The Tower - Vol. 12, Issue 6 (3/1/12)

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Trustees back Farahi 7 to 4

By Daniel Reyes

Photo by: Lee Burrell

Students protest outside of state Sen. Raymond Lesniak’s office.

Students protest trustee vote

By Daniel Reyes Roughly 100 students, as well as a handful of faculty and staff, marched in protest, on Feb. 16, to Senator Raymond Lesniak’s office, the day after the board of trustees announced their decision to keep President Dawood Farahi.

The peaceful march, organized by Occupy Kean Univer-

“The president represents Kean University as a community,” said Beth Bird, a junior.

“What’s his moral responsibility now that he’s been caught with these acts of fraud?”

The protesters also joined in with chants of “fire the liar” and “the board must go.”

Some cars honked in support and patrons of local businesses looked on as the demonstra-

“We as students have a right to a scandal-free environment.” sity, started outside the University Center at 3:30 p.m. and followed Morris Avenue west to Stuyvesant Avenue, where Lesniak’s office is located, just over two miles. Lesniak was in a voting session in Trenton at the time.

Student Gizeth Cruz left a statement with an employee in Lesniak’s office.

“We, as students, have a right to a scandal-free environment,” she read to the protesters outside Lesniak’s office. “We call for Senator Lesniak to push for the resignation of Dr. Farahi, as he is the face of Kean.”

Student Katie Arzig, Psychology, urged students and faculty members, who were scared of retribution, to speak out.

The protesters, who were accompanied by Union Police escorts, held signs that ranged from “Farahi is a fraud” to “Even Burger King has background checks.”

As the march passed Kean Hall, where the president’s office is, chants of “shame on you” grew louder.

tors marched by. Several of the pedestrians stopped to ask demonstrators what the protest was about.

Two high school sophomores said the news hasn’t trickled down to their school yet, saying they had no idea of the Farahi fraud scandal that has been unfolding over the past couple months.

In an email on Feb. 27, an aide for Lesniak released his statement saying that “Kean University has been uplifted by the leadership of President Dawood Farahi.”

“It’s distressing to see the union leadership, for its own selfish reasons, try to bring down Kean University and the progress it has made under President Farahi’s leadership.”

The university has not released a statement on the protest.

Eric Albuen, Lee Burrell, Ana Ferrer, Avani Kapur, Brian Konchalski, Darian Maduruh, Nicole Marie Padinha and Jaclyn Tuman contributed to this report.

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The Kean University Board of Trustees voted in favor of keeping Dawood Farahi as president of the university, in a special meeting held on Feb. 15, amid outrage from students, faculty and staff.

The board voted 7-4 to approve a motion to release a statement in support of the president. There was one abstention.

“The board expresses its confidence in President Farahi’s leadership and his ability to continue the progress we are making at Kean University,” Audrey Kelly, Executive Assistant to the board of trustees, read in the statement approved by the board.

Upon hearing the board’s decision, the crowd began chanting “shame on you.”

The board made a motion, in less than five minutes, to move into a closed, executive session to discuss “personnel matters” regarding Farahi and the accusations of academic fraud levied by the Kean Federation of Teachers.

The room was filled to capacity with people lining the walls with the remainder of them spilling out into the hallways, with uniformed campus officers on scene.

Members of the audience were holding signs that ranged from “Keep Progress, Keep Dr. Farahi” and “Farahi Must Go.” The board returned, after approximately four hours, to chants of “appreciate our time, justice must be served.”

Photo by: Lee Burrell

President Dawood Farahi.

Upon returning, Ada Morell, Chair of the board, requested audience members to remain quiet, without interruption, while Kelly read the board’s statement.

In the statement, “the board notes that the investigation identified instances, most decades old, where Dr. Farahi exhibited carelessness that is not consistent with today’s rigorous academic environment at Kean.”

Kelly went on to say, in the statement, that the board does not condone the mistakes made;

“in fact, we deplore them.”

The board does not believe that the results of the investigation are relevant to Farahi’s employment as president and that the university has made significant progress since becoming president in 2003.

“The board expresses its confidence in President Farahi’s leadership.”

The statement went on to say that the often quoted Academic Integrity Policy applies solely to students, which is in direct contradiction to the current Academic Integrity Policy, found in the student handbook which reads “Maintaining high standards of academic integrity is the obligation of all members of the Kean community - students, faculty and administrators.”

The board later clarified their remark that linked their decision to retain the President’s position to continued on page 4

Afraid of the dark? Campus Police are here to help!

By Alexandra Waller It’s simple to feel startled or unsettled when walking anywhere at night, but you shouldn’t feel that way on campus. Kean

Photo by: Carlos M. Reynosa

Kean Security Car.

University prides itself on being a safe place to live, for those who dorm; as well as a safe place to commute to.

So to calm some pre-existing nerves, here are some of the things you may not know that Kean has to offer when wandering the campus at night or during the day.

If a student should feel unsafe at anytime while strolling along Cougar Walk, or anywhere else on campus, the number one

thing they can always do is call Campus Police. Perhaps program the number into your phone.

“The Kean University Police are a full-time, Police Training Commission certified Police Agency,” said Adam Shubsda, Director of Public Safety/Police at Kean, “We operate twentyfour hours a day, seven days a week.”

houses, and emergency booths located sporadically around campus.

Specifically located in VaughnEames, Liberty Hall and Visitors Circle parking areas, the security houses serve as virtual, “miniheadquarters” for Kean Police.

In a panicked state of emergency, any student, faculty member or anyone on cam-

“The Kean University Police are a full-time, Police Training Commission certified Police Agency.”

Kean police even offer an escort to your car when leaving a later night class.

“There are both Police Officers and Security Officers who patrol during the evening hours,” said Shubsda.

The Police at Kean don’t limit themselves to just strolling around campus though. According to Shubsda, there are security

pus can take advantage of the “Emergency 911 Phones,” located multiple places throughout the campus.

“The phones are strategically located throughout the campus and call directly to Campus Police Headquarters,” Shubsda said.

Another way to stay safe and infor med continued on page 4

2

March 2012

THE TOWER

Complaints about textbook shortage at bookstore

By Nicole Marie Padinha Due to a shortage of textbooks ordered by the bookstore, some professors and students alike struggled to get through the first weeks of the semester.

According to an e-mail sent out by Dr. Kathleen Henderson, head of the adjunct faculty and teachers union (KUAFF),

book ordered.

Regardless, lack of adequate amounts of textbooks left professors displeased.

“The professors were saying that the students couldn’t do their work and that they weren’t prepared for tests,” Henderson said. “Many of us wasted four weeks of teaching because our kids didn’t have any books.”

time, but save some money as well.

After one unpleasant experience with the bookstore, Lauren Frisoli, a senior English writing major prefers to purchase her books online. “I had a political science book one semester that was ridiculously expensive and wasn’t in the bookstore until a week before the midterm,” Frisoli said.

“I felt like we’re wasting our time and money by going to class for no reason, because we don’t have the right books.” many professors reached out to her when more than half of their students could not purchase books from the on-campus Barnes & Nobles bookstore three weeks into the spring semester.

In her e-mail, Henderson claims that the bookstore constantly under orders textbooks, despite the professors requests for additional books on their order forms.

“I knew I had put my book orders in and had them confirmed,” Henderson said. “I contacted the bookstore, but they said that the textbooks had sold out within the first couple of days.”

The bookstore would not release a comment as to why certain sections of classes did not have enough books ordered.

A former employee of the bookstore said there is a specific process in which they order textbooks. According to this source, the professor contacts the university with their order; the bookstore then contacts the publisher of those books and waits on them. The bookstore’s stock then counts on whether or not the publisher has the quantity or the correct

Henderson also stated in her e-mail that the bookstore’s lack of proper stock greatly affects students in the Exceptional Educational Opportunities Program (EEO), an academic program at Kean that is intended to provide access to higher education for in-state students who demonstrate academic potential and motivation. These students use vouchers to purchase their textbooks.

Many students noticed the textbook shortage and were also displeased with the bookstore’s lack of quantity.

Christian Chergotis, a junior psychology major, had already failed a test because his book wasn’t in the store for weeks.

Jesus Calo, a freshman said that although the bookstore had most of his textbooks, smaller ‘side-material’ books were not in stock for weeks. “I felt like we’re wasting our time and money by going to class for no reason, because we don’t have the right books,” Calo said.

Other students have reverted to using websites such as Chegg.com, Half.com, Amazon.com and even Barnesandnoble.com in order to not only get their textbooks on

Lina Silveira, a senior psychology major, also prefers to purchase her books online in order to save money. “I buy my textbooks online because [in the bookstore] they are so expensive,” Silveira said. “So if a book for class is $150 [in the bookstore] and I can get it online for $30 it’s so much easier.”

Still, some professors said they had no problems when ordering their textbooks.

“The Kean Bookstore is the most efficient college bookstore I have experienced,” said Dr. Fred Fitch, a communications professor.

Henderson has sent out e-mails to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Vice President of Student Affairs in regards to the textbook situation, and encourages students to e-mail the administration to complain.

“The teachers’ working conditions are the students’ learning conditions,” said Henderson. “So, if we have no ability to get our book orders honored, how are our students supposed to learn?”

“Dancing with the Stars of Kean University” honors the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

By Francesca Figalo Bright lights surrounded the marbled floor, creating a square-shaped dancefloor where participants were destined to perform their dance routines. In one corner, trophies were assembled on a table while in the opposing corner, five judges sat at another table.

As students and guests occupied the vacant seats and filled the room, the DJ played today’s popular songs from artists like Rihanna, Beyonce, Justin Timberlake and Katy Perry. A projection screen lingered over the dance-floor with the words, “Dancing with the Stars of Kean University.”

theatre and is going to be Martin Luther King as a little boy and as the show goes on, he is growing until his death, and that’s where his legacy lives on.”

