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By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief
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By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief
By Michelle LamparielloFormer Editor-in-Chief
By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief When alumni Kevin Gabauer and Tom Armenti (’09) were students at the College, they never expected that they would one day stand before a line of sharks in the most important discussion of their professional lives. But when there was a casting call last summer in Denver for ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the now west coast-based businessmen jumped at the chance to have world-famous investors strengthen their late-night eatery chain, Fat Shack. Known for serving indulgent “fat sandwiches,” Fat Shack’s original Ewing location was a popular destination for students looking to treat themselves to comfort food after other on-campus dining locations would close. While the Fat Shack in Ewing closed in 2017, Gabauer and Armenti emphasized the chain’s strong ties to the College as they prepare to open their 14th location out west. The “Shark Tank” episode will air on Sunday, May 12 at 10 p.m. on ABC. Gabauer and Armenti cannot comment on their interactions with the sharks or whether or not they received a deal until after the episode airs. However, they were able to offer insight on their experience starting a successful business. Fat Shack’s Ewing location celebrated its grand opening in February 2010. Armenti struck a deal with a local business, RJ’s Bagels, so that after the bagel shop closed at 4 p.m., he could sell items from Fat Shack’s menu in the space from 6 p.m to as late as 4 a.m. In the beginning, he used to have to store food for the restaurant at his home on Hollowbrook Drive. While this arrangement was unsustainable, it allowed Armenti to open his first restaurant for only $5,000. Fat Shack quickly gained a cult following from hungry students at the College as a result of Armenti’s marketing efforts. “I walked through Travers and Wolfe and handed out menus just to get the word out there,” Armenti said. “I also started a Facebook group that had a lot of members, so people would be really excited when I gave them a menu and they would tell me, ‘We’re so excited for you guys to open! I’m in your Facebook group.’” Today, Fat Shack’s menu includes sandwiches, burgers, wings, milkshakes, desserts and more. Though Gabauer and Armenti decided to sell the Ewing location because the business was expanding in Colorado, Texas and Washington, they expressed how Fat Shack is closely tied to their experience as students at the College. Gabauer studied business management with a minor in marketing, while Armenti studied marketing. They were both brothers of Phi Kappa Psi, and they give credit to the connections they made within their fraternity and the School of Business that helped their business grow. Armenti said that he is a long-time fan of “Shark Tank,” and that he hopes his experience on the show will help him expand the business across the country. “I have watched the show ever since it came out, and I think watching it for so long has helped me learn from other people’s mistakes,” he said. “I hope that by putting ourselves out there, we are able to help Fat Shack grow.” Though starting a business can be scary, Gabauer and Armenti encourage students with entrepreneurial spirits to give their dreams a chance. “Dive right in — just pour everything you’ve got into it. You’re so young still so that if something doesn’t work well, you’re still well-positioned to find something else,” Gabauer said. Armenti agreed that college is an ideal time to establish at least the bare bones of a startup, since it is not essential that business owners be experts in the field as long as they are determined. “You don’t need to know everything, because nothing can replace the will to succeed,” he said.
By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief For some members of the College’s Class of 2023, there is a new item on the list of tasks they must complete before their first day of classes. Between shopping for fans and dorm decor, attending orientation and purchasing their first textbooks, every member of the incoming freshman class must complete a placement test to determine if they need to take a writing course, WRI 102, and potentially WRI 101 as well, during their first year at the College. While some students used to be exempt from taking the placement test if they had high enough standardized test scores, this year, the College has decided to make the placement test mandatory for all incoming students. “The change really came from planning for assessment of the writing courses, from discussions about placement scoring, and checking the data on just how low a percentage of students were placing out through the writing sample,” said Director of Writing Nina Ringer. “Assuming that our cut-off scores were too low led to the discussion of writing placement for all students.” According to Ringer, the College analyzed data regarding students’ performance in writing-intensive courses and compared it to whether or not they had placed out of WRI 102. A concern for students who narrowly made the cutoff to be exempt from the placement test, and then the course itself, rose out of the data analysis. “I’ve definitely noticed that very few students place out through the placement test,” Ringer said. “Kit (Murphy, associate provost for curriculum and liberal learning) and I started talking about actual numbers — we looked at the last five years, and learned that no more than 20 percent of students place out through that test. So, that suggests that the cutoff scores — SAT, ACT and AP — are too low.” Ringer and Murphy acknowledged that while AP exams measure writing ability differently, a high score on the ACT or SAT especially does not always correlate to a strong ability to write well in a collegiate setting. They feel that students with standardized test scores that are just high enough to be exempt from the College’s placement test are likely being left behind and missing out on the chance to take a course that would help them build necessary skills to excel in writing-intensive courses. “We’re almost probably certain that some of the ones above the (standardized test) cutoff actually need WRI 102 — they did well on the SAT, but when it comes to writing in the form that we expect here, they may not be quite as well off,” Murphy said. A recent faculty survey about the liberal learning program, which is home to the WRI 101 and 102 courses, asked for faculty members at the College in every discipline to provide feedback about the liberal learning program. A common theme that rose out of an open-ended question on the survey that asked about potential program improvements was that many students could benefit from more writing training. This feedback supported the data Murphy had configured, and served as a supplementary factor to motivate the policy change. For students who did not receive a score of four or better on the advanced placement exams for English Literature, English Composition, U.S. History or World History, a composite score of 26 or higher on the ACT or a 600 in math and 640 in evidence-based reading on the SAT, nothing has changed, as they would be expected to take the placement test anyway. These were the old metrics the College used to determine whether or not it was necessary for an incoming student to take its placement test, but they are now no longer in use until the College can determine the efficacy of its policy change. Ringer and Murphy estimate that the College will start analyzing the effects of mandating the placement test in October and November of this year. If it is determined that having every student take the placement test helps ensure that all students perform well in their writing-intensive courses, then it is possible that the College will raise the standardized test cutoff score permanently to prevent some students from slipping through the cracks. “The bottom line for this is that we’re making sure that all students who need to get additional work on their writing get that,” Murphy said. “And the idea there is so that when they come into their mid-level writing courses, they’re not at a disadvantage.” Students are given two hours to complete the College’s writing placement test, in which they are asked to write a response to an article. Ringer and faculty members from her department annually choose two to three articles to be used for the test so that not every student gets the same article. “It can’t be too political; it can’t be alienating in any way to particular groups of students. You really have to look at it to see what would most appeal,” Ringer said. The test will be available through Canvas from May 20 through June 7, according to the College’s website. Each essay is graded on a scale from one to six. Before faculty members begin to score the essays, Ringer hosts a “norming” session to make sure that each judge is on the same page as to what quality of writing constitutes each score. Ringer selects 12 “benchmark” essays — two of each possible score, in her opinion — and then reviews them with the other writing faculty members to determine if they all share the same view on what kind of essay is representative of each score before they begin to grade individually. Every essay is graded by two different writing faculty members and the student’s name is withheld from the document. Instead, PAWS ID numbers are used to identify which test belongs to each student. If students earn anywhere from a four to a six, they are exempt from both WRI 101 and WRI 102. If they score a three, that means that they need to take WRI 102 — most likely during the spring of their first year, though the College offers some sections in the fall for students who could not fit in with the spring cohort for any reason. If students score a one or a two, they will need to take both WRI 101 and WRI 102, most likely taking the former during the fall of their first year and the latter in the spring. Sections of WRI 101 are capped at eight students each and the College has never had more than five sections of the course, though Ringer noted that this could change. The class meets once a week — students meet with their instructor every other week and with a tutor on the opposite week. WRI 101 is worth two credits. WRI 102 is a four-credit course and is similar to the freshman seminar program in that each course has a theme, but there is more time built into this course for drafting and feedback on writing assignments. Each section is capped at 16 students; for spring 2019, there are 42 sections. Ringer and Murphy understand that for incoming students with high standardized test scores, having to take the placement test may be perceived as extra work that they feel they have earned the right to avoid. However, they are hopeful that incoming students will give the same cooperation and support that they have received from departments such as Records and Registration, which has also had to shift some of its operations due to the change. “At first it seems like ‘oh, I have to take a writing placement test, so it’s one more thing,’” Murphy said. “But actually, they are making a contribution to improving the institution and improving the education of the students, because they are going to participate in generating data that is going to help us help students.”
