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(04/26/06 12:00pm)
This may be the last article I ever write for a newspaper. My impending graduation means graduate school, and that graduate school program is not in journalism.
Hopeful as I am about freelance writing, this may very well be the last time I sit at my computer, mere minutes before deadline, searching for words that mean anything.
My time at The Signal (a meager one-and-a-half years, nothing compared to the lifers who have spent every waking moment of college in the student center basement) has been exceptional, not because of the work but because of the experience.
I have learned more about delegation, responsibility, ambition and limitation from working on formatting a movie review at 3 a.m. than I ever did from a job or a class.
I have worked with people who get no sleep and little pay, who care about nothing but making a respectable newspaper, who are heartbroken when that dream falls short.
If I have left this office with nothing else, I know now that the Signal staff, I imagine like most other campus organizations, takes pride in what they do right. And takes responsibility for what they do wrong.
I wanted this position because I felt it had potential. Now I know that with that potential comes a great deal of limitation. In the immortal words of the Rolling Stones, you can't always get what you want.
I wanted the A&E section under my leadership to be the best it has ever been. I don't think I've reached that goal.
But know that I have tried to do this subject some justice. The attempt to keep you interested was heartfelt.
To my writers, you have been a pleasure. I've been in that position, trying to meet a deadline, dodging calls and e-mails from your editor because you haven't got quotes or a lede and you are already two hours over. I appreciate all the hard work you've done.
To my friends, the staff I've worked with so closely since I was just a wise-ass entertainment assistant, thank you. You have believed in me more than I did. I never would have joined staff had it not been for the encouragement of my first news editor.
I never would have been an all-important news editor myself if you did not ask me to. And I never would have felt comfortable making the changes in the A&E section if you were not behind me. I will miss you all, and carry you with me.
To the campus, those of you who read this paper and my section, thank you. Although sometimes we may lose sight in the blur of layout and corrections, we do this for you.
(03/29/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, March 8, at 9:15 a.m., two officers on foot patrol walked by an unoccupied and parked 1995 white Chevrolet pickup truck owned by the College on Metzger Drive.
Upon inspecting the vehicle to see if it was secured, the officers smelled what they believed to be burnt marijuana emanating from the vehicle's interior. The passenger window of the vehicle was rolled down about two inches.
At this time, one officer opened the passenger door, which could not be secured because of a broken door lock, and detected a stronger odor of marijuana. Two more officers responded to assist with the investigation.
No weapons or contraband were in plain view in the vehicle.
At 9:35 a.m., two male students arrived on the scene. The officers observed both students had glassy, bloodshot eyes. The first student told Campus Police that he and the second student had signed the van out between 8:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. that morning, from John Carter, housekeeping supervisor.
During the interview, the second student said that the first student drove the vehicle to Green Lane Fields, where both students smoked marijuana. After smoking, the first student operated the vehicle before stopping at Eickhoff Hall for a meal break.
The first student corroborated the second student's story.
Both students were escorted to Carter's office in Wolfe Hall. They returned the truck keys and signed out of work.
There is no further information at this time.
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On Thursday, March 9, at 10:50 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Cromwell Hall on a report of criminal mischief.
Upon arrival, an officer met with Tom Scheuren, sophomore year experience residence director. Scheuren showed the officer graffiti written in a men's bathroom stall.
The graffiti read "Hail Hitler, cromwell Nazi youth, Fuck College highschool Rock Bitch WHS Represent!, This Machine Kills nigers, karmic juggernaut and two swastikas!"
Staff told Campus Police that the graffiti was not there the previous day.
Building Services was notified to clean the writing.
There are no suspects or further information at this time.
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On Sunday, March 19, at 5:20 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Wolfe Hall on a report of a theft.
The student told an officer that some time between 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10, and 4:20 p.m. on March 19, an unknown person had removed her Dell laptop computer from the top drawer of her desk.
The student said that she had placed the laptop in the top middle drawer of her desk before she left for Spring Break. The student told the officer that she left her room at 12:30 p.m. on March 10. Her roommate left after her, at 2:30 p.m. on the same day.
The student filled out an inventory of stolen property sheet and an informal statement.
The student was given a copy of the case number and advised that a report would be on file.
There is no further information at this time.
(03/08/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 2 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Cromwell Hall on a report of possible drug use.
Upon arrival, officers noticed a strong odor of what they believed to be tobacco smoke emanating from the reported room.
After obtaining permission from one of the residents to enter the room, the officers observed, in plain view, an empty plastic container labeled for pipe tobacco and a pack of EZ Wider rolling papers. The objects were on the desk of the other resident, who was present at the time.
When questioned, the student said that the rolling papers were used to roll his own cigarettes.
An investigation for any signs of drug possession was negative.
While exiting the room, one of the officers observed a sheath holding a 36-inch metal sword hanging from the student's wall in plain view.
The student said he found the sword while walking down the street in town, and was unable to recall the specific location. He was advised of the College's regulations regarding weapons on campus, and the sword was confiscated.
The sword will be held in the property room at Campus Police Headquarters until the student can retrieve it to take it home.
There is no further information at this time.
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On Sunday, Feb. 26, at 10:25 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to New Residence Hall on a report of criminal mischief.
Upon arrival, officers spoke with a witness, who said that between 10:15 p.m. Saturday and the time of the call, an unknown person wrote graffiti on the low side stairwell wall.
The graffiti read "Smut the Bitch" and was written in black and red marker.
The witness did not know who wrote the graffiti, but said that he saw the same phrase written in chalk on the sidewalk outside of New Residence Hall.
