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(09/28/16 2:45pm)
This week, WTSR staff members Corey Alicea and Rachel Miller highlight some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Young the Giant
Album: “Home of the Strange”
Hailing From: Irvine, Calif.
Release Number: 3rd
Genre: Chill Poppy Rock Bagel
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Upbeat, pounding and melodic are just some ways to describe Young the Giant’s “Home of the Strange.” The third release from the Cali locals carries poppy synth tracks with a subtle rock backbone. Only on certain songs, such as “Jungle Youth” and “Something To Believe In,” does the rock take center stage, which isn’t a bad thing. “Home of the Strange” carries along relatable college lyrics such as not wanting to grow up and being left behind in a rich kid game. This third outing is perfect for the growing youth.
Must Hear: “Amerika,” “Something To Believe In,” “Elsewhere,” “Jungle Youth” and “Silver Tongue”
Band: Dawes
Album: “We’re All Gonna Die”
Hailing From: Los Angeles
Release Number: 5th
Genre: Indie Rock
Label: HUB Records
On its fifth full-length album, Dawes makes a departure from its country-rock roots to something decidedly more alternative. The combination of smooth vocals and complex rhythms provides a commentary on mortality and taking comfort in the fact that “We’re All Gonna Die.” The theme is to keep perspective because nothing really matters that much anyway. Taylor Goldsmith leads with vocals and guitar, pulling in a little electric, backed by his brother, Griffin Goldsmith, on drums, Wylie Gerber on bass and Lee Pardini on keyboards.
Must Hear: “One of Us,” “We’re All Gonna Die,” “Roll with the Punches” and “When the Tequila Runs Out”
(09/28/16 2:35pm)
By Khadijah Yasin
Staff Writer
World-renowned artist Anouk Kruithof came to the College on Wednesday, Sept. 21, to talk about her artwork for the Visiting Artist Lecture. At first look, Kruithof — a petite blonde with youthful features — seemed almost too young to be so accomplished. Originally from the Netherlands, the Dutch artist is soon to be based out of Mexico City, but currently works in New York City. Her work has been exhibited at extraordinary art museums around the globe, such as the Museum of Modern Art, Moscow’s Multimedia Art Museum and Amsterdam’s the Stedelijk Museum, among many others exhibits.
Alongside the numerous exhibitions in which Kruithof’s art has been displayed, she has also published many collections of artwork, which have been included at a multitude of public collections from New York to the Netherlands. Daunting, beautiful, completely whimsical — Kruithof’s artwork covers all spectrums of moods and genres.
“I feel quite liberating in the ideas of transferring my ideas into art,” Kruithof said. The artist explained in further detail how different aspects and events in her life affect the art she creates. She uses everything and anything to add the depth she desired in her works.
“I kind of worked with everything I found there,” she said. “I was building temporary installations and I invited everyone in the building, even people I didn’t know, to react to what I build.”
Kruithof captured this kind of genuinity and raw emotion by taking candid photos of people looking at her art, which she has added into her collections as another aspect of the art.
In Kruithof’s pieces, every detail was strategically planned and thought out before her final presentation, even as miniscule a detail as whether the collection’s book should be bound or loose.
“I decided to not bind it, so the book was on the verge of falling apart, just like the time,” Kruithof said about her work “Playing Borders This Contemporary State of Mind.”
Every facet of Kruithof’s work has meaning, whether it be blatantly obvious or interlaced throughout the pages, which not many artists can accomplish.
Kruithof always takes it a step further with her art by featuring places with a history and an intriguing background, as well as seeking out people who have experienced that sort of feeling she aims to depict in her art.
Specifically, this was seen in her one project “Blackout.” Kruithof began by alternating pitch black images with other grimm, black-and-white images of a dark room, black sink and other inanimate objects.
The artist then transitioned the images to people dressed in black in a dark room. Each person has a compelling history of depression and have all experienced the darkness of being alone and feeling empty. Kruithof wanted to delve into that raw emotion — that emptiness and blackness — so she made the artwork that much greater when she added that layer of meaning represented by the person in her pictures.
As Kruithof herself put it, her artwork is meant to be “very mysterious and very seductive.” Each piece has a different characteristic about it, and there’s a fascinating story within each one’s framework. Kruithof is a force to be reckoned with in the art world, as her work is truly one of a kind.
(09/28/16 2:32pm)
By Eric Preisler
Correspondent
The campus-community effort Trenton Makes Music, which documents the contribution of the Trenton, N.J., community to the music industry, started on Wednesday, Sept. 21, with the project’s first of four free public events.
Wednesday’s event featured guest speakers Denyse Leslie, a Presbyterian elder, business consultant and local historian; Daniel Spalding, New Jersey Capital Philharmonic music director and conductor; Arthur Finkle, former cantor and local historian; and Professor Craig Hayes, gospel musician and radio host.
The idea was dreamed up by journalism associate professor Kim Pearson and music associate professor Teresa Nakra.
“The whole project is about documenting the largely undocumented history of music in Trenton,” Pearson said. Her hopes were to bring people with a common history together, including scholars, experts, musicians and artists.
Part of what has made Trenton’s music history different than other cities was its integration of music education and performance at such a young age, according to Pearson.
“Even if you were a minor you could get permission to play in some of the local bars and clubs,” she said.
This led to teenagers gaining professional music experience from other musicians and learning genres like jazz and classical music before they were even old enough to order drinks from the bars in which they were playing. Considering Trenton’s small size, the city’s schools have better formal music education compared to most other places, and so Trenton audiences can be more critical toward artists than audiences in New York City and Philadelphia, according to Pearson.
Getting her musical career started by singing and receiving violin lessons from experts working within Trenton’s schools, Sarah Dash, a singer-songwriter from Trenton and a founding member of Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles, performed at the event. Dash has also performed with the Rolling Stones, Alice Cooper and Laura Nyro, among many other famous musicians within the industry.
Even today, Trenton High School continues to produce great musicians. Dash said the school recently partnered with VH1, which has been providing the students with instruments.