Photo by: Francesca Figalo

The “Dancing with the Stars of Kean University” dance teams with Stephanie Clervoyant, the event’s coordinator.

“... these organizations exemplify what Dr. King stood for, which is brotherhood, sisterhood, helping others and volunteering.”

The event, presented by the Center for Leadership and Service, is a spin-off of the ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” television show, but with a twist. Though participants had to compete against one another, the main purpose and challenge of the event is to re-enact scenes from the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Basically, [the event] is like a timeline,” Stephanie Clervoyant, the event’s coordinator, said. “The first scene is musical

The event took place on Feb. 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Downs Hall, initiating the Martin Luther King week for the Center for Leadership and Service.

Originally, “Dancing with the Stars of Kean University” was designed to be “Dancing with the Greeks,” but the event was later opened to the various organizations on campus.

“We decided to open it up with different organizations because these organi-

zations exemplify what Dr. King stood for, which is brotherhood, sisterhood, helping others and volunteering,” Clervoyant said.

Plans for the event began last November when Clervoyant brought the idea to her manager. Soon after, she met with the participants to discuss ideas and rules for the event.

The participants are members of Mu Sigma Upsilon, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Lambda Theta Alpha, the Haitian Student Association and the Campus Crusade for Christ. One member from each organization partnered with students from the Kean Dance Theatre, forming five teams of two dancers.

Each team practiced at its own time to develop its choreography based on a specific dance genre, which the teams picked from a jar. The genres included musical theatre, hip-pop, cha-cha, funk jazz and contemporary.

At the event, the teams were introduced to the audience by a female and a male student, who acted as the hosts. Short video clips, filmed by KeanXChange, were played on the projection screen before each performance, showing the teams during their dance practices. But before each team could begin its dance routine, another male student, representing Martin Luther King, described parts of King’s life in reflection to the upcoming performance.

After each team’s performance, five faculty members, who represented the continued on page 3 judges, cast their

Kean prepares to deal with recent Norovirus outbreaks

By Christy Petillo Kean University’s Health Services officials released an email on Feb. 14, which stated that Rider and Princeton Universities have had a recent outbreak of the “stomach flu.” Some of these recent cases have tested positive for Norovirus.

Kean is trying to educate students and faculty about the virus and offer ways to prevent the outbreak of the Norovirus around the densely populated campus.

Norovirus is an extremely contagious virus that can also cause Gastroenteritis, which can result in diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain.

The Center for Disease Control states, “Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads from person to person through contaminated food or water, and by touching contaminated surfaces.”

“Three out of my 16 students in my microbiology class have experienced Norovirus-like symptoms since [Feb. 13],” said Microbiology professor Janice Thomas.

“Most at risk for serious complications are young children, the elderly and

“Three out of my 16 students in my microbiology class have experienced Norovirus-like symptoms since Monday.” immuno-compromised individuals. Since my students are young, healthy adults, their symptoms did not require a visit to the doctor and they were all able to return to class,” said Thomas.

“I have no concern about it affecting Kean. H1N1 was around. You can’t live your life thinking this is going to happen to me, or you’d live in a bubble,” said Health professor Alexander Sepulveda.

“There is always going to be a new virus or the ‘it-thing’ going around, but you do need to protect yourself.”

In order to prevent the spread of Norovirus you can practice good hygiene. It is recommended that individuals frequently wash hands with soap and warm water, refrain from close contact with people who may be experiencing these symptoms and to increase the consumption of fluids. Also, avoid sharing any liquids, foods, utensils and towels.

Furthermore, it is essential to disinfect solid surfaces and wash bed linens in hot water. People who experience the Symptoms of Norovirus are advised to not handle or prepare food for others for at least two-to-three days.

“Since Kean University has a densely populated campus, the spread of a highly contagious virus like the Norovirus is possible but preventable,” said Thomas.

“Anyone experiencing Norovirus symptoms should stay home, especially food servers and handlers. If you believe you have contracted the Norovirus, consult a doctor if symptoms do not subside within 24 hours.”

On-campus students who experience any of these symptoms are urged to visit Health Services immediately. Commuter students, faculty and staffwho experience symptoms are advised to stay home.

THE TOWER

March 2012

3

Professor, poet, producer opens production company

By Arkor Kolubah A large painting of Emily Dickinson, Susanna Rich’s favorite poet, hangs on a wall in her office.

The professor, poet and producer’s office is decorated with framed photographs of students and gifts given to her by them: a framed song about her, a painting. Glass transfers gelled to the window gives a stained-glass effect. Empty colored vases rest on her desk. Yellow roses stick out of a rustic and larger vase.

A black antique typewriter that she allows her students to use when she assigns them to write a Memoir on it rests on her desk. Quill pens, that some of her students are required to use, sit in a mug on the windowsill. She does this so students can experience the contrast between using tools as dated as these to those like Twitter and how this changes how we think and write.

Her poetry students describe their slim, curly-haired teacher as enthusiastic, a philanthropist, vivacious, passionate, effervescent, sensual and out there.

She does not allow students to click their pens in her classroom because she says the sound is distracting.

She does not allow them to say they are confused because she says it implies that the “teacher is perpetrating confusion and the student is the victim.”

Prejudicial language is not permitted in her classroom unless students are talking about it to undermine it, and she discourages the use of clichés because she says “clichés are part of where prejudice comes in.”

“Prejudicial thinking develops from something that’s been used over and over…and self perpetrates,” she states.

What she does allow in her classroom is for her students to ask questions and become independent learners. She says

DANCING

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votes by holding a sign with a number ranging from 1 to 10, just like the real “Dancing with the Stars” show.

During the event, the audience was invited to the dance-floor for a dance contest and the winner was awarded with a gift card. During intermission, organizations, such as Alpha Phi Alpha, danced to entertain the audience.

Jahir Calderon and Darline Tafur are the first-place winners. They were happy and excited to have won the competition.

“We put a lot of time and effort into it, so it feels great to see the outcome,” Tafur, a junior majoring in Early Childhood Education, said.

Calderon, a senior majoring in Marketing, says that Tafur could not have been a better dance partner.

“Her energy was just great; that was something that I really loved about her,” Calderon said. “There were times that she messed up. I messed up and I was the choreographer, but we were each other’s back-bone.”

Proceeds from the event will be given to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial in Washington, D.C. Clervoyant plans to organize “Dancing with the Stars of Kean University” for the second time next year.

“It’s a great way of bringing different organizations together. Even if they have practiced on their own, we have clips that we have to shoot with KeanXChange and dress rehearsals, and everyone comes together—meeting each other and having a good time,” Clervoyant said.

that is what pushes “the discourse ahead and keeps it lively.”

Eduardo Bustamante, sophomore, says that his poetry teacher “is phenomenal… she is different from what society expects,” and she encourages him and his classmates to look inside themselves.

Rich and Director Ernest Wiggins launched one-woman, audience interactive poetry performances in 2008, in which Rich brought some of her critically acclaimed poems to the stage with a theatrical edge.

Late last year, they opened their own production company, Wild Nights Productions, which got its name from a poem by Dickinson.

Wild Nights Productions was created to bring “poetry with a capital P” to the community, says Rich. By poetry with a “capital P,” she means “the whole of poetry, how it captures the unspeakable…poetry helps us…to go beyond our conventional cliché ways of thinking and that is the creative spirit….”

i am kean

Photo courtesy: Kean University

This article continues the series profiling Kean University community members.

“Poetry helps us to go beyond conventional cliché ways of thinking and that is the creative spirit.”

Although the company has no physical location, Rich has been going to high schools, theaters, libraries and community centers to perform her poetry. She also hopes to take her performances to businesses and corporate settings.

Her goal is to inspire other writers and to get people who are not familiar with poetry interested in it by bringing “2-D words to 4-D life,” as she puts it. She says she is thrilled by the dialogue and positive

reaction her performances have evoked.

Wildnightsproductions.com was recently created as a promotional tool for the company and as an outlet where people can get more information about upcoming productions and tour dates.

A first generation Hungarian-American, Rich wrote her first poem about St. Patrick for her father’s birthday when she was nine-years old. She still has a framed copy of the poem. She came from a fam-

ily of writers. Her father started an anticommunist newspaper in Hungary and was thrown out of the country. Then, the family immigrated to the U.S. Rich did not learn to speak English until she was five.

She was raised by her grandmother for the most part. She describes her grandmother—a poet, painter, musician, dancer and singer—as creative and extremely theatrical.

“I was my grandmother’s daughter…she’s a huge influence on my life,” says Rich.

Rich says she became a teacher at a young age when she began to teach her grandmother English. Like her grandmother, she loved theater. She played the lead role as Anne Frank in her senior class play in high school, minored in Theater at Montclair State University and majored in English Education. She also got an MA in philosophy and a PhD in the Teaching of Writing.

Rich uses her diverse academic background; including psychology electives she took as an undergrad, to inform her teaching. She probes the heart and minds of her students, trying to get them to express what they think and feel about themselves and their surroundings in language that is raw and honest.

Unconventional activities like meditation and silence exercises are part of her poetry class.

Among her numerous academic and professional awards, Rich was nominated for an Emmy for a poem for Cobb Field: A Day at the Ballpark, a documentary about baseball. In addition, she has published over 200 works.

“I’m very passionate about what I do,” she says. “I make sure I synthesize every aspect of my life.”

Camera purchase soon to be required for production students

By Nicole La Capria The Communication Department at Kean will advise students registered for video production courses to buy their own cameras starting this summer.

