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(11/14/07 12:00pm)
Barkada, the Filipino student organization, held its event "The Debut" on Friday in the Cromwell Hall main lounge. The event was Barkada's first since being approved by the Student Government Association last spring.
According to Christine Buenafe, junior finance major and treasurer of Barkada, in the Philippines, when a girl reaches the age of 18 she is formally presented to her family, friends and community. This presentation, or "debut," was the basis of the event. It also served as Barkada's official introduction to the College's students.
"As a fairly new club on campus, Barkada felt it was time that we make our presence known by holding our own debut," Buenafe said. "We used the event to provide glimpses into Filipino and Filipino-American culture using the many talents of our club members. 'The Debut' was the first of the many events we hope to hold for the (College's) community."
The organization met twice a week for a month to perfect dances and skits that not only reflected the culture of the Philippines, but also showed the Chinese and Spanish influences present in that culture.
Christopher Cheng, sophomore business management major, demonstrated the Chinese yo-yo. The name "yo-yo" may have been derived from the Filipino word "tayoyo" which means "to spin," according to the organization.
Members of the organization danced the Jota Moncadena, a Spanish-influenced dance. Unión Latina was also present to demonstrate a dance of its own. The performances did not stop there, however.
"My favorite dance would have to be Pandanggo Sa Ilaw," Lejanie Malong, senior nursing major and secretary of Barkada, said, referring to a performance in which three dancers wore electric candles on their heads and held one in each hand. "Ever since I was a kid, my mom would tell me stories about how she performed the candle dance when she was younger. I was excited to see my peers bring this childhood image to life."
Between each performance, Barkada members performed skits chronicling a young Filipino woman's exposure to and acceptance of her culture. After the performances and presentations were completed, attendees had the opportunity to sample traditional Filipino food.
"I thought overall the event was a success," Jeffrey Mojica, senior biology major and president of Barkada, said. "Attendance exceeded expectations and I thought that we accomplished our goal of exposing (the College's) community to the Filipino culture."
Barkada holds weekly meetings on Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. in the Pan-Asian Room in the Brower Student Center.
(11/07/07 12:00pm)
When Frank Warren, creator of "PostSecret," started the Web site three years ago, few people thought he would have any success.
"When I told my father I was collecting secrets from strangers for an art project, he didn't know what to think," Warren wrote. "'But, Frank,' he asked, 'why are you soliciting secrets from strangers, and why would anyone tell you a real secret?'"
On Oct. 9, 175,000 secrets later, Warren published his fourth book, "A Lifetime of Secrets."
The book is composed of nearly 400 postcards, each bearing a secret that was never before printed in Warren's three previous books or posted on his Web site. Unlike the other books, Warren decided to arrange the secrets in chronological order, starting with secrets written by children or about childhood and ending with the secrets of grandparents or fears about old age.
"Stretched over a full lifespan, the secrets expose the meaningful ways we change over time, and the surprising ways we don't," he wrote in the introduction.
The majority of the secrets within the pages of "A Lifetime of Secrets" are haunting and all too real, although there is the occasional happy realization or funny secrets.
"Dear PostSecret," one postcard reads. "The day I turned 11, I waited all day for the letter written in emerald-green ink telling me I had been accepted to Hogwarts. Yours sincerely, a fan."
Besides being arranged in chronological order, there is no other clear method to their organization. At times, the secrets printed together even seem to directly contrast each other, adding to the power of each postcard.
On one page, two participants wrote about their relationships. One secret reads, "You are the worst thing that ever happened to me . and I miss you so much." However, the other one says, "When I married my husband I knew he was the luckiest guy in the world . 17 years later, I've discovered that I am the lucky one."
Each part of "A Lifetime of Secrets" is sectioned off from the others by an e-mail message from a reader describing how "PostSecret" has affected his or her life.
"I've had a PostSecret card in my bag for weeks," one e-mail reads. "I kept meaning to send it in but just never seemed to get around to it. So I stuck it to the wall of a public restroom. I had a feeling of relief wash over me - it was wonderful to know the next person to use the bathroom would know my secret, and a tiny part of my burden was gone."
The previous books in the "PostSecret" series -"PostSecret," "My Secret" and "The Secret Lives of Men and Women" - were published in November 2005, October 2006 and January 2007, respectively. They were the result of 3,000 self-addressed postcards left by Warren in public places near his home. From the approximately 100 original postcards that were returned bearing a secret, the project grew into four books and a Web site containing secrets from around the world.
The Web site, which is updated with new secrets every Sunday, was recently ranked as the third most popular blog by New York magazine. Warren also received an award from the National Health Association for his work with suicide prevention.
For more information or to send in a secret of your own, visit postsecret.com.
(10/17/07 12:00pm)
Kaitlin McCann, senior elementary education and English major, was recently elected vice president of Circle K International, an international service club sponsored by Kiwanis International with over 13,000 members.
McCann, who has been active in volunteer organizations since high school, said her position will include many new responsibilities. In addition to serving on the club's Board of Trustees, she will create a newsletter for Circle K presidents, International Speaking, and various other newsletters for other club leaders.
Districts of Circle K across the country can also request McCann's help with presentations and other special events.
"I love being vice president," she said. "It is much different than the other positions I have held in the past."
As vice president, McCann is currently helping to organize a fundraising effort for Six Cents Initiative. Alongside UNICEF, Circle K International is collecting money to bring clean, safe drinking water to children in Africa.
"For only six cents, you can buy a sachet of salt, which helps to make the water clean to drink for these kids," McCann said. "This is such a worthwhile project, because you can really see how your contribution makes a positive difference and that every little bit helps. As an international officer, I get to spread the word about this great project."
McCann was chosen as vice president after attending a Circle K convention in Portland, Ore. There, she made a series of speeches and answered panel and audience questions. McCann first became involved with Kiwanis International in high school. She served as secretary for the club, then ran for the position of district editor of New Jersey and won.
"I joined Key Club because I always liked volunteering and my best friend was going to a meeting and dragged me along," she said. "It was a lot of fun, so I stuck around."
According to McCann, joining Circle K was the natural step for her upon coming to the College. She said Circle K at the College participates in many volunteer events, particularly in Trenton. Her past activities include working at a library for the blind, helping with after-school programs and volunteering at nursing homes.
With Circle K International, the College's district has helped to build a library, construct a playground for a nursery school and tutor children in Boston.
"The most rewarding part of volunteering is seeing the look on the children's faces or that of their parents," McCann said. "I read at a doctor's office in Trenton. You read a book to the child and let them keep it. They are always amazed to learn they get to keep the book. For some of these children, it is the first book they have ever got."
Last year, McCann was selected to serve as governor for the state's district of Circle K. She represented New Jersey at the annual Circle K International convention and worked to design workshops to train officers of Circle K districts.
"It was an amazing honor to serve as Governor," she said. "It was also a great deal of work. I got to meet a lot of people and learn about all the clubs in New Jersey and the great things they do."
Now, much like her friend in high school did when she brought McCann to her first Key Club meeting, McCann works to increase membership of the College's Circle K.
"I try to convince them to attend just one project with me," she said. "If they do, they are usually hooked. Why? Because they see the look in the eyes of the people they are helping and know that they have made a positive difference. It really makes us all more grateful for what we have."
