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(09/14/16 10:06pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Student Finance Board (SFB) began another year’s work by granting funding for several upcoming events.
Alexandra Wallach, SFB's financial director, began by informing board members that the exact amount of this year’s Student Activity Fee (SAF) is still uncertain, but is expected to be around $900,000 for this semester. As explained on the SFB website, the SAF is “a fund that undergraduate students pay into as part of tuition.” As the College is still waiting on the payment of some students’ bills, according to Wallach, the SAF cannot currently be precisely calculated. With this in mind, the board heard its first request.
College Union Board (CUB) presented its proposal for A Night of Comedy, which would give the College community “a small-scale comedy show… featuring a recognizable comedian,” according to CUB’s request form. In all, CUB requested funds totalling $11,164, the bulk of which would pay for the total event.
The board voted to table the event due to CUB’s failure to provide a list of comedians who would be available to appear at the event. CUB will be permitted to present another proposal when it can provide the names of possible talent.
CUB also proposed its Silent Disco. Following the success of last year’s Silent Disco, students will once again have "the unique opportunity to come together as a campus in an interactive silent dance. There is no other event held on campus similar to, or held on the same scale, as this event. This will give the campus an outlet to relieve stress in a safe, engaging and memorable experience,” according to CUB's request form.
The Silent Disco was funded in the amount of $15,918.07 to cover sound equipment and security for the event. Funding requested for a photo booth was tabled. The board will examine photo booth expenses from last year and CUB will have another opportunity to request photo booth funding in a future meeting.
The event, with or without a photo booth, will take place on Green Lawn on Thursday, Oct. 13. The TCNJ Political Union then proposed an event entitled Alternatives to the War on Drugs: A Conversation with Nathan Nadelmann. According to the group’s request form, Nadelmann is "a former Princeton professor and lifelong advocate for drug policy reform. Nadelmann’s work and message is focused on ending the war on drugs and creating a safety and tolerance-oriented approach to drug policy.” During the event, students will “have the opportunity to engage with an internationally-renowned drug policy expert and advocate,” according to the form.
The board voted to grant $1,883.95 toward Nadelmann’s speaking fee.
The event is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 28, from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Spiritual Center. The event is also being cosponsored by Student Government.
The final organization to present a proposal was TCNJ Musical Theatre (TMT), which requested funding for its annual Fall Show. This year’s show will be “The Addams Family." According to TMT's request form, the show will benefit the College's community by bringing musical theater into the campus,” and will also provide TMT’s members “with valuable experiences and use (of) the theater facilities on campus in constructive and creative ways.”
The board voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $12,259 to cover the sound, set, props, costumes, lighting and ticket printing.
The show will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Don Evans Black Box Theater.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(05/03/16 10:09pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
During its final meeting of the semester on Wednesday, April 27, the Student Finance Board (SFB) funded summer retreats and events that will take place early next semester.
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) presented its proposal for its Fall Leadership Retreat, which is “an overnight trip open to all TCNJ students to help (improve their) leadership skills, such as confidence, communication and public speaking. This is also a great time for the leaders of TCNJ to come together and bond while trying to brainstorm ways to improve student activities on campus,” according to the request form presented by LDP.
The board voted to fully grant LDP’s request in the amount of $6,616.75 to cover expenses including lodging and transportation.
The retreat is scheduled to take place from Friday, Oct. 14, to Saturday, Oct. 15.
Representatives of the College Union Board (CUB) proposed their plan for CUB’s Summer Retreat and Training for executive board members. As stated in CUB’s request form, the retreat is “an opportunity for the new executive board to bond with one another through various activities, while also having a designated time to train.” Overall, the trip “is an essential part of the board’s cohesiveness, effectiveness and understanding of the inner-workings of being on the executive board,” according to the form.
The board voted to fully fund the event, in the amount of $2,000, to pay for lodging and refreshments.
The retreat will take place from Friday, Aug. 5, to Sunday, Aug. 7.
Women in Learning and Leadership (WILL) then proposed A March to End Rape Culture featuring Laci Green. According to WILL’s request form, “the purpose of this event is to bring to campus Laci Green, a popular YouTube Star whose online work on sex education has led to her hosting MTV’s first original online show, ‘Braless.’” Overall, “the benefit of this activity would be to raise awareness of the negative ways we talk about women and sexuality and to educate the TCNJ community about how to reduce sexual violence,” according to the form.
In total, WILL requested $13,500 for Green’s appearance. The event was tabled in hopes that a less expensive speaker can be found or a lower price can be negotiated with Green.
WILL also requested funding for an appearance by politician and activist Liz Abzug. This event, co-sponsored by Women in Business, will “create a conversation about the importance of having women and girls in leadership position, and to inspire women to lead and be more politically engaged,” according to the request form.
The event was fully funded in the amount of $3,000 to pay for Abzug’s appearance fee and travel expenses.
The event will take place on an undetermined evening in October and is tentatively planned to be held in the Business Building Lounge.
TCNJ Italian Club requested funding for its San Gennaro Festival Bus Trip. The trip will “bring students to Little Italy, the neighborhood in New York City where the Italian American culture was truly born. The annual festival of San Gennaro brings together Italian Americans from near and far with food, games and festivities in which TCNJ students can immerse themselves in the culture for a day,” according to the request form.
The board voted to fully grant TCNJ Italian Club’s request in the amount of $1,135.20 to pay for the bus.
The trip is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25.
Chabad proposed Farbreng-It-On, co-sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Pi and Hillel. According to Chabad’s request form, “a ‘Farbrengen’ is a traditional Chassidic gathering, usually held to commemorate a significant date in the Chabad calendar. It is a time for inspiration and motivation to kick start a new year.” The event aims to educate “the campus community on an old Jewish tradition full of joyful energy that can be enjoyed by students of all backgrounds,” according to the form.
Funding in the amount of $650, to cover the costs of decorations, utensils and paper goods, was granted by the board.
The event will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 31. The time and location have not yet been announced.
The final order of business was the Black Student Union’s (BSU) summer retreat, designed to provide an opportunity “to reflect on the year (BSU has) had and to work on amplifying programs that were successful, and restructuring others that weren’t, and creating new programs to further engage students,” according to BSU’s request form.
In all, BSU requested $2,000 for its hotel rooms.
Due to the lack of information that BSU was able to provide regarding the event, the board voted to table the event.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(04/26/16 4:25pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 20, the Student Finance Board (SFB) concluded its fiscal year by funding two retreats and hearing an update on the College Union Board’s (CUB) Funival.
The first student organization to present a proposal was Chi Upsilon Sigma, which requested funding for its Summer Retreat. According to the request form the sorority presented, “It is essential for Chi Upsilon Sigma to have (its) annual retreat in order to allocate time to prepare and plan (its) events and activities for the fall semester.”
A motion to fully fund the retreat, in the amount of $750, passed. This funding will cover the group’s hotel bill.
The retreat will begin on Wednesday, June 15, and will end on Friday, June 17.
Representatives of Blackout StepTeam presented their plan for the team’s retreat. As stated in Blackout StepTeam’s request form, the event will give the members of the team a chance to “bond as a team, build stamina, brainstorm new ideas for the 2016-2017 year and train new e-board members.”
The board voted to fund the event, in the amount of $756.31, to pay for food and various team-building activities.
The retreat will take place from Saturday, May 7, to Sunday, May 8.
The final order of business was CUB’s updated proposal for its comedy show feature at Funival. Funding in the amount of $9,945 had been granted in a previous meeting to cover the cost of an appearance by comedy duo Jake and Amir. However, since then, CUB has been informed that Jake and Amir will not be available to perform at Funival due to prior commitments. To replace them, three currently unannounced stand-up comedians from CollegeHumor will be performing.
The price will not be affected by this change and $9,945 will still be allocated to pay for the performances.
Funival is scheduled for Friday, May 6. The comedy show will be held in Lot 6 and will begin at 7:45 p.m. and end at around 9:15 p.m.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(04/19/16 4:05pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 13, the Student Finance Board (SFB) allocated funds for several upcoming events, ranging from live shows to cultural celebrations.
The first student organization to present a proposal, The Society for Creative Endeavors (TSCE), proposed funding for “Mythology and Meaning: Knights and Dragons,” to be presented by actor and mythology scholar Crispin Freeman. According to TSCE’s request form, Freeman “not only provides the voices for animation and game characters, but also does a variety of presentations on how myths and mythology appear in pop culture, what they mean and how they influence us.”
