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(09/05/17 4:13am)
By Mia Ingui
Staff Writer
At 1,577 students, the College is now housing, educating and shaping the lives of its largest freshman class to date. Last year’s freshman class capped off at 1,473 students, according to the College’s website.
Moving in on Thursday, Aug. 24, incoming freshmen experienced all of the traditions of living on campus for the first time: Welcome Week, Playfair and the community atmosphere in the Towers, ABE, Centennial, and Norsworthy Hall.
“Welcome Week is probably the best week of college,” said Danielle Pernice, a freshman marketing major. “TCNJ did a great job organizing freshman activities and didn’t overwhelm us with more than we could handle.”
The class of 2021 has some impressive statistics. The farthest domestic student is from California, and there are students from states such as Arizona, Utah, Wisconsin and Georgia as well, according to Luke Sacks, head media relations officer for the College. The farthest international student is from Vietnam, but there are freshmen at the College from China, Columbia and India as well.
314 freshmen played an instrument in a band for school or their community, 16 freshmen were class or student body presidents and 383 were varsity captains of 487 teams, according to Sacks. The class also includes 24 black belts, 196 students who performed in a play for their school or community theater organization and 47 students who participated in robotics clubs or competitions, Sacks added.
328 freshmen have relatives who are alumni of the College, 349 were presidents or vice presidents of 430 clubs or organizations in their respective high schools and 1,081 volunteered on 2,088 different projects and clubs, according to an article from NJ.com.
Included in the new class are eight sets of twins and two sets of triplets. The most popular names amongst the freshmen are Matthew for males, while Julia and Amanda are tied for the top female name. As for most popular majors, biology, psychology and nursing are the top three, according to NJ.com.
Preparing the College’s amenities to accommodate the incoming freshmen was a huge challenge this fall, according Sean Stallings, assistant vice president of the student services division of Student Affairs.
“Housing was certainly challenged by the large class,” Stallings said. “When we learned that the incoming class yield was higher than usual, it became apparent that we would need to maneuver to ensure that we were positioned to honor our guarantee and house all of the incoming first year students. To meet the demand, we transformed lounges in Travers and Wolfe into student rooms; these converted rooms are called quads. Also, we had to relocate approximately 60 second year students originally assigned to Norsworthy to other spaces around campus.”
Though student housing was challenged by the amount of incoming freshmen, the near-completion of the Brower Student Center construction is certainly advantageous.
“The student center is operating at near full functionality and it has been buzzing with excitement,” Stallings said. “The energy around the building has been well received and it’s wonderful to see the students enjoying the space. I think the larger class has only added excitement and vibrancy to our campus life.”
Pernice said that she was excited to be part of the largest freshman class the College has seen.
“It’s actually so cool,” Pernice said. “Our incoming class has such a diverse group of people and I’m proud to say I’m the class of 2021.”
(09/05/17 2:59am)
By Mia Ingui
Staff Writer
Four a cappella groups rocked Mayo Concert Hall on Monday, Aug. 28, at the annual, “Fellas, Bellas and A Cappella” concert, which brought Welcome Week 2017 to a close.
The concert began with the College’s Christian a cappella group, Voice of Hope. The group began with a mashup of “Going Home” and “Voice of the Lord,” which featured a fun rap portion to get the entire audience cheering. Voice of Hope followed with “One More Time,” and closed with the group’s alumni song, “Stand In.”
Next up was the College’s all-female a cappella group, The Treblemakers. The group began its set with Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” The Treblemakers then followed that up with a tender performance of Sara Bareilles’ “Gravity,” and closed with an upbeat medley of “Chains,” by Nick Jonas and “Side to Side,” by Ariana Grande.
Korina Stelzenmueller, a senior biomedical engineering major and the president of the Treblemakers, told The Signal that her group has a lot up its sleeves for this upcoming year.
“This semester actually marks our 10th anniversary concert, so we invited all of our alumni back and will be doing a few old favorite arrangements that they chose,” Stelzenmueller said. “We have songs by Sia, Katy Perry, Paramore, Andy Grammer, Martin Garrix and more.”
Following the Treblemakers were the iTunes — named for the incorporation of international music into the group’s repertoire. iTunes opened with a bubbly version of Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand.” After that was an iTunes favorite from last year, “Settle Down,” by Kimbra, followed up with “Ghost,” by Ella Henderson. The iTunes has a cohesive, upbeat sound, as the group members are always on stage dancing and having a great time while performing.
Last up were the Trentones, the College’s only competition a cappella group, which attends the International Championship for Collegiate A Cappella. The Trentones opened with “Ain’t Got Far to Go” by Jess Glynne. After that was Bruno Mars’ hit “Chunky.” The soft “Skinny Love,” by Birdy followed. They closed with “The Greatest,” by Sia, but with a twist, as the Trentones incorporated other Sia songs like “Alive,” and “Elastic Heart,” to create a medley.
Karaline Rosen, a junior business management major and member of the Trentones, enjoyed the performance.
“I think it was great. It’s always fun performing with them, and since we always hang out, this is just another big hangout for us. It’s awesome,” Rosen said.
Stelzenmueller was happy to be back singing with the Treblemakers.“We killed it,” she said. “We love singing together and I’m so happy to be back. We’re definitely excited to get new girls and our group has grown to blend so well together. I’m really proud of how hard we’ve worked and how far we’ve come.”
