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(08/24/06 12:00pm)
The Student Finance Board (SFB) is a student-run organization that has the responsibility of distributing the Student Activity Fund (SAF). SAF is collected with tuition and helps fund clubs and organizations at the College.
SFB meets each Wednesday to hear appeals from organizations requesting funds. It also works with club treasurers to design appropriate budgets for student organizations.
SFB Executive Board members
Executive Director
Jonathan Borst
Operations Director
Omar Selim
Administrative Director
Erica Klazmer
Executive Assistant
Terence Grado
Financial Director
Steven Oliveira
Assistant Financial Director
Kimberly Ings
According to its website, tcnj.edu/~sfboard/, SFB endeavors to be "consistent" and "objective" when distroibuting funds. The SFB office is located on the second floor of Brower Student Center. in Room 231.
(08/24/06 12:00pm)
The Student Government Association (SGA) is a body of elected student leaders. According to their website, tcnj.edu/~sga, "(SGA) is a group of students working to represent and advocate for" undergraduate students at the College.
SGA works to address student concerns through its committee and general body meetings. SGA also serves as the students' voice and advocate.
The SGA is made up of three types of members. The highest ranking members sit on the executive board.
SGA Executive Board Members
Executive President
Christine Cullen
Vice President of Administration and Finance
Mike Levy
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Steven Link
Vice President of Student Services
Chris Rindosh
Vice President of Legal and Governmental Affairs
Michael Strom
Vice President of Community Relations
Stephanie Maffa
Vice President of Equity and Diversity
Kamaria Byrd
Student Trustee
Daria Silvestro
Alternate Student Trustee
Jenna Klubnic
Below the executive board is the legislature. These members represent specific academic schools and class years and advocate on their half.
Below them are unelected associate members who help highlight student concerns.
(08/24/06 12:00pm)
Dear Class of 2010,
I'll give you the same spiel I gave to your upperclassmen last year:
I'm not a doctor (yet). I'm not a therapist. But I am a college student, and I know relationships. Not to mention hooking up, drunken booty calls, robbing the cradle, long-term monogamy, online dating and one-night stands. You name it, and I've laughed as my friends did it and have cried when I made the mistake of doing it myself.
I won't lie. Just because students at the College are supposed to be smart doesn't mean they're smart about relationships (never mind remembering to wrap their tool).
Sometimes I think college is a sick joke - admissions takes the most dedicated and studious kids, throws them in co-ed dorms where alcohol is flowing and long-suppressed hormones are raging, and then they sit back and watch the chaos that ensues (while expecting us to maintain a high GPA and healthy lifestyle).
Well, in keeping with my tradition of trying to stick it to the administration, I've graciously volunteered to guide you poor, lost, lonely, confused and frustrated geniuses along the path to relationship savvy . or at least tell you where to find a vibrator that outlasts your boyfriend, and to dump that asshole who's cheated on you with various blondes in various areas of the New Library (been there, done that, expect the book next May).
So I'm making a deal with you, readers. You send me wacky, kinky, sexy, serious, paranoid or terrifying questions to keep me entertained, and I'll do my best to answer them with candor and a bit of humor. My one guarantee is that you're not as weird as you think you are, and that your problems aren't too complicated to be solved.
And I may not know everything (hard to believe, I know), but I know plenty of health specialists and counselors in the rare case my hard-earned experience and dog-eared, highlighted copy of "Relationships for Dummies" just won't cut it.
Some advice as you embark upon your college career:
Be Safe. Cheap condoms and birth control are available in the Office of Health Services and Planned Parenthood, located in Eickhoff Hall. You can get free HIV tests, OB/GYN appointments and sound advice. Plus, your parents don't have to know!
Accidents Happen. Speaking of good ole' Planned Parenthood - you can obtain the Morning-After Pill (which you can actually take up to 72 hours after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure) in Health Services. If you have student health insurance, it's free! Just give them a call and make an appointment (P.S. Emergency contraception is NOT the abortion pill, but rather prevents pregnancy after sex but before conception).
Respect Each Other. A thousand people may seem like a lot, but it's not (trust me). The person you threw a drink on during Welcome Week could become the person of your dreams junior year. The person whose ass you grabbed at a frat party might be your future Community Advisor (CA). If there's one thing that the College stresses, it's community. Annoying, but true.
Drunk Sex Is Bad Sex. I won't get into the biology of it, but if you're panting over someone at a party and are lucky enough to get their attention, chances are something will go wrong. If one or both of you can't perform, you don't remember it, or you regret it - the next day feelings will be hurt, people will be embarrassed, or worse. There's always tomorrow, and sober sex is so much hotter!
Trust Adults. They're not your mom, your principal or your priest - they are your advocates, mentors and friends. Some wonderful CAs and ambassadors have helped me and friends out more than once.
Don't Buy Into Gender Stereotype Crap. This means guys don't give in to hyperheteromasculinity (in laymen's terms - don't be a sexist pig or homophobe just to fit in). Women: be assertive. Decide what you want from a situation or relationship and don't let anyone convince you otherwise.
Do Not Use Instant Messenger Or Facebook To Find Hookups. Just don't.
Wanna Do It? Do It! As long as it's safe, legal and consensual - try it out! Buy a sex toy, kiss the person of the same sex, ask out a classmate, try a new position, have a threesome. Just don't have floorcest! In fact, avoid people on the floors above and below you just to be safe. Find out what you want, what gets you off and who turns you on - and refrain from documenting it and posting it on MySpace.
And lastly, HAVE FUN! More than anything, you're going to remember the nights you made up dances, ran through the rain, had all-night scary movie marathons, rode the bull at Lollanobooza and lay all day in bed with your partner/roommate/best friend. Coming from an old woman - these are the times you'll remember, the memories you'll laugh about during Senior Week.
Enjoy yourselves, your bodies, and others. Oh - and ask me juicy questions!
Love,
An uncharacteristically preachy Kayy
(08/24/06 12:00pm)
Thursday, August 24
Move-in
Floor meetings
Poetry Slam
Pool Bash
Midnight Basketball
Karaoke
Sunday, August 27
Keynote Speaker: James
Norfleet
Drive-In Movies
Homecoming Preview
Caf? Under the Stars
Basketball and Whiffleball
Tournaments
Friday, August 25
"Making Choices"
Mix it Up! Banner Painting
Flag Football Tournament
TCNJ Idol Talent Show
Dance Party
Monday, August 28
Academic Dean / Faculty
Welcome Session
Summer Reading
Discussion
Convocation / Reception
Saturday, August 26
Healthy Living On Campus
Volleyball Tournament
"The Power of Consent"
Student Center Late Nighter
Barbeque Picnic
(08/24/06 12:00pm)
CA : Your Community Advisors are fellow students hired by Residence Life to make sure that things run smoothly on your floor - and to provide an ear when you need to talk about anything that's bothering you.
The C-Store: The Marketplace Convenience Store is located right outside of Eickhoff Hall. You can use points on your Lion Card to buy frozen dinners, chips and other snacks when you get an attack of the munchies ... it's open 'til 2 a.m.!
The Git: R. Barbara Gitenstein is the College's current president ... and you'll come to blame her for every problem you have here - especially after you eat in the dining hall!
