1000 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(10/17/16 10:58pm)
By Brielle Bryan
First course: raspberry vinaigrette over mixed greens, goat cheese, pecans and sliced peaches. After teasing your taste buds, you move onto the main course: grilled salmon over sautéed spinach, coated in a balsamic glaze, with a side of roasted red potatoes. As your stomach expands and you think you can’t eat anymore, your hand clutches your fork and steadies in anticipation for dessert: a light and fluffy chocolate cake with raspberry filling and a dark chocolate ganache frosting.
You wrap up and refrigerate the leftovers, put some dishes in the dishwasher and finally find your spot on the couch with a throw blanket. As you lay down, the dishwasher’s low hum soothes you to sleep and you dream of what meal you can make tomorrow night in the comfort of your own kitchen.
Have you ever had a home-cooked meal like this? Many people just microwave their food or eat at a restaurant, but cooking your own food is a necessary life skill.
According to mercola.com, microwaving food is a lot more complicated than simply “heating it up,” as the microwave heats up food making the water molecules in the food resonate at a high frequency and change the food’s chemical structure, which can lead a loss in nutrients. In addition, food heated in plastic containers or on paper plates can be detrimental since carcinogenic toxins can leak out of the plastic and paper and into your food, increasing your risk of getting cancer.
If microwaving food isn’t healthy, why not go out to eat and have someone else cook your food? Eating out may seem like the easy option, but it has its downsides.
When you go out to eat, it is unlikely that all of your food can be made fresh to order. Owners of eating establishments have many customers to worry about and a limited amount of employees, determined by the maximum they are willing to pay.
Most restaurants maintain their steady pace of sending out food from the kitchen by storing most of the pre-made food in a freezer. Frozen food is cooked to order, and all the leftover frozen food is kept frozen until it is needed a week or two later. By that point, it gets dried out and is no longer “fresh.”
In order to keep frozen foods tasting delicious, high amounts of salt are added so that its flavor still appeals to your taste buds. However, salt can delay stomach emptying, which most of the time can blow up your stomach and cause a lot of discomfort. Also, daily doses of salt can cause high blood pressure, which is a leading factor in heart disease.
Eating establishments also provide patrons with large portions. Say you order roasted turkey, but it also comes with a potato and vegetable, as well as a soup or salad, and a pudding cup for dessert. Since you are out to eat, you might be going somewhere afterward and can’t take your food home, or you might not think the food will taste good microwaved later. If you don’t want to waste it, you might end up eating everything that is placed in front of you.
While microwaving food or eating out may be convenient, it isn’t healthy. Many believe that learning to cook is challenging because it requires so many more steps beyond putting something on a plate and pressing the reheat button. However, cooking is actually very easy and an essential part of living on your own.
If you have a hard time understanding the process of sautéing, steaming or grilling, there are countless cooking websites and YouTube videos that can teach you the basics. Cooking at home is faster than going out to eat, and it is more fulfilling than eating something that isn’t fresh. Cooking at home is not only healthier, but also cheaper than eating at a restaurant or grabbing fast food every day of the week.
Instead of thinking of the last time you ate a home-cooked meal, think of how rewarding it will be the next time you sit down and eat something that you made with your own hands.
(10/17/16 10:57pm)
By Heidi Cho
Staff Writer
Students for Disability Awareness (SDA) hosted its third annual (Dis)ability Monologues on Thursday, Oct. 6, in room 212 of the Education Building. Speakers openly shared their stories with peers and demonstrated what it means to live with a disability and be different, but certainly not less.
“When you take the ‘dis’ out of ‘disability,’ you are left with abilities that are slightly different or better than yours, or on a different level, but everyone just has different abilities,” said Marcia Schleppy, SDA co-president and a junior special education and psychology double major.
Disability is a part of the speakers’ lives, but they do not let their disabilities stop them from going after what they want. That night, SDA created a space for students to speak about their stories free from interruption or stigma.
“Our main goal is to have people from the disability community have their voices heard,” said Emily DiRusso, SDA co-president and a junior special education and sociology double major. “In the general community, sometimes, there is not really an opportunity for them to be heard, so this gives them an open forum where it is them.”
Career and community studies alumnus Daniel Lapidow (’15) shared his story and compared his struggle with dyslexia to the biblical story of Daniel in the lions’ den.
The snarling lions in his story were fellow students, teachers and aides from Lapidow’s middle school. The den, according to Lapidow, was the public school system that told him that he was not disabled, only so stupid that he could not spell his own name correctly.
Lapidow’s saving grace was the teachers and others he met in ninth grade who acted as his guardian angels. In his speech, Lapidow urged everyone in the audience to be someone else’s guardian angel.
Aditi Mahapatra, a senior psychology and public health double major, echoed a similar sentiment for people to sympathize with pain that cannot be seen.
“I encourage you to care,” Mahapatra said. She told the audience about an unintentional social experiment she recently conducted, which showed the contrasting reactions of others toward visible and invisible pain.
An injury forced Mahapatra to wear a cast. She quickly noticed that people would gladly let her take the elevator, even if it was only for one floor.
When the cast was taken off, the pain remained and was now invisible to those around her.
When this invisible disability was causing pain, Mahapatra would ask a friend to take the elevator with her. This time, her friends would roll their eyes and reluctantly agree to the request.
Mahapatra used the example to describe the double standard she has witnessed far too often: only disabled people who look sick are treated with empathy and kindness.
To prove her point, Mahapatra proposed a hypothetical situation where a person with a full head of hair tells you they have cancer.
“You don’t tell them (that) they don’t look sick,” Mahapatra said.
According to Cornell University’s 2014 disability statistics, 12.6 percent of Americans are disabled. About 10 percent of Americans have an invisible disability, the University of Massachusetts reported in 2015.
To keep people from invalidating the pain of so many, it helps to inform others of what ignorant words can do. It is a matter of asking what a disabled person can do, instead of what they cannot.
“It is also important for people who do not have disabilities, who have not yet been touched by somebody with a disability or in that community, to hear the experiences of people (who have) and realize that the differences are not bad, and the differences are not big,” Schleppy said.