By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief The College announced the appointment of a new interim director for community engagement in a campus-wide email on March 1. Brittany Aydelotte (’09), a former Bonner scholar who previously held multiple positions in community engagement at the College, will serve as the new interim director, according to the campus-wide email from Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs William Keep. Aydelotte, who graduated with a bachelor’s in English and secondary education, earned a master’s degree in counseling from the College in 2017. Prior to her appointment as interim director, she was the program manager for Community Engaged Research and Initiatives. In her new position, Aydelotte will report directly to the provost and will be responsible for community engagement efforts, as well as outreach to community partners. Aydelotte plans to continue to build on the foundation of the Center for Community Engaged Learning and Research’s 15-year history at the College and develop relationships with more campus stakeholders and community members. “In order to develop the best plan moving forward, our team will be gathering and sharing information with the campus and community,” she said. “We value the input, expertise and perspective of those invested in community engagement and we are confident that together we will continue to advance our efforts at TCNJ.” Aydelotte and her team plan to work closely with the Community Engaged Learning Council and the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to collaborate on community projects that pertain to a wide array of academic departments. While she does not yet have any concrete ideas for new community partners with whom to develop relationships, Aydelotte is optimistic about CELR’s role in enriching learning experiences. “As we review and consult with campus and community stakeholders, we will be looking for ways we can best meet the learning goals of the College and the community-identified concerns through our community engagement projects,” she said. The CELR values potential projects that community members bring to its attention, since it views the College as a member of the local community and recognizes that engagement goes beyond the work done at the CELR. “One of the most important values to us at (the CELR) is the true collaboration with our partners in the community,” Aydelotte said. “In order to design and implement meaningful, reciprocal community engagement projects, community members and partners will continue to be valued as experts and members of our team.” Aydelotte explained that community engagement plays a vital role in helping the College achieve its goal to prepare graduates to be lifelong learners and responsible community members. “Looking at TCNJ’s mission, vision and values, it is clear that community engagement is essential to meeting our goals as a college,” she said. “Community engagement, in collaboration with rigorous classroom learning, provides students with the opportunity to bring what they are learning to life. Experiences outside of the classroom, in the community, give students the chance to actively engage, often exposing potential and inspiring excellence.” In the campus-wide email, Keep stated that, in her new position, Aydelotte will work closely with Bonner scholars and Stephanie Shanklin, director of the Bonner Institute. "I am excited and truly looking forward to working Brittany," Shanklin said. "I am confident that under Brittany’s leadership community engagement at TCNJ will continue to thrive." Editor's Note: This post was updated on March 14 to include a quote from Shanklin.
By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief Students seeking careers in law were advised of key moves, educational opportunities and important skills to build by alumni who once stood in their shoes at the TCNJ Law Panel, hosted by the College’s Pre-Law Advisory Committee, the Pre-Law Society and the Career Center. The event, which was moderated by senior English major Alexandra Yulich, was held in the Education Building Room 115 on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. The 10-person panel was comprised primarily of alumni, but Allen M. Silk, a shareholder at Stark & Stark, and Thomas Mahoney, vice president and general counsel at the College, also joined the discussion. Panelists addressed questions from the audience about law school, advantages and disadvantages of various practice areas and how to make the most of an undergraduate career. The law school graduates also briefly explained their career history and how they landed their current jobs as lawyers and executives. When asked if it is beneficial to take time off after graduating from the College before applying to law schools, the panelists generally agreed that it is a good idea to spend some time working beforehand in order to secure experience, find a passion and gain maturity. When Scott Miccio (’08) graduated from the College during the recession, jobs for recent graduates were sparse. He worked for two years at the first job he could find, which happened to be at a pharmaceutical company, though he had no background in science. “My plan at the time was to go to business school, so I took the ... business school entrance exam and did pretty well on that,” Miccio said. “Then, Rutgers-Camden sent me a letter that said, ‘Hey, we saw you did well on your business school entrance exam — we have this program here, you won’t have to take the LSATs, just come here and be a lawyer.’ Maybe it was kind of impulsive at the time, but I said ‘OK, yeah I’ll do that.’ I don’t regret it — I think it was a good decision.” Though Miccio’s path into law school was one primarily unplanned, unlike many other lawyers who aspire to attend it for years, he credits the College’s journalism department for helping to prepare him by strengthening his writing skills. Miccio’s time at the College left such an impact on him that he even named his dog, Norsworthy, after the residence hall. The panelists agree that law school causes students to restructure their thinking and approach situations in a different way than other professionals without the same education. Many alumni cited Introduction to Logic as the most helpful course at the College that prepared them for law school. Lauren Ira (’04) double majored in English and what used to be women and gender studies at the College. She used to be a lobbyist, but she now pursues her passion for criminal justice by prosecuting violent crimes, including sexual assault, domestic violence and abduction cases. “That became my specialty — trial after trial after trial, putting some pretty horrible people away that tie children up and keep them in cages,” she said. “My passion has always been for speaking up for those who don’t have a voice. Whether I found that in children, whether I found that in women’s rights or sexual assault crimes, my passion has always been speaking for people who maybe can’t have a voice, or they’re scared to have a voice.” Several panelists expressed that a lawyer’s undergraduate major is hardly ever a factor in determining their success. They advised students to choose a major for which they have a passion because it will be easier to convey the persistence, diligence and trustworthiness law schools seek after selecting a major where students are happy to engage with faculty members and land internships and independent study offers. Some students in the audience expressed concerns about working in the public sector and how that would impact them financially. The panelists advised students to do their research on financial aid and scholarship opportunities, but ultimately to pursue their passions. The theme of working toward a goal of happiness and fulfillment rather than money and power was central throughout the night as the panelists gave advice to students. “Do what you’re passionate about — do what you love,” said Tony Tontore (’07). “Do that first, and worry about things like money and other things second.”