(10/03/07 12:00pm)
The American Museum of Natural History is currently displaying "Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids," an exhibit designed to provide an in-depth look at the creatures that have captivated our imaginations since childhood.
The exhibit, which opened on May 26, features more than 30 beasts that exist in legends around the world - from Japan to Peru to Switzerland - and have their origins in different time periods throughout history.
Upon entering the exhibit, visitors are greeted by a 17-foot-long dragon. "Mythic Creatures" is then divided into five categories: creatures of water, creatures of land, creatures of air, dragons and a conclusion, which, according to a press release from the museum, focuses on "the meaning of mythic creatures today."
"The exhibit was appealing to me because I've always loved mythology, but my knowledge of the subject hasn't really extended past the Greeks," Emily Dudek, treasurer of the (College's) Classic Studies Club, said. "Now I know more about unicorns and mermaids and have added Kappas and Yawk-yawks to my vocabulary, too."
Several members of the club trekked to the city to visit the exhibit on Sept 22 in order to further explore the display's foray into classical mythology.
At first, one might think that the exhibit was made strictly for children. Tapestries and paintings of mermaids line the walls and a white and pink 10-foot unicorn captures the attention of dozens of little girls. The bright colors and realistic appearances of the "life-size" models provide the perfect place for their imaginations to run wild.
Visitors are even invited to touch certain items on display, including a narwhal tusk and the jaw of a Gigantopithecus blacki, an extinct ape, the teeth and jaw of which were popularly believed to have magical healing powers.
However, "Mythic Creatures" also contains dozens of pieces of art that feature these creatures, much like any other museum exhibit. These range from 16th-century maps depicting sea monsters to ancient Greek coins decorated with the images of griffins to a Japanese suit of armor covered with dragons.
On the walls of each section of "Mythic Creatures," the words of famous pieces of literature describe the wonder with which the world viewed these mysterious creatures.
"It was a giant squid 25 feet long," Jules Verne wrote in "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea." "It was heading toward the Nautilus, swimming backward very fast . We could clearly make out the 250 suckers lining the inside of its tentacles, some of which fastened onto the glass panel of the lounge. The monster's mouth - a horny beak like that of a parakeet - opened and closed vertically ... What a whim of nature!"
If visitors also take the time to read the descriptions of each display, they will discover the history of each creature and how many of them came into "existence." For example, it is believed that the nasal cavity in the skull of an elephant was interpreted as one large eye socket, bringing about the legend of the Cyclops.
"This exhibition extends the museum's traditional examinations of the natural world and human cultures to explore how nature fuels creativity in people around the world and across time, inspires fear or whimsy and even influences belief systems," Ellen Futter, president of the museum, said in the press release.
The combination of visual interest, ancient legends, historical explanations and cultural significance is what makes the exhibit appealing to people of any age.
"I think this exhibit is fantastic for any age group," Dudek said. "Kids would love it for obvious reasons and there are plenty of ancient artifacts and stories to keep everyone else happy. For (the Classic Studies Club), it was a great day in the city doing something a bit less serious than usual."
"Mythical Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids" will remain open until Jan. 6, 2008. For more information, visit amnh.org/exhibitions/mythiccreatures.
(09/26/07 12:00pm)
Everyone knows what it's like to be faced with a difficult situation. According to Holly Haynes, assistant professor of philosophy and religion, overcoming difficulty is all about taking small steps with your friends by your side.
On May 5 Haynes was in a car accident, which left her with three broken ribs and a punctured lung. She was forced to spend four days in the hospital with a tube in her lungs to help prevent the build-up of fluids. According to Haynes, however, she was lucky.
"I bounced off of the guardrail on one side of the Turnpike and then I went all the way across the freeway and bounced off the other side and my car spun," she said. "I wasn't hurt nearly as badly as I could have been and I didn't get hit by anyone else. It could have been kind of bad."
Fortunately, she made a quick recovery. Haynes said that after about two weeks, she was feeling well enough to return to the gym, something which few people in her situation would attempt. However, exercise actually assisted her recovery.
"When your lung collapses, it's really painful to breathe or cough or sneeze or anything like that," she said. "One of the dangers is that (the lung) could fill up with fluid, so they tell you to breathe as deep as you can. It's hard to force yourself to do that, but going to the gym was actually good, because I would get my heartbeat up a little bit and I'd have to breathe more heavily. That was actually good for healing my lung."
Despite her injuries, one of Haynes' biggest concerns was the yoga class she had just begun to teach. The first class was canceled because of her accident. She immediately returned the next week to teach, however, she could not participate as much as she would have liked.
Haynes said she feels that part of her quick recovery was due to her inability to believe that there is anything she cannot do. Even more than that, she credits her friends with giving her the strength and support she needed during her difficult time.
"One of the biggest experiences for me was how great my friends were to me," she said. "(The College's) Classics Club also sent me flowers and it's really huge to know that you've got that kind of support or that people are out there who are thinking about you. My friends came and took care of me at home the first weekend or so that I was there, so that was a really big psychological lift."
She also compared the strength it takes to overcome an obstacle in your life to the strength it takes to persevere in college. Haynes, who teaches difficult subjects like Latin and Greek, is no stranger to the troubles of school. In fact, she had never even attended an American school until she moved to the United States for college.
"I had gone to English schools and so I was totally bewildered by the American school system," Haynes said. "I went to the University of Washington, which is this huge state school, and I had no idea what was going on."
This was how she "stumbled" into the languages she now teaches. Haynes said that at the time, she was lost in her life and much of what she did was simply because it was the opposite of what her parents wanted from her - to become a lawyer. Suddenly, she found herself in graduate school with a teaching assistantship and she knew what she wanted to do.
She spent seven years teaching at New York University, followed by two years at Dartmouth before she began her job at the College.
"(Teaching) doesn't really feel like a job in a way," Haynes said. "I often just feel like they pay me to do this and I go into a classroom and talk to interesting people . I just feel like I get to come in here and we yack about some stuff and we read some cool Latin poetry and then it's the end of the hour. What's not to like?"
With Haynes' great attitude about teaching some of the most difficult subjects available at the College, it's no wonder she remained positive following her accident. According to her, struggles are a part of life, but not something one should be afraid or ashamed of.
"Life is just often not an easy thing," she said. "There's just a lot of difficulty. Often there's a reluctance to admit that it's difficult, because that's seen as weak, but I think that a really great thing to do is to really face up to how painful and difficult something is. Once you can accept that, then it's the first step to overcoming it. Just one step in front of the other."
(09/19/07 12:00pm)
Whether or not they agree with the war in Iraq, many people feel the need to show support for the men and women who are sent overseas to fight.
According to Carol MacLeod, chair of the Special Events & Community Building Council for the Staff Senate, this feeling was what inspired her to initiate a drive to support the New Jersey National Guard members who were sent to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Through the charity event co-sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate collected over 11,400 minutes in calling cards and many magazines to send to the troops.
The College worked alongside the New Jersey National Guard Family Assistance Center to create a successful collection effort. The organization, located in Lawrenceville, asked the College for two items that were greatly needed by U.S. troops: calling cards and magazines.
According to Christine Cullen, SGA executive president, the executive board of SGA collected money from the organization's members to buy some cards to get the fundraiser started.
"It was for a good cause and we just helped getting the word out to students," Cullen said.
