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(02/07/07 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I'm sick of getting played. I always feel like a guy really likes me, and in some cases they have actually told me that they do, and then the situation goes nowhere. I'm not saying I expect to meet my soulmate; I'd just like someone to hang out with and hook up with and then see where it goes. I feel like any time I start to open up, the guy goes running.
Everyone always tells me that there's nothing "wrong" with me - they tell me I'm pretty, outgoing and fun to be around. I don't have any weird habits. What my guy friends and some girls are always just telling me is that if I let people in too soon and don't "play games" with guys then they won't stick around - that if I make it too easy for them it's no fun.
I guess it's dumb to ask this, but can you help me learn the rules of the "game" so I'm not alone the rest of my college life?
In Need of Game
Dear In Need of Game,
Here's a radical thought: Don't even bother playing games! If you actually like someone, what's the harm in being straight up? The song I used for the headline of this column is by Third Eye Blind (pardon my love for '90s angst). It's simply called "I Want You," not "You're Cute But I Won't Tell You That" or "I'm Going to Pretend I Don't Want You So That You Want Me More."
I think we could all take a page out of Stephan Jenkins' book and take a stab at vulnerability. It may suck right now, but eventually you'll find someone who gets you. Pretending to be someone you're not will just frustrate you in the end. Playing with someone's head will only lead to miscommunications and hurt feelings. Let's consider why someone might want to play games with someone: for attention, out of insecurity or boredom, to intentionally hurt someone, etc.
Or maybe because it's fun?
Alright, alright, I'll stop preaching. I guess it's unfair to advise you to not get tangled up in the ridiculous college sport of hooking up. I'll admit that it can be fun flirting with someone you know likes you, dating more than one person at a time, playing hard to get and saying you'll call and then you don't. After all, "Lying is the most fun a girl could have without taking her clothes off," right?
Ask Natalie Portman and Panic at the Disco and they'd say hell no . and I'd have to agree in most cases. It's a good way to kill boredom and something fun to talk about over lunch in Eickhoff. But keep in mind that playing with people is not just a pastime - you are investing real feelings and others' emotions, no matter how aloof the participating parties may seem. Chances are, one or both of you will get hurt, which leads to hurt feelings and the perpetuation of the whole evil, yet amusing, cycle.
That's because playing "the game" is simply an expression of power dynamics. The more you mess with someone's head, the more you hold back, the more power you hold over that other person. Don't get me wrong, having power is certainly attractive, but how good is it if it's holding you back from the possibility of a happy, healthy relationship?
I'm not saying I'm against hook-ups, casual dating, having fun or being somewhat mysterious. I mean, confessing your love to someone on the first date usually isn't the best idea, but dissing someone for no real reason in spite of yourself is a waste of time and energy. We're still so young - there's no absolute need to commit to another person (at least I think so). I'm just suggesting that people be more honest while they're out there.
Honesty goes a long way. I wish I had a nickel every time I've heard a friend say "For better or worse, I wish she'd just tell me how she really feels" or "If he doesn't want to be my boyfriend, that's fine, I'd just like to know either way." Taking part in these silly traditions means that you're not only clouding communication (one of the cornerstones of successful romantic interaction) but you're veiling the truth - you're veiling the real you and what lies beneath the top shallow layers of your personality.
It's nice to go through life not letting people get to know the real you, because then you can't get hurt. That's great, except if you never let yourself get hurt, you'll never truly experience a lot of things in life - like intimacy. I don't just mean the type of intimacy that grows over a lifetime; I mean the scary and exhilarating feeling of being totally open to someone and just waiting for what's next.
If I said playing games wasn't exciting, I would be lying. I'm not saying I've left a long path of heartbroken, sobbing boys behind me. I'm not na've enough to believe that every person I've not been totally honest and fair with is in therapy - but I do feel bad sometimes. How could you not?
I hate to end this column with a love your neighbor, everybody has feelings Barney sentiment, so I'll stop by saying it's okay to be scared and confused and not know how the hell to be real with people. In fact, it took me awhile to adjust to being in a serious relationship in which you actually trust someone and say "I like you" with no cruel intentions.
Speaking of "Cruel Intentions," if my advice hasn't helped, use that movie as a precautionary tale. The two slightly incestual, oversexed step-siblings Sebastian and Kathryn make a life out of ruining relationships and hurting people. Where are they when the movie's over? Sebastian dies after having his heart broken and Kathryn is a dethroned class president with a cocaine problem.
If that doesn't do it for you, I guess all I can say is: Play on, playette.
-Kayy*
(02/07/07 12:00pm)
Each week, we'll be profiling five different ways to waste your time. They'll range from videos and online games to physical activities and ways to decorate your room.
1. Watch ABBA's "Take A Chance on Me" on YouTube. Watch out for imposters, though; there are some live versions and spoofs that aren't as ridiculously bad. Go to youtube.com/watch?v=1LJrmMtTJ4k and check out one of the most popular music videos from the 1970s. Then take a minute to be grateful for modern gems like "Fergilicious."
2. Play Hangaroo at miniclip.com/hangaroo. Use your college education to try to save a trash-talking kangaroo by guessing words from obscure categories like "Miss America Winners."
3. Print out ridiculous photos and decorate your door. Just because it's already the spring semester doesn't mean you can't jazz up your door. It's always fun to walk to your room and discover someone standing in front of it staring intently. The more unusual and funny things you put up there, the more likely you are to open your door and smack it into someone's forehead.
4. Play pool/arcade games in Brower Student Center. You pass the tables all the time and probably don't even give them a second thought. There are arcade games there, too, you know. Spend some time getting acquainted with this social way to waste time, or be a loner and play video games outside of your room for once. Maybe you'll make your first college (non-Facebook) friend.
5. Sleep. There's no better way to kill an hour or three by crashing on your bed, ideally with the reading assignment for your next class nestled under your cheek.
How do you procrastinate?
Waste some more time by e-mailing us at signal@tcnj.edu with your favorite ways to avoid being productive.
(01/31/07 5:00pm)
For the first Around the Dorm of the spring semester, we debate steriods, the NBA micro-fiber ball and David Beckham. This week we have Signal nation & world editor James Queally, WTSR sports correspondent Rob Viviano and Signal managing editor Lauren Kohout. Signal sports editor Brandon Lee will man the reffing position for this week.
1) With Mark McGwire being denied a bronze bust in the MLB Hall of Fame (HOF), do you think he and other alleged steroids users will ever get a place in the HOF?
RV: Will McGwire get into the HOF? Yes, most definitely. How long will it take? I'd guess four more years. A player needs 75 percent of the vote to get in. McGwire earned only 23 percent. The truth of the matter is that if you take the steroid shot to the cheek from Jos? Canseco, you deserve a couple years of blacklisting. McGwire hasn't admitted to doing it, but he also refuses to disavow it. He knows what he did was wrong, but back then it was also par for the course. In four years, you can either vote for someone from the juicer era or no one; he definitely deserves the honor. Though there might be an asterisk next to his name, as more young, forgiving writers are allowed to vote and the older ones give up their vote, we will find a more favorable eye placed on him and he will get in.
JQ: In the wake of McGwire's rejection from Cooperstown, some journalists have come out and claimed that his alleged steroid use had no bearing on their vote, but rather that his numbers were inconsistent over the course of his 16-year career. That argument may be valid, as McGwire's numbers did fluctuate often during his tenure in Oakland, and again in the final two years of his career. However, the numbers just don't feel right here, so I'm going to have to go with my instincts. The chances of McGwire and most other alleged steroid users getting into the HOF under its current induction processes are pretty much non-existent. Let's face it, journalism is supposed to be the industry where writers seek the truth and uphold their convictions. So do you really think that a committee of 500-plus journalists is going to back a practice that tarnishes an entire sport, pads statistics and basically falsifies some of our country's greatest sports stories? Adios Mark, have fun in obscurity.
LK: I highly doubt we will see them get in. With guys like Rafael Palmeiro telling lies on the stand and Barry Bonds being the jerk that he is, these men have brought down the sincerity of the game. The fact is that they demoralized the entire sport and went against one of its cardinal rules. Sure, Barry Bonds probably could have made the Hall of Fame anyway had he not been under this investigation, but because of it he lost the respect of almost everyone in baseball. Because of guys like Bonds, people questioned Ryan Howard and his home runs and made the statement that he could be the first to break Maris' record without the use of the juice. Statements like that ruin baseball and the integrity of the game.
BL: 3 points for Queally for saying that McGwire would never be voted in by the committee of journalists because journalism is about the truth. Kohout gets 3 points for showing that the integrity of baseball is in jeopardy, and the game needs a real American hero in the form of Mickey Mantle or Roger Maris. I like Rob's stats and Canseco reference, but he mentions that in four years "you can vote for someone in the juicer era or no one." What about players with relatively clean names like Tim Raines, David Cone, Mo Vaughn and Jeff Bagwell? Rob gets 2 points.
2) At the beginning of the season, rather than playing with the normal leather ball, the NBA started with a new micro-fiber ball that was met with angst from the players. Stars like Shaq and Steve Nash complained that the ball did not bounce properly and gave them cuts on their hands. During midseason, NBA Commissioner David Stern mandated that by Jan. 1, the NBA would switch back to the old leather ball. What do you think of the changes and its effects on the game?
RV: Boo hoo. You are getting paid millions to play a game and you're complaining about the ball? If you are going to complain about something ridiculous, at least be creative like Ben Wallace and his war against the anti-headband establishment. I have no sympathy for them. Stern is generally a "player's" commissioner and it's not much of a concession to go back to the old ball. If any player says this ball has hampered his ability to play, he obviously is "scapegoating" for a recent lack of skill, or spends about as much time adapting to the new ball as I do - one day a week for about four warm months.
JQ: David Stern, I don't know how you rose to be the head of the NBA if you couldn't even comprehend the old axiom "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," like the rest of us did at the tender age of six. Don't worry though; you aren't the dumbest man in basketball. That award still goes to Isiah Thomas. So what did changing the ball accomplish? Did it dramatically raise shooting percentages? Well, except for the Suns, who currently lead the pack with a ridiculous 49 percent average from the field, most of the better teams are still hovering around the 46 to 47 percent mark, just like they did during the '05-06 campaign. What about turnovers? Last year the Knicks led the league averaging 17 a game. This year at 17 a game, the Knicks are in second place in that dubious category. Oh, hey look it's Thomas again. Numbers don't lie. The ball did nothing, except give me another chance to make fun of Thomas. Wait. In that case, maybe I do like the new ball.
LK: It has affected the game for the good. If the players are happy, that should be change enough. However, I recall a few players stating that it is confusing for them to switch back and forth and it keeps the players from finding their grooves. As a fan of the sport, I couldn't tell the difference watching the games so maybe it was just a question of consistency for the players. Either way, it has given the NBA some much-needed publicity.
