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(05/02/17 7:05am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The College hosted the Lions Invitational on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29. The Lions track and field team competed for two days at the TCNJ Track and Field Complex. Select members of the team also competed at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on Friday, April 28.
At home, the hurdle events were highlighted by senior Jake Lindacher and freshman Daniel Pfluger. Lindacher placed fifth overall in the 110 meter hurdles, clocking in at 15.05. Pfluger also competed in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 56.39 and secured sixth place.
In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Noah Osterhus placed eighth with a time of 49.36. His brother, sophomore Nathan Osterhus, competed in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.71. He placed 14th overall.
Freshman Mike Zurzolo placed 15th overall in the 1500-meter run and finished at 4:09.12.
The men’s relay teams placed both second and third in the meet. The 4x400 relay team placed third with a time of 3:22.23 while the 4x100 team ran a time of 42.62 for second place.
In the field events, senior Chris Guglielmo placed second in the pole vault with a clear of 4.55 meters. In the long jump, freshman Justin Brown placed second in 6.90 and third in the high jump with a height of 1.90 meters.
At the Penn Relays, the men raced in the 4x400 meter relay. The 4x400 relay team comprised of sophomore Thomas Livecchi, the Osterhus brothers, and senior Zakaria Rochdi. The Lions ran a time of 3.19.50 to place 40th among 70 teams across all divisions.
“Penn Relays is all about the experience,” Nathan Osterhus said. “The meet is run differently than the meets that we usually compete in because of the size and the competition. So the focus of Penn Relays is to have fun and compete, rather than worrying about the time. For the 4x100, the goal is to get the baton around and stay competitive in our heat, which we were able to do. We were able to run fast in lane with some great Division I schools.”
The other 4x100 team was comprised Lindacher, Pflueger, Nathan Osterhus, and junior Tristan Gibson. The men placed 49th out of 75 teams, clocking in at 42.79.
“In the 4x100 relay, we knew that we were going to be competing against quality competition. We knew that this was going to be our last relay before NJAC’s, so we wanted to show that we are ready for this weekend,” Nathan Oterhus said. “We didn’t end up running the race we wanted to run, but we know that we will be ready to perform our best at NJAC’s, when it matters most.”
The women were also successful at the Lions Invitational.
Freshman Erin Holzbaur took fourth place in the 1500 meter run with a time of 4:50.85. Senior Laura Straub also ran the 1500 meter race, placing 10th with a time of 4:53.64.
In the 800-meter dash, freshman Katie LaCapria placed fourth overall in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:13.16.
Freshman Samantha Gorman competed in the 200- and 400-meter dash, placing sixth in both. She ran times of 25.77 and 57.48, respectively. Senior Danielle Celestin clocked in at 25.86 in the 200-meter dash, placing eighth overall.
In the hurdles, freshman Nicole Tampone placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 1:07.96. Freshman Kristen Hall took 12th place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.88.
In the field, senior Tracy Prentice took eighth in the pole vault, clearing 3.40 meters.
The Lady Lions also competed at Penn Relays on Thursday, April 27. The 4x100 relay team, comprised of Celestin, freshman Allison Zelinski, Gorman, and freshman Kaila Carter, ran a 48.84 for a 59th place finish among all three collegiate divisions.
The women’s 4x400 meter relay team of junior Jenna Ellenbacher, Gorman, Tampone, and LaCapria also placed 51st overall, with a time of 3:56.61.
The women and men’s track team will compete in the NJAC Championships at Rowan University on Saturday, May 6, and Sunday, May 7.
(04/25/17 7:22am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The Lions track and field teams competed in the Larry Ellis Invitational at Princeton University and the Widener Invitational at Widener University on Friday, April 21, and Saturday, April 22.
At Princeton, freshman Katie LaCapria competed in the 800-meter dash, clocking in at 2:13.32 for 38th place overall. LaCapria currently has the fastest 800-meter time in the New Jersey Athletic Conference and the 10th fastest among Division III runners in the nation.
Sophomore Erin Holzbaur competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase, taking 26th overall. She clocked in with a time of 11:00.20. Her performance currently ranks ninth in the nation this year and first in the NJAC conference.
Meanwhile, sophomore Matt Saponara had an impressive race in the 5000-meter run. He clocked in with a time of 15:11.18. Saponara holds the NJACs second fastest 5000-meter in the season. He ran it in 14:48:85 during the Colonial Relays at William and Mary College.
At Widener University, the sophomore duo of Madeleine Tattory and Emma Bean competed in the 5000-meter run. Tattory ran a season best of 18:17.32 to secure sixth place. Bean finished in ninth with a time of 18:22.99.
On the men’s side, senior Andrew Tedeschi set a personal record in the 5000-meter run. He placed third with a time of 14:55.02.
During the Widener Invitational, three runners finished in the top 10 for the 1500-meter run. Senior Brandon Mazzarella placed fifth with a time of 4:00.04. Sophomore Luke Prothero was under a second behind, clocking in at 4:00.83 for seventh place. Sophomore Daniel Brennan placed ninth with a time of 4:01.52.
Freshman Dan Pflueger took first at the 400-meter hurdles in 56.70. Sophomore Kenneth Klopf also finished fifth overall, clocking in at 57.99.
At the 800-meter dash, sophomore Jack Wood placed 18th with a time of 1:57.58. Sophomore Noah Osterhus finished second in 1:57.74.
Senior Jake Lindacher won the 110-meter hurdles and ran a personal best of the season at 15.03.
In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Thomas Livecchi ran a 50.20 for ninth place. The 4x400 meter relay, comprising Noah Osterhus, sophomore Nathan Osterhus, senior Zakaria Rochdi and Livecchi, came in second place with a time of 3:20.88.
“I feel pretty good about my 800 performance,” Noah Osterhus said. “I’m just coming off of injury, so I’m not quite where I want to be, but I’ll get there later on in the season. The team overall is doing great. Everyone is going out there and always trying to win their heats, and it’s fun watching your teammates get better times and progress. With conference in two weeks, I think our team as a whole is ready to compete and get after it.”
The Lady Lions also had strong performances on Saturday. Freshman Nicole Tampone took second with a time of 1:05.64 in the 400-meter hurdles. In the 200-meter dash, freshman Samantha Gorman finished in second, clocking in with a time of 25.40.
Freshman Katie LaCapria returned to the track for the 400-meter dash. She placed seventh with a time of 1:00.02.
In the 1500-meter run, junior Allison Fournier ran at 4:54.42 and finished in 17th place. Following behind was sophomore Abigail Faith, clocking in at 4:54.47.
Senior Laura Straub raced in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She clocked in a time of 11:28.25 for third place.
“The steeple was fun because there were 25 girls in the heat, which is unheard of for a steeplechase,” Straub said. “Gabby Devito and I both did really well for our first steeple of the season. It was raining all day, but we didn’t care because we were bound to get wet anyway. The team showed that we’re ready for NJACs in two weeks.”
In the 110-meter hurdles, freshman Kristen Hall clocked in at 15.82, taking ninth place. In the same event, junior Megan McGourty ran at 15.89 to take 11th place. McGourty also placed ninth in the 400-meter hurdles in 1.08.47.
In the field events, senior Tracy Prentice placed fourth after clearing a height of 2.81 meters in the pole vault.
Freshman Angela Rambert threw 32.57 meters for eighth place in the discus event and 10.55 meters for 13th place in shot put.
The Lions will host the Lions Invitational at the Track and Field Complex on Friday, April 28, and Saturday, April 29.
