The Signal Oct. 28, 2009 Edition

Carving for Charity Spirit week competitors carved pumpkins that were donated to the Trenton Boys and Girls Club.

New media art exhibit uses concept of distortion and focuses on the ʻhighly industrialized human condition.ʼ Arts & Entertainment, page 19

See Features, page 13

tcnjsignal.net

Distorted Art

The College of New Jersey Student Newspaper since 1885

October 28, 2009

No. 9.

Vol. CXXXI.

Homecoming 2009 undaunted by rain

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Alumni, students, faculty, family and friends celebrated Homecoming 2009 on Saturday. Despite the bad weather, the day was marked with tailgating, taking campus tours and attending the football game. Further events included concerts, fundraisers amd an evening field hockey game.

By Todd Petty Staff Writer Swarming with faces both young and old, parking lots became sacred territory, students adorned face paint and the Collegeʼs campus became a hub of activity.

Last week was Homecoming Week 2009 and school spirit reached a high.

Rain fell sporadically on the tops of tents and canopies Saturday, unable to discourage students from participating in a celebrated tradition at the College.

It has become a right of passage, a place where the past, present, and prospective members of the College come together with friends and family to join in festivites.

Bernice Sparrow, class of 1987, sat under a tent

between parking lots 3 and 4 enjoying food from a smoking grill. Sparrow said she came for the camaraderie and to see classmates.

Students and friends congregated in large groups, huddling under tents when it began to pour.

Despite the weather, the scent of hotdogs and hamburgers permeated the air, and everywhere, attendees touted red cups and bottles.

“Homecoming day is special because it is the only time where the entire school really comes together and acts as a community,” Drew Conn, senior English secondary education major and brother of Phi Alpha Delta, said. “As a senior, this yearʼs homecoming meant a lot to me because it is my final homecoming as an undergrad and it is also the last time I will participate in (the Collegeʼs) Spirit Week competition.”

One of the main attractions this year was an enor-

mous RV parked on the lawn near lots 3 and 4.

Music blared from the inside of the RV and piqued the interest of passers by who stood on their toes to try and get a look in.

“I like how it resembles a shantytown,” said Andrew Lubas, senior graphic design major.

“Me and my housemates enjoy the big family breakfast that (the College) has,” said William Emmons, senior journalism major. “Then we just hang out and play with a Vortex Nerf football.”

Prior to the big football game against Montclair State University, senior communications studies major and homecoming king candidate Danny Giovenco spent time with friends in anticipation.

“Iʼm really competitive and I would love see SPIRIT page 13

Battling flu a priority for campus health services

By Caroline Russomanno News Editor

Courtesy of the Sauro family

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

And the crowns went to …

Meraj Qazi and Danielle Sauro were crowned Homecoming King and Queen of 2009 in front of alumni, students, friends and family on Saturday. Qazi is a senior interdisciplinary business major and a community advisor. Sauro is a senior mathematics and psychology major. Besides being a cheerleader, she is a member of Phi Sigma Sigma sorority.

Health Services has been doing its best to arm the student body against the dangers of both the regular flu and H1N1 virus so far this semester.

There have been three H1N1 vaccination clinics administering FluMist, the nasal spray vaccine over the past two weeks.

According to Janice Vermeychuk, director of Health Services, 445 students, staff and faculty were vaccinated at the clinics. Eighty-four percent of the recepients were students.

“I would call that a mediocre response,” Vermeychuk said.

Health Services plans to have more flu vaccination clinics when the injectable vaccination is received.

According to Vermeychuk, the vaccine was ordered over two weeks ago but Health Services has not yet received it because production of the vaccine

is currently delayed.

According to Vermeychuk, Health Services is following the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control and “not routinely testing for H1N1 flu.”

“Cases of students with flu-like illness we do count,” Vermeychuk said.

“We had a high of 36 cases the week of Sept. 14. The count has fallen since then. Last week, we saw 12 cases.”

On Oct. 24 Vermeychuk

Lions lose to Redhawks Bible prejudice Montclair State wins Professor examines history of homecoming game. discrimination in the bible.

Are students being scammed?

One student shares his experience with workforstudents.com.

See page 28

See page 9

See page 2

see HEALTH page 2

INSIDE

Editorials Opinions Features Arts & Entertainment Sports

7 9 13 19 28

page 2 The Signal October 28, 2009

SGA approves two new organizations

By Arti Patel Copy Editor

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The Student Transfer Association was one of two new organizations brought to the College.

The Student Government Association welcomed two new student organizations to the College campus at its general body meeting on Oct. 21. The Central Eurasian and Middle Eastern Studies Society and the Student Transfer Association were voted in unanimously.

The founders of the Central Eurasian and Middle Eastern Studies Society, under the guidance of 10 different faculty members, created the club to help educate students interested in the regionʼs culture and history.

“We want to bring awareness for these regions on campus,” said club president Lauren Daidone, junior history major. “Itʼs critical, as Americans, that we are educated about this region in a post (Sept. 11) world.”

The Student Transfer Associationʼs six founding members, all College transfer students, approached SGA with

their idea of giving other transfer students the opportunity to maintain a smooth transition after relocating.

“I was left in the dark after I transferred here,” said founder Nick Pepe, junior marketing major. “I had to figure out things the hard way and it was hard to meet people and network.”

“This club allows the College to market itself as a transfer-friendly college, which sets it apart from other schools,” Pepe said.

The senatorial body passed two resolutions authored by vice president of Legal and Governmental Affairs Olaniyi Solebo. The first recognized Tim Asher, director of student activities, for “working tirelessly to get Newark Mayor Cory Booker to come on campus,” Solebo said.

The second resolution granted Booker with an honorary membership into the SGA. Although some senators said the resolution was partisan toward the Democratic Party, it passed by majority vote.

David Stollman to motivate club leaders

By Kelly Johnson Correspondent

After lengthy deliberation during the Oct. 21 meeting, the Student Finance Board (SFB) approved $4,514 for the Inter-Greek Council to bring David Stollman, an expert on recruitment strategies and fraternity improvement, to the College on Nov. 18.

The Board was originally split on whether the event, called “Buy In or Get Out,” will be interesting enough in itself.

“Itʼs not a unique event,” said Brianna Glynn, senior representative and biology major. Other members shared concerns about the proposed date.

“Most students are in club meetings on Wednesday afternoons,” said Ashley LaRose, senior representative and psychology and communication studies major.

“I think there are enough people who … would find interest in this,” because Stollman is “someone relatable with a lot of experience,” said Garrett Hoffman, administrative director and junior mathematics major.

According to the Inter-Greek Council, Stollmanʼs presentation will empower campus leaders and help them better motivate their members. The event will take place in Kendall Hall.

SFB also approved CHABADʼs request for $3,264 to hold a “Shabbat 100” dinner this Friday after cutting $100 for paper goods. The event will be in the Business Building Lounge and include traditional foods as well as several Jewish performers, including Nosson Zand, a Jewish rapper, according to CHABAD.

Tom O’Dell / Photo Assistant

SFB granted finances for Raymond Luczak, a deaf author to come to the College and also approved funds for two Experience Asia Month events.

After cutting $313.15 from building services and utensils requests, SFB granted $1,661.25 to the Japanese Club for the event, Banzai, as part of Experience Asia Month. The event will be held on Nov. 6 in the Travers/ Wolfe Link, and will include food provided

by Wasabi Wok as well as arts and crafts.

Games will also be included, according to the Japanese Club.

After cutting $60 from the tablecloth request but granting an additional $200 for food insurance, SFB granted the Indian Student Association $859 for Coffeehouse, a part of Experience Asia Month.This event is cosponsored by the Asian American Association (AAA), and will include traditional

dishes and cultural talents. Coffeehouse will take place at 8 p.m. in Cromwell Main Lounge on Nov. 18.

SFB also approved Deaf-Hearing Connectionʼs request for $791.55 to bring Raymond Luczak, a gay, deaf author, to the College. SFB granted an additional $70 to the initial request of $721.55 for a half-page ad in The Signal.

The Collegeʼs sign language classes will be attending, and the New Jersey School for the Deaf is being invited to attend the presentation on Nov. 9 in Mayo Concert Hall, according to Deaf-Hearing Connection.

SFB also granted ACTION:Activist Coalition and Progressive Student Alliance $142 to show the film “Occupation 101,” a documentary on Middle Eastern conflict, on Nov. 11 in Forcina Hall 132.

Prof: Bible used for discrimination Flu / H1N1 vaccine

By Lisa LoCascio Correspondent Textbooks are constantly updated with new theories, facts and politically correct terms, yet the 3,500 year old Bible, one of the most prominently used texts, has remained untouched.

Michelle Stecker, professor of women and gender studies, noted this discrepancy in her Oct. 16 lecture called “The Bible and Homosexuality.”

According to Stecker, the “Bible has been used to justify witches, slavery and until 1967, to avoid interracial marriage.” Now, Stecker says the Bible is being used to discriminate against homosexuals.

Stecker told the audience that while reading old-age writing, it is necessary to “determine literary judgment.” At the time the Bible was written, life was vastly different than life today. For example, slavery and polygamy were common practices. Therefore “it is a huge challenge to apply our lives in 2009” to the teachings of the Bible, Stecker said.

In times of need or when confronted with societal controversies, “a lot of people are

opening the Bible and putting their finger on the text” for answers, she said.

In one example, Stecker described an incident of opening the Bible to a random page, finding the words “Judas hung himself” and after randomly selecting another sentence on a different page, the combined advice stated, “Judas hung himself, go and do likewise.”

Stecker also read several passages from Genesis, Judges and Leviticus. In Leviticus 20:13, should there be any form of sexual activity between two men, both must be killed for committing an “abomination”.

Stecker concluded by saying “no text from the Bible can validate homophobia … it is time to stop (it).”

According to PRISM Treasurer Liz Ehret, October has been dedicated to bringing “awareness” to the College. Ehret also said the activities of Queer Awareness Month have been the “biggest thing PRISM has put together.”

Academic-based lectures such as Steckerʼs are just one of the many programs PRISM has put together to educate and inform the College community.

advised for students continued from page 1 held a session for parents to educate them about the dangers of H1N1 and how to keep their children out of harmʼs way.

According to Vermeychuk, some of the topics covered at the event were “the difference between the terms seasonal, pandemic and novel influenza, testing for flu, the steps people can take to prevent the spread of respiratory illness.”

Other topics covered were types of vaccinations for H1N1 and other types of flue, as well as illness prevention habits.

Vermeychuk said illness prevention includes healthy habits such as covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands and getting adequate amounts of sleep.

Staying home from work and school when ill and getting an annual flu shot is also advised.

Due to a recent shipment of regular flu vaccine (not H1N1) students who missed the regular flu vaccine in September are now able to get the vac-

cine by making an appointment with Health Services.

According to Vermeychuk, selfquarantining is urged by both Health Services and the Collegeʼs Critical Incident Planning Group.

Self-quarantining means when a student or teacher is ill, he or she stays away from other people and misses class to avoid getting others sick.

Flu symptoms are a fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or more and a cough or sore throat, Vermeychuk said.

If the flu is contracted, the sick person should stay away from other people until a full day after the fever has gone down.

According to Vermeychuk, College students are the target of H1N1, so it is advisable to get vaccinated against it.

For more information on any of these topics or sickness prevention in general, contact Health Services at 609771-2483.

Caroline Russomanno can be reached at russoma4@tcnj.edu.

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 3

Ph.D.: More about research, less about degree on paper

By Juliana Fidler Correspondent

College students should consider getting Ph.D.ʼs to further their careers, according to a presentation, “Transitioning to a Ph.D. Student; Could this Route be for You?” by Danielle Lombardi, a 2003 alumna of the College, on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the Library Auditorium. The event was part of the Young Alumni Lecture Series, sponsored by the Honors Program and the office of Academic Affairs.

“Primarily the Lecture Series is to encourage our current undergraduates to go to graduate school. Sometimes they need to be shown that there are some really grand opportunities in the northeast region,” John Sisko, associate professor of philosophy and coordinator of the Honors Program, said.

Lombardi graduated from the College in May 2003 with 150 credits and a minor in criminal justice studies, and originally wanted to work for the FBI. She planned on using her degree in accounting in this way because there was “a lot of fraud being discovered with accounting,” she said.

However, she went a different route. After graduating from the College, Lombardi worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers for two years and JH Cohn for three years.

Her employment experience included 80-hour work weeks as well as constant travel, and she decided that she wanted a change. She decided to apply to graduate school. Lombardi received her B.S. in accounting from the College and is currently working toward her Ph.D. at Rutgers Business School. Once she graduates, sheʼd like to work as a tenured professor and continue her research in behavioral auditing.

Lombardi has given presentations at conferences for organizations like the American Accounting Association and the World Congress of Accounting Historians.