The Stud: The Brower Student Center is home to the bookstore, a food court and most of Greek life. Steer clear during lunch time!
The Rat: Also located in the Stud, the Rathskellar is our very own on-campus bar and grill that hosts student band nights and other performances.
T-Dubs: For those of you who have just moved into the Towers, you need only descend to the basement to find the Travers/Wolfe Dining Hall. Open for dinner from 6 p.m. to midnight, this is a convenient option after Eickhoff closes.
The Loop: A nickname for Metzger Drive, the road that circles our entire campus. Also the name of the bus that runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays to a number of nearby stores and restaurants.
The Beach: If you're missing the shore, check out this sandy patch and volleyball net right next to the tennis courts.
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
Students and members of Alpha Psi Omega (APO), the College's theater honor society, act out a scene from 'Mr. Lucky,' an original play by Jamie Manganelli. The two characters are bank robbers in the play, which was the first of four that night. APO puts on Reader's Theater, a program with student-performed-and-written plays, each Spring semester.
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
Author's Note: The author of this article attests to the fact that he was drunk while writing this because he is depressed about graduating. However, he stands by the veracity and truthfulness of everything alleged.
When I first entered this school four years ago, the idea of college I had was informed by the pop culture movies that everyone growing up in the '90s saw. Like most aspects of pop culture, this image of college did not conform to the sad reality I discovered.
I expected daily acts of weird whimsy, but the strangest thing most people do here is smoke some pot at a frat party.
Where are the wacky hijinks of Real Genius?
Where are the gleeful anti-heroes of PCU, forever at war with the administration?
I guess all of those people go home on the weekends.
It was my own fault for thinking that college should be interesting and basing my expectations on bad movies.
I hoped for strange-looking and acting people when I came to college. However, a quick glance at the student body on any given day would make anyone think that there was a schoolwide dress code.
I imagine that there is some kind of invisible series of directives that go something like this:
Pop that collar, young man, otherwise no one will like you or sleep with you.
You had better get into that sorority, young woman, or no one will like you or sleep with you.
Everyone please remember to get the same haircut - there's a special discount for the College look at the mall.
Let's be clear -- I like drinking, but Greek life here ruins even that pastime. Who wants to pack in next to five other people in the backseat of a stranger's car so you can pack into a small basement with 150 strangers and sweat while drinking bad beer and listening to even worse music at a party sponsored by people who pay to be friends with each other?
Yes, sign me up! Sweating next to people I do not know is exactly what I was hoping to do on Saturday nights. A big thanks to the College for fulfilling this secret desire of mine.
Now that I have pissed off most of the campus, I will move on to another topic.
Our college gets a lot of bad press for its lack of interest in politics, or really in anything. However, the past few weeks demonstrated that our students, and even one administrator, could still muster up a little bit of outrage. Too bad it was so poorly placed.
Ignoring the fact that the "Immaculate Deception" comic was anti-racist, a lot of people were hurt by the particular language and images used. This is understandable, since words can carry a lot of power especially when connected to race. However, I think it is the wrong thing to exclude certain words from use, especially in a context that seeks to criticize those who use those offensive terms in a negative way.
Censorship is always a bad thing, because you cannot rid society of hate just by outlawing anything that might be used in a hateful way.
I realize I am a white man, and thus very privileged in our society so perhaps no one should listen to me on a topic like this. However, the freedom to criticize things is dreadfully important and it should not face constraints.
I can only imagine what our world would be like if people voiced such anger over things like the war, or even the fact that the College renegotiated its contract with Sodexho during the summer so the student body was ensured no say in it.
However, since this is the last article I will ever write for this paper, I wanted to impart some closing advice:
Fuck apathy. Fuck indifference.
Freedom is not free, as the great lying bastards will tell you, because they are trying to sell you something.
However, the truth of that saying lies in the fact that the people who wouldn't mind taking away the rights of you and me are happy to do so because there is a good trade-off for them. It is not the trade-off of liberty for security. That is an illusion. It is the trade-off between your rights and their power.
And if they try to convince you that it's better to forget what it means to actually have compassion, shove your bleeding heart right in their faces.
So that's it for me. Sorry if none of it made sense. Actually, I'm not sorry for that.
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
I am a freshman here at the College. I have been messing around with this guy from home since halfway through my senior year in high school - about a year-and-a-half now. We casually dated for the first six months or so, because I had just gotten out of a serious relationship and wasn't ready for anything serious right away. I felt very close to him, especially because he was the first person with whom I had sex. When summer came around, he wasn't into the idea of a relationship anymore, and I was finally warming up to the idea. We fought about it a lot because he wanted his freedom and I wanted to be with him and only him.
Eventually we got past it, and I accepted that I couldn't change his mind. We then became what you would call friends with benefits. As the summer wore on, however, we became less of the "friends" part, and more of the "benefits." We stopped hanging out just to hang out, and started just hanging out to mess around. For a while this was fine, but then it began to upset me. I told him how I felt, and he said that he would try to change it, but it never happened. I learned to accept this and not let it upset me anymore.
First semester I went home a lot, partially to be with him because we still kept in touch. This semester I have been doing that less, but I still see him sometimes when I go home for other reasons. I feel like this whole thing is going nowhere, but it's so hard to resist the urge when I go home. Is this whole thing extremely unhealthy? I'm so confused! Help!
- Frustrated F$%@ Buddy
Dear Frustrated F$%@ Buddy,
My housemate heard my grunt of annoyance from down the hall as I read your letter. Maybe I've just seen it all and assume everyone else has too, but I think most women have experienced a situation eerily similar to this one. A few weeks ago, I wrote a column on the dangers of f-buddies, or friends with benefits, and this is exactly why!
First off, he may not have been all stoked to get serious when you came back for the summer because his ego was still hurt from your lack of excitement to couple up previously - which is totally understandable. You'd just gotten out of a serious relationship, and entering college in a relationship is pretty much a death sentence (sorry to dash anyone's hopes). You were exploring your options, leaving them open and enjoying the company and loving of a great guy. Cool.
But now, you've had your tour de TCNJ and realized that there's no studly prince riding down the corridors of T/W on a white horse looking to rescue you from the post-pubescent awkward guy who lives next door. That's not how things work here. So, you were a bit disillusioned, or maybe you just got the whole single-and-ready-to-mingle-at-dirty-frat-houses out of your system. You were ready to settle down with this special boy, who was your first and a great friend.
Still not looking too bad, except . shocker! Now he wants his freedom. Typical! This is either because he's being spiteful, he had a great first year experience at his college or he genuinely just wants his "freedom" (whatever that means. Aren't good relationships supposed to give you wings? Oh wait, that's Red Bull).
Settling for "friends with benefits" was probably your first and only mistake. There's a myth out there that only girls want to be in relationships and men want to sow their wild oats or what have you, but this is totally untrue. Every person, male or female, should act however they please, regardless of what is expected of them - which you did in the first place by not wearing his pin last summer. You had every right to offer a casual situation, and he had every right to object to it, which he didn't. So now that the situation is flipped, and you're ready to be serious and monogamous, you should have settled for nothing less.
Maybe it's unrealistic to set your sights for the seemingly unattainable boy - one that will keep it in his pants around other girls - but it is entirely possible. Stressing your desire to be monogamous rather than silencing your conscience may have caused a break or fight, but how happy are you with him right now anyway?
