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MAR | 2019 WWW.KUTOWER.COM
TH E I N DEPEN D EN T VOI C E O F KE AN U N IV E R S IT Y
Degree requirement to drop to 120 credits by Fall 2019 Change mirrors new state law By Petruce Jean-Charles On Tuesday, Feb, 5 the University Senate at Kean University held its second meeting of 2019 to update the attendees on initiatives like the 120 credit mandate. Faculty members in attendance included: Paula Avioli, Louis Beaugris, Paul Croft, David Farrokh, Daniel Gover, Sue-Ellen Gronewold, Laurie Knis-Matthews, Barbara Lee, Holly Logue, Christopher Lynch, Donald Marks, Catherine Nicholson, Yehoshua Palgi, Maximina Rivera, Robyn Roebuck, Martin Shulman, Frances Stavola-Daly and Melodie Toby. The 2018-2019 Officers of the Senate present were Chairperson Claire Mulry, Vice Chair David Joiner, Secretary J. Barry Mascari and Board of Trustees Representative Daniela Shebitz. On the agenda, deliberation of 120 credits, campus culture, elections and curriculum management system were introduced to the attendees.
Photo by Kean University
Chairperson Claire Mulry
On Aug. 17, 2018 Governor Murphy signed a bill stating that Bachelor degrees from state universities must be 120 credits. Faculty and staff from across the University are collaborating to meet the terms of the
legislation. Mulry updated the progress of 120 credit hours for graduation in placement of the current 124 requirement. Although the process was a long one, Mulry extended her appreciation to everyone involved in implementing this initiative. “The law says we must comply in 180 days,” said Mulry. “Kean is working to meet this deadline and to have all non-exempt programs in compliance prior to Fall 2019.” According to a national survey by Complete College America, a bachelor’s degree at most institutions requires the minimum total of 120 credit hours. “Nearly 50 percent of all programs, at all institutions require only the minimum number of credits generally required for accreditation,” said Nate Johnson, an article by Complete College America. Moreover, Acting Dean for the College of Liberal Arts, Jonathan Mercantini spoke of the benefits of this change. “The faculty and staff of the College of Liberal Arts have been working hard to strengthen our curriculum in response to the 120 credit mandate,” said Mercantini. “Students will benefit by having a clearer path to graduation, enhanced opportunities to conduct research with Kean faculty and expanded internship possibilities.” Student Representative Mekhia Baker was relieved to hear of the 120 credit mandate, as it gives her and other students an easier graduation. “I feel this will benefit students financially and helps them graduate quicker,” said Baker. “I feel that it took Kean awhile to implement this, because they wanted to make sure this was the right move to make.” Other advancements discussed included the campus culture statement. This statement is for the betterment of the students, faculty and community to ensure the mission of each university. “There are many cultures that could be more celebrated at Kean, but it would be better for the public to decide which cultures they want to be more celebrated,” said Baker.
“The law says we must comply in 180 days, Kean is working to meet this deadline and to have all non-exempt programs in compliance prior to Fall 2019,” said Mulry. continued on page 2
KU president is keynote on “Does civic engagement matter?” Talk is part of “Higher education in 2020” series
By Erin McGuinness Kean President Dawood Farahi headlined the second of four faculty seminars scheduled for this semester to discuss the university and civic engagement — or working to make a difference in the civic life of a community.
thinking, analytical, and data analysis skills that are necessary for students to navigate the 21st century. “Civility is what makes a university what it should be,” Farahi said, going on to say that accepting differences and telling students they are “not alone,” contributes to a campus-wide
Kean President Dawood Farahi discussed civic engagement and higher education at a Faculty Seminar on Feb 13.
Photo by Kean University Office of the President
Kean University President Dawood Farahi
About 40 faculty and staff members gathered in Kean Hall Feb. 13 for the second “Higher Education in 2020” discussion in the series themed “Does Civic Engagement Matter?” organized by Drs. Dennis Klein and Donald Marks, co-chairs of the Faculty Seminar. Assistant professor Aaron Gubi helped organize the event. After an introduction by Klein, Farahi addressed the room and began a discussion on where Kean University is on the map of civic engagement and how the university can continue to progress in the constantly changing and developing world. He outlined some problems Kean University faces, including changes in legislation, competition from superior online programs and the curriculum changes that the current market, with technology constantly improving, demands. Farahi touched on the subject of required coursework that some students complain does not relate to their major, noting that Kean’s goal is to create well-rounded students who are versed with not only knowledge of their desired career path, but also critical
sense of community. The details exclusive to Kean, such as music halls and art halls, shape the university into a community, he said. Following a 40-minute discussion, faculty and staff were invited to ask questions. Klein opened the question portion with a question about how can Kean better “bridge between higher education and the real world?” With new laws in place, such as Governor Phil Murphy’s pilot program providing free community college education, Farahi said it’s even more necessary for Kean “to explain to the students what they get here… the most robust career development program anywhere in the state of New Jersey,” Dr. Sarah Compion, director of Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, said she teaches classes on human rights and social justice, so civic engagement is an idea that she thinks about a lot. “I think it’s helpful for me to take the same conversation into the classroom. To ask students what they want out of higher education,” she said. The next Faculty Seminar in this “Does Civic Engagement Matter” series, is scheduled for March 27.
Dr. Janet Yedes, beloved professor, dies after short illness By Erin McGuinness To colleagues and friends, Dr. Janet Yedes is remembered for the life she created that was powered by genuine human connection and worldly experience. Beloved professor Dr. Janet Yedes died Feb. 28 at Kennedy Medical Center in Edison after a short illness. She was 66 years old. Dr. Yedes joined Kean University in 1999 and taught Dr. Janet Yedes spent 20 years as courses in social justice, a professor in the Department of Communication holistic health, environmental communication and more in the School of Communication, Media, and Journalism. To many of her students, though, she was more than just a professor. She was a mentor, nurturer and friend. “She is my soul mother,” said Mona Elnewihy, Kean University graduate. Elnewihy, an Egypt native, was introduced to Dr. Yedes during
a visit to campus and the pair bonded over Dr. Yedes’ love of Egyptian culture. When Elnewihy missed registration because her federal student loan was not approved in time, Dr. Yedes personally took her to the dean who was able to ensure her a spot in the semester, despite being three weeks late. Dr. Yedes helped Elnewihy understand and navigate the American education system, helped her access financial aid, and at times spoke to Elnewihy in Arabic to make her feel at home. If Elnewihy did not meet Dr. Yedes on that first day, she said she might not have started her master’s degree. At the time Elnewihy did not understand why the professor was extending so much kindness to her, but as their friendship progressed, she learned it was simply part of Dr. Yedes’ genuine empathy, passion for teaching and desire to watch her students succeed. “She was a woman who cared about others, respected their culture and had a great knowledge of other cultures. She was interested to know others,” Elnewihy said. Dr. Yedes vast cultural knowledge could be attributed to her world travels. After receiving her master’s degree in Applied Linguistics from Indiana University in 1980, she spent time teaching in Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia. “She studied with Native Americans. She studied with indigenous people in South America. I believe she even went to a large group study with the Dalai Lama. She always set her own
pace,” said Dr. Christopher Lynch, a colleague and friend to Dr. Yedes for over 30 years. Dr. Lynch and Dr. Yedes studied for their doctorates together at Temple University, where she received her Ph.D in Rhetoric and Communication in 1994. She was a person of the universe and defined her own life path, Dr. Lynch said. Dr. Yedes did not rush through completing her Ph.D., rather, she took time off and traveled the world. Her approach to research was qualitative, said Dr. Jack Sargent, executive director of the School of Communication, Media & Journalism. Dr. Yede’s took interest in observing and studying the world; human interaction, chosen rhetoric, and language, around her, he said, noting a time she spent in South America listening to women tell stories. Professor Holly Logue, colleague and friend, compared Dr. Yedes to Mother Nature, “natural, unpretentious, and real,” she said. While Dr. Yedes had many friends on the Kean University campus, one theme remains constant; her connections were genuine. Dr. Yedes did not indulge in small talk, rather, she asked sincere questions and talked of important topics, making her friends feel heard and admired in every conversation. She is remembered for being kind, smart and funny. “I think the lesson from her life is to just take advantage of every moment you have and make the best of it,” Dr. Lynch said.
