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(02/06/08 12:00pm)
The Garden State Student Alliance (GSSA), an association of student trustees from New Jersey public colleges and universities, created a petition to be sent to the State House regarding the restoration of funding for higher education.
The petition - which has received 640 signatures from students at the College and over 500 signatures from students at Ramapo College and at Rowan University - is intended to call the attention of state governing bodies to both the effects of the sustained cuts made to the 2006 state fiscal budget and students' rights to an affordable education, according to Jenna Klubnick, student trustee at the College.
According to Alexander Habib, student trustee from Rowan University and GSSA president, the petition is intended to achieve "more directed attention toward student needs in higher education."
"This petition puts the students' voice on paper," Habib said. "We're saying we have a right to an accessible and an affordable education . and nothing should get in the way of that," he added.
Klubnick said the success of the petition is contingent on the activism and political interest of students across the state.
"(Student apathy) is the biggest problem we face because (New Jersey government officials) like to appease the senior citizens because they come out in droves whenever there's an election. But unfortunately, (students) have the lowest amount registered and we have the lowest turnout too," she said.
Klubnick speculated that students aren't aware of the severity of the problem posed by budget cuts. "I think for the most part, students don't understand the really serious situation that the state and the College are in," she said. "I wish I could force students to care. Unfortunately, I can't. I think that as students of the state, we all have a common interest."
To combat low student-voter turnout, the Legal & Governmental Affairs Committee of the Student Government Association (SGA) has been conducting an ongoing voter registration and absentee ballot application drive.
One of the primary concerns addressed in the petition is the affordability of higher education within the state. The 2006 budget cuts eliminated funding for merit-based financial aid programs, including the Outstanding Scholar Recruitment Program (OSRP), forcing colleges and universities to honor scholarship commitments prior to 2006 out of pocket.
Habib said this has caused many students to incur massive debts from student loans in order to pay for their educations. He also said the lack of merit-based scholarships is driving New Jersey students out of state for their higher education.
"The issue of cost is getting so much worse, year by year, that students are actually getting forced to turn away an application," Habib said.
State Senate Majority Leader Steve Sweeney, D-District 3, said the cost of higher education was a concern among Senate Democrats. "I recognize the cost of higher education and how it's continuing to grow," Sweeney said, noting that he has a college-bound son himself. "We need to provide more seats for our kids that live in New Jersey . That troubles me more than anything. It's harder and harder for kids to get into our state universities," he added.
Sweeney said he did not think budget cuts have impacted the quality of higher education because institutions have increased their cost of attendance. "It's becoming an affordability issue," he said.
According to Dan Scapardine, SGA vice president of Legal & Governmental Affairs, SGA members from the College are at the forefront of lobbying efforts with the state. "We probably have the most experience, lobbying-wise, than the other schools," Scapardine said.
Mike Peters, senator of Culture and Society, is serving as the co-chairman of lobbying efforts. "There is an interest among representatives in Trenton to meet with students to discuss higher education," Peters said.
Throughout his lobbying efforts, Peters said he has demonstrated the problems posed by budget cuts.
"New Jersey has the highest out-migration of students," Peters said. "More than half of the students that graduate high school go out of state."
"A lot of students I've talked to were shocked to know how many students left the state," Peters said.
In addition to its lobbying efforts, Scapardine said his committee is working on an electronic letter generator that will allow students to directly e-mail their senators or assemblymen.
(01/30/08 12:00pm)
The 24-hour security desks in the Travers and Wolfe dormitories, which were controlled by the private security firm U.S. Security Associates Inc., were removed as of Jan. 21.
The announcement of the discontinuation was made in a campus-wide e-mail, signed by Jim Norfleet, vice president for Student Affairs, and John Collins, the recently-hired police chief/director of Campus Police.
According to the same e-mail, the campus security consulting firm Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC, will conduct a security audit of the College in order to assess potential areas of improvement. A press release on the firm's Web site said it had been contracted "for a campus-wide safety and security audit; public safety management study; and review of emergency response & recovery policies."
"The complete security audit will cost about $105,000," Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations, said.
"That's a significant amount and should demonstrate (the College's) commitment to providing a safe and secure educational environment," he added.
Golden said a budget for security improvements has yet to be established. "No budget projections for potential security enhancements can be made until we know what the audit reveals," he said.
According to Collins, the office of Campus Police will be working closely with the firm. He described the firm in an e-mail interview as "a tool to help us improve what we are doing."
"Being new here, I am still in the process of determining what security improvements, if any, are needed here," Collins said. "The work of Margolis will assist in that process."
Norfleet was unavailable for comment as of press time. However, Magda Manetas, assistant vice president of Student Affairs, was able to respond to inquiries on the subject.
According to Manetas, the utilization of Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC, is taking place under the oversight of the office of Facilities Management, Construction and Safety.
"The cabinet (of College President R. Barbara Gitenstein) determined in the wake of what had occurred at other campuses like V-Tech (Virginia Polytechnic Institute), as well as concerns on our own campus, that it would be very helpful to contract a consulting team," she said.
A request for service proposal (RSP) was drafted and circulated, to which the College "received several responses," Manetas said. Margolis, Healy & Associates, LLC, was selected "for the quality of their proposal."
Manetas added that the RSP and scope of the firm's project is divided into four phases, including evaluations of residential facilities and academic and administrative facilities, a police department management study, and an evaluation of the critical incident plan.
"Within those phases - and I think they're going to move sequentially through them - they will be looking at programs, structures, communication, documents - anything related to those areas within the scope of their contract," she said.
Curt Heuring, vice president of Facilities Management, Construction and Safety, said that the firm conducted a "preliminary trip" to the College on Dec. 14 "to review the terms of their contract, scope of services and work plan."
"They also had a project kickoff visit on Jan. 14 and 15," Heuring added. "Margolis has been looking at the facilities, the operations, the security and safety policies and meeting with (Gitenstein), select cabinet members, the project committee and the project manager."
Heuring said the decision to use a consulting firm was made by investigating the security procedures of peer institutions. After conducting this investigation, administrators decided to use a firm that would tailor "changes to suit the unique characteristics of (the College's) community."
Manetas said that throughout the process of evaluating the effectiveness of the 24-hour security desks, the input of Travers and Wolfe residents was considered. "We had several meetings with Travers/Wolfe residents from the time of the hoax call on, seeing if they had questions, telling them what was proposed, explaining that there was going to be this private security firm," she said.
A final meeting with Travers and Wolfe staff from the office of Residential Education and Housing was held prior to Winter break, at which additional feedback was collected from student staff members.
"The closer (students) were or may have been to the hoax call incident, the more they felt like, 'OK, this is appropriate.' The further out from that, we were starting to hear feedback that students weren't thrilled to have a private security firm in the building and not necessarily feeling like it added to their security," Manetas said.
"For some individuals, although it seems more the minority, they did not have an issue with them being there. For other students, they were asking us when that was going to be taken down," Menetas said.
A similar sentiment was expressed by Jaimie Bass and Colleen Ford, both freshmen art education majors and Travers residents. "They (U.S. Security Associates) didn't really know what they were doing," Bass said. "It was obviously a good idea, but it wasn't executed well."
Ford thought that hall security workers, student staff employees of the office of Residential Housing and Education, performed a better job. "They would actually look at your key rather than just let you pass by," she said.
Martha Eleftheriou, freshman accounting major and Wolfe resident, said "At first, (the desks) helped, but it dragged on for too long." Eleftheriou thought that the desks might have been put in place to calm the worries of parents.
The projected cost of U.S. Security Associates Inc. for the Fall 2007 semester was $69,000, as reported in the Oct. 31 issue of The Signal.
(01/23/08 12:00pm)
John Collins, a former captain of the Port Authority police force of the Lincoln Tunnel, was hired as director of Campus Police on Dec. 17, concluding the search that began nearly a year ago.
Collins was one of two final candidates brought back to the College for interviews with student leaders, held on Sept. 19 and 20. The other candidate, Edmund Johnson, was a 23-year veteran and captain of the Rutgers University Police Department.
Jim Gant, former Student Government Association (SGA) excecutive vice president, announced the formation of a search committee for the then-newly created position at the Jan. 31, 2007, SGA meeting.
The police chief/director of Campus Police position was established as per a recommendation made by the ad hoc committee on Campus Police Relations in its report. The committee was formed during the Fall 2006 semester as the result of a string of allegations of misconduct and infringement of students' rights.
The committee conducted an investigation into these allegations and issued a report to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein. The report included a series of recommendations for improving student-police relations at the College, one of which was the creation of the chief/director of Campus Police position.
The ad hoc committee's report listed numerous areas of improvement required within the office of Campus Police, including the transition to a community policing model.
Collins said he is in the process of reviewing the report.
"I'm going to be reviewing that report again. I read and re-read it, and practically slept with it under my pillow while I was preparing for the interview," Collins said. "And we're going to tackle most of the problems identified in that report one at a time. I know there's been a dialogue among the president's cabinet on that report. One step at a time, we're going to make progress."
One of the issues mentioned in the report was a shortage of Campus Police officers, a problem currently faced by the office of Campus Police, according to Collins. He attributed this problem to the lengthy civil service hiring process.
Collins said there are more similarities than differences between his old job with the Port Authority and his new job at the College.
"We play a supporting role. We have to help the agency, in this case the College, to accomplish its mission," he said.
According to Collins, his responsibilities as the director of Campus Police will be primarily administrative in nature.