OK, I won't yell at you for giving in to his wants and ignoring your own, because we've all been there. But the only practical way to rectify this situation is to stop seeing him. I'm not saying run and hide in the bathroom if you see him at a party or make things awkward if you bump into each other at the mall. But don't go out of your way to see him or hook up.
You're probably past the point of getting serious with him, but it's worth a shot if you truly care about him. If he's being difficult, tell him to go find a new girl and stop wasting your time with him. Sure, your first time will always be special, but people often forget that every time after that should be special too. Don't hold him on a pedestal and cling to something that's not even there.
Summer's around the corner (thank God), so go home with a set plan of how to react to his advances and stifle your own raging hormones (I suggest blocking his name on instant messenger and finding a time-consuming hobby that will soak up your sexual energy . or just meet a new person!)
Sorry to be harsh, but I refuse to see another soul lost in the black hole of the f-buddy zone!
Much love,
Kayy
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
Bob Cole is an enigma - a southern gentleman trapped in the body of a hulk. He can wrap his students in a verbal embrace in one instance and drop a string of four-letter words in front of them the next. But his sweeter side always prevails. During one summer break, he called my house about an internship opportunity and thanked my mother "for bringing me Anthony." A classy guy, through and through.
- Anthony Lardaro
Class of 2003
I had the pleasure of having Dr. Cole for my Introduction to Journalism class. Although I didn't stick with the major, Dr. Cole's advice stuck with me. He told me I was an excellent writer, and he encouraged me to try news anchoring. Dr. Cole was my favorite professor! He baked cookies for the final with little A's on them. He said no matter what happens, we all get A's!
- Danielle "Tada" Tararuj
Class of 2007
Pen poised, I prepared to take notes as Dr. Cole lectured on the proper way to write obits. He explained we shouldn't write "Mr. Smith is six feet under or pushing up the daisies. Simply write, the motherf---er died." His quips, knowledge of the field and candidness made learning the dreary and mundane subjects enjoyable. I never missed his class. Congratulations, Dr. Cole! I cannot think of another professor more fitting of such a tribute.
- Dale A. Forde
Class of 1996
My favorite memories of Dr. Cole are in the classroom ... whether passionately striding to the far left of the room to write an "a" on the board, then to the far right to write "lot" (a visual I still carry today in never, EVER writing "alot") ... to discussions of the Trenton paper wars, which are playing out in a whole different way in the Bay area today ... to that classic picture holding up The Trentonian with the headline "Head Has Aids"... Dr. Cole had a way of penetrating our sometimes-thick skulls and making it matter. That same passion showed outside the classroom too, with time for independent studies, help for those making career choices and opening his home for student get-togethers. He got through and made a difference, like no other professor I've ever had. Thank you, Dr. Cole!
- Cindy Shine
Class of 1986
From freshman through senior years, and three years of Monday nights putting The Signal to bed, Bob Cole was my teacher and trusted advisor whom I could call about anything at ANY time. Bob inspired me with his commitment to solid journalism, the integrity it requires and the importance of telling a story effectively. Every day, I draw on lessons and experiences learned in his classes and during my tenure on The Signal. Thanks, Bob!
- Gwyn Jones
Class of 1982
"You buried your lead in the ninth paragraph." That statement came from Dr. Cole after I handed in my first story for his journalism class in the fall of 1987. I felt like a failure, but he announced my mistake with such enthusiasm, you might have thought I'd won the Pulitzer. His words revealed a lesson - one I never forgot - that in order to succeed, you must be willing to learn. And I learned from the best. I became a journalist thanks to Dr. Cole and I am among thousands who will forever be grateful to him.
- Michelle Pucci Giles
Class of 1990
I sat down with Dr. Cole with some of my best writing clips and knew his red pen would go to work. It was OK, though, I encouraged his criticism. He helped my writing improve considerably by tightening my style and making me see a story in a way I had not imagined before. We had these meetings about five or six times, and I always left with his red imprints on the articles. The thing is, he took the time to help on Saturday and Sunday mornings in his Yardley home. A student was important to Dr. Cole no matter the day or time. But I think we all knew this already, huh?
- Craig Haley
Class of 1991
I will always remember - and admire - Dr. Cole for his wisdom, humor and encouragement.
- Bill Hawley
Class of 1992
Bob Cole played a very important role in my professional development. Aside from the required coursework, I learned more about journalism through him than I did in all my classes combined. Whenever I had a question, or needed professional advice, he was quick to respond with enthusiasm. He spent countless hours helping me polish my r?sum? and took an active interest in all my articles, both published and non-published. He even went out of his way to dig up some of his own work that he thought I would enjoy and learn from. I am truly appreciative to have had such a great presence in my education.
- George Goros
Class of 2005
Dr. Cole knew before I did that sports journalism was the job for me. He taught me to write, and more importantly, listen. I taught him that the idiosyncrasies of sports writing can be learned in the library before a writer ventures out to the field. Now, nearly a decade later, I remain indebted to him for his guidance and I wish him well.
- Debbie Waldeyer
Class of 1997
The first thing I ever wrote was put on Dr. Cole's famous opaque projector as an example of everything not to do. I was crushed. The next thing I wrote was displayed as an example of everything you should do. He showed me how to fix my mistakes and write a better story. I have a career because of him and my life will be forever blessed by having him as a professor and mentor.
- Jen (Lobley) McAlpin
Class of 1994
In the spring of 1983, we were reviewing stories in Intro to Journalism and a story came up on the opaque projector that included the word "stated." We got an intro to one of Bob Cole's pet peeves. "You never need to change this up," he said. "People don't get tired of seeing the word 'said.' It's what happened. Someone said something. You don't need stated, noted or farted. You don't need anything except said." Usually things got a little less animated, once the lights went off and the projector came on. We were a little surprised at the intensity of this outburst. "All right," Cole added, almost sheepishly. "If Moses comes down from the mountain again, he's important enough to state something." Then he raised his voice again. "But Goddammit, the rest of us have to just say it." I'm positive that the first sentence of this recollection is the first time since then that I've written the word "stated."
- John A. Lewis
Class of 1986
I will always remember Bob Cole as the grandfather I never had. In the fours years I have been here, Professor Cole has never passed by me without giving me a warm greeting and a friendly smile. Oh, and the hugs were always so great. He was never too busy to stretch out his arms and give me a hug, and his hugs always made my weeks a little brighter. One time in particular, I was in Bliss Hall, and I caught him in the hallway. As always, he smiled, and gave me one of the biggest hugs. At the time I was carrying a sweater in my one hand and he had hugged me so hard that when I pulled away from him, my sweater was stuck under his arm. Of course we both laughed and he just said goodbye with a smile. I will miss him and his funny words and thoughts, but I will always remember Bob Cole's big heart, bear hugs and warm smiles that have changed my life. I feel lucky to have been able to cross paths with such a person.
- Melissa Hernandez
Class of 2006
When I came to college I swore I'd never teach or do journalism. I still vow to starve before teach, but because of Professor Cole I have a new appreciation for journalism. In a single day, he criticized my "f---ing boring" lede in front of the entire class and complimented my writing. I regret that I only had the opportunity to take one of his invaluable classes, but will never forget what I learned there.