A letter will be sent to students suggesting that they purchase a Canon Vixia HF R200—a camcorder that costs about $300—for use in their video production classes. This course is required for communication majors with options in journalism, film and media.

Budget cuts and broken cameras prompted the gradual change in policy, which began last semester when camera rentals were not directly available to students.

Students were once permitted to sign out cameras from the distribution center and take them off campus overnight or for the weekend. But cameras were being kept past their due dates and were breaking and depleting. With a limited budget to replace them, the department has decided to urge students to buy their own.

Dr. Christopher Lynch, chair of the department, said the decision was made not only due to budget cuts, but because production courses do not require a textbook.

“The goal is for everyone to have their own camera,” Lynch said.

This semester, media professors like Larry Tung, creator of the previous rent-

Tung also said that the declining price al system, are providing eight cameras of cameras influenced the faculty’s decito students for use during class time sion. only. There are two non-HD cameras “Two years ago we never would have available for rental outside of class for special projects.

Professor Tung, while acknowledging that an ideal education is one that is free, said the decision is necessary because the department’s budget is too low to keep up with equipment demands.

When cameras were being returned Photo: Amazon.com broken or with The Canon Vixia HF R200, the department’s missing pieces, suggested student camera. it was difficult to trace the root of the problem. Students were also not returning cameras on time.

After the Communication Department merged with the department of Film and proposed this,” he said.

Media in 2008, the shared budget proThe department has been shifting its vided the program with less money to focus to replacing other old and outdated replace broken or lost equipment. technology. Their recent priority is to “We need to work within our limit,” replace aging computers with new Mac Tung said. “I hope students can undercomputers for the labs. The computers stand that. It’s not to punish them.” cost about $1,500 each, plus $1,000 for Tung also said that it will benefit stusoftware, Tung said. dents in the long run to have their own There is some disagreement among cameras because they will take better care professors about whether to still offer of them and have unlimited access. limited use of the remaining eight cam“It’s good for students to use them all eras come summer semester. A final decithe time to practice their craft,” he said. sion has yet to be made.

“With a limited budget to replace cameras, the department has decided to urge students to buy their own.”

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THE TOWER

March 2012

Academy Award winning actor Richard Dreyfuss comes to Kean

By DeWayne Harper Academy Award winning actor, Richard Dreyfuss, will be visiting Kean University for the Premiere Artists series, conducted

by Premiere Stages, the professional Actors’ Equity Association theatre in residence on campus.

The series spotlights prominent artists during their visit to the University campus to conduct master classes and panel discussions with Kean students.

Dreyfuss’ series will be conducted in three parts. The first of which will be an hour-long talk on the importance of Civics education.

“The Dreyfuss Initiative” is his organization whose goals are to expand civics education as a part of early childhood education extending beyond secondary education.

Dreyfuss has been outspoken on the issue of media informing policy, legislation and public opinion. He has spoken and wrote about the right to privacy, freedom of speech, democracy and individual accountability.

He also spoke to the National Press Club in Washington D.C. in hopes of bringing about a national discussion about impeachment charges against president George W. Bush.

The Civic talk portion of the series will be produced in conjunction with the Department of History and the Center for History, Politics, and Policy.

For the second portion of the series Dreyfuss will lead a discussion with the Kean Department of Theatre students and will field questions about the evolution of acting. John Wooten, Premiere Stages Producing Artistic Director, will be moderating this session.

Dreyfuss is an accomplished stage and screen actor who has won several awards including an Oscar for “The Goodbye Girl.”

The series will conclude with a public reading of The Commandant, a staged play Frederic Morton. Dreyfuss will star in the reading and will be supported by a professional equity cast of actors.

The reading will also be followed by a Q&A session with the playwright. The Department of Jewish Studies and World Affairs, the Kean Masters Program in Holocaust and Genocide Studies, and the Holocaust Resource Center will co-produce this segment of the series.

Photo courtesy: Premier Stages

Richard Dreyfuss.

Donations will be accepted following the reading for the Hannah Senesh Annual Humanitarian Fellowship.

The event will be held on March 5th at the University Center Little Theatre. All three segments of the series will have free admission, but reservations are required. Contact Premiere Stages at 908737-4360, or email them at premiere@ kean.edu.

Premiere Stages is funded in part by The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, The Geraldine R. Doge Foundation, The Northfield Bank Foundation, The New Jersey Theatre Alliance, and The Westfield Foundation and through support of individual patrons.

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FARAHI

System used to rank schools remains controversial

By Alexandria Addesso The UCLA Higher Education Research Institute released a survey that revealed that a college or a university’s rank is not a major factor students consider when they are deciding to enroll at an institution.

The U.S. News & World Report, which started publishing rankings since 1983, releases the list of America’s Best Colleges and Universities annually.

The issues raised about the importance of the rankings have not just been a student concern but also the concern of some institutions that question the validity of these rankings. Since the 1990’s, certain institutions have chosen to abstain from the annual ranking survey.

Reed College was one of the first schools to do this. They abstained in 1995.

According to an article on the Reed College Office of Admissions website, although the school was ranked among the top ten national liberal arts colleges, it “actively questioned the methodology and usefulness of college rankings ever since the magazine’s best-colleges list first appeared in 1983.”

When the institution learned in disclosures in the Wall Street Journal that certain schools had manipulated data to up their ranks, this gave it more reason to be alarmed. The president of Reed College, Steven Koblik, ultimately told the editors of U.S. news that they did not want to participate in the survey because he found the project incredulous.

In 1996, the Los Angeles Times published an op-ed by Nick Thompson, the vice president of student government at Stanford University that praised Reed College for not releasing information to U.S. News.

“If alumni satisfaction is important to prospective students, they should stay away from Stanford; if prospective students care more about academic reputation, then they should head for Palo Alto.

But if they want to go to a school that

SECURITY

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their interpretation of the Academic Integrity Policy in a campus-wide email.

The e-mail stated that the academic integrity had no influence on their decision.

“That was an entirely separate matter, discussed in an entirely different context,” the statement read.

However, the board did state in the email that during the investigation, they noticed that Kean’s Academic Integrity Policy “was not as comprehensive as those in place in other universities.”

At the meeting, the board directed both the University Senate and the Vice President of Academic Affairs “to research, develop and present for board consideration in May a comprehensive Academic Integrity Policy that reflects the ideals and values of all members of Kean community.”

While Kelly attempted to read the

Photo: Popcrunch.com

isn’t interested in selling out its education, they should go to Reed College in Oregon—the only school in the country that refuses to provide information to U.S. News, and, as they have put it ‘to behave as if they are hostage to the rankings,’” stated Thompson in his article.

Like Reed, Alma College, St. John’s College and Maclean’s University have all boycotted the U.S. News ranking survey.

At some top 10 schools, administrators who help push their schools higher on the list receive higher bonuses.

Kean University is ranked by U.S. News as number 118 of Regional Universities North and number 36 of Top Public Schools, with most of its official ranking information not viewable on line without first paying a fee of $34.95.

It’s irrelevant,” said Yohan Villegas, a junior at Kean University. “I think ranking is stupid,” said Evelyn Torres a senior at Kean. “It shouldn’t matter. It’s the time and effort that you put into your studies that should count,” she said.

Print issues of U.S. News & World Report containing the America’s Best Colleges and Universities rankings report sell 50 percent more than regular editions. These editions publish the list of comprehensive school guides in book form annually. Aside from colleges and universities, the magazine also publishes rankings on hospitals and online degree programs.

statement, cries of outrage, as well as cheers were heard from the audience.

One member of the audience shouted “where’s the lying and cheating major, I didn’t see that on the course breakdown,” while others said that “lying is not world class,” referring to Kean’s motto ‘a worldclass education.’

While the board moved to approve the statement, members of the audience began to shout for the board of trustees to be removed from their position.

In a statement released by the President shortly after the meeting adjourned, he expressed gratitude for the board’s support.

“I take full responsibility for the errors I have made, and I apologize for the negative attention that I have brought to the university,” he said in the statement.

In a radio interview from “Hey Kean!

What the Dealy be” on Kean’s radio sta-

tion 90.3 WKNJ, on Wednesday Feb. 22, student Adriana Ramirez likened the school to a dying flower, saying that many students and faculty are scared to speak out against the administration for fear of retribution.

“What [Farahi’s] doing is he’s creating an atmosphere of fear and covering it up with the decor of the school,” she said.

“Putting flowers that die in a week because you’re not actually even nourishing them the proper way.”

In another email to students also on Feb. 22, Farahi agreed to meet with “all campus constituencies in an effort to find a common ground. “ “I will reach out to every group in the spirit of accord and work with them to ensure that the animosity that has recently plagued our campus does not return.”

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on campus is to subscribe to Campus Alert, “A notification system for Campus Crisis Management and First Responder Communication,” as described by Kean University’s website.

This alert tool offers services such as text messages, e-mails and phone calls to keep anyone involved at Kean aware of important information. Visiting the university’s website and signing up for this service is just another way to stay safe on, and off, the campus.

Becoming familiar with Kean and its campus is yet another way to stay safe all the time, and in case of emergency.

Whether you are a commuter, or you dorm on campus, knowing where to go and when is very important.

The university’s website offers an evacuation map as well as a map of fire hydrants on the Campus Police section among other guides for safety including: Emergency Management Quick Reference Guide, General Fire Safety Policy and Emergency Action Plan, Fire Safety Guidelines for Campus Events, and more information.

For questions about safety or to chat with Campus Police about anything you may be worried about, call 908-737-4800 or visit them in Downs Hall at anytime.

THE TOWER

March 2012

5

Kean celebrates Black History Month with black excellence

By Melissa Heron For almost three years students, teachers and faculty at Kean University have been asking for the ultimate encore, from Dr. Maya Angelou. On Feb. 28, 2012, the Student Organization and the Graduate and Part-time Student Council of Kean University will meet these requests.