(10/17/16 10:53pm)
By Dorian Armstrong
Staff Writer
Lambda Tau Omega hosted a self-defense workshop taught by the College’s Kokikai Aikido Club on Tuesday, Oct. 4. The workshop focused on using the martial art strategy to evade and disarm attackers and abusive partners.
According to Dylilah Bryant, president of Lambda Tau Omega and a senior public health major, the workshop was part of the sorority’s Week of Enchantment, which was a series of events centered on female empowerment.
Of the 18 students who attended the workshop in the Student Recreational Center, most were female. However, Bryant said the self-defense course and the techniques of Kokikai Aikido are open to anyone.
The Kokikai Aikido Club began the evening by distributing pamphlets detailing coercive dating tactics and warning signs to avoid. According to the pamphlets, one in five women experience either sexual assault or attempted sexual assault while attending college. The risk increases when women are alone or consume alcohol.
Originating in the ’20s, Aikido is a relatively new martial art and is concentrated on the East Coast, according to Bryan Gibbons, a volunteer teacher and the administrative leader of the Kokikai Aikido Club.
“The basic premise is self-defense without resorting to violence,” Gibbons said. “Primarily, it uses natural movement, and we’re also looking for efficiency... Kokikai is a softer version of Aikido, but just as effective.”
The course then broke into small sparring exercises, where students practiced basic movements, such as redirecting an attacker’s hands or elbows. They were reminded to stay defensive and prevent attackers from gaining any advantage.
“These techniques are the ‘oh shit’ button,” said alumnus Anchuing “Chewie” Wang (’05), the club’s lead instructor. “Before this happens, many other things have already gone wrong, so make sure when you go about your daily business, you try to look strong.”
The course was largely well-received by those who attended.
Melissa Reed, a senior criminology and African American studies double major, said she found great value in the course because of her own experiences with harassment.
Zéna Merhi, a junior early childhood education and music double major, expressed similar thoughts.
“I do want to work in an urban district,” Merhi said. “So this will be useful.”
(10/17/16 10:24pm)
By Jordan Draper, Title IX Coordinator and Michelle Lambing, Assistant Director of Anti-Violence Initiatives
We truly appreciate The Signal highlighting the crime statistics in TCNJ’s Annual Security Report (ASR). It is true that there was an increase in reported incidents of sexual assault, dating violence and stalking last year. We wanted to provide context and establish that the College believes the increase in numbers reflects the educational efforts to ensure students understand the resources and reporting mechanisms on campus.
The College has made sexual assault prevention and education a priority in recent years. Part of this effort includes creating a climate where students feel supported in coming forward. Resources like Anti-Violence Initiatives (AVI) or Counseling and Psychological Services are there to help students navigate the traumatic experience. The Title IX Office helps students learn about the many accommodations that can be put in place so they feel safe to continue their educational experience, as well as learn how to participate in a College process through which the respondent can be held accountable for their actions. With students seeking these resources more frequently, the ASR number will increase.
It’s important to remember that with sexual assault and dating violence, the ASR only reflects what was reported to College officials. It does not necessarily paint an accurate picture of what actually happened in a given year. If a student doesn’t come forward in some manner — to seek counseling, file a report or press charges — the incident will not be reflected in the report’s statistics.
While the ultimate goals of our offices is to eradicate all forms of sexual violence, as these initiatives take root and fulfill their intended purposes, it is our understanding that the numbers in the ASR will increase. We see the jump in numbers as an indicator that more students feel comfortable reporting their experiences to us and trust that the College will respond appropriately.
If you have any questions about resources or reporting, please feel free to contact Michelle from AVI at michelle.lambing@tcnj.edu or Jordan with Title IX at draperj@tcnj.edu.
(10/16/16 5:41pm)
By Zahra Memon
Staff Writer
Each year, approximately 500 women in Pakistan are killed by family members because they have “dishonored” their families by eloping, mingling with men or doing anything that goes against the conservative traditions — even getting raped — according to Al Jazeera.
In the past, those who committed honor killings were often unpunished. New legislation, though, states that although the family may forgive the perpetrators for their honor killing, the government will take action and imprison the responsible individuals for 25 years at the very least, but imprisonment can last a lifetime.
The bill did not become a law overnight. According to Pakistan Today, the bill was established in 2015 to be passed as legislation by Sughra Imam, a senator at the time. Thereafter, the bill went through a series of oppositions, but it finally passed unanimously on Thursday, Oct. 6, according to The Telegraph.
Another bill was passed that requires DNA testing in order to convict rapists more easily, according to CNN.
"There is no honor in honor killing,” Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, according to CNN. “Women are the most essential part of our society and I believe in their empowerment, protection and emancipation so that they can equally contribute towards development and prosperity of our country."
The new legislation has received support from across the world.
"This is a step in the right direction," women's activist and columnist Aisha Sarwari told AFP news agency, according to Al Jazeera. "We should take our little wins where we get them and proceed forward and not retreat."
Leaders in Pakistan are standing up for basic rights of women and are taking this law very seriously, which many see as a major progression for the country. Supporters believe that the implementation of this law will improve the living standards in Pakistan. However, some individuals are strongly against it.
Conservative Senator Hafiz Hamdullah said parliament should instead address elopements by women, claiming 17,000 had done so since 2014, according to Al Jazeera.
"Why don't we see what are the reasons behind such killings? Why are girls eloping from their homes?" he said, according to Al Jazeera. "They are trying to impose Western culture over here. We will not allow (it)."
(10/10/16 6:59pm)
By Pooja Paidipalli
Staff Writer
An increasing number of controversial shootings by police has put the Los Angeles Law Enforcement in the spotlight, according to the Los Angeles Times. Protests continued throughout the city after a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officer shot and killed an 18-year-old black man, Carnell Snell Jr., who was carrying a handgun on Saturday, Oct. 1.
Police attempted to pull over a car with paper license plates that they assumed was stolen, according to NBC. After a short chase, Snell jumped out of the back seat and tried to escape.
“They observed him remove a handgun from his waistband and hold it in his left hand,” LAPD Chief Charlie Beck said, according to NBC.
