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(09/26/17 9:57pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
As part of the ongoing search for the College’s next president, two open forums were held on Sept. 18 and Friday, Sept. 22.
The forums provided the campus community an opportunity to share which issues, both short and long term, they feel are important for the next president to prioritize. Attendees also discussed qualities that they would like to see in the next president.
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, a consulting firm, has been hired by the College to facilitate the presidential search. The firm has previously helped to bring Jacqueline Taylor, the College’s Provost, Jane Wong, the dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Maurice Hall, the dean of the School of Arts and Communication, and Suzanne McCotter, the dean of the School of Education to the College.
“Our knowledge base of the institution is deep,” said Julie Tea, a partner at Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates. “We know that within the community, programmatically, the work that you’re doing day to day is ever evolving, so we are in listening and learning mode.”
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates hoped to gain insight on what the campus community is looking for in its next president before the firm begins to aggressively recruit candidates in October.
Faculty and staff agreed that current College President R. Barbara Gitenstein has made great advancements during her tenure in several ways, including financially and academically.
“It was the president allowing us to continue to build on our mission and having the academic integrity and success in our programs that we’ve had, and embracing that graduate level of education,” said Anne Farrell, a health and exercise science professor. “She has done a great job over the past several years about doing our fundraising challenge, but our new president definitely needs to have an even mix of those two — being able to fundraise and bring dollars to the institution, but keep the mission of the institution relatively stable.”
Academic advancement was a common priority for faculty members in attendance.
“I’d be interested in a president who would be willing to be in support of doing innovative things that can bring more people in and allow us to educate them at a high quality—things like masters degrees in different areas,” said Andrew Bechtel, a civil engineering professor.
Gitenstein’s ability to maintain a pleasant relationship with the campus community is a quality that forum attendees hope will be continued by the College’s next president.
“As the former staff senate president, I’ve witnessed the transformative power of shared governance, which has taught me what it means to work as partners with students, faculty and staff to advance TCNJ’s mission,” said Antonio Scarpati, the assistant dean of the School of Nursing, Health and Exercise Science. “President Gitenstein consistently embraced this theme of partnership and in fact, she’s been nationally recognized for it. We need to select a candidate who shares that core value.”
Catherine Weng, head of cataloging at the College’s library, echoed Scarpati’s sentiment.
“We, the library, have been enjoying the support from the community and from the administration. So, we want to have the incoming president continue that tradition,” Weng said.
The College’s financial stability and fundraising efforts were also discussed in detail.
“I think one of the challenges that this next president is really going to face is we’ve gotten very adept at dealing with some of our financial challenges by growing our enrollment at the undergraduate level, and I personally feel that we are at a real capacity issue at this institution, partly academically but especially residentially and with some of our services for support,” said Matthew Middleton, associate director of admissions.
Ideas for generating revenue were mentioned as faculty members shared their thoughts.
“For my department, it’s really about having a president that understands the bigger picture, and the importance of athletics,” said Amanda DeMartino, executive athletics director. “To touch upon a lot of the themes that I’ve heard here in the room today: recruiting diverse populations, using athletics for fundraising, increasing our identity, community engagement and school spirit.”
Diversity and inclusion are also key priorities for the College. Faculty members shared long term concerns about diversifying the campus.
“It’s one thing to say let’s bring students here to try to diversify the student population, but what happens when they get here?” asked Winnifred Brown-Glaude, a professor of African-American studies and sociology. “I want someone, especially as we continue to struggle around budgetary issues, to not lose sight of three things: who we are as an institution, the importance of faculty governance and our real commitment to diversity in terms of faculty, students and staff.”
Farrell agreed with Brown-Glaude’s idea that the College needs to consider long term strategies for campus diversity, and stressed that these strategies are crucial to student success.
“We have been told a lot about the changing demographics of our students, or at least over the next couple of years, and strategies have started here,” she said. “But what is going to be the continued strategy so that the faculty here can continue to be successful as well as elevate the level of our students to make them successful as well?”
Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates encouraged the campus community to be actively engaged in the presidential search. Once a candidate of choice is elected by the Board of Trustees during the spring 2018 semester, there will be a period of overlap between Gitenstein’s and the new president’s tenure before the new president begins his/her term in the summer of 2018.
(09/19/17 5:01am)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
Last year, I gave up on making my dorm feel like home. Cinder block walls on the 10th floor of a crowded, sweltering tower can only feel so welcoming. This year, perhaps inspired by spending the summer interning with interior designers, I decided to make an effort to decorate my room in a way that would actually make it feel like home.
After I tasked my family with making sure my bulletin boards were evenly spaced on the wall, I spent the morning of move-in day carefully pinning up pictures of smiling faces from beach trips, concerts and memories of a time without deadlines and homework. I also decided to mix up the pictures of friends and family with some of my favorite quotes. Right above my pillow, I pinned my favorite phrase: “better an oops than a what if.”
Taking a leap of faith sounds exciting until you consider what it is that you need to leap over.
As much as taking a chance can lead to something great, there is also the potential to be burned by negative consequences. I try my best to not let the fear of being hurt by a decision I make inhibit my ability to take a risk. But I’m human — and that makes it almost impossible to not be afraid to take a chance.
I keep the quote on my bulletin board to remind myself that sometimes the worst consequence that can come from deciding to take a chance is to not take the chance itself. But as much as I try to follow the quote’s advice, I still sometimes find myself being held back by wondering what other people will think or the embarrassment of making a mistake.
But it’s these mistakes, these “oops” moments, that help us grow. I would not be who I am today without the mistakes I have made. Submitting my first article to The Signal riddled with errors taught me how to follow a certain style and be receptive to edits. Tripping in the 5-inch heels I decided to wear to my prom taught me to embrace my stature and stop trying so hard to look like everyone else.
Was I afraid to make these mistakes? Of course. I read over my first submission to The Signal more times than I re-watched “Snow White” as a child… which is an excessive, borderline obsessive, amount. I painstakingly scrutinized my prom dress and accessories so much that I became a slave to analyzing everyone else’s choices to make sure that I would blend in when we took pictures.
No matter how hard I tried to prevent myself from making these mistakes, I still made them. My article had errors. I tripped on the uneven pavement outside of my friend’s house. But, I wouldn’t change the way either of these events happened. If I had let fear get to me, and let these moments stay as a “what if,” I would not be writing this today.
“Oops” moments are just about the most unpleasant feeling on the planet. They’re full of embarrassment, regret and wanting to pretend they never happened. Although the feeling of making a mistake may be painful, it’s worth it. Fear is one of the worst reasons to miss out on doing something great. That’s why at the end of every day, I remind myself that “oops” moments may not be fun, but they are certainly better than missing out on taking a chance.
(09/12/17 10:15pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
The Library announced on Thursday, Sept. 7, that it will now offer two new online services to students and community members: TCNJ Scholars, a collection of scholarly materials produced by College students and faculty, and TCNJ Digital Archive, a growing collection of digitized materials from the library’s Archives and Special Collections.