BL: I love bashing Isiah Thomas and I love your answer, Queally - 3 points. Unfortunately, the new ball scandal gave the NBA bad publicity - 2 points for Kohout. The ball is the most important aspect of the sport. What happens if a baseball bounced off a bat awkwardly or if a hockey puck was heavier? The entire game would change. How can Steve Nash, a two-time MVP, scapegoat his way out of a "recent lack of skill"? Even with the new ball, Nash still had MVP numbers. It would be impossible for players to keep their dribble or shooting touch with band-aids on their fingers. Sorry Rob, you get 1 point.
3) David Beckham left Real Madrid to sign a five-year deal worth $250 million with the LA Galaxy of the MLS. Will more European stars follow in his footsteps? Do you think this will increase the popularity of soccer in the United States? Will a Cosmos-type team arrive in the near future?
RV: No. No. No. Did I say it enough? This is a PR stint. Please remember that Beckham has been benched for lack of skill all season with Real Madrid and was cut from the English national team at the World Cup. He is a 31-year-old burnout with an amazing sense of style and overblown fame. You know what him coming to LA is? It is the world's best retirement package. He can't play in Europe anymore; they all know he is burned out. Here he can be what he has always wanted to be: a celebrity who happens play a sport. Will he be better than most Americans? Probably. Will this pull in a lot of season tickets from the highly Hispanic populations of LA? Definitely. Will this make a difference at all on U.S. soccer, or even the Galaxy's future? No. But hopefully we can have a permanent soccer player retirement program in the U.S., because I like their fashion sense.
JQ: Will David Beckham make soccer more popular? Yes. Will it be enough to make "European football" a real player in the American sports scene? No. Beckham is a great player and if it wasn't for Rooney's foolishness in that overtime, he might have had a real shot at taking home a World Cup this year. When he makes his first start for the Galaxy, Beckham will be playing in his 17th season. Keep in mind that the first 16 seasons he played were in the English Premier league, which has an exhausting and lengthy schedule. On namesake alone, expect the Galaxy's ticket sales to spike early in the year, but it won't last. Sooner or later, our country's apathetic attitude toward soccer will kick in and things will calm down. One man can't save a sport; it's just not plausible. Would putting LeBron James in spandex make professional wrestling more appealing to the generally older, uninterested demographics? Oh geez, horrible mental image. But, you see my point.
LK: Beckham is probably the most famous athlete in the entire world. The LA Galaxy usually does receive a large crowd; however, when visiting other stadiums people will come out to see Beckham and perhaps a glimpse of Posh Spice. It will increase the popularity because finally there is a "name" in U.S. soccer. I doubt more Europeans will follow because that is where all the good players are and where most Americans hope to play. Beckham came for the money, and the owners of the LA Galaxy will get all that money back with jersey endorsements and seats. I don't see a Cosmos-type team arriving anytime soon until Beckham's momentum in America has caught up with him. But, if Beckham does give American soccer a boost, it may be in the cards in the next few years.
BL: Kohout and Queally each get 2.5 points. Queally would have gotten 3 points, but he didn't mention the Cosmos in his answer. I still believe that Beckham is a good soccer player; he had an impact in the World Cup. Beckham did not get cut from the English team; instead he resigned his captaincy. Rob gets 1 point.
(01/31/07 12:00pm)
Seniors get shot down
After reading the Dec. 6 article about the new restrictions placed on Senior Week, I was appalled.
My reaction wasn't due to an overwhelming desire to get plastered, but rather in regard to the administration's blatant refusal to compromise with the Senior Class Council. From sources on the Council, the meetings about Senior Week went a little like this: The Council begged repeatedly for a compromise, or some forms of concession. The Administration outright refused.
Let me just state this - I respect the people who don't drink as much as those who do. I feel that the administration should have allowed some concessions that allow both parties to enjoy Senior Week as they choose. Why couldn't the people who wanted to drink in the towers be placed on a separate floor from those who don't? We have something similar in place already - it's called Wellness Housing.
If the administration is concerned about damages, then this is what I propose - those who choose to be on a drinking floor should understand that if any damages are found, every single person on the floor is held financially responsible. Again, we have something similar in place already - it's called a Data Room Inventory Card (DRIC).
To me, it seems as if the administration has forgotten about many of its existing policies, which brings me to my next point. In order to participate in Senior Week, everyone must be 21 years of age, which is the legal age to consume alcohol. After reading the College's alcohol policy, one thing became very clear: If you are over 21 years of age, you have every right to drink within the confines of your on-campus dwelling.
The state of New Jersey trusts us be to mature enough to handle the responsibilities of drinking alcohol when we reach this age. Why can't the College do that as well?
I understand that there were problems last year, but it seems categorically unfair to penalize the following class for the actions of others. I can't help but think that this policy change was made with the intent of forever canceling Senior Week. The administration knew that by banning alcohol from the towers and increasing the cost, student interest in attending would be at a minimum. With no one wanting to attend, the administration can get rid of Senior Week without much of a fuss.
I understand the College is under pressure to tighten up its alcohol policy, but this is not the way to go. We are not a dry campus. We have a bar in our student center. It makes no sense to take away the right to drink from those who are legally allowed to do so.
The members of the Senior Class have had a lot to put up with over the past four years. As a whole, this class has struggled to graduate on time thanks to the changing liberal learning requirements that were put in place our freshman year. The Senior Class Council that we have chosen to represent us has been effectively stripped of its powers.
To me, the administration's refusal to cooperate speaks volumes. The College is telling its seniors that they don't care what we think. I think the administration needs to reconsider. It needs to take one look at the College's rate of alumni giving and wonder why it's so low compared to the other colleges we attempt to benchmark ourselves against.
It's things like this that make students feel disenfranchised.
Callan Wright
Lashing out at Lucas
I am glad that this semester will be the last one readers are forced to endure Kenneth Lucas' unfounded opinions.
First, stop complaining about Greek Life; some people might suspect you're on the College's payroll. Sororities do contribute to their communities. Habitat for Humanity is not the only way to help and New Orleans is not exactly a local chapter's community. The point of community service is not to only help the most severe and well-known causes but rather to enrich the community in which you live, learn and yes, even party.
Second, it is deplorable that Martin Luther King Jr.'s struggle for equality was misused. He is one of the few leaders respected across racial, ethnic and generational boundaries. Yes, he died for his beliefs, but he helped to create a world where it is no longer necessary to risk one's life to help spread diversity.
Finally, does Lucas even know what Gandhi accomplished? Does his r?sum? say that he helped to end the colonial oppression of a subcontinent and that he started a self-reliance movement to end Western exploitation of India? Or that his efforts directly helped create one of the largest democratic states in the world? If it does, good luck finding someone in Human Resources who'll believe it.
Mr. Lucas, you're graduating college; you should be able to actually support what you say. At the very least, you should be more knowledgeable about political figures who had a hand in shaping our world beyond being able to use their names incorrectly to create the illusion that you actually know what you're talking about.
Jonathan Barracato
As current president of the Panhellenic Council and a proud sister of my sorority, I would like to respond to the opinion article written by Kenneth Lucas in the last publication of The Signal.
It is sad to say that while Lucas' claims are outlandish and inaccurate, they are not misrepresentative of the way that many students on this campus view Greek life. That being said, I feel it is important to provide a more accurate picture of the Greek life that I see and am a part of every day.
The sorority girl that Lucas describes cares only about herself. Her sole motivation for joining her organization is to have fun and go to parties. According to his description, now that she's a member of a Greek organization, she thinks she's better than everyone else. In response to this I would challenge him, and anyone else, to find that girl on this campus. I am confident you wouldn't find her, because she doesn't exist.
A more accurate description of the sorority girl that can be found on this campus is an individual who is dedicated to achieving academic success as well as being an active member of the College community.
Members of sororities serve on the executive boards of many on-campus clubs and sports teams. They are members of the Residence Life staff and the Student Government Association, they volunteer with the CCS mentoring program and they hold on-campus jobs.
In addition to these commitments, they spend several hours each week working to organize and plan events for their chapters. Events such as Miss TCNJ, Autumn Angel, Shamrock and the Lion King are only a few examples of the programs that are put on by sororities and raise thousands of dollars for charities each year.
Community service may not be the single reason women join sororities, but in my experience the Greek women on this campus do not represent themselves as joining only for the reasons Lucas gives.
Instead of judging from the sidelines and making assumptions based on rumors or appearances, Lucas and others who may share his opinion should sit down and speak with the sorority women of the College. He would find that he has not given us nearly enough credit. We are not the shallow self-absorbed individuals that he would lead you to believe.
The reasons we joined our organizations are as different as we are from one another, but at the heart of these reasons we share a common bond. This bond, the real reason women join sororities, is the belief that joining our organizations would in some way enrich our lives.
Whether it has been finding a place to be a leader or a home away from home, each of us has found a way to make our time at the College something to be remembered.
So take it from me, someone with considerably more experience with Greek life than Lucas: Sorority women care about a lot more than drinking and hooking up - they also care about their hair.
Meghan Bermudez
President of the Panhellenic Council
Sorority funds wasted on unworthy causes
Amid the onslaught of angry letters you will undoubtedly receive this week, I hope this humble e-mail stands out.
For once, I agree with a Lucas.
On that note, I should probably stab myself. But I digress.
Kenneth Lucas, though having made a good point about the intentions of sorority girls, has missed an enormous connection between community service and Greek participation (for females, at least).
Every year, the combined membership dues required for every sorority at this college alone generate a sickeningly large six-figure sum of money.
According to Neil Hartmann, a member of the Bonner Scholars, that amount of money could allow Habitat for Humanity to build four houses in North Carolina, two houses in Katrina-stricken New Orleans or two houses in our own backyard - Trenton.
Community service as a smokescreen for mixers and forced friendships is a farce at best and hypocrisy at its worst. But maybe it's even more troubling.
Maybe some participants truly believe that funneling half a grand into shirt funds, birthday tiaras and the liquor stores of our nearby city actually creates better life opportunities for the families of Trenton than building houses does.
Delusional thinking is never a good thing, but I suppose it's better to believe that the true reason to join a sorority is for the community service than it is to knowingly use that as a cover for the desperate need for human connections that it sates.
Many of my issues with sororities are admittedly too catty and personal to publish. I'm simply applauding Lucas for highlighting this single incongruity and taking a chance to expand upon it.
Erinn Black
Cause of death:
extreme apathy
In his most recent opinion piece, writer Keith Lucas states: "I am only concerned about my interests. In short, I do not care about the welfare of other people."
Based on how Keith feels about his fellow man, I really hope that he is never in a situation where he is the only one available to save a life. Keith might decide that he'd rather order a pizza than dial 911. Someone would definitely die.