When the time came to vote, the $7,186 requested for Freeman’s travel expenses and appearance fee was denied, and the event was zero funded. Reasons cited were the unreasonably high price and the redundancy of the event, as Freeman had given a similar presentation at the College in Spring 2014.
Representatives of Chabad proposed their plan for the organization’s celebration of Israeli Independence Day. The event will be co-sponsored by Alpha Epsilon Pi and Hillel, and as stated in Chabad’s request form, is intended “to celebrate and educate the campus community about Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day commemorating the Israeli Declaration of Independence in 1948.” Thus, the event “provides students with the opportunity to learn about Israel’s history and culture, as well as provide an outlet to celebrate this joyous event,” according to the form.
The board voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $2,068.45 to cover expenses such as food, decorations and live Israeli music.
The event will take place on Wednesday, May 4, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.
Members of the freshman class council then proposed Freshman Farewell Fest, co-sponsored by Residential Education. The event will feature “an outdoor concert showcasing freshman talent. Simultaneously, (freshman class council) will have activities and games to play inside the (T/W Lounge). The concert will be followed by an outdoor movie screening,” according to the request form. Overall, the event will be “an opportunity for students to de-stress before finals and have fun with the friends they’ve made this year. This is a culmination of the Class of 2019’s first year,” according to the form.
When the time came to vote, $5,345 was granted, which will pay for various arcade games, such as air hockey, pinball, basketball and a football toss; a WTSR disk jockey; an inflatable movie screen and screening rights to the movie “Neighbors.”
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. in the T/W Lounge and on the lawn in front of the towers.
One of the College’s a cappella groups, iTunes, then requested funding for its spring concert, which will serve as a showcase for iTunes to perform songs it has been rehearsing throughout the semester.
“The concert benefits the student body because they can come listen to diverse music from around the world arranged in an a cappella style,” iTunes stated in its request form.
Funding in the amount of $541 was granted to pay for ushers, student staff and Mayo Concert Hall fees. The event will take place on Saturday, May 7, in Mayo Concert Hall, at an unannounced time.
The College Union Board (CUB) requested funding for its comedy show extension of Funival 2016. Funival, which has already earned Student Activity Fee funding, traditionally features what CUB calls an “additional feature,” such as fireworks or guest appearances. This year that additional feature will be an appearance by Jake and Amir. According to the request form, “Jake and Amir are a comedic duo that formed during the peak of the CollegeHumor Web series, and to this day hold the title of longest running series for the platform. Since, they have had a featured show on TBS, currently host a popular podcast and have premiered a new online web series.”
The board voted to grant CUB’s request in the amount of $9,945.
Funival is scheduled for Friday, May 6. Jake and Amir’s performance is expected to begin at about 8 p.m. that evening and will be held in Lot 6.
The final order of business was the proposal of the Loop Bus mobile application, sponsored by Student Government (SG) and developed by the Computer Science Department and the Office of Engagement.
The app would “make the Loop Bus schedule more accessible and user-friendly,” according to SG representative Tyler Holzer, a sophomore finance and international studies double major who presented the proposal. Evidence for interest in the app had been demonstrated in a campus survey email, in which 95 percent of the 250 respondents “reported that they would access the Loop Bus schedule ‘via mobile app’ if it were available,” Holzer said.
In all, $1,000 was requested to fund the development of the app. The board voted to table the proposal after reaching a consensus that a website would probably be more accessible to students and easier to develop than an app, and therefore a wiser investment. Funding for the development of a website will be proposed by SG in an upcoming meeting.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(04/12/16 4:21pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
Residents of Wolfe Hall have had their sleep and study times disrupted, starting Monday, April 4, from 4:30 p.m. to midnight due to a construction project taking place behind the building. Barring any unexpected problems, work is expected to be completed by Friday, April 15, according to the College’s spokesperson Dave Muha.
The project “is a stormwater remediation project,” Muha said via email. “In the past several years, during heavy downpours, the College has experienced damaging floods to the Rec Center, and Travers (and) Wolfe. Consequently, we are installing a larger capacity underground stormwater system that can take the volume of water that runs off from the upper reaches of campus.”
The project had been in planning stages for several months before the construction crew broke ground to gain access to the defective system. It has just recently begun to affect students, however, as the din of construction can regularly be heard as late as midnight.
“I assure you this construction would not be taking place if it were not of grave importance to the upkeep of the building,” Wolfe Hall’s Residence Director Marvin Carter said in an email to Wolfe residents on Tuesday, April 5.
However, for Wolfe residents, many of whom have experienced a disruption in their sleep and study schedules because of the noise, the necessity of the project is little consolation at the moment.
The construction is disrupting their sleep, according to freshman biology major and Wolfe Hall resident Jeffrey Garcia-Sanchez.
“It is definitely affecting sleep,” he said. “It takes a bit longer for me to get to sleep, mostly because the construction is pretty much directly below me.”
Garcia-Sanchez mentioned that another frustrating aspect of the project has been the minimal communication to Wolfe residents about the progress of the project.
“(Carter) sent an email to us saying it wouldn’t take more than a week,” Garcia-Sanchez said. “That’s about all the communication there was.”
This has left many students wondering why the work cannot be done during the day when it would be less of a distraction.
According to Muha, there is a simple explanation as to why construction must take place at night.
“Campus Construction changed the hours a week ago so as not to impact Sodexo operations. Sodexo needs to get their deliveries done in the morning,” Muha said. “Sodexo schedules all of its deliveries for the morning. Deliveries go to (T-Dubs) at the ground level to allow them to serve food the rest of the day. Because construction limits the ability of large delivery trucks to get to the loading area at (T-Dubs), the College adjusted the construction schedule. Starting at noon allows the delivery vehicles to come and go without interrupting construction or the deliveries. This saves time and money on both sides.”
While late-night construction is inconvenient for students, there really is no alternative, according to Muha.
In the same email from Carter, he went on to say that the construction would not affect the Internet or other building facilities. By all accounts, this promise has been kept.
Things should be getting back to normal soon because, according to Muha, “This should be the last week of construction.”
This is confirmed by the Division of Administration’s Campus Construction Website, which features a progress report of current construction projects.
“After investigation phase, many utilities were discovered in the way of the new piping. After months of redesign, the project is now back on track,” according to the site.
Starting Monday, April 11, the work is supposed to begin at noon each day and wrap up at 10 p.m. each night, according to Muha. For a few days more, students will have little choice but to contend with the inconvenience.
(04/12/16 4:19pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, April 6, the Student Finance Board (SFB) approved funding for numerous events, ensuring a busy campus calendar as the semester begins to draw to a close.
The first proposed event was Student United Way’s “Agents of Change: The Change Starts with You!” The event will feature an appearance by nationally-recognized author and leadership consultant Joshua Fredenburg.
According to the request form presented by Student United Way, the goal of the event is “to highlight the importance of service by the usage of effective leadership.” Specifically, Fredenburg will assist students “with their efforts (to) create and build leaders with (a) passionate, powerful and transformational leadership lecture that will empower, enlighten, and elevate students.”
When the time came to vote, the requested $4,020.81 was granted, with the stipulation that further negotiations are made with Fredenburg in an effort to lower his $4,000 appearance fee.
The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 27, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Library Auditorium.
Representatives of PRISM entered to propose their plan for its Queer Musician Showcase, featuring performances by local artists Danielle Grubb, Kid in the Attic and Roswell Debacle. As stated in PRISM’s proposal, the event “seeks to further a dialogue on the culture surrounding local queer communities by giving (three) nearby queer-centered bands a platform to present their work.” Thus, the event “simultaneously provides entertainment for the TCNJ student body, but perhaps more importantly it serves as an opportunity for empowerment for LGBTQ+ artists and fans,” according to the form.
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $1,423, most of which covers the booking fees of the three acts.
The event will take place on Friday, April 29, from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., in the Kendall Hall Black Box Theatre.
Student Government (SG) then proposed its Baseball Tailgate, co-sponsored by the Office of Student Affairs. The event seeks to “build unity and school spirit through food, games (and) activities, and to encourage attendance of the baseball games happening that day,” according to the request form.
When the time came to vote, the requested $3,720.61 was granted, which will pay for food, a WTSR disc jockey (DJ) and other expenses.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, from noon to 2:30 p.m. in Lot 12.