There is no further information at this time.
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On Saturday, Feb. 18, at 9:30 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Eickhoff Hall on a report of a theft.
Upon arrival, officers met with a Sodexho manager, who said that he was counting out daily cash sales in his office at about 8:55 p.m. when several employees asked him for help clocking out.
The manager said he then placed the $157 cash partially under his desk keyboard and exited to help the employees. The door to the office was left partially open and not secure.
When he returned to the office at 9 p.m., the manager found the money missing.
A search of the immediate area yielded no evidence.
The manager told officers that three employees were still in the building at the time of the theft. Campus Police requested a copy of the time-clock information and other employee information.
There is no further information at this time.
(03/01/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday Feb. 15, at 5:10 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Wolfe Hall on a report of an intoxicated male.
Upon arrival, officers found a student sitting up on his bed. The student appeared conscious and alert. When questioned, he told officers that he had consumed two shots of vanilla vodka and four or five beers in his room between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m.
The student told officers that he called 911 on himself because he wanted to completely eliminate any alcohol from his system. He also told officers he wanted to be punished for drinking alcoholic beverages.
Lions' EMS was called to assist and evaluate the student. Area Director Tom Sheuren was also notified and responded. Lions' EMS found the student's vitals to be normal, and he was allowed to stay in his room.
The student was issued a summons for underage drinking.
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On Tuesday Feb. 14, at midnight, Campus Police was dispatched to Centennial Hall on a report of an intoxicated male.
Upon arrival, officers found a student outside the Centennial Hall doors. The student was taken to the hall lobby for questioning, at which time he told officers he had consumed a liter of vodka at an off-campus party earlier that night.
The student's speech was slurred and he was incoherent when answering questions.
At this time, the student tried to flee questioning by running out the front doors to Centennial, but he lost his balance, fell in the mud and snow, and was apprehended. The student told the apprehending officer, "That was stupid. I won't do that anymore." The student was placed in the back of the Campus Police patrol car, and began yelling obscenities at the officer and Campus Police in general.
After more officers responded to the scene, the student was brought back into Centennial Hall for medical evaluation. Lions' EMS and Pennington Road Squad 132 was called to assist and evaluate the student.
The student was transported to Capital Health System Mercer Campus for further treatment. He was issued a summons for underage drinking and a summons for obstruction of law or other governmental function.
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On Friday Feb. 17, at 4:10 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Centennial Hall on a report of trespassing and harassment.
Upon arrival, officers met with a female student who said that she had a verbal altercation with another female student on her floor over returning a missing cell phone.
The victim told officers that the accused came to her room, opened the door, which was closed but not locked, and entered without permission. According to the victim, the accused then said, "Are you scared? Are you scared? You should be, because I'm going to slap the shit out of you!"
The victim said she told accused to leave, and the accused exited while the victim called Campus Police for assistance.
During the confrontation, the victim's roommate was present and gave an informal statement corroborating the victim's account.
At this time, officers visited the student in her room down the hall. The accused said she did not threaten the victim, but did enter her room without permission and confront her about the missing cell phone.
The victim did not want to sign a complaint against the accused at this time, but requested that the accused no longer contact her. The accused agreed to comply with the victim's request.
There is no further information at this time.
(02/22/06 12:00pm)
Anyone who knows me has heard me say "I need a new scene" quite a bit in the last month. That's not to bash my current world, but the obscene cold, the longing for spring and the fact that this is my last semester of college make me want something new. Something different.
This goes for my entertainment life, too. I'm sick of everything I listen to and own. I think I watched "The Dreamers" four times last week. And if I listen to the Panic! At the Disco or new Jenny Lewis albums one more time, I'm going to ruin them forever. So I compiled a list of my guilty pleasures - the entertainment mainstays that are treating my spring fever.
"200 Cigarettes"
It has Christina Ricci, Paul Rudd, Casey Affleck in eyeliner and a surprisingly coherent Courtney Love. It also has very little plot other than campy '80s dialogue and a New Year's party that somehow involves Elvis Costello. Last winter, when the blizzard immobilized campus for one January weekend, my comrades and I decided to have a Paul Rudd movie marathon. "200 Cigarettes" was our saving grace.
"Kids"
On the other side of the happy/sad binary is "Kids," the 1995 film that left me speechless, disgusted and terrified of AIDS. In the world of film, where people are in control and endings are usually happy, this movie is a breath of fresh air. It's not the kind of thing you can watch every day. But if you ever feel down or think you are going nowhere, watch "Kids." And since this film launched Rosario Dawson's career, know you aren't completely lost.
"Secretary"
An S&M love story? You may scoff at my selection and say "James Spader is creepy" (agreed) or "Maggie Gyllenhaal is hotter than this movie makes her look" (again, agreed), but every time I watch it, I laugh a little more. I don't think that it's supposed to be a funny movie, but Gyllenhaal's Lee is so adorably eager to please, and Spader is so good at being a creepy guy with moments of awkward sexiness, it's hard to not laugh sometimes. Just don't expect your parents to feel the same way.
"Cruel Intentions"
There is something about a pretentious, manipulative, incestuous love story that makes me weak in the knees. Or maybe not. I could never pinpoint why I love this movie so much. It's terribly sad. And funny. And Selma Blair's naive Cecile is one of cinema's most annoying creations. But when I'm feeling bored and in need of sophomore- year-of-high-school nostalgia, "Cruel Intentions" has never done me wrong.