2 THE TOWER
March, 2019
College vs. passion: balancing being a full-time student
Photo by Wynter Aiken
Hannah Abiona
“I have a full-time schedule but with my dedication to making everything in my life balance, once my journey here at Kean comes to an end, another journey will start,” said Abiona. “After all, we as students are just trying to discover who we are and where we want to go.” By Wynter Aiken Adapting to an overwhelming schedule while trying to discover who you are and what you want to do with the rest of your life is just a few of the ever million thoughts that senior Hannah Abiona has every day. Hannah’s never-ending struggle includes being a full-time graduating senior at Kean all while juggling family, friends, heartache, and of course, following her passion for writing. Not saying these moments in life won’t be challenging or hard but when Abiona came to the realization that perhaps becoming a writer was the next step in her journey after graduating, let’s just say coming to that conclusion wasn’t the easiest. “I wanted to be in a profession that wouldn’t just be a job to me but also a mood and stress outlet as well,” said Abiona. “My dad has just started taking my writing seriously which is a huge relief so I’m able to fully concentrate with his support.” Benefiting in this college process is difficult for anyone whether a professor, instructor or part-time/full-time student. Meeting and interacting with individuals and professionals is also key to getting the results you want. “I finished my first novel surprisingly in my British Literature class taught by professor Gupta-Casale,” said Abiona. “It wasn’t obviously intended but I’m thankful to her class. Whenever inspiration kicks in, write the thought down so you won’t lose it, you never know what it could lead to.” After research and finding that in writing, there are many career paths such as being a self-published author or editor, Abiona met
a professional writer in the most unexpected place---church. “I’d met a self-published author in a church of all places, Kae Brown, and I expressed how I was afraid of choosing my career path as a writer because I have no experience besides stories that I’ve created,” said Abiona. “She gave me some advice and said if writing, editing, self-publishing, whatever I want to do is my choice then I should do it. The only person standing in my way is me.” For a writer, the career can carry heavy weight because it’s one of the most competitive fields to enter, everyone wants to separate themselves from another, be different. But, for Abiona, “writing is my clear path to freedom of a free mind.” Choosing a career path, graduating on time, being a full-time student while still trying to make time for personal passions isn’t a walk in the park and a lot of us are tempted to put off our passions until we have more free time. Like Abiona, most students work long hours and attend class with barely any time to themselves in between. “I wasn’t sure if I had what it took to be a writer,” said Abiona. “Sure I had the passion for it but I had no professional experience, barely any time or motivation, [but] I eventually learned how to balance my life out--work, social life, my passion for writing, and graduation.” “I have a full-time schedule but with my dedication to making everything in my life balance, once my journey here at Kean comes to an end, another journey will start,” said Abiona. “After all, we as students are just trying to discover who we are and where we want to go.”
Amazon Alexa devices added to library reference resources By Zoe Strozewski The Nancy Thompson Library Learning Commons (NTLC) is a multifaceted student center, complete with features such as the Nancy Dryfoos Art Gallery, charging stations, the Writing Center, Starbucks and a variety of places to sit and study. The building has recently upgraded its reference resources with the installation of numerous Amazon Alexa devices throughout the building. Amazon Alexa devices, also known more simply as Alexa’s, are voice-activated smart speakers with the ability to perform functions such as playing music, searching for information and getting the weather and news. A report on smart audio from Edison Research stated that approximately 43 million
Photo by Zoe Strozewski
The Alexa devices have been installed at various locations around the library for student use
Americans currently own either an Alexa or an alternative type of smart speaker. According to the NTLC Administration, continued on page 3
American Sign Language Course Taught Completely Voice Off By Anastasia Zhelezova Kean proudly offers students courses in American Sign Language (ASL) at first, second, third, and fourth year levels. ASL is taught by professor Annmarie Bacino and professor Marybeth Mimsho. Bacino is the first deaf staff member to work at Kean University. She began teaching as an adjunct up until she was offered a full-time position. As of 2019, Bacino has been a faculty member at Kean for three and a half years. All her life, she has been deaf and has lived in a deaf family so it’s no surprise that ASL is her first language. Bacino’s continual goal is to always be a role model for her students and not only to teach ASL, but to incorporate deaf culture in ASL as part of the class as well. “I wanted to show the students how the deaf community functions, how our culture is, how we get along in the world, and how we can collaborate with the hearing world and the deaf world,” said Bacino. “Without culture, there is no ASL.” Bacino is very passionate about having earned the chance to teach ASL. For ASL one, Bacino is completely voice off and does a lot of writing on the board. “If the students are getting confused or not understanding ASL grammar or structure, I might voice a word or two, you know, related to the curriculum though not just to have a conversation,” said Bacino. When the students come to attend their first class, they are typically shocked to find out that it will be taught completely voice off with the exception of those students who have brothers or sisters who have taken
the course previously, but the majority remain clueless. Professor Bacino finds it more effective to teach the course this way since ASL uses language through a visual matter and not through a vocal one. It helps the students to learn the language better. “ASL is a very visual language,” said Bacino. The students sit in a U-shape desk setting for visual reference. That way, they are able to see each other clearly when signing. Strong eye contact is a crucial part of the class and language. Professor Mimsho teaches ASL one and two while professor Bacino elaborates on two and three. During her lectures, Bacino uses PowerPoint presentations which contain expressive sentences as well as a textbook and a DVD. Expressive and receptive videos are used as well and are a vital part of the course. A receptive video is what the students see and understand when they see sign language. Expressive video is what professor Bacino signs to her students and how she uses the language. According to Bacino, both expressive and receptive video are an important part of ASL. ASL one involves a significant amount of writing, however, with ASL two there is not as much. Deaf culture is an essential part of the class which is why there are four ASL courses, not only to learn sign language but to also be able to understand the culture that comes along with it. Bacino never thought she would be teaching ASL. “I fell in love with doing it,” said Bacino. “But it was completely unexpected, and it just happened, and it was great.”
“I wanted to show the students how the deaf community functions, how our culture is, how we get along in the world, and how we can collaborate with the hearing world and the deaf world,”
Second university senate meeting of 2019 discusses change continued from cover
According to Mulry, the campus culture statement at Kean is a work in progress and it is unclear when it will be ready, but the University Senate is working to put it on future agendas. Although this statement is still being developed, Professor Lynch and Dr. StavolaDaly will revise the statement for the next Executive Committee and Full Senate Meeting. To enhance the curriculum at Kean, a curriculum management system was developed to transform into an electronicbased university. “It is beneficial as it will make the process greener and easier to track,” said Mulry. Robyn Roebuck, managing assistant director of Student Support Services in the Office of the Registrar expanded on this transition. “This idea has been in the works for a long time,” said Roebuck. “The divisions of Enrollment Management and Academic Affairs have worked collaboratively over the last two years to see it to fruition.” Roebuck mentioned the system would be used in lieu of the current paper-based system, tracking and archiving all curriculum review and approval processes.