In a mass e-mail sent to the co-sponsors of the events, MacLeod said, "These cards allow the National Guard to successfully communicate to their families during this troubled time. It also shows support for family members, while their loved one is deployed serving our community, state and country."
Peter Manetas, director of development in the office of Development & Alumni Affairs, was one of several staff members who helped MacLeod with the collection.
"We had a terrific response, and just as importantly, I'm sure it raised everyone's awareness regarding the National Guard, a truly volunteer group of individuals," Manetas said in an e-mail. "They, along with their loved ones, make a tremendous sacrifice on behalf of their country and it's our hope that this small gesture demonstrates our appreciation."
MacLeod attempted a similar effort last year, which was met with limited success.
"Last year we collected under 10 cards, so I would say that we were more than successful (this year), and it was very much appreciated by the National Guard," MacLeod said. "They even invited me down to meet the men that were being deployed."
Stephen Pruser, junior business administration major and infantryman in the New Jersey National Guard, agreed that the effort will be greatly appreciated by the troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.
"I've never been deployed overseas, but I have been separated from my friends and family during basic training," Pruser said. "Whether it be a letter, magazine, care package or calling card, every little bit helps the morale of the soldiers. Just hearing the familiar voice of a loved one when you're in a strange new place can give you the boost you need to make it through difficult times. I commend Carol MacLeod and appreciate the hard work that she is putting forth for our heroes in harm's way."
Although she is not currently planning another collection effort, MacLeod said that she would be more than happy to do so in the future. She also recommended that any student interested in organizing their own collection contact the New Jersey National Guard Family Assistance Center. A list of phone numbers for various centers across New Jersey can be found at www.njslom.org/Family_Assistance_Centers.pdf.
"The National Guard are our neighbors who believe in helping out," MacLeod said. "They offer their time and so much more to help their community. It was a pleasure showing them support from the College."
(09/12/07 12:00pm)
As a child, Kim Pearson, professor of journalism, had many dreams, most of which revolved around becoming a scientist.
Since Pearson was 8 years old, however, she has considered herself a writer, even when she was studying organisms under a microscope while majoring in politics at Princeton University. This natural ability recently qualified her to be one of the few bloggers present at the trial of ex-vice presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who was accused of leaking the name of a CIA agent to the media.
Pearson was given the chance to cover the trial when the Media Bloggers Association, a group she is involved with, obtained the necessary press credentials.
"I got this call from Robert Cox (president of the Media Bloggers Association) and he said, 'I have this opportunity,' and all I thought was, 'Cool,'" Pearson said. "It was something that had implications not only for my profession, but for my classes."
According to Pearson, the purpose of bloggers in the courtroom was to act as "a sidebar to news coverage." She said that beat reporters from newspapers and other news organizations had been following the case and other cases in the White House. These reporters had greater access to resources and, therefore, had the potential to produce stories of better quality.
"I think anything that gets more citizens involved with what the courts are doing is a good thing," Pearson said, "but I don't want people to think of what we were doing as a substitute for news coverage."
Nevertheless, Pearson understands the potential in blogging. In the mid-1990s, she strayed from freelancing with various scientific publications to teach herself about online technology.
Then, in 2003, she created her blog "Professor Kim's News Notes." Designed as a place where she could collect information for possible stories, the blog soon picked up a steady readership.
"It sort of took on a life of its own," Pearson said. "There were times when I had to walk away from it and people were getting distressed."
Pearson also published some of her thoughts and interpretations of the Scooter Libby trial in this blog, particularly the effect it might have on the journalism community.
"The Libby trial not only tells us about the sometimes-cozy relationships between powerful journalists and their government sources," she wrote. "The bloggers who have become so intimately involved in the press coverage may be emerging as a new media power center."
Despite the excitement of the high profile trial, Pearson said that the most significant moment in her career as a journalist happened in the classroom.
"My most significant story would have to be 9/11," she said. "I was supposed to teach three classes that day . what we did instead was we combined The Signal and Unbound and that became the command center."
She and her students spent the day collecting information on traffic and travel situations, finding out what was happening on other college campuses and receiving first-hand accounts from alumni and students.
"It's perverse, because it's certainly one of the worst things in our lives, but it's what a journalist was made for," Pearson said. "There's part of you that realizes this is the most important thing you will do . I was never more proud of my students and I was never more proud to be a journalist."
Pearson got involved in teaching at a young age. At 10 years old, she acted as a research assistant to her father, who was going to school to become a teacher.
However, it wasn't until she was going to graduate school for journalism at New York University that the idea to become a professor was introduced to her.
As a summer job, she worked with the Urban Journalism Workshop, which is a program "designed to introduce students of color to journalism," according to Pearson. For two weeks, she taught her students how to write ledes, interview and put together newspapers.
"At the end of that workshop, they gave me a briefcase as a gift and they told me I should become a teacher," Pearson said.
Now, at the College, Pearson thrives on helping her students realize their dreams.
"I wanted to come to a public school where I would meet students who are bright, and ambitious, and have dreams and have no idea how to get there," she said.
According to her, she had similar experiences as a child, when she wanted to become a scientist and learn a musical instrument.
"There is this notion in America that you can be anything you want, but there are unwritten rules," she said, "and if you don't have anyone to teach you those rules, you work like a dog and get nowhere."
For Pearson, all the hard work was well worth it.
"I'm lucky," she said. "With the exception of learning an instrument, I've lived all of my dreams."
(08/29/07 12:00pm)
During eight years of interviews and research on the lives of college students, Tim Clydesdale, professor of sociology at the College, discovered that the public often fails to appreciate the complexity of college life. Clydesdale once shared a similar view.
"I assumed - foolish, I know, but I did it anyway - that the transformative experience I had during the first year after my high school graduation was a common experience," Clydesdale said. "When I discovered that it rarely was, I was hooked and had to find out why."
Today's college experience is no longer a mystery to Clydesdale, who recently published a new book about the challenges of freshman year, "First Year Out: Understanding American Teens After High School." In it, he explores the driving forces in one's life after high school.
According to Clydesdale, these forces are much more extensive than the stereotypes of partying and drinking.
"I'd say the biggest problem is getting so caught up in the press of relationships, gratification and consumption that matters which are deeper, wider or longer-term get ignored," he said. "These may be personal identity matters or larger societal and global matters."
Clydesdale compares college life to a cruise ship, saying, "It's like high school graduates board a cruise ship, immerse themselves in the on-board cruise life, learn the ways of cruise life fairly well, but never give a moment's thought to the ship's destination or whether the captain is even at the helm."
So why did a sociology professor not notice this pattern of behavior in his students before his research? Clydesdale said students who come to their professors with concerns are rare.
"As a researcher, I found students quite willing to open up if I sought them out for conversation, but it's rarely the other way around," Clydesdale said. "That's largely because academic life in general is on the back burner of students' lives. It is attended to as necessary, but the press of relationships to navigate, gratifications to manage and economic adjustments to handle are far more absorbing."
Of course, in "First Year Out" Clydesdale recognizes that there is still a group of what he calls "exceptional teens." These students are active politically, religiously and academically, much like he was during his undergraduate years at Wheaton College.
"I found the world of learning to be utterly fascinating and assumed everyone else did, too," Clydesdale said. "It wasn't until I became a professor that I realized how rare students like I was actually are."