"Go"
Anyone who saw "Pieces of April" knows it is kind of fun to see Katie Holmes act like a badass. "Go" is her transition piece. She plays the nice girl who is caught up in a drug deal gone wrong, showing a little of her wild side in the process. The ensemble cast that includes Jay Mohr, Scott Wolf and Taye Diggs makes for an aesthetically pleasing movie. And the No Doubt song that rolls with the credits is good for dancing around your room before your roommate gets home from class. Or so I hear.
"Gia"
There is crappy jazz-lite background music, documentary-style cinematography and terrible '70s costuming. But there is also Angelina Jolie, drugs and mayhem. "Gia" is an HBO movie that is based on the true story of "America's first supermodel," Gia Marie Carangi. If it is a true story, then that chick was crazy - and so much fun to watch. The movie is dry at points, and really sad at the end, but it is the best quick fix of insane Angelina I've got to offer. And seeing Jolie back to her old, unpredictable self is kind of nice in these glamour and goodwill times.
They may not be critically acclaimed masterpieces, or even movies I put in my Facebook profile, but these films shocked me out of my annual midwinter media rut. Hopefully you will check them out. Or better yet, send us a list of your own.
(02/15/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 5:40 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the New Library on a report of harassment.
Upon arrival, officers met with a female student who said that while using AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) on a library computer, she received alarming messages from an unidentified user from the screen names "NaturallyMe28" and "Haunting4u001."
The messages said "Look behind you and watch your back," "Keep your doors and windows locked" and "You talk smart for a dead girl." The user identified himself only as John, but he knew the student's name and was trying to get to know her, the student told police.
There is no further information at this time.
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On Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 2:10 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the outdoor basement level of the Travers and Wolfe Hall link on a drug possession call.
Upon arrival, officers met with another officer, who witnessed two male students outside the dining hall glass. The officer said he saw the first student sitting on the steps and attempting to roll a marijuana cigarette while the second student watched.
The officer then approached and detained the two students while he waited for more officers to respond. While detaining the students, the officer observed a bag of green, leafy vegetation, which he believed to be marijuana. He also observed a pack of "E-Z Wider" rolling papers.
When asked, the first student told officers that the bag was his marijuana and that he and his friend were planning to smoke it. The first student was handcuffed and searched and the second student was taken to Campus Police Headquarters.
There is no further information at this time.
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On Friday, Feb. 3 at 1:45 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Travers Hall on a report of a disturbance.
Upon arrival, officers met with a male student who said he had been struck in the head during an altercation.
At that time, Lions' EMS was called and arrived minutes later to treat the victim for a contusion on the left side of his forehead.
After being treated, the victim told officers that the argument started when he entered a room on the sixth floor of Travers Hall and pushed a friend of the suspect. The suspect, another male student, started to yell loudly at the victim, at which time the victim left the room and went back to his own.
The suspect followed the victim to his room, knocked on the door and was let in by the victim. When the victim turned his back, he told police, the suspect grabbed him in a bear hug. The victim became scared and started to struggle with the suspect. To get the suspect to release his grip, the victim told him "I'm getting a knife," at which point the suspect struck the victim on the head with his fist.
The suspect then left the area to cool off. As the officers took the victim's statement, the suspect returned to the area and gave officers a similar version of the events.
The knife in question was a small-edged implement attached to a nail file. The community advisor (CA) on the scene was told to call Campus Police if any more problems arise. Both the victim and suspect were advised that a report of the incident would be on file.
There is no further information at this time.
(02/08/06 12:00pm)
"Nah man, don't move to Manhattan," Daniel, a Starbucks union organizer and my new-found friend, said. "Manhattan's over. Brooklyn's cool."
And he was seemingly right. When our managing editor Ashley and I got off the Q train in Flatbush on Saturday, we had ambitions of a book signing.
In the hour we spent on the borough's streets, we found much more.
Our mini-odyssey began with the new book "Generation Debt: Why Now is a Terrible Time to Be Young" by Village Voice writer Anya Kamenetz.
As a fellow twenty-something, Kamenetz writes a column by the same title about the bleak future, both financial and otherwise, of our generation. As avid Voice readers, we were familiar with Kamenetz's work.
And when Ashley told me she was going to be doing an event in Brooklyn, I was sold.
The event took place at a bookstore/coffeehouse called Vox Pop, that also sold pints of beer.
The store was only slightly bigger than a dorm room, a surprising site for the event given the subject matter and location.
We arrived late, as usual, and had missed the speech Kamenetz gave.
But luckily, as our friend Daniel pointed out while recruiting us to spread the word about his union as we walked in, Kamenetz was still inside.
"You guys came at the perfect time," he said. "You caught her when she was already relaxed."
When we walked in, I was struck by how young Kamenetz actually was.
It was refreshing to see that the person who cared about our generation's future was actually one of us.
She shared her appreciation for young people reading her column, and expressed an interest in coming to speak on campus.
The entire scene felt like a grassroots networking organization, with everyone spreading word about their individual causes to parties who were genuinely interested in learning more.
Vox Pop, which translated from Latin means "voice of the people," was exactly what you would expect from an outer-borough multi-tasker with a slogan like "Books, Coffee, Democracy."
With a wall of alternative books on the left, a coffee bar with off-beat beer varieties like Red Point and Blue Point on tap on the right, and a small performance stage at the rear, the space looked like a hipster's wet dream.
But the store's packed events calendar indicates a deeper social interest.
Aesthetically, Vox Pop, like its home borough, is unbearably cool.
But it appears to have the social consciousness to back it up.
As we wandered back to the Cortelyou subway station with Daniel and a fellow union worker in tow, I was reminded of my early Brooklyn education.