SG then requested funding for Spring Finals Fest 2016. Finals Fest “is a traditional event that occurs every semester to help students de-stress during one of the most stressful weeks of the semester. Student Government has put a lot of thought and careful planning into the events involved in Finals Fest to ensure that students can benefit from the activities by relaxing and having some fun,” according to the request form.
The board voted to grant funding in the amount of $1,470.80 to pay for pizza, ice cream and smoothies, which will be featured in giveaways throughout the week.
The event will take place from Tuesday, May 10, to Friday, May 13. Activities will begin at 9 a.m. and carry on throughout each day in various locations around campus, mainly on the Green Hall Lawn.
SG also requested funding for TCNJ Cares Week’s Lions’ Walk for Hope that takes place during the week. The week is designed “to raise awareness, break down stigmas, build support in regards to mental illness on campus and to send a message of hope to any and all students in need,” according to the request form.
The board voted to grant SG’s request in the amount of $1,704.27.
The event is scheduled to take place from Monday, May 2, to Thursday, May 5, with events held at various times throughout the week in various locations on campus.
Members of the Asian American Association (AAA) proposed funding for emcees — transition acts which will be featured segments of AAA’s Mystique of the East. According to the request form, the event “is an annual show that features cultural performances with origins from various Asian countries, including China, India, the Philippines, Korea and Japan. The emcee part between each act brings all the acts together through a cohesive storyline.” The show itself was funded in a previous meeting, but emcees are an additional aspect of the show which had not been included in the original proposal.
Full funding for emcees in the amount of $223 was granted, which will cover expenses such as including knee and elbow pads and neon spray paint — these will be used during the emcee segments to connect the storylines of the different acts.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, in Kendall Hall. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show will start at 8 p.m.
Inter-Greek Council requested funding for Airband, which will be co-sponsored by the Inter-Fraternity Council, the Panhellenic Association and the Unified Greek Council. The event is designed to “display the creative talent of the fraternity and sorority community in (the Council’s) closing event of Greek Week. Airband is an open event to which Greeks and non-Greeks alike are encouraged to attend and enjoy the entertainment provided by each team,” according to the request form.
The board voted to fully fund Inter-Greek Council’s request in the amount of $6,289.96 to cover the costs of expenses including security, sound, stage and lighting.
The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 29, in the South Gym in Packer Hall at 6 p.m.
The final order of business was the Association of Students for Africa (ASFA)’s proposal for its Akwaaba Celebration. Funding for decorations and acrobats were tabled due to high prices in a previous meeting. Akwaaba, which translates to “welcome,” is still planned to include “a variety of African-inspired performances, food and music,” according to the request form.
Additionally, “this event will showcase to the (College) community that AFSA has arrived and is fully operating to bring a taste of the African culture to the campus, (and) will foster the appreciation for diversity on this campus,” according to the form.
The board decided that satisfactory cost-cutting had been achieved and voted to grant funding in the amount of $3,290.18, which will cover the costs of drinks, utensils, decorations and acrobats from Zuzu Acrobats Inc.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 23, from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., in the Decker Social Space.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(04/05/16 4:17pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 30, the Student Finance Board (SFB) granted funding for several events, many of which promote diversity at the College.
The first event proposed was Union Latina’s COPA Night, after its request was tabled in a previous meeting due to Union Latina’s failure to include price quotes in its proposal. As stated in Union Latina’s request, the event’s purpose is to “spread Latino awareness throughout the campus community by presenting traditional Latino music… via a live performing band. By incorporating a live Latin band throughout (the) event, attending students will be able to experience and appreciate the vivacity and infectious rhythm of Latino music.”
The board voted to fund the event in the amount of $4,489.42 to cover the cost of a photo booth, food and beverages, a disc jockey (DJ) and a Latin band.
The event will take place sometime on the evening of Tuesday, April 19, in the Decker Social Space.
French Club then requested funding for a bus trip to New York City. Students who attend will have the choice of visiting either the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Afterward, the group will visit the French market, Le District. These experiences will “enable students to see and learn about French art and food in ways that they would not be able to do on campus,” according to the request form.
When the time came to vote, the requested $1,298.06 was granted, which will pay for the buses.
The all-day trip is scheduled for Saturday, April 16, and is open to all students.
The Hellenic Society then requested funding for its annual Greek Fest.
This event would “be a multicultural experience with the purpose of lifting the spirits of students during the stressful weeks leading up to the end of the semester,” according to the request form. Specifically, the event was planned to feature traditional Greek food, dances and music, according to the form. In all, the society requested $3,427.05.
However, since the society had advertised the event prior to receiving funding — a violation of board protocol — the board had no choice but to zero fund the request, in accordance with the SFB manual.
“Programs receiving SAF (Student Activity Fee) funding cannot be advertised prior to approval,” the manual states. “Any program publicized prior to approval that cannot occur without funding will not be funded.”
The Society for Creative Endeavors requested funding for its trip to the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival: the annual cherry blossom viewing festival held in the District of Columbia around mid-April, according to the request form.
This festival of Japanese culture is, according to the form, “a spectacular event that really is something difficult to truly experience outside of Japan. It is a great deal of fun in addition to teaching about all sorts of things about Japanese culture, from arts and crafts, to judo, taiko, kimonos, legends and more.”
The board voted to fully grant the society’s request in the amount of $3,718.
The all-day trip is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 16. The trip is open to all students and requires a $5 deposit from attendees.
Chi Upsilon Sigma proposed “Paint Your Stress Away,” co-sponsored by the Unified Greek Council. The event will feature painter Louie Blaka, who will host a night of painting, “providing the audience with the tools necessary to create their own masterpiece. Students will be able to de-stress while creating their own piece of art,” according to the request form.
Full funding in the amount of $1,460 was granted to cover the costs of hors d’oeuvres and Blaka’s fee.
The event will take place on Tuesday, April 26, in the Art and Interactive Multimedia Building, at a currently unannounced time.
The Association of Students for Africa (ASFA) requested funding for its Akwaaba Celebration, co-sponsored by the Haitian Student Organization, the Black Student Union and Union Latina. Akwaaba, which translates to “welcome,” will include “a variety of African-inspired performances, food and music,” according to the request form. Additionally, “this event will showcase to the (College) community that AFSA has arrived and is fully operating to bring a taste of the African culture to the campus, (and) will foster the appreciation for diversity on this campus,” according to the form.
The board voted to grant ASFA’s request in the amount of $2,380 to cover the costs of the DJ and food. Requested funding for decorations and acrobats were tabled in hopes that lower prices will be reached for these components of the proposal.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 23, from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m in the Decker Social Space.
The final order of business was Lambda Theta Alpha’s “Self-Love 101,” co-sponsored by Union Latina and Women in Learning and Leadership. This workshop will be led by alumna Eliana Reyes (’08) and will give the College community a chance “to be more confident as they practice self-care,” according to the request form.
The board’s motion to fully fund the event was passed, and the requested $2,570 to cover refreshments and Reyes’s fee, was granted.
The event will be held on Thursday, April 14, at 8:30 p.m. in room 115 of the Education Building.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(03/29/16 4:24pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 23, the Student Finance Board (SFB) granted funding for a variety of upcoming events, both on and off campus.
The first student organization to present a proposal was the College Union Board (CUB), which presented its plan for The Rollin’ Latenighter. According to the request form CUB presented, this event will bring a “’70s atmosphere to campus” and give students a chance to “enjoy a rink, arcade games, tie-dye shirts, a light-up disco floor with a DJ (disc jockey) and more.”
The board voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $16,536, to cover all expenses. The event is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, in the Decker Social Space.
Representatives of TCNJ Taiko entered to propose their plan for Mystique of the East, after their request was tabled in a previous meeting. Mystique of the East, co-sponsored by several of the College’s Asian cultural clubs, is “an annual show that features cultural performances with origins from various Asian countries, including China, India, the Philippines, Korea and Japan. Specifically, TCNJ Taiko will be performing two pieces in the art of Japanese kumi-daiko, or ensemble drumming,” according to TCNJ Taiko’s request form.
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $406, most of which covers the price of costumes. The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, in Kendall Hall. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.
