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(11/12/14 5:13am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Alt-J’s sophomore effort “This Is All Yours” has been brutally criticized as a tuneless, unimaginative record of unearthly sounds, which is surprising for a band that has been dubbed “the next Radiohead.” Reviews say the lyrics mean nothing, the music isn’t quite there and none of it really makes sense. I say, take another listen.
It might be frustrating that the album just barely escapes the electronica tag, but the British alt-rockers’ sound is revolutionary in Internet-era music. With breathy vocals, otherworldly chants and entrancing acoustics, “This Is All Yours” simply works. It’s not just mindless noise, but rather, every component of the album has been treated with the utmost precision.
It was arguably a risky move to include a sample from twerk queen Miley Cyrus’s “4×4” on lead single “Hunger of the Pine,” but it’s no question that her voice perfectly suits the strident lyric: “I’m a female rebel.” From there, the song ambles into French, with lead vocalist Joe Newman quoting poet Alfred de Musset.
Pitchfork’s Ian Cohen decided that Cyrus’ singing “grinds awkwardly” against Newman’s voice and complains that the lyric “has nothing at all to do with anything Newman says on the rest of the song.” But it’s not about perfect cohesiveness of lexicon — the lyrics fit the song because the track itself is powerful. Give it a listen — with lyrics like, “Your heart wears knight armour” and “I’ll hum the song the soldiers sing / As they march outside our window,” you’ll feel it.
Nearly every other lyric on the album has been analyzed with a fine tooth comb and deemed pointless. On “Every Other Freckle,” a track complete with torrid guitar rock, Newman sings, “Turn you inside out and lick you like a crisp packet” and “I’m gonna bed you like a cat beds into a beanbag.” Use your imagination, people. If his words don’t tell you he’s serenading about sex, his lusty voice should do the trick.
In an article with Stereogum, keyboardist Gus Unger-Hamilton outlined the process of writing the song cycle “Arrival in Nara,” “Nara” and “Leaving Nara.”
“Nara is a place in Japan where it’s full of deer, and the deer can sort of run around wherever they want throughout the city,” Unger-Hamilton said. “The deer kind of have right of way everywhere. And the idea of the song, ‘Nara,’ is about wanting to live your life freely as you want because you’re not hurting anybody.”
Unger-Hamilton’s sentiment is so beautiful it gives me chills. Together, the three songs have a clear theme: love. “I’ve found a love to love like no other can,” Newman sings on “Nara.” “I’ll bury my hands deep / into the mane of my lover,” he later croons on “Leaving Nara.”
The songs were originally set to be called “Nara Intro,” “Nara” and “Nara Reprise.” However, seeing that Nara is a place, alt-J opted to use the words “Arrival” and “Leaving.” The level of thought that went into just these three songs is outstanding.
“This Is All Yours” is relentless in its grab for attention, and for good reason. The beautifully innovative piece has been severely underestimated. Alt-J succeeds in adding quirky elements to its distinct sound to make for a gorgeous, new genre that is simultaneously ominously dark and blissfully transcendent.
(11/12/14 5:10am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Highlighting the experiences and characteristics that make each student at the College different, Vice President of Equity and Diversity Javier Nicasio discussed the launch and success of the “I, Too, Am TCNJ” campaign at the Student Government general body meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
“We give every student on campus a voice,” Nicasio said. “We believe that everyone has something important to say, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexuality or religious affiliations. Everyone is a valuable member of the TCNJ community.”
The photos from the campaign were shared via social media. According to Nicasio, the sites garnered over 2,000 views and over 400 likes and comments.
“The pictures are used to showcase how, as a society, we label individuals,” he said. “The purpose of the campaign is to put an end to stereotypes.”
Besides online, the photos were presented on a display in the library and along the path from the Brower Student Center to the Science Complex.
Nicasio also encouraged students to attend a Union Latina event on Tuesday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. in Kendall Hall.
“The event expresses the evolution of Latin dance,” Nicasio explained. “The show is called ‘Roots’ and it is the first season of Salsafied.”
Performers in “Roots” have showcased their abilities on shows such as “America’s Got Talent” and “Ellen.”
Tickets are free for students from the College, and non-College students can purchase a ticket for $5.
Student Government also officially recognized STAND, a club which looks to raise money and awareness for muscular dystrophy and other muscular illnesses. Next week, two new clubs, “Robotics” and “Competitive Gaming,” will be making an appearance in front of the general body to seek recognition.
In late September, Vice President of Governmental Affairs Jess Glynn announced that all clubs must submit forms detailing their charter lists, constitutions and more.
“We want to know if they are active, we want to review their constitution and we want to get a records for SG to keep on file,” Glynn said. “It’s a big project that we anticipate will span several years.”
Glynn explained at the meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 5, that if a club fails to submit forms, it may be derecognized by the College.
Later, Vice President of Administration and Finance Kyle Holland announced a Chipotle fundraiser. The event will take place on Monday, Nov. 24, from 2 p.m. through 6 p.m, and 15 percent of the proceeds will go to Student Government.
Vice President of Student Services Navid Radfar told members that “TCNJam” will be held at the end of January. “TCNJam,” comparable to Penn State’s “Thon,” is a dance-a-thon to support the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. The organization funds pediatric cancer research and provides emotional and financial support to families of children with cancer. It aims to get people to, “Live Like Andrew,” meaning that you set goals, strive to be your best, show affection and be comfortable with yourself.
Radfar also announced that the TCNJam 5K will be held on Sunday, Nov. 23, around the loop. There will also be a “fun walk” earlier in the day for those who prefer not to run but would still like to contribute to the cause. Registration starts at 9 a.m., the walk begins at 10:30 a.m. and the race itself is at 11 a.m. Runners and walkers will receive a free T-shirt.
Before adjournment, the class councils announced several new fundraising initiatives. The junior class announced that they will be having a can drive. Participation will be entered into a drawing for a $20 gift card.
Sophomore class council president Robert Kinloch announced that the sophomore class is still selling tickets for the Semi Formal.
“We’d like to see more tickets sold,” Kinloch said.
The freshman class council will soon be selling “Class of 2018” stickers, as well, printed with the College’s athletic logo.
(11/11/14 8:09pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Just in time for the holiday season, GoldieBlox has released an advertisement for an item the company believes will revolutionizes the toy industry — an action figure for girls.
Unlike Barbie dolls, which reinforce unattainable beauty standards to young girls, GoldieBlox aims to create toys to pique young girls’ interests in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields.
According to the company’s website, one of the factors behind women being so underrepresented in STEM fields is the lack of support for girls who are interested in the subjects.
The commercial for GoldieBlox’s newest toy is set to Metric’s “Help I’m Alive.” The scene is very Big Brother-esque, with cameras set on brainwashed girls waiting in line for Barbie dolls. The refrain repeats, “You are beauty, and beauty is perfection.” One girl, however, breaks away and sparks a revolution. “In 2014, GoldieBlox breaks the mold with an action figure for girls,” the commercial reads.