By Michelle Lampariello Former Editor-in-Chief As part of an effort to combat food insecurity on campus, a new food pantry in Campus Town will provide essential food and personal care items to students and local community members in need of resources. Dubbed The SHOP@TCNJ, the pantry was established through the combined efforts of Campus Police, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, the Bonner Institute and the Mercer Street Friends Food Bank. It is located inside the Campus Police substation in Campus Town, on the north side of the building that houses the fitness center. The pantry is set to have a soft opening later this month and is currently in the process of recruiting and training volunteers. From Thursday, Jan. 31 to March 1, the campus community is encouraged to donate non-perishable food items to the Dean of Students Office in the Brower Student Center Room 220. The SHOP accepts food contributions such as pancake mix, pasta, microwaveable meals, cereal, shelf stable milk, instant oatmeal, protein bars, snack items including granola bars and shelf stable pudding cups, condiments, spices and pasta sauce. New or unopened home and beauty products, including soaps, detergent, paper products and toothbrushes, as well as socks, underwear, women’s leggings and men’s sweatpants of any size that are either new or still in their packaging can also be donated. A 2018 study from the Wisconsin HOPE Lab found that in a 30-day period, 36 percent of college students and 42 percent of community college students felt food insecure — a term used to describe the struggle to access enough food on a daily basis, according to NPR. Interim Associate Dean of Students Elizabeth Gallus underscored the importance of ensuring students having enough to eat, and feels the new pantry will give those who struggle a much-needed resource. “For students, this type of support can decrease barriers preventing them from peak performance both in and out of the classroom,” Gallus said. “Additionally, it has the potential to build connections to other resources for more sustainable, long term options such as utilizing the CARE program in the Dean of Students Office.” The SHOP will be open two days per week, year round. After the campus-wide call for donations ends on March 1, the pantry will continue to be stocked with help from Mercer Street Friends, a Trenton-based food bank. In addition to the support from Mercer Street Friends, the College will continue to host food drives such as the annual Cram a Cruiser event organized by Campus Police and Sodexo. The pantry is also accepting monetary donations through the Division of College Advancement. To donate, visit the College website, click “give now,” and select the fund “The SHOP@TCNJ.”
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief The campus community continued to demonstrate its power to bond together in times of tragedy during a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Michael Sot and to support the recoveries of Ryan Moore, Anthony Galante, Danielle DeFlores, Matthew DeGenova and Moore’s girlfriend Jenna Passero in Kendall Hall Mainstage Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 12. The vigil was held 11 days after the five students became victims of a head-on collision with an intoxicated driver, according to prosecutors. Members of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity and Delta Zeta sorority spoke about the warm, compassionate and bubbly personalities of each of the victims, and acknowledged Sot’s dedication to “doing the right thing” as the group’s designated driver the night of the crash. College President Kathryn Foster and Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Sean Stallings also addressed the crowd. Both acknowledged the strong community ties that have become prominent in the aftermath of the crash as students support one another through the wave of grief that has come over the College. “In this unforeseen and bewildering turn of events, I have experienced at TCNJ a deeply caring community,” Foster said. “In your concern, and in your love for one another, and for the families of Matt, Anthony, Michael, Ryan and Danielle, I have never been so proud of, or loved this place and its people more.” Sot’s fraternity brother Brandon Mejia, a sophomore communication studies major, told the crowd about how Sot always made sure that his friends felt happy and loved. He explained how he always felt welcome in Sot’s dorm room, and Sot had even invited Mejia to spend Thanksgiving with his family in his hometown of Clark, New Jersey. Mejia read the crowd a text he received earlier this semester from Sot, in which Sot half-jokingly outlines his theory that life is a simulation. While at first this seemed as though it would be a moment of comic relief, Sot’s ideas were particularly poignant. “Remember — we’re in a simulation anyway,” Sot’s text read. “So don’t let your emotions get to you too much… and whatever they’ve planned for you, well it’s gonna happen whether you realize it or not, whether you want it to or not. So just relax — do you, let the codes do their thing.” Parents of all five students spoke about how they have been coping with the events of the past 11 days, and expressed their gratitude for the support they have received from the campus community. Anthony Galante’s father, Frank Galante, intentionally made the crowd laugh when he thanked the campus community for their frequent sandwich deliveries to the hospital. Though his mispronunciation of “Chick-fil-A” may have produced some well-meaning giggles in the crowd, students understood the sincerity of his message. “When you spend 24 hours sitting in a room watching blips on a computer screen, flipping out every time you see a number go up or down, you forget to breathe, you forget to eat, drink or sleep, and the craziness starts in your head and in your heart,” Galante said. “The people from the school and the fraternity who came numerous times always seemed to be there when we got at our lowest points, whether it was with a Dunkin Donuts coffee, more sandwiches than I could possibly eat, and God knows I did try to finish them, or Chick-fil-A — this is a new foreign food. I ate it about five times, and I get it.” Ryan Moore’s father, Eric Moore, addressed the importance of finding light in dark times. Like Galante, Moore was at times humorous in his attempts to explain to the crowd how the campus community has made a positive impact in the aftermath of the crash. Moore explained that while sitting in the intensive care unit waiting room, he would stare at a door with the word “trauma” on it. This ironically prompted the song “Beautiful Trauma” by P!nk to become stuck in Moore’s head. At first he was frustrated by this, since he could find nothing “beautiful” in his son’s suffering. As the days passed, however, Moore was given hope by the outpouring of support the victims received by friends, family and even strangers. Moore feels that it is imperative to never lose hope during times of struggle, and to find the light and beauty in even the darkest of tragedies. “Perhaps I was a bit too hard on P!nk,” he joked. Michael Sot Sr.’s address to the crowd left several students in tears as he honored his son’s memory as a caring, intelligent and friendly young man. He explained how Michael Sot was a role model for his younger brothers, and a loving son who was recognized in his community for being a respectful and kind person. “This is something that you never imagine — this is no phone call any parent wants to get in the middle of the morning,” Sot said. “I’ve had this conversation with all of my children that this is just a call you don’t want to get. Do the right thing. Don’t ever get in a car and drink. Don’t ever get in a car and drive. Look out for others — protect others, put others first. And that night, that’s exactly what Mike did.” Sot thanked first responders, doctors, nurses, medical staff and clergy for all they did to help his son, and their ongoing work to help the other victims. He hopes that his son’s legacy will never disappear, and explained that we all “die twice — the first time we die is when your soul goes to heaven. The second time is when people stop saying your name.” Following the conclusion of remarks from the students’ friends and families, campus community members exited the theater and gathered in front of Green Hall, candles in hand. As a group of students sang “Silent Night,” others quietly reflected on the events of the past 11 days. Following the reminder to find light in darkness, many stared into their candle’s flame as they continue their journey of healing.