All four groups told the audience about their upcoming auditions, encouraging everyone at the College to come audition and find their “aca-fam.”
Auditions for each group will be held after the Activities Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the Brower Student Center. Those interested in auditioning can sign up for an audition slot at the fair.
(08/29/17 10:45pm)
By Mia Ingui
News Editor
Darkness falls earlier every night, the air is no longer hot and humid, and those early morning alarms are set yet again. It's officially over.
I know, still tough to hear. I get that. If you need a minute, take one.
Now that you're doing okay, let's address the unfortunate reality here: summer has ended. Not an easy pill to swallow for any of us — definitely not for me. I remember the beginning of summer like it was yesterday. May 12. The sun was shining brightly as I sped down Pennington Road, not looking back for a second. What followed was three glorious months without schoolwork, stress and exams, replaced with the abstract concept of "free time." In that free time, I finally caught up on sleep, all of my television shows and with all of my friends who were on adventures of their own during the previous school year. The summer haze engulfed me until August rolled around.
I could count the days on my fingers until move-in day, until one day, suddenly, I was moved back in. Funny how that works.
Yes it's overwhelming to change environments all over again, but stepping back onto campus feels just like home to me now, just as it did a few months ago. The only difference between here and home is I have my mom’s lasagna at home and here, well, I don't.
For those of us struggling to get back into routine, and for the newbies who are just moving onto campus, I have a few words of advice.
Get excited. It's tough to look forward to that 8 a.m. class, believe me I know. But the more motivation you find, the better your experience will be, the faster the semester will fly by and the further you will go.
You should also learn from old mistakes. For freshman, this is all new and you’re just testing the waters for the first time. For the upperclassman, keep in mind your successes and missteps from previous years and move forward. If you failed a paper because you finally finished it at 6:30 a.m. on the due date, maybe try to avoid procrastinating this semester. If you finished at 6:30 a.m. and passed, well, good on you, keep doing what you're doing!
This time take chances. All summer I pondered on the missed opportunities I let blow by on campus because my focus was dedicated to other less important things. Get out there and take a chance on something you either put off for a rainy day or were too preoccupied to do last year. Try out for the musical. Join club frisbee. Whatever you wish. Just take the chance.
When the going gets tough at the College, it's difficult to be thankful for any of the stress and aggravation you may be going through. But keep in mind that being a part of this campus community is such a blessing that will truly shape who you are. Each challenge changes you in ways you won't believe, and each opportunity you take will lead to great rewards. Be grateful and remember to just be happy that you’re here.
Happy Fall 2017, everyone!
(04/25/17 8:15am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
From telling the touching story of one couple’s love through Post-It notes to an outlandish take on a murder mystery, An Evening of One Act Shorts was filled with love, light and laughter.
All College Theatre presented An Evening of One Act Shorts from April 21 to April 22 in the Kendall Black Box Theater. The show consisted of five short plays of several genres, including drama, comedy and murder mystery. One Acts provided an opportunity for the young writers and directors of ACT and TCNJ Musical Theatre to show off their skills, with two of the shows written by students at the College and all of the shows directed by students.
The first show of the night was “Post-its (Notes on a Marriage),” written by Paul Dooley and Winnie Holzman and directed by Sam Franz, a sophomore communication studies and English double major.
The story of a couple, played by sophomore technology and engineering education double major Evan Noone and freshman elementary education and psychology double major Kate Augustin, is told through the reading of the various Post-It notes they left for each other throughout the entire relationship.
The story began with the actress reading off notes about the great nights she spent over at her boyfriend’s place, with him reading similar notes he left for her. They started off basic, with the reoccurring theme of needing milk. She eventually permanently moves in with him, marries him and has their baby girl named Euginia.
The struggles of balancing marriage with work and caring for their child takes a toll on the couple. The actress writes a note that she’s taking some time away from the house, and her husband realizes that “All I want, all I’ve ever wanted, is for her to happy.”
Reunited, the couple is now growing old together. The lights go down on Augustin, symbolizing her death, and Noone’s character is still writing notes to her, with the last sadly saying they need milk.
“Admissions” was next, written by Colleen Neuman and directed by Sam Miller. Starring junior English and secondary education dual major Jenna Burke as Mary, junior communication studies major Lauren Vogel as Evelyn and sophomore marketing major Katie Marciniak as the ensemble, this story told Evelyn’s struggle to accept that she has died and now is at “admissions,” awaiting a decision on where she spends the rest of her afterlife.
Prim, proper and only 56 years old, Evelyn cannot accept the fact that she has died. Mary tries to convince her throughout the play that she is, in fact, in the afterlife, showing Evelyn her Aunt Sylvia and recapping her life for her. Mary asks her about her sins and contributions to society like helping the environment.
Evelyn tells Mary that she didn’t see why she needed to help.
“I had a small, little life,” she said.
“All lives are the same size,” Mary responded.
Evelyn comes to terms with her current situation after making peace with her past life.
“You Can’t Kill a Cactus” was written and directed by senior communication studies major Brooke Buonauro, telling the story of what seemed to be a simple “morning after,” but turned out to be a deep reunion between friends.