TCNJ Scholars “provides a central site to collect, manage, and preserve” the works of College students and faculty “and facilitates access to them by a wide audience, including potential students and faculty, college partners and funding agencies, and other academic colleagues,” according to a campus-wide email from Taras Pavlovsky, the dean of the library.
The goal of digitizing the College’s scholarly work and archived publications is to preserve and raise awareness for works that may have otherwise been forgotten over time.
“With TCNJ Scholars, our hope is that TCNJ students and faculty are given a new online venue to store and highlight their academic output and to
maximize exposure of their content to a wider local, national, global audience,” said Yuji Tosaka, the College’s cataloging and metadata librarian. “TCNJ as a brand will be promoted more; both prospective students and faculty at other institutions will be awed by the scholarly work being done at the College.”
While the TCNJ Digital Archive is still growing, as only a small portion of archived material is currently available, it is nonetheless a helpful research tool.
“Only a small subset of these materials is currently available online, but more is being added daily,” Pavlovsky wrote.
Presently, the largest collection available through the Digital Archive is The Signal Archive Online, which will include issues of The Signal that date back to its original publication in 1885.
“In the future, the Digital Archive will provide access to a variety archival material including, but not limited to, historical photographs, college annual reports, course catalogs and a variety of other materials. Priority for future projects will be determined by user need and current ease of access to the material. As the archive grows, a greater number of users will be able to access archival material while limiting the wear and tear on delicate aging material,” explained Amanda Cowell, the College’s emerging technologies librarian.
The College is not the first institution to create digital repositories for scholarly work.
“It should be noted that by setting up TCNJ Scholars, TCNJ is joining most of its comparator institutions, which also have already created similar digital repositories for academic works produced by their faculty and students,” Tosaka said.
(09/12/17 10:13pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
With tunes from 94.5 WPST setting an energizing mood, a small crowd gathered in front of Campus Town’s InFocus Urgent Care to celebrate the business’ grand opening.
“I’m very happy to be here to serve not only the faculty, staff and the community at TCNJ but the surrounding community as well,” said Dr. Seeta Arjun, the head doctor and owner of InFocus Urgent Care.
The Urgent Care will be staffed by board-certified emergency room doctors, in addition to technicians and registered nurses. InFocus will be able to care for any non-life threatening ailment, as well as do onsite x-ray and EKG diagnostic tests and give limited IV medications.
No appointments are necessary, and the facility will be open seven days a week to treat patients of any age.
“It’s just another step for Campus Town to become more successful,” said Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann. “It’s very helpful for students who are in a situation where it’s hard to get to their family doctor while hey’re at school.”
InFocus Urgent Care is not only a convenient wellness resource for students. Community members will also enjoy the benefits of the Urgent Care’s wide array of services and acceptance of most insurances.
“As much as our retailers are for the public and the students, this is a great intersection,” said Greg Lentine, director of university campus development for the Campus Town developer, PRC.
In addition to the main Urgent Care facility, Cavi, the mental health counseling portion of the Urgent Care, will soon be open in close proximity to the InFocus building. Arjun hopes that the discreet name will make students and community members feel more comfortable using the counseling center.
“We wanted to make it sort of anonymous, so that if you need counseling, you’re not walking into a building that says ‘Urgent Care’ on it,” Arjun said.
InFocus Urgent Care’s original location is in West Windsor, New Jersey. Arjun credits her mother for serving as a source of motivation when deciding to expand the business to include a location in Campus Town.
“She’s kind of been the driving force for me to continue on my path,” Arjun said about her mother.
While having new businesses come to Campus Town is beneficial to both students and community members, those present at the grand opening were optimistic that the Urgent Care will be particularly valuable.
“The building is gorgeous. … It is phenomenal,” said Mercer County Freeholder Samuel T. Frisby. “But hospitals and buildings don’t save people. It’s people who save people. And (Arjun) is a phenomenal physician.”
New businesses that have recently come to Campus Town, including InFocus Urgent Care, have made Campus Town 85 percent leased. PostNet is now open, and HairWorx, Polished Nails, Namaste Fine Indian Cuisine and Bell Eyes are scheduled to be open shortly.
“One small business at a time makes this successful,” Steinmann said. “We’re very appreciative of (Arjun) being here. I hope (Arjun has) a long and prosperous time here in Ewing Township.”
(09/05/17 4:18am)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
The College’s Board of Trustees has established an 18-member committee responsible for selecting the College’s 16th president.
Current College President R. Barbara Gitenstein announced on July 11 that her retirement will be effective June 30, 2018.
The committee, chaired by Alumna Susanne Svizeny (’79), is made up of representatives from campus stakeholder groups, according to a campus-wide email from Jorge Caballero, the chair of the Board of Trustees.
“The committee will conduct a national search with the goal of recommending a candidate for the Board of Trustees consideration by early Spring,” Svizeny said. “The search committee’s first meeting will be the middle of September where they will receive a charge from Board Chair Jorge Caballero and will develop a timeline and work plan for the search.”
Caballero will serve as an ex-officio committee member, and Alumna Heather Fehn (’94) will serve as secretary to the board and chief of staff.
Caballero also stated that Julie Tea, a partner at Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates, has been hired as a consultant for the presidential search.
“We are pleased to have Julie Tea and the Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates team working with the Board of Trustees and the TCNJ Presidential Search Committee to help identify TCNJ’s next president,” Svizeny explained. “Julie Tea will assist the committee by meeting with members of the campus community to develop a position prospectus to share with potential candidates, and to help build a pool of outstanding candidates for the committee’s review.”
Campus input is highly valued by the committee and is considered an integral component of the selection process.
“Members of the Search Committee and the search firm will be hosting open fora to provide an opportunity for students, faculty, staff and alumni to share their suggestions and ideas about the search. Those who cannot attend will have the opportunity to provide feedback through a feedback form,” stated the Presidential Search Committee’s page on the College’s website.
The College saw great advancements and improvements during Gitenstein’s tenure, including an increase in four year graduation rates, successful fundraising campaigns, programs to combat sexual assault and construction and renovations of several buildings.
The Presidential Search Committee hopes to find a new “leader with energy, vision and a commitment to the institution’s mission and values,” according to their web page. “(The College’s next President) will join a diverse, inclusive and collaborative community of faculty and staff, who are committed to delivering a student-centered experience and advancing the institution as guided by its strategic plan, TCNJ 2021: Bolder, Better, Brighter.”
(09/05/17 4:16am)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
The cost of higher education is a serious issue for many students across the nation. Tuition, room and board, textbooks and other fees quickly add up, often causing financial distress for students and their families. That’s why senior marketing major Neophytos Zambas and Alumnus Agy Serghiou (’16) launched NeoBook — a mobile marketplace app designed for college students to buy and sell textbooks as well as other items and services.
