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(04/04/07 12:00pm)
In the beginning of the Fall 2006 semester, a string of complaints filed against the Office of Campus Police prompted the formation of the ad hoc Committee on Campus Police. Since the formation of the committee, members have been working toward the creation of a report containing testimonials of student interaction with Campus Police.
The 40-page report was completed and submitted to College President R. Barbara Gitenstein prior to Spring Break. In a follow-up meeting with committee members on March 26, Gitenstein delayed the release of the report to the campus community, citing the need for further revisions.
"The Committee is currently in the process of completing their final report . they wanted some clarifications on some issues regarding statutes, state procedures and union contract matters," Gitenstein said in an e-mail interview.
James Gant, Student Government Association (SGA) vice president and committee chair, indicated that Gitenstein delegated Vivian Fernandez, associate vice president for Human Resources, and Heather Fehn, executive assistant to the President, to assist in making additional revisions prior to the report's publication. Gant said this has been done to ensure the legality and plausibility of the recommendations made by the committee through the report.
The idea of the ad hoc Committee on Campus Police was first suggested by Michael Robertson, president of the faculty senate and professor of English at the College. Robertson created the committee, incorporating three members from both the staff and faculty senates, as well as two members of SGA.
Also sitting on the committee is James Lopez, member of the staff senate and employee of the Office of Campus Police. Gant said Lopez's presence on the committee has been a valuable asset toward the creation of the report.
"(Lopez's input) has totally worked out for us," Gant said. "He has not given one biased opinion."
Gant indicated that despite Lopez's presence on the committee, employees of the Office of Campus Police were hesitant to aid the committee.
"Initially, Campus Police thought that (the committee) was a witch hunt and officers didn't want to testify," he said.
As more officers began to appear before the committee, Gant said they began to realize that the intentions of the committee were not hostile. Rather, the committee sought to re-evaluate methods in which officers are trained, in addition to reinforcing the concept of "community policing."
"The campus is not a municipality," Gant said. "It's a community."
Gant said the role of Campus Police is educational, much like any other component of the greater College community.
When asked to provide an example of community policing, Gant suggested that if a student was discovered to be intoxicated, the proper response of a police officer would be to immediately evaluate the safety of the individual, provide the help that they need and to then follow up with an explanation of the charges and legal procedure at a later time.
Gant said James Norfleet, vice president of Student Life, provided examples of community policing at other colleges and universities.
Having identified the objectives of the committee, Gant said Henry Fradella, member of the faculty senate and professor of criminology and justice studies, began to write and revise the draft of the report.
Publication of the report is expected to occur within three weeks. The report will not utilize names for reasons of job security and confidentiality. Gant expressed the hope that students would have a vested interest in the publication of the report's findings.
(04/04/07 12:00pm)
Readymade Breakup has adopted an "unapologetic" approach to rock 'n' roll, while simultaneously reaffirming the existence of substantial pop music. The band stands apart with its potent, seemingly orchestral arrangements - incorporating acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, bass and drums. Readymade Breakup is working to reclaim the lost art of the three minute pop-rock song.
"We're not going to pretend that we're some avant-garde, head-up-our-asses indie band," guitarist/vocalist Paul Rosevear said. "We're pretty unapologetic about saying we love great choruses; we love great melodies."
When the early beginnings of the group began to materialize five years ago, the band's founding members, Rosevear and bassist/vocalist Gay Elvis, did not set out to overhaul the foundations of rock 'n' roll. "We're not trying to reinvent the wheel," Gay Elvis said.
With the additions of Spicy O'Neil on drums, Matt Jaworski on keyboards and Jim Fitzgerald on guitar, the band became solidified in its lineup and outlook. The new members were likeminded, and the band quickly formed a consensus. Previous musical endeavors, and past prospects of "making it" had left members of the new lineup jaded. Readymade Breakup would be devoted toward the creation of soulful music and the fun of the process.
"Taking ourselves too seriously got us nowhere," Fitzgerald said. "It ended up souring everyone involved."
The members of Readymade Breakup certainly do not take themselves too seriously and are approachable. Gay Elvis said that the band members are not the types of musicians who "duck into a green room" after a performance. At their January record release party, held at Maxwell's in Hoboken, they were seen mingling with fans at the bar after what was a command performance. They are quick to dispute B-rate Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, point out the "nebulous" protruding from Gay Elvis's neck or discuss masterfully written b-sides, such as the ballad "Oh Starfish," which praises the regenerative abilities of the creature.
Their sense of humor, however, does not detract from the professionalism which they bring to songwriting. Their recently released record, "Isn't That What It's For?," showcases a painstakingly crafted set of 12 songs. "Isn't That What It's For?" stands out as an excellent example of the balance between rock character and pop refinement, recorded using both time-honored traditional methods and state-of-the-art digital technology. From start to finish, the creation of the record took a year, mainly as a result of constant revisions made by the perfectionists of Readymade Breakup.
"The album never would have seen an end," Gay Elvis said. "If it had been up to me, we would still be mixing it right now."
Specific stand out tracks showcase the musical abilities of each member of Readymade Breakup. However, every song has clearly been refined through collaborative songwriting. "Funeral" narrates a tale of love and loss, while enveloping the listener in an intricate harmonized melody. "Say Yes" emphasizes the strength of the band's rhythm section, featuring a melodic, Paul McCartney-esque bass line and a highly charged, galloping beat. The complementary guitar and piano fills throughout the record emphasize its underlying melodic nature.
The members of Readymade Breakup suggest that the New Jersey rock scene is both ever evolving and fickle. According to the band, there is constant talk of local "scenes" that are ready to "explode" but seldom do. Some venues yield inconsistent draws, leaving the band playing to a packed house one week, and a handful of listeners the next.
Sometimes, it seems that the spirit of the N.J. rock scene, as epitomized by 1970s Asbury Park, is long gone. Readymade Breakup certainly stands to prove otherwise, possessing both the talent and raw energy required for the reinvigoration of pop-rock and the local N.J. rock scene.
(03/28/07 12:00pm)
The March 21 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA) took place at the New Jersey State House. Dan Scapardine, sophomore senator of Culture and Society, said SGA meets annually at the State House as an honorific gesture from the state to SGA. Despite the change of venue, SGA went about its normal affairs and procedures.
The cancellation of Senior Week was officially presented to SGA and was met with resistance by two SGA members. The announcement was originally made in an e-mail message written by Mollie Seiferas, Senior Class president, and was received by seniors at the College last Monday evening.
Steven Link, vice president of Academic Affairs, initially praised Senior Class Council officials for their "hard work" and "dedication" in the planning of the event. This was then followed by the condemnation of what Link described as the ambivalence of SGA executives.
"(The cancellation of Senior Week) should never have happened," Link said. "These are the results that will (occur) when our elected student leaders in SGA just go with the flow and isolate those with differing and alternative viewpoints without fully exploring alternative options."
In a telephone interview, Dan Beckelman, junior senator at-Large, agreed with Link's statements. "The SGA executive board should have been more vigilant in their opposition to the administration," Beckelman said.
Beckelman also acknowledged isolation attempts within SGA, adding that only Link and another member of the executive board opposed the changes to Senior Week. Beckelman said he received criticism from supporters of the decision to ban alcohol consumption in the Travers and Wolfe dormitories.