- Michelle McGuinness
Class of 2009
Bob Cole was my journalism and American Lit professor way back in 1972-76, and he was instrumental in securing a position for me on a local magazine when I first graduated. I'd like to wish him good health and a happy, long retirement and to thank him for shaping my writing and ethics. I often tell people, especially college students, that Dr. Cole not only jump-started my career, he gave me the confidence and skill set to pursue a career in journalism. He handed me my degree when I graduated and said some very nice things at the time. I will never forget him.
- Patricia Viale Wuest
Class of 1976
I remember for three years going to his office and knowing for certain - a rarity, for me - that I was in good hands. It could be a kind word, a piece of advice or an anecdote, but Dr. Cole always made you feel better (and better prepared) every time you saw him. To have someone like him preparing you for a career was a gift; to have him as a friend, a blessing.
-- Pete Croatto
Class of 2000
Dr. Cole impressed upon his students the fact that a republic cannot function without a free, independent and strong press, and that as journalists and editors we have significant responsibilities to our fellow citizens to live up to the powers granted us by the Constitution. He made clear that it's a serious business: every day at work is a day of exercising civil rights, and not for one minute could we forget that.
- Scott Bowen
Class of 1991
I remember what Dr. Cole said in one of my first journalism classes at TSC: "No one is going to believe you like to write unless you start writing." I took his advice very seriously and became a reporter for The Signal and wrote news for WTSR. Dr. Cole also helped me get my first internship at Ocean County's Observer daily newspaper in Toms River, N.J. It was an experience I'll never forget, and Dr. Cole's guidance and help with my r?sum? are very appreciated! I still am employed today as a journalist. Thank you, Dr. Cole!
- Laura Fischer Baron
Class of 1996
In 1991, my freshman year of school, The Signal ran one of its more infamous April Fool's editions, known as The Singal. Without getting into the specifics, many members of the Student Government Association found it offensive and suspended our constitution, but still allowed us to operate. I happened to attend a meeting with some SGA members and Bob Cole was there. I will always remember him explaining how liberal the First Amendment is when he stated that "they could have printed the entire issue with the word, "Motherf---er, motherf---er, motherf---er," over and over again. All in the room tried hard to keep a straight face.
- Stephen J. Vetrano
Class of 1994
Ye F---in' Gods!!! First Hunter blows his head off last year and now Dr. Cole is calling it quits ... gonzo journalism is officially dead!!! Ah, the memories ... at least the few I can remember. For those, Dr. Cole, along with the experiences and the knowledge that I only much later learned to appreciate - I owe you a long overdue thank you 17 years in the making. Thanks!!!
- Mike Fullen
Class of 1989
Back in the mid-'80s, all J-students were in fear of Dr. Cole's evil overhead projector critiques. He'd do these anonymously, but we knew who we were. Once, he threw one of my half-baked, self-referential tone poems up there (we used typewriters back then). It began something like, "A strange breed of person haunts the basement of the Student Center on Thursday nights ... " Cole started reading it. Then he stopped and boomed, "This isn't journalism! This is masterbation!" Once, infuriated too often by students continually mispelling "a lot," he walked to the right side of the chalkboard and wrote "a" and stormed across the room to the left side of the chalkboard, where he wrote, "lot." I've never written it as a single word again.
- Laura Italiano
Class of 1985
A year and a half after graduation from the College, I was involved in a car accident that totaled my car and left me with temporary amnesia. Help arrived on the scene in the form of a loud, rushing blur. The paramedics' faces were undistinguishable and as these fast moving, serious sounding men and women hurried me into the ambulance, I began to feel terror creeping into my mind. Inside the thankfully quiet ambulance was Dr. Cole, smiling jovially down at me through his white beard and glasses. I was entirely relieved to see a familiar face. Seeing him there, I felt protected, as I did as a novice journalist investigating all the controversy and politics of my college years before. Along with the retrieval of those memories, came many more. It was Thursday, and I had lost control of my car and hit a guardrail. And Dr. Cole had somehow left New Jersey to become an EMT in Vermont. Boy was I ever glad. It became clear through our short conversation in the ambulance that the man was not actually Dr. Cole. But the relief that I felt as the memories of my college years flooded back helped me relax enough to face the chaotic hospital visit. I remember Dr. Cole as quite a character: hysterical, boisterous and passionate about his work. He has been a driving force behind the developing passion of his students for justice, honesty and truth. I know many people will remember his classes, his antics, his passion and his integrity. I remember Dr. Cole as an indispensable support and advocate for me as a writer and an individual. And although it wasn't actually him in the ambulance, my memories of his support and care were, and so I thank him for helping me though one of the most frightening moments of my life. I wish him all the best in his retirement.
- Valerie Kellogg
Class of 2000
In my sophomore year at Trenton State College, I - at Dr. Cole's urging - began taking his basic journalism class. Early into the semester, he lined up a part-time job covering high school sports for me at the Trentonian. The first few weeks at the Trentonian, all I did was answer phones, taking box scores and results. I never left the office. About three weeks after I started at the Trentonian, Dr. Cole asked me why he hadn't seen my byline in the paper. I told him I had just been answering phones and they hadn't let me cover anything yet. He mumbled "that's horseshit" and stormed off. About three hours later, I got a call from someone at the Trentonian asking me if I was available to cover high school football the rest of the season. It was then I realized how much power the good doctor had over the Trenton papers.Well, 20 years later, I'm still in the business and Dr. Cole is to blame - I mean thank - for that. Anyway, thanks, Dr. Cole, for steering me into a business where I work nights and weekends and with a bunch of insane people. Enjoy your retirement.