Clydesdale feels that most students today temporarily move away from their political, religious and racial identities without even considering them. He describes these identities as "the very things that can give purpose and direction to the captainless ship." This translates into problems for many young adults after college, whose "lack of mindfulness about themselves and the world they inhabit during their college years" left them unsure about their futures after graduation.
Despite the "captainless ship" trend, Clydesdale says he does not necessarily worry about social change. He does, however, worry about the college students' part in social change.
"The only thing constant in our world is change, but I worry that when many young adults get into the habit of focusing exclusively on their micro-worlds and their personal consumption, they lose the opportunity to play a role in that change," Clydesdale said. "In effect, they turn over their voice to those with vested interests."
According to Clydesdale, there are ways to focus on the greater picture.
"Those students who do this best are those who keep a healthy skepticism toward popular culture, who see through its shallow messages and are willing to make unpopular choices, but which reflect who they are at the deepest levels and in response to the larger needs around them," Clydesdale said.
Overall, "First Year Out" dispels pre-conceived ideas about the college experience and freshman year in specific. Clydesdale shows a deep understanding of the problems recent high school graduates face, the reasons for these problems and how they can be fixed.
(08/29/07 12:00pm)
Using a combination of rap and personal stories, Mohammed Bilal delivered a lecture on Sunday entitled "Twelve Steps of Appreciating Diversity." Bilal, a former member of MTV's "The Real World," was this year's keynote speaker for Welcome Week.
Bilal opened the lecture by asking if anyone from the audience ever learned that differences were wrong. He then explained that everyone, in one way or another, is what he calls a "homogene," a word he derived from "homogeneity."
"A homogene is a person who, in many ways, is uncomfortable with difference," Bilal said. He cited the examples of a black man in a room full of white people or a woman in a room full of men as cases of a "homogene."
Admitting that one is uncomfortable with difference, Bilal said, is the first of his 12 steps to appreciating diversity. The next step is knowing yourself, which Bilal says is the only way you can "know others and be comfortable with others."
Bilal learned, while studying his family tree, that there was a great deal of diversity among his ancestors. His great grandmother was of Native American heritage, his father's family came from Eastern Africa and his "great-great-great-great-grandfather was a slave master who married a slave and loved her."
"I think it is really important for everyone here to start with yourself when you learn about diversity," Bilal said. "This idea of a pure culture, of a pure race, does not exist."
Bilal encouraged students to look for commonalities, not differences when meeting someone of a different culture.
"You can all pick out differences," he said. "Hopefully, you can look for commonalities apart from race." Bilal urged the audience not to prejudge someone based on their differences.
According to Bilal, one can break the habit of prejudging someone by forming new habits of acceptance. "If you can open up to new and different things, hopefully you'll be able to open up to new and different people," he said. "It's almost like you have a social muscle and if you don't exercise it, it will atrophy."
Bilal encouraged the audience to travel, to read and to learn another language to learn about different cultures and diversity. Finally, he said to learn the difference between prejudice and true dislike and to "turn to your source of strength to learn how to become a healthy part of this diverse community."
Bilal closed the lecture by asking the audience to think carefully about whom they want to be when they leave the College.
"I thought the message was very powerful," P.J. Anastasio, freshman history major, said. "(Bilal) was very well-spoken ... and it will resonate well with the students."
(05/02/07 12:00pm)
Each year, a student who shows enthusiasm for community service and the ability to encourage the same in others is named Outstanding Student Leader of the Year. This year, Neil Hartmann Jr. was chosen out of 52 nominees to receive the honor.
In a press release, the College listed the criteria for the award as "the ability to motivate others, well- developed communication skills, a demonstrated commitment to improving the College community, strong academic performance, leadership in student organizations and service to others."
Among his many distinctions, Hartmann, a junior communication studies major, is the president of the Bonner Community Scholars, a program at the College that focuses on community service. He has been a part of the program since his freshman year when he was chosen to be one of the 10 students from his class to participate. Hartmann's selection was based on previous volunteering experience and his high school transcript. Participation in the program requires dedication and a passion to help others.
"We as Bonner Community Scholars are required to do 280 hours (of volunteer work) a year, but most of us do way more than that," Hartmann said. "I usually do about 200 a semester."
"Neil is awesome," Maria De La Cruz, junior international studies major and fellow Bonner Community Scholar, said. "He puts everything he's got into everything. He's very passionate, caring and just a fun person to work with."
Hartmann is also the volunteer coordinator for the Trenton-area Habitat for Humanity, a position he earned after working with the program for a year and gaining responsibility and experience. With Habitat, Hartmann has volunteered at job sites in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. He will be continuing his work with the program full time during the summer.
"(The job with Habitat) really means a lot to me because I have a very big say in how things operate there," Hartmann said. "It's rewarding to know that they trust me and value me enough to give me so much responsibility. Beyond that, I love everyone I work with and all the great strides we are making with revamping the business structure of Habitat in Trenton. I really feel like I am making an impact on the place."
Despite all of his recent community service, Hartmann feels that he has left his true passion, environmental awareness, behind. During high school, he participated in his town's environmental committee, where he "helped develop plans for park space from a student's perspective." He also created a program in which high school seniors could end their school year with two weeks of volunteer work rather than having classes and finals. He called this accomplishment one of his "most proud achievements, as it helped (his) school and (his) community at the same time."
"I am planning to dedicate a lot of time next year to a new environmental club on campus called RISE (Realistic Individuals Saving the Environment)," Hartmann said, "so that I can get back to one of my passions that has, since college, fallen to the wayside. And that is helping to try and save the environment, starting with our campus."
Hartmann said several professors from the College have encouraged his community service over the past few years. Nino Scarpati, assistant dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science, in particular, said Hartmann "did a good job of tying what (Hartmann's class was) learning in the classroom into (their) service work." Hartmann also called Susan Ryan and Lorna Johnson, professors of communication studies, "very encouraging, . motivating and inspiring."
In the future, Hartmann hopes to expose students at the College to various volunteer opportunities and instill in them the understanding that community service is important and worthwhile.
"Service can be a lot of fun and very rewarding if you find a way to give back to the community that speaks to you," Hartmann said. "When we leave college, we will be outside of this little bubble in Ewing and we hope to give people an eye-opening experience to show them that real people face real issues every day in the city right next to us. We can all do something to help."
(04/25/07 12:00pm)
On Thursday night, the College's Habitat for Humanity set out to accomplish something that most people hope they will never have to do: spend a night sleeping in a cardboard box. The annual Sleep Out to Speak Out Against Homelessness event serves to raise awareness and collect food for the homeless in the Trenton area.
Beginning Saturday afternoon, members of the organization gathered on the lawn between Green Hall and Brower Student Center to arrange their boxes. According to Stephanie Giordano, senior finance major and Habitat president, between 15 to 20 people attended the event and 10 students made the decision to spend the night outside.
"Set up outside of the student center, there are many people who walked past and saw the event," Giordano said. "Some passerbys would just give us strange looks and walk on by quickly, and others donated food that will be given to East Trenton Habitat's food pantry and asked us if we would be warm enough."
The group was successful in collecting a large amount of food for the Trenton food pantry. In general, the donations were made by students who were willing to spend their points for a good cause.
According to Ted Zebrowski, senior accounting major, the College is not alone in holding this event annually. "It's an international event," he said. "Colleges everywhere do this. It's for awareness." He added that "missing your bed for a night seems so simple, but this lets you see how bad it can be."
