
I spent a lot of this summer in a cool, dimly lit movie theater, and I honestly don’t regret it. But out of all the movies I saw these past couple of months, I’d have to say that “The Spy Who Dumped Me” was by far the funniest. Between the hilarious (and good-looking) cast, the beautiful setting and the exhilarating plot, “the Spy Who Dumped Me” puts a funny twist on what would otherwise be your run-of-the-mill spy thriller.
We first meet Audrey (Mila Kunis), a sarcastic but somewhat diffident cashier still agonizing over her ex-boyfriend Drew (Justin Theroux), who dumped her over a text message after they dated for a year. Kate McKinnon plays Morgan, Audrey’s theatrical and quirky best friend who tries to cheer her up, and whose general character carries most of the comedy behind the film.
Morgan tries to help her forget about Drew, but neither Morgan nor Audrey know the reasons yet behind Drew’s slapdash text – he’s a spy on the run who just didn’t have enough time to come break up with her in person and who wanted to keep her out of harm’s way.
But it’s not long before Audrey becomes entangled in Drew’s spy world. She and Morgan travel to Vienna to try to track down a flash drive that he later begs her to find, and that the CIA has been trying to get from Drew, their former fellow agent. Neither we nor Audrey know who to trust with whatever information that flash drive holds – the handsome, cunning CIA agents or Drew, the flighty ex- boyfriend.
What made the movie funny was its unconventionality – two suburban 30-somethings thrust into the role of makeshift CIA spies is pretty hilarious – like when Audrey turns her blinker on in the middle of a car chase, or when Morgan tries to girl-talk with a trained assassin.
McKinnon is funnier in this movie than she is in most of her Saturday Night Live sketches. Kunis never disappoints, and we get to have the pleasure of watching Sam Heughan (who plays another CIA agent, Sebastian) be charming and lighthearted, which is refreshing after seeing him exude so much serious drama in his TV series, “Outlander.”
The movie gets in your head too – you really don’t know who Audrey should trust with that flash drive. She can’t trust the CIA just because they’re CIA, and even Morgan, with all of her singular wisdom, can’t help her friend find the right answer. You’ll be bouncing back and forth between the perceived good guys and bad guys too, but you’ll soon realize that you just have to leave it to Audrey to get over herself and figure it out.
(04/23/18 7:44pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
News Editor
It’s mid-April, and spring is in the air –– but that’s not all. Students dodged Nerf darts flying through the sky and crowds of zombies skirted around campus as products of TCNJ Manhunt’s various shenanigans.
On Saturday, April 21, Manhunt held its annual day-long Humans vs. Zombies event throughout the College’s campus. The event was open to students, people from other colleges and residents of the greater Philadelphia area.
Two men, John Barrineau Jr. and A.J. Shepard, both from Philadelphia, were excited to participate in this year’s games.
“We just generally enjoy having a lot of fun with Nerf,” Barrineau said.
Both Barrineau and Shepard are part of a Nerf group called ‘PhilaNerfia.’
“It’s a lot more fun than sitting at home playing Xbox,” Barrineau said.
Shepard was also happy to include some physical activity into his daily routine.
“We like to get out and exercise outside, so that it’s not all sitting in the house,” Shepard said.
Exercise and fun were the two aspects most students were looking forward to, and was what made Maggie Paragian, a junior communication studies major and president of TCNJ Manhunt, excited about organizing the event.
“This event is meant to bring together people who normally wouldn’t interact with Nerf and varying themes,” Paragian said. “We designed about five or six missions with the capacity to change them while in the game.”
The object of the game is for the humans to defeat the zombies and survive. Humans can “stun” zombies by shooting them with Nerf guns or hitting them with sock flails, and if a zombie gets “stunned,” they must stay frozen for a designated period of time before continuing to tag more humans. However, if a human was tagged by a zombie (who were made known by the bright orange band around their arms), they had only a few seconds before they were turned into the brain-eating monsters themselves.
Only four students were assigned to be zombies at the beginning of the game, but their numbers grew quickly as they tagged humans struggling to make it out of each mission alive.
Sam Brandt and her girlfriend Sarah VanClef, both graduates of Fairleigh Dickinson University, visited the campus to take part in the day’s events. Brandt helped VanClef arm herself with bands and weapons before the game started.
While it was VanClef’s first time participating in Manhunt, she was glad to be a part of a community that Brandt loves so much.