The culmination of the university’s Black History Month celebration will be featuring Angelou. The event will feature her “A Woman of Many Words” lecture and will take place in the Wilkins Theatre.

Students, faculty, and staff were allowed two tickets free tickets per Kean I.D. to the event that is now sold out.

Angelou’s visit is the encore to her May 2009, graduate commencement address for Kean’s Nathan Weiss Graduate College, where she recited her poem, “A Brave and Startling Truth.” This poem is currently featured in Kean’s Human Rights Gallery as part of the “African Continuum” exhibit. The typed version is showcased on a six-foot tall plaque; a handwritten version, etched in lit glass is also featured.

While she was delivering the commencement address in 2009, Angelou,

who received one of her first honorary doctorate degrees from Kean University over 30 years ago, had joked that she hoped it would not take another 30 years for her to receive another invitation from Kean. Luckily for us, the GPSC and Student Organization shared her opinion.

The Office of Student Government was looking for an influential African American speaker to come to Kean University

time students, can see how hard their council is working to make their experience at Kean memorable.

Lott marveled at the unforgettable experience on February 28 will offer not

“Extraordinary is a good start.” for Black History Month and they loved the idea of bringing such a “phenomenal” woman back to our campus. Kayla Lott, president of the GPSC said bringing Angelou back to Kean was irresistible.

When asked how she felt knowing that her group, GPSC was partially responsible for bring such a global icon to her peers at Kean, Lott responded, “I am truly honored.”

She notes that this event is a very huge step for GPSC and hopes that the students, especially the graduate and part-

Photo by: Dwight Carter

Dr. Maya Angelou.

just her but all the students who were lucky enough to get tickets.

“GPSC has worked really hard to provide services for the graduate and parttime students. Throughout the year we have provided multiple social programs.

We hope this program can show how GPSC and the Office of Student Government are not here to only provide the fun activities but also programs that feed your mind and soul. This program will be

epic and we hope students have fun but learn something along the way,” she said.

Angelou is a poet, civil-rights activist, best-selling author, historian and actress, producer and director. She is one of the most acclaimed authors in American history and the 2012 BET Honors recipient of the Literary Arts Award. She is what extraordinary looks like.

Oprah Winfrey described her friend and mentor in a clip for the BET Honors Awards ceremony. “Extraordinary is a good start,” she said.

Angelou was very active in the Civil Rights Movement, with slain civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., who appointed her to serve as northern coordinator of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. She was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for her volume of poetry, “Just Give me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie.”

Her exceptional career, achievements and accolades which includes a distinguished list of award winning books and poetry, including “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes,” and “Still I Rise,” to name a few, truly make her a renaissance woman.

Kean releases draft of Middle States Monitoring Report

By Avani Kapur Kean University sent a campus-wide email of a draft of the Middle States Monitoring Report on Feb. 14.

The report, which is due March 1, states that Kean began to establish a “more clearly articulated system” for assessment of student learning and institutional effectiveness in summer 2011.

It also states that when the university began its “Self Study,” it surveyed the Kean community and found that 81 percent of the respondents were conducting regular assessment; however, no clear system was being used to document this assessment.

The MSCHE Monitoring Report draft specifically addresses the Commission’s request for the university to document that it has achieved proper assessment of student learning and institutional assessment according to Standards 7 and 14 of MSCHE, and can continue to comply.

On June 23 of last year, after a 3 day visit in April, the Middle States Visiting Team responsible for evaluating Kean asked the university to submit the Moni-

toring Report to verify its compliance with the two standards of assessment.

Before discussing each standard, the report’s introduction gives a brief history of Kean, noting its founding in 1855 as a Normal School for Newark’s public school system, its gaining university status in 1997 and its maintaining MSCHE accreditation since 1960.

to the MSCHE action.

The university describes its system for assessment as being defined by three steps: setting goals, assessing goals and taking action based on assessment data.

The university’s evaluation of Standard 14, assessment of student learning, uses a rubric published by Middle States that contains 13 criteria. Each point on the

“... setting goals, assessing goals and taking action based on assessment data.”

The report also breaks down Kean’s 16,000 students by mentioning its large commuter population and even states that over half of the students currently enrolled will be the first in their families to receive a college education.

The Monitoring Report contains a Progress to Date and Current Status section in which Standards 7 and 14 are discussed using charts and more detailed descriptions of the work the university reports it has completed in response

rubric is met with Kean’s evidence of compliance including the formation of the Implementation Committee for Standards 7 and 14, assessment workshops, yearly assessment retreats and a new 3-year Academic Program Review Cycle.

On the rubric referring to Standard 14 Kean also notes that the Office of Accreditation and Assessment has a “full-time professional staff,” including an Interim Director, Jo Hoffman, and an Associate Director, Ian Klein. The Associate Direc-

tor was hired in fall 2011 in response to the Middle States action.

The previous Director, LaMont Rouse, recently left his position at the Office of Accreditation and Assessment; however, VP of Academic Affairs Jeffrey Toney said that Rouse’s resignation has not affected the operation of the office.

Under its documentation of Standard 7, institutional assessment, Kean also uses a chart containing its evidence of improvement, including the creation of an Institutional Report Card, alongside 3 elements to be met under the standard.

Despite student concerns the university is confident of its improvement since June. The Monitoring Report states, “the culture of assessment at Kean has been re-ignited with renewed energy across the institution, and the resources and support for assessment practices has been strong.”

The report can be found in the Kean email of all members of the university community, and documents supporting the report are available on the Office of Assessment and Accreditation site.

Valentine’s Day dinner brings Hispanic employees together

By Iman-Jazelle Bond Valentine’s Day in the Hispanic countries means “The day of love and friendship” and on Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Valentine’s dinner thrown by H.A.C.E., they did exactly that.

H.A.C.E. (Hispanic Association of College Employees) Hispanics that work for Kean as a professor, custodian, nurse, etc. all gathered together to simply enjoy one another’s company. “[It’s] a chance to interact with the people you don’t see every day.” Says Alice Orejuela, who works for health services.

“We need this every day.”

Orejuela found out about HACE and their events through co-worker, Olga Yero, which is how everyone seemed to know about it, through word of mouth.

Yero added that the one thing you can always expect at Hispanic parties is a lot of food and a lot of music, and there certainly was. At their Christmas event, people were dancing while they ate.

“The food is delicious,” said custodian, Maria Bravo who’s worked at Kean for 15 years and has been a member of H.A.C.E for 12.

Over the years, the H.A.C.E. has grown in diversity. All are welcomed. They accept all nationalities and it shows. It is obvious that one of H.A.C.E.’s agendas is the share and celebrate the richness of their culture.

The H.A.C.E. group always has special events like these for the holidays. They sat and ate traditional Hispanic dishes such as, rice and beans, plantains, along with chicken and pork as Bachata music

played in the background.

H.A.C.E. is an organization put together by Hispanics to help fellow His-

“[It’s] a chance to interact with the people you don’t see everyday.” panics from across the globe adjust to life in America. They organize events for the holidays where they can spend time with one another aside from work. They provide computer classes; ESL classes, support and info to help those who have

come here seeking a better opportunity from their country, understand the process and reach their goals.

Custodian, Nubia Bilanos, says that H.A.C.E. has helped her along with other Hispanics that work for the facilities.

When Bilanos, began working for Kean 10 years ago, she worked the night shift, which prevented her from being able to take care of her son. She thanks H.A.C.E. for helping her change to the day shift and allowing her to spend more of her time with her family.

The organization is run by Millie Gonzalez, president of H.A.C.E. and works for University Relations and Maria Perez, vice president and C.P.D. here Kean. “[There is] happiness and warmth throughout the event,” says Gonzalez.

“So glad we spent this time together.”

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A&E

FILM

HORROR BECOMES REALITY IN DANIEL RADCLIFFE’S FIRST NON-HARRY POTTER FEATURE

By BRYAN C. KURIAWA

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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GAMES

The simpsons save maggie at home By eric albuen

For anyone who’s ever set foot in an arcade in the 1990s, they should be familiar with “The Simpsons Arcade Game.” A simple beat em’ up where the objective was to save Maggie who has been kidnapped

by Smithers. As the remaining Simpsons, it’s your job Photo: Wikipedia.org to go and save her.

The gameplay was simple for its time. You had an attack button and a jump button… And that was pretty much it. What made this different from “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” (released in 1989) and “X-Men” (released in 1992) was the fact you could do team attacks with another player. They varied from whom you teamed up who with. If you were Homer and Marge, you could team up together and literally rollout against enemies. If you were Bart and Lisa, you hold hands and start charging into characters.

The game changes up how you can play it by different modes for your run-though. You have the choice of doing Individual Quarters (10 credits-four lives per player), Team Quarters (40 credits pooled together for everyone), and your standard Free Play mode. You can also adjust the game’s difficulty to give yourself some added challenge.

“But aside from the nostalgia trip that this game delivers, there isn’t much going for it.”

While there isn’t much going for the actual port of the game itself on consoles, it’s more about the extras and game modes that were packed in with this console release of this game. Included with the original USA ROM of the game, you get the Japanese one where things played out a little differently than the USA version we’re all familiar with.

Some of the changes included having your health bar exceed the normal 100%, as well as different point system than the USA version had used. One of the quirkier items that was available for use in the Japanese ROM was addition of an atom bomb that can be used to knock out all the enemies on screen. Along with the inclusion of the ROM, are some added extras are some concept art, music tracks, and sound effects to unlock.

