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(04/01/15 11:51pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
The Brower Student Center was adorned with blue and white on Wednesday, March 25, in celebration of the third-annual Greek Festival hosted by the College’s Hellenic Society.
Students lined up to enjoy the traditional and authentic Greek food that was served by members of the organization. While familiar dishes such as pita bread with tzatziki sauce were served, the night was also an opportunity for students of the College to try new foods they may not have heard of before. Spanakopita, a Greek casserole with crusty dough filled with spinach and feta pastitsio, impressed the student foodies. And f-or dessert, students were treated to savory baklava, a sweet pastry with walnuts, honey and kourambiethes, and a shortbread cookie with powdered sugar.
Serving food to the students was a special way for the members of the Hellenic Society to share a piece of their culture with their peers.
“Not only are we exposing you to pastitsio and mousaka and spanakopita,” senior nursing major Daniela Verdugo began. “We are giving you a piece of us,” added Anna Kalavrezos, senior nursing major and President of the Hellenic Society.
Verdugo explained how a family -owned store, The Greek Store, in Kenilworth, N.J., that has been in business for over 50 years, made the food specially for the festival.
It was not just a night to celebrate and enjoy the delicious food, but a night that was special to those of Greek culture. Wednesday marked Greece’s Independence Day, a day that commemorates the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821.
“(I’m) excited to celebrate the Greek culture that’s important for Greek history,” Kalavrezos said about having the festival on the Greek holiday. “And it’s nice to show our pride.”
In Greece, the holiday is celebrated in towns and villages throughout the country, with schools holding a parade where school children march in traditional Greek costume and carry Greek flags. The country’s capital, Athens, celebrates by having an annual military parade every year where thousands of people line the streets of the city to show their pride.
The Hellenic Society celebrates the festival around the same time each year to coincide with the Greek holiday, allowing them all to celebrate the day together.
“Being able to be a part of the Hellenic Society, it’s good to be part of an organization where you can share a common culture with your peers,” junior marketing major Agy Serghiou said.
The students were not only happy to be celebrating the holiday together as an organization, but with the other students of the College.
“The Greek culture is all about welcoming other people into the culture, and we just really wanted to introduce it to everyone and to let everyone know about Greek history,” Kalavrezos said.
At the end of the festival, the Hellenic Greek Dancers of New Jersey, who were dressed in traditional Greek costume, entertained students. The dancers entered the middle of the Brower Student Center to the sound of Greek music holding hands, eventually making their way into a circle.
People clapped along with the music as the men of the group jumped, leaped and kicked in the air. The men could be heard throughout the eight different dances yelling “hey” and “opa.”
One dance had a male performer dance while balancing a shot glass on his head, impressing the on-looking audience, as the glass stayed securely on his head as he got lower to the floor.
Like the food, dancing is an important and prominent part of the Greek culture and means a lot to the people who participate in the dances.
One of the members of the Hellenic Society, freshman fine arts major Melina Magriples, has been a member of the dance group for six years and is “extremely passionate” about Greek dancing.
“There is something called ‘kefi’ in Greek dance,” Magriples said. “There is not an exact definition for it, but it means something along the lines of passion. It is such an extreme feeling that I have difficulty putting into words. It is the feeling I get when dancing and knowing that I am sharing my heritage with the people around me. The ‘kefi’ I feel when dancing is my favorite part.”
The night ended with everyone who shared food and watched the dance performances together feeling the same “kefi” that the members of the Hellenic Society feel about their own culture.
(04/01/15 11:17pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
More information is beginning to surface about the Germanwings flight that crashed into the French Alps on Tuesday, March 24. According to CNN, the co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, deliberately downed the plane carrying 150 onboard, including himself.
Audio from the flight has been released, allowing a timeline to be determined of how the crash occurred, according to CNN. A German newspaper, Bild, released the sequence of events on Sunday, March 29.
According to the recording, the captain of the flight, Patrick Sodenheimer, could be heard leaving the cockpit after Lubitz tells the captain he can “go any time,” allowing Lubitz to take over the wheel. Then, the plane begins to descend, setting off an alarm. Next, Sodenheimer could be heard banging on the locked cockpit door. The last sounds to be heard are people screaming in the background and a wing scraping a mountain.
Reasons why Lubitz would down the plane are unknown, but according to CNN and other news media reports, the co-pilot had mental health issues. Investigators later found a ripped-up letter in a garbage can in Lubitz’s apartment in Dusseldorf, Germany that said he wasn’t fit for his job. After spending 90 minutes in the apartment, authorities left with boxes of paper and various folders of evidence.
According to the New York Times, the police officers that searched through the apartment Thursday, March 26, found antidepressants. The Times also reported that notes were found by various doctors saying that the pilot was too ill to fly, including a note on the day of the crash.
Additionally, Lubitz sought medical treatment before the crash for vision problems that could potentially put his career at risk, but never told the airline about his vision concerns, according to the Times.
In the summer of 2014, Lubitz passed his annual pilot recertification medical examination, but the exam only tests physical health — not mental — according to CNN.
The recent finding of Lubitz’s speculated condition has sparked questions of how people should be deemed mentally fit to fly.
In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration requires captains to have their medical certificate renewed every year if the pilot is under 40 and every six months if the pilot is over 40, but this doesn’t include psychological tests, according to NBC News.
“The system relies on pilots self-declaring, so unless a pilot is honest about an alcohol problem or a psychiatric disorder, there’s no guarantee a problem would be spotted,” said aviation psychologist Diane Damos, whose company specializes in pilot selection and screening, to NBC.
Although there is a lot of speculation surrounding the mental state of the co-pilot, Lufthansa CEO Carson Spohr said there was “no indication what could have led the co-pilot to commit this terrible act,” at a news conference.
Investigators are still trying to gather more information on the crash and Lubitz.
(03/26/15 3:29pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
It was nothing but sun, clear blue skies and great baseball for the Lions during spring break. The College’s baseball team traveled down to Winter Haven, Fla., for their annual spring trip where they played 10 games and ended their busy week by splitting their games evenly with a record of five wins and five losses.
After a number of postponed and cancelled games, the College finally got a chance to play some ball. The team opened their season against the eighth-ranked University of Southern Maine, ending with a tough 12-5 loss. Southern Maine got on the scoreboard early in the first with a hit on the first pitch of the game.
The Lions looked like they would have the chance to rally in the fifth. Sophomore Ben Varone led off the bottom of the inning with a double to left-center field. Junior John Rizzi followed with a base hit, but Varone was thrown out at the plate. Junior Patrick Roberts later ripped a shot to second that hopped into right field, allowing two runners to score. In the end, however, senior Connor Smith took his first loss of the season for the College.
The team split a loss and a huge win with two great pitching performances on the second day of their trip against St. Norbert College. Despite the loss, junior Steven Volpe pitched six-and-a-third innings, striking out six with only one earned run.
