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(04/27/10 5:47pm)
State funding for databases at public libraries will be discontinued as of June 30, based on Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal for the fiscal year of 2011.
Gov. Christie’s proposed budget for the 2011 fiscal year announced a 74 percent, $10.4 million, reduction in funding to public libraries, according to The Newark Star-Ledger. Taras Pavlovsky, dean of the library at the College, said state funding currently provides EBSCO Host’s Academic Search Premier and Business Source Premier for libraries in the state, including the College. Pavlovsky said if the governor’s budget passes with the current implications, these databases will no longer be funded by the state. These particular databases or those that serve similar functions, however, are likely to remain available to students, Pavlovsky said, but will be funded instead by the College.
“There will be a general purpose academic database … There has to be. It’s essential,” Pavlovsky said.
The lack of funding may require a $15,000 to $20,000 reallocation of expenses from other resources, such as on books, movies and other databases, to divert funds to maintaining these databases, Pavlovsky said, though it remains a possibility that the College will cover these costs.
The potential cut would also affect the interlibrary loan program, which enables students to request books from other libraries.
According to Pavlovsky, the state currently dedicates a total of $1.4 million annually to transportation of these materials, an expense that will fall to libraries if the budget proposal passes. Pavlovsky estimated the cost for the school to pay for UPS transportation of materials is approximately $3,000 to $5,000. He said that academic libraries, such as the College, will likely adopt the costs of transporting materials on a short term basis, at the least. The public library loaning program, JerseyCat, however will likely be discontinued if funding is extracted.
“This will affect the public libraries much more than it will the academic libraries, since not only will they lose their access to the computer system that generates and coordinates the requests, but they lose the delivery service,” he said. “So, the effects on students will be felt only moderately while they are here on campus. Should they try to get a book through interlibrary loan while home for the summer, however, they will feel the effects very differently.”
The ramifications of the governor’s proposed cuts to public libraries remain ambiguous, in conjunction with the total $5.2 million potential decrease in funding to the College.
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(04/21/10 12:17am)
Former governor Mike Huckabee’s visit to the College has garnered much attention, particularly his comments regarding LGBT marriage and adoptive rights. If you read The Perspective’s coverage of the event and media interview, you know that he said some pretty incriminating things. While placing statements such as “Children aren’t puppies” and “You don’t go ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that is against the ideal” in context, don’t excuse their implications, major parts of his argument in defending his views were omitted.
Regarding adoptive rights, Huckabee emphasized that he believed the major issue to address is the reason why these children are even up for adoption. He said couples need to be more responsible for their actions.
“In a perfect world, in an ideal world, people would realize that having a child is a heavy duty responsibility … You don’t use that person as a sexual toy and toss them away,” he said in The Perspective’s audio recording. “leaving them with the burdens of a child. That to me is what is so recklessly irresponsible and ridiculously immature.”
When asked if he “would classify among those who are immature and selfish, the gays and lesbians who want to adopt a child?”, though his argument was strictly referring to sexual relations that lead to a child that is subsequently put up for adoption, he replied, “No, you said that, I did not.”
Additionally, in respect to his statement, “You don’t go ahead and accommodate every behavioral pattern that isn’t ideal,” the rationale for his viewpoint is delivered in an incomplete version. He compares legalization of same-sex marriage to the legalization of polygamy or incest, not as a way of rendering the first a ridiculous notion, but in order to highlight what he believes is the “burden of proof” by LGBT activists to change societal standards.
“If we are going to accommodate a different definition of that (marriage) then why do you get to choose that two men are ok but one man and three women aren’t ok. Why? Who gives you the right to say the polygamist isn’t just as right in this argument,” he said.
To a degree, Huckabee has a point. Who is to decide what is right or wrong in society, and why can someone accept one lifestyle, but condemn another? It is unfortunate that he doesn’t seem to see this same hypocrisy in the context of society accepting heterosexual marriage and not homosexual marriage. However, Huckabee did make it clear in the interview that he believed it wasn’t his job to decide whether gay marriage merited the same rights as heterosexual marriage.
“But as far as me telling someone else how they have to live, that’s not my goal,” he said. “Now on the other hand, if they want to try to change the definitions of institutions like marriage, then they’ve got to convince me and the rest of the culture that we should change 5,000 years of recorded history of what marriage means.”
I do not agree with much of what Huckabee said. However, I think some essential elements of his argument were lost in the outrage over snippets extracted from the conversation, which are particularly offensive without his other statements.
(04/21/10 12:08am)
Since Governor Chris Christie announced his budget proposal for fiscal year 2011, the prominence of potential cuts to programs, especially in education, have plagued the news. The College is no exception. Among other programs, the student-run radio station, WTSR, is currently being considered to be shut down next year according to John Laughton, dean of the school of arts and communication.
“I have been asked by the Provost to consider ways of consolidating programs and looking at cost saving measures,” Laughton said in an e-mail interview. “I am collecting information to respond to this request. No decisions have been made, nor will they be made without thorough review.”
According to Kevin Potucek, assistant director of radio, television and film communication studies and advisor to WTSR, as a small academic program with an expensive overhead cost, WTSR is a “reasonable program to look at” in regards to program consolidation. However, he and the organization have been working to prove the significance of WTSR to the campus community by writing letters to the vice president of college advancement, John Marcy, as well as seeking other sources of funding, should the school of arts and communications drop the organization.
“I believe that WTSR is an absolutely essential part of the campus. I also believe that many other staff, students and alumni feel the same way,” Potucek said.
Many students are adamantly opposed to potential cancellation, such as Darren Farinas, former station manager of WTSR. Farinas was station manager from April 2008 to March of this year and said his experience has granted him insight into the importance of the organization. He said in addition to providing the campus and surrounding area with exposure to a variety of genres and forms of music, WTSR is a consistently major contributor, by request, to Welcome Week and events coordinated by the College Union Board and ResLife, as well as many others. He also said the organization provides invaluable experience to those involved.
“WTSR’s student volunteers gain so much from being a part of the station. The relationships students build with each other is an added bonus, but the skills students can develop through their on- and off-air experience can never be gained in a classroom,” Farinas said in an e-mail. “My public speaking skills, ability to multitask, lead an organization, improvise, collaborate with other organizations and plan ahead have improved exponentially as a result of my involvement with WTSR.”