But aside from the nostalgia trip that this game delivers, there isn’t much going for it. It’s a fun game with friends, but the mediocre extras and the fact you could complete this game in about a half hour (there’s even an achievement/trophy for this feat) shows how much replay value this game has.

It’s fun, I love it, but it really doesn’t deserve anything more than an average grade. I’ll give it a .

In the early years of the 20th century, in the English Countryside, a nightmarish ordeal is occurring. Since the death of a local resident, Jennet Humfrye and her son Nathaniel, various children of the community’s residents have mysteriously died, after committing a suicidal act without any warning, except for the appearance of an unknown woman in black.

Summoned to handle the affairs of the Humfrye estate, a young lawyer by the name of Arthur Kipps (Daniel Radcliffe) finds himself at odds with the locals and finds many of them uncooperative, with the exception of a wealthy landowner named Sam Daily (Ciaran Hinds). Yet as Kipps begins to spend more time in the village and the Humfrye home, he will discover that even the superstitious rumors may have some truth to them.

Developed by Hammer Studios, known for their gothic horror features of the late 20th century, and featuring “Harry Potter” himself, in a role distant Photo: blackfilm.com to his iconic character, “The Woman in Black” arrives on screens as one of the more unique horror features to arrive during a winter release season. With Daniel Radcliffe as its lead, and an excellent emphasis on atmosphere and style by director James Watkins, Hammer Studios creates one of the most suspenseful and creative films so far this year.

“With an excellent performance from Radcliffe and superb atmospheric direction, it is a feature that will linger long in your mind.”

The cast is superb, with many of the performers contributing well to both their characters, and their individual direction. Radcliffe, considerably restrained in his comparison to his more iconic role, is excellent as a man who attempts to discover the mystery behind the Humfrye family.

Supporting Radcliffe, Hinds is commendable as the voice of reason when compared to Radcliffe and his character’s uncertainty and speculation.

Director James Watkins is excellent in his direction, capturing all of the onscreen action, and successfully creating an isolated, yet distinctly frightening atmosphere. His camera work, while it ranges considerably, succeeds in establishing the village and the areas around it in an almost uncertain tone, where fear largely controls the population, and the residents’ children are at the most risk.

Adding to the direction is a well-composed screenplay by writer Jane Goldman, and based on Susan Hill’s novel, which captures the struggles of Radcliffe’s character, without losing any of the atmospheres.

Underneath the film’s many successes, there are a series of faults throughout. The largest fault is the film’s lack of supporting characters in its narrative.

While Hinds and McTeers contribute well-developed performances, their supporting roles are largely restricted to a few key plot-related scenes, and a large majority is devoted to Radcliffe’s character.

Overall, “The Woman in Black,” while faulted, is an interesting and well-developed horror film from one of the world’s most famous horror studios. With an excellent performance from Radcliffe and superb atmospheric direction, it is a feature that will linger long in your mind.

Final Rating: 8/10

Follow us on Twitter @keantower

2012 Grammy performances

tributes from modern pop bands Maroon 5 and Foster the People. The Beach Boys sounded like they hadn’t lost a step, even though Brian Wilson looked mortified being onstage in front of all those people.

Katy Perry’s “Part of Me”: This song has been called by many a Russell Brand “diss” track. I couldn’t really think about the lyrics so much as her look,

which seemingly rips off Lady Gaga, or the way the song sounds. It is basically like any other Katy Perry song or any other techno influenced pop song, for that matter.

Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep”: The night’s big winner was Adele, receiving several awards, including Album of The Year. Adele made her comeback performance following surgery on her throat.

To be honest, she didn’t sound 100 percent. But Adele at 75 percent is still superior to most people at 100 percent.

She earned a much deserved standing

good rendition of the Dolly Parton song that Whitney made famous.

Nicki Minaj’s “Roman Holiday”: … No Comment.

Paul McCartney’s “Abbey Road Medley”: Best Performance of the night, in my opinion. Not only did he perform the last part of the great Abbey Road medley, he embarked on an excellent multiman guitar solo with Bruce Springsteen and David Grohl. Hopefully many of the performers that night took notice.

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this sounded like an overall weak performance, which is surprising coming from Coldplay’s end. Hearing it again, it was better than the first listen…but not by much.

The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations”: And here begins a theme that would define this year’s Grammys for me: The idea that a bunch of 70-year-olds would be more entertaining for me than the current crop of music stars.

Promoting their 50th anniversary with a reunion and tour, The Beach Boys got back together on this grand stage after

GrammyS

Man... style nincompoop to fashion enthusiast Not so long ago women the world over were complaining about their lazily dressed and unkempt men. However, now with the emergence of the neatly coifed and impeccably dressed men, women the world over regret ever wishing on a star for a man that cares about his looks.

There is something very important to note about the emergence of fashion and street style blogs, they are more often than not, run by a heterosexual male.

Gone are the days when sartorial Suzy needs the gay best friend to go shopping with. She can now combine her favorite person (of the moment), with her favorite activity (of the moment).

Couples are ubiquitous mainstays at malls, boutiques and department stores everywhere. Although the men are more fashionable these days they still don’t want to spend the day shopping with their significant others. But they will do it and they will have an informed opinion on their women’s choices.

Suzy doesn’t like that.

Today’s fashion-forward man still has and employs the masculine ways of old.

He loves to shop, but does so quickly and efficiently. He usually knows what he likes, grey slacks on page 134 in “Details” and the navy cardigan on page 146 in “GQ” to pair with his Toms canvas desert boots.

The fashion-forward man doesn’t over complicate things by trying them on, unless he’s OCD, or he’s tailoring a suit.

The fashionable man takes four times as long in the bathroom to get ready, even though they still only spend a third of the time she does, Suzy doesn’t like

ovation after her performance.

Jennifer Hudson’s Whitney Houston Tribute: The Grammy’s were overshadowed by the untimely death of Whitney Houston, who passed away at the age of 48, the day before the Grammy’s. The Grammy’s enlisted Jennifer Hudson to do a tribute covering Whitney’s signature tune “I Will Always Love You.” Hudson’s performance was touching and a

“Adele at 75 percent is still superior to most people at 100 percent.”

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fashion

Love”/“Princess of China”/”Paradise”: Rihanna’s never been a strong live performer, but would she bring Coldplay down with her as they performed their medley of songs? On the first listen,

MEN’S

So, the 54th Annual Grammy Awards commenced on February 12th, a program which was a waste of time for the most part. However, performances, for good or for bad, are always a highlight. With that in mind, here are some special performances from this year’s Grammys: Foo Fighters’ “Walk”: I’ve never been a Foo Fighters fan, to be honest. When their song “Walk” popped up in the movie “Thor” last year, I finally heard a Foo Fighters jam that I actually enjoyed.

At the Grammys, they played this song from what appeared to be a parking area, which fit in with their gimmick of being down to earth rockers. The Foo Fighters were one of the few bands that night whose live performance wasn’t a complete disaster compared to their studio work. So, even though I’ll never be a die-hard Foo Fighters fan, David Grohl and his band still deserve kudos.

Alicia Keys & Bonnie Raitt’s “A Sunday Kind of Love”: Covering Etta James in tribute to her, Keys and Raitt put on one of the nights most soulful performances. This was a collaboration you didn’t think you would see, but it really seemed to fit. If you look up any of the performances on YouTube, this is one to watch.

Coldplay & Rihanna’s “We Found

By Darian Maduruh

By dewayne harper

that either.

More men than ever now dedicate a substantial portion of their salaries to

All of your friends think he is “deeper” than you are, meanwhile you’re still not allowed to talk during the Heat game.

Photo: Sodahead.com

Photo: Videogameologist.com

a pocket square.

Never in Suzy’s life has the phrase “Be careful what you wish for,” meant so much to her.

You wanted a boyfriend you could shop with; he shops more than you do.

You wanted a guy who had good hygiene; he spends all of his money on haircuts and facials.

You wanted a guy who would take you to a nice restaurant, or a museum, that’s all he ever wants to do. You wanted a man who wasn’t so into sports and didn’t play video games.

Well, you can’t win them all.

“Be careful what you wish for.” maintaining their wardrobes and keeping their hair neatly trimmed. They even schedule time on the weekends to spend with the other woman in their lives, like Lily, their hot Taiwanese “facialist” and masseuse. Suzy can’t stand her.

Due to the economic downturn fashionable men can’t take Suzy out as much, the money for his wardrobe and facials has to come from somewhere.

This annoys Suzy.

This new-age man also enjoys culture.

He is a fixture on the local art scene.

He goes to the museum and loves exotic food. He is teaching himself guitar and isn’t afraid to wear skinny jeans, a skinny tie, or smoke skinny cigarettes.

Photo: hititorquitit.blogspot.com

Suzy can’t stand this.

You see it everyday on the University campus, a walking ing sartorial paradox. He plays of Duty,” wears boat shoes and

Kean talk“Call owns

Photo: williamyan.com

Top: Overzealous Sport fan (left); Hardcore gamer (right). Bottom: Fonzworth Bentely (left); Diggy Simmons (right).

8

THE TOWER

March 2012

EDITORIAL

THE TOWER Department of Communication

WHAT’S ENOUGH?

Kean University Center for Academic Success 1000 Morris Avenue Union, NJ 07083 Telephone: (908) 737-0460; Fax: (908) 737-0465 Email: thetower@kean.edu; www.keantower.com

By The Tower Editorial Board The decision has been made. Farahi is staying.

It seems that its all people can talk about now, and why wouldn’t they be? It is a decision that affects everyone here.

They’ve sent out the statements –which have been protested by students, faculty and staff.

What is the next step for Kean?

“Part of being a winner is in knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.” – Donald Trump

The Tower is an independent, laboratory newspaper of Kean University’s journalism option in the communication major program.