- Bill Price
Class of 1988
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
"F--- you, said the queen." On provocative quotes, 9/5/01
"It makes me feel tickles in my groin." On using the word "untenable" in a news story, 9/12/01
"Delayed attribution - I know it sounds like a sexual problem." On delayed attribution, 9/12/01
"He did this right so I should read it slowly with a sense of reverence." On having a good paragraph in a bad article, 9/12/01
"That would make this easier than masturbation and we don't want to set such low standards as that." On why we shouldn't be able to collaborate on an open-book test, 9/26/01
"That's Trentonian bullshit!" On the use of the abbreviation "Envir." in a headline, 9/26/01
"Bye Postie!" On the closing of post offices, 9/26/01
"During afternoon? Is that what made it newsworthy? If it had happened in the morning, hell, f--- it." On headlines, 9/26/01
"Perpetrators lead a hard life. That'll teach 'em to perp." On old photography practices, 9/26/01
"Find a home for salmon . that would make them . FOSTER SALMON!" On salmon, 9/26/01
"If they're both males, I don't think they could do it that way if they tried." On ambiguous pictures, 10/3/01
"She could be squelching flatulence for all you know." On assuming a caption-writer knows what's going on, 10/3/01
"Osama, your mama." On first names in headlines, 10/17/01
"Sis boom bah." On using the abbreviation "sis" in a headline, 10/17/01
"Line up behind JC as soon as you can." On people in dangerous situations finding their faith again ("there are no atheists in foxholes"), 10/17/01
"How can spirituality be strengthened? Do they lift weights and pray at the same time?" On choice of words in a headline, 10/17/01
"It was f---ing not like an atomic bomb . It was a horse fart." On stupid quotes people give, 10/17/01
"Dominance IS complete. And you'll know if you marry the wrong person." On the redundancy of "complete dominance" in a headline, 10/17/01
"You don't shit in the pot you eat out of." On writing joke copy and headlines, 10/17/01
"Some people thought I needed to be told it wasn't testicles. I know it isn't testicles." On the news editing test, 10/17/01
"We see their peepees, huh?" On a poor choice to run a certain picture, 10/31/01
"I've never seen a penis like that. I've seen a lot in the locker rooms." On a bad picture run in the newspaper, 10/31/01
"This is from the AP, those dumb f---ers." On an error made on an AP scholarship application, 10/31/01
"What is it about this that wants me to strangle the writer slowly while putting me knee into his groin and spitting in his face?" On the use of 'discuss' and 'issues' in a headline, 11/7/01
"There can be no less treatment for this hed than castration. And if a woman wrote this hed, then I don't know." On an overline and underline that said the same thing, 11/7/01
"Did anyone else see her? No, I was not masturbating!" On gratuitous camera shots of women during the World Series, 11/7/01
"He could have been a f---ing janitor with years of service." On vague headlines, 11/14/01
"They're a group of older veterans and you're kicking them in the nuts." On the headline "Impotent military men request Viagra from gov't," 11/14/01
"Please don't leave it hard on people by leaving out the little weenie things." On commas, 11/14/01
"I love these automatic weapons where you can cut a man in half and watch his navel go one way and his balls go in the other." On the ruthlessness of fighting in Afghanistan, 11/28/01
"How the f--- do you set a new record? 'He set an old record in the 100-yard dash yesterday.'" On redundancy, 12/18/01
"Hope-f---ing-ly." On the misuse of the word "hopefully," 12/18/01
"That sounds like a sundae or something. 'I'll have a Mazar-e Sharif.'" On Mazar-e Sharif, 12/18/01
"They used his first name. I didn't know we were getting familiar with the son of a bitch." On the use of "Osama" in a headline, 12/18/01
"I can see you all stacked on top of one another ... somewhere around Camden." On New Jersey students, Spring 2004
"We're not going to go out and trap muskrats in the swimming pool. F--- no. But in South Jersey, that's how they LIVE." On South Jersey students, Spring 2004
"Does someone have a glass of water? We can throw it out the window and yell 'Urine! Urine!' and they'll run away." On the people outside the room disrupting class, Fall 2004
"I'm farmer Bob and one day it was snowing and I couldn't go about my normal labors, so I went inside and I turned on the box ..." Fall 2004
"You don't really mean I'm full of shit - like if I had a hole in my skin, feces would be pouring out." Fall 2004
UNDATED (IN OTHER WORDS TIMELESS) QUOTES
"'Discussed?' What does that tell you about anything? Not a motherf---ing clue."
"Your ass is grass, and I'm the lawnmower!"
"Hay Kay is an ass-kicking waiting to happen."
"Don't use the word 'unique.' There's nothing in this world that's unique except my lovemaking."
"Mmmmmbob Cole." Answering the phone
"We've been shit on in a number of ways, and people just look up and open their mouths wider." On public apathy
"Something just ran through my mind and it's gone ... it was a short trip."
"Then the Democratic Party went out for eight years, and the only thing you heard from them was long, lingering kisses on Reagan's ass." On the '80s
"We may also cover unexpected breaking stories. If something good breaks, we'll be on it like ugly on an ape, or like a junebug on a tiger lily." From the Beats and Deadlines syllabus
"Only a couple of profs have ever objected (even after 25 years), but one malcontent retired recently, and we know where the other lives, and if he keeps bugging us, we'll heave a clatter on his front porch some balmy spring night." From the syllabus, on students missing class for Beats and Deadlines field trips
"We often cover the same stories as members of the local (ahem!) press, and you must never attempt to use their stories in writing yours. I gather all local coverage, and if yours reads too much like their pedestrian maunderings (as happened once long ago, and now the son of a bitch is a mail carrier), that is considered *plagiarizing*, which carries a long hitch with it, another way of saying that being caught will make your ass fervently wish to chew terbacky, as we say down home."
"I'm sure none of us have ever seen a blind asshole - am I mistaken?"
"It appears he has a humongous dinglehooser, doesn't it."
"GOYA KOD" (Get off your ass and knock on doors)
"Don't let anyone tell you you can't take a picture, you don't have consent. F--- you, mister." On photography ("If you can see it, you can shoot it")
"How come when you want to kiss a girl and she says 'no,' that's not consent?"
"You can go to the circus just don't f--- the elephants." On sleeping with the people you're covering
"Now, I'm a big fan of the NAACP, but they share something in common with a lot of other organizations - their name is too f---ing long."
"You capitalized everything that moved. I looked over my shoulder, I thought somebody was going to capitalize my ear." On conventions in a previous period of journalism
"We could be out dancing in vermiculite at the high school hop!" On the possible air-born spread of contaminated dust from the W.R. Grace plant
"If this doesn't touch you, you are SOULLESS." (interrupted by unruly students) "Shut the f--- up! We're trying to talk about whales!"
"This is one of the best ways to preserve an open area - put a cemetery on it."
"It's not the stranger who's going to kill you; it's your uncle Harry. He's a mean bastard, especially when he's drunk." During discussion of the crime beat, on the nature of violent crimes being anything but random
"It's one of my greatest achievements. I've been here 32 years and I've not once had a f---ing class outside." On students trying to coax him into moving the class outside, under some tree
Compiled by - Heather Altz '04, Jay Butkowski '04, Marlaina Cockcroft '96, Meredith D'Agnolo '04, Conor Fortune '01, Kristina Fiore '05, Amanda Harris '04, Laura Italiano '85, John Kell '04, Lauren Kidd '04, Kim Krupa '01, Amy Kuperinsky '03, Anthony Lardaro '03, Shawn Mecchi '06, Kelly Meisberger '06, Tom Murphy '89, Christine Ott '92, Jos?e Rose '02, Matt Skoufalos '01, Jeanine Skowronski '03, Jonathan Vuocolo '03 and Melissa Young '03
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
With April and May comes an important time in arts & entertainment -- film festival season! Below is a quick reference guide to this year's local festivals.
Tribeca Film Festival - April 25 to May 7
Founded by actor Robert DeNiro in 2002 to bring business back to lower Manhattan after the Sept. 11 attacks, the festival has gained national attention in its first four years. Tickets for individual screenings are $10. More information and a screening schedule can be found at tribecafilmfestival.org.
Trenton Film Festival - May 5 to May 7
In its third year, this popular local festival features screenings of 90 films in its three-day run. The festival will be held at four venues in downtown Trenton, and individual screenings cost $8. More information and a schedule of screenings can be found at trentonfilmfestival.org.
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
The Streets
"The Hardest Way to
Make an Easy Living"
3.5 out of 5 stars
Whether you realize it, Mike Skinner (aka The Streets) is the biggest rap artist in Britain right now. Period. Several different sources named his last album the top album of 2004.
His third and latest full-length album, much like his previous works, is a concept record discussing his life as a celebrity.
Skinner's angular and original vocal delivery will definitely throw off those familiar with American-style hip-hop, but his writing style will keep you interested until the very end.
