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(10/29/08 12:00pm)
Students of all majors can look forward to the implementation of a new minor called quantitative criminology, the quantitative analysis of crime and criminal justice systems data.
David Holmes, professor of mathematics and statistics, and David Holleran, chair of the department of criminology, created the minor together, though the idea was originally Holleran's.
Students minoring in quantitative criminology would take courses in theoretical criminology, social science research methodology and policy analysis.
According to Holleran, students planning to pursue graduate degrees would "have a leg up" in graduate school after completing the minor.
The proposal submitted to the College for new minor approval said many career outlets, such as academics, government, private research firms and interest groups, have a use for the skills taught.
"The minor will stimulate synergistic research activities between students and faculty from the department of criminology and the department of mathematics and statistics," the proposal said.
According to Holmes, "The College is very keen on interdisciplinary departments."
Holleran said the minor will have two different tracks, one geared toward mathematics and the other toward criminology.
"Mostly mathematics and statistics students will vector themselves towards the statistics," Holleran said.
"The important thing," Holmes said, "is (quantitative criminology) is available to every student. We offer it to every student provided they have their prerequisites."
Holmes and Holleran said the process of creating the new minor took about a year and a half.
According to them, about 10 or 12 students have expressed an interest in quantitative criminology as a minor so far.
They also said all mathematics and statistics majors have been e-mailed about the new minor and prospective College students will be informed about it.
(10/08/08 12:00pm)
The library auditorium was "Wild" with enthusiasm Thursday morning as Christopher Bigsby, Scott Donaldson and A. Tappan Wilder delivered speeches about the works and life of Thornton Wilder. The New Jersey Council for the Humanities funded the program.
Bigsby, from the University of East Anglia, gave a speech titled, "On Trying to Like 'Our Town.'" He combined wit and humor with solid facts and bountiful knowledge. The audience clearly appreciated his energetic approach to literature and drama.
Bigsby spoke in a way that channeled the energy and passion of Wilder himself. He explained "Our Town" through the lens of someone who was deeply intimate with the play and its characters. Inherently important in this explanation of the play was the subject of death, an ongoing theme in the play.
"When it comes time to go, well, we never really do go," Bigsby said.
He mentioned how in New Hampshire (the setting of the play), the dead chat among themselves during funeral services, observing the living and welcoming new members of the community. One of these graveside conversations, which reads, "My, wasn't life awful - and wonderful," was explained by Bigsby.
"Life is wonderful," Bigsby said, "And there's nothing better than death to tell you that."
Unfortunately for the audience, the other speakers had denser material to work with, although they did bring expertise.
Donaldson, from the College of William and Mary, began with a disclaimer.
"I'm just going to read a standard academic paper and you can all just fall asleep," he said.
The title of his paper was, "The Wide World of Wilder's Fiction."
A. Tappan Wilder, of Maryland, is Thornton Wilder's nephew. He focused most of his speech on facts about Wilder and the biographical nature of his works. He also discussed the writer's lengthy lecturing circuit.
Thornton Wilder signed a sort of "death contract" when he committed to give 144 lectures in a seven-year span, according to Tappan Wilder. There are no records of what he spoke about each time, but "there were a lot of surprises," Tappan Wilder said. This only reaffirms that Wilder, one of the most prominent playwrights of his era, was full of complexities that the academic community is still working hard to unearth.
(10/01/08 12:00pm)
Although the College is more than 250 years old, administrators are trying to keep as up-to-date as possible with the latest networking trends.
As part of this push, the College developed a Facebook page last spring.
Matthew Winkel, professional Web developer and adjunct professor, Matthew Golden, executive director of Communications and Media Relations, and David Adrian, sophomore computer science major, built the site together after Winkel heard about the idea at a conference.
Adrian programmed the site.
"Matt Winkel asked me to make a Facebook application for students. I had to learn all of the programming language," Adrian said.
The project took him almost three months to complete and he currently spends a few hours each week maintaining it.
"Many schools seem to have Facebook pages," Winkel said. "Before Facebook we had an alumni group two years ago."
Golden said the fan page first became popular through word of mouth.
The creators relied on students to spread the word about the site and let it build popularity. Now there is a link to the Facebook page on the College's homepage.
"My career is about engaging my audience," Golden said, adding that he had been thinking of new ways to reach students.
"Print and mail is expensive to do, and students spend time on Facebook. We're giving them the content they want in ways they want to receive it," he said.