Involvement in WTSR has enabled students to secure internships such as Billboard Magazine and AM ESPN Radio, an experience perhaps unavailable without WTSR, he said.
“As for me, I would be devastated to see something happen should WTSR have to close down as a result of a lack of funding,” he said. “Our volunteer base has risen from 40 in 2008 to over 100 in 2010. To see all of the work that we have all put in go to waste would be a huge blow to all those involved, and to see all of this hard work be for nothing.”
Justin Dilks, sophomore interactive multimedia major and contributor to the Friday night show, “The Song Remains the Same,” said the station helps students prepare for working at other stations in the future.
“It’s a great way for communication (studies) majors to learn the procedures and what it takes to work for radio,” he said.
The station is currently in the process of setting up a website for donations to be made to WTSR, according to Melissa Virzi, the current station manager.
According to the website, WTSR, though the name has changed, has been the College’s radio since 1966. It has an average weekly audience between 50,000 and 100,000 listeners.
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(04/20/10 11:01pm)
He’s loud. He’s witty. He has a mini vendetta against Ryan Seacrest. Joel McHale, host of the celebrity roasting show The Soup and star of NBC’s “Community,” headlined the College Union Board’s (CUB) annual spring comedy show on April 16 in the Kendall Main Stage Theatre.
McHale appeared with his typical repertoire of popular cultural critiques, poking fun extensively at his own network, E!, which he referred to as the “ehh” network. His routine mirrored the style of “The Soup,” which he embodied as the “sanitation team of television.” McHale kept the audience in hysterics with his sarcastic brand of comedy, charged by his imitations and mocking commentary. Addressing everything from his encounter with the Kardashians to Ryan Seacrest’s height and sexuality, McHale’s energetic deliverance blended charm with snarky observations, occasionally followed by a victory jig around the stage after a particularly accurate, and consequently offensive, joke.
No celebrity seemed safe from McHale’s blunt dissection of public personas. He likened Tyra Banks’ fear of dolphins to a fear of glaciers, demonstrated Hugh Hefner’s waddle complete with sound effects and recounted his fear of contracting “hand Chlamydia” after shaking hands with Bret Michaels.
Hitting a little closer to home, McHale characterized “The Jersey Shore” as the “show that ruined the solar system.”
“‘The Jersey Shore’ is a bigger disservice to the Italian people than the Olive Garden or the mafia,” he said. “Snookie gets paid $10,000 an appearance. So go drop out, kill yourselves.”
In an interview preceding the show, McHale said he often prefers college-age audiences because they tend to be the most familiar with his cultural references.
“For the most part, most college kids know what I’m talking about,” he said, after recounting an unfortunate corporate event where the audience was unfamiliar with Tyra Banks.
“The people are younger, healthier, for the most part less drunk … they are young and full of energy. They haven’t been crushed yet.”
Judging from the resounding laughter, Kendall’s audience was no exception to McHale’s success with college crowds. The current star of NBC’s “Community,” however, said he hadn’t always planned to do live performances.
“Stand-up and hosting were two things I never planned on doing,” he said. “I always wanted to be an actor on TV or movies.”
With his natural presence on stage, conversing and occasionally antagonizing the audience, it’s hard to imagine him doing anything else.
Television wasn’t the only target of the night. The College’s public art also provoked McHale’s commentary.
“We’ll put four balls,” he said imitating the rationale for the art. “That’ll scare Mike Huckabee something fierce.”
Opening for McHale was Rory Albanese, the four-time Emmy-winning executive producer of “The Daily Show” on Comedy Central.
Contrasting McHale’s hyper, fast-talking style, Albanese established a relaxed familiarity with the audience th1rough storytelling, complemented by his “sexy pose,” which he accurately characterized as “a little like lunging in a women’s ’80s aerobics class.”
His act revolved around his slightly sarcastic patriotism, highlighted by his love of McDonald’s and mockery of Canada as the “crazy grandma living in the attic.” His explanation of the world’s hatred for America by providing the audience with an analogy elicited a particularly loud response.
“New Jersey is to America as America is to the world,” he said.
Albanese also exercised his pre-performance research on the College by questioning the logic of Tuesday “party nights” and the chalking on the sidewalk.
“They write mean stuff on the sidewalk and party on Tuesday nights,” he said. “This place is a fucking freak show.”
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(04/20/10 1:56pm)
The word that best describes All College Theatre’s (ACT) production of four one-act plays on April 15 is "perseverance." Despite the limitations imposed by a less-than-ideal space in room 202 of the Brower Student Center, ACT presented a series of compelling student-directed shorts ranging in subject from a lunatic ex-girlfriend to a compassionate reaper.
In “The Dumb Waiter,” Mark Smith, junior communication studies major, as Ben, and Jack Scully, sophomore English major, as Gus, managed to overcome the noise of other events occurring simultaneously in the Student Center that, at times, overwhelmed the room.
Smith humanized the role of assassin with notes of compassion, extenuated by Scully’s oblivious fast-talking. The dynamic between the two actors, though entertaining, faltered at times, interrupting the flow of the play and inspiring the same cabin fever portrayed on stage amongst the audience.
Director Justin Mancini, sophomore English major, said he chose the “The Dumb Waiter” as a fan of the movie “In Bruges,” which was highly influenced by the play. Mancini said the primary challenge of the play was “creating realistic banter” between the two characters. Though they largely achieved this, the length of the play detracted from character engagement with the audience.
“Don’t Fear The Reaper” both closed and stole the show. The fantastically ridiculous play personified Death, played by Art Malarczyk, junior computer science major, and his overly sweet wife, Conception, played by Jacki Ferrara, sophomore elementary math education major.
Malarczyk conveyed the misplaced compassion of Death toward his victims through exaggerated intensity as the messenger of fate. The personas constructed by each character made for hilarious interactions.
Keith Salmeri, freshman history political science major, as Robert and Claire Symanski, freshman biology major, as Jessica, perfectly portrayed an initially selfish couple, each willing to sacrifice the other to Death stationed at their front door.
Each character fleshed out individual quirkiness — Julian Starr, sophomore physics major, elicited explosive laughter as Jeremy, the bug reaper, when he traded his nasally voice for a demonic one. Hannah Adamy, freshman music education major, as Satan captured the seductive, enthusiast of evil with ease, contrasting with sophomore communication studies major Sam Paternostro’s collected demeanor as a business-oriented God.