“I’m nervous and terrified, but (Brandt’s) a big deal in the Nerf community … so I was like ‘I can’t knock it until I try it,’” VanClef said.
Brandt, whose gameplayer name is Archer, is a long-time Manhunt player. As founder and president of Women of Nerf, an all-female Nerfing community, she’s traveled to different states and taken part in all sorts of Manhunt-style games.
“I’ve been doing this for five years,” Brandt said. “There are events all over.”
The humans’ first mission, set in western Siberia, required the humans, members of the U.N. peacekeeping force, be vigilant of any “skirmishes” or suspicious activity. A few fellow humans on their patrol have vanished, and the group has been confronted by confusing intel from Command –– something was coming for them, but they didn’t know what it was. They gripped their Nerf guns and added more sock flails to their arsenal.
The humans had to gather food rations, ammunition and blood samples from the area before they were put into any more danger. The team of humans scuttled across the cold plains of Siberia (the lawn in front of the Music Building) locating what supplies they could, but many fell victim to the imminent attack of their howling zombie counterparts. The first mission ended in less than 10 minutes and the zombies had already doubled in number.
“The increase of zombies makes it easier to make formations and more tactics,” said Brandon Unda, a former student at FDU. “But now that we have a decent squad, ambushes are a thing now.”
The team of humans had little time to rest before returning to their base, the Physics Building Room 101, to discuss the terms of their second mission. The peacekeeping group had moved to Kiev, Ukraine where they were having trouble receiving audible radio transmission from Command. They needed to fix their radio before the zombies got too hungry.
The humans that survived a zombie ambush fixed the radio, but were then confronted by an alarming bit of transmission –– according to Command, two humans in their group were suspected of carrying the deadly zombie virus. They had to choose –– end them now, or keep them alive to use their special set of weaponry later on. The group decided to push their luck and let them live for as long as they could.
After a long day of dodging Nerf darts and surviving harrowing missions, the humans eventually succumbed to the ever-growing number of zombies, as they do every year. But the students who play don’t mind the repetitive outcome –– they’re here to have fun, decompress during a stressful semester and spend time together.
“I’m most looking forward to spending the day with my girlfriend,” VanClef said. “She really loves this community, it’s a really big part of her life and I’m really happy that I’m here."
(04/17/18 4:54am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim, Joe Bracco and Karina Pedraza
News Editor, Correspondent and Staff Writer
The Bonner Program held three forums as part of its search for a new director in the Education Building Room 115 on April 4, April 6 and April 10.
The first forum featured candidate Loretta Mooney, the second featured candidate Stephanie Shanklin, and the final forum featured candidate Robert Simmons.
As a trained clinician with a master’s degree in social work, Mooney has experience as a counselor working with oppressed populations. She gained experience as an administrator in higher education while working as an adjunct professor at Rutgers University-Camden at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
She sees herself as a collaborative leader, eager to gaining student perspectives on the program’s function.
“I think a vision has to come from, ‘what do the students want, what does the faculty want?’” she said. “Once we come together I’m very good at following through on a vision.”
Mooney also has prior experience working as a Bonner coordinator at Widener University. During her six years at the institution, she oversaw the development of 60 Bonner students in her program.
Mooney helped change the way Bonner functioned at Widener. The school originally used a charity model for community service. While this model offered direct forms of community service and volunteering, Bonner Community Scholars found that they were not making much of an impact on the areas they worked in, often leaving the community the same way they found it, Mooney explained.
Mooney said she decided to adapt a social justice model, similar to the Bonner Program at the College, which finds and changes the root causes of problems, such as bringing a supermarket to a food desert. Bonner Community Scholars work with residents to figure out the specific needs of each community.
“The goal is sustainability,” Mooney said. “I bring a lot of passion for change, development and bringing people together.”
Mooney aims to be a transformative and transparent leader, a quality some of the students attending the forum admired. Most students felt that Mooney had a maternal quality about her, and could see her passion for the program.
“If she’s hired I think she’ll bring transparent leadership –– that’s something that the program struggles with,” said Jason Miles, a junior mathematics major. “I think we need somebody who’s really about it.”
In terms of her vision for her students, Mooney hopes to see her potential scholars become role models, leaders and agents of social change as they excel through the Bonner Program during their time at the College.