"It's exciting," Allison Pollio, sophomore engineering major, said. "I've never slept in a box before. ... I don't think many people get to experience what it's really like to be homeless."
Giordano said the Sleep Out was held "in conjunction with Act! Speak! Build! week, which is Habitat's student initiated week of advocacy. Act! Speak! Build! empowers young people to educate themselves and their communities and move communities to social action."
In addition to this event, Habitat for Humanity raised $500 for the East Trenton Habitat for Humanity Center that will be used to build new houses. The group is also holding a volleyball tournament today. The proceeds from the tournament will go to support Habitat's cause.
"There will be Saturday and Wednesday construction site visits offered to students," Giordano said. "Over winter break, (the College's) Habitat will be planning a week-long trip to help build homes outside of New Jersey. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved and it's fortunate that the results of our labor are apparent. The more houses that we build, the more people will have simple, decent, affordable housing."
Overall, the members of Habitat for Humanity felt that the Sleep Out was a successful way to meet their goal of awareness.
"Many were surprised to see that there were people inside of the boxes, especially in the morning," Giordano said. "It was this kind of reaction that we hoped to elicit: for others to see that there are students who feel passionate about this cause enough to give up a night in their comfortable beds to sleep outside in boxes on the ground. If we can evoke emotions in others, this could hopefully inspire them to act. Bringing the homelessness problem to the forefront is essential if we want to get anything done."
(04/18/07 12:00pm)
For most people, communication is instinctive. For those who live with autism, however, even expressing basic needs can be difficult. For this reason, and with the goals of "improving the lives of all affected by autism" and dispelling myths about autism, the Autism Society of America (ASA) began National Autism Awareness Month in April 1972.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which affects every autistic child to a different degree, affects one child in 150 in the United States and one in 94 in New Jersey, according to a study done in early 2007 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The disorder is more common in boys and is usually noticeable during the first three years of a child's life.
ASD affects basic functions of the brain and typically impedes a child's communication skills and ability to interact with others. Symptoms include resistance to change, difficulty expressing needs, frequent tantrums, and learning and social difficulties. Despite what many myths say, however, these troubles do not mean that autistic children are incapable of learning or expressing love.
"They're just like most other kids, in the sense that they're pretty sheltered, innocent, honest and funny," Rachel Prakash, junior special education and Spanish major, said. Prakash participates in an after-school program at the Eden Institute, an educational organization for autistic children located in Princeton.
Although there is no known cure for autism, organizations like the Eden Institute work toward early diagnosis of the disorder and provide intervention programs, the surest way of controlling autism. The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) also guarantees free public education for autistic children, tailored to their specific needs.
"It is an incredibly rewarding experience," Liz Beck, junior psychology major, said about working with the Eden Institute. "When the kids run up and hug me, or hold my hand or smile or laugh, it is a reminder that they're doing so because of the combined help of myself and my co-workers. Knowing that these kids have a place where they are accepted and understood, rather than ridiculed and ignored, makes me realize that, though it can be frustrating at times, it is ultimately worth it."
During National Autism Awareness Month, many local organizations hold events to promote public awareness of autism and to raise funds for autism research. The Autism Society of America: Greater Philadelphia Chapter will be holding its Eighth Annual Autism Awareness Day at the Philadelphia Zoo on Sunday, April 22. The Center for Outreach & Services for the Autistic Community (COSAC), an organization based out of Ewing, also holds a variety of events during April to collect donations for research and treatment.
These treatments and special programs, according to ASA, should begin as soon as a child is diagnosed with autism, which is done by observing the child in a variety of social situations.
"A lot of them have behaviors," Prakash said, "meaning that due to the fact that many of them can't speak or communicate very well, they end up getting frustrated when something isn't going how they'd like, or they want something that they can't express, so they end up acting out through hitting, biting, etc. It's hard to watch that happen and know that they can't even explain why they're doing that."
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the number of autism cases in the United States is growing at a rate of 10-17 percent every year. During the 1990s, there was a 16 percent increase in disabilities in the United States overall, but a 172 percent increase in cases of autism, making it the fastest-growing disorder. All of this is happening without a known cause.
Autism is classified by abnormalities in the structure of the brain and often occurs with other disorders, such as tuberous sclerosis, which causes tumors to grow on the brain, and congenital rubella syndrome, which can affect the structure of a child's brain, eyes and heart.
There is also a possibility that autism is a genetic disorder, but a specific gene has not been proven to be the cause. Autism is not, however, a mental illness.
Although many aspects of autism remain a mystery, the experience of working with autistic children is, for many, a rewarding one. The best part for Prakash is "knowing that they're happy. . When they laugh and smile, you know it's just like when other kids laugh and smile, and that's a good feeling to see that."
For more information about autism and National Autism Awareness Month, visit autism-society.org, autismspeaks.org and asaphilly.org.
(04/04/07 12:00pm)
The lights in Kendall Hall's Auditorium dimmed at exactly 7 p.m. on Saturday and the packed hall immediately became silent. Adrien Ong, president of Asian American Association (AAA) and senior nursing major, took the stage and explained to the audience that this was the second time since 2001 that the group's program Mystique started on time.
This year's event, titled "Once Upon a Time in Asia: The Lands, the Myths, the Legends," would have been worth a wait, however.
Set in the Forbidden City, the 14th annual Mystique focused on the gifts and stories brought by travelers to China.
The presentation was coordinated by Chamberlain Ming, played by Irene Ning, sophomore secondary education/physics major, and included stories brought by Sean Hickey, junior English major, as a traveling bard; Melissa Lim, freshman international business major, as Mei, a governor's daughter; Jon King, junior psychology major, as Captain Avery Wilcox; and James Huynh, sophomore history major, as a delusional, drunk old man.
The audience, acting as the Emperor of China, was treated to singing, dancing and other performances by AAA and its co-sponsors, the Indian Student Association, the Japanese Club and the Chinese Culture Club.
Genghis Tan, junior secondary education/English major, served as this year's Mystique coordinator and acknowledged the difficulty of having so many groups come together to form such a large performance.
"The hardest part planning was making sure that everyone knew what they were doing to make all the pieces fit together," Tan said. "At times, it felt like people didn't know where to go or when to start, but in the end, we did it without a hitch."
The performance seemed flawless, from the intricate and fast-paced Taiko drumming from Japan to the Filipino folk dance Tinikling, both of which were audience favorites.
The Chinese yo-yo act, by Ong, Eric Lin, junior biology major, and Chris Cheng, freshman business major, fascinated the audience - although it was dismissed by Captain Avery Wilcox as "grown men playing with a child's toy."
"I really liked (the show)," Laurie Cucco, sophomore nursing major, said. "It was very exciting, entertaining and fun. My favorite parts were the Chinese yo-yos, Taiko drumming and the Tinikling. I really enjoyed it."
A special performance by Saathiya, the College's South Asian dance troupe, was also a hit with the "Emperor." Utilizing a combination of the Indian dance styles Garba, Bhangra and Bharat Natyam and Hip-Hop, the dancers portrayed Barbie, Transformers and Super Mario and Luigi.
AAA and its co-sponsors put in hours of work to accomplish such an impressive result. According to Ong, practices began in November and increased after the performers returned from Winter Break.