In the second game, before junior Evan Edelman took the mound, his teammates put up five runs in the top of the first inning, putting Edelman at ease as he threw his first pitch of the game. Edelman went six innings with just one unearned run in the sixth. The Lions offense scored seven more runs after the first to take a commanding 12-1 win.
The offense continued its high-scoring into the third day with a crushing 17-0 win against Centenary College. Senior infielder Anthony Cocuzza had a big game that day, knocking in a career-high six runs in six at-bats on three hits. In his second at-bat in the seventh, he drove in two runs with two outs, which called for a different approach and mindset before stepping into the batter’s box.
“Here, a fly ball or ground out won’t score a run. Instead, I use my same approach as when I’m up at the plate with no runners on,” Cocuzza said. “I trust my hands and swing enough to allow me to hit hard line drives in the gaps for doubles with this simple approach.”
Freshman Joe Cirillo notched his first career win that day. Cirillo faced 29 batters and threw for eight scoreless innings, an impressive start for his first collegiate game.
The next game would result in a 14-6 loss for the Lions against the College at Brockport, but the team would end up taking a close 5-4 win against Benedictine University the following day.
Against Keene State College, the Lions were down six runs until the fifth inning, when the team broke out by scoring four runs to cut the deficit to just two runs. The team then tied with Keene in the top of the sixth, eventually coming back to win a close 9-8 game.
The Lions split two games between Washington and Jefferson College with a win in their first game and a loss in their later. In the first game, Volpe was able to get his first win of the season and sophomore Eric Teesdale recorded his first career save.
In the last game of the week, the Lions were unable to get a win against the University of Wisconsin-Las Crosse, falling 5-2 to their opponent. Even with the loss, however, senior Josh Limon had an exciting game, leading off the seventh inning with the 100th hit of his career in his 95th career game.
Now that the team has begun their season, they are taking each game day-by-day to their goal of the season: winning the NJAC.
“We focus on one game, one inning and one out at a time, but our first long, term goal is winning the NJAC,” Cocuzza said. “From there we can set our sights on regionals and the World Series, but the first objective is winning the NJAC tournament.”
The Lions have their first home game against Ursinus College on Thursday, March 26.
(03/10/15 2:05pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
It was a night filled with good food and good luck as students and faculty at the College celebrated the Year of the Sheep during the Chinese New Year celebration in the Brower Student Center on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
Located in the Lions Den, the area was decorated in red, the color of good luck in Chinese culture, with hanging lanterns that added to the celebratory atmosphere.
The event was a chance for Chinese students and friends alike to celebrate the holiday together.
“I don’t get to be home for Chinese New Year,” said Melody Hwang, a sophomore urban education and English major and co-vice president of the Chinese Student Association. “(It’s) really cool to celebrate it with my TCNJ family.”
The event, which was hosted by the CSA, featured various performances from students. Lion dancers, dressed in traditional pieces, opened the event. As a drum pounded, the dancers swayed back and forth to its beat. Their performance moved down to the audience, weaving around the tables of people, where students were encouraged to touch the lion’s head for good luck.
During the performance, attending families gave out red envelopes to their children in a Chinese New Year tradition. In China, elder family members give the envelopes filled with money to their children, a way sending good wishes and luck to them.
Zachary Lo, a sophomore biology major and co-vice president of CSA, then introduced the Rutgers CSA Chinese Dance Troupe. Two female students performed with fans to a Chinese version of “Colors of the Wind.”
The dancers matched their elegant movements to the classic song as they glided fans and sashes through the air.
The audience was also entertained by the College’s Chinese yo-yo team. The young men performed various tricks, and at one point, effortlessly spun their yo-yo’s with one hand while the other was behind their backs.
Later in the evening, people were invited to fill up their plates with authentic Chinese food. Delicious spring rolls, bok choy and dumplings were served among other appetizing options.
Next to the food, people were encouraged to make Chinese paper lanterns and learn how to create different images by cutting paper.
One adjacent table held a small tree adorned with paper wishes from students for the new year. Many of the wishes included “happiness” and “good health,” while others contained fun wishes. One which said, “to eat all the food in the world and never get fat.”
Later in the evening, Chinese language professor Celia Liu had some of her students model traditional Chinese outfits in a fashion show for the audience. Students walked out in the colorful costumes from each dynasty.
The highlight of the night was not just the performances and food, but rather the gathering of students from all different cultural backgrounds coming together, something Liu was very happy with.
“Seeing students from different ethnic backgrounds taking parts in showing the Chinese cultural practices (and) the program is a sign of TCNJ students’ acceptance of culture diversity,” Liu said. “The cultural experience on campus stimulates global exchange activities. Culture exchange is a phenomenon that can be seen everywhere from our community to the world.”
Assistant Professor of Communications Yifeng Hu also enjoyed the evening and believed it was “eye-opening” for students to see how another culture celebrates a holiday.
“It’s a great opportunity to introduce the culture to American students.” Hu said.
Also in attendance was Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences Benjamin Rifkin and Center for Global Engagement Director Jon Stauff.
“The Chinese New Year celebration has evolved into a wonderful tradition at TCNJ, with students and faculty working together to introduce Chinese culture to the community, practice Chinese language skills and encourage people to learn more about China,” Stauff said.
Both Rifkin and Stauff enjoyed the event and felt it was a great way to bring the College community together. Rifkin, especially, liked the wishing tree.
“In addition to providing all members of our community a chance to experience a taste (both literally and figuratively) of a culture representing approximately 25 percent of the world’s population, the celebration of Chinese New Year is another of many opportunities for our campus community to take a moment to mindfully enjoy the present and, with a wishing tree, articulate hopes for the future,” Rifkin said.
(02/25/15 7:43pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
It was a show of dominance for the men’s swimming and diving team — grabbing the Lions’ ninth consecutive title in the three-day Metropolitan Conference Championship at Rutgers University on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 21-22.
The men’s team took the top spot with a score of 1,404, beating out Rowan University and the University of Bridgeport. The women’s team placed third overall with a score of 760.5 points.
From the start of the championship, it was evident that the men’s team was ready to own the water. In the first race, junior Joseph Dunn, senior Brian Perez, junior James Shangle and senior Brett Pederson competed in a thrilling 200-yard freestyle relay. Dunn touched the wall in the final lap of the race with a time of 1:21.30, the same time as their opponent, the University of Bridgepoint. The four teammates were able to gain the team 60 points from the race.
In the 500-yard freestyle, sophomore Ryan Gajdzisz took second place with his fastest time of the season, 4:31.00. This foreshadowed the story of the second night of the competition — the College swimmer’s taking personal bests and breaking records.
In the 100-yard butterfly, Dunn was able to post a record-breaking time of 48.72, along with his teammate, senior Aleksander Burzysnki, who broke the College’s record in the 100-yard backstroke.
Burzynski, Shangle, Dunn and Pederson opened the Saturday session with the 200-yard medley relay. The men swam for a record-breaking time of 1:29.68 — the fastest finishing time ever for the Lions in this event.