Natalie, played by sophomore business management major Karaline Rosen, returned home to attend the funeral of her good friend Jason, and wound up back at her house in bed with her old friend Ronan, played by freshman secondary education and history dual major Casey O’Neill. The two did some much needed catching up, with a few interruptions by Natalie’s outlandish step sister Cassidy, as played by sophomore communication studies major Gretchen Newell.
The next play was “Framed,” written and directed by senior journalism major Jonathan Edmondson, a serious play about what lies beneath the surface of those around us. The young Ethan, as played by sophomore biology major Matt Fertakos, checks into a motel to escape his past of sexual assault and confusion.
He is comforted by the motel owners, Hunter, played by junior chemistry major Eric Schreiber, and Scarlett, played by junior communication studies major Kristen Gassler, and his newfound friends, Violet, played by sophomore secondary education and history dual major Kelly Colleran, and Zoe, played by freshman marketing major Gail Cervallos.
The last play of the night, titled “The Mystery at Twicknam Vicarage,” was just as outlandish as it sounds. The murder mystery was written by David Ives and directed by senior English major Henry Albright.
This group of wacky individuals, composed of Dexter, played by freshman computer science major Lenin Cruz Navas, Roger, played by sophomore history major Chris Loos, Mona, played by junior art major Haley Witko, and Sarah, played by sophomore elementary education and psychology double major Kira Cohen, all attempt to figure out who killed Jeremy, played by junior graphic design major Rob Birnbohm, who was every character’s lover.
The show was a success, said Edmondson, who is writing and directing for a third time.
“It was so exciting and nerve-wracking. It was so gratifying to see the cast bring this show to life,” Edmondson said.
(04/11/17 7:36am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
Under bright blue strobe lights, 2,600 tightly packed students coated in glitter belted the lyrics to “We R Who We R” along with Kesha.
Kesha paused mid-song: “Anything outside of these four walls that is bringing you down or bumming you out… there's no room for that shit tonight.”
A roar from the audience and Kesha continued, “We cordially invite you to put your middle fingers up, and just for tonight, say, ‘Fuck the world!’”
The crowd in the Student Recreation Center went wild.
Kesha’s Fuck the World Tour landed at the College on the night of Friday, April 7, evoking nostalgia and empowerment from the College’s students. Since Kesha first released her album “Animal” in 2010, most students at the College grew up listening to her music, so they were excited to revisit some of their favorite throwbacks like “Tik Tok” and “Your Love is my Drug.”
DJ Jenaux opened for Kesha, warming up the audience with synthy dance tunes. Kesha’s band, The Creepies, then took the stage, introducing themselves as “the best shitheels and scumbags this nation has to offer” and introduced Kesha as “Hell’s prettiest angel.”
Kesha kicked off her set with party anthem “We R Who We R,” pumping up the audience for the rest of her show.
To introduce her next song, “Your Love Is My Drug,” Kesha told the audience that “all love is equal, but I also love drugs,” and a member of The Creepies waved an LGBTQ pride flag across the stage during the song.
After “Your Love is My Drug,” Kesha started stripping off her clothes.
“I'm really fucking hot. Is it OK if I take of some of my clothes?” Kesha asked the crowd, which went crazy as she took off her pants and ducked behind her drummer for a costume change.
She then performed an old favorite, “Dinosaur,” with The Creepies donning dinosaur masks and dancing along with Kesha.
The song ended and a “Free Kesha” chant erupted from the audience. Kesha expressed her gratitude to her audience for their support and took this time to tell a bit of her story to the College.
Kesha entered a lawsuit in 2014 with her longtime producer, Dr. Luke, alleging that he drugged, abused and raped her. Completely denying these allegations, Dr. Luke counter-sued Kesha for breach of contract. Last February, Kesha was denied her right to record and release new music separate from Dr. Luke’s label until the case finally comes to a close.
“I thank you for being here,” Kesha said to the students. “I haven't put out a song in three and a half years, and that has not been up to me. I fight every fucking day. Every single fucking day.”
Kesha assured her audience that she is still creating music in hopes of releasing it soon. “I counted 75 songs,” Kesha said.
Fittingly, Kesha then performed a passionate cover of Lesley Gore’s “You Don't Own Me.”
Afterwards was Kesha’s hit “Blow” and then a song that she was said was “requested by a student,” “Boots and Boys” off of “Animal.”
Kesha then polled the audience on their ages. Coming to the consensus that most were around 20, Kesha asked, “So, we can talk about adult things, right?”
She told the story of “Take it Off,” referencing a wild night she had at a place called “The Silver Platter,” where everyone was “butt-fucking naked and not in a cute way.”
After “Take It Off,” Kesha began her next song by saying, “This is my theoretic last song, but if you guys go fucking crazy, it won't be my last song.” And so, during “Tik Tok,” the audience obeyed.
Kesha exited, but the audience hoped not for long. With the audience chanting “Kesha,” she returned to the stage to perform “Timber” and “Die Young,” which she said is about “living every night like it's the last fucking night of your life.”
Kesha’s set ended, but the party did not stop for the College. After Kesha was DJ group Grooveboston, who kept the recreation center packed and rocking.
Selling out of the 2,600 tickets, Kesha’s concert is considered a huge success by the College Union Board, which organized the event.