The Black Student Union (BSU) then proposed its “Rise of an Empire Fashion Show,” co-sponsored by the Student Film Union and the Unified Greek Council. The event seeks to “showcase black culture through fashion. (The) theme of Black Excellence will emphasize black consciousness and highlight the dynamic identities that black culture embodies,” according to the request form.
When the time came to vote, the requested $6,202.80 was granted, which will cover the cost of the appearance fees of the fashion designers, as well as lighting and decorations. The event is scheduled for Friday, April 15, at 6 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.
PRISM then requested funding for an appearance by Tyler Ford, who, according to the request form, is “regarded as one of the most interesting and vocal queer social media stars of the past year.”
The event itself, co-sponsored by Vox: Voices for Planned Parenthood, is intended to “provide an open forum for a discussion on gender and non-binary identities,” according to the request form.
Funding in the amount of $2,768.50 was granted, on the condition that PRISM meet with its liaison and attempt to negotiate a lower appearance fee from Ford. The event will take place on Thursday, April 7, in the Library Auditorium at a currently unannounced time.
The freshman class council requested funding for its New York City Bus trip. The event is designed to “allow freshmen, who typically do not have transportation, to go off campus for a day. It would allow 110 people to go to New York City,” according to the request form.
The board agreed and voted to fully grant the request in the amount of $2,596.12, to cover the cost of two charter buses for the day. The all-day trip event is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 9. Buses are scheduled to leave the College at 10 a.m.
The final order of business was the sophomore class council’s Spring Back. According to the request form, “in the weeks leading up to finals, freshmen and many others get stressed out. Spring Back provides a day of destressing... (with) a small festival (that will have) inflatable courses, rides and other activities.”
The board’s motion to fully fund the event was passed, and the requested $5,944.40, which will cover attractions including a mechanical bull, obstacle course and gladiator joust, was granted.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 16, at noon on the T/W lawn.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(03/22/16 8:21pm)
By Roderick Macioch
News Assistant
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 9, the Student Finance Board (SFB) agreed to fund a variety of upcoming events. Some will highlight the College’s cultural diversity, while others are purely for entertainment.
Representatives of TCNJ Manhunt entered to propose their plan for Humans versus Zombies. As stated in the request proposal, the event is “an opportunity to get outside and participate in a fun game.”
TCNJ Manhunt requested funding for equipment, such as bandanas, a megaphone, Nerf darts and Nerf Hammershot Blasters.
After a motion to fund only the bandanas failed, the board voted to fund all of the equipment, except the blasters, in the amount of $143.79. Unlike past TCNJ Manhunt events, this will be free of charge. The daylong event will take place on Saturday, April 2, at various locations on campus and will begin at 9 a.m.
The Muslim Students’ Association (MSA) then proposed several events for Islamic Awareness Week, including MSA’s Flower Handout, Art Gala and Islamic Calligraphy and Peace by Piece: A Night of Poetry. These events all seek to “enlighten the (College) community about (Islam) and expose them to the religion of Islam,” according to the request form.
The Flower Handout, intended to highlight Islam’s peaceful nature, received $160. The event is scheduled for Monday, March 28, in Alumni Grove and the Brower Student Center. The Art Gala, which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 30, in the Lion’s Den, was also funded in the amount of $1,163. Likewise, the requested $75 was granted for Peace by Piece, in which “a diverse group of performers will be selected to perform and share their stories, beliefs and values on the theme of peace,” as quoted in the request form. The event is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 29, in the Lion’s Den.
The Indian Student Association (ISA) then requested additional funding for Bollywood Night 2016, parts of which were tabled in a previous meeting. Although it was previously tabled, $100 of funding was granted to pay for a disc jockey (DJ). The event will take place on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in room 212 of the Education Building.
Synergy Dance Company requested funding for its Spring Spectacular. The event is a recital in which the company is “able to perform for the (College) community, family members and anyone else who is inspired by dance.”
The board voted to fund part of Synergy’s request in the amount of $3,369, which will cover expenses such as the booking fee and costumes. The event is scheduled to take place on Sunday, April 24, in Kendall Hall and will begin at 1 p.m.
Union Latina proposed its COPA Night. According to the request form, “the purpose of this activity is to spread Latino Awareness throughout the campus community by presenting traditional Latino music.” In all, Union Latina requested $4,601.34 to cover expenses such as a band and DJ to provide music, food and a photobooth.
The board’s funding guidelines mandate that “any requests for food in an amount over $250.00 should include at least two quotes.” Because Union Latina had failed to do so, the event was tabled.
Gospel United Ministries requested funding for its Gospel Extravaganza. According to the request form, the event “is a celebration of gospel music with a full live band experience and traditional choirs. It is an opportunity for students of faith to share a corporate worship experience with other college students and TCNJ alumni who have continued spreading their faith and music abroad.”
The event will feature performances by the Ahmad Sanon Band and Will Morris — Christian music artists and alumni of Gospel United Ministries.
The board voted to fund the event and these performances in the amount of $400.
Voice of Hope, the College’s Christian a capella group, requested funding for Tim Be Told, an Asian-American Christian band, to perform at the College. The event will be co-sponsored by the Chinese Student Association, the New Jersey Christian Fellowship, the Protestant Bible Fellowship, the Korean Student Association and the Asian American Association.
In its request form, Voice of Hope stated that attendees “will be uplifted by encouraging music, opportunities to pray and opportunities to meet and work with people from different organizations on campus.”
The board passed a motion to fully fund the event in the amount of $3,672, which will cover Mayo Concert Hall booking fees and the band’s appearance fee.
The event will be held on Friday, April 1, at 7 p.m. in Mayo Hall.
The final order of business was Student Government’s (SG) Spring 2016 T-shirt Swap. The event will “give students the opportunity to exchange T-shirts from their high school or other colleges with a TCNJ shirt,” according to the request form.
The board hesitated due to the large amount requested — $11,044.87 — and also expressed fears that the event would be redundant, considering that an almost identical event was held during the fall semester.
However, deciding that the event was likely to still have enough appeal to be a success, the board passed a motion to grant $7,800 for the shirts, but to not fund the stickers, smoothies or balloons for which SG had also requested funding.
The event will be held on Wednesday, March 30, on the Green Hall lawn.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(03/08/16 5:46pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 2, the Student Finance Board (SFB) granted funding for several requests, setting the stage for a variety of events in the coming weeks.
The Deaf Hearing Connection Club proposed for its annual Deaf Awareness Day, designed to “raise awareness of deafness and American Sign Language with the student body. (Specifically), students will have the opportunity to communicate with members of the deaf community… and also have the opportunity to learn about interpreting and audiology, and other professions in the related field,” according to the request form the club presented.
The event will also feature appearances by deaf illusionist Sam Sandler and deaf model and actress Stephanie Nogueras.
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $3,500 to cover the appearance fees of Sandler and Nogueras. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 6, with events held throughout the day in various locations around campus.
The Environmental Club then proposed its Engage! workshop, which “intend(s) to bring together (College) faculty, students, staff and the public at large to educate (them) about activism (by presenting) student activists who will lead discussions on their activities in movements for change in the United States,” according to the request form. In all, the club was requesting $500.
The board acknowledged that the event would be beneficial to the campus community and would receive funding under normal circumstances, however, Engage! was planned by the Cultural and Intellectual Community Program Council — the Environmental Club’s only contribution toward the event was to request Student Activity Fee (SAF) funding.
As stated by SFB Executive Director Brandon Klein, “We want to make sure that the money goes to students for students. We can’t be covering a department’s budget shortfalls.”
Consequently, a motion to zero fund the event passed.
The Indian Student Association (ISA) then requested funding for ISA Bollywood Night 2016. This event “will showcase the multi-faceted culture of India. From the traditional Punjabi food being served to the performances put on by (the College’s) classical dance team, TCNJ Jiva, Bollywood Night will expose students to various aspects of Indian culture,” according to the request form.
Concerns were raised over the planned date of the event, Saturday, March 26, which falls during Easter weekend, but ISA had already been aware of the potential conflict and was not concerned about it potentially detracting from the attendance. The necessity of the proposed $500 disc jockey (DJ) and $800 chocolate fountain was debated and ultimately, a motion to table the fountain and DJ but fund the rest of the proposal passed.
In total, $2,255 was granted to pay for expenses, including refreshments, decorations and a photobooth. The event will take place on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in room 212 of the Education Building.