"You don't want to go to Brooklyn," an adult in my life once said. "You never know what you might find."
Thankfully, she was right.
(02/08/06 12:00pm)
On Sunday, Jan. 22, at 2 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the third floor of New Residence Hall on a report of criminal mischief.
Upon arrival, an officer met with a New Residence community advisor (CA) who said that some time between 11 p.m. on Jan. 20 and 4 a.m. on Jan 21, an unknown person wrote "Fuck Off" and "Balls in Your Face" on the wall in permanent marker.
Next to the words was a drawing of a large phallic symbol with a happy face on top.
The CA had already notified the office of Residential and Community Development through staff member Steven Bobo.
Campus Police notified Building Services via voicemail and requested timely cleanup.
On Friday, Jan. 27, at 4:30 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to New Residence Hall on a similar report of criminal mischief.
An officer met with the same CA, who said that some time between 12:30 a.m. on Thursday Jan. 26 and 9 a.m. on Jan. 27, someone had drawn pictures of male genitalia on the wall between rooms 326 and 327.
The CA told officers she did not know who was responsible for the drawings, and informed them of the similar incident earlier in the week.
There are no suspects or witnesses at this time.
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On Thursday, Jan 26, at 2:30 p.m., Campus Police received a complaint of harassment.
An officer spoke with a female student, who claimed she had been receiving harassing phone calls on her cell phone.
The student said that the phone calls began in June 2003. She told police that a female voice calls her at random times of the day and night and breathes heavily into the phone.
The victim said that she has changed her phone number and service provider several times, but has continued to receive the calls.
The victim told an officer that in September 2005 the caller began to speak and leave verbal messages like "So what are you doing?"
The victim said the caller had never threatened her or said anything foul or abusive. At times, the victim could hear other female voices in the background of the calls.
The last call the victim received was at 12:20 p.m. that day. The calls have only come to the victim's cell phone, and she has contacted her service provider for support, to no avail.
The victim was advised to obtain a hard copy of the report and given a copy of her case number.
There is no further information at this time.
(02/01/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Jan. 25 at approximately 12:30 p.m. in Brower Student Center, a complaint was phoned in to Campus Police about a man masturbating on a bench outside Room 202. According to witnesses, the man was seen making masturbatory gestures underneath a newspaper in his lap.
Campus Police responded to the scene, questioning the man although no witnesses stayed at the scene to make a statement. A background check revealed the man had an outstanding warrant for an outstanding child support payment. He was then transferred to the Mercer County Sheriff's Department.
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On Friday, Jan. 20 at 9:10 p.m., Campus Police found two homeless men building a campfire in the woods next to Lake Sylva.
Automated Traffic System/Automated Complaint System (ATS/ACS) checks revealed active warrants out of Trenton and Asbury Park for one of the men. Both men were taken to Campus Police Headquarters for further questioning.
The man with active warrants was taken into custody for $2,500 in bail issued on Nov. 22, 2005.
The other man was advised and released.
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On Wednesday Jan. 18, at 5:10 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Lot 2 on a report of a stolen motor vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers met with an assistant professor in the School of Nursing who said that she had parked her blue 2004 Toyota Camry XLE in Lot 2 at 10:05 a.m. She told officers she locked the car and placed the keys in her coat pocket.
When the professor returned to retrieve her car that evening, she could not find it. A subsequent search of other campus parking lots yielded no results.
At this time, she was transported to Campus Police Headquarters to complete an informal statement and an inventory of stolen property. Her car was entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database to track stolen vehicles.
At 7:20 p.m., Campus Police Headquarters received an NCIC hit confirmation request from the Bristol Township Police in Bucks County, Pa. The request said that the professor's vehicle was recovered and towed to a local auto service station.
An officer from the Bristol Township Police Department informed Campus Police that the vehicle was found in the Bloomsdale section of Bristol, and two suspects were taken into custody.
At 7:45 p.m., the professor received the information to retrieve her vehicle.
(01/25/06 12:00pm)
For college students, sleep is rarely a priority.
And on Friday, about 70 students at the College will put their insomniac mettle to the test during WIRED, a 24-hour theater festival in which students write, rehearse and perform six original plays.
The event culminates in a performance of all six plays on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Travers-Wolfe main lounge.
This year, WIRED is sponsored by three campus organizations: All College Theatre (ACT), Inter-Greek Council (IGC) and ink. Each organization is represented by an arbiter, who casts his or her vote for best overall play, best writing in a play and best acting in a play.
This year's arbiters are James Van Strander, junior philosophy major representing ACT, Bethany Allinder, senior English major representing ink, and Gabe Alonso, junior business administration/marketing major representing IGC.
If WIRED sounds unique for this area, that's because it is. "We are the only people in New Jersey to be doing anything like this," Allinder said.
WIRED first appeared at the College in March 2004, and has been performed annually ever since. This year, close to 40 actors, 12 playwrights, six directors and six production assistants are expected to participate.
While applications for actors, directors and playwrights were due on Sunday, there is still a need for production assistants.
"We can't have enough," Allinder said. "And there is no prior experience necessary."
Even with no prerequisite experience, an impending deadline, few resources and no sleep, WIRED has managed to produce many high-quality productions.
"You'd be surprised at the quality of the writing that comes out of this," Allinder said. "Entire plays come from $30 worth of props."
With many students still settling into the swing of the new semester, it is easy to question the timing of the event. But the start of the semester is one of the few times students at the College are not bogged down with homework and other events.