“Our inspiration comes from solving an unmet need that will add consistent value to our users,” Serghiou said. “As a senior in college at the time, I understood that there wasn’t a streamlined way for students to connect with each other so that they can leverage their on-campus community. Higher education costs cripple students nationwide, and providing a platform for students that allows them to save and make money can go a long way for them.”
The NeoBook team hopes that students will not only save money on purchases made through NeoBook, but also that NeoBook will also be a safer and more secure environment since transactions are made with peers.
“Every person you make an exchange with will be from your school, as we verify all users when they’re signing up,” Zambas said. “NeoBook is essentially a safe and easy way to buy or sell anything at your school.”
Zambas and Serghiou recognized the advantages what they called a “hyper-local shared economy,” after they spent a combined total of over $1,300 on textbooks, according to a statement from Team NeoBook.
“The app generates value for both the buyer and the seller,” Zambas said. “If you’re selling books, you will get more than what the bookstore will give and if you’re buying you’ll get a better price as well.”
Despite only six weeks on the Apple App Store and Google Play with limited marketing, NeoBook currently has nearly 300 active users, according to the press release.
“The biggest challenge is accumulating a user base. As the user base grows, the overall experience for the users becomes better as well,” Zambas said.
Spencer Viviano, a junior computer science major, is also on the NeoBook team, serving as chief technology officer. Serghiou, Zambas and Viviano are in contact every single day in order to keep the app running smoothly, according to Zambas.
“I handle all back end aspects of the business and oversee every decision that needs to be made,” Zambas said. “Agy, my cofounder, handles operations and is always networking to help us grow, since we’re still just a start-up. Spencer is our CTO and he handles all aspects that have to do with the actual app. He is in direct contact with our developers and helps us to bring out updates and to maintain a well-working platform.”
Currently, NeoBook revolves around transactions for textbooks, however, Team NeoBook plans to expand the app to include other items and services such as tutoring and ridesharing.
“While we started as just a textbook buy and sell app, we see this business adding value in other ways, and we have added functionalities and capabilities that will provide our users to not only buy and sell textbooks, but other miscellaneous items as well,” Serghiou explained. “We eventually will expand the platform to include services so that the app will help students during textbook season and beyond.
While starting a business is a big step for college students, Team NeoBook learned to manage their challenges and learn from their difficulties.
“I think that startup costs are always a problem for young entrepreneurs,” Serghiou said. “However, I think the barrier to entry serves as a blessing in disguise. Every rejection that we received allowed us to take a step back and refine our model, and it was extremely invaluable to obtain the feedback that we received from the original investors we pitched to despite them not being interested at first.”
Team NeoBook offered some advice for those interested in entrepreneurship or similar business ventures.
“I really think it ultimately comes down to having a customer-first mentality, while also having exceptional salesmanship skills,” Serghiou said. “Networking is also extremely important, especially in the tech space. Meeting more like minded people will always optimize your chances of success.”
(08/29/17 3:36pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
After more than two years of negotiations with the Office of Employee Relations, a new contract was ratified for College faculty and staff on Aug. 8, making 12-month employees eligible for step increases in their salary, according to an announcement from College President R. Barbara Gitenstein.
The ratification followed an approval from the American Federation of Teachers Council with the State of New Jersey, and the College plans to process necessary salary increases promptly. Employees eligible for a step increase will notice this change on their August 25 paychecks.
Gitenstein stated that “an additional 1.75 percent cost of living increase will be calculated,” and will be retroactively paid from the first full pay period of July 2017.
This cost of living adjustment will also be given to 12-month employees who are not eligible for step increases, according to Gitenstein.
“I’m glad we have a contract, but I’m upset about the low salary increases,” said John Krimmel, the criminology department chair and president of the College’s chapter of the American Federation of Teachers. “It didn’t bring us to where we should be. We’re happy to have a contract, but upset about the low rates.”
While the new contract stipulates that step increases and cost of living adjustments for 10-month employees will be effective for the first full pay period in September, the College plans to reflect the adjustments in 10-month employees’ August 25 paychecks, Gitenstein wrote.
Distress over working without contracts resulted in a faculty protest outside of Green Hall on April 12. While the ratification of a new contract addresses much of the unrest, there are still some staff members whose unions are still negotiating with the Office of Employee Relations, which Gitenstein addressed in her email.
“To members of the staff whose unions are still negotiating with the Office of Employee Relations, know that once your unions conclude negotiations with the state, the College stands ready to implement the new terms,” Gitenstein wrote.
(08/29/17 2:52am)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
Insomnia Cookies and Landmark Americana Tap & Grill, as well as PostNet, a hair salon, a nail salon and an Indian restaurant are among the new restaurants and retailers. The addition of these new restaurants and retailers will make Campus Town 85 percent leased, according to NJ.com.
Landmark will occupy the space previously dedicated to Brickwall Tavern, which was originally due to break ground last May. After it was confirmed that Brickwall Tavern was not coming to Campus Town, Greg Lentine, director of university campus development for the developer PRC, reached out to Landmark.
“We were upset that they left, but they were replaced with a business that we really wanted. Landmark knows how to operate on College campuses and understands the needs of college students,” Lentine said.
Landmark’s Campus Town location is expected to open in Sept. 2018 in the vacant space next to Barnes and Noble.
Landmark has other locations near Rowan, Drexel, St. Joseph’s and West Chester Universities.
Campus Town will also be home to Insomnia Cookies’ second New Jersey location, offering late-night dessert deliveries to students and community members.
“It’s an interesting business,” Lentine said. “Even people outside the college are excited about it. When you get a business like that that’s dynamic and cutting edge, it helps the relationship with the surrounding community.”
Community interest in Campus Town is strengthened by weekly farmer’s markets, which occur every Sunday through Oct., with special events such as yoga classes provided by Empower Yoga, which opened in Campus Town in April.
Within the next 30 days, PostNet and Bell Eyes are scheduled to open in Campus Town. PostNet will offer packaging, printing and graphic design services, while Bell Eyes is an optometric practice that will serve as an additional wellness resource to students and community members.
Polished Nails and Hair Worx are also set to open in the near future, as well as Namaste Fine Indian Cuisine and Lion Dog, a hotdog restaurant. InFocus Urgent Care will celebrate its grand opening on Sept. 8.
(07/17/17 11:19am)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein has announced her decision to retire at the end of the 2017-18 academic year, after serving in her role for nearly 20 years.
“This was not a decision I arrived at easily, but the timing is right for the institution, for my family and for me,” said Gitenstein in a statement to the press.“It has been the highlight of my professional career to have served as president of this extraordinary institution.”
Board of Trustees Chair Jorge Caballero announced in a campus-wide email that he has appointed Trustee Susanne Svizeny (’79) to chair the Presidential Search Committee and look for potential members from the campus community. The committee will be responsible for selecting the College’s 16th president.
Gitenstein became the College’s first female president on Jan. 1, 1999, taking the reins from Harold Eickhoff. Under her leadership,the College there have been several academic and physical improvements to the campus.