Matt Trokan
(01/24/07 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I'm pretty embarrassed asking this, but . what is love? My friends and people I know talk about it, but I don't really get it. How do you know that it's love that you're feeling? I'm confused.
Lovestoned
Dear Lovestoned,
I received this question quite some time ago, and have been avoiding responding (no offense, Lovestoned). I love my job - helping people out when their girlfriend is cheating, or their boyfriend has self-esteem issues, or if they want to catch the attention of the person of their dreams. I'm pretty knowledgeable about gynecological issues, orgasms or first-time jitters. I've penned articles on many different issues . but I had no clue where to start with this one!
Love is something that needs to be experienced. It can't be explained. It's like trying to explain the color red to a blind person. Okay . that's a tad melodramatic. Love is everywhere: in romantic comedies, selling lingerie in store windows, spouting from the mouths of poets and in Hallmark cards.
If love is ubiquitous, why is it so hard to nail down what it means? First of all, all emotions are complicated and there are many things that can be mistaken for love like passion, loneliness and even horniness. Even in one of the oldest love stories of all time, Juliet and her Romeo, it has long been disputed: Was it true love or youthful lust? And how do you tell the difference?
When it comes to love, there are more questions than answers, but maybe that's a good thing. If we all looked to a specific, static mold of what true love is we would never feel like we measured up. You can't define something that is different for everyone - some of the greatest love stories have been complex, drama-filled and way complicated. I think the greatest thing about love is that it's unique to each couple.
People fall in and out of love with the change of seasons, we make vows and don't keep them, we think we've found "The One" only to be sadly disappointed. We "think" we're in love and then we break up. Then we fall in love again and think that this new love is real and the first one was not. (Is your head spinning yet?) We tend to talk down about our past loves, maybe because of pride or maybe as a defense mechanism. Or maybe that last one really wasn't love and this is.
Either way, I say love isn't a feeling. It's a moment. And if you feel "it" in that moment - some feeling in your gut or your awakening subconscious - you should wrap yourself up entirely in it and enjoy it. If that moment decides to last five minutes, five months or five lifetimes you are lucky to have felt it.
My hunch is that you're writing for one of three reasons:
1) You think you're in love but are afraid to fall. What are you waiting for? Sure, admitting it is opening yourself up to getting hurt, but if you don't learn to put yourself out there, you'll never be happy. I wouldn't trade my thousands of mistakes and heartaches for anything because they eventually led me to my current partner.
2) You're writing because you've never been in love. Relax, it'll hit you when you least expect it.
If you just don't feel it, pretending you do or forcing it will only make you miserable. Love takes a week for some and months or more for others to develop, but when you know it's not right, you know. If someone loves you and you don't feel the same, you're doing them a favor by letting them go. You deserve to be dazzled, too.
3) You're in love but other people are telling you you're not. Screw 'em! Love is different for everyone and can only be seen through your eyes. Love is not comprised of one person's qualities plus another person's qualities, but the complex chemical connection created when they are intertwined. If you feel it, it's real. Hey, if Romeo and Juliet said they were in love, who are we to judge?
Enough beating around the bush. You asked me what I think love is, so I'll tell you. To me, love is being so comfortable that you never want to move. I don't mean "safe" comfortable or orthopedic shoes comfortable, I mean wanting to lie with someone forever, feeling like every molecule in your entire body is drawn to this person and that your skin on theirs is perfection. It's being happy just to know that person is alive. It's caring more about them than yourself. It's feeling incomplete in their absence - not a clingy, adolescent covetousness, just the slight sensation that something's missing, like when you wear a ring every day for years and then take it off to wash the dishes. It's wanting to write a thousand poems but having perpetual writer's block.
Hope that helps! And remember: always make love, not war.
-Kayy*
(01/24/07 12:00pm)
The apartments on Metzger Drive are scheduled to be demolished by March due to mold infestation and water damage. New apartments are scheduled to be completed by Fall 2009.
(01/24/07 12:00pm)
Signal Suggestions
Here are some headlines actually worth writing about instead of the Eick dishwasher being broken: "Reslife Student Staffers Fired for Exercising Fifth Amendment," "Reslife Uses Facebook to Bust Students," "Constitution Under Attack at the College," "Sodexho Prices Rise, Meal Plans Plateau," "Service at the Rat Needs Service," "Music Alumni Take Priority Over Music Undergrad."
A few other things I might change: Get rid of Ask Kayy. We can't honestly be expected to believe she somehow gets genuine letters that pertain to a new and interesting topic every month from the members of this student body. It hurts the integrity of the paper.
Stop letting people who don't know about theater or music review theater and music. Critics in this category in the real world are not journalists with an unlucky assignment; they're professionals of the field they critique who can write. Why be different at the College? Last semester a writer didn't understand the difference between the words "ensemble" and "concert."
Stop cursing because you think you're cool and in college and you couldn't in high school; be a professional fuckin' journalist and write. If you think it's hypocritical of me to call you out on cursing when I do it myself, think harder.
Cop Shop needs to be more professional; writing it for entertainment's sake sacrifices the integrity of the paper. And stop ending it with "there is no further information at this time"; we get that. That's why the article ends.
The comics. See above about cursing. Just because you couldn't draw Jesus saying "nigger" in high school doesn't mean it's necessary in the real world. I'm not trying to censor here; I'm trying to make a legitimate paper.
Opinion writers need to have an opinion that's based on logical thought process. Don't copy down a Bill O'Reilly transcript and reword it.
Add some new sections about student life, reports on upcoming events rather than (or, gasp, in addition to) reviews of past ones, faculty spotlight, student of the month spotlight, student concerns.
If after taking out all the bull shit, you find that all you have left are Remaly expos?s and the Sports pages, then fine. Build from that. Quality over quantity, Signal.
It's unfortunate when the best idea you've had has been to advertise with the bolded letters "S-E-X." It's also unfortunate how much paper you waste producing this excuse for a college newpaper. Oh, and give someone a negative fuckin' review once in a while.
(12/06/06 5:00pm)
For the last issue of the semester, we at Around the Dorm have decided to mix things up a bit. From now on different people will rotate in all the time! This week we have Signal Arts & Entertainment Assistant James Queally, Signal Managing Editor Andrew Grant and Signal Sports Editor Lauren Kohout. WTSR Station Manager Greg Miller will take over the reffing position for this week. Yay for end of the semester!
1) Now that we are 12 games into the NFL regular season and some of the contenders have distanced themselves from the pretenders, who do you believe has the best shot of winning the big one in Miami come February?
JQ: Every big contender has a fatal flaw this year, so I'm going with the only team capable of overcoming their Achilles' heel, the San Diego Chargers. There's no denying the Chargers' offensive power. LaDainian Tomlinson is having a phenomenal year. He's on pace to break the single-season touchdown record, while his presence on the field takes the pressure off of Philip Rivers, who is having a wonderful year in his own right. He's got a 94.5 passer rating on the year, and he's completed 65 percent of his tosses. The Chargers defense should find some new life with the return of Shawne Merriman to the lineup. Merriman has 8.5 sacks on the year, while teammate Shaun Phillips has 9.5. The Chargers can exploit every one of their potential foes' weaknesses while hiding their own well enough to march through the crowd of contenders.
AG: I have a feeling that the NFL playoffs are going to be really interesting this year. The top team in each conference has clear weaknesses that could lead to downfall: the Colts' run defense and the Bears' inconsistency at quarterback. I wouldn't be surprised if a wild card team that heats up in the last few games ends up winning the big game. Remember that the Steelers entered last year's playoffs on a four-game winning streak as a sixth seed. At this point, however, my Super Bowl favorite has to be the San Diego Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson has been unreal this season, and Philip Rivers has found success by not trying to do too much. The defense, though a bit inconsistent, was helped by the return of Shawne Merriman from suspension. Also keep in mind that if the Chargers remain second in the conference behind the Colts, they will never have to play a playoff game in the cold.
LK: I'd love to see Peyton Manning win a Superbowl and we all know he has the stuff to do it, but for some reason he plays more like Eli in the postseason. I think despite his postseason record, Joseph Addai, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne will help him through this postseason, so I'll take a risk and say the Indianapolis Colts will win it. Think about how many more awesome Peyton commercials there would be if he won the Super Bowl. By the way, I do like 6-foot-5, 230-pound quarterbacks with laser rocket arms.
GM: Andrew and Jimmy both brought up great points about the San Diego Chargers and in particular Tomlinson, Rivers, and the defense. However, Jimmy knows I am a sucker for stats so he grabs the 3 points. Andrew gets the 2 points for reminding the world that Pitt was a No. 6 seed, which still makes me ill. Lauren, no matter how many weapons Manning's laser rocket arm has to throw to, his chokes are legendary and only the Philly sports scene causes more heartache to its fans - 1 point for you.
2) Two months into baseball's offseason and the free agent market has already been raided with guys like Carlos Lee, Alfonso Soriano, Gary Matthews Jr. and the Japanese sensation Daisuke Matsuzaka finding new homes. Which offseason pickup, thus far, will prove most beneficial to his respective team?
JQ: Alfonso Soriano isn't the cure for the ailing Chicago Cubs, but he can definitely help stop the bleeding. Soriano's addition to just about any of the MLB's "lovable losers" would have rated as the "best free agent signing thus far," but the Cubs made the move, so they get the honor. Sticking Soriano in a lineup that already has Aramis Ramirez (119 RBIs in 2006) and Derrek Lee will definitely make opposing pitchers sweat when they come into Wrigley this year. Soriano nearly went 50-40 last year, amassing 46 home runs and 41 stolen bases in his 2006 campaign. Of course, pitching does win games, so the Cubs might want to think about getting someone else in that rotation besides Carlos Zambrano and Kerry Wood. Soriano's run support won't mean a damn thing if he's got no one to give it to.
AG: I don't think that any move made thus far will propel a team into World Series contention, and that includes those made by the Yankees, Mets, Phillies and Red Sox. However, I think that the signing of Alfonso Soriano is a great move for the Cubs. With the signing of Soriano, re-signing of Aramis Ramirez and hiring of Lou Piniella, Chicago has finally shown that it is serious about turning things around. With a lineup featuring Soriano, Ramirez, Derrek Lee and Cesar Izturis, the offense looks pretty good. The Cubs' pitching is always suspect, but Carlos Zambrano is a solid No. 1 guy, and maybe the baseball gods will finally show mercy for Mark Prior and Kerry Wood and allow them to pitch relatively injury-free seasons. I'm not saying the Cubs are going all the way (the streak will reach 99 years), but they're a historic team with great fans and it's good for baseball when they do well.
