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(05/07/19 2:55am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
After experiencing a three-game losing skid at the end of the regular season, the baseball team qualified for the fourth seed in the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament.
The fourth-seeded Lions stormed the conference playoffs on the road as they defeated Ramapo College, Kean University and Rutgers University-Newark.
The team opened the tournament at Ramapo on April 30. Led by senior infielder Danny Borup’s three-hit performance, the College jumped to a 5-1 lead by the top of the second and never looked back. Meanwhile, senior pitcher Andrew Rowan tossed a complete game and limited Ramapo to only two hits.
The Lions padded the lead in the top of the seventh when junior infielder Gary Otten smacked a single and drove in two runs to put the Lions up 8-2. Senior infielder Ryan Fischer added another run off a Ramapo throwing error. With an easy win at hand, the team shut down Ramapo to seal the deal 9-2.
Following the victory, the Lions traveled to Union, New Jersey, for a matchup against second-seeded Kean. Similar to previous competitive games, the Lions and Kean fought to the final innings, with the College ultimately prevailing 4-2. In the first inning, the Lions loaded the bases.
With one out remaining, Fischer ripped a single and drove in two runs, putting the Lions ahead 2-0. On the mound, junior pitcher Peter Nielsen kept Kean’s bats quiet for seven innings. The Lions would also add another run in the top of the fifth.
In the top of the eighth, Kean cut the lead to 3-2 when junior infielder Mike Perone Jr. blasted a two-run home run. The Lions were quick to respond as junior catcher David Cardona III hit a home run in the bottom of the eighth. Senior pitcher Dylan Crowley then protected the Lions’ 4-2 lead to clinch the victory.
The Lions then blanked Rutgers-Newark 5-0 on Saturday, May 4. The game first started as a pitching duel between junior Michael Walley and Rutgers’ senior Casey Handley. The team broke through in the top of the seventh when Cardona III hit a sacrifice fly and gave senior outfielder Matt Giacose the chance to score.
Junior outfielder Jacob Simon then hit a single and drove two runs to give the Lions a 3-0 lead. Walley continued his dominance at the mound, striking out nine batters and surrendering just four hits. In the top of the ninth, the Lions scored two more runs and buried Rutgers-Newark with a 5-0 lead to clinch the win.
(04/30/19 3:04am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
The baseball team encountered setbacks this week, losing three games against Ursinus College, Arcadia University and Rutgers University-Camden. During their senior and alumni day on Saturday, April 27, the Lions took a win and a loss against Kean University. The Lions first faced a tough 7-5 loss to Ursinus at George Ackerman Park on April 22.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the team climbed back to send the game to extra innings. Senior outfielder Matt Giacose hit a single and drove a run to cut Ursinus’ lead to 5-3. Freshman outfielder Grant Sible then reduced the deficit by one off a single. With one out, senior infielder Danny Borup hit a grounder and gave enough time for freshman outfielder Joey Cruciata to score and tie the game at six. While the Lions pushed the game to extra innings, they ultimately lost 7-5 after Ursinus scored two runs in the top of the 11th inning.
On a road trip to Glenside, Pennsylvania, the team was upset by Arcadia. From the first to the sixth inning, sophomore pitcher Joseph Felipe limited the opponents to just two runs while striking out five batters. Meanwhile, the Lions’ offense utilized multiple singles and a home run by junior outfielder Thomas Persichetti to establish a 4-2 lead. Heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, Arcadia staged a furious rally and gained a 6-4 lead. In the top of the eighth, Persichetti ripped a triple and closed the lead to 6-5. Junior outfielder Jacob Simon then hit a sacrifice fly and drove in the tying run. Starting with a single in the bottom of the eighth, Arcadia blasted the team and scored a whopping eight runs. Arcadia’s response would prove to be too much, as the College lost 14-6.
The team’s struggles would continue into Thursday, April 25 when the Lions conceded to Rutgers-Camden 8-5 on the road. The team tried to battle back from another deficit, as Rutgers-Camden led 8-2 in the top of the sixth.
The Lions attempted to stage a rally in the top of the ninth. Down to the last out, Persichetti batted in a run off a single. At the next at-bat, junior catcher David Cardona III banged a two-run home run. However, Rutgers-Camden junior pitcher Keith Jacobs then forced a groundout and sealed the loss for the Lions.
Returning to George Ackerman Park on Saturday, April 27, the team split a doubleheader against Kean University. The Lions won the first match 4-3 thanks to a strong performance by junior pitcher Peter Nielsen, who threw a complete game and struck out three batters. While the Lions had difficulty getting through Kean’s pitcher, the bottom of the ninth proved to be pivotal for them. With Giacose on first and Simon on third, Giacose stole second base. When Kean’s defense made a throwing error, both players sprinted to home plate and scored the clinching runs. In the second game, the team could not outlast Kean in an offensive battle. Down 14-12 in the bottom of the ninth, Kean’s closing pitcher shut down the Lions and sealed their loss.
On Monday, April 29 the team came out on top against Rutgers University-Camden in a 17-5 victory during a rescheduled game. The Lions now move to take on Ramapo College in the first round of the NJAC playoffs on Tuesday, April 30.
(04/22/19 2:00pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
As the season heads into the home stretch, the baseball team’s games keep heating. On April 16, the Lions first defeated Lebanon Valley College by a score of 9-5. Afterwards, the team endured back-to-back losses against Rowan University. The team finished the week on a higher note by sweeping William Paterson University in a doubleheader.
On April 17, the team traveled down to Glassboro, New Jersey for a clash against Rowan University, who was ranked fourth in the nation, according to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. Rowan struck first in the bottom of the third inning when senior outfielder Matt Woods belted a two-run homerun.
The Lions quickly responded in the next inning when senior infielder Ryan Fischer hit a single and drove in a run. With players on second and third, senior outfielder Matt Giacose ripped a single and tied the game at two. Senior infielder Danny Borup later put the team up by 3-2 when he hit a sacrifice fly.
Both teams then fought back-and-forth until Rowan gained a two-run lead going into the ninth. Down 6-4, the Lions staged a comeback at the top of the ninth, but they ultimately fell short.
With runners on second and third, senior infielder Tommy McCarthy lined a single to center field and drove in junior outfielder Thomas Persichetti. As the Lions cut their deficit to 6-5, Rowan’s defense halted the comeback when its third baseman made a double play.
Rowan would proceed to defeat the team again 6-2 on Thursday, April 18 at George Ackerman Park. The Lions offense was stifled by Rowan senior pitcher Danny Serreino, as he threw five shutout innings and gathered 11 strikeouts.
While freshman infielder/pitcher Matt Volpe also performed well, Rowan was able to score two runs in the top of the fifth inning.
The Lions slowly tied the game at two in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. Rowan then scored a pair of runs on throwing errors in the top of the eighth. The opponents then sealed the Lions’ 6-2 loss by scoring two more runs in the ninth.
After two tough losses, the Lions quickly resurged in Wayne, New Jersey when they swept the doubleheader against William Paterson by scores of 19-7 and 7-0. The Lions’ offense would produce many runs in the first game, as Persichetti amassed four hits while junior outfielder Jacob Simon and McCarthy each recorded three hits. Despite surrendering 12 hits to William Paterson, junior pitcher Peter Nielsen only conceded two runs because of the Lions’ effective fielding.
The team victory marked Head Coach Dean Glus’ 300th career win.
However, the Lions were still not finished. In the second game, junior pitcher Michael Walley tossed a complete game, going the distance and blanking William Paterson.
The Lions’ offense did not slow down Simon, junior infielder Gary Otten and junior catcher David Cardona III, who all collected two runs each.
The team continues its conference schedule on Thursday, April 25 when it plays away against Rutgers-University Camden.
(04/16/19 6:00pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
The Lions kept on winning this past week, as they defeated Farmingdale State College and swept New Jersey Athletic Conference foes Stockton University and New Jersey City University.
During a Tuesday afternoon at George Ackerman Park, the baseball team halted Farmingdale State’s 13-game winning streak and smashed ist opponent 10-1 on April 9. Leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the team exploded with eight runs. Senior infielder Danny Borup led the offense’s performance with four hits.
After the offense’s powerful inning, the team cruised by as freshman pitcher Tom Kelly blanked Farmingdale. By the end of his start in the bottom of the sixth, Kelly racked up seven strikeouts and only allowed three hits. The Lions then utilized a trio of pitchers to seal the win.
The team’s offense then transformed into a well oiled machine in a two-game series against Stockton University. Starting off with a another home match on Thursday, April 11, the baseball team chopped Stockton’s defense and won 17-1. Junior catcher David Cardona III and senior infielder Ryan Fischer led the offensive blitz, as they both recorded three hits.