“Thereʼs still a lot of traveling, but itʼs more glamorous traveling,” she said, noting that her previous job sent her to places like El Paso, Texas. “Thereʼs not a lot to do in El Paso.”

“In industry, they donʼt value a Ph.D.,” she said. For the accounting graduate program, she estimated “90 percent of the people go into academics.”

She emphasized the importance of research in the graduate program. “The heart of your Ph.D. is your research,” she said.

During graduate school, “you have to start immediately networking,” she said. “You have to get people to know your name, know your work.”

Lombardi began her research early on during her undergraduate years at the College. She co-authored a paper entitled “Auditorʼs Independence: An Analysis of Montgomeryʼs Auditing Textbooks in the Twentieth Century” with Hossein Nouri, professor of business.

Lombardiʼs other completed work is called “Bridging the Gap: A Study of Audit Fee Determinants Currently Used

by Public Accounting Firms Compared to Prior Studies and Empirical Results.” In this study, the companies she had worked for helped her by completing surveys. She is still working on a study called “The Future of Audit: A Modified Delphi Approach.”

She offered a program for the first two years of the accounting Ph.D. process, which requires 72 total credits. Part of this is statistics classes.

Lombardi then explained the process after the first two years — the qualifying examination and the dissertation.

The first is a two-day exam. The first day is a literary review, in which students are given a series of questions and have to search for related materials. During the second day, students have to read papers and act as a “referee.” Lombardi facetiously described the experience as “two days of fun.”

The dissertation has two steps. Students must come up with a proposal and then defend it in front of a committee. Students work with the committee to develop the study.

Although less than three percent of applicants are accepted”to Rutgers Business School, “some other programs are much more cutthroat and competitive, Lombardi said. “I

Tom OʼDell / Photo Assistant

Danielle Lombardi said Ph.D. research is important. found Rutgers to be a lot more encouraging.”

Accounting, Lombardi said, is the second highest-paid Ph.D. “Thereʼs such a shortage, and the demand is so high,” she said. “Iʼm hoping that will work in my favor.” She said that a lower-end starting salary of recent graduates of the program is $150,000.

Namrta Bhurjee, senior accounting major, and Carolina Moreno, senior criminology and justice studies major and accounting minor, were impressed by this life and salary.

“I thought (Lombardiʼs presentation) was very informative,” Moreno said.

“They should have more of these for all majors, not just accounting,” Bhurjee said.

According to Sisko, the areas covered last semester were history, classical studies, English, biology, psychology and engineering.

Categories don’t define us

Abby Hocking / Photo Assistant

Sonya Gwakʼs workshop covered ethnic idenities.

By Arti Patel Copy Editor Sonya Gwak, author of “Be(com)ing Korean in the United States: Exploring Ethnic Identity Formation Through Cultural Practices,” provided a learning workshop and presentation on Oct 21.

The presentation centered on the complex relationships among young people who proclaim a common ethnic bond and how they understand their ethnic, racial, and national identities as part of the Urban Education ProSeminar Speaking Series.

Gwak, currently serving as the associate director for Student Affairs and Advising

at the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, received her Ph.D. in education, culture, and society from the University of Pennsylvaniaʼs Graduate School for Education.

“The whole idea of my dissertation came from family lure,” Gwak said to a room of teaching students and College faculty administrators.

“I grew up in a very multicultural experience,” she said.

Gwak, born in South Korea and raised in Ghana, said she defies all cultural categories and has “always questioned who I am.”

Her dissertationʼs points of interest looked at the everyday cultural practices,

performance, teaching and learning, food folks, and fun, and the difference between being and becoming during a five-year iconography of a group of Koreans in a cultural drumming group based on the ancient natural religion of Pʼungmul.

Gwak analyzed each individual member of the groupʼs core members and examined the effects the personʼs upbringing had on his or her perspective and cultural outlook.

“Who am I and why am I acting this way were central questions to all of my studies while writing my dissertation,” Gwak said.

Gwak advised the future teachers to be aware of young ethnic students struggling with the damaging consequences of identity switching between their home and school.

“One of the hardest things with being a teacher is that you donʼt get to choose who comes into your classroom,” Gwak said, “But, everyone that does has baggage.”

Dealing with the emotional baggage is a major concern of teachers, especially those caring for children and teens because adolescents suffer the greatest consequences if they are unable to fit in, Gwak said.

“It is very important for teachers to understand that people have personal histories that you cannot assume,” she said.

“It is important to learn about people,” she said.

Tom OʼDell / Photo Assistant

Was press coverage in Iraq fair?

Professor of communication studies Paul DʼAngelo presented “Between Iraq and a Hard Place: Exploring Press Independence in Coverage of the Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal” on Oct. 20.

The presentation was based on the findings of his content analysis research project, which found the standards of investigative journalism were not up to par in their blending of the dominant governmental perspective and the counter-perspective associated with press independence in the Abu Ghraib prison scandal.

“This project is trying to gage press coverage about this story,” DʼAngelo said. “The press fell down on the job even though there are many counter arguments.”

-Arti Patel

Scratches deface car in Lot 3

By Alyssa Mease Staff Writer

A four-foot scratch was found on the driverʼs side door of a Honda at 10 a.m. on Tuesday Oct. 20.

The victim said she parked her Honda in Lot 3 at 8:15 a.m. and, upon her return, found the scratch. …

An intoxicated male was found at 12:45 a.m. on Oct. 21 in Travers Hall. …

A female received a series of harassing voicemails between 2:27 a.m.

Thursday Oct. 15 and 8:26 p.m. Monday Oct. 19.

page 4 The Signal October 28, 2009

Nation & World

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 5

Suicide bombings kill 155 in Iraqi safe zone BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraqi security forces conducted intense searches at checkpoints in Baghdad on Monday amid warnings of more attacks, as Iraqis questioned how two buses packed with explosives penetrated what was supposed to be one of the cityʼs safest areas, killing 155 people.

Sundayʼs twin suicide blasts in the heart of the capital targeting the Justice Ministry and the Baghdad Provincial Administration were the worst attacks in more than two years. They raised fears about Iraqʼs ability to protect itself as it prepares for January elections and the U.S. military withdrawal.

Baghdadʼs top security officials brought reinforcements to guard government institutions and blocked streets around the capital, acting on intelligence suggesting such buildings could be the militantsʼ next target, Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, a spokesman for the cityʼs operations command center told The Associated Press.

But those measures seemed insufficient to many angry Iraqis who fear more attacks and question the ability of Prime Minister Nouri al-Malikiʼs government to keep the country secure.

“This explosion made people furious,” said Ahmed Hassan, an employee at the Ministry of Education. “People will not re-elect this government.”

Al-Maliki has staked his political reputation and reelection bid on his ability to bring peace to the country.

But grief turned into anger Monday — an ominous sign for his re-election bid.

There have been no claims of responsibility, but massive car bombs have been the hallmark of Sunni insurgents seeking to overthrow the countryʼs Shiitedominated government. It was the second deadly bombing targeting government offices in the area since August, when coordinated blasts against two ministries killed more than 100 people.

The death toll rose to 155 on Monday as Baghdad residents buried the dead. About 500 people were injured, authorities said.

The initial investigation suggested the vehicles, each

packed with thousands of pounds of explosives, might have passed through some security checkpoints before hitting their destination, al-Moussawi said.

Baghdadʼs top security officials reviewed the footage taken by security cameras in the area of Sundayʼs blasts, al-Moussawi said. The footage showed a 26-seat bus targeted the Justice Ministry, and a minibus, with up to 10 seats was detonated at the Provincial Administration.

The interior and the engine of the first vehicle were heavily modified to accommodate 2,205 pounds (1,000 kilograms) of explosives, al-Moussawi said, adding the minibus carried 1,543 pounds (700 kilograms) of explosives.

Both bombings were suicide attacks, al-Moussawi said.

The remains of the attackersʼ bodies were recovered from the vehiclesʼ wreckage, and investigators are trying to determine the bombersʼ identities, he added.

Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said 76 people have been arrested so far, but he did not provide information on who they were or how they are believed to be connected to the horrific crimes, which took place just hundreds of yards from the heavily fortified Green Zone.

“This is a terrorist act,” al-Bolani said. He called on all the political forces to cooperate and assist the Iraqi security forces.

In Washington, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said the U.S. military is providing bomb disposal and forensic help to Iraqi authorities at their request.

The street where the blasts occurred had been reopened to vehicle traffic just six months ago. Shortly after, blast walls were repositioned to allow traffic closer to the government buildings — all measures hailed by al-Maliki as a sign that safety was returning to the city.

“Today, we came to work despite the fear inside us,” said Siham Abdul-Karim, 49, an employee of the Culture Ministry located near the site of the bombings and surrounded by police checkpoints on Monday. “We all wonder how could car bombs reach these institutions.”

Iraqi health and security officials confirmed the death toll. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they

AP Photo

Family members of a victim who was killed in a suicide bombing grieve at his funeral in Baghdad, Iraq, Monday, Oct. 26.

were not authorized to release information to the media.

The coordinated bombings were the deadliest since a series of massive truck bombs in northern Iraq killed nearly 500 villagers from the minority Yazidi sect in August 2007.

In Baghdad itself, it was the worst attack since a series of suicide bombings against Shiite neighborhoods in April 2007 killed 183.

Also Monday, a car bomb at a police checkpoint near the holy city of Karbala in southern Iraq killed at least four people, Iraqi security officials said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Fourteen die in U.S. helicopter crashes News Bits KABUL (AP) — Helicopter crashes killed 14 Americans on Monday in the deadliest day for the U.S. mission in Afghanistan in more than four years. The deaths came as President Barack Obama prepared to meet his national security team for a sixth full-scale conference on the future of the troubled war.

In the deadliest crash, a helicopter went down in the west of the country after leaving the scene of a firefight, killing 10 Americans — seven service members and three Drug Enforcement Administration agents. Eleven American service members, one U.S. civilian and 14 Afghans were also injured.

In a separate incident, two U.S. Marine helicopters — one UH-1 and an AH-1 Cobra — collided in flight before sunrise over the southern province of Helmand, killing four American troops and wounding two more, Marine spokesman Maj. Bill Pelletier said.

It was the heaviest single-day loss of life since June 28, 2005, when 16 U.S. troops on a special forces helicopter died when their MH-47 Chinook helicopter was shot down by insurgents.

U.S. authorities have ruled out hostile fire in the collision but have not given a cause for the other fatal crash in the west.

Taliban spokesman Qari Yusuf Ahmedi claimed Taliban fighters shot down a helicopter in northwest Badghis provinceʼs Darabam district. It was impossible to verify the claim and unclear if he was referring to the same incident.

Military spokeswoman Elizabeth Mathias said hostile fire was unlikely because the troops were not receiving fire when the helicopter took off.

NATO said the helicopter was returning from a joint operation that targeted

insurgents involved in “narcotics trafficking in western Afghanistan.”

“During the operation, insurgent forces engaged the joint force and more than a dozen enemy fighters were killed in the ensuing firefight,” a NATO statement said.

Afghanistan is the worldʼs largest producer of opium — the raw ingredient in heroin — and the illicit drug trade is a major source of funding for insurgent groups.

U.S. forces also reported the death of two other American service members a day earlier: one in a bomb attack in the east, and another who died of wounds sustained in an insurgent attack in the same region.

The deaths bring to at least 46 the number of U.S. service members who have been killed in October.

This has been the deadliest year for international and U.S. forces since the 2001 invasion to oust the Taliban. Fighting spiked around the presidential vote in August, and 51 U.S. soldiers died that month — the deadliest for American forces in the eight-year war.

The Obama administration is debating whether to send tens of thousands more troops to the country, while the Afghan government is rushing to hold a Nov. 7 runoff election between President Hamid Karzai and challenger Abdullah Abdullah after it was determined that the August election depended on fraudulent votes.

The Obama administration is hoping the runoff will produce a legitimate government. In Washington, Obama was to meet with his national security team Monday in what was to be the sixth fullscale Afghanistan conference in the White House Situation Room.

Abdullah on Monday called for election commission chairman Azizullah Lodin to

be replaced within five days, saying he has “no credibility.”

Lodin has denied accusations he is biased in favor of Karzai, and the election commissionʼs spokesman has already said Lodin cannot be replaced by either side.

Abdullah made the demand in a news conference during which he spelled out what he said were “minimum conditions” for holding a fair second round of voting, including the firing of any workers implicated in fraud and the suspension of several ministers he said had campaigned for Karzai in the first round before the official campaigning period began.

Abdullah did not say what would happen if his demands were not met. “I reserve my reaction if we are faced with that unfortunate situation,” he said.

