plan for campus connection

Transcription

Throwin’
heat
The student newspaper of the Rider community since 1930
16
Volume 77, Issue I - Friday, September 22, 2006
Plan for Campus Connection
One college
would link
two towns
By Steph Mostaccio
The University is considering
dramatic changes in the future to integrate the Lawrenceville and Princeton
campuses.
President Mordechai Rozanski
outlined a plan earlier this year that
includes the creation of a new college on
both campuses under one framework. It
would offer students on both campuses
the College of Liberal Arts, Education
and Science’s programs in music, theater, dance and visual arts, as well as the
programs offered at Westminster Choir
College (WCC).
“The proposed plan paves the way
for increased innovation and arts opportunities across the board at Rider,” said
Rozanski. “Students and the University
alike will benefit from opportunities and
Photo illustration by Steph Nardi
New changes may be in the works as both campuses should prepare to open
its doors to a new college, which may start as early as fall 2007.
programmatic collaboration across all
Rider University programs and through
the development of new, innovative
degree programs.”
The new college is designed to
attract students who are interested in
careers in the arts and arts-related fields,
as well as those who would like to pursue
their artistic talents while concentrating
on a different major.
“It allows for a true interaction
between professional, liberal arts and
interdisciplinary tracks,” said Provost
Donald Steven.
Dr. Patrick Chmel, the chairperson
of the Fine Arts Department, agrees.
“It will greatly enrich the culture
climate of both campuses and help to
attract quality future students in all disciplines, not just the arts,” he said.
Chmel added that he hopes this new
college will draw more students from the
Princeton campus to Lawrenceville.
“Essentially, we’re looking to
grow Westminster enrollment on the
Lawrenceville campus,” he said.
The proposed new two-campus
college would integrate programs and
majors that are currently duplicated on
both campuses.
But the proposed new college would also continue to offer Westminster’s core
programs as well as the existing fine arts
programs on the Lawrenceville campus,
such as theater, music, visual arts and
dance.
“In essence, we will be able to
promote arts-related interdisciplinary
across the curriculum while respecting
traditional departmental approaches,” Robert Annis, dean of WCC, said.
“As the curricula of the new college
evolve, they will embrace the inherently
See Integration, p. 4
Students feel squeeze;
high enrollment forces
Res. Life to consolidate
By Olivia Tattory
Senior Nick Barbati began
planning for his last year here
at Rider in August. Excited to
move into his “double single”
room, he was surprised to
receive a letter from Residence
Life. Because of the large number of students moving onto
campus this year, he was told,
he would be unable to keep his
single.
Residence Life gave Barbati
two options, either move into a
double room with a roommate
or find off-campus housing, for
which Rider provided a list of
suggestions.
“Hearing that what you
asked for and requested months
ago was no longer available
really felt like an insult,” said
Barbati, who is vice president
of the Student Government
Association.
“I was given a list of off-
campus housing suggestions
and after reviewing them I
decided White Pine Apartments
was my best option because
of the location,” said Barbati.
Located just beyond the south
entrance to campus, White
Pine Apartments are an ideal
option for students looking for
off-campus housing.
A total of 70 additional students are living on
campus this year, associate
director of Residence Life
Stephanie
Polak
said.
These are students whom
Residence Life was not
anticipating.
This has meant the elimination of most singles, the creation of 33 triple rooms and
incentives that led some students off campus.
Students
who
were
interested in the White Pine
See Growth, p. 2
Photo provided by Dr. Jonathan Karp
Photo provided by Pat and Kristin McGowan
Dr. Richard Deni, 54, passed away on
Aug.12. See story on page 3.
George McGowan, 25, passed away on
July 21. See story on page 3.
Photo provided by Curt and Carmen Wlson
Caryn Wilson, 19, passed away on Aug.
19. See story on page 5.
Rider endures heartbreaking summer
The Rider community lost four of its members this summer, including retired secretary Betty Falkenstein, 67, who is not pictured above.
Visit the Rider News Online at www.rider.edu/ridernews/
092206p1.indd 1
9/21/06 10:35:36 PM
2 Security Briefs
Friday, September 22, 2006
Students ‘bleed cranberry’ at fest
Need a boost?
Someone with a real
junker of a car must have
needed a real battery boost.
On Monday, Sept. 18, sometime between midnight and
2 p.m., a car battery booster
pack was stolen from the
General Services Building
by an unknown person. The
pack is valued at $80 and the
incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information, call Public Safety at
x. 5029.
A smashing good time
When finished with a
beer bottle, it is customary to throw it away in the
trash — not smash it on
someone’s car. Sometime
between 4 p.m. and 5:40
a.m. on Saturday, Sept.
16 and Sunday, Sept. 17,
unknown suspects smashed
beer bottles on a female resident’s car, denting the top
portion of the trunk. It was
first observed on Sunday
at 5:40 a.m. when a Public
Safety officer noticed it while
on patrol.
After the discovery,
Public Safety tried to get in
contact with the owner of
the vehicle but could not. It
was at 11 a.m., on Sunday
that the owner reported the
damage. The cost of repair is
still unknown and the investigation is still continuing.
Anyone with information,
call Public Safety at x. 5029.
Wet hands
The toilet paper must not
have been good enough in
the men’s bathroom in Daly’s
Dining Hall because someone ripped down the hand
towel dispenser. On Friday,
Sept. 15, at 5:25 p.m., a
Public Safety officer reported
damage to the dispenser committed by unknown suspects.
The cost of repair is $50. The
situation is still being investigated. Anyone with information, call Public Safety at x.
5029.
Information provided by Director
of Rider’s Department of Public
Safety Vickie Weaver.
Name Changes
Two academic departments have changed names.
The Department of
Geological and Marine
Sciences is now known as the
Department of Geological,
Environmental
and
Marine Sciences (GEMS).
The Department of
Communication is now
known as the Department
of
Communication
and
Journalism.
092206p2.indd 2
Photo illistration by Karly Hamburg
Students were entertained on Cranberry Day by an assortment of activities, including a “Test Your Strength” game, a ribbon-cutting
ceremony, free rides on the Ferris wheel and lots of free food.
Growth
Continued from p. 1
Apartments were offered a
pricing package “with a few different options,” said Polak.
“Rider gave me $1,500
total for the first semester, $500
to cover some of the rent and
$1,000 for furniture and then
an additional $500 for the second semester,” Barbati said. “I
was lucky enough to have gotten furniture from family, so
I can use the extra money for
rent. It’s a good deal, not a great
deal.”
He added that it is difficult to stay involved and make
enough money to cover the rent
of $485 per person each month,
plus extra charges for electricity,
cable TV and Internet.
A standard double room
on campus costs $2,610 each
semester plus an additional
$2,030 each semester for a meal
plan. Dorm fees total $9,280
for an entire academic year.
University administrators
realized in May the number
of students planning to live on
campus was on the rise.
“We actually accepted
fewer students this year, but
more of the fewer students
decided to live on campus,”
said Polak.
Because of this increased
number, Rider reached an
agreement with White Pine
Apartments in order to give
graduate and select undergraduate students the option of living independently, but in close
proximity to the Lawrenceville
campus.
“Many graduate students turned down the offer
because they love it on campus
so much,” said Polak. “That’s
when we approached some of
the undergrads who requested
the single rooms.”
White Pine is currently
housing about six Rider students, both graduate and
undergraduate. The White Pine
agreement also includes an age
requirement of at least 21 and
permission from Rider on a list
provided by Polak.
On opening day, Rider was
expecting 90 more residents,
which included new and returning students. As of Monday,
Rider is housing an additional
70 students, after 20 students
either decided to commute or
did not show up at all.
“On opening day we had
33 triples, but are now down to
27,” said Polak. “Even though
we’re crowded, we still have a
couple vacant spaces, so in those
cases we contact the triples and
move them out as quickly as
possible.”
Students living in triples
receive “a 15 percent weekly
credit to their accounts,” said
Polak. If students are offered
a standard double room when
one becomes available and they
do not accept, they are still
charged the standard double
room rate because there is no
longer a need to live in a triple.
Freshmen Sal Brucculeri,
Jeff Huber and Sal Marchesano
are living in one of the 27
triples on campus.
“We love it,” said Brucculeri.
“It’s been working out great.”
students
were
The
approached by their Resident
Advisor and told that as soon as
an opening becomes available
they will be contacted.
“If they approached us
now for one of us to leave,
we wouldn’t,” said Marchesano.
“We like this.”
The additional students
on campus have also had an
Photo by Steph Nardi
Although enrollment has decreased, the amount of students
residing on campus is up, forcing some students to triple up.
effect on Daly’s. Long lines during the peak hours of the day
have caused frustration among
students.
“It’s really annoying when
you only have a half-hour break
between classes to grab lunch,
and you’re standing in line for
at least half of it,” said senior
Megan Harry. “I won’t even go
some days because I don’t want
to be late for my 1:10 class.”
The Daly’s staff has taken
action to help prevent crowding by opening the boardroom
and providing extra staff on a
regular basis.
“We also purchased extra
equipment including plates and
silverware, so we wouldn’t run
out during busy periods,” said
Smith.
An additional salad bar has
been added in order to accommodate students looking for
healthy options.
Rider has provided a newsletter to students with the peak
dining times and ways to avoid
them, in hopes of reducing the
congestion. Although the letter
provided multiple suggestions,
most students have the same
lunch break and there is no way
to avoid that.
In order to prepare better for the future, monthly
meetings have been arranged
between Residence Life and the
Office of Admissions.
“We’ve decided to meet in
order to get an idea and learn
about the numbers for the coming year,” said Polak.
Additional residence halls
are set for construction between
2008 and 2010 in order to
accommodate for a higher
demand of on-campus housing.
“We have definite plans to
start building additional housing, similar to townhouses,”
said Polak.
Internet outage
On Wednesday, Sept.
21 at around 3 p.m., the
Rider Network shut down
on the Lawrenceville campus. The outage lasted for
about an hour and a half, but
some offices were affected
until Thursday. According to
Tim Fairlie, director of OIT
Network Services, the outage
occurred because of abnormally high temperatures of
105 degrees in the room
where the server is based.
9/21/06 10:37:09 PM
Friday, September 22, 2006 3
George McGowan, 25, ‘lived life to the fullest’
By Mike Caputo
George McGowan, graduate of the
Class of 2005 and a renowned leader
within the Rider community, passed
away at Virtua Hospital in Mount Holly
on July 21.
McGowan, 25, suffered from health
problems from the time he was diagnosed with diabetes at six years old. Pat
McGowan, George’s mother, said her
son was constantly in and out of the
hospital for infections, which were complications of the diabetes.
“We used to laugh about the fact
that we hit almost every hospital in the
Central and South Jersey area and even
other places,” said Pat McGowan. “It
was just a way of life for us: going to
the emergency room or calling 9-1-1 to
come. You get to a point where it doesn’t
really faze you.”
Because of the frequency of infections, George’s immune system was
weakened severely to the point where he
couldn’t fight off disease. It took its toll
on his entire body, said Pat McGowan.
George’s condition, originally classified in March, was known as clostridium difficile (c-diff ). According to the
Clostridium Difficile Support Group
web site, the condition affects people
who consistently take antibiotics. The
immune system is weakened because
most “good” bacteria gets reduced to a
low number. In effect, treatments made
Photos provided by Pat and Kristin McGowan
Area Director Jamiyl Mosley congratulates George McGowan at the 2006
Commencement Ceremonies, who graduated fall 2005, but walked last May.
his condition worse.
“He picked up the infection that
you get in the hospital and that’s the
one I think really did the damage,” said
Pat McGowan. “It was devastating — he
lost 30 pounds in a two-week period. He
just never recovered fully from that.”
George went back to the hospital
in July, which turned out to be his
last week. Although he was not classified with c-diff when he went back
to the hospital in July, it may have led
to his downfall, said George’s mother.
After a stint on dialysis and surgery to
remove a couple of organs, he ended up
on life support. Then Pat and Kristin
McGowan, George’s sister, had to make
the inevitable decision.