“Everyone is born with a rhythm in the body,” Dash said, and she hopes that these events “encourage a much greater art movement.” Dash also felt that the event was “a useful vehicle for anyone interested in Trenton.”
In addition to enjoying Dash’s moving voice, Todd McCrary, an African American studies and liberal learning professor at the College, liked listening to the guest speakers.
“I could tell they were experts in their field and gained a lot of information,” McCrary said.
McCrary said a notable experience was hearing Finkle read excerpts from the “Book of Ezra” about blowing the ram’s horn, following a vision in Ezra’s head of how it would sound.
Pearson was pleased with the informed conversations by the guest speakers, as well as the receptiveness and captivation of the audience. She said that there was “a great cross-cultural conversation” and that she was “struck by the diversity of the audience.”
“My hope is that… it begins to create a platform for conversations across generations, across cultures,” Pearson said.
Those who wish to support the Trenton community and learn more about its musical history can attend the Trenton Makes Music events over the course of the fall semester, which will be held in Mayo Concert Hall.
(09/28/16 2:26pm)
By Benjamin Zander
Staff Writer
The crowd’s claps and snaps echoed throughout Bliss Hall as students saluted the strengths of the poets who slammed down the walls.
On Friday, Sept. 23, the College’s creative writing club, INK, held its semesterly slam poetry competition, Slam Down the Walls. Five talented students competed in the event, each of whom recited three original pieces that were then judged by three randomly selected members of the audience. Following the competition, a winner was crowned: Rachel Smith, a freshman communication studies major.
“It’s really incredible,” Smith said after she clinched the win. “I had a bunch of people out to support me, so I was really happy that I could show them that I’m worth supporting.”
Like everyone who competed that night, Smith’s motivation for writing poetry goes beyond personal catharsis.
“A lot of my poetry is based on raising self-esteem and reflecting on myself,” Smith said. “I definitely use (poetry) as a platform to empower other women and bring attention to certain issues.”
In her three poems, Smith referenced a number of issues, such as gun violence, gender inequality, racial injustice and the sexualization of young girls.
Another poet was Ravin Mehta, a senior interactive multimedia major. Mehta, who was a returning competitor, took part in the poetry slam last semester, as well.
“I wanted to restore people’s belief in love,” said Mehta, who read romantic poetry for the competition.
Mehta impressed the crowd when he recited the remainder of his first poem from memory after accidentally deleting it from his phone mid-performance. Mehta later described the poetry slam as a good outlet for him to share how he feels “deep down.”
Kyle Siegel, INK’s co-president, the competition’s emcee and a senior English and biology double major, had similar feelings.
“Slam Down the Walls is a platform for students to perform their original material in a supportive environment and become more comfortable with public readings of personal content,” Siegel said.
Next to compete was another freshman, Missy Guerrero, a journalism and professional writing major. Guerrero’s poetry touched upon a few topics, ranging from heartbreak to “first world issues.”
“My general message was to show other people that it’s possible to move forward,” Guerrero said. “I wanted people to understand that heartbreak is a horrible experience, but you can grow from it.”
“With my last poem, I wanted to touch base on society as a whole,” Guerrero continued. “I wanted to show others that there’s so many beautiful things out there once you actually open your eyes.”
Maria DeGenova, a freshmen visual arts major, took the stage next. Her poems centered around her childhood and adolescence — her second reading was about how she felt when two of her friends tried to take their own lives. With her poetry, DeGenova hopes to get the gears turning.
“Words mean different things to everyone, so I hope just to get people thinking and maybe even relating to what I talk about,” DeGenova said. “Maybe other people will start writing, too.”
The event itself left DeGenova in awe.
“To see so many people sharing their ideas in one spot, ideas that I’ve never really heard people share so openly and creatively, is such an honor and quite eye-opening,” DeGenova said. “Live events like this really capture the purpose of slam poetry like nothing else can.”
The final competitor of the night was Lexi Guzman, a freshman psychology and women’s and gender studies double major.
The first poem Guzman read was about remaining resilient despite dealing with depression. Her second poem compared being a girl to a battleground, where she pointed out how difficult it can be to grow up as a female in a world that often fails to value a girl’s self-respect, self-esteem, hopes and dreams. The final poem she read focused on struggling to deal with a friend’s descent into drug addiction.
“My goal for someone listening to me would be for them to take away something personal to them,” Guzman said. “Hopefully (they) make a connection with the topics I’m speaking about — mental illness, feminism, addiction, etc.”
Like many others, Guzman has found great value in the art form.
“Slam poetry is great because I can talk about something personal,” Guzman said. “But someone listening can hear what I say and apply it to their life.”
Lucky for Guzman, plenty of people were listening. There weren’t enough chairs to seat the huge audience, so students sat on the floor and stood at the back of the room.
“I always really like Slam Down the Walls, and this semester’s in particular was very good,” said Maria Printon, a senior self-designed cognitive science major. “The competition was super close this semester — it was very exciting.”
As winner of the competition, Smith, who won by a single point, will be opening with her poetry when nationally acclaimed slam poet, Danez Smith, comes to the College during the spring semester as part of INK’s Visiting Writer Series.
(09/26/16 10:14pm)
By Pooja Paidipalli
Correspondent
The man suspected in the New York City and New Jersey bombings was captured following a shootout with New Jersey law enforcement officers. CNN reported that authorities believe Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, was directly linked to the bombings, and the investigation continues to look into whether or not he had an accomplice. After initially assuming there was no link to international terrorism, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said, “We have every reason to believe this was an act of terror,” according to CNBC.
On Saturday, Sept. 17, a bomb exploded in Chelsea, N.Y., injuring 29 people. According to CNN, the bomb was caused by explosives placed in a pressure cooker that was left in a dumpster. The explosion thrust the dumpster nearly 100 feet in the air and shattered windows nearly 400 feet from the ground. A second device found, which contained similar components, included fingerprints that led the authorities to Rahami.
