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(09/29/11 5:21pm)
An arrest has been made by Hamilton Township police in connection with the report of an off-campus sexual assault of a College student on Wednesday, Sept. 28, according to Matthew Golden, Vice President for College Advancement.
Sac Chow, a 34-year-old Hamilton resident, was arrested and charged with kidnapping, criminal restraint and aggravated sexual contact, according to Golden.
Chow is currently being held on $50,000 cash bail and will be held before a trial in Mercer County Jail. Golden also reported that he has been banned from the College’s campus.
An official College email containing this information was sent to students at approximately 12:45 p.m. Thursday.
A female student reported that she was sexually assaulted at an off-campus residence shortly before 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 28, according to College officials.
The student, 19, told police on Wednesday that she was assaulted after being picked up from campus by an Asian male in a small white vehicle, according to Golden and a College Relations report sent out via text, phone and email at 8:17 p.m on Wednesday. The student told authorities she had called the Wasabi Wok restaurant for a job interview earlier and believed the man would be driving her to the interview, the report said.
The report stated that Campus Police were aware that a white Nissan has been used to distribute Wasabi Wok advertising on campus.
Following the reported incident, the victim called 911 from campus, Golden said in an email. The call was received by Ewing police and transferred to Lawrence Township police, he said.
“She may have thought the assault occurred there, but that is not confirmed,” Golden said, adding that the victim subsequently met with Hamilton police and representatives of the county prosecutor’s office.
(09/28/11 2:24am)
Senators-at-Large
Caraugh Ball
Mariam Shah
Jacob Smeijkal
Senators of Arts and Communication
Ashley McKenna
Thomas Verga
Senators of Business
Sheenal (Sam) Parikh
Sam Tomczyk
Amanda Quaglia
Senators of Education
Jessica Belko
Nicole Grabowski
Lori Paolini
Senators of Engineering
Daniel DeChiara
Senators of Humanities and Social Sciences
Katrina Xyloportas
Mary Bessemer
Morgan Merkowsky
Andrew Simeone
Senators of Nursing and Health and Exercise Science
Matthew Wells
Santina Mazzola
Maria Spinosi
Anna Czarny
Senators of Science
Anushka Patel
Katherine Cortes
Kristen DeMeester
Navid Radfer
Freshman Class Officers
President: Brian Garsh
Vice President: Kristen Lipari
Secretary: Erin Waller
Treasurer: Mehak Aswani
Information courtesy of Alternate Student Trustee Megan Coburn.
(09/28/11 1:35am)
Fraternities Alpha Chi Rho (AXP) and Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi) held fundraisers this week outside the Brower Student Center. Members of AXP camped out for 48 hours to raise money for Habitat for Humanity from Sept. 19 to Sept. 21. On Sept. 22, AEPi held its annual ‘Car Smash’ to raise money for women fighting breast cancer.
(09/27/11 5:43am)
The Art Student Association channeled its inner Jackson Pollock at an event on Wednesday, Sept. 21 in front of the student center. Students filled balloons with paint and threw darts at them, splattering T-shirts and canvases to mimic Pollock’s signature abstract paintings. The best part? Students didn’t have to pay to relieve some stress and make a mess.
(09/22/11 3:40am)
College Union Board’s fall concert will feature headliner Jack’s Mannequin and opener Secondhand Serenade, CUB representatives announced on Saturday.
Doors open at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 18 for the show, which begins at 8 p.m. on the Kendall Hall Main Stage. Tickets go on sale at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Brower Student Center box office.
Tickets are $10 each and limited to College students only. Students may purchase two tickets per College ID.
(09/22/11 2:45am)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Bryan Bellanca, challenges Staff Writer Brandon Gould, Correspondent Johnny Sisto and Correspondent Kyle Knight to answer questions about who will win the NFL MVP this year, which team will come out on top when all is said and done in the MLB playoffs and the preseason favorites in the East and West for the Stanley Cup in the NHL.
1. There is no lack of talent in the NFL this year, and it has shown so far. Who do you think will win the NFL MVP and why?
BG: There is little to go off of, so it is premature to select who the NFL MVP will be. However, since the question has been asked, I would have to say Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers got hot at the end of last year, and that play has carried over into this season. The New Orleans Saints’ defense was picked apart by Rodgers, who finished the game with 312 passing yards and three touchdown passes. There wasn’t a coverage or blitz that Rodgers couldn’t handle that opening night, and I expect that performance to be foreshadowing the numbers he is poised to put up in 2011.
JS: The only wide receiver who has ever won the award for NFL MVP was Jerry Rice in 1987. The award is almost exclusively awarded to quarterbacks and running backs. This is no surprise, because these two positions are the cornerstones for almost all powerhouse offenses in the NFL. However, Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans can be the exception in the 2011 season. Andre Johnson has been considered one of the best (if not the best) wide receivers in the NFL for the past several years. With Arian Foster in the back field, defenses will be forced to protect against the run. Look for Matt Schaub to gain some confidence in the pocket and for Andre Johnson to put up Jerry Rice numbers this season.
