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(01/21/14 6:42pm)
Become a Staff Writer
Any staff member or student at the College is encouraged to submit pitches or written articles as a contributing writer for The Signal; these articles will be vetted, edited and approved by the sections editors and management editors.
The Signal is always looking to hire staff writers; if interested in becoming a staff writer, a student should send an email expressing his or her interest to signal@tcnj.edu; all students looking to work for The Signal as a staff member will then be interviewed by their prospective section editor and managing editors; once hired, staff writers are required to sign a contract detailing their responsibilities and can then begin work.
Join the Business Team
If you are interested in working as a member of the Signal’s Business Team, send an email expressing your interest to signal@tcnj.edu; all students looking to join this team will be interviewed by the Business Manager and managing editors.
Join the Multimedia Team
If you are interested in working as a member of the Signal’s Multimedia Team as a photographer, videographer, graphic designer or artist, send an email expressing your interest to signal@tcnj.edu; all students looking to join this Team will be interviewed by the managing editors.
(04/30/13 7:09pm)
If you’re going to order Chinese food — which is likely now that finals are almost here — I recommend choosing No. 1 China.
Sure, categorizing itself as number one seems a bit egotistical, but it’s actually an accurate name. Even though I was initially skeptical about its superiority, I’ve found that No. 1 China trumps other Chinese restaurants in the area.
Before talking about my most recent dining experience, I must confess that my roommate and I order No. 1 China far too frequently. It’s just so delicious and such a bargain that we can’t help it.
For under $10, you get a filling meal that will likely lead to leftovers. (OK, who am I kidding? You’ll probably wind up eating most of it in one sitting. But I won’t judge you, because that’s happened to me, too.)
No. 1 China may not have the speediest delivery service, but it’s worth the wait. It tends to take around an hour, and if you’re lucky, sometimes it comes within a half hour. When I ordered it on Sunday, it took 50 minutes to arrive.
Chicken and broccoli is my go-to meal. For an extra dollar, you can have it served with lo mein instead of rice, which I definitely recommend. The fried rice is also good, but the lo mein tastes so much better.
I usually order it as a combination platter, which comes with a can of soda and an egg roll. Personally I’m not a fan of soda or egg rolls, but I appreciate the gesture. My housemates, who eat the egg rolls, have said they’re pretty good.
No. 1 China also has great options if you’re a vegetarian. My roommate always gets the mixed vegetables with garlic sauce. It’s spicy and includes tofu, which she loves. It comes served with a side of white rice.
Of course, no order is complete without a fortune cookie! It’s my favorite part of the meal.
Give No. 1 China a try and decide for yourself if it’s really the best. It can be a great study fuel to help you survive the rest of the semester!
(04/30/13 5:00pm)
Tuesday marks three weeks since Paige Aiello was reported missing.
She was last seen by her father on Tuesday, April 9 in their Hillsborough home at 1 p.m. Security footage shows Aiello exiting the New York Penn Station at 4 p.m. that day, according to reports. Her belongings were discovered later that night on the walkway of the George Washington Bridge.
Although there are no updates regarding the investigation, messages of hope continue to be spread through online posts, tweets and peach ribbons. Since peach is Aiello’s favorite color, members of the community wear it to show support and encourage others to keep praying.
Aiello is a senior communication studies major at the College. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication honor society.
Not only is Aiello a strong student, but she is also a talented athlete. She is a captain of the women’s tennis team, which she has been part of since her freshman year.
During the 2011-12 season, Aiello earned a pair of conference honors, being named All-NJAC First Team in singles and doubles, according to the TCNJ Athletics website. She led the team with 25 wins in doubles action that season, including an 18-1 record in dual meets.
“Paige is an awesome athlete and I loved playing doubles with her during my time on the team. It was always so much fun,” senior Lauren Balsamo said. “She’s always so positive and such a supportive teammate. I know I can speak for the entire tennis team when I say she is a true role model on and off the court.”
Aiello and Balsamo are not only teammates, but they are also great friends.
“Paige is one the most kind and loving people I know,” Balsamo said. “I am so proud to call her a best friend because she is just one of those people who makes you want to be happy and smile. She is such a smart, caring and beautiful girl. Anyone who has met her knows how big her heart is and wonderful of person she is.”
Over the past few weeks, volunteer groups traveled to New York City to search for Aiello. Since she was last seen at Penn Station, groups passed out flyers featuring Aiello’s photo and information. However, these on-foot volunteer searches have been temporarily suspended to allow law enforcement to follow any leads without interference.
The Aiello family shared a statement on the “Find Paige Aiello” Facebook page, saying, “Our family would like to extend a sincere thank you to everyone who has offered kindness and has been involved in the search for our daughter and sister thus far. The outpouring of support has truly been overwhelming and through that we remain committed to bringing Paige home.”
Anyone with information about Paige Aiello’s whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Hillsborough Police Department (908-369-4323) or the anonymous tip line (908-447-5135).
“We all really miss her and need her to come home. It just feels incomplete without her,” Balsamo said. “I couldn’t be more grateful for our friendship. We just have to stay positive and continue to pray for her safe return home.”
(04/23/13 4:42pm)
It has now been two weeks since Paige Aiello was reported missing. The College senior has not been seen since Tuesday, April 9.
Her father was the last one to see her in person at their Hillsborough home at 1 p.m. that day. Security footage places her at the 7th Avenue exit of New York Penn Station at 4 p.m., according to reports. Her belongings were found on the walkway of the George Washington Bridge later that evening.