“After they exhausted every test
imaginable trying to find some miracle,
there was no other option,” said Pat
McGowan. “Then Kristin and I had to
make the decision to turn the machine
off.”
George, who entered Rider at age
22 after spending time in the workforce,
was heavily involved with the University.
He was a major contributor to the
Residence Hall Association (RHA),
Student Government Association (SGA)
and the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA).
Even though he was a resident during
his tenure at Rider, he also lent a hand to
the Association of Commuting Students
(ACS) and served as a mentor for Sanda
students.
When George wasn’t running
around and helping out other clubs
and organizations, he was starting his
own. According to his mother and sister, George was a key founder of the
Achieving Language Fluency in Spanish
(ALFS) club.
Furthermore, George was never
afraid to speak his mind when necessary. He was always a visible member of
Senate meetings and the food committee. George’s input factored into numerous student improvements on campus
including additional parking on campus
and the renovations at Cranberry’s. “Within a month of him being
here, he knew everybody,” said Kristin
McGowan, currently a Rider graduate
student. “I had already been here for two
years — I was a junior when he entered.
Aside from the few people I knew very
well, they were just like: ‘Oh, you’re
George’s sister.’ I am like ‘Wait, I’ve been
here longer.’ That was true everywhere
we went.
“He was only 25 and he lived life
to the fullest,” she said. “He was just
George and he did it his way. You either
loved him or hated him. There really
was no in-between with him. In his
short 25 years, he lived more than most
people do in a lifetime.”
George is survived by his mother Pat
McGowan and sister Kristin McGowan;
See McGowan, p. 4
Friends puzzled over tragic death of loved psych professor
By Steph Mostaccio
The Rider community suffered
a loss on Saturday, Aug. 12, when
professor Richard Deni, of the
psychology department, died after a car
accident.
According to The Times of Trenton,
Deni, 54, died following a two-car crash
on Princeton Pike at Province Line Road
at 12:30 p.m.
The Times also reported that police
believed a medical event caused Deni
to lose control and collide with another
car.
Dr. Michael Epstein, a fellow
psychology professor and friend, said it
was difficult for him to believe that a
medical problem caused Deni’s death.
“He was a tall guy, he was a
health fanatic, and he was very careful
about everything,” said Epstein. “The
strongest thing he drank was bottled
water.”
Epstein added he believes Deni died
of a broken heart.
“I just don’t think he was or could
ever be the same after his daughter
passed away,” Epstein said.
Deni’s 25-year-old daughter, Leah,
died unexpectedly of a blood infection
in December 2004. She was a program
director at the Urban Ecology Institute
at Boston College, where the LEAH
Mentor Fund has been created to honor
her and her work. LEAH stands for
Leadership through Education, Action
and Hope.
Deni joined Rider in 1978 as an
assistant professor. He was promoted
092206p2.indd 3
to Rider’s highest faculty rank, often
referred to as full professor, in 1986.
However, before Deni became a full
professor, he helped another colleague
become one. Deni served as Epstein’s
departmental representative after only
two years as a faculty member when
Epstein went up for full professor in
1980. Epstein stressed that it is unusual
for an untenured junior faculty member
to represent a co-worker trying to obtain
Rider’s highest rank.
But Epstein had confidence in
Deni.
“He was so competent, he was so
good that he was the person I wanted to
do it,” said Epstein.
Deni made many contributions to
the Psychology Department, according
to Epstein. When Deni first came, he
called the labs a “dusty heaven” — a
place in which he saw the potentials of
what he could do, Epstein said.
Epstein added that Deni spent many
hours of his own time transforming the
labs into a modern facility.
Deni was also one of the first professors to have a computer lab in his classes,
according to Epstein.
“Students became computer
efficient before it was popular to do so,”
he said.
Dr. Jonathan Karp, associate
professor of the Biology Department
and friend of Deni, said the late scholar
also wrote many research articles during his time at Rider, especially on the
subject of kin recognition, which he
used spiny mice to study.
Epstein added that there are very
few spiny mouse colonies in the country.
Rider has one because of Deni, he said.
According to Joseph Nadeau, dean
of the College of Liberal Arts, Education
and Sciences, Deni also designed a computerized student enrollment program,
which he referred to as Denitel, in which
enrollment and other information that
is sent to the dean’s office can be easily
managed.
About three years ago, the Office
of Information Technology (OIT) institutionalized Deni’s program. It is now
known as Datatel.
Deni was offered the Frank N.
Elliott Award about four years ago for
Denitel, but turned it down, according
to Nadeau.
Karp said the late professor did not
like to take credit for the things he did.
“He was the kind of guy who didn’t
like the spotlight,” said Karp. “He liked
doing things behind the scenes.”
Deni preferred solitude, choosing
to work in his lab instead of socializing with his colleagues, according to
Epstein.
“He had kind of a hermit quality to
him,” said Epstein. “He will be remembered very quietly by the things we have
here.”
Epstein added that Deni had a
“prickly” personality.
“You had to develop a taste for him,
kind of like horseradish,” he said.
However, Deni’s quiet and sometimes aloof personality did not prevent
him from being a selfless friend, according to Epstein.
“If you were going to build a shed,
he would be there to build it,” he said.
Epstein also said Deni was always
there to help when other faculty
members or secretaries had computer
problems.
Karp added that Deni was also
the computer guru of the Biology
Department. He calls the late
professor an honorary member of the
department.
“He probably helped everybody in
one way or another,” said Karp.
According to Epstein, Deni cared
about his students’ competence. He
supervised the students’ research
articles, had them rewrite them multiple
times until they were correct and would
always be willing to put them up against
anyone else’s, he said.
Nadeau also said Deni was
committed to his students.
“I think the focus of his life was on
the students here at Rider,” he said.
Deni cared about his students outside
of the classroom as well. Senior Christine
Schaefer, who took Introduction to
Psychology with the late professor, said
he would always be excited to see her in
the halls and inquire about her and her
family.
Deni’s zeal for his job also greatly
impacted Schaefer.
“My plan is to have that same kind
of devotion to my career,” she said. “I
want to have the same passion for my
subject area as Dr. Deni had for his, as
well as influence students’ lives as Dr.
Deni has influenced mine.”
Deni is survived by his son, Michael,
and his former spouse, Kristine.
The memorial service was held on
Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Gill Chapel,
where the Rev. Thomas Baker described
Deni as being “a caring, nurturing,
enthusiastic maverick.”
9/21/06 10:40:26 PM
4 McGowan
Continued from p. 3
maternal grandparents Donald
and Vivian Parnell; Aunt Sally
Parnell and Uncle Mike Parnell;
and cousins Megan and Mike
Parnell.
A scholarship has been
created in George’s name.
Contributions can be sent
to: Office of University
Relations, Rider University,
2083 Lawrenceville Road,
Lawrenceville, NJ 08648,
Attn: George E. McGowan, III
Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Checks should be made out to
Rider University with George
E. McGowan Scholarship Fund
written in the memo.
Photo by Karly Hamburg
Campus remembers
fifth 9/11 anniversary
SGA presented “Peaceful Tomorrows” on Monday, Sept. 11,
to remember the fifth anniversary. Reflections, readings and
a candle lighting were among the ceremony’s events.
Integration
Continued from p. 1
collaborative nature of professional and scholarly activities in
the arts as well as, more broadly, programs in Rider’s other
colleges.”
If approved, students on
both campuses would have the
opportunity to take classes in
the new college and its two
schools. They would be able to
choose to either travel between
the two campuses or enroll in
classes offered at the campus on
which they reside.
If the Board of Trustees
approves of the two-campus
college, and if all planning and
governance
approvals are completed, the
new college would begin
offering classes in existing
buildings on both campuses as
early as fall 2007, and new
students will be recruited as
early as fall 2008.
However, Rozanski added
that the college needs to be fully
developed by a study group
involving faculty and administrators on both campuses before
it is presented to the appropriate governance bodies for
review and consideration.
Chmel said plans for the
new college should be finalized
before winter break.
“By the end of the fall
semester we will have a very
good idea of the overall
picture,” he said.
WCC welcomes transition;
department changes image
By Jeff Frankel
The Arts and Sciences
Department at the Princeton
campus is undergoing changes
that would benefit both campuses, said Robert Annis, dean
of Westminster Choir College.
The plan calls for changing the department to the Arts
and Sciences Program to “create a stronger integration and
linkage with the College of
Liberal Arts, Education and
Sciences” on the Lawrenceville
campus, said Annis.
It’s a step in the creation of
a new two-campus college.
“The concept is to bring
together our current programs
in music, theater, musical
theater, dance and fine arts in
the new college and to develop
additional arts,” he said.
The change would shuffle some professors around
to make the program more
cohesive, said Dr. Elizabeth
Scheiber, assistant professor of French and Italian,
currently at the Princeton
campus.
Professors will be grouped
in the Lawrenceville depart The construction of a
new academic building on the
Lawrenceville campus has also
been proposed to accommodate the current enrollment
needs as well as any growth
that might occur after the new
college is created.
A site for this new
building has not yet been
selected.
“Several locations on the
Lawrenceville campus are being
considered,” said Steven. “It
will take a while to determine
the location, which must conform to the University’s master
ment with their specialties. “Instead of having faculty that is made up of this
diverse group, we [will] actually be housed with like faculty
members,” she said. The new
program will “borrow faculty that are from Westminster
and some that are from [the
Lawrenceville] campus.”
The program, already
approved by the Westminster
Academic Policy Committee
and the American Association
of University Professors, still
needs to be approved by the
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Academic Policy Committee.
However, this change may
be coming too fast, said one
Princeton campus teacher.
“I think very often in academia that changes are too
slow,” said Diana Crane, the
coordinator of the Arts and
Sciences Department and associate professor of Piano and
Voice. “I feel this decision was
done a little too fast.”
She stressed that the details
were not fully worked out yet,
and they need to be soon.
“The administration needs
to take the next step,” she
said.
planning.”
Depending on fundraising outcomes, the earliest the
new academic building on the
Lawrenceville campus will be
constructed is 2009.
There have also been fundraising efforts since last year to
create a new music building on
the Princeton campus.
The process of combining
Rider’s two campuses would
have a great impact on the
University.
“If approved, the successful integration of Westminster
into Rider University will be a
This change will not only
help the Lawrenceville campus,
but it “is a change for the better at Westminster,” said Dean
Joseph Nadeau of the College
of Liberal Arts, Education and
Sciences.
“Instead of being very
limited, [the Princeton campus
will] now have access to the
entire spectrum” of liberal arts,
he said.
However, in order for the
change to be completed, several groups need to agree on
the move. First, a clause in the
professors’ contract obligates
all members of any affected
department to agree on the
move, said Scheiber.
“The clause reads that the
faculty member that wants to
be transferred has to agree [to
it],” she said. “The department
that would receive the transfer
has to agree that they want the
transfer, then the dean needs
to agree.”
According to Scheiber, the
students of the department
should not feel any differences
that would affect their coursework.
catalyst for the whole University
to think innovatively, collaboratively and efficiently,” said
Rozanski.
Chmel added that he is
elated that this new college will
soon be created.
“There has always been, in
my mind, unrealized potential
in the assimilation of performing arts on the two campuses
regarding the assimilation but it
hasn’t happened until now,” he
said. “This will benefit everybody.”
Additional reporting by Jeff Frankel
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9/21/06 10:40:41 PM
Caryn Wilson, 19, ‘never
gave up, never gave in’
By Mike Caputo
Caryn Wilson, a dedicated and motivated 19-year-old
student in Rider’s College of
Continuing Studies, lost a courageous three-year battle with
cancer on Aug. 19.
Wilson was diagnosed with
cranial spinal cancer at the age
of 16. According to her father,
Curt Wilson, Caryn was only
expected to live four to six
months upon initial diagnosis
of the disease.
But, against the expectations of the doctors, a weakened
and wheelchair-stricken Caryn
managed to graduate with her
high school class at Lawrence
High School (LHS) in 2005.
