split in two - The Rider News
Transcription
split in two - The Rider News
‘Wicked’ good time 6 The student newspaper of the Rider community since 1930 Split In Two Graduation ceremony 2-day affair By Olivia Tattory Some of this year’s graduates may not walk with their classmates in May as the commencement ceremony is now split. In an effort to accommodate College of Continuing Studies (CCS) and graduate students, Rider has separated the Lawrenceville commencement ceremonies between these two groups and regular undergraduates. The ceremony for CCS and graduate students will occur on Thursday night while the one for undergraduates will remain on Friday. The Princeton campus has always had its own commencement. Several factors played a role in this decision and according to Christine Zelenak, director of the office of the president Volume 77, Issue XIII - Friday, February 9, 2007 Senate turns up the heat By Jeff Frankel With temperatures dipping into the single digits at night, the Lawrenceville SGA addressed the issue of heating problems in residence halls and Greek houses this week. Sophomore Joshabel De La Cruz, the diversity chair of Lawrenceville SGA and a resident advisor in Gee Hall, said many of her residents have been complaining about not having Photo illustration by Karly Hamburg enough heat in their rooms. This year’s Lawrenceville campus commencement ceremony will take place on two days. CCS The problem may be and graduate students will walk Thursday night while undergraduates will walk Friday morning. caused by the students’ and executive assistant to the Last year’s commencement number of people attending cluttered rooms, which may president, the idea of having ceremony in particular was what graduation ceremonies in block the intakes that circulate two separate ceremonies was prompted the Commencement recent years, the possibility of the air, said Mike Maconi, direcnot a new one. Committee to consider an inclement weather would make tor of Facilities Management, “There were several factors alternative approach for future it difficult to accommodate all who was at Tuesday’s Senate that led the Commencement years. The rain forecast that graduates and their families meeting addressing the mainCommittee to explore separate day would have moved the if the ceremony were moved tenance concerns facing the campus. commencement ceremonies as ceremony inside, allowing each indoors. an alternative format,” Zelenak student only two tickets for In addition, because many “If you have something CCS and graduate students work blocking that passage getting said. “It had been considered guests. up there, carpet or a lot of for a number of years.” Because of the growing See Graduation, p. 4 furniture, you’re just hurting yourself,” he said. Rooms on the top floor and at the ends of the hallway get the least heat, he said. That Literatures. “There are many is because the University has initiatives to internationalize, baseboard heat that must be and this will be part of that piped from the basement. initiative.” “If you’re at the end of a The program will be open hall, like [room] 300 or 301, to all students, regardless of you’re at the end of the heat major or year. system,” he said. “All the heat “We don’t want to turn on campus is baseboard heat anybody away,” said Stephanie - hot water heat. Unfortunately, Polak, associate director of the hot water gets air-bound Residence Life. “If you’re just and air gets into the system.” looking to have exposure to The idea of installing space other cultures, there is no heaters in the room, brought reason why you shouldn’t be up by the Tech and Web able to live there.” Development Chair, Kalvin According to Polak, the Thompson, was shot down residence hall that will be Photo illustration by Stephanie Nardi by Maconi. Maconi said the utilized for this program has yet to be determined. The choice of Starting next semester, a new international residence hall, University is at its limit for the building will depend on its which has yet to be determined, will allow foreign and domestic electrical output. students to live together and share their cultures. The cost of a new source number of vacancies, she said. But Residence Life has participate in the program until go anywhere until they know of power is $1.5 million, while the cost of updating the determined that the program they know which residence hall where that anywhere is.” will be in a standard residence will be selected. Residence Life will heating system would be hall and not in Lincoln Hall or “Students are very loyal to choose the best residence $750,000 for each residence hall, said Maconi. the New Building, Polak said. their own residence hall,” she Polak added that said. “It’s going to be hard to See Culture, p. 4 See Senate, p. 3 students might be reluctant to drum up people wanting to One residence hall, various cultures By Steph Mostaccio Imagine being in a foreign country for the first time, unaware of everything from the language to the food to the specific cultural expressions. A feeling of anxiety would most likely overcome students who are studying abroad and find themselves in this situation. However, students now have the opportunity to reduce some of the uneasiness involved in venturing into an unknown land. Starting next fall, students will be able to participate in Rider’s first international residence hall program, which will house approximately 50 international and domestic students. “This is really important for the whole University,” said Stephane Natan, associate professor for the Department of Foreign Languages and Visit the Rider News Online at www.rider.edu/ridernews/ 020907p1.indd 1 2/8/07 10:13:55 PM 2 Friday, February 9, 2007 Security Briefs ‘Sparkling’ paintings dazzle art gallery Bumped By Jess Hoogendoorn A two-car collision led to a hospital visit for one woman. On Monday, Feb. 5, at 12:25 p.m., a car accident occurred on Poyda Drive. A female resident student in car one pulled out of the parking lot onto the road and struck car two, occupied by two sorority members. The first car had damage to the front bumper, left front fender, the driver side door and the left wheel. The second car had damage to the left front tire and front bumper. When Lawrence Township Police responded, one victim complained of head and neck pain and was transported to the hospital via ambulance. Oh that smell When a female staff member in Ziegler smelled the possible odor of marijuana, she knew exactly what to do — she called Public Safety. On Friday, Feb. 3, at 2:14 a.m., the staff member detected an odor in the hallway, identified the possible source and called it in. When Public Safety knocked on the door, the male student who lived in the room answered and the smell became even more apparent. Seven male visitors were also in the room, all of whom appeared to be sleeping. Public Safety asked to search the room and was declined. It was then that the resident of the room asked to be given a “marijuana strike.” Lawrence Township Police were called and the suspect handed over a glass pipe. The police observed the smell of alcohol on the underaged males. A more detailed search by the police found possible marijuana residue in plastic bags. The male resident was placed under arrest for possession and underage consumption. Even more, the University has brought up charges for unauthorized use of an illegal substance, the use of paraphernalia, alcohol violation and violation of the smoking policy. The other seven guests will receive notices of Persona Non Grata. Information provided by Director Rider’s Department of Public Safety Vickie Weaver. Correction In last week’s issue, Nilsa Britto should have been labeled as a senior in the caption of a photo taken in Jamaica. 020907p2.indd 2 W. Carl Burger shared more than just his watercolor paintings with students in the Bart Luedeke Center art on Thursday, gallery Feb. 1. He also shared his insights about art and society, and his style, influences and thoughts during the paint ing process. Fine Arts Professor Harry Naar introduced Burger as a “true supporter of New Jersey art.” According to Burger, New Jersey harbors good art. However, much of it is kept “under wraps,” he said. “[I] want museums to do something about the great talent that is in New Jersey,” said Burger. “New Jersey is like a volcano ready to burst.” Burger is an artist who has already burst. His works are often described as “expressive, animated and sparkling,” according to Naar. Art impacts people and society, said Burger. “It’s art which makes us what we are today,” he said. “[Without art] you’d be nothing but a raw savage eating raw meat.” The watercolors currently in Rider’s art gallery are all abstract paintings of landscapes in New Jersey. They are all new works by Burger and are priced Photo by Stephanie Nardi Sophomore Brittany Diego admires W. Carl Burger’s artwork in the BLC art gallery. It will be on display until Feb. 22. between $6,500 and $8,000. Burger’s artwork will be displayed in the gallery until Thursday, Feb. 22. Burger explained his use of large paper, which is not typical for a watercolor artist. These large pieces are expensive but help an artist get noticed, he said. “You’ve got to think big,” said Burger. “Every artist, of course, secretly desires to be acknowledged by museums. Let’s face it, museums want it big these days.” However, Burger said that he always needs to have a plan before he begins a painting in order to avoid mistakes and waste expensive supplies. “There is nothing more intimidating than a big white piece of paper in front of you,” said Burger. “You have to have a plan ahead of time. You are really dealing with a lot of unknowns.” The New Jersey artist has an