"As a chief, you tend to have more administrative responsibilities but there will be times when I will be out in uniform and visible," he said. "You can look forward to seeing me out and about on campus when time allows."
Gitenstein said she expects Collins will be a welcome asset to the College's administration.
"(Collins) has all the skills and abilities necessary for leading this very important function on our campus," Gitenstein said.
"We will surely gain from his extensive experience and his thoughtful engagement in our ideal of community policing on a college campus."
According to Patrice Coleman-Boatwright, chair of the search committee, Collins was chosen because he was the best overall fit for the College community.
"In the end there were so many variables at play in the final selection that I cannot offer any one reason why Collins was chosen," she said.
Coleman-Boatwright said Collins' experience with the Port Authority and his experience responding to the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center are of value to the campus. She said his career has given him knowledge of emergency services and critical incident management.
She also said it has afforded him the opportunity of having "leadership roles in cooperation with multiple municipal, state and federal agencies."
Coleman-Boatwright added that Collins possesses knowledge of "information technology as it relates to public safety."
"These competencies are extremely valuable in a college setting," she said.
According to Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations, the change in the title from Police Chief to director of Campus Police - as indicated by the Dec. 17 mass e-mail sent out by the College announcing Collins' hiring - does not indicate a change in the job description or how Collins will be expected to fill it.
"Certain positions have a title that is used on campus and a different one that falls within the listing of titles for New Jersey employees," Golden said in an e-mail interview. Citing an example, he said the College's sports information director "has an official state title of managing assistant director."
"Your local title gives people a better idea of what you actually do than the state title," he explained.
Coleman-Boatwright also said the new job title does not indicate a change in job description.
"His title, as per the Board resolution, is director of Campus Police and campus police chief. This title does not change any of the original requirements of the job," she said.
Vincent Markowski, director of security at Ramapo College, said the director job title is common throughout New Jersey colleges and universities.
"In most cases a chief is a sworn law enforcement official, whereas a director is non-sworn. However, many times a director is referred to as chief by members of the department and the community," Markowski said.
He said the College's decision to use director is not unusual.
"It is not uncommon for a college or municipality to hire a director to administrate a police department in place of a chief of police," he said.
In addition to Ramapo, Rowan University and William Patterson University also have directors for their campus police forces.
(12/05/07 12:00pm)
Michael Larkin, the 19-year-old Trenton resident allegedly involved in the Oct. 7 shooting hoax in Travers Hall, will not be serving any jail time. According to Casey DiBlasio of the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office, Larkin was accepted into New Jersey's Pre-Trial Intervention (PTI) program on Nov 28. The provisions of the program require him to perform 100 hours of community service, find employment and undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The no-contact order prevents Larkin from coming onto the College campus and restricts him from approaching his reported former girlfriend, a Travers Hall resident.
According to DiBlasio, Larkin's acceptance into the program is equivalent to a not guilty plea. Larkin had been charged with causing false public alarm.
According to njcourtsonline.com, the home page for the New Jersey Judiciary, the PTI program "provides defendants, generally first-time offenders, with opportunities for alternatives to the traditional criminal justice process of ordinary prosecution."
The program is designed as a rehabilitative process to correct the behavior that led to the offense committed by the defendant. If the program is completed successfully, Larkin's criminal record will be erased.
The Mercer County Prosecutor's Office agreed to allow Larkin into the program on Nov. 28, saying he had no prior convictions as an adult.
"The office reviewed the case for any basis to object to PTI. As the court rules were written we had no basis to object," DiBlasio said.
The PTI program is designed for first-time non-violent offenders who have committed third- or fourth-degree offenses. According to DiBlasio, Larkin has no prior criminal record as an adult. DiBlasio could not confirm or deny whether Larkin had been prosecuted for any crimes as a juvenile, as those files are sealed once a defendant turns 18.
According to DiBlasio, Larkin's status as a known member of the Bloods street gang was not enough to deny him access to the program. However, if Larkin fails to meet the provisions set out by the program, he can still be prosecuted.
"If he does not complete any of the requirements or if he commits another offense during the program, the state can seek to terminate him from the program and prosecute him for the original charge," DiBlasio said.
College administrators acknowledged the disruption caused by the hoax and said they will continue to enforce the no-contact order.
"There is no denying that the hoax . was a significant event on the campus," College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said in an e-mail. "It resulted in tremendous upheaval to students, parents, staff and administration and resulted in a lot of fear."
Gitenstein said the decision to issue Larkin a no-contact order with both the College and his "reported former girlfriend" was appropriate.
Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations, agreed. "What he did, we take very very seriously, and we hope that it will be treated just as seriously by the legal system. Hopefully he follows the condition of the PTI to the letter of the law," he said during a phone interview.
Gitenstein was unable to comment on the decision to admit Larkin into the PTI program.
"I am not in a position to comment knowledgeably on any other decision of the court on this matter," she said.
Golden said the College's recent security modifications, such as the 24-hour security desks in Travers and Wolfe halls, will remain in effect, adding that the College will remain steadfast in its efforts to protect students.
"We are going to continue to maintain very strict security. We have notified all the appropriate entities about his release and we have redistributed his identifying information to the appropriate offices and individuals," Golden said.
According to Golden, the Attorney General's office does not legally permit the College to distribute Larkin's picture through postings around campus or via mass e-mail.
"We're doing everything we can to treat this situation very prudently," Golden said.
Golden added that both the office of the President and Campus Police were notified immediately of Larkin's release.
Residents of Travers Hall expressed mixed feelings about Larkin's release. Jaqueline Bossart, freshman international studies major, said she did not think Larkin's release posed a significant threat to the College.
"Other students could just as easily pose a threat," she said. Bossart added that she does not think the guards contracted by the College to monitor the Travers and Wolfe security desks have made an overall improvement in security.
Kyle Gesuelli, freshman finance major, said Larkin's release poses a potential security threat to the College.
"He probably wants revenge," Gesuelli said, adding that he feels less safe knowing of Larkin's release.
Gesuelli also said the guards have done little to improve security. "The security guards barely look at your key and ID," he said.
Julie Laracy, freshman nursing major, said if there was another breach of campus security it probably would not occur in Travers Hall.
"I don't think (Larkin's release) is that much of a threat," Laracy said. "I don't think they'd go for Travers again."
(12/05/07 12:00pm)
As students wandered into the Rathskeller (Rat) on the afternoon of Dec. 1, many were taken aback by the sights and sounds of students reading prose, poetry and performing music. The diverse mixture of talent drew a number of students, who came only for their customary Saturday lunch with friends, into staying and listening to The Goods.
The Goods, a talent showcase for student artists, writers and musicians, is hosted every semester by Ink, the College's literature club. According to Lindsay Coleman, senior psychology major and Ink vice president, The Goods is intended to be "an afternoon arts festival" that primarily features student talent.
"The main focus is on the students and the creative ability at the College," Coleman said. "A lot of times we'll have outside talent or outside writers come," she added, noting that this year's performers were entirely from the campus community.
The Rat proved to be a fitting venue for The Goods. The casual atmosphere created a sense of comfort throughout the crowd, and as poems and short stories unfurled, onlookers could be seen gazing intently at the performers.
Joe Rooney, senior English major, read several poems and short stories that left the crowd still and silent. He carried the onlookers through both foreign countries and psychedelic, mushroom-induced trips. Rooney began by reading a story titled "Wrinkles," which portrayed the isolation of an older woman, bent by time and loss, as he sipped dry martinis and smoked cigarettes in his posh apartment. This was followed by two other works, "Suburban Shadows" and "Catholic Grade School Love," which addressed the themes of awkwardness and uncertainty in youth.
Rooney then proceeded to read "Tripping in Amsterdam," the story of a soul-searching Australian's quest to find God through mind-expanding drugs. The short story, interwoven with verses of poetry, featured a number of psychedelic characters, including a judgmental Barry Bonds, a leprechaun, dancing penguins and a rapping panda bear.
"Soul Quest," a story based on an encounter Rooney had with a girl while backpacking in Switzerland, garnered much approval from the crowd. Rooney described how in conversation, he discovered that the girl's boyfriend had committed suicide, and she confessed that she was also losing her will to live. The story loosely described how a conversation helped to change the girl's mind.
"I think that's an important lesson to learn," Rooney said. "You can really change someone's life."
Nicole Gough, senior English/secondary education major, presented several introspective works. Gough first read an untitled poem which described drinking from brown paper bags in New York City's Washington Square Park and walking countless blocks in high heels. The poem embraced both the magnitude and beauty of the city. This was followed by the confessional work, "A Fascist in New York City," which described Gough's anger with a 30-something's T-shirt while sitting in a Guinness-only dive bar. Gough's last poem was about a faux encounter with Sylvia Plath. In the poem, Plath mysteriously arrives on the narrator's doorstep bearing a cake pan, bound obviously for the oven.
"I knew she wasn't a Girl Scout, and it was silly to think she was," Gough read.
Kat Alfonso, senior English/secondary education major, presented several energetic works. Alfonso first read a poem titled "Egg Shells," which she said was about her sophomore year. The poem conveyed exuberant jubilance for a particularly poignant time in the poet's life. Alfonso followed this with "Sally Jessy Raphael" and "Whales and Bad Dates," two humorous poems about watching bad television after work and the doldrums of dating, respectively. "Whales are almost extinct and bad dates, well, they just keep on coming," Alfonso read.