“The system is for use by those involved in the review and approval of curriculum for the university. While other members of the community are able to view this information, it will likely be these backend users who will be most acquainted with the system,” said Roebuck. Roebuck emphasised that this system would be used by faculty to develop their curriculum. “...Administrators from Academic Affairs and Enrollment Management will oversee the system and ensure all actions which take place within it are enacted upon in our catalogs and student information systems, as needed.” According to Roebuck, Kean has been using the Watermark website to switch to electronicbased systems and will continue to transition as time goes on. Although this is a different approach, the curriculum processes are not changing. “Just the environment in which we are retrieving the information [is changing]. Revisions of courses and programs, as well as new proposals of both sorts will still be reviewed as outlined in the University Curriculum Committee Manual,” said Roebuck.
University Senate meetings are held in MSC, Room 228
Photo by Petruce Jean-Charles
March, 2019
THE TOWER 3
Amazon Alexa devices added to library reference resources continued from page 2
the motivation behind supplementing the library with these devices was in their ability to instantaneously provide students with information. “It brings artificial intelligence to the library learning commons to help students answer basic questions in a quick and fun way. However, Alexa is not a substitute for academic research,” the administration said. The Alexa’s will be able to answer both common searchable questions, as well as questions specific to the library itself. “Alexa answers general questions about the NTLC and Kean University, as well as topics of interest, i.e. ‘What is the capital of Arkansas?’” the administration said. “In addition, as students ask more questions, Alexa is able to adapt its answers to match whatever wording a student uses to get to a common response. For example, ‘What are the NTLC hours?’ can also be asked as ‘What time does the NTLC open and close?’” Administrators believe that the inclusion of these new accessories marks a step forward for the overall culture and versatility of the NTLC. “It makes the entire building a place for inquiry, questions and response. In the future, the ease of access with Alexa will create a more fun and interactive learning environment,” the administration said.
“It brings artificial intelligence to the library learning commons to help students answer basic questions in a quick and fun way.”
Photo by Zoe Strozewski
The Nancy Thomas Library Learning Commons is located on Kean’s Cougar Walk
The library is home to an arsenal of reference materials for student use, with its set of online databases, the Holocaust Resource Center and Human Rights Institute. Some students believe that because of the breadth of the reference collection, the Alexa’s will be useful in helping them locate the materials they need. “I think this will be beneficial to students. I know I’ve had trouble finding books in the past and I think it will be easier having something telling me exactly where to look,” senior Christopher Del Prete said. On the other hand, some believe that the instant availability of information from the Alexa’s detracts from a student’s ability to research and absorb facts.
Students showcase various talents at Roots open mic event
Photo by Salimah McCullough
Photo by Salimah McCullough
Roots Stage
Various students performing on stage
By Salimah McCullough
works hard every year to bring in new elements to every event. An upcoming coffee catering business called “Hybrid Coffee” attended the event with a full coffee bar and barista service. They had coffee and various pastries were available for the event goers. “Hybrid Coffee” is launching in the spring and will be located in Jersey City. The Roots stage displayed many different types of talent and it was important that
Kean’s student government along with PULSE, a branch of student government that focuses on creating events for students on campus, hosted the annual open mic event called Roots on Feb 13. This event gives students the space and opportunity to share their talents for an audience. “Roots is a themed event where people
Photo by Salimah McCullough
Photo by Salimah McCullough
Rashad Wright performing some of his poetry
Hybrid Coffee Staff
audition and show off their talents such as poetry, singing songs, and spoken word.” said Kean junior and Coordinator for PULSE, Evelyn Sanchez Rojas. The open mic wasn’t just open to students and alumni of Kean, it was also open to alumni from other campuses. Rashad Wright, a NJCU alum, performed some of his own poetry pieces from his poetry book. “I was in high school and had to pick an extracurricular activity. I was already a student athlete and I did frisbee, track, and all the other sports,” said Wright. “I wanted to “chill” so I picked soul poetry and have been writing ever since.” Wright uses moments and experiences from his personal life and turns them into poetry. He was awarded the “Grand Slam Champ” for poetry in Jersey City. Being on stage is “both poetry and a performance” according to Wright. “When you hop on stage, it’s not your poetry that is being watched,” said Wright. “It’s a whole art form and you’re combining the two things to make something special.” Roots being an annual event at Kean, PULSE
students not only received the poets message, but also had a good time. Donyea Curry, junior and member of PULSE, helped organize the event and had certain expectations for the night. “I want people to feel like they can have a say and express themselves”, said Curry. “Also, I want people to be touched by everyone that is performing tonight.” Diversity expanded within the crowd from students to content shown, everyone enjoyed the night and all talent from poetry to singing was performed. Rifa Shariff, junior and communications major, was one of the audience members that was blown away by the variety of talent throughout the night. “I enjoyed the night a lot, “said Shariff. “My favorite part was the support and enjoyment that people in the crowd showed.” Along with Shariff, Sophomore and Communications major Tashem Abdallah also had the pleasure of viewing the talent of the evening. “I definitely enjoyed the event,” said Abdallah. “My favorite part was hearing the poems that were performed tonight from a lot of the students.”
“When you hop on stage, it’s not your poetry that is being watched,” said Wright. “It’s a whole art form and you’re combining the two things to make something special.”
“It takes away from actual researching, because if you can just ask something for an answer, are you really learning if it’s just giving you the answers?” junior Mary Linen said. Additionally, while the Alexa’s were programmed with custom responses regarding the Kean and the library, the technology’s other functions have not been disabled. This means that, theoretically, a student could use an Alexa for something other than research, which some believe is a distraction. “I think Alexa’s are a distraction to begin with. I know people have used it, but they didn’t use it for studying,” Linen said. The Alexa’s were only one step in a larger initiative by the library to update its layout,
both technologically and physically. Other upcoming and current changes include expanded availability of the online tutoring services, relocating the Public Speaking Lab to the larger room 107 across from the Writing Center and the creation of new study rooms. “More and more libraries throughout the world are incorporating technology to enhance collaborative learning and provide support to students and faculty in the 21st century. Technology expands our access to research materials and allows the Kean community to access our services any time, anywhere, and through multiple platforms,” the administration said.