Moreover, 10 players recorded a hit, forcing Stockton to utilize a staggering six pitchers. In the midst of the blowout, senior pitcher Andrew Rowan left Stockton dry, allowing only one run and tossing a complete game.
The Lions didn’t miss a beat when they obliterated Stockton again 12-1 in Pomona, New Jersey on Friday, April 12. While the offense continued to pound Stockton, the Lions turned to freshman infielder/pitcher Matt Volpe and sophomore pitcher Joseph Felipe for solid pitching. Volpe managed to surrender only one run and Felipe tossed out four scoreless innings.
Heading into a doubleheader at home on Saturday, April 14, the Lions stood on top of conference with a 7-1 conference record. Their next opponent, New Jersey City University, didn’t appear to be strong opponents on paper as it stood second to last in the NJAC.
When the two teams clashed, the Lions found themselves in a contentious match when they first defeated NJCU 3-0. Junior pitcher Peter Nielsen and NJCU junior pitcher Ian Ambrose entered into a duel. While Ambrose gave up three runs by the top of the fifth inning, he blanked the Lions offense for the rest of the game.
On the other hand, Nielsen tossed a complete game and struck out nine batters. The Lions then dismissed NJCU in the second game, shutting it out 9-0. Not to be outdone by his teammate, junior pitcher Michael Walley also pitched a strong shutout.
After going undefeated this past week, the Lions remain on top of the NJAC with an overall 23-3 record. The team is set to compete in another home conference match against Rowan University on Thursday, April 18.
(04/16/19 5:52am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
As part of Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion week, the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Inclusion hosted its second annual #IAMTCNJ monologues at 8 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall on Thursday, April 11.
Eashwayne Haughton, a senior philosophy major and SG vice president of diversity and inclusion, spoke in between monologues as students and administrators shared their perspectives on both the college and their personal identities.
Senior nursing major Joseph Ballesteros, who also spoke last year, spoke up again about his background. Ballesteros said that as someone who grew up Filipino, he has dealt with being called a “dog-eater” during his freshman year living in Centennial Hall. During his time at the College, Ballesteros found support through TCNJ Barkada, the campus organization that represents Filipino-Americans on campus.
“I’ve learned to tolerate the micro and macro aggressions I face here,” Ballesteros said. “I am who I am. I have found people who are strong as I am.”
Another memorable monologue came from Bianca Cherubin, a freshman psychology major, who spoke about her pride as an African-American woman.
“My blackness, this sh*t is magical,” Cherubin said. “Did you all see my skin? This sh*t is beautiful. My blackness is what makes my skin tough.”
Cherubin spoke about the lasting effect of the derogatory term, n*****. A word she claims she and her ancestors have been called.
“N*****, if I have to hear it, you all have to hear it as well,” Cherubin said. “Speaks light and tongue.”
Cherubin concluded her monologue by asking students what blackness meant to them. Some said that it meant they had ambition, beauty and pride.
Acting Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Ivonne Cruz followed by speaking about her journey from being a student at what was then Trenton State College to rising to her current position. Cruz insists that her 29 years at the College has helped make it her second home.
Initially, Cruz had difficulty adjusting to Trenton State as a first-generation college student in part because it was harder for her to communicate with her parents as much as she would have liked.
“No cell phones, no emails,” Cruz said. “There was a phone at the end of the hallway if I was lucky. I timed it right and (got) my parents to call.”
In her time as an undergraduate at Trenton State, Cruz found support by joining Union Latina and the Minority Mentoring program, a precursor to the College’s current PRIDE Mentoring Program.
In her current position, Cruz strives to be a mentor and create an inclusive student community.
“I am privileged to be in this role,” Cruz said. “This is a new direction we are going in. I take this position seriously because this place is home. This is personal to me. It’s not about getting titles, credit or money.”
College President Kathryn Foster took the stage and emphasized the perspectives she brings to the College. Foster first explained different life experiences, or lack thereof, that help formed her present identity. She talked about her experience not being a mother or a military veteran.
She further announced that she was not a bible believer and how she has not brought religion and spirituality to their life. She also admitted she has never worked a job that involved punching a time clock.
Foster said that her experiences with diversity –– she served as a Peace Corp volunteer in Swaziland –– and her experience as a kidney donor also helped her become the person she is today.
As a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, Foster had immersed herself in a new culture.
“You are the other,” Foster said. “You are the visitor. You are the person that’s not like anyone else. And that has been an incredible experience for me as a person grown with a lot of privilege.”
At the same time, because of her minority status there, Foster felt looked down upon as a young white woman in Swaziland. Despite those hardships, Foster said her experience has made her a better teacher, scholar and leader.
“For two years, I experienced what it felt like to be stereotyped and thought of poorly,” Foster said. “What it felt like to not be listened to. What it felt like to be treated (like), ‘oh, you’re just a woman.’”
Ten years ago, one of Foster’s close friends fell ill, which is when she decided to donate her kidney. After going through physical and mental tests, Foster learned her kidney was a match. On March 23, 2009, Foster became a kidney donor, and although her friend eventually died, she is grateful to have helped someone in need.
“I can go through the rest of my life knowing I did something for someone,” Foster said. “It was probably the best thing I’ve done in my life.”
(04/10/19 10:00am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
The Lions continued to blast their opponents this week, defeating Penn State Abington and Montclair State University on the road. The team then split a doubleheader against Ramapo College and received its first loss in eight games. It capped off the week with a another victory against Montclair State.
As of April 1, the team is currently ranked 14th in the nation by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Heading west to Abington, Pennsylvania on April 2, the Lions dismantled Penn State Abington 15-5. The offense scored six runs in the top of the second inning and never looked back.
In the top of the third, junior outfielder Jacob Simon hammered a three-run home run and increased the Lions’ lead to 9-0. While Penn State Abington scored two runs in the following inning, the team never posed a comeback attempt.
The team further extended its lead to 14-2 in the top of the fifth when senior infielder Ryan Fischer, junior catcher David Cardona III and Simon all capitalized on errors and landed at home plate. While the offense sizzled, freshman pitcher Tom Kelly regulated Penn State Abington to only two runs and struck out seven batters.
The Lions then earned a conference victory at Montclair State to extend their winning streak to eight on Thursday, April 4. Both squads fought in a low scoring battle for five innings. The Lions then broke through in the top of the fifth when senior infielder Danny Borup smacked a single through center infield and drove a run. With the team holding onto a 2-1 lead, Simon changed the tone of the game.
With Borup and sophomore outfielder Avery Epstein on second and third base, Simon ripped a triple to right field and scored two runs. Cardona III followed up by hitting an single and allowing Epstein to score the team’s fifth run. Senior pitcher Dylan Crowley helped the Lions seal a 6-2 victory by limiting Montclair State to only one run.
The team then headed north to Mahwah, New Jersey for a doubleheader against Ramapo College on Saturday, April 6. In the first game, Ramapo College junior pitcher Kevin Stewart froze the Lions’ offense, striking out 10 batters and holding them scoreless for seven innings. While the Lions did score two runs in the top of the eighth, the effort came too late, as they lost 7-2.
During the game, Borup reached a milestone when he recorded his 100th hit with a single at the top of the eighth inning.
In the second game, the Lions immediately bounced back and defeated Ramapo, 6-3. With the game tied 3-3 at the top of the eighth inning, Cardona III hit a double and secured a run for Borup.
Junior infielder Gary Otten added another run when he smacked a single to left field. Fischer then extended to Lions lead to 6-3 off a single. Senior pitcher Zac deRocco sealed the win at the top of the ninth with two strikeouts.
In a rescheduled home game at George Ackerman Park on Sunday, April 7, the team blanked Montclair State, 3-0. Freshman infielder/pitcher Matt Volpe held Montclair State scoreless for five innings and whiffed six batters. While the team only scored three runs, the Lions pitching staff shunned Montclair and captured the 3-0 win.
Heading into mid-April, the baseball team carries a 17-3 overall record as of this past weekend. The Lions compete against Stockton University on Thursday, April 11 at home.
(04/03/19 3:32am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
Coming back from a successful spring break trip, the baseball team continued to dominate its opponents. During the week, the Lions defeated Widener University, Haverford College, Cairn University and New Jersey Athletic Conference foe Rutgers University-Newark.
On a trip to Chester, Pennsylvania on March 28, the Lions outlasted Widener 9-4 in 11 innings. The usual 10 innings were not enough for both teams, as the game was tied at four entering the 11th.
With runners on first and second base, junior outfielder Thomas Persichetti hit a sacrifice bunt, allowing sophomore infielder Aydon Chavis to reach third base. Senior infielder Tommy McCarthy then ripped a single and drove in two runs to put the Lions up 6-4.