The afternoon also featured the rapid-fire guitar licks of Leo Mahaga, junior criminal justice major. Mahaga was accompanied by Shaun Quigley, sophomore communication studies major, on rhythym guitar and Brian Albert, freshman music education major, on drums. The recently-formed group performed a number of untitled, instrumental songs that touched on elements of punk, metal and jazz. At one point, Mahaga raised his guitar behind his head and continued an extended solo as Quigley and Albert maintained the parameters of the jam.
For fans of The Goods, Coleman said there is still a lot to look forward to from Ink.
"We have a lot more ideas for next semester," she said.
Coleman said students can expect more opportunities for both performing and listening to literary and musical works in the new year.
(11/28/07 12:00pm)
The Country Club Apartments, off-campus housing units for College residents, is slated to be sold in the near future, according to Matt Golden, director of Community and Public Relations.
In the Feb. 28 "Eye on SGA" article of The Signal, Dan Scapardine, Vice President of Legal and Governmental Affairs, said the use of the Country Club Apartments, a Trenton State College Corporation (TSCC)-owned property typically used to house students, was being re-evaluated. Scapardine said the College no longer considered the former residence hall to be conducive to its community living standards.
TSCC, Golden said in an e-mail interview, "provide(s) off-campus real estate management, acquisition and development services in support of the academic, faculty and student life goals of (the College)." Golden also said in an e-mail interview that TSCC functions as a corporate entity separate from the College.
Scapardine said the College was considering the conversion of the apartments to a tenant/landlord-based system, similar to that of other TSCC-owned properties. If this was not deemed feasible by the corporation, the apartments were to be sold.
On Nov. 26, Golden told The Signal via e-mail that the Country Club Apartments "are currently vacant and being shown by our broker to prospective buyers."
TSCC owns over 40 properties in addition to the Country Club Apartments. As a corporation separate from the College, Golden said TSCC can legally purchase and manage off-campus properties.
"The Corporation's status under the Public College Auxiliary Organization Act allows it certain flexibility and freedom in conducting auxiliary business related to and in support of the College," he said. Golden added that TSCC is controlled by a board of directors. This board consists of a college trustee, faculty, staff, students and local residents.
Golden said TSCC operates on an approximate annual budget of $1,132,000. "The Corporation is not funded through tuition or student fees," Golden said. "It is financed through rents charged to tenants and management fees charged for its services."
TSCC uses this budget, combined with "a confidential strategic property acquisition plan," to purchase properties. Golden said, "The acquisition plan looks at key factors, like location, proximity to the College, condition and demand in determining which properties should be purchased."
Beneficiaries from the TSCC program primarily consist of full-time College faculty or staff members. According to the TSCC Web site, the Corporation offers housing to faculty and staff in Hopewell and Ewing townships. TSCC also offers apartments to faculty and staff on Campus Court, Pennington Road and Upper Ferry Road.
The beginnings of TSCC, founded in 1989 under the former Trenton State College, were rocky. On Sept. 22, 1991, The New York Times reported on an investigation begun by the now defunct State Department of Higher Education. "At issue is whether the program, begun in 1989, is legal and whether the involvement of some College administrators is ethical," The Times said.
The Times also reported that an initial sum of $7 million was utilized to purchase 41 houses, in addition to the Ewing Township municipal building, was derived from both tuition and "academic program money." The municipal building was to be used "as a catering and banquet center or as a campus police station." This information was provided to The Times by the former College vice president for Finance and Administration, Peter L. Mills.
The investigation that ensued was not criminal. The Times reported that the College's faculty union had previously appealed to former Attorney General Robert J. Del Tufo to investigate the program. Del Tufo declined, and the investigation was then spearheaded by the State Department of Higher Education.
The Times reported that union opposition stemmed from the College's purchase of the properties without proper consultation of the union. "State union leaders, who represent all nine campuses in the New Jersey state college system, denounced the program as extravagant at a time when academic programs systemwide were being cut and tuition was being raised," The Times said.
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said via e-mail that no persons involved in the State Department of Higher Education's inquiry currently work for the College in an administrative capacity. Gitenstein also noted that the inquiry took place "some eight years before I became president, so my comments have no personal knowledge as background."
"From what I have heard, it was a conflict about terms and conditions of employment for the union and whether vice presidents could live in corporation housing rent free," Gitenstein said. "It is not unusual for a college or university to establish an auxiliary enterprise to manage property near its campus proper that supports the mission but is not central to the academic operations."
Further information regarding the history of the State Department of Higher Education's inquiry was not made available to The Signal as of press time.
(11/14/07 12:00pm)
The College will implement a text message alert system beginning Nov. 16 to better prepare the campus community for emergency situations, in accordance with its Critical Incident Plan. Connect-ED, a private company that supplies emergency notification systems for colleges and universities, will provide the service for the College.
The emergency alert service will come at no direct cost to the campus community aside from standard text messaging rates.
According to Matt Golden, director of Media and Public Relations, the text message alert system will not be used to distribute general information to the campus community. The system will be used strictly for emergency alerts, timely warnings and notifications of weather-related campus closures.
"We're viewing this as an emergency communication tool," Golden said. "A lot of schools are using this to make general announcements, and I understand the utility of that."
"However," he added, "we believe that if we start sending out general announcements, then people are going to look at it like they were getting spam, and what we want this to be is if you get a text message from (the College), you know it's important."
Golden said the alert system will be open for subscription to all members of the campus community. Students will register for the alert system through TESS, and faculty and staff members will register through YESS.
The new system will allow for the registration of three numbers, including one SMS or text-enabled number, and two voice numbers.
"What we are going to require is that any student, faculty or staff person who wants to enroll must give us an SMS number, because we will always use the SMS number," Golden said. "There may be instances where we don't use the voice messaging component of the system, so that's why we're requiring the SMS number."
Golden added that parents can also receive the College's alerts, but they must be enrolled in the system by a student.
He said this will not only keep parents informed, but also indirectly encourage students to sign up for the voluntary program.
"One of the major hurdles with these systems is that you don't get high enough enrollment," Golden said. "We're really trying to push it out there and let people know that it exists."
The College is taking various steps to ensure a high enrollment in the new emergency alert system. Golden said a page has been created on the College's Web site which explains the signup process in detail using screenshots.
Golden also said a mass e-mail will be sent out explaining the new system, in addition to an article that will appear in the TCNJ Update.
As of press time, Connect-ED plans to send out a mass text message to all those who have signed up for the service on Nov. 16, according to Golden. Caller ID functions will identify the source of the message as the College's main phone number, (609) 771-1855.
Those wishing to confirm their subscription must reply to the message with either "Y TCNJ" or "Yes TCNJ," Golden said. After Nov. 16, individual confirmation messages will be sent out as subscriptions are received.
Golden said he will be the primary operator of the alert system, which he can either operate from any available Internet connection or from his mobile device. Golden also said several other members of the administration have been trained to operate the system.
Golden said the messages will serve as a concise source of information that will refer students, staff and faculty to other elements of the College's communication system, such as e-mail and the Web site.
Stock voice messages have also been pre-recorded to promote timely accessibility in the event of an emergency.
After the system is activated, a test period will follow. During this time, Golden said he would like to evaluate the effectiveness of the system.
"One of the things I'm thinking of doing . is taking the Pulse survey, or The Signal one, and basically announcing that we're going to run a test of the system, we'd like you to go on and respond how quickly you received the message."
Golden said the alert system does have a built-in timing mechanism to see how quickly alerts were received, but he would like to do an outside survey to establish a basis for comparison.
The alert system is expected to come at a cost to the College of $2 per student per year, with a $3,000 installation fee, Golden said.
After taking part in a conference with other higher education institutions, organized by NJEdge, a technology consortium that works primarily with state colleges and universities, the College selected the system provided by Connect-ED.
"We would have done it even if it was a lot more expensive," Golden said. "If we had all the bells and whistles that were available, we were going to use it in the same way, just as an emergency communications tool. Getting those additional features wouldn't have enhanced what we were going to do. We just wouldn't have used them."
On the other hand, Golden added, "We would not have taken a cheaper system that did not have everything we need."
Students at the College were receptive to the implementation of the emergency alert system. Karen Custodio, junior biology major, said she thought the alert system would be well received by the campus community.
"It's definitely a good idea," Custodio said. "I've heard it worked at a lot of other schools."
Custodio also said that the new alert system would give her parents piece of mind.
"I would probably just (sign up) for my parents' sake," she said. "My dad would definitely want me to. When they heard about the fake shooting, that was their first question: 'How did you find out?'"
Yamina Nater, senior classical studies major, said she thought the text alert system would benefit the College, though she was uncertain as to whether or not students would enroll in the program.
"Here, nothing has really happened and I think unless something really big happens, not a lot of kids will sign up for it," Nater said.
Nater said that the College should promote the system among freshmen and incoming freshman classes in order to increase enrollment.
(11/07/07 12:00pm)
The houselights dimmed, and the southern-tinged voice of Ryan Adams was immediately propelled from the massive speakers at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom, accompanied by looping synth samples and pounding bass.
It seemed like an odd introduction for alternative/country rock's prolific resident badass and his band of virtuosos; but after all, it was Halloween in the city, and mass-weirdness was already afoot with the setting of the sun on West 34th Street.
Adams and his band, The Cardinals, took the stage and immediately launched into a melodious series of guitar riffs, played by Adams and guitarist/backing vocalist Neal Casal, grounded on drummer Brad Pemberton's pulsating beat.
Pedal steel guitarist/backing vocalist Jon Graboff added depth to progression as he slid gracefully from note to note. Bassist Chris "Space Wolf" Feinstein maintained the parameters for the opening jam as an electric jack-o-lantern, perched atop a piano, grinned in approval.