Equally ridiculous was Sergio Hernandez, sophomore vocal performance major, as the unfortunate Steve, visited by the Reaper after falling asleep with chips in his mouth and Matt Kita, sophomore chemistry major, as Donny Destiny, the token superficial talk show host. The play thrived on the hysterical implications of its characters, while echoing the eternal need to validate life in fear of death.
According to director John Eldis, sophomore psychology major, “Wanda’s Visit” is a play that “lives and dies on the believability of the characters.”
Caitlin Dougherty, senior biopsychology major, was hysterical as the eccentric Wanda. Though outrageous, Dougherty managed to make the unrealistic insanity demanded of Wanda’s character believable.
Dan Loverro, freshman biology major, as Jim, and Rhonda Dubois, sophomore chemistry major, as Marsha, contrasted drastically with Wanda as an ordinary couple faced with the unusual burden of housing Jim’s seemingly unstable ex-girlfriend. However, the rotation of setting throughout the play proved somewhat distracting, primarily due to limitations of space and occasionally awkward pantomiming.
“Lot 13: Bone Violin” introduced a more serious tone to the night, presenting the haunting commentary of four individuals involved in the life and death of a child prodigy.
Each character seemed tailored to the cast member — producing genuinely provocative performances. Liz So, sophomore self-designed international studies major, and Casey Perno, sophomore history major, posed as the parents of the child. Perno’s gruff, but approachable persona and So’s sweet admiration for her son convinced of average parents unable to explain tragedy for which no one and everyone is at fault.
Noah Franc, sophomore history and international studies major, as the professor, and Keri Galli, senior English major, as the doctor, were equally authentic in their delivery, conveying intellectuals through careful posture and voice.
The most chilling aspect of the performance, however, was delivered by Maddie Patrick, senior sociology and communication studies major, who acted as conductor through each player’s account of the story.
Patrick closed the show by starting the bid for the boy’s body-turned-instrument. The presentation — each character positioned behind a music stand facing the audience — directly confronted the audience with the powerful message of the tragedy innate in pursuing one’s dreams.
Despite the night’s distractions, ACT adapted to the interferences. According to Alexis Vitello, production manager and sophomore history and art education double major, ACT is restricted to one performance per semester in the Don Evans Black Box Theatre, a preferable locale for the intimacy complementary to One Acts.
Despite the room’s poor acoustics and difficult set-up, Vitello said, “We made the best of our circumstances.”
(04/13/10 4:32pm)
This semester will be Lions’ Emergency Medical Service’s (EMS) last, according to Michael Delatore, Logistics Captain and senior criminology major. The shutdown of the volunteer-based organization was announced to its members Wednesday March 31, as a result of the resignation of Holly Heller, current adviser to Lions’ EMS.
According to Heller, her resignation is a result of recent changes and requirements for the organization’s leadership. Lions’ EMS sought funding from the College last year, and is no longer funded by the Student Finance Board (SFB) as a result. This change requires the organization to be overseen by a supervisor, rather than an adviser. The responsibilities of a supervisor transcend the role of adviser, she said, requiring that the individual be an EMT.
“The role of supervisor of Lions’ EMS is a much more in depth role and time commitment,” Heller said in an e-mail interview. “Unfortunately I can not take on those increased responsibilities. They go beyond my current job description, scope of practice and expertise.”
Heller said the current state of the College’s budget has made finding a qualified replacement for the position of supervisor difficult. Without supervision, the organization can’t continue to provide services on campus, she said. Efforts to prevent the shutdown are currently in progress, including a proposal and letter from Lions’ EMS submitted to the Vice President of Student Affairs. At press time, the ultimate decision has yet to be announced.
With 82 members, 20 to 25 of whom are active responders, according to Heller, many members are concerned with the effects the cancellation of services will have on the campus.
“I think students will be adversely affected,” Delatore said. “We’re on campus, we’re able to respond to calls quicker.”
Campus medical emergencies will now fall solely to local EMS agencies and Campus Police, whereas Lions’ EMS provided medical assessment, when in service, until local agencies arrived. Heller said students who are involved in Lions’ EMS are encouraged to join local agencies, such as the Pennington Road EMS squad.
The group was formed on Sept. 1, 1998, as a quick response team on campus to supplement care provided by local EMS agencies, Heller said. Lions’ EMS provided opportunity for medical experience in pre-hospital emergency care to the campus as a well as standby service at sports events, concerts and other scheduled events, according to its Web site. The organization offered 9-1-1 response from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Monday. During daytime hours, semester breaks and holidays, EMS care isn’t provided by Lions’ EMS.
According to an individual who has been involved with the organization for three years and is familiar with the situation, who asked to remain anonymous, response time will suffer with the termination of Lions’ EMS.
“Response times will be significantly longer than before,” he said. “Students calling for an ambulance should expect to wait as much as 15 minutes rather than the three to four they are accustomed to with Lions’ EMS.”
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(04/08/10 1:46am)
College is a place for finding your niche, and I think many students would agree that they find their extra curricular activities more enriching than their actual classes. For the past two years, The Signal has dominated my personal college experience. I have spent an ungodly amount of hours in the Brower Student Center basement. Though I probably have shed a few years off my life from the countless stressful Mondays, I care about The Signal. A LOT.
This year some things have changed. We no longer have color pages. We have cut circulation from 4,000 copies to 2,750. The number of pages per section is limited. Why? Because, we’re in horrendous debt. Why? Because leadership in the past wasn’t careful, leadership that existed many years before the current editorial board even arrived at the College. $10,000 in debt doesn’t happen overnight, and if you’ve seen our production room, you know the debt isn’t a result of our lavish interior decorating.
Luckily, the Student Finance Board (SFB) has been understanding of this, and has worked with us to come up with a solution to this problem, one in which the number of pages we produce will depend even more strictly on our ad revenue, as we are funded entirely by ads, and money received from SFB is a loan. We have to pay it all back because we get no funding from the school.
And for the first time in a long time, we ended last semester in the black (that is, we didn’t lose any money) because of the things we’ve changed and the efforts we’re making. Also, many students newspapers, such as Rutgers University’s Daily Targum, charge the student body a subscription fee or get money from the school. As mentioned above, we have never done that.
Last spring, previous editors Joe Hannan and Megan De- Marco met with Tim Asher and SFB and made some immediate changes.