Operation Smile Puppet Making
By Valerie Sanabria
“Operation Smile,” student group at Kean University, held a “Puppet Making” event at the Hennings Hall lobby on Feb. 21. “Operation Smile” is a global organization that helps families around the world pay for surgeries for children who have craniofacial anomalies. The “Operation Smile” student group at Kean rose awareness and funds to support the global organization. A table was set with colorful socks, googly eyes, yarn for hair, glue, and felt. Besides the items needed to make the puppets, there were jars with lollipops and a box in the middle of the table with pictures and captions such as “KEAN CARES” and “CHANGING LIVES ONE SMILE AT A TIME,” for students to donate money to the foundation. Kristen Failla, a senior and the vice president of the organization was wearing a blue shirt with the organization’s logo and greeted every person to the table with a smile. Failla joined the organization to help vulnerable populations and children who cannot make decisions about their health on their own. Making sock puppets is a fun way to spend time during breaks. “It’s not typical in a college setting to relax and make a puppet,” said Steven Almazan, club president. Almazan is studying biology and joined the club to give back to his community and to do something progressive for others. Besides puppet making events, the “Operation Smile” organization also hosts bake sales and information sessions for students to learn how the donations can impact the lives of children. Making a puppet is an act of kindness that can help speech pathologists teach children around the world how to communicate after their cleft palate or cleft lip has been repaired. According to the “Operation Smile” website, puppets can be a fun way to play with children and a way to demonstrate to them how their
Photo by Valerie Sanabria
Kristen Failla with puppets
surgeries will go. In addition to serving as “ice breakers,” the puppets have “anatomic” features such as tongue, lips and palate so speech pathologists can show the children where to place the parts of their mouth for “different sounds.” Almazan mentioned that they have a goal of making 50 puppets to be sent to the global organization for them to distribute to children who need it. The student group members also plan to have the puppet making event once a month to work towards their goal. It is common that when the student organization has the supplies on a table at Hennings Hall lobby students randomly ask what they are doing. Almazan’s favorite part of the puppet making event was “the interaction with people who are interested in knowing what they are doing and knowing that [the puppets] will go to a child who needs it, makes them want to be part of the event.” The “Operation Smile” organization at Kean was created in 2009 and their future events can be found at cougar link. During the puppet making events, all the materials are provided for students to make and design their own sock puppet and change lives, “one smile at a time.”
Making a puppet is an act of kindness that can help speech pathologists teach children around the world how to communicate
Photo by Valerie Sanabria
Students designing and making puppets
4 THE TOWER
March, 2019
Donut Worry, Be Happy!
Kean Dance Marathon:
Students Dance for a Cause
By Alexander Valdes
Photo by Kean Greeks Instagram page
The Kean University community raised $53,875.52 for Children’s Specialized Hospital at Kean Dance Marathon 2018
By Nicole Diefenbacher Kean University’s annual Dance Marathon is “one of the most looked forward to events of spring semester for Greeks and nonGreeks alike,” said Michelle Gitlin, a sister of Nu Theta Chi and newly elected Greek Senate treasurer for the 2019-2020 school year. It is a charitable event, where money is raised by the students of Kean University to benefit the Children’s Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, NJ. “It’s the sixth year that we’ve done Kean Dance Marathon,” said Victor Benlice, the current Greek Senate President and a brother of Sigma Theta Chi fraternity at Kean University. “It’s a 12 hour long dance marathon at the end of the semester and we conclude our fundraising goals for the entire year by tallying up how much we raised in both fall and spring semester with the additional amount we raise during the 12 hours of KDM.” In 2018, the Kean community raised $53,875.52 for Children’s Specialized Hospital. The final number is unveiled at the end of the dance marathon to not only the Greek community here at Kean,
but the students and additional clubs who participate as well. “All the funds go to local children at a local hospital,” said Benlice. “So you could be helping out kids who are related to your neighbors or from your own town even.” Kean Dance Marathon did not start off initially in the hands of the Greek Senate here at Kean, but in the Center of Leadership and Service Department, with the first KDM raising $12,000. However, Benlice said that they believed that the fundraiser would get a lot more attention if it was handed over to Greek life, due to their large population of students doing community service. After it was passed down to the Greek community, Benlice said other organizations and clubs became involved with the Dance Marathon fundraiser as well, including Kean Athletics, Center for Leadership and Service, the 29 Greek organizations at Kean and more. “KDM is so important to me because of all of the hard work that Greek Senate puts in all year round,” said Benlice. “The little steps that it takes to fundraise that total amount and the day by day goings on are really important for an event like this.”
Benlice is not only Greek Senate President, but is also in his second year of being a part of the Kean Dance Marathon Committee, where he has taken on the role of Sponsorship Chair. “I’ve been reaching out to a lot of local businesses and organizations and letting them know how altruistic and helpful our dance marathon is and how they can promote their business as well as themselves and their social responsibility by donating to the Children’s Specialized Hospital with KDM.” Kean Dance Marathon isn’t just about dancing. There are multiple activities that attendees are able to participate in throughout the 12 hour event such as musical chairs, dance battles, team building competitions, bean bag toss, Zumba, raffles and more. Last year, they also introduced a butterfly release, which Benlice said was a nice way to get everyone outdoors for a bit, as the 12 hour marathon is held indoors. “The goal is to be active,” said Benlice. “Be animated, be there, just be in the moment.” Kean Dance Marathon will be held on April 12, 2019 from 12 P.M. to 12 A.M. in Downs Hall.
The average college student may not know what sort of benefits they have that are provided by their university. Students may go through all four or more years of their college lives and not even realize the slew of benefits they have at their fingertips to achieve success and a few Residential Advisor’s (RA) made it their goal in order to change that. At the cougar hall residential building on Kean campus,there was a small event held by a few RA’s that aimed to educate students as well as give them some sweet incentives. Residential Advisor Jessica Spinson at Kean University took charge of the event that she had created known as Donut Worry where students could walk to some RA’s and gain some useful studying tips and enjoy donuts as a sweet treat for attending. Students came and went, they came for the donuts but surprisingly left with more useful information that will help them along on their paths. “It’s religious to help people with study tips and campus resources and I’m collaborating with Access, so it’s kinda like a grab and go kinda thing, so you take a donut and a study tip or a campus resource or like a fun fact and that’s just basically it.” said Spinson. Approximately 40 students had attended the event, coming up to receive their donut of choice and leaving with a slip of paper providing them with new insight, a majority being freshman as the event took place inside of the Freshman residence building. “I think time management is their biggest issue, so like plan out your week if you have a lot to do and try to like prioritize, like yeah social life is great but school comes first.” said Spinson Some students who were attending had an opportunity to provide a few words about the topic of the event and about the tips that the RA’s provide, such as sophomore student Amina Pillar. “I feel like it’s really good, just because some people might not know how to save or how to time their studying and their social life and I thought it was really good the RA’s went out of their way to do that” said Pillar. “Yes because I’m a sophomore, it can benefit all grade levels,” said Pillar about the subject of the usefulness of the event for other grade levels other than freshman students Towards the end of the event, the RA’s had a few final words to say to any students that may feel like they’re lacking in certain areas, whether it be time management or any other academic difficulties they may have and what steps they can take to better themselves as a Kean student and make better uses of the amenities for their use. “Utilize the resources that you have and if you have any questions about the resources, just reach out and ask people or you can research on your own” said Spinson.