(04/18/17 7:52am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The Lions track and field teams traveled to Widener University on Saturday, April 15, for the Chester Quarry Classic.
Sophomores Thomas Livecchi and Jack Wood highlighted the 800-meter dash. Livecchi came across the line in 1:55.56 to take sixth place, followed by Wood in eighth. Wood clocked in with a time of 1:55.92.
In the 400-meter dash, sophomore Nathan Osterhus secured fourth place with a time of 50.34. Senior Zakaria Rochdi placed ninth with a time of 51.74. Meanwhile, freshman Daniel Pflueger crossed the line in fourth place in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 56.44.
Senior Jake Lindacher placed second in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 15.08 and ran a 11.25 in the 100-meter dash, placing fourth. The duo of sophomore Luke Prothero and senior Brandon Mazzarella competed in the 1500-meter run. Prothero finished in 3:58.92 and Mazzarella in 4:03.07.
The Lions took second place in both the 4x100 meter and 4x400 meter relays. The 4x100 meter relay team, which comprises Lindacher, Pflueger, Osterhus and Junior Tristan Gibson, ran a time of 42.43.
The 4x400 meter relay team finished in 3:19.10 with Livecchi, Nathan Osterhus, Rochdi and sophomore Noah Osterhus.
In the field events, freshman John Otters cleared a height of 3.75 meters in the pole vault to place seventh overall. Freshman Justin Brown came in eighth with a distance of 6.34 meters and ninth in the triple jump at 12.49 meters.
The Lady Lions had two first-place finishes from freshmen Samantha Gorman and Katie LaCapria. In the 400-meter dash, Gorman clocked in at 57.43 and LaCapria finished in 2:12.38 in the 800-meter dash. Junior Danielle Celestin also found success in the sprint races.
She had two top-five finishes in both the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. For the 100-meter, she clocked in at 12.72 for third place. She then returned with a fifth-place finish in the 200-meter, with a time of 26.16.
In the 400-meter hurdles, junior Jenna Ellenbacher placed second, with a time of 1:02.86. In the 100-meter hurdles, freshman Kristen Hall took fourth place with a time of 15.96. In the distance events senior Laura Straub placed eighth in a time of 4:53.92 in the 1500-meter race.
Nicole Tampone, Christine Woods, Hannah Fay and Alyssa Buccino comprise the Lady Lions 4x400-meter relay freshmen team, which took second with a time of 3:56.16.
Woods also competed in the field events and placed top five in the triple and high jump. She cleared 1.45 meters for fifth place in high jump and leaped 10.90 meters in the triple jump for fourth place.
In the pole vault, senior Tracy Prentice placed third, clearing a height of 3.21 meters. Sophomore Danielle Cozzarelli placed fourth in the long jump with 5.03 meters.
The Lions will compete at the Princeton Multi Meet on Wednesday, April 19, and Thursday, April 20, at Princeton University. They will return to Princeton on Friday, April 21, for the Larry Ellis Invitational.
(04/11/17 6:47am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The women’s and men’s track and field teams hosted their first home meet of the season on Saturday, April 8. More than 60 universities and athletic clubs competed at the TCNJ Invitational.
In the 200-meter dash, freshman Samantha Gorman crossed the line in 25.84, finishing in fifth place. Junior Danielle Celestin also placed 12th overall. She clocked with a time of 26.40.
Gorman then placed fifth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.70. In the same event, Katie LaCapria finished eighth with a time of 1:01.17.
“My 400 was definitely not the best I’ve ran,” Gorman said. “The wind was pretty strong during the race, so I felt it a lot, making it difficult for me to finish strong. However I’m not unhappy with my time, it just makes me more excited to run it again next week. I’m really excited about my 200 time.”
The Lady Lions had a strong showing in the 110-meter hurdles. Junior Meagan McGourty finished in third place with a time of 15.79. In sixth place was freshman Kristen Hall with a time of 16.05.
The women also found success in the 400-meter hurdles. Junior Jenna Ellenbacher took second place with a time of 1:05.88. In third place was freshman Nicole Tampone, who crossed the finish line in 1:07.27. Freshman Christine Woods clocked in at 1:07.72 for fourth place.
In the distance events, junior Allison Fournier clocked in at 2:23.32 in the 800-meter dash for fourth place. In the 1500-meter run, junior Caroline Moore came in at 11th place with a time of 11:03.33.
In the field events, senior Tracy Prentice had a strong showing in the pole vault. She placed first overall with a clear of 3.25 meters.
Sophomore Madison Heft came in third place, jumping 2.95 meters. In the high jump, Hall finished in second place with a height of 1.55 meters.
On Friday night, sophomore Erin Holzbaur competed at the Sam Howell Invitational in Princeton, N.J. Holzbaur ran a time of 11:02 and placed third out of 16 runners.
The men also had a successful home meet. Senior Jake Lindacher had two top-10 performances in the 100-meter hurdles and 100-meter dash. In the 100-meter hurdles, Lindacher clocked in at 15.12 to come in eighth place. Lindacher also placed fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.10.
In the 200-meter dash, sophomore Nathan Osterhus came in sixth place with a time of 22.53. Osterhus also placed ninth in the 400-meter dash, finishing at 50.99. Sophomore Thomas Livecchi came in fourth with a time of 50.17.
“I’m looking to compete and get better everyday,” Osterhus said. “NJACs and nationals are the end goals, so those are the most important times of the season. In the upcoming weeks, I’m looking to drop my times and reach my goals that we set in the beginning of the season.”
Freshman Daniel Pflueger clocked in at 57.03 in the 400-meter hurdles to secure a fifth-place finish.
The duo of junior Dale Johnson and sophomore Quinn Wasko had solid performances in the distance events, both placing ninth in their respective races. Johnson ran 4:09.70 in the 1500-meter event and Wasko finished with a time of 9:06.71 in the 3000-meter race.
In the field events, senior Chris Guglielmo cleared at 4.60 meters in the pole vault for second place.
The Lions will be compete at two meets next weekend. On Friday, April 14, and Saturday, April 15, the team will travel to Moravian College for the Greyhound Invitational. Also on April 15, several team members will compete at Widener University for the Chester Quarry Classic.
(04/10/17 11:34pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
In a study conducted by Business First, a Buffalo-based publication owned by American City Business Journals Inc, the College was placed 32nd out of 499 four-year public institutions across the country. The study was designed to distinguish which public universities and colleges offer their students the best educational experiences. The study focused on public institutions because they generally offer the least expensive tuitions.
Selective admissions processes, earnings by alumni, strong retention and graduation rates, resources, reasonable tuition and housing costs and diverse faculties and student bodies were all factors that affected each score.
Business First calculated rates and percentages of raw data from the National Center for Education Statistics and the five-year version of the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2015 American Community Survey.
The College took a 10-spot leap from its 42nd ranking last year, totaling 70.319 ranking points to land it in 32nd. It also placed as second among the 12 New Jersey institutions included in the rankings, just falling behind No. 25: Rutgers University.
“I am always gratified when I see that TCNJ and/or TCNJ programs are recognized for quality and performance by third parties,” College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said.
Despite this, Gitenstein does not think of school improvement in numbers, but rather people.
“Frankly, I do not purposely seek to improve rankings for TCNJ — I seek to improve performance and student success,” Gitenstein said. “Usually that leads to improvement in values rankings.”
Getting into the College is not a simple task for a high school senior. The College boasts a competitive admission rate of 48.7 percent, admitting only 5,495 out of the 11,290 applicants in 2015, according to Business First.