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief In most ways, my desire to succeed is identical to that of the majority of my classmates — I fill my breaks from classes with internships, I’m active in a student organization and I work hard in my classes. Many students will tell you that a lengthy resume is synonymous with a promising future, and I do believe there is some truth to that. I’m proud to attend a school where my classmates share my views on working hard today so that we can have a bright tomorrow, but I think many of us are caught up in the vicious cycle of letting our happiness depend on our professional and academic success. The jury is still out on whether money can buy happiness — personally, I wouldn’t complain if my day job was sipping piña coladas on my private yacht; however, what I do know is that achievements do not equate to happiness. Yes, doing well in classes is important. So is having relevant experience in your desired field, and being a good speaker, writer, listener or whatever skills you need to stand out in your profession. As college students, it’s important that we all devote time to our professional development to set ourselves up for success in our careers. The unhealthiness of our obsession with success is not found in our desire to get an A in a class, become president of an organization or land an internship — it’s our misguided thought that if we earn a 4.0, rise through the ranks of a club or become an intern at our dream company, only then will we be happy. There is so much more to life than the things you list on your resume. Whether it’s a talent or hobby unrelated to your major, the people you surround yourself with or your favorite show on Netflix, there are so many things to find joy in besides professional achievement. Of course we feel happy when we achieve academically, and landing a job or internship is worthy of celebration. There is nothing wrong with being proud of ourselves when we succeed, but it’s important to not let these achievements define our happiness. Whenever you celebrate an achievement, think about your friend who wished you luck before your exam, your significant other who brought you dinner so you could study all night and your favorite song that was playing through your headphones as you read your notes. Remember that you’re not just a student who is meant to produce high grades and land flashy internships — you’re a person with a wealth of talents, interests and attributes. Academic achievement should not be the bulk of what makes you happy — it’s just the frosting on the cake.
By Michelle Lampariello & Emmy Liederman Editor-in-Chief & Features Editor Prosecutors have filed a detention motion against the man charged with assault and vehicular homicide in the aftermath of a car crash that prosecutors say killed 20-year-old Michael Sot, who was acting as a designated driver and operating the other vehicle involved in the crash, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. Ewing Township police announced Monday afternoon that David Lamar V, a 22-year-old man from West Windsor, New Jersey, is charged with seven counts of second-degree assault by auto following the collision early Sunday morning that seriously injured eight people, including five students. Vehicular homicide was added to Lamar's charges following Sot's death at 12:45 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4. at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. Ryan Moore, a 21-year-old senior marketing major, is currently in critical condition and Danielle DeFlores, a 21-year-old senior biology major, is in stable condition, according to Kate Stier, director of public relations at Capital Health Medical Center. Anthony Galante, a 19-year-old sophomore finance major remains at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania in critical condition. Matthew DeGenova, a 21-year-old senior accounting major, has since been released from St. Mary Medical Center and transported to a rehabilitation facility near his home, according to a campus-wide email from Dave Muha, the College's spokesperson on Thursday, Dec. 6. Lamar is currently being held in the Mercer County Correction Center in Hopewell, New Jersey. His detention hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 11 at 1:30 p.m. at 400 S Warren Street in Trenton New Jersey, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office. "J.F.," Lamar's passenger, "suffered a bladder injury that required surgery and multiple spinal fractures," according to NJ 1015. Lamar was "driving under the influence" as he drove his black 2018 Kia Optima southbound on Pennington Road, prosecutors said. He crossed over the double yellow line, striking Sot's gray 2007 Dodge Charger that was traveling northbound at approximately 2:07 a.m. The Charger had six occupants — five of whom are students at the College. According to an affidavit from the Mercer County Prosecutor's office, Lamar crossed the double yellow line because he was attempting to pass a car in front of him. According to the Township of Ewing Police department, Lamar is also charged with driving while intoxicated, careless driving, an unsafe lane change, improper passing in a no passing zone and failure to present a license, registration or insurance card. Anyone with information concerning the crash is asked to contact Officers David Massi or Paul Digristina at 609-882-1313 or the Tip Line at 609-882-7530.
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief Michael Sot, a 20-year-old sophomore math major from Clark, New Jersey, died on Tuesday, Dec. 4 from injuries he sustained in a head-on collision in the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 2. Sot was acting as a designated driver for the five other passengers in his vehicle that night when they were struck by an "impaired" driver, 22-year-old David Lamar V of West Windsor, New Jersey, according to the Ewing Township Police Department. Sot, who is survived by his parents and three siblings, had a separate GoFundMe page established in his name to assist his family. This was in addition to the GoFundMe page set up for all of the victims that were in Sot’s car, which has now raised more than $75,000. According to the GoFundMe established for Sot, injuries that he sustained in the collision include a “head trauma that required surgery, a punctured lung, fractures of the L4/5 vertebrae and many broken bones.” In a campus-wide email, College President Kathryn Foster expressed her gratitude to the medical team at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey, who cared for Sot as well as two other students who were injured in the crash. Danielle DeFlores, a 21-year-old senior biology major, and Ryan Moore, a 21-year-old senior marketing major remain at Capital Health. Anthony Galante, a 19-year-old sophomore finance major and Matthew DeGenova, a 21-year-old senior accounting major, remain at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, to which Foster also expressed appreciation. Lamar is now also charged with vehicular homicide, according to the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office, in addition to the original charge of seven counts of second-degree assault by auto. Sot was a star baseball player and member of the National Honor Society at Arthur L. Johnson Regional High School in Clark, New Jersey, according to My Central Jersey. At the College, Sot was a brother of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Galante, DeGenova and Moore are also brothers of Phi Kappa Psi. Moore’s girlfriend, Jenna Passero of Midland Park, New Jersey and a student at Kutztown University, was also in Sot’s vehicle. Foster wrote in her campus-wide email that Counseling and Psychological Services will offer postvention counseling in the Brower Student Center, and added that "the meditation room in the Spiritual Center is open for prayer and quiet reflection for those who wish to use it.” Sot, who was known for “being a great son to his parents, an awesome brother to his three siblings and a great friend to many,” according to his GoFundMe page, will be deeply missed. “Rest easy Mike. I will make you proud. I love you more than you’ll ever know. See you soon,” his brother, Jon Sot, tweeted. Jon Sot’s alma mater, St. Joseph High School in Metuchen, New Jersey, expressed condolences to the Sot family on Twitter. “Our family hurts today with the Sots,” the school’s athletics department tweeted. “Our deepest condolences to Mike Sr., Candace, Jon, Matt, Jessy. Michael’s legacy lives on through his incredible family. Michael, thanks for being a role model to Jon (’18) & Matt (’20) & to all of us who will do the next right thing.’"