Kicking Off Women’s History Month Guest speaker Dr. Christine Thorpe, Dean of the Nathan Weiss Graduate College, started the lecture series for Women’s History Month with her speech, “Free from Slavery, Bound by Historical Traumas: The Economic Bondage od Chronic Health Issues Among African American and Native American Women.” Photo by Shannon Sheehan
Dr. Christine Thorpe kicked off Women’s History Month with her informational and empowering lecture
By Shannon Sheehan The start of March represents the start of Women’s History Month, a time where society recognizes women, their accomplishments and also the hardships that women face based on their gender. Kean University is celebrating this month by holding a series of lectures, the first transpiring on Mar. 1, 2019. The guest speaker for the first lecture was Dr. Christine Thorpe, the Dean of the Nathan Weiss Graduate College here at Kean University. She has a Bachelor’s Degree is psychology, Masters of education degree in international educational development and a Doctorate degree in health education, therefore she is very knowledgeable. Her areas of focus include women’s health and wellness, health disparities, holistic nutrition, patient navigation, health literacy and more. Ultimately, Thorpe has over 20 years of experience in her fields. Dr. Thorpe’s lecture was titled, “Free from Slavery, Bound by Historical Traumas: The Economic Bondage od Chronic Health Issues Among African American and Native American Women.” After telling the audience about how she came to study this topic, which was through her doctoral program, she quickly jumped in to the topic. The focus of Dr. Thorpe’s lecture was to explain that the historical trauma that women of African and Native American descent still impacts women to this day. Not only does it still
impact women’s health, many women are not aware that there are medical services available to them because they are used to people of their descent being marginalized throughout history. Dr. Thorpe went through a timeline of women’s history, only being able to focus on the key points due to the amount of women’s history that exists. It began with Christopher Columbus coming to the “new world,” even though it was not new to the indigenous people, and ended with the recent #MeToo movement. She went on to explain how the historical trauma that has happened to African American and Native American women throughout history still impacts women today. Dr. Thorpe explained it by saying, “Think of a memory that made you uncomfortable and how you react to that. Imagine those memories being shared from generation to generation. Imagine those memories being infused into you and being passed on not necessarily by verbatim story, by your own visceral reactions and certain circumstances around you.” Situations such as being separated from one’s land, being bought and sold, and repeatedly being talked down to have major effects on people. When a woman today is discriminated against or oppressed, it triggers the memories of one’s ancestors and reminds them of the hardships that they had to go through. Dr. Thorpe emphasized that it is important to be conscious of these facts, and important to remember them especially as Women’s History Month is being celebrated.
March, 2019
THE TOWER 5
Professor looks to certify students as yoga instructors and launch yoga minor
Photo by Courtesy of Tara Lynn, Bogota
Photo by Courtesy of Tara Lynn, Bogota
Tara Lynn Bogota led an outdoor yoga class as the final for her course in the spring 2018 semester
Students after attending the outdoor yoga final
By Zoe Strozewski
on the physical action of yoga, the history of yoga, meditation, mindfulness and breathing techniques. The second, Yoga II or EXSC 2023, offers a more thorough study of the practice and teaches students how to organize and build their own classes. The proposed yoga minor would consist of three required classes and then a set of electives. Interested students will be given the opportunity to complete both the certification and minor in conjunction with each other or complete just one without the other. According to Bogota, student reception to these new opportunities has been warm, especially because her yoga courses are already being taken in high numbers and her services are frequently requested. “Each semester I teach about eight sections of yoga and to be honest they’re always really full, between 20 and 25 students. I’ve definitely spread the word and it’s getting out there through just teaching that course,” Bogota said. “Now I feel like the word is growing as well because I’m getting different groups on campus asking me to come and lead classes or workshops.” On top of the certification program and yoga minor, Bogota is now beginning to offer free yoga classes for both faculty and students in the D’Angola facility every Friday from 11
Since the school was founded in 1855, Kean’s College of Education has given students the chance to be trained as teachers in areas such as early childhood education, physical education and, most recently, yoga. Tara Lynn Bogota, from the School of Health and Human Performance within the College of Education, has pioneered an initiative to certify students as legitimate yoga instructors, while also aiding in the creation of a yoga minor at Kean. Bogota is a full time faculty member responsible for teaching courses on yoga and gymnastic fitness, as well as providing advisement for physical education and teacher certification. Before becoming part of the Kean community a little over a year ago, she owned her own health and wellness business where she instructed on yoga and natural foods cooking. Her decision to transition over to a university was inspired by her passion for teaching and desire to contribute her talents to the student body. “Being able to be the person who introduces yoga first time to students was exciting to me,” Bogota said. “It’s just kind of a culmination of me feeling like everything I had done to this point could really help me share more with this university.”
A teacher since 2003 and practitioner of yoga for approximately 20 years, Bogota has a goal of both spreading the practice and the ability to teach the practice. “My mission is to share yoga with as many people as possible. Yoga is so mainstream now and so many different students moving into the professional realm can share the teachings of yoga with whoever they work with, whether it’s clients, organizations or coworkers,” Bogota said. The 200-hour certification program will be carried out through Yoga Alliance, a nonprofit organization for yoga educators. “Yoga Alliance is basically the gold standard within the industry. We’re in the process of getting our curriculum approved through them,” Bogota said Upon completion of this certification program, students will be able to apply the skills they learned in a variety of areas, such as personal training, social work and even corporate settings. “It is a foundation, so students are certainly encouraged to continue their education. There are other levels after that, but that is the basic certification,” Bogota said. “It’s very entrepreneurial, where they can do with it whatever they choose.” There are currently two yoga courses offered at Kean. The first, Yoga I or EXSC 1023, focuses
“My mission is to share yoga with as many people as possible.” a.m. to 12 p.m.. These classes will feature the Ashtanga Primary Series, a type of modern yoga. “It’s a little bit more of a vigorous practice, but it can be modified and it has a very rich tradition. It was a practice when I was studying with my mentor that we did religiously almost every day,” Bogota said. Overall, Bogota believes that the practice of yoga has an array of physical and mental benefits for anyone who partakes in it and can be especially useful in the context of a university like Kean. “It’s a very holistic practice where we really are interested in the wellness and the wellbeing of the individual. For college students and even faculty, it decreases stress and lowers anxiety and helps with depression,” Bogota said. “Yoga is also a therapeutic approach for addiction or mental health, so it is quite diverse. I just think a huge benefit is overall balance.”