For example, they cut circulation initially, added advertising on our Web site and assembled an advertising team instead of just one person to go out and get advertisements. When they realized at the end of the Spring 2009 semester that we weren’t on track to turn a profit and start working toward paying SFB back, we did an online-only issue, which saved us a significant amount of money.
The Signal has been the College’s newspaper since 1885. We are independent of the College’s administration, meaning we are a newspaper made by and for students. It might sound corny, but we take it seriously.
I’m explaining all this, not because I want to advertise the sad state of our finances or validate our existence, but to provide reasoning for the changes you have seen and will see over the next few years. As our readers, I think it is important for you to know the reasons behind these differences and learn from someone with authority on the subject.
This is a rough time for all organizations, given the status of the budget. Some organizations are at risk of being cut, organizations, which may not be important to the entire student body, but are essential to many.
As someone who is part of an organization that represents one of the main reasons I didn’t transfer, I think it is important that we all pull together in this time of need and change and support all of the various organizations on campus in whatever stuggles they may be going through.
-Katie Brenzel
News Editor
(with additions by Caroline Russomanno)
(03/30/10 5:11pm)
Higher education in New Jersey faces the challenge of addressing potentially crippling cuts in state funding as announced by Governor Chris Christie’s budget proposal on March 16 for the fiscal year of 2011. The College’s share of the proposed $173 million reduction in appropriations to higher education, from $2.24 billion to $2.06 billion, is no small feat at a $5.2 million drop from $34.5 million to $29.3 million.
In an e-mail sent to the College community on March 17, President R. Barbara Gitenstein identified the effects of the Governor’s proposal on the College as “extraordinary,” as the College, if the governor’s budget is approved, will receive less money from the state than it did a decade ago.
The governor’s proposal follows a history of cuts to higher education, Gitenstein said in an interview.
“This is eight in 11 years that higher education has been hit,” she said. “That’s what’s so hard for a place like (the College) is that we have been carefully marshalling our resources so that we continue to maintain our mission … but after a while the edges get smaller … We haven’t talked about programs in the past.”
Gitenstein said it isn’t likely that any programs will be cut next year, as the procedure for academic and non-academic program closure require extensive conversation. This is the first year program cancellation has been explored in regards to the budget Gitenstein said, as it is an unfavorable resolution to budgetary problems.
“You can’t address this with cuts. Otherwise you won’t have the programs students are coming here to take,” she said. “There are no extraneous programs at (the College) … but we need to balance the budget.”
The College’s budget for 2010 has been closed following a two million dollar mid-year cut, Gitenstein said, with the use of money saved from union worker furloughs and delayed salary increases last year.
In order to address the proposed $5.2 million cut for 2011, Gitenstein said the first step, following advocating for the cut to be reduced, will be to use the remaining one million to $1.7 million left from furloughs and salary deferment.
To further account for the College’s $8.8 million budget deficit, 50 percent of the money will likely be drawn from cuts to permanent expenditures, temporary reductions and revenue enhancements, Gitenstein said, while the other half will be from tuition and fee increases.
The budget proposal also affects financial assistance, which will experience a $15.2 million reduction from $346.1 million to $330.9 million if the proposal is passed.
The proposal calls for a $3.6 million reduction to state funding to Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF). The Tuition Aid Grant Program (TAG), a need-based tuition assistance program, will not be funded for its anticipated growth next year, meaning many families, though they qualify, will ineligible for assistance. According to Gitenstein, these changes will likely affect private institutions more.
Though current NJ STARS I and NJ STARS II scholarships will remain unaffected by the proposal, the merit-based program, which covers the tuition for community college and a four-year institution, is suspended for incoming freshman in 2011.
Gitenstein encourages students to become actively involved in advocating for a reduction in the governor’s proposed cuts by writing to legislators and becoming involved in advocacy groups on campus.
“You guys are the best argument for (the College),” she said. “You are extraordinary students, fabulous citizens, you can make our case much better than we can.”
(03/03/10 6:25pm)
Lucy’s life is a playground for infidelity, suicide and drug abuse. Lucy is four years old.
All College Theatre’s (ACT) production of “Mr. Marmalade” transformed the Don Evans Black Box Theatre into a warped world of imagination on Feb. 27, detailing the shockingly mature relationships — both imaginary and real — of young Lucy.
Abandoned to boredom by a neglectful mother, Lucy creates a series of comically disturbing scenarios involving a set of peculiar characters that reflect the actual dysfunction surrounding her. The play serves as a caricature of reality, manifested in a surprising context — the imagination of a little girl.
When asked what challenges he faced in introducing “Mr. Marmalade” to the College, director Daniel Student said the dimensions of the characters proved difficult.
“Dealing with the levels of violence and hatred that come through the characters for such sweet actors was a challenge,” Student said. The play is Student’s second show at the College, following “Star Wars! the Musical,” though “Mr. Marmalade” is his first endeavor with ACT.
“I thought (“Mr. Marmalade”) would be a nice step forward, a type of play that is harder to swallow … but does it with great humor and charm,” he said.
Liz So, sophomore self-designed international study major, played the precocious Lucy. Though initially her dialogue became slightly tangled in her ‘baby voice,’ her childish mannerisms easily convinced of her age. So’s irresistible charm as Lucy masterfully contrasted with her snarky comments and her often mature grasp of the world.
John Cherney, sophomore cognitive science major, was Mr. Marmalade, the product of Lucy’s hyperactive imagination. Cherney’s serious and often-frightening demeanor met the challenge of authenticating an abusive, cocaine-addicted imaginary friend. His uninterrupted poise received laughter and gasps from the audience — from extreme instances such as spilling a suitcase concealing pornography to striking Lucy.
Matt Daley, junior English major, played Mr. Marmalade’s personal assistant, Bradley. Daley conveyed his nervous loyalty to Mr. Marmalade with composed sincerity, broken only to reveal the decline of Mr. Marmalade.
Justin Mancini, sophomore English major, as Larry, Lucy’s first real friend, expertly portrayed the awkward, suicidal preschooler. With eyes consistently downcast and a soft tone of voice, Mancini captured Larry’s embarrassed existence and impressively prevailed through standing in just his underwear as he was “examined” by Lucy, without breaking character.