Levi Reed, a CUB live event coordinator and a junior communications studies major, said being a part of CUB’s 2017 Spring Concert was a surreal and amazing experience.
“Standing onstage and looking into the crowd of excited faces and knowing that Sydney (Swartz) and I, along with the other members of CUB, did this was one of the highest points of my life,” Reed said. “It was a long 21-hour day filled with dancing, excitement and eight cups of coffee, and I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.”
Sydney Swartz, a CUB live event coordinator and a senior communication studies major, was equally as pleased with the turnout.
“Watching the rec center fill, announcing the show to the crowd and then watching the crowd sing and dance along to Kesha and The Creepies, Jenaux and GrooveBoston is what made the months of planning completely worth it,” she said.
(04/03/17 10:06pm)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
At first glance, our campus does not seem like the most exciting place to live.
The campus is dead past 9 p.m., considering Eickhoff Hall closes for the day and most students retire to their room or go out off campus. It’s small, quaint and usually pretty quiet. And don’t get me started on the lack of food options, which I already ranted about in an opinion piece titled “Campus dining options need improvement.”
With all of this in mind, I believe that you get out of your campus what you put into it. The College has so many incredible opportunities for involvement if you keep your eyes and mind open to new possibilities.
As a freshman — crazily enough, I am almost finished being a freshman — I feel that the only way to become acclimated to campus and start feeling at home is to get involved. Even for the upperclassmen who are stuck in a rut and are looking for something new, it is never too late to get involved.
The beautiful thing about college is that there is a club or organization for just about any talent, sport or hobby. Getting involved is as easy as showing a little bit of interest and taking the time to attend a club meeting. This is such a great way to meet new people and take part in something you feel strongly about. No judgment from current club members and nothing lost if you wind up not liking the club.
Many freshmen make their first friends on their floor. I have to admit, becoming friends with the people on your freshman floor is pretty awesome. They’re your built-in friends. You all land at the College on your first day in the same situation, looking to just make one friend you can stick with to feel less alone.
From there, great friendships blossom. I met incredible people on my floor and I hope we remain friends. I can honestly say that some of the best people I have met on campus are also a part of the various organizations I am in, and I’m thankful for putting myself out there and allowing myself the opportunity to meet them.
I was a theater nerd in high school, auditioning for shows as a bitty freshman and sticking to it ever since. I found my home, my people, my best friends in my high school drama club. Parting with theater was something I never wanted to do. So, as soon as I moved into the College, I attended my first TCNJ Musical Theatre meeting and have been having a blast ever since.
Also a member of The Signal staff, I am exposed to the many wonders of this campus. I shyly entered The Signal office three days after moving in, and the rest is history. I am now a section editor writing an editorial and couldn’t be more grateful.
Though the campus is your oyster, sometimes it gets pretty monotonous living in it. Since they cannot have cars on campus, freshmen can consider themselves stranded, and doing homework all day is not the ideal way to enjoy yourself. Having various clubs that you are a part of is a great way to look forward to something else besides going to class, and who knows, maybe try something new. Having a little courage could turn out to be one of the best decisions you ever make.
(03/28/17 12:45am)
"Does Netflix interfere with your social life?”
"No. If anything, it enables it, because we can have movie nights and use
Netflix to make that happen."
"I'd say no. I balance it well."
“Should we help save the bees?”
"We should save the bees. Bees are our friends."
"Of course!"
(03/21/17 5:07am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
The Towers are here to stay.
After two years of debate, an open forum for students and faculty last October and strong opinions from the College community, the Business and Infrastructure Committee of the board of trustees decided on Feb. 15 to renovate Travers and Wolfe halls rather than demolish and rebuild them, as previously discussed in the open forum.
The deliberation between demolishing or renovating the Towers ultimately came down to budget, and the renovation plan would prove the most cost efficient, according to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein.
Since this is the largest project the College has tackled in recent years, there was a lengthy planning process before the idea was proposed to the board of trustees.
Vice President of Student Affairs Amy Hecht proposed the renovation presentation to Gitenstein, working closely with a consulting firm as well as construction and business finance professionals, according to Gitenstein.
“I considered her analysis and accepted her recommendation, and that was the recommendation that went to the board committee for consideration and action,” Gitenstein said.
Head Media Relations Officer Luke Sacks said the demolition was no longer considered a viable option, but it was Residential Education’s first plan for the Towers.
“In 2015, Residential Education undertook a housing demand and master plan study, which suggested it was financially and programmatically better to demolish Travers and Wolfe halls and replace them with a new building,” Sacks said. “The College then embarked on a detailed programming effort with the architect who did the original study to fine tune the program, cost and schedule.”
As the planning progressed, the costs started adding up.
“The cost of demolishing Travers and Wolfe and constructing a new building would be much more expensive than initially thought. The cost ballooned from $105 million to approximately $140 million,” Sacks said.
That costly of a project was not in the best interest of the College or its students, according to Sacks.
“The College concluded that the benefits of a new facility were not worth the cost. A renovated Travers-Wolfe could meet the needs of the institution,” Sacks said. “The decision reflects the College’s commitment to fiscal responsibility. This housing solution will keep costs to students as low as possible and preserve resources for other institutional priorities.”