James Gant, executive vice president, spoke regarding progress made by the ad hoc Committee on Campus Police. The committee was formed during the Fall 2006 semester to address concerns with the Office of Campus Police.
Since its formation, the committee has created a 40-page report. Gant said in an e-mail interview that the report discloses specific instances of student interactions with Campus Police, obtained through testimony and research. When asked to describe some of the instances, Gant declined, citing the present confidential state of the report. The report was delivered to President R. Barbara Gitenstein's office prior to Spring Break. Gant met with Gitenstein to discuss the findings on Monday, but the findings have not been released to the public.
"We hope to see our recommendations considered by Campus Police, the administration and the Board of Trustees," Gant said.
Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, revealed plans for a rally in Trenton on May 3. In an e-mail interview, Strom said the rally will be held for the restoration of the Outstanding Scholarship Recruitment Program (OSRP) and for the recuperation of lost funding for higher education.
Strom expects a turnout of around 300 students in addition to more from other schools. Four-year colleges and universities from across the state have been invited, though the Legal and Governmental Affairs committee may open the event to all colleges and universities. Presently, the event is co-sponsored with Phi Alpha Delta fraternity. SGA encourages other student organizations to co-sponsor the event.
"There needs to be a commitment to better public higher education," Strom said. "If we manage to get several hundred students out there, we may hope to have OSRP restored and get the restoration (of funding) the College desperately needs and deserves."
Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, announced the Organizational Ambassador Program (OAP) was to begin the week of March 19. OAP provides limited SGA supervision of all student organizations. An SGA senator will periodically attend each organization's meetings or events to help maintain club activity and to promote SGA regulations and guidelines.
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
Executive representatives from the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Student Finance Board (SFB) recapped SGA endeavors and presented future plans for the College on the evening of March 6 at the annual State of the Campus Address. The address was delivered in the Cromwell Hall main lounge and was open to the general student body.
Christine Cullen, SGA president, spearheaded and facilitated the address, praising the efforts of fellow SGA members. Cullen also welcomed suggestions from the student body to assure continued improvement of student life at the College.
"Your elected representatives are very passionate and hardworking," Cullen said. "I ask you to think about how we can do more on your behalf."
Cullen praised the efforts of Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, for his lobbying efforts. Strom and Dan Beckelman, vice president of Administration and Finance, have been meeting with New Jersey elected officials in order to recover the $8.1 million that was lost due to budget cuts to higher education.
"Public education is clearly not seen as a high priority in the eyes of the state government," Cullen said. "We must work together to capture the ear of Trenton."
Cullen also lauded the efforts of James Gant, SGA executive vice president, in his formation of and interaction with the Ad-hoc Committee on Campus Police. Cullen said the committee was formed to assess the role of Campus Police in the College community. The committee was formed in light of numerous complaints filed against the Office of Campus Police in the beginning of the Fall 2006 semester. Cullen reported that since the formation of the committee, the number of complaints has gone down drastically.
Cullen touched on other developments, including the formation of The Pulse, an online forum to be utilized by SGA and College administrators for gathering student feedback, the completion of ProfRecord, a statistical database providing information about professors, and SGA outreach to student organizations, including the de-recognition of inactive clubs as well as the supervision of active clubs.
Jonathan Borst, executive director of SFB, said that more than 80 student groups have received funding from the Student Activities Fund over the past year, with nearly 100 requests for funding submitted. Borst emphasized the success of comedian George Carlin's upcoming performance at the College in Kendall Hall.
Daria Silvestro, student trustee, discussed academics at the College. Silvestro spoke regarding improvements made to the secondary education program, which will better prepare students for teaching in "diverse classrooms." Silvestro also encouraged students to take part in independent research at the College. She asserted that the size of the College allows for students to work directly with a professor in doing research.
Kamaria Byrd, SGA vice president of Equity and Diversity, said her committee has increased "campus inclusiveness" at the College. Byrd said "the campus has been moving in the right direction," citing improvements such as the upcoming diversity awareness event, Globalpalooza, as well as the development of the College Bound program for minorities seeking higher education.
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
Christopher Klim, professor of journalism at the College, describes his beginning as humble. Certainly, those who once called him "stupid" and "slow" did not expect him to earn degrees in physics as well as computer science, work for the space program and publish five books, with his latest fiction piece, "Idiot!," near completion.
"People who meet me now cannot bridge my childhood image and the adult manifestation," Klim said.
Hindered by dyslexia, Klim's childhood education was an uphill struggle, with few voices of encouragement - except his second grade teacher, Mrs. Marquette, and his mother.
"(Marquette) didn't know how to help me," Klim says, "but (she) encouraged me to find my own way."
Like most dyslexics, Klim learned how to cope with his disability, finding his "own way" by memorizing images of letters, numbers and words in order to read and write. By the time he began attending Rutgers University in 1980, he was able to complete all assignments knowing that it would take him longer than his classmates.
In spite of the adversity, Klim never stopped dreaming. "My head was full of stories, and I needed to get them down on paper," he said. "Against all logic, I wanted to be a writer."
But writing would have to wait a few years. Having graduated from Rutgers in 1984, Klim had his sights set on the space program. He was quickly accepted into NASA's civilian end and began working on "LandSat," which he described as "a geosynchronous orbiting body that took weather photos." Klim proceeded to work on a number of other projects, including a few military satellites and, most prominently, the satellite Mars Observer, which was utilized to map out the surface of the planet to pave the way for future landings.
"Unfortunately, my most memorable experience (in the space program) was the day Challenger blew up," Klim said. He acknowledges that despite the space program's importance in society, a change in personal direction was necessary. "The shuttle was grounded," he said. "The program looked to be in disarray. It seemed like time to move on."
The transition into writing would be no easy process, but then again, Klim is no stranger to adversity.
"The problem was and still is breaking into the business (of writing), getting people to believe that you can do it," he said. Klim calls it a Catch 22 - you often need credentials to gain access but you cannot get credentials without access.
Klim went about convincing his superiors of his writing abilities and gaining credentials in a different way. He took on the undesirable assignments and by doing so, was able to demonstrate his distinct journalistic approach.
"Often (I) was writing copy about the giant pumpkin or the high school car wash," Klim said. "I made them funny and exotic because dyslexics see everything differently."
Having established himself as a reliable news reporter, Klim branched out into other areas of journalism. Klim currently writes literary journalism for publications such as Writers Notes Magazine, of which he is the senior editor and a creator.
For Klim, the distinction between literary journalism and fiction composition is narrow, and the transition from one to the other is natural. "There is creativity to fashioning prose to not only represent the facts, yet tell them in a compelling way," he said. "Even in fiction, you must be honest to the subject matter."
Klim names the rouge gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson, as having an impact on his writing.
"Thompson showed me that I could move outside the known constructs of society and win, but when the chips were down, Thompson was a fearless reporter," Klim said.
Much like William Faulkner, Klim chooses to utilize the "marginalized members of society" as his characters. "By isolating the primary subject matter, we get a better view and then ultimately see ourselves in that person," he said. "A good story holds a mirror to our lives."
Klim uses this approach in his latest book, "Idiot!," which he describes as the story of "a severe dyslexic who has the information to save a failing New Jersey Pine Barrens cranberry community, but he is perceived as the village idiot and no one respects him." In his quest, the protagonist encounters other downtrodden characters who must confront "significant adversity as well as their personal demons."