The College Union Board (CUB) requested funding for its annual Spring Lecture. The event strives to “appeal to different types of students by sticking to the traditional, but successful and popular, topic of discussion that the TCNJ community has expressed interest in,” according to the Special Appropriations Request form.
Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson and actor Wilmer Valderrama each requested $30,000. "Broad City" actresses Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson each requested $25,000, as did CUB’s other choices for a guest lecturer — singer Todrick Hall, “Parks and Recreation” actor Ben Schwartz, “Community” actor Danny Pudi and social media star Matt Bellassai.
A motion to cap the funding for an appearance fee at $25,000 passed, which meant that CUB will only receive $25,000 even if Johnson or Valderrama are booked for the lecture. Furthermore, the motion included a stipulation that if the lecture is in Mayo Hall, a second lecture following the first lecture from the same speaker will be considered to compensate for Mayo’s smaller seating capacity. In all, the board granted $26,302 to CUB for both speaker and building fees.
The event will be held on an undetermined weekday evening in either Mayo or Kendall Hall, based on availability, at 8 p.m.
The Asian American Association (AAA) proposed Mystique of the East 2016, co-sponsored by Taiko, Barkada, Chinese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Jiva, Saathiya and ISA.
According to the club’s Multicultural Request form, “Mystique will feature performances that have origins rooted in various Asian countries, such as China, Japan, India, the Philippines and Korea.”
These performances, in the format of a fashion show, will allow all students to “be taught about traditions that may be similar to their own, or be exposed to something completely different from what they know.”
Funding in the amount of $4,193 to cover the Kendall Hall booking fee and AAA’s portion of the fashion show, was granted. However, the rest of the requested funding, including funds for the costumes and music for the event’s co-sponsors, was tabled, as these organizations were not present to discuss their requests in greater detail.
The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, in Kendall Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m.
Friendship and Unity for Special Education (FUSE) proposed “‘Oh, You Needed Me to Pay Attention?’ Classroom Perspective from a Deceptively Remarkable Student,” an appearance by guest speaker David Finch, after the event was tabled in last week’s meeting due to FUSE’s lack of involvement in the planning of the event.
Finch, the author of “The Journal of Best Practices,” a New York Times bestseller, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as an adult in 2008. The event is designed to allow “education majors, professors or people interested in working with students with disabilities to hear from an adult diagnosed with Asperger’s about his experiences in the classroom,” according to the request form.
Deciding that FUSE had shown enough influence in planning the event, the event received full funding in the amount of $4,520, to cover Finch’s appearance fee. The event will take place in room 115 of the Education Building on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m.
Union Latina proposed the Presidential Election Informative event, co-sponsored by the Republican Club to represent Republican candidates and Student Government to represent Democratic candidates.
According to the request form, “the purpose of this event is to educate the TCNJ campus on the importance of voting, introduce important issues and the presidential candidates in this upcoming presidential election, (including) a 15-minute introduction by (history Professor Christopher Fisher) regarding the important issues and topics of this presidential race. (That will be followed by the) Democrats and Republicans each (giving) a 15-minute presentation on their parties’ candidates and where they stand on specific issues.”
A motion to table the event passed on the grounds that Student Government is a co-sponsor and will likely agree to provide its own funding — thus rendering the $117 of SAF funding unnecessary.
The final order of business was The Mixed Signals’s Rather Outrageous Comedy Kickout, an event that was tabled in last week’s meeting because The Mixed Signals had not submitted the necessary paperwork to be recognized by the board. Having submitted this paperwork, the organization was recognized and permitted to present a proposal for its own event.
The event will “provide a free comedy event for the student body and local community through which they will be able to watch alumni improv troupes as well as improvisational comedy on a professional level,” according to the request form.
In addition to the performance, “a (one) hour workshop will be provided by the professional troupe, UCB TourCo, so that anyone interested may try their hand at improv comedy,” according to the form.
The board’s motion to fully fund the event was unanimously passed, and the requested $4,350, which will cover TourCo’s appearance fee and Mayo Concert Hall fees, was granted.
The event will be held on Saturday, April 2, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(03/01/16 9:55pm)
By Roderick Macicoh
Staff Writer
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 24, the Student Finance Board (SFB) approved funding for several upcoming events, but also exercised a great deal of caution when it came to other proposed events.
The College’s Swing Dance Club was the first to present a proposal. Representatives requested funding for the club’s Masquerade Ball to feature a live performance by Chelsea Reed and the Fairweather Five.
As stated in the Swing Dance Club’s proposal, the event is “intended to involve TCNJ students in the fun and exciting activity of swing dancing, while also providing a fun and inviting atmosphere for non-dancers.”
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $1,498.13 in order to cover the price of the band, decorations and refreshments. The event is scheduled to take place on Friday, April 22, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Allen Hall Main Lounge.
The Haitian Student Association then requested funding for the band booking fee and decorations for its event, Ambiance, after these requests were tabled during last week’s meeting.
According to the request form, the band is essential for the authenticity of the event, as “music has always been the one binding aspect of the Haitian culture and has allowed (that culture) to persevere in hard times. It is in our music that one will find our history and a sense of who we are as a people… Music and the Haitian experience are intertwined (and) to remove the band is to diminish from the learning and the culture.”
When the time came to vote, the requested $7,047.68, which will pay for the band and decorations, was granted. The event is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, March 5, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Decker Social Space.
Members of Chabad then requested funding for a Passover Seder, co-sponsored by Hillel and the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity.
This event is designed “to engage the campus community in a traditional Jewish experience as well as provide and educational event that will expose students to a culture other than their own,” according to the request form. Specifically, “Students will get to see what a traditional Passover Seder looks like, tastes like and sounds like, through a vast array of songs, foods and prayers.”
Operations Director Tom Barr suggested that the board table the event so that Chabad could break down the expenses further. The SFB manual states that “any requests for food in an amount over $250.00 should include at least two quotes,” and the board decided that Chabad’s request for $2,200 worth of food was not enumerated clearly enough. Executive Director Brandon Klein agreed, as did the majority of the board. Consequently, the event was tabled.
Friendship and Unity for Special Education (FUSE) requested funding for an event called “‘Oh, You Needed Me to Pay Attention?’ Classroom Perspective from a Deceptively Remarkable Student,” an appearance by guest speaker David Finch.
Finch, the author of “The Journal of Best Practices,” a New York Times bestseller, was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome as an adult in 2008. The event is designed to allow “education majors, professors or people interested in working with students with disabilities to hear from an adult diagnosed with Asperger’s about his experiences in the classroom,” according to the request form.
Finch requested $4,690 for his visit (an amount he implied was negotiable), to cover the cost of his flight, hotel, car rental and $4,000 appearance fee.
The School of Education had come to FUSE with the idea for the event, already having set the time and place. FUSE had agreed to co-sponsor, because without the involvement of a student organization, there would have been no chance of securing Student Activity Fee (SAF) funding.
The board decided that because the idea for the event was first conceived by the School of Education, and not by FUSE itself, it could not be funded. Doing so could have set a potentially expensive precedent of funding out-of-classroom experiences.
The board voted to table the request until FUSE found less expensive options for a guest speaker, so the visit would be a FUSE event rather than a School of Education event.
The Mixed Signals proposed its annual Rather Outrageous Comedy Kickout (ROCK). According to the request form, the event is intended “to provide a free comedy event for the student body and local community through which they will be able to watch alumni improv troupes as well as improvisational comedy on a professional level. This not only serves as entertainment, but also as a celebration of the art of improv comedy and support of a local troupe.”
In total, the group requested $4,350.
Because The Mixed Signals had not submitted a base budget and was therefore not assigned an SFB liaison, the group is currently not recognized by the board. This meant that All College Theater would have to fund the event with The Mixed Signals as a co-sponsor.
On these grounds, Klein requested that the event be tabled, and it was. When The Mixed Signals turns in the proper paperwork, it will be allowed to apply for its own funding.
PRISM requested funding for “History of Transgender Identities and Social Movements from the Late 19th through early 21st Centuries,” presented by Susan Stryker.
“Stryker is an associate professor of Women’s and Gender Studies and director of the Institute of LGBT Studies at the University of Arizona,” according to the request form. In all, the organization requested $2,000.
In a situation similar to the preceding FUSE proposal, PRISM had no part in the planning of the event, and the board saw the Women’s and Gender Studies Department as using PRISM to secure funding.