During the 200-yard freestyle, the Lions were able to overtake the leading Profs. Gajdzisz won the event with a time of 1:39.17, followed by sophomore Scott Vitabile and Pederson, with times of 1:40.21 and 1:40.60, respectively, allowing the College to sweep the top spots.
On the final day of the competition, the team continued its dominating presence with more impressive finishes that eventually led the team to win the MET Championship title.
Gajdzisz finished off his strong weekend by breaking the College’s record in the tiring 1,650-yard freestyle with a first place finishing time of 15:47.23. The record was previously held by current assistant coach Michael Caputo.
“I could not be happier for Gajdzisz,” Caputo said. “I knew when he walked in the door last year that he had something special, and what we’ve seen from him so far is just a taste of what he will accomplish throughout the rest of his career. To have a record broken is a great feeling because it indicates progress in the program, and to have a hand in that progress as a coach makes it even better. The most exciting part is to now see how much lower he can make that record for the next guy.”
Freshman Logan Barnes finished third in the event with a time of 16:06.54, and sophomore Jason Ivins followed close behind with a time of 16:08.52 to finish fourth.
In the final event, Dunn, Perez, Vitabile and Pederson raced together in the 400-yard freestyle with an NCAA provisional time of 2:59.42, which ended the winning night on high as the team celebrated their championship win.
The women came into the championship with the same determination and drive as the men’s team, which was seen throughout the weekend of competition.
Sophomore Brenna Strollo added to the already growing score for the Lions after coming in first place in the 200-yard individual medley at. Freshmen Debbie Meskin and Marta Lawler placed 11th and 12th in the same event with times of 2:08.41 and 2:13.09.
Later in the meet, Meskin and Lawler, along with senior Summer Thomas and freshman Katie Kilfeather, had a season’s best time of 4:03.54 in the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome placed seventh in the event.
By the second day of the competition, the team had reached a total of 596.5 points — the highest total among Division III teams.
In the 100-yard butterfly B-final, Meskin took the top spot with a fast time of 59.60 and took first again in the 400-yard medley B-final with a time of 4:43.96.
On the last day of the competition, the team continued to add to their score to take third place in the championship.
Strollo, Thomas and sisters freshman Emily Rothstein and junior Laura Rothstein finished third in the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:34.78, earning them enough points to keep their third place spot in the championship.
It was a full team effort, with senior Katie Reilly and junior Melissa Haley placing 13th and 14th in the 1,650-yard freestyle with finishing times of 19:05.87 and 19:26.33, respectively.
Both the men’s and women’s team showed just how hard they worked this past season with their impressive times and winning titles. The men’s team now must wait to see if any swimmers have qualified for the 2015 NCAA Championships in Shenandoah, T.X. in March.
Managing Editor Julie Kayzerman contributed to this report
(02/25/15 7:42pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
Last year, the Lions’ baseball team came into the 2014 season strong by winning 15 out of their first 20 games, which included a 10-game winning streak. They continued their success throughout the season, only to be ousted by William Patterson University in the second round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
The team is returning many key players, including junior outfielder John Rizzi. During the off-season, Rizzi won the American Baseball Coaches Association-Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his impressive defensive play. During the 2014 season, Rizzi committed only one error, while catching 108 fly balls for a field percentage of .991. Rizzi was also named to the All-NJAC First Team as an outfielder, having a career-defining season. The outfielder led the team in stolen bases with 22, ranking him second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Rizzi also led the team with 56 hits and 39 runs at the end of the season.
Senior Connor Smith will be returning to the pitchers mound and, like Rizzi, is going to be another key player on the roster. Smith earned a spot on the ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III Mid-Atlantic All Region Third Team honors. Smith ended the season 6-2 and an ERA of 2.33. He also had five complete games under his belt and pitched back-to-back shutouts against RPI and Muhlenberg College.
The lineup is still strong despite losing four seniors after last season. The Lions are returning with eight of their nine starters. The team has also gained 11 new freshmen to the roster, which will add new skills, but more importantly, a new dynamic to the team.
The College begins their season on the road against Haverford College. The last time the Lions faced Haverford was in 2012 when the College beat Haverford 7-1.
The Lions’ home opener is against Oswego State University on Sunday, March 8, at George Ackerman Park.
(02/23/15 11:17pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
If you didn’t already know how the College got its name, comedian Adam Ray made sure to tell the audience.
“It’s a college right? It’s in New Jersey? Fuck, man, College of New Jersey,” Ray said.
Once that was out of the way, Ray, who starred in the film “The Heat,” went on by opening the College Union Board’s spring comedy show. This semester’s show featured the hysterical Ray and the side-splitting humor of the “Workaholics” and “Pitch Perfect” star, Adam Devine, in Kendall Hall on Thursday, Feb. 12.
Ray continued his act by picking up a copy of The Signal and, after saying the College had a great paper, went on to read from his favorite section — Cop Shop.
“If you go to this school and don’t know what Cop Shop is, you need to get your shit together,” Ray said about the newspaper’s section that includes accounts of crime reports from the week. “It’s easily my favorite thing of 2015.”
He read aloud the beginning of the first story — adding his own sarcastic commentary as he went on. His hilarity became serious as he went on to read another report from the section.
“A pencil case with pencils was taken from an unlocked closet,” Ray read, causing the audience to burst into laughter.
Ray continued to connect to the College’s crowd by mentioning the favorite late-night spot, T-Dubs, which when mentioned later in his act, received claps from the audience.
The comedian interacted with the crowd, unafraid to ask students about their own personal experiences with drugs, in addition to recounting his own interesting experiences.
“It was also my first time talking to a Daddy-Longlegs about Global Warming,” Ray said, referring to the first time he tried shrooms.
Alongside the discussion about drugs, Ray sprinkled various topics throughout his performance with which college students could relate, including sex, Facebook, dating and relationships. He even pointed out a couple in the front row and asked them about their relationship, and how long they’ve been together.
After finishing up his last joke about a man walking in on him while he went to the bathroom, Ray introduced headliner Devine, who received a large cheer from the audience as he walked out to the “Workaholics” theme song.
Before starting, he was surprised when he noticed two photographers on the sides of the stage snapping pictures.
“They’re hitting me from all sides,” Devine said. He then went on to pretend like he was “crushing” his performance. Devine began to strike a number of poses — ending up on the floor at one point and causing the crowd to break out in a roaring applause.
Devine had a feeling that the night’s show was going to be a good one from the “vibes” he was getting from the already hysterical crowd of students.
“We’re going to have fun tonight, I feel it,” Devine said. “Good vibes in here, guys.”
The audience did seem to be enjoying themselves, as people couldn’t help but double over in their seats from laughing so hard.
Devine, especially, had the audience laughing when he recounted the time he was first recognized by someone while stopped at a stoplight. The man was crossing the street, stopped and said a famous “Workaholic” line to Devine. In return, Devine threw a “double-backwards peace sign.”
“That is the ultimate douchey move,” Devine said about throwing up the peace sign. “I just immediately turned into Bieber or something.”