There have been no new updates from the Somerset County Prosecutor’s Office regarding this missing person investigation as of Monday, April 22.
Although there is no new public information, support continues to grow and remain strong on campus and online.
Last Tuesday, marking one week since Aiello’s disappearance, a prayer service called Prayer for Paige was held on the tennis courts. Athletes InterVarsity, a prayer group for members of the College’s athletic community, orchestrated the event. Athletes InterVaristy is part of the New Jersey Christian Fellowship.
The 30-minute event began with a prayer read aloud, and then the group was broken up into four corners of the court. It was in this space that attendees were encouraged to write down any thoughts, feelings or prayers using markers provided. These pieces of paper were then placed in a cardboard box to symbolize sending the prayers to God.
According to Katelyn Ary, who serves as a captain for Athletes InterVarsity, there were approximately 300 people in attendance, including administrators, coaches, student athletes, athletic department members, classmates and friends of Aiello.
“It was a blessing to see the support of the athletic communities as entire teams showed up to the event together,” said Ary, sophomore nursing major. “As an athletic community, we believe it is so important to support each other. As athletes who are unified by the colors that we wear and who we represent, it’s our responsibility to rally around each other when one of us is hurting.”
Explaining the intentions of the highly emotional, yet hope-filled evening, Ary said, “The way we see it, Paige is an athlete just like the rest of us, on a TCNJ team like any of ours. Our hope for Prayer for Paige was to bring hope to the athletic community. We prayed that night, and continue to pray that people receive hope and peace through this troubling situation.”
Not only have students gathered on campus to show support. Social media sites, including Facebook and Twitter, have become major sources for spreading hope and information.
The Find Paige Aiello Facebook page has over 7,000 likes. Groups have planned searches in New York City through this page.
Last Saturday, volunteers handed out flyers in and around Penn Station. A similar search is planned for Tuesday, April 23.
The Aiello family is now offering a reward for any information regarding their daughter’s whereabouts. According to flyers, no information is too small and anyone who may know something about Paige Aiello’s disappearance is encouraged to call an anonymous tip line at 908-447-5135.
(04/09/13 4:45pm)
By definition, dance is the act of moving to music. At Saturday’s Spring Spectacular, Synergy proved there is more to it than that — it can also be a method of storytelling.
With meaning behind its choreography, the College’s dance company conveyed messages about the loss of a loved one, body image and child abuse.
However, not all of the topics were as heavy. From musical numbers to some booty-shaking Beyoncé, Synergy’s 13th annual recital featured a variety of styles — including tap, hip-hop, ballet, pointe and modern. Starting off energetically, the show opened with the entire company dancing to Florence + the Machine’s “Shake It Out.”
The atmosphere became much more serious for “This Woman’s Work.” The stage remained dark as sounds of a car starting, speeding down the road and crashing played overhead. Sirens wailed as dancers Jonathan Velez (choreographer and one of Synergy’s captains) and Cecilia Muscarella (also a captain) took the stage. Muscarella wore white, representing a ghost, as Velez’s character struggled to say goodbye for the last time.
Another powerful piece Velez choreographed was “Lovely,” which was about learning to love one’s self. “I found myself questioning each move, spacing and formation, wondering if I was being true to the struggle of body image in today’s society,” the senior said.
When the song started, six dancers wore tanktops with X’s and dotted lines, representing the marks made before plastic surgery. By the end, each dancer confidently ripped off her shirt, standing in only a black sports bra.
“I loved the idea of them taking off their plastic surgery marked shirts to show them breaking free from the stigma that body image has, and also showing that being ‘lovely’ is being who you are and being proud of that,” Velez said.
Junior Cecilia Muscarella choreographed “Concrete Angel,” focusing on the tragedy of child abuse. As stated in the dance’s intro, approximately five children in the United States are lost each day to abuse-related deaths. The chills-inducing number began with a dancer in angel wings laying next to a child’s gravestone.
Gianna Arfuso, senior and Synergy vice president, dedicated an equally emotional dance “Over You” to men and women serving in the military. Arfuso was inspired by personal experience; her fiancé is Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
“The dance was about the pain of having to get through every day and missing the person you love the most,” Arfuso said. “I never know what the Army will throw my way, but the pride that I have for what my fiancé has chosen to do is immense.”
“Heist,” a hip-hop performance choreographed by captain and senior Brianna Farrell, was another highlight of the show. The dancers wore black hoodies, as two members of the group broke into a safe, where a dancer popped out holding a bag of stolen money. Another creative number by Farrell was “Enter the Sandman,” which told the story of what goes on when people fall asleep. As one dancer yawns at her pillow, her mind is awakened to monsters moving about.
The show concluded on a sentimental — yet fierce — note as the Synergy seniors took the stage for their final dance. Channeling Beyoncé, the group worked it to “Crazy In Love.”
In between dances, two of the College’s musical groups performed. The Trentones sang an impressive cover of “Somebody I Used to Know” by Gotye. Later on, the Treblemakers, the all-female acapella group, sang two songs, including “Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This).”
Of course, a recap of the recital would be incomplete without mentioning the show’s emcee: this year’s Mr. Synergy, Michael Dezmin.
Wearing the crown he earned at the male dance pageant, the senior health and exercise science major cracked jokes and kept the crowd amused between acts.
(04/02/13 4:00pm)
Louisville was the center of attention on Sunday. From Kevin Ware’s leg injury to the team earning a spot in the Final Four, the Cardinals were a major conversation starter.
Something barely discussed? Louisville’s women’s basketball team, who also had an impressive game day.