This may not be quite as good as his last record, but for those of you unfamiliar with The Streets, this is as good a starting point as any.
Sondre Lerche & The Faces
Down Quartet
"Duper Sessions"
3.5 out of 5 stars
Those familiar with Sondre Lerche already know that the young Norwegian songwriter has always used a lot of jazz chords in his songs.
So it's no real surprise that with his third LP, he has put together a jazz-pop/lounge-pop type of record.
Alternating between downtempo, lounge-singer-style songs to upbeat pop songs with heavy jazz leanings, Lerche's smooth voice melts beautifully into the song structures. It really is one of those perfect fit situations.
Honestly, I liked his first two albums better, but this one is still very good. Play it while having dinner with your girlfriend or something like that.
Maritime
"We, the Vehicles"
4 out of 5 stars
Those of you who remember the band The Promise Ring will know the name Davey von Bohlen, just as those familiar with The Dismemberment Plan will recognize the name Eric Axelrod.
Well, back in 2004, those two (and others) got together and formed the group Maritime.
Their first album was pretty good, but this one is better. "We, the Vehicles" is a record of pleasant, sunny day indie-pop that is ultra catchy, even on repeated plays.
This time around, the song subjects are more serious and the song structures are slightly darker.
The result, when all is said and done, is a very good album to get into with summer just around the corner.
Mat Kearney
"Nothing Left to Lose"
3 out of 5 stars
There are two distinct sides to Mat Kearney. One is that of a sub-major label singer/songwriter whose voice somewhat resembles an American version of Chris Martin (Coldplay).
This side can actually be pretty entertaining at times, as the vocals comfortably fit into the song structures.
Kearney's other identity, though, is that of a white rapper - and not a good one either.
Over half the songs on the album involve his withdrawn rhyming stylings, which really make several of the songs confusing.
I know that this might be the thing that separates him from other songwriters out there, but it just doesn't feel right. Kearney, you are talented enough as it is. Drop the rap in the future.
Wolfmother
"Wolfmother"
2.5 out of 5 stars
It's not too hard to figure out what the boys of Wolfmother listened to when they were growing up.
Their style of rock 'n' roll posturing goes back years, as do nearly all of their guitar riffs. Lead singer Andrew Stockdale sounds like a combination of Robert Plant and early Ozzy Osbourne, while the band's songs are reminiscent of Jet.
It's not a terrible album overall, but to this humble reviewer, it's terribly boring and clich?.
The Fever
"In the City of Sleep"
2 out of 5 stars
In 2004, The Fever released its debut album "Red Bedroom," a solid collection of frenetic, catchy dance-punk. Fast-forward almost two years, as the band returns with its follow-up record, "In the City of Sleep."
This album, however, is not as solid. It almost sounds like the band hired Tom Waits to be its songwriter, as the songs are often avant-garde in structure and sound. No offense to Waits; I love the guy.
But this record sounds like it should be the music for a haunted carnival or something.
There are two really good songs on this album, but the rest of it is kind of blah. It's really a shame, because the band's last album was very good.
- Chris Kubak,
Music Director, WTSR
.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
"Show Your Bones"
3 out of 5 stars
Zen is not the first word that comes to mind when thinking about the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. For the past five years, lead singer Karen O has ruled over the kingdom of Brooklyn art-punk with an iron fist, a dirty mouth and a bad attitude. This, it seems, has all changed.
With their latest release and second full-length album, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs show signs of slowing down. Gone are the indecipherable screams of "Art Star" and "Tick," replaced by acoustic guitar chords and soft vocals.
Ladies and gentleman, the angsty rock goddess has left the building. After a rift between O and guitarist Nick Zinner led the band to breaking point last year, O left New York and moved to Los Angeles, leaving her emotional baggage at the door.
For a band that banked heavily on raw emotion, this record feels half-hearted. Zinner's signature riffs are still here, as are the more relied-on beats of drummer Brian Chase.
But the sound that made the Yeah Yeah Yeahs such an underground phenomenon is long gone. What is left is not so much bad as tenuous - you can feel the band's fragile dynamic in every song they play. But with a group of musicians this talented, even a safe album is a good one.
(04/26/06 12:00pm)
Contradicting Intelligent Design
I have read with interest the plentiful coverage of Intelligent Design (ID) in The Signal this semester.
Almost 150 years ago, Charles Darwin explained that life forms had evolved over time. He thereby provided the master narrative in life sciences. Everything that has been discovered since affirms the brilliance of Darwin's insights. So much more is known today about how evolution occurs, but there is no doubt whatsoever that it does occur.
During the past several decades, we have learned a great deal about the evolution of humankind. In the 1970s, Ethiopia's Afar region yielded the first fossils of a primitive upright walker with a small brain who lived 3.5 million years ago. A team led by Tim White, a leading paleoanthropologist from the University of California at Berkeley, has just announced discovery of an even more primitive ancestor who lived in the Afar 4.1 million years ago. Many larger-brain specimens from the period of around 1.5 million years have also been located.
In recent years, molecular biologists have zeroed in on the last phases of human evolution, to better pinpoint the juncture when fully modern humans evolved. There is now a solid consensus that this happened in Africa somewhere around 250,000 years ago. Primitive upright walkers and fully modern humans are both natives of Africa.
Human imperfections contradict ID. For example, lots of us have back problems - and well we should, because human backbones evolved from creatures that walked on all fours. There is a price to be paid when a horizontal backbone becomes upright. Of course, upright walking conferred certain advantages, because it freed the forelimbs from locomotion, but it also invited backaches. Evolution is full of trade-offs.
ID is similarly unable to explain why human births are far more difficult and dangerous than other mammalian births. Evolutionary science shows, however, that the rapid evolution of large-brained humans has pushed to the limit the exit from the birth canal and the surrounding hip bones. Yes, there are big advantages in being large-brained, but there are also problems and trade-offs. It is only in modern societies with good obstetrical care that women have longer life expectancies than men.
The College's claims to excellence would be enhanced if we had a paleoanthropologist on the faculty.
Dan Crofts
Professor of history
Questionable evidence for evolution
Evolutionist Brian Alters spoke at the College last week. On page 110 of his book "Defending Evolution in the Classroom," Alters touts the discarded idea of embryonic recapitulation. On page 92, he gives the progression from Australopitheous africanus to Homo sapiens via Hobo habilis and Homo ergaster as evidence for human evolution. However, this linear model has been questioned for years. Many similar examples are cited uncritically in typical biology textbooks.
An antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an often-cited "evidence" of evolution. What is usually not mentioned is that this resistance is due to the loss of functions of the transport or regulatory systems and not due to an evolution of a novel trait. The mutants are inferior and die out in competition with "regular" bacteria when the antibiotic is removed.
Textbooks cite similar forelimb bone structure (homology) of a man, a seal, a bat and a dog as the evidence for evolution from a common ancestor. However, homologies would also be expected if the vertebrates had all been designed according to a common plan. The homologous suspension bridges - Golden Gate in San Francisco and Ben Franklin in Philadelphia - did not evolve from a common ancestor via undirected natural processes. They were purposefully built according to a common plan. Consequently, homologies in anatomy are not evidence for or against evolution.