Underclassmen in the Bonner Program will gain experience exploring service sites and developing community service skills. Upperclassmen will be qualified enough to serve as an example for other volunteers and, by senior year, Bonner scholars will have gained expertise in their area of service, which will be evidenced by their senior capstone projects.
The second candidate, Stephanie Shanklin, was a former assistant director of the Educational Opportunity Fund Program at her alma mater Rutgers-Camden. She received her Ph.D. in higher education leadership in 2016 from Wilmington University.
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and community planning from Rutgers and a master’s degree in administrative science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Shanklin went on to work for the EOF and eventually became its assistant director.
Shanklin emphasized the goals she wanted to achieve if elected as Bonner director. She said she wants to help her students succeed, help them recognize their obligation to give a voice to students who aren’t always heard and provide opportunities to students who haven’t always been given a chance.
“Don’t shy away from challenges,” Shanklin said. “Challenges are going to happen, but it doesn’t mean that you get to not meet your goals or expectations. It doesn’t mean you quit. It doesn’t mean you give up.”
Shanklin said she would enhance engaged learning in her students, which in turn increases their productivity when they become part of the workforce.
“The Bonner program is important because it provides individual help to students academically,” said Serina Grasso, a senior psychology major. “We are consistent figures in their life –– we become not only their teachers, but their mentors.”
In his forum, Robert Simmons emphasized the relationship between the community and social justice, and how both should equally influence each other.
Simmons also vocalized the need to increase the relevance between students’ curriculum and community organizations in the area. He suggested connecting students from various disciplines — such as law, STEM and business — with non-profits and local organizations during their capstone experience.
Simmons has been greatly impacted by his native Trentonian roots and his personal experiences with shelters and churches in the Trenton area.
“I learned very early the impact that community engagement has on people,” Simmons said. “Then I started thinking about leadership and what peer leadership would look like.”
Simmons currently works at Smith College with identity-based campus clubs. His previous work experience includes an internship at the Foundation Academy Charter School, where he created a program called Far Out that partnered with Rutgers University-New Brunswick to bring in children and connect them with faculty.
Simmons’ time at Rutgers also included leadership with the university’s original Bonner Program and his work with issues such as hunger and homelessness. After he left Rutgers, Simmons began his work with AmeriCorps VISTA fellows, with a focus on social justice and education.
His vision for the Bonner Program includes the desire to equip scholars with service and self-learning opportunities that he deems necessary to engage the community.
“Not just for a project, not just for eight hours or four years, or 300 hundred hours,” Simmons said. “We are building them to want to do this for a lifetime.”
Simmons’ objectives for the Bonner Program and its connection to the Trenton community include youth empowerment and the use of technology in civically-engaged work.
Simmons placed great emphasis around individual identity, the students’ relationship with the local community and social justice issues. He said he wants the Bonner Community Scholars to realize their interests in the community and ask themselves, “Who am I and how can who I am influence the work I do?”
(03/06/18 7:07am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
News Editor
Associate politics professor John Kastellec of Princeton University visited the College on Friday, March 2 to give a lecture on his research concerning hyperpluralism, or strong-willed activism, in the context of Supreme Court justice nominations — as members of interest groups can use their voting power to keep or throw out their state senators if they agree or disagree with a Supreme Court judge nomination.
“It’s a different kind of way in which people interact with the government through the intermediary of membership organizations,” Kastellec said of the change in interest group activities throughout history. “We’re going to call this hyperpluralism — many groups battling it out in the political sphere.”
While his paper, co-authored with other colleagues, has not evolved into a falsifiable theory as of yet, his work is part of a larger book project he is currently working on with another colleague, which will shed light on how the changes in nomination politics explain broader changes in American politics.
Kastellec’s data provides compelling evidence of how interest groups have grown more active since their inception in 1930. Kastellec’s research fills the data gap of interest group activity before the ’70s. He and his team monitored evidence of all types of political advocacy groups from 1930 until 2017 via any mentions in The Los Angeles Times.
Kastellec found that the rise in interest groups in general, though different lobbying groups have been around since the 1930s, significantly increased in terms of political activism by two or threefold around 1965. Kastellec also found that in the context of the Supreme Court, there was an explosion of interest group activity, or mobilization, in the ’70s. These groups were becoming increasingly more invested in how the justices ruled different cases.