The Louisville ladies beat top-seed Baylor for a place in the Elite Eight, ending the Bears’ 32-game winning streak. Scoring 16 three-pointers, the Cards also set an NCAA record.
If you thought the Duke/Louisville game was competitive, the women’s team’s final score was 82-81, making it a really close race.
As someone who watched the Super Bowl only to see Beyoncé’s performance, I’ll admit, I’m no authority on athletics. But when it comes to March Madness, I’m a huge fan.
Ever since high school, I’ve loved filling out a bracket and watching the games. (Full disclosure: I pick teams based on who has a cuter mascot, but it’s a pretty effective method, since even the most talented sports analysts can’t predict upsets.)
As a March Madness enthusiast and a self-proclaimed feminist, I have an embarrassing confession: I completely forgot there was a women’s tournament going on.
I was flipping through the channels and saw one of the games on ESPN. I hadn’t even thought about the fact that they’re playing in a championship, too.
But I’m not the only one guilty of paying less attention to the ladies’ games — and that’s the problem.
Seriously, think about it for a minute. Could you name which women’s teams are in the Elite Eight without looking it up?
The sad truth is that often, women’s college basketball games — and female athletics in general — are overlooked. This is especially shameful, considering that not only is March a time filled with basketball; it’s also Women’s History Month.
Even a quick search on Facebook reveals that the NCAA Women’s Basketball page has 33,000 likes, whereas the NCAA Men’s Basketball page has 13 times the amount with 443,000.
While the men’s tourney is broadcast on major networks like CBS, TBS and TNT, the women’s games are shown on ESPN and ESPN2.
Of course I understand the tradition surrounding the men’s tournament; I just think the women deserve way more credit.
Barely anyone sits around filling out the women’s brackets, but they’re still talented athletes.
Instead of moping around after next Monday’s final men’s March Madness game, fill the basketball void in your life by checking out the women’s championship game on Tuesday, April 8. See for yourself why women’s sports are equally entertaining!
(03/05/13 5:00pm)
At the College, meal equivalency is synonymous with lengthy lines and the challenge of getting food in a timely manner. On a typical weekday, hordes of students pack into the Lion’s Den to grab lunch between classes.
“When you get here right at 11 or 11:20 a.m., it’s almost impossible to find a seat, let alone wait in line,” said sophomore English major Matt Fuhrmeister.
There are at least five lines leading up to the registers and lines are equally long to order salads or sandwiches.
“I didn’t want to wait in the salad line, so I got this one,” said freshman Megan Bordonaro, referencing a prepackaged salad sitting in front of her. The freshman elementary education and English double major admitted it was not as good as one made fresh.
Although this is what meal equiv looks like now, the College announced last week that they anticipate a long-term partnership with Sodexo Dining Services that will not only enhance dining options, but will also result in significant renovation of the Brower Student Center.
“We envision a renovation that will dramatically improve the ability of Brower to serve our students and the entire campus community,” said Matthew Golden, associate vice president for Communications, Marketing, and Brand Management, in an email.
According to a College press release, potential plans include adding a bistro to the Student Center and upgrades in the Library Café, the Education Café, Armstrong Hall’s Kineticart and T-Dubs.
“The Sodexo partnership will provide funding for both dining space upgrades and overall, large-scale facility renovations,” Golden explained.
After a competitive bidding process with a variety of vendors, the College selected Sodexo, the same company they have worked with for the past 10 years. The current five-year contract expires in June, but this new agreement could be for up to 15 years, Golden said.
The agreement is not yet finalized, according to Golden, but the Board of Trustees authorized execution of a multi-year contract at last Tuesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.
“It is highly likely that the deal will be finalized during the next couple of months,” Golden said. The student center renovations would take roughly three years to execute.
The College plans to establish a group with campus-wide representation, including student representatives, that will help develop the vision for the renovation plans, Golden said.
Not only is the College excited about the anticipated agreement, but Sodexo seems equally pleased.
In the press release, the College’s Sodexo General Manager Patrice Mendes said, “Sodexo Campus Services views this agreement as an opportunity to build something that will truly move the campus dining industry forward, and we think TCNJ is the perfect place to launch such an innovative and comprehensive project.”
(02/05/13 7:46pm)
It began with “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
From there, the players eagerly took the field and the refs were in full force. The audience anxiously awaited this annual test of athleticism.
In case you’re mistaken, I’m not talking about Super Bowl XLVII. Instead, Sunday’s must-see TV was Animal Planet’s ninth Puppy Bowl.
Complete with hedgehog cheerleaders, a kitten halftime show and MVPs (Most Valuable Pups), it was well worth watching.
There was even a hometown hero to root for: Fitz, a 10-week-old Catahoula mix from New Jersey. According to his bio, he “prefers Bon Jovi to the Boss.” But most importantly, he was the cutest pup participating — which really says a lot.
It’s hard to pinpoint the highlight of the Puppy Bowl. From the Bowl Cam (showing the view anytime a pup took a water break) to the puppy pool (where players could cool down), there was just so much adorableness. Seriously, there were penalties for “excessive cuteness.”
Another plus? There was no half-hour power outage. The action of the Puppy Bowl was non-stop. Personally I’d much rather watch adorable animals chase each other around than see grown adults fight over a football.
In all fairness, the Puppy Bowl was missing one thing … Beyoncé!
I’ll admit I only watched the actual Super Bowl very briefly, and that was solely to see B’s performance. She did not disappoint, shutting down the stadium — literally and figuratively. From the crazy light show to a Destiny’s Child reunion, Beyoncé was the night’s true winner.