abstract style, but he did not always paint in such a way. “When you’re young, at least I find this generally speaking, you do gravitate toward wanting to imitate something you see in front of you,” said Burger. At first, Burger felt abstract painting was “a little too much accident.” However, later in his life he said he realized that he did not want to be “too literal.” He wanted people to focus on the elements in his painting. Burger said he loves painting and is perhaps a little egocentric because he wants people to take notice of him. “I am 81 years of age and I’d like to leave some kind of a little mark behind,” he said. Burger also encouraged young artists to talk with other artists about their work and to use various colors and techniques because “variety is the spice of life.” Burger also feels strongly about galleries censoring artists who have produced controversial pieces. “Controversial ideas lead to progress — remember that,” said Burger. “We need artists because it is the artists that are the rebels. Look at history — it’s always the artists who stick their necks out and a lot of them were burned at the stake.” Students seemed impressed with Burger. “He had some great insights into art and society today,” said freshman Sean Donato. Burger does not just paint with watercolors. He also creates collages and drawings, some of which are political. The political paintings, according to Burger, deal with overpopulation and the Catholic Church’s philosophy on procreation. “Art to me is refinement,” said Burger. “There’s intellect to art. To me art is big, you should love art with a capital A.” Major donor Anne Sweigart dies at age 92 Anne Brossman Sweigart, an alumna, trustee and donor whose name is immortalized as the home of Rider’s College of Business Administration, passed away on Thursday, Feb. 1, at the age of 92. Sweigart, who graduated from Rider in 1934, boasted a long-lasting connection to her alma mater. In fact, Sweigart made one of the largest gifts in the history of the institution. As a thank you for her generosity, Rider rededicated the 9-year-old College of Business Building to Sweigart in 1997. President Mordechai Rozanski called Sweigart “a great friend and generous alumna who will truly be missed by the entire Rider family.” Upon graduating from Rider, Sweigart worked her way up from telephone operator to President, CEO and Chairman of DandE Communications, Inc., of Ephrata, Pa. DandE, which was formerly known as the Denver and Ephrata Telephone and Telegraph Company, is a company founded by her father in 1911. Photo courtesy of Public Relations The College of Business building was renamed Anne Brossman Sweigart Hall in 1997. According to a press release, Sweigart was known as a “pioneer of modern telecommunications in Pennsylvania.” Sweigart was an honorary Doctor of Laws recipient in 1995 and a member of Rider’s Board of Trustees from 1995 to 2004. A memorial service was held Tuesday, Feb. 6, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Ephrata, Pa. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Anne Brossman Sweigart Charitable Foundation, P.O. Box 757, Ephrata, PA 17422. To offer condolences, individuals may visit: www.gravenorhomeforfunerals.com. 2/8/07 10:12:18 PM Friday, February 9, 2007 3 Woman’s struggle resonates through history With five sets of tears and tributes, actress Maxine Maxwell depicted the black woman’s struggle spanning the past 150 years. The dramatic monologues, “Echoes of the Past,” kicked off Black History Month in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on Thursday, Feb. 1. The Student Entertainment Council (SEC) and the Black Student Union organized the event. Maxwell embarked on her journey through time, first portraying Henrietta King, an aged slave recounting the story of “what it could have been like to be a slave.” The character of King took the audience to her childhood, when she suffered permanent injuries for eating a peppermint stick that belonged to a Mistress. The other monologues included Sojourner Truth, an antislavery activist; Ida B. Wells, a journalist and crusader against black oppression; Elizabeth Eckford, a teenager who integrated Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Winnie Mandela, a South African civil rights leader. By Zahra Jaferi Senate Continued from p. 1 Thompson, who has had experience in heating, he said, believes otherwise. “Space heaters are the best idea because I believe it can be more energy efficient than the ceramic heaters,” said Thompson. Maxwell used a different background narrative and varying costume pieces for each character. Maxwell concluded with verses from a poem by Alice Walker, who often referred to women in black history. Maxwell’s performance opened students’ eyes to the black woman’s toil to achieve equality. “I was able to put myself in their positions,” said freshman Stephanie Detrempe. “It really touched me.” Junior Uchenna Duru had a similar reaction. “It was phenomenal,” she said. “Her performance was amazing, the way she connected to the audience and the characters.” Duru added that the black women Maxwell portrayed changed the status of women today. “These powerful women were able to impact the current state of women in America, various countries in Africa and the world at large,” she said. Jamiyl Mosley, area director of Residence Life, shared the students’ positive experience. Maxwell was “very talented,” and her performance was an “enjoyable experience,” he said. Maxwell has also inspired audiences on other occasions. He lives in an apartment in Hill Hall that is always cold, he said. “I live on the end room and it is very cold all the time,” said Thompson. “I have put in for many help requests and the first one was sort of brushed aside. They looked at it and said it was broken and said they would fix it, but never did.” Facilities did give his room Photo courtesy of Public Relations Actress Maxine Maxwell shared the black woman’s effort to achieve equality throughout history in the Bart Luedeke Center Theater on Thursday, Feb. 1. When SEC Multicultural Chair Marie Baker went to see Maxwell perform at a convention this fall, she said Maxwell was the only person who got a full-house standing ovation. Maxwell, a native of St. Louis and a graduate of Webster University Conservatory Theater of Arts, is currently a member of the New York Foundation for the Arts, Young Audiences and Arts Connection in the a ceramic heater, but that caused even more problems, he said. “They gave me the ceramic heater and as soon as you turn the ceramic heater on, it shuts the breaker off and [we] lose power,” he said. For rooms that are too cold or, in some cases, too warm, Maconi has a solution for some rooms that have a valve to New York area. She has appeared in numerous plays, including Cross Currents and Funnyhouse of a Negro. Maxwell stresses to her audiences that anyone can make a difference. “When we look at people who are very courageous in history, we think that there is something special about them, that they were able to make choices to have the world be different,” she said. “We can make those kinds of choices too.” lem,” he said. “It’s important to take the avenues given to us to give feedback to these departments on campus, to please contact Facilities if their rooms are having problems,” Barbati said. “At the same time, don’t settle for being uncomfortable. You pay too much money to feel uncomfortable.” adjust the flow of hot water through the heater. “Every room does not have this valve, so I don’t want you all…to go back to your room and throw up the heat covers,” he said. Lawrenceville SGA Vice President Nick Barbati hoped the session with Maconi was helpful for Facilities so they can get to the “root of the prob- ISLOOKINGFORWRITERS &REE #ALLXORCOMETO MEETINGSATPM ON4UESDAYS INTHEBASEMENT OF2IDGE(OUSE ZA Z I 0 Great Summer Jobs Available Now! Rambling Pines Day Camp is looking for responsible, fun, enthusiastic people to be... • group counselors • sports counselors • pool staff • gymnastics instructors • arts & crafts & performing arts instructors Maintenance positions starting in May. Call for more information or to arrange an interview (609) 466-1212 www.ramblingpines.com e-mail us at: [email protected] P.O. Box 3, Rte. 518 • Hopewell, NJ 08525 020907p1.indd 3 2/8/07 10:16:19 PM 4 Friday, February 9, 2007 Culture Continued from p. 1 Photo by Karly Hamburg The night was full of comedy, laughs Junior Catherine Clark sits in the hot seat for a chance to win $50 during Tuesday night’s Student Entertainment Councilsponsored comedy game show, “We Can Make You Laugh.” The comedians pulled out many tricks to get the contestants to laugh, and if they couldn’t, the contestants walked away winners.Three out of eight participants took home the prize.The remaining prizes were donated to charity. Graduation Continued from p. 1 a full-time job Monday through Friday, the traditional Friday morning commencement made it difficult for all to attend. “The committee therefore felt the need to explore alternative approaches to accommodate these students by planning a commencement event with their work schedules in mind,” Zelenak said. Although this idea seems feasible for some, Felecia Bourjolly, a CCS liberal studies major, would still prefer to walk with her undergraduate classmates. “I do understand the logic in it in making it more convenient for people who have day jobs,” Bourjolly said. “But when I came to Rider, I was told I would march with everyone else. I don’t know why [CCS students] should be separate.” An off-campus ceremony at the Sovereign Bank Arena was considered for a short period of time, until committee members “quickly rejected” the idea because of the tradition