Early in Gitenstein’s presidency, an emphasis was placed on academic quality and the delivery of an education associated with that of private colleges. An integral component of this focus on high quality education was for students to have the ability to do mentored research with faculty members.
“Our faculty thought deeply about their research and how they could engage students in it so that students could learn by serving as junior colleagues while conducting research,” Gitenstein said.
Gitenstein believes that the early emphasis on high quality academics set the precedent for future accomplishments during her tenure.
The College has also seen substantial improvement in four-year graduation rates under Gitenstein’s leadership, especially amongst underrepresented populations. The College now ranks fifth in the nation amongst all public colleges and universities for having the highest rate of students graduating in four years, according to the press release.
69 percent of students participating in the Educational Opportunity Program graduated within four years in 2016, as opposed to 21 percent of EOF students in 1999.
“Time to (receiving a) degree matters,” Gitenstein said. “Students who finish in four years pay less, borrow less, and get started in their careers more quickly. State support per degree is less and graduates begin contributing to the state sooner, both financially and socially.”
Physical changes to the campus have also been prevalent during Gitenstein’s presidency. Six new academic buildings, two new residence halls, a new library and the mixed-use Campus Town project, as well as renovations to nine residence halls and the Brower Student Center have created 1.6 million square feet of new and renovated space during Gitenstein’s tenure.
In order to gain financial support for the College, Gitenstein successfully led a five-year fundraising program, which is now expected to raise over $46 million.
“When we were in the planning stages, our consultant told us that we might be able to raise $25 million, but it would be a stretch,” Gitenstein said. “But I felt that if we were going to make the effort, we had to do better, especially given how great the need is for student support.”
While there has been much success in Gitenstein’s presidency, there have also been some challenges.
One year after Gitenstein took office, the College was under investigation for failing to disclose multiple cases of sexual assault by the Department of Education, according to the press release.
While Gitenstein has acknowledged that there is still more to be done on tackling the issue of sexual assault and other forms of power-based personal violence on campus, the College’s creation of the Office of Anti-Violence Initiatives as well as the Title IX office has provided additional awareness on campus. Additionally, the campus climate survey and mandatory student training have been established under Gitenstein’s tenure to address sexual assault on campus.
After her presidency is over, Gitenstein will be joining the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges Consulting in Washington, D.C., a firm that specializes in facilitating leadership of universities.
“I look forward to being able to think about higher education from a global perspective instead of an individual institutional perspective,” Gitenstein said. “The new role will allow me to continue to contribute to an industry that I believe is the pride of our nation.”
(05/18/17 10:56pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
News Editor
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein has accepted a recommendation to change the name of Paul Loser Hall, which will be taken to the College’s Board of Trustees for formal consideration.
Gitenstein announced her decision to follow the recommendation of the Advisory Commission on Social Justice: Race and Educational Attainment, co-chaired by John Donohue, vice president for college advancement, and Christopher Fisher, associate professor of history, in a campus-wide email on Monday, May 15.
“I concur that while a decision to rename a building should never be taken lightly, there are times when such actions should be taken. I believe that this is one of those times. Since I have such personal admiration for members of the Loser family, I come to this conclusion with sadness but without regret,” Gitenstein wrote.
Controversy regarding the name of Loser Hall began with findings from students in professor Robert McGreevey’s history class, who conducted archival research on the city of Trenton and discovered that “Dr. Loser, as superintendent of Trenton schools from 1932-1955, supported and maintained a segregated school system,” according to a report from the Advisory Commission.
Gitenstein’s decision also aligns with the TCNJ Committee on Unity, which held a sit-in that took place in Gitenstein’s conference room for roughly 26 hours — from April 26 to April 27— in which TCU advocated for the name of Loser Hall to be changed and for the TCNJ Clinic to remain open, both of which have now been addressed by the president.
TCU published a statement on Facebook on Monday, May 15, in support of Gitenstein’s decision to take the Advisory Commission’s recommendation to the Board of Trustees, which read: “The TCNJ Committee on Unity would like to thank the Commission and President Gitenstein for taking this important step to begin repairing TCNJ's relationship with Trenton. We would also like to thank the members of the TCU and all our supporters, as this would not have been possible without your help. Never forget the power of student activism. Together we are strong.”
Several suggestions for potential new names for the building have been proposed, including Admissions Hall, Trenton State Hall, Legacy Hall and Lions Hall, according to a report from the Advisory Commission.
Still, the Board of Trustees has the final say on whether or not the name of the building will change.
“As the president noted in her message, only the Board of Trustees has the power to change the name of a building,” said Dave Muha, the College’s spokesperson. “Unless and until the Board of Trustees acts on this recommendation, it would be inappropriate to speculate on anything that might follow.”
(05/12/17 2:10pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
The College’s controversial decision to close the TCNJ Clinic has been suspended until the clinic’s efficacy is thoroughly evaluated by no later than Oct. 31, 2017.
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein sent out a campus-wide email on Wednesday, May 10, stating “the decision for closure on the TCNJ Clinic will be held in abeyance,” following an open forum and information session on Thursday, May 4.
The evaluation of the clinic includes five main elements to determine its effectiveness as a resource for graduate interns, undergraduate students and community members in need of mental health care.
The administration maintained a hard stance on the clinic’s closure until students and members of the TCNJ Committee on Unity protested for TCNJ Clinic with flyers and sit-in in Gitenstein’s conference room. This prompted administrators to hold a forum, where students and members of the community demanded another look.
The review of the clinic will include “a (TCNJ Clinic) self-assessment, an analysis of the clinic as a clinical site by the Department of Counselor Education in the School of Education, a thorough written report from the School of Education’s Dean’s office,” along with “an external consultant, selected in consultation with the clinic and the Counselor Education Department, (who) will be engaged to review this material and conduct interviews, and input from students in the counselor education programs as well as students from the general population who have accessed services from the clinic,” according to College Spokesperson Dave Muha in a press release.
Gitenstein acknowledged poor communication during the original decision process to close the TCNJ Clinic and hopes that the review will help to improve transparency for those who are concerned about future decisions.
“I believe that broad based, informed consultation is the most effective way to ensure solid decision making. I want to emphasize that such decision making never satisfies every stakeholder group’s desires, but it does result in better decisions and when difficult decisions must be made,” Gitenstein wrote in a statement to the press.
Although the decision to close the clinic at the end of the academic year has been suspended, future counseling services at the clinic may be limited, since students in the Counselor Education Program already found positions with other providers, Muha said.
However, any student or community member who is currently receiving services at TCNJ Clinic will continue to receive services despite a decrease in counselor availability.
Gitenstein also acknowledged the efforts of students and community members in their advocacy for mental health care issues on campus.
“I thank all those who have offered to work with us to improve mental health care delivery on the campus and improve our relationships with community partners and community members,” Gitenstein added.