Speaking of winners, I suppose the Ravens do deserve a shout out. But in my opinion, another animal stole their thunder on Sunday — the puppies.
(12/05/12 7:53pm)
Housing anticipates that the application process for the 2012-2013 academic year will begin this week, likely by Friday, Dec. 7, according to Bryan Dunphy-Culp, assistant director of Housing.
The housing application is free and only takes a few minutes to complete, Dunphy-Culp said.
In the past, the application process usually began after winter break, lasted one week and featured a $100 deposit. This year’s will extend from early December through January because the Housing department wants students to begin considering the option of living on-campus.
“This will hopefully allow students to talk it over with their families or whoever else helps them make that decision and then apply leisurely over break or as they come back,” said Ryan Farnkopf, director of Housing.
The announcement of time slots and the room selection process are likely to remain close to their usual time of mid-February or March before spring break, Dunphy-Culp said.
Cromwell Hall will reopen for 2012-2013 after undergoing renovations this year, according to Dunphy-Culp, which will create 300 on-campus beds. This allows more beds for upperclassmen, because freshmen and sophomores have guaranteed housing.
“The rationale of the decision to put Cromwell into the sophomore cohort, rather than returning it to a first-year building, was really primarily because we know that rising sophomores tend to be interested in suite-style living,” Farnkopf said. “It also works better with our FSP program. It allows us to keep them much neater together.”
The bulk of the Cromwell renovations were interior, including redoing the plumbing system and replacing fixtures in the bathrooms — showers, toilets, sinks, floor tiles and paint. It will also have wireless Internet, Farnkopf said.
“It’ll still be the same basic building, but newer and cleaner,” Farnkopf said. “The architect is putting some effort into sprucing up the common spaces and making them a little bit more student-focused. There’s going to be some pocket lounges that are designed out of old closets.”
Freshmen will likely be living in Travers, Wolfe, Norsworthy, Allen, Ely and Brewster Halls. Sophomores are expected to live in Cromwell, Decker, New Residence and Centennial Halls, along with parts of Eickhoff Hall. Upperclassmen are expected to live in all townhouses, the apartments and the remainder of Eickhoff.
Farnkopf said this may change depending on how many students apply for housing.
The hotels will not be used for the 2013-14 school year. It was “a way to mitigate the unmet demand from closing Cromwell,” which is not the case this year.
(12/05/12 6:32pm)
A male student appeared heavily intoxicated when Campus Police arrived in his dorm room at 1:25 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 29 in Wolfe Hall. According to reports, he consumed large amounts of vodka at an off-campus location. An odor of alcohol emanated from his breath. Lions’ EMS arrived and assumed patient care. He was transported to Capital Health Systems at Hopewell for further treatment. He was issued a summons for underage drinking.
...
A student reported a theft from Phelps Hall on Friday, Nov. 30 at 3:30 p.m. after realizing an unknown person entered her room sometime after Monday, Nov. 17 and removed $231.08. Nothing further has been reported.
...
Police received a report of criminal mischief at 1:55 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2 after a Pennington Road resident heard a group walk up his driveway. A voice yelled, “Do it!” and the man saw a male “pop the mirror off” of a car, reports said.
When police arrived, they noticed damage to the vehicle’s driver’s side mirror. Males matching the description provided by the resident were found, but the resident could not confidently identify anyone. Nothing further has been reported.
...
Signs belonging to the Center for the Arts, which were located outside of the Music Building, were reported stolen, according to police. A woman reported the theft at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 2. The two 12-by-18-inch white and blue signs had been located in the outside area adjacent to the building. These signs were unsecured and had gone missing sometime after 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 30.
Two other signs, secured to the music building with a bike chain, were defaced. The laminated front portion of the signs, which read “Center for the Arts The Nutcracker” were ripped off their plastic frame. Nothing further has been reported.
(12/05/12 4:55pm)
It is estimated that over 50 percent of college students change their major at least once, according to an MSNBC.com article. On average, students switch their majors two to three times.
These statistics have proven true for R. Barbara Gitenstein, who started out studying music at Duke University, went through a series of majors, and ultimately decided on English.
Today Gitenstein serves as the first female president of The College of New Jersey, but retains her collegiate love of literature (Emily Dickinson poetry is her favorite) and music (she’s an opera fan).
She has been at the College for 13 years and has seen the school progress, but still strives for improvement.
“I’ve never been interested in being a leader of a place that was broken,” Gitenstein said. “I like to work at places that are doing very well, but have the opportunity to be even better.”
Noting the ways the College has grown since she began in ’99, she said, “We’ve seen some wonderful improvement in the academic rigor of the institution, and the quality of the students, and the increasing enhancement of the fabulous faculty we’re attracting.”
Education has always been a huge part of Gitenstein’s life. Each institution she attended has provided her with mentors and affected the way she leads the College today.
For high school, President Gitenstein attended an all-girls boarding school.
“(Boarding schools) certainly make you mature very quickly,” she said. “You meet people from all sorts of different backgrounds and I think that helped me develop leadership skills as well as the ability to understand that people come from different places.”
This allowed her to gain self-confidence and observe women in positions of power.
After boarding school, she received her undergraduate degree from Duke University. Reflecting on her Duke experience, Gitenstein said, “I don’t think I knew it at the time, but it’s clear to me when I look back now that I always knew that I belonged in a college environment. I think the work is very exciting and it’s very important.”
Gitenstein then went to graduate school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned a Ph.D. in English and American Literature.