The Rise in Hate Crimes By David Janes The Jussie Smollett Alleged Hate Crime hoax has sparked outrage and discussion as to what it means for the future for victims of hate crimes. Smollett, co-star of Empire, claimed he was attacked in Early February outside a Subway store late night in Chicago. He claimed two white males attacked him, poured bleach over him and tied a “noose” around his neck
percent believe the attack was real. If it turns out to be that it was fake then it would be a shame that Jussie Smollett, who has clout and influence, would harm his communities with a lie so big.” According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics Report for 2017, there was a 76% rise in hate crimes in 2017 with a total of 495 hate crimes in the state of New Jersey. Two hundred and sixty incidents were individuals targeted as a result of their race, ethnicity and ancestry, 180 incidents were individuals targeted because
Code of Conduct to Student Resources to Statistics of Campus Crimes. It’s defined as “a consumer protection law that aims to provide transparency around campus crime policy and statistics.” According to CleryCenter’s website, “colleges and universities must understand what the law entails, where their responsibilities lie, and what they can do to actively foster campus safety.” According to Kean University’s Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report for
Photo by David Janes
Kean’s Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report
shouting “this is a MAGA country,” as well as racial and homophobic slurs. All of these claims would later turn out to be allegedly false and part of an ongoing investigation by the Chicago Police Department as well as the FBI. He surrendered himself to the Chicago P.D. on Feb 21, charged with a class four felony, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison, for filing a false police report and was released on bail that same day. Smollett, who plays Jamal Lyon on Empire, a primetime soap about a warring family scheming to regain control and power of their hip hop label, Empire records. “First hearing about the Jussie Smollett incident, I was appalled and distraught to hear that something so awful was happening in 2019, but at the same time I wasn’t surprised to hear about an attack on a queer black man considering our current administration,” said Junior Patrick McEachern, Sociology major and Gender and Women’s Studies minor. “Now, after the story has progressed and more has come out, I feel mostly confused and possibly betrayed. I can’t say that I 100 percent believe the attack was fake and I can’t say I 100
total of five incidents. Three incidents were individuals targeted for their race, ethnicity and ancestry, one incident were individuals targeted for their religion, and one incident was an individual targeted for their sexual orientation. Princeton University had a total of three incidents that targeted individuals based on their race, ethnicity and ancestry. Rutgers University Newark Campus had a total of two incidents that individuals based on religion. The New Brunswick Campus had a total of 25 incidents, four incidents that
Photo by David Janes
Hate Crime Statistics Index
of their religion, 51 were targeted because of their sexual orientation and four incidents were individuals targeted because of their disability. The United States had a total of 7,175 hate crimes reported in 2017, marking New Jersey as the fourth highest, followed by Washington, with 510, New York, with 552 and California being the highest, with 1,094. “The conversation of the current homophobia and racial issues that still live on today is the conversation needed. The conditioning that society has placed on us to not notice these issues by not talking about them,” said Junior Darius Smith, Biology major. “With the whole Jussie Smollett case, it just discredits and brings into question the testaments of actual victims in society, giving the homophobic people and racists an upper hand. It’s sort of in a way taking away the voice of the community and the people apart of both the LGBTQIA and African Americans.” Kean University works in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Act in publishing an Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. The report consists of information from
2018-2019, there were zero incidents of any targeted individuals based on race, ethnicity, hate crimes for the Main Campus, one incident and ancestry, twelve incidents that targeted at the Kean Ocean Campus and zero incidents individuals based on religion and nine incidents at the Wenzhou-Kean University Campus. that targeted individuals based on their sexual McEachern founded PRISM, a student orientation. Stockton University had a total of organization at Kean two incidents that targeted University, to give the individuals based on their community a reason and race, ethnicity and ancestry. opportunity to give LGBTQ As of now, it’s uncertain students a voice but a place what the future holds of safety and an outlet to for hate crimes in this discuss issues such as this. country and the victim “This is my second shaming. However there semester here at Kean are many safety outlets and I do see it as a and organizations trying welcoming university,” to fight and give victims a said McEachern. “When it voice everyday. comes to inclusivity, I do “Don’t use this situation believe that there is more as an excuse to completely to be worked on, which is disregard future victims Photo by Wikimedia Commons one of the main reasons of hate crimes,” says I, along with three of my Jussie Smollett on Stage sophomore Danielle peers, founded PRISM,” Spence, Public Relations said McEachern. major. “Although Jussie Smollett lied, the According to the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics reality things like what he claims happened to Report, Montclair State University had a him happen to people all the time.”
6 THE TOWER
March, 2019
Kean theatre takes on classic Shakespeare play By Breanna Palzer Lights! Camera! Action! This past week, Kean University Theatre Conservatory came together to put their spin on William Shakespeare’s classic play “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The play consisted of four young adults: Helena, Lysander, Hermia, and Demetrius. Hermia is said by her father to marry Demetrius but rejects him because she is in love with Lysander. At the same time, Hermia’s best friend, Helena, expresses that she is in love with Demetrius, but he does not hold the same feelings for her. This causes many Playbill from play
Stephanie Martin, junior at Kean. “Instead of having the lights go out and disrupt the mood of the play, they integrated the scene change with the fairy’s dance so that it was a smooth transition.” The Kean Theatre Conservatory put a lot of blood, sweat, and tears into the play. They spent almost every day beginning from winter break, practicing and learning their parts. “We would usually have practice from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., sometimes it would even go to 11 p.m.” said Connor McKenna, who played the role of Changeling. “We would also have practice every day and once tech week Photo by Breanna Palzer [came], we would
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“It’s really unique that they did that,” said Stephanie Martin, junior at Kean. “Instead of having the lights go out and disrupt the mood of the play, they integrated the scene change with the fairy’s dance so that it was a smooth transition.”
ONLINE EDITOR: PETRUCE JEAN-CHARLES SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER: SALIMAH MCCULLOUGH ASSOCIATE EDITOR: KELLY CONTRERAS
SPORTS
problems to arise in the friend group, which then resulted in magic events to happen. The group finds themselves involved with the fairy king, Oberon, who plays tricks and casts spells on them to make matters worse. For this play, there was no stage crew to change the backdrops and bring in the props for the next scenes. These changes, however, were cleverly done Cast from play during the fairy’s song. During the fairy’s song, the Queen Fairy’s subjects came out from the crowd and danced around the stage causing lights to turn on along with trees and other wood-like decorations to add to the ambiance. “It’s really unique that they did that,” said
even have practice on the weekends.” Going on stage in front of hundreds of people can be very nerve wracking. The pressure to get every line right can be a constant alarm sounding in the back of their minds at all times. “Ya know, it really depends on the person. I wasn’t that nervous leading up to the show, but I think anyone gets a little nervous right before Photo by Breanna Palzer they are about to go on stage. I know I was,” said McKenna. The show ran from Feb. 22 to March 2 with a “Q & A” after the March 2 show. The cast consisted of 19 Kean students, who all worked hard to make the show a success. Altogether, the cast wounded up doing nine shows within that week.
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Kean Women’s Swimming team makes waves under Swenson By Steven Merrill The Kean Women’s swimming program is back making waves in just their second season since returning as a varsity sport. In their first season since 2003, the program went winless. This time around, expectations were exceeded. Led by first-year head coach Chris Swenson, the Cougars produced a five-win season and broke 19 school records overall. “This season surpassed any and all expectations I had when I took the job,” Swenson said. “I was impressed with the way they bought in and did everything I told them to.” The program finished the campaign off on a high note, setting 14 school records at the Metropolitan Championships on Feb. 22-24. Despite a 14th place finish, they had 102 more points at this year’s competition than they did at last year’s. Sophomore captain Molly Lasko is proud of the team-first culture instilled in the program. It’s a testament to the job that Swenson has done to improve his athletes. His positive attitude every day inspired the team to constantly give it their best. “Coach Swenson’s impact is really what led our team this year and it shows just by looking at the progress from last year,” Lasko said. “He’s always in a good mood. He knows the right things to say to you to make you remember why you’re there.” A late start to the season didn’t stop the
Cougars from competing as they only had two and a half weeks of practice before their season opener. Freshman Kristina Sullivan snapped seven individual records along with two more on relays. Also, freshman Sarah Sissel and junior Darlene Holmes posted the top times on the team for the 50 and 100-meter freestyle. “I’m happy that my athletes swam well,” Swenson said. “They can hold their heads up pretty high. They brought a positive energy every day and it showed. We are just scratching the surface.” Tori Hayes broke six individual records and was involved with three relays that set records. The freshman earned NJAC Rookie of the Week when she broke two records in the 50 and 100-yard breaststroke events on Feb. 2. She agreed with her captain about the impact Swenson has had on the team. “Coach Swenson is the reason for all of the success our team had,” Hayes said. “He made us all want to come to practice and get better. I am so grateful for him and [assistant coach] Jess [Urciuoli].” With a young roster of seven freshmen, two sophomores, and one junior, the team knows there is room for improvement. “I’m looking forward to us growing more as a team and breaking more records,” Lasko said. “We’re going to keep showing Kean the real reason why they brought this program back.” Next season, Swenson wants to have more athletes on the roster to help achieve bigger goals the program has their eyes on. With a 5-5 record overall, the Cougars failed to defeat an NJAC opponent.
“I’m looking forward to us growing more as a team and breaking more records”
Photo by Larry Levanti
Sophomore captain Molly Lasko
Photo by Larry Levanti
The Kean Women’s swimming team gathers during a meet
Photo by Larry Levanti
Freshman Tori Hayes
Swenson is okay with it though, as it draws motivation for what can be accomplished in the future. He’s excited to get the current flowing again as he’s ambitious to build the program stronger in the years to come. “This is the most fun I had coaching,” Swenson said. “I’m just really excited for next season. I wish it started tomorrow.”