“There were times we
would be sitting in the parking
lot in the car with a bucket and
she would be throwing up,”
said Carmen Wilson, Caryn’s
mother. “And then she wanted
to go to school. She didn’t want
to come home – she just wiped
up and went. In my situation,
I would have wanted to be
taken home. But not Caryn.
She wanted to be in school.”
Although Caryn never
wanted special treatment, her
medical situation made it a
necessity, and the LHS students
were extremely receptive to her
needs, said the Wilsons.
In fact, Caryn was not only
liked at her high school; she
was adored. In her senior year
at LHS, Caryn was voted prom
queen. And at graduation,
Caryn was given a standing
ovation at the Commencement
Ceremonies held in Sovereign
Bank Arena in June of 2005.
“Some of the doctors even
questioned why she continued
to go to high school,” said Curt.
“Not only did she go to high
school, she graduated.”
Caryn
envisioned
becoming a marine biologist
someday, said the Wilsons.
Although she was unable to
achieve her ultimate dream, the
Make-A-Wish Foundation provided her with an opportunity
to get a taste of what marine
biology was really like. In July
of 2004, Caryn swam with
dolphins in Hawaii.
At Rider, with the assistance
of her parents, Caryn was able
to attend college part-time in
the mornings. Carmen Wilson
claimed Rider was accommodating from the beginning,
especially in her first class at the
University, Dr. Stephen Allen’s
music class.
“The students were all welcoming to her,” said Carmen.
“I took the notes for Caryn and
helped her with her class work.
It was a great experience. She
enjoyed his class quite a bit.”
Caryn was so confident and
driven that she would make it
through college that she had her
academic track already mapped
out in her mind. Caryn even
once mentioned to her mother
that she wanted to get a math
lesson “out of the way,” said
Carmen Wilson.
“She never gave up, she
never gave in,” said Curt. “She
was very, very focused on what
she wanted to do.”
Caryn’s
first
college
experience went so well that
she decided to enroll in two
classes during the 2006 spring
semester, said Carmen Wilson.
Unfortunately for Caryn,
things began to take a turn for
the worst in March of 2006.
She began to lose her sight and
hearing as a result of a growth
in her brain tumors.
But Caryn didn’t give in. A
switch in chemotherapy eventually restored her vision and
hearing to full capacity. Photos provided by Curt and Carmen Wilson
Caryn Wilson, who lost her valiant battle with cancer, poses for
her prom in 2004 (left) and enjoys the summer sun in July.
Although the condition forced
Caryn to drop her art class, she
was able to finish out her sociology course.
Ironically, Caryn’s parents
noted that the past summer
was their eldest daughter’s best
months in years since she was
diagnosed. Her tumors had
shrunk in half, and she had
more strength than she had in
awhile.
According to The Times
of Trenton, Caryn Wilson is
survived by her parents, Curtis
Carmen Federici Wilson; her
sister, Carissa Wilson, all of
Lawrenceville; her maternal
grandparents Joseph (Peepa)
and Carmen (Meema) Federici
of Bridgewater; her uncle Eric,
aunt Dawn and cousins Tim and
Alicia Wilson all of Heartland,
WI; her aunt and godmoth-
er Pam Wilson of Pacifica,
CA; her aunt Arlene Varchi
of Hillsborough; her cousins Mimi Varchi of Bear, DE
and Demi and Scott Little of
Belle Mead; and her 102-yearold great-great-aunt Albertina
Frank of Bridgewater. Caryn
was predeceased by her paternal
grandmother Patricia Wilson
and her uncle and godfather
Joseph Victor Federici.
Contributions in Caryn’s
name can be sent to Faith
Development Center, Church
of St. Ann, 1253 Lawrence
Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648;
the Make a Wish Foundation
of New Jersey, 1034 Salem
Road, Union, NJ 07083; or
to The Pediatric Brain Tumor
Consortium, St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude
Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
GEMS Department loses valued team member of 20 years
By Lauren Varga
Geological,
Retired
Environmental and Marine
Science (GEMS) department secretary, Elizabeth
“Betty” Falkenstein, 67, died
on Tuesday, Aug. 29, in the
Hospital of the University of
Pennsylvania in Philadelphia
after she was diagnosed with
a “blood born urinary tract
infection,” according to Dr.
Jonathan Yavelow of the
GEMS Department.
Betty had battled with
Lymphoma for many years but
that didn’t keep her from doing
the things she loved most.
“She really enjoyed to
travel and get out and [be
active],” said Dr. Jonathan M.
Husch, professor of GEMS
department.
According to Yavelow,
Betty enjoyed scuba diving. In
fact, she and her late husband,
Harry F. Falkenstein, Sr., moved
to Little Kamen Island for six
Attention Rider Students!
The Office of Community Standards will begin reviewing candidates for the University Community Standards
Board. All interested candidates can pick up applications in the Bart Luedeke Student Center, Room 116.
Completed applications are due back in Room 116 by
5:00 p.m. Friday, October 13, 2006.
Members of the Community Standards Board convene
to listen to fellow students challenge alleged violations
of the University Code of Social Conduct. Student
Board Members work with Administration and Faculty
Board Members to make impartial decisions about responsibility and any subsequent sanctions, if deemed
appropriate. Applicants must have no history of policy
violations and maintain a minimum of a 2.0 G.P.A.
Freshmen are welcome to apply.
092206p2.indd 5
months after she retired. They
spent most of their time scuba
diving, snorkeling and golfing. After being employed by
Rider University in the GEMS
department for more than 20
years, Betty will be remembered
as “caring and maternal” said Husch.
Yavelow gives this account
of Betty’s maternal instincts.
“I remember going to a
cancer meeting in Los Angeles
and Betty had taken care of the
flight and the hotel and so I
remember getting off the plane
in L.A. and I didn’t know where
I was supposed to go,” said
Yavelow. “So, I called [Betty] up
and she said, ‘Yes, this is where
you need to go, this is your
hotel.’ So, the manner of really
holding onto all these relevant
details so the faculty could do
the best work they could and
interact with the students the
best they could [was because of
her].”
t o Ac c o rd i n g
Dr. Richard R. Alexander,
Leadership Development Program
Riderís Leadership Development Program
is now accepting applications. The deadline to
apply is Saturday, September 30th.
The LDP provides the skills, knowledge and experiences to our students for
developing and growing as leaders in todayís changing environment. This program
is achieved during your collegiate career through the classroom, experiential
learning, and actual leadership activities.
To Apply: Applications are available on our webpage at
http://www.rider.edu/172_789.htm
If you have any questions email us at:
[email protected]
John Farrell
Director
Center for the Development of Leadership Skills
chairperson of GEMS department, Falkenstein would help
with such organizations as the
Honor Key Society where her
attention to detail really made a
difference.
“She took on responsibilities that were outside of her job
description,” he said. “I even
requested her for bonus pays.”
According to the Bucks
County Courier Times, Betty
is survived by two sons and
one daughter-in-law, Harry F.
Jr., and Sandy Falkenstein of
Hamilton, Paul A. Falkenstein of
New Hope; two daughters and
one son-in-law, Joan M. and Ed
Ramos of Morrisville, Beth A.
Falkenstein of Morrisville; five
grandchildren, Lauren, Ashley
E., John, Michael and Patrick.
Although secretarial work
is sometimes strenuous, Betty
“always tried to meet your
requests” said Husch.
“When she left, that was a
huge void to fill,” said Husch.
“We had a number of people
come here and work in that
office, but none of them [were]
Betty.”
Donations in memory of
Betty Falkenstein can be made
to Rider University and the
Betty Falkenstein Office Fund.
9/21/06 10:40:59 PM
6 Friday, September 22, 2006
News Feed a blemish to Facebook
By Paul Szaniawski
Are students now finally
worried about their privacy
and the effects of posting their
personal information online
after the dynamic changes to
Facebook? The answer is a
resounding yes.
After the Facebook web
site’s recent reconstruction,
college students around the
country agree that so-called
“facebook stalkers” have been
empowered by the web site’s
newest features.
“We really need to get
Facebook back to the way it
was,” said sophomore Jon Pino.
Facebook, like MySpace
and Friendster, is a web site
that creates an online community using profiles with pictures
and extensive personal information. Members can then “facebook” one another and become
“friends.”
The new Facebook layout boasts a feature called the
News Feed, which means that
every new addition to one’s
profile, including uploaded pictures and relationship status, is
automatically shared with all of
one’s “friends.”
Pino is the creator of Rider’s
largest group founded in protest
of the new Facebook design,
while also voicing dislikes of the
News Feed.
“I guess I did it mostly
in the proper privacy controls
right away. This was a big mistake on our part, and I’m sorry
for it.”
A new privacy page added
on Sept. 8 allows members to
filter what content goes into the
News Feed and into their own
personal Mini-Feed, a miniature version of the News Feed.
Also, members can block certain people, just as they can in
AOL Instant Messenger.
Another option is creating a
limited profile, in which certain
people won’t see hidden information. This gives the power to
filter personal content such as
Photo Illustration by Karly Hamburg
pictures or contact information
As sophomore Marli Pimentel checks out her Facebook
profile she can’t help but away from unwanted eyes.
However, many users didn’t
to feel as if someone is examining her information over
her shoulder.
know about the new features.
because of the whole privacy when people ‘friend’ other the dangers of posting material Students, especially incoming
thing,” Pino said.
online. Thousands of Facebook college freshmen, had no idea
people that I don’t know.”
The group’s main page has Since so many students groups have been created all how to protect themselves while
a message posted by Pino that have accounts, members “face- over the country similar to using Facebook.
reads “Does anybody care about book” people and become Pino’s, including nine different “I don’t really know what
half the s--- that it says on online friends without actually factions with the name any of the new features are,”
here?”
knowing one another outside “Students Against Facebook said Pino
On his group’s discussion of the computer. This com- News Feed.”
As of Tuesday, Pino hasn’t
board, members call for the monly leads to staying “face- In response to user outrage, put up privacy over his account
site’s restoration to its origi- book friends” with an acquain- changes were added to the site and said he wasn’t planning on
nal look. Comments appear tance or former classmate after based on suggestions of mem- it. Currently the sophomore is
such as “So stalker-like; it tells months of not talking to that bers themselves, according to on medical leave from school.
you when someone breaks up person. With the addition of the founder, Mark Zuckerberg. Hurting his ankle has left him
with [his or her] boyfriend or the News Feed feature, a mem- “We did a bad job of with more time on his hands.
girlfriend” and “Hate this new ber is informed of everything explaining what the new fea- Ironically, Pino may find himhis or her informal friend is up tures were and an even worse self spending more time on
Facebook.” On Sept. 5, sophomore to — including anyone he or job of giving you control of Facebook while on leave.
them,” said Zuckerberg in an “This is probably my punMike Katz, a member of Pino’s she becomes friends with.
group, posted sarcastically “Nah The addition of the News open letter to all members post- ishment for making that group,”
man, I always wanted to know Feed has awakened students to ed on Sept. 8. “We didn’t build Pino said.
Q&A: What do you think of the new
Rider sign at the main entrance?
By Nicole Southern
Photos by Stephanie Nardi
“As I did love the old tree
ones, the new signs are
more outstanding, can be
seen at night and give Rider
a more prestigious look.”
“Welcome to ‘Club Rider.’”
“When I see the new
sign out front I think that
it’s time to get down to
business.”
“I believe the sign in front
of Rider University is a very
welcoming way to issue all
the new freshmen into the
new year.”
-Steven Klemchalk,
Senior
-Sara Markowitz,
Senior
-Daphkar Lahens,
Senior
-Justin Scerbo,
Freshman
featuresb&w092206.indd 1
9/21/06 9:08:15 PM
X-Men Take A Stand
Third chapter in series evolves from previous films, develops new identity
By John Schulter
Photo copyright 20th Century Fox Pictures
Storm (Halle Berry) uses her power to manipulate weather in order to shield herself and her allies from
their enemies in X-Men: The Last Stand. The movie will be released on DVD on Tuesday, Oct. 3.
entb&w092206.indd 1
Saturday Shuttle
12 p.m., Meet at BLC
Mass
4 p.m, Gill Chapel
SEC Film: Click
7:30 p.m., BLC Theater
Monday
Christian Worship
“Sundays on Mondays”
5:30 p.m., Gill Chapel
ACS Meeting
5:30 p.m., SRC
Pub Night
9 p.m., BLC Pub
Tuesday
Blood Drive
3 p.m., Cavalla Room
LASO Chill Night
6 p.m., BLC Pub
Greek 101:
Greek 2 Great
10 p.m., BLC Theater
Wednesday
Blood Drive
3 p.m., Cavalla Room
LASO Dinner
6 p.m., BLC Room 245
Brownwater
9 p.m., BLC Pub
The J-Spot: A Sex
Educator Tells All
10 p.m., BLC Theater
Sept. 28
Trip to Philly Fit
10:30 a.m.