It was during her time at UNC Chapel Hill that she had the opportunity to work with American scholars, including C. Hugh Hulman, who became one of her mentors.
Other influential figures in Gitenstein’s life include the headmistress at her boarding school and her “very feisty and very bright” grandmother. Her grandma “knew how to make decisions and press the envelope and get things done. She had a great sense of humor.”
Similarly, Gitenstein knows how to get things done.
Since the summer, Gitenstein has written pieces for The Huffington Post with the goal of creating a conversation about the challenges of higher education, including the focus on price.
“Frankly, price is not the problem. Cost is the problem,” Gitenstein said.
Explaining the distinction, cost is the cost of the degree, not per year, she said. Some schools may be cheaper annually but require more years to graduate, thus making them more costly.
Another issue in higher education is the “disinvestment” in state institutions.
“When I came to The College of New Jersey, the state was supporting our general operations at about 60 percent. It’s now about 27 percent. That’s a big drop,” she said.
Gitenstein is thrilled that the Building Our Future Bond Act, which passed on Election Day, will provide much-needed support for New Jersey institutions of higher education.
“The strong support from the legislature and the Governor as well as business and union leadership was remarkable,” she said. “I am truly gratified by the support from the citizens of the state and look forward to TCNJ’s opportunity to be able to confirm their confidence that this investment will make a positive difference for the state and our students.”
Tying into other issues affecting the College, Gitenstein commented on conflict between Ewing residents and students residing off-campus.
She began by saying, “There is often a problem between institutions of higher education and the township in which they are situated. But I think it’s to everyone’s benefit to try and figure out how to negotiate that.”
“There are some of our students who are irresponsible, but the vast majority of our students are responsible and I am offended when the implication is that those who misbehave represent the student body,” she said. “I think that’s unfair. I think it’s an overgeneralization.”
She also explained that some community members may not want to accept the fact that they live in a college town and students will not necessarily be asleep or quiet at 10 p.m.
“My children didn’t when they were that age, so I certainly don’t expect the students to do that,” she said.
Another unrealistic expectation Gitenstein commented on is the idea that students may graduate and automatically find their dream job. “Don’t be discouraged if you have to start out not exactly where you dreamed,” she said.
Expanding upon this advice, she said, “Students need to realize it’s not just this economy, but in general, you might have to start out not where you imagined and then challenge yourself over the next several years to move ahead. That’s what happened to me and I turned out OK.”
(11/09/12 1:54am)
It’s become a tradition that almost any time my mom visits me at school, we head to Princeton’s House of Cupcakes. This is because we’re both slightly obsessed with their delicious cupcakes that come in a variety of flavors.
For this reason, I could not be more excited to learn recently that there’s a cupcake shop much closer to campus — located right here in Ewing.
Nestled inside Arctic Ice Cream at 22 Arctic Parkway, Let Them Eat Cake is a boutique bake shop that sells cupcakes, cakes, brownies, cookies, macaroons and more.
Some of the cupcakes are available every day — including red velvet, vanilla chocolate and chocolate chocolate — while others are seasonal, such as pumpkin spice. Other options include s’mores, carrot cake, almond joy and chocolate hazelnut.
The bake shop was opened by Joanne Canady-Brown and Danielle Janelli, a pair of friends from the Hoboken area.
The two were roommates in college and had been managers at the same restaurant, according to Janelli. Canady-Brown then moved to Ewing after she got married.
“We just found ourselves both unemployed at the same time and we’re like, you know what, there’s nothing down here and we both need a job. So we made our own,” Janelli recalled.
Let Them Eat Cake had their “grand opening” at last year’s Community Fest, selling cupcakes in the snow, Janelli said. This led to a few catering jobs and then in June they opened up at their current location when the space became available.
Though my friends and I had trouble finding Let Them Eat Cake at first and initially drove past it, once we were inside, we foudn that it was such an adorable little shop with so many delicious-looking desserts.
Since I went toward the end of the day, there were not as many options as usual, but I bought a dozen to share with my friends.
Some of the flavors were red velvet, pumpkin spice, carrot cake, chocolate cake with vanilla frosting, vanilla cake with chocolate frosting and Guiness Stout — a chocolate cupcake.
Another great part was that I happened to go on Election Day — so there were cupcakes with the Republican elephant and others that said “Vote Obama.” (They were patriotic — and delicious!)
Upon returning from the bake shop, I cut chunks from each of the flavors for my friends and me to try. We all had different opinions when it came to favorites.
Aside from the classic vanilla cake with chocolate frosting (which had tasty, rich chocolate frosting with sprinkles), the pumpkin spice was definitely my favorite. It had cream cheese buttercream frosting and the perfect amount of pumpkin.
The red velvet was one of my friend’s favorite flavors — and I agree it was good. Meanwhile, my other friend enjoyed the chocolate with vanilla frosting the most.
My conclusion is that you can’t really go wrong with any of these flavors. I definitely plan to return when they have the s’mores and banana foster flavors. The Oreo cupcake sounds delicious as well — the description says there’s an Oreo baked right inside.
The only slight downside is that the cupcakes are pricey if you plan to buy multiple. They’re $2.50 a piece, with a dozen costing $27. They definitely taste and look worth it, but some other shops offer deals where if you buy 10, you get two free.
Also, another bummer is that they’re not open on Mondays and have shortened hours on Sundays. But this is only problematic because it means I can’t go more often.
(11/08/12 1:26am)
This year’s fall break was extended longer than usual due to circumstances resulting from Hurricane Sandy.