of commencement on campus grounds, Zelenak said. All graduate and CCS 020907p1.indd 4 students were polled in a survey given this past fall. An overwhelming number of student, 76 percent, responded in support of the proposal, and only 8 percent responded that they did not have a preference. Although the majority of CCS and graduate students are pleased with the new ceremony, professors of both graduate and undergraduate classes may not be so content. According to Donald Steven, provost and vice president of academic affairs, “faculty are not required to attend both ceremonies. They can attend one or the other.” Dr. Kathleen Pierce, professor of graduate education, also teaches undergraduate courses. Pierce does not agree with the commencement separation and although she would like to attend both ceremonies, says she won’t because she will not have a department to sit with during the Friday commencement. Conversely, Dr. Sandra Stein, professor of graduate education, said there are both advantages and disadvantages to the change. “Both ceremonies will be shorter,” Stein said. “It will also allow [the professors] to hall to accommodate the international learning community right before room selection, which is Monday, April 16 and Tuesday, April 17. Residence Life staff will then reveal the chosen residence hall, which will enable the students interested in the program to select that building. That is the selection process for Fall 2007. In Fall 2008, Residence Life might need to free space for the new international students and other domestic students interested in the program. “If we have to, we’ll relocate people, but we don’t want to do that,” said Polak. Participation in this program is on a first-come, first-served basis since space is limited. According to Joseph MacAde, director of International Programs, there are about 130 international students on both the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses. These students come from various countries, including China, Spain, France, Poland, India and Venezuela. According to Natan, Rider plans to include as many different cultures as possible in the program. “We will try to make a very balanced match,” he said. Several activities designed to help domestic students learn about the different cultures included in the program will occur in the residence hall throughout the year. Some of the activities include Foreign Language Club events and foreign film showings. According to Polak, students will learn more about different cultures when they are immersed in them every day. “There are so many intangibles you can learn about other people, from how they live on a daily basis and the stories they tell each other in the rooms and in the lounges,” she said. Students agree. “It’s not just learning in the classroom, but in your living environment too,” said senior Muriel Robinson. Senior Deborah GilbertRogers also said daily interactions with people from different cultures are important. “It’s one thing when you talk to them on the street and another when you live with them,” she said. Freshman Arielle Baez said the international residence hall program would not only build awareness about different cultures but also reduce racism. “It will help break the boundaries between people,” she said. However, Polak said she has found that domestic students generally do not want to live with international students. “It takes a lot of extra energy to be a roommate of an international student,” she said. “You feel obligated to take them to the mall, give them a tour of campus [and] show them where everything is.” But the reluctant students might have their interest piqued when they hear about the extra credit involved. According to Natan, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will raise the final grade for students who live in the international residence hall by half a grade. For example, if a student’s course grade were A-, it would then be changed to A. An international residence hall also provides the incentive of better communication skills, which is crucial in many careers, according to MacAde. “Developing the kinds of skills that we need to communicate effectively with people from different cultures is becoming more and more essential,” he said. “It’s going to be a skill that employers will look for in graduates.” An informational meeting for this pilot program will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 14, at 4:30 p.m. in Fine Arts 309. “We’re all very curious to see how many students turn out and what they think about the whole idea,” said Polak. ‘When I came to Rider, I was told I would march with everyone else. I don’t know why [CCS students] should be separate.’ do things with the graduate students.” The format for both ceremonies will be the same including the presence of the president, provost, deans, trustees, faculty and staff. “The uniqueness of each population” will be recognized, Zelenak said. Class speakers will be selected from among the graduating students in each commencement and the honorary degree recipient of each event will be asked to speak at the ceremony. “Each ceremony will have its own class speaker, to further personalize each ceremony,” Zelenak said. In the event of severe weather, each student will be provided with four tickets, instead of the two with past commencement plans. Although this is true, Melissa Vidam, a secondyear graduate student in the community-counseling - Felecia Bourjolly, CCS student program, says she is not a fan of the decision to separate the two ceremonies. In fact, Vidam will be unable to participate in the graduate commencement for her own graduation in May of 2008. “Due to my job as a graduate assistant I cannot participate in the graduation ceremony for graduate students,” Vidam said. “I run senior week, which begins May 9 [through] May 11. I was told I can just walk with the undergraduates on Friday, which I would prefer to do since I work so closely with all of them.” During a time when the unification of the University is on the administration’s agenda, this separation has raised questions among the faculty. “We’re one university, we’ve spent enough time apart,” Pierce said. “[Graduation] is really about celebration for the whole community. We don’t have any ritual where we’re united.” Interested in running for the position of Executive Editor for The Rider News? Contact Mike Caputo at x. 5337. 2/8/07 10:16:40 PM Friday, February 9, 2007 5 Rumba for a Cause Campus community raises roof, funds for Mercer County mentors By Jessica Demetriou When sophomore Tina Limbo went to the Rider Rumba Dance-a-thon last Friday, she had no idea how much fun it would be to dance for six hours straight. “All the lighting gave the dance floor a great effect and the deejay played some really good music,” Limbo said. For the first half of the night, winning wasn’t a matter of how long you danced, but how well you danced. Limbo said she hesitated to enter the limbo contest, but her friends told her she was born to do the limbo because of her last name. “I won a $50 gift certificate to Sotto Ristorante and Lounge in Princeton for winning first place in the Limbo contest and later I also won a gift certificate to Cold Stone Creamery just for dancing well,” she said. Limbo was more than happy to come out and dance at the Rider Rumba, because it looked fun and she had a lot of friends to dance with. “By the end of the night I wasn’t tired of dancing at all,” Limbo said. “I was psyched to be there.” Limbo said the children from Big Brothers Big Sisters were also at the event, and she was glad she got a chance to dance with them and see who was really benefiting from the event. “The kids were very polite and very excited to be there,” Limbo said. “They were playing a lot of games and having a great time. The people that put this together must be extremely caring and incredibly generous.” Co-coordinators and sophomores Cara Giovinazzo and Danielle Phillips said they couldn’t be happier with the way the first Rider Rumba turned out, which was sponsored by the Lawrenceville SGA. “This is one of the best charities out there to help underprivileged children,” Giovinazzo said. “We are really trying to get the awareness out there.” Giovinazzo said the $5,600 raised by the end of the night would be going toward improving the mentoring programs at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County. “I hope this is an event we can continue in the future and it will just keep getting bigger and better,” Giovinazzo said. Freshman Danielle Gizzo, who learned about the event through Emerging Leaders, said she decided to volunteer her time coordinating the event as well, in the hopes that she could be a part of raising money photo by Karly Hamburg Junior Mark Messer, left, shadows Justin Timberlake’s dance style as junior Taliah Ausby and senior Steve Payne try to keep up as they dance to N’SYNC’s “Dirty Pop.” The Rider Rumba raised $5,600 last Friday. for such a good cause and get different clubs on both campuses to gain awareness. “I think it was really a great turnout,” Gizzo said. “Greek Life really stepped up and supported us, as well as a lot of the other students on campus.” Gizzo said all the prizes, which included overnight hotel stays, Stress Factory comedy club tickets, a private airplane ride and a WPST studio tour, were donated. The majority of prizes were given away to people who won different contests or showed off impressive dance moves. Grad student Dan Jacobs and senior Steve Klemchalk went arm-in-arm and used their own original dancing skills to win the first contest of the night, a dance-off to the “Cha Cha Slide.” “Winning the first prize was very entertaining to say the least, especially since I was doing the ‘Cha Cha’ with Steve,” Jacobs said. He plans to give his McCarter Theatre tickets away to someone who would appreciate them more. “I didn’t come for the prizes,” Jacobs said. “I came out because this is a good cause and I don’t mind making a fool of myself dancing.” When the prizes had been given away by raffle tickets, which students received at the beginning of the night, the announcements for the highest donations were called. The second-place prize of an exotic dream car rental went to Phillips, who raised $490. The biggest donation of the night was from Junior Laura Vendetta. For her efforts she who won the coveted nine-day Caribbean cruise by raising more than $900. “I basically just asked all my friends and family for their support in raising the money and they really came through for me,” Vendetta said. She said this will be the first cruise she has ever been on. The real dilemma is in choosing who she will take with her. “There are a lot of people who helped me raise the money so it’s going to be a tough decision,” Vendetta said. Black history: celebrating two prominent leaders By Azariah S. Santoli In celebration of Black History Month, The Rider News will highlight one to two prominent figures in black history each week during the month of February. Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, black nationalist, Jamaican national hero and the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). The group’s main focus was to “unite all people of African ancestry of the world to one great body to establish a country and absolute government of their own.” Garvey was not a believer in black supremacy. Garvey believed that blacks needed to understand and grasp the importance of their African ancestry. He focused on influencing blacks to “take back” their homeland and disregard European colonial powers. He is widely known for his Back-to-Africa 020907p5copy.indd 1 Marcus Mosiah Garvey movement, which encouraged many to return to the motherland. His teachings inspired other movements such as the Nation of Islam and the Rastafarian movement. Garvey, with his UNIA group, was credited with the largest movement of people of African descent. With more than 1 million followers, the UNIA had more people than the Civil Rights Movement. Huey P. Newton was an inspirational leader and the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, a black nationalist and racial equality organization formed during the late 1960s. Growing up in Oakland, Calif., Newton saw the profound brutality and injustice of police against blacks. Educated by college studies of law, he influenced his followers to exercise their rights to bear arms. He and his Black Panther followers would roam the communities where police brutality and injustice toward blacks was prevalent to prevent further abuse. Through the Black Panther organization his goal was to realign economic policies in the United States to benefit struggling people of all races. In 1967, Newton was stopped by an Oakland police officer who attempted to disarm him. Shots were fired, killing the officer and wounding Newton. With a bullet wound, Newton was handcuffed Huey P. Newton to a hospital bed and beaten by police who blamed him for the officer’s death. Newton was sentenced for voluntary manslaughter. It was during this time the FBI allegedly began to end the organizations started by Newton, including food drives and sickle cell disease tests. In 1989 he was shot and killed, allegedly by a drug dealer in the same community where the movement thrived. 2/8/07 9:59:23 PM 6 Friday, February 9, 2007 7 A ‘Wicked’ time on Broadway CIS takes care of show business the audience hears — and what a voice. Theater Review Not knowing any of the words or By Lauren Varga being familiar with the show’s soundtrack can sometimes make it hard to understand lyrics because of a singer’s vocals or because With $15 and my Rider I.D. in my of the loud orchestra music. However, I back pocket I headed to the Bart Luedeke Center. Tickets for the hit Broadway musi- was impressed with the clarity and sharpcal Wicked were to go on sale at 11 a.m. At ness of Kassebaum’s voice. 10:45 a.m. the line was 23 students deep, The actors changed the image of and I sighed with relief that I had arrived the Wicked Witch during the two-hour show with their first-class performances. early. On Thursday, Jan. 25, students took The characters were sincere, especially a trip to New York to see Wicked on Elphaba, to the point where one felt sorry Broadway for only $15, courtesy of the for the Wicked Witch and was angry with Student Entertainment Council (SEC). Glinda’s eventual betrayal. The price also included transportation to Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Julia Murney, performs the Big Apple. Stop-and-go traffic never seemed so with Glinda in multiple duets throughout exciting; with every inch forward I was the show. Their voices mix wonderfully on my way to see my first Broadway show with each other. In fact, the two actresses — ever. And what a good show to see for were so in tune with one another it was hard to differentiate between the two my first experience. At 7:40 p.m., our bus pulled up in characters at times. But again, the clarity front of Gershwin Theater. With extreme of their vocals and pronunciation of words excitement, I made my way into the made it easy for the audience to identify theater and to my seat. From the worker the characters based on the lyrics they who scanned my ticket to the usher who sang. showed me to my seat, everyone seemed as Glinda played the stereotypical blonde as the script directs her to. In fact, during ecstatic as myself. The basis behind Wicked is to give a the song “What Is This Feeling?” Elphaba clear picture of the incidents leading up to is writing a letter to her parents and the death of Elphaba. The audience also describes Glinda as simply, blonde. Glinda learns of how the tin man, scarecrow and continues to round out her “blonde” charlion came to be. The mini-plots within acter by making up her own words and the main storyline made the performance having ditzy moments. more interesting and also added a comical Laughter was not missing from the performance. From Glinda’s “blonde” twist. As the lights went down and orchestra moments to the comedic differences music filled the theater, I knew this would between her and Elphaba, both actresses be a show to remember. Glinda, otherwise ensured the crowd was kept in hysterics. known as the Good Witch, is played by Elphaba’s sarcastic comments also resulted Kendra Kassebaum; her voice is the first in laughs from the audience. Although It has been an interesting year for singer-songwriter Lisa Bouchelle. The Pennsylvania native, selfdescribed as “Sheryl Crow with a little more intensity,” has performed with the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi (“the Jersey scene has been so good to me,” she admitted), has appeared in trendy clubs throughout Philadelphia and will be releasing her first album later this year. Her next big show? Sweigart Auditorium. As strange as that may sound, Bouchelle’s mini-concert, to be held Monday, Feb 12, at 6 p.m., is part of a class project for the Computer Information Systems (CIS) Business Graphics course. Students who take the upper-level class spend the semester designing brochures and Web sites for a client; usually, the client is an imaginary one found in the back of the textbook. This year, the class tossed the textbooks to tackle a real-life client — in this case, Bouchelle. Dr. Drew Procaccino, who teaches the course, worked with Bouchelle and her manager to set the project in motion, she said. “My manager knew Drew, and they thought it would be a good idea,” Bouchelle said. “It was actually a thing we really needed and at the same time it was a good fit to Drew’s class.” Procaccino has done similar projects with his CIS classes before, but this is the first time he’s ever mixed his class with the entertainment business, he said. “I’m always doing non-profits [with] the city of Trenton, developing a database Missed your chance to see Wicked? SEC will be sponsoring a trip to BroadPhoto copyright Universal Pictures way to see Mary Poppins on Thursday, In a scene from Wicked, Elphaba makes one of her magical appearances. Students March 8, at 5:30 p.m. Ticket informarecently had a chance to see the show for $15 on a trip sponsored by SEC. tion will be available soon. The Shins rise above their indie rock roots The first song that stood out on Wincing the Night Away was a gimme, in that it already transcended its roots to By Markus Stegers become a smash hit. “Phantom Limb,” Rock ’n’ roll is evolving into an art which you may know from some alternaform through which new bands can make tive rock stations, is a brilliant song that a name for themselves, largely thanks to has a catchy melody. It is also a pleasant, the acceptance of what they call indie family-friendly song that you could wake rockers. The Shins are no exception with up to. Already a popular download on the release of their new album, Wincing iTunes, this is certainly an above-average the Night Away. This CD promises origi- song on an above-average CD. nal music ranging from hip-hop loops to Another track, “Australia,” is an psychedelic Hawaiian folk and has been upbeat song that stays fast-paced up until declared by The Shins as their experimen- the end. This song will keep you grooving tal CD. With its ambitious sounds, this is as you let loose on the dance floor. If you just the thing that should keep listeners are in the mood to “drop it like it’s hot,” guessing as to what each song will sound this is the song for you. like. What stands out about this album