ACT’s careful attention to detail in this play was apparent — in everything from Larry’s Velcro shoes to abandoned Barbies strewn across the set. The use of trap doors enabled the rapid appearances and disappearances of Lucy’s imaginary friends, while red lighting revealed Mr. Marmalade’s rage.
Despite the fantastical nature of the play, its characters became real, clearly conveying the sardonic soul of “Mr. Marmalade.”
(02/23/10 7:48pm)
The College will experience the wrath of the state’s crippling financial condition in the form of a two million dollar cut in state aid this fiscal year — the College’s share of the governor’s $62 million total cut from higher education. In his 14th executive order since coming into office, Governor Chris Christie announced on Feb. 11 his latest tactic to remedy the $2.2 billion deficit in the budget with a series of cuts in state aid, according to The Newark Star-Ledger.
The direct impact of the cut on the College is currently unknown, said President R. Barbara Gitenstein in an e-mail interview. Because the cuts are applied to this fiscal year, the difference in aid must be rectified by July 1, Gitenstein said.
“Our choices are very limited, but we will identify actions that have the ?least impact on the academic progress and development of our students,” she said.
The governor’s cabinet will work with faculty, staff senates, the Student Government Association and the Committee on Planning and Priorities to address the cut for this year.
The effects of the governor’s actions will be more evident next semester, Gitenstein said, as the money intended for projects next year will likely be dedicated to covering the decrease in funds.
The governor will announce his proposal for next year’s budget on March 16, which is of equal concern to the College, Gitenstein said.
Potential increases in tuition cannot be announced until the College knows its appropriations from the state, which Gitenstein said likely won’t be until July 1.
“(The College) does not want to raise tuition/fees any higher than necessary but we also feel obligated to raise it enough to provide the educational and student development experience you choose when you came to the College,” she said.
According to Ralph Edelbach, president of the College’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the governor’s proposal also poses a threat to deferred contractual salary increases scheduled for next year.
“My union has fought successfully in the past to insure that New Jersey provides affordable, high quality public higher education to its citizens,” Edelbach said in an e-mail interview. “We intend to keep waging that battle but doing so will be a major challenge given the Governor’s rhetoric against State workers who, according to him are ‘overpaid’ and have ‘too many benefits.’ Obviously we don’t agree with those statements.”
Changes to the budget do not stop at New Jersey colleges. The cuts will also affect over 500 school districts, who received a $475 million cut in the governor’s proposal. Thirty-three million will also be withheld from NJ Transit, which will result in an increase in fares according to The Newark Star-Ledger. In his address at the statehouse, Christie emphasized the dire condition of state and the necessity of the changes.
“Our state is in crisis. Our people are hurting. Now is the time when we all must resist the traditional, selfish call to protect your own turf at the cost of our state,” Christie said. “It is time to leave the corner, join the sacrifice, come to the center of the room and be part of the solution.”
(02/23/10 6:23pm)
Students are being cheated.
As a journalism student, I understand and appreciate the value of internships. They are a great opportunity to make connections, and there is no better way to learn a trade than by actually doing it. I get it.
However, here at the College, journalism students are essentially paying to work for free. Let’s face it, most internships are unpaid during the year, especially given the desperate condition of printed media. Though the internship replaces a four-credit class, tuition remains the same as if the student were enrolled in four classes on campus.
Sure the College is close to Philadelphia. Even New York is a viable commute if you’re unusually ambitious or insane. But driving or traveling to these locations a few days a week, exhausts both you and your wallet.
So, not only are you paying regular tuition, but also you’re constantly paying for gas to get to an internship that is supposedly equivalent to a class, which you’d otherwise be able to roll out of bed and arrive to in pajamas.
But hey, who can put a price on experience?
I can.
Two hundred hours of unpaid work, while it is hopefully valuable, is a tremendous dedication of time. If the College provided transportation to internships, perhaps four credits would be an appropriate compensation for work.
Because that is most likely impossible — though entertaining images of the loop bus escorting me to Philadelphia is comical—the College should consider compensating students further or lessen the requirements expected.
A discount in tuition to account for traveling expenses would be acceptable. Even adding a credit or two for the 200 hours of forced labor would be helpful.
Though students have an option to fulfill their internship requirement during the summer, it is with the unfair assumption that students live in or near a location with opportunities available. Let’s say you live in a town unreasonably far from the city, with no mode of public transportation.
Or the opportunities located nearby don’t comply with the requirements of the internship, and are slightly terrible. For many this may sound like an exaggeration, in which case, you clearly haven’t been to Sussex County.
Between commuting, classes and any campus activities you’re able to squeeze in, additional employment will guarantee you a nervous breakdown. So how do you pay to travel to work for free? Who cares, at least you have four credits you’d get anyway by showing up to class once in a while.
(02/16/10 7:20pm)
The Student Finance Board (SFB) funded the College Union Board (CUB) $30,201.80 for its annual Latenighter in the Brower Student Center. This year’s theme is L.A. and will include entertainment and decorations dedicated to the city. The L.A. Latenighter will be at 8 p.m. on March 20.
Chabad, the College Jewish community, was funded $5,494 for its annual Purim Royal Feast.
The feast, meaning the “Feast of Lots” commemorates the rescue of the Jews from a plot of destruction in ancient Persia, according to hds.harvard.edu. The celebration will feature a live performance from the band Moishy Hecht. The feast will be held on Feb. 27 in the Rathskeller.
SFB approved the Inter Greek Council’s $5,000 request to bring speaker Mark Sterner to the College at its brief Feb. 9 meeting.
Sterner, a campus speaker on alcohol awareness, will discuss the dangers of alcohol abuse. According to his Web site, Sterner speaks from personal experience with a DUI that ended in tragedy during spring break of his senior year of college. The event will be held at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 in Kendall Hall.
CUB’s request for $1,596 to cover ticket prices for its Snowball Weekend Bus trip to York, Pa. was denied by SFB.
The trip includes eight hours of snow tubing at the Heritage Hills Resort, a concert featuring Mark DeRose Band and Huck and a free buffet.
Due to the snowstorm the weekend of Feb. 5-6, the trip was rescheduled for Feb. 20-21. CUB representatives wanted to reduce the ticket price of $70 per person due to the cancellation and inability of many original participants to go on the new date. The ticket price remains the same and the bus departs at 8 a.m. on Feb. 20 and returns at 9 p.m. on Feb. 21.