Snell was shot after a short pursuit. He sustained two bullet wounds after being shot six times, according to CNN. The LAPD did not yet release the name of the officer who shot Snell.
NBC reported that the LAPD has released minimal information about the investigation. However, it did disclose that a fully loaded handgun was found at the scene, but the firearm had not been fired.
“Body-worn cameras have not been deployed in the division where the shooting occurred,” Beck said.
In the weekend following the shooting, people were protesting outside of the LAPD Headquarters in Downtown Los Angeles, as well as at Mayor Eric Garcetti’s residence, according to NBC. The same news outlet reported that four arrests were made.
There were also memorials for Snell near his home. NBC reported that Snell’s home was near the residence in which the shooting occurred. Residents, friends and family left candles and flowers to honor Snell’s memory.
Snell’s great aunt, Carlena Hall, told the Los Angeles Times that Snell suffered from mental illness, and that he had been arrested several times and often ran from police officers out of fear.
“That gun was never meant to be a threat to the Police Department,” Hall said.
Snell was the third black man to be shot in the five days following confrontations with police in the southern California area, according to NBC.
Although the decision was made to release the security camera footage from a nearby store of Snell being shot to the public, Beck was criticized for hesitating to publicize body camera videos from a second fatal shooting. According to the Los Angeles Times, Beck and others who support his decisions believe that body camera video releases in other states had repeatedly failed to fully interpret the scene and ease the controversy surrounding the shooting.
“Body camera footage or other video doesn’t provide transparency if the public never gets to see it,” said Peter Bibring, director of police practices for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and an advocate for the release of the footage.
(10/10/16 6:53pm)
By Eric Preisler
Correspondant
The New York Times obtained Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s tax records from 1995, which reported a “$916 million loss that could have allowed him to legally avoid paying federal income taxes for up to 18 years.”
His debt resulted during the 1990s from the mismanagement of his three casinos in Atlantic City, his failed attempt at entering the airline business and his badly timed purchase of the Plaza Hotel in New York City, according to The New York Times.
Trump’s losses are not exclusive to the 1990s, though. Newsweek reported that five years of tax information from the 1970s, which Trump provided to the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety, revealed he was almost pushed into personal bankruptcy, but was financially assisted by his father.
Trump’s tax records were disclosed to The New York Times without his consent, the news source reported. Trump’s lawyer, Marc E. Kasowitz, emailed a letter to the publication and threatened “prompt initiation of appropriate legal action.”
According to Newsweek, while it is legal to deduct against losses in future tax years, this may hurt his campaign. The news outlet mentioned that supporters of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Clinton herself can use Trump’s tax records as a substantial criticism of his business prowess.
The Clinton campaign released a statement about The New York Times’s article: “(The) ‘bombshell report…’ reveals the colossal nature of Donald Trump's past business failures and just how long he may have avoided paying any federal income taxes whatsoever,” according to CNN.
The New York Times report shed light on circumstances in which Trump appears to have benefitted while others have suffered from his financial “destruction” in the early 1990s, according to Joel Rosenfeld, an assistant professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.
Rosenfeld told The New York Times that he would tell a client who came to him with a tax return similar to Trump’s: “Do you realize you can create $916 million in income without paying a nickel in taxes?”
CNN reported that in a Monmouth University poll conducted last month, about 62 percent of voters think it is important or somewhat important for candidates to show their tax records.
During the first presidential debate, Trump seemed to indicate that he has not paid federal income tax for an unspecified time in response to an accusation from Clinton, according to CNN.
“That makes me smart,” Trump said during the debate.
During an interview with CNN reporter Dana Bash after the debate, Trump denied the comment and said, “If they said I didn't, it doesn't matter. I will say this: I hate the way our government spends our taxes because they are wasting our money. They don't know what they are doing, they are running it so poorly."
According to CNN, Trump’s failure to release his tax returns is similar to what happened to 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, whose resistance to release his tax records was exploited by President Barack Obama’s campaign. The same source reported that the release of Romney’s tax returns hurt him, too, as he only paid an effective tax rate of about 14 percent, since a majority of his income as a former venture capitalist came from carried income and capital gains.
(10/10/16 6:45pm)
By Eric Preisler
Correspondant
On Saturday, Oct. 1, North Carolina implemented a law that makes it necessary for city officials to receive a court order before releasing body or dashboard camera footage of police officers.
North Carolina has become one of about two dozen states, including the District of Columbia, to pass legislation that regulates public records within the past two years. Before this, no uniform law regarding the release of dashboard or body camera footage had governed the state, according to CNN.
Prior to this, law enforcement agencies would make their own rules in regard to tightly regulating the release of footage. Now, videos from law enforcement agencies and police departments will not be considered part of the public record, according to CNN.
Two months ago, Gov. Pat McCrory signed this legislation. In a CNN interview, he argued it’s about “respecting the public, respecting the family and also respecting the constitutional rights of the officer." McCrory later added that a video is only one piece of evidence that does not include audio, which augments the complexity of a situation. Some have also argued that restrictions are needed for the privacy rights of crime victims.
This follows the controversial killing of Keith Lamont Scott, a 43-year-old black man, by an officer who claims Scott stepped out of his car with a gun in his hand and did not obey when asked to drop it. However, attorneys for Scott’s family said the officer’s dashcam shows that Scott was not aggressive, according to CNN.
"We know and we can see with our own eyes what happened in the moments that matter,” said Justin Bamberg, an attorney for the Scott family, in a CNN interview.
Some are concerned with the regulation of information to the public. State Attorney General Roy Cooper criticized the restrictive measures of this law. He argued it "goes too far in preventing access by the public," in an interview with an ABC affiliate.
Others have felt that this law could prevent police from being held accountable for their actions and that it puts barriers in the way of those looking to seek justice.
"People who are filmed by police body cameras should not have to spend time and money to go to court in order to see that footage,” said Susanna Birdsong, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, according to U.S. News.