is Led by singer, songwriter and that every song brings something new to guitarist James Mercer, The Shins are the table. There are no songs that sound slowly and steadily rising into elite status; too much alike on this record. However, they has already released one hit single, for those who like hard and heavy rock “New Slang,” from their first album. music, this might not be your cup of Joined by guitarist/keyboardist/bassist tea because the sounds of each song are Martin Crandall, bassist/guitarist Dave relatively mellow. It is good for those who Herandez and drummer Jesse Sandoval, are looking for a quality album that is not Mercer and the gang managed to break too outrageous. The only weakness is that away from being labeled just indie rock to the songs are sometimes too mellow. You making it onto mainstream radio. might start dozing off if you happen to By Jess Decina their characters are polar opposites, both Elphaba and Glinda have the full package. Lighting is an important aspect of this show. One thing that stood out was the green spotlight used on Elphaba. The performer was colored in a green makeup but the green spotlight really added to her image. Other lighting helped the audience focus downstage on a soloist, while upstage other performers changed the scenery. Before the audience members knew it, the next scene was before them. The set design is both unique and creative. The stage is shaped like a clock’s gears while upstage is a board designed as a full clock. The reverse side of the clock panel is the face of Oz, which moves and is incredibly lifelike. Special effects were very much a part of the show, which helped the audience feel as if it was directly involved with all the action. Flying monkeys soar through the air on strings, Glinda is brought down and raised up in a pendulum, which symbolizes her bubble, and rain falls from the sky, but not literally. It was a special effect — a very good special effect. Although I paid only $15 to see the performance, I’d pay the going rate for Wicked on Broadway any day. If you haven’t seen it, you should, because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And when SEC sponsors its next trip to Broadway, get in line early so you get a chance to experience the excitement. [or] brochure,” he said. “The idea of pulling in clients, I’m a big fan of that. Lisa’s was kind of cool because she’s just starting and needs the help.” Bouchelle calls the course a “win-win” situation: the students gain experience working with a real client, and Bouchelle will acquire materials that she can use to promote her shows and her upcoming album. In fact, Bouchelle recently visited Procaccino’s class to see some of the designs for herself. “It was interesting to see variations on the designs [and] all the different ways they put the same information into their presentations,” she said. Procaccino is a firm believer in the hands-on experience, he said. “I could have just grabbed some project from the back of the textbook but this was something more lively,” he said. “It made a great deal of difference for the motivation of the students.” Bouchelle’s concert on the Lawrenceville campus next week won’t be anything too fancy, just “an acoustic, intimate gig,” she said. She and Procaccino have opened the event to both campuses, though it will benefit Procaccino’s students the most, he said. “This just makes it a little more personal versus an academic venture,” he said. “This is a good extra avenue to get to know her a little bit better. [It’s] a scaled down version of a show she would put on at any club.” The venue and the audience will certainly be new experiences for Bouchelle, but she doesn’t mind. “If people are into the music and can share the music, that’s what matters to me,” she said. “At this stage in my career Singer-songwriter Lisa Bouchelle will be showcasing her acoustic guitar talents in Sweigart Auditorium Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. it’s not that everyone knows who I am, so it’s just cool to work at so many different shows.” With a little help from students, Bouchelle will soon have the business blueprints for launching her career. And Procaccino’s students will have had their first taste of the entertainment business. “It’s been fun, but it’s been a lot of work,” Procaccino said. “Maybe one day if her tour gets more successful, she can come back as a paid act.” ‘Children of Men’ offers world of change for mainstream films Film Review By Paul Szaniawski CD Review 020907p6p7.indd 1 Photo by Mark Weiss Photo copyright Sub Pop Records The Shins released Wincing the Night Away on Tuesday Jan. 23. listen to the album straight through. Overall, the record is good if you are not looking for hard rock, and the album should meet listeners’ expectations. This record is a step forward for rock ’n’ roll and provides hope for other indie rock artists. However, it is unfortunate that not all rock enthusiasts will buy this album because it does lack the traditional aspects of rock that we have grown to love. People will enjoy this album because it shows the continuous growth of an indie rock band that made it the hard way. It’s just a quality CD that is worth every penny. The phrase “children of men” has two different meanings. It may need to be analyzed, but that’s exactly what this film does. Children of Men makes viewers question their very own world. This is largely because it takes place in the not-too-far-off future. The setting really hits home and gives the film a realistic feel. In the world of 2027, terrorism has made England the only country safe enough to live in without widespread chaos. All immigrants are sent to containment camps. Disease, anarchy and destruction devastate the world. This may sound like a bleak future but from the film’s start, it is evident there is no future. Literally. Children of Men’s beginning is the first hint of its original writing. Theo (Clive Owen) squeezes through an overcrowded coffee shop of people frozen by what they see on television. A newscast reveals that someone named Baby Diego was killed for not giving an autograph. How can a baby even give autographs? Why would someone want a baby’s autograph? It’s not for another minute that the viewer learns that Baby Diego wasn’t actually a baby, but the youngest person in the world. He was born in 2009. Since then, women mysteriously cannot give birth or get pregnant. The human race is infertile. Oh, and that coffee shop gets blown up as soon as Theo leaves. The English government blames the attack on F.I.S.H., a group of rebels fighting for immigrants’ rights and lives. Theo, a simple nine-to-five daily-grind office worker, is the main character. He could not have been cast any better. Similar to Sin City, Owen finds himself in an originally written and critically acclaimed film. Unlike Liam Neeson or Hugh Grant, Owen isn’t well-known to Photo copyright Universal Pictures It’s up to Clive Owen and Julianne Moore to change the world in Children of Men, which was released everywhere on January 7. American audiences, which makes the role fit better. Children of Men also stars another brilliant British actor: Michael Caine (The Cider House Rules), who plays Theo’s retired hippie friend Jasper. American audiences know him as the kind elderly gentleman, and the part fits him well. The film also stars Julianne Moore (Hannibal) playing Julian, the American ex-wife of Theo and F.I.S.H. terrorist organization leader. It’s awkward at first to hear a character speak without the English accent, but it soon makes sense. It doesn’t take long to see how well Julian’s and Theo’s dialogues mesh together because of the contrast. Both Julian and Jasper create a strong emotional connection and make the audience feel for them. They help to establish the film’s mood. Mood is the only aspect that can parallel Children of Men to any other movie. The overall feeling of the film and what resonates to the viewer resembles that of War of the Worlds and Signs. The similarities end there. Nearly every plot twist is shocking, yet the film doesn’t have a pace like that of a thriller or action flick. Theo gets sucked into Julian’s plan to change the world. The unfolding of the plot is an interesting ride that hooks audiences’ eyes and brains. More important is how Children of Men appeals to the heart, having everyone hoping that Theo and the world will survive as if the film were reality. Grasp on to those seats, because this film really does suck viewers in. Nearly all films that take place more than 20 years in the future have flying cars or some other kinds of ridiculous advancements. There is nothing far-fetched at all in this world. The other characteristics of the setting are dramatically different from contemporary society. Along with the concept of women not having babies, the government issues suicide kits and some of England’s immigrants are slaughtered rather than deported. The film’s real beauty is how its military scenes, hate and chaos-filled world make viewers question their own contemporary surroundings and the status quo in the theater’s parking lot. Just don’t leave before the end so the title’s double meaning can finally make sense. Its originality right through to the ending makes Children of Men the best movie you never heard of. 2/8/07 9:30:52 PM 8 Friday, February 9, 2007 Editorial: Split graduations O dds are the paths we have taken that led us to Rider have been different. You may have walked into Rider perhaps as a shy and anxious freshman, now leaving as a confident leader ready to take on the challenge of the real world. Or maybe you transferred, capitalizing on a new opportunity and a chance to fulfill a desire for further knowledge. Perhaps you came from