(04/27/17 10:17pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
Members of the TCNJ Committee on Unity engaged in a sit-in for over 24 hours to fight the closure of the TCNJ Clinic and to support the renaming of Paul Loser Hall.
TCU occupied a Green Hall conference room from 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 26, to approximately 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 27.
Students involved in the protest believe that not renaming Paul Loser Hall and closing the TCNJ Clinic are “Different Symptoms of the Same Problem,” according to flyers posted around campus. TCU believes that both Loser Hall and the closure of the TCNJ Clinic reflect the College’s disconnection with Trenton, N.J.
“I think that disconnecting programs that were directly helping the Trenton community demonstrates that we don’t really care, or don’t feel obligated to be connected to Trenton anymore,” said Keller Gordon, a sophomore English major and sit-in participant.
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein told The Signal she hopes to work with students in order to foster a better relationship with Trenton and establish an ongoing dialogue regarding campus issues.
"I met with several students yesterday in my conference room," Gitenstein told The Signal. "We began the meeting with them sharing a document that delineated their concerns regarding TCNJ's relationship with Trenton and the closing of the TCNJ Clinic. I made clear to them that I would have met with them had they simply reached out and requested a meeting.
"I commend the students for their commitment to making a difference in their world and the community and I hope that we can work together to assure that improvements are made in communication, in relationships with Trenton, and in continuing to enhance our mental health services for our students,” she added.
TCU presented six demands to Gitenstein, the first of which was “an acknowledgement of The College of New Jersey’s intentional and systematic erasure of Trenton from its name, history, and advertising,” according to an official list of demands produced by TCU.
Additional demands included “a reversal of the closure of the TCNJ Clinic” and “an open forum so that the campus and local community can discuss the Clinic and its proposed closure with the administration.”
“TCU chose to take on the Clinic as its own charge, believing in its value as a connection to the community in which the College exists,” said Jennifer Sparks, director of the TCNJ Clinic. “This speaks to the importance of the Clinic on campus.
“We were surprised by TCU’s decision to fight for the Clinic, and at the same time incredibly honored and grateful for the support and awareness it has brought to our community,” Sparks added.
Gitenstein responded to TCU at approximately 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, with a written statement after she held a brief meeting with the sit-in participants.
“TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein met with students this morning who were staging a sit-in in her conference room,” said Luke Sacks, head media relations officer for the College. “The students had not requested a meeting with the president prior to the sit-in. Had they requested it, the president would have certainly met with them.”
Gitenstein acknowledged concerns about both the TCNJ Clinic and Loser Hall in the written statement.
“I agree with your concerns regarding the troubled historical and current relationship between The College of New Jersey and the city of Trenton,” Gitenstein wrote. “Because of my agreement with these concerns, I named ‘The College of New Jersey Advisory Commission on Social Justice: Race in Educational Attainment.’”
Gitenstein also responded to TCU’s concerns for the TCNJ Clinic.
“We discussed a number of activities we are actively pursuing to ensure that the long term counseling needs of our students are met with the highest level by professionally licensed clinicians,” she wrote. “We expect that these opportunities will also be available to the external community… the needs of our graduate students to accumulate the necessary clinical hours to graduate on time will be met through our current placement process.”
TCU acknowledged Gitenstein’s response as “a great first step in helping to repair the relationship between Trenton and the College,” according to a document produced by the TCU entitled “TCNJ Committee on Unity Response to President Gitenstein.”
However, TCU argues that their demands for the future of the TCNJ Clinic and Paul Loser Hall are yet to be met. Their reasons were detailed in the aforementioned document.
TCU states that Gitenstein has “taken the closure of the clinic as a given” and that “closing such a vital institution that provides mental health services to the Trenton community is once again a slight against Trenton.”
With regard to Paul Loser Hall, TCU claims that in her response, Gitenstein “merely restated that she has already created a commission to address this problem” and did not “outline the further responses to this issue and receive input from residents and students on how to go about repairing this relationship (with Trenton).”
In addition to the sit-in organized by TCU, over 1,300 students and community members have signed a petition entitled “Save the TCNJ Counseling Clinic: Wellness is Worth It!”
“The emphasis behind the petition is basically to have the administration know our disappointment that the key constituents were not sought for input in the decision,” said Jennifer Peck-Nolte, a supervisor of students in the Counselor Education Program and the author of the petition. “We felt that those that are most impacted by the decision to close the TCNJ Clinic are students and clients. Neither of those groups had input.”
The low cost of mental health care at the TCNJ Clinic made it a popular resource for students and community members.
“I’ve used the clinic for a year and a half now, and I honestly wouldn’t be here at TCNJ if it wasn’t for the affordable mental health care that they provided,” said Ariana Chuba, a junior history major and sit-in participant. “This is affordable not just to TCNJ students, but to the community, and they’re shutting it down… (the College has) been continually distancing themselves from the Trenton community.”
TCU says that the closure of the Clinic will cut off access to affordable mental healthcare for Trenton residents who may not be able to afford services at InFocus Urgent Care. TCU also maintains that the closure of the Clinic, compounded with the lack of a new name for Paul Loser Hall, highlights the College’s strained relationship with Trenton.
“Both of these items are symbolic of a greater distancing that the College has done over the last 20 years,” said Chris Loos, a sophomore history major. “Since we are one of the major schools in the area, it is our duty as community leaders to respect and work with the people of Trenton.”
While long term mental health care will be available at InFocus Urgent Care, which opens this summer in Campus Town, opponents of the TCNJ Clinic closure maintain that the Urgent Care will not be as affordable as the clinic.
“As with most private clinical settings, InFocus requires insurance. All students are required by the College to carry insurance, but that does not mean they have access to mental health. Insurance often requires a copay or includes a large deductible, both of which can be barriers to receiving treatment,” Sparks said. “This is no different for community members, same issues apply. The only difference is that community members, especially in this area, are often uninsured. And who thinks to go to Urgent Care for therapy?”
TCU provided a closing statement at the end of the sit-in, which stated: “Until the TCNJ Committee on Unity feels that our demands are adequately addressed and met by the administration of The College of New Jersey we will not yield in our pursuit for justice.”
(04/24/17 7:37pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
North Korea attempted to test launch a missile from the city of Sinpo on Sunday, April 16, CNN reported.
The test failed, as the missile blew up a few seconds after it left the ground, according to The New York Times.
The U.N. condemned the launch and demanded that North Korea cease all prohibited actions that violate U.N. regulations, according to CNN.
North Korean missile tests are growing increasingly frequent, according to BBC.
U.S. satellites have recorded increased activity in Sinpo, which is also used as a shipyard for submarine activity, throughout April, CNN reported.
The failed launch occurred the day after a large military parade in the capital city of Pyongyang, during which several ballistic missiles were displayed, to honor the 105th anniversary of Kim Il Sung’s birth, CNN reported.