The timeline for the tentative plan, according to Sacks, goes as follows: The $87 million renovation will first be presented to the board of trustees at its July 2017 meeting.
Then the design of the renovation will take approximately 18 months and will hopefully be completed in spring 2019.
The Towers are going to be renovated separately. Renovation on the first tower — it is currently undecided which tower will be first — is expected to begin in summer 2020, and the renovation on the second is expected to begin in summer 2021. The project is estimated to be completed in summer 2022.
“(The College) will continue to guarantee housing to freshmen and sophomores and plans to investigate off-campus housing options for the periods when students will be displaced from the Towers,” Sacks said.
The renovation will include the addition of air conditioning, Wi-Fi, redesigned bathroom layouts to increase privacy and more.
For the T-Dubs fans, the in-building dining option will remain in the renovated Towers, according to Sacks.
Gitenstein addressed concerns of straying from the proposed renovation schedule.
“There are always concerns about the schedule of a construction project, particularly a housing project and particularly a renovation,” Gitenstein said. “Renovations are much less predictable than new construction because there can always be surprises.”
Having housed more than 45 years of freshmen classes,Travers and Wolfe halls have become an iconic part of the College’s landscape since they were built in 1971.
As expected, many members of the campus community are enthusiastic about the renovation.
Maximillian C. Burgos, a sophomore mechanical engineering major, was glad to hear that the renovation is officially a go, as he felt that the Towers needed much improvement.
“They should’ve done it sooner,” Burgos said. “I think that it will improve the campus community, and the freshmen will stop being so grumpy.”
Joey Baldofsky, vice president of RHA and a sophomore history and secondary education dual major, is optimistic about the renovation and emphasized it could improve the freshman experience.
“It is a much better option for the future of the campus,” Baldofsky said. “It will keep costs down low, as tuition is always on our minds. And is preserving a piece of TCNJ culture. Generations have gone through the Towers, and I think that’s so cool.”
Alumni are happy to hear that the Towers they knew and loved will be preserved on campus. Laura Fecak (’03), who previously told The Signal last November she was not ready to see the Towers go, could not be more thrilled about the renovation.
“I’m so excited they are keeping the Towers and look forward to seeing the new and improved T/W after renovations,” Fecak said. “I think that it is a much needed improvement and will help keep TCNJ competitive with other colleges and universities that have much nicer housing for their underclassmen.”
The administration is just as excited as the campus community for the renovation. Gitenstein believes the renovation is the right choice for the College.
“While there are downsides to the renovation, like the temporary loss of a number of housing beds while each tower is renovated, we would be losing many more beds in a new construction,” Gitenstein said.
Sacks said the College looks forward to starting the renovations.
“We are excited about the prospect of a terrific renovation that will combine the best of the old and the new,” Sacks said. “Ultimately, we think the campus community will find the experience to have the best elements of the old, the opportunity for new traditions and a better experience overall.”
(03/20/17 7:27pm)
“Is housing important to your college experience?”
"Yes, it is."
"I feel like it is, but mainly freshman year.”
“Should students support Planned Parenthood?”
“It is definitely an individual choice, but we should support it.
It allows young women to control their bodies.”
“I think we should. It provides a way of birth control, which has many other uses.”
(03/06/17 8:09pm)
“How do you feel about campus dining options?”
“They’re okay, but there could be more variety.”
“Let’s just say that I feel sick no matter where I eat on campus.”
“Is drug addition an issue in New Jersey?”
“Yeah, I would definitely say so.”
“Yes, I think so.”
(03/06/17 12:51am)
By Mia Ingui
I’m always hungry on this campus.
No matter what dining option I choose — out of the few places to eat at the College — I am always unsatisfied with my meal. Worse than that, I’m always still hungry. If there is one complaint I have about the College, it is that the dining options need improvement, and fast.
Let’s begin with Eickhoff Hall. It is great that there is a dining hall on campus that students can access as many times per day as they would like, but I leave Eickhoff undernourished and unhappy every time.
Though the dining hall has a decent number of options, there are only a select few that, as many students at the College have discovered, are remotely edible. It is difficult to serve a college that has more than 7,000 students, all with different tastes and dietary needs, however, grilling a few more pieces of chicken isn’t difficult.
Then there is Traditions. This is a decent option, I’ll give it that. It’s nice to go to a sit-down restaurant every now and again when I have the time, and the food is not bad. But the service is slow and the menu is limited, which gets frustrating.
The revamped Lion’s Den offers some decent options, as well. Admittedly, I love the sushi, but the Lion’s Den is usually way too crowded to traverse during meal equivalency, and getting lunch could take more than half an hour. Students just do not have this kind of time to waste in the middle of their day.
There’s also the Education Café, which is overcrowded during meal equiv and carries a lot of the same unfilling options, as well as the KinetiCart in Armstrong Hall that is mostly convenient to engineering majors.
The last two dining options are the Library Café and T-Dubs. The line at the Library Café is always out the door, and T-Dubs is not open for meal equiv.
So, there you have it: our unimpressive, on-campus dining options. None of them really focus on healthy, fresh options nor are quick and efficient. None of them are consistently good every time.
Over in Campus Town, there’s more food at Mexican Mariachi Grill, Yummy Sushi and Panera Bread. Hold on, don’t get too excited. Even though there are some great dining options over in Campus Town, any food purchased at these dining establishments is not included on our meal plan.
