page 6 The Signal October 22, 2014
Library / Renovations made to preserve building continued from page 1
Courtney Wirths / Features Editor
The library that is used today has been used since 2005.
“When you walk past the building and just look up at the building, you will notice that the paint is peeling, there’s damage to the gutters, so that is causing water to get into the building and that is causing deterioration,” Muha said. “We are taking the steps that are needed today because we do want to preserve and restore the building.” According to Taras Pavlovsky, the dean of the Library, this renovation is long overdue. “I am very happy they are spending the money because (Roscoe West) had slate roofs which have a lifespan of about 75 years, so from 1930 to 2014, we are well beyond that,” he said.
In fact, Pavlovsky has even witnessed first-hand why the renovation is so badly needed. “I saw what happened when a piece of slate fell off the roof one time during some strong wind ... and it could have taken someone’s head off,” he said. “Now just from a general responsibility point of view, thank God the College fixed it, because somebody could have gotten seriously hurt.” While Roscoe West has only been used for storage purposes since building the current library in 2005, there are still plans to have a complete renovation done within the next few years. “You have a historic building right at the heart of the campus, and for a college that is as tight on space as we are, it will be valuable
in terms of helping the College grow,” Muha said. “We are talking in the tens of millions of dollars to do any renovations, and right now, the focus of the college from a building standpoint is really the STEM project and the renovation of the Brower Student Center.” In the meantime however, all that can be done is sit back and speculate what Roscoe West will become. “It has some wonderful spaces, but personally I think it is a wonderful place for the president’s office,” Pavlovsky said. “It has high ceilings, obviously it would have to get reconfigured and have air conditioning put in, but it has some wonderful spaces there, and (when it’s finished, it is) going to have a visual impression on people.”
How the College is readying for a safe Homecoming By Natalie Kouba Editor-in-Chief A parking lot littered with beer cans and red Solo cups has become a familiar image at the College’s Homecoming, and the number of transports and citations reflects the out-of-control reputation that the administration will attempt to reign in this year. In sticking to the united tailgate structure, the College is also hoping to work with students to reverse this seemingly increasing trend of alcohol abuse at Homecoming. “Drinking is the primary concern, but we are optimistic that the advance buy-in from these groups, along with the new limits on the amount of alcohol allowed into the area, will be effective,” said David Muha, vice president of Communications, Marketing and Brand Management at the College. In the past two years, there has
been a jump in the number of alcohol related incidents — from five medical transports in 2012 to eight in 2013, and from 11 underage drinking citations in 2012 to 24 last year. This year, in lieu of having one combined tailgate instead of the original separated tailgates, extra funding had been provided to support the increase in security. According Muha, there will be 55-60 professionals assisting with security, consisting of members from Campus Police, New Jersey State Police and contracted security officers from Summit Security. “Summit’s officers will primarily be checking ID’s, monitoring checkpoints, checking bags and providing building security,”Muha said. “Our officers and those from the State Police will be handling enforcement.” In reuniting the tailgates, campus organizations and Greek Life agreed on pulling their efforts to make a conscious effort to curb
underage drinking. “We basically just had fines in place and agreed to not have pre or post parties,” Inter-Greek Council President Robbie Nunes said. “This year, there will also be additional sanctions for Greek organizations, including fines, if one of their members is cited for underage drinking,” Muha said. “Other student organizations will also be held accountable to Student Government.“ In addition to the increase in security, the Fraternal Information and Programming Group Guidelines will limit the amount of alcohol allowed to be brought into the tailgate. Unlike previous years where garbage bins full of beer cans were stationed across the lot, each attendee of legal drinking age will be permitted to bring in only a six pack of 12-ounce beers or a four pack of six-ounce wine drinks. “Limiting the amount of
Sutherland / College mourns
alcohol this year according to nationally recognized guidelines should help in this respect as well,” Muha said. Through different campaigns, higher security and added events, the College is making strides in hopes of providing a safer Homecoming tailgate this year and bring overall awareness to the issue. Some student-led campaigns are helping to raise awareness about alcohol-related issues and guide attendees to a safer Homecoming experience. Delta Zeta sorority, for example, has championed the “I Have a Choice” campaign, voicing the dangers of drinking and driving in the week leading up to Homecoming in order to support the National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week. Drew Grapstul, a senior criminology major and Campus Police intern, is heading the HERO campaign, an effort aimed to raise
awareness of the dangers of intoxicated driving and urging students to designate sober drivers. A few weeks ago, students had the opportunity to see the potential dangers of drunk driving when Rutgers alum Gabe Hurley came to speak on behalf of the HERO campaign. Hurley recounted to the College how his life changed after being struck by a drunk driver and the hazards therein. “That changed his life dramatically, so we are trying to make everyone proactive about drinking and driving,” Grapstul said. “We just want to make people aware going into the football game and coming out of the football game sure there is going to be people drinking, tailgating the football game, but make them aware of the HERO campaign and when you leave the stadium, have a designated driver, or don’t drink and drive.”
Students remember selfless friend continued from page 1 Sutherland died by suicide on Monday, Oct. 6., according to an email sent to College faculty, staff and students by President R. Barbara Gitenstein on Thursday, Oct. 9. “This tragic incident affects our campus, and we all feel a sense of loss at this time,” President R. Barbara Gitenstein wrote. “Please join me in keeping Sarah, her family, and loved ones in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.” A mycentraljersey.com article published on Thursday, Oct. 9, cited police saying the 18-year-old had jumped off an overpass and into a creek, which was several hundred feet from the restaurant where she had worked. Sutherland later died at University Hospital in Newark. Sutherland had been a warm, inclusive student who liked to make sure nobody felt left out, according to freshman psychology major Lena Chickezie. “If you knew her, you were lucky,” Chikezie said during a prayer vigil the New Jersey Christian Fellowship held for Sutherland on Wednesday, Oct. 15, which honored Sutherland. The vigil highlighted the psychological
options available to all College students in need of any assistance, including CAPS in 107 Eickhoff Hall, and services were made available to those who knew Sutherland. “I think that everyone has been so great with us, talking about counseling and psychological services,” Rose said. “I think that the school does as much as they can, they make us very aware of the services available to us.” Sutherland’s floor was heavily impacted by the loss of their friend and came together to mourn her after their community advisors and the school counseling services told them the news. “(Our floor is) pretty close … We all went to dinner the night (they told us the news), it was almost 40 of us that went to Eick that night, and it was just nice to be together,” Rose said. “We have a really close floor, which makes it hard to lose someone — but it’s also nice that we all have each other, we’re going through the same thing. If I get upset, I can just go to anyone in the hall and we’re all close. We all knew her. We’re all upset about it.” Sutherland’s family held a memorial service for her on Friday, Oct. 10, with a prayer service on Saturday, Oct. 11.
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