Devine was very animated throughout the entire show, taking advantage of the whole stage. He shared how, as an 8-year-old child, he would run around his house with a cape because he was into magic.
Devine talked about his family, particularly his parents, throughout his performance. In an interview with The Signal, Devine said that he was definitely influenced by growing up in the environment he was provided, which included plenty of jokes involving his family.
“My dad’s super funny, my uncles are funny and my mom thinks she’s really funny,” Devine said. He continued on to explain how sweet his mom is, but that for his comedy, he “took all their bad qualities,” which he said with a laugh.
Throughout the show, Devine mentioned some of the different shows and movies he’s been involved in, such as “Workaholics,” “Modern Family” and “Pitch Perfect.” What some people might not have known about Devine is that he had once auditioned for the late-night sketch comedy show, “Saturday Night Live.” When Devine mentioned the audition, people cheered him on.
“Give it up for my audition everybody,” Devine said. “Yeah, give it up for that job that I did not secure.”
Devine was not prepared to do impressions and demonstrated how he poorly impersonated Paul McCartney in front of producer Lorne Michaels, a fan of the British band.
Along with pointing out his failed audition, Devine made fun of his own jokes by occasionally saying things like “so stupid” or “that’s dumb,” at one point saying that there should be a T-shirt with his “big dumb face” on it and underneath should read “stupid.”
At the end of the show, Devine talked about one of his “Workaholics” co-stars and real-life friend, Blake Anderson, and how Anderson would steal his orange juice on set.
When asked about what it was like working with his friends on “Workaholics” in an interview with The Signal, Devine explained about how great it really is and how lucky he is to be working with some of his best friends.
“Luckily, we don’t have to be that serious on the show,” Devine said. “And it’s so much fun. Those guys are my best friends, and it’s cool that we have the opportunity to work together.”
(01/30/15 12:15am)
By Jessica Ganga
Nation & World Editor
Last week, the College’s swimming and diving teams added wins to their already successful seasons. The men’s team won two in a row, while the women’s team took home one win. Both teams continued to dominate in the water and show off the hard work they’ve put into the season.
On Monday, Jan. 19, the men’s swimming and diving team competed against Stevens Institute of Technology and came out strong in the first event — the men’s 200-yard medley relay. Senior Aleksander Burzysnski, juniors James Shangle, Joseph Dunn and sophomore Andrew Nesbitt swam to a winning time of 1:34.20.
Shangle had a great night, placing first in the two other events he competed in — the men’s 100 and 200-yard breaststroke. Shangle posted impressive times of 58.79 and 2:11.66, respectively.
Dunn also swam for two wins in the men’s 50-yard freestyle and the men’s 100-yard butterfly with first place times of 21.32 and 50.90, respectively.
Sophomore Ryan Gajdzisz added points to the 150-110 victory over Stevens. Gajdzisz touched the wall at 1:42.59 in the men’s 200-yard freestyle. Later in the meet, Gajdzisz topped the field again with a winning time of 4:42.22 in the men’s 500-yard freestyle.
The men’s team ended another successful meet with Dunn, Gajdzisz, sophomore Scott Vitabile and senior Brett Pederson winning the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:07.97.
Although the women’s swimming and diving team did not have the same success, they still posted great times, showing that the women always work hard for a win. Not only do these women train hard for meets, but their support for each other during races is what helps them jet through the waters.
“During meets, we are always cheering one another on,” sophomore Brenna Strollo said. “(We) like to make our goals known for each race, that way our teammates can be a part of our success.”
Strollo competed in the women’s 50-yard freestyle and won a close race — just touching the wall at 25.45. Strollo also competed in the 200-yard medley relay with teammates freshmen Katie Kilfeather, Ali Huber and Marta Lawler where they placed as runner-ups with a time of 1:54.48.
Huber was in the water again at the end of the meet alongside senior Summer Thomas, junior Lauren Rothstein and freshman Emily Rothstein, all competing in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay. The winning foursome posted a time of 3:42.08 with Thomas clinching the win in the final leg of the race.
Jennifer Harnett, the coach for the women’s team, commented on the race saying that she “was happy with how everyone swam” and that the meet allowed for some teammates who had been previously injured to be worked back into the lineup.
“Our focus is on Rowan,” Harnett said. The team would go on to have a day-and-night performance against Rowan University on Saturday, Jan. 24.
The team was able to take nine events and both of the relay races. Thomas had a successful night, winning three individual events. Thomas posted a time of 10:58.06 in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle, beating her competitor by about a minute. Thomas came in first again in the women’s 200-yard freestyle, posting a time of 1:58.46, and then continued the streak by winning the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:1.90.
Every contribution counted and helped the team finish their dominating, 188-100 win over Rowan.
“It wasn’t just about the first place finishes,” Harnett said. “The third, fourth and fifth places were just as important.”
Strollo and Kilfeather both went one and two in the 100-yard backstroke. Strollo clocked in a time of 1:00.37 and Kilfeather followed behind with a time of 1:02.05.
The men’s team also won 155.5-138.5 against Rowan with, once again, impressive performances from every corner of the lineup.
The Lions swept the top three spots in the men’s 200-yard IM led by Gajdzisz with a time of 1:50.90 followed by sophomore Jin Roh and freshman Chris O’Sullivan with times of 1:58.16 and 1:59.26, respectively.
Gajdzisz also won two of his individual events, touching the wall first in the men’s 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:50.06. He was in the water again — winning the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:41.71.
With these successful meets, the teams and their coaches have their eyes set on the Metropolitan Conference Championships and NCAA championships.
“We use the METRO championships as our opportunity to qualify for the NCAA championships,” men’s swimming coach Brian Bishop said. “Our goal is to win the conference, qualify as many swimmers as possible for NCAA’s and place in the top five at the NCAA championships.”
(12/01/14 9:02pm)
It was a tough weekend for both the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. The teams fell to New York University on Saturday, Nov. 15, making it the men’s first loss of the season and the women’s second loss in a row.
But, even with the women’s team afflicted by illness and injury, causing changes in the roster, the women still fought hard against a strong NYU. The men’s team equally proved that they wouldn’t give up, even though they couldn’t get the win.
The men’s team came out of the water strong in the beginning of its meet by opening up with an 11-point victory. In the men’s first event — the 200-yard medley relay — seniors Alexsander Burzynski and Brett Pederson, alongside juniors James Shangle and Joseph Dunn, just barely beat out the NYU swimmers, touching the wall at 1:34.96, only 0.24 seconds ahead of their competition.
Pederson and Dunn were able to help their team win the men’s 400-yard freestyle relay at the end of the meet, this time swimming with sophomore Andrew Nesbitt and senior Brian Perez. The men started out just behind the NYU swimmers at the beginning of the race, but with a burst of energy, they were able to outswim the Violets and take the top spot in the event.