(10/10/16 6:41pm)
By Dorian Armstrong
Correspondant
On Monday, Sept. 26, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and real estate mogul Donald Trump met at Hofstra University for the first of three presidential debates, where they sparred over trade, taxes, temperament, policing and personal scandals. Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News moderated, and according to The New York Times, a record 84 million Americans watched the debate.
Americans tuned in to see Clinton and Trump put aside their mutual vitriol, shake hands and try to connect with a crucial group of undecided voters, including women and residents of swing states, to win what has become one of the most polarizing elections in American history.
Trump sought early high ground by condemning Clinton’s praise of free trade, a practice he blamed for the steady loss of manufacturing jobs to countries like Mexico and China. He attacked the North American Free Trade Agreement, signed into law by Hillary’s husband Bill Clinton, as “the single worst trade deal ever approved in this country.”
“I kind of assumed that there would be a lot of these charges and claims,” responded Clinton, who focused on rebuking Trump’s assertions and repeatedly called for fact-checkers to review her opponent’s claims, plugging her campaign website as a tool for home viewers to do the same. She wedged in a few points about “Trumped-up trickle down economics,” but it was Trump’s remarks that dominated the evening’s discussion.
Trump elaborated on the charges and claims he built his candidacy around. Trump said that Clinton fought ISIS for her “entire adult life,” interjected that not paying taxes makes him “smart” and dismissed his lie that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya by saying he “was the one that got him to produce the birth certificate” when “nobody was caring much about it.”
Clinton’s main line of attack later in the debate was against Trump’s ire toward women and minorities, evidenced by his support of policies like stop-and-frisk. She used Trump’s own words about a beauty pageant winner against him.
“He called this woman Miss Piggy. Then he called her Miss Housekeeping because she was Latina. Donald, she has a name. Her name is Alicia Machado,” Clinton said.
When Trump sought to defend his “winning temperament” to audience guffaws, Clinton smirked, casually shrugged off Trump’s statement and insisted that “a man who can be provoked by a tweet should not have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear codes.”
After Holt invoked the candidates to accept each other's possible victory, the debate ended, and Clinton and Trump once again shook hands and smiled for the cameras.
One debate down, two to go.
(10/10/16 6:37pm)
By Emily Solinski
Staff Writer
Unremitting airstrikes that targeted the Syrian city of Aleppo on Sunday, Sept. 25, claimed 85 lives and left more than 300 people wounded, according to CNN.
Russian and Syrian military offensives have caused the city of Aleppo to be a central focus in targeting jihadist rebels in the Syrian civil war. With the city near collapse, the United Nations (UN) Security Council held a meeting on Sunday to discuss the crisis in Aleppo.
“What Russia is sponsoring and doing is not counterterrorism, it is barbarism,” said Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the UN, according to CNN.
Within the past year since Russia began its air campaign, 3,800 Syrian civilians have been killed, according to CNN. This bloodshed in Syria has become a greater international concern, as attempts at a cease-fire have proved unsuccessful.
According to CNN, the Syrian ceasefire attempted earlier in the week wasn’t fulfilled. Instead, the United States and Russia accused one another of not satisfying their commitments. After the U.S. conducted an airstrike on Syria on Saturday, Sept. 17, which the Pentagon claimed to be an accident, Russia proceeded with airstrikes, ignoring plans for ceasefire.
In an attempt to intervene in the assault on Aleppo, the U.S. threatened to stop plans for a joint military targeting of jihadists rebels with Russia and Syria until the bombings in Aleppo end, according to The New York Times.
However, the Russian government does not seem to be considering halting airstrikes in the near future. According to CNN, Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said on Thursday, Sept. 29, that Russia would continue to support the Syrian military in its offensive.
Russia claims its mission in continuing airstrikes in Syria is founded in fighting terrorism.
“In Syria, Russia is pursuing only one specific goal, it has been determined and announced — it is the fight against the international terrorism,” said Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Russian news, according to CNN.
These continual assaults from airstrikes have resulted in extreme shortages in hospitals. Many face lack of medicine, blood supplies and doctors, according to CNN. The capability to treat the wounded from the constant bombing is unavailable in the city.
Stephen O’Brien, an official from the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights, described the instability of the eastern part of Aleppo, where residents are “being subjected to deprivation, disease and death in increasing numbers and with increasing ferocity,” CNN reported.
According to the same article, O’Brien described the Syrian civil war as the “ultimate humanitarian shame that is Syria today, and in east Aleppo in particular.”
(10/06/16 3:24am)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
The Paul Short Run, one of the largest cross country events of the season, put the College’s men’s and women’s teams’ athletic abilities to the test.
Around 450 colleges from around the country attended the meet at Lehigh University on Saturday, Oct. 1, in Bethlehem, Pa. Some high schools from the region participated, as well. In total, about 6,000 runners competed on Lehigh’s Goodman Cross Country track.
The men’s team placed 13th out of 45 teams during the 8000-meter run, or the Brown Race. The Lady Lions finished 20th out of 42 teams in the 6000-meter race — they were in the top half of opponents in the women’s Brown Race.
The Lions men faced a much more competitive and elite set of teams, as many of the competitors were from Division I and Division II programs.
Despite this tough competition, the College’s Division III athletes were able to step up and shine. Seniors Andrew Tedeschi and Brandon Mazzarella led the men’s team.
Tedeschi’s last Paul Short Invitational ended on a high note, as he produced the best time for the College of the day. He finished 13th out of 400 runners with a time of 24:57. Mazzarella also competed very well, as he finished the 8K race with a time of 25:27 and placed 43rd.
Sophomores Matt Saponara, Brian Mitchell and Quinn Wasko also contributed to the Lions overall success.
Saponara completed the race with a time of 25:49 and finished 96th, rounding out the top 100 runners.
Mitchell finished 152nd with a time of 26:14 and Wasko completed the course with a time of 26:20, coming in 168th
place. All three were able to finish in the top portion of the racers in the event.
On the freshman team, Cole Parsons and Lucas Pick finished with respective times of 26:42 and 26:53, staying close together to finish the meet.
Princeton University snagged first place in the men’s Brown Race, while Saint Francis University student Bryce England finished the race in first place with a time of 24:38.