Striking the East Coast with gusts of wind and rain on the evening of Monday, Oct. 29, the superstorm left unprecedented damage across the state.
Because of the power outages and extent of damage in New Jersey, campus was closed through Friday, Nov. 2.
“The total damage to the College was approximately $105,000,” said Matthew Golden, assistant vice president for Communications and College Relations, in an email. “This number will change as we get bids and estimates on the repair work, investigate warranties, insurance claims and assistance from the government.”
According to Golden, a preliminary assessment of damage included downed trees and limbs, roofing damage, broken windows and skylights, broken bench seating, ceiling damage due to leaks, fencing damage, damage to site lights, batting cage damage, a damaged generator and downed power lines.
None of the College’s residence halls lost power, but academic buildings and the Library did, according to an email sent to the students on Oct. 30. During that time period, students who were not on campus were advised to not return until Saturday, Nov. 3.
There were approximately 400 students on campus during the storm. The dorms were provided with power through the cogeneration power plant on campus, Golden explained.
“The College's electrical infrastructure is being used by the local utility, PSE&G, to bridge a gap in their system to feed power to the Ewing community,” Golden said. “Until this gap is repaired by the utility, the College's co-gen plant will operate in what is called ‘island mode,’ which protects much of the residential side of the College from outside electrical disruptions. While in island mode, our local substation, which predominantly powers academic buildings, is at risk for power outages if PSE&G has a disruption.”
Throughout the week, College Relations provided updates via email and text message to the College community.
The school also provided resources and assistance to its students, faculty and staff during the tough time. Faculty, staff members and their families were allowed to use Recreation Center showers over the weekend and could eat in the Dining Hall, Golden said.
“Our Facilities, Campus Police Services, Student Affairs, and Trenton State College Corporation staff did an incredible job of protect the campus and the community so that we could be up and running for classes on November 5,” Golden said. “Our Critical Incident Planning Group also did exemplary work in helping guide TCNJ through this storm.”
On Monday, President R. Barbara Gitenstein sent an email to the College community, acknowledging that some students and their families have experienced devastation from the storm and its aftermath.
“Our hope, as an institution, is that you can return to normal college life as quickly as possible,” Gitenstein’s email stated. “And we consider it our job, as college leaders, to help make that transition as easy as possible. We are concerned for your welfare, the welfare of your families, and for your continued success.”
Gitenstein encouraged anyone experiencing Sandy-related hardship to contact Student Affairs and explore options for aid through sources such as FEMA.
She concluded the messaging by saying, “Together, we can help each other overcome any challenge this disaster may have caused.”
(11/01/12 7:22pm)
Classes will resume on Monday, Nov. 5, according to a TCNJ Emergency Alert sent to the College community on Thursday. Residence halls will reopen on Saturday, Nov. 3 and students are encouraged to check in with Residential Education staff upon return.
The College has been officially closed through Friday, Nov. 2, according to a campus alert sent Tuesday. This is because academic buildings and the library were without power after Hurricane Sandy.
"Power has been restored, but travel throughout much of the state remains hazardous," said Matt Golden, associate vice president for Communications College Relations, in an email on Thursday afternoon.
"TCNJ has been taking steps throughout this tragic situation to safeguard and provide guidance to its community members," Golden said in an email statement. "We are now doing whatever we can to assist and accommodate our students, faculty, and staff, many of whom may have seen significant damage to their homes and towns."
Golden explained that the College is providing blocks of time when faculty and staff can use the Recreation Center showers this weekend if that is helpful to them. The dining halls will also be open to the faculty, staff and their families.
The campus-wide alert encouraged students to use their best judgment when returning to campus and be mindful of road closures as well as the availability of fuel. It also encouraged those who are considering carpooling to visit the College's iCarpool website.
During the storm, the residential buildings did not lose power. This is because power was provided by the campus cogeneration plant, Golden said.
According to Golden, there were about 400 students on campus throughout the storm. Students were provided with bags of pre-packaged food on Monday, Oct. 29.
After closing Monday at noon, Eickhoff opened on Tuesday with limited dining options. The dining hall hours for Thursday and Friday are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The C-Store also reopened on Tuesday. Its hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. For the weekend, it will open from 10 a.m. to midnight.
T-Dubs will also open this weekend from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to the TCNJ Dining Services website.
Now that power has been restored to campus, the College is opening its fitness centers to students this weekend, according to an email from College Relations.
The Aquatic Center will open from 11 a.m. to 3 pm on Saturday and from 3 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The Physical Enhancement Center will be open from 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Recreation Center will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and 12 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Students should carry TCNJ ID if intending to use any of these facilities, the email said.
The College's Hotline is currently not functional, according to the campus alert.
Explaining issues with phone service, the alert stated: "Telephone service to TCNJ’s campus is working inconsistently. Our telephone service provider, Verizon Business Systems, has been notified and is addressing the problem along with other regional telephone outages. Campus phones are functioning for on-campus calls but calls from off-campus do not get through."
(10/30/12 7:03pm)
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As a result of Hurricane Sandy, academic buildings located near the back of campus are without power, according to an email from College Relations on Tuesday. For this reason, the College will be closed through Friday, Nov. 2.
"Throughout our region, damage from Hurricane Sandy has been unprecedented and power outages in New Jersey will be longterm. PSE&G is unable to provide a date or time for return of service," the email stated.
Regarding damage on campus, "Some fencing by the tennis courts is down, as are several trees, but we are still assessing damage," said Matt Golden, associate vice president for Communications and College Relations, in an email.