U.S. National Academy of Sciences describes Darwin's finches as "a particularly compelling example" of evolution. They quote a study in which finch beak sizes increased after a severe drought because only hard-to-break seeds were available. They neglect to mention that the beaks returned to normal when the rains returned.
There are many other examples of an uncritical extrapolation of microevolution to explain macroevolution. It is time to insist that Darwinian theory be critically taught to students without misrepresenting the "evidence" for it.
Danielle Dalafave
Associate professor of physics
Apology for bad scheduling
As the person responsible for scheduling the Brian Alters lecture on April 12, I sincerely apologize to the Jewish members of the campus community.
However, rather than being either inconsiderate or insensitive, I actually went out of my way to change the date to accommodate and respect the traditions of the Jewish community. Alters originally had suggested the date of April 13. After noting that this date was Passover on my calendar, I asked a Jewish friend whether I should avoid having the event on that Thursday night so that it would not conflict with Passover celebrations.
In response to his confirmation that the Seder would be celebrated on Thursday night, I moved the event to Wednesday, April 12. Clearly, I had not phrased my question correctly. I humbly ask the members of the Jewish faith to please forgive my error.
Don Lovett
Associate professor of biology
Rupublicans are self-congratulating
Though I've been verbally sparring with Matt Esposito for several years now - in the pages of The Signal and elsewhere - his absurdities never cease to amaze. In a letter from the April 12 issue of The Signal, Esposito claimed that "the College will continue to bring in busloads of communists and left-wing radicals every year, which cost hundreds more than Buchanan."
Really? I wonder if we've been attending the same school for the last four years, or perhaps right-wing Esposito was sucked into a parallel dimension version of the College where a resurrected Karl Marx delivers endless, mandatory speeches in Kendall Hall - maybe his own personal hell.
I challenge him to produce the names of these left-wing radicals he asserts spoke here on his dime, but I suspect that he's more right-wing bluster and less substance.
If this bit of falsification is exasperating - especially given Esposito's plea that "people should still expect that the information presented in columns is true and factual" - I appreciate his honesty in the final analysis about the Buchanan event: "The College Republicans bring in one conservative speaker and we're protested and slurred."
Thanks for finally acknowledging the sad truth about the College Republicans (or the College Democrats for that matter) - they heartily congratulate themselves for putting on one event.
Moreover, he fails to acknowledge the work that the anti-Buchanan coalition expended in bringing pissed-off students to the event (we even handed out tickets which the Republicans couldn't give away).
Many of the students who helped plan or demonstrated at the Buchanan event were from campus organizations who regularly bring speakers and sponsor events for the entire campus, while relying on little funding to do so.
The Republicans and Democrats are shamefully negligent in adding anything substantial to political discourse - on campus or otherwise - which Esposito, in a rare moment of forthrightness, all but admits.
Matt Richman
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
Tent State University, a week-long protest of the state budget cuts, kicked off Monday at Rutgers University. Featuring over 100 tents set up in the heart of the campus, the event has pledged to generate at least 2,000 calls to state legislators from a small area with telephones available for student use. Students will also use the week to hold other demonstrations against the budget at the tents.
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
Poet Bobby Gonzalez came to campus last Wednesday to discuss 'The Untold Story of the Americas.' Gonzalez, a renowned lecturer, storyteller and poet, treated students to a talk celebrating and dissecting his culture.
Gonzales was born and raised in New York City. He is of Native American (Taino) and Puerto Rican descent. Over his years as an artist, Gonzales has developed a signature performance style, a combination of reading, storytelling, emcee-ing and reading poetry.
He has published a book of poetry, 'Song of the American Holocaust: Native Poetry from the South Bronx Reservation' and spoken at colleges and universities across the country.
The event, sponsored by Uni?n Latina, allowed Gonzalez the opportunity to raise awareness about his heritage, its modern
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
Republicans
defend Buchanan
Good journalism, as I understand it, is presenting truthful information to the people. Although editorials are different and include personal opinion, people should still expect that the information presented in columns is true and factual. I am writing to correct some of Will Dean's glaring inaccuracies in his article "College supports racism more than art," from the April 12 issue of The Signal.
Throughout his rambling piece, Dean bemoans that the College appears to pay more for big bad Republicans and their "racist and xenophobic" speakers than poor struggling art students. Unfortunately, for him this juxtaposition is a false one. The College administration paid nothing to bring Mr. Patrick Buchanan to campus. The elected representatives of the Student Finance Board gave the College Republicans all of the funds necessary from the Student Activity Fee. If you had a problem with the funding, Mr. Dean, you should have complained to them. A simple examination of past issues of The Signal would have revealed this information.
Dean complains we are spending $15,000 for racism, sexism and homophobia in bringing Buchanan. His only proof was snippets of articles taken out of context.
After his protest of the speech last Wednesday, Dean and his comrades attempted to embarrass Buchanan with these fallacious statements and they were all given the proverbial smackdown. Instead of reading Buchanan's entire articles and actually thinking about what he was saying, it appears to me that Dean and others seem content to simply write off any opposing views as fascist, racist, sexist, xenophobic or whatever label fits the occasion. So much for tolerance and a quest for the truth.
Dean shouldn't worry his little liberal head off though - the College will continue to bring in busloads of communists and left-wing radicals every year, which cost hundreds more than Buchanan, and the student body will have no say about it. The College Republicans bring in one conservative speaker and we're protested and slurred. Funny how that works, isn't it?
Matt Esposito
chair of the College Republicans
Don't plan events on holidays
As the president of the Hillel/Jewish Student Union (JSU) at the College, I am writing on behalf of myself and my organization. JSU is an active and discernable organization on campus, causing me to be extremely surprised at some of the other campus groups' latest decisions to have widely known, significant speakers come to the College on the first night of Passover.
I have always believed that one of the College's greatest strengths is the way in which its cultural and religious groups have had well-heard voices on campus. I am shocked that other groups and departments have not paid attention to the recent advertising of Passover events.
Additionally, virtually every calendar available lists April 12 as the first night of Passover. I find it hard to believe that the College Republicans and the biology department were unaware that this night marks the first seder celebrating this important holiday.
I completely understand the difficulties that organizations face in their attempts to bring influential speakers to our campus. As an executive board member for JSU for the past two years, I realize that it is often extremely challenging to coordinate the schedules of an organization, the speaker and the campus itself to ensure the success of an event.
However, I also feel that the occurrence of an important holiday should be a major factor in choosing the date of a program as significant as the Buchanan lecture. While students who follow the Jewish faith may be a minority on campus, this does not excuse the fact that students must be forced to choose between observing their religion or attending an important, once-in-a-lifetime event in which we can hear some of the most influential people in the United States share their thoughts on some of today's most pressing issues.
According to the College campus calendar, Buchanan is a "conservative author, columnist, TV commentator and former Presidential candidate."
From the excitement of our campus community to those ubiquitous table tents advertising his speech, Buchanan seems to be an important figure to see.