Many sophomore women stood out in this event — Natalie Cooper finished 16th with a time of 21:13, Erin Holzbaur finished 44th with a time of 22:09 and Madeline Tattory finished in 116th place with a time of 22:47. Additionally, sophomore Emma Bean was able to finish in 23:44 and finish sixth out of the College’s women runners and 192nd overall.
Other standouts in this race included junior Alison Fournier and sophomore Abigail Faith. Fournier placed 200th with a time of 23:37 and Faith finished at 23:39 in 206th place. The girls finished the race neck-and-neck.
Senior Caroline Moore competed and fiercely finished with a time of 23:53.
Returning from fall break, the Lions will have another chance to compete against many rivals and athletes across the Northeast at the Rowan University Border Battle on Saturday, Oct. 15.
It will be crucial for the Lions to compete well in the coming weeks as the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championships approach on Saturday, Oct. 29.
(10/05/16 11:15pm)
By Heidi Cho
Correspondent
The College had love letters strewn across campus to advertise for showings of the play “As You Like It,” which hit Don Evans Black Box Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 28, and lasted through Saturday, Oct. 1. With a cast of 15 actors, the production put a modern twist on an old Shakespearean comedy.
Jenna Burke, the play’s assistant director and a senior English and secondary education dual major, explained the forethought behind the characters wearing modern clothing instead of Shakespearian attire in the forest. When the setting changes, the wardrobe switch fits as well for a modern twist on the original production.
“It seems like the obvious choice to make going from the transition into court from the forest because the court is definitely embedded with the ideology of patriarchy and monarchy and all those oppressive forces,” Burke said. “And then the forest, it just made sense for it to be 2016, because a lot of progressive things are happening there.”
As the director, alumnus Curt Foxworth (’02) asked the cast what they would wear in the forest setting. The resulting modern outfits for many of the characters incorporated boots and flannels. These were clothes that could endure the tougher forest life of the nobles-turned-peasants, according to Burke.
The costume transition was implemented during an onstage change. The costume designers were Sam Miller, a senior English and secondary education dual major, and Gretchen Heller, a senior nursing major. Miller reemphasized Burke’s point by saying that shedding the corsets in front of the audience during the costume change symbolized a transition from restraint to freedom.
“You kind of contract that through Rosalind and Orlando’s journeys in particular and how they both loosen up and find who they want to be,” Burke said. “They kind of break away from those more oppressive and straight and narrow ideals of the court.”
Both Miller and Heller said designing costumes for the production was interesting because they could work with both Shakespearean and modern attire. They were allowed to be creative with the modern outfits and thrift around for an outfit that fit the character best, with input from the actor. It created a compelling contrast for the actor to speak in Shakespearean language while walking around the stage in boots and flannels.
According to Jason Orbe, a member of the show’s building crew and a freshman technology education major, the mix of modern outfits and Shakespearian language was unexpected, but still worked because “it gives a different feel to the show.”
Cast members often locked eyes with audience members as they performed their lines with conviction. Orlando, played by junior chemistry major Eric Schreiber, asked an audience member to excuse him, as he pinned a letter to a tree behind them.
The actors made sure to give audience members seated along both sides of the theater something to watch. Changing up the seating is a fairly recent trend, according to Rebecca Conn, an usher, member of the building crew and a sophomore mathematics major. The characters were not centered around one point. Instead they were spaced out between two or three areas creating a dynamic blocking during certain scenes. It allowed the audience to watch characters from many seats. Conn commented that even from her seat to an extreme side of the theater, she was able to see.
Another interesting feature of the production was the slight changes to the lines. Burke advised the actors to take some liberty with the lines to ensure the audience understands the play’s themes as modern and relevant.
“If it felt modern to you, say it that way because that is going to help the audience get it,” Burke said she told the actors.
The strong comprehension resulted from the collaboration between actors, directors and costume designers to make the story more relevant to the audience, according to Conn.
Foxworth said he loved the difficulties of making a 400-year-old show relevant to students today, especially with the challenge of doing Shakespeare.
The cast, crew and the director were dedicated to make the play come to life and together, they transformed the Don Evans Black Box Theater.
“A few weeks ago… it was an empty room… and now I’m here. It’s a whole different world,” Orbe said.
(10/04/16 11:16pm)
This week, WTSR staff members Dave Paulson and Alec Goss highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Grouplove
Album: “Big Mess”
Release Number: 3rd
Hailing From: Los Angeles
Genre: Emo Indie Pop Rock
Label: Atlantic/Canvasback
Grouplove’s third studio album, “Big Mess,” is a brilliant tribute to some of the important crossroads in the band’s life, including the welcoming of lead singers Hannah Hooper’s and Christian Zucconi’s baby girl. The band’s first album since 2013 starts off strong with the lead single, “Welcome To Your Life,” which nicely blends Grouplove’s classic synth/guitar with Hooper and Zucconi’s vocals. “Do You Love Someone,” combines synth with a catchy bass line, and Hooper delivers a soft, captivating vocal in “Good Morning,” while Zucconi’s powerful voice attacks and energizes the chorus of “Don’t Stop Making it Happen.” The lyrics of the first song declare “We’re back in business!” Grouplove’s powerful, atmospheric indie music career is far from finished.
Must Hear: “Welcome To Your Life,” “Do You Love Someone,” “Good Morning” and “Don’t Stop Making It Happen”
Band: Mild High Club
Album: “Skiptracing”
Release Number: 2nd
Hailing From: Chicago and Los Angeles
Genre: Groovy Dream Jazz
Label: Stones Throw
Channeling all sorts of chill-out and sit-back vibes, Mild High Club’s second full-length release, “Skiptracing,” takes an exciting step forward since its debut album, “Timeline.” Although bearing similar themes as its predecessor, “Skiptracing” opens yet another dreamy peek into a groovy and worry-free landscape for your mind to roam. Riddled with nuances of the west coast in the smoky ’70s and a floaty, psychedelic yet wild and jazzy feel, this record can take you away to a whole new world. Feeling like a strange but needed cross between Mac Demarco and BADBADNOTGOOD, Mild High club does not disappoint so close your eyes and enjoy — you’re in for quite the trip.