At once, the unfurling soundscape fell silent, and Adams' soulful voice rose to the heights of the auditorium.
"Lord take me home to the peaceful valley, down the winding river to your city, your soul," he crooned to the delight of the packed ballroom.
The Cardinals had set the tone for the evening right from the onset of the concert: make yourselves comfortable, strap yourselves in and prepare for a meandering, sonic ride.
There was very little to no between-song banter and, much to the dismay of a few fans, charged rock numbers from the aptly titled "Rock N Roll," as well as some of Adams' most popular hits, including "New York, New York" and "Come Pick Me Up," were conspicuously absent from the set list. Concert material came largely from the 2005 releases "Cold Roses" and "Jacksonville City Nights," with a large selection also from Adams' 2007 solo release, "Easy Tiger."
Based on the song selections, it was clear that Adams' infamous reputation as an attention-starved egotist has taken a backseat to the musical abilities of The Cardinals. In the November issue of Paste, Adams mused that he views himself now simply as the singer of The Cardinals. After watching Adams' inner demons come to life onstage for the duration of 29 pristine songs, it was easy to see that he and the band have formed as a cohesive musical entity.
After a highly-charged rendition of "Blue Hotel," a song from the band's most recent release, "Follow The Lights," Adams and The Cardinals wandered back into the same counter-melodic guitar movements that opened the show, and then slowly crept into the heart wrenching song, "Mockingbirdsing." Other songs, like the barroom shuffle "Beautiful Sorta," and a moving rendition of "Rescue Blues" that featured Garboff on lead guitar, produced raucous applause and delight from the sold-out crowd.
Despite Adams' new sense of musical purpose that came with recent sobriety, he was still just as energetic and eccentric as ever. Seated before the piano, poised to begin a chilling rendition of "Night Birds," Adams had a highly melodramatic, faux breakdown.
He pretended to hyperventilate while Casal said, "This is it. This is the real thing." The evening also featured an unrehearsed birthday tribute to Feinstein and an initially mellowed-out version of "Halloween Head," an anthemic song about having a "head full of tricks and treats."
"It's all the same old shit again. I've got a Halloween Head," Adams proudly proclaimed.
Prior to walking off stage before the encore and after a performance of "I See Monsters," Adams thanked the crowd for their attention and said how excited he was to have played the ballroom. "I just got to see Slayer play here, holy shit!" he said.
The band returned for a three-song encore and concluded the evening with the dark and brooding song, "What Sin Replaces Love." The song rose gradually in volume until the ballroom brimmed with sound and Adams' introspection came to an energized end.
The houselights came back up, and the crowd slowly filed out, abandoning the delightful madness of Hammerstein Ballroom for that of the restless city outside and the last remaining minutes of Halloween.
(10/31/07 12:00pm)
An outside security company has been contracted by the College for 24-hour security detail at the Travers/Wolfe halls' security desks. The guards, as employees of U.S. Security Associates Inc., are not instructed to use force in dealing with breaches of security in the dormitories.
The cost of the added security for the remainder of the Fall semester is estimated to be $69,000 according to Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations. "The funding will come from a combination of budget lines to be determined by the president and the treasurer (of the College)," Golden said via e-mail. He also said the guards "are being paid the prevailing wage for security guards established by the U.S. Department of Labor."
According to guards Cassandra Fuseini and Andre Geanlouis, the new security guards have not been trained or authorized in the use of force. The guards are also not equipped with non-lethal weapons, such as batons, mace or tasers. Both said violent situations requiring use of force are to be immediately referred to Campus Police.
"We don't use force or anything," Fuseini said. She added that part of her job as a guard is "to try and remedy (dangerous situations) without any physical force."
Andre Geanlouis, a guard in Travers Hall, said in the event of a violent situation, his primary obligation was to notify Campus Police.
"You see that phone there?" Geanlouis said, pointing to a telephone at the end of the security desk. "We just call them. If we have somebody try to fight here, we don't have anything to break it up."
Fuseini said the new guards have been contracted by the College "to monitor who comes in and out (of the building) and to make sure they have proper ID" in order to promote student safety.
"You see what I'm doing right now?" Geanlouis said as he checked the keys and ID cards of students entering Travers, and returned a drivers license to another student's guest. "That's what we have to do."
The occupational responsibilities of the new security guards are similar to those of a hall security worker (HSW). HSWs are school employees who operate the hall security desks during late-night and early-morning hours.
When asked if the guards were meant to replace HSWs, Golden said, "The guards are intended to relieve officers from Campus Police Services who have been logging long hours to provide additional security for students in Travers and Wolfe."
Both Fuseini and Geanlouis said that U.S. Security Associates employees are required to take part in training sessions. Fuseini said the training is situational, preparing guards to serve at different institutions including manufacturing and industrial facilities, financial institutions, office buildings, residential communities, the retail industry, government facilities, distribution facilities, healthcare facilities and colleges and universities. She added that employees are required to undergo a drug test upon employment.
Geanlouis said certification of guards in New Jersey is done by the state government. "Everybody who works in the state now as a security guard, you have to work through training that takes about five days," he said. Guards are then given a written test administered by New Jersey State Police, he added.
At the time of the interviews, Fuseini had been working at the College for two days and Geanlouis for three. Geanlouis said he had received information regarding his job responsibilities from College administrators. "They spent about 45 minutes talking to us, telling us what to do," he said. He also displayed a one-page memo issued to the guards that described their duties.
According to Fuseini, Campus Police have apprised the new guards of the situation surrounding Michael Larkin, a 19-year-old from Trenton with known gang affiliations, and his ban from the College campus. Larkin was issued a no-contact order banning both his presence at the College and interaction with a Travers resident after he allegedly made a hoax 911 call regarding a shooting in the Travers 7 bathroom on the morning of Oct. 7.
"The security guards have been thoroughly briefed about all relevant issues," Golden said.
Pointing to Larkin's photo on the cover of the Oct. 17 issue of The Signal, Fuseini said, "They're telling us to look out for this young man."
(10/17/07 12:00pm)
Often times, a good indie record can be spoiled by a band that tries to squeeze as much noise as possible into its songs, or drowns its effects-laden guitars in an abyss of reverb to a point where they are unrecognizable.
The Winter Sounds is a band that has perfected the art of musical understatement. Avoiding these missteps, each riff on their recent release, "Porcelain Empire," wavers with melodic grace, emanating from the listener's speakers. "Porcelain Empire" possesses a quality of natural ambience, as if it was recorded in a desolate, frigid field.
Delicate guitar tones are carefully interwoven with keyboard arrangements on this melodically-driven release. The melodic focal point of The Winter Sounds is accentuated by a rhythm section that is, at times, surprisingly subdued, but can unexpectedly turn volatile.
At the heart of every song is what Patrick Keenan, vocalist and bassist, refers to as the "campfire" approach to songwriting.
"I always wanted the song to be stripped down and still be a song with an acoustic guitar and a campfire," Keenan said. He added that a key component to his elemental song structure is melody. Songs like "A Call to Arms" and "Windy City Nights" feature hovering, harmonized choruses. "I like melody a lot," Keenan said, "but I like it more when it has harmonies and counter melodies."
On top of this skeletal song structure, members of The Winter Sounds flesh out the songs with distinct musical approaches. According to Mikey Gilbert, current drummer for The Winter Sounds, recent lineup changes have prompted the ongoing evolution of the band's sound.
"A lot of what we're coming up with has been morphed from what the original recording called for," he said. "We've been changing the parts a little bit."
The original lineup exhibited polarity on many of the tracks on "Porcelain Empire," contrasting gentle guitar movements with pulsing drums and bass. Mid-song, the two halves of the band reverse roles, with the subdued guitars and keyboard becoming forceful and the drums backing down.
According to Gilbert, collaborative songwriting on the road with the new lineup is prompting variations in the emerging sound. Gilbert said that guitarists Clayton Taylor and Gene Woolfolk or Keenan will propose a basic melody for a song.
"Any time we get a free second, we'll sit down and we'll try to hammer out some chords," he said. "From there it just comes with experimenting . There are no magical moments except for when something happenstance comes together."
One of the main driving forces behind The Winter Sounds is the lyrics. The themes are down-to-earth and relatable, dealing largely with the complex emotions associated with love and loss.
"I'll hear or read something that I'm pretty passionate about, that really affects me and I try to put it into a song," Keenan said. "I feel like, you're reading a word and you hear the right melody and it just really affects you the right way. You take two or three year's worth of things that would happen to any one person, and to be able to articulate that in a song is really awesome to have that opportunity."
The Winter Sounds is a band that has spent a great deal of time on tour and has endured the hardships of life on the road.
"It's an interesting way to live," Keenan said, especially since he's the only remaining original member of a band of five. "I had one generation that went out in the middle of March, and by April or May they were kind of disillusioned. Even just a couple of months later, people were saying, 'I just really don't want to stay with this.'"
But The Winter Sounds persevered, and according to Keenan, the month of September has been the best month for touring to date.
"Now it's a new set of guys and a new life through the songs and personalities," Keenan said. "For me, I feel like I'm turning a big corner where the dream of touring is coming back to the way I always thought it would be."
The band is playing to well-attended venues and making enough money to get from gig to gig. According to Gilbert, the band has been recording songs as they materialize on the road. It seems like The Winter Sounds is poised to reinvent an already inventive sound.