NFL Football Party
1 p.m., SRC Lobby
Double Vision Films
6:30 p.m., Sweigart 115
SEC Film: Click
as hardcore X-Men fans
would have hoped.
As expected of a scifi action picture, special
effects are great, but a
little overdone in some
scenes such as the unfolding at the Golden Gate
Bridge. The film’s compelling twists and turns
will keep its audience’s
attention and today’s type
Sept. 29
Sept. 23
Saturday
Sunday
of The Beast and Phoenix
add a lot to the film’s thrill
factor, especially toward
the end. Berry’s character, Storm, receives much
more time on screen in
this movie than in its predecessors. However, the
introduction of another
new character, the Arch
Angel (Ben Foster) doesn’t
see as much screen time
Sept. 26
RHA Trip:
Phillies vs. Marlins
5:15 p.m.
SEC Film: Click
Pub Night
9 p.m., BLC Pub
death of Jean Grey (Famke
Janssen) until they discover that she has been resurrected as the Phoenix, the
most powerful mutant to
date.
Overall, the movie is
extremely entertaining.
The cast performs to its
highest ability, especially
Jackman, Grammer and
McKellen. The characters
Sept. 27
Sept. 22
Friday
Sept. 24
mutants’ powers, making them human. This
discovery causes tension between the XMen and Magneto
(McKellen) because of
the evil madman’s continued intent to start a
war between mutants and
humans. Meanwhile, the XMen are mourning the
Sept. 25
If people could
change their identity,
would they really want
to? Would they want to
change what is special
and unique about them?
X-Men: The Last Stand,
the third in the movie
franchise, offers these
appealing questions while
providing an entertaining
thrill ride for all viewers.
While it may have
the look and feel of the
previous movies, minor
details make what could
have been a good conclusion fall short of
expectations.
X-Men: The Last Stand
stars most of the cast from
the previous X-Men films
including Hugh Jackman
Patrick
(Swordfish),
Stewart (Star Trek series),
Halle Berry (Gothika) and
Ian McKellen (The Lord
of the Rings). However,
there are some new and
exciting additions to the
already electrifying cast,
such as Kelsey Grammer
(as The Beast) and Vinnie
Jones (as Juggernaut).
The plot starts to
unfold as the characters
learn that there is a potential cure in development
that could take away
of moviegoer interested.
Earlier X-Men movies address the notion of
a clash in society involving the discrimination of
individuals based on their
appearance. The preceding films in the series
aggressively portray the
conflict of humans versus mutants. This chapter
takes the conflict to its
highest level, entertaining the idea of mutants
changing who they are to
fit into society.
The problem with XMen: The Last Stand is
that it’s too all over the
map with underdeveloped
ideas. Many questions
and loose ends remain
unclear. Answering if it
is moral or not to change
one’s being is one of these.
This notion is touched
upon, especially with the
characters Arch Angel and
Rogue (Anna Paquin), but
has no real depth or emotion. Instead, it is hidden
behind the film’s frantic
pacing and visual effects.
All in all X-Men: The
Last Stand is a great film.
However, it could have
been one of the greatest movies of its genre.
Unfortunately, it has
instead mutated into
something much less
powerful.
Thursday
BBQ with CCM
5 p.m., Emmaus House
SEC Film:
Pirates of the Caribbean
Senior Night in
the Pub
9 p.m., BLC Pub
Friday
SEC Film:
Pirates of the Caribbean
WCC Homecoming
Pageant
8 p.m., Bristol Chapel
Bronc Blow Out
10 p.m., BLC Pub
Compiled by Dana Balestracci
9/21/06 9:12:07 PM
8 Music on another planet
International student
shares gift of music
By Jess Decina
Anyone who has ever watched the
2002 drama The Pianist might tell you it’s
a film about a musician struggling during
World War II. For international student
and pianist Taylor Yuan, however, the
film is an inspiration – and a great way
to study the composer Frédéric Chopin,
whose music is frequently played in the
film.
“I like Chopin, and I like the movie,”
Yuan said. “In that movie, the actor playing the pianist plays Chopin well. I was so
excited about Chopin’s masterpieces.”
Selections from Chopin, as well as
other classical composers, could be heard
inside the Gill Chapel last Saturday, Sept.
16, at Yuan’s piano recital, an event that
has been several months in the making.
According to Dr. Minmin Wang, special
assistant to the President and Provost
and professor of Communication and
Journalism, Taylor approached her with
the idea of sharing his piano talents with
others toward the end of last semester.
“It was his own idea,” she said. “He
really missed piano when he came to
Rider. He asked me if I could help him
organize a concert here or find some
opportunities that he could share his
piano talents with the public.”
Wang worked with Joe MacAde,
director of Academic Affairs, to orga-
9
nize the event. MacAde is also responsible for international students on both
the Lawrenceville and Princeton campus,
Wang said. Yuan said he also had some
encouragement from his classmates.
“My classmates gave me ideas because
they know I play piano well,” he said.
“I really wanted to share my music with
my friends, and I wanted to make more
friends. I wanted everyone at Rider to
come to my recital to enjoy my music.”
Junior Pete Coach, Yuan’s student
mentor, attended the recital. Coach, who
has known Yuan since last year, described
Yuan as “a fantastic pianist.”
“He played for about an hour and a
half, almost nonstop,” he said. “I played
piano for one semester and still remember
simple songs, but [it wasn’t] even close to
his level of talent.”
For the hour and a half recital, Yuan
chose emotional and often fast-paced
pieces from Chopin, Beethoven and other
classical composers. He admires them for
their ability to turn their life experiences
into masterpieces, he said.
“I’m really interested about the composers and their lives, their experiences,”
Yuan said. “They experienced something
and composed these masterpieces. When
I’m playing that piece, I can remember
what I’ve read, what I saw. That gives me
the power to play that music.”
Yuan especially enjoys performing
Chopin’s “Fantasy Impromptu,” a piece
By Jordan Blum
Progressive rock has had a great rebirth in
the last decade. There are tons of bands
today that do justice to those they were
inspired by and attempt to emulate. But
therein lies a problem: many of the bands
today sound like copies of their predecessors. They pull off the sound amazingly,
but there is a lack of pure originality. Few
current prog rock bands have a sound they
can call completely their own.
The Mars Volta, however, is one of
these bands who can. Its previous two
albums have shown how talented, relentless and unique the band really is. With
Amputechture, The Mars Volta decided to
use what it has previously established as its
sound without really inventing anything
new.
The Mars Volta is the brainchild
of Cedric Bixler and Omar Rodriguez,
the former singer and guitarist of At the
Drive-In, respectively. That band, while
also great, was a lot simpler and more
generic than The Mars Volta, but there
were also undeniable hints of what was to
come. Bixler and Rodriguez are the only
members of the first band to join the new
band; the musicians they’ve brought with
Photo by JP Krahel
International student Taylor Yuan performs a classical selection of music.Yuan held a recital for friends and other students on
Saturday, Sept. 16. He has been playing piano since age four and prepared for this recital for the entire summer.
that combines “piano skills and techniques and emotions,” he said.
This recital will hopefully open the
door for other students like Yuan to take
the stage, said Wang. Many students
approached her to reveal their own talents
after Yuan’s recital, she said.
“[Yuan] is not the only one who has
the talent; there are many very talented
international students like him,” Wang
said. “Many learned piano when they
[were] very young and are very good at it.
Some are very good dancers, singers, or
good with other instruments.”
Coach would like to see more events
like the recital, because it presents “something everyone can enjoy, no matter what
part of the world you are from,” he said.
Yuan said he doesn’t have any set
plans to perform again at Rider, although
he would like to. For now, piano playing
is “just a hobby,” he said.
“I want to have another piano recital
next year, but I’m not sure,” he said. “If
I have a chance to become a professional
piano player, I will.”
amount of energy and skill The Mars
Volta puts out is really unmatched by
other bands today and makes them one of
the best prog rock bands around.
There is a problem with the music
itself on Amputechture, though: it’s nothing new. The only noticeable improvement over previous albums is that the CD
has almost no noise to fill the ambience.
All of the tracks contain music throughout
their duration. Essentially, Amputechture
is another fantastic album by The Mars
Volta, but don’t expect to hear anything
revolutionary this time around.
Photo copyright Universal Records
This album leaves the listener feeling a
The Mars Volta’s Amputechture was little mixed up. It’s The Mars Volta’s weakest album to date because it is simply more
released on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
of the same and not very ambitious. But despite these faults, Amputechture
them are phenomenal.
still a great album. How someone feels
is
Amputechture is a bit of a mixed bag
when compared to the rest of the band’s about this album will depend on his or her
catalogue. It is The Mars Volta’s first opinion of the band’s previous work. A fan
album not to have a central theme, full- will remain a fan and adore Amputechture
concept or sidelong piece. It’s just a set of if they adored previous albums. If the lissongs that are unrelated. This arrangement tener disliked previous albums, they might
makes the album feel like a step backward not enjoy this one. Regardless of its disapfor the band, as it’s less ambitious than the pointing lack of variety, Amputechture is
still a great album by one of the best bands
previous two.
The band once again shows an around today.
astounding level of musicianship. The
WAB plays final riff at NYC hot spot
By Casey Sky Noon
Despite the fact or maybe because the
infamous CBGB’s in New York City is
closing late this month or early October,
the post-hardcore indie band We’re All
Broken (WAB) rocked the joint this past
Saturday, Sept. 16. The northern New
Jersey gang played two unreleased songs
from its upcoming album, in addition to
three crowd pleasing favorites. “My parents came out and fans from
all over the East Coast were on the floor,
This still feels like another Hollywood blockbuster, so I was a wreck about playing the new
(only with a little less action). It goes without say- tunes,” admitted guitarist Frank Giokas. ing that the events that this film is based on were “Not to mention that our singer showed
anything but expected, but the film representation is up after we’d set up and only seconds
quite ordinary.
before getting kicked off stage.” There are three extra features on the single disc Fortunately, the dancing audience
widescreen version. The first is entitled “United 93: loved every second of the band’s perforThe Families and the Film.” It is an interesting yet mance. Ryan Bland, another musician in
sad retrospective piece, and it is well done. There is the East Coast hardcore scene, can barely
also a feature-length commentary with Greengrass, wait for its new album and urges the band
which is very insightful and worthwhile if you’re a fan
of the film. Finally, there is “Memorial Pages” which
contains biographies of the passengers and crew of
United 93. Overall the special features, although few
in numbers, are good additions to the disc.
The horrors, shocks and sacrifices of Sept. 11
are captured well in United 93, but at the same time,
it does not make for a unique and worthwhile film.
Photo copyright Universal Pictures Anyone who would watch this knows what happened, and the movie doesn’t give any answers to
United 93 was released on DVD on Tuesday, Sept. 5. The movie portrays the real-life events of the ill-fat- ease the pain. It merely shows us the events in the
ed flight and the heroic passengers who fought back against their attackers to save the lives of others. form of a cookie-cutter thriller (as any filmed version
it’s based on a true story really has no impact on the to screaming and panicking. We’ve seen it a million of that day would be). That being said, the special
viewer during the movie. None of the actors are well times, and all at about the same level of skill. As a features that accompany this film are interesting
known and it is directed by Paul Greengrass (The real event, it was too awful for words. As a movie, it and heartfelt, and those who are already fans of the
film will not be disappointed with the DVD release.