There is speculation that sabotage by the U.S. may have caused the launch to fail, since other recent tests have been successful. Kim Jong-un reportedly ordered an investigation to determine if American spies were sabotaging the North Korean nuclear missile building program, according to The New York Times.
The same source reported that due to sophisticated North Korean cybersecurity, it is unlikely that the U.S. sabotaged North Korea with a cyber attack.
However, it is possible that the U.S. sabotaged the supplies used to manufacture the missiles, according to The New York Times.
North Korea hopes to complete the development of an intercontinental ballistic missile by late 2017 or early 2018, according to BBC.
The U.N. has demonstrated its “utmost concern over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's highly destabilizing behavior and flagrant and provocative defiance of the Security Council,” CNN reported.
According to the same source, North Korea found this statement to be “impudent words.”
“(The U.S.) must distinguish who is responsible for the current severe situation of the Korean peninsula being aggravated to the brink of war and should behave impartially and with caution,” the Permanent Mission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea said to the U.N., according to CNN.
North Korea claims the U.S. has created a situation in which “nuclear war could break out at any time,” NBC reported.
However, Vice President Michael Pence said the U.S. and its allies are determined to “achieve a peaceable resolution” to the conflict, according to NBC.
(04/24/17 5:01pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
Maybe it’s the drunk driver in my hometown that made a boy spend his tenth birthday in the hospital with a severe head injury last month. Maybe it’s my little sister getting her permit this week and my concern for her safety. Maybe it’s hearing that a friend decided to get in a car with someone who had been using drugs that night.
For whatever reason, I cannot shake the thought that people need to stop thinking they’re invincible and start paying more attention on the road.
There are several distractions that can cause people’s eyes to deviate from where they should be, but especially among college students, texting tends to be a common component in accidents. Drivers under the age of 20 are at a greater risk to be involved in a distraction-related crash compared to older drivers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Why do we risk our lives so often when we have the most to lose?
Our lives are just beginning. There is so much in front of us and so many opportunities to experience, yet we are willing to risk it all in one car ride. As busy students, we can be tempted to check our phone when we hear it buzz with an email alert.
But trust me, that Canvas notification about the test you were unsure about won’t matter if you end up in the hospital.
Aside from distracted driving, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is also continuing to take too many young lives. Every year, 1,825 college students die as a result of “alcohol related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes,” according to College Drinking Prevention.
There is always going to be a presence of drinking on college campuses, but we can prevent loss of life because of it. We can make the choice to not be a drunk driver and choose to not get in a car with someone who has been drinking.
When we go home for summer break, there are going to be plenty of opportunities to be on the road. Trips to the beach, visits with family and friends and traveling back and forth from work and home will have me spending a minimum of 30 minutes a day driving. I look forward to this time, especially since I have spent my freshman year without my car on campus. However, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a bit nervous.
The most dangerous month to drive is August, according to Forbes. There needs to be an understanding that even if we are free from our academic responsibilities over the summer, we still need to drive responsibly.
Summer can be a great time to travel and make memories. When it comes to trips, I was always taught that “half the fun is getting there.” So, be safe this summer, keep the journey fun and keep your eyes on the road.
(04/17/17 7:53pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
Students gave new meaning to the phrase “food for thought” at Student United Way’s fourth annual PB&J race.
Twelve teams of students competed to see who could make the most peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be donated to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen on Thursday, April 13, in the Education Building.
The PB&J race fits Student United Way’s values of giving, volunteering and advocating.
“Donating and giving is a big portion of our motto as a club, and this really could help our local communities,” said Donte Ingram, the president of Student United Way and a senior management major.
Busy schedules often prevent students from having time to volunteer, but the PB&J race allowed students to take a few hours to give back to the community.
“As college kids, we are all super busy. We all have crazy schedules. I think it’s really important (to volunteer) when you have spare time, instead of going home to take a nap or watch TV,” said Francesca Canzoneri, the publicity chair for Student United Way and a junior communication studies major.
While WTSR’s music played in the background, students fiercely competed in five rounds of races, each with their own twist. In the first round, only some tables were given the resources needed to make the sandwiches, such as peanut butter, jelly and utensils.
“How did it feel to have all of the resources for some teams?” Ingram asked the crowd. “How did it feel to have none of the resources?”
The resource challenge was representative of the real world. Some teams had more supplies than others, and everyone had to work together and compound their resources to ensure that each team had an equal amount of peanut butter, jelly and bread.
“It’s nice that people are willing to give back to the community because there are so many problems and (so much) injustice,” Canzoneri said. “People need help. I think the best thing you can do is to give back in any way that you can."
Student United Way hopes to raise awareness that students can help Trenton, N.J., residents in need.
“In our little bubble at TCNJ, we forget that not everyone has everything that they need,” said Holly Liebau, the secretary of Student United Way and a junior math and secondary education dual major. “Here we all are getting an education and meal plans, and it’s crazy expensive. No one realizes that people a town over could have nothing.”
Organizations like Student United Way take advantage of the College’s proximity to Trenton in order to help people who may be struggling.
“We’re right next to a community that needs help, and we have the time and resources to do so,” Ingram said.
Theta Phi Alpha, Phi Beta Lamda, Circle K, Women in Business, Alpha Kappa Psi, Chi Upsilon Sigma, Sigma Lamda Gamma, Alpha Xi Delta, Phi Alpha Delta and Sigma Sigma Sigma and two teams from Delta Sigma Pi competed at the event.
The race “brings together a sense of TCNJ community, part of something more than just yourself,” said Brooke Buchan, a sophomore political science major who competed for Sigma Sigma Sigma.
Student United Way proved that even a simple elementary school staple can make a difference to those in need.
(04/11/17 6:04am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
Students will soon see changes in their health care options for both medical and mental health come the Fall 2017 semester.
Once this semester ends, the TCNJ Clinic, which provides long-term mental care for students will close. Shortly thereafter on June 1, Campus Town’s InFocus Urgent Care will open its doors to students, offering both mental and physical health options.
“We have a small space for student counseling that is going to be a separate space from the urgent care (where there will be) counselors and clinical psychiatrists,” said Dr. Seeta Arjun, the head doctor and owner of InFocus Urgent Care.
Although a carbon monoxide alarm went off in urgent care on Thursday, April 6, the construction schedule was not affected, according to Arjun.
The urgent care will be a resource for “any type of non-life threatening injury,” Arjun said.
Those in need of X-rays, sutures, IV fluids or a diagnosis for symptoms such as a sore throat will be able to have these procedures taken care of at the Urgent Care.
Those with more serious health issues like appendicitis can be evaluated at the urgent care, but will be sent to the hospital.
InFocus Urgent Care is still able to aid mental health patients who cannot be treated at the facility.
“If someone needs in-patient care, we’ll be able to provide that referral,” Arjun said.
The mental health portion of the urgent care will also be located in Campus Town, but in a different area from the mavin urgent care location. The mental health component was included after a series of meetings between the urgent care and the College, during which it was determined that the College would benefit from having the urgent care as a long-term mental health care facility adjacent to the campus.