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief Ewing Township police announced Monday afternoon that David Lamar V, a 22-year-old man from West Windsor, New Jersey, has been charged with seven counts of second-degree assault by auto following the collision early Sunday morning that seriously injured eight people, including five students. According to police, Lamar was impaired as he drove his black 2018 Kia Optima southbound on Pennington Road. He crossed over the double yellow line, striking a gray 2007 Dodge Charger that was traveling northbound. Of the eight people who were injured in the crash, two have been released from the hospital. Three people remain in critical condition, and three are in stable condition. The Charger was driven by Michael Sot, a 20-year-old sophomore math major from Clark, New Jersey, according to a GoFundMe page set up to raise funds for the victims' medical bills. Sot was serving as a designated driver the night of the crash, according to William Walker, who established the GoFundMe page. The Charger had six occupants — five of whom are students at the College. The crash remains under investigation by the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Serious Collision Response Team and the Ewing Police Department Traffic Bureau. Anyone with information concerning the crash is asked to contact Officers David Massi or Paul Digristina at 609-882-1313 or the Tip Line at 609-882-7530.
By Michelle Lampariello & Nicole Viviano Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer As peaceful music permeated the room, brothers of Phi Kappa Psi quickly added rows of chairs to the hundreds already set up in the Brower Student Center Room 100. Though the non-denominational vigil to honor car crash victims Danielle DeFlores, Matthew DeGenova, Anthony Galante, Ryan Moore and Michael Sot did not start until 8 p.m., it was clear that Catholic Campus Ministry was expecting a much larger crowd than initially anticipated. The vigil, organized by CCM with help from Student Government for booking purposes and several Greek organizations for publicity, was originally scheduled to be held in the Spiritual Center. Hundreds of campus community members gathered to support one another as the five students remain in critical condition. The majority of vigil attendees belonged to Greek organizations — DeGenova, Galante, Moore and Sot are brothers of Phi Kappa Psi, and DeFlores is a sister of Delta Zeta. Brothers and sisters from their organizations, as well as students from other fraternities and sororities, banded together in support. Vanessa Rutigliano, a junior psychology major and CCM’s publicist, began the vigil by explaining CCM’s efforts to host a non-denominational service for members of the campus community that share different religious and spiritual beliefs. Rutigliano also informed the crowd that personnel from Counseling and Psychological Services as well as the Dean of Students’ office were in attendance and happy to speak with students in need of assistance. “I’m heartbroken and I'm concerned about the students and their reaction to this,” said Mark Forest, director of CAPS. “We need to come together as a community and to support one another. Make sure that everyone knows that there are resources, and certainly the first one is for people to practice good self-care, talk with friends to talk with family, to gather support.” Following a general opening prayer, CCM’s band sang several songs for the crowd, including the hymns “Draw Me Close,” “You Are Mine,” “Mighty to Save,” “I Can Only Imagine,” and “Hungry.” Students were then encouraged to leave anonymous messages inside a prayer box at the front of the room to express their concern and support for their classmates who remain in the hospital. Father Erin Brown of CCM addressed the crowd, and reminded the audience that in tragic times, supporting one another is key to finding light in darkness. Brown explained that in times of tragedy, it is important to have a “healthy perspective.” “The healthy perspective — it doesn’t remove the pain, but it limits unnecessary suffering,” he said. “It doesn’t see what we want to see, but allows us to better encounter everything that we must face to move forward. It doesn’t run away from the truth — it enables us to put things in their proper place.” Brown acknowledged that no speech or words of encouragement could remedy the situation, but hope and strength in community are vital in trying times. “The days leading up to Christmas are all about hope, and that’s what we have tonight,” Brown said.
By Michelle Lampariello & Nicole Viviano Editor-in-Chief & Staff Writer Five students were seriously injured in a collision outside of 1817 Pennington Road in the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 2. All of the students remain at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton and St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne, Pennsylvania as of Sunday night. The following students were injured in the crash: Danielle DeFlores, 21, a senior biology major from Brick, New Jersey Matthew DeGenova, 21, a senior accounting major from Belmar, New Jersey Anthony Galante, 19, a sophomore finance major from North Bellmore, New York Ryan Moore, 21, a senior marketing major from Midland Park, New Jersey Michael Sot, 20, a sophomore math major from Clark, New Jersey There is an ongoing investigation regarding the cause of the collision, though preliminary reports suggest that one of the vehicles crossed the center line, striking the other vehicle head-on. According to the Ewing Township Police Department, injuries sustained in the crash include a brain injury, broken bones, a ruptured bladder and multiple lacerations and contusions, though information regarding which victims have sustained which injuries has not yet been released. A total of eight people were involved in the crash — the vehicle containing the five students had six occupants, and the other vehicle had two. Six of the eight injured are currently in critical condition. After the Ewing Township Police Department received multiple 911 calls regarding a two-vehicle collision with injuries, officers arrived on scene to assist multiple victims who were trapped inside both vehicles. Among several first responders were officers from Ewing Fire Stations 30, 31 and 33, who worked to free the victims, according to a press release issued by the Ewing Township Police Department. A GoFundMe has been set up for the five students to pay for “hotel rooms for the family, medical bills and other incurred fees,” according to William Walker, the campaign’s organizer and a senior marketing major. As of 5:30 p.m., $20,425 has been raised. Walker is the president of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Galante, DeGenova, Sot and Moore are all brothers of Phi Kappa Psi, and DeFlores is a sister of Delta Zeta sorority. The College’s counseling and psychological services will be providing outreach to members of the organizations that the victims belong to, and is available for individual and group postvention processing, as needed, according to a campus-wide email from Dave Muha, the College’s spokesperson. "We are sending healing thoughts to our students injured in the car crash and our heartfelt and deep support and compassion to their families, friends, and loved ones. The outpouring of concern and prayers from the campus community, including tonight's vigil and the GoFundMe effort, says a lot about TCNJ as a caring community. The accident reminds us how life can change in an instant and how essential it is to be there for others," said College President Kathryn Foster. Anyone with information concerning the crash should contact Officers David Massi or Paul Digristina of the Ewing Township Police Department at (609) 882-1313.