Even with the loss, the men still were able to post impressive numbers and swim at their best. In the men’s 200-yard freestyle, Nesbitt swam at a time of 1:43.90 — touching the wall two seconds ahead of his NYU competitor. The Lions were able to go one and two in this event, with sophomore Scott Vitabile coming in one second behind his teammate to take second place.
The men were able to take first in two more events and improve upon previous times in the men’s 100-yard backstroke and men’s 100-yard breaststroke. Shangle, who has been impressive all season, was able to beat his time from the last meet in the 100-yard breaststroke. He swam at a time of 57.74, beating his previous time of 58.43.
Sophomore Jin Roh was also able to beat his previous time and was even able to move up a spot in the 100-yard backstroke. In his last meet, Roh took second place with a time of 53.71. Against NYU, Roh took first place with a time of 52.85, beating the second place NYU swimmer by 0.05 seconds.
The women’s team was unable to take the win against NYU and only took first place in four of their events, but like the men, still swam strong. Some of the freshman rookies were able to help the team post some winning numbers, showing that they are a vital part to the team.
In the women’s 100-yard butterfly, the College went one, two and three, coming in just seconds behind one another. Freshman Debbie Meskin swam at a time of 1:05.42 — helping her team gain nine more points to its total. Junior Noelle DeLusant touched the wall one second after Meskin, followed by freshman Tatiana Greiner — both posting times of 1:06.61 and 1:06.91, respectively.
Freshman swimmers Ali Huber and Emily Rothstein — alongside senior Summer Thomas and junior Lauren Rothstein — were able to finish out the night by working together to put up an impressive time of 3:43.99 in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay. The women were able to end the night on a high note, yet fell 194-98 to the imposing NYU team.
Both the men’s and women’s team have a chance to redeem themselves when the College hosts its annual, three-day invitational from Friday, Dec. 5, through Sunday, Dec. 7.
(11/16/14 3:03am)
Last weekend, the College’s club sport fencing team took part in the 35th Annual Temple Open Fencing Tournament — the largest individual collegiate fencing tournament in the nation. The team sent three fencers, including junior and club president Joanna Felsenstein. Competing on Saturday, Nov. 1, and Sunday, Nov. 2, the fencers were able to come out of the tournament with personal success.
“For me, after competing last year, I felt that I needed to improve and place higher, as I did,” said Felsenstein, who was able to improve from last year’s tournament. Last year, she placed 38th out of 86 fencers. This year, she placed 29th out of 92 épée fencers.
The men’s fencers — sophomore Scott Eckert and freshman Alex Heinrich — did a decent job, according to Felsenstein, placing 46th out of 92 sabre fencers and 54th out of 83 foil fencers, respectively.
Even though the men’s results for the tournament weren’t what they hoped for, the experience of competing in the tournament was “quite positive for the fencers,” and it was a “good learning experience,” according to Felsenstein.
She explained that the club fencing team is a small group on campus. The teams that competed in the tournament were well-funded varsity teams that have practice every day alongside a full coaching staff.
“If you take how we each did overall, by people from club teams only, then all of us did very well,” Felsenstein said, showing pride for her teammates.
Felsenstein, along with her own improvement from the year before, had a large comeback that was as unusual as it was flattering.
Felsenstein, while in her first, intense round of Direct Elimination (DE), faced a fencer from New York University’s varsity fencing team. During her first three-minute period, and with about a minute left, she was down 0-5 — by the end of first period, she was down 2-5. The fencers were given a break, and during this time, Felsenstein had a moment of encouragement from her coach.
“I had some Gatorade and a talk with my coach, and then began the second period of three minutes,” Felsenstein said. During this period, she gained seven touches while her competitor only gained three, putting Felsenstein in the lead, 9-8. Finally, during her last three-minute period, she was able to win 15-10, making it one of her biggest comebacks.
Like Felsenstein, the team is full of hardworking fencers. They practice three days a week in the Decker Hall Main Lounge with two-hour practices. Felsenstein, as president and leader of the club, doesn’t get as much practice time, though. To prepare for the tournament, she practiced at the Bucks County Academy of Fencing — a fencing club nearby — for two Friday evenings in a row. A volunteer coach, Jonathan Seidel, coaches the team and leads its drills and stretches.
The dedicated club team was officially funded by the Student Finance Board and recognized by Student Government in 2010 — three years after the club got started. At that time, the club had 40 active members. During the fall 2012 semester, then-freshman Felsenstein was given her current leadership position and the sporting equipment. Felsenstein was able to recruit new members, fix equipment and find a place for the team to practice during the following semester.
The club is excited that its presence has grown on campus, and with the success it had during the tournament, the team has a lot to look forward to in the future.
(11/06/14 3:01am)
The College’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams headed up to Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, C.T., on Saturday, Nov. 1. The men’s team added another win to the growing streak of 3-0, while the women’s team suffered a close loss bringing its record to 2-1. Both teams fought hard against the Division II swimming teams and, despite the women’s loss, had another commanding performance.
The men’s team, once again, came out strong in its first event of the meet, with contributions coming from the whole roster. Junior James Shangle — who had a successful night in the water — helped set the tone of the night in the men’s 200-yard medley relay. Along with senior Aleksander Burzinski, sophomore Jin Roh and senior Brett Pederson, the four men were able to post a winning time of 1:34.96.
Shangle went on to win three more individual events in the meet — the men’s 100-yard breaststroke, men’s 200-yard breaststroke and men’s 200-yard IM. In the men’s 100-yard breaststroke, Shangle posted an impressive time of 58.43, showing that he came into this meet to compete. He dominated the men’s 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:09.79, eight seconds ahead of his teammate, freshman Chris O’Sullivan, who took second with a time of 2:17.67. Shangle finished out his night by posting another winning time of 1:57.94 in the men’s 200-yard IM.
Shangle wasn’t the only one putting up amazing numbers — the swimmers competed at their best to help the team leave with the win.
The men came out strong in the men’s 100-yard freestyle by taking all the top spots. Senior Brett Pederson, sophomore Andrew Nesbitt and senior Brian Perez all came in close at the end with winning times of 47.02, 47.67 and 48.64, respectively.
The always exciting, 50-yard freestyle was another very close win. Pederson put up a fast time of 21.58, reaching the end just one second before his SCSU competitor.
In the men’s 200-yard freestyle, Nesbitt tied with his SCSU opponent — both touching the wall at 1:45.07. The race was very close, with Andrew being ahead of the swimmer by one second when he posted his first time at 1:18.92, but in the end, both swam their hardest for the first place spot and ended up tying.
Not only did SCSU present a challenge to the men’s team, but the women had some close races, as well.
Sophomore Brenna Strollo — who has been having a strong season so far — won the women’s 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:01.90, just about one second before her SCSU competitor.
In the women’s 100-yard butterfly, Strollo once again proved that this is a sport of merely seconds, beating the second place SCSU swimmer by one second with a time of 1:01.93.
The edge-of-your-seat races continued with junior Lauren Rothstein taking a close second in the women’s 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.49.