the corporate world in pursuit of an MBA. Amid all this diversity, there is one day that traditionally brought the entire Lawrenceville campus community together — commencement. But that is about to change, big time. The decision to split graduate and CCS degree-giving into its own separate ceremony has merit — and some shortcomings. Even though 35 percent of 191 undergraduates polled by The Rider News don’t care about the separation, we believe it is important to consider the implications. The timing of the graduate and CCS student graduation will allow those with full-time jobs to attend the ceremony at 5:30 p.m., without having to take a whole day off from work. And maybe it will shorten the length of the overly long undergraduate ceremony. But in the grand scheme of things, will a few minutes make a real difference? And if it’s easier for working people to get to an evening event than a midday one, isn’t that also true for many parents of undergraduates? These reasons seem a little thin. There are others justifying what the administration promises is a fundamental change for the better. In case the ceremony is moved indoors because of bad weather, each graduate would now be able to have four guests instead of two. Additionally, a member of each graduating class will address his or her respective commencement ceremony, allowing for a more personalized program. But to better understand the value of the change, one undeniable question remains — is a separation for logistics or convenience worth sacrificing the spirit of unity that Rider has worked so hard to cement? The journey in college creates enough memories to last a lifetime. But the feeling of accomplishment goes beyond the rush of adrenaline when walking across the stage at the commencement ceremony to receive your degree. It’s about celebrating the milestone with the family who helped you through the hardest days and cheered you on in your successes. It’s about sharing this achievement with your peers who are also graduating with you. Yet this new tradition for graduation will have a lasting ripple effect. Take into account that 15 percent of undergraduates and 29 percent of graduate and CCS students polled do not agree. Some even wrote emphatic objections on their polls. Faculty face an even bigger predicament. Professors will have to choose which ceremony to attend even though they may have students in both ceremonies they are close to. The more important question to consider spears the heart of this matter. What happened to the “one university” theme the administration has been pleading for students, faculty and community to adopt? Working to bring the Lawrenceville and Princeton campuses closer together is a prominent step in the right direction in supporting this ideal. However, dividing the commencement ceremony is likely to undermine the goal. This weekly editorial expresses the majority opinion of The Rider News editorial board and is written by the Opinion Editor. Quote of the Week “You are educated. Your certification is in your degree. You may think of it as the ticket to the good life. ... Think of it as your ticket to change the world.” — Tom Brokaw opinion2907Final.indd 1 Editorial Cartoon by Mike Carlo, Matt Cohen, Casey Jost and Vincent Leggio Letter to the Editor : Senate applauds OIT’s e-mail fix Nov. 28, 2006, was a symbolic day for many student leaders here at Rider. It was on that date, following a monumentally frustrating Thanksgiving break without Webmail, that the Student Senate raised its voices louder and more profoundly than at any other meeting in recent times with the demand of no more Internet headaches and no more excuses. Fast forward to this past Tuesday’s Senate meeting, in which Carol Kondrach, associate vice president for Information Technologies, made her return to the very same venue she faced in the fall. This time, though, a deservedly warm and appreciative reception greeted the OIT representatives, and problem solving replaced the previous hostility and resentment. Within the two months spanning the meetings, Kondrach and her staff had successfully doubled the amount of bandwidth available to students and, of course, launched a state of the art Webmail service whose features are mind-bogglingly impressive. The change in attitude by the Senate was the result of unparalleled work shown by the department in meeting student satisfaction. This feat was not accomplished without remarkably hard effort and dedication, and for that I would like to, on behalf of all those who use the new Webmail service, thank Carol and Tim Fairlie for redefining student service. The response time in achieving the Internet upgrades was unbelievable to most, and unfortunately has gone unappreciated by some. It is true that there are kinks to work out within the new Webmail service, but much of those require students to simply call the OIT help line or visit the help desk in Moore Library. Still, though, the continued commitment to bettering our already-great, new mail service is quite prevalent, and the opportunity for OIT to hear our feedback is available. I urge you all to please take those steps. I would, in closing, also especially like to thank the Student Senate for stepping up and representing its constituencies fantastically in this effort. The present and future students at Rider are better off thanks to Senate’s work. Nick Barbati Lawrenceville SGA Vice President Editorial & Managerial Board Executive Editor Opinion Editor Business Manager Jamie Papapetros Debra McCandless Managing Editor Sports Editor Webmaster Leo D. Rommel Jung Kwon News Editor Delivery Manager Stephanie Mostaccio Assistant Sports Editor Paul Mullin Associate News Editor Photography Editors Copy Editors Enterprise Reporter Faculty Advisers Mike Caputo Lauren Varga Jeff Frankel Features Editor Paul Szaniawski Entertainment Editor Jess Decina Karly Hamburg Stephanie Nardi Olivia Tattory Advertising Managers Karl Holzer Sara Keegan Kelly Mangan Nicole Southern Dr. E. Graham McKinley Dr. Thomas Simonet Beth Rumbel Kerri Weidler 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 Ridge House. All letters must be received by midnight on the Monday preceding publication. The Rider News reserves the right to edit all letters for space and clarity. 2/8/07 9:56:08 PM Friday, February 9, 2007 9 Letter to the Editor: Paris has beautiful delights to offer separate the Undergraduate Results Graduate and CCS Results Don’t Care 35% Yes No 15% 50% Don’t Care 22% No Yes 29% 49% The data from 240 students were collected by Jamie Papapetros in association with The Rider News. How very sad for Leo D. Rommel (Editorial, Rider News, Feb. 2, 2007). While he went all the way to Paris to confirm his tired old stereotypes about the French, he missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to dispel those very myths and to broaden his very narrow horizons in the process. Did you not, Mr. Rommel, go to the magnificent Orsay Museum and stand two inches from some of the most stunning works of art seeing, for example, the broad thick strokes of paint upon a Van Gogh canvas? Did you not climb the spiral steps to the magical 13th-century Sainte Chappelle and hear the oohs and aaahs of the tourists in front of you as they emerged upon a jewelry box-like kaleidoscope of color glittering from the dozens of stained glass windows? Did you not go to a concert, a play, a marionnette show where French children delight in their favorite puppet characters? Did you not take your eyes for a moment off the dog droppings you seemed to find in your path (I have never had this problem in my many visits to Paris), lift your gaze upward and realize that you were standing in front of buildings whose architects and craftsmen, without the benefit of modern tools, carved some of the most intricate and beautiful and lasting works of art on every street, in every arrondissement in Paris? Did you not bite down upon a “religieuse au chocolat,” oozing with butter cream, the mere thought of which makes my mouth water even now? The next time you go to a foreign country, learn a few phrases of greeting in the language of the people, reach out your hand and say “bonjour,” “hola,” “guten Tag,” and I guarantee you will begin the process of making new friends, learning more than stereotypes could ever tell you and enriching your life beyond the “alcohol in vending machines” and “pornography on Channel 10” you found such delight in as you traveled thousands of miles to this country. After all, how would you feel if a Japanese tourist here expressed outrage that you did not speak immediately in Japanese to them? After all, Mr. Rommel, you were the foreigner, the guest in this country. You are still young and have a chance to build bridges that have been damaged between peoples and cultures through stereotyping. Please give the French another try, this time with an open heart and mind. I know you will not be disappointed. I wish you joy in your studies as a college student, and much broader horizons ahead. Dr. Mary Poteau-Tralie Associate Professor of French Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures Trip to New Orleans for American Studies course strikes harmony for two campuses: Passion of music in the city of jazz comes alive for students Being a music major doesn’t automatically mean we know everything there is to know about music. People assume that music majors dedicate a good percentage of their time talking about Beethoven and Debussy. The truth is we need a break from the music world once in a while, too. Practicing in a jail-cell sized square of concrete can drive anyone crazy after a few hours. Princeton campus students are required to take a course on Music History since 1900. Contemporary