In an e-mail sent to biology majors titled "EXCELLENT speaker tomorrow" (emphasis not mine) Marcia O'Connell, chair of the biology department, wrote, "(Brian) Alters was one of the six expert witnesses for the plaintiffs in the landmark trial in federal court last year that involved intelligent design, science, education, biological evolution and the U.S. Constitution. His testimony against the school district's pro-Intelligent Design science teaching policy in Dover, Pennsylvania, has been reported world-wide, including ABC, CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Associated Press and a cover story on Rolling Stone ... You may feel inundated with talks and panel discussions on this topic, but this one is probably going to be the most important one to attend. Dr. Alters is receiving literally hundreds of requests for speaking engagements. We are VERY fortunate to get him here at (the College)."
As O'Connell clearly emphasizes, Alters is a must-see for biology students. However, how can a Jewish student who is compelled both academically and religiously possibly make a decision that he or she will not regret?
I am thoroughly disappointed with the decisions of both the College Republcans and the biology department. I only hope that in the future, both of these groups, as well as every other campus group, will be more considerate and sensitive toward the campus community when planning their events.
Melanie Kaufer
president, Hillel/
Jewish Student Union
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
Dear Kayy,
My problem is something that in my opinion shouldn't be a problem. My best friend used to date this guy in high school, but it was never a serious relationship. It only lasted a few months, and even before she broke it off, she was constantly talking badly about him and wondering out loud why she was with him in the first place. After they broke up, they went back to being friends, which she was happy about since she never really had romantic feelings for him anyway.
This guy, let's say his name is "John," and I have been talking a lot lately and have been flirting, and we definitely like each other (we've admitted it several times). When I told my best friend about this, thinking she'd consider it either great or at least amusing, she got totally pissed off!
I told her I was confused, because she said she never liked him. She told me she saw this coming for years and accused me of plotting to get with him behind her back. I was totally caught off guard and offended and haven't spoken to her in the past few weeks. I want to make things right but still really want to pursue things with "John"!
Thanks,
Unintentional Boy Stealer
Dear Unintentional Boy Stealer,
Quite the sticky situation you've gotten yourself into here. Do you stay loyal to her and lonely, or go for it with him and get into a catfight? Fortunately, there are several ways you can go about this without bloodshed.
Most importantly, you have to figure out how you feel about this guy. Have you always had feelings for him like your friend accused? Do you only want him because he's a forbidden ex? Do you want to have his children, or just have a fling with a hottie? I'm asking these questions because the answers will determine your course of action.
If you just want a string of casual hookups, or know you only want to do it to stick it to your friend, stop reading here and back away from the boy. I'm sure you think he's a great guy, but aren't you better off resisting and avoiding problems if it's not serious? (Unless you're the self-sabotaging type who constantly craves drama.)
If you have more than tiny doubts about whether this guy is worth it, can it. But if you are as curious as you claim to be, and are really interested in pursuing things, you've got a trickier maneuver ahead of you.
Not only do you have to be honest with yourself, but you need to be honest with him. Unless you're a mind reader, you can't be sure what he wants from you. Don't project your romantic feelings on him and assume he wants something special. Flat out ask him! And pay attention to how he answers (i.e. try to detect if he's bullshitting you).
If you want more than a hookup and he doesn't, you probably shouldn't pursue it. Don't start hooking up, hoping you can change him into a serial monogamist. If he doesn't want what you want, fuh-getta 'bout it - your girl is more important. (There are plenty of fish in the sea . Go fish!) My readers know I'm never one turn down a steamy hookup, but this is obviously more complicated.
On a semi-side note . whether it takes prodding him or asking around, you definitely have to find out how the breakup with your friend affected him. She may have been totally OK with it (since she initiated it), but he may have been left heartbroken, depressed or, worst of all, vengeful. Find this out, because unless he's totally apathetic about your BFF, we've just added another very ugly layer to the drama cake.
If he harbors any resentment toward her, you have no choice but to question his motives with you. It may sound crazy or even neurotic, but trust me, it matters.
If he's still heartbroken, he may be getting with you to either get over or get closer to her. Or, if he has any festering anger, there's a good chance he's talking to you to make her jealous, piss her off, hurt her or prove something. I'm not saying these things are definite, but they are definite possibilities. If he's in love, or in hate, with your best friend, you will be the one to get burned.
If you're still craving advice, that means you know you want to try things and you're pretty sure he does too (I hope).
In that case, make sure you also talk to him about the risks you're both running, since you are both friends with his ex. Make an action plan, which should probably consist of you approaching her (with no claws and no bad intentions).
You need to talk to her again, whether you decide to move along with this guy or not. Going back to the getting burned part, I was in the exact same position about three years ago. Fortunately for me, my best friend wasn't pissed and even supported the idea.
Unfortunately, the guy was definitely not over her, and regardless of the poetry he wrote me and the sweet kisses he gave me, he was just using me.
I got burned, very badly, but at least I had my best friend by my side. In some weird ways, it even brought us together (at least we could criticize his sloppy kissing and bad hair together).
But your friend doesn't seem to be taking as well to the idea. Talk to her and find out why. Sharing an ex with a best friend is harder than sharing lip gloss.
If you're convinced that you and Mr. Dreamy deserve to be together, tell her that! Explain your feelings; even if it makes her mad at first, she'll probably begin to see your side. Point out that you purposely did not act on your lust before you talked to her, because you are concerned about her feelings.
If she doesn't lighten up, consider where she's coming from and weigh your options. Don't let her make you back down too easily, but take her feelings into account before you decide what to do.
Worst comes to worst, cool your jets, tell "John" to take a cold shower and let your friend think about everything you've said and get back to you.
Tell him you need to wait, and if he disappears in the meantime, he just made your decision a lot easier. But if he sticks around, keep hoping she'll chill out and tell you to go for it, but proceed with caution.
That's all I've got!
Kayy
(04/19/06 12:00pm)
As editor in chief and managing editor of The Signal, we feel that it is our job as the leaders of a campus organization and members of the College community to open dialogue about "Immaculate Deception," a cartoon that ran in the Funstuff section in the April 12 issue.
The cartoon incited a wave of letters to the editor as well as a meeting between some members of The Signal, the Black Student Union and the general College community that we believe bore a starting point for better communication between campus organizations in the future.
The decision to run "Immaculate Deception" was by no means a simple choice made with no consideration of our campus community. We thought long and hard before making a decision, but in the end decided that the cartoon, which used a word that we found equally hateful, did so not to promote hate, but to call out those who do.
What is unfortunate, and what we did not realize at the time, was that students of the College would not protract this message from the comic.
Through the aforementioned meeting, we now understand that though the cartoon did have an important message, the use of a word with such a negative connotation is hard to look past, and many could not look past it to get the real meaning of the cartoon.
We are considering in future issues of The Signal to remove from the Funstuff section any cartoons that are not intended to be read in a humorous context and place them in the Opinions section.
This would distinguish between comics, such as "Immaculate Deception," that are serious in nature and which the creators have a definite message they are trying to convey, and comics meant solely for entertainment value.
We would also like to note that we have censored cartoons before - ones we felt were blatantly hateful and had no deeper message, no purpose other than to promote negativity.
We did not feel that "Immaculate Deception" was a cartoon produced for this purpose, and therefore stand by our decision to run it.
However, we do wish to apologize to anyone who was offended or hurt by the use of the word in the comic. It was not our intention, nor the cartoonists', to be hurtful, but rather it was used to aid a higher meaning.
-Kelly Meisberger, Editor in Chief and
Ashley Marty, Managing Editor