(02/16/10 2:47pm)
Exploring a Harry Potter lexicon for “obscure” wizardly terms, sophomore computer science major Siobhan Sabino and sophomore interactive multimedia major Jennifer Hurler settled upon a name for the club they hoped to introduce to the muggles of the College — the Order of the Nose-Biting Teacups (ONBT).
The club, which is currently working to become official, welcomes enthusiasts of all things Harry Potter-related, including the novels, movies and Potter “culture,” a theme the club will thrive on in an effort to “bring together people with a shared love of Harry Potter,” Sabino, president of ONBT, said.
Though some adjustments will be applied, ONBT will incorporate everything from House points to Quidditch.
Club members will be sorted into one of the four “Houses” — Slytherin, Gryffindor, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff — at the beginning of every semester with a ceremony. The different Houses will serve to break the club into groups that share common interests. Though currently members can choose the house they prefer, Sabino said in future “sortings” members will fill out a form to determine where they are placed. Just as in the novels, the groups will be able to earn and compete for “House points.”
Despite gravitational challenges, the club hopes to introduce a Quidditch team to the College. The sport, which is played on flying brooms in the novels, will resemble rugby, but incorporate tackling and, of course, brooms.
“The idea is to have something hindering you. In the books, it isn’t this little campy thing. It’s a rough game,” Hurler, publicist of ONBT, said.
According to Hurler, the club is currently in possession of a Quidditch rulebook and is looking to join the Intercollegiate Quidditch Association, an intramural league that has teams across the country, including colleges and universities such as Emerson College, Harvard University and American University, according to its Web site.
Social activities such as Yule Balls, Deathday parties and Wizard Rock concerts can also be expected to bring members together over a common theme.
“They will be something social so that even if you come here and you feel kind of awkward, and you like Harry Potter, you can go there and there’s a room full of dorks who also like Harry Potter, and at least it’s that one thing you have in common,” Sabino said.
Another objective of the club is to explore British culture, Sabino said. The novels are a playground for mythology, Latin and astrology — all aspects the club plans to discuss, debate and research.
Though the club revolves around magic and myth, it will also work to help charity organizations such as the “Harry Potter Alliance.” The “Harry Potter Alliance” is an activist group that “fight(s) the Dark Arts in the real world” by raising awareness about literacy, poverty, equal rights and disasters such as Haiti, according to its Web site.
“It’s like using the power of Harry Potter to raise awareness of things, and raise money, like literacy, Darfur and Haiti,” Sabino said.
While many members, such as Sabino and Hurler, were disappointed that a Harry Potter club didn’t exist at the College to begin with, its progress is exciting for those involved in its formation.
“I’m a big fan of it. I was like a club, oh, I’m going to be made fun of, but I don’t really care if people make fun of me. Because growing up reading them, they did mean something profound to me. I literally grew up with Harry Potter, ” Hurler said.
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(02/10/10 12:41am)
From uncooperative robot-slaves to spiritual self-destruction, singer Scout Niblett leaves no enigma unaddressed. With a child-like prowess, Niblett simultaneously subdues and stimulates with her brand of alternatively simplistic and complex sound.
The Nottingham native’s voice mirrors that of the haunting Chan Marshall of Cat Power, with an even more fleshed-out psychedelic vibe. Niblett’s raw innocence, as seen in “Dinosaur Egg” from her 2007 release, “This Fool Can Die Now,” is similar to that of Joanna Newsom, also on the Drag City label, who is known for her childish yet powerful presence. Niblett charms with slightly nasal vocals similar to Newsom’s, which are laced with a ferocity reminiscent of Kate Bush. The videos for Bush’s “Babooshka” and “Wuthering Heights” alone are testament that these three women are kindred in spirit.
Emerging from a three-year lag after her last album, Niblett released “The Calcination of Scout Niblett,” her first endeavor with the Drag City label, on Jan. 26.
“Calcination” further develops Niblett’s trend of dominant vocals and minimalist instrumentals with single-string accompaniment and distortion. The album adopts a more serious tone than her previous albums, delving deeper into spiritual self-examination interrupted by jarring electric guitar riffs and occasional percussion.
With riffs that fade into near nonexistence, “Just Do It” introduces an anxious intimacy with Niblett’s voice that dominates the album, until it is delivered to an abrupt, distorted end.
“Bargin” is arguably the most haunting of the album, reintroducing Niblett’s characteristic wail, which wanes in between harsh guitar riffs. “Kings” features more complex instrumentals with erratic coordination of drums and guitar, while “Pluto” is dominated solely by distortion.
The album’s namesake, “Calcination,” seems the most complete track, with a fluctuation of drums and guitar that differs from the skeletal structure of the remainder of the album. As the title implies, the song details self-destruction, presumably by fire.
The song graphically describes self-purification, opening with the line “Welcome to my self-made sweat box.” The song parallels the nature of the album, which, as it progresses, contains more and more breaks in vocals and guitar, as if the songs are physically being deconstructed. “Meet and Greet” is riddled with spurts of silence, ending the album with a sporadic climax of cymbals and distortion.
Though Niblett’s latest effort lacks the playfulness of her former albums, its maturity is both intriguing and, at times, frightening in its honesty. She subtly addresses everything from addiction to loneliness without teetering into cliché. With its chaotic presentation and exploration of unconventional musical terrain, Niblett once again proves herself outside classification.
(02/02/10 6:33pm)
As one of his final acts as the governor of New Jersey, Jon S. Corzine signed a bill legalizing medical marijuana on Jan. 18, making it accessible for those with chronic and terminal diseases.
Titled the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act, the bill enables patients with a doctor’s recommendation to obtain identification cards issued by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Individuals in possession of these cards will not be liable for persecution if found in possession of up to six plants, or one ounce, of “usable” marijuana, which the bill defines strictly as the dried leaves and flowers of the plant.
Though the bill faces floods of opposition, Brian Block, president of the College Democrats, views it as a small victory.
“After the failure of marriage equality, it was nice to see the Legislature enact an important progressive measure,” Block said. “Of course all laws go through a period of trial and error and there may be a few instances where changes may need to be made, and that’s what regulations and executive branch enforcement are for.”
Distribution of prescribed marijuana will be limited to alternative treatment centers, which will be highly regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services.
The bill is equipped with a number of restrictions, including the prohibition of driving while under the influence and outlines a number of places individuals with IDs can’t smoke, including any school grounds.