March, 2019
Kean Women’s Basketball goes on magical run, falls short in NJAC finals By Craig Epstein
THE TOWER 7
Kean Men’s Lacrosse begins season in a new conference By Chelsea Gray
In front of a filled-to-capacity crowd at The Golden Dome at Rutgers-Newark, the Kean Women’s basketball team gave the fourth seeded Red Raiders everything that they could handle before ultimately falling short in the finals of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament by a final score of 54-47 in overtime. Being only the second sixth seed to ever make it to the NJAC finals, the Cougars went through a difficult journey and battled some of the toughest teams that the conference had to offer in Montclair State, Rowan University, and Rutgers-Newark. “Coming in as the sixth seed we knew we were going to have to work harder and that we weren’t going to have the home court advantage,” freshman point guard Shannon McCoy said. “Facing Montclair in the first round was going to be tough but we didn’t let it
After two years of being independent, the Kean Men’s lacrosse team has found a new conference to call home. The Cougars, along with Montclair State and Stockton, joined the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) on July 1, 2018. Going into the season picked to finish third in the CSAC preseason coaches’ poll with 34 points, the first game of the season against Moravian College was postponed for the
“I’m playing this season for the coach, Michael Cleary, who passed away over the summer” Photo by Larry Levanti
Photo by Larry Levanti
Head Coach Shelley Sheiner
Freshman point guard Shannon McCoy dribbling the ball in a matchup against NJCU
the Cougars and Red Raiders battled until the bitter end where Rutgers-Newark ultimately prevailed to earn their first NJAC championship and NCAA Tournament berth in program history. Although coming out on the losing end was a tough pill to swallow for the Cougars, King feels that they can learn from this journey and come back even better and stronger in the years to come. “We are all incredibly disappointed that we fell short,” King said. “But we will use this as fuel to do what is necessary to make certain that we win the 2020 NJAC Championship and cut down the nets in Harwood Arena.” Photo by Larry Levanti
Junior guard Payce Lange taking the ball up the court in a matchup against NJCU Photo by Larry Levanti
Senior midfielder Michael Snellen
get to us. Knocking off the team that has won the NJAC for the past six years was a pretty good feeling but we weren’t done yet.” Ending the regular season with a 12-13 record (9-9 NJAC), the Cougars knew that they were fortunate just to be able to make the NJAC tournament. They were determined to make the most of that good fortune though and were able to ride out their new-found momentum all the way to the conference finals. “The journey to the NJAC championship was Photo by Larry Levanti
Head Coach Mandy King drawing up a play next to assistant coach Brian Erickson
For her incredible play, McCoy was named the NJAC Rookie of the Year in addition to earning first-team honors. The Barnegat native becomes just the eighth Cougar in program history to be named Rookie of the Year as well as the second to earn it while also being named to the first-team. Photo by Larry Levanti
Head Coach Mandy King going over strategy with her team
not easy, it required hard work, consistency, and the ‘all in’ mentality,” junior guard Payce Lange said. “The NJAC conference is highly competitive but my team and I had that exact mentality we needed to go all the way.” Unlike the matchup with Montclair, the Cougars faced Rowan with revenge on their minds considering they were one of two conference teams that they hadn’t beaten yet. And in what ended up being a nail-biter until the final buzzer, senior Danielle Oakley sank two free throws with one second left in overtime to ensure the 77-71 win for Kean and punch their ticket to the NJAC championship game. As a captain, Oakley played a huge role in providing leadership for the team all season long. Combining that with the heart and grit that the rest of the team had, Head Coach Mandy King was incredibly proud of her squad and the season that they had. “We had a tremendous season because of the heart and leadership of our senior captain Danielle Oakley, the toughness and unselfishness of our core group of returning players, and the energy and passion of our new girls,” King said. “Our team chemistry was the best it has ever been because our girls truly love and care about one another. It’s about something much bigger than basketball.” For King, having such a magical run was one of the greatest experiences she has had as a coach thus far in her career. “Our run through the NJAC tournament and into the championship game was one of the most magical experiences I have ever had as a coach,” King said. “Our girls played with heart and toughness and fought so hard for each other and for Kean University.” In front of a raucous crowd of 653 people,
“The journey to the NJAC championship was not easy, it required hard work, consistency, and the ‘all in’ mentality”
“Being named NJAC Rookie of the Year and a first-team honoree is a huge accomplishment,” McCoy said. “Coming into this season I didn’t expect to have the season I did.” Although she fell short of her ultimate goal of winning an NJAC championship, McCoy feels that this season is not only one that the team can use to learn from, but build upon in her coming seasons as well. “I’ve never been part of a team that wanted it as much as we did and was so determined to get there,” McCoy said. “Us not giving up was the key to what got us so far and will also be the key to why myself and the team will succeed in these next three years.” In addition to McCoy, Lange also earned conference recognition by being named an NJAC honorable mention. As much of an honor that it was for the Tewksbury native, she feels motivated to receive an even higher achievement next season. “Getting chosen for honorable mention was an honor to have my hard work acknowledged by the opposing coaches in the NJAC,” Lange said. “However, it emboldens me to be recognized next year on an even higher achievement level.”
Cougars. The second game takes place against Castleton University on March 9. Along with Kean, Stockton and Montclair State, schools like Rosemont, Keystone, Bryn Athyn College, and Centenary University make up the CSAC. The Cougars will end up playing these teams come April. A new conference means different competition and although it is considered to be a fairly a difficult conference, Head Coach Shelley Sheiner has high expectations for his squad. “I fully expect to contend for a conference championship,” Sheiner said. Kean will face their former Skyline conference foes when they play Stockton on April 3 and Montclair State on April 20. Now approaching 50 years for the Kean
Men’s lacrosse program, it is a special season for everyone involved. The team is not only looking forward to playing the season, but winning along the way as well. Senior midfielder Michael Snellen is dedicating this season to former Men’s lacrosse assistant coach and pioneer for Kean athletics Michael Cleary who passed away over the summer. “I’m playing this season for the coach, Michael Cleary, who passed away over the summer,” Snellen said. “So this season is for him.” As a member of the school’s first-ever lacrosse team in 1970, Cleary holds a special place in the history of the program. For his work, he was honored by the New Jersey Lacrosse Hall of Fame as a member of induction class number 21.
OPINION Why the Oscars suck By Lena Zhu The Oscars. The Golden Globes. The American Music Awards. All of these events are well known in the industry and are easily the most viewed and watched programs on television. The Oscars, specifically, in 2017, had 32.9 million people viewers, 2016 with 34.4 million, and 2019, the most recent, with 29.9 million views according to Time magazine. Although that doesn’t mean that everyone watches it. Everyone has a Oscar statues different perspective when it comes to who should win the best picture. Is it going to be A Star is Born, Green Book, BlacKkKlansmann, etc? Many of these movies have the ability to win multiple gold statues, but what really is the point of The Oscars? Isn’t the Oscars just a way for the acting community or film community to pat itself on the back? To show other people that, Wow! They made so many great movies this year! Please, I don’t need anyone telling me what movies are good and what movies are bad. I can figure that out all on my own. I’m a big girl. Also, just because a movie wins an Oscar does not mean that it is the absolute best movie out there of that year. Everyone has different opinions and different tastes, so I don’t understand how someone can judge that.