On the following night, USA Today reported that the Elizabeth, N.J., police department was notified about a bag in a trash can near a train station containing five explosive devices. Later that night, an FBI bomb squad sought to disarm one the bombs when it exploded. CNN said that the bomb technicians took the remaining devices to an FBI laboratory in Virginia for further investigation.
According to USA Today, after identifying Rahami through the fingerprints found on the unexploded N.Y.C. bomb, the FBI issued a wanted poster, warning the public that he “should be considered armed and dangerous.” On Monday, Sept. 19, following the poster release, a bar owner in Linden, N.J., recognized Rahami sleeping in his doorway and immediately called the police.
CNN reported that when law enforcement arrived at the scene, Rahami responded by opening fire with a handgun and shooting two officers before being captured. The foot chase concluded after the police shot Rahami multiple times. When arresting him, the police found a journal on Rahami in which he praised “Brother Osama Bin Laden” and declared that “the sounds of bombs will be heard in the streets.” Rahami was taken to the hospital for surgery and the two officers were also taken to the hospital to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
On Tuesday, Sept. 20, Rahami’s father told reporters with CNN that he talked to the FBI two years earlier after a violent domestic dispute that ended when Rahami stabbed a relative. Despite the father initially stating to the FBI that he believed his son was a terrorist and later worrying that his son was involved in criminal activity, the FBI never interviewed Rahami or placed him in any database or terror watch list.
CNN’s investigation showed that Rahami came to the United States in 1955 with his father, who was seeking asylum, and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2011. He travelled to Afghanistan and Pakistan in the past few years, and married a Pakistani woman when he was there in 2011. His wife was in the United Arab Emirates during the bombings and is working with U.S. officials.
Rahami was charged on Tuesday for five counts of attempted murder, second degree unlawful possession of a weapon and second degree possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose. Additionally, he was charged with destruction of property, bombing a public place and using a weapon of mass destruction. His bail is set at $5.2 million.
(09/21/16 12:10am)
By Justine Wilson
Staff Writer
Every year, the College kicks off its fall semester with a warm welcome and a bustling activities fair. Now known as the Student Involvement Fair, this event on Wednesday, Sept. 14, in the Recreation Center was the place to be for students looking to get more involved. The hundreds of organizations that the College has to offer are showcased with information, candy and smiling faces.
“I wanted to find out more about clubs on campus, and I really wanted to sign up for the acapella groups and to mingle with people,” said Brigitte Vuong, a sophomore accounting major.
From Greek life to TCNJ Musical Theatre, every organization had sign-up sheets for students to get more involved at the College.
Each club had plenty of representatives, including executive board members and general members, all eager to share information about their organization and collect signatures of eager students.
The fair offered something for everyone. Some groups are specific to certain interests, yet they are shared by so many at the College.
“What’s cool about our club is that we are the only organization on campus that has a niche not filled by our education on campus,” said Dom Portera, a senior interactive multimedia major, about a game design club at the College. “It’s to get your feet wet in game design and get portfolios ready for the industry.”
Many clubs offer more than just meetings by providing students with new experiences, something the Outdoors Club does.
“The whole point is to get off campus, and it’s cool to get out,” said Alex Cretella, a sophomore computer science major in the club. “We go on hikes, rock climbing and just enjoy nature.”
Other clubs are meant for students to get active or participate in an athletic activity that you can’t necessarily perform at the campus gym. Many of these clubs also offer a sense of community, where students can bond with teammates.
“(Mixed Martial Arts) MMA is like Fight Club, and the No. 1 rule is we don’t talk about Fight Club — except if there’s one thing you need to know, the club is super respectful and friendly,” said Jacob Johnson, a sophomore public health major.
Along with clubs to get students more active, there are others that allow students to focus on a greater world perspective, like She’s The First, which focuses on educating impoverished young women, and TCNJ Humanitarian Engineering.
Every year, new clubs come to campus through approval of Student Government. Some of those clubs, such as Physician’s Assistant Club and Tap Ensemble, were present at the fair and eager to recruit new members.
“We’re new on campus, but very excited to get involved and we’re welcoming new members,” said Katherine Brinski, Tap Ensemble’s president and a sophomore biology major. “You don’t need to know how to tap to come.”
Worlds truly collided at the Involvement Fair, as so many interests, from religion to music to brotherhood, came together.
(09/21/16 12:00am)
By Justine Wilson
Staff Writer
The lights were dim, the vibe was chill and the Decker Social Space stage was set on Friday, Sept. 16, for CUB Alt’s Student Band Night. With a pair of guitars, a recycling bin as a make-shift box drum and a banjo, Cartoon Physics was the first to take the stage. The astonishing cohesive duo comprises EJ Paras, a junior marketing major, and Lauren Muccilli, a junior English major, who opened the night with a wide-range of covers, such as “Art is Dead” by comedian Bo Burnham.
The next act to perform was Monster Run, who turned the room’s energy up a notch. Sean Cuddy, a freshmen finance major, had adoring fans yelling his name throughout the set. The other members of the band were friends of Cuddy, who go to other colleges, but together, Monster Run had a Weezer-like style, only heavier with amazing bass.
Later, on-campus alt-rock luminary Good Luck Spaceman closed the show. The band has five members: Jake Rubin, Mikey Rosen and Kyle Newins, all of whom are senior communication studies majors, Mike Laudenbach, a senior English and philosophy double major, and Danny Galli, a senior women’s gender studies and communication studies double major.
Unfortunately, Galli was not present, as was lamented by the band many times.
“We’re just four-fifths of Good Luck Spaceman,” members of the band said. “Danny left us for a wedding in Virginia... We’re more indie without him.”
Galli did not take the band’s amazing sound with him to Virginia, though. With intense drumming and strong vocals, the crowd was as into the music as it was the artists themselves. Good Luck Spaceman’s sound was a cross between Guster (circa 2010) and Fun, and gave off an incredible vibe when performing live. The audience could tell that each member truly loved their craft. Good Luck Spaceman performed an original set, featuring songs, such as “Basement Blues” and “Technicolor.”