GoldieBlox hopes to bring up a new generation of female engineers, but many fear that so far, its biggest accomplishment appears to be inspiring parents to buy its toys.
Granted, the company does produce dolls with realistic bodies who tote around tools, but it still upholds the tradition of gender division in the toy industry. Why do the toys come in pastel colors — a detail that screams “little girl” — if the company is trying to take gender out of the equation altogether? Even the fact that GoldieBlox only markets to young girls is enough to make many customers believe the company is contributing to the gender dichotomy of toys. Is it not okay for a little boy to play with a female engineer doll, too?
Perhaps the biggest concern for parents is that, ironically, one of GoldieBlox’s toys follows the “pretty princess” narrative. Even though the toy goes against the traditional plotline, why would a company that labels itself as anti-pink and anti-princess have a princess toy on its shelves?
Some criticize GoldieBlox for claiming it is “breaking the mold” with a female action figure, since it is certainly not the first company to do so. But it is one of the first to put an action girl on the shelves that isn’t complete with huge breasts and a tight onesie. GoldieBlox’s ensemble is simply a white T-shirt and modest purple overalls.
The new GoldieBlox action figure might not solve every problem and eliminate every obstacle for girls, but it’s a good start. I appreciate the company’s mission, and even if this new doll doesn’t change gender roles by the time the new year rolls around, it’s still an important step in doing so.
(11/06/14 2:46am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
The “We’re a culture, not a costume” campaign, founded at Ohio University in 2011, succeeds in exposing cultural appropriation that has been ingrained in today’s society. Posters advertise slogans like, “You wear the costume for one night. I wear the stigma for life,” and “This is not who I am. This is not okay.”
One poster depicts a young black girl holding up a photo of a white student posing as a “gangster” — painted from head-to-toe in dark brown body paint, dressed in a black tank top, snapback hat and a chain. Another illustrates a white man wearing “Asian eye” glasses, in a flannel shirt, suspenders and holding a stack of textbooks.
Although I did not see students at the College clad in such blatantly racist attire this weekend, the campus community definitely needs a lesson in how to select a non-offensive costume — sexually, culturally and religiously.
I am anti slut-shaming. I believe all people can wear as much or as little clothing as they deem appropriate. Individuals should feel comfortable in their own skin and dress in a way that makes them feel good about themselves, regardless of whether others approve of their ensembles. You want to be a Playboy bunny for Halloween? Fine. A sexy cop? Go for it. But it is wrong to exploit an entire culture by manipulating sacred outfits, symbols and traditions into a sexed-up Halloween costume.
Take dressing like a Native American, for example. One girl posted photos wearing tight brown shorts, a brown tank top and a feather headdress. A friend from home was a “PocaHottie,” with boyfriend John Smith at her side.
“What’s wrong with dressing like an Indian?” First, Native Americans didn’t dress in booty shorts and wipe warpaint across their faces to go out partying. If you replaced the feather headdress with cat ears and the face paint for some drawn-on-whiskers, though, you’d be golden. Like I said, people have every right to show off their body to the extent they choose. But Native Americans are a marginalized culture that has suffered from oppression for hundreds of years, and still struggle with stigmas of alcoholism, gambling and mental illness. Exploiting a minority for the sake of a sexy Halloween costume is outrageously insensitive.
“But Pocahontas is a Disney princess.” True. But she was also a real person named Matoaka. Pocahontas, a nickname meaning “the spoiled one,” was taken prisoner when she was 17 by Jamestown colonists who intended to trade her for concessions from her father, Chief Powhatan, according to The Powhatan Renape Nation’s website. After being held hostage for a year, Matoaka agreed to marry John Rolfe as a condition of her release. Rolfe changed her name to Rebecca, and soon, she bore him a son. She died at the ripe old age of 21, most likely from smallpox.
Doesn’t that sound like a nice story? Is Pocahontas a character you want to dress up as to have a good time on Halloween? I doubt that anybody intentionally tried to offend Native Americans, but regardless, your fun should not come at the cost of another culture’s representation.
Another costume I scrolled past several times on Instagram was that of a Middle Eastern man. Some photos were of men with wigs and fake beards holding a Koran. Others bore the caption “Allah akbar.” It is painfully obvious what is wrong with this costume.
In fact, Walmart just recently pulled the “Pashtun Papa” costume from its shelves — a mock-up of traditional Afghan robes and turban, accessorized with a fake silver beard.
Before putting on a garment like this one, ask yourself a few questions: What statement am I trying to make? Is this costume funny, and if so, at whose expense? Am I exploiting another culture to make a poor socially- or politically-charged joke? If so, do not wear it.
The list of culturally appropriated costumes goes so much deeper. Geishas are real people who are skilled in conversation and dance and suffer with the stigma of being prostitutes. Wearing a tight, skin-showing geisha costume on Halloween only reinforces the negative stereotypes. Do not wear a baja poncho with a big sombrero on your head and a mustache taped to your lip. Why take the risk of affronting anyone when you could be Rosie the Riveter, or even pull in your roommate and dress as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy?
Although you may have good intentions as Halloweekend approaches each year, make sure it goes along with a full understanding of what you are dressing up as.
(11/06/14 2:40am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
After a week of field games, animated performances and an overwhelming display of school spirit, Student Government reflected on the success of this year’s Homecoming at the general body meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 29.
“I just want to thank everyone who came out and participated in any of the events,” Student Trustee Ryan Boyne said. He was elected Homecoming King at halftime during the football game on Saturday, Oct. 25.
Regarding the Homecoming Spirit Week T-shirt swap, at least 350 T-shirts were collected to donate to Goodwill. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, students traded in old high school T-shirts or other college T-shirts for brand new Homecoming 2014 shirts.
“We absolutely murdered it,” Vice President of Student Services Navid Radfar said of the event. Radfar organized the swap with support from Vice President for Student Affairs Amy Hecht and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Sharon Beverly.
Next, Vice President of Equity and Diversity Javier Nicasio announced his committee’s campaign, Coexist, which is set to take place the week starting Sunday, Nov. 16.
“The purpose of Coexist is to teach students about different religions, including atheism and agnosticism,” Nicasio said. “We are not promoting any particular religion. We are simply educating people and showing them that we can all coexist on this earth.”
The Coexist campaign acknowledges the lack of understanding and tolerance between different religions and emphasizes that knowledge and relationships have the power to eliminate conflicts. According to the website, “by bringing together communities with a history of conflict, we strengthen the bonds between them and create a new generation free from prejudice, hate and violence.”
Later, Vice President of Academic Affairs Casey Dowling announced that Student Government is co-sponsoring an event with the Golden Key Honor Society that features John Sisko of the College’s Philosophy Department. Sisko will be discussing public speaking, and the event will be held in Education Building room 209 at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Nicasio also told students to be on the lookout this week for photos from “I Too Am TCNJ,” a photo campaign highlighting the faces and voices of students from the College.
Senior class council President Brian Garsh revealed the next senior night date and location — it will be an Xfinity Live event in Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 15. Garsh also encouraged the senior class to follow the council’s instagram account: @TCNJCLASS15.