Abdullah said he was willing to meet with Karzai to discuss the conditions, but repeated that he would not discuss a coalition government as some have suggested, nor compromise on his recommendations out of concerns that they are difficult to implement.

“These are not impossible things,” Abdullah said, stressing that his team had pared them down to what they considered essential to a fair vote and possible to put in place before the runoff.

Another flawed election would cast doubt on the wisdom of sending in more U.S. troops.

With less than two weeks to go until the vote, disagreements have emerged between the U.N. and the Afghans on how to conduct the balloting. Lodin said the commission hopes to open all 23,960 polling stations from the first round. The U.N. wants to open only 16,000 stations to cut down on the number of “ghost polling stations” that were used to stuff ballot boxes.

Health care legislation headed for the Senate floor will include an option for government-run insurance coverage, Democratic officials said Monday, with final details yet to be settled.

Radovan Karadzic, who led the Bosnian Serbs through a brutal three-year civil war in the early 1990s, boycotted a hearing Monday to protest his lack of time to prepare for his war crimes trial, saying he needs months more to get ready. His refusal to show up at the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal is a blow to survivors who hold him responsible for tens of thousands of deaths.

The New York Yankees have been blasting Jay-Zʼs “Empire State of Mind” during their playoff run. Now, the team is having the rap king perform the song live to kick off Game 1 of the World Series.

Information from AP exchange

page 6 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 7

Editorial

Please don’t kill each other

Hoagie vs. Sub. Italian ice vs. Water ice. Wawa vs. 7-Eleven. “The City” aka Philadelphia vs. “The City” aka New York.

This week, the ultimate South Jersey vs. North Jersey, Philadelphia vs. New York battle that conAP Photo stantly rages at the College — arguably a geographic midpoint — will come to a head in the Yankees- Whether you are rooting for the Phillies or the Yankees, try not to injure yourself and others during the World Series.

Phillies World Series.

The College is a concentrated microcosm of New Jersey’s torn loyalties to two teams that have been nothing short of spectacular this year. Phillies fans and Yankees fans will exist in the same small area, Who will you be rooting for in the World and for the next week or so, tempers will likely flair Series? and dirty looks will shoot around campus, targeted “The attitude at those wearing the enemy’s colors. We at The Sig- • Go Yankees! nal understand that this level of emotion may be too • Go Phillies! coming into • I don’t care.

Not even a little bit. much for some diehard fans to handle, so here are a this week few simple rules to cope with the stress of watching • All of my friends will be watching it, so I guess I will for Montclair the games with friends who support the same team, too, but I don’t care who wins. was totally or the opposition. different with cast your vote @ Set a few ground rules. Before the game starts, tcnjsignal.net lay down a few house rules about what will be acour defensive ceptable conduct during the upcoming World Series coordinator — Last Week’s Results: game. For example, if the Yankees score, Yankees he said, ‘if it’s How do you feel about Motion City Soundtrack and fans are not allowed to curse or throw things at the Cartel? not working, miserable Phillies fans and vice versa. Also, to selets fix it and cure the safety of all in attendance, the removal of 33% I hate both bands with a fiery passion. any and all potential melee or projectile weapons 27% I don’t care, I’m apathetic. try something such as pool cues, construction tools, that stick that 23% Happy. I love Motion City Soundtrack. different,’ so keeps the sliding glass door shut, etc.

17% Sad. I like Cobra Starship. we went balls Do not make any friendly wagers. It may be fun to out, brought make a bet on the game or the series, as fans are usuthe house on ally confident their team will come out on top, but if things don’t go as planned, having debt to friends in every play, we the back of one’s mind in addition to the sorrow of a just switched tcnjsignal.net Yankees/Phillies loss may cause potential violence, everything up .”

Telephone: Mailing Address: especially if the first rule is not obeyed.

Production Rm - (609) 771-2424 The Signal Business Office - (609) 771-2499 c/o Brower Student Center If all else fails, create a physical barrier between — senior The College of New Jersey Fax: (609) 771-3433 yourself and other fans. Every group of friends has P.O. Box 7718 E-mail: signal@tcnj.edu defensive end Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 that one person who just cannot handle his or her Craig Meyer. team losing on such a big stage. In this case, that Editorial Offices Arti Patel Kristen Lord person may need to be quarantined in another room Megan DeMarco Copy Editors “Homecoming day or house to avoid unwanted conflict, especially if Editor-in-Chief Hilarey Wojtowicz Bobby Olivier Sports Assistant is special because the upcoming game may decide the outcome of the Managing Editor Tom O’Dell series. No one wants Jimmy, who can’t handle the it is the only time Caroline Russomanno Abby Hocking Brianna Gunter Photo Assistants taunts from opposing fans, to threaten burning down where the entire News Editors Laura Herzog the dorm if provoked.

Garrett Rasko-Martinis Arts & Entertainment Assistant school comes Sports Editor Try to follow these basic concepts and you may Business Office together and acts Jeffrey Roman be able to actually see which team gets to sit in a Features Editor Diana Perez as a community.”

Katie Brenzel Business/Ad Manager parade headed through its home city. Let the best Arts & Entertainment Editor Erica Chao city win, and batten down the hatches.

Diana Bubser Classifieds Manager — senior Drew

The Weekly Poll:

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo and Sports editors and the Business Manager, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

Opinions Editor Kaitlin Olcott Production Manager Tim Lee Photo Editor Kelli Plasket Web Editor Matt Huston Nation & World Editor Donna Shaw Advisor Lauren Gurry Jillian Polak

Quotes of the Week

Conn.

“I like how it resembles a shantytown.”

— senior Andrew Lubas on Homecoming.

page 8 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 9

Opinions The Signal says ...

Stop: losing your ID, cheering on the Phillies, being a jerk for no reason, stealing computers.

Caution: broken-down engines, floating shoes, aggressive ducks, dirty laundry, powerful gusts of wind, the “Green Man,” feuding baseball fans.

Go: carve a jack-olantern, walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, decorate for Halloween, see ‘Whip It,’ enjoy a tasty cider donut, take a stroll, trickor-treating, listen with your heart, relive your childhood.

Policies

The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors.

The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office.

Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words.

The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity.

All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason.

All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs.

The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.

No candidate stands out in governor’s race With the gubernatorial elections around the corner, many people are saying the same thing — both candidates, Chris Christie and Gov. Jon Corzine, are bad. Neither really have Chris Morris plans for the changes they want, and in recent years, Democrats and Republicans have made a mess of Trenton.

The unpopularity of the two main candidates is giving birth to a new candidate, Independent Chris Daggett, who both Christie and Corzine have given credit for actually having plans to back his stances on the issues.

But is having plans enough to pave the way to Trenton, and does an independent really have a chance to become governor in New Jersey? Honestly, who knows? Let’s take a look at the three biggest issues in the election.

The first is obvious — taxes. Of course people hate Corzine for raising taxes during his term, and now that New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country, it’s making him look even worse. Corzine’s plan this time around is to use the $600 million raised from N.J.’s Tax Amnesty Program to relieve the middle class, and raise taxes for anyone making $400,000 or more.

Of course, Republicans oppose tax increases for the rich, which is why Christie’s plan is tax cuts across the board, and an additional break for all small business owners. But where is the money lost from property taxes going to come from? In addition to this, Christie wants to cut taxes on corporate businesses. But why? Because he’s a Republican, that’s why.

Lastly, Daggett wants to raise the sales tax to cut property taxes by 25 percent.

Sure, we’d still be paying the same cost, just through another type of tax, but it would put less attention on property tax, which Daggett thinks would be a relief to New Jersey residents.

Christie’s plan is bad, and Daggett’s is better, but Corzine’s is the best.

The next issue is the economy. Christie plans to start the N.J. Partnership for Action Program, which would lure new businesses into New Jersey, hence creating new jobs in the private sector.

Signal Spotlight

AP Photo

Gubernatorial candidates Jon Corzine, Chris Daggett and Chris Christie greet each other at last Thursday’s gubernatorial debate at WBGO radio in Newark, N.J.

Corzine boasts the $17 million he got New Jersey in the Federal Stimulus Package. He plans on building a new mass transit tunnel between New Jersey and New York City, which would create 44,000 jobs. Daggett doesn’t really have an economy plan — he’s too busy advertising his 25 percent property tax cut.

Christie fails to show a real plan to implement what he wants, Corzine settles on one thing — those 44,000 jobs — and Daggett avoids the issue to focus on taxes. I’ll give Christie and Corzine a tie here.

The other prominent issue is education.

Christie’s plan is pretty simple, more money alone won’t help. Christie endorses merit pay, which would reward better teachers with more money. Daggett has similar plans, including both merit pay and five-year renewable contracts for teachers, since tenure makes it difficult and costly to get rid of bad teachers.

Corzine flaunts the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, which gave $500 million dollars to New Jersey schools. This money, too, was used for things such as merit pay, but also gave funding to school districts who received little to no funding in past years.

I’m going to give the win on the education battle to Corzine. I believe that, unlike what

Christie says, throwing money at schools will help. Merit pay, which all the candidates agree on, will be an incentive to teachers, but it will take more than that. Schools need better resources, like computers and books, which requires money. Corzine has the best plan.

Looking at each issue and adding up the points, it’s close, but Corzine takes the trophy.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple — politics never is. Corzine is good at promising things and not so good at coming through. This wouldn’t be the first time he’s promised to reduce property taxes.

So, who should you vote for? Obviously, that’s up to you. All I can say is good luck.

No candidate seems to be clearly better than another, and empty promises can be hard to judge.

But the important thing is that you should vote. It’s your governor, it’s your taxes, your education, and your economy, which seniors will be dealing with in a few months after graduation. So go out and vote on Nov. 3, or be sure to fill out your absentee ballots. No matter how you do it, let your voice be heard.

Sources: associatedcontent.com, app.com, daggettforgovernor.com.

Who are you rooting for in the World Series, the Phillies or Yankees?

“Phillies.”

“Phillies.”

“Yankees.”

“Yankees.”

—David Holmes, junior open options major

—Kathleen Burns, senior communication studies major

—Frank D’Agostino, sophomore civil engineering major

—Nathan Brody, freshman mathematics major

page 10 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 11

Workforstudents.com scams employees

From an unfurnished, white-washed office that boasted nothing more than a laptop computer and product-pushing wall-hangings, I was given a job offer from workforstudents.com Mike Kowalczyk with benefits I could not refuse — $18 per hour, 10 percent commission, and complete flexibility, not to mention the enticement of free seminars in Disney World and a limitless potential for advancement.

My job was to push Cutco high-end kitchen cutlery for Vector Marketing by setting up in-home demonstrations with potential customers, then gathering contact information from them — my future targets. Lucrative? Definitely. Pyramid scheme?

Maybe. Legitimate? Absolutely not.

Of course, my interviewer saw to it that we did not grasp this notion, and I will admit he had me, and the rest of the interviewees, going. I had previously received an unsolicited letter in the mail detailing this rewarding job.

While the letter was notably vague, it did have the markings of a genuine company — signatures, watermarks, corporate logos and even an authorization number that I needed to provide to the secretary when I called to schedule the interview.

The interview itself, preceded by a group presentation, was equally well put together, brimming with statistics, factoids and promising success stories.

Young enough to be my older brother, my interviewer had ascended the corporate ladder after only a few years and was now “reaping the rewards.” He even performed a very impressive exhibition of the cutting power of the knives

and produced binders thick with information on the company, pictures of its management, and details of its products.

He promised that this job would be the single best resumé-booster conceivable since this company was internationally acclaimed for its leadership and public-speaking training since “college degrees are now a dime a dozen.”

The only catch was that you have to put down $150 for your very own knife demonstration kit, a small fee compared to the rewards you would reap from this position.

In the end, he promised, you would be able to return the kit for your money back or, if you were a sly business tycoon, you could sell the kit to a customer for its true value, somewhere in the $400 range.

I imagine that by this point some of you may be clamoring for his contact information so you can apply for an interview. I have seen advertisements around campus and scribbling in the corners of chalkboards promoting the Web site workforstudents.com and the very benefits I mentioned above.

Perhaps some of you have already applied for interviews with this company and that is the reason why I give you this advice — do not do it.

My naïveté at the time had gotten the better of me and I accepted the job.

However, between the time of my interview and my “weekend training seminar” I had time to reconsider and in doing research I found a few interesting tidbits.

While the knife manufacturer, Cutco Inc., is itself a legitimate Fortune 500 company that is listed with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the “company” that claims to do marketing on its behalf is all but reputable and is neither part of the Fortune 500 nor the BBB. Vector Inc., which runs workforstudents.com and is the company that con-

N.J. public advocate encourages college students to vote Despite all of the media coverage about the youth vote in last year’s Presidential election, college students and young people in general have not voted in elections as often as their older counterparts.