According to the email from College Relations, students are encouraged to proceed with caution when traveling around campus, because grounds crews are still assessing and dealing with the damages from the high winds of the storm
There are adequate power and supplies for the students already on campus, but students, faculty and staff who are currently off campus are encouraged not to return at this time, the email continued.
Eickhoff Dining Hall will be open on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday through Friday. The C-Store is open Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., the email said.
(10/26/12 5:56pm)
Despite their differences, many N.J. legislators from both parties agree on an issue this Election Day.
According to Senate President Steve Sweeney, the Building Our Future Bond Act is an initiative the state's Democrat and Republican leaders support.
On Nov. 6, New Jersey residents will have the opportunity to vote on this referendum, which would invest $750 million in the state’s higher education system. It is estimated that $22-$26 million of that amount would be invested in the College.
If passed, this bond will represent the first time in 24 years that the state has made such an investment in higher education. It also will benefit the state's economy as a whole, creating labor and construction jobs.
A campus press conference was held on Wednesday, Oct. 24, where Senator Sweeney joined President R. Barbara Gitenstein in discussing the potential positive impact of passing the bond.
Before speaking in front of students, Gitenstein took Sweeney on a tour of Holman Hall.
“This is an ugly building,” Sweeney said, upon seeing Holman.
“It’s also inadequate,” Gitenstein quickly added.
Built in 1973, Holman would be demolished if the bond passes. While the building still holds offices and some classrooms, it is underused and outdated.
It would be replaced by a new building, focused on science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health science. It would promote interdisciplinary studies and feature cutting-edge research facilities, Gitenstein explained.
Throughout the press conference, speakers highlighted the high quality of the College’s students, but noted that in order to keep up with competition across the country, better facilities are necessary.
Each speaker brought a distinct reason why supporting the bill would be beneficial to the campus community.
Tom Bracken, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce president and former member of the board of trustees, commented on how the bond would be a worthwhile investment, noting the economical advantages.
“This from a financial standpoint should be considered a slam-dunk,” Bracken said. “We need to enhance the quality of the work force by enhancing our college facilities. This bond act will do that.”
Debbie Hart, president of BioNJ and a College alumna, shared how the biotechnology industry is growing in New Jersey, but emphasized that in order to remain competitive, students need the most innovative equipment.
By passing the bond, students would be able to be equipped to compete on a national level and retain the College's great reputation for chemists and other science majors, according to Hart.
Student Government President Christina Kopka spoke about her pride in the school and why this bond would allow the College to further flourish.
“Students here at TCNJ and across the state have lobbied our legislators for years about the need for state support and funding at our New Jersey colleges and universities,” Kopka said. “It’s an incredible privilege and honor to see the fruits of our labor on the ballot this year.”
“This also means a restoration of faith in our legislators, to come together over what is truly important,” she continued. “Transcending party lines for the greater good of our students, our educational system, and most importantly our state.”
The main message conveyed by the speakers was that the future of the school’s enhancement lies in whether or not people answer “yes” to public question one on the ballot.
Because of the direct impact it would have on the student body, Sweeney urged the campus to be active on Election Day.
“It’s called Building Our Future, right? It is your future,” Sweeney said to students as he concluded the press conference. “The sky’s the limit for you.”
(10/09/12 9:23pm)
Up until this school year, I always thought I had to venture to Princeton when craving frozen yogurt.
Nassau Street tends to be a hub for froyo, with delicious destinations like Twist and Fruity Yogurt. I’m also fond of the Bent Spoon and Thomas Sweet. While all of that Ivy League ice cream is great, it’s a somewhat far distance to travel 20 minutes just for dessert.
I was delighted to recently find out that we have a frozen yogurt shop right here in Ewing. Located at 195 Scotch Rd., Yo~Licious Twist is only a short drive from campus and covers all of the same bases as Red Mango, 16 Handles, etc.
From cookies and fresh fruit, to Reese’s peanut butter cups and chocolate chips, Yo~Licious features an array of toppings and sauces to put atop your frozen yogurt, sorbet and ice cream.
Yo~Licious is a self-serve spot, where you place however much yogurt you want in a cup, add toppings and weigh it at the register to determine the price. The prices are reasonable and I spent less than $5.
Just a warning: You can only pay in cash, so be sure to visit the ATM beforehand. Also, the cups only come in one size and are rather large — so be wary of over-indulging.
Whenever I visit froyo places, I usually face the dilemma of not knowing what to choose — basically I get overwhelmed by all of the options. Since I’m indecisive, I try small amounts of various flavors and then pick a few toppings.
During my trip to Yo~Licious, I chose four of the six available flavors. These included kiwi-strawberry, chocolate, cake batter and cookies ’n cream. When it came to toppings, I added strawberries, mini peanut butter cups and candy rocks. I chose the candy rocks because they were colorful, but they were overly crunchy and looked prettier than they tasted.
It was definitely not the best frozen yogurt I’ve ever had, but at the same time, when you choose your own toppings and flavors, you can’t really go wrong. Overall, the yogurt tasted decent, but the flavors did not really go together. This is probably partly my own fault. Even though they were all seemingly delicious things combined into one cup, the flavors lost their distinctness and all melted together.
Though I enjoyed the trip, I’m pretty sure I prefer the flavor selection at Princeton’s Twist, where they have red velvet and peanut butter. Still, if you don’t feel like traveling all that way, Yo~Licious is definitely a suitable substitute. Also, I just saw on their Facebook page that they now have pumpkin-flavored yogurt. That makes it seem worth a trip back!