Must Hear: “Skiptracing,” “Homage,” “Mild High Club,” “Tessellation” and “Chapel Perilous”
(10/04/16 5:45pm)
Syeda Alisa Ali
Correspondent
On the night of Tuesday, Sept. 27., the Decker Social Space was the site of smiling faces, sharing of faiths and enticing aromas of cultural food.
TCNJ Muslim Student Association (MSA) hosted its 11th annual Eid Dinner, the celebration marking the end of Hajj, the Holy Pilgrimage to Mecca, where Muslims come together to remember the story of Prophet Ibrahim’s willingness to sacrifice his son and, instead, was rewarded with the sacrifice of a lamb. A story recognized in all three Abrahamic faiths, this celebration brings a variety of people together, Muslim and non-Muslim alike.
The dinner included two comedians, Atheer Yaqoob and Dean Obeidallah, who proved to be big hits. Bunyad Bhatti, co-vice President of MSA and a junior political science major, worked hard to get Obeidallah to perform.
“I first saw Dean perform in (Washington) D.C,” Bhatti said. “When he first introduced himself, he said he was half Palestinian and half Italian. I thought he was perfect for the TCNJ Muslim Association event because we do not have a really diverse Muslim population, so I thought he would serve very well for our community here. I love his humor. He’s very light on the jokes, but he has everyone in the audience laughing.”
Obeidallah, who also hosts America’s only national radio show hosted by an American-Muslim, had the crowd both intrigued and delighted by his life story and jokes. He interacted with everyone in the crowd and was genuinely interested in getting to know the College’s students and guests who attended.
Yaseen Ayuby, MSA president and a junior math major, was humbly pleased with the turnout.
“It was a very successful event,” Ayuby said. “(The comedians) had some great performances and the crowd loved it. We had over 200 people come tonight, with food from three different cultures: Afghan, Middle Eastern and South Asian.”
This array of culture is what makes the Eid Dinner such a popular event. Ayuby and Bhatti described the evening as the perfect opportunity to bring together people whose ethnicities range from all over the world to enjoy food, laugh at jokes and open their eyes to a new culture.
“One of the things about Eid Dinner that I think is important is the fact of coming together as a community,” Ayuby said. “It’s really just the TCNJ family coming together, enjoying food, having some laughs, and it was a very great event, and we are glad everybody came.”
MSA hosts the Eid Dinner every year and the club will be sure to continue its tradition of bringing people together for years to come.
(10/04/16 2:43am)
By Grace Gottschling
Correspondent
The Alpha Phi Omega (APO) fraternity and the Animal Benefits Club co-sponsored an animal-themed 5K Run and Fun Walk on the cloudy morning of Saturday, Oct. 1., from 9 a.m. to noon, to raise money for EASEL, an organization that runs a local no-kill shelter.
The run was organized by Ethan Crasto, APO president and a junior statistics major. Crasto, who joined the co-ed service fraternity his second semester of freshman year, said it took him over six months to coordinate and plan the event.
The event is the fraternity’s biggest fall event, with more than 150 registered participants for both the 5K and the Fun Walk. The money the fraternity collected was raised through donations and the fee to register for the event.
Lindsay Sanfoyd, a sophomore urban elementary education and Spanish double major, participated in the walk with her parents, who were excited to spend time with their daughter. The trio had no illusions of winning first place, but seemed to enjoy themselves throughout the walk.
The 5K portion of the event took place shortly after the walk concluded. The runners gathered in front of Campus Town, and many dressed up in accordance with the animal theme.
Sean Taylor, a senior accounting major, won first place in the 5K with a time at 18:37, while second place went to Scott Sullivan with a time of 18:54.
Taylor is currently training for the Philly Half Marathon in November and has run in several of the 5Ks organized by groups at the College. However, this was his first 5K co-sponsored by the Animal Benefits Club.
The Animal Benefits Club raises money and awareness for animal rights issues. Morgan Pestorius, the club’s president and a senior elementary education and psychology double major, managed the Fun Run table and distributed information that advertised the opportunities students have to help animals.
Pestorius joined the club her freshman year and has been on the e-board since her sophomore year. The Animal Benefits Club takes its members on weekly shelter trips, fundraises regularly and raises awareness for animal rights issues.
The 5K was the first event the group co-sponsored with APO.
Sarah Kossoy, an APO member and a senior sociology major, described the service fraternity as an alternative for people who want to be in a community, but don’t want to be in a typical fraternity environment.
“I wanted to be able to find my own community,” Kossoy said.
The sponsored organization, EASEL, is an all-volunteer community group that focuses on the reduction of euthanized and unwanted animals in the community. The non-profit organization runs a shelter in Ewing, N.J., that has been no-kill for more than five years. This is EASEL’s first event with APO, but hopefully not its last.
“When organizations come in, it’s a great help to us,” said Christy Garrison, an EASEL board member since 2014. “We would love (for the 5K and Fun Run) to be an annual event.”
(10/04/16 2:39am)
By Pooja Paidipalli
Correspondent
If someone had asked Victoria Jennings-Kelsall about her identity five years ago, she said she would have described herself as a daughter, a sister and a wife. She was happily married to a U.S. Navy SEAL, who was proud of his profession. However, on Aug. 6, 2011, her world stopped. A friend of her husband’s, also a Navy SEAL, showed up at her front door and told her what every military spouse fears the most: her husband would not be coming home.
His aircraft was shot down over Afghanistan in the single most devastating disaster in U.S. SEAL history, according to TIME. The military Chinook helicopter crash resulted in the death of 17 Navy SEALS and 13 other Americans. Suddenly, the woman who was once a wife is now a widow.
Jennings-Kelsall presented her lecture, “Communal Coping: How it Helps, How it Hurts and How we Heal,” to a nearly-full Mayo Concert Hall as part of the Brown Bag series on Friday, Sept. 30. She hoped to offer guidance to others who have gone through — or are currently undergoing — a period of grief.
She is a PhD candidate at Pennsylvania State University and studies social support and interpersonal communication. This entails far more than helping people through everyday stressors like a failed exam or breakup. Her field of study helps people going through dramatic turning points in life, such as deaths of loved ones or terminal illnesses.