By Michelle Lampariello and Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-In-Chief and Managing Editor One week after an incident of racism occurred outside a residence hall, the campus community continues to question what can be done to develop a more inclusive atmosphere on campus. A public forum at noon on Wednesday, Nov. 28 in Kendall Hall aims to address not only an incident involving racial slurs yelled at Marcus Allen, a junior African American studies and journalism and professional writing double major, but also as an open dialogue on tolerance and acceptance. The event, which aims to continue the conversation about ways to improve the College’s efforts to foster an inclusive community, is cosponsored by Student Government, Academic Affairs and Student Affairs. On Monday, Nov. 26, Provost William Keep sent a message to faculty and staff at the College calling for the Dean of every academic school to reevaluate how to send the message that the campus community respects people of all races, religions, genders, abilities and ages. “I am asking each Dean to convene a School/Library-wide meeting to discuss the role(s) we in Academic Affairs can play in making clear that TCNJ is a culture that respects all people,” Keep wrote. “Whether in a discussion seminar, science lab, doing group work, cleaning a bathroom, or exchanging emails, all members of our community deserve to have a respectful environment within which to work and study.” Keep also mentioned his low tolerance for graffiti in the email, and stated that graffiti that depicts racist or discriminatory words or images should be reported immediately. While Keep did not explicitly reference an incident of racist graffiti appearing on campus in his email, on Nov. 1, Campus Police was dispatched to the Art & Interactive Multimedia Building in response to a report of the derogatory term “n*****” written in a stall in the women’s bathroom on the third floor of the building. A Building Services employee reported the graffiti when she saw it during her shift, and was particularly upset by the sighting of the derogatory term because this was not the first time she had experienced discrimination on campus, citing a similar incident of derogatory graffiti that was reported to Campus Police two years ago. Campus Police reviewed security footage of the third floor women’s bathroom in the AIMM building, but do not have any suspects in their investigation. College President Kathryn A. Foster released an email emphasizing the need for inclusion and diversity on campus on Nov. 17. Allen tweeted early Saturday morning about how students on campus yelled racial slurs at him from their residence hall on Nov. 16 “I am truly disheartened by this incident,” his initial tweet read. Foster stressed that the school does not tolerate instances of racial bias or any other forms of discrimination targeted toward any population in the community. “Race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, abilities, and other differences enrich the TCNJ community, are fundamental to our values of universal inclusion, and demonstrate the rich diversity of our broader society,” Foster’s email read. “Individual behaviors of bias, incivility and disrespect undermine what it means to study, teach and work at TCNJ. We value the very characteristics that some have chosen to demean.” Allen recalled in more detail what happened to him on Nov. 16 at around 11:30 p.m. He was walking to Tdubs with other friends and fellow members of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, when he thought he heard shouting coming from the third floor of Wolfe Hall. He said he couldn’t tell what they were saying at first, but he eventually understood that the words were racial slurs targeted toward him and his friends. “N*****, n*****, n*****, you’re a porch monkey n*****,” he heard the people yell. When Allen moved closer to identify where the sound was coming from, he heard them continue to exclaim slurs. “‘Get down, those n*****s are gonna shoot us,’” Allen heard. He and his friends went to report to Wolfe Hall’s community adviser on duty, who went to the third floor to investigate. According to Allen, the students were walking back and forth from room to room, and no one claimed ownership of the room where he heard the slurs coming from. Later that night, a little before midnight, Allen turned to Facebook and Twitter to vent his feelings. He said he felt Foster was prompted to send her email after his tweets because he knew that a lot of faculty and administration follow him on social media. “I’m glad the school is taking the steps that are needed in this situation but I know this is not an isolated incident,” Allen said. “I’m not the only person on campus who does not feel welcome here, who does not feel safe.” Allen could not specify which incidents he was referring to that may have occurred at the College where students felt unsafe, but said that he heard of such instances from other students who did not want them reported. Allen, who grew up in Ewing and now lives in Trenton, considered himself to be a voice for the local community. He is hurt and feels unsafe at a school where he has invested so much of his time effort. The past couple of days have been an emotional roller coaster for him as he has been processing what happened. “Honestly it was a shock,” he said. “I’ve cried, I’ve been depressed and I’ve been angry. It’s traumatizing for any person of color to deal with –– specifically a black person.” Professors at the College responded to Allen’s tweets with messages of support. Kim Pearson, a journalism and professional writing professor at the College, expressed her sympathies. She had not only had Allen as a student, but she wrote on Twitter that she had known him since he was a baby. Pearson, who is a longtime faculty member at the College, said she is tired of hearing about incidents like Allen’s in her 28 years here. “I’m horrified, but I’m also kind of weary,” she said. “I’ve seen this movie before.” “For many decades the TCNJ culture has provided a safe and enriching environment, the benefits of which continue long after a student graduates,” Foster wrote in her email. “Together we will protect and enhance this valuable culture and commit again to dignity and respect for all.”
By Michelle Lampariello Like many kids, I was terrified of getting my flu shot and would throw tantrums until my mother bribed me with a promise of macaroni and cheese for dinner if I behaved. Though I may have spent my childhood terrified of needles, I changed my tune as I got older and learned more about the role of vaccines in disease prevention. When healthy people don’t get vaccinated against diseases like measles, meningitis and chickenpox, we are endangering people with compromised immune systems who are unable to get the vaccine themselves. Herd immunity, which is also sometimes referred to as “community immunity,” is the idea that as the number of people in a population who are vaccinated and become immune to a disease increases, the disease’s ability to spread decreases, according to vaccines.gov. When a larger percentage of the population is immunized, it becomes harder for pathogens to find a host to infect. It also becomes less likely that someone who is unable to be vaccinated will come in contact with an infected individual. There are a variety of reasons why someone may be unable to be vaccinated, but common causes include having an allergy, Type 1 diabetes, HIV/AIDS or cancer, according to vaccines.gov. Clearly, these people are not avoiding their flu shots because they don’t like needles — most of them endure much more painful procedures for the condition that makes them ineligible for a flu shot in the first place. When healthy people refuse to be vaccinated because they are apprehensive, doubt its effectiveness or adhere to the misconception that vaccines cause conditions like autism, they allow disease to spread much faster in their community and put people with compromised immune systems in harm’s way. If every healthy person were to get their flu shot, they could protect everyone who had a medical reason to not be vaccinated through herd immunity. But for every healthy person who does not get their flu shot, it becomes increasingly less likely that herd immunity will offer protection to people with compromised immune systems. In some cases, people elect not to be vaccinated for religious reasons. While these people can’t necessarily be stopped or told what to do with their faith or their bodies, it is important to remember that almost every religion emphasizes the value of helping others, especially those who cannot help themselves. Getting your flu shot allows you to help protect those who need healthy, vaccinated people to limit the spread of disease in their community. Students share opinions around campus "Should all healthy people be vaccinated?" "Yes. I think that it’s important because it can really prevent diseases.” “I think it helps those who can’t be vaccinated because then they’re not surrounded by sick people.”