CUB Alt co-Chair Dana Gorab, a junior communication studies major, who organized the event, discussed how College Union Board (CUB) helps make the music come to life.
“We had a typical turnout, a lot of support from friends of the performers and a few music enthusiasts, and us CUB members,” Gorab said. “All of the acts were great tonight. I was really getting into it.”
Months of planning goes into the CUB Alt events, especially nights featuring student acts.
“We have an open call over summer for students who would like to perform in the student band nights,” Gorab said. “Anyone can answer the call, and the groups that do are amazing.”
(09/19/16 9:12pm)
By Alex Reich
Correspondent
The football team ended a two-game road trip against Kean University Cougars on Friday, Sept. 17. Despite a strong defensive effort, the Lions fell to 0-2 with a 16-7 loss.
The College held Kean to 10 points until the final three minutes, when Kean drove 68 yards to create a two-possession lead with 2:36 on the clock. While the defense — led by senior defensive lineman Dan Naples — flourished, the Lions could not overcome four turnovers and a 1-13 third down conversion rate. Junior tight end Chase Vena felt the team adapted well to the Cougars defense.
“Even though Kean played some tough defense throughout the night, we were finding success in the running game,” Vena said. “Because running the ball started working for us, it also opened up the passing game. We were able to adjust to whatever their defense was giving us.”
The Lions opened the game with a three-and-out possession. The defense responded and forced Kean to punt. Unfortunately, a costly fumble on special teams awarded the Cougars a red zone possession. They translated it into a seven-point lead early in the game.
Junior quarterback Trevor Osler found a good rhythm with four minutes remaining in the first quarter. The offense drove 53 yards before the Lions were forced to punt with 2:17 in the first quarter.
Both defenses flourished, as neither offense could get anything going. The highlight of the quarter was a 50-yard punt by freshman Zach Warcola. The second quarter closed with a donut on both sides. Neither team managed to score before the second half.
In the third quarter, Kean broke the gridlock with a field goal. The drive killed 4:52 on the clock, as the team traveled 45 yards to extend the lead to 10-0.
The Lions fired back in their first drive of the half. Facing third and 13 at the Kean 31, Osler suffered a harsh facemask tackle, but it gave the Lions a new set of downs at the Kean 16. Senior Mike Marchesano then stepped in for Osler. He finished the drive and dashed into the end zone on a one-yard rush to end the third quarter, 10-7. Vena said that the Lions’ charge was unphased by the injury.
“When Osler went down, we stuck to our game plan,” Vena said. “We brought in Marchesano, but our plan of attack stayed the same.”
Things looked hopeful in the fourth quarter as the Lions blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt from the Cougars. However, the Lions failed to find solid footing and their following drive ended in an interception. The Lions barely moved a yard in their next possession.
With less than six minutes in the game, the Cougars ate 3:15 off the clock and scored on an 18-yard pass to extend their lead to 16-7.
The late injury to Osler hit hard, and the Lions ended the game with an interception.
The College hosts its home opener against Christopher Newport University on Saturday, Sept. 24, at noon.
Christopher Newport University defeated Kean University already, 26-7, so it will likely be a tough test for the Lions, but Vena believes with a few adjustments, they can turn things around this season.
“We just need to come out faster, relax out there and play for each other,” Vena said.
(09/19/16 8:38pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
On Friday, Sept. 16, the men’s and women’s cross country teams participated in the Rider University Cross Country Invitational at Rosedale Park in Pennington, N.J.
The men’s team finished with three of its runners in the top 15 and placed third out of the eight teams. For the women, two athletes made it into the top 20, and the team finished seventh out of the nine teams.
Senior Andrew Tedeschi finished fifth overall in the 8000-meter race and ran a personal record of 24:51. However, Tedeschi wasn’t the only Lion to beat his record, as senior Brandon Mazzarella also finished seventh in the race and had a personal record of 24:57.
"We implemented our race plan perfectly and the results surely showed that, as we had an amazing team average that I am very proud of,” Mazzarella said. “It is important in running to trust in your teammates and coaches. I fully trust what our coaches are planning and I am confident when the championship season comes around, our team will be ready to do something great.”
In the top 15 of the race also sat junior Dale Johnson with an amazing time of 25:12. In fifth place for the Lions, and 43rd overall, was sophomore Daniel Brennan.
Sophomore Matt Saponara, who placed 36th with a time of 25:38, was happy with his team’s results.
"Yesterday's race was a solid starting point of our season,” Saponara said. “We are all looking to improve off of our performances and hope that we approach our championship races healthy, strong and ready."
The women’s team raced against Division II Rider University, as well as several Division I programs. Standouts include sophomore Natalie Cooper, who finished in 12th place overall with a time of 22:22.
“The team is looking strong and will continue to push themselves throughout the season,” Cooper said.
Fellow sophomore Erin Holzbaur placed 18th with a time of 22:42.
On Saturday, Sept. 24, the men’s team will participate at the Stockton University Invitational at 11 a.m. The women will have a one-week break before joining the men’s team in Bethlehem, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 1, for the Paul Short Invitational.
(09/17/16 1:37am)
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By Heidi Cho
Correspondent
“Fuck Brock Turner!”
“Yes means ‘fuck me!’ No means ‘fuck you!’”
“Two, four, six, eight! Stop the violence! Stop the rape!”
These were the chants that rang out on Tuesday, Sept. 13, during the College’s fourth annual Slutwalk. Women In Learning and Leadership (WILL) has hosted Slutwalk since 2013. It draws in about 200 people annually and this year was no different. The protestors gathered at 7 p.m. to create an atmosphere of excitement and solidarity for survivors of sexual assault and rape.
Part of the goal of Slutwalk is to demonstrate how the way someone dresses doesn’t affect their chances of being raped, according to Maggie Kurnyta, WILL’s programming chair and an English and women’s and gender studies double major.
“You can wear long sleeves and jeans — still be raped — can wear bra and underwear — still be raped,” Kurnyta said.