KK: The NFL MVP will be Tom Brady. In two games so far, Brady has over 900 yards and seven touchdowns. Brady ripped apart the San Diego defense with minimal opposition. Competition within the league would be Arian Foster (who in two weeks has not performed up to expectations) and Drew Brees (who has done well), but Brady has triumphed so far. Brady was the uncontested pick as NFL MVP last season, and so far, there is limited competition.
BB: Kyle gets 3 for stating that Brady has dominated so far and shows no signs of slowing down. Brandon gets 2 for pointing out that Rodgers got hot last year and got off to a good start this year. Johnny gets 1 because although Johnson might be the best receiver in football, he’s forced to rely on his QB for stats.
2. With the baseball regular season coming to a close, who do you think will win the World Series and why?
BG: Again, this question is premature because we don’t even know who will make the playoffs at this point, but the best guess I could make right now would have to be the Philadelphia Phillies. I would love to pick my favorite team, the New York Yankees, but I just think the Phillies’ pitching is too much to handle. The Yanks definitely have the Phillies when it comes to offensive prowess, but it is defense and pitching that guides a team to a World Series title. Curtis Granderson, Mark Teixeira and Robinson Cano can knock in all the runs they want in the regular season, but things won’t be so easy if they have to go up against the “Four Aces.” Pitching wins championships and no one has better arms than the Phillies.
JS: There is no doubt in my mind who the favorite is to win the 2011 World Series. Good pitching beats good hitting almost every time, and if there is anything that the Philadelphia Phillies have, it’s good pitching. The Phillies’ pitching staff is a team of superstars, consisting of Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, just to name a few. This powerhouse staff has the most wins in the MLB and the lowest team ERA. Four of the Phillies’ starters and their closer have an ERA under 3.00. In
addition to their dominating pitching staff, the Phillies have a lot of postseason success in the past. Starting pitcher Roy Halladay has proven himself in the postseason by pitching a no-hitter in his first-ever postseason appearance. Also, any
member of the team that was with the Phillies in 2008 has already won a World Series. The Phillies are the team to beat this postseason.
KK: The New York Yankees will win the World Series. As a Red Sox fan, it goes against all that I stand for, but it is hard to pick against not only a good hitting team but a team with such a solidified bullpen. Most will argue for the Phillies, but they have not shown the hitting power that the Yankees have, as well as a strong bench. The Yankees’ starting pitching has come alive in September, which will carry momentum into October. The Yankees will hopefully face the Red Sox in the playoffs, which will be their toughest challenge.
BB: Johnny gets 3 for stating that the Phillies’ pitching staff is filled with post-season experience, and that proves vital in the playoffs. Kyle gets 2 for pointing out that the Yankees just might have the hitting tooutdo the Phillies. Brandon gets 1 for stating more why the Yankees wouldn’t win over why the Phillies would.
3. NHL preseason is about to start. Who do you think will represent the East and the West in the Stanley Cup this year, who wins and why?
BG: First, I’d like to say it is a breath of fresh air to hear that the season is starting after an offseason filled with so much turmoil. It’s always tough to pick favorites, especially in the beginning of a season, but I would say that the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vancouver Canucks have the best chances to represent their conference in the battle for the Stanley Cup. The Penguins were decimated by injuries last year, which especially hurt considering that stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin missed large portions of the season. If those two are healthy and Marc-Andre Fleury is on his game, watch out. The Canucks are led by two of the best players in the game in Daniel and Hendrik Sedin, but the difference-maker is Ryan Kessler, who is a force on the ice. Factor in goaltender Roberto Luongo and you’ve got a championship mix on your hands. Overall, I think the Pens will end up hoisting the Stanley Cup.
JS: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” That is the philosophy that the Boston Bruins have been following through the offseason. They’ve managed to keep all of their major contributors that led them to the Stanley Cup finals in 2011. Their goalie, Tim Thomas, is consistently mentioned as one of the best goalies in the NHL. Plus, their young talent in Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin are only going to improve this season. For the West (quack, quack, quack) I’m picking the Anaheim Ducks to make it to the Stanley Cup finals. The Ducks lost their goalie, Jonas Hiller, to injury in February of last season. If he managed to stay healthy, the Ducks could have been more of a threat in the playoffs. Now he’s healthy, and assuming Cory Perry can mimic the MVP season that he had last year, the Ducks will be a strong force in the Western Conference. However, I don’t think that the Ducks will be able to match the depth of the Boston Bruins’ roster. I predict that the Stanley Cup will be staying in Boston in 2012.
KK: The Philadelphia Flyers will represent the East and the Detroit Red Wings will represent the West. I feel that if Sidney Crosby is healthy, the Penguins will give the Flyers a run for their money, but his status is in question. Therefore, the Flyers, with their experience, will have no problems representing the East. The Red Wings, on the other hand, have been one of the most consistent teams in the last 10 years and will find their way back to the Stanley Cup final. I think in the end, the Red Wings win it.