Bourne Supremacy), who makes it feel like an episode is generic.
United 93 does have some strong points, though. For someone who has never seen this movie, feel
of FOX’s hit television show 24.
Photo by Casey Sky Noon
The acting itself is about average for this type of It is compelling to watch the events unfold all over free to remain that way. For someone who did enjoy
the
movie
and
is
wondering
whether
the
special
feamovie. The terrorists are first shown as nervous but again. It does spark emotion from the viewer and the
WAB guitarist Jarret Quintana rocks out
tures are worth the purchase, indeed they are.
determined, and they pray a lot. The passengers and closing shot is well done.
during the band’s set last Saturday.
airline employees go from being relaxed and joyful As for the problems, they’ve already been stated.
Memorial of brave souls, ‘United 93’ flies onto DVD
By Jordan Blum
Every so often a film comes along that reminds us
how quickly our lives can change and how brave we
can be in the face of our demise. United 93 is such a
film, but so are the countless other films that it fits in
with.
Sept. 11, 2001 was a horrific and monumental day in the history of our country. This film is a
Hollywood retelling of that day, and it feels that way.
There is really no reason to watch it.
United 93 tells the story of how, on Sept. 11,
2001, the United Airlines Flight 93 airplane was
hijacked by terrorists. It was one of four planes
hijacked that day but the only one to not reach
its destination. Instead, the passengers decided to
fight back against their captors and become heroes
for their country. Anyone who remembers that day
will remember how the flight ended with a crash in
Pennsylvania, resulting in the deaths of everyone on
board and the mourning of those lost by families.
Instead of holding its audience in suspense with
what happens (since all viewers know that part from
experience), United 93 focuses on how it happened
and why these courageous men and women should
be remembered.
Although it had the best intentions, the film
comes off as another addition to the huge library of
passengers-in-turmoil movies. It really feels like any
number of other movies of its type. The fact that
092206p8p9.indd 1
Photo courtesy Casey Sky Noon
The New Jersey hardcore band We’re All Broken played a rousing show at CBGB’s in
New York City on Saturday, Sept. 16. Its newest album is expected later this year.
to put it out. “F--- everything else you heard, the
new We’re All Broken songs will make you
say “f--- all the music that is out there,” he
said. And to the band, he said, “get those
songs on record now!”
After a national tour with Thursday,
Minus the Bear and The Number Twelve
Looks Like You, WAB is home writing
the follow-up to its debut album called
Campaign Moving Slowly. Close friends
and peers have only the best to say about
the new tracks. “These songs are [in] no way deserving of the name sequel, as in never as great
as the first,” said Tucker Rule, the drummer for Thursday. “I’ve watched these
guys develop with one another and are
making some tight music.”
Influenced by underground punk
and hardcore such as Orange 9mm and
Quicksand as well as paying homage
to bands like Tool and Deftones, the
gentlemen of WAB have created a sound
undeniably indefinable by conventional
standards. With complex drum beats, thick bass
lines and both heavy and haunting guitar
riffs, WAB transcends post hardcore classics and marketability.
“We’re not an easily marketable band,”
said guitarist Jarret Quintana. “We don’t
know who we sound like, and labels don’t
know exactly who to market us to.” Without the backing of Fidelity
Records, the band has managed to travel
every corner of the nation, playing everything from tiny New Brunswick basements
to sold-out House of Blues ballrooms. “It gets to a breaking point sometimes, but other times it feels good,” said
bassist Joe Sudano. “When someone asks
who’s your booking agent and you say,
‘Well, you’re looking at him.’”
People who haven’t heard the sounds
of We’re All Broken before can pick up
Campaign Moving Slowly or wait for the
new album’s release.
9/21/06 9:49:53 PM
Editorial:
Signs of change
usher in semester O
ver the course of a few short months, the face of Rider
has undergone an enormous transformation starting with the removal of the elm tree from the logo.
Despite student uproar over the decision to remove this symbolic figure, plans for a new university logo surged ahead, and
the unveiling of a new design is coming shortly. In the meantime, a new Rider sign was implanted at the main entrance of
the campus that seemingly belongs at a corporate headquarters
such as Bristol-Myers Squibb or Johnson & Johnson.
Instead of reinforcing a sense of tradition and student-centeredness as the timeless Rider brick sign greeting students and
visitors did, the new sign uproots the principles this University
was founded upon. The symbolization behind this sign underscores a gradual shift in thinking that seems to be taking hold.
Some may argue that a university ought to be run similarly to a
corporation pursuing profit and forwarding efforts that increase
the bottom line. Perhaps business is business, but Rider prides
itself on its students first and foremost. The changing of the
guard comes at a time when tradition needs to be highlighted
to remind us of the rich history Rider is founded upon.
In preparation for the 2006 Commencement Ceremony,
beautiful flowers and shrubbery were planted side-by-side with
the previous Rider sign, only to be ripped out weeks later. This
is perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of the change. It
is unfathomable that all this work and effort would be exerted
to replace a sign that gave off a well-needed and desired sense of
tradition. The highly anticipated new logo offers another perplexing piece to this puzzle. How could a new sign be planted
before having a definitive symbol for the University?
The new name plate is eye-catching indeed with its bold
silver lettering and cranberry background, yet it fails to encompass the values purported in the statement of community values
and, most of all, cement a sense of identity. The new sign seems
to minimize the pride in Rider as a university by putting that
word in black lettering that makes it virtually unnoticeable at
night. In addition to the poor aesthetics of the sign, the lighting
projected onto the sign at night gives the Rider inscription an
almost theatrical glow and a pink background.
In stark contrast, tremendous improvement has been made
to other facilities. Most noticeable is the complete renovation
of Cranberry’s, which includes a revamped menu including
pasta-to-go and other scrumptious options. Students now have
an alternative from the usual lunch or dinner selection offered
at Daly’s. Kroner Hall received a well-deserved facelift this
summer with new carpeting and keys. Best of all is the recently
completed 24-hour study lounge in the library. Besides being
equipped with a coffee machine ready to meet the caffeine needs
of students, the lounge provides a quiet alternative for studying.
These new amenities come at a time when the University is
facing an overcrowding problem in classrooms, Daly’s and residence halls. Long-term plans to confront this dilemma are being
worked on in accordance with the master plan. But for the time
being, larger classes, cramped residence halls and long lines in
Daly’s may simply become a fact of life. On the positive side, of
course, the higher demand for on-campus housing reflects the
growing stature of the University.
As the two campus, one college initiative progresses and
becomes more than a simple strategic plan, traditions will
strengthen and reinforce the bonds between the Lawrenceville
and Princeton campuses. This is a crucial step forward for the
University. Students will have increased opportunities to take
classes on either campus and experience an expanding art and
music program. The collaboration among students, faculty and
administration also will be extremely beneficial. Separated by
different academic interests, this gradual transformation will
provide students with an enhanced chance for integration.
In that light, the bustling crowds, noticeable facelift and
planned unification of the two campuses represent an emerging
and promising path for Rider.
This weekly editorial expresses the majority opinion of The Rider
News editorial board and is written by the Opinion Editor.
Editorial Cartoon by Chris Taylor and Michael Carlo
The voice of a concerned student:
Financial aid mishap triggers panic During my time at Rider I’ve found myself
taking part in many traditions. There is one
tradition, however, that I’m getting quite sick of:
being mistreated by Student Financial Services
nearly every semester.
Like many students, I can attend Rider
with help from a generous scholarship and an
unsubsidized Stafford loan. My parents pay for
the remaining tuition, but it is my responsibility to make sure my financial aid is in order. In
the middle of July, I called Student Financial
Services to make sure my scholarship and loan
were still intact; I was assured that nothing was
out of order.
Then, on Friday, Aug. 25, with just 10 days
left until move-in day, I received a letter from
Rider. According to their records, I owed an
outstanding balance that needed to be addressed
before I moved back onto campus. The letter
stated, “after subtracting estimated financial aid,
you have an outstanding balance of $17,135
for the Fall 2006 term.” In other words, no
financial aid had actually been subtracted, and
I was being billed for an
entire semester’s worth of
tuition.
After a solid minute
of panicking, I realized I
needed to address this situation immediately. Except
I couldn’t. I couldn’t access Jess
any payment records at Decina
MyInfo; the usually helpful service was shut down
until Sunday. I couldn’t access the office by
phone or in person because it closed at noon on
Friday. So I spent that entire weekend in a state
of anguish because I had no idea what had gone
wrong. Feeling stressed is bad enough, but being
stressed without knowing why is awful.
When MyInfo went back up, I was able to
figure out that a missing tuition payment was
the cause of concern, but there was still no clear
reason as to why my financial aid had not been
applied. Five days and several phone calls later,
See Panic, p. 11
Editorial & Managerial Board
Assistant Entertainment
Editor
Advertising Managers
Jess Decina
Kerri Weidler
Beth Rumbel
Opinion Editor
Business Manager
Jamie Papapetros
Debra McCandless
Sports Editor
Webmaster
Leo D. Rommel
Kelley Stryker
Jeff Frankel
Assistant Sports Editor
Delivery Manager
Karl Holzer
Features and
Entertainment Editor
Paul Mullin
Photography Editors
Copy Editors
Executive Editor
Mike Caputo
Managing Editor
Lauren Varga
News Editor
Stephanie Mostaccio
Associate News Editor
Nicole Southern
Assistant Features Editor
Paul Szaniawski
Stephanie Nardi
Karly Hamburg
Kelly Mangan
Enterprise Reporter
Dr. E. Graham McKinley
Dr. Thomas Simonet
Olivia Tattory
Faculty Advisers
www.rider.edu/ridernews/
The Rider News welcomes letters on all subjects of interest to the Rider community. Letters must be
typed and include the name, address, phone number and signature of the author for verification.
Send to The Rider News via E-mail ([email protected]), campus mail, or hand deliver to the
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Rider News reserves the right to edit all letters for space and clarity.
Think About It:
News Feed piques existing curiosity
What we have here is failure to communicate. Well, not really; in fact, it’s just the opposite.
Back in the day (i.e. any time before Sept.
5), any registered Facebook member could easily spend more than an hour on Facebook.com,
pouring over the pictures, wall postings and
favorite activities entered by their friends, their
friends’ friends and their friends’ friends’ friends
and feel not the least bit stalker-ish. It was a
pleasant diversion, a good way to find out who
liked the same bands you did and an alternative
method of making friends. For some of us, it
might have been a little bit of an obsession, but
nothing atrocious.
Something happened on Sept. 5 though,
which I’m sure you know about. Facebook mastermind Mark Zuckerberg created the Facebook
News Feed and Mini-Feed, both with essentially
the same purpose. The idea is simply to give us
easier access to the information that would previously have taken us an hour or two (or more)
to find on our own.
In its original form, the News Feed would
let you know everything that your immediate
friends did, Facebook-wise, for the previous
day or two. Mini-Feeds work in much the same
way, only they were specific to individuals. Bear
in mind that none of the news you could get
through the News Feed was information you
couldn’t get on your own. News Feed simply
made it easier.
The backlash was enormous. Numerous
Facebook protest groups were formed; the largest one, Students Against Facebook News Feed
(Official Petition to Facebook) approached threequarters of a million members. Eventually,
Zuckerberg and his team reacted by giving us
the option of keeping a good chunk of our
Facebook actions invisible on News Feed.
I, for one, was quite confused.
Facebook was designed to facilitate the easy
sharing of personal, possibly even semi-private,
information over the Internet. I could post my
religious views, political opinions, even my cell
phone number on Facebook with the express
intent of having said statuses viewed by others.
The reverse was true, as well. I’ve found out
about old high school friends coming out of
the closet, hookups and breakups and plenty of
other personal tidbits through Facebook.
It seemed like an unwritten rule, both
from a pragmatic viewpoint and in the “spirit”
of Facebook, that you’d only post what you
wanted to be known. No
one ever forced you or me
to include our relationship status, accept every
friend request, or to join
any groups with which
we did not want to be
associated.
JP
So what’s the probKrahel
lem with making it a little
easier?