Rothstein was able to help her teammates take first in the women’s 400-yard freestyle relay. She swam alongside freshman Ali Huber, senior Summer Thomas and her younger sister, freshman Emily Rothstein.
The women crushed SCSU and dominated the water throughout the entire race, posting a final time of 3:42.54. The race was the best way to end the night for the women, who only lost to SCSU 149.5-144.5, continuing the theme of the night of narrow margin wins.
The teams will have about two weeks off, giving both teams enough time to prepare themselves — both physically and mentally — for their next meet against New York University on Saturday, Nov. 15, in the College’s Aquatic Center where they look to continue the impressive success.
(11/06/14 2:47am)
By Jess Ganga
Social Media Editor
We all share a common enemy. We walk by it without knowing. It’s in everyone’s home, in stores and at school, and it’s unavoidable. It’s a silent threat and brings down our spirits without saying any words. When people look into a mirror — the enemy — they pick themselves apart, and every flaw is magnified. No one is perfect — I’ll be the first to admit I’m nowhere near it — but many individuals feel the need to join forces with that enemy and bring themselves down.
Today, eating disorders and body image problems are becoming more common among young people and adults alike. It’s hard not to point fingers at reasons that cause people to feel badly about themselves.
One finger should point to the media and the images it portrays. Picking up a magazine and flipping through, you can see picture after picture of skinny celebrities and scarily thin models. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders website, 69 percent of girls in fifth through 12th grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape. For girls at such a young age, this is shocking.
It’s not just magazines, but what’s on our television screens that affects how we view ourselves, too. During cycle 15 of the reality show “America’s Next Top Model,” one of the contestants was known for not only being 6’2” but also having a very tiny waste. During her audition, one of the judges wrapped his fingers around her waist to show just how thin she was. In 2010, ABC News reported on the episode because it did not go over well with many people. In the story, model and show host Tyra Banks clarified her excitement of seeing Ward’s waist. She stated that she regretted what she had seen in that scene and that she’s “a leader in celebrating and promoting” healthy body images.
This and many other examples cause women to face the mirror and wonder if how they look is the “correct” way to be. It’s a prevalent issue among college students.
According to the ANAD website, 91 percent of women surveyed on a college campus had attempted to control their weight through dieting. In a survey of 185 female students, 58 percent felt the pressure to be a certain weight and 83 percent dieted to lose weight to try to achieve that “perfect” number.
Another finger can be pointed at social media. In an article written for the BBC News website, social media has had an effect on body image. According to the article, the use of social media adds pressure to people wanting to look good for their 500+ friends on Facebook and Instagram.
It’s not only friends on social media that have an effect on how we view ourselves, but also the people around us.
In conversation with friends, I often hear about how a person doesn’t like something about themselves. Naturally, once one person says they hate something about themselves, you have to be a “good friend” and point out the latest part of your body you hate.
So what’s the best way to beat the negativity and turn our “imperfections” to perfections? Positivity. On the website for the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), the organization provides ten steps a person could do to have a positive body image. Some of the steps include keeping a top-10 list of things you like about yourself and surrounding yourself with positive people.
It’s hard to tell yourself what you like about yourself, but with steps like this and as much positivity we can accumulate, we can defeat the common enemy and change it into our friend.
(10/31/14 12:23am)
The College’s swimming and diving team increased its winning record to 2-0 with a thrilling win against Montclair State University in the home opener on Friday, Oct. 24. The Packer Hall swimming pool was surrounded by family and friends who came to support and watch every dominating performance by both the men’s and women’s teams.
The men’s team came out strong by winning its first event, the 200-yard medley relay. Senior Aleksander Burzynski, junior James Shangle, junior Joseph Dunn and senior Brian Perez swam to a winning time of 1:35.57.
The men went one, two and three with sophomore Ryan Gajdzdisz touching the wall at a time of 10:08.5. Freshman Logan Barnes and sophomore Jason Ivins had equally impressive times of 10:18.06 and 10:22.91, respectively. The swimmers all began very close, but by the third lap, some of the men started breaking away from the pack, and in the end, the Lions came out on top.
The men’s team was able to sweep four more events — men’s 200-yard freestyle, men’s 100-yard backstroke, men’s 100-yard breaststroke and men’s 50-yard freestyle. In the men’s exhilarating 50-yard freestyle, Dunn put up a jaw-dropping time of 21.01 — a time that almost beat the current record set at 20.22 by assistant coach Adam Schneider.
As the swimmers took to the pool to race, the dynamic team relationship among the men was clear. During the men’s 200-yard freestyle, the men’s teammates were all on their feet, some on the bleachers, to watch their teammates glide effortlessly through the water and take the win.
The women’s team also wielded that close dynamic. During the women’s 100-yard backstroke, teammates could be heard yelling, “go, go, go” as sophomore Brenna Strollo finished with a winning time of 1:00.83 — beating her previous time of 1:02.06 from their last meet. The women, like the men, swept the top spots. Freshman Katie Kilfeather and freshman Jill Galindo had times of 1:03.53 and 1:04.47, respectively.
Strollo, once again, had another successful meet, coming in first in three out of four of her events — the women’s 200-yard IM at 2:16.45 and the women’s 200-yard medley relay along with teammates Brennah Ross, Marta Lawler and Lauren Rothstein.
“All my mental preparation comes from practice,” Strollo said about her preparation for meets. “No thinking goes on during a meet.”
The swimmers all looked focused before stepping onto the platform. Some could be seen stretching and preparing their muscles for the intense work about to be put in. Others chose to drown out the noise of the meet with their headphones.
Whatever they chose to do, it seemed to work. Like the men, the women’s team had many exciting wins and swam with ease.
In the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle, MSU was dominating the pool with a strong start. Toward the end of the long event, the women’s team started catching up. It was a close win, but freshman Ali Huber was able to take the top spot — with a time of 11:40.55 — only five seconds before MSU’s second-place swimmer.
The freshmen swimmers came to compete and are blending right in with the rest of the team, as well.
“The team has been amazing,” freshman Cassidy Bergeron said. “I just love it!”
Bergeron explained that although it has been tough adjusting to both college and the team, her teammates are all there to be supportive.
Coach Jennifer Hartnett spoke about how the new swimmers came in with a great attitude, and that they were all on board with the goals of the season.
“I’m so impressed with how they stepped up already,” Hartnett said, explaining that most freshmen take about a semester to get used to the team, but this group started fitting in early in the semester.
With this and last week’s win, Hartnett is ready to see what the rest of the season has to offer and has a lot of faith in her strong team.
“I’m really excited about where we’re at right now,” Hartnett said. “I’m excited to see how we do as the year continues.”
(10/22/14 10:17pm)
By Jess Ganga
Social Media Editor
It was a night filled with funny stories, emotional moments and dramatic microphone dropping during PRISM’s annual Coming Out Monologues. Students and peers filled the Library Auditorium to hear some of the club’s members and others share their own coming-out stories on Wednesday, Oct. 8, and Thursday, Oct. 9.