Not only are potential students excited to become a part of the College community, but once they begin their college career, most do not want to leave. The College has an impressive retention rate — in 2014, the retention rate was 94.8 percent. Out of 1,414 new undergraduates, only 74 did not return.
“One of the features that suggests institutional success is retention rate,” Gitenstein said. “When a student returns to a campus for sophomore year, it indicates usually that the student has been successful academically and developmentally and that the admission process was a thoughtful one — assuring a good match between student and institution.”
The College also guides students on the right path to graduate on time. Of the 1,283 undergraduates that entered the College in 2009, 918 graduated within four years — a rate of 71.6 percent. For those graduating with a bachelor’s degree within six years, the rate was 84.06 percent.
Once in the work force, alumni with annual earnings above $25,000 (six years after entering school) is 79.5 percent. The median annual earning for alumni after 10 years of entering school is $56,000.
Not only does the College offer students a great education, it also offers a great price. For the 2015-16 school year, the published in-state tuition and fees came to $15,466, book and supplies to $1,200 and on-campus room and board to $12,498. The average net price for undergraduates on a scholarship came to $20,146. In return, the College averages $13,860 per full-time undergraduate student for instructional spending.
It’s no surprise that many New Jersey residents are drawn to the selective institution. In 2015, 92.6 percent of new undergraduate students were from the College’s home state. While that may seem like an overwhelming number, students feel that it provides a more tight-knit community and sense of home.
“I think over the past four years at TCNJ, this has been very beneficial to me,” said Stephanie Zarra, a senior nursing major. “Every time I go home for winter break and summer break, I was easily able to meet up with friends because we all live so close to each other. Graduating this May, I know that it’ll be very easy to maintain college friendships because of how easily we can see each other.”
Gitenstein hopes the College’s reputation will be recognized across the nation.
“The fact that TCNJ continues to be so attractive to N.J. students is wonderful, but I would hope that over the years we would continue to grow our out-of-state student population,” Gitenstein said. “The most important reason for doing so is that by increasing out-of-state enrollment, we continue to grow the diversity of our population — in background and in perspective. In addition, of course, by increasing our recognition out of the state, we enhance our institutional reputation.”
Gitenstein believes the College has the means to accomplish this already.
“TCNJ is a wonderful combination of academic program, challenging leadership opportunities and competitive (Division III) athletics,” Gitenstein said. “We have impressive facilities and extraordinary faculty. The type of faculty and staff who gravitate to TCNJ are the type of mentors who help our students develop as young professionals prepared to enter competitive graduate schools and/or the work force.”
(04/04/17 3:44pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s track and field teams took their talent to Williamsburg, Va., for the Colonial Relays hosted by William and Mary College from Friday, March 31, to Saturday, April 1. The Lions competed against a field of dominant Division I competition.
Senior Jake Lindacher placed 14th overall in the 110-meter hurdles, sprinting to a 15.74 finish. He returned in the 100-meter dash, clocking in at 11.72.
In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Daniel Pflueger improved his seed time by nearly two and a half seconds, crossing the finish line in 58.17. Sophomore Daniel Brennan also lowered his time in the 1500-meter race to 4:02.88.
The duo of sophomore Matt Saponara and senior Andrew Tedeschi competed in the 5000-meter race. Saponara took 10 seconds off his time, clocking in at 14:48.85. Tedeschi also improved his seed time by more than 10 seconds, finishing in 14:56.61.
“I felt that my performance at the Colonial Relays was a good season opener,” Saponara said. “Unfortunately, we had to deal with a lot of last second changes in the schedule due to the tornado warning. It threw everyone off, but many of my teammates ended up making the best of the situation. Getting the chance to see them run so well prior to my race motivated me to deal with the changes and make the best of the opportunity. Considering that, I was content with the race, but I am still looking to improve as the season continues.”
During the relay races on Saturday, Lindacher, sophomore Nathan Osterhus, freshman Nick Aromando and senior Zakaria Rochdi placed 19th in the 4x100-meter relay with a time of 43.79.
In the 1600-meter relay, Lindacher, Osterhus, Aromando and sophomore Thomas Livecchi placed 17th overall with a time of 3:37.44.
Some of the Lions also competed at the Stockton Invitational on Saturday. Freshman Connor Holden finished fourth in the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 1:00.13. Meanwhile, freshman John Otters cleared 3.80 meters in the pole vault, securing a second-place finish.
Freshman Justin Brown placed fourth in both the long jump and triple jump.
The women also had a successful weekend. Freshman Kristen Hall placed 29th overall in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.86. In the 400-meter hurdles, junior Jenna Ellenbacher clocked in at 1:05.58 to finish in 24th place. Freshman Samantha Gorman also finished 24th in the 400-meter dash with a time of 59.31.
Sophomore Emma Bean ran a personal best time of 18:38.03 in the 5000-meter run.
“I was happy that I improved my time in the 5K,” Bean said. “I’ve been feeling really strong in workouts and it feels great knowing my training has paid off. My goal is to keep lowering my time in the 5K.”
In the Colonial Relays on Saturday, Gorman and the freshman trio of Christine Woods, Allison Zelinski and Katie LaCapria finished 21st in the 4x400-meter relay with a time of 4:01.94. Zelinski, Gorman and LaCapria teamed up with junior Danielle Celestin for the sprint medley where they placed 10th with a time of 4:10.50.
Members of the women’s team also competed at the Stockton Invitational. Freshman Angela Rambert placed third in the discuss with a throw of 32.10. Junior Tracy Prentice finished third in the pole vault with a height of 3.20 meters.
“We have a lot of good opportunities coming up this month,” Saponara said. “What I really want from these next races is to continue dropping time and get as close as possible to the national qualifying standard. As a team, our main goal is to maximize the amount of athletes we send to Nationals.
“Qualifying is not only self gratifying, but it motivates your event group and allows the team to build off of your success. My teammates and I have seen so many others achieve that high standard and we are all driven to become national caliber athletes.”
The Lions will compete next at the Sam Howell Invitational hosted by Princeton University on Friday, April 7, and at their Home Invitational on Saturday, April 8, at the Track and Field Complex.
(03/30/17 7:31pm)
Anywhere the eye may wander, it is likely to come across an ad. While advertisements are everywhere, consumers are not always able to recognize them.
Magazines are one of the many outlets in which advertisers try to reach their target audience.
Alumna Annemarie Conte (’01), executive editor of Woman’s Day Magazine, spoke to students on Friday, March 24, in Mayo Concert Hall. Woman’s Day captivates more than 22 million readers with advice and ideas regarding health, family, food, relationships, home and style, according to its Facebook page.
When talking to the students, Conte focused on both branded content and native advertising.
“Why is branded content happening now?” Conte asked.
Conte pointed to the rise of ad-blocking software in online media as the culprit.
“Because you are not paying for content, so someone has to,” Conte said. “Advertising money is down, across the board. Advertising online is on the rise, so if advertisers cannot get people to read their advertisements, they have to find another way in.”
Native advertising resembles the publication’s editorial content, but is paid for by an advertiser and intended to promote a product. Similarly, branded content is a type of advertising that uses the generating of content as a way to promote the particular brand that funds a content’s production.
“So, basically, advertisers pay for placement or the ability to give directional guidance within an editorial or format that mimics editorial,” Conte said. “Branded content tends to be more digital and native advertising tends to be more print, but they’re basically interchangeable and can depend on whatever the client wants.”
Native advertising is used mostly by big media companies because smaller companies do not have the resources, Conte said.
Conte also said brands and companies use social media platforms like Instagram for advertisement.