The fan page is holding a contest called "Snap your spirit." Students are encouraged to send in their photos demonstrating their school spirit. Prizes will be awarded at Homecoming for the best Lions fans.
The site, which is only accessible to students at the College, allows students to connect with friends by searching for people with the same major and class.
There are currently 1,600 fans, but Winkel and Golden expect the number to rise.
"I haven't accessed (the Facebook application) but I know about it," Josh Hanke, sophomore math major, said. "I just haven't spent the time on Facebook to consider it."
"I would hope that (prospective students)regard the Facebook application as an attractive aspect of the school," Adrian said.
The site also has two Facebook applications: TCNJ Students and TCNJ Alumni.
Winkel said, "We're excited about Facebook as a networking tool."
(09/17/08 12:00pm)
Students and faculty will not have to deal with the TESS and ARTIE computer systems much longer.
TESS and ARTIE will soon be replaced by a new Student Administration Program that has perks TESS and ARTIE do not, according to Nicole Parkman, project manager for PeopleSoft, vendor of the new system.
Parkman said the changeover is on schedule and will be completed by fall 2009.
The new, completely Web-based program will have a back button, a faster response time and will be accessible virtually 24 hours a day, Parkman said.
"The most important thing is it has online auditing," she said.
This would allow students to see what courses they would have to take if they changed majors. They would be able to see whether they could graduate on time, without having to physically see a counselor and fill out all the papers.
"We won't have to deal with all of the paperwork," Parkman said. "It will be one place where students can access their student records, financial aid, addresses and personal information."
There will eventually be a booth in Brower Student Center where students will be able to see demonstrations of the Web site and give their feedback.
Students will also be involved in choosing the name for the new program. The choices are: Roar, Paws, Roscoe and Pride.
The office of Records and Registration plans to send a survey to students sometime in the near future to see what they think the new name should be.
"We want the students to have a voice," Parkman said.
Parkman said transferring the information on TESS and ARTIE to the new program will take some time, but she is optimistic that the changeover will be completed in time for next year.
(09/10/08 12:00pm)
The Rathskeller was once again filled with the sound of music last Friday for a piano rock concert starring the Washington, D.C.-based group, Jukebox the Ghost. The Extraordinaires, a Philadelphia-based group, opened the show.
Jukebox the Ghost took the stage in what pianist and vocalist Ben Thornewill affectionately called their "Daisy Dudes," with the three men wearing jeans cut off above the knee.
This was the trio's second performance at the College, the first taking place during a previous tour. They began their set with a newer song titled, "Under My Skin."
Each of Jukebox the Ghost's songs had distinct appeal and tone, most notably found in a song sung in three-part harmony about the apocalypse.
In "Fire in the Sky," the band sang of spaceships exploring outer space, where they encounter God. God then follows the spaceships back to Earth and destroys the planet.
"Fire in the Sky," "Where are All The Scientists Now" and "A Matter of Time" covered a lot of ground both musically and lyrically. Jukebox the Ghost sang of destruction at the hands of various natural disasters. Victims retreat to bunkers, only to return to rubble.
Formerly called Sunday Mail, Jukebox the Ghost formed in the summer of 2006.
The members met while attending George Washington University as music majors.
They have opened for Kanye West and Lloyd Banks.
Jukebox the Ghost's cynical lyrics and relaxed composure created a fun atmosphere inside the Rat.
Thornewill, guitarist Tommy Siegel and drummer Jesse Kristin spent their time joking around with their guests. They made it evident they were out to have a good time, which created an enjoyable atmosphere inside the Rat.
The talent and lyrical wit of Jukebox the Ghost overshadowed the formulaic approach of The Extraordinaires. Their sophisticated dynamic stood out as an example of inspiration in the current music scene.
Although the Extraordinaires' name invokes all that is great and superior, nothing about the Extraordinaires' act was extraordinary, except for lead vocalist Jay Purdy's fish-shaped, nylon string guitar, complete with fins.
Their idea of killer concert threads was gym shorts and muscle shirts. Though not fashionable, their choice of clothing was about as creative as the band got during the night.
The music they played wasn't bad, just safe. They adhered almost too strictly to the folk/rock/pop image and sound they established for themselves. The band tried to mix things up when Purdy brought out a harmonica, and keyboardist Jacob Wolf and bassist Matt Gibson switched instruments, but the music still sounded the same.
The songs lacked individuality and it was hard to distinguish one from the other.