Even in last year’s historic presidential election, there was an 11.6 percent gap between the participation rates of New Jersey citizens age 18 to 24 and the citizenry as a whole. This year’s election presents an opportunity for students to help narrow that voting gap, and make sure their voices are heard.

As a public advocate, I have made voting issues a priority. As a former college professor, I have a particular interest in seeing today’s youth get more actively engaged in the electoral process.

On Nov. 3, New Jersey registered voters have a number of choices to make. Voters will choose a Governor and Lieutenant Governor, members of the state legislature and a variety of county and local officials.

In addition, voters will decide on one or more ballot initiatives.

This year, New Jersey’s improved vote-by-mail program is making it easier for citizens to cast their ballots. As a result, a greater percentage of New Jersey residents are likely to exercise their option to vote by

workforstudents.com

Workforstudents.com promises students jobs with high salaries and great benefits, but has a history of fraud, according to spamlaws.com. ducted my interview, has a history of class action lawsuits and legal problems stemming from its largest constituency of chumps — college students.

Although it may be true that employees earn a base rate of approximately $18 per hour even if they do not complete a transaction, Vector Inc. is notorious for withholding pay from its employees for any of a gamut of fine print, legalese-ridden reasons.

Vector Inc. has admitted to fraud in settlements with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission, Wisconsin Consumer Protection Dept and the Arizona Attorney General.

Wisconsin surveyed 940 Vector Marketing recruits in 1992 and found almost half either earned nothing or lost money working for Vector, and earned less than $3

Letter

mail. For students, it is a relatively simple process and a good way to ensure that you cast your vote, even if you are registered at your parents’ home and can’t get to the polls on Election Day. Here are some voting facts that college students need to know.

Where a registered student votes depends on where he or she is registered to vote.

Students registered to vote at a school dormitory, apartment, or off-campus housing address will vote in the town where that dormitory, apartment, or off-campus residence is physically located.

Students registered at a home address, such as a parent’s house, will vote in the town where that home address is physically located.

All registered voters are mailed a sample ballot a few days before the election containing the exact location of the polling place. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Registered students — like all voters — also have the choice to vote by mail. If you want to vote by mail, here is what you do: A registered voter can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by getting an application from the state Division of Elections Web site at njelections.org/mail-in_doe. html.

The completed application must be filled out and sent to the Clerk of the county where the voter is reg-

a day on average selling cutlery for Vector.

The company is so ridden with fraud that an organization has been formed with the explicit purpose of raising public awareness.

SAVE (Students Against Vector Exploitation), formed in June 2003 in New York, alleges that Vector hires employees as “independent contractors” to avoid paying for training and benefits, and won a case on this basis with the New York Department of Labor.

Vector Marketing continues to claim that its recruitment tactics are not misleading and it stands by its business practices.

I will let the facts stand for themselves but I urge caution on your part. While earning $18 an hour may seem great on paper, realize that it may cost you in the end.

Source: spamlaws.com

istered. Those addresses also are available on the Web site. If you are mailing the application, it must be received by the Clerk by Oct. 27.

If you are concerned that the Clerk won’t receive your application by Oct. 27, you can drop off your completed application in person at the Clerk ’ s office up until 3 p.m. on Nov. 2.

If you mail the application in, you should receive your vote-by-mail ballot in the mail. If you drop off your application to vote by mail after Oct. 27, you should be given a ballot at that time.

A voter who believes he or she is properly registered but is denied the right to vote may obtain a provisional ballot on Election Day, and the ballot’s validity will be reviewed after the polls close. A voter also can opt to go before a judge that same day, to seek an order to vote on the voting machine.

Voting, whether in person or by mail, is one of the most important and powerful ways to be heard in our system of government. No eligible voter should miss out on the opportunity. If you are registered, please vote in this year’s election. If you are eligible to register but have not done so yet, it is too late for this election but please register so you don’t miss participating in future elections.

Ronald K. Chen Public Advocate of New Jersey

Get ready for a showdown (and some greased up poles).

Then, write for Opinions!

AP Photo

bubser3@tcnj.edu

AP Photo

page 12 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 13

Features

Spirit / Community comes together to celebrate

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

College students, alumni, family and friends gathered at Lionsʼ Stadium to root for their team.

continued from page 1

to win, although I think all the other candidates are really good too,” Giovenco said. “I think school spirit is important, I like seeing all the alumni come back

with their families.”

Alumni come out in large numbers to see old friends and participate in various activities occurring at the College, such as barbecuing and throwing around footballs.

A large part of homecoming to many people is rekindling relationships.

“Itʼs good seeing friends again and having the chance to catch up,” said Kevin Pappas, an alumnus. “I come pretty much every year, and the campus looks completely different, itʼs almost unrecognizable.”

Dave Posada, senior criminology major, experienced homecoming for the second time, spending the day with friends and fellow classmates.

Jason Cantor, senior business major, took time off from setting up equipment for WTSR to peruse the parking lots, stopping to say hello to friends along the way.

As game-time approached, homecoming attendees congregated near the football stadium in anticipation. Wet footballs flew in the air and other students set up a variety of lawn games to pass the time.

Mandy Hauck, a graduate of 2008 flew in from Daytona, Fl. for the occasion. “Iʼm so excited to be here. I wasnʼt sure if it was worth flying down for the weekend but already I am so glad I came,” Hauck said.

Omega Psi Phi alumni had a particularly strong showing

at homecoming. Playing music ment to the veracity of this statefrom a stereo system, alumni ment — despite rainy weather stood in a circle and danced and students, family and alumni sang. Mem- “I wasnʼt sure if it was worth fly- came from bers wore all corners m a t c h i n g ing down for the weekend but al- of the state purple hats ready I am so glad I came.” and beyond and jackets to spend time -Mandy Hauck with loved with the fraternity letters emboldened on the ones. back.

“Even though we are a small “History does repeat itself, school, for one day a year it feels itʼs called tradition,” read mem- like we are a large university bersʼ jackets. with a strong community of stuLast Saturday was a testa- dents and alumni,” Conn said.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

The College community participated in tailgating, cooking food, spending time with friends and geting pumped for the game.

Organizations carve up the competition

By Jamie Primeau Correspondent

Yellow caution tape closed off a section of the Brower Student Center on October 20, allowing competitors of Spirit Weekʼs pumpkin-carving contest to concentrate on the task at hand.

From noon to 3 p.m., participants painstakingly perfected their pumpkins, with hopes of ranking first among the nine teams.

Spirit Week is a week-long competition that invites campus organizations to submit teams to participate in a variety of events. This yearʼs theme was Nick at Nite, based off Nickelodeonʼs popular series of television shows.

These teams were composed of 26 campus organizations, mostly fraternities and sororities, with the exception of the Gilliganʼs Island team, made up of members of Synergy and the Collegeʼs Ambassadors.

“I have a broken foot and this is the only event I can participate in,” Caitlin Lesniak, senior English major, said.

“Oh, and I love pumpkin carving.”

With an injury impeding Lesniakʼs ability to run around during the weekʼs other, more competitive and physically-demanding activities, she carefully carved the design of the Dark Knightʼs infamous Joker into her teamʼs pumpkin.

Lesniak was competing on behalf of Charlieʼs Angels, a team composed of brothers and sisters from Sigma Pi, Theta Phi Alpha, and Chi Upsilon Sigma.

During the pumpkin carving event, two representatives from each team were given three hours to create a Halloween pumpkin. To prevent exhaustion, they were allowed to switch every hour and take turns being the carver, Elissa Romaniello, junior finance and Italian major, oversaw the event and served as the co-chair for this yearʼs Homecoming Committee.

According to Romaniello, creativity, timing, and overall execution of the task were the criteria used to judge this contest and a majority of the events throughout Spirit Week.

“A lot of planning went into this. I canʼt believe its here

already and itʼll be over before you know it,” she said, referring to the profundity of preparation required to make such a week possible.

Romaniello and her co-chair Alicia Hill, as well as the rest of the Homecoming Committee, began organizing and brainstorming plans for this yearʼs events in the beginning of the school year.

While pumpkin carving has an underlying and undeniable competitive side to it, Romaniello deemed it one of the “calmer” events.

However, the lack of physical activity is not the only distinguishing factor that made pumpkin carving so special.

When organizing the events of the week, the Homecoming Committee is required to plan one community service activity.

“It is a great way to give back to the community and we felt that since Spirit Week was so close to Halloween this year, a great event would be pumpkin carving,” Romaniello said. She explained that after the pumpkins were carved and judged, they would be donated to the local Boyʼs and Girlʼs Club in Trenton.

With a week filled with activities centered on the teams and their competitive nature, the participants were “more than willing” to participate in a community service oriented event, and were “excited and happy to give back,” Romaniello said.

The student center was chosen as the location of the event, Romaniello said, in the hopes that students, faculty and staff could witness all the hard work going into the activity and get involved in the spirit of Homecoming.

“It really comes down to the word ʻhomecoming,ʼ” Romaniello said. “Itʼs a way for people to celebrate their experiences, unite as a student body, welcome back alumni and just a way to show (College) spirit. Whatʼs so great about the week is that itʼs so diverse and there are so many different events occurring throughout the week.” “(The events) are running really smoothly,” she said.

“This is the result of the cooperation and coordination of the office of student activities, the homecoming spirit week committee, myself and my co-chair Alicia Hill, our advi-

sors Dave Conner and Jessica Claar, as well as all of the administrators, faculty, and staff of the College. And the participating teams — the teams are the ones who come out and make the events what they are — they make Spirit Week so great,” Romaniello said.

The enormity of effort that went into planning and organizing Homecoming is evidenced by the success of Spirit Week.

Regardless of which activity one favored — whether it is powder puff football or pool games — homecoming successfully fostered an exciting environment of Lionʼs pride to bring students closer together.

Tom OʼDell / Photo Assistant

Students pace themselves to carve the perfect pumpkin for the Spirit Week competition.

page 14 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 15

Self-checks are a must for healthy students

By Andrea Thyrring Staff Writer From our very first venture trick-or-treating, we are reminded to travel in groups, wear bright colors and check our candy for any tampering. We are all familiar with common safety precautions, and over the years these measures have become second nature. But when it comes to our own bodies, how many of us know how to spot abnormalities or changes that could pose a possible health risk?

Making yourself familiar with your own body could be the biggest step you take in ensuring your health.

Performing self-checks is a part of a normal health routine that is often overlooked by young people.

“Most (people) donʼt want to do anything about it, and they let it go. Wrong thing to do,” said Kevin Mitchell, an instructor from Check It Out, an organization focused on teaching teens and young adults the

facts on self-exams.

In an online presentation for WebMd, Mitchell explained the importance of performing a self-exam every month.

“We know that, statistically, your chances of surviving cancer are much higher,” Mitchell said.

So why is it that so many young adults are unfamiliar with performing self-exams?

According to Denise Witmer, author of “The Everything Parentʼs Guide to Raising a Successful Child,” “Teens tend to steer away from ʻtouching themselvesʼ after the big change of puberty hits.”

While this attitude is natural and understandable, it can often follow the teen into young adulthood, where lack of body-knowledge becomes a health risk.

Similarly, a lack of education on the topic could be behind the low percentage of young adults performing self-exams. Most sexual education classes are taught in junior high school, or during freshman year of high school. At this time, self-exams may seem inapplicable and may be neglected. If the students are not receiving the information at home, then this important step in personal health can be overlooked.

The American Cancer Society recommends women start performing monthly breast exams in their 20s. In men, testicular cancer is the most common, especially among males ages 15 to 40 and is frequently called the “young manʼs disease.”

Beginning self-exams at a young age will allow you to become sensitive to the changes in your body. This awareness could make all the difference in detecting and preventing certain cancers and other diseases, according to the Mayo Clinic Web site.

Knowing your body and becoming familiar with techniques to detect any changes will benefit you in the long run. Establishing good health habits at a young age will set a foundation for continued health practices as you age. And should you ever detect an abnormality, you will be able to catch it early on. Prevention and self-awareness are some of the best safety precautions you can take to ensure a healthy life.

For story ideas, e-mail Andrea at thyrrin2@tcnj.edu.

Testicular self-exam Tips: •Men between 15 and 40 should perform monthly self-examinations •Checks are recommended for men with history of an undescended testicle or a family or personal history of testicular cancer •Many testicular lumps are cancerous and require immediate treatment •Testicular self-examination is done to familiarize a man with the normal size, shape, and weight of his testicles and the area around the scrotum •Self-examinations are best performed after a bath or shower, when the scrotal muscles are warm and relaxed •For complete instructions, visit: http://men.webmd.com/testicular-examination-and-testicularself-examination-tse

Breast self-exam Tips: •Start performing breast self-exams in your 20s •Examine your breasts regularly, three to five days after your menstrual period ends •With each exam, you will become familiar with the contours and feel of your breasts, and will be more alert to changes •For complete instructions, visit: http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/guide/breast-self-exam

Tom OʼDell / Photo Assistant

Information courtesy of WebMD.com

Masturbation: healthy and fun

By Lauren Gurry Copy Editor

When I was 13, my first boyfriend was bluntly honest with me — whether I liked it or not. He told me when he watched porn and masturbated, which I hated at the time. I thought masturbation was disgusting and if I didnʼt masturbate, he didnʼt have any reason to either. Since then, I have come to realize there is nothing wrong with masturbation.