"Idiot!" has already earned the praise of many authors prior to its release, and two of Klim's novels, including "Idiot!," have attracted the attention of two major Hollywood production companies. It may not be long before Klim's dreams are projected onto the silver screen.
Klim has spent a lifetime defying the adversity and exceeding the expectations of those who once considered him "stupid" or the "slow kid." Somehow, along the way, he never lost faith in his vision. Klim says that he has always heeded the advice given to a young Bob Dylan in Greenwich Village: "No fear, no jealousy and no bitterness."
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
At the March 7 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA), senators were informed that the $1.6 million increase in funding to the College's base appropriation for fiscal year 2008 is a negligible sum that will yield only a minor net gain in the total appropriation.
Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, explained the new base appropriation of $1.6 million merely adjusts the budget cuts for inflation.
According to the Web site of the U.S. Department of Labor, the New York/New Jersey area has undergone a 3.2 percent increase in its rate of inflation. The College received a 4.6 percent increase in its appropriation, yielding a net increase of 1.4 percent when including inflation.
Strom noted the College lacks a substantial amount of funding. The Outstanding Scholarship Recruitment Program is still without funding under the new budget. Additionally, funding of salary increases for faculty and staff have been minimal.
Dan Beckelman, vice president of Administration and Finance, urged SGA members to participate in the upcoming 2007 election for New Jersey state offices. Beckelman said there is need for a change in the administration.
Beckelman stressed the importance of placing partisanship aside to fully restore lost funding and secure a better future for New Jersey. "It's about the future of the state and quality of life," Beckelman said.
Strom touted the success of the March 1 budget cuts presentation. The presentation, which was attended by approximately 75 students, featured state assemblyman and adjunct professor Reed Gusciora. Gusciora helped outline the detriments of the budget cuts and encouraged students to vote in order to reverse the cuts.
"Everyone who went to the presentation came back saying that they learned so much," Strom said.
Strom said lobbying efforts will continue "to try and get more student advocacy." These efforts will include table sittings in Brower Student Center, which will give students a chance to sign petitions regarding the higher education budget cuts. Strom mentioned plans for a rally to protest the cuts.
Strom and Beckelman discussed the outcome of a lobbying meeting with Raymond Lesniak, a state senator from District 20. Strom and Beckelman said Lesniak seemed sympathetic to the restoration of lost funding. Lesniak recommended privatizing the New Jersey Turnpike as a means of getting funding for the College.
Sheil Naik, sophomore senator at-Large, announced the College has been considering the iTunes U service. The iTunes U service is hosted by Apple Inc. and would allow for distribution of educational materials, such as recordings of speeches, made by guest lecturers. iTunes U is based on the same technology as the iTunes store. Implementation of the program would come at no cost to the College and would only require the setup of a small recording device minutes prior to a lecture.
Naik said Apple discussed the idea with the College's Information Technology department. Matthew Golden, director of Communications and Media Relations, has developed an authorization form for guest speakers which will allow them to give the College permission to record speeches.
According to Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, The Pulse, an SGA sponsored student forum and poll, is scheduled to debut the week of March 18. The Pulse will serve as a means of collecting student feedback for both SGA and the College administration. Currently, additional polls and questions are under development.
(03/07/07 12:00pm)
The idea of eliminating the College's speech pathology program, a track within the School of Education, was introduced at the Feb. 28 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA). According to Steven Link, vice president of Academic Affairs, the decision to abandon the program has been contemplated by College administrators.
Link indicated that in an academic programs meeting, Jasper Phelps, professor of special education, language and literacy, argued against the closure of the program. Phelps said that College administrators have left professors and students out of the decision-making process and that the program has largely been neglected by the College, making retention of professors difficult.
"This seems like a big administrative decision that left both professors and students out of the loop," Link said. "There is a huge need in the state for this kind of work."
Link indicated he would follow the development of the College's decision and wished to call the senators' attention to the issue.
SGA approved Barkada, the Filipino student organization. In a memorandum issued to SGA senators, Barkada described its purpose as "to promote greater recognition of the Filipino culture, history and heritage at the College community."
Barkada will not restrict itself to engaging with the College community. The new organization has already affiliated itself with a larger intercollegiate network of student-based Filipino organizations. Barkada has been interacting with similar organizations at the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Seton Hall University and Cornell University to better address larger national issues faced by the Filipino community.
Barkada encountered some difficulties earlier in the week while appearing before the Legal and Governmental Affairs committee. Committee members questioned the originality of the organization, citing the Asian American Association (AAA) as a larger umbrella organization.
"They do seem to have some distinct differences from AAA," Dan Beckelman, vice president of Administration and Finance, said. "I think we should reward them by passing them today."
Barkada was given a unanimous vote of approval.
SGA also approved the recently formed Golf Club. The Golf Club was formed after the elimination of the College's varsity golf team, which was disbanded in 2005 after state budget cuts left the team without funds. Of the club's 10 members, six were originally part of the varsity team.
The Golf Club intends on participating in local golf tournaments. Funding will be obtained through the collection of dues and through various fundraising activities.
Beckelman discussed the recent budget proposal issued by Gov. Jon S. Corzine. The proposal allocated an increase in funding for the College of $1.6 million.
Beckelman said the proposed increase was "not a bad start." Beckelman also said his lobbying efforts and those of Mike Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, would continue as revisions to the budget proposal were made.
Beckelman also addressed what he referred to as "the scourge of vandalism in Lot 6." Recently, a car in the student parking lot was broken into. Beckelman said the installation of security cameras in the parking lot would prove to be a difficult and costly endeavor. Beckelman indicated that a more likely, as well as more cost-effective, solution to the problem would be frequent Campus Police patrols of Lot 6.
Gabe Alonso, Senior Class Council treasurer, voiced discontent with coverage of Senior Week by The Signal. Alonso also said The Signal has been unprofessional in its dealings with the Senior Class Council.
"The Signal has lacked journalistic integrity," Alonso said. "The only thing The Signal has done is give us more of a headache."
Alonso asserted that headlines selected by the Signal editorial staff appearing in the Feb. 28 edition were misleading. He affirmed that the Senior Class Council has worked to create an affordable and enjoyable Senior Week.
(02/28/07 12:00pm)
If you went to school in Lafayette Township, you might remember a certain soft-spoken young man who confined himself to the back of classrooms and hardly spoke.
If you took the time to get to know him, you would have realized that Jon Irizarry, now a freshman business major and music minor, possesses both a keen intellect and an insightful perspective on life.
Thankfully, Irizarry no longer remains silent and is currently producing a sound that is both intricate and thought-provoking.
Having played guitar for six years, Irizarry has taken to the indie music scene in passive-aggressive form and is finding an outlet for his philosophic doctrine on life.
"(Music) is a way of me saying what I want to say, but never really say," Irizarry said.
Irizarry is part of a greater departure from the roots of rock 'n' roll. Whereas most musicians are quick to list bands such as the Beatles or Led Zeppelin among their influences, Irizarry cites rising spectacle acts such as the Decemberists and Secret Machines as well as the solo endeavors of John Frusciante, guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
A listen to his full-length debut album, "Shadows Form Light," certainly reveals Irizarry's musical influences; however, he has managed to create something that is distinctly his own. The psychedelic rock title track easily entices the listener into a sonic journey.