Jennings-Kelsall described the first few weeks after her husband’s death as “living in a blur.” She felt lonely, despite having family and friends to support her. Truthfully, these people did not understand her pain, and all she wanted was emotional support, she said.
“I wanted to feel like the world that slipped from under my feet would come back,” Jennings-Kelsall said.
In spite of having various support groups in her family, the Special Operations Community, Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Community and the NSW Gold Star Community, she could only find real emotional support among the Gold Star wives of other men who perished in the same tragedy. They were the only ones who truly understood her pain, she said.
Jennings-Kelsall began her communal coping experience alongside the other Gold Star wives. She described communal coping as an “interactive attempt of multiple people to confront similar stressors,” where participants can reap the benefits of strength in numbers. Although each woman’s loss was affected by individual variables, such as their own support systems and relationships with their husbands, they had nearly identical stressors.
Stressors are the problems people encounter following a tragedy. In the Gold Star wives’ cases, stressors included loss, uncertainty, exposure and exploitation. Many of the women experienced uncertainty about the future, especially those whose husbands were the breadwinners of the family, or those who had children.
They also experienced exposure to the news media. Reporters who came to their houses were described as “pests” who simply wanted a good story, despite the SEALs lifestyle to be one of utter secrecy. Knowledge of any operational information is a safety concern that could potentially affect the lives of other SEALs and their loved ones.
“People were really getting into our business,” Jennings-Kelsall said.
As for the communal coping process, while there are great benefits, there are also significant disadvantages.
Those who participate in the process have ample resources and communities in which to turn. Jennings-Kelsall said going through a healing process with others helps to give a new perspective on tragedy. This “power in numbers” concept helped her gain a better understanding of her stressors and reassured her that her grieving and healing process was natural.
Social comparison is a big negative contributing factor in communal coping, though. Outsiders would compare each Gold Star wife to other wives in the group and gossip about their lives as a whole.
Jennings-Kelsall said she would hear people say, “The widow did an interview” or “Why isn’t she dating yet?” This fishbowl of grief became increasingly difficult as she was judged by the company she kept and friends she once had.
Ultimately, though, the communal coping process not only helped Jennings-Kelsall heal the hole in her own heart, but also helped her give back to other women undergoing similar experiences. She was able to build a community and support system to boost the confidences of her and many.
She said it taught her to have gratitude and “focus on the bigger picture instead of the petty things in life,” and helped her discover her silver lining, which included finding remarkable friends, getting re-married and giving birth to her daughter, who accompanied her to the lecture.
According to Jennings-Kelsall, a simple way to support someone going through a life shift is to just be there to talk to them.
She said she doesn’t recall the people who were there during the immediate rush of emotions in the wake of her husband’s death, but she does remember those who remained with her throughout the entire healing process.
“The initial rush is going to go away and the person is going to be alone in their thoughts, which can be a scary thing,” she said.
She advises loved ones of a person suffering with grief to offer emotional support, however, they can and to just be present in their lives.
(10/04/16 1:51am)
By Victoria Herlocker
Correspondent
The Identity Monologues, held in Mayo Concert Hall on Wednesday, Sept. 28, gave a voice to those who have historically been silenced. The event aimed to create a space for students to share their stories and identities, free from any stigma or shame.
From this idea, the College’s first annual Intersectionality Week was born. Other events held during the week included a lecture on the isms, a criminalization of identities panel and an interactive mural.
Sponsored by the Bonner Institute, the Identity Monologues was designed to start a conversation about how factors such as race, gender, class and religion have become tools of oppression.
“You are in a space that will give the narrative back to members of the community,” said Melissa Sandoval, a junior education and Spanish double major. “Stories have the abilities to change movements and start them.”
After Sandoval gave the first speaker an encouraging hug, the night began. Students from all backgrounds told stories, sang songs and even rapped about their identities and world perspectives.
Senior communication studies major Natasha Piñeiros spoke about her identity as an Ecuadorian daughter.
Her piece, titled “Defining My Womanhood,” addressed the traditional expectations of a woman — cooking, cleaning and childcare. Despite her young age, Piñeiros has learned that there is more to womanhood than these gendered expectations.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s stop stereotyping,” Piñeiros said. “We can be whoever we want to be.”
Junior Spanish and philosophy double major Thelma Carrera used her time onstage to speak about race and immigration. The daughter of immigrant parents, Carrera holds an interesting perspective of America — she includes North, Central and South America. She said she sometimes feels too Guatemalan for America and too American for Guatemala.
“Where do I go? Who do I claim?” Carrera asked.
In a piece titled “Intersectionality,” junior sociology major Madina Ouedrogo spoke about her experience as a black Muslim woman in America. Ouedrogo said being part of three marginalized groups can be exhausting.
“It makes you feel guilty about addressing one issue more than another,” Ouedrogo said. Despite this, Ouedrogo said it is “amazing to be able to relate to so many people and view the world through so many lenses.”
After the last student spoke, Sandoval opened up the floor to anyone in the audience who wished to share their experience with intersectionality. One of the students who made his way to the stage was Joseph Ballesteros, a sophomore nursing major.
“I regretted not having signed up previously,” Ballesteros said. “So on the way over, I thought about what I would say if I was up there.”
Ballesteros then spoke about his experience growing up and what it means to be yourself. He concluded his impromptu monologue by defining himself as “a melting pot.”
The night was centered around “learning and unlearning,” Sandoval said. “There is a danger of having a single story and having a single narrative.”
(09/29/16 4:09pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
While many students at the College spent this past Saturday, Sept. 24, in Ewing, N.J., for Parent and Family Day, the men’s and women’s cross country teams spent it in Galloway Township, N.J. competing at the Osprey Open, which was hosted by Stockton University.
The College ran its freshmen men and women’s B team this week because both A teams will be competing at the Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University next week.
“We’ll only be taking 10 athletes per gender to Paul Short, so we wanted to get the rest of the team a chance to compete this weekend,” head coach Justin Lindsey said. “Stockton will be hosting the conference championships and this was a perfect opportunity to preview the course before we come back on (Thursday,) Oct. 29, to defend our conference titles.”