The team then took advantage of a wild pitch and fielding error to score three more runs. In the bottom of the 11th, senior pitcher Zac deRocco clinched the victory when he forced three Widener batters to ground out.
The team then traveled to Haverford, Pennsylvania and defeated Haverford College, 6-4. Led by junior catcher David Cardona III’s three-hit performance, the Lions offense produced a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never stopped.
Meanwhile, freshman pitcher/infielder Matt Volpe silenced Haverford’s bats and struck out six for four innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Haverford cut the Lions lead to 4-3 off of singles.
After a scoreless fifth inning, the team added two runs in the top of the sixth. With Cardona III on third base, junior outfielder Jacob Simon smashed a home run to right field, pushing the team’s lead to 6-3.
While Haverford added a run in the next inning, the Lions protected their lead and ultimately won.
Back at George Ackerman Park on Friday, March 29, the Lions continued to surge ahead when they defeated Cairn University, 11-7. Down 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lions’ offense exploded.
Cardona III got the big inning started when he ripped a single to the left field to drive a run. The team then loaded the bases after Haverford’s pitcher threw a wild pitch and walked McCarthy.
Junior infielder Gary Otten capitalized on the opportunity when he smacked a single and tied the game at six.
With only one out, senior outfielder Matt Giacose hit a sacrifice fly to put the Lions ahead 7-6.
Senior outfielder Ryan Fischer then delivered a roaring triple, padding the Lions lead 9-6. Fischer was not done yet, as he scored the team’s 10th run off a wild pitch.
With a surmountable lead in hand, the Lions secured the 11-7 win with the help of sophomore pitcher Zachary Padersky and deRocco’s shutout pitching.
As the weather grew warm on Saturday, March 30, so did the Lions’ offense. The team swept Rutgers University-Newark 7-1 and 5-3.
Junior pitcher Peter Nielsen pitched a gem against Rutgers, only surrendering one run while tossing a complete game with 109 pitches. Fischer also had a strong performance at the plate, hitting a pair of singles and a double.
In the second game, the Lions came from behind to sneak past Rutgers 5-3. With the team down 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Simon launched a double. Otten later added an insurance run when he hit a single to left field. Senior pitcher Dylan Crowley then closed out the top of the ninth to secure the win.
The Lions will look to add to their dominant season when they travel to face Montclair State University for a conference matchup on Thursday, April 4.
(03/26/19 8:00pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
After numerous postponed and canceled games, the College’s baseball team laced its cleats and cracked its bats for the 2019 season. Following a stellar season where they qualified for the NCAA tournament, the team is set to dominate on the diamond.
During their first home game at George Ackerman Park on March 13, the Lions outplayed Alvernia University and collected their first victory by a score of 7-3.
While many students headed down to Florida for relaxation and fun during spring break, the team competed at the RussMatt Invitational in Winter Haven, Auburndale and Lakeland, Florida from March 16 to Saturday, March 23. The Lions ended up winning seven games and dropping only two.
During its opening match against Benedictine University on March 16, the team utilized senior pitcher Andrew Rowan’s shutout performance to win. When the Lions were down 5-4 at the top of the fifth inning, Rowan kept Benedictine scoreless for the rest game.
In the bottom of the sixth, junior outfielder Thomas Persichetti launched a two-run home run to put the Lions ahead 6-5. Senior infielder Ryan Fischer added an insurance run during the bottom of the seventh inning when he hit a sacrifice fly and drove in a run. The Lions ultimately won 7-5.
The next day, March 17, the Lions faced their first challenge of the season when they played against Concordia University-Chicago, which was ranked fourth in the nation by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Concordia proved to be a tough opponent—the Lions would only score two runs. With the game tied at two in the bottom of the ninth inning, Concordia had gathered runners on second and third base. Senior pitcher Zac deRocco then balked, resulting in a 3-2 win for Concordia.
The Lions quickly shook off the loss and dismantled the University of Southern Maine 15-4 on March 18.
The team blasted 18 hits, led by junior catcher David Cardona III’s three-hit performance. The game marked the beginning of a five-game winning streak where the Lions offense consistently produced many runs.
In a doubleheader on March 19, the Lions swept Hamilton College, winning both games 9-1 and 7-1. Freshman infielder/pitcher Matt Volpe had a stellar collegiate debut, where he tossed five hitless innings and recorded six strikeouts during the 9-1 win. In the second game, freshman pitcher Tom Kelly and Rowan limited Hamilton to one run, while the Lions offense collected six hits and four walks.
Volpe pitched five no-hitters in his college debut. (Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk)The team then endured an offensive battle against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The Lions first jumped to a 6-1 lead by the top of the fourth inning.
Wisconsin-La Crosse responded by slowly gathering runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With their lead cut to 6-5, the Lions ripped four singles to score three runs in the top of the sixth inning to lead 9-5.
Once again, Wisconsin-La Crosse erased the lead. Only this time, both teams put on a hitting clinic until the final out.
Wisconsin-La Crosse bombarded the team with four hits in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game at nine. Both team’s offenses then went back-and-forth each inning until the Lions came out victorious, 15-13.
Senior infielder Danny Borup led the team with four hits, while Persichetti, Cardona III and sophomore infielder Aydon Chavis collected three hits each.
On Friday, March 22, the Lions kept sizzling, as they blanked McDaniel College 11-0 in seven innings.
Sophomore pitcher Joseph Felipe pitched a shutout, as he struck out five batters and only allowed one hit. Meanwhile, the Lions offense continued to flex its muscles and recorded 14 hits.
Later in the day, the team’s five-game winning streak was stopped by Endicott College. With the team holding a 6-5 lead at the top of the ninth inning, Endicott loaded the bases.
Sophomore pitcher Zachary Padersky then walked a batter, which allowed Endicott to tie the game at six.
Endicott then gained the lead off a sacrifice fly. Down 7-6 in the last half of the ninth, the Lions scrambled to score. Endicott senior pitcher Liam Burke first hit Cardona III and senior infielder Tommy McCarthy.
With players on first and second base, senior outfielder Matt Giacose successfully got McCarthy to third base off of fielder’s choice. However, Burke got the next two batters out to end the rally and seal the loss for the Lions by a score of 7-6.
On Saturday, March 23, the Lions concluded their spring break trip with a resounding 10-0 victory against Framingham State University. As junior pitcher Michael Walley tossed a shutout game, McCarthy got his 100th career hit when he blasted a single to the left field in the top of the second.
With the RussMatt Invitational wrapped up, the Lions will hit the road for a match against Haverford College on Thursday, March 28.
(03/13/19 4:00pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
The men’s and women’s tennis teams blazed through their opponents’ plays this past weekend. The men’s team outdueled Salisbury University 5-4 on Saturday, March 9 at the Hopewell Tennis Club in Hopewell, New Jersey. Meanwhile, the women’s team defeated its Salisbury counterpart 7-2.
The women finished off the weekend with a resounding 7-2 victory against Wellesley College at home on Sunday, March 10. Salisbury proved to be a fierce adversary for the men’s tennis team. With all three doubles matches determined by a tie breaker, only one Lions squad prevailed. Junior Thomas Wright and senior Mitchel Sanders snatched a 8-7 win against Salisbury juniors Alec Angradi and Matthew Ryan.
The Lions roared back during the singles competition, winning four out of six matches. Sanders started off with a 6-1 win against Angradi, freshman Matthew Michibata lost his match 6-4 and freshman Justin Wain followed up with a 7-5 victory against Salisbury junior Colt Williamson. Senior Tim Gavornik kept the winning momentum by defeating Salisbury sophmore Stefan Hein, 6-3.
Afterwards, senior Matt Puig endured a 7-5 loss to Salisbury senior Kelson Weber, 7-5. Despite the setback, Wright outlasted Ryan, winning 6-3 and clinching the team’s victory. While the men battled Salisbury, the women broke no sweat in the battle against their opponents.
The Lions swept Salisbury in the doubles competition. Freshmen Liya Davidov and Katrine Luddy set the tone when they dominated Salisbury junior Annika Kezman and sophomore Sydney Soto 8-0. Freshmen Navya Yemula and Sarah Phung followed up with an 8-3 win against Salisbury senior Taylor Cooper and freshman Sarah Dover.
Seniors Grace Minassian and Alyssa Baldi also claimed an 8-3 victory against Salisbury sophomore Laura Brown and junior Jordan Schaefer.
Salisbury was no match for the Lions in the singles competition. Davidov performed well against Kezman and won 8-0. Baldi fought set-to-set against Brown and prevailed during the tiebreaker 7-1. After junior Audrey Chen and Phung dropped their matches, Yemula put the Lions back on track with a 6-1 win against Schaefer.