"I wanted to create something to get lost in, or in a trance with," Irizarry said.
"Shadows Form Light" takes part in a rising trend the music industry is experiencing: the availability of affordable recording hardware and software that are making the once unattainable prospect of a home studio a reality for many musicians, including Irizarry.
"If you listen really carefully, the quality isn't as good," Irizarry admitted. "But (home recording) really lets you experiment."
Sonically, "Shadows Form Light" is both experimental and reflexive of Irizarry's profound conception of life and music. There is a sense of maturity as well as diligence in Irizarry's songwriting that sets him apart from other musicians his age. This introvert creates poignant music that embodies the intricacies of his personality, a goal many songwriters fail to achieve.
Considering the psychedelic, electric format of "Shadows Form Light," in addition to Irizarry's sonic experimentation, it may come as a surprise that he opts for the intimacy fostered by a live acoustic performance. Although Irizarry has created a sonic spectacle, his desire is to "keep the emphasis on the songwriter" by playing acoustic music at intimate settings, such as The Tapestry Caf? in Netcong, N.J.
However, Irizarry concedes that it's often difficult to hold the attention of an audience with an acoustic act. His minimalist approach to live music also makes it harder to play at new venues.
Irizarry has managed to counter this predicament by habitually opening at The Tapestry Caf? on Friday nights, allowing him to expose his music to a different audience on a weekly basis.
Additionally, Irizarry has partnered up with other local acts, performing as an opening act to develop his following.
Irizarry is currently working on a follow-up to "Shadows Form Light" while attempting to further expand his fan base. Judging by his previous endeavor, he is sure to dodge a sophomore album slump and to continue the development of an already-captivating sound that will inevitably be embraced by the larger New Jersey rock scene.
(02/28/07 12:00pm)
Plans about the future of the Country Club Apartments were presented at the Feb. 21 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA). Dan Scapardine, senator of Culture and Society, said the apartments would not be included in the spring housing lottery.
Scapardine said the office of Student Life, with the Trenton State College Corp. (TSCC), which is in charge of rental housing at the College, said the configuration of the apartments hindered their functionality as a residence hall. Scapardine mentioned a lack of lounges and other common areas, which help facilitate community development, as reasons for the change. Student Life also noted that Residence Life programming events were difficult to coordinate in the apartments.
Scapardine said the apartments will remain affiliated with the College but will no longer remain as an official residence hall. Instead, TSCC will convert the apartments to be used in a College-sponsored tenant-landlord based system.
TSCC is still working out the details of the future use of the apartments. They will be opened to students at the top of the housing waitlist for the Fall 2007 semester. Scapardine said if TSCC cannot convert the apartments to a tenant-landlord based system, they will be sold.
Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, announced plans for SGA sponsorship of student organizations. "It is our job to be the umbrella organization for student organizations on campus," Rindosh said.
Under this new program, each SGA senator would be assigned to a specific student organization. The senator would be responsible for maintaining contact with the organization to assure its success.
Rindosh described the responsibility of the senator as "an official liaison to SGA." SGA liaisons would evaluate their designated organizations, answer questions regarding student organization policy and provide general advice on organization management and meetings.
Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, discussed the March 1 state budget cuts meeting. It will outline the detriments of cuts made to the 2007 state budget and was created to increase awareness among students at the College. "Every student should attend," Strom said.
James Gant, executive vice president, discussed last semester's Campus Night Walk, which allowed students to address concerns about safety at the College. The Campus Night Walk yielded a four-page document, which listed 61 separate safety issues.
Gant said this document was presented to Curt Heuring, vice president for Facilities Management, and to the office of Campus Police. Heuring assured SGA that progress has been made in addressing these concerns and that they will continue to be addressed throughout the semester.
(02/21/07 12:00pm)
The second water pipe break in a week occurred at the College in the Townhouses South complex on the afternoon of Feb. 12. Facilities workers said that a sprinkler pipe froze and ruptured inside the data network closet adjacent to house 17.
The pipe break left residents without water until 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 and without swipe access until midday on Tuesday, Feb. 13. Residents in houses 3-17 are without Internet access as of press time.
"The electric closet that was affected houses all of the Internet, phone and access control servers and cables," Melanie Hinds, complex coordinator for Townhouses South, said.
In an e-mail sent to Townhouses South residents, Hinds described the damage done to the electrical components in the closet as "severe."
"Water infiltrated all of the communications equipment in that closet, the network switches were destroyed and all of the cabling terminations got wet," Hinds said.
The extent of the damage requires the use of an outside contractor. A communications contractor arrived on Monday, Feb. 19 in hopes of repairing the damage. The College's Information Technology staff is working with the communications contractor to obtain the necessary replacement components. In the letter, Hinds said that Internet access could be restored as early as yesterday. (The Signal goes to print Monday night.)
"Information has been hard to come by, and only on Friday were we given even a tentative idea of when to expect restoration of Internet service," AJ Richards, senior physics major, said. "Perhaps they don't realize that to a college student, lack of Internet is not just inconvenient, but utterly incapacitating."
Hinds said that damage caused to adjacent rooms was minimal. Carpeting in the lounge of house 17 and in room 17A was affected. However, Building Services staff quickly addressed the situation.
"Both the carpeting in the room and lounge were completely dried by Tuesday evening," Hinds said.
Hinds added that no students were relocated due to the ruptured water pipe. The student staff member residing in room 17A was allowed to return to her room shortly after the incident on Monday evening.
The Feb. 14 issue of The Signal reported the bursting of a sprinkler pipe in New Residence Hall. This instance was attributed to a rooftop ventilation system that allowed outside cold air to freeze the pipe. Hinds was uncertain as to whether the Townhouses South complex uses a similar ventilation system.
"I can't be sure what kind of ventilation system the townhouses use," Hinds said.
Hinds emphasized that the College's response was quick and multifaceted. The break was reported by the housing assistant in house 17 at 1:50 p.m. Campus Police arrived on the scene by 2 p.m., and representatives from the offices of Facilities, Building Services, Environmental Services and Residence Life arrived 15 minutes afterward.
"They all responded extremely diligently and effectively in assessing the cause of the problem and resolving the problem in order to ensure the safety of the students and the structural stability of the townhouses," Hinds said.
(02/14/07 12:00pm)
Plans for a new online student feedback forum were discussed at the Feb. 7 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA). The forum will be placed on the College's Web site and will be used to facilitate SGA accessibility.
A general design for the forum was introduced by Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services. Rindosh said the forum will be interactive and will allow students to post questions and concerns to SGA. SGA will utilize the forum to inform the student body of recent activities and endeavors.
Rindosh also added that SGA will use the forum to present survey questions online to the student body. Feedback regarding specific issues at the College will be examined by administrators as well.
Rindosh also discussed the outcome of a recent meeting with Chris Chamberlin, director of Operational Services, regarding progress made to ensure the cleanliness of residence halls upon move-in.
SGA passed Rindosh's Resolution Regarding Residence Hall Cleanliness Upon Move-In on Nov. 15. The resolution cited a survey of freshmen. Data from the survey indicated that freshmen were dissatisfied with the soiled state of their rooms upon arrival at the College.