music isn’t just about Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake. It’s about the birth of jazz and its influence on people like Stravinsky and Schoenberg. It’s one thing to talk about the different stages of jazz, and it’s a whole other to experience nearly every type of jazz in six consecutive nights of New Orleans bar-hopping. Have you ever heard of Zydeco? I didn’t until I went on this trip. If country and R&B had a love-child, Zydeco would be the jazzy result. This form uses accordions, washboards, drums and guitar. It’s the type of music you can’t help but get up and dance to. The same evening, we headed to a bar to hear Kermit Ruffins & the Barbeque Singers blast out on his trumpet. The close quarters made it difficult to really see the band, but it was the type of music you could sip a cup of coffee to. Even one of our own, Will Floyd, took the microphone to scat out a tune with Kermit. The following evening, we waited in line to hear Trombone Summit: four trombones, a piano, a bass and drums. This was the type of jazz that I typically think of when I hear the term “jazz.” Each instrument got its own time to shine Gina with a solo. It was Molinari a sit-down event, from but this jazz expePrinceton rience left much to be desired for my personal taste. Instead, my interest was piqued with the following night’s performance from Trombone Shorty at Snug Harbor. Composed of five men under the age of 25, these guys knew how to work a room. They had it all: talent, stage presence and the fortunate luck of being attractive men. Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews wowed the crowd with his trombone, trumpet, piano and drumming skills. Every band member switched instruments for the last song to confirm the suspicion that these guys were brilliant musicians. To take in so much culture and jazz and history in seven days was a lot, but we all walked away from the trip retaining a lot of memories. Even the Westminster kids can say that they learned a lot from this trip, because jazz isn’t about musical knowledge. It’s about passion. It’s about camaraderie. It’s about the love of the music. Apparently even Katrina couldn’t kill the soul that emanates from good ol’ N’awlins. The Rider News, Ridge House 2083 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648 Phone: (609) 896-5256 Fax: (609) 895-5696 opinion2907Final.indd 2 When I arrived in New Orleans, it was very difficult to see the images we have grown to associate with the Big Easy post-Katrina. Most of New Orleans from a tourist’s perspective has been repaired or at least cleaned up. Still, the city is a long way away from being the place it once was. A place once known for its culture, music and food is now better known for its corruption and crime statistics. We were staying in the French Quarter, near the infamous Bourbon Street, a place rather untouched by flood waters. Our trip would center on traveling to local restaurants, bars and nightclubs experiencing the true flavor of New Orleans music and cuisine. Our itinerary included New Orleans hot spots such as Vaughn’s, Rock ’n’ Bowl, Snug Harbor and Antoine’s. It was hard to refrain from asking bartenders and locals about their “Katrina stories,” and though they were so grateful to have us spending money and patronizing their businesses, they couldn’t help but comment on how things have changed. Only one-third of the people have returned to the city, and there seems to be no timeline in sight for the displaced homecoming. The word “hurricane” is not always frowned upon when in New Orleans, especially when visiting Pat O’Brien’s. This New Orleans landmark is credited with inventing the rum delight, the Hurricane, as well as the accompanying Hurricane glass. The food in New Orleans is some of the freshest, most unique cuisine in the continental United States. Seafood dishes are on every menu and are a Big Easy favorite. We were able to experience everything from a classic po’ boy sandwich to a meal at the oldest restaurant in America, Antoine’s. If we did get the urge to snack, we would head over to Karson the local joint Dé- Langenfelder jà Vu for one of its from famous burgers. Lawrenceville The music we heard was unlike anything you could find in the jazz section of your Best Buy. The music we heard was soulful; it had passion and a tone it could only get from being belted in its birth city. Jazz musicians were just happy to be home; you could hear it in their voices, and their instruments and see it on their always-smiling faces. Remember the name Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, look him up on iTunes, buy his CD. It’s hard to put into words, but trust me. Dr. Sullivan, our trip organizer, has a true passion for New Orleans and jazz that is very contagious to his students. Aside from the tacky souvenirs and crazy pictures, the thing that I will take away from this experience is the resiliency of the New Orleans people. Through everything they are still smiling, still singing and still cooking. They take pride in showing off their culture and way of life that can never be lost or taken away. A bartender on Bourbon Street summed it up best when he said, “When life hands you lemons – make hard lemonade.” E-mail us at: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]. 2/8/07 9:58:26 PM 10 Friday, February 9, 2007 BRONCS’ BITS Wrestling Continued from p. 12 Scores/Records (* denotes conference games) Schedule Men’s Basketball (12-11, MAAC 6-7) 2/3 Iona 69, Rider 57* 2/5 Marist 79, Rider 78* Women’s Basketball (1-22, MAAC 0-12) 2/2 Iona 64, Rider 59* 2/4 Fairfield 73, Rider 57* Wrestling (9-6, CAA 3-2) 2/3 Rider 37, Clarion 9 Galloway Continued from p. 12 cough, and Galloway looked a bit edgy. At that moment, I thought to myself, is Nathan Galloway nervous to talk to me? Doesn’t this man know his role? He’s supposed to be cool and relaxed. I’m supposed to be biting my nails. Get it right, buddy. This is Nathan Galloway for you, folks. A little Scarface mixed in with a lot of Sleepless in Seattle. On the wrestling mat, he’s a demon. Off it, you couldn’t meet a better guy. “I think being who I am has helped me fit in with my new teammates,” said Galloway, a transfer to Rider from Penn State in the 157-pound weight class. “My loose, laid-back personality fits in well with the character of the team. They like me and I like them. Rider has been good to me.” And thus far he has been good to Rider. One day after arriving on campus, Galloway joined the team and won two wrestle-offs to earn a starting spot. Easy as 1-2-3. Extensive research (OK, just a quick Google search) has led me to the conclusion that the buildup about Galloway’s wrestling ability is not made up. Galloway was a three-time PIAA Class AAA champion at State College (Pa.) High School before joining the Nittany Lions in 2002, where he tallied a 90-54 record (147 last semester) and qualified for the NCAA championships three times. He also has this insanely effective move – it’s called the cement mixer. When an opponent gets foolishly aggressive 020907p12.indd 2 Friday, Feb. 9 M/W Swimming & Diving at MAAC Championships M/W Track & Field at Rider/Lafayette Winter Games Women’s Basketball vs. Niagara, 5 :30 p.m.* Men’s Basketball vs. Manhattan, 8 p.m.* Wrestling at No. 3 Iowa State, 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 M/W Swimming & Diving at MAAC Championships Sunday, Feb. 11 and swarms in underneath, Galloway says, he catches his head and arm, rolls underneath them and comes up on top. Sounds simple, I know, and maybe not even that big of a deal, but I dare you to go through it, then report back to me on how you feel. “If a guy shoots in on me and I get in the right position, I can end the match against just about anyone in the country in 30 seconds,” said Galloway. “It’s my signature move. Everyone knows about it and they know it’s coming. They’re just not completely sure when it’ll come.” Sort of like income tax forms. To put it briefly, Galloway is a big bundle of trouble for anybody that faces him – on Saturday, Galloway won by fall in merely 46 seconds over Clarion’s Nick Billips – and his aura of dominance could work like chicken soup for an insanely talented yet bangedup Rider wrestling squad that has been fighting the injury bug of late. “We’re depleted,” said Galloway. “We have guys with some unfortunate injuries. The coaches never want to prepare for injuries, but with me around, they have someone reliable to plug into the lineup.” Academics played a role in Galloway’s decision to come to Rider. He will be pursuing a business degree at Rider in conjunction with taking the one class he needs to receive an Information Sciences and Technology degree from Penn State. He is also scheduled to graduate in December, meaning that he has only one semester left of eligibility to wrestle – this one. “I know it’s not a lot of Women’s Basketball at Loyola, 12 p.m.* Men’s Basketball vs. Canisius, 2 p.m.* Tuesday, Feb. 13 Wrestling at Hofstra, 7 p.m.