The practices typically lasted one to two hours and occurred two to three times a week for every act. All their hard work definitely paid off, as the floor of the auditorium was full and there was a large group of people in the balcony.
"My favorite part of Mystique is seeing the faces of a 600-plus crowd light up and react to the amazing feats our students accomplish and perform on stage," Ong said.
Tan agreed. "I'm very glad to see all my friends and the families that came out to support us in this endeavor," he said.
"This year, we reached for the stars in both theme as well as execution, and I'm so glad to see that it was worth every second of sweat," Tan said.
Tan went on to say that he heard from many people that this year's Mystique was the best one ever.
"I'm still too doubtful to agree," he said, "but there definitely was a lot of planning as well as dreams for this one. So, maybe people do have it right. It might possibly have been quite amazing . I was on the sidelines most of the time."
Ong also said that he heard from many that the 14th show surpassed all the rest. When talking to Mystique alumni from 1999, one told Ong that this year was the best Mystique she had ever seen and that she will never forget it. Ong personally agrees that Mystique gets better every year and that this one is the best he has experienced.
So what's in store for next year?
"We're so recently done with this year's that most of us are too frazzled to think about next year's," Tan said. "We've definitely set ourselves a huge bar to overcome."
Tan continued, "Also, I'm going to leave it up to the heir to the Mystique coordinator position to work on next year. There will definitely be a lot of work put into next year's . just not now. Typical college procrastination."
(03/21/07 12:00pm)
"Don't call these women victims . they're survivors."
These survivors - three students from the College - came together on March 5 for "Cancer Stories: TCNJ Women and Cancer," an event organized by senior health and exercise major Megan Hueter.
The event, which took place at the beginning of Women's History Month, sought to inform the campus of the risks of cancer. According to Hueter, there is a one-in-three chance that a woman will develop some form of cancer during her lifetime.
"I completed an internship over the summer at the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance in Washington, D.C., and they have a program called Survivors Teaching Students," Hueter said. "They go into medical schools and teach doctors about their signs and symptoms, but I wanted to bring that to the undergraduate level."
Tanya DeRegnaucourt, junior nursing major; Heather Measley, junior elementary education major; and Carisa Solomon, 2006 alumna, told of their experiences as young cancer survivors.
For some in the audience, the fact that cancer could affect college students came as a shock.
"They're only a couple of years older than us," Kim Milan, freshman psychology major, said. "I've lost a lot of people to cancer and it never hit home that it could happen to me at any time."
DeRegnaucourt told her story beginning in her freshman year. After experiencing severe stomach pains, she visited a doctor for tests. Soon, she was told that she had a rare form of pancreatic cancer.
The cancer, which was fully encapsulated in a tumor, could be removed without the use of chemotherapy. An operation to take out the tumor was successful, but resulted in the loss of DeRegnaucourt's spleen.
"I was terrified, actually, when I first heard (about the tumor), but I did some research," she said. "This is actually a very curable cancer. . I'll be here for a while, so get used to it."
DeRegnaucourt is currently studying nursing at the College and working as a nurse extern at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. She hopes to have a career working with and helping cancer patients.
Measley's story also began during her freshman year at the College. Over her fall break, she went for an ultrasound and was told that her uterus was enlarged and that she had ovarian cancer. Surgery was necessary immediately.
"I remember I was crying to my mom because I wanted to postpone (the surgery) until after the semester," Measley said. "I didn't want to get behind in my classes."
Fortunately, like DeRegnaucourt, Measley did not need chemotherapy or radiation to remove the cancer.
"I definitely had a very positive attitude during the whole thing, which I think helped a lot with the recovery," she said.
Unlike DeRegnaucourt and Measley, Solomon experienced cancer twice. It began in 2002, when she noticed an unfamiliar mole on her leg. She visited a dermatologist, who told her "it's no big deal. It's nothing. You don't need to get it off."
Solomon decided to have the mole removed anyway. After tests on the removed mole, it was discovered that Solomon had stage-2 malignant melanoma.
There was a 50-50 chance that the cancer had spread to other areas of her body, but, fortunately, this was not the case.
Then, last year, following a biopsy, it was confirmed that Solomon had cervical cancer. She was told that she would need a hysterectomy.
Solomon, who is getting married in October, has decided to postpone the operation until she has tried to have a child.
She has to have a checkup every three months and if the cancer spreads, she will have to have the surgery immediately.
Despite facing cancer twice during the past five years, Solomon remains positive.
"This experience has made me such a strong woman," she said.
Jennifer Ascher, a graduate of the College and the director of Special Events for the Lawrenceville chapter of the American Cancer Society, also spoke at the event.
She is actively involved in spreading awareness about cancer and getting local schools and businesses to take part in events that raise money for cancer research. One of these events is the College's Relay for Life, which will take place on April 13.
"My mother had breast cancer when I was 9 years old," Ascher said. "When I was looking for a job, the American Cancer Society seemed like the right fit."
According to Hueter, the event was just as successful as she had hoped.
"It's definitely a great experience," she said. "It's good to see someone my age so strong and willing to tell their stories."
(02/28/07 12:00pm)
He may not begin every column with, "Today, I got to thinking." but Ron Geraci, the "male Carrie Bradshaw," puts a lot of thought into relationships. In Ed@TCNJ's first event of the semester, The Dating Game: A Magazine Columnist's Guide to Storytelling & Love, Geraci shared his experiences as a well-known dating columnist.
Geraci began recapping his dating adventures and mishaps with Men's Health in 1995. According to Geraci, his column, "This Dating Life," was intended to share the experiences of "the average schlub, which I took as a great compliment." He then began to write for match.com and to edit for AARP Magazine.
Editors are notoriously reluctant to be the first to try a new idea, but "once you've done something for someone else, people are very eager to use you in that capacity," Geraci said.
"I thought this was a very helpful presentation to hear, especially from a columnist," Alex Seise, sophomore journalism major, said. "A lot of the time, you just hear about writers or the editors."
Last summer, he also released his first book, "The Bachelor Chronicles." The memoir tells of the hundreds of dates Geraci had during the years he spent with Men's Health. He explained that the fundamental element of his book, and his writing in general, was that he didn't "try to make something a little bit neater or a little bit funnier than it was." In Geraci's case, there really is no need for this.
"I've had just about every typical bad date you can imagine," Geraci said. "I had a date that showed up who was a single amputee and, the whole evening, I couldn't stop fixating on this. That was a strange date, due to my insensitive reaction to someone with a disability. I had a date where, the next morning, I had to write a police report, because her boyfriend . well, that's in the book."
"I thought it was interesting to write from life experience," Samantha Kennedy, senior philosophy and journalism major, said. "It's one of my interests when I finally get a job."
After all his success, Geraci still remembers from where he first got his drive to write. An alumnus of the College, he credits Dr. Robert Cole, former journalism professor, with instilling that motivation in him.
"The moment I knew I wanted to write, I was in Dr. Cole's magazine writing class," he said.
For an assignment in Cole's class, Geraci chose to write about the recent death of a friend. When the class read his piece, he looked around and saw a girl crying in the back of the room. According to Geraci, it was then that he realized he could affect people with his words.
"(Ed@TCNJ's founder Tammy Tibbetts) thought he would be a good choice for a future program," Monique Reuben, junior English major and the president of Ed@TCNJ, said. "It was a plus that he was a (College) alum."