Freshman Julia Yoon closed off the Lions’ victory and blew past Salisbury senior Shannon Hickman, 6-0. On Sunday, the women’s team continued its winning streak against Wellesley College in the Recreation Center.
In the doubles, the Lions were initially behind when Davidov and Luddy lost against Wellesley senior Justine Huang and junior Selina Peng 8-3. The Lions immediately bounced back when Yemula and Phung defeated Wellesley freshman Michelle Shen and senior Rosanne Hu 8-5.
Baldi and Minassian then secured the second doubles victory 8-6 against Wellesley freshmen Michaela Markwart and Libby Chang.
The Lions barrelled past Wellesley in the singles as well. Davidov defeated Huang 6-2. Minassian then marked her win against Markwart by a score of 6-3. Luddy kept the Lions’ momentum going when she outlasted Shen in a 6-2 tiebreaker victory.
Baldi also claimed her victory off of a 6-3 tiebreaker, against Peng. Wellesley broke the Lions winning streak when Chang and senior Sojin Ki defeated Yemula and Yoon respectively.
After a week of wins, the men’s and women’s teams face upcoming challenges against nationally ranked foes. Both teams will go on to compete against New York University at the Recreation Center on Saturday, March 16.
(02/26/19 5:30am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Photo Editor
After a season full of close races, the men’s and women’s swim teams competed in the Metropolitan Conference Championships from Friday, Feb. 22 to Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Rutgers University Aquatics Center in New Brunswick, New Jersey.
Both squads landed in second place. The men accumulated 1413 points, just behind the United States Merchant Marine Academy. The women scored 1145.7 points, just behind Rowan University.
The men’s team gathered several finishes in third place on the first day. Sophomore Andrew Thompson rose to the top in the 200-meter individual medley, clocking in at 1:51.28.
Fellow sophomore Griffin Morgan followed in second with a time of 1:51.95. Less than three seconds later, senior John Gregory claimed sixth place with a time of 1:54.48.
Senior Alex Skoog snatched third place in the 50-meter freestyle, clocking in at 20.82. Sophomore Patrick Bakey claimed eighth place with a time of 21.18. Junior Harrison Yi then took third at the 500-freestyle with a time of 4:34.42. Sophomore James Keane fought for sixth place, finishing at 4:40.79.
In a tight 400-meter medley relay against conference foes Rowan, Ramapo College and Montclair State University, the Lions finished in third behind USMMA and Rowan. Sophomore Andrew Duff, Skoog, Thompson and Yi clocked in at 3:21.28.
At the diving board, sophomore Jay Soukup claimed second in the one-meter dive and scored 491.93 points.
Meanwhile, the women encountered tough competitors. Junior Annie Menninger took fifth place in the 500-meter freestyle with a time of 5:14.51.
Sophomore Melanie Fosko followed up with a neighth place finish, clocking in at 5:19.40. Freshman Zoe Chan made it to third place in the 200-meter individual medley and finished at 2:09.70.
The Lions claimed two top-10 finishes at the 50-meter freestyle. Sophomore Elise Fraser secured fifth place, clocking in at 24.35, while junior Kazia Moore raced to eighth with a time of 25.04.
In the 400-meter medley relay, Menninger, Chan, Fosko and senior Hailey Thayer came in third place with a time of 3:57.76.
Both the men’s and women’s swimming teams had a dominant second day. The men gained 885 points to take first, while the women stayed in second with 755 points, trailing behind Rowan.
Morgan swam ahead of the competition and placed first in the 400-meter individual medley with a time of 3:57.07. Gregory and senior Sam Maquet followed in fourth and fifth places respectively with times of 4:06.74 and 4:07.90. The Lions continued to fill the leader board as Keane claimed sixth place with a time of 4:10.81 and senior Aidan Steinberg finished in eighth, clocking in at 4:28.66.
Thompson kept the Lions on top when he claimed second in the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 49.83. Senior Brendan Pilaar was not far behind at sixth place with a time of 50.92. Skoog finished in third in the 100-meter backstroke, clocking in at 50.22. Meanwhile, Duff claimed seventh place in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 56.89. Duff would later team up with Thompson, Morgan and junior Derek Keinsel in the 200-meter medley relay. The Lions ultimately took third place with a time of 1:30.96. While the Lions finished first after the second day with 885 points, the USMMA trailed closely behind with 866 points.
The women’s team also performed well. Chan claimed first place in the 100-meter butterfly, clocking in at 57.35. Just a second later, freshman Kori Jelinek finished in third with a time of 58.39.
Sophomore Nicki Meskin managed to take eighth place in the 400-meter individual medley, clocking in at 4:58.38. Senior Gabi Denicola swam her way to 10th place with a time of 4:49.63. Fosko then got seventh place in the 200-meter freestyle, clocking in at 1:59.79.
Menninger followed her Friday performance with a third-place finish in the 100-meter breaststroke. She swam it in just over a minute with a time of 1:05.65. Sophomore Chiara Mennonna secured sixth place with a time of 1:08.48 and sophomore Haley Crispell got 10th place with a time of 1:09.46. Chan, Fraser, Menninger and Thayer teamed up in the 200-meter medley relay and captured second place with a time of 1:47.15. The final day of the competition proved to be a nailbiter for both the men’s and women’s squads.
Holding onto their first-place lead from the second day, the men went toe-to-toe against USMMA, who was able to outlast the Lions despite their valiant efforts.
Morgan excelled at the 200-meter butterfly and won the race with a time of 1:50.08.
Maquet swam right behind him and snatched second, clocking in at 1:52.26. Thompson placed in fourth with a time of 1:53.30. The team then posted three top-10 finishes in the 200-meter backstroke. Kneisel claimed fourth with a time of 1:52.47. Gregory then took sixth, clocking in at 1:56.72. Senior Aidan Steinberg followed up with a ninth -place finish at 1:56.94.
Skoog achieved a second-place finish in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 45.61. Just a second later, Yi took eighth place, clocking in at 46.61. At the diving board, Soukup fell his way to third place, scoring 467.5 points. Junior Zachary Volm dove for sixth place with a score of 329.50 points.
The 400-meter medley relays proved to be a showdown between USMMA and the Lions. Skoog, Yi, Morgan and Thompson teamed up and fought to the last second for second place with a time of 3:02.76. USMMA ultimately won the race, clocking in at 3:00.41.
The women secured top finishes as well. Chan had an impressive performance in the 200-meter butterfly, capturing first and clocking in at 2:06.90.
Her time was .77 seconds away from breaking the school record. Jelinek also performed well in her first METs appearance, as she torpedoed to second place with a time of 2:12.35. Mennonna then took sixth place in the 200-meter breaststroke, clocking in at 2:27.20. In the 1650-meter freestyle, Menninger raced her way to fourth place at 18:17.62.
Denicola was not far behind, as she claimed fifth place with a time of 18:41.81. Fosko finished in eighth place in the 100-meter freestyle with a time of 54.85.
The Lions will return to the pool in the fall semester for the 2019-2020 season.
(12/05/18 2:12am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
Student reports missing wallet
A female student arrived at TCNJ Police Headquarters to report a theft of a wallet on Saturday, Dec. 1, at approximately 1:40 p.m. The theft occurred on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at approximately 11 p.m. when she was in a women’s bathroom at Wolfe Hall.
According to Campus Police, the female student left the wallet on top of the paper towel dispenser but did not take it when she left. The student stated she did not realize the wallet was missing until the following day on Thursday, Nov. 29.
The student said she saw a Facebook message stating that her wallet was in a Wolfe Hall’s women’s restroom. After seeing the message, she went back to the restroom but could not find it, Campus Police said. The student later went to the Wolfe Hall area office and the Brower Student Center but neither had the wallet. She then checked and froze her accounts and said there were no suspicious transactions.
According to the student, the black, plastic leather Lethnick pocket wallet valued at approximately $15. According to Campus Police, the wallet contains one Visa credit card, one credit card, two debit cards, a state driver’s license, a Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance Card, a CVS card, a Starbucks rewards card and a Dunkin Donuts card. The student was advised to contact Campus Police if the she located the wallet.
Clothing vanishes in laundry room
A female student reported a laundry theft to Campus Police on Nov. 15 at approximately at 3:20 p.m. According to Campus Police, on Nov. 11, the student placed approximately three loads of laundry into a washing machine in the Townhouses East laundry room. The next day at approximately 4 p.m., she returned to the laundry room to get her laundry.