And speaking of judging, who judges the Oscars, anyway? Wouldn’t it make much more sense if the viewers/people judged it? No one really knows what’s going on behind the scenes. But either way, that golden man who is in the middle of hugging himself is what people want. The golden statue is a mark of success for many actors and directors or to those who win it. However, if an actor does not have the Gold Hugging Man, this does not mean that the actor or actress is not good. Photo by Creative Commons Take Leonardo DiCaprio for example. He’s had so many critically acclaimed movies and timeless classics. He’s most notably known for Titanic, where he plays Rose’s love interest. Titanic has received a 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and an eight out of 10 on imdb. It has also won many awards from the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) among many others. How can one say that this isn’t a good movie? Despite all of this, Dicaprio did not go home with any Oscars that night. However, this does not mean that he is not a good actor or that he doesn’t deserve one. The Leonardo DiCaprio exception just shows that the Oscars, while a good approval stamp for movies, does not mean anything.
8 THE TOWER
March, 2019
Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic Every day more than 130 people in the United States die from opioids overdose
By Dr. Josh Palgi and Professor Tara Bogata The opioid epidemic sweeping our nation generally refers to the rapid increase in the use of prescription and non-prescription opioid drugs, beginning in the late 1990s. Opioids are a broad group of painrelieving drugs that work by interacting with opioid receptors in your cells which can be made from the poppy plant — for example, morphine under names like Kadian, Ms Contin, others — or synthesized in a laboratory — for example, fentanyl under brands called Actiq, Duragesic, others. When opioid medications travel through your blood and attach to opioid receptors in your brain cells, the cells release signals that muffle your perception of pain and boost your feelings of pleasure. They are often used non-medically for their euphoric effects or to prevent withdrawal. Common side effects of opioid administration include sedation, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, physical dependence, tolerance, and respiratory depression. Devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic include misuse, overdoses and a rising incidence of newborns experiencing withdrawal syndrome due to opioid during pregnancy. According to the National Institute of Health, every day more than 130 people in the United States die after overdosing on opioids. Among our college students in the U.S. nonmedical use of prescription opiates is second only to marijuana as the most common form of drug use and is associated with lower school performance and increased risky behavior. It is estimated that 50 percent of college students are offered a prescription drug for nonmedical purposes by their sophomore
year. Opioids are becoming the college drug of choice. Students embrace the misconception that prescription drugs are “safer” than illegal narcotics; the staggering increase in such deaths illuminates this faulty logic. Throughout our country and universities education and awareness of opioid addiction is necessary for prevention as well as improving access to treatment and recovery services. Incorporating better practices for pain management and stricter guidelines for prescribing physicians are also proving to be beneficial. Shortly after Donald Trump was elected president, he assigned then Gov. Chris Christie in charge of a national panel to investigate solutions to the opioid crisis in America. The U.S. Senate passed the Opioid Crisis Response Act in 2018 which would reauthorize funding to states to address opioid abuse; provide support through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the interoperability of state prescription drug monitoring programs. Furthermore, grants to create comprehensive opioid recovery centers, implement state safe care plans for substance-exposed infants, and make certain health professionals providing substance use disorder treatment services eligible for federal loan repayment programs were also emphasized. What do we know about the opioid crisis? We know that roughly 21 to 29 percent of patients prescribed opioids for chronic pain misuse them; between 8 and 12 percent develop an opioid use disorder; an estimated 4 to 6 percent who misuse prescription opioids transition to heroin; about 80 percent of people who use heroin first misused prescription opioids; and in large cities, overdoses of opioids increased
OPINION
Photo by Marco Verch
Opioid crises
by 54 percent in 16 states. For those addicted and their loved ones, it is not easy. Addition is a powerful disease but recovery is possible. Here are some signs and symptoms of opioid abuse: ■■
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Mixing with different groups of people or changing friends Spending time alone and avoiding time with family and friends
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Losing interest in activities
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Not bathing, changing clothes or brushing their teeth
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Being very tired and sad
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Eating more or less than usual
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Being overly energetic, talking fast and saying things that don’t make sense
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Being nervous or cranky
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Quickly changing moods
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Sleeping at odd hours
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Missing important appointments
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Getting into trouble with the law
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Attending work or school on an erratic schedule
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Experiencing financial hardship
The first step in seeking help if you or a loved one are ready is to find a physician or other health professional who can help or offer a referral to an addiction specialist. Another resource is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) toll-free help line to find drug treatment near you: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
“We’re here and we’re Queer” “I’ve had the privilege of having people being accepting of me, but that’s not the case for a lot of other students,” said Devin Wilson, program director at Kean’s radio station, WKNJ 90.3 FM. “A lot of them don’t feel safe to do that so you can’t fault them for that.”
Photo by Courtesy of David A. Barnes via The Chronicle of Higher Education
Photo by Courtesy of Mathias Wasik via Creative Commons
LGBT Solidarity Rally in front of the Stonewall Inn
By Tasha Dowbachuk The concept of underrepresentation is all too familiar when it comes to minority groups such as the LGBTQ community. Being queer in college, whether “out” or “in the closet” holds a strong possibility that one will embark on an interesting experience simply based on how queer folk are represented on college campuses. According to Higher Education Today, most LGBTQ students report that “the climate—their feelings of belonging, safety and inclusion—in college is better than the one they experienced in high school. And evidence exists that overall, campus climate has improved over the last 15 years.” For those who identify as “Queer” or “Other,” finding student organizations or groups that cater to their community is
commonly described as “difficult.” Some even argue that “there is no place to find openly gay people.” “There should be other organizations or outlets where queer students can go and receive the community they want to receive,” said Patrick McEachern, president of Kean University’s PRISM. PRISM is an LGBT organization that stands for pride, respect, impact, significance and meaning. In reality, it is not as easy as it seems. While we live in a society that gathers information through media, film and television, the LGBTQ community is prone to exaggeration, misinterpretation as well as misrepresentation on all of those aforementioned media outlets. According to Variety, studies have shown that major studios such as: 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate Entertainment, Paramount Pictures, etc. contained just 16.7% of
Two people leave a vigil on Monday in Athens, Ga., honoring the victims of the shooting rampage over the weekend at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. Resource centers on college campuses serve as welcoming spaces for LGBT students and employees
8-stripe LGBT+ pride flag with black and brown stripes added to signify queer people of color
characters who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. With this kind of information, it is apparent that the representation of queer people in movies, especially, is lacking. As for college students, having to counter stereotypes and inform people about what it means to be an LGBTQ individual calls for an open discussion. However, the issue for many people is they aren’t exactly sure where the conversation should start. The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges claim that five core principles for success when it comes to the community’s challenges in higher education are universities and colleges being “open to and include openly LGBT trustees and administrators, ending all forms of discrimination against LGBT faculty and staff, institutions creating full acceptance, embracing LGBT alumni and governing
boards to ensure their curricula including LGBT-relevant study,” “I’ve had the privilege of having people being accepting of me, but that’s not the case for a lot of other students,” said Devin Wilson, program director at Kean’s radio station, WKNJ 90.3 FM. “A lot of them don’t feel safe to do that so you can’t fault them for that.” Through the discrimination that many students face behind closed doors, it is becoming imperative for the authenticity of normalization to meet those who identify within the culture. “We should want our presence and our experiences to be discussed in the classroom or in programs or events on campus to help educate other people,” said McEachern. “I feel like education can be the start to a solution.”
Photo by Courtesy of Philadelphia City Council and Tierney via Creative Commons