But how does one become a successful writer in an area that often seems so clich?? The key, Geraci said, is developing your own voice.
"Someone once told me - and it's true - that you have to write a hundred-thousand words before you have a voice," he said.
Also, he advised that prospective writers learn to fill a need that every editor will have. Successful magazine writers either become experts on a constantly changing field, dive into a field that is "sexy and competitive," like celebrity news, or learn to cover age-old questions in a new and interesting way. These "evergreens," as Geraci calls them, are the domain of the relationship columnist. From his experience, Geraci says that there really are only seven or eight themes to relationship questions, although each theme can be reworded many different ways.
"If you can answer these questions in a distinctive way, that's the easiest way to being a columnist without any expertise," Geraci said.
With over 10 years of writing under his belt, Geraci is hardly without expertise. Many consider him to be an expert in his field, but Geraci feels that the title is unwarranted credit.
"People often question me: 'How could you know anything about relationships if you're still single?'" he said. "This whole 'dating expert' thing makes me sick."
And how does he feel about being the "male Carrie Bradshaw"?
"She's a woman - she's a good-looking woman," he said. "She only has to say 'yes' most of the time. I'm a man. Dating is a completely different priority for me. And the reality of the situation is I look terrible in a little black dress."
(02/21/07 12:00pm)
"Black history cannot be confined to one month, because black history is made every single day in so many different ways."
These words, written by poet J. Ivy in his poem "History in the Making" and performed by sophomore communication studies major Jonelle Beckford, set the tone for last Tuesday's Open Mic Night in the Rathskeller. Held by the Black Student Union, the event aimed to encourage students to express themselves and to acquaint the campus with the work of Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and other important figures in black history.
"The importance of Open Mic Night to Black History Month is to expose students to African-American culture through the use of poetry, spoken and vocal stylings," Beckford said. "It's also an appreciation of the arts and our contributions to them."
The event featured more than a dozen of the College's students, who shared their own poetry and performed songs that were personally meaningful to them. Students were also able to perform pieces made famous by some of their favorite writers.
Some pieces, such as sophomore psychology major Tinisha Woods' short poem "Facing the Enemy," were thought-provoking and inspiring. Others, like junior business major Alaina Griffin's impromptu reading of Angelou's "Ain't That Bad?" and junior communication studies major Benjamin Akuma's performance of Hughes' "Harlem Sweeties," were amusing.
Nevertheless, each participant received support and encouragement from fellow performers and the audience.
"I think this event is a very powerful event, because it is a way for students to showcase their talents, feelings, thoughts and emotions in an intimate setting with very close friends who can relate," Jasmine Smalls, senior sociology major, said.
Beckford agreed, saying that "the audience was very receptive to each performance and to the poetry that was brought to the stage." According to her, the event was a success because students were inspired by the opportunity to share their private feelings and their own selections.
Between performances, students congratulated each other, listened to music and decided who would perform next. Although there were serious moments, especially during Beckford's performance of "Amazing Grace," the event never lost its air of fun.
Friends teased and coaxed each other onto the stage. Audience members even participated in some performances, such as singing the background to the song "I Will Remember You" while freshman psychology major Caitlin Fair was on the stage.
Open Mic Night ended with a string of improv poetry by some of the night's performers. According to junior psychology major Sharna Scott, the audience was surprised and blown away by their fellow students. The event also reinforced Ivy's conception of the nature of black history.
"The overall message of the night was basically to drive home the message that black history isn't just something that happened in the past, but something that happens every day," Scott said. "The creativity from the students at Open Mic Night was just a taste of how special and beautiful we are, and it shows that we continue to draw from our past as we contribute to the future."
(01/24/07 5:00pm)
er the break and dropped to third place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The Lions' record stands at 8-9 overall and 3-4 in the NJAC.
In an upset on Saturday, the Lions were defeated by the William Paterson University Pioneers in a game that ended 61-57. The win improved the Pioneers' record to 16-2 overall and 7-0 in the NJAC.
The teams were tied 21-21 at halftime until the College tallied 13 points in the time it took the Pioneers to add four. With 8:33 left in the game, the Lions were up 48-38.
A three-pointer by junior guard Michelle Pellichero capped off an impressive comeback and gave the Pioneers a 53-51 lead. After William Paterson tallied five more points, sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz and junior guard and forward Sara Best each added two points for the Lions, pulling their team within one.
Pellichero ensured that the Pioneers kept the lead when she successfully made three foul shots with seconds left in the game.
The Lions' loss followed a 70-49 win over the Rutgers University-Camden Scarlet Raptors on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The win had improved the College's record to 8-8 and 3-3 in the NJAC, while it brought the Raptors' record to 6-9 overall and 1-4 in the NJAC.
The Lions took an early lead, scoring the first five points of the game. With the help of six points and three rebounds from Klimowicz, the College managed to increase its lead to 37-20 by the half.
In the second half, the Lions took charge again, going on an eight-point run at the start of the half.
On Saturday, Jan. 13, the Lions won at home 66-45 against the Rowan University Profs.
The Profs took an early 7-2 lead, but the Lions soon brought the score to 9-7 with 15:53 left in the first half. The Lions led 32-29 at halftime and never relinquished their lead.
The Lions also experienced a 66-57 loss to Richard Stockton College over the break. The Ospreys improved their overall record to 5-7 and 3-1 in the NJAC with the win.
The College held a small lead at halftime with a score of 31-28. Despite Best's season-high 17 points and 11 points each by Klimowicz and sophomore guard Lisa Koch, the Ospreys outscored the Lions by 10 points in the second half.
On Jan. 8, the College defeated the Salisbury University Sea Gulls in a 70-62 game.
Five Lions players finished the game in double-digits. Senior forward Breanne Depken led the College with 12 points and 11 rebounds. She was followed by Klimowicz with 11 points and 11 rebounds, and freshman center Alexandra Gregorek added 12 points and nine rebounds. Best and freshman guard Nicole Diaz finished with 10 points each.
The much-needed win followed two losses in the Gettysburg College Tournament and one loss in the Salem State College Christmas Tournament.
The Lions were defeated by Alvernia College 64-55 in their first game in the Gettysburg College Tournament. Alvernia's record improved to 5-3.
In the consolation game, the College lost to tournament host Gettysburg by a score of 57-54.
Gettysburg was leading the game 30-23 at the half despite strong efforts from the Lions. In the final minute of the game, the Lions managed to tie the score up at 54.
Gettysburg ensured the win with a pair of free throws with 33 seconds left. A third successful free throw gave Gettysburg a three-point lead in the final seconds of the game.
The Lions won their first game in the Salem State College Christmas Tournament against Salem State College on Dec. 29. The 58-55 loss brought Salem State's record to 6-2.
The Lions then were defeated by Kean University, 60-56, in their final game of the tournament.
Lions women's basketball action continues this week with two key conference matchups. The College visits William Paterson tonight at 7 p.m. and Rutgers University-Newark on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.
(12/06/06 5:00pm)
The College's women's basketball team opened its New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) season with a 57-50 win over the New Jersey City University (NJCU) Gothic Knights on Saturday. The win improved the Lions' overall record to 4-2 (1-0 in the NJAC), while NJCU dropped to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
The game followed a 48-36 loss to the Moravian College Greyhounds last Thursday and a 38-37 win over the Dickinson College Red Devils last Monday.