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-In-Chief Comedian, actor and podcast star Chris D’Elia shared his commentary on everything from drive-by shootings to his two yorkies during the College Union Board’s fall comedy show on Oct. 10 in Kendall Hall’s Main Stage Theater. D’Elia got the crowd laughing by pointing out the venue’s “spooky” run-down vibe. Gesturing toward the light fixtures on the walls, he ridiculed the “awful” chandeliers for their small size and commented on their placement next to the theater’s “prison windows.” He said that the stage “was not dressed up at all,” and that a series of fake staircases used in unrelated theater productions were haphazardly decorating the stage. As soon as D’Elia took the stage, he noticed the youngest member of the crowd, 1-year-old Alena. He was shocked to hear the cries of an infant at one of his shows, but ran with the idea and quickly turned the situation into a joke. “I’ve never heard a baby cry at my show before,” he said. “I was like, ‘is that a sheep?’” D’Elia explained to the audience that he once growled at an infant in a mall who he felt looked at him wrong the way. When D’Elia approached the infant, the baby did not stop staring at the comedian’s face. D’Elia was frustrated that the baby’s lack of politeness and warned that this meant the baby “was not ready for the world.” The comedian explained that he growled at the baby before he considered the consequences of his actions. After snarling at the child, he panicked when it screamed and its mother turned around. “I said ‘I don’t know what’s wrong with your baby. I didn’t do anything, and you’re obviously raising it wrong — you’re a bad mom.’ And then I nervously walked into a Forever 21,” D’Elia said. D’Elia called out several audience members throughout his set, including one person who attempted to record the show. “Hey, you over there — I see you recording me,” he said. “You got it, right? You understand what I’m saying, right? You speak English — yeah or no?” “Yeah,” the audience member meekly replied. D’Elia asked the audience member if they were recording his performance on Snapchat so that his friends would believe they attended the show. D’Elia assured the rogue crowd member that his friends would certainly believe he saw D’Elia’s set in “prison with the chandeliers,” throwing another jab at the venue. He hoped that the audience would better understand how embarrassing it is to be singled out in a crowd, a feeling D’Elia often experiences as a performer. “How hard do you think this is?” He asked. “At least I’m not recording you with your fucking bitch-ass face like that.” Inspired by a friend’s grandfather who had an accident while sitting on the couch with the comedian, D’Elia made the audience wonder about what would happen if someone who was about to commit a drive-by shooting had a sudden urge to go to the bathroom. He imitated a man who was dedicated to his criminal plans, confidently counting down the blocks to his destination. Once the fictitious shooter was one block away, D’Elia paused his narrative and simply looked at the audience, pantomiming the shooter’s actions after his plans were foiled and his pants were soiled. D’Elia told the audience that his two pet yorkies are always by his side, and that the dogs were probably unhappy to be apart from him during the show. “They’re probably looking at me right now on Google Earth,” he said. D’Elia explained that he usually feeds his dogs outside, but this created an issue when his least favorite animal — the possum — discovered the food and began to eat it. To help the audience understand why he dislikes possums so much, D’Elia repeated the phrase “Possums have hands!” several times, but the comedian was equally uncomfortable with the animal’s face. “It looks like if you make eye contact with them, they’ll download your soul,” he said. Opener Mike Lenoci’s performance was quite similar to D’Elia’s — both comedians incorporated current events, toilet humor and even Alena into their sets. Lenoci talked to the audience about how being in his 30s has changed his lifestyle, and that he now takes his contacts out before bed and tries to be more responsible. He described going to college as “the biggest mistake of my life,” and regrets racking up costly student loans. “Alright Sallie Mae, what are you, the Mafia, just going around collecting money from people?” he said. During Lenoci’s five years studying sociology as an undergraduate, he was also a fraternity member. “I was a good frat guy. It was always consensual. I was a good one, you know? I didn’t go to Yale or anything,” he said. Just as Lenoci was wrapping up his set, Alena made herself heard. To the audience’s delight, he imitated her cooing, and reminded the audience not to record D’Elia before he left the stage. D’Elia understands that his often vulgar humor may offend some people, but said that free speech is essential to preventing comedy from becoming an excessively censored, “corny” industry. He supports comedians who stand by their jokes, and do not back down when someone questions their material. “Sometimes it’s up to us to do a joke that we think is funny,” D’Elia said. “Sometimes not only does the audience not laugh, but they’ll literally be like ‘no.’ But we gotta be like ‘uh huh, I swear to God.’’’
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-In-Chief College President Kathryn Foster sat down with The Signal on Friday, Oct. 19 to share her goals for her first year as president. With the College’s future at the forefront of her mind, Foster divided her initiatives for this academic year into four subcategories: fundraising, campus conditions, external conditions and opportunity. Foster feels it is imperative that leaders at the College consider how the decisions they make today will affect the school three, five or even 10 years later. Her primary goal is to set up the campus to be successful through a continuous cycle of improvement and to help the College continue thriving in the future. Her goal of maintaining the College as a place of excellence goes hand in hand with her efforts to fortify the school’s reputation as a high-quality institution. While she is still “meeting and greeting and listening and learning,” Foster is quickly becoming acclimated to life as the College’s president. She sees fundraising as the fuel that keeps the College’s engine running and dedicates a lot of her time to finding new sources of revenue. Under the umbrella of internal campus conditions, Foster keeps her eye on how the College is performing according to its mission and values. She is also concerned about the well-being and satisfaction of students, faculty and staff members. Program quality is a high priority for Foster, who hopes that programs students participate in during their time at the College will prepare them well for post-graduate success. The maintenance of the College’s buildings and facilities are also important to Foster, who is concerned about the presence of mold in Townhouses South this semester. “Let me be very clear — it is not acceptable to have unhealthy spaces where students are living, and that’s why we’re trying to take care of it and figure out what it is,” she said. “If it is the kind of thing that’s a recurring problem, then we’re going to have to go to a much more extreme solution — either people can’t be living in those spaces, or those buildings are no longer going to be habitable.” Foster encourages the College’s administration to ask questions about how the school can better meet the needs and pursue the interests of students. She pays close attention to student demand and is willing to take suggestions from both prospective and current students. The College does not exist in a bubble, and Foster emphasizes the significance of the school’s interactions with the outside world. “What’s the picture and the profile not only of our student body and our faculty and staff, but what is the world doing? How can we be caring about where New Jersey is at, where the region is at, where the nation is at? What about international students? I’m really trying to keep my eye on the changing demographics,” she said. The expectations for institutions of higher education are important to Foster, who is eager to rise to the challenge of what is being asked of her and the College by the government, students and their families and nonprofit agencies. She understands that employers and graduate schools also operate with expectations, and hopes to provide students at the College with a high-quality education that will allow them to meet and exceed these expectations. Foster recognizes that her “meet and greets,” during which she engages with the campus community, are her chance to bring the dreams of students, faculty and staff to fruition. She feels that listening to and learning about the aspirations of academic departments, student organizations and individual students, staff and faculty members is a valuable step toward realizing their goals. “You can do this at an individual level or a unit level,” she said. “And when you do that, you begin learning about strengths that you can build on, opportunities that might be out there, new partnerships that you might be able to develop, connections that you might be able to make.” She also sees the potential renovation several building on campus as opportunities to grow as a College — particularly Forcina Hall and Roscoe West Hall. “This campus has done a tremendous amount of new building,” she said. “There might be some new building in our future — no campus stands still — we’re always looking for opportunities that way… but once we’ve made an investment in an area, we want to make sure we’re keeping it up.” Foster used an analogy of a car to explain how building new may be necessary when the investment makes sense. “Do you keep rebuilding the engine to try to get another six months out of it before something else breaks, or do you at some point say ‘I’m gonna mount that car on the wall — that’s my beautiful car, I have great memories of that car, but I’m going to go get another kind of car,” she said. “And that happens with buildings too. At some point you say ‘We’re going to fix it. It’s a great building, it’s in a great location, we really want to do it.’ And then at other times you try to be real with yourself and say ‘Is this an old car?’” Foster explained that while renovation may be cheaper, the College would not likely renovate a building that has become obsolete due to inferior heating systems, windows, air conditioning and ventilation, or one that was built with “the various old materials we used that are no longer legal.” During her first year as president, Foster is working to assess the current status of the College with respect to each of her goals before crafting a strategy to reach them.