It is published monthly through the regular academic year and supported by advertising and the Department of Communication.

The Tower is not responsible for claims made by its advertisers. The Tower is a public forum and is free from censorship and advance approval of content by the university administration. The Tower staff is responsible for its content.

EDITOR IN CHIEF Ana Ferrer

Francesca Figalo Avani Kapur

FACULTY ADVISER

BUSINESS MANAGER

MANAGING EDITOR The first step should be for students to focus on what is important - their studies. Obviously, what the president has done wrong is a factor and should be discussed intelligently, but let’s not forget why students are students.

To learn.

Farahi sent out a statement on Feb. 22 stating that he plans on meeting with “all campus constituencies in an effort to find a common ground.”

Also in the statement he said that he hopes to rid the school of the animosity that has been brewing among the campus.

Will students be receptive to Farahi’s offer? Will the professors and faculty? Even if they are, will anything change?

Kean won’t return to “normal” until all parties involved can reach some kind of mutually beneficial agreement.

Perhaps everyone should keep this in mind, “Part of being a winner is in knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.” – Donald Trump

Jaclyn Tuman

NEWS EDITOR

Daniel Reyes

A&E EDITOR

Lee Burrell

FEATURES EDITOR

Nicole Marie Padinha

SPORTS EDITOR Ryan Gaydos

COPY EDITORS

Eric Albuen Arkor Kolubah

ON LINE EDITORS

EDITOR’S NOTE

Pat Winters-Lauro

ASSOCIATE ADVISER

Bill Kolbenschlag

I MISSED THE “LET’S GET MARRIED BEFORE I’M 25” BUS I graduated high school in 2005 and have had Facebook since 2004 and a Myspace account (that I haven’t logged into for years) for even longer than that.

I’m 24 years old and will be 25 in a few months, and as I’m slowly realizing that I’ll be entering a new and different age bracket, its something else that “weirds me out.”

What I’ve been noticing, as I’m sure that many people my age have been, is that everyone around me seems to be either getting engaged, getting married or getting pregnant.

During winter break it seemed like every time I logged into my Facebook account, there it was: “So-andso changed their relationship status from ‘In a Relationship’ to ‘Engaged.’”

Directly underneath that would be the 83 comments from family and friends that literally looked like one comment of “Congrats!” or “I’m so happy for you guys!” was just copied and pasted over and over and over and over again.

Those 83 comments don’t include the 207 “Likes” from various people who live on the fringe of their Facebook pages. You know those people; the ones that you sat near in the cafeteria and felt obligated to request as a friend but never speak to or hang out with in real life. Yeah, those people.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all for true love and all that mumbo-jumbo, but COME ON PEOPLE! Live a little for yourself and BY YOURSELF before you tie the knot to your ball-and-chain.

And don’t even get me started on all the gushy, mushy status updates that preceded and will most definitely follow these relationship announcements. The sun does not shine out of your significant other’s behind, as much as you’d like to think it does, the rest of your Facebook friends would tend to disagree.

I’ve been called a “hater.” I’ve also been accused of “sippin’ on haterade” for making these comments public on the Internet, and you know what? I don’t care. I’m entitled to my realistic opinion.

And in case you were wondering, my boyfriend can’t help but agree with my rants of how the excessive “I love you” status updates can be intensely vomit inducing.

Ana Ferrer Editor in Chief of The Tower

Eileen Ruf

DESIGNER Stephanie Skirvin

Opinion pieces and letters to the editor The Tower welcomes guest columns and letters to the editor from any source. Such material should be submitted to thetower@kean.edu or left at The Tower’s offices. To verify sources of written material, submissions must include the writer’s name and contact information. Students should include their class (sophomore, graduate, etc.) and major. Faculty and staff should include campus title or position. On request, names may be withheld from publication if The Tower staff determines there is a legitimate reason to do so, but no anonymous letters will be accepted for publication. The Tower reserves the right to edit, and refuse publication of any submission.

Display and classified advertising Deadline for space reservations for display advertising is two weeks before the publication date. Ads submitted after that may be used on a space-available basis. All ads are run-of-the-paper unless an extra fee is collected for a paid position. Deadline for art work and copy is one week before the publication date. Classified advertising can be submitted up to the Thursday before publication as long as the payment is made at the same time. Call (908) 737-0461 or email thetower@kean.edu for a rate card.

Tower publication schedule FALL 2011: Sep. 22, Oct. 20, Nov. 17, Dec. 8 SPRING 2012: Feb. 16, Mar. 1, Mar. 29, Apr. 19

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STAFF Alexandria Addesso Thomas Antonelle Iman-Jazelle Bond Dasia Brown Maya Brown Justine Clini Darien Evans-Raines Ayana Gibbs Michael Guevara Raymond Gurbisz Eric Haftel DeWayne Harper Melissa Heron Bryan C. Kuriawa Nicole LaCapria Darian Maduruh Danielle McFadden Aaron Mena Nick Mojica Christy Petillo

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THE TOWER

March 2012

9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR AN OPEN LETTER TO THE STUDENTS “Maintaining high standards of academic integrity is the obligation of all members of the Kean community – students, faculty and administrators… all members of the academic community are expected to employ the highest standards of academic integrity in their work… faculty and administrators of Kean University are committed to creating an environment in which academic integrity is supported and academic dishonesty is not tolerated.”

—Kean University Academic Integrity Policy “The existing policy applies solely to students.”

—Kean University Board of Trustees Statement 15 February 2012 Clearly the Board of Trustees failed even to read Kean’s Academic Integrity Policy when it falsely stated that the university’s “existing policy applies solely to students” and not to President Dawood Farahi. This blatant disregard of the truth to cover up academic dishonesty has, among other things, outraged students and ignited a great deal of student activism. We – the faculty, professional staff and librarians of Kean University—understand and share your outrage. We support you and Kean University.

Kean’s faculty, staff and librarians will all work diligently to repair the damage done to our university by President Farahi’s academic integrity scandal.

We have taken a forward-leaning position on the President’s integrity scandal because we actually believe, as the Academic Integrity Policy says, that as faculty and staff we have an obligation to protect institutional integrity.

Kean University is fundamentally defined by its faculty, staff and, most of all, our students. The administration ought to facilitate our work with you, not create obstacles to that work. We urge all constituencies to unite around the cause of saving and restoring the academic integrity of our university for current and future generations of Kean students.

Students may want to engage faculty members and staff both inside and outside the classroom to discuss recent events. Please know that these discussions are protected by academic freedom, one of the bedrock principles of academic life in the United States of America. In certain of your courses, where student activism and civic engagement are intellectually related to course content, or where participatory observation and experiential education are a logical extension of normal coursework, it may be appropriate for you to incorporate your own activities and thoughts on this issue into your learning experience. In general, our Union has advised instructors to refrain from giving extra-credit for participation in protests or other activities so as not to advantage some students over others. But in a similar vein, please know that you should not be penalized for exercising your academic freedom, your civil rights or otherwise engaging in civic activism.

The Kean Federation of Teachers has long advocated for university policies that put students first. We know that President Farahi’s misrepresentations on his resumes are part of a larger, long-standing disregard of the academic enterprise itself. We advo-

cated against Farahi’s class schedule change because it reduced class time and conflicted with student work and family commitments. We continue to advocate for more fulltime faculty to reduce our over-reliance on adjunct instructors who now teach 90% of freshman and sophomore classes but do not have offices or office hours. We fought the layoff of critical student advisors who have made such a profound difference in thousands of students’ lives. We believe that university resources should be directed into the classroom where they most directly benefit you, not wasted on excessive public relations, landscaping, four-star restaurants and a skyrocketing debt-load driving tuition and fees ever higher.

Simply put, a university’s top priority must be education. Students should not be paying more for less and less in the classroom. Kean students deserve academic respect. The value of your education and the quality and integrity of the degree that awaits you is of paramount importance to us.

So what can students do? Here are some thoughts: educate yourselves, be openminded, and ask questions.

“... we actually believe, as the Academic Integrity Policy says, that as faculty and staff we have an obligation to protect institutional integrity.”

Reflect. Think. Discuss. What does academic integrity at Kean University mean to you? What do you want it to be?

Organize. Talk to your peers and find out what you can do to restore your university’s reputation.

Take action. Kean University is YOUR university. Your voice has never been more important than right now, in your university’s moment of need.

Each of you will come to your own conclusions as to what is the best path forward.

Please know that whatever approach you take, your faculty, professional staff and librarians support you and are here for you.

Sincerely, Dr. James A. Castiglione Associate Professor of Physics President, Kean Federation of Teachers

ADVICE

KU Police respond to altercation involving flyers, students and faculty members

By Arkor Kolubah and Nicole Marie Padinha Five Kean police officers responded to an altercation between Kean students and Executive Director of Elementary and Bilingual Education Gilda Del Risco on Feb. 15.

Occupy Kean students and other students of the university were handing out flyers in the Hutchinson Atrium regarding the accusations against the credibility of President Dawood Farahi’s past resumes. Students accused Del Risco of making threatening remarks.

Del Risco said it was a misunderstanding.

“I wasn’t threatening them, I said ‘got you’ when a girl took a picture of me.”

“…if students have the right to pass out flyers, she has the right to refuse them.”

Del Risco said that when she refused the flyer and reacted on being photographed, the student claimed that she threatened to “get her.”

An alumnus of Kean noticed the altercation and notified Political Science professor, Jaqueline Keil.

Keil said her initial reaction was that Del Risco should not be intimidating students.

But both professors settled the matter and agreed to disagree.

Del Risco said, “We calmly said we had difference of opinions.”

Del Risco said that if students have the right to pass out flyers, she has the right to refuse them.