For example, Lord & Taylor bought a campaign in March 2015 and did not label it as paid content. The company paid “influencers” between $1,000 and $4,000 to post a photo of themselves in a specific dress with with the designer hashtag and “@Lord&Taylor” in their caption.
Lord & Taylor approved every image and every post, but in March 2016, the Federal Trade Commission ruled against Lord and Taylor, stating that its advertisements were not clear and its actions went against rules that were in place since 2009. The FTC could have hit them with a debilitating fine, but, instead, put them in a temporary “penalty box.”
“This campaign reached 11.4 million uniques in two days on Instagram and the dress sold out,” Conte said. “It was very effective.”
While traditional advertising is still popular, sponsored articles dressed up to appear to be part of the editorial content of a specific site are not only becoming more common, but proving to be successful for many companies, as well.
(03/28/17 4:38am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s track and field teams started off on the right foot on Saturday, March 25, at their spring season opener, the Golden Rams Invitational at West Chester University.
The men put forth solid performances in the sprint events. Sophomores Thomas Livecchi and Nathan Osterhus dominated the 400-meter dash. Livecchi won the race with a top performance, clocking in at 50.10. Osterhus followed in fourth with a time of 50.62.
“After running the 400-meter this Saturday, I was very happy with my performance,” Livecchi said. “The team as a whole performed very well. Honestly, I can’t ask for much of a better start to the season because with track you have your ups and downs.
“But no matter what, you have to keep trying and you have to keep your head held high,” Livecchi added. “Overall, I think that my performance was great for the season opener, but there is always room to improve as the season progresses.”
Senior Jake Lindacher, who recently attended the NCAA Division III Championships, made his spring season debut in the 110-meter hurdles. Lindacher clocked in with a time 15.14 and took fifth place in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.13. The men’s 4x400 meter relay team took third place out of 12 teams. Livecchi, Osterhus, freshman Andrew Nee and senior Zakaria Rochdi each contributed strong performances to finish with a time of 3:22.49.
Two Lions highlighted the 800-meter dash. Senior Brandon Mazzarella and sophomore Daniel Brennan came in third and fifth place, respectively. Mazzarella crossed the finish line in 1:57.90 and Brennan in 1:58.34.
“My performance in the 800-meter was a good solid effort,” Mazzarella said. “Coming into the meet, the plan was to get a good workout in and some speed work. The race did just that, so when it comes time to run the 1500-meter next week, I’ll be more prepared to go out fast because it still won’t be as fast as an 800-meter.”
Sophomore Brian Mitchell secured first place out of a field of 14 competitors in the 5000-meter run. He clocked in at 15:56.50. Senior Chris Guglielmo cleared a height of 4.45 meters and secured first place for the Lions.
The Lady Lions stood out in the sprint events. Freshmen Samantha Gorman and Katie LaCapria secured second and fourth place with times of 58.16 and 58.97 in the 400-meter dash, respectively. Gorman returned to the track with a 26.15 finish in the 200-meter dash.
The 400-meter hurdles were highlighted by both junior Jenna Ellenbacher and freshman Nicole Tampone. Ellenbacher placed third with a time of 1:06.35 and Tampone in fourth with a time of 1:07.41.
“It was my first time being able to compete the 400-meter hurdles in college due to injuries previous seasons, and I was happy to run my fastest season opener in the event yet,” Ellenbacher said. “My main goal is to start dropping time to a new (personal record) for the race as I get back into the rhythm of competing the hurdles.”
Two sophomores stepped up in the distance events. Emma Bean clocked in six seconds faster than her competition with a time of 18:58.98 in the 5000-meter run. Abigail Faith took second in the 1500-meter run, clocking in at 5:05.02.
The women’s 4x100 meter relay made its season debut with a second place finish. The team, composed of junior Danielle Celestin, freshman Allison Zelinski, junior Meagan McGourty and Gorman, sprinted to a 50.10 finish. Tampone, Gorman, sophomore Alesia Passaro and LaCapria took third in the 4x400 meter relay with a time of 4:05.61.
“Being that it was the first meet of the season, I think our 4x100 relay team performed really well,” Celestin said. “I love that we are showing strong chemistry already, especially since there are new relay team members that haven’t worked together before.”
The Lady Lions also shined in the field events. In the pole vault, senior Tracy Prentice cleared a height of 3.25 meters. Freshman Christine Woods and McGourty tied for fifth with 1.48 meter jump in the high jump. Freshman Angela Rambert placed seventh in discus with a throw of 30.55 meters. She ranked eighth in shot put with a 10.61-meter throw.
“Yesterday was very encouraging for the team as a whole,” Mazzarella said. “There were a ton of good performances, and our team is beginning to get more well rounded and we are starting to have some depth. I am especially proud of the freshmen for adjusting to the program so well and some of them are already running faster than they did in high school.”
The Lions will travel to Williamsburg, Va., on Friday, March 31, and Saturday, April 1, for the Colonial Relays at William and Mary College.
(03/21/17 5:01am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
Two of the College’s own competed at the 2017 Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 10. Senior Jake Lindacher and sophomore Noah Osterhus represented the Lions in their respective races at the Al B. Carius Track at North Central College in Naperville, Ill.
Lindacher raced in the preliminary heat for the 60-meter hurdles. Lindacher sprinted to a fourth-place finish, placing 11th overall.
“After not being able to compete last year due to injury, it was just great to be back at Nationals,” Lindacher said. “It’s always such an unforgettable experience.”
In the 800-meter dash, Osterhus finished 14th overall. He clocked in at 1:59.40.
“Indoor was a good season for the team and being so young as a whole, it was certainly a learning experience for many of us,” Lindacher said. “I’m excited to see how everyone uses that experience to carry the energy and momentum from indoor into the outdoor season.”
Both the women’s and men’s track teams will compete next at the Ursinus College Invitational on Saturday, March 25, as the spring season begins.
(03/07/17 2:42am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s track teams had numerous top performances at the Fastrack Last Chance and Tufts University meets in Staten Island, N.Y., and Boston, respectively.
At the Fastrack Last Chance Meet on Feb. 25 senior Andrew Tedeschi won his heat in the 300-meter run with a season best time of 8:47.85. In the 1000-meter race, senior Brandon Mazzarella placed sixth with a time of 2:34.78.
In the pole vault, senior Chris Guglielmo cleared a height of 4.65 meters and placed fourth.
On the women’s side, freshman Kaila Carter finished sixth overall in the 60-meter hurdles, clocking in season best at 9.07.
The Lions also competed at the Boston University Last Chance meet on Feb. 26.
The men, comprising sophomores Nathan Osterhus, Thomas Livecchi, Noah Osterhus and senior Zakaria Rochdi, shining in the 4x400-meter relay race. Their converted time of 3:20.46, due to the banked track, ranks 12th among Division III runners, however, they hold on to the 10th spot since the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and Wisconsin-Eau Claire have duplicate teams among the leaders.
Noah Osterhus clocked in at 1:53.06 for the 800-meter dash. He secured the 11th fastest time nationally. Meanwhile, Nathan Osterhus competed in the 400-meter dash, clocking in at 49.86.
Senior Jake Lindacher finished fifth overall in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.17. Lindacher currently holds the fourth-best time nationally in the 60-meter hurdles.
“What stands out most to me is the team’s energy and how excited everyone gets to compete and support each other each week,” Lindacher said. “There is always room for improvement, so everyone needs to stay committed to improving each day.”
On the women’s side, sophomore Kathleen Jaeger secured the 16th fastest time in the nation at the 800-meter run. She clocked in at 2:13.65.