"Let's face it, January is a dead month," Allinder said. "It's perfect because WIRED requires so much sustained energy."
Though WIRED is a lot of work in a very short amount of time, the experience is worth it for its participants.
"The amazing randomness of the whole 24 hours," Allinder said. "It is an experience like none other."
(12/07/05 12:00pm)
VOX petitions school insurance to cover pill
Voices of Planned Parenthood (VOX) at the College recently collected signatures during its "Right to Choose Day" to support coverage of birth control by school insurance.
Currently, the school's insurance plan does not cover any form of female contraceptive. The petition to bring birth control under the College's student insurance plan is part of a larger effort by Planned Parenthood to achieve "contraceptive equity."
Many health insurance plans across the nation cover sexual health products for men, such as the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra, but still do not cover the birth control pill and other forms of female contraceptives.
Forrester, wife sponsor entreprenuer series
Former gubernatorial candidate Doug Forrester and his wife Andrea are sponsoring the speaker series "Entrepreneurship for the Public Good," which begins Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m., in the Library auditorium.
The College's Bonner Center for Civic and Community Engagement is presenting the program, which will focus on entrepreneurial efforts to benefit the greater society.
"Thanks to the support of Doug and Andrea Forrester, we are able to bring together this group of successful and community conscious nonprofit and business leaders for a program that will enlighten those in attendance about the possibilities and rewards of public entrepreneurship," David Prensky, director of the Bonner Center, said.
Scheduled presenters include Stacy Holland, chief operations officer of Philadelphia Youth Network, Tom Szaky, chief executive officer of TerraCycle, Inc., Alfa Demmellash, executive director and Alex Forrester, chief operating officer, of Rising Tide Capital, and Hans Dekker, president of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.
Albertine re-elected to CCAS board
Susan Albertine, dean of the School of Culture and Society, was recently re-elected to the Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) Board of Directors at its annual meeting in Vancouver, British Columbia in early November.
Albertine will serve a three-year term on the board. The CCAS is "the largest organization of arts and sciences deans in the country," according to a press release on the College's Web site.
(11/30/05 12:00pm)
On Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8:15 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Eickhoff Hall on a report of an unconscious person.
An officer reported that he had received an anonymous call stating that there was a male student sleeping near the exit door since 3:30 a.m.
Upon arrival, officers observed the student sleeping on the floor in the fetal position. The student emanated a strong smell of alcohol.
Officers attempted to wake the student by shaking his foot and yelling "Are you OK?" and "Can you hear me?" The student responded with an indecipherable grunt.
Officers proceeded to bang on a metal garbage can for approximately 10 minutes in an attempt to wake the student.
The student finally moved into a sitting position and explained to officers that he had consumed an unidentified quantity of beer and shots at a "wrestling party." The student said he was going to visit friends in Eickhoff and had "no idea" why he was sleeping in the lobby.
Lions' EMS and professional staff responded and evaluated the student. He was still slurring his speech and slightly disoriented during the Lions' EMS treatment.
The student was issued a summons for being under the influence of alcohol underage.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Sunday, Oct. 30, at 1:35 a.m., Campus Police observed a male student hunched over next to the fence on the Sundial Lawn.
Closer examination revealed that the student was urinating on the fence.
When the officer turned the patrol car spotlight on the student and exited the vehicle, the student continued urinating for five seconds and then noticed the officer approaching.
The student then pulled up his pants and attempted to walk away. The officer called the student over to inquire about his actions.
The officer noticed that the student smelled of alcohol, had bloodshot eyes and was slightly slurring his speech.
When questioned by the officer, the student said, "I'm coming back from a party, what's the problem?"
The student was frisked, and at 1:50 a.m., was taken to Campus Police Headquarters for interviewing.
The student told officers that he attended an off-campus party at an undisclosed location, where he had consumed approximately two beers.
The student was issued a summons at 2:05 a.m., for underage consumption of an alcoholic beverage. He was later released and a court date was set for Nov. 14.
...
On Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 4:05 p.m., a male came to Campus Police Headquarters to report his "Milwaukee Sawzall" stolen.
The man told officers that he was installing overhead supports on the third floor of the New Library at about 2 p.m. At this time, he went up to the fourth floor to complete other work and left the saw on the third floor.
At approximately 2:45 p.m., the man returned to the third floor to find the saw missing.
The man checked the surrounding area and other floors, but did not find the item. The man completed an informal statement and a stolen property report.
There are no witnesses or suspects at this time.
(11/16/05 12:00pm)
On Saturday, Oct. 29, at 2:30 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Wolfe Hall on a report that an unidentified male had wandered into a room and vomited on the floor.
The victim told officers that the male visitor who entered her room had been in the room next to hers earlier that night. She told the officer that she heard a knock on her door and, assuming it was another friend, told the person to come in.
At this time, the male visitor pushed past the student and entered her room. The student told the visitor she did not know him and requested that he leave. When he did not respond, she went to find someone to help her.
When the student returned, her roommate informed her that the visitor had vomited on the floor in her closet. The visitor was still in the room and unresponsive to requests to leave. The residents of the room finally pushed the man out of the room.
After taking the student's statement, the officer knocked on the next door down and the resident answered. A second male visitor was vomiting in the sink.
The resident and the three visitors in the room were all found to be intoxicated. The accused visitor was identified, and all four were evaluated by Lions' EMS.
The accused visitor and his friends then cleaned the students' room. They were brought to Campus Police Headquarters and issued municipal ordinances for underage consumption of alcohol before being released.
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On Saturday, Oct. 15, at 1:10 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to New Residence Hall on a report of an unconscious female.