According to the student, she realized she was missing clothing on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m. According to Campus Police, the following items were stolen: a sweatshirt valued at $30, a green sports bra valued at $45, a dark blue rain jacket valued at $50 and a turquoise and white sweatshirt valued at $60. The student was given a copy of the victim notification form and was advised to contact Campus Police if she found her items.
Student reports stolen jackets
Campus Police was dispatched to a report of theft at the Landmark Americana Bar and Grill in Campus Town on Nov. 16 at approximately 1:10 a.m. According to Campus Police, one female student and two visiting friends entered Landmark at approximately 11 p.m. on Nov. 15.
According to the student, she placed her coat on a rack, but when she went back at approximately 1 a.m., she noticed that her jacket was missing. Inside her jacket pocket was her key ring, which was also missing. The key ring is valued at approximately $185. Additional items missing were a light brown winter jacket valued at $70, car key and fob valued at $100, a cat-shaped metal key chain valued at $10 and a house key valued at $5.
Student vomits outside Education Building
While on North Metzger Drive, Campus Police was advised by a passing motorist that there was a male unconscious on the ground in Lot 18 on Nov. 17 at approximately 1:15 p.m. Campus Police proceeded to the location and found an individual laying on the ground against the wall of the Education Building.
According to Campus Police, the male student was waiting on line in Lot 18 to go to a fall festival party. According to Campus Police, the male got sick and started vomiting, at which time a witness placed him against the wall of the building.
According to the witness, the male had consumed approximately three shots of Hennessy Cognac. At the scene, the male could not tell Campus Police where he was drinking or how much alcohol he had consumed.
The male exhibited slurred speech and was laying next to a pool of vomit. TCNJ EMS arrived at the scene to evaluate the male. It was determined he needed to be transported for further medical treatment. Lawrence Township Basic Life Support arrived on the scene and transported the male to a medical center. He was issued a B summons under 2C:33-15.A, Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages.
CA locates intoxicated student
Campus Police was dispatched to the back of Wolfe Hall in reference to an intoxicated person on Nov. 17 at approximately 2:01 p.m. Upon arrival, the officer was met by a community adviser and a male student. They told the officer that the male student laying on the ground was intoxicated. According to Campus Police, the male student was covered in mud, water and what appeared to be bodily fluids. It appeared he had also vomited in the area next to him.
TCNJ EMS arrived at the scene and began treating the student, who was not able to provide information as to what and where he had been drinking. Due to a student finding the patient and calling for medical assistance, the intoxicated student will be treated under amnesty provisions. Trenton EMS arrived and transported the student to a medical center.
Panera Bread employee reports stolen wallet
An employee from Panera Bread at Campus Town came to Campus Police headquarters to report on a stolen wallet on Nov. 17 at approximately 3:34 p.m. On that day, the employee had been working between the hours of 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. According to the employee, he had left his wallet in his apron in the Panera Bread storage room. He left the area and remembered that he had left his wallet, but when he returned his wallet was gone.
TCNJ EMS transports student to hospital
Campus Police responded to a report of an intoxicated underage male at Travers Hall on Nov. 18 at approximately 2:25 a.m. Upon arrival, Campus Police met the complainant, a Travers Hall CA. The CA stated that while responding to a noise complaint at Travers Hall, he discovered a male vomiting. The male admitted to consuming unknown amounts of vodka and rum. While he is not a student at the College, he said he was visiting his friend, who is a freshman and resident of Travers Hall. TCNJ EMS arrived at approximately 2:30 a.m. and assumed patient care. After assessing the male, TCNJ EMS deemed it necessary for him to be transported to a medical facility for further care.
Lawrence Township EMS arrived at approximately 2:50 a.m. and transported the male to a medical center for further medical care. A summons was written for the male for consumption of alcoholic beverages under the legal age to do so. Campus Police went to the medical center at approximately 6 a.m. and delivered the summons to the male, who was alert and conscious.
Student loses iPhone 7
A female student reported a missing smartphone to Campus Police on Nov. 21 at approximately 11:15 a.m. The student stated that while she was packing her vehicle for Thanksgiving break at approximately 2:30 a.m., she dropped her iPhone 7 and was unable to find it. She stated that when she returned to her room at around 2:45 a.m., she noticed that her phone was missing.
She told Campus Police that she retraced her steps back to the lot where her vehicle was parked, but was unable to find her phone. She then searched her entire room until approximately 5 a.m. According to campus police, attached to her iPhone was a card holder that contained several cards. These cards include a PNC debit card, a state driver’s license, a student ID and a New Jersey Education Association ID card.
According to Campus Police, all the missing items are valued at $524. Campus Police advised the student to check online for any fraudulent charges to her PNC debit card. She said she would also go to the Department of Motor Vehicles to receive a new state driver’s license. A victim’s notification form was filled out and the student was informed of her rights as a victim.
Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.
(11/26/18 11:32pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
The College invited Anne-Marie Slaughter, the Chief Executive Officer of New America, for a discussion titled “Reinventing the Workplace” at Mayo Concert Hall on Nov. 19.
Slaughter gave an overview of her book, “Unfinished Business: Women, Men, Work and Family,” which was published in 2015. According to The New York Times, Slaughter’s book was an expansion of an article she wrote for The Atlantic.
In her book, Slaughter discusses how mothers like her face numerous obstacles at the workplace while taking care of their families. According to The New York Times, some of these issues include gender discrimination, lower salaries and pressure to put in more hours to avoid being fired.
Slaughter was the former Dean of the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. She was also the first female to be the director of Policy Planning for the U.S. Department of State.
She emphasized the importance of having a variety of skills and experiences.
“I don’t think of myself as a head of a organization,” Slaughter said. “I think of myself as a writer, speaker, teacher and mentor. I think about being a portfolio of skills and experiences.”
In her book, Slaughter argued that the workplace has not changed much since the 1950s where women were subjected to family life and men were the breadwinners. She suggested ways to change the workplace in order to maximize productivity and efficiency.
Slaughter anticipated that companies will need to change the way they evaluate productivity. Instead of measuring productivity through hours, Slaughter argued that companies must measure productivity through quantitative evidence, such as reaching a specific number of sales in a certain time period.
She also explained how competitive the job market is today. Between emerging automatic machines such as robots and artificial intelligence, job opportunities could be limited in the future. However, Slaughter remained optimistic about the future of human employment.
“I do think there is enough work to go around,” Slaughter said.
Slaughter also argued that people will eventually work six hour days. At the end of the 19th century during the industrial revolution, she estimated that workers logged in between 14 to 16 hours per day.
Through the early 20th century, labor laws and regulations helped shorten work days to 12, and then to eight hours per day after the passing of the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1940, according to CNBC. She projected, based on the ongoing pattern, that workers will eventually hit a low of six hours per day.
Slaughter explained that workers can use the extra time to care for families or be active in their communities.
According to Slaughter, the first industrial revolution took people off the farm and into factories and cities. She now predicted that people will be living closer to their workplace, which will also increase their time with their families.
“The workplace will be much closer to home,” Slaughter said. “It may not be in a really tiny village. It’s going to be in clusters of relatively livable communities.”
Along with the length of job hours and location, Slaughter anticipated that the quality of jobs will also shift –– the market will center around care and craft-centered jobs. She defined a care job as any career where the worker is investing in others. Slaughter pointed out that the healthcare industry will grow as more adults of the baby boomer generation retire.
According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 10,000 baby boomers are retiring every day since 2011. In addition to healthcare, she mentioned teaching as a primary example of a job focusing on care.
“Teaching is absolutely a care career,” Slaughter said. “As a teacher, you are investing in the welfare of your students.”
Slaughter also projected a rapidly thriving industry in craft products. She pointed out the prospering craft beer industry as an example of how people can specialize in craft and produce quality materials.
“Most craft brewers are young entrepreneurs,” Slaughter said. “They are willing to take a risk.”
She contended that consumers will invest in higher quality products that promise authenticity, rather than buying cheap goods at stores like Walmart.
(11/13/18 4:45am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
In the aftermath of this year’s contentious midterm election, TCNJ Students for Life held a presentation titled “Lies Pro-Choice Politicians Tell” on Nov. 7 at the Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater.
The student organization invited Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life of America, to debunk five myths of the pro-choice movement and how abortion undermines the mental health, physical health and dignity of women, according to the speaker.
Growing up in Wellsburg, West Virginia, Hawkins did not know about abortion because the subject was not discussed in her house, school or local church. By the age of 15, she favored the pro-life movement after first volunteering in her town’s crisis pregnancy center, a non-profit organization established to counsel pregnant women against having abortions.
During her first day at the center, she vividly remembered how excited she was until she saw many clients around her age. At the time, the nearest abortion clinic to her hometown was 42 miles away in Pittsburgh. According to Hawkins, the majority of pregnant women were discouraged by the long trip.