The board discussed the issue at length, and the board seemed to agree with Barr when he said “the core concept is that PRISM should be coming up with their own event.”
The board voted on a motion to zero fund, which passed.
At this point in the meeting, the board had rejected funding (either by tabling or zero funding) for four events and granted funding to only two. Due to this unusual paucity of funds granted, Klein addressed the board to assure the members that they were wise to exercise such caution.
“It’s our due diligence to make sure the funds are distributed in the best interest of the students, and not allocated irresponsibly,” he said.
The final order of business was the proposal of the Alternative Break Club’s (ABC) Mardi Gras Masquerade, co-sponsored by the Swing Dance Club. ABC is a volunteer service organization that travels to New Orleans during summer, winter and spring breaks to help in the Hurricane Katrina recovery. The event is intended to “bring New Orleans culture to (the College), treating students to authentic Cajun meals, music and dancing… (but also to) help show that New Orleans and the surrounding areas are still greatly affected by Katrina,” according to the request form.
The board passed a motion to fund every component of the proposal, with the exception of $404 for CustomInk T-shirts that ABC had requested, as they were deemed an unnecessary expense by the board. By this motion, $5,696.89, which will pay for tableware, food and decorations, was granted.
The event is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, April 6, at 8 p.m. in the Brower Student Center.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(02/23/16 10:00pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 17, the Student Finance Board granted full or partial funding for several upcoming events, while keeping a watchful eye on expenses.
The first student organization to present a proposal was TCNJ Saathiya, returning after its request for travel expenses to various dance competitions was tabled during last week’s meeting. The group is “a nationally ranked fusion dance team specializing in both modern and traditional dance,” according to the group’s request form.
TCNJ Saathiya requested $6,906.90, (having requested $6,760.60 the week before). Their requested amount had increased due to new expenses resulting from acceptance into one more dance competition. As they had done the week prior, the board expressed concerns that the organization was requesting an unreasonably large amount of money. Deciding that they should not fully fund the initial request, the board deliberated on how much to fund. A motion to fund the group’s costumes and part of the transportation cost passed, for a total amount granted of $3,020.95.
The group plans to attend three competitions: Aag Ki Raat, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, in South Carolina; Bollywood Dance Canada on Saturday, March 12, and Nach Ki Dikha, which will take place in Virginia on Saturday, April 2.
Representatives of the College Union Board (CUB) and Student Government (SG) entered to propose their plan for Funival. As stated in their High Volume Request form — a type of request reserved for expensive events with large expected turnouts — the event is “the annual spring carnival at (the College),” which features “large mechanical rides, inflatable attractions, novelties, food trucks and food vendors from the local Ewing area.”
CUB will contribute rides, entertainers, novelties and staffing, while SG will provide food and additional staffing. Rides will include a drop tower, grand carousel and bumper cars. Other attractions will include a photo booth, inflatable attractions and live entertainment from comedy juggler Evan Young.
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $130,009. The event will take place on Friday, May 6, in lots 5 and 6, from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Representatives of the Haitian Student Association proposed Ambiance, an annual event which attempts to “have various cultures come together and celebrate and experience Haitian culture,” according to the organization’s request form. Thus, the event “will foster appreciation for diversity on campus because it allows students from various backgrounds to gain exposure to a different culture along with its different set of norms and traditions.”
When the time came to vote, a motion to table the entire event, in hopes that some cost-cutting could be achieved, failed. Instead, the board decided to table only the band booking fee, as this was pinpointed as the only unreasonably expensive area of the proposal. The total amount granted was $4,302.50. The event is scheduled for Saturday, March 5, from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. in the Decker Social Space.
The same representatives also requested funding for a separate event, the Legacy Ball, to be presented by the Black Student Union (BSU).
This event is intended “to have various cultures come together to celebrate black history and culture. (BSU) will be having alumni from various backgrounds also in attendance to speak about how beneficial the (BSU) was for them while they attended this institution,” according to the request form.
The board passed a motion to grant zero funding on the grounds that BSU had advertised before bringing its proposal to the board. This action violated one of the board’s Funding Principles, stated in the board’s funding guidelines: “Programs receiving (Student Appropriations Fee) funding cannot be advertised prior to approval. Any program publicized prior to approval that cannot occur without funding will not be funded.”
Executive Director Brandon Klein, however, exercised his veto power, thus overruling the motion for zero funding.
Explaining his use of the veto, Klein cited the fact that when zero funding is granted, the organization that requested funding can make an appeal. Klein reasoned that funding would probably be approved anyway if BSU appealed, so his overruling the motion for zero funding would save time and energy for everyone involved.
A new motion, to fund the catering and decorations in the amount of $3,339.05, was brought to a vote and passed without being vetoed.
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 27, in the Decker Social Space. The time of the event was not announced.
The Jewish student organization Chabad requested funding for three events: the Purim Decade Party, Movie Night and monthly Shabbat celebrations. The Purim Decade Party intends to “celebrate and educate the campus community about the Jewish holiday of Purim. Often considered the most festive and joyous holiday on the calendar, it commemorates the miraculous survival of a persecuted people,” according to the request form.
Chabad’s Movie Night aims to “reach out to both the Jewish and non-Jewish community,” according to the request form.
Weekly Shabbat lunches are already held by Chabad, funded out-of-pocket by the organization. Chabad plans to continue holding these, but requested that the board grant funding for “a monthly celebration of greater scale to fully celebrate the culture and beauty of the Shabbat”, according to the request form.
These Shabbat celebrations aim to “(educate) the campus community about the traditions and heritage of the Jewish Sabbath.” Additionally, “Shabbat celebration allows the campus community to enjoy traditional Jewish foods which are such a major part of the culture and has helped preserve it for millennia,” according to the request form.
The Purim Decade Party was fully funded in the amount of $5,433.35. The event is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, March 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Brower Student Center.
Likewise, the motion to fully fund Movie Night passed and $378 was granted. The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, at 8 p.m. The movie shown will be the 2008 comedy “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan,” starring Adam Sandler.
In addition to the weekly lunches held every Saturday at 1 p.m., the monthly Shabbat Celebrations passed and are scheduled for selected Friday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the 1855 Room.
The final organization of the day was the Muslim Students Association, proposing HaLOL Comedy Night with Hasan Minhaj. According to the request form, the event “will foster appreciation for diversity on campus because it will allow (the student body) to enjoy a nice night of laughter with a prominent Muslim American in the media as well as their fellow Muslims on campus.” The event will kick off Islam Awareness Week, which is intended “to show students that Muslim Americans are a huge part of American culture and media. Islam has a huge image problem here in the U.S., and our goal is to help fix that problem by bringing a successful Muslim American comedian, Minhaj from ‘The Daily Show,’ to campus to help bridge these gaps with the power of laughter,” according to the form.
Full funding for the event, in the amount of $15,874.00, was granted. The event will take place on Friday, March 25, at 8 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(02/16/16 9:07pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10, the Student Finance Board accepted proposals for several multicultural events, allowing for a potentially varied campus event calendar in the coming weeks.
The first student organization to present a proposal was TCNJ Saathiya, which is “a nationally ranked fusion dance team specializing in both modern and traditional dance,” according to the request form they presented.
The team asked for funding for transportation to competitions in Canada and South Carolina, as well as for costumes required for their performances in those competitions. In total, the group requested $6,760.60, more than 7 percent of SFB’s remaining budget for Special Appropriations. With the prospect of such a large investment, the board members were quick to scrutinize TCNJ Saathiya’s breakdown of expenses.
Ultimately, the board agreed that tabling the discussion would be the wisest course of action, in hopes that some cost-cutting could be achieved.
Representatives of the Student Film Union (SFU) entered to propose their plan for Campus MovieFest (CMF). As stated in SFU’s proposal, the event is “the world’s largest film festival and a premier outlet for the next generation of filmmakers, giving them the tools they need, such as camcorders and Apple laptops, to make movies in one week.” Thus, the event “fosters creativity, helps to build a community of filmmakers on campus and helps to create opportunities for networking for students interesting in pursuing a future career in television, film, public relations and business endeavors.”
The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event, in the amount of $13,800, most of which covers the event fee that pays for the equipment. The event will take place over several days in April. The finale will be held on Monday, April 18, in Mayo Concert Hall.