In a monogamous relationship, masturbation is a good option when one partner has a higher sex drive than the other.

Instead of becoming frustrated and arguing about how often they should have sex, the couple will likely reach a balance, making intercourse more enjoyable.

For single people, masturbation is a way to climax without the risks of hookups.

Masturbation helps relieve stress, which assists in lowering your blood pressure. Frequent masturbation decreases the risk of prostate cancer in males, and for both men and women, masturbation can help relieve depression and increase self-esteem.

Despite these benefits, women are often reluctant to masturbate. Some think masturbation is gross, while others donʼt know where to start.

Women often have trouble climaxing, which makes masturbation a blessing. With the aid of an adult toy — or even an adjustable showerhead — women can discover what kinds of stimulation they like best and how they enjoy being touched. Plus, sexual partners will likely appreciate first-hand advice.

Some adult toys are specially designed to stimulate different areas of the female genitalia, so by using a toy, females can choose the area and level of stimulation. Toys are designed for clitoral, vaginal, anal or dual

stimulation. Most toys vibrate, while some have additional features, such as spinning and pulsating.

Females who are adverse to masturbation may be disgusted by the concept of touching themselves. For such women, there are many toys that allow pleasure without actually touching oneʼs body. For example, some toys have a long base the female can hold on to.

Not every female is the same, and everyone prefers to be touched differently. With so many options, it becomes easier for females to determine how much stimulation they enjoy and the kinds of movements they prefer.

All of this isnʼt to say another personʼs touch wonʼt do the trick, but masturbating helps women provide a road map for their significant others. Masturbation is also definitely a viable option when youʼre not pleased with how frequently youʼre having sex or even if you just need to release some stress.

For story ideas, e-mail Lauren at gurry2@tcnj.edu.

Go to Student Health Services when you need information on self-exams.

For more

Features stories,

visit us online!

www.tcnjsignal.net twitter.com/ tcnjsignal

page 16 The Signal October 28, 2009

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 17

page 18 The Signal October 28, 2009

Reply to TheSignalAds@gmail.com for a chance to win tickets to the Toxic Avenger or Nightmare Vampires!

Toxic Avenger Showtimes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 4:00 p.m., Sunday 7:30 p.m. thru December 20th *Show dates not availabe November 26-29th.

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October 28, 2009 The Signal page 19

Arts & Entertainment

For more articles check out tcnjsignal.net

Exhibit ‘distorts’ perceptions of society

By Katie Brenzel Arts & Entertainment Editor

Energy siphoning bugs, ice records and moneyhonoring monkeys. These are just a few of the unconventional pieces presented in Holman Hall’s latest exhibit, in which six artists challenge the role of technology in capturing the societal and political climate of Mexico City.

“Distortions: Contemporary Media Art From Mexico” features media art that begins with the concept of distortion, which manifests in unexpected messages on the highly industrialized human condition.

The exhibit, which debuts tonight, Wednesday Oct. 28, is the product of a year-long effort by curators Karla Jasso, Ricardo Miranda Zúñiga, associate professor of art, and Sarah Cunningham, director of the art gallery, to bring the artists’ work to the College. Miranda was impressed by the media art in Mexico City at the “Transitio MX” festival in 2007, due to its strikingly different approach to technology than that of other countries.

“The work’s main point isn’t all about technological invention, but applying new technology to social and political themes or social political realities,” Miranda said.

Iván Abreu’s “m(r.p.m)” is particularly indicative of this technique. In a live performance, Abreu plays the Mexican national anthem on a record made of ice. As the record begins to melt, the song becomes distorted beyond recognition. Abreu said the message of the work in terms of the distortion theme lies in the fact that it consists of “a historical song, taken to a material that is very short lived.”

Ale de la Puente also addresses a major symbol of national identity in her video installation “Interrogation.” In coordination with slow motion footage of a damaged Mexican flag, six halogen lamps are positioned to face the video. The lamps are motion- censored and eventually overpower the image of the flag. Incorporating a similar irony to Abreu’s work, Puente seems to comment on the importance placed on objects as symbols of nationality. In a more generalized application, Puente said the “dancing of a fragmented symbol” represents instances when there are “so many lights on something, you are blinded in ways that you may not realize.”

“Resistance” is a physical and symbolic representation of the tension between Mexico and the U.S. in regards to immigration and militaristic borders. Using metal wire known as resistive that consumes great amounts of energy from an electrical grid, Marcela Armas creates the outline of the physical Mexico-U.S. border. The excessive amount of energy it uses and creates serves as a metaphor for the dynamics between the two countries.

“Statistical Galvanometers” or “GE” looks at the effect of three major elements — the peso-to-dollar exchange, the cost of oil, and the cost of tortillas — on every day life. By using what is intended to resemble a device used to measure electric currents, Iván Puig provides a literal demonstration of how complicated financial systems translate to every day situations and consequences.

Gilberto Esparza continues this commentary on daily life with his series “Urban Parasites.” Originally designed to exist on the street and steal energy from the city’s power grid following the fashion of Mexico City street vendors, the exhibit features the creatures

Photo courtesy of Sarah Cunningham

‘Waterzoo’ is part of Gerardo García de la Garza’s ‘Trilogy of Money’ collection that will open tonight in the Holman Hall Art Gallery. “ppndr-s” and “moscas“ (flies), which are made of recycled materials. In stealing energy from its surroundings, the creatures serve as a “disturbance of space and order,” Esparza said.

“Water Zoo,” from Gerardo García de la Garza’s “Trilogy of Money” allows viewers to see the watermarks on bills via a magnifying device. In addition to focusing on an element of currency that is usually concealed, García de la Garza’s piece surprises viewers with watermarks of various animals, rather than the typical historical figures. In focusing on what is usually regarded simply in terms of its security value, García de la Garza challenges viewers to see another, aesthetic perspective.

“It is a tour through a safari of money, by extracting what’s invisible,” García de la Garza said.

“Distortions” is open tonight through Dec. 2.

Katie Brenzel can be reached at brenzel2@tcnj.edu.

Mayo hosts sounds of South Africa CUB’s Student Band Night

celebrates variety at Rat

By Liz Christine Santos Correspondent

Singer, sculptor, and painter Mogauwane Mahloele performed with his own handmade African instruments Thursday Oct. 22 in the Mildred and Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall.

Students gathered outside the hall, anxious to hear a type of music a majority of them hadn’t heard before.

“The performances at the College vary.

There are usually performances like this. I come to hear the music,” said senior music major Thomas Hanslowe.

The instruments varied in shape and size, and delivered diverse and enticing sound to the audience.

“In my country, music is the central part of us. We live through a song,” said Mahloele, who grew up in South Africa.

Mahloele mentioned a mute friend of his that would enthusiastically hit his fist to his chest when he heard a song he enjoyed. He also discussed the source of much of his music.

“I was very lucky because my mother was a professional dancer and traditional singer and community leader. So whatever went on in Africa my mother knew,” Mahloele said.

Mahloele was born in Storomo and raised in Mamelodi ya Tshwane, South Africa. In 1975, Mahloele left his country and family.

If he stayed, he said, he would’ve spent his life in jail like his friends, and because of his decision to leave, he has been in exile for 33 years.

After discussing the apartheid with the audience and its strong existence in Africa, Mahloele resumed entertainment.

“Anyway let me not bore you with my tales … maybe I should play music,” he said.

Mahloele interacted with the audience members, requesting they sing with him.

The other songs played were chants about trouble in his homeland and his family.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

We Set Fires played second at the Student Band night on Oct. 23.

By Emily Brill Correspondent

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Mahloele plays a handmade instrument to share his South African heritage with students.

“My ancestors don’t die,” Mahloele said. He put his arms in the air and said he does this before every show and asks his ancestors to join him. Mahloele added he was talking to his mother backstage.

Mahloele also discussed his childhood in Africa.

“I used to be a shepherd. It was such a beautiful adventure, we used to go to the river, swim and chop some bamboo and make instruments,” he said.

One of the instruments Mahloele played was a mouth harp called a stolotolo. “We used to make it out of bamboo. Bamboo sounds much better than this,” he said, referring to the metal version of the instrument.

The Rathskeller was host to a diversity of musical genres during the College Union Board (CUB) sponsored Student Band Night. The Brian St. John Quartet, We Set Fires and Attic took the stage Friday Oct. 23 to showcase its talents.

Much anticipation surrounded Attic’s performance. Introduced by CUB co-chair Estephanie Betances as “everybody’s favorite,” the band has performed in numerous past Student Band Nights, and, most notably, opened for last spring’s Ludacris/Lupe Fiasco concert. Consisting of all 2009 alumni, lead vocalist Mina Greiss, vocalist and keyboardist Pierre Miller, Jeremy Bernardo on violin, drummer Dan McFadden and bassist Kyle Macker, the band took instant command of the stage. Its set began with an original piece, “Miss Untouchable.”

Opening the show was The Brian St. John Quartet. The band consists of vocalist Brian St. John of Clemson University, Brian Cornish of William Paterson University on saxophone, senior business major Jon Irizarry on drums, and bassist Randy Sabo,

senior psychology major. Highlighting the performance was a spirited cover of Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean,” featuring a substantial electric guitar riff that dominated the end of the number, as well as a number of enjoyable original songs.

The band exhibited all aspects of their multi-layered style by opening with a sound more in touch with the rock aspect of its three-part genre — rock, jazz and blues — and gradually incorporated elements of jazz and blues with the addition of a saxophone after three songs.

“Their sound was very mature,” said freshman biology major Amanda Costanzo.

Picking up where the Quartet left off was indie/punk band We Set Fires. The band consists of Rowan University’s lead vocalist and guitarist Chris Bratek, bassist Frank Ferro and Dave Leonhardt on guitar and keyboard, and the College’s senior digital arts major Kevin Keane on guitar and drums and senior computer engineering major Brian Schulte on guitar.

It began with a riotous cover of the Pixies song “Where Is My Mind?” on which raucous guitars and drums occasionally threatened to drown out the lead singer. The band’s sound improved on original songs such as “Beers,” where they displayed more cohesiveness on shorter, catchier pieces.

Though the band cites Bright Eyes, Kevin Devine and Ted Leo and the Pharmacists as its influences, these inspirations were nearly undetectable during the band’s heavy power-punk set.

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 21

Poet flaunts mastery of language

Abby Hocking / Photo Assistant

As part of Ink’s Visiting Writers Series, Ben Lerner read from his works ‘The Lichtenberg Figures,’ ‘Angle of Yaw,’ and ‘Mean Free Path.’

By Matt Huston Nation & World Editor Equipped with prose and poems, poet Ben Lerner captured a gathering of students and professors on Monday Oct. 19 in the Library Auditorium.

Lerner, a professor of poetry at the University of Pittsburgh, recited several sections from his first two releases, “The Lichtenberg Figures” and “Angle of Yaw,” and his forthcoming book, “Mean Free Path.”

Characterized by prose-style density, the works combine political, social and natural imagery with enigmatic pronouncements.

Lerner attacked the poems with measured intensity and a seriousness that seemed to make fact of every word.

Lerner accomplished the most in bold moments — certain declarations such as “Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s weather has been canceled” and self-referential statements like, “I must drive many miles

to deliver this punch line,” invited lighthearted laughter.

The selections were strung with meditations on corruptive forces that appeared to grow bleaker as the reading went on. The word “fascism” surfaced at least five times, and the poet compared the color of money, flowers, and even the sky to “night vision green.”

Language itself could be in trouble, Lerner said.

“My people, are you not horrified by how these verbs decline?” Lerner asked at one point. “I will never let the predicate wither,” he later promised.

Phrases blending pieces of sensory information — like gunfire and applause, or the sound of marching heard through a pillow — melted dimensions of time and place. Characters and objects behaved erratically, like comic strip characters falling out of frame.

Lerner elaborated on these strategies in a post-reading question-and-answer session,, discussing the influences of technology

home and singer Nina Simone, who is a presence in one of his poems.

He described the singer as a model for “bending genre, not being tapped in any particular identity.” He noted that, as a child, it had surprised him when he learned that Simone’s deep-toned voice belonged to a woman.