By Michelle Lampariello Editor-In-Chief For some residents, moving into their room in Townhouses South marked their first time living without a roommate. For others, their first time with air conditioning. But for several Townhouses South residents, their arrival was not focused on new amenities or an upgraded living situation — instead, they were faced with an unexpected presence of mold in their dorm rooms and common areas. Mold was visible on “window frames, certain wall surfaces, furniture, some clothing and other interior surfaces,” according to Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer. Students also reported smelling mold-like odors. The College has since taken steps to remove mold from the residence halls. The remediation process in each afflicted area was dependent on the amount of mold found, according to Sacks. “Typically, mold on surfaces was removed through wet wiping methods using products specifically intended to address such growth,” Sacks said. “If there were leaks onto carpeting and similar materials, the response was to address the leak, extract and treat the carpet and the use of dehumidifiers and fans to assist with drying.” In some instances, the College was required to replace furniture and wall surfaces, as well as re-insulate HVAC piping, according to Sacks. While students are happy to see that steps have been taken to halt the mold’s growth and remove it from their residence hall, some are dissatisfied with the lengthy process it took to come this far. Kevin Pilsbury, a junior international studies major, placed three work orders before the mold in his room was successfully removed. “The first time was very thorough and I was very satisfied, but less than a week later I noticed the mold was back,” Pilsbury said. “The second work order was useless; the guy came to my room with some wet wipes and lazily wiped the side of the dresser before leaving. The last work order was even more thorough than the first one; they cleaned the carpet and every inch of the furniture in my room, even the back of pieces.” Patikorn Trethasayuth, a junior finance major and international student who came from Thailand to study at the College, noticed “some discoloration, on his wall and furniture as soon as he moved in. However, he did not fully understand that there was mold in his room until he discussed the issue with a friend. The presence of mold in Trethasayuth’s room caused him to experience sinus problems. “I just knew it was hard for me to breathe, but I didn’t know what was wrong with me,” he said. Once Trethasayuth placed a work order for the mold, an anti-mold wipe was used to clean his room. A wall in his room was cut open to fix issues with the piping, and dirt and dust were wiped out of the air conditioning unit in his residence. Pilsbury grew frustrated with the mold’s persistent regrowth after multiple measures were taken to remove it. Some of his property was damaged as a result of the mold, despite his efforts to wipe down his belongings on a regular basis. “The mold was on all the furniture and even on the carpets, so it felt really gross,” he said. “It got on some of my things and I even had to throw a pair of slippers and a T-shirt away.” The College hypothesizes that the presence of mold was a result of residents leaving their windows open while the air conditioning was on or setting the temperatures on their air conditioners too low. Sacks explained that these issues also could have been a result of the air conditioner’s inability to fully dehumidify the air, which is especially problematic due to recent prolonged periods of heat, rain and humidity. The notion that the presence of mold could be due to behaviors and habits of residents upset Pilsbury. “There shouldn’t have been mold in the first place,” Pilsbury said. “The worst part is that they would tell me that it was because I have the window open or because I have a wet towel on my AC. Placing the blame on me when this is not a localized issue is not OK.” Pilsbury is also frustrated that he has not received a formal apology from the College regarding the mold. While some students were temporarily and voluntarily relocated to other rooms in the townhouse complexes or on-campus apartments while the mold was removed, Sacks stated that most affected rooms were immediately reoccupied. Trethasayuth’s sinus issues have since resolved once the mold was removed, and the hole in his wall has been resealed. While he is happy to be feeling better, Trethasayuth recognizes the severity and widespread nature of the mold growth in Townhouses South. “I think that it’s something that should be taken seriously and fixed,” he said. The College will continue to respond to reports of mold on an ongoing basis, according to Sacks. The Office of Occupational Safety & Environmental Services invited an environmental consultant to review the steps taken to remove the mold and advise on future procedures. On Oct. 1, the consultant began performing visual inspections of every room in Townhouses South and will advise the College of any measures necessary to prevent regrowth. Brian Webb, director of risk management, and Amanda Radosti, environmental programs specialist in the Office of Occupational Safety & Environmental Services, would not comment on this issue as individuals and instead chose for the College to provide information to the media through the College’s Office of Communications, Marketing & Brand Management.
By Michelle Lampariello Editor in Chief The premature death of rapper Mac Miller, 26, has left many fans shocked, saddened and questioning what could have been done to prevent the musician’s apparent overdose. Mourning fans have been inundated with headlines about Miller’s drug addiction, his high-profile split with Ariana Grande and his DUI incident earlier this year. When news of Miller’s death broke, not much attention was given to his music, and many were quick to omit details about the Aug. 3 release of his album “Swimming.” The emphasis on Miller’s personal life and prior transgressions have angered some fans, who feel that he should be remembered not as anyone’s ex-boyfriend, but rather as a talented and dedicated rapper. “Swimming” provides listeners a glimpse into Miller’s mind during what became final months alive. Tracks like “Self Care” and “Come Back to Earth” reflect his rather bleak sense of self, and his desire to move beyond regrets from his past. While the album’s title implies that Miller is powering through his personal demons and continuously moving onto his next goal, there are several references to drowning on the album, suggesting that Miller is unsuccessful in his attempts to keep moving forward. “I’m treading water I swear / That if I drown I don’t care,” Miller raps in “Perfecto.” He also mentions drowning in “Come Back to Earth,” rapping “And I was just drowning, but now I’m swimming.” In “Self Care,” Miller details his desire to avoid the spotlight, especially in the aftermath of the end of his long-term relationship with Grande. He mentions “getting stuck in oblivion,” and many regard the track as Miller foreshadowing his own death, as the music video depicts him inside a coffin. Eerily, Miller references his death several times on the album. “Nine lives, never die, fuck a heaven, I'm still gettin' high,” Miller raps in “So It Goes,” which, coincidentally, is a reference to Kurt Vonnegut's “Slaughterhouse Five,” where the phrase is used every time a character dies. Overall, the lyrics in “Swimming” carry much more weight than the music itself. Fans are deeply attached to this final chance to get a glimpse into Miller’s world, and the rapper spares no details in his raw and powerful lyrics. However, Miller says it himself in the album — “It ain't 2009 no more.” Fans of upbeat tracks like “Donald Trump” and “Senior Skip Day” are left without much content to dance to on “Swimming,” as most of the tracks are a similar blend of downtempo, almost melancholy beats. Unless rumors of Miller releasing music posthumously turn out to be true, “Swimming” is fans’ last chance to listen to music from the beloved rapper, and gives listeners a chance to feel closer to him.