BB: Johnny gets 3 for pointing out that Boston is returning almost everyone from last year and should have another successful season. Brandon gets 2 because the Penguins can compete but Crosby’s health is in question. Kyle gets 1 because the Flyers shook up half of their team and will have some struggles this year.
Johnny wins this week’s AtD, 7 - 6 - 5.
(09/22/11 2:43am)
Bo wasn’t the only Burnham to visit the College this week. English actor and historian Howard Burnham came to the College to bring the American Revolution to life for students on Thursday, Sept. 16. Dressing up as Lord Charles Cornwallis, Burnham showed students a powerpoint presentation, teaching them while simultaneously cracking jokes, all the while staying completely in character. The No. 1 lesson he had for his audience? “Never play hockey with a bishop.”
(09/18/11 11:33pm)
Editorial Board and Production Office
(09/13/11 11:33pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Sports Assistant Kevin Lee, Correspondent Bryan Bellanca and Correspondent Kevin Black to answer questions about the NFC, AFC and Super Bowl favorites in the NFL this season, the Heisman frontrunner in a stacked field of competitors and the chances the Washington Nationals make it to the playoffs in the next few years.
1. Now that the NFL is underway, the question becomes, who will come out on top? The trendy pick is the Eagles vs. the Patriots, but give me your NFC Super Bowl team, AFC Super Bowl team, who wins and why.
KL: The team that will represent the AFC is the Houston Texans. I’m a big believer in the Texans’ dynamic offense and the significant improvements they made over the offseason on the defensive end. With Peyton Manning sidelined for at least 12 weeks, the Texans will run away with that division. Health is the key for the Texans, but no one can really predict injuries. My pick for the NFC is the Atlanta Falcons. Last year, the Falcons showed us a glimpse of their potential but faltered in the playoffs to the eventual Super Bowl Champions. The Falcons managed to have a top-five scoring offense and a top-five scoring defense, leaving them fourth in the league in point differential with a 13-3 record. The only thing that prevented them from making the Super Bowl last year was their youth and inexperience. This year, I think that they will be able to grow and reach their potential. So with the Texans and Falcons in the Super Bowl, I’ll say that the Falcons will win Super Bowl XLVI.
BB: The two teams I believe will play for the Super Bowl this year are the San Diego Chargers and the Green Bay Packers, with the Chargers winning the Super Bowl. Even though the Chargers did not make the playoffs last year, they had the best overall defense and offense in the NFL, and that was without their No. 1 target on offense, Vincent Jackson, who held out for most of the season. The Packers managed to win the NFC Championship with many key players injured, and I see no reason why they will not do it again when all they lost this offseason was Nick Barnett and Cullen Jenkins. The Chargers are one of the only teams in the NFL who have a good enough offense to match the Packers while at the same time having a good enough defense to keep the Packers’ offense in line, which is exactly why the Chargers will be the team to stop the Packers from winning back-to-back Super Bowl championships.
KB: Trendy picks are showing that it may be an Eagles/Patriots Super Bowl, but I want to go a different route. Due to the lockout, teams did not have the normal time to prepare for the season. Everyone started on July 26, which means if they signed any new players this offseason (if you can call it an offseason), you only had those five or six weeks during camp and preseason, compared to the normal four to five months, to get your free agents and top draft picks ready and acclimated to the new systems. I am looking at two teams who kept their rosters mostly together without any major losses, signed very few (if any) free agents and kept their quarterback/head coach combination together. History may not be on either of their sides, but these two teams show consistency, and one of them has become even healthier than last year. Having explained why these two teams will make it, out of the NFC, I will pick the Packers to return to defend their title against the team they beat to win it from the AFC, the Pittsburgh Steelers, with the Green Bay Packers repeating as champions.
AW: Good points all around, but I give Bryan the 3 because the Chargers do seem poised for a big year. Kevin L. gets 2 because although it’s a reach, both of those teams have a good shot. Kevin B. gets 1 because although those are good points, Super Bowl rematches almost never happen.
2. The Heisman field is stacked this year, with at least five candidates that have a legitimate shot at winning the prestigious award. Who’s your Heisman favorite for this year and why?
KL: Landry Jones will win the Heisman. Last season, Jones threw for 4,718 yards and 38 touchdowns. Jones has the talent and ability to put up a monster season. Putting
statistics aside, Jones has several other factors that the front-runner pick Andrew Luck does not have in his favor. The Oklahoma Sooners are the No. 1 ranked team, and voters favor successful teams. Only one QB has won the Heisman with more than two losses at the time of the voting. The second point is that the Sooners have coach Bob Stoops, who has produced two Heisman quarterbacks in the past decade. In contrast, the Stanford Cardinal has hired a rookie head coach. Only three players have won the Heisman on a team with a first-year coach. There’s no denying that Andrew Luck is the best player in college football, but that doesn’t add up to a Heisman winner.BB: My Heisman favorite is Landry Jones of Oklahoma. Jones was second in the nation in passing yards and passing touchdowns last year, and everyone is returning for Oklahoma on offense except their two running backs, which will only lead to Jones passing more this season. Jones also benefits from having one of the best receivers in college football in Ryan Broyles. Besides having a good statistical year, the Heisman committee looks at how well your team does in determining a winner, and Oklahoma is currently the No. 1 team in the nation and favorite to win the Big 12 and compete for the national championship. The Heisman committee also looks at how players perform in big games, and last year Jones proved that he was a big-game performer with his best games coming against ranked teams. Jones, now entering his third year as the starting quarterback for Oklahoma, has improved over his first two years and has already gotten off to a good start in his first game. With a solid team behind him and a lot of chances to prove himself against ranked teams, Landry Jones will win the Heisman trophy this year.