Medicine, Education and Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere (MEDLIFE) then proposed A Taste of South America. Co-sponsored by Union Latina, the event seeks to “provide students the opportunity to be subjected to the foods of a different culture than our own,” according to the request form. Additionally, the event will give attention to issues of public health in South America and “spread the word about MEDLIFE and get people involved because MEDLIFE informs its volunteers about the health situations in third world countries and lets them travel to these places to do charitable work.”
In addition to food and information about MEDLIFE’s humanitarian efforts, the event will feature performances by two of the College’s a cappella groups iTunes and the TrebleMakers, as well as Ritmo Latina, the College’s traditional South American dance team.
When the time came to vote, the requested $4,718 was granted, which will pay for catering, supplies and decorations. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.
The Italian Club then requested funding for Una Serata Italiana (An Italian Evening), co-sponsored by the College’s Italian program.
This event “will introduce (the College’s student body) to the rich history of Italian music. It will also give them a sense of what popular music is in contemporary Italy,” according to the request form. Specifically, “the band I-Talians will sing Italian hit songs and present some history behind them. I-Talians is a band of Italian musicians.”
Noting that the event looked pretty straightforward and that the breakdown of expenses all seemed in order, full funding in the amount of $520.81 was granted. The event will take place on Friday, Feb. 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Library Auditorium.
Black Student Union (BSU) requested funding for a lecture by Terrell L. Strayhorn — just one of the BSU events happening during Black History Month. Strayhorn is “a one of a kind speaker who uses personal rhetoric and academic research to decipher some of the issues that minority students face while in higher education,” according to the request form.
The lecture itself had previously been approved by the board in an email vote, so all that remained to be done was to approve the proposed reception to follow the lecture. According to BSU Treasurer Baldween Casseus, a sophomore business and marketing double major, holding a reception with Strayhorn immediately after the lecture will allow students to “have one-on-one interaction with Dr. Strayhorn, for those who feel intimidated about asking him questions in the concert hall.”
SFB Operations Director Tom Barr, a senior economics major, said that the reception would “make a good event better,” and the board agreed and voted to fully grant BSU’s request in the amount of $792. The event, catered by Sodexo, is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 23, in Mayo Concert Hall at an undetermined time.
The junior class council proposed the seventh annual TCNJ’s Got Talent. According to the request form, “the purpose of this event is to showcase the talents of TCNJ students. Student performers may represent different organizations, friend groups, classes, etc. All of these various groups will come together and unify to perform in front of other students, organizations, faculty and campus community members.”
The only topic of debate regarding the event was the amount of money that should be given away as prizes. The board decided to reduce the amount of prize money that Student Government had originally planned to give, but otherwise kept the proposal intact and unanimously voted to approve the $1,026 of funding.
The final order of business was the Eurasia/Middle East Society (EME)’s Nowruz, a celebration of the Persian New Year. The event will provide “a unique opportunity to experience the music, food and art of the region that the media wrongly associates with conflict and violence. (The) event thus encourages the campus community to experience the region in a new way,” according to the request form.
A performance by Amir Vahab and his Ensemble, a group that performs traditional music of the region using authentic instruments, will be followed by dinner catered by King Pita Palace and Cairo Cakes.
The board’s motion to fully fund the event was unanimously passed and the requested $5,165, which will cover the cost of things like the music, catering and flowers (an integral part of Nowruz), was granted.
The event will be held on Thursday, March 24, at 7 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(02/09/16 8:46pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
The Student Finance Board’s first meeting of the Spring 2016 semester came to order at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 3, to decide what events deserve funding.
The Asian American Association (AAA) requested the necessary funding for a performance by Korean-American singer-songwriter Clara C.
“There are very few Asians represented in the media,” the request form read. “Having an Asian American representative performing will not only speak to those of the same culture, but to those interested in music.”
The association expressed plans to invite students from both Princeton and Rutgers universities.
The AAA’s plan to charge for admission was met with some opposition from the board. As a result, the event proposal was amended to make the event free of charge for all attendees.
The board unanimously voted in favor of allocating the $6,500 necessary to fund the performance, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall.
Representatives of the College Union Board (CUB) entered to propose its plan for the annual Spring Lecture. As stated in CUB’s proposal, the goal of the event is to “appeal to different types of students by sticking to the traditional, but successful and popular, topic of discussion that the (College) community has expressed interest in — pop culture and the entertainment industry.”
The board questioned whether the guest lecturers CUB had contacted (Shawn Johnson, Wilmer Valderrama, or Patricia Arquette) would have enough appeal to justify the appearance of the $30,000 fees they were each requesting. CUB’s fourth consideration for a guest lecturer was Todrick Hall, whose appearance fee was slightly less at $25,000, but was still a large investment which the board did not feel comfortable making.
After much deliberation, the board decided to table the request until CUB could provide more evidence that such a large investment would be a wise one.
Student Government then proposed TCNJ Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT). Co-sponsored by the Center for Global Engagement, the event seeks to “share the different cultures of the student body at (the College) through entertainment, activities, stands and educational facts around each station,” according to the request form. “Through this event, students will be able to gain awareness of the different types of diversity there is at (the College), all in a fun experience.”
When the time came to vote, the requested $3,115.46 was granted unanimously. The event is scheduled for Thursday, March 24, from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Brower Student Center.
TCNJ Jiva requested the necessary funding to cover travel expenses to attend University of Pittsburgh’s Dhirana — an annual Indian dance competition that will take place on Saturday, Feb. 20.
“Competing in national competitions allows our team to continue practicing Indian dance, learn from other collegiate teams and promote the College,” according to the request form. A majority of the board voted in favor of Jiva and the requested $754.40 was granted.
Black Student Union (BSU) requested funding for The Black Monologues — just one of the many BSU events happening during Black History Month.
According to the request form, the event “is designed to give students, staff and faculty an opportunity to share their stories through the performance of original monologues while educating the campus community on institutional issues and experiences affecting the African-descended members of the College.”
The board decided to fully grant BSU’s request in the amount of $117.13. The event is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Feb. 9, from 8:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. in the
Library Auditorium and will be catered by Sodexo.
Board member Ziyi Wang, a sophomore finance major, crossed to the other side of the table to propose a Chinese New Year Celebration presented by the Chinese Students Association (CSA).
CSA stated in its proposal that this event will allow students to “gain a newfound appreciation for Asian culture and be interested in experiencing more of it.”
The celebration will include martial arts, dance and musical performances to represent the culture, according to Wang. The board unanimously voted to grant the full $3,350 requested for the event, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the Decker Social Space.
The board also promoted sophomore economics major David Braisted from his previous position of sophomore representative to executive assistant.
*Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
(11/17/15 8:51pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
It’s not often that students attend campus events and think about the logistics or financial planning that went into making that event possible. A venue had to be booked, food had to be ordered and, depending on the type of event, maybe transportation or lighting and sound equipment had to be arranged. Someone must provide the funding and resources to make these activities possible, and more often than not, that responsibility lies with the Student Finance Board (SFB).
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, SFB held its first ever public, town-hall style forum, with a panel of seven e-board members addressing the concerns and answering questions of interested students in room 211 of the Brower Student Center. With the hope of increasing communication between itself and student organizations, SFB advisor Ceceilia O’Callaghan acted as moderator of the discussion.
SFB allocates the Student Activity Fee (SAF), a fund that undergraduate students pay as part of their annual tuition, according to the organization’s website. The SAF fund provides SFB with an annual budget of approximately $1.8 million to fund various events presented by the 240 SAF-funded student organizations at the College. These organizations have the responsibility of planning all the logistical details of their proposed event, and then must fill out a “Special Application” to ask for SFB’s financial support.
Representatives from numerous student organizations, ranging from Student Government to the College’s chapter of AMPD (The Association for Music Production and Discussion), were in attendance, bringing their questions and concerns before the panel. Faculty members, including Director of Student Activities Tim Asher, Assistant Director of Student Activities Jessica Claar, Manager of the Brower Student Center Seth Zolin and Assistant Director for Fraternity and Sorority Life Dave Conner, were also in attendance.
The panel was quick to emphasize the importance of following the proper procedures for applying for funding. These procedures are explained in an event presented by SFB every semester called Passport to Programming, which O’Callaghan said is “a guide to navigating the programs so that student organizations know what they’re doing.”
The forum served to refresh and clarify points discussed at Passport to Programming. Organizations were reminded not to begin advertising for an event until funding has been approved, lest the event proposal be rejected and the event called off due to a lack of funding.