Rindosh said that at their meeting, Chamberlin said Building Services will now have an additional week to clean dormitories prior to student move-in.
Dan Beckelman, newly appointed vice president of Administration and Finance, discussed the outcome of two lobbying sessions on Jan. 29 with state legislators. The first meeting was held with Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, a Democrat from South Plainfield. The second meeting was with Assemblywoman Valerie Huttle, a Democrat from Englewood.
Beckelman said that both Diegnan and Huttle were sympathetic to the needs of students. Huttle, mother of a college-bound daughter, said she was concerned about the rising cost of tuition.
Diegnan discussed plans for a formula which would allocate a specific amount of money from the state budget for higher education. Presently, state colleges and universities receive whatever funds are leftover in the budget after funding for all other budgetary items is determined.
Beckelman was officially appointed to the position of vice president of Administration and Finance as a replacement for the former vice president, Michael Levy. Levy cited personal problems in addition to academic concerns as his primary reasons for stepping down.
Beckelman said he is looking into more fundraising opportunities for SGA, including working the concession stand at Sovereign Bank Arena, as well as gathering donations from SGA alumni.
Steven Link, vice president of Academic Affairs, and Sheil Naik, newly appointed senator at-Large, discussed plans for improving the professor ratings and grades database, ProfRecord. Navigation difficulties will be addressed by creating an interface for ProfRecord that is similar to all college Web sites. Naik said that he would like to see data regarding grade distributions presented in either a graph or histogram format to make the information easier to understand.
Meagan Terry, dining services liaison, discussed policy in the Travers/Wolfe dining hall. It had been brought to Terry's attention that the grill had been closing down a half-hour before midnight, the dining hall's scheduled closing time. Terry said that employees are supposed to provide food from the grill until midnight. Should an employee fail to do so, Terry said that students should record the name of the employee and contact Dining Services at sgasodex@tcnj.edu.
(02/14/07 12:00pm)
April Smith will lull you into a false sense of security with an enchanting melody and then proceed to jar your senses, leaping rhapsodically into a stratosphere of notes where only the best vocalists dare to venture.
Her vocals, as well as the brownies she serves at shows, leave nothing to be desired.
Smith, hailing from Toms River, N.J., cites rock's "usual suspects" among her influences, including The Beatles, Queen, Led Zeppelin and Tom Waits. Smith is also quick to emphasize the prominent role of her parents, both musicians, in her musical upbringing.
"My parents never told us what to listen to. So we were influenced by their tastes, but we also developed our own," Smith said.
Smith may also attribute her God-given musical abilities to her diligent childhood worship of deceased Beatle John Lennon.
"One day (my friend) Brenda told me that John Lennon was dead, so I somehow reasoned that he must be God. We used to pray to John Lennon and ask him to make Julian (Lennon's son) fall in love with us," Smith said.
The sound generated by Smith and her band, the Great Picture Show, can only be described as cinematic and theatrical in scope. The music doesn't simply hold your attention, it seizes you by the collar and doesn't let go for the entirety of Smith's album, "loveletterbombs."
According to Smith, the dynamic and captivating nature of the rock opus that is "loveletterbombs" was inspired by Queen's front man, the late Freddie Mercury.
"(Mercury) knew how to inspire, awe and command the attention of anyone he wanted . I can't say that I try to emulate him in style, but definitely in the feelings that I evoke in my audience," Smith said.
Smith certainly does evoke those feelings. Never is this clearer than on the album's crown jewel, "Bright White Jackets," which tells the story of a scorned lover's descent into madness. Focus tracks also include "The Bells," which aptly features chiming electric guitars entwined with a delicate melody, and "Suffering So," a stringent song of dismissal that buries the listener in a withering torrent of sarcasm.
Smith has strived to create an album that is a seamless entity. There isn't a track that you'll want to skip on "loveletterbombs."
One listen through will make you feel as if you've lived through the most tumultuous years of a relationship. "Loveletterbombs" is, at its core, a rock album. It is neither glamorized nor over-polished. It possesses the character that other recent rock releases lack.
"We definitely favored emotion over perfection on this album," Smith said. "It's simple, straightforward rock and I think that the production showcases that . what you hear on my album is what you get - no pitch shifting and no auto tuning."
"Loveletterbombs" is also an indicator of Smith's stirring live performance. Smith's voice is as flawless live as it is on the album. Her performances are unique, simply because she goes above and beyond to accommodate an audience. Acting as a hospitable host, Smith treats an audience as her guests.
"I want everyone in the place to feel like they're getting their money's worth, even the people that aren't there to see us," Smith said. "Plus, I make some ridiculously delicious brownies."
Though Julian Lennon may not have found Smith yet, surely her prayers to John Lennon did not go without recognition. The spirit of Lennon and the tenacity of Mercury are certainly alive within Smith, but you should really listen for yourself.
(02/07/07 12:00pm)
At the onset of the Fall 2006 semester, administrators at the College decided that seniors would no longer be able to consume alcoholic beverages in the Travers and Wolfe dormitories during Senior Week. Though alcohol is not permitted in the dorms, it will be served at nightly Senior Week activities.
Members of the senior class council, Student Government Association (SGA), students of the senior class and administrators from the College met to discuss changes made to the Senior Week alcohol policy on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
Magda Manetas, executive director for Student and Residential Development, addressed the rationale behind what she referred to as "returning to the College's alcohol policy."
Manetas said that during her career at the College, data have been collected and analyzed regarding alcohol consumption during Senior Week, as well as throughout the academic year. The data suggests an increase in the number of hospital transports among underclassmen and upperclassmen alike, in addition to rising measures of blood alcohol content and incidents of vandalism.
In response to the data, summits on alcohol consumption were held with members of the local community and College administrators. Manetas said that feedback garnered from the summits indicated that the College presented "mixed messages" regarding its alcohol policy.
Manetas mentioned that those present at the summit indicated the toleration of alcohol consumption at events such as Homecoming and Senior Week as a source for the "mixed messages."
In addition to data analysis, a senior class council survey of seniors contributed to the decision of prohibition. Seniors were asked what they feel is the purpose of Senior Week.
Seniors responded, to varying degrees, that Senior Week serves as a culmination to the college experience and an opportunity to be with friends. Administrators at the College did not view alcohol as being associated with these responses.
When asked if they would attend Senior Week, only half the survey's participants indicated they would, with some citing the rowdiness and excessive consumption of alcohol typically associated with the event as reasons not to attend.
"We feel very firmly in the change that we've made in adhering to the alcohol policy," Manetas said.
Tom Sales, senior political science major, voiced his discontent with the changes made to Senior Week, primarily that students were not involved in the decision-making process.
"The more important voice is that of the students, not the administrative body," Sales said.
Sales cited the current alcohol policy, which permits alcohol consumption for students 21 years of age or older, with certain restrictions including container volume and quantity. Sales said it was hypocritical of the administration to prohibit what would otherwise be legal alcohol consumption.
"The administration is not returning to the alcohol policy, it's making it stricter," Sales said.
Marilyn Bowers, registered nurse at the College, responded that the consumption of alcohol in a semi-private setting, such as the Travers and Wolfe dormitories, presents certain liability issues.