KB: My pick to win the Heisman trophy is QB Kellen Moore from Boise State. I think this is the year the BCS buster school wins big and gets over the computer-polling hump, and he will be the reason. He doesn’t have Austin Pettis and Titus Young, the explosive receivers he had last year, but the man is a winner. He is on pace to be the winningest QB in college football, replacing Colt McCoy, and going for 261 yards, three touchdowns, only one interception, an 82 percent completion percentage and having a QB rating of 170.1 against a ranked SEC opponent in Georgia proves Moore is off and running and having a great start.
AW: Again, good all around, but Kevin B. gets 3 for saying that if Boise wins out, Moore gets it. Bryan and Kevin L. get 2 because their arguments were very similar and also very good.
3. Stephen Strasburg returned for the Nationals this past week and tossed a solid outing in his first appearance since having Tommy John surgery last year. He and the Nats’ minor-league hitting sensation Bryce Harper are considered to be the future, but give me a percentage chance that the Nats make the playoffs in the next three years and why.
KL: I’m going to say a 90 percent chance. In the NL East, the only team better than the Nationals in three years is the Braves. The Phillies are a veteran team, and their hitters are not aging well. The fact that the Nationals have so many other assets aside from Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg is scary. On the major-league roster, the Nationals already have Ryan Zimmerman and Jordan Zimmermann, both of whom are already really good and have yet to reach their peaks. They also have a shutdown reliever in Drew Storen. Down in the minors, the Nationals have an excellent farm. Anthony Rendon is going to add a lot of punch to that lineup and quickly, too, forming one of the most feared 3-4-5 punches in Zimmerman, Harper and Rendon. Filling out the rest of the rotation alongside Strasburg and Zimmerman are Alex Meyer, AJ Cole and Matthew Purke. Those three pitching prospects themselves have top-of-the-rotation upside. I talk about all of these prospects as can’t-miss, but the fact that they are going to move through the minors extremely quickly makes their upsides a legitimate possibility. Finally, because the Nationals are built from the ground up, their payroll is small, allowing them to to add another impact bat or arm in a few years.
BB: I give the Nationals a 10 percent chance to make the playoffs over the next three years. The only reason I even give the Nationals a small percentage chance to make the playoffs is because they have a promising young pitching staff led by Strasburg, Lannan and Zimmermann. Plus, Nationals management has shown that they are willing to spend money by signing Jayson Werth to a $126 million contract. The problem facing the Nationals is that management needs to spend money a little smarter instead of overpaying for an average player. The other problem is that they are in a division with the Phillies and the Braves. Both those teams have pitching staffs that the Nationals just cannot compete against, even with Strasburg. Additionally, Bryce Harper is only 18 years old, and according to Baseball America, is not projected to reach the majors until 2013 at the earliest, so he will not factor in too much over the next three years. Unless MLB changes the divisions or has more than four teams make the playoffs from each league, the Nationals will not be in the playoffs anytime over the next three years, but they will certainly be more competitive and maybe over the next five to six years can finally make the playoffs.
KB: Ten percent. There is a chance, but that’s all it is. While Strasburg and Harper provide talent for the Nationals to build on over the next three years, I feel they have to do more and find more talent, whether it be youth or experience. Yes, acquiring Jayson Werth from the Phillies as a free agent was a start. Then again, when you look at teams like the Boston Red Sox, you talk about the free agents, but most of the lineup has come from their farm system. So it must be asked, can just two superstars in a farm system overcome a plethora of pretty good farm players moving up on a team? Another reason is that the level of competition in the National League will not substantially drop over the next three years. The Phillies and Braves will always find ways to reload in the East, and the pesky Mets and Marlins are always roadblocks, so winning the NL East will be difficult. Also, the wild card, with consistent teams like the Cardinals, Brewers and Giants and new on-the-rise teams like the Diamondbacks and Pirates are sure to be a problem. Their only hope is the rumored realignment.
AW: Bryan gets 3 for bringing up that the Nats need to spend a little smarter. Kevin B. gets 2 for saying that their farm talent will need to blossom. Kevin L. gets 1 because minor leaguers are hard to bank on.
Bryan wins this week’s AtD, 8 - 6 - 5.