The poet revealed darker aspects of his Midwestern youth when he spoke of “middle-class white boys who were armed and bored … a distinctly American pandemic.” That dangerous boredom came alive in one of his later sections, where Lerner paints an apocalyptic picture with “Glocks,” “Big Gulps,” and last-minute devirgination.

Much of his political material arose from a residency in Madrid, he said, where he composed his second book “Angle of Yaw.” Lerner said he spent that time meditating on Spanish dictator Francisco Franco, rightwing politics, and memorialization.

He alluded to a technological shock he received, when, during the 2003 Madrid bombings, an online news update preempted his realization that nearby noises were, in fact, the sounds of a terrorist attack.

That sort of encroachment had a hand in his readings, too. Lerner expressed an interest in art that keeps tabs on the effects of technology on humans. He even likened his jam-packed presentation to the “overwhelming saturation” of modern media.

Most listeners would probably agree, in that sense, that Lerner’s work demands more than a passing glance. Read aloud, each poem leaves its share of disjointed impressions.

However, it may be as the poet says in “Mean Free Path,” “there’s no such thing as ‘non-sequitur’ when you’re in love.”

Matt Huston can huston4@tcnj.edu

be

reached

at

TMT’s tunes boast Broadway fun

By Laura Herzog Arts & Entertainment Assistant

The Library Auditorium proved to be an inadequate venue for TCNJ Musical Theatre’s (TMT) Broadway Night.

Saturday night’s performance was marked by a degree of professionalism and talent that seemed out-of-place in the humble surroundings. Charming choreography, perfectly synchronized group numbers, and frequent costume changes were all standard for the evening.

According to TMT President Vinny Scafuto, fifth-year senior communication studies and history major, Saturday’s 2 p.m. performance was sold out, thanks largely to the homecoming crowd looking to escape the rain.

“Parents, remember when you were young, and thin, and knew what happiness was? Well, now you get to watch your kids, living out their dreams … singing in a basement,” said performer Jerry Tower, senior history and international studies major, during one of the show’s many comedic transitions.

According to Scafuto, the lack of pomp and circumstance involved in the College’s musical theatre organization has some advantages.

“Most of us do it for fun, not for careers, which I think makes it better, because we’re not trying to outdo each other,” said Scafuto, who added that since auditions, the TMT Board had been casting, coaching performers, and finalizing the set for the past month.

The show included 21 songs from 19 different shows including “Guys and Dolls,” “West Side Story,” “Legally Blonde,” “Rent” and “The Toxic Avenger.”

“We kind of hit it all. We’ve got hilarious numbers, our sexy ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ number, our sad numbers … We’ve got every genre,” said the show’s producer Elaine White, senior communication studies major.

The transitions, which played off ongoing subplots, including White’s unrequited crush on a male audience member and Tower’s disillusionment with love, were a new addition to the yearly show, according to Scafuto.

“We have a very skeleton script,” Scafuto said. “Last year we had an intro that was very ‘here’s the song,’ as opposed to ‘here’s the show.’”

Despite the beauty of the somber classics, the lively group numbers and the politically incorrect arrangements from the newer shows seemed better-suited for the college audience.

Wild things with Karen O, The xx a subtle hit The xx Self-Titled

By Chris Payne WTSR Music Director At a glance, The xx don’t seem incredibly concerned with reeling in the listener. The British quartet employs a drum machine and many rhythm and blues-style beats, yet favor hushed vocals and the slightest bits of skeletal guitar.

But there’s a reason its self-titled debut is becoming an underground sensation, with a recent sold out show at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg and Best New Music status from Pitchfork Media as proof. It has great potential. The xx is a band whose meticulous subtlety becomes most tangible after repeated listens. The vocal interplay of Romy Croft and Oliver Sim channels a sort of carefree intimacy that makes this sparse record surprisingly inviting.

Where other bands use noise to its advantage, The xx are equally adept at utilizing silence. Very seldom on this record do the instrumentals overlap or fight for dominance. It is often one force that fills the air around spaced-out pop songs, be it the xylophone blips on “VCR” or the R&B clap of “Heart Skipped a Beat.” On “Islands,” a fragile guitar riff is twisted around an occasional bass throb to create one of the record’s most cohesive songs.

Key Tracks: “VCR” and “Crystalised”

Karen O and the Kids ‘Where the Wild Things Are’ Soundtrack

By Melissa Virzi WTSR Assistant Music Director

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Maurice Crawley sings ‘I’d Rather Be Sailing’ from the musical ‘A New Brain.’

A perfectly pitched love duet from “The Toxic Avenger” by Scafuto’s toxic superhero and a cross-eyed blind woman, played hilariously by senior communication studies major Cat Cosentino, was a stand-out, as was the TMT ladies’ rendition of “Omigod You Guys!” from “Legally Blonde.”

“There are a lot of songs I’ve never heard before, which is good for me,” said sophomore history major Noah Franc. “I like how they transition from song to song. They’re very creative here. TMT, they’ve got a very solid group of performers.”

Other memorable moments included when a romantically-dejected White walked out from behind the podium to sing “As We Stumble Along” from the “Drowsy Chaperone,” revealing a three-quarters empty bottle of wine, and watching the TMT men do Beyoncé proud in “Single” from “The Wedding Singer.” “(President R. Barbara) Gitenstein was here Friday and when she left she had a smile just as big as that thing over there,” Scafuto said during intermission, motioning to a banner hanging in the basement.

With a luring advertisement featuring Karen O, “Where the Wild Things Are” has rapidly become the latest blockbuster must-see.

Karen O, of Yeah Yeah Yeahs front woman fame, was called upon to compose the soundtrack to a child’s imagination when former beau Spike Jonze took on the task of directing Maurice Sendak’s gift to the world of children’s literature.

O brought together only the finest musicians for her supergroup she soon dubbed “The Kids,” including Branford Cox (Deerhunter), Dean Fertita (Queens of the Stone Age), Jack Lawrence (Greenhornes) and Greg Kurstin (The Bird and the Bee).

Upbeat and accessible tracks such as “All is Love” or “Heads Up” are simple enough to have been actually written by a child, but executed with such precision that all you can do is smile and feel a degree of nostalgia for simpler times.

Meticulously crafted and honed, these songs serve as the perfect soundtrack to the film adaptation of this childhood classic.

Key Tracks: “All is Love,” “Heads Up,” “Capsize”

page 20 The Signal October 28, 2009

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page 22 The Signal October 28, 2009

SignalSports 1 3 HOMECOMING ’09

16

Missed kicks overshadow Lions’ defensive effort

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Brown breaks tackles and scores the touchdown.

By Bobby Olivier Managing Editor Close, but no cigar.

The College’s hopes of stealing a victory away from New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) rivals Montclair State University fell just right of the goal post, as a 28-yard field goal by senior Marc Zucconi sailed wide right with less than one minute remaining to secure the Red Hawks’ 16-13 victory Saturday.

An impressive Lions defensive effort rusted in the rain, as a soaked Lions Stadium played host to the College’s annual Homecoming Game. Hundreds of alumni and students packed the bleachers, ultimately moaning to the tune of two field goals and one PAT being blocked, in addition to the missed potential game-winner.

“The PAT was blocked because of a blocking assignment.

The field goal was blocked because a kid jumped up 15 feet behind the line of scrimmage — the kid made a great play, what are you going to do?” head coach Eric Hamilton said.

Two muffed punt returns by sophomore defensive back Scotty Mathurin were also lowlights of a likely weather-af-

fected special teams unit, but the College’s defensive efforts did not go unnoticed, holding Montclair State to 169 total yards, as well as 32 yards rushing on 29 attempts.

“The attitude coming in this week for Montclair was totally different with our defensive coordinator — he said, ‘if it’s not working let’s fix it and try something different,’ so we went balls out, brought the house on every play, we just switched everything up,” senior defensive end and tri-captain Craig Meyer said. “We blitzed hard and … defensively everyone played great today, I’m very proud, everyone had big plays and we gelled on defense, it’s unfortunate it took until now to do it.”

Senior defensive back and tri-captain Ryan Flannery added, “Pretty much all year we have been relying on the offense to bail us out, but our guys up front really came up to play. Their game plan was to come out and run the ball and we pretty much stopped that today.”

Although the Lions fell short in the end, the contest was not lost at the hands of the Red Hawk’s rushing defense, ranked No. 4 in Division III. Montclair State had averaged 54 rushing yards allowed this season, but the College pushed ahead for 126 yards on the ground, the most by any opponent in this year.

More impressive was the fact that both sophomore running back Justin Doniloski and senior running back Chase Misuira missed time with injuries in the second half. Freshman running back Kevin Brown stepped up when the Lions’ two leading rushers went down, rushing for 32 yards and the touchdown that brought the College within a field goal early in the fourth quarter.

“That was pretty gutsy effort by a group of guys that, we didn’t have everybody out there,” Hamilton said. “Guys stepped up and played real hard. They played well but we played hard and if we don’t turn the ball over, then maybe it’s a different story. Our defense came to play, our offense had just enough and we were inches (away).”

Senior quarterback Chris James added, “It was a heck of a team effort — I’ll go to battle with these guys any day of the week. I don’t care if we’re 21, 50, flag football, whatever. We got heart and we got pride. It just sucks that we couldn’t come out on top.”

The College fell to 4-3, and with three NJAC losses the Lions are likely out of conference championship contention.

Montclair State improved to 6-1, remaining tied with Kean University for the NJAC lead.

Although a win wasn’t in the cards, Hamilton was content with the Homecoming crowd.

“We were waiting all year for our students to come out, it was great,” Hamilton said. “Maybe that’s why our guys responded, I don’t know. I thought that as the game went on, we got better. It was one of those games where it would have been neat to see overtime. I’m not happy we lost, there is no such thing as a moral victory.”

“When we get a crowd like this with all the older guys here watching us play really lifts our emotions and we play better,” Flannery added.

The Lions will try to rebound on the road at SUNY-Cortland at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Bobby Olivier can be reached at Olivier6@tcnj.edu.

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

James looks for a big touchdown to Weber.

Swimming

Swimming teams blow past Montclair in season opener

By Rachel Morris Correspondent The Lions dominated their 2009-10 season opener at Montclair State University on Friday evening, as both the men and women’s swimming and diving teams achieved victory.

The men placed first in every event to defeat Montclair 154-90.

The women also won a number of events and defeated Montclair 151-86.

“This was a great meet for us. I feel everyone swam well and we are ahead of where we were this time last year,” women’s head coach Jennifer Harnett said.

Junior Tom Medvecky and sophomore Mike Vernoia each won two events to lead their team to victory.

Medvecky won the 200-yard butterfly in 1:58.22 and the 100-yard butterfly in 53.24.

Vernoia captured the 100-yard freestyle in 49.98 and the 200-yard freestyle in 1:45.99.

The men had many more individual victories, in addition to Medvecky and Vernoia.

Senior Myles O’Connor finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke in 58.81.

Junior Andrew Hessler won the 200yard breaststroke in 2:20.07, while junior Rob Moran swam to victory in the 200-yard individual medley in

2:09.31.

Juniors Joe Tseng, Shawn Kircher, and Tim Rauch finished first in 100yard backstroke, the 50-yard freestyle, and the 500-yard freestyle with times of 55.30, 22.13, and 5:03.27, respectively.

In the one-meter diving event, sophomore T.J. Burns finished in first place.

Three freshmen also contributed to the team’s victory in their first collegiate meet.

Matt Peveler won the 1000-yard freestyle in 10:34.72, while Andrew Smith won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:05.84.

Billy Cavallo had a strong showing by finishing second in the one-meter diving event.

The women dominated in similar fashion to the men.

Junior Danielle Dilts and sophomore Traci Hofer each placed first in two events to help achieve their team’s win.

Dilts won the 200-yard freestyle in 2:00.29, as well as the 500-yard freestyle in 5:28.23.

Hofer won the 100-yard backstroke in 1:03.61 and the 100-yard freestyle in 56.07.

Juniors Danielle Maronne, Katie Morgan, and Margaret Molloy captured first place in the 1000-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke, and 200-yard butterfly in times of 11:27.89, 1:10.15,

Chris Gifford / Staff Photographer

Both swimming teams started their seasons as strongly as last season. and 2:14.78.

Two freshmen also won events in their first collegiate meet.

Kayleigh Shangle won the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:33.72, as well as the 50-yard freestyle in 25.48.

Kristyn Wikoff swam to a first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:16.24.

Harnett said after competing in their first meet of the season, the team now knows what techniques they need to work on for the upcoming meets.

“The team has great cohesion and they have a great focus for what we want to accomplish this season,” Harnett said.

Both the men and women’s teams

were voted by league coaches to be the preseason favorite for the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC), after finishing 4-0 during the 2008-09 season.

The men will be striving for their fourth NJAC title, while the women will be going after their ninth.