Bowers said that she could potentially lose her nursing license in the event of a fatal incident involving alcohol, and for this reason she has fought for a re-evaluation of Senior Week plans for the past five years.
Dan Beckelman, SGA senator at-Large, questioned whether a compromise could be reached regarding alcohol policy for future Senior Weeks.
"You can't say prohibition and there can't be 'Animal House.' There needs to be some sort of a happy median," Beckelman said.
In response, Manetas said that in the past, students have shown up to Senior Week already intoxicated and have continued to remain so throughout. This indicated that students were not consuming alcohol in moderation.
Presently, Senior Week is scheduled to take place from May 15-18. Upon arrival, seniors will be asked to open their luggage so that Senior Week staff can examine the contents.
Luggage will not be searched by hand. The bags will be opened and ResLife staff will search them by sight. Once seniors are inside the Travers and Wolfe dormitories, they will be unable to leave the buildings, except to attend Senior Week events. At this point, the new alcohol policy stands for all future Senior Weeks at the College.
Seniors also discussed the price of Senior Week, which is expected to be between $200 and $230.
(01/31/07 12:00pm)
The student organization, the Educational Opportunity Fund Alliance, was granted official club status at the Jan. 24 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA).
The large majority vote approving EOF Alliance can be accredited to comments made by SGA executive board members and senators, which quelled dissenting opinions.
According to the EOF Alliance, represented by sophomore sociology major Gabriela Luna, sophomore business major Hazel Diaz, sophomore business major Doris Anglade, and sophomore accounting major James Corey, the organization is not restricted to EOF members, but is open to the entirety of the student body at the College.
The representatives from EOF Alliance said that their organization will work toward improving the GPAs of its members, in addition to providing extended support for upperclassmen of the EOF program by means of a peer-to-peer relationship. Currently, junior and senior EOF students at the College are not bound to study requirements or faculty supervision.
EOF Alliance representatives also said that the organization will provide study skills workshops, similar to those required of incoming freshmen EOF students, as well as group study sessions to achieve its objectives.
Dan Beckelman, junior senator at-Large, voiced discontent with the organization's failure to take part in SGA lobbying efforts over winter break, as promised by the EOF Alliance executive board. Other senators questioned the organization's purpose, citing redundancy and exclusivity as causes for concern.
Dan Scapardine, senator of Culture and Society, and Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, defended EOF Alliance. Strom and Scapardine said that the organization's failure to take part in lobbying efforts was largely due to a lack of communication over winter break.
Jim Gant, executive vice president, also defended EOF Alliance.
"(EOF Alliance) sounds like something with a positive mission statement and it's disheartening to me that members of the student government are speaking against it," Gant said.
Magda Manetas, executive director for Student and Residential Development, spoke regarding recent changes made to the office of Health Services at the College. Manetas said that student concerns regarding confidentiality and waiting time at the office have been addressed. Manetas said that Monday through Thursday, "formal support staff" will remain in the office until the new closing time, 6 p.m., to ensure patient confidentiality. The former night nurses of the office have been moved up to the day shift to ensure shorter waiting periods.
Manetas said that the changes have been made as part of a "pilot process," and their effectiveness will be scrutinized at the end of the semester. Students are encouraged to provide feedback regarding Health Services throughout the year at the Health Services Web site.
Daria Silvestro, student trustee, announced the Jan. 27 meeting of Garden State Student Trustees. This meeting will include delegates from five of the nine public New Jersey institutions of higher learning.
Silvestro said that topics of discussion are to include lobbying efforts to recoup money lost by state budget cuts to higher education, as well as plans for a demonstration protesting the lost funding.
Strom said that members of the Legal and Governmental Affairs committee met with eight legislators over break as part of its lobbying effort. Strom said that more meetings with state officials are to follow.
Gant commented on the efforts of the Ad-hoc Committee on Campus Police. Gant said that Kathy Leverton will no longer serve as Campus Police administrator. A "search committee" has been formed to find a new civilian administrator for Campus Police.
(01/31/07 12:00pm)
Student trustees and Student Government Association executive officials from seven New Jersey public institutions of higher learning met on Jan. 27 at the College to discuss the formation of the Garden State Student Alliance (GSSA). GSSA has been formed to address state budget cuts in funding for higher education.
Questions of legality and ethics promptly arose regarding the goals of the organization.
"Lobbying is supposed to be the main thing we do," Matthew Browne, a delegate from Rowan University said.
Student trustees questioned whether lobbying at the student level would cause potential legal complications. College President R. Barbara Gitenstein indicated in an e-mail interview that student trustees would be able to engage in lobbying activities.
"As far as the work of students, trustees and administration, good judgment and civility dictate how we engage the legislature in understanding the importance of what we do at institutions of higher education. . I do not see how a student's meeting with a legislator to explain the value of his or her experience at an institution would be considered part of this kind of problem," Gitenstein said.
GSSA has been working to address the issue of lost funding since Fall 2006. During the 2006 midterm election, GSSA initiated a voter registration drive. Silvestro said that the registration drive targeted the 18-24 age group, a voting demographic crucial to the success of GSSA's endeavors. Silvestro mentioned that in order to garner the sympathies of New Jersey politicians, college students must vote.
In addition to the registration drive, GSSA is currently examining the logistics of locating polling places on college campuses. Silvestro said that the convenience of campus-based polling locations, combined with a voter registration drive, would yield an increase in voter turnout within the 18-24 age group.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
Heated debate regarding the programming content of the next Senior Week ensued at the Nov. 29 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA). It focused largely on the new alcohol-free policy for the event. Senior Week is intended to serve as a fun and exciting culmination to the academic efforts of graduating students of the College.
Tom Sales, senior associate member, delivered a brief speech regarding the banning of alcohol consumption within the residence halls during Senior Week.
"(The College administration has) fundamentally changed the nature of (Senior Week) without the consent of, and in direct opposition to, the elected representatives of the student body," Sales said.
Paraphrasing Lynette Harris, director of Community Standards, Sales said, "If the administration recognizes that we're drinking either way, rather than holding out a vain and downright stupid vision of an alcohol-free future, we'll be less safe."
Other SGA members disagreed with Sales. Daria Silvestro, student trustee, stressed that allowing alcohol consumption in the dorms during Senior Week inadvertently alienates members of the senior class who do not drink.
"We're ostracizing many members of our community basing Senior Week on alcohol," Silvestro said.
While voicing their concern regarding alcohol consumption during Senior Week, SGA members, including junior senator at-Large Dan Beckelman, executive vice president James Gant, Sales and others praised the planning efforts of the senior class council.
Women in Computing and Science (WICS) was granted official SGA club status by a vote of 28-14. The organization was created with the intent of clarifying job opportunities for women in the fields of computing and science - career paths that are statistically lacking women.
Members of SGA questioned the necessity of the organization, citing other clubs that deal with both computing and science. Other SGA members were concerned that the concept of the club was divisive due to its emphasis on women.
"(WICS) wants to develop (its) organization through segregation," Steve Link, president of Academic Affairs, said.
Beckelman shared a similar sentiment, and also questioned the originality of the organization.
"We can't have too many clubs duplicating the same purpose," Beckelman said.
"Start a new precedent and vote no," Link said.
Flamur Rama, junior senator of Culture and Society, stressed the need for the organization, emphasizing the deficiency of women in the science and computing field.