Freshman Samantha Gorman came up big in the 400-meter dash. She ran a personal best of 57.68.
The 4x400 women’s relay team of Gorman, Jaeger, junior Jenna Ellenbacher and freshman Katie LaCapria finished in 3:58.53.
This past Saturday, March 4, the Lions competed at Tufts University for the Tufts Final qualifying meet. This was the final meet for the Lions to qualify for the NCAA D-III Indoor Track and Field Championships.
On the women’s side, LaCapria took second place in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2:15.45. Gorman came in eighth with a time of 1:00.52 in the 400-meter dash.
In the 3000-meter run, sophomore Erin Holzbaur clocked in at 10:34.85, securing 10th place. Freshman Kaila Carter also ran a 10.66 in the 60-meter hurdles.
On the men’s side, Lindacher placed second overall in the 60-meter dash with a time 7.06. He also placed first in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.17. His time currently ranks fourth in the nation with 8.06.
In the mile run, Mazzarella finished in a time of 4:24.94 to place 13th overall.
The men’s 4x400-meter relay team comprises sophomores Noah and Nathan Osterhus, Livecchi and Rochdi came in fourth with a time of 3:20.37.
“(The Lions) stepped up in many areas and we are pleased with that,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “The goal is to get as many people as we can to the NCAA championships.”
Qualifying members of the men’s and women’s track team will compete on Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, in the NCAA Indoor D-III Track and Field Championships in Naperville, Ill.
(02/28/17 10:08pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The men’s and women’s track and field team fought to runner-up finishes at the 2017 New Jersey Athletic Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships held at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Club in Staten Island, N.Y., on Feb. 20.
The men’s team finished in second place with a total of 145 points, 51 points ahead of third place Stockton University, but fell to Rowan University, who finished with 245 points.
Senior Jake Lindacher had two successful performances. He finished second place in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.19 and placed third in the 60-meter dash, clocking in at 7.00.
Sophomore Nathan Osterhus also impressed on the track. He sprinted in a time of 22.80, finishing in third place at the 200-meter dash. Junior Nicholas Genoese followed in fourth place with a time of 22.95. Osterhus returned in the 400-meter dash, where he finished second with a time of 50.68.
In the distance events, Senior Andrew Tedeschi had an outstanding performance in the 5000-meter event. He finished first with a time of 15:08.10. He was followed by sophomore Matt Saponara, who finished second with an impressive time of 15:17.91.
“The 5K on Sunday was a step in the right direction,” Tedeschi said. “After not racing too well in Boston, I mainly wanted to stay I mainly wanted to stay competitive, be efficient and help my teammates run a fast time. It was nice to finally win an NJAC race, however, it’s time to look forward and set up big goals for my final season outdoors. I want to end my running career on a high note.”
It was nice to finally win an NJAC race, however, it’s time to look forward and set up big goals for my final season outdoors. I want to end my running career on a high note.”
Freshman Mike Zurzolo stepped up big when he placed second in the 3000-meter race, with a personal best time of 8:55.18. Quinn Wasko followed in third with a time of 8:58.76. In the mile run, the duo of senior Brandon Mazzarella and freshman Jake Dinerman finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.
Mazzarella crossed the finish line with a time of 4:21.34 and Dinerman in 4:22.49.
In the field events, Chris Guglielmo finished his last indoor championships on a high note. The senior won the pole vault with a clear of 4.65 meters. Freshman John Otters placed sixth in the event with a best of 3.80 meters.
“I was happy with my performance,” Guglielmo said. “My main goal of the meet was to win my event, and I accomplished that. I would have liked to have cleared a higher height and put myself closer to becoming a national qualifier but, I can’t be upset with the win.”
The Lady Lions also had an exceptional performance at conference championships. The Lions amassed 181 points, falling just 21 points short to Rowan University.
In the 5000-meter event, sophomore Natalie Cooper stole the show. She took first with an impressive time of 18:29.73. Sophomore Madeleine Tattory followed in second with a time of 18:35.95.
“My main goal this spring is to get healthy and qualify for nationals in the 5K,” Cooper said. “I have been injured for most of this season. I’m hoping to get healthy and back to training.”
Sophomore Erin Holzbaur also had a big day. She finished third in both the mile run and 3000-meter event. Sophomore Abigail Faith finished sixth in the mile with a time of 5:20.55, while junior Caroline Moore and senior Laura Straub finished fifth and sixth in the 3000-meter event with times of 11:01.72 and 11:05.48, respectively.
In the 800-meter dash, sophomore Kathleen Jaeger defended her title and secured 10 points for the Lions. She crossed the line in first place with a time of 2:17.35.
Junior Jenna Ellenbacher and freshman Samantha Gorman captured first and second place, respectively, in the 400-meter dash. Freshman duo Kaila Carter and Kristen Hall placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 60-meter hurdles.
For the field events, senior Tracy Prentice was runner-up in the pole vault, with a clear of 3.10 meters. Freshman Angela Rambert also placed second in the shot put with a season-best throw of 11.43 meters. The trio of junior Amanda Cucarese, freshman Allison Zelinski and Hall placed third, fourth, and fifth, respectively, in the long jump.
“The plan is to keep everyone committed to the same goal and that is to support each other and focus on competing,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “We tell our athletes to have fun going against all competition and believe they deserve to come out on top. With a very young team, this is important to learn early as they improve and see more elite competition.”
The women’s and men’s team will compete in one last qualifying meet this winter season, the Tufts final qualifying meet on Friday, March 3. The Lions hope to use the meet as an opportunity to advance more athletes to the NCAA Indoor Division III Track and Field Championships on March 10 and March 11.
(02/14/17 7:21am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The women’s and men’s track teams traveled to Boston to compete in the Boston University Valentine Invitational on Friday, Feb. 10. The Lions continued to impress at the Monmouth Winter Collegiate meet on Saturday, Feb. 11.
The lady Lions had a strong performance in the sprint events. Freshman Samantha Gorman clocked in at 58.69 and junior Jenna Ellenbacher finished in 1:00.49. The duo now hold the top two times in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.
Junior Danielle Celestin ran a season best in the 200-meter dash, crossing the finish line with a time of 26.23. Celestin and freshman Kaila Carter sprinted to 8.26 and 8.29 finishes in the 60-meter dash, respectively.
“My 200-meter time was a season best, which I am happy about,” Celestin said. “Working back into training after a hamstring injury was a minor setback regarding where I want to be at this point in the season, but I am looking forward to the NJAC conference met and another opportunity to run in a really competitive atmosphere.”
Freshman Katie LaCapria ran a season best time in the 800-meter race at the Valentine Invitational. She clocked in at 2:14.20. Her time currently ranks No. 11 in the fastest time among 800-meter Division III runners in the nation.
The women also had a strong showing in the distance events. Sophomore Erin Holzbaur competed in the 3000-meter race, clocking in at 10:05.97. Sophomore Madeleine Tattory also ran a time of 18:26.30 in the 5000-meter run.
In the field events, sophomore Danielle Cozzarelli finished fifth with a 10.53-meter jump in the triple jump. Meanwhile, freshman Allison Zelinski launched to eighth place with a 10-meter jump.
“The team thus far has put on a great showing at all our meets this season,” Celestin said. “We saw a handful of personal records and noteworthy performances this weekend.”
On the men’s side, the Lions came to compete. Sophomore Noah Osterhus ran 1:52.38 in the 800-meter dash, placing him seventh in the nation for D-III 800-meter runners.
Osterhus’s speedy performance garnered him the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC)’s Track Athlete of the Week honor for the week of Feb. 12.