Seniors are invited to celebrate in Alumni Grove with food and beverages on Friday, Nov. 21, which marks six months until May graduation. There, the Senior Week 2015 announcement will be made.
Sophomore class council president Robert Kinloch announced that the sophomore semi-formal will be held at the Cedar Gardens Banquet Hall in Hamilton, N.J. on Friday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Student Finance Board fully funded the event with $9,380.10 for 300 tickets, which will be on sale throughout the week.
(11/06/14 2:07am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
The smooth sound of a saxophone flooded the Don C. Evans Black Box Theatre as local legend Thomas Grice serenaded students with soulful jazz and spoke about the music scene in Trenton on Wednesday, Oct. 29. As the second and final installment of the Trenton Makes Music series, the event highlighted the rich history of music in New Jersey’s capital city.
Grice, renowned musician and brother of famed jazz artist Gigi Gryce, accompanied the College’s jazz ensemble to benefit the Don Evans Memorial Endowment Fund, a charity that supports students pursuing arts education but struggle with financial hardship.
The concert was held in conjunction with a class tailored to incoming freshmen at the College, Trenton Makes Music, taught by journalism professor Kim Pearson. The class aims to produce a multimedia website documenting the stories of dozens of Trenton musicians.
“The cultural bounty of this region needs to be better known and understood,” Pearson said before the show.
The ensemble, led by Gary Fienberg, performed “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” the evergreen of Antônio Carlos Jobim. In the ’50s and ’60s, Jobim was the driving force behind the creation of the Brazilian bossa nova style, a fusion of samba and jazz.
A rendition of “Emancipation Blues” by Oliver Nelson ebbed through different tones and temperaments, capped by an exploding finale. Audience members couldn’t help but snap their fingers along as Grice complemented the piece with groovy improvisations.
During a brief interlude, Todd C.C. Evans read a heartfelt poem titled “Father Said,” dedicated to his father — the man who gave the Black Box Theatre its name. The late Don Evans was a community activist, an off-broadway playwright and director of the College’s Minority Executive Council. He also established the History of Jazz course at the College.
“This event has the feel of my father,” Evans said. “He loved his students, he loved teaching and he loved jazz.”
In his poem about fighting off a bully by employing advice from his father, Evans said his father “poured courage in my heart and wisdom in my head.”
“He taught me a lot of lessons — not exactly like the ones he taught in class here — but they were life lessons,” Evans said.
The next song in the concert was Bobby Timmons’s “Moanin’,” which opened with staccato piano and melted into a cool melody.
Grice and the ensemble were bathed in amber light as they performed “Sister Sadie” composed by Horace Silver. The fast-paced swing song featured a solo performance from junior music education major Paul Winch on trombone.
“Sister” was followed by a significantly more modern sounding piece. Composer Chick Corea grew up during the Hard Bop era. His music fuses electronic elements with classic funky jazz sounds, so the ensemble’s performance of “Señor Mouse” had a much different sound than previous pieces. The alternating solos between saxophonists senior music education major Manuel Martinez and freshman electrical engineering major Randell Carrido brought the interpretation to life.
“Being a music teacher was the joy of my life,” Grice said after the show. “I think I was born to be a teacher.”
After receiving his MA from Columbia University, Grice went on to play with the likes of Betty Carter, Ben Riley and Donald Byrd.
He skimmed over the extensive list of famous Trenton-born musicians, whom he had mentored during his days working in the public school system: Ice Capades conductor Steve Kramer; Kevin Eubanks from The Tonight Show Band, the house band of Jay Leno’s late-night talk show; trumpeter Michael Ray, who collaborated extensively with Sun Ra; bebop-style saxophonist Richie Cole; and perhaps most prominently, “Lady Marmalade” singer Patti LaBelle.
Grice eventually moved on from working in local schools and started his own — the Thomas Grice Academy of Music in Trenton.
“Trenton’s contribution to popular music is very strong. It’s not advertised. It’s not as transparent as it should be,” Grice said. “Music is very spiritual, especially jazz.”
Regarding the state of music education in Trenton schools, Grice gave a sad smile and said his “hopes are high.” He believes there was a stark decline in the quality of music education provided to youth in Trenton over the past decade or so, but things are starting to look up.
“I would say music is coming back to Trenton,” Grice said. “We’re discovering that music, as the old saying goes, ‘soothes the beast.’ My mission is to get the guns out of the hands and replace them with instruments.”
(10/29/14 10:09pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Culminating in the Homecoming tailgate and football game on Saturday, Oct. 25, the College’s 27th annual Spirit Week was replete with field games, giveaways, green screen photo shoots and live musical performances.
This year’s theme centered on HBO Shows: Fraternities, sororities, club sports and other on-campus organizations then revealed their team banners in the Brower Student Center on Monday, Oct. 20. A “Game of Thrones” themed banner was brilliantly brought to life by Kappa Delta, Phi Alpha Delta and Delta Lambda Phi, reading “Homecoming is Coming.”
A tribute to “True Blood” by Theta Phi Alpha and Phi Kappa Psi featured a fanged woman with blood dripping from her lips.
For the series “John Adams,” Phi Sigma Sigma and Club Baseball made a banner and shirts that read “Join, or die,” the title of the show’s pilot episode. For the show “Band of Brothers,” Delta Zeta, Sigma Pi and Lambda Theta Alpha brought camouflage colors, dog tags and other army elements into a football-themed banner.
On Tuesday, Oct. 21, students tie-dyed shirts blue and gold in the Brower Student Center until 2 p.m. The afternoon ended with a heated volleyball tournament.
On Wednesday, Oct. 22, not even the pouring rain could stop the events taking place on the Sundial Lawn throughout the day. Between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., organizations partook in nonstop activities like men’s cheerleading, women’s tug-of-war, a potato sack race, dizzy bat, a three-legged race and a human pyramid.
Wednesday also marked the T-shirt swap headed by Student Government. Students traded in high school T-shirts or another college’s T-shirts for brand new Homecoming 2014 shirts. The event, funded by the Student Finance Board, garnered at least 350 T-shirts to donate to Goodwill.
A free rally towel giveaway was hosted in the Brower Student Center on Thursday, Oct. 23, followed by the performance of a live band. Students at meal equiv were treated to the hip-hop/pop-rock sounds of cover band Under Pressure. According to the band’s website, Under Pressure is “a fresh and spunky female-fronted party band that has no problem captivating any crowd.”
That night for another Homecoming activity, students participated in utensil wrapping for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, wrapping forks, spoons and knives.
Friday, Oct. 24, was Blue and Gold Day, during which all students and staff were encouraged to represent the College by wearing school colors. The Homecoming committee gave away blue and gold spirit items, blue and gold cupcakes and hosted blue and gold-themed green screen photos. The College’s mascot, Roscoe, even showed up for pictures.
Finally, on Friday night, students gathered in the Recreation Center to enjoy the capstone of the Spirit Week events — the lip sync and dance competitions
“I went and participated in last year’s event and thought it was spectacular — however, this year’s event exceeded my expectations,” sophomore class council president Robert Kinloch said. “As a brother of Phi Alpha Delta, I could not have been prouder of the way the guys from our fraternity and the girls of Kappa Delta sorority competed.”
The Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, Sigma Kappa sorority and Sigma Lambda Beta fraternity won Homecoming Spirit Week after taking first place in the lip syncing and dance competitions and the banner competition.
“The dance that (they) put on about ‘The Pacific’ was so astonishing that it gave me the chills,” Kinloch said.
The brothers and sisters were able to enjoy Homecoming knowing they were the most school spirited — at least for this year.
(10/29/14 7:43am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
A couple from Ohio may have discovered a way to deal with our warming Earth and the toll that humans are taking on the planet. Scott and Julie Brusaw hope to use America’s highway system to capture and convert the power of the sun.
Unless you live under a rock, I’m guessing you’ve heard of Solar Roadways Incorporated. The YouTube video “Solar FREAKIN’ Roadways!” went viral this summer, garnering over 18 million hits so far.
The idea is exactly what it sounds like — roads made from solar panels. Although the project is gaining publicity now — especially in the past few weeks in venues like BBC News and Dish Magazine — the couple has been working on it for years.
“Years ago, when the phrase ‘global warming’ began gaining popularity, we started batting around the idea of replacing asphalt and concrete surfaces with solar panels that could be driven upon,” according to the website, SolarRoadways.com. “We thought of the ‘black box’ on airplanes: We didn’t know what material that black box was made of, but it seemed to be able to protect sensitive electronics from the worst of airline crashes.”
In 2009, the Brusaws received a contract from the Federal Highway Administration to build a prototype. After successful completion of Phase I, the FHA awarded them with a $750,000 contract for Phase II.
Scott even presented the Solar Roadway at a TEDx Talk in Sacramento on April 16, 2010, calling it “the talk of (his) life.”
If implemented, the Solar Roadways Project will generate three times more clean energy than needed and will cut carbon emissions by 75 percent.
It is an interesting idea, but is it a feasible one? I say yes, but not right now.
Before undertaking such a massive project, we must think about the cost of ripping up every paved road in the nation and laying down solar panels. Each panel costs about $7,000 and the plan calls for billions of them. It would take several years before the electricity generated would recoup their own costs.
Then there’s the question of how the panels would work on cloudy days. As is, most solar panels convert only about 14 percent of available energy into electricity. Would these panels be worth it to parts of the country that must endure long winters and cloudy seasons? Even right here in New Jersey, the College endured days straight of rainy weather last week.
Would glass panels withstand the harsh punishment from cars, trucks and other heavy vehicles? There is a chance that they would shatter under the weight.
There are many questions, but one thing is for certain — this country cannot depend on fossil fuels forever. We are destroying our planet. There has to be another solution.
However, solar panels need to be developed further before they are laid across every major roadway in America.
We have certainly come a long way since the first Solar Collector built by Swiss scientist Horace-Benedict de Saussure in 1767, but there is still a ways to go. The efficiency of individual panels need to be high enough to justify spending billions, or even trillions, of dollars on their installation.
If there is more preparation put into the Solar Panel Roadways project, it can be a tremendous success in the near future.
(10/22/14 10:35pm)
By Sydney Shaw & Kimberly Ilkowski
Opinions Editor & Review Editor
Wacky inflatable arm-flailing tube men, vicious mosh pits and broken equipment — and that was just the opening acts. The College Union Board’s 2014 fall concert featuring We The Kings, The Front Bottoms and New Politics cranked the volume up to 11 in Kendall Hall on Thursday, Oct. 9, for a show filled with beloved songs — old and new — screaming and a hint of debauchery.
Opening the night was We The Kings, whose breezy attitude and contagious energy persisted throughout the band’s nearly hour-long set. Frontman Travis Clark, bassist Charles Trippy, guitarists Hunter Thomsen and Coley O’Toole and drummer Danny Duncan exuded effervescence as the high school friends played hits like “Skyway Avenue,” “Say You Like Me” and “We’ll Be A Dream.”
During “I Feel Alive,” the band filmed the crowd “sorority squatting” and flailing their arms like wacky inflatable tube men during the chorus, footage which was posted on the members’ YouTube video blogs and will be used in their upcoming music video for the track.
In an interview with The Signal, Clark discussed how the band has evolved since 2007, when it released its self-titled album filled with vibrant pop hooks. Six years later, the band produced “Somewhere Somehow,” complete with electronic elements and hip-hop influences. Clark attributes the musical transition in part to an evolution in the band’s roster. Trippy and O’Toole officially joined the band during the release of 2011’s “Sunshine State of Mind” and have since contributed their own unique musical styles to the band.
We The Kings closed out the set with its 2007 bubble gum rock single “Check Yes Juliet,” a song that propelled audience members right back to their days of middle school crushes and Myspace mirror selfies.
“‘Check Yes Juliet’ was one of our biggest songs ever, but I don’t want to write that same song over and over again,” Clark said. “I want that to live in the present of where it was and just be the song that people fell in love with.”
Next to take the stage was indie-rock unit The Front Bottoms, returning to the College after making its debut at the Rathskeller in February 2012.
Vocalist Brian Sella slid around the stage, acoustic guitar in hand and rainbow socks on his feet, as he belted out songs off the sophomore disc “Talon of the Hawk” such as “Skeleton” and “Tattooed Tears.” The band — comprised of Sella, drummer Matthew Uychich and touring members Tom Warren on bass and Ciaran O’Donnell on keyboard, trumpet and guitar — also performed “12 Feet Deep” and “Lipstick Covered Magnet,” tracks originally on the unmixed and unmastered EP “I Hate My Friends.” The songs were professionally recorded for the band’s latest effort “Rose.”
“I think in the beginning, me and Matt didn’t know so much about how it was supposed to be done,” Sella said. “We didn’t really know how to mix and how to master. We didn’t have the equipment or anything, but I remember we always felt very strongly, like, ‘These songs are good as hell. Who cares if they sound shitty … We’re not going to be famous or on the radio, so who cares? Let’s just let the people listen to it.’”
The band performed in front of its own version of wacky inflatable tube men, as well as giant “TFB” blow-up letters as they sang about inconvenient love, regretting tattoos and other emotionally charged lyrics with enough teenage angst to make your parents roll their eyes.
During the band’s final song of the night, “Twin Size Mattress,” a female student burst onto the stage to sing along with Sella. What seemed like an isolated occurrence turned into an absolute riot as students flooded the aisles to climb onto the stage. The passionate final verse was shouted over an uncontrollable crowd. Several particularly rowdy students had to be escorted out of Kendall.
With such fiercely loyal fans, it’s no big surprise they turned out this way.
Such a dramatic finale was hard to match, but headliners New Politics managed to wrangle the crowd right back in with its set of dynamic songs and impressive break dancing skills. Vocalist David Boyd and guitarist Søren Hansen moved to New York from Denmark in 2009 after being signed to RCA Records. Long Island native Louis Vecchio joined the band shortly after their arrival.