(10/17/07 12:00pm)
Michael Larkin, the 19-year-old Trenton teenager who was charged with false public alarm for his alleged involvement in the Oct. 7 shooting hoax at the College, was ordered on Friday to remain in the Mercer County Corrections Center in Hopewell Township in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Meanwhile, Larkin's alleged ties to the Bloods street gang were confirmed by Detective Frank Clayton of the Mercer County prosecutor's office. Clayton is a member of Mercer's Gang Intelligence Unit.
At Larkin's bail hearing on Friday at the Trenton Criminal Courthouse, a no-contact order, which restricts him from setting foot on the College campus, was also maintained. In addition, a second no-contact order was issued preventing Larkin from approaching a female acquaintance who lives on the seventh floor of Travers Hall.
According to Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Thomas P. Meidt as quoted in the Times of Trenton, the student is Larkin's ex-girlfriend.
If Larkin is found guilty of the third degree false public alarm charge, Larkin could face from three to five years in prison.
Photographs on Larkin's MySpace.com home page that show him and others flashing gang hand signs confirm that he is associated with the Nine Trey set of the Bloods street gang in Mercer County, according to Clayton.
Nine Trey refers to the original set of Bloods members who came out of the Rikers Island Prison Complex in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1993, he said.
"Nine Trey is one of the largest sets in the state, but probably the weakest in Mercer (County)," Clayton said.
Angelo Onofri, assistant prosecutor at the Mercer County prosecutor's office, could not confirm or deny if Larkin had any prior convictions.
According to Clayton, the shooting hoax and other incidents represent a trend of gang activity at the College dating back to 2004.
"We've had indications of Blood and Crip activity in the past at (the College), at Rider University and at Mercer (County) Community College," Clayton said.
Clayton said he had been called to the area in the past because of gang "tagging," or graffiti, on and around the campus. He added that while there may be a gang presence on campus, it is not generally composed of College students.
"There's no doubt that we have gang members going to college, but I think it's mostly the outside influence coming on to campus, creating the influence and the culture," Clayton said.
Problems Continue in Travers Day After Hoax
On the evening of Oct. 8, a patrol of Travers 7 by a Campus Police officer resulted in the questioning, transportation and release of two men, neither of whom are students at the College, according to a Campus Police operations report.
Patrolman Lorenzo Shockley was on a rove as part of the added security measures put in place after the shooting hoax. According to the report, Shockley encountered the two men, Tristan E. Norman and Justin K. Rey, both of Paterson, at 10 p.m. According to the report, "both subjects appeared to be nervous and hesitated on their answers" when questioned. They also indicated they had gone through the security desk.
After the initial encounter, the two men entered the room of the Travers 7 resident connected with Larkin, according to the report. Shockley radioed the Travers security desk and determined that the two men had not registered as guests. Sgt. Michael Bell, Senior Security Officer Armond Harris and Patrolman James Lopez (no relation to Lt. Lopez) responded and went to the seventh floor.
The Travers 7 resident said in a telephone interview with The Signal that Norman and Rey were not her guests on the evening of Oct. 8. She said this "was an isolated incident."
Campus Police officers asked the two men to exit the room and escorted them "to the elevator lobby room for further questioning." The report said while they were questioned, both men "were very nervous" and one "attempted to leave the area several times."
The report said one of the men was wearing a name tag that read "Hakim Talib," which did not match the name provided by the wearer, prompting Shockley to ask the man for identification. The man said he could not provide identification because it was in his car. The report said "he would not give any further information."
Lt. Lopez then authorized transportation of the two men to Campus Police headquarters. There, Norman and Rey provided identification information which was verified by Campus Police. It was also determined that neither Norman nor Rey had outstanding warrants.
"I advised the two subjects, the next time they visit (the College) to go through proper channels," Shockley said in the report. "Both subjects were released an hour after being detained for investigative purposes."
An Earlier Encounter with Campus Police
Oct. 7 was not Larkin's first encounter with Campus Police. According to Lt. Lopez, on the evening of Sept. 9, Larkin and an unspecified number of other individuals were questioned by Campus Police after they allegedly offered residents marijuana.
According to Lt. Lopez, officers went to Travers and investigated the call. He said the men involved, including Larkin, "were ID'd and released" because "no drugs were found."
When questioned about Larkin's connection to the Travers 7 resident, Lt. Lopez declined to comment. In a telephone interview with The Signal, the resident denied any current romantic relationship with Larkin.
"He is not my boyfriend," she said. Referring to the night of Sept. 9, the student said, "(Larkin) was not my guest. I did not invite him here." She also said that when Larkin arrived on Sept. 9, she immediately told him to leave.
Larkin's Background
An examination of Larkin's MySpace.com home page revealed photographs of guns and drugs. Casey DiBlasio, public information officer at the Mercer County prosecutor's office, confirmed the MySpace page as Larkin's.
The general section contains a slideshow of photographs that includes a table covered in bound stacks of money, a large bag of marijuana and another bag containing cocaine in rock form.
Other photographs featured in an album titled "Da homies" highlight Larkin's alleged gang affiliations. The first picture, with the caption "Nine Trey Toon Ryder," displays the Nine Trey logo outlined in black and red. Several other images depict Larkin or others flashing gang signs for the camera. One picture in particular, displaying the letters of the word "Blood" surrounding a five-point star, intrigued Detective Clayton.
"The five-point star represents the 'People Nation.' It's a whole thing that came out of Chicago in the '80s," Clayton said. "It's like how the teams in Major League Baseball align themselves in the National or American League. Gangs from the East Coast and West Coast, they align themselves under People or Folk (respectively). The Bloods (and) the Latin Kings, they align themselves under the 'People Nation,' while groups like the Crips align themselves with 'Folk Nation' under a six-point star.
"One photograph features a drawer filled with handguns and handgun magazines. The caption under this photograph reads, "Yea I play with them thangs. Ya dig."
Campus Police Response
Currently, Campus Police has 24-hour security desks in Travers/Wolfe halls.
According to Lt. Lopez, the response to the first of three 911 calls on the morning of Oct. 7 was swift and in accordance with the College's Critical Incident Plan. Lt. Lopez said that by his arrival at the College, "(Campus Police) had already responded to the sixth and seventh floors to search the areas mentioned in the 911 calls."
Officers searched the building for the alleged shooter after the 6 a.m. call that reported a shooting in Travers. As the day progressed, it became increasingly apparent there was no evidence a shooting had occurred. Slightly before noon, Lt. Lopez said Campus Police had officially determined the reported shooting was a hoax.
Critical Incident Plan Put into Action
Matt Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations, said the campus' response to the Oct. 7 incident was effective. This was the first time the College's "Critical Incident Plan," a contingency plan set aside for any and all crisis scenarios, was put to use since it was reviewed after the Virginia Tech tragedy last spring.
"We responded quickly. People were notified immediately. The information on the situation was posted within minutes," Golden said. "I received a call about the alleged shooting at 6:25 a.m. The first postings went out around 6:40 a.m."
Golden was in Washington, D.C., for the duration of the incident. He did not return to campus but stayed where he was so he could continually update the College's Web site.
"The key was that we kept students updated with every little bit of information we knew as we learned it," Golden said.
While Golden thought the College's reaction was successful, he did notice some room for improvement. Golden has said the Critical Incident Plan is a "consistently updated document."
"One area I want to improve is getting the info out to the parents faster," Golden said, though he added, "In a crisis situation, you have to first focus on those most directly impacted - the people on campus."Golden noted that the postings on the College's Web site were more frequent and detailed than in previous emergency situations. He said the College is also nearly ready to implement a text messaging alert system through NJEdge, a technology consortium that works primarily with New Jersey colleges and universities.
"I am confident it will be up this semester, hopefully by mid-November," he said.
Golden said it is important to realize that the text messaging system is not a cure-all for emergency situations, listing several potential flaws.
"These systems are not an answer in themselves. You need to have multiple communication channels. A lot of times there is a low subscription rate for these systems because they are on a volunteer basis," Golden said. "Even at Virginia Tech only something like 56 percent of the campus is enrolled. There is also the problem of service providers getting bogged down or dead zones."
"It's a nice addition," Golden said. "But it is not a replacement."
Several students said the use of e-mail and the Internet was impractical in the early hours of the morning, as most of them would not check their computers at that time. Students also expressed concern that the hard line phones, which are set up in every dorm room on campus, were not used in the alert.
"When I sent out the first wave of announcements, I did the broadcast voicemail as well. However, since that time I've heard from several people that they did not receive it," Golden said. "We're looking into whether there was a glitch in the system or whether it was a human error. That is a perfect example of why you need multiple communication channels in case something goes wrong."
(10/10/07 12:00pm)
Dance-punk, characterized by pulsating drum beats, rapid and infectious guitar progressions, melodic keyboard fills and pounding bass, is a genre that has yet to become prevalent in the United States.
Toronto-based Tokyo Police Club may be poised to bring dance-punk to the American mainstream music scene. The band has been nominated in the "Breaking Woodie" category at mtvU's upcoming "Woodie Awards."
The "Woodie Awards" have been catalysts for the successful music careers of many bands including Death Cab for Cutie, The Killers and Plain White Ts.
The award show will surely give Tokyo Police Club its needed exposure; however, it will inevitably be the band's explosive mix of delightfully unrefined energy, looping guitar riffs and alluring vocal deliveries that will send the toes of American fans tapping.