The aim of this event is to show it is only the rapist’s decision that determines who will be raped. Slutwalks began in 2011 in Toronto, Canada, in response to a Toronto police officer who said, “Women should avoid dressing like sluts in order not to be victimized,” according to CNN.
By placing responsibility on the victim’s outfit rather than the rapist’s actions, this police officer participated in victim blaming.
Victim shaming is still relevant in 2016, as Turner, known as the Stanford University rapist, received a six-month jail sentence. Critics of the punishment call it lenient, according to a CNN article from June 7, 2016. His actions and indulgent sentencing inspired the “Fuck Brock Turner!” chant this year.
“Rape on campus is so prevalent and the way the people talk in media and court paint the victim as someone to blame,” said Julie Scesney, a junior international studies major at her first Slutwalk.
According to freshman Kaitlyn Gallagher, rape culture is even more prevalent for people who identify under LGBTQA+.
According to a 2010 report from the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women in college will be sexually assaulted, while a 2010 study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that “lesbian, gay and bisexual people experience sexual violence at similar or higher rates than heterosexuals.”
These statistics are part of the reason why the protestors call our culture a “rape culture.”
Sophomore psychology major Gigi Garrity, WILL co-chair of internal affairs, defines rape culture as “a very negative, very violent culture that, unfortunately, has been very prevalent in our lives — a lot of times in microaggressions.”
As she said this, a person wrote a quote on Garrity’s thighs from someone who had previously told her she flirted too much — “You will open your legs for anyone.”
This is part of the definition of “slut” — a word that implies women who take control of their own sex lives are dirty, and a word that perpetuates rape culture. It is why Kurnyta and others want to reclaim the word “slut” with events like the Slutwalk.
Garrity also touched on microaggressions, which she defined as “subtle but offensive comments or actions directed at a minority or other nondominant groups that is often unintentional.”
Sarah Almeda, a freshman computer science major at her first slutwalk, shared a memory where someone asked, “Why are you wearing makeup? You already have a boyfriend.”
This is an example of a microaggression, since someone implied Almeda was wearing makeup to impress boys. Almeda felt it was important to wear makeup to the protest because she likes makeup.
This event also lets rape survivors know that there are people on their side. Rape survivor and alumna Jennie Sekanics (’16) gave a poignant speech in which she shared details of what she remembers from that night.
She admitted that for years, she was hesitant to call it a rape, but she had an epiphany she shared in her speech: she shamed herself into thinking that it was her fault because she should have known better.
Self-shaming is how women feel in a victim-blaming rape culture, and these protestors rallied to change that.
“If there’s lack of agency over your body, you’re not free,” Kurnyta said. “Rape culture must come to an end.”
(09/16/16 9:17pm)
By Amy Hecht and John P. Donohue
Vice President for Student Affairs and Vice President for College Advancement
As co-chairs of the Homecoming Steering Committee, we appreciated last week’s thoughtful editorial in The Signal about the modification to the alcohol policy for Homecoming 2016. We think it is important to address some of the questions raised by further contextualizing the rationale for this change.
The welfare of our students is paramount in everything we do at TCNJ. This is reflected in our comprehensive anti-violence programming, underscored by the introduction of sweeping revisions to our Title IX policy just this summer, as well as our work in the areas of mental health and suicide prevention, alcohol and other drug education, recovery support for students combating addiction and student health services, among other things.
It was with this in mind that the students, alumni, administrators and other representatives to the Homecoming Steering Committee made the decision to prohibit outside alcohol this year, opting instead to contract with a vendor to sell beer and wine and monitor consumption. By instituting this change uniformly, the Steering Committee is confident that the camaraderie students, alumni and their extended TCNJ families have come to expect during the Homecoming celebration will remain intact.
That there have been incremental changes to the alcohol policy for Homecoming in recent years is reflective of the fact that curbing overconsumption and underage drinking has long been a priority of the Steering Committee.
According to recent data from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, more than 40 percent of college students binge drink, and alcohol contributes to an estimated 600,000 injuries and nearly 100,000 sexual assaults annually.
The updates to the alcohol policy in prior years have gone a long way in minimizing unfavorable outcomes related to excessive consumption during Homecoming, but isolated occurrences of overindulgence persist. While we recognize that this change, coupled with the longstanding policy of campus police to turn away guests that arrive in an unsafe condition, may not eliminate such incidents altogether, we believe that we can reaffirm the purpose of Homecoming as a safe and inclusive event not only during the tailgate, but also pre- and post-game activities.
Finally, we agree that above all else, Homecoming is about students and alumni coming together. That’s why we’re working with the vendor to manage traffic at points-of-purchase and keep food and beverage prices reasonable. We will provide updates on the siting of vendor booths, beer and wine lists and pricing in the coming days on the Homecoming website.
We have no doubt that Homecoming will continue to be a hallmark of the TCNJ experience. From the football game to the tailgating events that will be better than ever this year, there will be something for everyone. We encourage you to visit the website, which is now live, to learn about the exciting things we have planned for Homecoming 2016. We hope to see all of you on Saturday, Oct. 29.
(09/14/16 10:18pm)
By Justine Wilson
Correspondent
On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 7, the bees weren’t the only thing buzzing around Eickhoff Hall. Powered with caffeine, their 30-second spiels and booklets, the representatives of the study abroad programs took their places at the Study Abroad Fair and waited with baited breath as students got out of class at 10:50 a.m. Some students even came to tell their stories of their study abroad semesters and summers at the fair.
Tables were set up all around Alumni Grove and were packed with interested students all afternoon. Some study abroad representatives even gave out schwag, such as ID holders and lanyards.
A group of business majors raved about their trips to Heidelberg, Germany. These students took the chance of a lifetime by immersing themselves in a completely different culture with a new family, life and experiences.
"It was the best choice of my college career," said Nicolas Castellano, a senior finance major. "I learned to live on my own and really discovered myself.”
For most students, the campus isn’t too far away from home, as about 92 percent of the College students are from New Jersey, according to the College’s admission website.