“When we suddenly came to America and we didn’t know what direction we should take the second album in, the only thing we knew was that if it doesn’t mean something, we were gonna scratch the song,” Hansen said in the pre-show interview.
After trying to pen hundreds of different tracks, the trio finally settled on one that meant something: “Harlem.”
The band played other songs from its album “A Bad Girl in Harlem” including “Overcome” and “Goodbye Copenhagen,” a tribute to Boyd’s and Hansen’s hometown. The set also included two tracks that had never before been performed in front of an audience — “Everywhere I Go (Kings And Queens)” and “Loyalties.” The latter was co-written with Fall Out Boy, which the band opened for during the summer Monumentour with Paramore.
“It’s really inspiring to see where (Fall Out Boy has) taken it, if you just believe in yourself and work hard for it,” Boyd said. “They’ve been a band for what, 10 or 12 years? Sometimes we have rough days and it’s nice to see it all pays off at the end if you work for it.”
After the animated finale, “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” students went home with ample amounts of sweat, life-long memories and bruises — lots and lots of bruises.
Thanks to our friends at LTV, the Campus Television Station, for videotaping the interviews with the bands!
(10/22/14 10:28pm)
Over the course of the last two weeks, Student Government introduced several new programs and initiatives to the campus community.
At the general body meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 8, Director of Planning & Administration Cecelia O’Callaghan introduced Collegiatelinks, an online database for all student organizations and events to promote student involvement. Collegiatelinks representative Andrea Palmer gave a tutorial introduction to the program via video chat.
“Students will be able to browse all clubs and organizations at the College and see all the events going on around campus,” Palmer said.
Students will be able to access Collegiatelinks using their PAWS login information. The site features a current events board, attendance tracking and organization finance applications.
“You can go online and type in what you’re interested in — service opportunity and athletics, for example — and Collegiatelinks uses an algorithm to match students up with relevant groups,” she said.
The program will be integrated with social media outlets like Facebook and Twitter. Site administrators can embed feeds, Google calendars and more.
Collegiatelinks will be presented to the Board of Trustees in December.
After the presentation, Vice President of Academic Affairs Casey Dowling announced that “Registration 101,” a program that advises students on how to register for classes through PAWS, will be hosted on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. in the Travers/Wolfe lounge.
At the General Body meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 15, the College’s new director of recreation Robert Simels discussed his plans for Recreation on campus. Simels wants to work with students and meet their needs in a holistic manner.
Later, Vice President of Equity and Diversity Javier Nicasio announced that the first issue of Diversity University has been published. It contains content related to Queer Awareness Month, the I Too Am TCNJ campaign and the Wage Gap Bake Sale that was held on Wednesday, Oct. 15 — women paid 66 cents for a baked goods item while men had to pay a full dollar to reflect the differences in pay in the workplace.
Vice President of Student Services Navid Radfar reminded Student Government of the T-shirt swap to be held in the Brower Student Center on Wednesday, Oct. 22, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Students can trade in a T-shirt from another college or a high school for a brand new Homecoming 2014 shirt.
(10/07/14 4:31pm)
Campus Registered Dietician Aliz Holzmann, alongside Director of Dining Services Karen Roth and Area Marketing Coordinator Joanna Brunell, gave a presentation at the Student Government general body meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 1, suggesting to students ways to make smart decisions regarding their health.
“We want to promote healthy eating in a positive, forward-thinking way,” Roth said.
One of the new projects that the College’s dining team is working on is “Eat Right at Eick.” Every month, there will be a different seasonal food item featured in the Atrium in Eickhoff Hall. In September, a basket of different varieties of apples sat upon the counter near Ceva Pizza. On Wednesday, Oct. 22, the dining hall will be hosting a pumpkin-themed breakfast.
Another project that Holzmann is spearheading is the Mindful Program, which the College implemented last Fall.
“The Mindful Program includes the Mindful Mile,” she said. “It’s a way to get some exercise in while you ask me any health-related questions you might have.” The walk starts outside the 1855 Room on Mondays at noon.
The Mindful Program also enables an “easy choice for you to enjoy a healthier lifestyle,” with the dining options in Eickhoff. There are instructions at stations in the dining hall so students can customize their meals to be lower in calories, sodium and saturated fat. At least two meals a day served in Eickhoff fit the Mindful criteria.
Now, students can find the Mindful Program in the C-Store, as well.
“Each month, there will be a different recipe listed in the C-Store that can be cooked in most residence halls, and all of the ingredients are available in the C-Store,” Holzmann said. In September, a berry banana smoothie recipe was available. This month, students can learn how to make a tuna avocado salad.
Holzmann also told Student Government members about the College’s Dining Services website, tcnj.sodexomyway.com. Students can go online to find recipes, instructions on how to schedule an appointment for a private consultation or to hear about upcoming events.
For Flavors of Fall on Tuesday, Oct. 7, Eickhoff will feature menu items like sweet potato bisque soup, cedar salmon on rotisserie and butternut squash ravioli. Taco Day on Tuesday, Oct. 14, will be held in the Lion’s Den. On Tuesday, Oct. 21, Dining Services and the College’s Indian Student Association will be celebrating Diwali. Best-selling author and owner of six restaurants Hari Nayak will be the guest chef at the event. There will be paneer makhani, tandoori chicken and rice samosas.
(10/07/14 3:40pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Long forgotten are the days that Urban Outfitters exploited school shootings, mental illness and Native American heritage. Now, the Philly-based clothing company has moved on to a new project — lying to Wall Street analysts.
Last week, it was reported that the company’s chief administrative officer Calvin Hollinger told analysts that “music is very, very important to the Urban customer … in fact, we are the world’s number one vinyl seller.”
Hipsters all around the country held a collective breath. This is an outrage. What about tiny hole-in-the-wall record stores? What about real indie retailers?
According to Billboard, though, “Analysis shows that Amazon is the largest seller of vinyl in the U.S., with about 12.3 percent market share, followed by Urban Outfitters with 8.1 percent market share.”
So it isn’t Urban Outfitters, but Amazon that controls the market for LPs worldwide. But honestly, that’s not a significant improvement.
Local stores like Princeton Record Exchange, Randy Now’s Man Cave and Shore Things have been the backbone of vinyl’s growth for decades. Through the death and revival of records, these stores never abandoned the music.
In an interview with Townsquare Media, Judy Mills, owner and operator of Mills Record Company in Kansas City, M.O., called the decline of small music stores the “Wal-Mart-ification of music.” One reason Urban Outfitters fails as a record distributor is because their vinyls are more expensive (Interpol’s newest album “El Pintor” is $22 at Urban Outfitters. It’s $16 everywhere else). But you lose so much more than a handful of cash. You lose diversity, because labels like XL Recordings and Hardly Art will never have an outlet at a store like Urban Outfitters. You lose service from an overqualified record store employee who will remember your face and suggest new tunes for you next time you venture into the store.