Upon arrival, an officer observed a female student staggering down the third floor hallway. The officer observed a strong odor of alcohol on the student's breath and clothing.
The student identified herself as a resident of the floor. When asked where her room was, the student staggered to a room different than the number she told the officer, insisting that she was in front of her door.
The officer told the student to sit on the floor and wait for Lions' EMS treatment. Professional staff also responded to the scene and identified the student as the unconscious female reported to Campus Police.
When questioned, the student could not recall what she did earlier in the night, or how much alcohol she had consumed. At this time, staff decided to transport the student to Capital Health System-Mercer Campus for medical treatment.
While awaiting the arrival of Pennington First Aid Squad, the student became argumentative and told the officer she "knew people" who could "get him in trouble."
There is no further information at this time.
.
On Sunday, Oct. 16, at 1:40 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Wolfe Hall on a report of an intoxicated female.
Lions' EMS was treating the female student when Campus Police arrived at the scene. The student told an officer that she had consumed "eight or nine" shots of vodka earlier that night. The student had subsequently vomited several times on the floor of her room and on herself.
Pennington First Aid Squad was contacted and transported the student to Capital Health System-Fuld Campus.
There is no further information at this time.
(11/09/05 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 1:50 a.m., Campus Police observed a male student crawling across Metzger Drive on his hands and knees.
An officer observed the student vomit several times and lay down in the grass on the side of the road.
Upon approach, the officer noticed the student was profusely sweating, slurring his speech and had a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. At this time, Lions EMS, Pennington Road EMS and professional staff were called to the scene.
When questioned, the student said he "drank too much beer at the Sigma Pi house." The student continued vomiting throughout his Lions EMS evaluation.
The student was eventually transported by Pennington Road EMS to Capital Health System- Mercer Campus for treatment.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Friday, Oct. 7, at 3:15 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Wolfe Hall on a report of three males attempting to sell marijuana.
Upon arrival, the officer met with a male student, who said that at approximately 2 a.m. he was standing outside the first-floor entrance to Wolfe Hall when three suspicious men approached. One of the men put his hand on the student's shoulder and said, "We have to talk. Do you have any weed?" The suspect then tried to sell marijuana to the student.
The student told officers that the same three men approached him during Welcome Week earlier this year and offered to sell him marijuana.
Another student reported seeing the men in Wolfe Hall, but said they did not approach him.
All three suspects were described as 18 to 24-year-old Hispanic males. The suspect who solicited the student was 5 feet 8 inches and stocky with short brown hair. The other two men were described as thin and 6 feet 2 inches and 5 feet 8 inches respectively.
A search of the area did not locate the suspects.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 4:20 p.m., a male student came to Campus Police Headquarters to report a lost Visa check card.
The student told officers he last used his card at 9:30 p.m. the previous day at Brower Student Center ATM. The student then went to Travers/Wolfe Dining Hall, where he purchased food with cash.
The student told officers he thinks his card may have fallen out of his pocket in the dining hall.
The student realized his card was missing that morning when his mother called him to inquire about charges on his account. She told the student that Wachovia bank had called to question recent suspicious charges.
When the student realized his card was missing and checked his account balance online, he found three separate charges on Oct. 12 totaling $356.54.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 10:30 p.m., Campus Police on vehicle patrol noticed a blue hockey bag in Lot 3.
The bag was recovered and taken to Campus Police Headquarters and placed in the evidence locker.
At this time, Campus Police is still unable to locate or identify the bag's owner. Anyone with any more information is encouraged to contact Campus Police at x2167.
(11/02/05 12:00pm)
The celebration of the College's Sesquicentennial ended with this Saturday with the Homecoming Grand Finale Weekend.
The day began with the College's Homecoming football game. After an evening address by College President R. Barbara Gitenstein, the Sesquicentennial torch was extinguished by members of the Class of 1955.
The night concluded with a fireworks display from Green Lane fields.
The Sesquicentennial, which commemorated the College's 150th anniversary, began last October.
Events celebrating student and faculty achievements continued throughout the year as part of the Sesquicentennial celebration.
(10/19/05 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 2:20 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the third floor of Travers Hall on a report of an intoxicated person.
Upon arrival, an officer found a male student sitting on the floor of the men's bathroom.
The student, who appeared "dazed and confused," delivered slurred and unintelligible answers when questioned. The officer observed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.
The officer also noticed unidentifiable writing on the student's face and two sections of hair shaved off the left side of the student's head.
Lions EMS arrived and transported the student to Capital Health Systems for treatment.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Thursday, Sept. 22, at 8:35 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to Brower Student Center on a report of an assault.
Upon arrival, an officer met with the victim, who stated that he was physically assaulted by a former Rathskellar manager.
The man said that he was walking up the steps in the Rat when the suspect grabbed him by the face and pushed the back of his head into a brick wall.
The victim said he and the suspect were separated by other Rat patrons who were present for the assault.
A search for the suspect was unsuccessful. The victim was transported to Campus Police headquarters to give a statement. He declined to sign a criminal complaint.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 2:30 a.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the Cromwell Hall lobby on a report of an intoxicated person.
Upon arrival, an officer found a male student, with blood and abrasions on his hands and missing a left shoe, sleeping on a couch in the lobby. A strong odor of alcohol was emanating from the student.
The officer woke the student, who said that he was injured earlier in the night when he fell down. When asked about his missing shoe, the student told the officer he did not know where it was.
The student told the officer that he was drinking beer at an off-campus party on Browning Avenue.