Beckelman discussed the outcome of a recent lobbying session with an aide of State Senator Stephen Sweeny.
The Democratic senator's aide was receptive to the College's loss of $4 million in state financial assistance. The aide said that Sweeny is supportive of higher education and will continue to work with SGA members in order to recoup the funding lost to budget cuts on higher education.
Steve Viola, junior class treasurer, spoke regarding a recent meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee on Police Relations.
Viola said that the committee has met on four separate occasions and has decided to take a "proactive" approach toward improving community relations with Campus Police.
Committee members will continue to interview administrative officials associated with security at the College as well as members of the office of Campus Police.
The committee seeks to abate tensions between Campus Police and members of the College community.
Viola also addressed recent efforts to increase student involvement in the academic integrity hearing process.
According to Viola, the dean of the School of Culture and Society, Susan Albertine, said in an e-mail that involving students in the academic integrity hearing process violates the privacy of students.
Albertine also said that in cases of accidental or unintentional plagiarism, many students express concerns regarding the confidentiality of the violation.
Viola responded, citing the honor codes implemented by numerous colleges and universities that call on students to monitor each other for plagiarism.
Although Viola stopped short of recommending a similar code for the College, he did stress the involvement of students at all administrative levels of the College.
Mike Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, addressed legal services of the College.
The College offers free legal services to students; however, the extent of those services has been in question.
Request forms for legal services at the College will now be made available in the SGA cubicle in the office of Campus Activities.
(11/29/06 12:00pm)
The Resolution Regarding Residence Hall Cleanliness Upon Move-In was passed by a unanimous vote at the Nov. 15 meeting of the Student Government Association (SGA). The resolution was drafted by Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, with the help of Nora Wentworth, sophomore class secretary, to call needed attention to the soiled state of rooms throughout residence halls at the College on move-in day.
Rindosh said that the issue was originally brought to his attention while taking part in an SGA outreach program that included meeting with freshmen floors as part of an "SGA Road Show." A survey determined the full extent of the problem.
"Most students were dissatisfied with the state of their rooms," Rindosh said.
The resolution also states that members of the College's Building Services staff may have been shirking their responsibilities or not following standard room-cleaning procedures.
The resolution says "there has been documented evidence of Building Services staff not fulfilling their duties by taking frequent and extended breaks, not working during hot weather and not upholding the expectations that Building Services administration presented to SGA."
By passing this resolution, SGA members hope to ensure cleaner rooms on move-in day by recommending better supervision of Building Services staff, as well as promoting the prompt cleaning of rooms in residence halls as they are vacated.
Meagan Terry, dining services liaison, discussed circumstances surrounding the broken dishwasher in the Eickhoff dining hall. The 14-year-old dishwasher has been out of order for the past two weeks, and disposable plates, cups and utensils have been used.
Terry said a replacement dishwasher would cost $75,000, and there are hidden costs associated with the installation process. A new dishwasher would require plumbing work and renovation of the ceiling and floors in the dishwashing areas. Additionally, Sodexho would like to see the installation of a conveyer belt system for more efficient transport of dirty dishes. These factors bring the associated costs closer to $500,000.
This financial burden would not be Sodexho's responsibility. Sodexho is only obligated, according to its contract with the College, to pay up to $2,500 for repairs and renovations. In spite of the costs, SGA members voiced support for the new dishwasher.
"We ought to make this top priority for next year," Terry said.
Steve Viola, junior class treasurer, said that he was unhappy with the litany of four-letter words that appeared in the Letters section of the Nov. 15 edition of The Signal.
"It is the editor's job to ensure that what is published should have merit to be published," Viola said.
Viola asked SGA members to consider some sort of official rebuke for The Signal. Viola defended the First Amendment, but said that the choice of words in the Letters section was offensive and uncalled for.
Two student organizations were granted official club status. The first was Phi Alpha Theta - a chapter of a nationally recognized history honor society. The chapter was founded at the College to replace the defunct History Club. Phi Alpha Theta will serve as "an academic and fun environment for history majors," Doug Patalano, senior secondary education/history major, said.
Although the club is an honor society for history majors, its events will not be exclusive to history majors at the College. One meeting per month will be devoted toward appealing to the collective campus body, and events will be publicized with fliers and by e-mail.
The Entrepreneur Club was also granted club status. Flamur Rama, junior political science major, said that the club hopes to promote entrepreneurship by serving as a small consulting company to local businesses. Club members will offer their services, such as Web design, to local businesses in order to gain experience as well as generate revenue for club operations.
Rama said that other business-related clubs at the College tend to emphasize corporate business and postgraduate employment. Rama's intent is to help students gain experience in building small businesses "from the ground up."
Michael Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, spoke regarding legal services at the College. According to Strom, the Dedrick and Dedrick law firm serves as the counsel contacted when students at the College request legal assistance.
Strom said that in the past, there hasn't been much contact between the College and the law firm. Additionally, students haven't taken advantage of the service, largely because the extent of the services provided by the law firm isn't widely publicized. Strom is working to gather more information to provide students at the College with better legal resources.
(11/15/06 12:00pm)
James Gant, Student Government Association (SGA) executive vice president, discussed the outcome of an early October meeting with the office of Campus Police Services at last week's SGA meeting. Concerns addressed at the meeting included issues of excessive ticketing, the Ewing Community Watch program and various safety concerns at the College.
Gant said he looked into questions about why students were being issues three tickets for one violation.
According to Campus Police, in the event of a violation that would warrant issuance of a ticket, a time period of 48 hours is allotted by the officer to the offender to correct the problem before another ticket is issued.
Gant explained the nature of Ewing's Community Watch program. Neighborhoods in Ewing Township now have designated "block captains" charged with monitoring their neighborhoods for any suspicious activities.
Gant said that the Ewing Police Department has used the program as a means of "giving responsibility to people within the community."
At the October meeting, Gant worked to communicate and address safety concerns at the College. The Campus Police phone number will be displayed in the Lot 6 parking garage before next semester, along with directions to help boxes. Additionally, the help boxes located outside residence halls will be painted bright yellow and equipped with a blue light.
Although the Nov. 1 meeting of SGA heralded the passing of the Resolution Reaffirming Student Rights, the resolution will not be presented to College administration for another one to two weeks. Christine Cullen, SGA president, said despite the delay in presenting the resolution, it will still retain its passed status.
The date of the presentation will coincide with the formation of the ad-hoc Committee on Campus Police relations.
Cullen said that the resolution, if released prior to the meeting of the Ad-hoc Committee, could jeopardize the objectivity of the SGA members sitting on the committee. This decision was reached after consulting the resolution's creators, Vice President of Administration and Finance Michael Levy and Junior Class Treasurer Steve Viola.
"We don't want to appear that we have closed our ears to what everyone has to say," Levy said.
Viola said that the Committee on Faculty Affairs has been discussing factors to be considered in regard to issuing tenure to faculty members at the College. One of the criteria frequently called into question is grade distributions.
According to Tom Sales, associate member, using grade distributions as one of the criteria presents certain problems.
One of the other criteria used in determining promotion or faculty tenure at the College is student reviews. Often times, grades are used to justify bias in student reviews.
"This teacher is an evil bitch and she gave everyone the grade of C-minus," Sales said, giving his own example of the correlation between grades and student comments.