“(I have an) immense sense of pride for TCNJ students,” said Megan Osika, senior English, secondary education and women’s and gender studies triple major and president of PRISM, about seeing her fellow members on stage.
Watching from the audience, everyone felt that same sense of pride, witnessing poignant and powerful moments of fellow students opening up about difficult times in their lives.
A junior Spanish and secondary education double major, spoke about the difficulties of coming out to both his parents. In the end, however, the junior knew his parents, especially his father, would “love him no matter what.” He considers his parents to be his best friends.
Many of the monologues centered on family and the emotions that came with coming-out to their parents and siblings. Verbal abuse and sexual abuse were also focal points across several stories, silencing an audience rapt in empathy.
In a monologue by junior sociology and women’s and gender studies double major Tommi-Estefan Granados, he initially began with laughter, telling the audience the things everyone needed to know about him.
“I’m such a macho man,” Granados said to a charmed audience. But soon after, his monologue became emotional, delving into his experiences this past summer when confrontation erupted between him and his family at his brother’s wedding.
The auditorium was silent as he spoke about how he no longer lives with his family and the difficulties of leaving home, even though it was the right thing for him to do. But even with so much hardship, Granados was able to proudly say, “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been.”
Many of the monologues, moreover, were linked by their appreciation for the home the College has provided.
Jordan Stefanski, a junior nursing major, said he knew the College was where he should attend school after visiting and seeing the giant Queer Awareness Month banner in the Student Center. He took a picture of it, then posted it to Facebook with the triumphant caption: “I’m home.”
Although emotional at times, the night was still full of good spirit and humor.
“I’m a large teddy bear of a homosexual,” Stefanski said of himself at the beginning of his monologue. He explained how in high school, he started his school’s Gay-Straight Alliance to give people a place to go.
“I was like the FDR of the gays,” he said.
The junior Spanish and secondary education double major had many laughs throughout, as well. He adores his family, emphasizing how his little sister, his “little angel,” is someone with whom he can look at couture wedding gowns.
Ryan Eldridge, the event coordinator and sophomore political science and women’s and gender studies double major, closed out the night with his own coming-out monologue.
Eldridge’s story, as he described, was not an emotional one, but one that still affected him deeply. He said that being a part of PRISM has helped him the most.
“(It’s) absolutely indescribable to be able to facilitate an advocacy event, which helped me so much when I was a freshman just last year,” Eldridge said, proud to have helped put together the event and watch his friends and fellow PRISM members speak in front of so many people.
The floor was then opened up for audience members who wanted to share their own stories, inspired by those who spoke before them. And, in response, some viewers bravely stepped up to share what they have gone through in their lives.
The monologues were mutually inspiring to those who are a part of the LGBTQ community and to those who aren’t, creating a community that supports one another and allows its members to personally grow.
“Growth is a fantastic thing,” Stefanski said, walking to the front of the stage in a pair of black pumps. “And as long as I can do it in my four inch 17W heels, I’m going to look damn good while doing it.”
(10/22/14 9:49pm)
As TCNJ Crew prepared for the race of a lifetime, every practice was just as valuable as the last. All the hard work and preparation was worth it as the team competed in the largest race in the world — the Head of Charles Regatta in Boston, M.A. — this past weekend.
“We’ve put in a lot of hard work this semester, and we’re certainly excited to see it all pay off,” President Mike Baumann said about the team’s preparation for the challenging race.
According to Baumann, even though the team didn’t have a considerable change in mentality, they were fully aware of how important each practice on the water was. One change Baumann noted was the team’s shift to self-coaching when its head coach, Alison Pollini, “drastically” reduced her time coaching due to career commitments. In her place, varsity members stepped up by leading water practices and coaching the rowers.
But even with a slight change, the team was still able to perform even better on the water.
“There has certainly been a learning curve these past few months, but we’ve been able to maintain and even improve upon our abilities in spite of such an obstacle,” Baumann said, confident his team had improved after weeks of practice.
Although conscientious, the members were able to maintain their close-knit family atmosphere while becoming even closer. Baumann explained that the team came together with one common goal in mind: “to produce the best, fastest boats possible.”
But even with confidence come nerves. The pre-race nervousness mixed with excitement Baumann described was understandable: The Head of Charles Regatta was both the longest course that the team ever rowed and boasted the toughest competitors they’ve ever been pitted against.
The race was a three-mile-long course along the Charles River, which twists and winds between Boston and Cambridge. Beginning with a staggered start, boat after boat race neck and neck, trying to avoid being hit by an oar or hitting the sides of one of the six bridges under which they must maneuver.
Baumann, who is the coxswain for the men’s boat, said the course was “very much a coxswains race.” Baumann and the women’s boat coxswain, sophomore Angelyn Cabrales, were responsible for motivating the rowers throughout the race while also remaining aware of their surroundings. The Charles is known for many collisions and clashes between boats, as well.
Though arduous, Baumann shared that “it was the most terrifying, intense and fun rowing event I have ever been a part of,” and that it was “thrilling to have a good, clean race.”
The team was also able to share the many amazing moments of the competition with family, friends and alumni. The support was seen not only at the race but through the many donations made by the club’s supporters.
A fundraiser was created to help pay for the trip up to Boston and for the event itself. Since crew is a club team, they work hard to raise as much money as they can. Baumann was amazed at all the support by friends, family and rowing fans.
Unfortunately, the team was not able to qualify for next year’s event automatically, but the experience was one that will never be forgotten.
The members got a chance to see elite and Olympic rowers compete — something that Baumann believes will motivate the team.
“It was certainly humbling to see all the talent that exists out there in this sport, and it gives the team something to strive for in the coming years.” Baumann said. “Simply being able to row in this race was a privilege for us.”
(09/23/14 3:41pm)
By Jessica Ganga
Social Media Editor
Where is the line drawn in fashion between making a statement and tastelessness? Once again, Urban Outfitters decides to push the limits with what they deem "hipster and stylish" clothing.
Last week, the clothing company began selling a Kent State sweatshirt for $129 as part of a new line of vintage college apparel.
“Get it or regret it!” read the description for the sweatshirt on the company’s website. If someone scrolling online through this section of Urban Outfitters saw the sweatshirt, they would think it was just some faded, dyed piece of clothing. Look closer. After seeing the sweatshirt, people began to notice that the red splotches and holes on the sweatshirt look a little like bloodstains and bullet holes. So what’s the problem? Think back to the ’70s.
On May 4, 1970, four students were killed and nine others were wounded at the Kent State University campus while protesting the Vietnam War. The students were shot by the Ohio National Guard unit that was sent to the university after protests broke out.
People took to Twitter and other forms of social media to express their outrage at what Urban Outfitters was selling. With comments like “bad taste” and people insisting the store should be boycotted, it was quite obvious that the sweatshirt was not getting the reception that the store thought it would.
Which brings up the question: Why? Why would Urban Outfitters decide to sell something that blatantly references a devastating massacre? There is nothing “fashionable” about this sweatshirt. It’s just insensitive. Period.