This may be the most unfair part of dining. Waving great places to eat right under poor, unsuspecting college students’ noses and then ripping it away. The cruelty.
I am a paying, enrolled student, and I can’t understand why the Campus Town dining options are not included on our meal plan. According to each college’s website, Temple, Rowan and Rutgers universities all have outside dining options near their campuses, such as Dunkin Donuts or Pizza Hut, that take “points,” or the allotted amount of money on students’ meal plans. All of the campuses include a main dining hall, but chain or locally owned eateries cater to college students and accept their meal plans.
Why can’t we do that?
I understand that Campus Town is considered an “offcampus” entity, but that is the case at the other schools, too, and all of them still accept student’s meal plans. That’s just the right thing to do. Campus Town should find a way to better accommodate its main population of customers: students here at the College.
Coming from a big Italian family, the one thing I miss from home more than anything else is being well-fed. There’s a loaf of Italian bread in just about every corner of my house. I would love for our college community to be able to treat themselves each day to a great meal without worrying about money or points, and to be full, nourished and happy.
A decent meal is a necessity, and I really think that the students’ laments on dining should be heard, acknowledged and acted upon.
(02/28/17 3:05am)
“Are you excited for spring?”
“Yes, it’s nice to see how alive the campus has been. I like colder weather, though, to be honest.”
“Yeah, I love warm weather. It’s lit.”
“How do you feel about the housing selection process?”
“I think it makes sense, but I think it does need to be improved.”
“It’s definitely very stressful with a lot of moving parts.”
(02/21/17 12:42am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
“That’s it. I can’t take this. My vagina is angry!”
A student rose from the crowd in Mayo Concert Hall, taking the audience by surprise. Molly Knapp, a sophomore women’s, gender and sexuality studies major, walked onto the stage, still visibly upset, saying, “My vagina is not going away. It’s pissed off, and it’s right here,” beginning her monologue, “Angry Vagina.”
“If my vagina could talk, it would talk about itself,” Knapp said. “And other vaginas. Do vagina impressions. It would wear Harry Winston diamonds. No clothes, just drenched in diamonds. My vagina, it wants everything.”
Women In Learning and Leadership presented the “Vagina Monologues” during the weekend of Friday, Feb. 17, to tell stories of self-hatred, self-denial and self-love.
“We forget the vagina. The heart is capable of sacrifice, but so is the vagina. It can ache for us, stretch for us, die for us and bleed us into this wonderful existence,” said Katie Mclaughlin, a senior history and secondary education dual major, in one monologue.
In an ode to empowered minds and bodies and an informative session on the vagina, students took the stage of Mayo Concert Hall while the audience stood up out of their seats, pledged to do their part to end violence against women and proudly shouted “cunt.”
Written by the Tony Award-winning playwright and activist Eve Ensler, the monologues have been performed by the powerful voices of women in more than 140 countries in 48 different languages.
Mary Lynn W. Hopps, director of WILL and a women’s, gender and sexuality studies professor, welcomed the audience to the monologues.
She believes the show was originally created because “something dramatic needed to be done about the violence against women.”
She discussed the history of the monologues and shared a collection of stories about women who, through their struggles, touched millions.
The show officially began with an introduction from three students.
“Women secretly love to talk about their vagina. Mostly because no one’s ever asked them about it before,” said Jaclyn Corbo, a freshman pre-law major.
A monologue performed by senior English and secondary education dual major Jenna Burke entitled “Hair” told a story about loving the natural female body.
“My husband made me shave my vagina,” Burke said. “It made me look like a little girl, which made him excited. I refused to shave it again. Then, my husband had an affair. But hair is there for a reason. It's the leaf around the flower, the lawn around the house.”
Freshman political science major Claudia Arias performed “The Flood,” a story of a 72-year-old woman who's never looked at her own vagina.
“I haven't been down there since 1953,” Arias said. “We didn't do this kind of thing when I was a girl. I can't do this, talk about down there.”
Arias encouraged the crowd to embrace their bodies in ways they were afraid to before.
Similarly, the next story entitled “The Vagina Workshop” encouraged women to explore and understand their bodies.
“My vagina is a shell. A flower. I learned this in the vagina workshop,” said Sam Franz, a sophomore communication studies and English double major. “I did not see my vagina as something attached to me. It seemed so reductive looking at it. But then, my vagina amazed me. My vagina is a tulip, a shell, a destiny. My vagina: me.”
Emily Mullin, a senior art and early childhood education double major, followed with the brief “Vagina Happy Fact” monologue.
“The clitoris is the only organ in the body created for pleasure, with twice as many nerves as the penis,” she said.
“They Beat the Girl out of my Boy… or so They Tried” told the story of an individual that did not identify with the sex they were born into and explored their struggle to live as their true identity.
Briana Dioses, a senior early childhood urban education and women’s, gender and sexuality studies double major followed with the “Not-so-Happy Fact:” female genital mutilation has been inflicted on approximately 125 million young women, according to a 2013 Unicef study.
Gigi Garrity, a sophomore psychology major, followed with “My Short Skirt.”
“My short skirt, believe it or not, has nothing to do with you,” she said. “My short skirt, and everything underneath, it is mine, mine, mine.”