Looking back on her time as a volunteer who helped persuade women to not seek abortions, Hawkins appreciated that the center provided a safe environment for grieving clients who recently found out that they were pregnant. With that experience in mind, she asserted that college students are too distant from the issue to understand the struggles pregnant women deal with.
“Those women who normally come to the center, their lives were so much different than yours,” Hawkins said. “Regardless of whether they chose the abortion in Pittsburgh, their lives were never the same. They weren’t looking forward to a future they envisioned themselves. They were surviving. Everyday — just existing was (their) victory.”
Hawkins further explained that many of the clients lived in poverty with barely a high school education. Moreover, she said women who have had abortions usually live in inescapable abusive relationships. After spending three months at the center, Hawkins realized that abortion does not necessarily erase women’s issues.
“Abortion doesn’t solve problems,” Hawkins said. “It creates new ones. It leaves behind pain.”
As an alternative to abortion, Hawkins wished to see social justice for women. In her view, social justice does not relate to progressive ideas lauded at campaign rallies, but as a means to repair broken, abusive relationships among couples and families. She said that crisis pregnancy centers are more than capable of providing counseling to women who feel isolated from financial and relationship issues.
After recalling her memories at the crisis pregnancy center, Hawkins rejected five claims made by pro-choice politicians in regards to abortion. She said the first claim was that abortion solves women’s problems. She then stated that the second claim was that abortion advances women’s rights. According to Hawkins, she never understood why pro-choice politicians believed abortion empowers the individuality of women.
“Our freedom and our dignity as women depends upon our right to kill someone weaker and smaller than ourselves that we help to create,” Hawkins said.
Hawkins demonstrated the second claim by referring to the 2016 Supreme Court case, Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, where the Court struck down Texas’ state law that limited access to abortion clinics across the state, according to The New York Times.
Hawkins found a contradiction in the briefings of the 113 female attorneys involved in the case who stated in a brief that they had exercised their legal right to an abortion, according to The Atlantic.
She found it contradictory that women in the legal profession needed abortions in order to empower themselves and escape from problems like abusive relationships.
The third claim Hawkins outlined was that politicians falsely argue birth control methods do not cause a war against women’s bodies. She said that conflict against women’s bodies is the harmful effects of growth hormones from birth control pills. Along with abortion, Hawkins said that Planned Parenthood exacerbated the conflict by not educating women about the risks of birth control pills such as blood clots, infections and cardiac and respiratory arrests.
Coupled with the physical repercussions, Hawkins said that there are psychological consequences following abortion. She cited a study from The British Journal of Psychiatry in which out of 163,831 women who had an abortion, 81 percent of them had mental health issues.
The fourth claim that Hawkins argued was that legal abortion is necessary in order for women to not die from improvised abortions.
Hawkins later refuted the fifth claim that the majority of Americans currently favor access to abortion clinics. She rejected this notion because Americans are not specific in their responses in terms of which phase of pregnancy women should have abortions. She cited a Gallup poll which found that only 28 percent of Americans believe women should have an abortion in the second trimester. The rate falls to 13 percent in the third trimester.
Hawkins also said that abortion drives big business and significant political donations for the Democratic party. She cited an article from USA Today that explained how Planned Parenthood has donated approximately $50 million to Democratic candidates and lobbyists since 2012. She capped off her speech by reiterating why pregnant women should have the resources and counseling available in order to prevent abortions.
“My potential, your potential is not limited,” Hawkins said. “Our bodies are amazing. We can succeed as we are as women.”
Joseph Ballesteros, a senior nursing major and a pro-choice advocate, appreciated how TCNJ Students for Life invited someone with a different perspective to speak on campus. However, he saw more room left open for students to have a informative conversation about the abortion debate.
“We as students should be open for discussion with people such as like (Hawkins),” Ballesteros said. “I believe that students can benefit more if they openly discussed about abortion in safe spaces.”
(10/30/18 3:21am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
Unfinished papers, internship applications and dozens of empty soda bottles cluttered my room that I couldn’t bear to leave sometimes last spring.
I could hear all the laughing, screaming and jubilation coming from neighboring dorms on weekend nights, but I couldn’t help but weep as all my physical and mental problems stood in front of me.
After denying it for years, my daily anxiety had created a bitter, fatiguing rivalry within my consciousness. For a moment, it seemed easy to throw away all of my accomplishments and relationships I’ve worked so hard to forge at the College.
I’m glad I didn’t.
Despite wrecking my GPA with two C’s and two D’s and almost quitting The Signal last semester, I finally recognized my greatest resource — my friends. Those people I see everyday perfecting a note at Mayo Hall, researching in the STEM Building, making decisions upstairs in the Student Center that affect campus life and debating whether Central Jersey exists in Eickhoff Dining Hall.
After having a couple of emotional outbursts in front of friends I’ve known for such a long time, I realized I wasn’t alone.
At this land of brick buildings in Ewing, New Jersey, I have an arsenal of every resource imaginable to steer me to the right path.
The mental struggle has no face, no race, no stereotype, no ethnicity, no socio-economic background and no image online to make a meme about. It can happen to anyone whether they’re a freshman or a popular student leader on campus.
While it’s good to see that students recognize how important mental health is on social media, it’s more meaningful to check up on the people you see everyday in real life.
Whenever a beloved celebrity such as Robin Williams or Anthony Bourdain die from suicide, or we are recognizing Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re quick to pull out our phones and post quotes, reactions and reminders for those who are struggling to reach out for support on social media.
In place of hashtags, we should look up and ask how our friends — the people who matter to us more than any celebrity, icon, fictional character, athlete and national leader we inspire to be — are doing.
“Hey, how you’re doing? Ready for your presentation tomorrow? I know you’ll ace it.” “Need a break? Let’s head over to the Ed Cafe for a quick snack.”
It’s the human interaction, the communication, the words and that familiar voice that lifts the spirit of anyone who is feeling insecure, depressed or stressed out. It doesn’t hurt to take off your headphones and talk about your daily hustle as a college student with your peers.
The beauty of the College’s size is that we can all interact on a regular basis, whether you see someone once at a concert or almost everyday as fellow e-board members.
Five months later, I proud to say I’m on the right track to growing out of my anxiety. I know I would’ve not done it without the unconditional love from my family, but more significantly, those editors who love to make a newspaper in Forcina Hall, Room 204 on Monday nights.
(10/24/18 5:27pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez and Emmy Liederman
News Editor and Features Editor
Students shared their perspectives on what sets the College apart as a diverse institution at the inaugural “I am TCNJ monologues” on Thursday, Oct. 18 in the Brower Student Center Room 100.
As part of Student Government’s Diversity and Inclusion Week, both SG and the Office of Student Diversity and Inclusion encouraged students to share why they chose to attend the College and to what extent they feel accepted here.
The event was hosted by senior philosophy major Eashwayne Haughton, who collaborated with Sean Stallings, the interim Vice President of Student Affairs. The concept for the event was inspired by Charles Bennefield’s poem, “I Am Diversity.”
Stallings said that the purpose of the monologues was to emphasize the importance of diversity and that students of different backgrounds should celebrate and take pride in their cultures.
Joseph Ballesteros, a senior nursing major and the vice president of Barkada, took the stage to showcase his Filipino pride. Being a second generation Filipino American, Joseph discussed his parents’ efforts to assimilate him into American culture. He believed that he has become more culturally aware and confident since he came to the College, and encouraged other students to do the same.
“Get over the fact that you’re the only one that understands that being Filipino is not the same as being Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Cambodian, Tai, Gintalense,” he said. “I laugh when you slant your eyes. I laugh at the small penis jokes. I laugh when you said you wouldn’t date me cause I’m Asian. I laugh daily at the dog-eating jokes.”
Brooke Chlebowski, a senior special education and iSTEM double major and executive president of SG, spoke about the rejection she faced before securing her leadership positions at the College, such as losing an SG election and being denied a position as a student ambassador. As president, Chlebowski is proud to represent such a diverse and capable student body.
“We all deserve to be here,” she said. “We all have to work to be who we are. We have to continue to strive in order to improve this institution so it becomes better than when we found it. We’re all capable leaders and determined visionaries. We are TCNJ.”
Lloyd Padmore, a junior finance major and baseball player at the College, spoke about being the only African-American member of the 33-person team.
“Being the only kid that looks like me was something I never had to deal with,” he said.
In the past, Padmore has struggled to identify with a single ethnic group, which he always felt pressured to do.
“I was too white to fit in with the black kids, but I was too black for the white people,” he said.
Padmore emphasized the need to connect with a variety of students on campus, regardless of their identity or cultural background.