(10/09/12 6:40pm)
Beneath tents on Quimby’s Prairie, local organizations and businesses joined student volunteers for a day filled with food, live performances and more.
Ewing residents and College students congregated on campus for the township’s annual Community Fest on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Each autumn, the College partners with Ewing Township and Ewing schools for this day-long event.
Throughout the day, bands and local choirs provided live music on a large stage set up behind Green Hall.
With inflatable obstacle courses, crafts and face-painting, there were activities for guests of all ages.
Various student organizations volunteered at the event.
Lions’ Emergency Medical Services provided blood pressure screenings and were on-call to respond to any emergencies, including if anyone needed a bandage.
Speaking of this year’s event, Megan Wyles, junior biology major and deputy chief of Lions’ EMS, said, “I think Community Fest on Quimby’s Prairie is a lot more conducive to the family vibe. It’s always good, but it’s better this way.” In previous years, the event was held in the campus parking lots.
Members of the College’s American Medical Student Association had a table for Alex’s Lemonade Stand, a charity that raises funds for childhood cancer research. The group gave away lemonade and collected donations.
AMSA President and senior biology major Jaya Kanduri said, “We know childhood cancer research is consistently underfunded and it’s an organization our chapter feels strongly about supporting.”
Among the many tables were representation from Mercer county political groups, Pennington Family Chiropractors, the Coalition for Medical Marijuana and the Body Language Dance Center.
Another group that had a table was Womanspace, a local not-for-profit agency that provides services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse, including shelter and counseling.
When explaining why they were there, Susan Adams, coordinator of volunteers and community outreach, said, “Our main purpose here is for people to learn who we are.”
“A woman will walk by and it may register who we are, but she hasn’t had the strength yet to come to us,” Adams continued, “and just seeing our name might be that moment where she says, ‘I do need to call.’”
In the past, various College organizations, including Anti-Violence Initiatives and Women in Learning and Leadership, have partnered with Womanspace.
While the event was a way to integrate members of the community with the College, there were considerably more Ewing residents in attendance than College students.
(10/02/12 9:56pm)
Brothers of the Alpha Chi Rho fraternity had a charitable campout last week.
Starting on Sept. 25, AXP held their fifth Habitat for Humanity fundraiser, benefiting Habitat for Humanity’s Trenton branch. They broke their own record and earned $1,005 in proceeds.
“The brothers of AXP camp out on Green Lawn regardless of weather for three days and two nights and we ask for donations and inform people of volunteer opportunities for Habitat,” said Steve Sipaque, philanthropy co-chair for the fraternity.
The purpose is to raise funds and awareness for “the rising problem of homelessness and poverty,” according to Sipaque.
“Being so close to Trenton, TCNJ students are always made aware of the harsh realities of Trenton, and I know many of us in AXP were affected and moved to take a stand and help,” Sipaque said.
This fundraiser was started in fall of 2010 by Dave Patel and his fellow brothers when they were looking for ways to further increase positive relations between the fraternity and the community.
“What also makes this event so successful is that it requires $0 in startup and all proceeds go directly to Habitat,” Sipaque said.
Trenton Habitat volunteers are involved in soup kitchens, home construction, and other efforts.
To further help the cause, the brothers of AXP plan on raffling off a piece of furniture donated by Habitat’s REstore, where donations of furniture and appliances are refurnished and sold cheap, located at 106 Ewing St. inTrenton.
Sipaque extended thanks to his co-chair Kevin Schenk, his fraternity brothers, the Habitat liasion Chelsea Naylor and the TCNJ community.
AXP began its fundraiser with a goal of $500, but reached this by the end of the first day. The second day they upped it to $800 and after reaching that, shot for $1,000. They wound up beating that by $5.
“Everyone was pleasantly surprised,” Sipaque said, “and I can only attribute our success in doubling last semester’s donations to the hard work of the brotherhood and the benevolent attitudes of everyone at TCNJ.”
(09/26/12 5:37pm)
Essentially a canine celebrity, students may be familiar with Dean Benjamin Rifkin’s dog Webster from his campus visits. Rifkin acted as a pup publicist, answering questions for The Signal on behalf of his four-legged friend.
Technically a golden retriever, Rifkin explained that Webster prefers to just be called a “golden,” because he does not see a point in chasing after inanimate objects.
In May 2004, the Rifkin family adopted Webster through the “Rescue a Golden of Minnesota” program. Webster is estimated to be 10.5 years old now.
Tummy rubs and ear scratches are Webster’s weaknesses, and he loves leaning against whoever scratches him.
Webster’s favorite food? “Whatever I am eating at the given moment,” Rifkin said.
His favorite campus location is Alumni Grove, Rifkin said, “because that’s where the action is: people moving between books and food and sometimes they drop the food … And the squirrels.” He enjoys attempting to chase squirrels.
“Another thing Webster loves about TCNJ is PAWS. He thinks that the symbol of PAWS looks just like his own paws,” Rifkin explained.
When asked what dogs Webster admires, Rifkin said, “I think his number one role model is Ben, a golden retriever who appeared as Shadow in ‘Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.’ Part of the reason he likes Ben is that he thinks that Ben has a very cool name.”
Tied for second place are Buddy from “Airbud” and Paddington from the Bush’s Baked Beans commercials.
Though a fan of “Airbud,” Webster is not the most successful canine athlete himself. According to Rifkin, “He has on occasion while playing with another dog run into a tree or a person. My daughter once called him a klutz and I told her that that’s just another reason why we know he is a true member of our family.”
To learn more about Webster's owner, Dean Rifkin, click here.