Kastellec taxonomized the 199 different types of political groups by category and their activity by time period. From 1937 until 1969, most political groups consisted of occupational groups, industrial unions, labor groups and core civil rights groups such as the NAACP. From 1970 to 1985, some conservative groups were replaced by identity groups and more civil rights groups like the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights. Today, narrow-purposed and donor-funded public interest groups such as abortion-related groups dominate political advocacy groups in government.
In nomination politics, liberal groups mobilized earlier than the conservative groups— there were fewer instances of mobilization before nominations for justices such as Robert Bork in the late 1980s.
There was a spike in interest group activity for both parties in 1987, particularly around the time of Bork’s supreme court nomination, according to Kastellec’s research.
“Bork was a controversial nominee,” Kastellec said.
Upwards of 60 interest groups rose to either support or oppose Bork’s nomination — the U.S. Senate eventually rejected his nomination.
Bork’s controversy sparked a resurgence of public interest group mobilization. Many started mobilizing not just in opposition of a nominee, but in support as well. Kastellec’s data shows that while liberal groups may have had a head start, conservative group mobilization now exceeds liberal mobilization.
Kastellec and his colleagues also found that the tactics different interest groups use have changed over time.
From approximately 1930 to 1969, most interest group members made personal contact with staffers and testified directly before judiciary committees. They also had direct contact with members of Congress.
“This makes sense, given that interest group network is sparse and the technology was different in 1940 compared to today,” Kastellec said.
From 1970 onward, groups switched to outside and grassroots tactics where they either started advertising, holding press releases or organizing rallies and protests in order to instigate change.
Kastellec’s data implied that there might be an overall advantage to those models for each type of interest group.
“There seems to be some kind of global shift going on where at least in this environment outside and grassroots tactics deserve more attention than inside tactics,” Kastellec said.
Kastellec and his colleagues also conducted a regression analysis to find out what aspects of a nominee predict mobilization of interest groups. He found that interest groups are more likely to cast votes for nominees who do not have any scandals in their past and share similar political ideologies.
Before 1987, the quality of the nominee was a much stronger predictor of mobilization than political extremity, which resulted in a more opportunistic form of mobilization. Interest groups were more likely to mobilize if the nominee had a history of scandals than if the nominee had differing political views.
After 1987, the pattern flipped. Interest groups cared less about legal quality and more about political ideology.
“Qualifications don’t do much either way,” Kastellec said. “Though, most nominees in the post-Bork period have been of high quality because most presidents have learned from past mistakes.”
The timing has also changed during the modern period from 1987 to 2017 –– most groups began advocating before the nominee’s week-long hearing at the judiciary committee.
“Groups are not waiting to learn much about the nominee,” Kastellec said. “The mobilization decision is planned ahead of time –– the groups are ready to go.”
The campaigns have changed from opportunistic to more systematic and immediate forms of mobilization on both sides.
“Lots of people complain that the hearings are staged and not informative because a lot of information about the nominees has already come up,” Kastellec said.
The tactics have changed, according to Kastellec, likely because the federal government has grown over the years and there are now more issues at stake. Interest groups want more of a say in how the government makes decisions –– they already have a large influence on the agenda of both parties and how they change as seen through Kastellec’s research on their impact on the justice system.
Freshman international studies major Karin Thio gained insight from Kastellec’s data.
“I thought it was really impressive how he was able to take certain components of how statistics change over time, how different eras and politics influence how people vote and how different types of groups emerge during those political eras,” Thio said.
(03/05/18 8:38pm)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
News Editor
Over winter break, I volunteered at a detox unit in my local hospital. Though I was only there for a few weeks, I learned so much more than I expected to.
I didn’t know what I was getting into when I was buzzed through the hospital doors on the first day. The long hallways of the unit reminded me of a cross between a dormitory and a prison. Counselors and doctors shuffled up and down the hallways, buried deep in their caseloads.
Patients of all ages paced about the common room, pouring themselves orange juice while trading stories of their pasts and plans for their futures.
I was given more responsibility than I thought I would be given, which I was extremely grateful for. I was able to shadow different counselors and learn about their responsibilities. Each counselor was assigned 10 cases a day — 10 patients they had to meet with to discuss which long term rehabilitation programs they would be eligible for and different medications they could take to help curb their addictions.
I was also able to help conduct intakes, where counselors interviewed new admitants about their history of drug use and their plans for future care.
While there was so much to learn, what stuck with me the most during my experience was the mental illnesses that most patients suffered from alongside their addictions.