Yvonne Njoku, a senior nursing major, talked about her religious journey and struggle to completely identify as a Christian. Her mother is a pastor and she grew up in an African-American church, and she viewed religion as a restrictive culture.
“See, I find myself doing things not because I want to do them, but I think that’s what God wants me to do,” she said. “Because as a Christian I can’t do what I want, right? No, that wouldn’t be religion.”
Don Trahan Jr., the director of the College’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion, ended the event by remarking on the student body’s need to come together as a community, despite their differences.
“The purpose of (the event) is to recognize and understand that it does not matter what your major is, it does not matter where you come from and it does not matter if you believe if its Taylor Ham or pork roll,” he said. “You’re TCNJ. I’m TCNJ. We’re TCNJ. Your voice matters.”
(10/23/18 1:10am)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
TCNJ College Democrats invited alumnus Derek Roseman (’96), Gov. Phil Murphy’s chief speechwriter, to speak to the student body on Oct. 9 in the Social Sciences Building Room 325.
Roseman, who plays an instrumental role in Murphy’s communication team, never imagined being Murphy’s chief speechwriter while he attended Trenton State College. At the College, Roseman was involved in the College Democrats and WTSR, the College’s radio station.
Despite his participation in the College Democrats, Roseman was more dedicated to WTSR. He hosted his own show for three and a half years.
By the spring semester of his senior year, Roseman had no desire to live in New Jersey, and believed his degree in political science only provided a path to attend graduate school.
He applied to many graduate schools near Washington D.C. that offered a master’s in public policy or public administration.
Roseman ended up traveling south to Georgetown University to pursue a master’s degree in public policy. While studying, Roseman also interned in the press office of former South Dakota senator Tom Daschle, who at the time was the senate majority leader, according to the New Jersey Herald.
Roseman said he had the opportunity to intern at the White House, but he chose to work on Capitol Hill because he wanted to write reports on policy issues instead of doing what he thought would be meaningless busy work, like delivering coffee. After two years of drafting policy reports on a wide range of topics such as healthcare, education, transportation, commerce and foreign relations, Roseman assumed he was going to be a Capitol Hill staffer.
“I didn’t want to be a policy analyst,” Roseman said. “I thought I would get this degree and be a staff member on Capitol Hill working on policy issues. Life doesn’t turn out the way you scripted it to be.”
After finishing his master’s degree at Georgetown, Roseman stayed in Washington D.C. and worked at the Brookings Institution as a media relations officer for two years. During his tenure, he got to meet E.J. Dionne, a Washington Post columnist. Roseman recalled his expertise in politics and his fun personality.
Roseman returned to New Jersey in 2004 and worked as a press secretary for the senate Democrats in the state legislature, but Roseman’s father thought he was making a huge career mistake.
“I was willing to roll the dice and follow my gut when I went back to New Jersey,” Roseman said.
By 2010, Roseman was hired as communications director for Senate President Steve Sweeney. Two years later, Roseman left his job to become a freelancer for a consulting firm.
Moving along his career in New Jersey, Roseman recalled his first time meeting Murphy in 2014, when Murphy was campaigning for governor.
“We just sort of hit it off,” Roseman said. “He didn’t have a job for me. I’m glad I met him though because he said ‘someday, our paths will cross again.’”
In the spring of 2016, Roseman was asked to be the communications director for Hillary Clinton’s Democratic primaries campaign. He was close to taking up the offer until he heard about Murphy’s up-and-coming gubernatorial campaign.
In June of 2016, Roseman joined Murphy’s campaign as the communications director and spokesperson. As the communications director, Roseman resorted to drafting and writing speeches for Murphy. As the 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial elections waged on, Roseman became Murphy’s go-to man for speeches.
“I wrote speeches the way he likes speeches,” Roseman said. “What I became from his campaign was being a storyteller.”
In January of 2018, Murphy announced that Roseman would be part of his communications team as the chief speechwriter, according to Insider NJ.
Since the beginning of Murphy’s first term, Roseman had the opportunity to write Murphy’s inaugural address on Jan. 16, his first budget address on March 13 and his speech marking 100 days as governor on April 25.
Roseman said he has written 400 speeches from Jan.16 to the end of September this year. Despite the stressful work, Roseman is proud to work for Murphy.
“To know he trusts me to put forward his vision is incredibly fulfilling,” Roseman said.
Roseman recognized how many mistakes he made on his journey to becoming Murphy’s speechwriter. In spite of several challenges, Roseman reassured students that it’s OK to make mistakes after college.
“People think college is the last great time to make mistakes and kind of get away from them,” Roseman said. “I’m proof that sometimes you can make mistakes in your adult life.”
Garrett Racz, a junior political science and economics double major and president of the College Democrats, asked how students can be more involved in politics. Roseman said that students should canvas for local campaigns in order to interact with constituents.
“If you think someday, you want to be involved in office, you have to experience knocking on doors,” Roseman said.
David McMillan, a sophomore economics and philosophy double major, was impressed by Roseman’s effort to pursue his passion in public service.
“Derek sharing his story has enabled us to listen and think profoundly about our professional aspirations,” McMillan said. “It was inspiration to hear, especially for anyone interested in working in public service.”
(10/08/18 11:33pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
Literacy is a significantly valuable skill in society. Whether it be through computers, phones, newspapers, books, flyers, signs or one of the many other sources of the written word, people read regardless of their ethnicity, socio-economic background and physical ability.
Recently, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections announced its plans to halt book donations and exchanges at prisons in order to encourage inmates to use e-books instead. With book exchange programs, inmates are allowed to receive any type of book from donors and relatives through request. According to WHYY, inmates could even request books from publishers through catalogues.
The current book exchange system will now undergo changes in order to curtail the practice of sneaking synthetic drugs into prisons. While it’s important to enforce policies that prevent drug use in prisons, the department’s new policies will have heavy consequences.
According to Slate, inmates will now have to purchase a tablet that will cost approximately $147, and then also buy e-books to load onto the tablet that can range between $3 and $25.
It will be difficult for inmates to read if they cannot afford the devices, and prisoners will be at a high risk for losing their only connection to the outside world.
For some prisoners who grew up in poverty and received poor public education in overcrowded schools, reading books provides a chance for rehabilitation and growth. Reading facilitates learning and allows inmates to familiarize themselves with literature and other types of educational material. Also, reading books gives inmates another way to pass the time while they’re stuck in prison serving long sentences.
Reading also plays a huge role in maintaining any successful democracy. No matter the circumstances, prisoners should never be restricted from any reading resources.
The American Library Association emphasizes this concept by stating that “participation in a democratic society requires unfettered access to current social, political, economic, cultural, scientific and religious information. Information and ideas available outside the prison are essential to prisoners for a successful transition to freedom.”
I believe prisoners should have access to as many books as possible. Nothing beats the feeling of opening a book and engaging with a story for hours on end. Reading helps prisoners with coping psychologically and can help to strengthen mental health. Prisoners already live miserable lives, so why remove one of the only opportunities to improve their quality of life?
Students share opinions around campus
"Should inmates have access to donated books?"
“Prisons should implement education programs to assimilate inmates after their sentences.”
“Prisons’ main priority should be reform rather than holding.”
(10/02/18 4:05pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
The College announced the introduction of the Master of Business Administration program for the School of Business on Sept. 24.
According to the College’s website, the MBA program was approved by the Board of Trustees this past February.
William W. Keep, the interim provost and the vice president for academic affairs, says the MBA program has been in development for three years. When Keep was the dean of the School of Business, he had always imagined how an MBA program could benefit the College.
The two-year MBA program’s “T-Style” curriculum, which has students complete a focused specialization followed by the MBA core, consists of 14 credits and 42 academic credits. Students in the MBA program will concentrate on one of its three specializations –– data analytics, finance and strategy, innovation and leadership.
Pasquale Quintero Jr., the director of the MBA program said that the strategy, innovation and leadership specialization is still in development.
Keep says that under the “T-Style” curriculum, students who are older business professionals will hone their skills in specialized classes and apply them at their jobs.
Keep states that the College’s MBA program stands out because of its communication between faculty and students, its three specializations and its use of business practitioners, who are alumni or experienced professionals tasked with advising graduate students.
“The program has a business practitioner associated with each and every course,” Keep said. “The faculty will use the practitioner to help reinforce and expand upon the application of MBA concepts in practice.”
Keep first pointed out how the MBA program offers flexibility to employed students. According to the College, classes occur on Saturdays for eight hours and meet six times per semester.
“(The MBA program) allows students, who are working professionals, to meet and get to know each other while, at the same time expanding the potential market because students come to campus only six Saturdays a semester,” Keep said.