LK: Carlos Lee will be pretty beneficial to his team because the Astros couldn't hit last year and Lee can offer 30+ home runs with a decent average, definitely an upgrade. Soriano won't be too far behind because he will have less pressure on him because of his surrounding teammates like Aramis Ramirez. I wouldn't look past Adam Eaton with the Phils though, because he is looking to prove himself and may give the Phils a boost next season ... but maybe I'm just being hopeful. Oh well, a girl can dream.
GM: Once again, Jimmy and Andrew provide similar answers with the Cubs and Soriano. Will that break the curse of the Steve Bartmann/Billy Goat/Lovable Loser that has plagued them for almost a century? Probably not. Still, I applaud the signing and both answers, giving a split - 2.5 for Andrew (the knowledge of lineup and mention of Piniella) and Jimmy (the statistics, you know me too well). Lauren, I like the Carlos Lee pickup too, but Adam Eaton? Come on, you gotta do better than that. Sorry, but that's a 1 point effort.
3) In the NBA, the Eastern Conference has only three teams above .500 while the Western Conference, considered the better of the two at the beginning of the season, has eight teams (more than half of the conference). Is the Western Conference that much better than the East or is the East simply the worst collection of franchises in sports history?
JQ: The problem with the Eastern Conference is that all of its perennial contenders are one or two players short of being serious threats. The Nets lack a power forward, while Miami has an overweight Shaquille O'Neal and an aging Alonzo Mourning rotating in and out at center. The Cavaliers are still too dependent on LeBron James. The Pistons' starting lineup is a viable threat no matter who they play, but Richard Hamilton is scoring more points per game than any four of the players on their bench combined. To be successful in the NBA, you need a team that consists of solid role players who are guided by one or two superstars. Unfortunately for the Eastern Conference, I don't see any updated versions of Willis Reed or Larry Bird in their collective future. Every team has a superstar or a supporting cast, but neither has both. When the East starts to form complete teams akin to the Mavericks and Spurs out west, they will have a shot to compete again, but no sooner.
AG: Face it: The Eastern Conference is dreadful because the Knicks - who probably can be beaten by a handful of college teams - are less than five games out of a playoff spot. No team in the Atlantic Division is at or above .500. The only teams worth watching are Detroit, which is not the power it once was, Cleveland, which still needs a better supporting cast to complement LeBron James, and Orlando, which needs to keep up its strong play before it can be taken seriously. Last year, the Milwaukee Bucks made the playoffs with a 40-42 record. At this point, it looks like as many as five teams could make the playoffs in the East with more losses than wins. Let's not forget that the defending champions represent the Eastern Conference, and it wouldn't be a total surprise if it happened again this season. But for now, fans will have to suffer through some lousy games in the East.
LK: Because the East has sucked far worse than the West as far as I can remember, I would have to say that it must be a worse collection of teams. I can never figure out why exactly, though I have to admit: The West has had the latter dynasties like the Lakers, the Suns and the Spurs, whereas the East has not had a great dynasty since the Celtics won eight straight. Without checking I believe that lasted into the early '80s, not exactly recent. Sure, the Pistons have been semi-dominant in recent history, but they are one of the more Western-most teams geographically in the Eastern Conference. I don't think anyone will really ever figure out exactly why the West dominates like they do. All we can do now is hope for the best and pray that Shaquille O'Neal and LeBron James don't decide to become full-time actors.
GM: Jimmy, I agree that the East lacks that "complete team mentality" that teams like the Mavs, Suns and Spurs have. That being said, D-Wade almost single-handedly won the NBA Finals last year, while the Suns and Spurs sat at home watching them on TV. Still, your argument was the most sound and 3 points goes to you for having the best answer. Andrew, your answer gets 2 points. I loved the Knicks comment simply because Florida, Ohio State, Kansas and UNC would completely air them out on any given night. That being said, I think three teams is a little low for plus .500 teams since sheer numbers mean at least four or five East teams have to win some of the games. Lauren, I'm not doing this to be mean, but does the name Michael Jordan mean anything to you? I only say that because MJ and the Bulls OWNED the 1990s and, if he hadn't gone on to play baseball, probably would have won at least eight straight. 1 point Lauren, please don't hate me.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
The Student Finance Board (SFB) fully funded a high volume request submitted by the College Union Board (CUB) for a multi-college concert.
In a unanimous vote, CUB received $20,297.50 for a Spring 2007 concert in conjunction with Rowan University, Richard Stockton College of New Jersey and Monmouth University. The cost includes publicity. The College, with these three other schools, is planning to bid on a big-name urban/hip-hop artist to perform at Stockton's Recreation Center, which can accommodate up to 5,000 people.
The cost is divided among the four schools, with each college contributing $20,000.
SFB will "not be putting forth a lot of SAF money," Jon Borst, SFB executive director, said. If the bid for this concert is successful, there will still be sufficient funds in the high volume balance for a College-exclusive spring concert or event.
By incorporating these state schools, there will be a "great college atmosphere," according to Tara Conte, CUB director. Tickets are planned to be $15, and bus transportation will be provided.
CUB also presented a special appropriations request for $10,000 for CUB Nooners, which was unanimously funded with one member who abstained.
Once per month, CUB will hold this program in the Brower Student Center atrium during lunchtime. On- and off-campus students can participate in different activities, such as gameshows and crafts. This program was successful this semester, with activities such as Movie Makers, Pumpkin Patch and Blizzard of Bucks.
"This is the type of event the board is looking to fund," Blair Gumnic, SGA representative for SFB, said.
Uni?n Latina presented a multicultural request for $2,990 for its program "Gala de la Raza: Journey Across the Americas." In a 13-0-1 vote, Uni?n Latina received full funding.
The gala is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 10, in the student center, as a guide through Latin American countries. A student-performed skit will introduce each country, and a presentation will follow introducing the country's culture. The performances will mainly be traditional Latin dances by different groups. Traditional food will be served as another element of the Latin American culture.
The Student Government Association requested $629.60 for TCNJ Holiday in a special appropriations request. Though two SFB members abstained from voting, the request was fully funded in a vote of 11-0-2.
TCNJ Holiday has been running for 18 years. The festivities will start in front of Green Hall with speeches about the differences among religious holidays. Then, there will be hot chocolate, cider and cookies in the student center. While students are enjoying these holiday snacks, crafts will be made and then donated to charity. Students will also have an opportunity to be a kid again and take a picture with Santa.
In the last request, Borst presented a special appropriations request for $17,280 to continue SFB's UV Latenite program in the spring. During the fall, the program was very successful and SFB hopes to extend it. In a unanimous vote, the request was fully funded.
Activities such as poker, sponsored by PEANUTS, and bingo, sponsored by CUB, will be continued. A comedian will most likely be sponsored by the College's improv group, Mixed Signals. Other activities will include game shows, a coffeehouse and a psychic. UV Latenite takes place in the Travers/Wolfe dining hall on Friday nights.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
Men's Soccer
The men's soccer team fell short of its own expectations, but still had a respectable season this year with a 7-8-1 record. Senior forward Matt Luber led the Lions in scoring with eight goals and 18 points with five game-winning goals. Luber was then named to the 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America adidas All-Metro Region Second Team.
Men's Tennis
After only one month of play, the men's tennis team stirred up plenty of excitement in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) Northeast Championships. Freshman Jeremy Eckardt arrived on the scene and made his presence known at the College as he reached the singles semifinals of the tournament, where he fell to the defending champion. Eckardt faced his teammate, junior Eric Ferriere, to earn his ticket to the semifinals. Junior Mike Klimchak, senior Corey Ball and freshman Roger Mosteller also took part in the ITA Tournament. The Lions will resume their full season in the Spring and look to compete in their National tournament.
Field Hockey
The Lions made it to the NCAA Regional Championships before falling to the Messiah College Falcons 2-1 to finish with a 17-3 record. All was not lost, however, as three Lions were named to the All-America team and two were honored by the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association (ECAC). Seniors Jess Berkowitz, Meg Hess and Allison Greene were named All-Americans while Berkowitz and Hess received ECAC First Team honors.
Women's Soccer
The women's soccer team made an impressive run at the National Championship before losing to Wheaton College 2-0 in the NCAA Final in Walt Disney World. With a 18-2-3 record, Wheaton was responsible for both losses. After winning the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship, junior defender Courtney Krol and junior forward Dana DiBruno were named to the 2006 National Soccer Coaches Association of America adidas Mid-Atlantic All-Region First Team, while senior Christine Mullin was named to the Second Team and junior Kristen Cubiciotti was named to the Third Team. Krol was also named the 2006 NJAC Defensive Player of the Year. Losing only one player to graduation this year, Mullin, the Lions expect to come back stronger than ever next season.
Women's Tennis
The Lions showed how strong they can be this season as they won their 24th straight NJAC Championship. They are 116-0 all-time in NJAC play. Freshman Jackie Shtemberg made headlines all season as she was named the NJAC Player and Rookie of the Year. After placing sixth in the ITA Singles Championship, she paired with junior Christina Contrafatto to finish fifth in the doubles bracket of the tournament. Contrafatto placed seventh in the same tournament last year. Shtemberg was the ITA Regional Singles Champion while she and Contrafatto were the ITA Regional Doubles Champions. Head coach Scott Dicheck was named NJAC Coach of the Year for the team's perfect record.
Football
Though the Lions finished with a 4-6 overall record, the football team added plenty of excitement for Lions fans this season. With a thrilling overtime Homecoming win over William Paterson University and an upset win over Kean University to end the season, the Lions have much to be proud of. Junior defensive lineman Joe King headlined the NJAC All-Star team as he was named to the First Team after having 11.5 sacks on the year, ranking seventh in the NCAA.
Cross Country
After a successful season, the men's and women's cross country teams participated in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. The men's team finished in eighth place overall while the women came in 22nd place. Junior Brian Kopnicki was the top finisher as he came in 21st with a time of 27:31 and received All-America status for his finish. Senior Jenna Fasulo was the top finisher for the women's team, coming in 73rd place in a time of 24:50.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
Even though finals should be keeping me too busy to even think about relationships, I'm so preoccupied with my ex. We haven't been serious since high school, but it seems that every time I'm home for the holidays I stray back to him. He was my first love, but to be honest, he's a jerk, and everyone gets pissed at me for hooking up with him over Winter Break, but I can't help it! I get so lonely over the holidays being single, which I have been for the past few, and all I want to do is run back to him, even though every time I just get hurt. Any advice on how to avoid him? Thanks.
Miss Sappy Claus
Dear Miss Sappy Claus,
It is perfectly normal to get that little twinge of sadness during the holidays. It's supposed to be a time of joy, love, unity and peace yadda yadda yadda, but it often turns out to be the time for holiday pounds and slight depression. This is not to say people in relationships don't get this way, but since I've spent many a holiday in your position, we'll focus on the effects of holiday cheer on the single soul.