"Operator!" cries David Monks, Tokyo Police Club vocalist and bassist. "Get me the president of the world! This is an emergency!" Monks' resolute demand is seemingly conveyed through a blaring megaphone, backed solely by Greg Alsop's rapid-fire drumming, on "Cheer it On," the first track of the band's 2006 release, "A Lesson In Crime."
Monks wasn't nearly as demanding in a recent exclusive interview with James Queally, Signal arts & entertainment editor, at the New York City mtvU studio. He expressed excitement with the band's "Woodie" nomination but wasn't sure if the awards would guarantee the band's success.
"There is no standard way that a band gets popular," Monks said. "It seems like a fluke chance in every situation."
This may be true, but the numerous loyal Canadian and American fans that brought Tokyo Police Club to its present breakout status can't be wrong. Drummer Greg Alsop said that he sees the "Woodies" as a tremendous opportunity for the band. Before the "Woodies," "No one really knew about or gave attention to up-and-coming bands," he said. Alsop added that the targeted age group of the "Woodies," college students in their early 20s, is the "best time to be introduced to a new band."
On Nov. 15, thousands of college students nationwide will receive their first exposure to the forcefully propelled rhythms of Tokyo Police Club. Many have already seen the band's music video for "Cheer it On," which features a strikingly low key performance in a frigid, desolate field.
"The idea of doing a less frantic video for a song that's kind of fast appealed to us," Alsop said.
Frantic and fast are both accurate descriptions of Tokyo Police Club's sound. The songs are all potent and confined within two or three blistering minutes.
"The kind of music we play is strictly laid out," Alsop said. Tokyo Police Club's songs incessantly pulsate on the listener's eardrums, as if fueled by an unending supply of amphetamines.
The fast-paced nature of Tokyo Police Club's sound certainly must have carried over into the band's production style in recording what would become both "A Lesson in Crime" and the band's 2007 follow-up EP, "Smith." According to Monks, the band completed recording in a mere three days.
Tokyo Police Club's efforts have produced indisputable results. The band toured extensively with renowned indie rockers Cold War Kids. Recently, they played at Madison Square Garden with Bloc Party.
According to Graham Wright, keyboardist and vocalist, success at a young age has taken some getting used to.
"Sometimes you forget to stop and think about how weird it is," Wright said. "If I wasn't doing this, I'd be at the university right now wishing I was doing this."
(10/03/07 12:00pm)
Three on-campus interviews were held last week to evaluate final candidates for the position of general counsel. Once hired, the general counsel will act as an in-house attorney for the College.
According to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein, the funding for this cabinet-level position became available after the restructuring of various administrative offices, including the Division of Student affairs (formerly the Division of Student Life).
During the restructuring, the responsibilities of formerly separate offices were merged. Gitenstein said this allowed funding to be redirected elsewhere, including toward the creation of the general counsel position.
"We've been asking these questions forever," Gitenstein said, referring to the various questions posed by College administrators to the three candidates. She said the general counsel position is commonplace throughout institutions of higher learning. She also said that in the past, the College has relied on the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General for legal advice.
Gitenstein said although the Attorney General has been helpful, the office is both "understaffed" and tasked with the broad and time-consuming occupation of managing the state's legal affairs.
"The Attorney General is representing both the state and us," she said, adding that with an in-house counsel, "there's only one client - it's us." Once hired, the general counsel will provide legal advice on a wide gamut of issues including labor and construction contracts, immigration issues, academic policy, risk management and campus safety.
Thomas Mahoney, current deputy general counsel at Villanova University, was the first general counsel candidate to visit the College. His interview, which took place on Sept. 24, was moderated by Curt Heuring, vice president of Facilities Management, Construction and Safety.
"I really have a broad variety of legal issues that I deal with on a daily basis," Mahoney said in his opening statement. "These issues include compliance, intellectual property, risk management and human resources.
Magda Manetas, associate vice president for Student Services, asked whether Mahoney had any experience with risk management pertaining to student-run events. Mahoney said risk can be managed in these situations by requiring proof of insurance and by determining speech code appropriateness.
The second interview, held for Brian Nelson, current associate general counsel and executive director at the University of Houston, took place the same day as the Mahoney interview. Nelson said a major challenge faced by public institutions is compliance with state regulations. Compliance issues include student privacy, the Americans with Disabilities Act and financial management of the College.
"Compliance is a major focus in any institution," Nelson said.
Susan Albertine, Dean of the School of Culture and Society, asked Nelson what advice he would offer regarding the formation of a formal grade complaint policy.
"Once you have a policy, you have to be consistent," he said. Nelson also said the policy must be "clear and upfront with its presentation."
Nancy Williamson, current assistant vice president and deputy general counsel at the University of Maryland University College, was the third candidate to be interviewed.
"During my eight years, I've handled a wide variety of legal matters," Williamson said. These matters have included employment, contractual negotiations, equal opportunity and student issues.
During the interview, Lynette Harris, director of Community Standards, asked Williamson what she thought some of the "hot topics" in higher education are today.
"I think the largest issue affecting higher education today is campus security and safety," Williamson said.
Williamson said she "loved everything about the College."
"It sounds like a really great place to be."
(10/03/07 12:00pm)
Can one man revive a dying music industry? The New York Times certainly seems to think so. The Sept. 2 issue of the Times' Sunday magazine featured a lengthy article about Rick Rubin, the potential saving grace of both Sony-owned Columbia Records and the failing record industry as a whole.
Rubin's name certainly carries a lot of weight in the industry. The man has honed and polished a broad spectrum of bands and musicians, including Johnny Cash, Neil Diamond, LL Cool J, The Dixie Chicks, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Slayer, according to the Times. He's revitalized careers and exposed new talent with a Zen-like, spiritual approach to musical production and constantly defied both standards of the industry and of genre.
It also doesn't hurt that Rubin is shrewd, innovative and business savvy - think Buddha meets Bill Gates. This is most likely why Columbia Records brought Rubin in as the co-head of the label. Surely Columbia must think that Rubin, ever the innovator, can breathe life into the fading record industry by producing truly inspired music.
Though Rubin has accomplished a great deal, it is difficult to say whether or not this is possible. He faces two distinct challenges. The first is the multi-million-dollar juggernaut that is iTunes. The second is the ever-increasing trend of music piracy. Both have prompted the rapid deflation of record sales and the closing of numerous independently-owned record stores nationwide. For the most part, anyone who still wishes to buy their music does so a track at a time from iTunes. The rest simply steal or share it, depending on whom you ask.
Rubin's master plan to counteract these trends is an ingenious one. He suggests an all-encompassing, subscription-based music service. Much like a cable TV service, listeners would have a seemingly limitless supply of music to peruse right at their fingertips. Vast digital libraries of music would come with payment of a monthly fee.
Here is where Rubin's plan collides head-on with stinging reality: people don't like parting with their money. The prospect of a limitless, digital-music library certainly is tempting, but as any somewhat Web-savvy college student knows, free music of all kinds can be found on the vast, untamed and lawless frontier of the Internet.
Rubin's results as a producer certainly cannot be disputed. Musicians produced by Rubin have experienced both commercial success and refinement of their music. He reminded us all how cool the Man in Black was, discovered the Beastie Boys and brought the Chili Peppers into the lime light with "Under the Bridge." It is the hope of Sony and Columbia Records that Rubin can increase the quality of music and give people a product worth buying.
On the other hand, it can be argued that the Internet has already enhanced the quality of music. Aspiring musicians no longer compete against similar bands in their immediate area, but similar bands world-wide. This new form of competition has forced bands to think of innovative ways of marketing themselves and their music. This has made for mixed results.
Recently, I interviewed the front man of a talented, up-and-coming local rock band. He lamented that the Internet has produced a great deal of generic sounding bands that join a radio-friendly pop sound with girl pants and youth medium sized t-shirts. The end result is a million bands that look and sound like Fall Out Boy.
Then again, the Internet and file sharing have spawned successful careers for inspired acts like the Arctic Monkeys, We Are Scientists and The Guggenheim Grotto, which - by word of mouth and Internet buzz alone - were propelled to star-status seemingly overnight. The Internet and file sharing have proven that the best musicians and bands still rise to the top.
Since there is no shortage of good music today, and most of it can be obtained at no cost, I find it difficult to believe that one man can revitalize the fading record industry. The trends of file sharing and piracy are so engrained in popular culture that it is unrealistic to think that they can be reversed. Regardless of the record industry's future and the methods by which we obtain our music, more music - both tired and inspired - is sure to come.
(09/26/07 12:00pm)
Additional interview sessions with student leaders were held last week for the position of Campus Police Chief/Director of Campus Security.
The sessions, held with various student leaders in attendance, were added to the search process partially in response to an editorial that ran in the Aug. 29 issue of The Signal, according to Curt Heuring, vice president of Facilities Management, Construction and Safety.
Heuring said the editorial prompted discussion of the search and hiring process for the newly-created position with College President R. Barbara Gitenstein and her cabinet, executive president of Student Government Association (SGA) Christine Cullen, and a member of the Police Chief/Director of Campus Security search committee.
"We discussed it and agreed that these interviews wouldn't be a bad idea," Heuring said.
Gitenstein said additional meetings with final candidates were always a planned aspect of the hiring process.
"It was always the plan that we would bring back the finalists for further meetings with Mr. Heuring," she said in an e-mail interview. "However, as we were discussing the next steps in the process, we recognized that there was considerable student interest in the fi nal choice and that it would be easy enough to schedule another opportunity for Mr. Heuring to get further input from students on his decision."
Gitenstein added that the additional opportunities would allow Beth Paul, interim provost, to meet with the two candidates. She had not previously had this opportunity.