The Kean University Police Department could not be reached for a comment, but when they arrived on the scene of the altercation, they told students they did not have permission to pass out flyers, said Keil.

Keil also said that she asked the Chief of Police if the students have the right to pass out the flyers. He said they did have the right as long as they did not coerce anyone or block door ways.

The bright blue flyers, created by the Kean Federation of Teachers, have been circulating around campus. The flyers clearly state the rights students have to distribute them along with a hotline to call if these rights are challenged.

“It was a very intimidating experience for students,” said Keil. She wonders what would have happened if she had not responded.

“It’s chilling; it shows how far people will go to suppress freedom of expression,” she said.

dating as a full figured woman

By Dasia Brown In some countries to be a full figured woman means to be healthy, wealthy and looked upon as a symbol of beauty.

In other countries, including America, it is looked at as being unhealthy, unattractive and a symbol of “not taking care of yourself.”

When living in a world that is focused on false beauty images women with curves or women that don’t fit the “norm” can easily forget that not all women are born to be a size two with perfectly sized boobs and matching behind.

As college students dating is one of the social activities that can actually lead to meeting the person of your dreams.

But what happens when you don’t get the chance to meet that person because your “full-figured-ness” makes you un-dateable?

Some males find themselves caught up in the falsehood of what they see as beauty in magazines, the stars in movies, even down to the women in pornography.

The images put out by society are repeatedly drilling into young women and men’s heads that a woman is supposed to be between a size 1-10, have long vibrant hair, nicely sized lips, a good “rack,” and a nice booty.

Not to forget that your nose or ears can’t be too big; you can’t have any cellulite and no stretch marks.

Being a full-figured woman does not always mean unhealthy. Being unhealthy doesn’t have a look. It also doesn’t mean unattractive.

A grounded man understands that women come in all different shapes and sizes and that beauty is more than what you see on the outside.

A full-figured woman does not represent a person that is not “taking care of herself.”

There are plenty of full-figured divas who dress for their size, exercise daily, eat right, and who are all together in love with themselves.

When dating as a full-figured woman, it is important to remember to love yourself first.

When you feel bad about yourself it reflects in your outer appearance and people treat you as badly as you feel about yourself.

Dress to your shape to appear more attractive since men see you before they get to know you for the person you are. Be proud of your curves and embrace them.

Be yourself because any person that is too blind to see that you are wonderful is not deserving of your time and energy anyway.

There is someone out there for everyone and your lover boy is around the corner waiting for you.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything that you would like advice about, please send an email to thetower@kean.edu. I will advise you the best way I know how, with truth. Remember it’s strictly anonymous!

10

THE TOWER

March 2012

Harwood Arena’s D’Angola Gym RAVE: Kean University’s has more to offer students Hershey’s Ice Cream is all the rave

By Justine Clini

By Dasia Brown Ice cream is one of Americas favorite dairy treats from adults to children.

It comes in so many delicious varieties from cheesecake to old time favorite butter pecan. At the start of February Kean reopened its Hershey’s Ice Cream Bar, this time turning it from a stand to a place that sits more than 20 students.

The bar located in the back of the Cougar’s Den, was designed to be a sociable gathering place for students after a long day of work or just to relax with friends over a cold treat. And, is open for convenient hours during the week from the afternoon until 9:00 p.m.

Noel Mathis, a senior said “The ice cream is mouth watering, I get it every week.”

And indeed it is ranging from flavors including strawberry chocolate chip cookie dough vanilla to its new flavors strawberry cheesecake, caramel cheesecake, cookie monster and royal red velvet cake.

Its top sellers these days are cookies & cream and chocolate cookie dough.

For students who are non-dairy eaters the Hershey’s Ice Cream Bar offers lemon ice. Those trying to watch their figure can also enjoy fat-free ice cream.

It’s something for everyone. The menu includes all the regular toppings sundaes banana splits brownie sundaes ice cream cookie sandwiches and soon to come milkshakes. All while keeping the price

Photo by: Dasia Brown

The Hershey’s Ice Cream Bar.

affordable for the students.

Prices range from $2.50 to $6.

Briana Winston, Senior said, “The ice cream here is very delightful and refreshing. The customer service was very pleasing and eager to serve.”

One of the workers behind the scooping explained how the beginning of the reopen was very slow but, slowly speeded up once students noticed the bar. She also added that it was wonderful watching the students’ eyes light up and how she enjoys interacting with the students.

Mike Dacenko, Junior said “The bar offers a good amount of flavors that everybody likes and is a good spot for after a meal in the Den.” So the next time you’re out eating in the Cougars Den, stop by the Hershey’s Ice Cream Bar and enjoy some of the cold, refreshing treat.

It’s not just a summer treat, it’s a yearround favorite.

Kean celebrates Chinese New Year

By Aaron Mena To celebrate the ending of the Spring Festival or Chinese New Year, the Hong Kong Society on campus hosted a gathering in Kean Hall.

The New Year began on January 23 and is a 15-day celebration concluding with the Lantern Festival. The Chinese New Year is one of the most important holidays in its culture, as well as one of the longest. It has been celebrated for centuries with artifacts dating back to the 14th century B.C.

Photo by: Aaron Mena

Larry Tung demonstrating calligraphy.

Attendees of the celebration entered a room filled with excitement and intriguing activities. Chinese music from various artists played in the background as people visited the various tables and socialized. Some of the tables had key chains, bracelets and a wide variety of trinkets imported from Hong Kong.

Students were selling these items to raise money for the Hong Kong Society on campus. In addition to trinkets, a student was making origami roses as early Valentine’s Day gifts.

A few girls and children were dressed in traditional Chinese garments. These silk robes are worn during festivals, religious

gatherings and other ceremonial traditions. They are normally red with gold and other vibrant accents.

A wide variety of Chinese food was available and was free for everyone. Pans filled with colorful food-lined tables where students anxiously awaited to have their plates filled, where the line nearly stretched out the door. Numerous varieties of mixed vegetables with fish, chicken, beef and pork were available to fill hungry stomachs, rice and noodle dishes were served as well.

Justine Johnson, a member of the Hong Kong Society said, “We decided to have this celebration to introduce the Kean community to Asian life and culture. We wanted everyone to come out and have a good time. We hope to raise enough money to keep doing events like this on campus.”

Professor Larry Tung, a media and film professor in the Communication Departmentat Kean, was instructing visitors on how to write Chinese calligraphy symbols. An art form similar to that of watercolor, Chinese calligraphy requires a gentle and steady hand as well as patience.

Tung explained how there are books available for purchase at local book and craft stores that explain in depth of how to practice the art and achieve the best results.

Not only did this event bring awareness of Chinese culture to students, it also helped the Hong Kong Society make their presence known on campus. More events like this look prominent for the Hong Kong Society at Kean University.

Harwood Arena’s D’Angola Gym at Kean University provides the intramurals and recreations department with an array of fitness classes for students, staff and faculty that are located in the Human Performance room D170.

During the fall and spring semesters; Fit To Be Kean Club, lunch-time yoga, afternoon yoga, women’s self defense and newly featured Zumba are the classes where students, staff and faculty can get in a work out on campus without traveling to a gym or studio.

Lunchtime yoga with Flore involves basic yoga to relieve stress and tone up your body and soul and is available during lunchtime at noon for an hour on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The women’s self-defense class runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays and afternoon yoga with Joanna practices basic yoga with later hours on Mondays from 5:00-6:00 p.m. and Wednesdays from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

Fit To Be Kean Club is a dietary and exercise club that is on campus and meets on Thursdays from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

The club promotes ways to better your

video game for XBOX 360, “Zumba Fitness” is a fast-growing trend. Zumba is certainly not one of those yawning, “why do I even waste my time with this” kind of workouts, actually it is quite the opposite. It generates fun and fast dance moves with upbeat entertaining music.

“I would take a class there I just feel like people don’t go because we don’t really hear about anything going on at the gym

Photo: kean.edu

D’Angola Zumba Class.

and most people are commuters and travel back home so they go to their own local gym. It’s also a pain to bring all my stuff to take a class and change clothes and stuff,” said student Ashley Mejia, a communication major at Kean University.

“Maintaining a healthy and nutritious lifestyle as a college student can be very difficult.” lifestyle with healthy options along with weekly group exercise meetings.

Zumba is set to return for the fall 2012 semester.

Some of these classes are still to be announced for the spring semester however, you can check out the full schedule on Kean University’s Intramurals and Recreation web page.

The new work out craze, Zumba, has been creating a buzz all over the nation.

With gyms and studios offering classes, DVD’s for at-home convenience and a

It may be hard for students to become involved with these activities with the overwhelming stress from classes, work and maintaining a social life. But it could be an alternative to high-pried gym memberships with long-term contracts.

“Maintaining a healthy and nutritious lifestyle as a college student can be very difficult. Most of the food is “fast food” and vending machines don’t help; getting a free work out on campus sounds like a great deal for me,” said Mark Rouge, 24.

“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats

THE TOWER

What did Kean think about the Super Bowl?

By Justin West The parade has come and gone but Giants fans still have a fresh memory of their incredible run, especially those here at Kean.

After a study on roughly 30 students here at Kean, statistics have shown that most students were very excited about the New York Giants win and had a great time during the Super Bowl.

“I was nervous when they played Atlanta in the first round but after that I knew they were going all the way.”

Out of the 30 students, only four of them rooted for the Patriots. Most were Giants fans and that made them more excited about the game. During the game Eli Manning lead a game winning touchdown drive during the final minutes of the game. This was one of the reasons students said that the game lived up to the hype.

Hailey Cruz a Kean student said, “I was extremely excited and anxious to watch the Super Bowl with my favorite team, the New York Giants. My family screamed Go Giants; we hugged each other and threw confetti everywhere.”