Haley Witko, a senior interactive multimedia major, presented the monologue “Reclaiming Cunt.” The audience was invited to chant “cunt” until it’s negative meaning was refined.
“The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy,” performed by Bridget Appleby, a senior psychology major, was a shameless ode to unleashing and demanding pleasure in one’s sex life.
“I Was There in the Room,” by Katie Mclaughlin, a senior history and secondary education dual major, then discussed one of the most important tasks of the vagina: childbirth.
Closing the show was Olivia Laura, a senior psychology and women’s, gender and sexuality studies double major, with “My Revolution Lives in This Body.”
“My revolution does not require approval or permission,” Laura said. “It happens because it has to happen. It may be happening already. My revolution is swelling from the insatiable drumming between my legs.”
Although the monologues are performed annually at the College, each student brought a different perspective to the production.
According to alumna Kayla Termyna (’16), former vice executive chair of WILL, she “couldn't be happier” with how the show went.
“We all worked so hard, and it's such a special time every year,” she said. “Especially, this year when a lot has happened, I think that we all need to be inspired and push forward to continue to go out and defend other women.”
(02/20/17 10:43pm)
“Did you catch the TCNJ plague?”
"I hope not."
“No, but I’m the kind of person to have the plague and still go to class.”
“Would you consider a career in agriculture?”
“Depends on what I am doing. If it would have something to do with pesticides, yes.”
“If I was working on the business side, yes.”
(02/15/17 3:33am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
Members of Kappa Pi, the College’s honors art fraternity, showcased their take on art media outside of their respective specialty in an art exhibition called “Duality.”
“‘Duality’ is meant to show that each artist is well-rounded,” said Megan Hyjack, a sophomore graphic design major. “We can do so much more than what people expect.”
The “Duality” exhibition officially opened on Jan. 26 and closed on Sunday, Feb. 12 to showcase the College’s art department through the work of various talented art students.
The exhibit features two pieces from each of the 11 artists, one of the medium they specialize in and another they experimented with for the exhibit.
Hyjack has two pieces in the gallery: four photo prints called “Music in Lights,” which are four close up shots of various instruments in low-lighting, lit only by string lights wrapped around them, and a colorful graphic design piece made in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign called “iFont,” which is a collection of faux-iPod ads that tell the story of the font Myriad.
“(‘iFont’ was inspired by) the study of the font Myriad, which was used as Apple’s primary font for their iPod ads in the 2000s,” Hyjack said. “The entire book was developed along the lines of the old iPod ads to suit the font and have a nostalgic effect for the viewer.”
For her “Music in Lights” project, she said the inspiration came from an assignment for her photography class in which they had to photograph something beautiful.
“Since music and Christmas are two things that are beautiful to me, I wrapped instruments in string lights to create an effect that was truly beautiful,” Hyjack said.
All of the Kappa Pi members developed innovative pieces for this gallery, including Rob Birnbohm, a junior graphic design major and a cartoonist for The Signal.
His piece entitled “Brushes” was an absurdist video that redefined the use of a hairbrush, played on a loop projected onto a wall in the gallery. His second piece “Modest Mouse Zeitgeist Image,” inspired by Birnbohm’s favorite band, Modest Mouse, is an 11x17 print of a paper airplane flying through a hand made on Adobe Illustrator.
“The image depicts a paper airplane traveling through the air and through a hole in the middle of a hand,” said Birnborm. “This image was to represent the themes in Modest Mouse's lyrics, such as the fatal flaws of humanity.”
Emily Vogel, a senior art education major, had original pieces among the most interesting, as “untitled” was a collection of items housed in insulation and “abstract figure #7” was created from charcoal and rubber cement.
Angela Rossi, a junior art education major, had two thought-provoking pieces in the exhibition, one entitled “For Mom,” which is a line of cigarettes on the wall, and “Yellow,” a 19x25 drawing with yellow conte crayon on toned paper.
Ashley Swiderski, a junior art education major, went with 4D projects, “14 Feet” which is knit yarn emitting from the wall, and “Cracks,” a complication of broken ceramic cups and mugs.
“We produce work to represent TCNJ as a school and their art program,” Hyjack said. “We love to make a difference in our community through art. We support each other and really came together as artists for this show.”
(02/14/17 5:47am)
“How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?”
“It’s not as enjoyable when you don’t get candy from everyone in your class anymore. ”
“I think that it’s a good holiday – if you’re in a relationship.”
“Is is difficult to learn when you are in a large class?”
“Yes, because it’s important to have close relationships with professors and classmates.”
"Yes."
(02/07/17 11:40pm)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
At 3:55 p.m., the room was buzzing.
At 4 p.m., Margaret Pezalla-Granlund, the art director of TCNJ Art Gallery and the Sarnoff Collection, silenced the audience abuzz with excitement and welcomed them to the opening of “A Better Nectar,” the multisensory exhibition developed by Los Angeles artist Jessica Rath.
Pezalla-Granlund introduced Rath, telling pieces of her story to the audience. Rath worked tirelessly for the last decade on the groundbreaking exhibit that showcases bees, who are responsible for pollinating 30 percent of all consumed food. She became especially interested in pollinator-flower communication, as well as the musical world of both the honey and bumble bees.