First of all, there's nothing wrong with being single. I mean, I spent most of my 21 years single and pretty happy. But, I totally get what you're feeling. In fact, it just may have been what drove me to my ex two years in a row.
I remember last year, when I was still single and fabulous, I was at my family Christmas dinner. And what did that consist of? Mom and dad, big brother and fianc?e, little brother and little girlfriend, the newlywed (and still honeymooning) cousins and all of my happily married aunts and uncles. I was surrounded by cuddling couples, sharing their love during the "happiest time of the year" and I was just sitting there, three pi?a coladas deep, text-messaging a cute friend of a friend I met on myspace.com. Can we say pathetic?
Of course, on top of being the only obviously single person at the kiddie table, I had those questions: "Where's so-and-so?" (The wealthy, attractive asshole I'd only gone on three dates with seven months ago). Or, "are you seeing anyone special?" And this is the clincher, the comment that leads to seconds and thirds and fourths of pumpkin pie: "Don't worry, honey. You'll find Mr. Right someday; he's out there." ARGHHH!!! This one gets me so frustrated that once I responded to my uber-religious aunt with "You mean MISS Right."
So, now that I'm done with that lovely trip down memory lane, you understand why lots of people feel lonely when they're single during the holidays. Especially if there's a person in your life that you haven't quite gotten over yet who's within close reach, it's difficult to turn that down when you feel like everyone else is partnered up and satisfied.
But in reality, don't assume that those people in relationships are happy or that you can't feel complete, satisfied or content just because you don't have a man or woman to go sleigh riding with. Not to sound too cynical, but how many couples canoodling by the fireplace last year are even on speaking terms this year? And things aren't always how they seem. People may be swallowing their anger or problems for the sake of projecting a positive image for their familes while they envy you for your freedom and independence.
So, this guy's a jerk and just ends up hurting you after the ball drops in Times Square and Santa leaves the mall atrium. So why bother? I know you may be feeling vulnerable, but think of it this way: you've managed to avoid him the rest of the year, which should make you realize it's the season making you miss him, not your actual romantic feelings. So why give in just because Hallmark, NBC and Aunt Lucy think you should be in a relationship? Besides, you're 21, not 40 (and even then, screw 'em!). You have all the time in the world to find your soulmate, if you believe in that shazz, so just enjoy being young and single and have a good glass of wine.
Don't think you need a significant other during the holidays. There are plenty of significant people in your life to be celebrating. Spend time with your family (even Aunt Lucy), visit high school buddies, have sleepovers with your best friends. This should be a happy time to relax, rejuvenate for the spring semester and reflect on last year's accomplishments and good times - not revert back to bad habits and worse boyfriends.
And who knows, maybe you'll find a new person to meet under the mistletoe . if you ditch this d-bag you can keep your options open and your emotions level. He causes more damage than good, so ignore his phone calls and return the fruitcake he sent you!
Stay strong, I have plenty of faith in you.
Happy holidays!
Kayy
Some New Year's Resolutions:
1) Two words: Kegel exercises. You'll thank me one day.
2) Try a new position every week . or every two minutes.
3) Stop stalking your ex's ex.
4) Make your own list of things you'd like to accomplish in the bedroom, and keep a sex journal to track your progress!
5) Throw a sex toy party.
6) Visit tonguejoy.com and change your life.
7) Buy some silver bullets - and no, not the kind that kill werewolves.
8) Admit to your mom you're not a virgin (it will lead to great things, I swear!)
9) Go on a blind date.
10) Use a mirror to check out your nether regions.
11) Stop faking orgasms!
12) Give someone a chance you normally wouldn't.
13) Say you love being single and mean it.
14) Make a gyno appointment.
15) Women: stop saying you're not mad when you are.
16) Men: stop acting mad when you're not.
17) Forgive your exes, for real, and move the hell on.
18) Read something, anything, by Naomi Wolf.
19) Go on a real date - watching "The Boondock Saints" in your dorm does NOT count.
20) Rent "Unfaithful" or the "End of the Affair" and read Dracula.
21) Go commando a couple days a week.
22) Play a good old-fashioned game of "Spin the Bottle" with your floormates.
23) Stop limiting your prospective romances to the College. Princeton and Rider are right down the road.
24) Ring in the New Year happy, regardless of your relationship status.
25) Try to be at least 1 percent as open and obnoxious about sex as I am.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
The College commenced with the draining of Lake Ceva in mid-November. The lake is being drained so that the College can repair damage to the dam accrued over many years. The repairs are mandated by the State Department of Environmental Protection.
(12/06/06 12:00pm)
Campus Police seek
to improve relations
There has been a great deal written within The Signal's pages this fall about the relationship between members of the College community and the office of Campus Police Services.
By nature, the interaction between those charged with enforcing laws and those who, even inadvertently, transgress them is often less than pleasant.
There are some, however, who feel that this relationship has become strained and is causing an erosion of our campus' sense of community.
I believe we must acknowledge this perceived rift and address it so as to ensure it is not a reflection of reality.
Campus Police has a responsibility to protect and serve our campus. They are obligated to enforce the laws of our state, but they are also members of our community, not adversaries.
At question is not whether to ignore or let pass certain viola ions. Our police simply cannot do so without compromising safety and security.
The real question is, "How can Campus Police perform their duties and be considered allies by those whom they serve?"
I believe at least part of the answer is a combination of improved communication and increased familiarity.
Toward that end, we have begun several new initiatives in recent months that will, hopefully, transform the dynamic between students, faculty, staff and police into more of a partnership.
In addition, Sgt. Jim Lopez has agreed to assume a key role in guiding this effort as the office of Campus Police Services' new lieutenant.
Other steps have already been taken. Campus Police Services is now meeting monthly with a Student Government Association representative to discuss issues and exchange information.
They also recently met with the Residence Hall Association and participated in a Students' Rights Forum sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union chapter at the College.
A new program assigns Campus Police officers to specific residential facilities in order to strengthen bonds with the students living in those particular communities.
Additionally, we are working more collaboratively with Ewing Township and local residents while providing training and information sessions for off-campus, first-year and foreign students as well as parents.
It is important to the overall welfare of our community for Campus Police to be a welcomed and respected presence. An ad-hoc committee of faculty, staff and students is presently reviewing current practices and will provide feedback later this academic year.
In the interim, we are endeavoring to address negative perceptions and improve communication. I encourage anyone willing to advance this effort by sharing their comments or concerns directly with the office of Campus Police Services or, at the very least, your representatives on the Student Government Association, Faculty Senate or Staff Senate. Issues cannot be addressed unless we are aware of their existence.
Curt Heuring,
VP for Facilities Management, Construction and Campus Safety
(11/29/06 5:00pm)
As the temperature begins to drop, there is always one thing to warm your bones: Around The Dorm! This is the last hurrah for the usual suspects before we begin rotating new people in. Here is the lineup you all know and love: Signal sports editor Lauren Kohout, WTSR sports director Patrick Lavery and Signal staff writer Ray Lodato. I am Rob "I'm not even supposed to be here today" Viviano.
1) I am a long-suffering Jets fan and I see some glimmer of hope. They are currently 6-5, one win out of the wild card spot for the playoffs. With supposedly the easiest schedule in the NFL for the last half of the season, do the Jets make the playoffs? More importantly, do they overcome the Patriots?
LK: If the Patriots beat every team that does not have a better record than them, they will be 12-4. Since the Jets already have five losses, I can't see them passing the Patriots. I do think they can make the playoffs as a wild card team. New York has to hope that Cincinnati and Jacksonville tack on a few more losses and that Kansas City takes a turn for the worse. Of course we're still talking about the Jets, so there is a good chance they will lose to the Raiders in their final game and decide to change their name to the New Jersey Jets, since that is where they actually play.
PL: You talk about long-suffering? Some of our fellow Gang Green supporters (yes, I'm one too) have been waiting since 1970 for the second apocalypse. The Jets, who never do things the easy way, will end the season with a winning record. But don't expect them to make the playoffs unless they do overtake the Patriots for the AFC East crown, because the rest of the conference is too good for them to earn a wild card spot. However, don't forget that the Jets have done this before: beating the Packers on the final day of the 2002 season to clinch a 9-7 record and break a three-way tie with the Pats and Fins. Did I mention (see the beginning of this response) that the Jets are the only professional sports team whose nickname is also a medical condition?
RL: My crystal ball is saying chances are slim-to-none. Sure, the Jets have played some tough games and have shocked people as to how much they're competing, but let's not fool ourselves: Making the playoffs in the AFC is either going to take a very good squad or a very lucky squad. With the Patriots in the AFC East, the Jets are neither. The Jets are 6-5, meaning they'll need to go 5-1 over their next six games to make the postseason. The Jets have to face a surging Miami team, a Vikings squad fighting for their playoff lives and a surprisingly difficult defensive unit in Buffalo, the same unit that hung with the Colts. Therefore, I'm not betting on a mediocre team to come up big simply because it doesn't have the personnel. Eric Mangini has done a fantastic Belichick impression in New York, but it's not his year. Not yet.
RV: The hopes of beating the Pats are, honestly, non-existent. Saying that, 3 points go to Lauren for being the one who made the correct statement that the Jets can (and in my mind will) do this because the teams above them will bumble and they will go 5-1 or 6-0. Ray, 2 points for being harsh on the Jets and still recognizing that beating the Pats won't happen. Oh, and Minnesota, schedule-wise, is out of the running already. Pat - 1 point. I loved the answer, I love the memories of Jets' past, but this time it's just not possible unless Tom Brady suffers massive heart failure in the next three days.
2) Swim team time. It may be hard to identify one "most influential" part of this team, which involves so many different events, but this is your job. Tell me who you feel is the "biggest star" of the swimming and diving teams.
LK: Last year this would have been a much easier question because we had an NCAA champion on the men's team, Steve Swenson. But since he has graduated, I feel as though both teams are still looking for their standouts. Junior Ava Kiss has been winning events and putting up NCAA qualifying times since she was a freshman, and Lee Swanson has proven herself time and time again as the College's best diver. On the men's side it is tougher to tell who the star is. Easy answer: They don't have one. The men's team is standing at 3-1 because it is swimming as a team and putting points on the scoreboard one event at a time, with no individual standing out because they are all doing well. It's a well-rounded team and apparently pretty buoyant.
PL: Since I admittedly know nothing about the swimming and diving team, I enlisted the help of a secret source with strong ties to the team to help me out. If this person chooses to come forward, therefore becoming subject to the wrath of the swim team, I can't take any responsibility. That being said, my informer told me that the "star" of the swimming and diving team is probably Kiss. Despite the record of the girls' team, Kiss has been a bright spot, and her previous track record speaks for itself: She was an All-American for both her freshman and sophomore years, and she is the only returning member of this year's girls' team who swam at nationals last year. Though there are several returning All-Americans on the men's side, Kiss' overall performance, plus an endorsement from my source, makes her my choice.