Just like Starbucks is a monopoly over small mom-and-pop coffee chains while many food stores harm local agriculture by not selling local produce, Urban Outfitters’ fixation with creating a mainstream sale of vinyl is bad for the vinyl market. And in the same way that food from a farmer’s market is better for your wallet and better quality, records from genuine retailers are cheaper and of higher value than the collection you’ll find at Urban Outfitters.
Even if you’re okay with the work of independent designers being blatantly plagiarized and the company’s CEO having a not-so-secret, right-wing agenda, you shouldn’t be okay with Urban Outfitters monopolizing the indie music industry.
(10/01/14 5:46pm)
The Student Government general body meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 24 opened to a fervent round of applause for the newly-elected freshman class council.
Freshmen economics major Ryan Cleary, finance major Matt Ranieri, open-options business major Kelsey Capestro, business management and computer science double major Gregory Vaks, criminology major Kevin Lyons, deaf education and history double major Priscilla Nunez and biomedical engineering major Tyler McGilligan emerged victoriously from elections on Tuesday, Sept. 23, and were welcomed into Student Government with open arms.
One of the discussions of the meeting was how the organization could respond to the concerns of students on campus.
Vice President Michael Chiumento announced that he and Vice President of Governmental Affairs Jess Glynn are starting a lobbying subcommittee.
“We’ll be advocating on behalf of students for problems they experience on a day-to-day basis,” he said. “We’re looking to be proactive rather than reactive.”
Vice President of Advancement Sarah Drozd also shared plans for Student Government to better respond to the needs of its constituents.
“There will be a meet and greet in the Alumni Grove on (Thursday), Oct. 16,” Drozd said. “We want to talk to students about what SG does and see what problems they want resolved on campus.”
There will be Philly Pretzel Factory pretzels at the event, and Drozd hopes that the new Student Government logo will be unveiled there.
She also asked students to email any original designs to advancementsg@gmail.com by Friday, Oct. 3.
Later, Vice President of Student Services Navid Radfar announced a new initiative spearheaded by himself, along with Vice President of Student Affairs Amy Hecht and Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Sharon Beverly.
“We have a vision to bring a Division I experience to a Division III school,” Radfar said.
The senior biopsychology major noticed that many students walk around campus sporting T-shirts from Rutgers, Duke, North Carolina and other universities that they do not attend, and he wondered what could be done to bolster the sense of school pride at the College.
“We have nationally ranked teams, but poor attendance at athletic events,” he said.
That is why Radfar will be hosting a T-shirt exchange during the week leading up to Homecoming.
“Come to the Brower Student Center with an old college or high school T-shirt and we’ll give you a brand new TCNJ Homecoming shirt,” he said.
The Student Finance Board allocated almost $1,400 for approximately 350 shirts. All of the T-shirts that are traded in will be donated to charity.
“Some students aren’t in organizations on campus, so they don’t have club T-shirts or Greek letter shirts to wear,” Radfar said. “We’re hoping these T-shirts will help all students identify with the College.”
Radfar, Hecht and Beverly are hoping that an increased sense of school pride will encourage more students to attend the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 25.
“We want to see kids having fun at the game, supporting the College and making smart choices,” Radfar said.
(10/01/14 5:35pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
With the first month of this semester behind us, now is the time when most students have finally gotten into the swing of their courses and are looking to add clubs, sports or other organizations to their schedules.
As a journalism major and a communication studies minor, it might seem predictable that I settled on The Signal when I was on a quest for my niche at the College. I have gained valuable skills here that I can apply to a future career in reporting, editing and writing in general.
But that does not mean that working with The Signal is only cut out for journalism majors, and it certainly does not mean that other clubs on campus do not have qualities from which I can benefit.
This may sound trite, but learning doesn’t only happen behind the closed doors of a classroom. There is something to be gained from every experience. The College stresses this to its students by requiring volunteer hours freshman year and encouraging them to join organizations like Greek life, sports and clubs.
When students look to branch out, though, many opt for selecting a place where they can employ or refine the skills they already learn in their majors.
The College also recognizes the importance of having a well-rounded education and taking classes outside of one’s major, which is why students have liberal learning requirements. Students should apply the same concept when choosing extracurriculars.
It will be well worth your while to push the limits of your comfort zone and try something new and foreign to you.
Join the American Marketing Association and discover a love you never knew you had for advertising. Improve your networking skills. Learn about the business world, because you never know where you’ll end up after graduation.
Check out the Art Students Association. Maybe you’ll fall in love with painting and declare a minor in Art History.
Follow the on-campus radio station’s motto “Open your mind!” and get involved with 91.3 FM WTSR.
Pushing past the tunnel-vision that many people have for their major can lead to discovering new hobbies, declaring new minors or even switching over to a new major.
A survey conducted by CareerBuilder in late 2013 suggested that a higher-than-expected number of individuals have careers unrelated to what they prepared for in college, so learning skills outside your major can only help you in the long run.
CBS reporter Lynn O’Shaughnessy wrote in an article about the survey, “Among the 2,134 workers surveyed, 47 percent of college graduates did not find a first job that was related to their college major. What’s more, 32 percent of college grads said that they had never worked in a field related to their majors.”
I still haven’t gotten to the best part of branching out — the new friends you’ll make.
In my first semester at the College, I limited myself to socializing with my floormates and a tiny group of other journalism majors that I had met in my intro course. Not surprisingly, my routine was more or less the same every week.
By my second semester, I had dramatically expanded my circle. I made friends in Student Government after covering the meetings. I met tons of awesome musicians that performed at the Rathskeller Student Band Nights. I made an effort to get closer to other students in my liberal learning classes.
Not only do I feel more comfortable on campus with a wider array of friends, but I learn new things all the time from each one of them.
It’s wonderful to find friends that have the same interests as you, but it’s just as important to surround yourself with individuals who have diverse mindsets. People with majors that are different than yours may also have different hobbies, passions and opinions that would benefit both of you if shared.
Whether it’s picking your clubs or your friends, don’t let your major define your experience.
(09/24/14 10:39pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
The campus community is in an uproar about the changes to Homecoming, complaining that a “segregated” tailgate defeats the purpose of the event. Students fear it will be more difficult to form connections with past members of fraternities and sororities, clubs, teams and other alumni.
According to the College’s Homecoming website, Lot 4 will be fenced off and serve as the alcohol-permitted area. Those of drinking age will only be allowed one six-pack of beer per person. Tailgating will begin at 10:00 a.m. and will last through the start of the fourth quarter of the football game.
Underage students can still spend their time with alumni and older friends, though. They just can’t do it in Lot 4.
There is no reason why attendees who are 21 or older have to stay cooped up in one place drinking all day long. They can have a few drinks and then leave the confines of Lot 4 to mingle.
One alum complained to me that he won’t get to see his brother, who is a freshman at the College.
“We should be able to hang out and drink beers together,” he said. “It’s Homecoming, for crying out loud. What’s the problem?”
The problem is that his brother is only 18 years old. If the alumus desperately just wants to spend time with him, he could do so — in Lot 6. Or anywhere else on the entire campus. He would put family ahead of standing in a parking lot and drinking all day.