"I studied as a junior," said Jenna Nicholl, a senior management major. "I learned how to adapt to the culture, mix in with different types of people and how to act in a foreign… culture. You learn things that aren’t normal in your life that are normal in theirs. The global perspective and point of view I gained from my study abroad trip was something I never (thought) I could gain."
For the students who do not have the money to study abroad, the College and the study abroad programs outside of the College offer scholarships and financial aid. About 35 percent of students study abroad during their time at the College, according to its website, and that number is expected to rise this year.
"I really want to go to Spain, to experience the culture and to go to a Spanish-speaking country,” said Jose Rodas, a sophomore psychology major. "I didn't even know we had this many programs. It'll be hard deciding."
Some programs even allow students to do research abroad, such as The School for Field Studies program, or to work and volunteer while studying abroad. Many of the study abroad programs also allow students to go to prestigious universities throughout the world.
Whether you find your heart calling you to China, Australia or England, the College has programs to take you there.
(09/14/16 7:35pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
Mother Teresa MC was officially declared a saint on Sunday, Sept. 4, at the Saint Peter’s Square in the Vatican by Pope Francis, according to CNN. Thousands of people watched as the symbolic ceremony progressed, a canonization mass, in which a person is transformed into a saint. The ceremony took place just one day before the 19th anniversary of Teresa’s death on Sept. 5, 1997.
Teresa, also known as “Saint of the Gutters,” devoted her life and free will toward helping others. Originally from Albania, she believed in random acts of kindness and primarily focused on India’s poorest citizens. Over the course of her life, she performed two miracles of curing illness, according to Fox 31 Denver. In order to be a saint, USA Today reported that one must perform at least two miracles, which Teresa did — she cured a woman with stomach tumors and a Brazilian man with brain tumors after he prayed to her. She is now known as “Blessed Saint Teresa of Calcultta,” according to CNN.
After the ceremony itself, Pope Francis spoke about Teresa’s life and how everyone, regardless of their religious views, should strive to be like her.
“Mother Teresa, in all aspects of her life, was a generous dispenser of divine mercy, making herself available for everyone through her welcome and defense of human life, those unborn and those abandoned and discarded,” Pope Francis said, according to Fox 31 Denver.
The Pope then focused on how Teresa truly helped those going through physical and emotional struggles, such as the poor and the sick. At the end of his homily, Pope Francis lightheartedly acknowledged the fact that Teresa acted like a mother during her entire life, and thus people perhaps may still refer to her as “Mother Teresa,” according to Fox 31 Denver.
According to USA Today, cops reported that 100,000 tickets were actually sold, but actually around 200,000 people witnessed the event. Many watched from afar and in small crevices in the Vatican, USA Today reported. There are reports of colorful flags being flown by patrons, as well as chants of “Saint Teresa” being shouted at the conclusion of the ceremony, according to USA Today.
(09/13/16 12:07am)
By Shree Nadkarni
This year has been a bad one for the pharmaceutical companies all over. From pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli, who raised the price of the drug used to treat toxoplasmosis and prevent malaria, Daraprim, from $13.50 to $750 to Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, a corporation which raised the prices of heart drugs Isuprel and Nitropress, there has been very visible outrage against the industry — and for good reason.
However, the drugs that we pay for are drastically less than what companies charge for brand-name drugs, partly because discounts and rebates lower the effective price of a drug. In many cases, pharmaceutical companies continue to gouge prices and keep patients who need the medication the most vulnerable to rising prices because of less competition in the market.
In 2007, Mylan bought the EpiPen, a very easy and popular form of distributing epinephrine when undergoing anaphylaxis, at $57 a piece. Epinephrine is very cheap, even in developing countries, as it costs “less than a dollar per milliliter,” according to The New York Times.
Those who need the correct dosage rely on EpiPens to survive an allergic reaction, and luckily for Mylan, epinephrine degrades every year, meaning it must be replaced annually. When Mylan realized it had a market it could capitalize on, company executives raised the price of EpiPens in 2010, 2013 and 2015. As of last May, EpiPens cost over $600 for a pack of two, The New York Times reported.
We need to realize that the system isn’t broken — rather, it was built this way. Everyone who is involved in the $3 trillion health care industry, buyers and sellers alike, are all self-motivated actors who are looking out for their interests. The good news for buyers is that about 80 percent of our drugs in the marketplace are generics, which means that they sell for less than $10 at our local pharmacies, according to The New York Times.
However, in the case of the EpiPen, we have no alternative. The closest alternative, Auvi-Q manufactured by Sanofi, was pulled off the market a year ago, and the next closest alternative, Adrenaclick, is usually not prescribed by doctors because of its seemingly shoddy performance. Although Adrenaclick is vastly cheaper than an EpiPen, when you’re a parent of a child with allergies or you have allergies yourself, you don’t want to play Russian Roulette when injecting epinephrine.
The best choice, then, is to write to congressmen and senators and lobby for change, but even sometimes, that is fruitless. Sen. Ron Wyden of (D-Ore.) and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. of New Jersey, for example, wrote a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services to classify the EpiPen as a generic or brand-name drug, as reported on senate.gov. However, the rebate offered by Mylan would bring the price of the drug to $300 for a pack of two EpiPens — effectively 50 percent of the original price — but about four times the price at which the company had purchased it.
Curiously enough, Mylan also already had donated more than $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation in 2009 to try to find a low-cost alternative to HIV drugs, according to the New York Post. Even though our best efforts may convince politicians to try and take actions, we must deal with the prices of drugs by continuing to bring it to the front of the stage to take action against it.
Given all this information, what can we glean from this episode? We can learn to dig deeper, question entrenched attitudes and biases against the poor. We can bring awareness against the gouging of the industry by being self-interested, and not be complacent whenever we hear about the next price raise. When companies continue to raise the price of drugs, they are doing it in their best interests and we, in turn, need to take our best interests into account and resist the changes as strongly as we can. For some, it can mean the decision between life and death.