This year, SFB changed its policy regarding liaisons. Each organization on campus has someone serving as an intermediary between that organization and the board. To decrease miscommunications and misunderstandings, the board now requires liaisons to meet with their respective organizations in person. During the forum, SFB reminded organizations that the liaisons do not have the power to promise any amount of funding to any organization: the board has the final word on all decisions.
The board said it would not make exceptions whatsoever for any late applications for funding.
The board said it had received some complaints from organizations having applications ignored or rejected because they had submitted just a few hours after the deadline. O’Callaghan was emphatic that no grace period would be granted when she said “everyone knows when the grace period is and starts to treat that like the deadline.” In the interest of consistency, tardiness will not be tolerated by the board.
Though the focus of the forum was specific to particular student organizations, concerns regarding SFB’s actions were also discussed. At times, some believe the board’s actions appear to be in opposition to the very mission of the College, even if they are not. For example, the College places a strong emphasis on civil service, embodied by the Community Engaged Learning requirement and the activities of groups like the Bonner Institute. However, SFB has a policy of not funding philanthropic events. To a student not fully aware of the big picture, this can seem to send “mixed messages,” Zolin said.
“We seem to be stifling students who want to contribute to civil service and good works,” he said.
Zolin made it clear that he himself does not hold this opinion, and was simply mentioning the fact that some students may feel inclined to have this perception of SFB.
There are numerous reasons why SFB does not fund philanthropic events. Foremost among these reasons is that, by the very nature of SFB, it would be impossible to fund every proposed event, due to financial and logistical concerns. Supporting some events and nixing others would make SFB seem to favor some causes over others, and send the wrong message to the organizations whose events it cannot support.
“SFB doesn’t pick winners and losers,” said senior economics major Thomas Barr, who serves as operations director for SFB.
There is one exception to the rule, however, called the “Sandy Clause,” a bill proposed by O’Callaghan, who is now in her second year as SFB advisor. This bill stipulates that the board is willing to consider providing funds for events to benefit major disaster relief, as it did for events held in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and the 2010 Haitian earthquake. The difference between these events and other potential fundraising causes is that these are more short-term. Cancer research, on the other hand, is an example of a cause that is indefinitely ongoing.
SFB stressed that it does not like having to turn down any group’s application for a proposed event, but between issues of finances, logistics and scheduling, it is not possible to approve funding for every proposed event.
“We want all organizations to get funding,” O’Callaghan said. “But our policies are there for a reason.”
This forum was the first step in a campaign by SFB to increase the level of communication between itself and the student body. The board plans to hold meetings of this sort every semester, but may hold them more frequently should the need arise.
SFB Executive Director and senior accounting major Brandon Klein expressed his eagerness to hear questions and comments, as well as concerns and complaints, from student organizations.
“We want SFB to seem like an open door,” Klein said.
(10/20/15 11:32pm)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
College President R. Barbara Gitenstein recently announced via email that the College has a new chief information officer and vice president for Information Technology. Sharon Blanton, currently at Hawaii Pacific University, will assume this new position on Monday, Nov. 30.
Blanton’s position will make her responsible for “all of the network, the phone systems, the academic technology, the software. Pretty much anything with a button,” she said in an interview via Skype. Specifically, she will plan how the College will use technology, examine any problems that arise in the use of technology and look for ways to use technology more efficiently and effectively in the educational process.
One of the things Blanton is looking forward to is establishing a relationship with the student body.
“I want to hear from them. I can’t fix things that I don’t hear about,” Blanton said. “We’re here to help. Without a two-way conversation, it’s really hard for us to play a guessing game. We want to hear about any problems, but also things that we’re doing right.”
To establish this two-way conversation between herself and the students, Blanton plans to hold town hall-style meetings, where students can bring up questions, comments and discussions on the College’s use of technology. She also plans to meet with student leaders about once a month to further this discussion.
For the past three years, Blanton has served as the vice president and chief information officer at Hawaii Pacific University, where she “got a lot done in a very short time,” she said.
Being a fast-paced, private institution, HPU does not have to coordinate with the state and is therefore able to instigate change more quickly.
“We are responsible to the taxpayers and legislature, and we really have to be very sure of ourselves, and make sure we’re making the best use of the funds we receive,” she said.
At HPU, Blanton oversees Information Technology services at two campuses, seven satellite centers and a marine research center.
In addition to her career experience, Blanton holds “a BA in mass communication and instructional technology from Towson State University, an M.Ed. in instructional technology from the University of Virginia, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Capella University, and was a Frye Leadership Institute Fellow” according to the email.
“I am honored to be joining such an accomplished, selective institution,” Blanton said. “I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to build information technology as a strategic asset and continue advancing TCNJ’s tremendous student success record.”
However, Blanton is not planning on allowing the College to rest on its laurels. Instead, she intends to keep asking, “What can we do to raise the bar even higher?”
“I’m looking forward to working with high-quality students,” she said. “I really enjoy new experiences, throwing myself into a new environment.”
In summarizing what she thinks are the most important things to bear in mind as she steps into her new role, Blanton said, “You really have to take the time to learn. I think a little bit of humility goes a long way in a position like this. You can’t come in and assume that you have all the answers.”
(10/06/15 12:35am)
By Roderick Macioch
Staff Writer
If you don’t know what you’re looking at, you may think you have stumbled into the wrong room, or that you’re in the right room but the art is missing. When you look at the floor, you notice black streaks running across it. At first it looks like an accident — but this is no accident. This is installment art, and the room itself is the art.
In conjunction with the faculty art exhibition “Fluctuations” currently on display in the Arts and Interactive Multimedia Building art gallery, the installment art of three student artists is also on display now through Sunday, Oct. 11, in rooms 111, 118 and 119.
The three student artists being showcased, seniors Amanda Intili and Jessica Hargwood and junior Joe Arnold, have each been selected by the Art Department to present an example of installment art. The exhibition had a lengthy application process, which involved presenting ideas to the Art Department in the form of written descriptions, sketches and models.
The installment featuring the black streaks along the floor is entitled “Invasion,” and was created by Intili, an art education major. This is her second solo exhibition at the College.
Installment art, also known as installation art, as explained by Intili, aims to “take an entire space into consideration” to make it “more like an experience.”
As opposed to a painting, for instance, installment art is more interactive. Rather than just a space on a wall, the wall becomes part of the artwork. Instead of just looking at the piece, the observer walks into it and can be surrounded, even engulfed by it.
Intili says her piece is intended to “play with the idea of comfort” and create a “subtle disturbance.” However, Intili feels the piece cannot be explained in any simple terms, or confined by making any single statement.
“It touches on a lot of things,” she said.
It can, for instance, be a commentary on society’s perception of hair.
“If hair is on someone’s head it is considered beautiful,” Intili said. “But in a drain or on another part of the body it becomes taboo.”
However one may interpret it, Intili says the piece “continues to test the viewer’s comfort level through material choices.”
Lens-based art major Joe Arnold’s installment entitled “Built Environment” “uses installation to investigate the ideas of the built and artificial environments in an already existing man-made space,” according to the exhibition’s Web page. It consists of 10 squares of various sizes that offer distorted reflections at different angles. The blue and green fluorescent lighting interacts with these reflections, making it all at once disorienting and cohesive.
A program quotes Arnold’s own interpretation of the piece as “a material, spatial and cultural product of human labor that combines physical elements and energy.”
Hargwood, a fine art major, presented her first solo exhibition, a fiber installation entitled, “My Overt Blackness.” The piece “explores the complexities of biracial identity through light and color,” Hargwood said.
In her own words, Hargwood designed the piece as a visual representation of her “biracial identity and how being biracial affects my views on society and how society views me.”
“My Overt Blackness” consists of pieces of tulle netting strung across the room like a web.
“You can see through it depending on the layers,” Hargwood said about the appeal of the medium. “It shows the relationship of colors intertwining in the space.”
When asked how the artist could know when a piece so abstract is finished, Intili said “You get to a point when you just feel like you can part with it.”
“Or when you can’t stand looking at it any more” laughed Hargwood, recalling the countless hours all three spent bringing their artistic visions to fruition.
The downside to this type of art is that, in this case, it can only exist temporarily. Unlike a statue, which can last for centuries, these pieces will be dismantled after the exhibition closes on Sunday, Oct. 11. So see them, or rather, become a part of them while you can.