One of the biggest traditions about the Super Bowl is wearing sports gear to the game. Stores like Modell’s and Dick’s Sporting Goods went on sale right after the Giants clinched a berth to the Super Bowl selling hats, shirts, sweaters and almost everything you could want with the “Giants” logo. “My mom bought me a Giants hat,” says Hailey.

Jaawell Faggins a history major at Kean said, “Honestly I was excited for the Giants to be in the Super Bowl because the majority of my co-workers are Giants haters, so it was good to stick it to them.”

“However the Giants winning was not that emotional for me, I don’t know why,” Faggins added, “I was nervous when they played Atlanta in the first round but after that I knew they were going all the way.”

Faggins enjoyed the game in the back room of a club and bought some flags and gloves so he could represent his team wherever he went. “Yes the fact that the Giants were playing made me more interested because I probably would have worked that day instead if they weren’t in it,” he added.

Not all students at Kean were excited though. Akil Augustin said, “I was not extremely excited. I rooted for the Patriots.

My favorite part of the Super Bowl was the commercials and the fourth quarter.”

A writer for ESPN, Skip Bayless was quoted saying “It was the best halftime show ever.” All the students who said they attended a party to watch the game generally had a better time than the ones who stayed at home by themselves.

In the end, the Giants won a very close game and this went down as one of the greatest Super Bowls in history as the game went all the way to the final play. When there is a party atmosphere around you, it only makes the game more exciting.

March 2012

11

Women’s lacrosse team looks to improve on last year’s success

By Thomas Antonelle After an inconsistent season last year, The Kean University Women’s Lacrosse Team looks to light up the score board early in 2012.

Despite losing their first four games of the season, the Cougars rallied back ending their season with a 9-9 record overall with a stellar 5-3 record in conference play.

After defeating Mount Saint Vincent in the first game of the Skyline Conference Tournament by a score of 21-16, they dropped their second game by a disappointing score of 3-17 to Montclair State University.

Finishing the season at the .500 mark is not where the team wants to be this time around.

The Cougars have the talent needed to have a successful outcome this year, thanks to the skillful play of their star players and the direction of their Head Coach.

At the end of last season, midfielder Lyndsey Cannon was named a SecondTeam Metro-South All-Star by the Eastern College Athletic Conference as well as being named to the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Boardwalk Region second-team, which was announced by the IWLCA. Head Coach, Leslie LaFronz will be

Former Kean standout signs with Minor League Baseball team

By Ryan Gaydos Former Kean University standout pitcher Joe Augustine has officially agreed to a contract with the minor league Somerset Patriots of Somerville, N.J. Augustine was part of the Kean baseball team in 2007 when he helped them win the NCAA Division III National Baseball Championship. In the second round of the playoffs Augustine pitched a complete game and got the win.

The New Jersey Sports Writers Association also named him College Baseball Pitcher of the Year.

Augustine played for the Kansas City Royals after school but for the past three seasons he has played for the Southern Illinois Miners of the Frontier League.

Last season, Augustine was 3-2 with 24 strikeouts in six starts.

“Real success

is finding your lifework in the work that you love.”

— David McCullough

looking to lead her team to victory this year, as she takes on her former squad from Ramapo College.

LaFronz brings over 20 years of experience to Kean University, including her five year coaching stay at Ramapo College from 2003-2008.

Photo: kean.edu

She was also the Varsity Head Coach for the Wayne Valley High School Lacrosse Team where she was named the County Coach of the Year four different times.

The Cougars first game of the season is scheduled for March 3, where they will be battling on the road against

Lycoming College.

Over the course of their 17-game season, the Cougars play about half their games at home, while the other half are on the road.

The team looks to strengthen their play on the road where they were 4-4 last year and even improve on a fairly strong 5-3 home record.

Only two players from last year will not be contributing to team play. Midfielders, Julie Bachovchin and Chelsea Davis both graduated from Kean University last spring.

The Cougars will have one last attempt at a championship with this team before it bids a farewell to the six seniors on the roster. Amanda South, Samantha Ciccone, Joelle Vitale, Erika Kelly, Danielle Bussiere and Ashlie Berghold are all playing in their last seasons as Cougars.

SeniorJoelle Vitale, was honored as the Kean Woman of the Year at the 20th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Luncheon at Seton Hall University.

While some players are on their way out, the Kean University squad welcomes some fresh faces also.

Ciara Mastrodomenico, Katelin Lezette, Juile Knodt and Samantha Levine are all freshmen who look to make an impact on the team this year.

GO COUGARS!

12

THE TOWER

March 2012

sports Joe Martucci: Seasoned coach joins Kean’s football staff

Softball team prepares for challenging run

By Darien Evans-Raines

By Nick Mojica

If you think the fact that a team that has just come from a 2011 NJAC Championship and lost 17 senior players as it entered the 2012 season means all hope is lost, think again.

There is something promising on the horizon for football at Kean. That something promising is not a player or recruit. It is Joe Martucci, a 28 year Head Coach at Matawan High School, who is joining the Kean University Staff.

Along with being the Head Coach at Matawan, he was also the athletics director.

Photo by: Darien Evans-Raines

After 28 years at Matawan High School Joe martucci joins the College Ranks.

“That something promising is not a player or recruit.

It is Joe Martucci.”

Martucci stepped down from both positions to become the Running Back Coach for Kean University Football. While at Matawan, Martucci’s accolades included a NJSIAA Central Jersey Group Title, Five State Finals and an impressive 197-811 record.

Martucci will replace Anthony Giordano, who is adjusting from the gridiron to the sidelines.

Giordano was a three-year Spe-

cial Teams starter for Kean University. He will officially be with Kean University by June 30.

Martucci has decided to make the jump to the collegiate level at the age of 62 even though he has 28 years of football athletics experience in the High School ranks. This will be a big transition. But he is ready for this opportunity and believes it is his time.

Going into the 2012 season,

Martucci will groom Senior Darius Kinney. Kinney had a huge game in the devastating lost against Salisbury University with 16 carries, 70 yards and three touchdowns in the Triple Overtime loss. With Chris DiMicco gone, the reigns will be given to Kinney; time will tell if he can build on where he left off last season.

In Head Coach Margie Acker’s 12th season, the Cougars’ softball team captured back-to-back NJAC tournament titles. The Cougars managed to advance to the NCAA Division III Regional Tournament for the second straight season. The team ended the season with a 17-27 record and bowed out of the tournament after a loss to Shenandoah.

The Cougars have a big departure in senior pitcher Courtney Smyth. Smith ends her Kean pitching career with 41 wins (tied for second in school history) and 297 career strikeouts (second in school history).

Freshman outfielder Megan Cegielski led the team’s offense in batting average (.392), runs scored (34), walks (19) and stolen bases (16). Outfielder Sandra Binkiewicz led the team in hits and runs batted in.

Coming into the 2012 season, the Cougars are ranked third in the NJAC Coaches Preseason Poll. Kean comes in only behind The College of New Jersey and Rowan.

The Cougars will open the season on March 2 in Virginia Beach. The Beach Ball Softball Tournament is a two-day tournament that will have the Cou-

Photo: Kean Athletics

gars playing two double headers on March 2 and 3. After that, the Cougars will head to Clermont, Florida for eight games.

The team will return back home on March 28 with a game against Manhattanville in New York. Their first game home will be the next day against DeSales.

Also returning for the Cougars is Shortstop Alicia Banz.

Banz led the team last season in homeruns (5) and was tied for doubles (10). The team is also looking to have another good year from third baseman Courtney Melchionna. Melchionna had a batting average of .328 and led the team in runs batted in with 28.

Kean will face The College of New Jersey, number two in the Coaches’ Preseason NJAC Poll, on April 14. The Cougars will face an even tougher opponent on April 21 when they head to Glassboro to take on Rowan.

Rowan is ranked 24th in the NFCA Division III Top 25 Preseason Poll.

KU Men’s lacrosse team suspects tough season opener

By Raymond Gurbisz The Kean University men’s lacrosse team will take the field Saturday afternoon and kick off their season with high expectations and a chance at a fresh start.

The Cougars finished with a record of 8-7 last year and concluded their season with a tough loss to No. 1 ranked Farmingdale State University, losing 7-6 and getting eliminated from the Skyline Conference Tournament.

“I think the team pretty much knows what is expected of us and I know that the guys will do whatever it takes to improve and keep winning,” said junior defenseman Nicholas Cestaro.

“We’re going into this season with really high hopes and aren’t

going to mess around.”

The Cougars first game comes at home against a tough Castleton State College and will give the team a chance to start off the season with a big confidence boost if they can pull off the upset.

Castleton State College, with a new head coach this year, will be a tough obstacle for the Cougars to overcome. With five allconference performers return-

“Everyone needs to play hard and play together in order for us to get the win.” ing this year for the Spartans, the Cougars will need to be on

top of their game if they want to defeat the Spartans as they did

last season.

“Everyone needs to play hard and play together in order for us to get the win,” said junior midfielder Tom Clifford. “This is a huge game for us and a key factor in order to starting off the season on the right foot.”

The Cougars struggled on the road last season drawing a 2-6 record from away games. But

at home, the Cougars posted a much better 6-1 record.

It will be interesting to see if the Cougars can get their seventh straight winning season this year.

Junior Nick Angrisani led the Cougars with goals scored, racking up 24 in the 2011 season, while Clifford led the team with 35 total points and a team-high 23 assists.

“Last season gave me a lot of confidence,” Clifford said. “I am really looking forward to starting the season and I know from talking with the guys that the team is ready to go too and will do big things.”

Their season starts February 25.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down, it’s whether you get up.” — Vince Lombardi