(09/13/11 11:31pm)
(09/13/11 11:28pm)
(09/08/11 2:26am)
(09/07/11 8:58pm)
Try as she might, Hurricane Irene could not stop members of the College from performing for their fellow students. The College Union Board held its “Cafe Under the Stars” event on Monday, Aug. 29 in the Brower Student Center from 8-11 p.m. Acts included senior and hip-hop artist CJ Johnson (left), sophomore Sam Moeller and bands Jake Ehrlich and the Regal Kings and Gianna’s Sweet Debut. The performers played to a small but dedicated crowd of students who stopped by to support their musically inclined friends and classmates.
(09/07/11 8:15pm)
In this week’s Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Brandon Gould, challenges Sports Editor Alex Wolfe, Correspondent Josh Fidler and Correspondent Johnny Sisto to answer questions about the primetime matchup of week one in the NFL, how the sports community should prevent fan violence and whether the Diamondbacks can hold their own in the NL playoffs this year.
1.The NFL is finally back in action with the regular season commencing this upcoming weekend. What is the marquee match-up of week one?
AW: As much as my fanhood makes me want to say Rams vs. Eagles (which is a good matchup in its own right), I have to say the Jets and the Cowboys. For one, it’s a good matchup between two very good teams, but more significant is the date that it is being played and the city outside of which it takes place. We’re talking a game between New York and Dallas on the 10th anniversary of one of the worst — but also one of the most unifying — moments in U.S. history. Yes, the game is the Sunday night game on 9/11, between New York’s team and “America’s Team.” It’s going to be a good football game, it’s going to be called by the best broadcast team in Michaels and Collinsworth and just the day itself is going to be touching. Can’t get a more marquee matchup than that.
JF: I think that the biggest matchup of week one is Pittsburgh at Baltimore. Not only is this a game between two possible playoff teams, it is also a game between two fierce and bitter AFC North rivals. There is bad blood between these two teams, and they don’t even pretend to hide it. This is also a game between two of the top defenses in the league. To add to the game, one only has to think back to last year when the Steelers knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs at Heinz field. The game is in Baltimore and the Ravens fans will be in a frenzy, which Ray Lewis and his defense will only feed off of. This is what the NFL is about — division rivals facing off in a game that could already have playoff implications.
JS: When the NFL created this season’s schedule, they must have known that they wanted to start it off with a bang. On Sept. 8 (the first night of regular-season football), the Super Bowl champions from last year are going up against the Super Bowl champions from the year before. The Green Bay Packers versus the New Orleans Saints is week one’s marquee matchup for several reasons. First, both teams are led by Pro Bowl quarterbacks in Aaron Rogers and Drew Brees. The media and the fans will no doubt be interested to see who puts up the bigger numbers. Secondly, both teams have a lot to prove this season, because despite the potential of these teams, neither were able to win their division last season.
BG: Alex gets 3 for pointing out that the Jets-Cowboys match-up carries meaning on and off the field. Josh gets 2 because any time that the Steelers and Ravens meet it is must-see TV. Johnny gets 1 because his answer was the most predictable.
2. There has been some extreme fan violence in the last few months, from the assault on Brian Stow to the shootings after the San Fransisco 49ers-Oakland Raiders preseason match up. What actions need to be taken to avoid future events of this nature?
AW: It’s tough to say, especially in the Dodgers’ case, what could be done, because these incidents are taking place in the parking lots where security officers don’t usually patrol. For the Dodgers, it’s going to be hard to hire anyone else, because their owner is broke as hell. For other teams with the funds to do so, I think it would be a good idea to hire security officers to patrol the parking lots. In addition, since I can only assume most of these incidents are caused by drunken hubris, I think if it goes much further they should begin using breathalyzers at the concession stands to stop fans from getting too drunk. All in all, I think that owners should have the sense to instate some of these policies themselves, but if they don’t and there is one more horrific incident, the leagues should mandate it.
JF: It has to start with the fans. Some are taking the game way too seriously. They live and die with every win or loss. Everybody loves the game of football, but it is just a game. But since fans most likely will not stop the violence, there are some things that can be done. One is to increase security around the stadium and at the parking lots. Another thing that could be done is to try to eliminate alcohol at tailgates and/or limit alcohol sold during the game. The root of a lot of violence in sports can be traced to alcohol consumption, and with less alcohol, some of that violence could possibly be stopped.
JS: Increasing security both inside and outside of stadiums will help with the problem. Fights are breaking out not only in the stands, but also in stadium bathrooms and parking lots. However, one of the main aggravators for most of these fan fights has been alcohol. Teams may consider discontinuing beer sales in the upper levels of their stadium. The New York Yankees instituted this policy ten years ago. Sports teams with fights breaking out could consider a move such as this.
BG: Josh gets 3 for stating that the fans need to start taking some responsibility. Johnny gets 2 for suggesting the discontinuation of alcohol in some sections. Alex gets 1 because although a breathalyzer would be useful, it doesn’t seem very feasible.
3. The Arizona Diamondbacks currently own the top spot in the National League West and have shocked many experts who considered the San Fransisco Giants the team to beat in that division. If the Diamondbacks do indeed finish the season as the West’s best team, do they stand a chance against the other division leaders?