Matthew Golden, executive director of Public Relations and Communications, said the College will handle instances of medical marijuana use on a case-by-case basis, as the conditions calling for prescription aren’t common in the student population.
“We are, however, in the process of consulting with other colleges and agencies to determine how we will handle these situations,” Golden said.
According to Joe Hadge, Alcohol and Drug Education Program (ADEP) Coordinator, ADEP is still in the learning stages of the implications of the bill on campus.
“My sense is that New Jersey, and I’m still learning to find this out, is rolling this out with more consideration. They’ve learned from other states … I think if there are improved guidelines, parameters, it may serve well to a specific population,” Hadge said.
Hadge also said the prominent drug issue on campus is hard liquor related.
Though the bill maintains that it “should not to be construed to condone the diversion of marijuana for nonmedical purposes,” the fear of California’s rampant problems with legalization is fresh in many minds.
For others, however, the issue is not strictly the moral aspect of the bill, but whether it deserves attention given the current state of New Jersey’s budget.
“I fear that in New Jersey, at the present time of a nine-point five-billion-dollar budget deficit and all the other problems the state must face, there is more than enough for the already over-burdened state bureaucracy to monitor,” Brian Hackett, treasurer of the College Republicans, said.
The bill is set to become effective in six months, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. New Jersey is the 14th state to legalize medicinal marijuana.
(02/02/10 2:53pm)
For the last three months, their sparkling, spherical presence has been regarded as intrusive or decorative, tacky or artistic. The campus buzz revolving around artist Willie Cole’s “Pixels” has all but disappeared with the opening of “Post-Pixels,” a student exhibit in the Art and Interactive Multimedia (IMM) building dedicated to the campus’ response to the public art.
The works range from literal to abstract reactions to the influx of responses to the art’s installation. According to Anita Allyn, art department chair and supervisor of the exhibit, the purpose of “Post-Pixels” was “to express, reflect, engage, question and respond to the new ‘Pixel’ public art and the passionate dialogue it raised across the campus community.”
Many representations played with the color of the pixels to create alternative perspectives in interpreting and appreciating the public art, all echoing the fundamental question, “Is this real art?”
In four paintings, each differing in style, Anne Ruffner, sophomore art education major, addressed this directly with her piece “What is Art?” Each canvas portrayed the same nude woman, with backgrounds of pink, yellow, blue and purple, the first using realism, the second impressionism, the third fauvism and finally one that consisted of broad circles to create the blurred presence of the woman.
Katie Petrillo, junior art education major, depicted four screen prints brightly colored blue, pink, yellow and purple and generously covered in glitter. Though entitled “Flux Capacitors,” the objects in each print resembled Slinky’s, paralleling the simplicity of the rotund sculptures as representations of pixels.
Encased in glass, “Untitled” by senior fine arts major Liz Marchuk, features a ring in a Tiffany jewelry box, with a large blue ball in place of a diamond. Marchuk humorously seems to question what society considers aesthetically attractive, while challenging viewers to rethink the opposition of the modern style of “Pixels” and the Georgian style buildings on campus.
“It’s Nice To See How Passionate People Can Be About Art,” by sophomore art education major Matt Pembleton, is a passively sarcastic commentary on the negative sentiment surrounding the balls. Pembleton compiled comments from the Facebook group titled “Whoever destroys those giant sparkly balls in the middle of TCNJ is my hero” digitally printed on a foam board. When asked what message he hoped to convey with the piece, Pembleton said he wanted to demonstrate the positive aspect of students’ criticism.
“Essentially I’m saying that everyone who had such negative and crude opinions about it, and ‘hated it’ don’t really realize that they’re really passionate about the art, even on a personal level. And that’s what public art is all about … Just talking about it and causing conversation is what it’s all about,” he said.
“Post-Pixels” features 13 student artists and is open until Feb. 10 in the student exhibition spaces in rooms 111 and 119 of the Art and IMM building.
Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.
(01/26/10 6:57pm)
Calls to “Save TCNJ Music” surround the recent cancellation of several classes in the music department. In response to the uproar of opposition from both students and faculty members, music department chair Gary Fienberg and the new dean of Arts and Communication, John Laughton, held a discussion forum in the Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall last Wednesday Jan. 20.
According to Fienberg, the primary impetus for the change in classes offered this semester is insufficient enrollment. The Lyric Theatre and Collegium were cancelled, however, in an effort “to facilitate an evaluation of how they may be improved and to further strengthen the curriculum” Fienberg said in an email. Though both Fienberg and Laughton stressed the changes aren’t strictly budgetary, Laughton said that changes were part of an effort to “curtail how we’re allocating resources” and restructure the curriculum.
Small ensembles, including the Collegium Musicum, Lyric Theatre, Clarinet choir, Flute Choir and horn ensemble, as well as yoga for musicians were canceled this semester, flooding campus with mixed reactions of outrage and confusion.
Associate music professor Roger McKinney, also the director of the Clarinet Choir, voiced his anger over the lack of communication to the faculty regarding the planned changes to the curriculum, as well as his fear for the future of the department.
“We’re being laughed at by our sister colleges because our enrollment is down,” he said. “I’m cheated. Nobody told me about this. We have a right to know. I’m ashamed of what has happened.”
According to Fienberg, these cancellations are not permanent and also reflect Laughton’s introduction to the school and the College’s pending reaccreditation with the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), which “requires the faculty and administration to identify strengths and weaknesses and to formulate a plan to address them,” Fienberg said.
Fienberg also identified the College’s chamber program as a weakness that necessitates revision.
Students, such as senior music education major Jessica Esrig, didn’t discover the cancellations until two weeks prior to the beginning of this semester when they no longer were registered for the canceled classes. According to Esrig, she is still currently considered a part-time student on PAWS due to the lack of notification.
“The fact that the faculty had no involvement ahead of time makes me feel worried as a student,” Esrig said.
In order to address the delay in communication, Laughton suggested forming a student advisory committee consisting of two students from each department to advocate for students on future issues in a forum more substantial than Facebook pages such as “Save TCNJ Music!” Many students, however, left the forum without feeling that the issue had been resolved.
“As a performance major, small ensembles are our lifeblood,” Ian Highcock, junior music performance major, said. “I’m concerned about the future of the performance major.”