Perhaps that’s oversimplifying a bit. Of
course the News Feed has problems. Of course
it simplifies stalker-ish behavior. With a few
clicks, we can find out everything that a member has done on a daily basis, without having to
go through the tedium of re-reading an entire
profile.
There’s also a strange feeling that comes
from receiving information on old acquaintances. Friends we made three years ago and not
thought about since then are suddenly re-introduced into our lives without either their consent
or ours. “X broke up with Y? I didn’t even know
they were going out!”
Also, some of the new information is just
plain unnecessary. Let’s face it, you really don’t
want to know that “John Doe cares about Save
the Rainforest,” or that “Jane Doe joined Family
Guy Fans.”
In the end, though, the News Feed and
Mini-Feed aren’t giving you anything you
couldn’t have found on your own. If anything,
I’d say they’re helping to achieve Facebook’s
original purpose, which was to facilitate the
spread of personal information from individual
to individual.
Remember the whole to-do about companies checking the profiles of potential new
employees? “They don’t have any right to check
on my Facebook! That’s my personal space!” If
anything, this entire fiasco can serve as reminder
of just how public Facebook is. What we put
there is meant to (and going to) be read, and we
cannot always choose our readers.
As Facebook users and as citizens of a connected world, we might want to think more
carefully about what we choose to display about
ourselves over a medium as cold and impersonal
as the Internet.
In defense of Student Financial Services, it
was my own carelessness that caused this situation. But my error pales in comparison to the
way Student Financial Services communicates
with its students. We need to be informed of
problems immediately, and we ought to refuse
to religiously check MyInfo just to keep an eye
on financial records. I want to have information that is accurate and allows a student whose
finances aren’t in perfect order more than 10
days to address a problem.
The fiasco this summer tells me that Rider’s
financial department is in need of a better way
of reaching its students. Inaccurate letters, busy
phone lines and an on-line service that doesn’t
always supply the answers just aren’t cutting it
for me. Panic from page 10
I received a second letter, this time telling me
that Rider “forgot” to subtract my financial aid.
The letter informed me of what I really owed
and apologized for the confusion, but it might
as well have read, “Ignore that last letter. We
were just kidding!”
I know for certain that other students
received similar letters, many of them with
incorrect information. And while I don’t know
each and every situation, I do know that we all
experienced the same confusion, the same lack
of communication and the same stress of having
such a small window of time to tackle such a
huge problem.
The Rider News, Ridge House
2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
Phone: (609) 896-5256
Fax: (609) 895-5696
This Week in History ...
September 22, 1789 — Communication advances on this day as the U.S. Postal Office is established.
September 24, 1896 — F. Scott Fitzgerald,
author of The Great Gatsby, is born today.
September 25, 1981 — Sandra Day O’Connor
makes history by becoming the first female justice to serve
on the U.S. Supreme Court.
A new student’s perspective:
One stop convenience
During my first few days at Rider I
was one of those confused, lost freshmen.
I was the one who spent a long time in
the dining hall deciding what was best to
eat and the one who swiped my card the
wrong way. The time that I wasn’t spending
making a fool of myself, I spent in about
30 welcome sessions. Between welcome Nadine
speeches and ice breakers, we were told
Tester
about a magical place that would take care
of all our needs: The One Stop.
The One Stop was supposedly designed to help new students
get everything they needed done at the same time and place
including taking or dropping courses, getting a car registered and
going to financial aid.
Because having a car on campus is free, I decided to take full
advantage of it. So, all I needed from the One Stop was to get
my car registered. The One Stop was located on the top floor of
the Bart Luedeke Center. However, there were no signs on the
outside of the building that would actually guide a new student.
Your One Stop experience starts at the top of the stairs where
a lot of fast-talking people sitting behind desks try to guide you
to where you have to be. It’s really important to realize how fast
these people spoke. I’m from northern New Jersey and I’m welltraveled. I’ve been to more than 40 states, and I know how people
in different states speak. And for the most part, it’s slow. When
I travel, most people don’t immediately recognize the fact that I
have an accent. That’s why I was surprised to find that I had a
hard time understanding what these One Stoppers were saying.
Although this is considered efficient in places like the motor
vehicle, it seemed kind of out of place in the friendly atmosphere
of Rider. My roommate and I were the only people needing any
help, and there wasn’t any sight of a big influx after us. We split
up; two bewildered students on a mission to get everything done. She went to the financial aid office and I went to get my car registered. I filled out a form and got the stickers for my car quickly
and with no trouble. My roommate had the same experience.
So is the One Stop a good or bad idea? The idea of the One
Stop is great. However, the execution seemed a little sloppy. The
people who worked the One Stop seemed ready for a day with
a constant stream of students. Next year, serve a little less coffee
before sending these people to work. Quote of the Week
“Continuity gives us roots;
change gives us branches,
letting us stretch and grow
and reach new heights.”
— Pauline Kezer
E-mail us at:
[email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected];
[email protected]; [email protected].
The Issues Explained:
International law comes under siege by U.S. administration
On Thursday, Sept. 6,
President Bush finally acknowledged that the CIA operates
a network of secret prisons
abroad for holding key suspects
in the war on terror. Its islands
are of tight security, keeping
14,000 detainees beyond the
reach of established law. He
added that 14 “high-profile”
suspected terrorists were transferred from those prisons to
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Some of the detainees have
been in CIA custody. Among
them are said to be people
responsible for the bombing
of the U.S.S. Cole in 2000 in
Yemen and the 1998 attacks on
U.S. embassies in Kenya and
Tanzania, in addition to the
Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.
“It has been necessary to
move these individuals to an
environment where they can
be held secretly, questioned by
experts and, when appropriate,
prosecuted for terrorist acts,”
Bush said in a speech to an
audience filled with the families of loved ones killed in the
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.
The
1949
Geneva
Conventions were based on
principles of Henri Dunant,
who was motivated by the horrors he witnessed at the Battle
of Solferino in 1859. The
Conventions consist of four
treaties, which set the standards
for international law in times
of war.
“If you just look at how
we are perceived in the world
and the kind of criticism we
have taken over Guantanamo,
Abu Ghraib and renditions,”
Colin Powell, former U.S. secretary of state, said in an interview, “whether we believe it or
not, people are now starting to
question whether we’re following our own high standards.”
According
to
The
Washington Post, while it is not
clear exactly what techniques
the Bush administration wishes
to enforce in its secret prisons, sources have said previous
methods used include nakedness, prolonged sensory assault
and deprivation, the imposition of “stress” positions, and
water submersion to the verge
of drowning. Bush has said
none of those amounts to torture. In February 2002, Bush
went so far as to say the U.S.
didn’t need to abide by the
Geneva Conventions with its
prisoners in Afghanistan and
Iraq. Yet, in speeches after
the Abu Ghraib abuses were
made public through pictures
of torture, the administration
acted they had no idea why
these abuses happened. Reports
came out in 2003, that Donald
Rumsfeld, secretary of defense,
authorized the torture methods
used.
It seems that what the
global community regards as
torture, the administration disagrees. If the U.S. goes against
these internationally accepted
principles while other nations
abide by them, its image abroad
will be further tarnished. The
U.S. must set an example.
College students should
pay attention to
news like
this and
keep
it
in mind
when they
vote. This Nicholas
is a seriBallasy
ous matter especially during a time of war.
What if a country like
North Korea wants to redefine
or “clarify” Geneva Conventions
provisions prohibiting “outrages against personal dignity”
and “humiliating and degrading treatment” of prisoners.
What happens then? Does the
administration step in and say
no, you cannot do that when
they are doing the exact thing?
The World Observer:
Study abroad
creates global
opportunity
Annmarie
Mercieri
A few years ago I decided that one
day I would travel the world, but I never
expected I would be where I am today.
Two semesters ago I decided to become a part of the study
abroad program at Rider. I urge every single travel-aspiring student to take full advantage of such an amazing opportunity.
Many students at Rider are unaware of the new Study Abroad
office which moved from the Dean’s office and is now beginning
to form and grow under the direction of Joe MacAde.
I decided to study through the American Institute of Foreign
Studies (AIFS), which is an affiliate of Rider, and to spend not
only one semester abroad, but also a second semester in a different country. I finally chose Florence, Italy for the fall semester
and London for the spring semester.
A few months later I found myself handing in a plethora of
paperwork and dealing with the stress that came with it. I never
expected how much work goes into pursuing the chance to study
in another country.
From credit transfers to student visas, I was slowly going mad
with the mix up of information and my phone bill sky- rocketing
with phone calls to the AIFS headquarters and Rider. Signing up
for one semester should be a piece of cake, but signing up for two
at the same time was quite the organizational adventure.
I now look back and realize how hard I worked to make it to
where I am. My flight left Aug. 16, only a week after the liquid
bomb scare at London’s Heathrow International Airport. Minus
the annoyance of new carry-on regulations, I safely landed in
Rome the morning of the 17th. The group of approximately 140
students from around the United States spent three days touring
the ancient city only to continue our travels to Lido di Camiore,
where our three-week intensive Italian language orientation
courses were held. After three weeks on the beautiful Tuscan shore, I now find
myself sitting on a couch in my apartment on Borgo Allegri in
Florence, Italy. I am here. I actually made it here. I know the
language more than I ever thought I would, and I realized how
hard I pushed myself to get here. I have climbed the mountains
at Cinque Terre, held up the leaning tower of Pisa, and climbed
the Spanish Steps, and soon I will make my way up the Duomo.
In November I will visit Spain, Austria, Hungary and the Czech
Republic.
Looking back at the process I went through to get here, I see
how much it was worth the stress, the confusion, the paperwork
and the phone calls. I urge students everywhere to take a few
minutes out of their day to visit the Study Abroad office, pick
up some information and sit down with your adviser. If you have
the passion to see the world then this is your chance to do it.
Letter to the Editor:
Hazardous
conditions of puppy mills
My boyfriend and I recently purchased a
puppy. After the puppy became deathly ill, my
boyfriend and I decided to do research regarding the typical practices of puppy stores, and the
origins of the puppies they sell. What we found
was heartbreaking, and we felt the need to help
educate The Rider News readers about cruel
puppy mills and how they can avoid supporting
them.
According to The Humane Society of the
United States, hundreds of thousands of puppies are bred and sold in the U.S. each year —
many of them in inhumane puppy mills. Puppy
mills are breeding operations that house dogs in
poor conditions; they are kept caged around the
clock for the sole purpose of breeding so that the
operators of these mills can sell a high volume
of puppies for profit. Conditions that have been
found on puppy mills include overcrowding,
non-existent veterinary care, poor quality or
no food and water, forced over-breeding and
cages that lack protection from the elements. The result of all this breeding is hundreds of
thousands of puppies, a great many with severe
behavior and health problems.
Puppy mills work hard to hide their business from the public. They sell their puppies
through pet stores, often sending the puppies
from several states away, as well as through
newspaper ads or over the Internet.
Remember — legitimate, compassionate
breeders don’t sell their puppies through pet
stores or over the Internet. These small breeders
want to be sure they know where their puppy is
going and don’t simply sell to the first person
with enough cash or a credit card. Unless you
personally visit the place your puppy was born
and raised — and where the puppy’s parents
live — there’s no way to know that your puppy
didn’t come from a puppy mill.
If you’re looking for a purebred puppy or
dog, another great option is adoption. About
one out of every four dogs in a shelter is a purebred, and there are rescue groups for virtually
every breed of dog out there. No dog lover wants to support animal cruelty, but many do so without knowing it by buying puppy mill puppies from pet stores, newspapers, the Internet, etc. Please help spread the
word about the cruelty of puppy mills.
— Lisa Gooley & William Hernandez
Princeton, NJ
Men’s soccer team a deeper,
better, stronger group
By Kristie Kahl
Hard work, roster depth
and a healthy dose of competition are a few factors that
should help the men’s soccer
team achieve this season.
“Strengths I would have to
say will be our depth and our
attitude to continue working
hard,” said Russ Fager, the head
coach.