RL: Swimming isn't the electrifying sport track and field can be in terms of the adrenaline rush that is the 100-meter dash, but it is a great team sport. No matter how many superstars you have on your team, a few weak links can ruin an otherwise successful meet. That's why I'm going to vote for the men's and women's 200-meter medley relay. A team race in the most fundamental sense, every member of the relay squad puts his hopes in his teammates' hands, as personal achievements don't mean squat unless your foursome can be, well, a well-lubricated machine shooting through the water. (How's that for some imagery?)
RV: For using a source and looking up some stats on Kiss, I agree with Pat here - 3 points. For somehow listing a relay team of multiple people as one "person," Ray has both avoided the inevitable hate mail and been able to select just one to pick as the most impressive component - 2 points. Lauren, they are buoyant. You just got the short end of the stick here, and you did point out Kiss and other outstanding competitors, but you just didn't have the luck this round - 1 point.
3) The NHL has actually done it, and my Madden game does it whenever I select "fantasy draft": complete team redrafting. It's highly unlikely any sport will actually do it, but which professional sport would you most like to see have a total team redrafting?
LK: Just to piss off Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, it's got to be baseball. Because of money differences, many teams can't get the players they really want and all the good ones end up in one place. I mean really, does a batting order with Derek Jeter, A-Rod, Bobby Abreu, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon really seem fair? A complete redraft in baseball would actually make the season more exciting because there wouldn't be any ridiculously horrible teams; everyone would have the same chance of getting their hands on some talent. Knowing my town's luck, Pat Gillick will be busy during the redraft and get the Phils screwed over with his pre-rankings. Damn simulations.
PL: If you're going to redraft any league, please let it be the NBA. David Stern's done everything right in his 20-plus years as commissioner except for ensuring a fair balance of power between the Eastern and Western Conferences in the wake of the Bulls' run of championships in the '90s. The Western Conference has been dominant for so long now that it has become comical. Unfortunately, you couldn't help my poor, star-crossed Knickerbockers even if you gave them Tim Duncan, Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash, but hey, those three'll be a help to somebody. Maybe with the Bobcats Kobe can score 100.
RL: I think basketball would benefit most from a fantasy draft. The way the NBA's soft salary cap is set, a bad GM (such as Philadelphia's Billy King or New York's Isiah Thomas) can completely destroy basketball in a city. Thomas has somehow singlehandedly destroyed the NBA's marquee franchise in the New York Knicks and Billy King has run the Sixers, one of the NBA's four most storied franchises, into the ground with terrible trades and even worse re-signings. Due to the nature of the NBA's guaranteed salaries, once an NBA team is screwed, it's screwed for a long time, unless another team cleans up the mistake via trade. Who does that end up hurting the worst? The fans, of course. Think about an NBA in which the Lakers, Sixers, Celtics and Knicks could once again flourish. Think about how good that would be for the sport. I'm not disrespecting small market teams in the least, but when a league's marquee franchise is screwed for the next five years, who is that benefiting?
RV: Baseball is a game where the more money the consumer pumps into the team, the more the owner can afford to put back into the team in the form of horrible acquisitions. Now for the fun part: Ray, an amazing point, and I also hate the salary system that makes team rosters semi-stagnant, though job stability is nice for a player. But there are better reasons to enjoy a redraft than giving the Knicks a new batch of horribly drafted and five-year tenured players - 1 point. Lauren, I described why you're only getting 2 points above. But I have to admit more than half of the world wants to see it happen just to bite into the Yankees' roster. Pat, the imbalance between East and West is why I lack any real enthusiasm for basketball - 3 points.
With a 7-6-5 final score, I decide the winner to be: Pat Lavery.
(11/29/06 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I'm a senior here (okay, super-senior) and I've always been known as the player type. People joke that I can't hook up with a girl more than three times, but it's not too far from the truth. I've met cute girls, nice girls, cool girls and whatever but just never felt the desire to get serious. I mean, I know I've probably hurt a few girls' feelings, especially earlier in college before I became the notorious player, but it's gotten easier since girls kind of expect it. A lot of the girls I've hooked up with in the past few years have just peaced after one or two hookups, didn't ask for my number and pretty much acted like it never happened. All my guy friends think I'm so lucky that I'm constantly getting action with no strings attached, but toward the end of last year I really started getting sick of it. Especially when I met this one girl this fall, who is really amazing. I want to date her but she refuses to take me seriously, probably because we have mutual friends and they tell her I just want to hook up with her and move on. I like her a lot, and want to start things with her especially since I'll be graduating in May and have yet to have a serious relationship.
Thanks,
I don't wanna be a player no more
Dear I don't wanna be a player no more,
I'm sure a lot of my female readers would like me to have a three word response: "Karma's a bitch," but that's not nice and everybody deserves a chance at love!
You're dealing with something a lot of people go through in college. When people enter freshman year, a lot of them go crazy. You have co-ed dorms and parties, no parents and more access to alcohol. I remember freshman year my Community Advisor was constantly consoling us when boys would pull the "wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am" bullshit. A senior herself, she assured us that this is just a phase. "Usually by second semester freshman year everyone's coupled up and wants to calm down," she said.
Well she was right, except for the fact that I've found it's not until at least junior year when the players and playettes want to get serious. Throughout junior year I sat back and laughed as even the most notorious studs settled down (and by studs I mean both men and women). In fact, it wasn't until junior year when I finally traded in my dirty stay-outs for cuddly "Love Actually" rental stay-ins.
Sometimes, the transition isn't that easy, even if you don't have as big of a "promiscuous" reputation as you claim to have (God, I hate that word). To tell you the truth, it's pretty damn hard trusting people enough to get emotionally intimate in college. You'll trust someone enough to make out with them but not enough to actually talk to them about your feelings. Sad, but true.
What it comes down to - and this is for men and women alike - the whole "hookup culture" has made serious relationships a bit harder. And I don't think there's anything wrong with a hookup - I'm just stating the facts. There used to be two categories: single and committed. But now, which I'm finding while I compile my book, there is a whole other area: somewhere-in-between.
Because now there's the option of getting physical without having a title (like I said, I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing), it complicates feelings and intentions. Now that we have that option, which I believe is totally encouraged by the hypersexual media that is thrown at us, we have to sit and wonder if we even want to commit at all. And because we don't know what the other person's thinking, it's hard to make the leap and confess how you feel for fear of rejection.
What makes it especially hard is all the creeps and sneaks out there - men and women alike. We all play games. We may play up certain things about ourselves and others in order to make them think a certain way of us (i.e., act committal or sweet just to make someone want to have sex with us). The whole hookup thing blurs lines between friends, lovers, flings, dates and relationships. When a "friend" is cozying up to you as a "friend" and says how glad he or she is that you're "friends," and then half an hour later has his or her arm around you pulling some "what would you say if I told you I wanted to kiss you right now" cheesy Brat Pack bullshit, we're left confused, and our ability to trust people is weakened.
So -- how do you build trust? How do you convince this girl that you're done fooling around and want to get serious? Here's Kayy's "How to Win a Girl in 10 Days." And this is no Kate Hudson rip-off: 10 days just happens to be how long it took for my boyfriend to snag me.
1) First off . make sure she likes you too. I don't mean head-over-heels, but at least some interest. And make sure she wants a relationship too - if she genuinely just wants a hookup you probably won't get too far, and a quick heated hookup might ruin the chances of anything bigger in the future.
2) Get to know her. And not from MySpace or her friends. Actually talk to her, whether it's on AIM or in person. Find out what she likes, what her hobbies are and who she is.
3) Just be yourself. I've always thought that "10 Things I Hate About You" approach - snooping through a girl's stuff to impress her - was creepy and she probably will too (unless you look like Heath Ledger in hot pants, of course). If all of a sudden you list all of her favorite bands, in the order she has them listed on facebook.com, she'll be suspicious.
Also, if you pretend to be really into something, and then you actually get together, you'll have to keep that charade going or look like a jerkoff. Do you really want to end up at the Project Runway season finale party at her sorority house?
4) Actions speak louder than words. Saying all cutesy stuff to her won't get you far if you don't see it through. If you say you like her, act like it. If you say you're going to be somewhere or do something, actually do it. And all that really cutesy stuff sometimes can be a turnoff for girls - you shouldn't be saying you love her when you barely know her, which might make her think you're just trying to smoothly operate into her bedroom.
5) The simple things mean a lot. I remember when I first met my boyfriend, he didn't say a whole lot about my beautiful eyes or my good heart in the first few days (that came about a week into the relationship).
But he did put his arm around me in front of my friends he just met, and he did make sure I was comfortable wherever we went by introducing me to people, explaining things to me and asking if I was having fun. That showed a lot to me about his character.
6) This one's a little obvious, but don't rush things physically or romantically. I know you'll be graduating soon and you're probably in that "Oh my God, I'm single and graduating and starting to bald" mentality I've seen a lot of guys get, but cool your shorts. If she's worth it, and you two really hit it off, it won't matter where you're going in May - you'll figure it out when it comes time. Take it slow, cowboy.
7) Avoid one-on-one dates at first. You can get to know someone just as well in a group setting, or maybe even better. Showing her off to your friends and introducing her to them will definitely let her know you're proud to be with her, not just a "Dirty Little Secret" on the side. Act the same in front of your friends as you do alone, which can be hard but get over it! That will probably really impress her.
8) Be available. Like I said before, if you say you'll do something, do it. And if you go out without her, don't keep silencing her phone calls or ignoring her text messages. Even if you're just doing it cause it's loud where you are and plan on calling her back, that'll send one message to her: whatever you're doing is more important than her.
9) Chivalry is not dead. I don't mean love sonnets and pulling out chairs - yuck. But both men and women should respect each other, show they care and be considerate.
Buying her a limited edition CD of her favorite band is a whole lot more thoughtful than dropping $30 on a dozen roses that are just going to get dusty and shrivel up. There's nothing wrong with flowers, but I've taken a stance against them for years just because it forces my date to have to get a little more creative.
If it doesn't work out, don't sweat it. Just cause you're graduating doesn't mean you won't meet any great girls out in the real world. The College is a limited population, especially by the time you're a senior. Everyone has a reputation and a past, and sometimes that's hard to live down. Don't think just because you're older you need to be in a relationship - just let it come naturally.
Be affectionate, be honest and be yourself. And if that's not good enough for this girl, she's not worth your time.
Good luck!
Kayy
(11/29/06 12:00pm)
On Wednesday, Nov. 15, Theta Phi Alpha sorority hosted Autumn Angel, a mock beauty pageant, to raise money for various philanthropies.