(12/07/09 3:47am)
[caption id="attachment_7661" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Photo by Tim Lee / Photo Editor"]
(12/01/09 4:38pm)
Amid the mounting frenzy over finals and the invasion of numerous tours on campus, students showcased their talent at ink’s biannual festival, The Goods. The Rathskeller played host to the all-day celebration of the arts on Saturday Nov. 21, featuring headliner, poet Michael Dickman.
Dickman concluded the night of student performances with a reading from his book of poetry, “The End of the West.” With simplistic, yet profound reflections on relationships, especially the one between him and his father in “Some of the Men,” Dickman delivered his work with a relaxed conviction. “Scary Parents” and “My Dead Friends Come Back” explored the interactions of his childhood, while “My Autopsy” tackled an “upbeat take on the afterlife,” Dickman said. Though his reading style lacked an engaging enthusiasm, his sincerity and friendly approach made his poetry particularly accessible.
Following the reading, there was a question and answer session in which Dickman was asked about the autobiographical nature of his writing. Dickman told the audience that while aspects of people he knows exist in his writing, they transformed into mere characters in service to the message of his poetry.
“When things become art, they stop being autobiography,” he said.
Continuing in its convergence of the arts, The Goods highlighted the musical and poetic expertise of student performers.
The Undercover Rabbis transformed the Rat into a battleground of sound with its noise music set. Relying on cacophonic drum beats and guitar chords, along with the incorporation of a water jug, guitarist Steve Klett, senior English major and drummer, and Umar Fahim, a Stockton University student, created coordinated chaos with a series of original songs, including “One by One We Fling Ourselves into the Ocean” and “Bigger than Boston.” For its last song, the band invited fans to join them onstage.
“Our motto is, if you’re a fan then you are in the band,” Klett said.
Freshman journalism major Melisa Easaw read original poetry, including “Eyes,” “If Only,” “Planes” and “Lost.” The focus of her writing ranged from the importance of life’s essentials to the concept of time.
Reading from poems riddled with imagery, Noah Franc, sophomore history major, introduced originals such as “The Lone Wolf of the Woodlands” and “Boston is Beautiful in the Evening.” In addition to demonstrating his mastery of metaphor and descriptions heavily involving nature, Franc introduced his experiments with Shakespearean sonnets entitled “Night of Nights” and “Starwars Sonnet.”
Among the musical performances was Paul Bernardo, senior business management major. Bernardo performed a series of covers, including “Lady in the Blue Dress” by Senses Fail and “My Hero” by Foo Fighters with his acoustic guitar. According to Bernardo, though his set was composed of only covers, he changed the style of each song, primarily by altering the speed, in order to make it his own.
“I wanted to capture them in a different way,” Bernardo said.
(11/17/09 10:12pm)
Due to an overwhelming response from groups across campus, the College Union Board (CUB) has decided to postpone presenting a bid to author Tucker Max to lecture in Kendall Hall on Jan. 20, according to CUB director Raquel Fleig.
Later this week students will have the opportunity to participate in a revised poll to either reinforce the $25,000 bid for Max’s appearance or select a different performer.
The new poll was prompted by criticism that the first poll wasn’t clear, Fleig said.
Last month, students were asked to select from various genres and examples of entertainment in an online poll.
According to Fleig, claims of confusion were made over whether students voted for the genre or the specific example supplied with each option, in this case, Tucker Max.
The writer of four-time New York Times best-seller “I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell,” which was released as a feature film in 2009, is known for his controversial presence on the web and as a lecturer on campuses across the country. His comedic material draws from alcohol-induced sexual exploits and in his own words on his Web site’s homepage, his tendency “to act like a raging dickhead.”
Jackie Deitch-Stackhouse, coordinator of the Office of Ant-Violence Initiatives (OAVI), is one of the leading figures of dissent over Max’s proposed visit. According to Stackhouse, OAVI has centralized efforts against Max through petitions sent to various groups on campus. Stackhouse said she believes the second poll will yield different results.
“I really believe, in my heart of hearts that this campus doesn’t support the values that Tucker Max promotes,” she said.
“It has been my opinion, that once we’ve educated the campus community, that if given a second opportunity to vote, they will choose what they really want, and it’s been my hope that they will say anything other than Tucker Max.”
As a part of the College’s Green Dot Initiative, a campus-wide campaign to counter personal violence (red dots) with acts against violence (green dots)
Stackhouse identifies Max as a “red dot,” and therefore, a direct threat that undermines the messages espoused by OAVI, as well as other offices such as the Office of Differing Abilites and the Alcohol and Drug Education Program. The implications of Max’s visit go beyond differences in comedic taste, Stackhouse said.
“If students re-poll … and continue to say that they want him … after helping people understand the connection between his sexist, misogynist, pro-rape values and comedic works … then there’s a much bigger issue for me to deal with than CUB programming,” Stackhouse said.
In response to many students’ arguments that preventing Max from visiting represents a violation of free speech, Stackhouse held that the issue isn’t whether CUB has the right to bring Max to campus but whether it should.
“CUB is an entertainment body … they’re not supposed to have an ideology, not supposed to have an agenda. It’s supposed to be for entertainment purposes. So it’s different. Even putting Tucker Max on the survey, to me, is problematic. I don’t know that it should have ever gotten that far,” Stackhouse said.
Fleig said, “We found that students in the past have been apathetic towards campus programming … we saw the opportunity to use (Max) as a catalyst for discussion.”
Fleig said she personally isn’t a fan of Max’s brand of humor and said she recognizes the concerns of different groups regarding his jokes about sexual assault. However, she feels he has a right to speak on campus.
“I don’t think as adults we should be censored in what we are seeing or hearing … From CUB’s standpoint, we believe that there is an audience for him on campus,” she said.
Fleig said Max’s lecture will focus on his experience as a former lawyer turned writer, so it will be useful for students who are fearful about their careers after college.
According to the vice president of the Women’s Center Sharanya Mohanty, junior psychology major, however, it is nearly impossible for any writer, especially Max, to separate his experience as a writer from the content of his work.
“To bring a guy who is the antithesis of what we promote on campus just isn’t right … He essentially promotes a culture of rape,” Mohanty said.
W.I.L.L., OAVI, Office of Differing Abilities Services, International Socialist Organization, College Democrats, College Republicans, Alcohol and Drug Education Program have all stated opposistion to Max coming. OAVI also started circulating a petition and the organizations mentioned above helped.