AW: Honestly, I don’t think they’re good enough to beat any of the other three teams likely to make the playoffs (the Phillies, Braves and Brewers). Let’s face it, the first round
of the postseason is all about pitching, and that’s something that the D-backs don’t match up well against the other teams with (especially Philly, whom they would probably be matched with in the first round). Their pitching has been good, but even their best pitcher, Ian Kennedy, has no postseason experience. Meanwhile, they’re going to be matched up with either Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt of the Phillies or Tim Hudson, Derek Lowe and Jair Jurrjens of the Braves. Neither of those matches up well with the Diamondbacks, even if Justin Upton continues putting the offense on his back. They would maybe win one game in the first round, but that’s about where I set their ceiling.
JF: The Diamondbacks do stand a chance of beating any of the other division leaders and even the Braves. The D-backs’ head-to-head schedule against each of these teams is at or around .500. They have a good rotation highlighted by 18-game-winner Ian Kennedy. They also have a solid bullpen, and closer J.J. Putz has recaptured the stuff he had back when he was a dominant closer in Seattle. The Diamondbacks also have Justin Upton, a possible MVP candidate in the middle of that lineup. Finally, I would say they have a chance because it is the playoffs — any one team can get hot and go on a run. They had to, to make the playoffs. To say that one team stands no chance to win would be foolish. I was a victim of that foolishness when I thought the Giants had no chance against the Rangers.
JS: Yes, they definitely have a chance at succeeding in the postseason. The Diamondbacks’ starting pitching staff, led by Ian Kennedy, has been impressive this regular season. In addition to that, their offensive production has been better than in past years. The Diamondbacks are currently ranked eighth in home runs and ninth in runs scored. It’s no fluke that they’re leading their division. Although I wouldn’t say they are as good of a team as the other National League division leaders, when the postseason comes around, all bets are off the table.
BG: Alex gets 3 for bringing up the fact that the D-backs’ pitching just won’t be able to match up against the rotations of the other potential playoff teams. Johnny gets 2 for backing the D-backs and using their overall offensive production this season as a reason why. Josh gets 1 because regular season head-to-head records aren’t always the best barometer to judge a team’s chances in the postseason.
Alex wins this week’s AtD, 7 - 6 - 5.
(08/30/11 10:55pm)
In the first Around the Dorm of the new semester, the “Ref,” Alex Wolfe, challenges Sports Assistant Kevin Lee, Staff Writer Brandon Gould and Copy Editor Hilarey Wojtowicz to answer questions about which team will break out this season in the post-lockout NFL, the chances that the NBA takes to the hardwood again this year, and the toughest low-seed team in the AL playoffs in the MLB.
1.The NFL lockout is (thankfully) over, and this season is shaping up to be a memorable one. Give me your breakout team of the year and why.
KL: I’ll take the Houston Texans. The Texans have a dynamic offense, which was ranked fourth in passing and seventh in rushing in 2010. Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are an absolutely lethal combination, and the emergence of Arian Foster as a top running back will only make this offense more dangerous. The Texans’ defense last year was horrendous. However, the improvements they made this year have me believing in the Texans big time. The additions of Jonathan Joseph and Danieal Manning are huge upgrades in talent over what they had in the defensive secondary last season. Of course there is stud linebacker Mario Williams, but the real x-factor is the hiring of Wade Phillips. Phillips might not have what it takes to be a good head coach in the NFL, but he has a great track record as a defensive coordinator, most recently as the leader of the aggressive 3-4 defense of the San Diego Chargers from 2004 to 2006. I’ll predict the Texans go 11-5, good enough to dethrone the Colts for the division.
BG: For the first time in a long time, the Dallas Cowboys are not being hyped up as one of the teams poised to make a Super Bowl run, and that is exactly why I’m picking them to break out this season and surprise people. It’s not long ago that Tony Romo was one of the up-and-coming quarterbacks in the league, and the cabinet’s full this year with receivers we know (Miles Austin, Dez Bryant and Jason Witten) ones that could be poised to breakout (Martellus Bennett and Dwayne Harris) and a solid stable of running backs (Felix Jones, Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray). Wade Phillips is a tough defensive mind to replace, but if there was anyone who could do it, Rob Ryan would be the guy. Ryan has the pass rusher his brother wishes he had in DeMarcus Ware, and once the two get accumulated with each other, watch out. A team with a good offense paired with a solid defense that will also be able to fly under-the-radar in the shadow of the Philadelphia Eagles — what’s not to like?
HW: As it is the first AtD of the year, I have to be true to myself and let everyone know upfront if they don’t already who my team is — the Patriots. Of course Tom Brady is going to carry the team far this season. It may only be preseason, but the Pats are starting it off strong in first in the AFC with a DIFF of +52. They’ve already had big wins over Jacksonville and Tampa Bay. It may be early, but I have faith in my team.
AW: Kevin gets 3, because the Texans do have potent run and pass attacks, and made some moves on D. Brandon makes a good point that nobody’s expecting much from the ‘Boys and gets 2. Hilarey gets 1, because the Pats were already the best regular season team of last year and thus are not exactly a “breakout” candidate.