(11/29/06 12:00pm)
Brand New
"The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me"
4 out of 5 stars
As is typical of Brand New, several tracks on this album end in instrumental screeches that make you wonder why the band is so intent on making fans' ears bleed. More important though is why fans (me included) will still give the band rave reviews while wiping the blood from the sides of our faces.
"Because my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark," Jesse Lacey sings on "Jesus Christ," and no line could more aptly describe this album. Brand New has discovered demons that contemporary nightmare-mongers My Chemical Romance can't even begin to fathom. Some songs on this album actually gave me the shivers.
However, the lyrics on this record aren't as complex and detailed as most Brand New fans would be used to, and there are a few missteps. "Life is a test, and I get bad marks," Lacey croons as he gets a bit too emo during "Degausser" with his assertion that "I'll never say anything right." Some verses, however, are spot on.
I must admit I was a bit nervous for the album to come when I heard the title a few weeks ago. But luckily I was proven wrong after only one full listen of the album. These songs are almost evenly split between "good" and "evil," and even the instrumental tracks match the theme. Many songs are loaded with references to Lacey's Catholic upbringing and heartfelt intentions, while others sound like journal entries from a disturbed teen. "I'd drown all these crying babies, if I knew that their mothers wouldn't cry, I'd hold them down and I'd squeeze real soft, I'd let a piece of myself die."
Key Tracks: "Jesus Christ," "Archers Bows Have Broken"
- Candida DeFonseca,
Arts & Entertainment Editor
Damien Rice
"Nine"
3 out of 5 stars
Driving back home from a trip to Pennsylvania at 10:30 at night, with the tryptophan from the turkey I'd had earlier still coursing through my system, is not exactly the best time to be listening to Damien Rice. This is not a knock in any way on Mr. Rice, whose debut album, "O," caused quite a stir in 2003.
It earned him a major-label record deal and many album sales as the Irish singer-songwriter's hushed and emotionally charged style of guitar folk-pop captured listeners with its intelligent lyrics and sensitive arrangements.
I can't help but feel like there are moments on this album that come across as a touch forced. Damien Rice is a wonderfully literate and aware songwriter; his lyrics on his last record back this up, as do his lyrics here. Musically though, a few of the arrangements come off as almost lethargic at times and thus lose some of their charm.
There is a subtle energy to the music of Damien Rice, one that many people can't quite detect. Where this was a constant on his last album, it runs in spurts on this one. Despite all this, it's still a solid record.
Key Tracks: "Dogs," "Coconut Skins"
Lady Sovereign
"Public Warning"
3.5 out of 5 stars
It's been quite the past year-and-a half for Lady Sovereign, the young British hip-hop maven who describes herself as the "biggest midget in the game," but let me start out by issuing a warning to all of you out there who may not be familiar with British style hip-hop. This is nothing like your David Banners or T.I.s of the world, especially Lady Sovereign, who is a proponent of Grime Rap, which is traditionally a very fast and aggressive style of hip-hop.
Anyway, Lady Sovereign comes to us with a clever and bombastic lyrical style and a delivery that no one else I've heard can compare with. Plus, she has the street cred to back this all up, unlike some Mr. Van Winkles out there (she grew up in Northwest London's notorious rough Chalkhill Estate, a public housing project). She was able to impress Jay-Z with a single freestyle, which certainly says a lot about her ability.
But the true beauty of this album lies in the fact that it catches her at an interesting phase of her career: old enough to put together some truly quick and spunky lines, yet young enough to not yet be corrupted by the music biz.
Key Tracks: "9 to 5," "Love Me Or Hate Me," "Those Were The Days"
Pilot Speed
"Into The West"
4 out of 5 stars
Pilot Speed is not the original name for this band. This Canadian quartet started off calling themselves Pilate, but had to change the name back in June. The reason? If they did not change their name they were going to be sued by companies outside of Canada.
This was merely a minor setback for a band with a boatload of potential. They've garnered a whole bunch of attention in their native land, including winning the title of "best unsigned band" at the 2002 North by Northeast music festival in Toronto. This album, their second overall, finds itself among a small group of records that is solid from beginning to end.
Musically, the band peddles a sweeping blend of melodic rock that is akin to U2 and early era Radiohead. Lead singer Todd Clark seems to be channeling Bono with a soaring vocal delivery that trembles slightly at the top of his register.
Now many have tried to cop Bono and failed in the process. I'm not saying the Clark is doing just that, but he doesn't try to do too much or over-dramatize his delivery. The final result of all of this? A damn fine album from what is a damn fine band.
As James Queally said about the song "Knife-Grey Sea": "That's just so damn pretty that I almost forgot what I was doing."
Key Tracks: "A Kind of Hope," "Knife-Grey Sea," "Turn The Lights On"
(11/29/06 12:00pm)
Sweet, sweet democracy
Thanks to The Signal for running the article "Alum Supports Pro-Choice in South Dakota." That alum, Kelly Baden, helped defeat the ballot initiative which would have outlawed every abortion in the state, even if the woman's health or life were in danger. Armed with the facts, Baden engaged voters in a conversation and got them to the polls. Take note: This is how you participate in a democracy!
The proposed law was extreme for a country that stands moderately on the abortion issue. According to a Newsweek poll from October 2006, U.S. voters are 53 percent pro-choice and 39 percent right-to-life.
Other polls reflect a similar pro-choice lean or at least a 50/50 split. So how did the extremists hijack the abortion debate? Simply put, the moderates let them.
According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, only about 48 percent of eligible Americans actually vote. When all of the world's democracies are ranked for political participation, the U.S. falls in 114th place.
That's how we ended up with George Bush taking us for a ride backwards in time, with policies that don't work and a war that costs us $195 million a day, according to the U.S. Department of Defense for 2005. Politicians can buy power or kill for it, but it only lasts when millions of "us" sit home in silence and accept it.
I voted on Nov. 7, and I'm grateful to everyone else who did. Despite what Keith Lucas said in "College Community Houses Intellectual Void," I know that this College is full of intellectuals who are affecting change.
Many of us are also tied by a history of violence. We have relatives who fought, who were tortured and who died for democracy. If nothing else, we should vote in their honor. Maybe then we won't have to die for democracy any more.
If you didn't vote this year, then you allowed people like me to pick your representatives and answer ballot questions about how your property taxes, fuel taxes and open space will be used.
There's still a chance to bleed red, white and blue again. Register to vote. 2008 will be here before you know it. Spend 20 minutes on the Internet raising your consciousness. At a family dinner, ask a relative how much they spend on healthcare each year.
Ask how they plan to retire now that America has no money left for Social Security. Ask them what it was like before 1965, when it was illegal to sell contraceptives in America.
Then, take a generous helping of mashed potatoes, smile and be thankful that you live in a democracy.
Jessica Van Liere
Ed. majors stuck with a filthy Forcina
I am writing in reference to the condition of Forcina Hall, also known as the education building. As an alumna of the College's early childhood education program and now a graduate student in the reading program at the College, I have spent many an hour in the halls and rooms of Forcina. I am saddened to say that this year the state of this building is more deplorable than I have ever seen. Take a walk with me, if you will:
I park, hopefully, if there is an available spot in the garage or above it, and an overflowing garbage can awaits me at the entrance to Forcina.
I carry my trash in and throw it away in one of the receptacles marked "Glass," "Bottles" or "Paper." I am a proponent of recycling, but these are the options and I try to choose the lesser of the evils.
I trudge up four flights of stairs (and it's seemingly always the fourth floor once you hit graduate school) dragging a bit from the weight of heavy textbooks because the shaking, quaking, slower-than-George-Bush's-seemingly-never-ending-term-of-presidency-elevator is filled with bags of garbage with not a custodian in sight.
As I ascend to the top floor, I pause to catch my breath and stare in wonder at the cobwebs that have accumulated on the corners of the stairs.
Almost as unbelievable as the cookie crumbs that had been scattered on the fourth floor of the stairwell for three - count 'em - three weeks and running. (Maybe finally dispersed by a hungry rodent, perhaps???) Halloween decorations, maybe? But no, not unless the decorating began in August...
I enter the classroom, winded from my exercise, and commiserate with my classmates about the state of the building.
As we move on and begin our activities within the classroom, it becomes even more apparent that the rooms have been neglected as well.
Old writing on the chalkboards, layers of dust on the ledges and a floor littered with paper holes, scraps and ... some other unidentifiable liquid stain.
Cold wind blows out of the vents and we shiver with our coats and scarves in August brought for the sole purpose of not catching a chill while engaged in our pursuit of a master's degree.
A paper taped to the duct crinkles as it blows in a feeble attempt to try and redirect the air. As an allergy sufferer, I guess I should double up on my weekly shots because the amount of filth that is covering the legs of chairs and desks has got to be the result of dust bunnies on steroids.
I look forward to those professors who have, in disgust, insisted on moving their classes to somewhere else far, far away from Forcina.
I understand that not all professors can do this, since their offices may be located in Forcina, but I sure do appreciate those beautiful new buildings that all seem to contain multiple IBM computer labs and sparkling linoleum that we in Forcina can only dream about.
Forcina Hall is on the far side of campus, but I've dealt with that for over six years because I don't have much control over that fact.
I also understand that constructipon is a timely, expensive matter, and that the College is looking to entice students into entering their engineering, nursing, etc. majors, but I do seem to recall this being a school that prides itself on its educational foundation.
I'm sure there are big plans for a glorious building that I will not be around to enjoy. However, is it too much to ask for a well-maintained building in the meantime? Is it too much to ask that the maintenance team do the "minimum" that is outlined and assured to visitors to their Web page?
The students of Forcina Hall are being forced to learn in conditions that would not entice a single new student.
In fact, I recently had a discussion with a woman who attends the College and has discouraged her daughter from even applying to the school because of the conditions of Forcina Hall as well as some of the dorms on campus.
This may seem like a small matter in the grand scheme of things, and believe it or not, I am not one to write long, complaining letters to the editor or the like.
However, the students of Forcina (myself included) have not only waited patiently for a clean, updated facility, they've literally paid for it. Cleanliness is not simply something we desire, but something we deserve.
We work hard at full-time jobs educating this nation's youth, and then come to a dingy, filthy building that simply does not reflect the high standards that the rest of the College seems to take for granted.
However, I suppose the student volunteers keep calling alumni like me for donations for good reason, because apparently the hundreds of dollars spent on various service and maintenance fees are not enough to keep this building in livable condition. You won't be getting a penny out of me; I think I've paid my dues, thank you.
Danielle Michael
Class of '00
(11/15/06 5:00pm)
Welcome to week eight of Around the Dorm! This week, we decided to mix things up a bit. Rob Viviano is taking a shot at the questions this week, as I, Lauren "Linda Cohn is my hero" Kohout, am taking over the judging for the week. Joining Rob as panelists are our regular contestants: Signal staff writer Ray Lodato and WTSR sports director Pat Lavery. Let's get this party started!