Students are acting like their rights have been violated, but nowhere is drinking underage any kind of a right or a privilege.
The petition on Change.org penned by Mike Griffith, class of ’13, calls the changes to Homecoming “oppressive,” “arbitrary” and “authoritarian.” Many of the comments on the site complain that the implementation of these new rules shows that the College doesn’t trust us.
But if the College doesn’t trust its students not to drink underage or not to drink a dangerous amount of alcohol, it’s because we haven’t given it a reason to.
At last week’s Student Government meeting, Chief of Police John Collins said that at Homecoming 2013, there were students collapsing drunk in the parking lot before noon. There were 24 citations written for underage drinking, 13 more than the previous year. Older students slipped off their silver wristbands that signified they were of drinking-age, passed it over to a younger friend and then re-entered the tailgating area as if they hadn’t already received a wristband. This allowed younger students to drink openly, if not illicitly. Four students were transferred to the hospital during the event and two were transferred later that night. In 2011, only one student was medically transported during Homecoming.
As officers whose duty it is to protect students’ well being, are they supposed to ignore these increasing numbers?
One of the major arguments against the changes is that students who are not yet 21 might over-consume alcohol in their rooms prior to the event since, this year, it’s tougher for them to illegally drink in public.
“This is a high risk, as the rapid intake of alcohol can cause alcohol poisoning and result in hospitalization or death,” senior technology education major Dalton Fowler commented on the petition site.
Fowler is right, but it’s absurd to imagine that the College would allow underage students to drink alcohol at an event so that they don’t binge-drink beforehand. If trust from the College is what you’re looking for, don’t get blasted and make a fool of yourself at a school event.
Another argument is that the changes will alienate alumni, discouraging them from donating money to the College.
Alumni donate because they want to give back to the school that has given so much to them, not because on one day a year, they get to hang out and drink with younger students who are in the same organizations of which they used to be members.
Many are angry about the rule that follows Fraternal Information and Programming Group guidelines limiting the amount of alcohol.
Maybe the College is counting our drinks because last year, students drove in pickup trucks filled with dozens of cases of beer and drank till they were sick. When some people take advantage of the system, it’s understandable for the administration to respond by setting limits. There is no need for such an excess.
To supplement the reduction in alcohol allowed at the tailgate, the College is even hosting a beer garden in the Rathskeller from 3:30 till 6:00 p.m.
There will be a DJ in each of the tailgating lots. Organizations will be performing songs, dances and comedy acts. There will be a rock wall and an inflatable Quarterback Challenge, game booths, prizes, food and face painting. There will be, of course, a football game, where our new Pep Band will be making its debut appearance.
Shouldn’t we be focusing on all of that? Or can we not have fun and demonstrate school spirit without getting plastered?
(09/24/14 2:34pm)
A new club that will serve as a welcome addition to athletic events at the College was approved at the Student Government general body meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 17.
Pep Band, headed by junior music major Sam Nemeth, aims to enhance school spirit by sitting in the stands at athletic events, especially football games, and playing music to support the team and pump up the crowd.
Governmental Affairs voted unanimously in favor of the club, which has 22 members currently on the charter list.
Vice President of GA Jess Glynn called the club “unique.”
“They plan on having a facility and maybe a coach. There will be many people playing many instruments,” she said.
Later, Vice President of Student Affairs Amy Hecht announced that a presentation about Campus Town will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 11 a.m. in Education Building room 212.
“They want to show us what’s behind the fence,” Hecht said. “There will be pictures and information on the new apartments, restaurants and stores.”
Hecht also shared that a new director of recreation has just been hired, but his name has not yet been released. He is scheduled to begin on either Sunday, Sept. 28 or Monday, Sept. 29.
“It’s very exciting,” Hecht said. “He has a lot of experience with outdoor recreation, such as white water rafting and camping.”
The new director will be responsible for overseeing the Physical Enhancement Center and Fitness Center, as well as helping to move facilities to Campus Town when the time comes.
“Now we really want to get a handle on club sports — I know it’s been tough,” Hecht said.
(09/16/14 4:32am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Student Government moved into debate at the general body meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 10, regarding the possible reallocation of funds.
Ceceilia O’Callaghan, director of planning and administration for student affairs, asked on behalf of Vice President of student affairs Amy Hecht what students would rather see on campus first — wireless Internet installed in the Travers and Wolfe Halls, or “closing the loop” by extending the existing sidewalk there.
“When the College was building the Education Building (in 2012), that project came in under cost,” said David Muha, associate vice president for communications, marketing and brand management at the College. “Some of the savings were able to be redirected to critical campus infrastructure needs, which included both underground utility projects as well as wireless.”
But according to Hecht, administrators wondered if students found other issues on campus more urgent than the lack of Wi-Fi.
“I asked them a hypothetical question about what students would prioritize,” Hecht said. “If we could only do one project, or had to choose which to do first, what would they choose?”
“This does not mean both of these things should not be done,” O’Callaghan said. “It means there is not enough money for both to be accomplished this year.”
The wireless project is proving to be more costly than anticipated.
“The original budget was $2 million, but the cost and quantity of access points was greater than expected,” Muha said. “I don’t have a current estimate of how much additional (funding) is needed to complete the project.”
Members argued about which project they would prefer to see put into action first.
“As an avid runner, I know how difficult it is to safely run the loop. I’ve nearly been hit by a car multiple times,” sophomore class secretary Julia Livesey said. “Only having a sidewalk around half of the loop is dangerous, especially for those running near construction sites on campus where it’s difficult to see around the bend.”
Vice President of administration and finance Kyle Holland said that according to Hecht, in the past three years, three individuals have been hit by vehicles while walking or running the loop.
That statistic was reiterated by several pro-sidewalk members throughout the remainder of the debate.
According to Campus Police records since January 2011, only one pedestrian has been hit by a vehicle on Metzger Drive.
“That was on Nov. 26 of last year,” Muha said. “The accident occurred in front of Phelps. The victim was not in a crosswalk.”
Muha added that there are a number of reports of pedestrians and cyclists being hit on campus, but mostly in parking lots. The majority of the injuries are minor.
“There are no reports of joggers being hit that we can find,” he said.
Sophomore class council president Robert Kinloch argued that some individuals prefer to run in the street, making a complete sidewalk less necessary than wireless internet.
“Wi-Fi will help freshmen academically,” he added. “Students won’t have to leave their room to work in the library or in the Travers/Wolfe lounge.”
Senator of humanities and social sciences Joseph DiCarlo also weighed in.
“The need for Wi-Fi in the Towers is so extreme, it’s not even funny,” he said. “When we recruit people to one of the premiere institutions in the Northeast and then admit that we don’t have Wi-Fi for almost 1,200 students, it’s just embarrassing.”
Sophomore class treasurer Levi Klinger-Christiansen, who voted in favor of closing the loop, put it simply by saying, “Safety is greater than convenience.”
With the recent renovations and demolitions of several buildings on campus, some members wondered if installing wireless routers in the towers would be worth it if they were scheduled to be replaced in the near-future.