“(InFocus) saw an opportunity and a need. After having discussions with us, they realized that there was a need for a long-term mental health care component,” said Dr. Mark Forest, director of counseling and psychological services at the College.
The opening of InFocus Urgent Care coincides with the closing of the clinic in Forcina Hall at the end of the academic year. The clinic serves both students and community members as a connection to the counselor education program for graduate students to gain experience under supervision. Community members particularly benefited from the marriage and family counseling component of the clinic.
While CAPS will remain the primary mental health resource on campus following the close of the clinic and the opening of the urgent care, CAPS focuses on short-term care, as in students who need a semester or less of counseling.
“Some students benefit from more ongoing mental health care (and CAPS) traditionally used the clinic to refer students with longer term issues,” Forest said.
The clinic in Forcina Hall was a helpful tool for CAPS when a student needed long-term mental health care, especially if they did not have any means of getting off campus.
“For some students, especially the ones with no car, it was convenient to refer them there,” Forest said.
With the clinic closing, there was a need for long-term mental health resources for students, especially those who cannot have cars on campus.
“There aren’t a lot (of mental health resources) within walking distance. We did struggle with that — it’s easier when we have something adjacent. I feel really excited that there will be someone in Campus Town, especially (for) students with transportation issues and have longer term needs,” Forest said.
InFocus Urgent Care recognizes the opportunity to fill the gap in long-term mental health care left by the closing of the clinic.
“(The College) could use the help for students so that they don’t need to leave campus, especially if they need long-term care,” Arjun said.
Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht sent an email to the campus community on Monday, April 10, explaining InFocus Urgent Care as a long-term mental health resource for students after the TCNJ Clinic closes, especially for students who are not able to leave the campus easily.
“We are happy to announce that ‘In Focus Urgent Care’ will not only be providing urgent medical care to the surrounding community, but will also have licensed mental health professionals on staff to offer longer-term counseling to TCNJ students in need of these services,” Hecht said.
Many students do not have cars on campus, especially during their freshman year. InFocus Urgent Care’s Campus Town location eliminates students’ need to travel for mental or physical health care that on campus health services cannot provide.
“I think having an urgent care is going to be a good, convenient resource for students,” said Kerstin Baran, a freshman biology major.
CAPS plans to maintain a strong relationship with the Urgent Care and work as a team to promote student wellness.
“I will continue to have an ongoing, collaborative relationship with the director of the urgent care,” Forest said.
Dean of Students and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Angela Chong is happy to see the addition of InFocus Urgent Care to the list of student resources.
“It’s bringing mental health and medical health resources within walking distance to campus for our students, and that’s an amazing opportunity,” Chong said. “I’m always going to support any resources to augment wellness.”
The medical and mental health resources that InFocus Urgent Care will provide are equally important for students and community members.
“Both physical and mental health are critical. I wouldn’t prioritize one over the other. We think of wellness in a holistic way,” Chong said.
Students are anticipating the opening of the urgent care as an additional wellness resource.
“I think it’s is really beneficial because even though health services is a good tool, an urgent care offers more services that are especially good in a college environment, but it’s also good for the Ewing community, too,” said Abby Roberts, a freshman health and exercise science major.
Students believe that having InFocus Urgent Care as an additional health resource will help them continue to lead healthy, productive lifestyles.
“I feel that adding the urgent care center is setting a great foundation to ensure that our students have access to medical resources that will maintain proper health and provide the campus community the opportunity to stay healthy and be continuously productive on campus,” said Ryan Forkel, a sophomore health and exercise science major.
InFocus Urgent Care currently has a location in West Windsor, N.J., and looks forward to adding a second location in Campus Town.
(03/26/17 10:53pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Netflix and other streaming services are a constant in the life of nearly every college student. The concept of unlimited movies and TV shows is enticing, but it is this limitlessness that causes streaming services to take up so much of our busy lives.
While using streaming services in moderation is healthy, college students often use them too heavily. Binge watching and addiction to streaming services is preventing many college students from having a healthy social life.
Addiction to Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and other streaming services often prevent people from making plans with friends. Many students would rather click “next episode” than walk down the hall to see their friends.
Some students will say in a tongue-in-cheek way that their plans for the night are to watch Netflix and stay in bed. While this statement used to render judgement from their peers, it is now considered a normal way to spend the night.
Especially in a college setting, Netflix causes people to shut their doors, put their headphones on and not talk to their friends. Streaming services establish the norm that if you have nothing to do, you should watch an episode of a TV show instead of see a friend.
I do agree that nights in are often much needed. A night in, however, does not mean that students should default to watching TV or a movie. There are plenty of other ways to spend a night in that do not feed into addictive binge watching.
Spending multiple nights a week falling asleep to Netflix, as I know many of my friends do, is not healthy. Instead of having social interactions with housemates or roommates, students often cannot control the urge to watch their favorite show.
I noticed during my first semester at the College that students often turned to streaming services as a source of comfort. Not only did watching a familiar show soothe homesickness, but it eliminated loneliness.
While streaming services can be used in moderation to help students adjust to a new setting, it often ends up hindering more than helping. At first, it is OK to spend some free time watching a show in order to cope with a new schedule and new setting. As time goes on, however, addiction to streaming services starts to get in the way of possible outings or gatherings with friends.
In order to avoid falling into this trap, I do my best to limit how much time I spend using streaming services while I am at school. While I do use Netflix more heavily while I am home on breaks, I spend less than one hour a week on streaming services when I’m at the College.
I find that this helps me avoid staying in my room alone. Not only does it promote me to have a healthier social life, but it also helps me stay productive academically.
During my first semester, I occasionally watched an episode of “Scrubs” as I was adjusting to my new environment. It helped me feel less homesick and eliminated some of the stress that I had as I tried to figure out a routine.
But now, I am happy with the Netflix limits that I set for myself. If more students weaned themselves off of streaming services, they would see improvements in all aspects of their life, but especially in their social lives.
Next time, try to knock on a friend's door instead of clicking “next episode.” I promise you’ll have more fun.
(03/07/17 8:38pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
Nation & World Editor
Students, faculty and staff have recently been confronted with a question: “Do you know me? Do you know who I am?”
This line from All College Theatre’s production of “Stop Kiss” graced promotional posters throughout campus, and people gathered in the Don Evans Black Box Theater every night from Wednesday, March 1, to Saturday, March 4, to try to learn the answer.
At first, this question seemed to be in reference to the play’s theme of identity. However, viewers learned that this line actually comes from a scene in which Callie, the main character, is begging for Sara, her love interest, to wake up from a coma and recognize her.
Set in fall 1998 in New York City, “Stop Kiss” appears to be a love story between two women, but becomes complicated once a stranger attacks them after seeing them share their first kiss on a park bench.