In the previous season, the
team went 4-10-4 overall, but
just missed making the playoffs
in the last game of the season. “Our goals would be to
make the MAAC playoffs and
to make the conference championships,” Fager said. “Also,
we would like to win at least
one NCAA game, or more.”
Last year, the team had the
chance for reasonable success as
the season wound down, but
injuries thinned the roster considerably and forced the Broncs
to make some adjustments. ‘The seniors
in general
will be key
players...’
- Russ Fager
“Some pros would be that
the guys had a lot of playing
time, they also saw good competition and it will be even better this year,” Fager said. “Last
season we were hammered with
injuries at critical times in the
season. Pretty much any bad
luck that creeps in is a weakness.”
The team made an effort
this offseason to improve its
work ethic and endurance abilities, which will almost certainly
lead to a huge improvement in
team play. “One [difference] is that we
are a lot stronger because the
guys were lifting in the offseason,” Fager said. “Two would be
the experience that our freshmen and sophomores have gotten. The third would also have
to be our new players.”
A combination of the team’s
wealth of new players and the
experience of the veterans will
play a major part in whether
or not the Broncs see a better
record and most importantly,
the playoffs this season. Dan Riverso, a senior goalkeeper, was voted as the AllMAAC goalkeeper this year in
a preseason poll. Mike Juska, a
sophomore this year, made an
impact last season by making
the MAAC All-Rookie team.
“The seniors in general
will be key players in order to
provide leadership,” explained
Fager. Photo by Peter G. Borg
Sophomore Mike Juska, a member of the MAAC All-Rookie
team last season, will have to be at his best for the Broncs.
Field hockey continues winning ways
By Paul Mullin
After compiling an impressive 14-6 record and advancing
to the regular season championship, Head Coach Lori Hussong
and her field hockey team hope
to repeat that performance and
make the final step to winning
the championship. “Our goal is always to begin
the season with our best effort
every game,” said Hussong. The team ended on a high
note at the end of last season,
racking up seven conference
wins against only one loss. And
although she admits that this
year’s team is “a little young”
after losing nine starters in two
years, she maintains high hopes
for this season. “It’s really a matter of getting our young kids meshed
into the lineup,” Hussong
explained. Hussong stressed the issue
of a cohesive, smoothly performing team as an important
requirement for success. “The team is very together,” she said. “It’s a close knit
group, and that’s always been a
strength of our program on and
off the field.” Senior goalkeeper Krista
Bearish, who holds the record
for wins as a keeper at Rider,
finished last season with a
.780 save percentage against all
opponents, only letting by 22
goals all season. Hussong mentioned seniors
Meaghan Shweers, Ashley
Boulden, and Liz Butterbaugh as other major components of
this year’s team, for both their
playing ability as well as their
work ethic, which will play
a major part in sculpting the
young players on the team. Stephanie Walker, a junior
who led the team in scoring
with 14 goals last season, and
Tricia Crotty, a sophomore who
compiled the best shot percentage on the team, also look to be
big contributors. Hussong looks forward to
this season as another opportunity for accomplishment,
as well as a chance to further
improve upon the team’s considerable skill. “Last season we had a tendency to sit back in the second
half and let our opponents take
control,” she said. “We just have
to make sure we go out and play
70 minutes of hockey.”
Women’s soccer looks to compete
By Kristie Kahl
With a young, yet deep,
roster, the women’s soccer team
is setting high goals for the
2006 season.
“We hope for a winning
record and to be in the MAAC
tournament again,” said Head
Coach Kevin Long. “We would
also like to keep alive being one
of the top four teams in the
conference.”
In the previous season, the
team had a record of 3-15-2,
but made it to the quarterfinals
in the MAAC tournament as
well.
Due to a youthful team
and a few injuries, the Broncs
suffered unfortunate losses last
season that they would like to
make up for in the upcoming
months.
“The reason we did lose so
many games is because we had
so many young players,” Long
said. “We were proven [to be]
competitive though, which is
shown through our statistics. It took a while to gain team
cohesiveness, which slowed our
team building.” Although the team is young,
they can still quote considerable
differences for this season. “We’ve shored up our
defense so we’re better,” Long
explained. “We offer more of a
work rate that will give us more
chances in a game, more shots
and more goals.”
Young talent on the roster
will gain the team experience to
make improvements for their
upcoming season.
“We’ll find our offensive
flow so we have more shots on
goal,” Long recognized. “Our
defense will recognize pressure
better to take away the chances
our opponents can get.”
With a competitive schedule ahead, the team will look
to certain players for support. Coach Long feels that both
senior captains, Lauren Terzyk
and Kelli Burke, will be an
essential part of the team.
“How they play will definitely affect how the team
plays,” Long remarked. “They
have a dynamic presence about
them.”
The mixture of a young
roster with the addition of a
competitive edge and essential
leadership should help the team
achieve their high ambitions. “We have a competitive
schedule challenge ahead but
Photo by Peter G. Borg
hopefully we will build experience against our opponents this For sophomore midfielder/forward Michelle Matricardi, a letterwinner for the Broncs last season, and the rest of the women’s
season,” said Long.
team, this season is a chance to make major improvements.
14 Broncs’
Bits
Scores/Records
(*denotes conference game)
Field Hockey
(4-2, NEC 0-0)
9/2
Rider 2 Colgate 3 (ot)
9/6
Rider 0 Temple 1
9/10
Rider 4 Va. Commonwealth 0
9/16
Rider 3 Rhode Island 1
9/19
Rider 1 La Salle 0
Cross Country
9/9
at Fordham Invitational
Men: 6th of 19
Women: 7th of 18
Golf
9/10
Hoey
Continued from p. 16
still not as comfortable as I
would like to be on the mound.
That just comes with time and
experience — that’s what they
Golf
In four years, he was a threetime All-MAAC golfer and the
first golfer in school history to
break 70 in a game.
Furthermore, he was as
a three-time team captain,
the Vice President for Rider’s
Student Athlete Advisory
Council and the recipient of
the Ed Eget Scholarship for
outstanding achievement in
both academics and athletics.
As a senior, Whartenby led
12 of 17 Colgate Invitational
9/16
1 of 15 Bucknell Invitational
Volleyball
(3-8, MAAC 1-1)
9/1
Rider 3 U. Maryland E/S 0
Rider 1 La Salle 3
9/2
Rider 0 UNC-Wilmington 3
Rider 3 Bucknell 1
9/4
Rider 0 E. Washington 3
9/13
Rider 0 Fairleigh Dickinson 3
9/15
Rider 3 Manhattan 1*
9/16
Rider 1 Fairfield 3*
Men’s Soccer
(3-3-2, MAAC 0-0)
9/1
Rider 2 Longwood 0
9/8
Rider 4 Duquesne 3 (2 ot)
9/9
Rider 1 Bucknell 3
9/15
Rider 0 S.D. State 0
9/17
Rider 0 San Diego 11
Women’s Soccer
(2-3-1, MAAC 0-0)
9/12
Rider 3 Delaware State 0
9/16
Rider 0 Drexel 0
9/20
Rider 2 St. Joseph’s 0
Men’s Tennis
(0-3, MAAC 0-1)
9/16
Rider 3 NJIT 4
9/17
Rider 0 Saint Peter’s 7
9/20
Rider 2 Monmouth 5
Women’s Tennis
(1-1, MAAC 1-0)
9/16
Rider 2 NJIT 5
9/17
Rider 5 Saint Peter’s 2*
say. You get the experience now,
so you have time in the offseason to do what you need to do
to pitch.”
But really, how hard could
it be to pitch to players like
David “Big Papi” Ortiz?
“You make one bad pitch
and they’ll knock you around,”
said Hoey. “Big Papi —try to
stay away from him, I’ll tell you
that.”
Hoey followed his own
advice. He walked the Boston
slugger in their first meeting.
Rider to a best-ever ranking
of 10th in the Mid-Atlantic
Region in the fall of 2003, and
in the spring of 2004 led Rider
to a fifth place finish in the
MAAC Championships when
he placed fifth overall among
the 45 competing golfers.
As both a sophomore
and a junior, Whartenby lead
Rider to fourth place finishes
at the 2002 and 2003 MAAC
Championships.
Whartenby’s
coaching
resume thus far includes a 12th
place finish in the Colgate
Invitational on September
10 and a first place finish at
the Bucknell Invitational on
September 16, the second of
which was won by an astonishing 16 strokes.
“It’s a funny feeling,”
Whartenby said. “Some of
these guys I coach, I was their
teammate not too long ago.
Now I’m their coach. I always
try to remain professional with
them, but I can’t help but to
bond with them too. I think
that connection will help me in
the long run.”
Barry
Barry picked up his first major
league win in a 8-7 thumping
of the surging Marlins.
“When you’re in college,
the dreams of stuff like this
always go through your head,”
said Barry. “I can now say the
reality beats the dream.”
With any luck, three times
will be a charm for Barry. It’s
looking like it will be. But he’s
is not banking on it.
Originally a 2000 draft
choice of the Oakland A’s,
Barry rejected his early chance
to play pro ball by deciding to
return to school for his senior
year. He completed his undergraduate degree in business
administration in May 2001,
then reentered the draft, where
Atlanta grabbed him in the 14th
round.
“The thing with sports is
that any given injury can end
a career out of the blue,” Barry
Pittaro
“legendary” by Rider’s faculty
and staff. “I’m just considered
that because I coached there
for so long.”
Stop that, Sonny. Give
yourself a pat on the back.
Pittaro confesses that
he watches Barry and Hoey
every chance he gets (thus the
beauty of satellite television).
He watched Barry’s debut at
Yankee Stadium on TV, then
purchased tickets and drove an
hour and a half north to see
Barry perform in the second
game of the series (unfortunately, Barry never played in
that contest).
Last week, he saw Hoey
pitch against the Yankees.
It wasn’t pretty. In Pittaro’s
said. “I knew that if I went
pro with Oakland and did not
finished my degree, and something happened, I would be in
serious trouble. Now I’m better prepared for whatever may
come my way.”
Regardless of what happens, Barry will always have
his roots. Though he works in
a major city, Barry’s true home
rests up in Kinmundy, a suburb
in Southern Illinois. The small,
quiet farmland-dominated area
is a direct memory of his childhood in West Windsor, before
multimillion estates and overpopulation flooded the area.
“I remember riding on
snow mobiles as a child,” said
Barry. “You can’t ride those in
Atlanta. There’s too much traffic, too many people. But you
can [in Kinmundy]. It’s a good
place for my wife and me to get
away.”
Until, of course, he has to
go back to work.
words, Hoey was “lit up”, but
no worries. “It was against the
Yankees,” Pittaro whispered.
“You have to let that one
slide.”
Truthfully, Hoey could
have surrendered 100 runs and
Pittaro’s admiration would
have remained spotless. The
same goes for Barry. Sink or
swim, Pittaro will always look
at his boys with a sense of awe.
In a way, you could almost
suggest that his bond with his
former players is similar to that
of a father with his sons – the
discipline, the passing on of
wisdom, the tough love and
the joy of seeing them succeed
on their own.
But wait, it gets better.
He actually does have a fatherson relationship with a major
league player, or at least, a
former major league player.
Pitarro’s son, Chris, once
played ball in the big leagues.
Alternating between second
base, third base and shortstop,
Chris Pittaro played with the
Tigers and Twins from 1985
to 1987 before a series of injuries forced him into retirement in 1988. Chris is now a
National Field Coordinator for
the Oakland A’s.
“Baseball is in the family,”
said Pittaro. “I have grandchildren and maybe one day they’ll
grow up to play baseball, too.”
Now retired, Pittaro
spends much of his time doing
what he wasn’t able to do during his coaching days: playing
golf, traveling and watching
his boys play ball.
“I’ve lived a blessed life,
you could say,” Pittaro finally
admits. “It’s been a lot of fun
living it.”
I bet, especially with that
Direct TV package of yours.
Star pitcher arrested prior to playoff
By Leo D. Rommel
If nothing else, consider this a harsh
lesson learned.
Sophomore James Kennedy, a starstudded pitcher for the baseball team, was
charged on May 23 with felony possession
of what turned out to be a fake AK-47
assault rifle, according to a May 25 article
published in The Times of Trenton.