2. Speaking of lockouts, give me the chances the NBA has a season this year, and why.
KL: I’ll say there’s a 10 percent chance there’s an NBA season this year. Many players already have deals in place to go abroad, and that takes away huge leverage from the owner’s side. This makes the situation even more complicated because NBA owners have said that the majority of them are losing money, which makes the owner’s side less willing to compromise. By the time the two sides agree on a deal, I think that it will be much too late to even start up a season. In addition to some players’ not having opt-out clauses from their abroad contracts, and the possibility of some players getting injured, I just don’t think it would be in the best interest of the league to resume if a deal isn’t agreed upon soon. It looks like I’ll be having as many rings as LeBron for one more year.
BG: The season is far off, but right now the chances that there will be one are grim. The NFL lockout consisted of players and owners arguing over profits, but the chatter during this lockout has been about anything but profit. NBA teams claimed that they lost $340 million in 2009-10 and $300 million in 2010-11. Their concern over money is so severe that there have been rumors of possibly eliminating a few teams — an absurd idea, I know. However, the owners, who caused their own financial struggles by throwing ridiculous amounts of money at mediocre players, won’t admit their own fault in the matter and instead will continue to insist a decrease in the players’ salaries. The players, meanwhile, will just play overseas and make their money in the meantime. Add it all together and you’ve got a potential season-long lockout on your hands.
HW: Right now, it’s not looking too good for the NBA. Players last made a proposal on June 30, and as of Aug. 2, the day after the meeting where the league filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, a lawsuit went out against the players. As of right now, it looks like there has been no change and I doubt there will be any change until games start getting canceled.
AW: Brandon gets 3 for pointing out the owners’ stubbornness in the matter. Hilarey gets 2 for pointing out that both sides won’t see the severity of the matter until games are canceled. Kevin gets 1 for bringing up the possibility that some players might not be able to come back from abroad right away.
3. The Yankees and Red Sox are battling it out for the AL East Championship/Wild Card once again, but the two teams should be looking toward their future opponents. Which team is the toughest playoff draw, the Texas Rangers or the Detroit Tigers?
KL: The toughest playoff draw for both teams is definitely the Rangers, and that’s more of a response to how bad the Tigers are. The Tigers have absolutely no pitching whatsoever behind Verlander, and the lineup is just as bad. Yeah, Verlander is going to be able to pitch two games in a short series, but seriously, who pitches the other games? Brad Penny? Max Scherzer? Rick Porcello? Doug Fister? Terrible. The Tigers don’t even have a good bullpen to shorten up some of the games. No, Valverede is not a shutdown reliever because he has 38 saves. Saves are a junk stat. Miguel Cabrera aside, the lineup is filled with low on-base percentage players and fluky players who have terrible split stats. Jim Leyland’s refusal to move Austin Jackson out of the lead-off spot is beyond me. Your lead-off man is supposed to get on base, and an OBP of .306 is nauseating. I just feel badly for the Rays and the Angels, who are vastly superior to the Tigers and will miss the playoffs.
BG: The Texas Rangers are a year removed from knocking the New York Yankees out of the playoffs on their way to the World Series, but it is the possibility of facing the Detroit Tigers that the Yankees should lose sleep over. The Tigers’ rotation is led by one of the only pitchers in the league that has the ability to best C.C. Sabathia — Justin Verlander. And the guys behind Verlander are no chumps either. As impressive as the Tigers’ pitching is, their offense is even more imposing. While the Tigers can’t claim the power numbers of the Yankees’ top sluggers, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira, they do have four of the league’s most consistent hitters. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila each have posted 60-plus RBI this year in addition to maintaining a .300 batting average. So, even though the Yankees’ minds should be set on winning the division, it wouldn’t hurt to take the wild card and head into the playoffs matched up with the Rangers.
HW: The Texas Rangers are definitely the tougher team to beat in the playoffs this year. They have a better record and a better cohesive team that has the experience needed to beat teams like the Red Sox or the Yankees. But of course, I don’t have any doubt that the Red Sox will still be able to beat the Rangers, as they just won that four-game series 3-1. The Rangers will definitely give both teams a better run than the Detroit Tigers could.
AW: Brandon and Kevin both get 3, because I couldn’t decide between the two. Good point by Brandon about Verlander matching up well and the big four hitters for Detroit. Also good points by Kevin, talking about Pettis and saves being a bad stat for Valverde. Hilarey gets 1 for blatantly hyping up Boston.
Brandon wins the semester’s first AtD, 8 - 7 - 4.
(08/30/11 10:54pm)
Welcome Week began on Aug. 25 with freshmen move-in. The incoming class participated in bonding activities that ranged from T-shirt decorating to a walkathon for Special Olympics NJ. Because of the storm, several weekend activities were canceled.
(08/10/11 11:24pm)
Two College students were indicted in the sexual assault of a freshman on Aug. 3 and face up to ten years in state prison if convicted, according to Casey DeBlasio, a spokesperson for the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office.