The men ended last season with a 10-1 record, and the women with an 82 record.

Both the men and women were 4-0 in the New Jersey Athletic Conference last year.

The Lions will be competing again on Saturday Oct. 31 when they host Ramapo College at noon. Then both teams travel to Stevens Institute of Technology on Nov. 1 for a meet at 1 p.m.

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 23 Cross Country

JV runners step up in Pa. Lions race into top 30 at Haverford

By Karissa Hearn Correspondent

The College’s cross country junior varsity team competed in the Haver-

Photo courtesty of Sports Desk

Sophomore Nick Bond.

ford College Junior Varsity Invitational in Haverford, Pa. on Tuesday. This three-mile race was a familiar track to the Lions athletes, as all team members ran at this track back in September.

Of the men’s junior varsity team, five athletes placed within the top 30 runners. Sophomore Nick Bond came in 17th, while freshman Alex Matteson finished in 22nd, followed by sophomore Alex Yersak in 25th, and freshman Mark Sidebottom in 27th place.

“Earlier this season, we didn’t work together as well as we should have but that is changing,” Bond said.

Of the women’s junior varsity team, four athletes placed in the top 25.

Sophomore Abigail Wallach placed 17th, followed by junior Brittany Erickson in 18th. The women were followed by sophomore Cassandra Valdes in 19th, and sophomore Meghan Bruce in 25th.

“I think overall the five of us were happy with how we did … We still have some work to do, but pleased with the results overall,” Wallach said.

Both men’s and women’s varsity teams will run in the New Jersey Conference Championship meet at Richard Stockton College on Oct. 31.

“It should be an easy win,” Bond said.

The junior varsity team hopes to compete in the ECAC Championship at Williams College.

By Steve Hofstetter, Keith Alberstadt, Ryan Murphy, and Chris Strait Rain postponed Game six of the ALCS to Sunday night. Even though the umpires said it was sunny.

The University of Cincinnati Bearcats are off to their best start since 1954. Meanwhile, the Cincinnati Bengals are off to their best start since last week.

Teenage lefty phenom Yusei Kikuchi rejected a chance to play Major League Baseball and will stay in Japan. Where his mother will be safe from Steve Phillips.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says Britain may be in the league’s future.

Because that’s how far you’d have to travel to find someone willing to watch the Lions.

And former coach Joe Gibbs said he has no plans to return to the Redskins. After all, he’s retired, not desperate.

Photo courtesty of Sports Desk

Sophomore Abigail Wallach.

“We are really excited for this meet, as it is a chance for us to compete in a championship event,” Wallach said.

“We are going to have to run harder than any previous year to prove ourselves,” Bond said.

AP Photo For more of the Sports Minute (Or So), visit minuteorso.com

Women’s Soccer

Clarke sets school career record for shutouts Lions clinch a bye in the first round of NJACs

By Michael O’ Donnell Staff Writer After blanking visiting Ramapo College 4-0 on Saturday, senior goalkeeper Jessica Clarke set the school record for most all-time shutouts by a goalkeeper with 42. She has 10 this season alone.

Clarke passed Victoria Nusse, who played between the pipes for the Lions from 19982001.

“She’s been a consistent, steady performer since she first arrived here, and she’s just continued to get better and be a leader,” head coach Joe Russo said. “The record is well-deserved. She’s been the main constant of the defense, and that’s a direct result of her work ethic.”

Clarke, humbled by the record-breaking event, tried to explain that it was more than just her play in net that led to

Tim Lee / Photo Editor

Katie Landrigan winds up to kick the ball downfield.

her claiming the record.

“We would like to play at home “The record is a tribute to for as long as possible.” all of the girls who have played The bye is certainly, in part, and our team dedication to de- thanks to the first half offense fense,” Clarke said. “I am hap- in the win against the Roadrunpy it has occurred but am ready ners. Just 10:30 into the contest, to move forward to complete defender Jillian Casey tapped the regular season. Our team is in her fifth score of the season. looking forward to finishing up The senior connected on the the NJAC (New Jersey Athletic goal on a pass from freshman Conference) and get into the midfielder Toni DeMaio. postseason.”

Two more scores were reThe defense that Clarke is so corded in the first half, as sophquick to credit did make things omore forward Jaclyn Greco much easier on her against the and classmate defender Annie Roadrunners, keeping the ball McCarthy each notched a goal in front for much of Roadrunners 0 to put the Lions up the game and allow4 three at the break.

Lions ing her to have just “Our first half one save. was very good,” Russo said.

“As always, we’ve been de- “We created a lot of chances fending better and better as a in the first 45 minutes, and we team,” Russo said. We make a scored good goals. They were concerted effort to defend, and all opportunistic goals and they when that happens, the goal- were well-deserved. It helped keeper benefits directly from us settle in and play more of a it. It’s a point of emphasis for relaxed type of a game.” us.”

The final score came off the Even more importantly is foot of junior midfielder Casey that with the win, the Lions Caruso just under two minutes clinch a first-round bye in the into the second half, as her upcoming NJAC Tournament, eighth goal of the year was on and with that bye, they will a pass from DeMaio. It was her host their first playoff game. second assist of the day.

The team is currently second “(Caruso’s) done very well,” in the NJAC standings, with a Russo said. She’s our most con6-2 record in-conference for 18 sistent finisher, and it’s hard to points. They are 14-2 overall. find kids like that. She under“We are happy to have the stands and reads game well, chance to host the second round and that goal was gift-wrapped of the tournament,” Clarke said. from Toni, and she put it in

nicely. ” With the way his team played in this record-breaking contest, Russo believes this momentum can be brought into the final home game and beyond, but he isn’t looking farther than the next game.

“We’re focusing on Wednesday, because the tournament is the most competitive I’ve seen in my 20 years of being here,” Russo said. “We need to take care of business, and we wanted to go in with a few wins in succession to carry on the momentum.”

With another very impressive regular season in the books, the Lions look to take their probable second seed in the NJAC Tournament to bigger and better things.

“Our team’s ultimate goal is to first win the NJAC championship and then move forward into the NCAA tournament,” Clarke said. “Postseason is the most exciting part of the season, and we are all very excited moving forward. We understand that each game is crucial and we cannot look past the next game.”

After having their contest from Oct. 21st canceled due to inclement weather, the College will look to conclude its regular season on a high note at home tonight, as they play host to Rutgers University-Newark at 7:30 p.m.

page 24 The Signal October 28, 2009

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October 28, 2009 The Signal page 25 Men’s Soccer

Lions control their own destiny in season finale

College needs a win to secure second in the NJAC

the win. Freshman goalkeeper Adam Friedman made four saves en route to his fourth victory of the season.

The Lions followed this win with a With one big game remaining in the season, the Lions are in great position critical road loss that almost cost the to get a high seed in the New Jersey team its No. 2 seed. The College was Athletic Conference (NJAC) for the defeated 2-0 by Ramapo College.

The College outshot the Roadrunners playoffs. The Lions picked up an NJAC win and loss to remain in a three-way throughout the game, but Ramapo converted its scoring chances into points. tie for second place in the conference.

The College’s seniors have contin- Junior forward Francis Carr scored ued to play great down the stretch, so with 10 seconds remaining in the first it was only appropriate that they would half, and the Lions never mustered an lead the way to a 2-1 home win over answer. Carr added another goal early William Paterson University on Senior in the second half to put the game out Night, Oct. 21. It was the last game of reach for the Lions. that the seniors form the College would The Lions’ offense made multiple play at home in the regular season for shots on Ramapo’s net, but senior goaltheir careers. keeper Ian Tigue made 10 saves and Senior forward Kevin Luber notched kept the Lions off the board. It was the assist on both goals, to give him the seventh shutout of the season for eight on the season. This Tigue.

Pioneers 1 was also the 26th assist of “It was a really frustrating 2 his career, moving him to Lions game,” said Staropoli. “Resecond place all-time at the ally they got like three or Lions 0 College. Both goals gave in four shots, and two of them the second half, and senior Roadrunners 2 go in. They got lucky, and midfielder Anthony Staropoli contin- our shots didn’t go in. We didn’t play ued to come up with the big play after badly we just got unlucky. Right now he headed in a restart kick from Luber. we’re just trying to forget about it and About 10 minutes later, Luber passed move because we can still get second the ball to sophomore forward Dan place, so the loss didn’t hurt us that Constants to score his first career goal. bad.”

“We wanted to go out there and win The loss knocked the Lions into since it could be our last game ever,” third place, but Rowan was unable to Staropoli said. “It was a special night capitalize and lost 0-2 to Rutgers-Uniand it’s exactly how we wanted to go versity Newark on Oct. 25 to keep the out. For me to get that goal felt really teams tied in second place. good.”

The last game of the regular season Junior forward Julian Valerio got will also be the most important game of the Pioneers back in the game after he the season for the Lions. The College scored a goal with six minutes remaining travels to Rutgers-University Newark the game. But the Lions’ defense tight- on Oct. 28 for a 7 p.m. game. Both ened up and held onto the lead to secure teams are tied with Rowan for second

By Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor

Tom O’ Dell / Photo Assistant

The Lions played a tough and physical game with the Pioneers. in the NJAC. If the Lions can earn the win, they would guarantee at least a tie with Rowan for second place. Rowan will be hosting Rutgers- University Camden at 6 p.m, also on Oct. 28. The Scarlet Raptors are 8-8-3 this season (3-3-2 in the conference) for sixth place in the NJAC. “It’s a huge game. The thing with the conference is that it’s so tough that

we can end the season in second place or even fall all the way to fifth, and we wouldn’t even have a home game (in the playoffs),” said Staropoli. “Rutgers is a good team who has improved greatly the past two years. They’re playing to get second place too, so it’s going to be a really big battle.”

Garrett Rasko-Martinis can be reached at rasko2@tcnj.edu.

Cheap Seats

N.Y. Yankees fight back to the Fall Classic

By Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor

From the College campus, it’s about an hour to Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia.

From campus to Yankee Stadium it’s a slightly longer drive, almost an hour and a half. The College of New Jersey is situ-

ated right in the middle of a battle zone on neutral ground.

For the next week or so, this campus will erupt into a heated rivalry, with fans on both sides screaming and cheering their loudest for their team to bring home the greatest glory in Major League Baseball. Where will you stand?

An examination of both teams reveals that this World Series will feature arguably the two finest batting lineups in baseball this season. There are great pitchers on both sides, who all have the potential to pitch great games on any given night. Even as a Yankee fan, I’d be surprised to see either

AP Photo

After five seasons, the New York Yankees are returning to the World Series.

team easily take home t h e championships. This World Series promises close, exciting games.

This World Series is particularly special to me, because last season was the first time my faith in the Yankees was truly tested. With a floundering team that missed the playoffs for the first time since I became a fan, it was the first time of my life that being a Yankee fan wasn’t easy.

The last time the Yankees won the World Series, I was barely old enough to grasp just how incredible it was that the Yankees were about to win their third straight World Series title. I knew the basics of baseball, but I could not tell you what the purpose of an intentional walk was, or why you throw a 1-2 pitch outside the strike zone.

As I’ve grown as a mature and informed baseball fan, it seemed the Yankees have kept getting worse and worse. Then of course in 2004, the universe turned upside down and

I watched in horror as the Boston Red Sox completed the greatest comeback in sports history — and in Yankee Stadium no less, on Mickey Mantle’s birthday.

This World Series is the first time I am watching the World Series with a rooting interest since 2003.

It will be the first time I can consider myself an intelligent baseball fan watching his team fight for the World Series title.

For my generation of Yankees fans, this World Series is the prize of our patient waiting. As we matured and learned more about baseball and our team struggled to obtain the success it had before the turn of the century, those of us who stayed behind our team will once again scream from the rafters of Yankee Stadium and the couches of our homes as our beloved Yankees take on the defending World Series Champions for glory in November.

Garrett Rasko-Martinis can be reached at rasko2@tcnj.edu.

page 26 The Signal October 28, 2009

4 6

LIONS

AROUND THE

DORM 5 3

Mike McLoughlin “The Ref”

Ryan Yorke Correspondent

Bobby Olivier Managing Editor

Garrett Rasko-Martinis Sports Editor

The regular season of AtD is winding down, and our final regular season matchup features an amateur correspondent taking on two seasoned veterans in Managing Editor Bobby Olivier and Sports Editor Garrett Rasko-Martinis. Correspondent Mike McLoughlin asks our contestants about instant replay in baseball, how to revitalize the NHL’s popularity and which undefeated NFL teams are the most and least equipped for the postseason.

1. It is no secret that the officiating in this year’s MLB playoffs has been, at times, terrible.

That being said, do you favor any expansion on MLB’s instant replay policies? If so, what would you make reviewable?