Meanwhile, sophomore Nathan Osterhus had strong performances in both the 400- and 200-meter dash. Osterhus clocked in at 49.83 in the 400-meter and 22.20 in the 200-meter. dashing to a time of 22.63. In the long distance events, junior Dale Johnson finished
8:54.79 in the 3000-meter run.
Senior Brandon Mazzarella followed Johnson, finishing in 8:59.39.
On Saturday, sophomores Brian Mitchell and Daniel Brennan came in ninth and 10th place in the mile run with times of 4:33.67 and 4:34.86, respectively.
“The team performed really well and there were tons of personal records and season bests all around,” Mazzarella said. “Training has been going amazing, and it really showed in this weekend’s competition.”
(02/07/17 10:27am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The women’s and men’s track team competed on the night of Friday, Feb. 3, in their annual dual meet against Rider University. The Lions put forth a strong showing, but fell short to the Broncos.
Sophomore Erin Holzbaur took first place overall in the mile run with a time of 5:15.39. Junior Allison Fournier came in third with a time of 5:23.99.
The Lions shined at the 400-meter dash. Freshman Katie LaCapria placed first with a time of 59.63. Junior Jenna Ellenbacher clocked in at 59.90 to catch second place. In the 800-meter race, sophomore Kathleen Jaeger placed first with a time of 2:18.76. Meanwhile, sophomore Madeleine Tattory won the 3000-meter run in 10:53.37.
On the field, senior Tracy Prentice cleared 3.26 meters and placed first. Junior Amanda Cucarese also jumped 5.28 meters, placing second in long jump.
“I felt really good about my performance,” Prentice said. “It was my best of the season. Getting the win was an added bonus because that was the team’s goal going into the meet. The team works really hard, and it definitely showed in our ability to compete with a division one team.”
On the men’s side, the Lions swept the field in the 3000-meter race. Senior Andrew Tedeschi finished in first place, finishing in at 8:51.06. He was followed by sophomore Matt Saponara and sophomore Quinn Wasko for second and third place victories, clocking in at 8:53.93 and 8:58.14.
Junior Dale Johnson and senior Brandon Mazzarella took second and third place overall in the mile run. Johnson crossed the finish line in 4:21.28 and Mazzarella in 4:26.13. Sophomore Noah Osterhus secured a first place victory in the 800-meter race. He clocked in at 1:56.49.
In the field events, senior Chris Guglielmo cleared a height of 4.60 meters in the pole vault, finishing in second place.
“Everyone really went after their events this week,” junior Amanda Cucarese said. “We did better than expected.
“The level of support and enthusiasm amongst the team surpassed that of any other meet. I would say our goal moving forward is to keep the high energy and to continue performing on a nationally ranked level,” she added.
With the season winding down, the Lions will compete this weekend at the Valentine Invitational in Boston on Feb. 10 to Feb. 11.
(01/31/17 6:42am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Staff Writer
The women’s and men’s track team had several strong performances on Friday, Jan. 27, and Saturday, Jan. 28, at Lehigh University’s John Covert Classic and Villanova Open, respectively.
On the men’s side, the Lions youth took the spotlight. Freshman Jake Dinnerman finished third place in the mile run with a time of 4:28.12. Dinnerman’s performance secured him the fastest mile time of the season thus far for the Lions. In freshman Cole Parsons’s first mile of the season, he crossed the line in 4:38.49.
The freshmen duo Chris Coombs and Richard Gruters finished back to back in the 3000-meter race, clocking in with times of 9:20.48 and 9:23.34, respectively.
Senior Jake Lindacher had two solid performances on Friday. Lindacher placed seventh overall with a season best time of 8.21 in the 60-meter hurdles, and he placed first among Division II and III athletes in the race. Lindacher later returned with a third-place finish in the 60-meter dash, clocking in at 7.11.
Sophomores Thomas Livecchi and Noah Osterhus took first and second place, respectively, in the 400-meter race. Livecchi clocked in at 50.15, while Osterhus followed in at 50.19.
“I feel pretty good about my 400 this weekend,” Osterhus said. “It was my first one of this indoor season, and I’m still learning how to run it better. I really hope to improve in the 800 and the 4x400 in these next few weeks.”
In the field events, senior Chris Guglielmo achieved his season best as he cleared a height of 4.70 meters in the pole vault. Guglielmo placed second after tying for first based on the pole vault tie-breaker ruling.
“What stands out most to me is the team’s energy and how excited everyone gets to compete and support each other each week,” Lindacher said. “There is always room for improvement, so everyone needs to stay committed to improving each day. There’s no one thing I can pinpoint that needs substantial improvement.”
On the women’s side, freshman Katie LaCapria highlighted the 800-meter race with a first-place finish among Division II and III runners with a time of 2:16.23. Alesia Passaro also placed fourth in the 800, clocking in at 2:23.95.
Junior Jenna Ellenbacher and freshman Samantha Gorman put forth solid performances in both the 200- and 400-meter dashes. Ellenbacher placed fifth overall with a time of 26.55, while Gorman clocked in at 26.69 and placed eighth overall.
Ellenbacher and Gorman returned to the track for the 400-meter race and finished in second and fifth place, respectively. Ellenbacher clocked in at 59.08 and Gorman at 1:00.62.
“Nothing feels better than two personal bests in one day, and over the next few weeks, I need to keep starting my races strong and push myself knowing that better times will come as long as I believe in my own abilities,” Ellenbacher said.
There were also top performances for the distance runners. Sophomore Natalie Cooper placed third in the mile run, clocking in at 5:09.05. Not far behind were sophomore Erin Holzbaur and junior Allison Fournier, placing sixth and seventh. Holzbaur ran 5:17.96, while Fournier crossed the line in 5:24.51.
For the field events, senior pole vaulter Tracy Prentice came in fourth place, clearing a height of 3.20 meters. Freshman Kristen Hall placed third in the high jump with a clearance of the 1.55-meter mark. Junior Amanda Cucarese took fifth place in the long jump with a distance of 5.21 meters.
“I think the most impressive part of the team’s overall performance is the fact that everyone keeps improving on their previous marks from week to week,” Ellenbacher said. “From the freshmen all the way to the seniors, the team keeps getting better times, heights and distances, and earning (New Jersey Athletic Conference) honors.”
The Lions compete on Friday, Feb. 3, at the annual TCNJ/Rider dual meet at 7 p.m. The rival meet will be held at the Lavino Field House in Lawrenceville, N.J.
(11/06/16 12:53am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Nation & World Editor
With Thanksgiving around the corner, we all tend to think about what we appreciate most. However, with school work and stress piling up, it can be hard to be thankful for what the College has to offer. The workloads are intense, the competition is high and the pressure to succeed is a constant weight on already burdened college students’ shoulders.
According to the 2015 National College Health Assessment, more than 85 percent of college students felt overwhelmed by everything they had to do at some point within the past year. Feeling overwhelmed is definitely a familiar emotion for students at the College, but you should never let it get the best of you.
It is important to value everything the College has to offer, whether it is athletics, student government, Greek Life or clubs. You have the ability to fully shape your college experience.
Remember, you are lucky enough to simply study at a school as remarkable as the College. Not everyone is fortunate enough to be blessed with an opportunity to receive such a solid education, if at all.
The College has become a second home to many of us and has gifted us with relationships that will last a lifetime. I am the most thankful for the friends that this college has given me the opportunity to meet, connect with and grow with.