(09/11/16 10:44pm)
By Justine Wilson
Correspondent
With a name like “Sausage Party,” you would think this movie would be rated XXX, and I wish my theater had swapped out the film so that it was. Any corny porno would have been better than what I saw. What a lead balloon of a movie.
With a cast including Seth Rogen, James Franco, Jonah Hill and Kristen Wiig, you’d assume this movie would be amazing. However, you’d be sorely mistaken. The plot couldn’t support the star-studded cast, and if that wasn’t enough, the crude jokes were overplayed to a point of insanity. I wish I saw “just the tip” of this movie — as the three-hour ordeal ensued, I could not fall asleep quicker.
This movie pulled out all the stops. With sexist, racist and misogynistic jokes used every few seconds, the only thing that kept me from falling asleep were the screams of dying food throughout the film. Sure, this was the type of movie that you should know going into it you’ll be somewhat insulted, but leaving, I wanted to insult the writers for stealing away three hours of my life that I’ll never get back.
If you came to watch this movie in the hopes of enjoying its plot, I suggest you beg for your money back because you won’t find one in this film. Like many of us, the main character, Frank (played by Rogen), searches for the meaning of life. It’ll be interesting, right?
So wrong.
Frank, his buddies and his girl, Brenda (played by Wiig), go on a trip around the supermarket following a near-death experience with a douche.
“Sausage Party” could have made multiple political statements with two of the supporting characters representing Israel and Palestine, yet the same two jokes were bantered from their doughy mouths.
The film could have broken ground with a patent statement about sexuality (since sex is brought up so many times throughout the movie), especially since many viewers probably have minimal experience with anything that isn’t heteronormative, white or American. Rogen missed these opportunities time and time again, and put nothing but bright colors and fillers in place of his squandered potential.
Disabilities were brought up several times, but again, no good jokes were made and no beautifully accepting or uplifting themes were showcased.
It was as if the writers decided to bring up every human form, but not delve into them enough to really get anyone thinking — they were only laughing. The worst part was that the jokes weren’t even crude enough to keep my attention during this nightmare.
I even wondered if the film was intended to be seen while under the influence of some kind of drug, since the writing is so bland.
The end of the movie was the best because, well, it was the end. However, the writers threw in a weird, uncalled-for plot twist — the type that aren’t supported or implied by anything in the film.
With a budget of $19 million, I’m surprised “Sausage Party” didn’t have at least three genuinely funny jokes. Nonetheless, for those who, for whatever reason, still want to see such a film, my only advice: watch this movie at your own risk.
(09/06/16 5:05am)
This week, WTSR Assistant Music Director Nelson Kelly highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: Diarrhea Planet
Album: “Turns to Gold”
Release Number: 3rd Full Length
Hailing From: Nashville, Tenn.
Genre: Stadium Punk Fury
Label: Infinity Cat Recordings
If you’ve never heard of Diarrhea Planet, it’s probably because its name is gross — I had to convince the WTSR Music Director Melissa Morgan to not throw this album away. That is actually Diarrhea Planet’s strategy, though, as having a repulsive name forces them to pull crowds in with pure musical prowess, of which these guys have plenty. Huge riffs, choruses underlined with noodlely leads and straight-up punk vocals drive home a layered, ambitious sound that no other band on the market offers.
Must Hear: “Announcement,” “Life Pass,” “Let It Out” and “Bob Dylan’s Grandma”
Band: White Night
Album: “Weird Night”
Release Number: 5th
Hailing From: Orange County, Calif.
Genre: Noisey Dirtbag Punk
Label: Burger Records
The only way to describe these guys’ sound would be ever-inclusive punk. White Night covers all the bases — the horrorific vibes of Misfits, the catchy melodies of surf punk and the hard-hitting attitude of the recent resurgence in angry surf punk. The sound takes a track or two to get used to, but differing feelings and tempos on this album make it a great listen.
Must Hear: “Liverpool Boy,” “AI,” Dr. Bellows” and “Clouded Head”
(09/06/16 4:26am)
By Khadijah Yasin
Staff Writer
The Fall 2016 semester kicked off with musical performances by some of the College’s very own at the College Union Board’s (CUB) annual Café Under the Stars. On Sunday, Aug. 28, three student bands, Prince and Beggar, Good Luck Spaceman and Oral Support, played a range of music from pop-punk to folk rock and many genres in between.
“Café Under the Stars is an event that TCNJ has held at the beginning of every fall semester. There’s a good number of people who show up,” said CUB Alt co-Chair Dana Gorab, a junior communication studies major who organized the event. This year, a strong turnout from all grades took to Green Lawn to enjoy free pretzels and soft drinks as they watched a show with a nearly palpable sense of passion.
“We’ve played Café Under the Stars the past three years and it’s been a blast each time. There was a great crowd this year, too, and everyone seemed to have fun,” said Jake Rubin, Good Luck Spaceman’s frontman and a senior communication studies major. “Playing outside is electrifying, as well. (It) goes hand-in-hand with the cathartic experience that is live music.”
Good Luck Spaceman’s lineup is rounded out by Mikey Rosen and Kyle Newins, both senior communication studies majors, as well as Mike Laudenbach, a senior English and philosophy double major, and senior Danny Galli.
Each band’s chemistry was undeniable, as most of them have been playing together since their first year at the College.
“We actually met two years ago at Café Under the Stars,” said Brandon Martinez, Oral Support’s drummer and a junior marketing major.
Oral Support comprises Martinez on drums and two others: bassist Nelson Kelly, junior history and secondary education dual major, and lead vocalist and guitarist Alec Schactman, a junior management major. Oral Support primarily plays original indie punk music, and sometimes, the band even pulls inspiration for songs from past experiences at the College.
“I basically wrote (the song ‘Peepa’s Gone’ when) I was reminiscing about my CA (Community Adviser) who left,” Schatman said. The song is about his CA from freshman year, who has since graduated.
Though the bands all played music within the genre of rock, the sound and styles varied, as they all brought something different from each band’s respective set — changes that the crowd enjoyed.