1) The Lions have set records, won championships and stirred up a ton of excitement this fall. What one athlete has gone above and beyond far more than any other this season?
RL: While you could certainly make a case for Allison Greene and Jess Berkowitz of the field hockey team, I'd give this one to junior forward Dana DiBruno of the soccer team. DiBruno is first on the team in goals (12), third in assists (5) and has the most points (29). Keep in mind the player closest behind her in points has 17, illustrating the type of dynamic offensive player DiBruno is. Aside from being the offensive catalyst for the team, DiBruno is tied for the most game-winning goals on the team (4) and has the most shots on goal. Not only is she converting shots, but she's creating the most opportunities as well. There are a lot of deserving Lions, but DiBruno is the most successful player on this dominating soccer team. She's definitely the cream of the crop.
PL: While I have seen a fair amount of Lions football this year, and wide receiver Ryan Ross has put up some great numbers, the athlete that has excelled the most has to be senior soccer player Matt Luber. Luber was named a First-Team NJAC All-Star after putting up eight goals and 18 points this fall, including five game-winning goals. Five game winners is pretty impressive in a short season, so Luber's my pick.
RV: Joey Galante, wrestling. He is ranked eighth in the nation for his weight, 157. I feel like that should say enough about his skills. The wrestling teams are competing on a national level, ranked on a national level and each player's performance is an individual struggle and effort for personal success. If you want to look at team success, Galante found the Lions trailing by 10 points at the Ithaca Invitational. After he won four matches in a row, including ones against the fourth- and third-seeded competitors, the Lions clinched the victory, as well as the 157-pound championship. You can talk about the ranking of a team in local D-III or NJAC values, but Galante has established himself as a national entity off his own merits in one-on-one competition.
LK: Both Luber and DiBruno are definitely the best of the best here at the College. Because the women's team is still alive and DiBruno had more points in the same amount of time, Ray gets the 3 points. For giving Luber the credit he is due, Lavery gets 2 points. Rob, I said this season, not winter. You cannot base an entire season on one tournament. If you wanted to go for one-on-one national level players, check out women's tennis - 1 point.
2) Former hockey Olympian Derian Hatcher of the Philadelphia Flyers has a plus/minus of -17. After a number of rule changes to increase scoring and speed in the NHL, have the lumbering defensemen gone out of style? Is there a future for them, or do you think teams will only begin looking for defensemen that can score as well as defend?
RL: It has absolutely gone out of style. Why else do you think Bob Clarke and his old-school basher mentality was forced out of Philadelphia earlier this month? The new NHL is a league that values speed and skill over strength and grit - and it is definitely a good thing. Teams like the Sabres, who are loaded with young, athletic and talented players, are finally coming to the forefront and can excite crowds with their incredible skills thanks to the removal of the incessant clutching and grabbing that dominated the NHL of the '90s, '80s and so forth. Time needs to pass after the devastating lockout to help rebuild a withering fan base (same happened with baseball after the '94 strike), but the rule changes are absolutely a step in the right direction. Entertainment is one thing people will always pay for, and the NHL is providing hockey fans that in droves.
PL: Surely the lumbering defenseman has gone out of style. The game, as you said, is built for speed now. Even before the disaster that was the 2004-05 work stoppage, who was the biggest rising star in the game? Tampa Bay's diminutive Martin St. Louis. Last year, Brian Gionta of the Devils scored 48 goals out of nowhere, a team record. Gionta's about my size so, if you know me, you know that's not very imposing. And as far as defensemen who can score, if you look down the scoring leaders so far this season, you've got Tomas Kaberle, Scott Niedermayer, Nick Lidstrom - all established defensemen and all putting up good offensive numbers without being the most physically intimidating (Chris Pronger, who's also in among the scoring leaders for defensemen, is just a beast. He doesn't count). So yes, in short, I believe the NHL is shifting away from the big, burly defensemen it was once famous for.
RV: "Bruisers" were not wanted in the old NHL, where a team of bruisers, the Rangers, were looked down on and called "unskilled thugs" by a color commentator. They are not desired in the new NHL, where a faster, multi-skilled defender can earn his own goals and points as well as cross-check. It's not that strong defensemen are not effecive, but rather that the plus/minus is preferential to those who have offensively powerful teams. On Hatcher specifically, it's not his fault - his team is an offensive failure. You gain points by being on the ice when a goal is scored, and the Flyers routinely struggle to find the back of the net. Hatcher is not getting the rain of +1s that the other defenders are getting for being on offensively effective teams, while other D-men can get +4s without scoring a single goal themselves. Even 6-6, 245-pound Andy Sutton is a +6. So you can be slow, lumbering and have extremely low offensive potential, and still get the points by being on an offensive team.
LK: Pat, you've got a hold of this question - 3 points. Ray, you get just 2 points because I had to correct your spelling of Sabers to Sabres. The hockey gods are angry. Rob, just because you are big doesn't mean you are slow and bad. It is the fact that they are just big, burly guys and can barely skate like Hatcher. Sutton can skate. Check out 6-9, 260-pound Zdeno Chara's stats if you don't believe me. Not to mention, Bruisers were definitely wanted - 1 point.
3) Considering all of the NBA draft picks of the past two years, which do you think will have the best NBA career?
RL: Chris Paul. If anyone else answers any differently I am going to be completely blown away. Paul evokes the spirit of point guards of old in Isiah Thomas and John Stockton, creating on the court like a skilled painter working on his masterpiece. People don't realize how great of a season Paul had in his rookie campaign. He had the best rookie regular season by a point guard in over 45 years. Paul was in the upper tier in almost every statistical category and his PER (player efficiency rating, a summation of all his statistics) was 22.14, ranking fifth overall at the point guard position in a year with extremely strong point guard play. For comparison, let's look at other players who have a higher PER in their rookie year: Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan. That's it, the entire show. While most point guards struggle mightily their first few years in the league and then adjust (think Steve Nash and Chauncy Billups), Paul was a stud right out of the gate and is only going to improve in time.
PL: This isn't exactly picking a needle out of a haystack, but it's not an easy question, either. Chris Paul, of course, is the frontrunner after winning the Rookie of the Year award last year, but let's look at some other candidates. I really like the stats Hakim Warrick has been putting up this year, and let's not forget about Nate Robinson, who came from relative obscurity (on the Knicks, no less) to win the Slam Dunk contest last year. Brandon Roy of the Trail Blazers has scored 18 points a game so far this season, leading all rookies. His future looks bright, as does Paul's, but for both I say it's still way, way too early to tell who will have the best career. Remember, Jordan's stats actually went down in his second season (to 22 points per game) before he exploded into the phenomenon we all remember in the fall of 1986.
RV: There is no LeBron or Carmello, a "brand-name" player that can turn a losing franchise into a true contender by individual dominance of point-scoring techniques. The place to find a real standout is the point guard - a team player, not a point scorer. I give my vote to reigning Rookie of the Year Chris Paul. He's in a position known for ball possession, where picking the perfect moment for assists is worth more than point scoring. Yet, his stats are impressive, scoring 35 points himself in a recent game. Currently, he's second in the NBA for assists per game at 10.6 and averaging 23-and -change points per game (that's on par with Yao). He led all rookies last year in points, steals and assists. He is the team, and it functions all because of his game control skills. His future is not with the Hornets, as he'll be traded within the next two seasons and will be highly undervalued in that trade. Once on a team with a better dynamic, he will become a huge name player.
LK: For giving statistics that put Chris Paul in the same class as Michael Jordan, Ray gets the 3 points. Rob, Paul isn't the team, and for comparing him to Yao Ming you get 2 points. Pat, it is never too early to look into the future; we need answers - 1 point.
(11/15/06 12:00pm)
In case you weren't titillated and aroused enough by last week's column, here is part deux of Kayy's smokin' hot kinky sex tips list.
6) Pleasure Pack: Mint tingle, twisted pleasure, shared pleasure, pleasure for her, warming, flavored, magnum, colored, studded and striped. Today, there seems to be a different condom for every day of the year. Which is extraordinary! Trojan actually just put out a new line of products called "Elexa" that is made especially for women. Since the safest way to have sex besides masturbation is by using a condom in addition to oral contraceptives, you should be using condoms anyway. Why not use fun ones?
7) Food for thought: I never really saw the draw to bringing food into the bedroom, especially when there are so many safe, tasty products suited especially for the body. But you should be fine as long as you don't pull a George Costanza and start getting confused about the difference between being hungry and horny. Whipped cream, chocolate syrup and strawberries are classics for a reason, but trying out other foods could be a good time as well. Just make sure neither of you are allergic and that you clean yourself off to avoid stickiness or rashes.
8) RPGs aren't just for your Playstation! Role-playing and acting out fantasies are some of the most erotic ways to get started . or finish up. My only problem with role-playing is that it often reflects annoying gender stereotypes (Captain Hook and pirate wench, doctor and nurse, etc). But hey - as long as it's consensual, why not? Just keep in mind that fantasies are fantasies and not real (don't get carried away).
9) Change positions, new positions: An obvious category. I won't draw you any sketches, but pick up a book on Kama Sutra or sexual positions - it has the potential to change your sex life forever. Remember, the best positions don't have to be the back-bended, neck-extended, leg-twisting, prop-assisting ones named after machinery or exotic countries that you read about in Cosmopolitan. However, missionary and doggie style are not the only manageable ones out there.
10) The Great Outdoors . and Indoors: I've already told you to try doing sex in different ways, with different toys, saying different things and in different lightings. Now's the most fun part: doing it in different places! I'm pretty sure there's some exhibitionist in all of us - even if we stifle it or ignore it - and the best way to express that is by having sex in a slightly dangerous place. I don't mean in the library or Science Complex fountain, although that would be pretty hot.
But places like your kitchen, in the woods, on the beach, on a mountain . of course if you're more adventurous you could try a hotel parking lot, back porch, secluded side street or a bathroom, but we'll save that for the experts. There's definitely something to be said about a bit of danger, or the rush of the outdoors, but be smart about it.
Although sex isn't just for the bedroom or bathtub, it's also not cool to expose other unwilling parties to your adventure. In fact, it can even be criminal in some cases. So find a happy medium between safe and fun and live out your fantasies.
I really hope this column has inspired my readers to try something new, exciting and fun. Remember, not all sex has to be mind-blowing, but why not strive for fireworks? Make sure every step of the way is consensual and erotic. Make sure you and your partner are both as comfortable as possible the whole time. Try what you think will feel good, not what other people will think or judge you on. Sometimes I think the greatest sex is only considered taboo because if we did it all the time, nothing would get accomplished in this world.
Why don't we set society back a few decades?
Kayy