Quintero is excited to see how the MBA program will help both students and professionals at building their careers.
“It’s very exciting to be involved with launching a brand new program,” Quintero said. “Especially one that is innovative and taking a different approach to graduate business education.”
Keep explained that the School of Business is not looking to expand with its MBA program, but to attract and educate ambitious students just like the undergraduate business majors.
“Getting the ‘right’ students is more challenging,” Keep said. “We are fortunate at TCNJ to attract strong undergraduate students who are thoughtful about their academics and next steps. The goal is to do the same thing at the graduate level. We do not expect the MBA to be large, but we do expect it to be of high quality.”
(10/02/18 3:30pm)
By Miguel Gonzalez
News Editor
On an early spring day in March of 1975, an 8-year-old girl named Karen Smith was raped and murdered in the Bronx.
In an attempt to further the investigation into Smith’s murder, police brought 18-year-old David Bryant into custody. They questioned him for 11 hours, and gave him a document to sign.
While Bryant was told that the document permitted him an escort home, it was actually a confessional statement used to justify his arrest for the young girl’s rape and murder.
The next thing Bryant knew, his wrists were in handcuffs and he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
Adjunct professor Mark Edwards met Bryant in 2014 while Bryant was blowing leaves outside of Edwards’ apartment in Princeton. After hearing Bryant’s story of being falsely convicted of rape and murder, Edwards asked Bryant, now 61, to share his side of the story.
On Sept. 25, Bryant was invited to the College to help host the lecture, “I Didn’t Do It: An Interview with David Bryant,” in the STEM Building Room 102.
Bryant’s escapades with the justice system unfortunately did not end after his release in April of 2013, which happened in part with legal support from Centurion Ministries, a non-profit organization based in Princeton that helps wrongly convicted prisoners seek release.
According to Edwards, Bryant’s newfound freedom was brief to say the least. Just 14 months later, a Manhattan federal judge involved in the case overturned the decision to release Bryant because Bryant’s first defense lawyer didn’t provide sufficient evidence such as blood tests, according to the Daily News.
He was sent back to prison until his second release in June of 2018. His running record with the New York justice system now totals 42 years.
After learning about Bryant’s return to prison, Edwards gave students in his first-year seminar course, “Imprisoned minds: philosophy and religion from jail,” an opportunity to write letters to him. Though a small act, Bryant appreciated the support from Edward’s students. Bryant’s own family members, including his parents, sister and brother, died while he was in prison.
“For you who had written to me in prison, even if you did for class, to write about that guy you see on the board, what a wrongful conviction could be like, what wrongful imprisonment could be like. The minute you sent that envelope in that box ... — you touch me!” Bryant said.
Edwards pointed to a photo of Bryant’s arrest. While surrounded by several officers. Bryant’s figure is hunched forward, wearing a wary expression, and his hands are folded behind his back.
Bryant said that all the officers in the photo were part of the investigation against him. He then pointed directly at himself, then a young man, in handcuffs.
“It touches me every time I see that picture,” Bryant said. “Because I know that was me when I was 18 years old. I’m 61 now.”
Bryant recalled the hostility surrounding the interrogation. According to Bryant, he made small talk with the officers without knowing their true intent.
During the trial, Bryant’s lawyer pressured him to admit to the murder in exchange for a shorter sentence –– eight to 20 years instead of life in prison. However, Bryant was not about to go down easily.
He continued to deny the crime until he was ultimately convicted and sentenced 25 years to life.
“I know I didn’t do anything wrong,” Bryant said. “I don’t kill no one. I’m not that kind of person and I will never be.”
Bryant emphasized that innocent people should never have to experience the horrors of prison.
“I can tell you this, only from experience, whether it be mine or be the millions, the millions, millions of people that I met through my years in prison,” Bryant said. “That’s not a place you want to live. Any of your life.”
Bryant feels as though his youth was taken from him, and wishes he could have back all the years now lost to him.
“This is an 18-year-old kid you see in a 61-year-old body,” Bryant said. “That’s what you see dressed. And it kills me to tell you that I lost all my life in prison. I want to be a kid. I want to be 18 again, but I can’t. No one is going to give it back to me.”
What kept Bryant chugging along during his years in prison was his self proclaimed faith in God, to whom he attributes all of his gratitude.
“Through all of this, He kept me alive,” Bryant said. “I’m alive. I’m still breathing. I can walk. I can see. I haven’t lost any limbs, fingers.”
Jessa Feinberg, a junior sociology major, was honored to meet Bryant after writing letters to him when she took Edwards’ course two years ago.
“Just meeting him in person and seeing the great person that he is in life –– it was more than I imagined,” Feinberg said. “Just him living beyond the expectation that I thought about him, it was a lot.”
Kyle Rich, a freshman criminology major and a current student in Edwards’ course, said that Bryant was an inspiration to him and other students
“It was a great inspiration to have a guy like this, who can give insight to a situation where he grew up convicted,” Rich said. “Even though he spent 42 years in prison, he didn’t blame anybody for anything. He lived his life the way it was.”
Bryant asked that people not feel sorry for him or pity him for his experiences.
He instead wants his story to be used as a lesson for others.
“Please, don’t feel sorry for me,” Bryant said. “I don’t feel sorry for me. I’m mad because I went through it, but I don’t feel sorry.”
(10/02/18 12:58am)
By Miguel Gonzalez & Amani Salahudeen
News Editor & Staff Writer
Renowned journalist Lara Logan offered insight to aspiring student journalists and experienced faculty members alike during a presentation hosted by the School of Arts and Communication in Mayo Concert Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 26.
Logan discussed her career at CBS News and 60 Minutes. She is known for covering various stories during perilous times in many different locations such as Iraq, the Gaza Strip and Palestine.
After reporting on the 2012 Benghazi attacks, Logan was asked to take a leave of absence from CBS News. According to Logan, one of her sources had proven to be unreliable. The source, a security contractor named Dylan Davies, gave her an eyewitness account of the attacks –– a story CBS later learned was almost entirely false.
“In the Benghazi incident, our source told us that he was employed by the state department and that was true,” Logan said. “But even when you can verify the source you have to keep in mind that they could still be lying to you. What is their motivation? How does it affect their credibility?”
According to Logan, CBS ran the story with the unreliable source despite the fact that she and her team signed a legal document to not run it during CBS Evening News.
Unreliable sources extend to all journalistic spheres, not just political reporting; Logan used the instance of rape in college campuses to highlight the difficulty of verifying a source.
Logan stressed the importance of fact-checking and maintaining accuracy during every part of the reporting process. In the world where false information and biased narratives spread rapidly through social media, Logan argued that journalists need to learn, listen and understand varying viewpoints.
By being open-minded, journalists can engage in insightful interviews, according to Logan.
“I always listened to what others had to say,” Logan said. “I work on being as objective as I can. It’s important to cover both sides of the story in order to understand it. How many of us take the time to listen to the other side of the argument?”
Despite receiving critical acclaim for her reports on CBS News, Logan has admitted to making mistakes and facing consequences, as illustrated in the aftermath of the 2012 Benghazi attacks. With this in mind, Logan emphasized that aspiring journalists should own up to their mistakes and take full responsibility.
Logan also recognized that while some of her stories have long since left the limelight, she feels great dignity in the tremendous effort she put in to investigating and covering every event.
“I’m also proud of the stories no one else cared about that I shared anyway,” Logan said. “I give a 150 percent to every single story so I am proud of the work I did.”
Logan concluded the master class by offering advice to students looking for careers in journalism. She articulated how students should be open to do more than reporting, and work on skills such as editing and filming. With her experience in dangerous battleground situations, Logan explained how journalists face ethical concerns when reporting on any situation, and argued that ethics apply to students of all majors.
“Know who you are and what your morals are,” Logan said. “What are you willing to do to stand up for your beliefs and morals? How much are you willing to give up? There are a lot of morals and ethical questions that need to be considered.”
Above all, Logan suggested that students should relentlessly strive to make daily progress in order to succeed after graduation.
“You get whatever you put into it,” Logan said. “It’s important to make connections in your field in order to be successful. It won’t be easy but you have to be willing to work hard for it.”
Kieran Nashad, a freshman open options major in the School of Arts and Communication, complemented Logan’s effort to share her experience with students.
“She clearly knew a lot and had a lot of experiences so overall it was very good for aspiring young journalists,” Nashad said.
Kate Schafer, a freshman journalism and professional writing major, admired Logan’s tenacity and dedication to success.
“The professional hardships she went through, the honesty she speaks with, her balancing act of being a famous news correspondent and mother made her the perfect speaker for journalism and media students,” Kate said. “This made her presentation completely worth sitting through.”