AP Photo

RY: If the purpose of implementing the replay is to get the call right, it should be accessible in all situations in which there is a questionable call. I am completely in favor of the MLB expanding the instant replay policies. If it’s a foul ball called fair, a muffed catch called an out, homeruns called foul, etc. it should be reviewable. People will say that it elongates the game, but for the cost of two minutes in a sport that doesn’t even have a time limit, what’s there to lose to get a call right? Specifically, I would like to see replay implemented for base running, foul balls called fair, and anything dealing with fan interference. If the game “slowing down” is an issue , give each manager two flags per game to challenge a play with.

BO: There is absolutely no question that instant replay needs to become a bigger part of Major League Baseball, as several potentially gamechanging missed or incorrect calls have shaped this postseason. 2009 will be remembered for these blown calls, and it’s obvious that more instant replay is needed. Everything except for balls and strikes should be reviewable, but it has to be controlled as to not slow down the game even more than it already is. The MLB could possibly adopt the NFL’s rule that managers get one or two challenges each per game, instead of arguing with umpires and getting tossed from games, which ultimately takes as much, if not more, time than a quick review from an umpire looking at all possible camera angles. The MLB cannot keep screwing up, so something needs to happen soon.

GRM: There is a problem and it needs to be fixed. It’s one thing if the umpires are making mistakes on close plays, but the frequency and the severity of the umpires’ mistakes in the postseason have been disturbing. The two that jump out at me are the foul ball call in Game 2 of the ALDS and the blown double play call in Game 4 of the ALCS. I honestly have no clue how the left field umpire thought that the ball Joe Mauer hit was in foul ground when every replay showed it was clearly not even close to being a foul ball. But with the play in the ALCS, it’s almost excusable because it appears Tim McClellan’s vision was blocked by the players. However, as crew chief he’s got to be smart enough to check with the other umpires.

If they had replay for plays such as those, and they limited the times a manager could use it, like in tennis or football, then there’s no reason why instant replay shouldn’t be implemented.

MM: Ryan and Bobby’s answers are very similar, however the edge and 3 points goes to Bobby for saying that it should be used for everything except balls and strikes. Garrett had a similar argument as well, but did not answer the second part of the question so he gets 1 point. Two for Ryan.

2. The NHL’s popularity was dealt a serious blow

with the lockout several years ago, and it has not recovered. While the rule changes made the games more high scoring, this has not restored the NHL’s fanbase to pre-lockout levels.

What do you think is the key to hockey becoming more marketable in the United States?

RY: I argue against the question because the NHL drew in a record number of television viewers last year. The NHL used marketing techniques from the NFL to promote its sport and has increased its ratings and viewings each year since the lockout. However, there are two simple things that must happen. First, it must continue to place its two most valuable players out on full display — Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin. Hockey was at its greatest when Wayne Gretzky, who is considered the greatest hockey player ever, played the game.

The NHL is seizing on that now with Ovechkin, the greatest goal scorer in the NHL, and Crosby, “The Next One.” The NHL essentially has its Kobe/LeBron in these guys for the next 10 plus years. It should run a Crosby versus Ovechkin debate, much like what Vitamin Water did with Kobe and LeBron. Second, it needs to land on major networks, primarily ESPN. Commissioner Gary Bettman should be ashamed of himself for letting the NHL suffer on such a small network like Versus when it has to compete with the NBA the entire season and the NFL until February. The scheduling for the playoffs were equally atrocious because half of the games weren’t on NBC. The NHL must at least make a push to get back with ESPN if it wants to reach the next level — in America, that is.

BO: This question has been debated for years, even before the whole lockout fiasco. The league is definitely on the rise with Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby running the show, but regular season and postseason hockey that does not involve either of these players does not get ratings. The NHL has tried pretty much everything, eliminating ties and widening the goals, but hockey just isn’t as much fun to watch on television as it is when at a game. My only suggestion would be to add different camera angles that somehow make the puck easier to follow.

Other than that, everyone loves a good hockey fight, so maybe include an intermission on-ice brawl between bench players to spice things up.

Good luck hockey: You’re going to need it.

AP Photo

GRM: This one has had me scratching my head for a while. While I haven’t been a hockey fan for a long time, I thought the addition of the shoot-out was exciting and actually slightly renewed my interest in hockey. One thing I can think of is after the baseball strike I noticed that players and ball boys now almost always throw balls into the stands. It’s a bit harder in hockey because there’s no hockey equivalent for a foul ball, but if someone could figure out some way to get hockey souvenirs to the fans with some regularity, I think that would be just a small something that could be done. One other thing I’ve thought of is how the NHL doesn’t really have a face. In football, you have Peyton Manning or Adrian Peterson. In baseball

AP Photo

there is Albert Pujols, and in basketball there is LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. These are the types of players who when they come to a town, it brings people out to watch the games, even if that team is terrible. I know the NHL has Ovechkin and Crosby, but they’re just not as big of public figures as James or Pujols. If the NHL could do more public relations work in that regard you’d see more people coming out for games.

MM: While Ryan had well articulated points, he questioned the infallibility of the judge, which is a no-no. Three points go to Garrett for touching on the importance of Crosby and Ovechkin. Two to Ryan for the point on the network deals. One to Bobby for funny, but impractical points.

3. As of week six, the Vikings, Saints, Broncos, and Colts remained the only undefeated teams left in the NFL. Which of these teams has the best shot at winning the Super Bowl? Which of these teams is least equipped to go far in the playoffs?

RY: The undefeated team who looks to have the best shot is Denver. In the playoffs, when the game matters most, the team that wins is the team that adjusts and executes in the second half. No other team has done that better than the Denver Broncos. When they head into the tunnel at halftime, that defense comes out and adjusts the game plan and shuts down the opposing team. This all begins with defensive MVP Elvis Dumervil, who has just been dominant in every single game for the Broncos. Kyle Orton, since that Bengals game, has exceeded everything Broncos fans have expected. Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal are finally being properly utilized and Knowshon Moreno and Correll Buckhalter look great. The least equipped team is Minnesota. The Vikings aren’t as good as their record speaks and the miracle plays say it all. A missed field goal by Steven Hauschka of the Ravens keeps Joe Flacco from being the hero of the game and instead adds to the legend of Brett Favre. If Brett Favre doesn’t throw a miracle pass to Greg Lewis, the Vikings don’t win. They’re close to the bottom of the league in pass defense and if they don’t step it up, they’re going to continue to be exploited there. You can’t be lucky forever, but I guess almost only counts in horseshoes.

BO: I’m sure most people are going to talk about the Saints, so I’ll take the guys that have done

it before — the Indianapolis Colts — to make it to the Super Bowl and win. No one is talking about the 2007 champs, mainly because the other teams have been so surprising and they play in the horrible AFC South. But Peyton Manning and the Colts are a well-rounded team with the experience to go deep into the playoffs. Indianapolis is second in the NFL in points allowed and total defense, and they lead the league in passing and are in the top five in total points scored, and Manning is having another MVP-type season. The team least equipped is the Minnesota Vikings. Brett Favre has been good, but usually sputters late in the season and is always good for one costly error in the playoffs. Besides the Baltimore Ravens, the Vikings have played no one and are not going to last.

GRM: I’d be surprised if any of these teams finish the season undefeated, but the Saints probably have the best chance to do it. The Colts have a great offense, but with an oft-injured Bob Sanders and already-injured Dwight Freeney on defense I don’t like their chances. I still don’t know how the Broncos are undefeated but they have to come down to earth eventually. The Vikings seem solid everywhere right now, but I expect Brett Favre to break down later in the season and the Vikings to limp into the playoffs.

If you look at the Saints last year, the biggest issue was no consistent running game or defense.

If you look at the team this year, its bread and butter is still the passing game. Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the league, and he’s got an array of talented receivers with different skill sets. Whether it’s Marques Colston, Lance Moore or Jeremy Shockey, Brees will have no trouble putting up points against anyone. However, this year the Saints have three healthy runningbacks that really feed off the passing game. The Saints’ defense under new defensive coordinator Greg Williams looks much better also. It’s not a great defense by any means, but all that unit needs to do is not give up as many points as Brees puts up — and for the first time the Saints have a defense that can do that.

MM: For the second time in three questions Garrett only answered one part, so he gets the 1. Bobby gets the edge over Ryan for saying Colts as opposed to the Broncos. While Ryan’s point regarding the Vikings’ luck is sound, it contradicts his stance on the Broncos. If it was not for a last second miracle, they would have lost their first game. Three goes to Bobby for his stats and swagger.

Bobby finally wins AtD, 7 - 6 - 5

“I cut the brakes!

Wild card bitches!”

- Bobby

AP Photo

October 28, 2009 The Signal page 27

LIONS ROUNDUP Menʼs Swimming

Date 10/23/09 10/31/09 11/1/09 11/7/09 11/13/09 12/4/09 12/5/09 12/6/09 1/15/10 1/16/10 1/23/10 1/24/10 1/30/10 2/19/10 2/20/10 2/21/10 3/17/10 3/18/10 3/19/10 3/20/10

Opponent

@ vs. @ vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ vs. @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Field Hockey

Date 9/6/09 9/10/09 9/15/09 9/19/09 9/22/09 9/25/09 10/2/09 10/6/09 10/10/09 10/18/09 10/20/09 10/22/09 10/24/09 10/27/09 10/29/09 11/1/09

vs. vs. vs. vs. @ @ @ vs. vs. vs. @ vs. vs. vs. vs. @

vs. vs. vs. @ vs. @ vs. @ vs. @

W 154-90 Noon 1 p.m.

2 p.m.

6 p.m.

TBA TBA TBA 5 p.m.

10 a.m.

1 p.m.

1 p.m.

2 p.m.

9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

9:30 a.m.

TBA TBA TBA TBA

Menʼs Swimming

Junior Tom Medvecky helped lead the Lions to a 154-90 win over Montclair State University in the first meet of the season on Friday. Medvecky placed first in the 200-yard butterfly, with a time of 1:58.22. The junior swimmer also took the top spot in the 100yard fly, finishing with a time of 53:24.

Time/Result

Frostburg St. University Manhattanville College Eastern University FDU - Florham Ursinus College William Paterson U. Montclair State University Johns Hopkins University Rowan University Salisbury University Richard Stockton College Cabrini College Messiah College Kean University Ramapo College SUNY Cortland

W 9-4.

W 4-0 W 2-1 W 6-0 L 1-9 W 1-0 (PS) W 2-1 (PS) L 1-2 2 OT L 2-3 OT Canceled W 9-1 L 0-1 L 2-6 7:30 p.m.

7:30 p.m.

1 p.m.

-Hilarey

Wojtowicz, Sports Assistant

This Week In Sports Football

Oct. 31 @ SUNY Cortland, Noon

Field Hockey

Oct. 27 vs. Kean University, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 29 vs. Ramapo College, 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 1 @ SUNY Cortland, 1 p.m.

Opponent

Time/Result

Buffalo State College FDU - Florham Morrisville St. College Kean University The College at Brockport William Paterson U. Montclair State University SUNY Cortland Western Conn. St. U. Rowan University

W 47-31 W 58-28 W 67-34 L 7-28 W 48-34 L 28-43 L 13-16 Noon Noon 1 p.m.

Menʼs Soccer

Oct. 28 @ Rutgers University - Newark, 7 p.m.

Womenʼs Soccer

Oct. 28 vs. Rutgers University - Newark, 7:30 p.m.

Swimming

Oct. 31 vs. Ramapo College, Noon Nov. 1 @ Stevens Institute of Technology, 1 p.m.

Trivia Question

STAT OF THE WEEK

1

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Question: Los Angeles Rams

The World Series is right around the corner, with the defending champion Philadelphia Phillies taking on the New York Yankees. The Phillies defeated the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in five games in the 2008 Series.The last five World Series have not gone beyond game five, with three of them being four-game sweeps. When was the last time the World Series reached a game seven?

Lion of the Week

Tom Medvecky

Opponent

Football

Date 9/5/09 9/18/09 9/26/09 10/2/09 10/10/09 10/17/09 10/24/09 10/31/09 11/7/09 11/14/09

Montclair St. University Ramapo College Stevens Institute of Tech.

Southern Connecticut St. U. Franklin & Marshall College TCNJ Lions Invitational TCNJ Lions Invitational TCNJ Lions Invitational Westchester University Westchester University New York University William Paterson U. Rowan University Met. Conference Champs.

Met. Conference Champs.

Met. Conference Champs.

NCAA Division III Champs.

NCAA Division III Champs.

NCAA Division III Champs.

NCAA Division III Champs.

Time/Result

AP Photo

Not only did the Lions take first in the majority of the events in the season-opener against Montclair State University on Friday, but the women’s swimming and diving team also gained its first win for both the regular season and the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The Lions are currently ranked first in the NJAC and are expected to collect their ninth NJAC title this season.