We all entered college ready to take on the next chapters of our lives. It was definitely exciting, but it was also just as frightening. We no longer had our family or hometown friends by our sides. Instead, we had to find a new support group out of a crowd of strangers. I can proudly say that I have found these lifelong friends that I searched for my freshman year, and I hope many of you can say the same.
While we might not agree with the changes to Homecoming, hate the never-ending construction on campus or curse the frequent struggles with Wi-Fi, it is imperative to look at the bigger picture. The College constantly offers each and every one of us so many amazing opportunities that will not only help us grow, but will push us to be the best version of ourselves.
So next time you’re drowning in work at the Library or just feeling overwhelmed, take a moment to think about what you’re thankful for at the College.
(10/18/16 3:42am)
By Nicole DeStefano
Nation & World Editor
Alec Paterno stood in front of the lens of a camera with a smile. In his right hand, he proudly held up a white piece of paper that read “Beta Theta Pi.” With a click of his camera, the moment was captured. Paterno was now a founding father of a new fraternity at the College.
“I went out to different (organizations’) rush events, but I never really saw myself fitting in,” said Paterno, a junior biomedical engineering major. “I thought joining Beta Theta Pi would be cool because it’s a different experience — it’s unique.”
Beta Theta Pi, whose mission is to “develop men of principle for a principled life,” will be joining 11 other fraternities on campus this spring for official recruitment.
“It’s a chance to get something started on campus rather than join something that is already here,” Paterno said.
Beta Theta Pi is currently wrapping up its fall recruitment and thrilled to induct, educate and initiate its founding fathers later this semester, which currently stands at 26. Beta’s founding fathers are selected through a series of one-on-one meetings with the goal of recruiting a well-rounded, diverse and inclusive class.
“My good friend Alec Paterno joined Beta Theta Pi and told me to meet with the adviser, Bryant Fiesta,” junior chemistry major Mattheus De Souza said. “After speaking to him and hearing his goal for Beta Theta Pi, I decided to join.”
Colony Development Coordinator Bryant Fiesta and Director of Expansion John Hubbard are the driving forces behind the College’s chapter of Beta Theta Pi. They are not only dedicated to creating a successful organization on campus, but also recruiting founding fathers and brothers who will uphold Beta’s values.
“Beta Theta Pi seeks scholars, leaders and gentlemen,” Fiesta said. “Men who have a given desire to maintain high academic achievement in their field of study, men who have varied involvements on campus and who are seeking a well-rounded college experience, and men who — in their interactions with their partner, brothers and community — are urbane in deportment.”
Beta Theta Pi was founded on Aug. 8, 1839, by eight men at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The organization has continued to grow and show improvements in the areas of academics, recruitment, risk management and leadership development. When Beta’s award-winning Men of Principle Initiative was first created in 1998, the fraternity’s average chapter GPA was a 2.8. Today, it stands at 3.204 — the highest GPA of all fraternities in the country.
Internationally, Beta Theta Pi also attempts to confront and dispel fraternity stereotypes through leadership programming and positive culture-changing initiatives. The fraternity launched the “I Am A Fraternity Man” campaign in March 2015 to “share the true stories of fraternity men that you didn’t know existed.”
Fiesta believes that the fraternity will positively enhance the College’s Greek Life community. When it comes to the organization’s potential contributions to campus life, Fiesta thinks a former Beta articulated it perfectly.
“With its focus on values-based leadership, Beta Theta Pi will amplify the educational experience offered at the college,” said Chris Althoff, a Beta alumnus from Kansas State University. Althoff has served for more than a decade as a Beta volunteer and adviser.
“For this reason, Beta is more than just a social club. It represents in many cases the pivotal leadership experience in the life of a young man which helps make him a better son, brother, husband and father,” Althoff said.
Each of the founding fathers at the College thus far have been carefully selected. While the organization is something completely new to the young men, Fiesta and Hubbard want to make sure every new member understands what being a Beta is all about.
“I joined Beta Theta Pi on my own,” said Cody Stoia, a founding father and a junior finance major. “At first, I knew almost nothing about the organization... Bryant Fiesta was amazing with introducing me and explaining to me all the parts, functions and beliefs of the fraternity.”
Fiesta’s intentions are clear: he does not only want members of the College’s Beta Theta Pi to benefit from the organization on a personal level, but to also help create a successful and rewarding organization for future Betas. Whether you are a founding father or simply a brother, the goal is for your college experience as a Beta to be fulfilling.
“Being a founding father of Beta Theta Pi is a unique experience where men will have the ability to build their own positive experience and leave a legacy for those who will become members in the years after they graduate,” Fiesta said.
“Rather than adapt to a culture that does not align with their beliefs, they are afforded the freedom and responsibility to help shape the direction of an emerging chapter at the College,” he added. “In addition to the numerous programs offered by the General Fraternity, there are a number of leadership opportunities available beginning in the first term, and they have a chance to help bring positive change to the entire Greek community at TCNJ through living the values of Beta Theta Pi.”
The fraternity’s national core values allow members to “build lasting bonds of friendship and brotherhood.” They include mutual assistance, intellectual growth, trust, responsible conduct and integrity.
“I decided to go Greek at TCNJ because I wanted to meet more people and become more involved on campus, while having brothers who are always by my side no matter what,” said Ricky Brum, a sophomore mechanical engineering major.
College students choose to go Greek for many reasons. It may be a resume booster, a way to enhance one’s social life or simply a way to fit in with the crowd. But according to Fiesta and some of the founding fathers, being a Beta at the College is not just about wearing a lettered shirt.
“Being a Beta is all about relationships,” Fiesta said. “Betas surround themselves with kind and intelligent people within the organization — an organization that recognizes and respects the worth of each person, refusing to take part in activities that undermine the dignity of others. An organization that willingly lends its talents and abilities to serve the community. An organization that builds bridges, not walls.”
Over the years, Greek Life’s presence at the College has increased. Currently, more than 25 percent of the student body is part of a Greek Life organization, according to the Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life.
“I decided to join Greek Life at TCNJ and become a founding father of Beta Theta Pi because of the mark I will leave on this campus,” De Souza said. “Years from now when I return to TCNJ as an alumni and see men wearing Beta Theta Pi shirts, I will know that I was one of the men who started the organization.”
(10/16/16 5:48pm)
By Dorian Armstrong
Correspondent
When Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump refused to shake hands before the second presidential debate on Sunday, Oct. 9, the tone for the evening was set.
Moderators Anderson Cooper and Martha Raddatz of CNN immediately prompted each candidate to answer for their own personal scandal: Trump’s remarks about women from a 2005 video that surfaced on Friday, Oct. 7, and Clinton’s use of a private email server as Secretary of State. Both candidates deflected these questions, and even some questions from audience members, to focus on their plans, as well as their opponent’s plans, for the country.
“You described kissing women without consent, grabbing their genitals,” Cooper said to Trump at the start of the debate. “That is sexual assault. You bragged that you have sexually assaulted women. Do you understand that?”
“No, I didn't say that at all,” Trump said. He dismissed what he called “locker room talk” before attacking Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, for being hypocritical.
“Bill Clinton was abusive to women,” Trump said. “Hillary Clinton attacked those same women and attacked them viciously.”
Clinton denied the accusation.
“So much of what he's just said is not right, but he gets to run his campaign any way he chooses,” Clinton said. “Everyone can draw their own conclusions at this point about whether or not the man in the video or the man on the stage respects women. But he never apologizes for anything to anyone.”
Trump emphasized his anger at Clinton by promising legal reprehension against her over her scandals.