According to Sales, bias can also work the other way, in that a professor that gives all As is likely to receive favorable reviews.
Sales said that faculty members at the College should have to "explain their grading distributions" along with their comments.
"In order to earn a promotion in a field you can't be fired in, (professors) should have to jump through a lot of hoops," Sales said.
SGA unanimously passed the Organization Registration Bill. Drafted by Mike Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, the bill will serve to prevent clubs from getting SGA approval without knowledge of policy regulating clubs at the College.
In the past, new clubs have unknowingly violated policy regarding sidewalk chalking and event advertising. The bill provides for mandatory training to be offered twice a semester for potential new clubs, as well as re-education in the event of a policy violation.
Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, discussed a new resolution in progress: a Resolution Regarding Residence Hall Cleanliness Upon Move-In.
Freshmen at the College had voiced concerns to Rindosh regarding the soiled state of their rooms when they moved in. Upon contacting Chris Chamberlin, acting Director of Operational Services, Rindosh was informed that these incidents were isolated. A survey conducted by Rindosh revealed otherwise. This new resolution would serve to call necessary attention to the issue.
Daria Silvestro, student trustee, attended a meeting at Rowan University with student government members from nine other public state schools.
The meeting was held to create a solidified reaction to the state budget cuts on higher education.
Plans were discussed to allocate more income from the state lottery system toward higher education as well as a potential bond referendum to fund higher education. This referendum, however, will most likely not make it onto a ballot until 2008.
(11/08/06 12:00pm)
The Resolution Reaffirming Student Rights passed by a unanimous vote at the Student Government Association (SGA) meeting last week. The vote was initially delayed for a week due to semantic concerns that were brought forth by Drew Rausa, senator-at-Large.
Michael Levy, vice president of Administration and Finance, touted the resolution as a means of reaching out to students at the College and said that "we do have rights as students."
The preamble states the resolution's purpose as "to assert (SGA) disapproval of the current actions taken by Campus Police against (College) students."
Provisions within the resolution hold Campus Police to the standards established in its mission statement, which bind it to the mission statement of the College - "advancing the quality of the campus environment."
The resolution also says that "Campus Police may have been influencing students into waiving their rights."
The resolution concludes by insisting that Campus Police officers at the College uphold a less hostile "decorum" as well as employ procedures that do not violate the Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights of students.
At the Oct. 25 SGA meeting, a resolution creating a lobbying plan in order to restore state funding to the College was passed unanimously.
The resolution created a "binding document that (SGA) senators can use to lobby legislators to revive (the College's) funding levels," Daniel Beckelman, senator at-Large, said.
According to Beckelman, past lobbying attempts by SGA came too late and "never got off the ground."
At the Nov. 1 meeting, senate appointments were made for vacant seats in SGA.
Katie Quinn, junior history and secondary education major, was appointed as senator of Education along with Rachel Samuel, senior English and elementary education major. Dan Eckrote, sophomore business administration major, was appointed as senator of Business. Bill Plastine, freshman political science major, was appointed to the position of senator at-Large.
During the debate regarding the appointments, SGA members were impressed with the quality of all 10 potential candidates.
Each candidate was recommended by members of SGA. Before the results of the private ballot vote were announced, the potential candidates were encouraged to pursue associate memberships with SGA if they were not appointed to the vacant positions.
Steve Link, vice president of Academic Affairs, announced plans for SGA involvement in the Academic Integrity Policy at the College. SGA will appoint some of its members to sit with an Academic Integrity officer within each school.
In an e-mail interview, Link said that this move toward greater student involvement is part of College president R. Barbara Gitenstein's move toward shared governance at the College.
"Getting student representation gives students the chance to play an active role in the academic judiciary process," Link said.
This is a milestone since students have never been involved in the academic judiciary process. Link said that through student representation, he hopes to make the Academic Integrity Policy universal throughout all schools at the College. Link also said that a proposal is currently in the works for the selection of SGA representatives.
Mike Strom, vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs, announced the makings of a new bill, the Organization Registration Bill.
The bill is the product of the efforts of the Legal and Governmental Affairs committee and Tim Asher, associate director of Student Activities. This bill will alter the process by which potential SGA-recognized clubs receive official recognition at the College.
Chris Rindosh, vice president of Student Services, unveiled potential plans for Finals Fest.Finals Fest typically serves as an outlet for relieving stress as well as an opportunity for relaxation during finals - one of the most stressful times of the year for students at the College.
Many of Rindosh's new ideas were well-received, including a cereal night which could be held in combination with a large-scale pillow fight, as well as cookie decorating and karaoke.
Strom also drew attention to the election on Nov. 7. Beckelman encouraged participation in the upcoming mid-term elections. Both Beckelman and Strom stressed the importance of the student vote with regard toward their lobbying efforts.
"It is important, for our lobbying efforts, to show that we are a campus of voters," Strom said.
(11/08/06 12:00pm)
ProfRecord, a grade distribution database, is now up and running. It was created by the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) student organization at the request of the Student Government Association (SGA), free of cost by ACM, with the intention of replacing the old subscription professor information database, Pick-a-Prof.
ProfRecord allows students to look up grade distributions as well as comments regarding professors at the College. Comments are subject to approval by the ProfRecord administration. Information in the ProfRecord database dates back to Spring 2005.
Most free, online professor databases do not offer grade distributions. ProfRecord also has a comments section that allows students to provide feedback about specific professors.
Steve Link, SGA vice president of Academic Affairs, officially announced the fully operational status of ProfRecord at the Nov. 1 SGA meeting. Link said the project was undertaken to reach out to the campus.
SGA officials said the creation of ProfRecord has been difficult.
According to S. Lee Whitesell, former SGA vice president of Academic Affairs, ProfRecord has been a work-in-progress since February 2005.
Contract discrepancies made SGA seek an alternative to Pick-a-Prof. Whitesell said that in exchange for a sum ranging from $500 to $1,000, Pick-a-Prof agreed to grant all students at the College unlimited access to the database.
Additionally, Pick-a-Prof was granted access to grade records of professors from the office of Records and Registration at the College in order to compile information for its database.
In early Fall 2005, Whitesell received notification that Pick-a-Prof was asking for fees from students at the College. Students had been previously granted free, unlimited access.
"(The Pick-a-Prof contact) informed me that the volume of (College) students who had been using the system had become too great and that the company needed to charge," Whitesell said.
Whitesell was also told that continued usage of Pick-a-Prof would come at a price of $10,000. Whitesell requested an invoice to account for the added costs, and was promised one, but it never came.
Whitesell said that even though the decision was made to halt business with Pick-a-Prof, it was still legally entitled to records from the office of Records and Registration.
"I asked Records and Registration to do what they could to deny the company access to our records, but . the law demanded otherwise," Whitesell said.
Whitesell contacted ACM in hopes of creating an in-house professor database system. After the project was deemed feasible, ACM requested compensation, and Whitesell responded by funding an ACM social event through the SGA fundraising line.
However, the project was not ready by Spring 2006 registration.
This year, after Link had assumed Whitesell's former office, the project was delayed again - this time over discrepancies in the original agreement between SGA and ACM. Link, Whitesell and ACM president Kate Lynch met and a new agreement was reached.
ProfRecord is complete and running without problems thus far.