Heuring said the student interview sessions held on Sept. 19 and 20 were not part of the planned hiring process for the newly- created position. In an e-mail interview, he added that they were created to be more "inclusive of students."
"I read the editorial and thought that we had gone to great lengths to accommodate student opinion," he said.
The editorial raised questions about how the search process for the Police Chief/Director of Campus Security position was conducted, and said the process restricted and limited student participation.
Heuring said the administration "wanted to remove any doubt" regarding the search and hiring process. Heuring said the interests of the students were considered throughout the process.
"I've done everything I can to figure out how to get student input on this," he said.
The announcement of the interviews was made in the Sept. 19 edition of The Signal in the "Eye on SGA" article. According to Cullen, the interviews for the final two candidates were created for leaders of various student organizations to evaluate the two finalists. She said the goal was to facilitate "more focused conversation" regarding the two finalists.
"Rhelda Richards (associate vice president of Facilities Management, Construction and Safety) sent out an e-mail to the presidents of the major organizations on campus inviting us to the forums," Cullen said in an e-mail interview.
The student leaders received evaluation forms which they completed regarding each candidate and submitted to Heuring.
The first finalist, John M. Collins, the commanding officer of the Port Authority police force of the Lincoln Tunnel, visited the College on Sept. 19. Eleven student leaders were present at this interview. Collins has worked for the Port Authority for 27 years.
Collins, a third-generation police officer who was also part of the emergency response to the attacks on the World Trade Center, said that although managing Tunnel security and supervising police on a college campus seem different, the two have a great deal in common.
Collins said both the Lincoln Tunnel and the College have "transient communities." Just as people pass through the tunnel, students are constantly moving back and forth between home and college, then finally into the working world or another learning institution. Collins said successful policing of the Tunnel was achieved by reaching out to the community.
"It takes a lot of bridge building," Collins said. "If there's not a relationship (between police and the community), the police aren't doing their job."
Collins described the essential nature of community policing to any college campus. He said "community policing is outcome-based." Collins said as Police Chief, he would want the office of Campus Police to be more involved in the campus community.
He listed his priorities as "getting cops out of the cars" and "getting the sense to them that there's more to their mission than writing tickets."
Capt. Edmund Johnson was the second finalist to visit the College. Four student leaders were in attendance for his visit. Johnson currently serves the Rutgers University Police Department. He has worked for Rutgers University since he graduated from the New Jersey Sate Police Academy in Sea Girt in 1984.
"It's important that police police themselves," Johnson said. "I was troubled to read the ad hoc Committee's report of complaints that were not addressed," he added, referring to both the ad hoc Committee on Campus Police Relations and the extensive report it published at the end of last semester.
Johnson also discussed several initiatives he would like to undertake at the College.
"I'd like to see police use education first," he said. As part of this educational approach, he suggested crime prevention programs for students and possibly attendance of SGA meetings by police officers.
Johnson also said he would like to see more involvement of police in the campus community. "It's very presumptuous of a police department to tell a community what its problems are," he said. "We need to become part of the community here."
(09/26/07 12:00pm)
With a push of the play button, the onslaught of highly-refined rock music begins. The intense bombardment is captivating, and in an instant the listener is immersed in rock 'n' roll's timeless trio of guitars, drums and bass.
"Some secrets you never can tell, 'cause the truth will reveal your lies," Jason Kundrath, vocalist and rhythm guitarist, croons.
Right from the onset of their 2007 release, "The Deception EP," Hero Pattern inundates the listener with sophisticated rhythm and bass resonating from drummer Mike Kundrath and bassist Rob Fitzgerald. Pierre Marceau, lead guitarist, ignites the fret board as his fingers sprint and dash about the neck, gripping and bending strings high and low. Narrating the energetic arrangement with tales of loss, miscommunication and nostalgia is Jason's melodic voice.
Hero Pattern formed as the result of two merged musical endeavors. While in high school, the Kundrath brothers had formed two separate bands. Jason, who was already creating music with Fitzgerald, his longtime friend, was the principal songwriter in this early musical endeavor, "which shall remain nameless," he said. Mike served as Jason's constant collaborator while writing these early songs.
Eventually, Mike was brought in to drum with Jason and Fitzgerald; however, according to Jason, the band had yet to be completed. At the time, Marceau, known in the hometown scene as the best guitarist around, was playing for another local band. When Marceau's original band broke up, Jason described him as being in a state of mourning. Despite Marceau's loss, Jason remained persistent and was able to bring him into the band. With the addition of Marceau, described as the band's "secret weapon," utilizing a "Slash meets David Gilmore approach" to guitar, Hero Pattern was born.
"He's a virtuoso in his own right," Jason said. Marceau's virtuosity was the final element required for the creation of potent, driving rock music. "At this point, we all know exactly how to be Hero Pattern," he added.
Being Hero Patten consists of a focused approach to "the lost art of writing a good song." A Hero Pattern song has roots deep in the classic rock genre. According to Jason, The Beatles are a tremendous source of inspiration for the band.
"The Beatles were my first obsession," he said. "That's probably why the craft of songwriting is important to me. I just want to make sure that the standard of music is very high."
Jason also described the impression left on him by the grunge acts of the '90s, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The angst and aggression of these acts began to surface in his early attempts at songwriting. With the divorce of his parents, his music served as "a release valve for all this pent-up emotion."
Despite these influences, Jason rightfully asserted, "I do feel that Hero Pattern's sound is really hard to classify." Hero Pattern has harnessed these influences and has utilized them to create a distinct and forceful sound.
Their efforts have not gone without recognition. What would come to be referred to as "Everything You Knew" in the United States was originally intended to be a full-length record. It was recorded at Atomic Recording Company in Long Island. Jason said the band literally "moved into the studio" and recorded the record over the course of numerous marathon, 18-30 hour sessions.
When the record was finished, the band began to hunt for a record label that would pay for the release. When a tentative deal fell through, the band decided to release the record as a six-track EP. Fabtone Records, a Japanese label, released the record in Japan in its entirety. Jason said Fabtone also financed detailed liner notes, complete with lyrics, as well as cover art.
The lack of a stateside label has not prevented Hero Pattern from touring. The band spent all of April on the road, touring with River City High, Jetlag Gemini and National Fire Theory. Jason described this as "a priceless experience," where he learned the importance of "getting loose on stage" and "being as much of a showman as possible." But for a working musician, the reality of a tour hits especially hard.
"You have rent to pay; you have bills coming in every month," Jason said. "Touring is a disconnect from reality."
But in reality, the dream of a label-sponsored tour may not be that far out of reach. Hero Pattern has already spent two weeks as purevolume.com's "Pure Pick," during which the band soared up Pure Volume's rock chart to the No 1. ranking, a statistic that is sure to earn the attention of the music industry. As Hero Pattern takes to the studio to record another EP, this time with acclaimed independent producer and engineer Steve Greenwell, their big break may be soon to follow.
(09/19/07 12:00pm)
Many proud students, parents, faculty and staff at the College can quickly list the institution's numerous accolades. How these statistics are ascertained, in addition to their significance in the admissions process, is often harder to determine.
Most recently, the College was ranked seventh on The Princeton Review's list of "Happiest Students," contained in the corporation's 2008 edition of "Best 366 Colleges." The College was also ranked 20th in the "Most Beautiful Campus" category.
Recognition has also come from Barron's Profiles of American Colleges, which ranked the College among the 75 "most competitive" institutions nationwide. U.S. News & World Report recognized the College as "the top public master's college in the northern region of the country for the 16th consecutive year," according to an Aug. 21 press release issued by the College.
Laura Braswell, senior editor of The Princeton Review's "Best 366 Colleges," described The Princeton Review's systematic process for evaluating what it deems the nation's best institutions of higher learning. Braswell said The Princeton Review contacted 120,000 students nationwide for its annual evaluation.
Working with college administrators, The Princeton Review e-mailed surveys to these students asking them to evaluate their colleges based on certain criteria. Each of the 80 survey questions corresponds to different categories of evaluation, including "Academics," "Fire Safety" and "Selectivity," among others.
Braswell indicated that the College's seventh "Happiest Students" rank falls under the "Quality of Life" category. She said this rank is determined by a wide range of questions specific to the campus, dorms and food.
With the incentive of a randomly selected $5,000 scholarship, students also evaluate the previous year's description of their respective institutions.
Braswell said The Princeton Review receives "81 percent approval of the old descriptions as accurate."
Grecia Montero, director of recruitment at the College, was quick to tout the rankings awarded by The Princeton Review. "Students and their families are looking for quality," Montero said, "and the quality of life on campus is ideal. Students are truly happy."
Montero explained that for recruitment purposes, the College only stands to gain from The Princeton Review's rankings. She said the office of Admissions will emphasize the new accolades. "We have to sell the College," she said.
According to Robert J. Morse, director of data research at U.S. News & World Report, the evaluation methods utilized in their annual newsstand book, "America's Best Colleges," differ from those of The Princeton Review.
Morse said first, schools are divided into "similar categories," including "National Universities," "Liberal Arts Colleges" and "Business Programs," among others. The next step is to "collect data from schools with a peer survey." A system of "weighted indicators" is used to compare the schools within their respective categories. They are then ranked accordingly.
When asked about the influence of college ranking corporations like U.S. News & World Report, Morse said that "studies done nationwide show that they don't play a pivotal rule in school choice."
"Rankings shouldn't be the sole reason to choose a school," he said. "They're meant to help inform students and parents."