There is no further information at this time.
(10/05/05 12:00pm)
Friends and family gathered together on Sept. 23 to remember Daniel Tomasic, a junior engineering major who took his own life last May. The service did its best to capture a life well-lived, a life cut short by the second leading cause of death among college students.
Over the past five years, college suicide has gained national attention. The 2003-2004 school year saw six suicides at New York University (NYU) alone. The media circus that followed, including a front-page New York Post picture of one victim falling to her death, brought the issue of college suicide into the national spotlight.
While NYU is only an hour from the College's campus, it seems like a different world. The fast-paced urban school is routinely depicted as a university where students face tremendous pressure to excel. Students reacting to the 2003 deaths were quoted in local newspapers saying that the academics were too much for some students to handle.
As the admissions requirements and academic environment at the College have become more rigorous, the incidences of depressive thoughts and behavior also have increased. While there is no evidence that these two factors are directly related, or that they were related to Tomasic's suicide, the pressures associated with college are often discussed and treated at the office of Psychological Services.
"People are used to coming here and being the valedictorian, and when they get a C, that can be a major factor," Larry Gage, associate director for counseling at the office of Psychological Counseling Services, said. "As people who are unaccustomed to failure, or what they perceive as failure, they are looking for a way to cope."
A suicidal act may be one of the coping mechanisms college students employ to deal with external pressures. But while students who are depressed or suicidal may see death as their only escape, Gage is quick to point out the finality of suicide.
"It is a permanent solution to a temporary problem," Gage said. "If you look at survivors of suicide, almost (everyone regrets) doing it. That's why it is important to get to people before the action."
As Tomasic's loved ones struggled to deal with his sudden death last May, the College prepared for exam week. Since the timing of his death left no opportunity for a memorial service before summer break, the College chose to delay it until this semester. The service, held in Allen Drawing Room, drew a crowd of students, faculty and family members still struggling to understand such a tragic death.
Though the service focused on Tomasic's life rather than his death, the impact of his passing was clear in the faces of those in attendance. And with his death, the phenomenon that has floated on the periphery of our community for so long has finally hit home.
According to Gage, Tomasic's suicide was the first student suicide the College has seen in over 10 years.
The suicide rate at the College is lower than the national average for college students, which is one in 10,000. While the number seems small, Gage wants students to take the warning signs of suicide, including depressive behavior, talking about suicide and loss of interest in activities, seriously.
"If you are concerned about a person, when in doubt, consult," Gage said. The office of Psychological Counseling Services has services not only for students who are considering suicide themselves, but also for friends who do not know how to approach the issue.
Some discomfort surrounding the issue of suicide may be the result of misinformation.
"One of the myths is if you bring up suicide with somebody, it will make them more likely to do it," Gage said. On the contrary, he said, discussing the issue with a suicidal person lowers their risk of following through. "People are generally grateful for the opportunity to talk," he said.
A 2003 article from the University of Michigan Health System states that 15 percent of college students suffer from depression.
According to the article, as many as 10 percent arrive on campus with a history of mental illness. With the stigma surrounding suicide and mental illness, it is not surprising that the issue has slightly faded from public discourse after the rash of NYU suicides ended.
Although the issue of mental health on college campuses is something that needs to be taken seriously, enhancing the public discourse on suicide is not meant to be alarming. The suicide rate for college students is lower than the rate within the 18-24 age group at large.
However, since the '70s, the suicide rate among college females has more than doubled, and the rate among males has tripled. With such statistics showing no sign of waning, what should students do?
The answer seems to be in a more open dialogue about suicide. Discussing the thoughts and feelings that lead members of our community to take their own lives could be the acts that save them.
"There are a lot of resources and a lot of people that care deeply about the well-being of students," Gage said. "Positive responses to people who are suicidal will go a long way to making sure we aren't in this territory again."
(10/05/05 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 2:35 a.m., a Campus Police officer observed a student exit an elevator on the fifth floor of Decker Hall. As the student exited the elevator, he pulled up the zipper of his pants.
When the officer entered the elevator, he noticed what appeared to be urine on the floor. The officer called after the student, who ran down the hallway toward his room.
The student disregarded the officer's verbal commands and entered his room. When the officer knocked on the door, the student answered it, looking visibly nervous and shaking.
When the officer questioned the student about why he ran down the hall, the student explained that he did not hear the officer's verbal warnings and said he was nervous because he didn't want to be blamed for the urine in the elevator.
When questioned further, the student claimed he was not pulling up his zipper when he exited the elevator.
The incident was referred to the office of Residence Life, and Building Services was contacted to clean up the urine.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 10 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the Lot 3 bus stop on a report of a stolen vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers met with a student who claimed she could not find her vehicle. The student told officers that she had parked her black 1996 Acura in Lot 3 around 3 p.m. When she returned later that day to retrieve the vehicle, it was gone.
Officers searched campus for the missing vehicle, to no avail. Lot 3 was also searched for broken glass or any other signs of forced entry. Nothing was found.
The student told officers that she had a "Viper" security system in the car, which armed itself upon parking. She also had a Pioneer DVD player and a Sony CD/Cassette stereo system installed in the car.
Her purse, including her license, social security card, INS green card and credit cards, were also in the vehicle at the time of its disappearance.
The total amount of stolen merchandise was estimated at $6,425. Campus Police entered the vehicle into the National Crime Information Center database.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Monday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m., a student came to Campus Police headquarters to report a suspicious phone call.
The student told police that at 11 a.m. that morning, a female with a foreign accent called her room in Wolfe Hall.