“If I win, I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation,” he said in reference to Clinton’s email scandal. “If you did that in the private sector, you'd be put in jail, let alone after getting a subpoena from the United States Congress.”
Clinton later talked about her ability to get things done, which she said would continue to happen if she were elected president.
“I've proven that I can, and for 30 years, I've produced results for people,” Clinton said. She cited her targeting of Al Qaeda officials as proof of her ability to fight ISIS and said she “would specifically target Baghdadi” in the same way. She also brought up her experience fighting for healthcare for children and 9/11 first responders, her advocacy of women’s rights around the world and her diplomacy with Russia.
Meanwhile, Trump focused on disparaging the ideas of Clinton, President Barack Obama and some of his fellow Republicans. Lamenting the slow pace of the war against ISIS, he criticized the Obama administration for publicizing its battle strategy, despite Raddatz’s possible explanations of psychological warfare and civilian evacuations.
When Raddatz prompted Trump on his running mate Mike Pence’s beliefs about using force against Russia and the Syrian government if provoked, Trump responded, “He and I haven't spoken, and I disagree.”
The last audience question earned the biggest applause of the night: “Regardless of the current rhetoric, would either of you name one positive thing that you respect in one another?”
Clinton commended Trump as a father of “incredibly able and devoted” children, while Trump backtracked from previous attacks on Clinton’s stamina and said, “She does fight hard, and she doesn't quit, and she doesn't give up.”
Afterwards, the candidates finally shook hands before they left the stage.
(09/19/16 11:51pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Nation & World Editor
A police officer shot and killed 13-year-old robbery suspect Tyre King in Columbus, Ohio, after he pulled a BB gun out of his waistband. The boy died in a hospital after being shot several times the night of Wednesday, Sept. 14, police told CNN.
King had “pulled a gun from his waistband” when officers attempted to take him and another male into custody, the Columbus Division of Police said in a statement, according to NBC News. The weapon that was recovered from the scene was determined to be a BB gun with an attached laser sight, Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs said at a news conference on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 15, according to NBC News.
“Our officers carry a gun that looks practically identical to this weapon,” Jacobs said, according to NBC News. “It turns out not to be a firearm, but as you can see, it looks like a firearm that could kill you.”
Police were called at 7:42 p.m. about a group of people, including one individual armed with a gun, who demanded money. The caller told the 911 dispatcher, “This man just had a gun on this white dude on the street,” according to audio released by the police. The victim of the robbery said that the alleged hold up was over $10, NBC News reported.
Upon arriving at the scene, the officers identified three people matching the suspects’ descriptions about a block away from the location given by the caller. When the officers confronted the suspects, two of them ran away. The officers followed them to an alley, where King drew his BB gun and was shot by an officer multiple times. The orange tip that distinguishes air pistols from real ones was removed from the BB gun, according to CNN.
The officer who shot Tyre was later identified as Bryan Mason, a nine-year veteran of the force. He will be placed on paid leave for at least a week during the investigation, according to CNN. Mason was involved in a fatal shooting of an armed man in 2012, but police determined that he had acted within policy, according to NBC News.
According to CNN, attorneys who represent the King family released a statement. They called the behavior police attributed to Tyre “out of his normal character.” The King family also said in a statement that they want an independent investigation of the shooting, according to NBC News.
The city of Columbus has experienced 13 police-involved shootings this year. Five civilians and one police officer were fatally shot, according to NBC News.
"We as a community need to come to grips with the fact that with such easy access to guns — whether they're firearms or replicas — there's something wrong with this country," said Andrew Ginther, Columbus’s mayor. "And it's bringing this epidemic to our city streets."
(09/14/16 7:27pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Nation & World Editor
With the 15th anniversary of 9/11 approaching, the House of Representatives voted for a bill on Friday, Sept. 9 permitting victims’ families to sue Saudi Arabia over the terrorist attack, according to CNN.
The Senate passed the bill by voice vote on Tuesday, May 17, but concerns arose that it will “complicate diplomatic relations with a key ally in the region,” according to CNN. Despite the White House indicating that President Barack Obama will veto the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, the Senate’s approval was, for many, a small triumph for the families and loved ones of the nearly 3,000 individuals that were killed that day.
“It's gratifying to see that when something is overwhelmingly in the interests of the American people, bipartisan action can happen,” Jerry S. Goldman, attorney for several families of 9/11 victims, said, according NY Daily News.
“The unity Americans felt in the days after 9/11 lives on in a determination to hold whoever was complicit in attacks on U.S. soil accountable, as existing law provides and as JASTA clarifies,” Goldman added.
The legislation would allow family members to file lawsuits against the Saudi Arabian government for any role its officials played in the devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
While Saudi Arabia has denied any role in 9/11, 15 out the 19 terrorists involved in the attacks were Saudi nationals, according to CNN. The same news source reported that the Saudi foreign minister, Adel al-Jubeir, warned lawmakers that if the bill became a law, the country would sell $750 billion in U.S. assets.
According to CNN, the White House had no comment on the House’s decision Friday, but after the Senate bill passed in May, White House spokesman Josh Earnest had something to say.
“It’s difficult to imagine the President signing this legislation,” Earnest said, according to CNN. "This legislation would change longstanding international law regarding sovereign immunity. And the President of the United States continues to harbor serious concerns that this legislation would make the United States vulnerable in other court systems around the world."
The concern is that opening the door for lawsuits against Saudi Arabia would leave the U.S. vulnerable to legal action by foreign nations. However, supporters of the legislation disagreed.
While Obama is likely to veto the bill, a vote of two-thirds in both the House and the Senate can override his veto.
(09/01/16 10:02pm)
By Nicole DeStefano
Nation & World Editor
The disastrous flood affecting Louisiana has become the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to CNN. The news outlet reported that about 6.9 trillion gallons of rain flooded Louisiana, resulting in 13 deaths and damage to more than 60,000 homes between Monday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 14. Despite these numbers, Louisiana has received only a small fraction of the attention that was given to Superstorm Sandy.
“Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now,” said Brad Kieserman, the American Red Cross’s vice president of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics, according to a press release.
In response to the crisis, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited the flood-stricken areas on Thursday, Aug. 9. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and President Barack Obama also visited the Baton Rouge, La., area. However, Obama was criticized for not cutting his summer vacation at Martha’s Vineyard short to visit sooner, as he arrived on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
While the Red Cross estimated the storm’s aftermath would cost at least $30 million, more than $132 million has already been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for home repairs and disaster response aid.
With such devastating damage, the state is desperate for volunteers.
“The more volunteers that come in, the quicker we can get people taken care of,” said Sherry Buresh, director of U.S. Disaster Response for All Hands Volunteers, according to USA Today.
Buresh, Obama and others are not only looking for volunteers to help with the extended effort to rebuild the communities, but are also asking for Americans to donate and help fund recovery efforts.
“Federal assistance alone is not going to be enough to make people’s lives whole again, so I’m asking every American to do what you can to help get families and businesses back on their feet,’’ Obama said during a press conference in Louisiana on Tuesday, Aug. 23.
The likeliness of a flood this severe in the Baton Rouge area is just once every 500 years, according to CNN. Despite the extreme damage that resulted from the rare storm, Craig Fugate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, expressed concerns that Americans might not realize how necessary it is to help flood victims.
“People are kind of, like, tuned out because of, I think, everything from the elections to the Olympics,’’ Fugate said, according to USA Today. “I don’t think people across the nation realize how big or how bad this is or how much help the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Catholic Charities — just a whole bunch of volunteer organizations that are down here — are going to need.”
If you are interested in helping, visit VolunteerLouisiana.gov.