Braswell expressed a similar sentiment. "We like to think students use (the rankings) quite a bit," she said. She added that The Princeton Review encourages students to consider other information when selecting a potential college.
Recently enrolled freshmen, however, seem to think otherwise.
Melnay Narvaez, freshman buiness major, said she was unaware of the latest rankings awarded to the College, and said they did not influence her decision in attending.
Amanda Berg, freshman communication studies major, said from her experience, students don't consider college ranking data unless they're already interested in the particular school. She also agreed that students on campus are happy.
"When you're walking around campus, everyone is really friendly and everyone holds doors open for each other," she said.
One freshman was aware of the statistics when applying to the College. Chris Hallberg, freshman interactive multimedia major, said, "I wasn't directly influenced by the rankings, but I agree (with the influence of rankings)."
Hallberg stressed the importance of happiness among students. He explained that his parents were especially pleased with the seventh "Happiest Students" rank. He said, "Parents are always telling you to do what makes you happy."
(09/12/07 12:00pm)
The off-campus vendor program of the College's GetIt card system has been discontinued as of the Fall 2007 semester.
The 10-year-old program allowed students to make off-campus purchases with their GetIt cards at select locations.
The discontinuation came as a result of a campus-wide ID card software upgrade, according to Dionne Hallback, associate director of Student Accounts.
According to Hallback, the software upgrade affected all aspects of the College's ID card system, including swipe access to buildings and parking, meal plans and general identification data, in addition to the off-campus vendor program.
Hallback explained "as a result of the upgrade, the card reader terminals that the vendors used for the GetIt purchases became obsolete." She added that if a vendor wished to continue participation in the off-campus program, the vendor would have to purchase a new card terminal.
"This additional expense to the vendors was a major consideration when weighing the option to temporarily suspend the program," she said.
The decision to discontinue the program did not come without careful consideration. A study was conducted in January 2007 to garner feedback from vendors and campus users, according to the Card Services Web site and Hallback.
The Web site also said more data was needed to make a decision for continuing the program.
"The responses provided some insight into students, faculty and staff perceptions about the program and usage of the program," Hallback said. "The responses to the survey were helpful, but additional information was needed, such as the vendor's perceptions of the program.
According to Hallback, vendors were invited to the campus to discuss the implications of the pending decision to discontinue. Vendors took the opportunity to express concerns.
"Some of the vendors' comments were related to their concerns about a reduction in sales if the program was eliminated, their views on the increased use of debit and credit cards versus the use of the GetIt card and marketing and costs to operate the program," Hallback said.
She added that information regarding management of vendor programs at other colleges and universities was needed.
Despite the program's discontinuation, Hallback said that the vendor program was successful and enhanced the College's relationship with participating vendors and Ewing Township.
Hallback said that "no definitive date" has been set for the program's restoration. "We will continue to explore the program to decide how the GetIt program and other concepts will support a debit program that will allow (the College) community to make purchases both on and off campus," she added.
The Card Services Web site said that a study of the program will continue, including "an assessment of all logistical aspects of the program, analysis of user satisfaction and needs, revenue data, market issues and long-term expectations of the program."
(09/12/07 12:00pm)
For the majority of bands, the prospect of being signed to a record label is seemingly unattainable. A label can serve as a veritable lifeline for a band, providing the funding necessary for extended tours, studio time and promotion. Life for a band without a label can be expensive, and most bands pay these expenses out of pocket while spending years struggling to meet with only minor success.
That's why when 50 Records, a Minneapolis-based indie label, presented White Light Riot, a Minneapolis indie-rock band, with an exclusive contract, they pounced on the opportunity. The fledgling 50 Records, wholly won over by White Light Riot's scathing-rock candor, offered the band an exclusive recording contract for two records and a funded tour. The end result was White Light Riot's full-length debut record, "Atomism."
"The label found us," Mike Schwandt, vocalist and guitarist, said. "We're their first band, so we're the guinea pigs . They kind of want to be the East West of the mid-West," Schwandt added, referring to one of the Warner Music Group's newest labels. "It's helped us because they've been really good at getting us exposure, and without their investment we wouldn't have been able to go live down in the studio for a month and a half and record."
This was White Light Riot's proverbial big break, an opportunity that every band hopes for. The offer from 50 Records, though lucky, was not without merit.
White Light Riot formed about three years ago. Schwandt and his brother Mark, the band's drummer, had been creating music since high school, both together and in separate bands. Mark met current bassist Dan Larsen in one of these bands and soon Larsen began to play with the two brothers. According to Schwandt, the lineup had yet to be completed.
Schwandt said that after a semester abroad in Europe, he returned home to find out that Mark had completed the band. Joe Christenson, lead guitarist and backup vocalist, had been added to the lineup.
"When I came back, we had our first practice and it gelled perfectly," Schwandt said. "We wrote five or six songs in the first practice and that was when I knew that this would be great for us."
White Light Riot draws upon an eclectic lot of bands for inspiration. Among its influences, they cite classic rock acts such as The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and The Doors, in addition to more contemporary, experimental acts like Interpol and Radiohead. The end result is inspired, introspective and forceful.
Their songs are rich in both the harmonized melodies of The Beatles and the dynamic guitar work of Led Zeppelin, and resonate of Jim Morrison-esque swagger and bravado. Infused within this timeless mixture are ambient, sweeping guitar tones popularized by acts like Radiohead and The Verve.
"We don't really think about it until the song is done . but we'll look back and listen to the song and we'll be like 'Oh, that kind of sounds a little bit Interpol-ish in this part, or a little Radiohead-like over here, or that three-part harmony is total Beatles-esque," Schwandt said.
"It's just because we so passionately love those bands that it just comes out, in terms of our writing."
"Atomism" showcases a band that is passionate and devoted to the creation of poignant rock music. The musicianship is both potent and succinct - every riff and chord reverberates with energy, every beat packs a punch.
Lyrically, the band is terse, but on-point in its dealings with themes accessible to any 20-something. Each song leaves the listener anticipating the next.
"The whole goal of it was to have listeners not feel like they need to skip songs," Schwandt said. "The main goal was to make something that, on your first listen to the CD, you wanted to hear the whole thing straight through."
Success certainly did not come overnight for White Light Riot. Schwandt described the band's previous struggles, including under-attended shows in new towns and funding earlier EPs.
Ultimately, it was determination and a commitment to the creation of distinct rock music that has garnered its success. These factors are likely to remain constant throughout the future successes of White Light Riot.
"Connecting to people through music, I think, is the coolest thing ever," Schwandt said. "If we're not starving in a few years and we're actually just making enough to get by and we can still make music, then we're all going to be happy."
(09/05/07 12:00pm)
Should a band make the same record twice? I've always found myself drawn toward bands that are constantly evolving, and I believe that sonic evolution is characteristic of a band's maturing process.
Unfortunately, far too many times I've heard music fans say something to the effect of, "(Insert band's name here)'s new album is just too different. They've gone mainstream. I can't even listen to the new stuff." I say to you, musical-cynics young and old, give the subject of your disinterest at least one more chance.
One band in particular comes to mind as a case study for the maturing process. Let's examine the Arctic Monkeys, shall we? Its first full-length release, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not," was packed with infectious melodies, harmonized guitar riffs and lyrics about underage drinking, dancing and fashion consciousness. Honestly, what's not to like?
This band has produced some quality indie rock. Its devil-may-care attitude, explosive dance beats and raw rock crunch made for an emotionally-charged listening experience. The rawness of both the subject matter and sound of "Whatever People Say I Am." only made the Arctic Monkeys that much more appealing to me. Its follow-up, however, was a deviation from these themes.
Aptly named, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" took on darker lyrical subjects, and nearly all of the lightheartedness of the band's previous release seemed to vanish. The delightfully-unrefined rock presence was also toned down. What happened?
To be frank, the Arctic Monkeys grew up. This may seem somewhat improbable since the two releases were only a year apart, but the material on the first record had been previously released and then revamped. The themes dealt with in their previous releases were tales of angst, frustration and adolescence. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is both a farewell to and departure from adolescence.
Sonically, "Favourite Worst Nightmare" is reflective of this change. The vocals are distant in the mix and drenched in ambient reverb. The drums are right up-front and in your face, while the guitars hover above the raucous rhythm section, sending clanging, distorted riffs down like rain. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" certainly took on a darker tone, but the same devil-may-care attitude remained as the music's backbone.
"Favourite Worst nightmare" is still an Arctic Monkeys record at its core. This latest release, however, showcases a band that has matured musically. Why some previous fans may have shunned this release is no mystery to me. The mood of the record is dark and desolate. Tonally, the lads from Sheffield have refined their musicianship and taste in both guitar tones and musical arrangements.
All of this is difficult to pick up on a first listen. I'll admit that based on my first impression of "Favourite Worst Nightmare," I preferred "Whatever People Say I Am.," but with each listen I began to appreciate the newly refined Arctic Monkeys.
Making the same record twice is a wise marketing decision. I feel like this is part of the greater "if it isn't broken, don't fix it" mentality of the music industry. Bands are producing records that are difficult to differentiate between. Fall Out Boy comes to mind. In some genres, the need to produce a successful follow-up release has surpassed the desire to create inspired music.
This is clearly not the case with the Arctic Monkeys. "Favourite Worst Nightmare" showcases a band that dared to let its sound evolve, and the final product, though maybe not as initially accessible as its previous release, is truly inspired. So I implore you, give (insert band's name here)'s latest record another chance. You might find its appeal the second time around.