“The Towers are here to stay,” O’Callaghan said, putting rumors to rest. “There is no plan to take them down.”
Twenty-eight members voted in favor of closing the loop while only seventeen voted for making the Towers wireless. There were two abstentions.
“This is in preliminary works, so nothing is being decided right now,” Student Government President Matthew Wells emphasized. “We are waiting for more information. We will revisit this and vote again once we know how much the projected cost for each project is.”
(09/09/14 4:39am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Student Government is back in action as of Wednesday, Sept. 3, when the organization conducted its first general body meeting of the year.
In his first meeting as the Student Government president, Matthew Wells introduced the organization’s new advisor, Amy Hecht.
Hecht discussed the installation of new equipment in the Physical Enhancement Center, as well as new rims for the basketball nets in the Recreation Center. She noted that “although it isn’t perfect yet, it’s getting there.”
Hecht also confirmed that the proposed $20 charge for fitness classes at the Rec Center will no longer be going into effect this semester.
“We are still looking at it for the future, though,” she said.
Hecht also touched on the upcoming renovations in the Brower Student Center that are scheduled to take place later in the year, but did not go into detail.
VP of Advancement Sarah Drozd announced that Student Government is looking for a new Webmaster.
“If you or anybody you know is interested in filling the position, reach out to us,” she said.
Later, VP of Student Services Navid Radfar announced that the organization is co-sponsoring “TCNJam.” Comparable to Penn State’s “Thon,” it is a dance-a-thon to support the B+ Foundation, which works to help children battling cancer. It is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 8, from noon to midnight.
VP of Governmental Affairs Jess Glynn told members about a new mission for clubs at the College.
“We want to know if they are active. We want to review their constitutions and we want to get a record for SG to keep on file,” Glynn said. “It’s a big project that we anticipate will span several years.”
Before the meeting adjourned, Student Trustee Ryan Boyne and Alternate Student Trustee Kevin Kim announced that Student Government elections will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23.
(09/09/14 3:35am)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
Two New Jersey-based bands made their sophomore appearances at the Rathskeller on Friday, Sept. 4, during a night that satisfied both rockers and folkies alike.
Headliner River City Extension’s inordinate compilation of guitars, bass, violin, keys, vocals and percussion was impossible to ignore.
The band, comprised of frontman Joe Michelini, John Muccino, Mike Costaney, Colin Dimeo, Patrick O’Brien and Rebecca Schlappich, played songs like “Our New Intelligence” and “Holy Cross” off its first full-length album, “The Unmistakable Man,” which caught the attention of indie label XOXO Records in 2010.
Two years later, it performed at the College alongside Accidental Seabirds.
This time around, one particularly special individual was in the audience.
“Brett, raise your hand,” Michelini said as he introduced his younger brother to the crowd. “Brett is a freshman here. Everyone, solemnly swear that if you see him on campus and you happen to recognize him, make sure no one fucks with him.”
“The closest that I’ll ever get to having kids is giving birth to rock and roll,” Michelini added.
In April, the band sequestered itself in a lodge in the Poconos rigged to act as a recording studio to work on its upcoming album “Deliverance.”
“There is no way for anyone to duplicate any of our songs unless they record them in that house,” pianist O’Brien said. “That house is a real part of this album. It was the most stress-free recording experience I’ve ever had. We really just needed to get far away from everything, get off the grid, so we could just be us.”
Michelini got up close and personal with his fans, jumping into the crowd to dance during a long instrumental break in the show.
After the set ended and the band left, the audience summoned it back with the unusual chant of “six more songs!” The band only played one, though — “Friends and Family.”
Opener Pine Barons also made a comeback after emerging victoriously from the Battle of the Bands, co-sponsored by CUBRat and WTSR in April.
With Keith Abrams and Brad Pulley on guitar and vocals, Collin Smith on drums and vocals and Shane Hower on bass and percussion, the band opened with songs from its first self-titled EP, such as “Don’t Believe What They Told You” and “Black Matter,” which begins with a haunting harmony between Abrams and Pulley.
“Coming back to your campus has been so great,” Pulley said. “There were so many more people this time. The sound quality is awesome in here, too.”
This summer, the self-described psych-folk-harmonious-americana-rock and roll band began recording demos and working on producing its first full-length album.
The band utilized a tambourine and maracas in its set, highlighting its new and distinctive sound.
Pine Barons was recently featured in The Deli Magazine and is in the running to be the next New York City Artist of the Month.
According to the band’s website, “these four heroes devote themselves to the mission of spreading rock ’n‘ roll, good times, jokes, high fives and hot sauce to friends around the world.”
(09/02/14 7:52pm)
By Sydney Shaw
Opinions Editor
While we often hear about students putting themselves through school, it’s a feat that is easier said than done.
Stephanie, a representative from education funding provider Sallie Mae who did not wish to have her full name disclosed, answered some questions I had about the likelihood of a student to be approved for a loan, sans a cosigner.
“While it is a case-by-case basis,” she emphasized, “in my experience, most students applying for a loan will need a cosigner in order to get that loan approved.”
Stephanie went on to explain that because most students haven’t established a good credit score, Sallie Mae has nothing to base the approval on if the student submits a solo application. That’s why a cosigner is so important.
But what if you don’t have a cosigner?
“Well … try to get one,” Stephanie suggested, as if it’s a piece of cake.
With one parent still financially recovering from a bankruptcy, the other deep in credit card debt and one pair of grandparents taking out loans themselves to move across the country, they weren’t solid candidates to cosign for my loans.
It was a stressful summer trying to figure it out, but luckily, my other grandparents received credit approval and I was able to take out loans in my own name to attend the College for two more semesters.
Unfortunately, I can’t celebrate just yet.
The College is unable to release the check that contains the overage from my loan until October, which means I am unable to purchase my books for class for another five weeks or so.
This whole ordeal got me thinking, though. What about the students who literally have nobody to cosign for them?
A student can slog through classwork in high school and get accepted into the university of their dreams, but if their parents make just too much money to get a substantial amount of financial aid and the family doesn’t have a savings account, the student needs to take out loans.
That same student can be willing to take out tens of thousands of dollars worth of loans in their own name, knowing the debt to come after graduation. And this still might not be enough to get into school if nobody in the family has a good credit score.
I understand the practicality of a cosigner — it ensures that if the student is unable to pay loans back, someone is on the hook for all that money. But the bottom line is it shouldn’t be so difficult for students to put themselves through school.
As if getting loans in the first place isn’t tricky enough, interest rates on many kinds of student loans have skyrocketed to almost nine percent, according to America’s Debt Help Organization.
That means for every $1,000 you borrow, you have to pay it back, plus $90 extra.
For College students using loans to pay for their tuition fees, room and board, meal plan and books (approximately $28,000 a year), it costs them $2,520 in interest alone.
If you can make scheduled monthly payments while you are enrolled in school, though, Sallie Mae reduces the interest rate by a quarter of a percent. How generous.
Big corporations should not use intelligent students as a moneymaking tool. It's high time for major changes to come to the student loan system.