The caller asked questions about the student's date of birth, social security number, parents' names, home address and phone number.
The caller told the student she was calling on behalf of the College, and the student provided the caller with the information she requested.
At this time, officers provided the student with phone numbers for the credit bureaus, and asked her to report the phone call to them.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 11:50 p.m., a student came to Campus Police headquarters to report a stolen cell phone.
The student said that at 9 p.m. that evening she left her cell phone and room key on the counter in the Travers/Wolfe Dining Hall.
When the student returned to pick up the items, they were gone. The key was later found on top of a water fountain in the Wolfe Hall basement. The cell phone was not found.
There is no further information at this time.
(09/28/05 12:00pm)
On Friday Sept. 22 at 2:10 a.m., a male student contacted Campus Police to report a threat. The student told officers that a white male threatened him and then left the scene.
The student said that earlier in the evening he observed a loud group in the hallway on the 8th floor of Wolfe Hall. The victim said he told the group to quiet down, at which point he was approached by the accused. The victim said he told the accused to leave, and the accused responded by saying, "If I see you around, I'm going to beat the fuck out of you."
At approximately 3 a.m., Campus Police went to Wolfe Hall to see if the accused was still in the building. A female student, identified as the sister of the accused, told officers that her brother was a student at College but lived off campus.
At this time, the female student called her brother on his cellular phone. When he answered, she handed the phone to an officer. The accused told the officer that he was drunk.
Campus Police advised the student to stay out of Wolfe Hall until further notice. The victim refused to file charges.
...
On Tuesday Sept. 6 at 12:05 a.m., a female student went to Campus Police Headquarters to report a theft. The student said that earlier that evening, an unknown person had stolen approximately $2 from her locked vehicle in Parking Lot 6.
There is no further information at this time.
...
On Thursday Sept. 8 at 3 p.m., Campus Police took a statement from a male student regarding a missing ID card. The student said that he realized his card was missing on Sept. 5, but he had not used it since Sept. 1.
On Sept. 8 the student said that he went to the office of Student Accounts to get a new ID card. At this time, the student was informed that his meal plan was substantially depleted. The remaining balance was 91 cents. An undetermined amount of money was also missing from his Gold Club account.
A copy of the student's Gold Club account activity showed the card was used to access the Carte Blanche meal plan and Lot 9 parking garage. It was also used on two separate occasions to purchase a total of $199.90 worth of goods from the Marketplace Convenience Store and $55.72 from the Pennington Road QuikCheck.
The total funds stolen from the student's account are estimated at $500. Campus Police is still investigating the matter.
There is no further information at this time.
(09/28/05 12:00pm)
Adaptations are not a new trend in Hollywood. But with the summer blockbuster season winding down and the winter rush for Oscar nominations on the horizon, we find ourselves in the familiar territory of the book and stage adaptation.
This season, however, the trend has not been adapting classic novels, but more modern fare. Instead of a new "Romeo and Juliet" or "Phantom of the Opera," we are seeing plays like "Proof" and "Rent" on the big screen.
The quickest and perhaps most unexpected adaptation of the fall is "Everything is Illuminated," starring Elijah Wood. The story, based on a 2001 novel by Jonathan Safran Foer, focuses on a young man's journey to the Ukraine to find the man who saved his grandfather's life. The book, and Safran Foer's follow-up hit, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, was greeted with critical acclaim and commercial success.
The novel was adapted so quickly because Foer's work caught the eye of New York stage star Liev Schreiber. An excerpt from "Everything is Illuminated" was printed in New Yorker magazine before the book was published.
Schreiber, who is of Jewish-Ukranian descent like Foer, felt immediately connected to the material. From that first reading, Schreiber knew he wanted to write the screenplay.
The fast start of production was a shock for Foer, who did not expect his first novel to even be optioned, let alone produced as a film. But Schreiber and Foer's cinematic vision was widely released Friday to strong critical reviews.
Another highly anticipated fall adaptation is "Rent," Jonathan Larson's Broadway hit about bohemian life in New York's East Village. The play has been running to sold-out crowds since it opened in 1994, but was never made into a film. Though many "Rent" fans were skeptical about the project, the reunion of most of the original cast and the addition of Rosario Dawson as female lead Mimi Marquez lent it a note of credibility.
And fans will also appreciate director Christopher Columbus, best known for his work on the "Home Alone" series and the first two "Harry Potter" films, who has stated his intention to not stray too far from the time-tested source material. The film premieres Nov. 23.
Though "Everything is Illuminated" and "Rent" both focus on a very specific cultural or social class, they contain universal messages that transcend story limitations. This formula holds true for the other new stage adaptation, "Proof." Based on David Auburn's award-winning Broadway play, "Proof" follows a young woman as she explores the dangerous line between genius and insanity. The play was the talk of the New York theater world when it opened in 2000, winning the 2001 Tony for best play. The film was widely released Friday to favorable reviews.
If the past is any indicator, these new adaptations have their work cut out for them. Transferring a stage play or a book to the big screen is a historically daunting task. Sometimes the material just does not translate effectively. Other times, it is the production itself that falls short. But every so often the combination of material and artistic vision is a success. Modern classics like Francis Ford Coppola's novel-turned-film "The Godfather" and David Mamet's play-turned-film "Glengarry Glen Ross" are prime examples of stories that succeeded in multiple media.
If "Everything is Illuminated," "Rent" and "Proof" find a way to capture their film audiences like their original incarnations, it will be a good year for the adaptation. And if not, there is always room in our DVD collections for another "Tomb Raider."