CUB plans to host events every week through the end of the semester, including seven open-stage events where students can perform and show off their talents in music, comedy and more.
(09/06/16 2:50am)
By Alyssa Apuzzio
Correspondent
Gamers of every variety flocked to the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, N.J., on Saturday, July 23, for a performance by Video Games Live (VGL), an orchestra that performs music from hit video games. Unlike most orchestras, screams, roars and claps were heard throughout the show as the audience cheered on their favorite video games. Synchronized lighting, solo singers and electronic percussionists also accompanied the standard orchestra.
A myriad of video game hits were included in the tour, such as music from “Mario,” “The Legend of Zelda” and “Kingdom Hearts.” While the orchestra played the music, the concert venue’s screens displayed scenes from the respective video games. Other segments incorporated video game characters between songs and during intermission, which helped the show retain its whimsical, geeky vibe.
Some of the musical arrangements were exclusive to Video Games Live, such as a performance by Triforce Quartet, a string quartet that created its own medleys from video game music. The Triforce Quartet appeared onstage twice during the show, once to play a “Mario” medley and the second time to play a composition of the boss battle themes from multiple “Final Fantasy” games. The audience went wild for a twist on some of their favorite classic games.
VGL also featured a choir to lend vocals to a few of the music arrangements. For the encore, the orchestra and choir collaborated to perform the famous track “One Winged Angel” from the worldwide hit game “Final Fantasy VII.” As soon as the first note sounded, the crowd rose from their seats and screamed in excitement. The fans loudly sang along throughout the song, proudly proclaiming their love for the game. The blaring shouts of “Sephiroth” — one of the game’s villains — in the theater were so loud they could probably be heard from outside the theater.
Fans cheered in delight when the show’s creator, Tommy Tallarico, announced that footage from Disney movies would play in place of video game footage for the “Kingdom Hearts” piece. Combining Square Enix with Disney, “Kingdom Hearts” has become one of the most popular and successful video game series in the world. The audience hummed and clapped along to the “Kingdom Hearts” segment that featured a beautiful rendition of “Opening.”
In addition to hand-held and system video games, performances of multiple arcade game songs were executed during the show. Songs from fan favorites, like “Donkey Kong,” “Pong” and “Tetris,” were introduced with original footage from the games playing on the monitors. These segments reminded the audience not only of these beloved classic games, but also how far video games have come.
Video Games Live premiered at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in July 2005. Since then, its fan base has grown rapidly and it has continued to tour for the past 11 years. The concert was created and is still led by video game composer Tallarico and Jack Wall, who have both traveled with the tour worldwide to cities including London, England; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Shanghai, China.
Gamers, geeks and fans alike enjoyed the progression of beeps and boops from arcade video games to the powerful orchestra music from recent games. Video Games Live allowed the audience to hear nostalgic songs while they remembered their favorite games and the memories associated with them.
(09/05/16 11:08pm)
By Danielle Silvia
Staff Writer
While Labor Day weekend marks rest and relaxation before the summer draws to a close, the College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams spent their weekend at the Blue/Gold Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 3.
The Blue/Gold Invitational is an annual event that the College hosts as a fun kickoff to both the cross country and autumn seasons.
The meet included Division I athletes from St. Joseph’s and Rider universities. A Division II program, Georgian Court University, rounded out the action.
In the 5K event, three runners from the College made it into the top 10 with phenomenal finishes. Standouts from the Lions in this event include junior Dale Johnson.
Johnson has been continuously strengthening his athletic abilities and been cutting down on his running times over the summer. Overall, Johnson placed second in the meet with his time of 15:43.
Another achievement came from senior Brandon Mazzarella. Mazzarella has been contributing not only his athletic ability to the team, but also his leadership skills.
Mazzarella finished in eighth place with a time of 15:58 overall for the College’s men’s team.
Additionally, sophomore Matthew Saponara finished with a time of 16:04 and made the cut off for the top 10 spots.
For the women, sophomore Natalie Cooper clocked in at 19:18 to snag a seventh place finish. Behind her was fellow sophomore Erin Holzbaur, who placed ninth at 19:29.
Many alumni were also able to compete in this weekend’s race, too, and while many are not quite in the shape they were back in their college years, they were able to finish the race and enjoy themselves.
The College will return to action on Friday, Sept. 16, for the Rider Invitational.
(09/05/16 11:08pm)
By Alex Reich
Signal Contributor
The football team’s road trip translated into a long game against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. The Lions fell, 51-3.
During the first quarter of the game, the Warhawks handled themselves well. They put up 14 points on the board without the Lions scoring offensively.
The College had 12 first downs all game, compared to Wisconsin-Whitewater’s 26. The Warhawks moved the football better than the Lions did by getting more touches and finishing well.
As the second quarter opened up, the Lions managed to put three points on the board with a field goal to make the score 14-3. That was as close as the Lions ever got to the Warhawks. After that, UW-WW scored 27 unanswered points to make the halftime score 41-3.
The Lions defense played much better in the third quarter, when the Warhawks didn’t score any touchdowns, but made a field goal, which put them up 44-3. Unfortunately, the Lions offense didn’t do much better. They, too, were unable to score.
In the fourth quarter, the Warhawks scored their final touchdown, which made the final score 51-3. The leading rusher for the Lions was junior running back Khani Glover, who had 47 yards. Junior quarterback Trevor Osler passed for 75 yards and senior receiver Jeff Mattonelli had six catches for 52 receiving yards. Jesse Streb lead the College with eight tackles.
It was a difficult way to begin the season. The College came off a 17-hour bus ride from Ewing, N.J., to Walworth, Wis., to go and play game the next day against the No. 3 Division III team in the country. The Lions are hopeful this will be a learning experience.
On Friday, Sept. 16., the Lions will travel to Union, N.J., to play Kean University in their first New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup. This will be Kean’s first game of the season.
The Lions return for their home opener against Christopher Newport University on Saturday, Sept. 24.