The director, assistant director and cast members made it clear during the talks following Wednesday’s and Thursday’s performances that “Stop Kiss” carries much more meaning than the average love story.
“Stop Kiss” encouraged viewers to see Callie and Sara not as outsiders, but as average human beings.
“This show is just so human,” said Haley Witko, a senior interactive multimedia major who played Callie.
The humanization of characters is an important element of reducing prejudice that many members of the LGBTQ+ community face.
“When a group dehumanizes another group, that’s where we have an issue,” said Julien Blanchard, a sophomore English major who played Peter, Sara’s ex-boyfriend.
Director Janet Quartarone hoped “Stop Kiss” would encourage dialogue between students about tolerance.
“Theater has the power to send people out thinking,” Quartarone said.
Quartarone commented on the gray area that many LGBTQ+ individuals find themselves in regarding their identity.
“We didn’t play some of these characters in black and white,” Quartarone said.
“Stop Kiss” included several emotional scenes, many of which had to do with the attack on Sara and Callie that left Sara in a coma.
“It’s hard to be in (Callie’s and Sara’s) shoes,” Witko said. “I think we all took a bit of a journey with this show.”
The attacker was not cast in the play and did not appear in the production. However, Witko was encouraged to envision the attack in her mind in order to relate better to her character.
“As a director, it’s hard to ask an actor that I really like to go on an unpleasant journey,” Quartarone said.
During the attack, only one woman, Mrs. Winsley, intervened. Winsley was played by Molly Knapp, a sophomore women, gender and sexuality studies major.
“It’s so easy to go the other way,” Knapp said of her character's life-saving intervention.
Knapp encouraged the audience to think about “what you can do to be that active bystander” like Winsley.
Despite some of the darkness and violence, love was the overwhelming theme of “Stop Kiss.”
“One of the most important aspects of this show is, frankly, about finding love. … The world needs love,” said Kelly Colleran, a sophomore history and secondary education dual major who played Sara.
Colleran later elaborated on the show’s theme of love with respect to the LGBTQ+ community, saying, “Love: Seek it, celebrate it, find it with whomever the hell you want to.”
(02/27/17 12:15am)
By Michelle Lampariello
Most freshmen have to deal with a similar lack of amenities in their residence hall: a tiny bedroom, communal bathroom and no air-conditioning. There are subtle differences between each residence hall, such as Wi-Fi — or lack thereof — and whether or not there is a sink in the room. But, ultimately, every freshman is housed in a similar environment.
The same cannot be said for sophomores. This week’s battle royale over timeslots and housing options demonstrated the stark differences in sophomore housing options.
There was a scramble for air conditioning, private bathrooms and larger living spaces that residence halls such as Eickhoff Hall, New Residence Hall and Townhouses East can provide. Residence halls without air conditioning and suite-style bathrooms, such as Decker, Cromwell and Norsworthy halls, did not fill up as quickly and are viewed as undesirable by many students.
The price of room and board is standard for every sophomore, despite the differences in amenities that each residence hall offers. It does not make sense for an air-conditioned, spacious dorm with a private bathroom to be the same price as a crammed suite without air-conditioning. Housing prices should be adjusted, so students pay a rate that corresponds to their residence hall instead of an across-the-board price.
The College’s website lists the price of a room, without the added cost of a meal plan, at $4,396.81, though, the overall cost of room and board may vary from student to student based on the meal plan they choose.
The notion that larger meal plans are more expensive makes sense. If you would like to have the amenity of more points, then you have the option to pay for it. It has long been accepted that a meal plan that includes nearly 700 carte blanche points should cost more than a meal plan that includes under 200.
This logic doesn’t transfer when the price of housing is considered. Students with early time slots do have the option to have more amenities, but they pay the same price as students who do not have the same features and do not have the luck of the draw.
If prices were adjusted for each residence hall, students looking to save money can choose to live in housing options with less amenities, regardless of their time slot. This would prevent popular residence halls from filling up so quickly and give more students a chance to consider them.
It is understandable that the College may not be able to afford lowering the price of residence halls that are unpopular with students. However, raising the price of popular housing can be an added source of revenue that could be used toward renovating unpopular housing.
The difference in price does not need to be large — even a small change would be enough to make students reconsider their housing choices.
This method can be considered for upperclassmen housing, as well. However, differences in housing options for juniors and seniors are not as polarized, so the implementation of staggered housing prices should begin with sophomores.
It is time we stop believing that an air-conditioned, spacious dorm with a private bathroom should cost the same as a small, not air-conditioned, six-person suite.
(02/20/17 10:01pm)
By Michelle Lampariello
During the winter months, catching the “TCNJ plague,” or an illness going around campus, seems inevitable. Despite conditions that may put students at risk for getting sick, it is preventable if students make health a priority.
Germs spread easily when people live in relatively crowded spaces, and life in a dorm is conducive to illness, unfortunately. Sharing bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas, such as lounges and community kitchens, provide plenty of shared surfaces for germs to wait for their next victim.
Once a few students fall ill, going to eateries, classes and activities gives the germs they carry the chance to spread throughout the campus. This semester was no exception, as sickness quickly transferred through housemates, classmates and teammates.
Sometimes it seem as though the TCNJ plague is a force that cannot be stopped. While the battle against illness in the winter months may be difficult, it is one that students can win if they make health an important aspect of their daily lives.
There is almost nothing you can do to prevent a roommate, friend or significant other from becoming sick. However, whether or not you catch the bug is controllable.
If people that you live with have fallen ill, make it a point to wipe down surfaces as well as sanitize or avoid touching shared items. Although it may be hard, spend less time with them than you normally would.
If a friend becomes sick, help them out by bringing them food or medicine, not by staying in their dorm to watch a movie with them.
Take preventative measures such as eating a healthy diet with extra Vitamin C, which, according to the Center for Disease Control, can “slightly reduce the length and severity of colds.”
Staying active is also important. However, the gym can be a great place for germs to lurk. So, remember to wipe down equipment both before and after you use it.
College students also tend to be more susceptible to illness due to their busy schedules and stereotypically poor sleeping habits. Especially if you are already feeling under the weather, practicing self-care instead of spending a night out with friends may be the difference between getting through the day painlessly and sitting through your 8 a.m. class with a pounding congestion headache.
Try to get at least eight hours of sleep each night, and make time for rest in between classes, activities and time with friends. While it may not be practical to take a nap each day, it is beneficial to not constantly run from activity to activity. Try to get into a routine that balances responsibilities with your social life that still allows for down time.
The word “plague” implies that illness on campus is a much stronger force than it is. By taking both proactive and reactive measures to combat the spread of germs, it is possible to stay healthy.
Try taking time out of your schedule to wipe down a doorknob, make a salad instead of grabbing a cheeseburger or to go to bed just a little bit earlier. This could be all it takes to prevent yourself from catching the TCNJ plague.
Source:
http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2016/the-pre-travel-consultation/discussing-complementary-or-alternative-health-approaches-with-travelers