A lot of events in these patients’ lives contributed to their unhealthy coping habits, drug use included, as a reaction to the stressors in their lives. Some patients also suffered from anxiety and depression over their current circumstances. While most wanted to move past their addiction, many found themselves forming a permanent cycle –– they would enter detox, move onto rehab and stay clean for a little while only to fall off the wagon over and over again.
But unhealthy habits range far from just drug addiction. Everyone falls into detrimental cycles of their own — excessively eating, shopping and many other activities can hurt us more than they help.
Younger generations are more likely to report experiencing high levels of stress than older adults, according to the American Psychological Association. Whether our stress comes from our relationships, work or school, it’s important that we build healthy habits early on that help us confront our stressors instead of suppressing or avoiding them.
Unhealthy habits manifest differently for everyone, and in order to combat the causes for those habits, it’s important to find coping mechanisms that give us the strength to solve the problems that so often wear us down.
(02/27/18 8:06am)
By Elizabeth Zakaim
News Editor
International medical geography and public health expert Amy Blatt presented her lecture, “Geomedicine: How Locations Affect Your Health,” as part of the College’s weekly Brown Bag Series on Friday, Feb. 23 in the Library Auditorium.
Her lecture, based on research and insights from her latest book, “Health, Science and Place: A New Model,” focuses on the role of geography in healthcare and the importance of residential history in the progress of disease –– a perspective on medicine Blatt finds many physicians have largely overlooked.
Blatt is a medical geographer and public health researcher. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Stanford University and her PhD in geography from the University of Cincinnati. She is currently employed at Vanguard, according to James Day, the assistant dean of the School of Arts and Communication.
Blatt is also a former faculty member at West Chester University and a guest lecturer at Villanova University, and served as guest editor of the International Journal of Applied Geospatial Research and the Journal of Map and Geography Libraries.
The New England Journal of Medicine reported in 2007 that 70 percent of the determinants of overall health are attributed to environmental factors and healthcare quality, while only 30 percent are due to genetics.
“(Your doctor) checks your cholesterol, your glucose level, why doesn’t he check your surroundings –– the different toxic exposures that you’ve been around all your life accumulate in your body in silent and deadly ways,” Blatt said.
One recent example of the geographical impact on public health was the Zika virus epidemic in early 2014 during the World Cup. This was a perfect example of a “mass gathering” –– a public event attended by at least 25,000 people for an extended period of time –– and also the perfect breeding ground for pathogens to spread to vulnerable hosts, according to Blatt.
“Through mass gatherings, infectious diseases can be spread by global travelers to the local community and then again from the local community to the global travelers,” Blatt said.
There were only 80 cases of the virus in 2016, but by March of 2017 there were more than 5,000 cases in the U.S., according to Blatt. Geographers were able to reveal where the disease patterns developed and how many people were affected.
Geomedicine provides ways to track epidemics like the Zika virus by mapping the spread of diseases in certain populations, in order to stop it from being transmitted. Blatt described how until relatively recently, Nigerians were still using hand-drawn maps to target different populations that needed polio vaccinations.
The World Health Organization and the Bill Gates Foundation deployed GPS and mobile mapping units for public health officials to more accurately and efficiently distribute the polio vaccine to the Nigerian population, according to Blatt.
Geography also impacts the quality of patient care. Blatt showed a video describing the research of Dr. Jeffrey Brenner, who developed the idea of medical hotspots, or certain geographical areas where patients are receiving low-quality care for too high of a price.
With the locations of specific patients in different areas of Camden, New Jersey, Brenner helped organize the Camden Coalition, a team of social workers and nurses who make home visits to patients suffering from chronic illnesses, but don’t have the proper healthcare plans to get the best treatment.
In the video, Brenner introduced one such patient named Derek who suffered from asthma and seizures and made 35 visits to the emergency room in a period of six months. After he started his work with coalition, that number went from 35 to just two.
Blatt emphasized how ideas like Brenner’s can have a large scale impact on Americans who are negatively affected by the current healthcare system. Brenner’s idea is in the process of being applied not just to Camden, but across the country.
Geomedicine programs are being developed at universities around the country, such as the University of Michigan and Duke University, and Blatt sees hope for this new perspective on medicine and its impact on patients on local and global levels.
“If we can understand why people move, how they move, the notion of geographic perspectives will allow us to bridge the conceptual divide between public health and patient care,” Blatt said.