Urban Outfitters did issue an apology (well, what the company considered to be one). Part of the statement claimed that, “it was never (Urban Outfitters’) intention to allude to the tragic events that took place at Kent State” and that they “deeply regret that this item was perceived negatively.” Basically, they are sorry that people assumed they were referring to the Kent State shootings, but they are not sorry they created this product. They go on in the “apology” to explain that the holes are due to fraying over time and the red stains are simply due to discoloration.
Kent State’s school colors are not even red, though. The university has always represented itself with gold and navy blue, so where is the explanation for the sweatshirt being the wrong color?
Perhaps an even stronger piece of evidence that points to Urban Outfitters purposely producing a shirt in connection to the massacres is the location of the holes and “discolorations” on the sweatshirt.
Ironically, a student named William Knox Schroeder was attending Kent State on an ROTC scholarship when he was caught in the barrage of bullets on the day of the massacre. However, Schroeder wasn’t even in the protest — he was simply walking to class. Schroeder was murdered by the Ohio National Guard by a bullet entering his left shoulder and exiting his chest — the same location as the apparent blood spatter and bullet holes in the sweatshirt.
It is clear that the company is trying to save face by fabricating excuses and refusing to apologize to the many people that were offended by the shirt.
What’s even more upsetting is that this isn’t Urban Outfitters’s first time selling morally-questionable clothing. In 2010, the store pulled a controversial V-neck T-shirt off its website with the phrase “Eat Less” scrawled on the front, modeled by a rail-thin girl. People were outraged that the store would promote eating disorders, a serious disease from which many suffer. Another controversial piece of clothing was a crop-top with the word “depression” written along the top. Once again, people could not understand why the store would commercialize a mental health issue.
There have been many other controversies surrounding this store, which begs the question: When does it stop? There is pushing the limits and then there is going too far. Why continue, especially since the store does have many items of clothing that don’t offend anyone? There are many ways to market clothing, but commercializing tragic, historical events is definitely not one of them.
(09/09/14 3:39am)
By Jessica Ganga
Social Media Editor
Move over, One Direction, and make way for the newest band to land on the U.S. charts. 5 Seconds of Summer (referred to as 5SOS by fans) is an upcoming young band from Sydney, Australia that has captured the hearts of millions of teenage girls.
The boys got their start when lead singer, Luke Hemmings, began posting covers of songs on YouTube. His friends and now bandmates — bassist Calum Hood and guitarist Michael Clifford — eventually joined him. Once drummer Ashton Irwin joined the group, they began playing small gigs in the Sydney area.
Their YouTube videos attracted the attention of One Direction bandmates Louis Tomlinson and Niall Horan, who were huge fans. 5SOS rose to international fame after embarking on One Direction’s “Take Me Home Tour” in 2013, and this past summer, they toured with One Direction again for their “Where We Are Tour.”
Their first album, “5 Seconds of Summer,” was released in July of 2014 in the U.S. and hit number one on the Billboard 200 chart after the first week of sales. If you pick up the album and give it a listen, you’ll understand why these boys aren’t just popular for their good looks. They’re a talented group that plays their own instruments. Don’t let the fact that they’ve toured with One Direction stop you from giving their music a try.
With influences like famous punk bands Blink 182 and Green Day, you can already get a feel for how each track may sound. But if you’re expecting to hear songs like “All the Small Things” and “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” you may be disappointed. The boys are able to put a young spin on the pop-punk genre, making their music more relatable for the younger audience while still attracting the older fans with their punk background.
“She Looks So Perfect” is the band’s hit single off the album, breaking the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. It’s a fun, energetic song that you will definitely have on repeat once you start listening to it. The song is sprinkled with catchy lyrics, such as when Hemmings sings in the chorus, “You look so perfect standing there / in my American Apparel underwear.” (Queue screaming girls everywhere.)
“Amnesia” is another well-known song off the album — a little different but equally lovable. The boys trade in their electric guitars for acoustics, giving it a different sound but with the same level of emotion. If you missed the MTV Video Music Awards this year, the band performed the song live, and it’s definitely a performance to see.
I’m also a fan of some of the group’s lesser-known songs like “18” and “End Up Here.” “18” is one of the songs off the album where you can hear the similarities between the band and their musical influences. Again, it’s no classic Green Day song, but like “She Look So Perfect,” the lyrics are fun and geared toward teens. “End Up Here” is, in my opinion, the song in which you can hear the most overt pop-punk influences and a moment where Hemmings’s vocal talent truly shines.
5SOS has a successful future ahead of them, and if their albums to come are anything like this one, they may be sticking around for a while.
(10/08/13 5:12pm)
An audience of peers, friends and relatives in Mayo Concert Hall eagerly awaited the recital led by students on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
The Music Department’s Afternoon Recital Series showcases the talents of students throughout the semester, with this installment including performances by Joseph Pagani, Nicole DiBenedetto, Kyle Sheehan, Austin Barney and Daniel P. Malloy Jr.
As Pagani, the first performer, stepped onto the stage next to his harp, the room burst with applause for the start of the show.
Pagani opened the recital with “Sonatina for Harp” by Sergio Natra. With graceful sweeps along the strings, Pagani entranced the audience with delicate notes as he played.
Next to perform was DiBenedetto, whose oboe playing was equally as beautiful. Accompanied by Kathy Shanklin on piano, she enveloped the audience with the playing of “Sonata for Oboe and Piano” by Camille Saint-Saëns. Each breath that she took allowed for a string of notes keeping the audience fixated on her performance.
Regardless of her emotions before appearing on stage, performers like DiBenedetto have their own way of getting past being nervous. When asked about how she tackles her nerves, DiBenedetto said,“(I) take a few deep breaths, walk on stage and there I am.”
The audience was given a change when Sheehan stepped out with his instrument: his voice. Singing Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Kuda, Kuda vy udalilis (Lenski’s Aria),” Sheehan pulled everyone into his performance as he held a hand out to the audience and matched the power and emotion of the song with vivid facial expressions.
“You have to really, completely put yourself in the piece,” Sheehan said. “(You have to) get completely engrossed.”
From one powerful performance to another, Barney performed a rendition of “Concerto for Trombone” by Gordon Jacob. The range of notes Barney struck were effortlessly played — it was hard to take your eyes off the trombone slide, and the song ended beautifully with Shankin’s quick flick of the hand on the piano.
Finally, Malloy took his place on stage, and like Sheehan, used his voice as his instrument. As he sang “Se vuol ballare,” an Italian song from “Le nozze de Figaro” by Mozart, and was accompanied by Sally Livingston on piano, he told a story with his voice. His steady eye contact captivated the audience, leaving them hanging onto every note as he sang. By the song’s end, a small smile spread across his face — a sure sign of a good performance.
The recital series is something that should not be missed, at the least for the amazing talent and hard work of the performers. For freshman music education major Russell Teller, it is much more than that.
“It’s a good representation that music is the best thing we have as people,” he said.