So, she decided to team up with composer Robert Hoehn to bring the multisensory world of honeybee pollination to life on a human-sized scale.
“I had an idea a long time ago of doing a human-scale honeybee hive and making it a multisensory piece,” Rath said. “It uses sound to connect all living beings as a colony.”
Pezalla-Granlund told the audience that Rath has been hard at work since the beginning of the academic year in order bring this exhibition to campus.
Since it is science displayed through art, the exhibit was a collaborative project between several different fields.
“For me, ‘A Better Nectar’ is a really compelling example of how art and science can work together,” Pezalla-Granlund said.
Pezalla-Granlund introduced the artist, Rath, and her partner on the project, Hoehn, who acted as musical director and composer.
Rath began to tell their story. While the project was still in the works, Rath and Hoehn were outside when a swarm of bees came fluttering down the street.
“We took that as a good omen,” Hoehn said.
The pair were first interested in the honeybees and how Colony Collapse Disorder affects the future of these important pollinators. Their exhibit is inspired by the daily pattern of bees, “translated to a human scale, so that it can be something we understand,” Rath said. “(The exhibit) is scientific information combined with making a poetic gesture.”
Rath believes the way to understand the world of the bees is to bring it to life on a human scale.
“You have to have different sensory experiences,” she said. “Your world is a façade created by your sensory perception. There are millions of other species who are having much different experiences.”
The exhibit consists of two sculptural structures. One of them, called “Resonant Nest,” is a sculpture depicting a bee nest with interactive acoustics, creating an auditory experience for human viewers.
It is crafted from spun fiberglass whipped around a plug mold that was scaled to a human’s actual size. This nest tracks the daily cycle of the hive based on the weather. If the temperature outside is a chilly 30 degrees, then the bees would be in a huddle to keep warm, and those noises will emit from the nest sculpture.
“I highly recommend sticking your head inside,” Rath said.
The second sculpture, “Staminal Evolution,” was inspired by flora that requires “buzz pollination,” which is when bees buzz at a certain frequency to obtain the desired amount of pollen.
“A Better Nectar” also includes a research station, where pollen can be viewed under a microscope, as well as Rath’s photo essay of the researcher’s bee experiment.
The exhibit will be on display in TCNJ Gallery until April 9.
(02/07/17 7:02am)
“How do you feel about the immigration ban?”
“I’m really frustrated with it. We’re all human — our beliefs shouldn’t dehumanize each other.”
Amy Napoli, a sophomore biology and psychology double major. (Mia Ingui/ Opinions Editor)
“I don’t really know. I haven’t kept up with it.”
Did the media cover the women’s march well?”
“There was a lot of coverage, depending on the news outlet.”
“I feel like it depended on the news station. Some are more biased than others.”
(01/30/17 9:43pm)
"Is it important to teach social justice in school?"
“Yes, so that way we are better equipped to deal with situations in the future.”
“I think so. There’s not enough education on it, so people have the wrong ideas.”
"Do you support the Planned Parenthood organization?"
“Yes.”
“Yes, I think it’s a great option for people to get the necessary help that they need.”
(01/24/17 9:31am)
By Mia Ingui
Opinions Editor
For those, like myself, who are now feeling completely overwhelmed with the concept of going back to school, waking up for the 8 a.m. class you regrettably signed up for and having to once again endure the fine dining at Eickhoff Hall, I wanted to provide some hope.
To begin, here is an anecdote about my winter break.
By Dec. 19, I was beyond finished. My couch was just calling my name, and I needed to get to it immediately, if not sooner. I finished my last exam in exactly 28 minutes and zoomed up Route 1 back to my humble home.
It just gets exhausting. Suddenly, mid-December hits like a brick, and the stress and social pressures of college life weigh down too heavily on students. They just cannot continue without a break.
Therefore, I couldn’t get home fast enough on Dec. 19. Christmas music blaring through my speakers, I jingled and jangled all the way home, stoked about the upcoming holiday season and some much-needed time off. I would miss my new friends and groups at the College, but, hey, at least my hometown friends and I would spend some time together.
I was a bit off.
I quickly discovered that my hometown friends had moved on, as they no longer felt the need to be the tight-knit, resilient group that we were just a few months prior. All our memories, our late night drives to Wawa and our game nights and our love for one another simply vanished into dust and crumbled in front of my eyes.
A few good people remained and are still a large part of my life. I’m very thankful for them. It still hurt, though, to realize that many friendships cannot withstand the distance and the separation that comes with going to college.
On a brighter note, on Christmas Eve, my great aunt gave us a platter the size of a pizza filled with perfectly stacked Italian Christmas cookies. We still haven’t finished all of them.
The rest of break was nothing short of wonderful. I went back to work, I laid on my couch and ate chips. I also spent some time with people from college and those remaining from high school, and, most importantly, I spent time with my incredible family, who I’ve missed more than anything.
For returning to school: Yes, we’re all a little nervous, scared and anxious. This is what I’ve realized. Take comfort in the fact that these feelings are not exclusive, and that you may be surprised at who is feeling the same as you.
Rise above the nerves and the anxiety. All it takes is some dedication, a few late nights and many, many cups of coffee. And in my case, a few Christmas cookies. If anyone wants any, feel free to reach out. We’re still trying to get rid of them.
To a new semester!