The charge surfaced after a delivery
woman from a nearby fast-food restaurant
caught a glimpse of numerous young men
inside a residence hall room with what she
assumed to be deadly weapons, officials
said.
According to The Times, the 9:50 p.m.
occurrence at Hill Hall led to an enormous
response by Lawrence Township Police
(LTPD), who immediately rushed onto
the campus, locked down its entrances and
surrounded the residence hall with guns
drawn, looking for the supposedly armed
suspects. An evacuation of the dorm left
the building vacant as authorities completed a room-by-room search for gunmen.
In the end, however, the only weapon
discovered was a single pellet gun, an imitation AK-47 assault rifle, which was lying
on Kennedy’s bed.
Consequently, Kennedy, the recipient
of last year’s New Jersey College Baseball
Association’s Division I Rookie Pitcher
of the Year honor, was suspended by the
University from playing in the MAAC
baseball tournament, which began two
days later.
Without Kennedy (6-3), Rider lost
that game, 5-0, to Manhattan.
“Jim was our hottest pitcher,” said
shortstop Bryan Wagner, who graduated
in May. “I don’t think his absence was the
only reason why we lost, but it didn’t help,
either.”
Phone calls to both Kennedy and
Angelo Onofri, an assistant prosecutor in
Mercer County, were not returned.
At the time of the incident, Rider was
in summer recess and only members of
the baseball team were permitted to live in
Hill. Three other unidentified players that
were reportedly involved in the incident
were also suspended for the Manhattan
playoff game.
According to The Times, a university
official said that a member of the team may
have been shooting at a paper cup in the
hallway of the residence hall. Airsoft guns,
which are designed to look like real firearms, traditionally fire small, 6-millimeter
plastic balls.
Regardless, the University did not take
the incident lightly. The players’ conduct
was a direct violation of Policy 4.7 which,
according to The Source, prohibits “the
possession of a firearm or any other object
designed to be commonly seen or used as
a weapon, regardless of whether the weapon is actually operable.” Pellet guns were
among the seven various forms of weapons
not acceptable on school grounds.
The Times further reported that
Anthony Campbell, Associate VP of
Student Affairs, said that the University’s
investigation into the matter showed that
Kennedy was not at the dorm during the
supposed happening.
“He was not present at the time the
[delivery woman] reported the incident,”
Campbell told The Times. “It was in his
room.”
According to the article, Kennedy had
been out to dinner with his parents and
returned to the dormitory as the incident
was unfolding.
Nonetheless, LTPD spokesperson Lt.
Mark Ubry said the charge against Kennedy
at the time was for possessing the weapon,
not for being one of the players spotted by
the delivery woman.
“I’m not going to talk about what happened last May,” Head Coach Barry Davis
said. “We’re moving forward with this
season and with what we have to get done
now.”
According to GoBroncs.com, Kennedy
(listed as Jimmer Kennedy on the Web site)
is still with the team. The Broncs 2007 season is projected to begin on February 23 at
East Tennessee State.
Whartenby hired as new golf coach
By Leo D. Rommel
In only two years, the pupil
has become the mentor.
On August 6, hometown hero Bob Whartenby
of Lawrenceville was named
the new head coach of the
golf team. A 2004 graduate
of Rider, Whartenby’s qualifications include a spectacular
undergraduate career at Rider as
well as two years as an assistant
coach under former head coach
Chet Dalgewicz, who recently
retired from his golf duties following 12 years of work.
Whartenby, 24, acknowledges that following in his
mentor’s footsteps is beyond
amazing, particularly at his
age.
“When they were looking
for coaches to succeed Chet,
I thought my only downfall would be my age,” said
Whartenby. “Most coaches are
older when they start out. I’m
much younger. It’s tough following in Chet’s footsteps. But
I’ve been here awhile. I know
the general idea behind the
program.”
According to Dalgewicz,
careful consideration was put
into the hiring of a new coach
by Athletic Director Don
Harnum, who personally went
to him for advice. Dalgewicz
was more than happy to promote Whartenby.
“He’s a natural,” said
Dalgewicz, who was named
2006 MAAC Golf Coach of
the Year. “He’s well respected
on campus. He’s well-known
around the state. He knows
the program. I think [Harnum]
made an excellent choice in hiring him.”
Highly recruited by Seton
Hall and Rutgers following
a superb high school career
that included a Group 3 State
Championship in 1999 and the
Mercer County Tournament
Championship in 2000,
Whartenby lived up to expectations upon his arrival at Rider.
See ‘Golf,’ p. 14
Leo D. Rommel
Living the
good life
F
rancis “Sonny” Pittaro
is a blessed man, and
not because he has the
MLB Extra Innings package
for Direct TV, though that
helps.
Pittaro, Rider’s retired
baseball coach, is blessed
because whether he wants to
remain modest or not, he has
accomplished something very
few other men have done.
He has mentored numerous
baseball players who, in due
time, turned pro.
Pittaro nurtured each
and every one of them. He
raised them, like children.
He turned amateur, no-name
kids into star-studded men.
Forty-one of them to be
exact. Five of them made
it to the big leagues. Two of
them – Kevin Barry of the
Braves and Jim Hoey of the
Orioles – are currently pitching today.
“The kids at Rider must
get excited watching someone on TV warm up in the
bullpen and the announcer
says they’re from Rider,” said
Pittaro. “For such a small
school, it’s a big deal.”
It is. But what about you?
Is it a big deal to you?
“It’s fulfilling to know
you had a role in their development, yes,” he said.
That’s it?
“I’m very proud of them.
They know that.”
Keep going.
“I’d like to take all the
credit but I can’t. This is their
doing, their hard work.”
Actually, Coach, you’re
given too little credit.
Forget the 41 players that
went pro. Pittaro is a living,
breathing record book. Just
look at the numbers: 766
wins, nine conference titles
and eight NCAA appearances. In January 2005, he
was elected into both the
American Baseball Coaches
Association Hall of Fame and
the Rider Hall of Fame.
“Eh, I wouldn’t say I’m
that,” said Pittaro when asked
See ‘Pittaro,’ p. 14
092206p15.indd 3
9/21/06 8:39:33 PM
Broncs Go Pro
recalled. “Not too many
people get to go where
I had been. I remained
hopeful that I would get
one more chance.”
And sure enough, he did.
On Aug. 12, Barry was recalled
again after pitcher Horacio
Ramirez was placed on the 15day disabled list with a partial tear in his left middle
finger. Barry has remarkably
remained on the 25-man
active roster ever since, compiling a 5.76 ERA and
1.48 WHIP.
On Sept. 17,
Kevin Barry joins Braves
By Leo D. Rommel
This story of Kevin Barry is
ironic, to say the least.
Barry, a 2001 graduate of
Rider and a low-key country
boy from small-town Princeton
Junction who grew up a diehard Mets fan, ends up working in highly congested, highly publicized Atlanta, for the
Mets’ longtime bitter rival, the
Braves.
How did that happen?
“Life works in mysterious
ways,” said Barry. “You just
never know what’s going to
happen.”
Barry, 27, made his major
league debut on June 26 when
he took the mound for the
Braves in the sixth inning at
Yankee Stadium. After five and
a half seasons in the Braves’
minor league system, Barry at
long last was making headlines
in front of 54,226 fans in arguably baseball’s most storied stadium.
“Yankee Stadium is the
Mecca of baseball,” said Barry.
“It was amazing for me to make
my major league debut there in
front of all my friends and family.”
performance
Barry’s
that day was not pretty – in
fact, his second pitch nearly
went over the head of Atlanta
catcher Todd Pratt, and Barry
would end up walking batter
Johnny Damon on five pitches
– but it was certainly effective. Although New York would ultimately prevail, 5-2, Barry’s outing ended commendably: three
scoreless innings, two hits, one
strikeout and a walk.
The events of the subsequent two months, however,
would be an emotional roller
coaster full of praise and devastating rejection.
Four days following his
performance in New York,
Barry was sent back to TripleA Richmond when Atlanta
activated relief pitcher Chris
Reitsma from the disabled list. Barry alleged he did not take
the dismissal to heart, saying “as
long as I am playing baseball,
I’m happy.”
Fortunately,
Reitsma
appeared in only one game
before returning to the DL
once more on July 3 with a
hand injury, paving the way for
Barry’s return to Atlanta.
The next day, Barry was
on the mound for the first
time at Turner Field, pitching
two more scoreless innings in
the Braves’ 6-3 win over NL
Central-leading St.. Louis. He
was even more dominant three
days later against the playoff
contenting Cincinnati, striking
out five and walking one while
allowing no hits in four innings
of relief.
When asked by The Atlanta
Journal-Constitution if
Barry would be considered for a start, manager
Bobby Cox responded,
“Absolutely. He started all
year at Richmond.”
Not so fast. On July 21, following the Braves’ acquisition of Cleveland pitcher
Bob Wickman, Barry was
again sent packing to
Richmond to clear up a
roster spot.
“I would complain, but
I had it good,” Barry
See ‘Barry,’
p. 14
Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Braves
Jim Hoey gets call to Orioles
By Mike Caputo
Living life on the road may
not be the easiest on the psyche,
but for Jim Hoey, former Rider
pitcher and a current member
of the Baltimore Orioles, life’s
not so bad.
This season, Hoey started
in low Single A ball until he was
promoted to a higher A level
club in Fredricksburg, Virginia.
Soon thereafter, he moved up to
AA ball with the Bowie Baysox.
With all three teams, Hoey had
a 2-1 record with 33 saves and
a 2.28 ERA.
“Living out of a suitcase is
rough,” Hoey said in a phone
interview. “Especially since I’m
still doing it at this point, moving from hotel to hotel. It would
be nice to sit down and have a
place to put my stuff. That’s the
only thing that’s terrible.”
Hoey, of Hamilton, finally
got a chance to feel at home
this summer when his Bowie
Baysox visited the Trenton
Thunder at Waterfront Park
in early August. He not only
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun
made an appearance, he ended
Rider alum and former baseball player Jim Hoey was called up up notching a save against the
from the minor leagues to play for the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. hometown favorites.
On Aug. 23, Hoey got the
23, making his first start against the Minnesota Twins.
092206p16.indd 1
call to the big show. In a matter
of a few months, Hoey emerged
from the depths of the Orioles
farm system to the bright lights
of Camden Yards.
Hoey was low on the totem
pole when he suffered an injury
setback during the 2004 season.
The damage to his elbow forced
him to undergo “Tommy John
surgery.” After rehab, he was
only able to make nine relief
appearances.
“With the limited time I
have played over the last couple
of seasons, it was nice and it
was actually surprising I made
it all the way up in this one long
season,” said Hoey.
Immediately after joining
Baltimore, Hoey made his first
big league appearance against
the Twins, entering the game
in the seventh inning with two
runners on base. After walking
Torii Hunter, Hoey struck out
Jason Kubel out to get out of
the jam.
“The first game I had some
jitterbugs,” said Hoey. “But it
was pretty much the same thing
I have been doing all year. It is
just like everybody else in their
work or job; it’s the same thing,
you get promoted.”
Although he was a first-
team All-New Jersey selection
at Rider under retired head
coach Sonny Pittaro, Hoey never envisioned such a fast ride to
the major leagues.
“[When] playing under
Sonny, your goal is just to get
drafted,” Hoey said. “One
thing, especially in college, [is
that] you are not looking at
the major league level, you just
want to play some pro ball
wherever, whenever, as soon as
possible.”
Hoey attributes a major
portion of success to the tutelage Pittaro provided during
and after his stay at Rider.
“Sonny was a great coach,”
said Hoey. “[Sonny] knew how
to mold his athletes into professional athletes and professional
prospects.”
Hoey admitted that the
adjustment to the majors has
not been as smooth as he would
have hoped. But he said he is
optimistic that his experience
with Baltimore this season will
pave the way for his future in
the majors.
“I’m still learning to adjust
to situations,” said Hoey. “I’m
See ‘Hoey,’ p. 14
9/21/06 8:42:07 PM

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