On Saturday, the Lions led the game 28-13 at the half, relying on junior forward Sara Best, who added seven points and eight rebounds before the end of the first half.
The Gothic Knights' senior guard Latrese McNair helped her team pull within three points of the Lions during the second half.
With 7:15 left in the game and the score 43-34, McNair netted a three-pointer. Forty seconds later, the score was 43-40 after McNair made three of four free throws.
But with 3:40 remaining, the College's senior guard Megan Hueter hit a three-pointer, giving the Lions a 52-40 lead and putting the game out of reach.
Sophomore center Hillary Klimowicz finished the game with a career-high 14 points and 10 rebounds. McNair finished with a game-high 17 points.
On Thursday, the College's record fell to 3-2 while Moravian improved to 4-1.
The Greyhounds led 28-20 by the end of the first half and led the rest of the game to earn their fourth win of the season.
Klimowicz and Best scored 10 points each for the College. Klimowicz also added nine rebounds and six blocks, while senior forward Breanne Depken and freshman center Alex Gregorek each had nine rebounds.
"We were all definitely upset about the loss, but that is part of the game," Gregorek said. "We all have to learn from our mistakes and as a team come together."
On Monday, the Lions narrowly beat the previously undefeated Red Devils in their second home game of the season. The College improved to 3-1 on the season while Dickinson's record fell to 3-1.
The Red Devils managed to bring the score up to 14-13, cutting the Lions' lead to one, before the Lions pulled ahead again to make the score 23-18 by halftime.
Best, Depken and Klimowicz each tallied four points for the College before the half, while senior center Allyson Teatom posted seven points for Dickinson.
"We have the talent and the ability to go real far, we just need to bring everything together," Depken said. "I'm not really worried, because I know we can do it, it's just the matter of wanting it bad enough and having everyone on the same page."
With 12:25 left in the game, Teatom netted a layup to tie the score at 29.
Dickinson freshman guard Brooke Muller earned her team the lead for the first time during the game when she netted a three-pointer with 8:40 left and made the score 32-31.
Hueter made the game-winning shot for the Lions with 55 seconds left. With 8.4 seconds left, the Red Devils got the ball back and Muller missed the chance to win the game.
Klimowicz finished with 10 points and nine rebounds, and Teatom finished with a game-high 13 points for Dickinson.
The Lions will host the Cougars of Kean University for their second NJAC game of the season in Packer Hall today.
(11/29/06 5:00pm)
The College's women's basketball team finished its first week of play with a 3-1 record after wins over Catholic University, Dickinson College and Ursinus College and a loss to DeSales University.
The Lions beat the previously undefeated Catholic University of America Cardinals 73-61 on Nov. 21 in their home opener.
Senior guard Margo Buchalski had nine points in the win.
In the first 3:50 of the second half, Catholic went on a 10-1 run to bring the score to 36-30 with 16:22 left in the game. After a timeout, the Lions pulled their offense together for the win.
Buchalski finished the game with a career-high 15 points while senior forward Breanne Depken finished with a career-high 14 rebounds and 13 points.
"I think we worked very well together against Catholic," Buchalski said. "They made a few runs and we countered them together. Every person on the floor made a major contribution whether it was offensively or defensively."
On Nov. 19, the Lions fell to 1-1 after a 72-50 loss to the DeSales University Bulldogs in the championship game of the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament. DeSales improved its record to 2-0.
With six minutes left in the first half, the Lions were up 20-18. But junior forward Amanda Kuperavage added five points for the Bulldogs, who made seven free throws before the half for a 32-20 lead.
The Lions tightened the score to 32-22 before the Bulldogs used a 12-2 run to shut down the College's offense.
Lions sophomore guard Lisa Koch added 11 points, and freshman center Alex Gregorek tallied 10 of her own. Depken totaled six points, four rebounds and three assists, earning her All-Tournament team honors.
"I thought our loss to DeSales was due to our inexperience together as a young team," Koch said. "I think we will continue to grow stronger as the season progresses. DeSales came to play and we didn't. That loss woke us up and made us rethink our goals of the season, which led us to a big win over Catholic University on Tuesday night. We came ready to play."
On Nov. 18, the Lions started off their season with a 53-48 win over the Ursinus College Bears, which qualified them for the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament championship game.
The game marked the 300th win for the College's head coach Dawn Henderson. After 13 years with the Lions, her overall record was 300-143 after the Ursinus game.
The Lions led at halftime 21-20 after a 10-2 run during the end of the first half.
"For our first game it was pretty exciting," sophomore forward Hillary Klimowicz said. "We were only up by one at the half, but (Henderson) seemed very calm and had a lot of confidence in us."
Depken finished the game with 12 points, while junior guard Sara Best and Klimowicz each added eight points for the Lions.
The Lions then beat the Red Devils of Dickinson 38-37 on a last minute shot by senior guard Megan Hueter Monday night.
The College will travel to Moravian College tomorrow for its next game at 7 p.m. and will return home this Saturday to host the Gothic Knights of New Jersey City University at 1 p.m.
(11/15/06 5:00pm)
After winning its first game in the NCAA Division III Tournament last Friday, the Lions' field hockey team experienced a 2-1 loss to Messiah College's Falcons on Saturday, ending the season with a 17-3 record.
The Falcons scored the deciding goal 2:52 into the second half when sophomore forward Nikki Bailey scored off an assist from sophomore forward and midfielder Tiffany Leatherman.
The Lions were able to hold off the Falcons offense for the rest of the game, but they were unable to score on any of the eight shots by their own offense during the second half.
"We all left everything we had out on the field that game," sophomore midfielder Melissa Buttray said. "I don't think that anyone played without heart. We were in front of the goal offensively and had opportunities. We just couldn't finish."
Messiah's sophomore midfielder and defender Beth Sandowich scored the first goal on a penalty stroke 14:37 into the game.
Less than two minutes later, Buttray scored the Lions' only goal as she brought the score to 1-1 off an assist by junior defender Sheri Grondski.
"It didn't matter to me who scored the goal in the game," Buttray said. "We worked hard as a team to get the ball up into Messiah's offensive end and put the ball in the net."
The College's senior goalkeeper Erin Mitschke recorded nine saves in her final game, as she faced 14 shots. Messiah's freshman goalie Ashley Mowery made 11 saves.
"I felt pretty confident," Mitschke said. "Actually, going into the game, I had a really good feeling about the game. We were all so pumped and excited. We, as seniors, looked and tried to see what we could have done differently and there's nothing we would have done."
The game improved the Falcons' record to 17-4 and allows them to play in the NCAA Division III Semifinals.
On Friday, the Lions improved their record to 17-2 when they defeated Elizabethtown College's Blue Jays 5-0 in their first game of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Elizabethtown ended its season with a 16-6 record.
Senior forward Jess Berkowitz scored the first goal of the game off an assist by Grondski.
Berkowitz then scored another goal 28:30 into the game, bringing the score to 2-0 before halftime.
Sophomore forward Jenny Lubin scored the Lions' third goal 7:20 into the second half. This was followed by sophomore forward Katie Reuther's goal off an assist by sophomore midfielder Kelly Mitchell with 2:20 remaining.
With only 24 seconds left in the game, Berkowitz scored the final goal, her 14th of the season.
Mitschke recorded two saves for the Lions. Blue Jays senior goalkeeper Kristen Callaghan recorded six saves.