Samuel Sarpeh and Christen Solomon, both sophomores at the time, allegedly assaulted the female student on Sept. 1, 2010, during the first week of the fall semester. As of early June, the charges were undecided: Solomon's case remained pending, and Sarpeh was expected to be charged with a lighter, two-year probationary sentence after pleading guilty to fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, according to a report by the Trenton Times.
However, the victim's written testimony moved Superior Court Judge Gerald Council to call for a tougher penalty on June 2. The county prosecutor's office presented the case to a grand jury, which charged both men with a second-degree offense, DeBlasio said.
According to The Times, Assistant Prosecutor Renee Robeson said the victim was attacked after she became intoxicated at a party in Sarpeh's dorm and approached Sarpeh, a friend of hers, for a place to stay.
The College declined to discuss the case.
"The College takes the safety and security of its students very seriously," said Stacy Schuster, Executive Director of College Relations. "As is the case with all matters of a sensitive and ongoing nature, in the interests of privacy, the College respectfully declines to comment on ongoing or possible student disciplinary matters."
(04/29/11 2:11am)
For the last three years, I didn’t exist to the world on Mondays. I left my room in the morning and told my friends I’d see them Tuesday. I’d emerge from the bowels of the Student Center at ungodly hours and stagger back to the soundtrack of birds just waking up. Goddamn birds.
I don’t want to say The Signal made my “college experience” — whatever that really means — but it did. I seriously considered transferring my freshman year and raged a passive aggressive war against the College. I don’t want to say that The Signal was a major reason for my decision against this, but it was. I’m sure to some this seems like a fairly pathetic reason. I don’t care. Sure, my résumé is better for the experience. Which is great. (PLEASE HIRE ME!) But also, it provided me with a place at the College. I know, sappy. I even contemplated adopting a minor to avoid graduating a year early, so that I could take on the position of Editor-in-Chief. Admittedly, I’m not sure I’m ready to leave The Signal.
I’ve met some of the most intelligent, ambitious and insane people at The Signal; people I greatly respect and consider my friends. I will miss our C-Store runs, and I will miss scolding them about correct comma usage. And, perhaps most of all, I will miss the 3 a.m. versions of these people. You’d be surprised how your peers’ personalities morph at this hour. For instance, you may all discover that narwhals are the most magnificent creatures on the planet and deserve a place of honor everywhere. BECAUSE THEY DO.
Despite how much I complained, despite the insomnia and caffeine-induced squiggle vision each Monday brought, I believe that The Signal has defined my time at TCNJ — that’s right, TCNJ, not the College. Good luck to the new staff — I know you all will continue doing a stellar job. Keep microwaving lions, braving the Oregon Trail and always honor “Narwhal time.” In other words: Stay brilliant, stay weird.
—Katie Brenzel
How has The Signal changed my life? Let me count the ways.
It took me off the fast track to a teaching job and happy days
because a certain Joe said “What are you doing down here?”
and so I decided to become a journalism major – a new career!
Since Christie cut school funding, that doesn’t matter now;
I don’t think I really want to be a journalist anyhow.
I’ll be a starving artist or perhaps a PR rep, but one thing’s for sure:
No matter what, my Signal memories will help me endure.
There will always be a little Jeff, dancing in my heart,
Todd will be reading literature and picking it apart,
Bobby will always wear that light blue hat in my mind,
and Jamie will be making outfits for Roger with whatever she can find.
Brandon knows his sports; Alyssa was always ready with Opinions.
Tom took amazing photos and recruited awesome photo minions.
Hilarey likes the Red Sox, but I still like her anyway.
Emily really came into her own and she’ll definitely have her day.
Matt’s a talented guy and I couldn’t have passed EIC to anyone better,
Katie B has become like a sister to me and I will really miss her,
But I know that all I have to do is click my heels together
And I’ll be back in my home away from home, my beloved Signal lair.
It has truly been a life-changing experience, some bad, mostly good. But that little freshman is super happy that she decided to go to that interest session so long ago! Thank you for an awesome four years, guys. I’ll miss you all and I’ll never forget my time down in our basement.
— Caroline Russomanno
(04/29/11 1:50am)
At the Residence Hall Association’s annual Lions Fest, inflatable obstacle courses and mascots like Roscoe the Lion and Tony the Tiger provided an afternoon of outdoor activities for students on Wednesday, April 20 from 12-4 p.m. There was a rock wall to climb and gladiator jousting. Popcorn, soft pretzels and tubes of candy were given out as snacks.
If attendees brought canned foods, they received one raffle ticket per can and could be entered in the various raffles held during the event. Participants made sandwiches to be given to the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen and wrote letters to veterans or hospital patients.
(04/29/11 1:26am)
The Mixed Signals held their third annual “ROCK Improv Comedy Festival” on Friday, April 22, in the Kendall Hall Main Stage Theatre. The comedy troupe performed with members of TCNJ Musical Theatre, All College Theatre and the TourCo of the Upright Citizens Brigade, a professional improv group based in New York. The “Rather Outrageous Comedy Kickoff” took place from 8 to 11 p.m.