Despite the lack of experience, four runners of the College’s men’s team placed in the top 20 of the race, and four runners of the women’s team placed within the top 40. Both events had more than 100 runners.
While the Ramapo College Roadrunners came in first place overall, the Lions men’s team finished third out of 18 teams in the 8K race. In the 6K event, the first event of the meet, the Lions placed fifth out of the 20 teams. The home team, the Stockton University Ospreys, placed first although the College was not too far behind.
Cole Parsons was the first Lions freshman across the finish line with a time of 26:59, finishing 15th in his first 8K race for the College — a personal best marking a promising start to his collegiate career.
Lucas Pick was the next freshman to finish, placing 18th with an amazing time of 27:04. Pick was neck-and-neck with junior Ryan Aug, who finished in 19th placed with a time of 27:06.
Just behind the pair and also in the top 20 was freshman Richard Gruters, who finished in exactly 20th place at 27:08, capping off the Lions top performances. In addition, 24th overall was freshman Chris Coombs, who finished close behind Gruters with a time of 27:32.
For a lot of the freshmen, this was their first 8K race. In high school, the races are 5K.
The victor of the 8K race was Jeremey Hernandez from Ramapo College with a time of 25:46.
“I think the freshmen men competed very well,” Lindsey said. “They went out and executed the way Coach (Michael) Walker wanted, and I was pleased to see that.”
Several of the freshmen women from the College were also standouts in this meet, such as Hailey Bookwalter, who finished in 25th place overall with a time of 25:06. Close behind Bookwalter was sophomore Kathleen Jaeger in 29th place with a time of 25:13. In 33rd place was another freshman, Kiera Cullen, who closed in on the race at 25:24.
Other stars included sophomore Alyssa Kramer, who placed in fourth for the College and was 37th overall in the event. She finished with a time of 25:37, and ran closely with freshman Hannah Fay, who finished in 40th with a time of 25:53.
The winner of the 6K race was Susan Ejore from Monroe College with a time of 21:37.
“The women competed tough, but needed to be a little more competitive in the first mile and a half,” Lindsey said. “It was a learning experience for both squads, so we think it was a productive day for us.”
The next meet the Lions men and women will compete in is the Paul Short Invitational, hosted by Lehigh University, on Saturday, Oct. 1. The runners finishing in the top spots from this weekend’s meet will go onto the meet at Lehigh, as well.
“They ran well and It was really good to see them work together,” senior Brandon Mazzarella said. “We are gonna need a lot more of that to place well in the upcoming meets.”
(09/28/16 6:01pm)
By Ryan Jones and Jon Moukh
Bloggers
With each passing day, it seems that America is becoming more and more divided. The media depicts a society whose differences are crowding out its similarities. The issues, the election, the candidates — everything and everyone seems to be moving further apart, the room for civil discourse shrinking.
But as a new generation, we see things differently. Our experiences, values and ambitions don’t fit neatly with those of our parents and grandparents. Growing up with extreme partisanship, we have come to value ideas, results and dialogue over ideology. While our ideas often differ, our desire to listen to each other and understand our differences is strong. As we get older and take positions of leadership in society, expect these qualities to be a hallmark of our presence.
We don’t need to wait a decade to see the impact: for many months, our organizations have worked closely together to create more politics-related programming.
We worked with the TCNJ Votes Coalition and the Political Union to design and promote Politics Week, a new initiative launched Monday.
We work together on everything from voter registration to event promotion.
And today, we are co-sponsoring "Alternatives to the War on Drugs," a lecture and discussion with Ethan Nadelmann, the founder and executive director of Drug Policy Alliance. While our members disagree on many issues, we agree that constructive dialogue is always better than anger-spewed attacks.
If College Democrats and College Republicans can get along, can’t we all?
(09/28/16 3:05pm)
By Sabrina Axelrod
Correspondent
Three student soloist acts from the College showcased their immense individual talents at Traditions on Friday, Sept. 23, when they performed some of modern music’s greatest hits, while introducing their newest, original songs, as well.
Hosted by CUB Alt and organized by CUB Alt co-Chair Max Falvey, a sophomore communication studies major, the show consisted of two duo groups and one soloist act — five total performers took the Traditions stage that night. The event was not the first concert hosted by CUB Alt this semester, however, the event was the first Student Soloist Night.
Falvey was in charge of picking the performers.
“I put it out to the public, and they responded,” he said. “It was a good fit for tonight.”
The first duo, comprising Peter Carollo, a senior finance major, and Steven Papadopoulos, a sophomore finance major, covered five modern hits to a crowd of eager students. As the pair performed songs like Justin Bieber’s “Love Yourself” and “Marvin’s Room” by Drake, the crowd ate it up. The biggest reaction from the crowd, though, came during the duo’s closing song, “Closer” by The Chainsmokers and Halsey.
Together, the two set the stage for a night filled with talent.
The second artist to perform was the night’s only true soloist, Jake Rubin, a senior communication studies major. Rubin covered a Foo Fighter’s song, but mostly dedicated his time onstage to play new, original music. Assisted only by his acoustic guitar, Rubin was unflinching during his set, even when a string broke mid-song.
Rubin has been playing the guitar for 10 years and is also the frontman for Good Luck Spaceman, which played at CUB Alt’s Student Band Night last week. Rubin said he wanted to utilize Student Soloist Night as an opportunity to test out his new music. Rubin plans to record a solo album with a folkier feel — a style much different from what his band normally plays.
To end the night, Nelson Kelly, a junior history and secondary education dual major, and Alec Schactman, a junior management major, played five original songs from their band, Oral Support, without their band’s drummer. It was one of the first times the two played together as a duo, rather than their usual full band.
All of the students in attendance seemed deeply invested in the music and eager to support their fellow peers, which made for a fun night to listen to the talent that the College has to offer.
According to Falvey, CUB Alt’s next show will feature Jake Ewald and Brendan Lukens from Modern Baseball on Tuesday, Oct. 4, in the Decker Social Space.