* And more sports... Rider junior outfielder Tiffany Day-Neutill was selected to the Preseason All-MAAC team. Day-Neutill started all 52 games for Rider as a sophomore, batted .335 and led the team in runs scored (32), RBIs (20) and doubles (12). time, but when I’m done at Rider, I want to be remembered as someone who helped the team win,” said Galloway. “I want to be an All-American. I also want to see guys like [Don] Fisch and T.J. [Morrison] become AllAmericans.” I then pointed up at the wall behind him, the wall with the plaques of the 11 wrestlers who came to Rider and earned All-American honors. “Yeah, I want to be up there,” he said. I want you to be up there, too. Mike Kessler at 149 pounds made it 9-7, senior transfer student Nathan Galloway recorded another major decision at 157 pounds for an 11-9 Rider lead. Umbehauer followed that up two bouts later with yet another major decision to put Rider ahead for good, 15-12. “[Umbehauer] has probably been our most consistent wrestler all year,” said Taylor. “He’s currently ranked No. 1 in the conference [in his weight class].” Morrison was again a big contributor for the Broncs, although in a slightly different manner than a year ago. After compiling an 11-2 lead, his opponent was disqualified for stalling, giving Morrison the win by default to put the Broncs up 24-12 with just one bout remaining. Now winners of two in a row, the Broncs traveled to Clarion, Pa., to face the Golden Eagles, another team they had triumphed over last season. And it would be no different now, as Rider led from start to finish en route to a 37-9 win. In a match filled with big decisions that went the Broncs’ way, Fisch got things started with a major decision that put Rider up 7-0 in the second bout. After a victory by Kessler put the Broncs up 10-0, Galloway pinned his opponent for a 16-0 Rider lead. “[Galloway] came up with another pin, so any time we catch that, it’s a good thing,” Taylor said. “He and [Fisch] both looked very good at Clarion.” Galloway, a transfer from Penn State, has been impressive for Rider, winning five of his six match-ups as a Bronc dating back to the CAA Duals. “Getting [Galloway] was a real blessing because that helped us at a weight class where we needed help at that time,” Taylor said. “Had we not gotten him I think we would have been in real trouble.” Freshman Mike Miller won by forfeit at 184 pounds to put Rider up 25-3, and Morrison followed that up with a pin of his own, giving the Broncs an insurmountable 31-3 advantage. Following its match against Iowa State tomorrow, the team will then journey to fight nationally ranked Hofstra, certainly the Broncs’ most fearsome conference opponent and a big rival. And if a No. 6 ranking wasn’t enough, the Pride also boast a recent 18-17 win over the former No. 1 team in the country, Minnesota, which remains the Golden Gophers’ only loss. “It can be a scary thing,” Taylor said in reference to the Top 10 rankings. “We’re trying to get [the team] not to be scared and to look at it like an opportunity to hopefully beat some of their kids and use that to build our confidence going into nationals.” 2/8/07 9:28:24 PM Friday, February 9, 2007 11 Broncs face must-win situations this weekend ICE HOCKEY By Kristie Kahl This is it. It’s now or never for the once surging, now struggling, Rider ice hockey team. The Broncs (12-15-2 overall, 3-9-2 Mid-America Collegiate Hockey Association [MACHA], 10 points) are currently second-to-last in the 10team MACHA standings with just two games to play. They are one point behind seventhplace Seton Hall and three points behind sixth-place St. Joseph’s, meaning that they need to win out and have both of those teams – and eighthplace Lafayette, which also has 10 points – lose. The teams that occupy the top six positions by the conclusion of the regular season qualify for the postseason. The team recognizes that winning two in a row and having all three of those teams lose is far-fetched. But regardless, it remains focused on the task at hand, and to keep playing like they have all season. “We need to treat this weekend as any other,” said freshman forward Matt Metzger. “If we don’t, we can stress ourselves out too much and make it hard on ourselves to perform on the ice. We all want to make it into the playoffs, but we need to Basketball Continued from p. 12 who entered the game with 23 more three-pointers than anyone in the MAAC, made six of his eventual eight three-point baskets in the first half. As a team, Marist made 16 of 32 three-point tries. “When a team makes 16 three-pointers, it’s hard to recover from that, but we didn’t quit,” said Rider Head Coach Tommy Dempsey, whose team is now in a seventh place tie with Canisius. “[Marist] was in a really good rhythm and it was one of those nights where we could have been blown out, but we played with a lot of pride in the second half and almost pulled off a great win.” A win over heavily favored Marist would have been uplifting for Rider following the startling events of two days earlier, when the team made national headlines for all the wrong reasons by losing to previously winless Iona, 69-57, the last Division I team to collect its first win of the season. Against Iona, junior forward Jason Thompson kept the 020907p11.indd 3 take it one game at a time and play like it’s any other game.” The fact that Rider is in such a predicament is surprising when it started the season 5-21, including convincing wins over MACHA foe Lafayette and in-state rival TCNJ. But the team went into a free fall in mid-November and in spite of playing better since the turn of the calendar year, it still finds itself on the outside looking in. “I think we underachieved ourselves, and expected to see a few more wins,” said sophomore goalie Bobby Kovarovic. “We lost games that we shouldn’t have, so we’re a little disappointed in our performance.” The must-win games are this weekend against league rivals William Paterson and Wagner. Neither game looks to be easy. Wagner, which is undefeated and untied in the league (13-0-0), is in first place. William Paterson, which is in fifth place with 19 points, has already secured a playoff berth. “We have to win both of our games this weekend,” said Kovarovic. “It’s going to be tough because they are two of the best teams in the league, and these games will be our two best games of the year.” In the past weekend, Rider faced off against Scranton and archrival Lafayette. The team was defeated by the Leopards, 4-3, but came back to overtake Broncs in the game early by scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds, but he was limited to just 28 minutes of action because of foul trouble. After the teams swapped leads 13 times, Iona, down 45-41, pulled ahead for good with a 15-3 scoring run with 4:10 left to play. Rider never recovered. “Whether we’re playing the first place or the last place team, we try to focus on Rider,” Dempsey told Rider Sports Information after the game. “We didn’t play well today. We’re more focused on that than it being Iona’s first win. The way they’ve been playing, they could have six or seven wins by now.” More troubling was the absence of senior Terrance Mouton, the team’s second leading scorer and the only true point guard on the team. According to an article published in the Feb. 6 issue of The Times of Trenton, Mouton did not play because he was suspended for an altercation during practice the night before with redshirt freshman Patrick Mansell. The story states that Mansell did not make the trip to New Rochelle, N.Y., while Mouton traveled with the team Photo by J.P. Krahel Freshman forward William Washer (21) and team captain Sean Levin (22) compete for a loose puck against the boards in a Jan. 26 home game against The College of New Jersey (TCNJ). After a 5-2-1 start, the Broncs now stand at 12-15-2 and three points out of a playoff spot. Scranton, 8-4. “It was a little disappointing when we lost to Lafayette because a win against them would have made the playoffs that much more realistic,” said Metzger. “To see us take our bad game against Lafayette and put it behind us like we did [against Scranton] was clutch and we made it count.” In spite of the grim circumstances, the Broncs remain confident. “We can’t focus on one part but did not dress. Freshman guard Ryan Thompson was inserted into the lineup in place of Mouton. However, in spite of his obvious talent, Thompson reportedly struggled in the unfamiliar position and fell into foul trouble early. “It was a decision that had to be made,” Dempsey told The Times of Trenton in regards to the suspension. “I got some feedback from my assistants, but ultimately it fell on me as the head coach. This is my program now. I have to make those decisions and I have to live with the consequences.” Iona, the defending MAAC champions, were led by sophomore forwards Devin Clarke and Justin Marshall, who scored 19 and 12 points, respectively. The Broncs look to return to their winning ways this weekend when they host a pair of home games against conference rivals Manhattan (Friday, 8 p.m.) and Canisius (Sunday, 2 p.m.). Room For Rent Fully Furnished Room & Bathroom. TV & AC. Ewing Township. Call 609-882-5997 of our game because if we do that, we can run the risk of overlooking something else,” Metzger said. “Play hard, play smart and play physical. Do all the little things right to win the game. As simple as it is, the little things can go a long way.” “I think teams are going to underestimate us because of our record,” Kovarovic said. “They’re going to think it’s an easy win, but we’re going to come out and surprise them with our performance.” Against William Paterson tonight, the team will celebrate Senior Night by honoring its lone senior, forward Chris Peer. The team hopes the emotion from that will help inspire it to a startling win over the Pioneers, who had little difficulty with Rider earlier in the season when they won at home, 5-1. Rider will take on Wagner at home in the Loucks Ice Center the following day at 8:10 p.m. MAAC Tour Comes to Rider This year’s FYE Shoot Out will occur on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m., in the Student Recreation Center (SRC). The MAAC Campus Tour is a 2-person basketball shooting contest that takes place at all MAAC campuses. T-shirts, bags and food will be given to all participants. Teams will consist of two players – female, male & coed. Sign ups will be at the ticket booth or in the SRC on Feb. 15, at 6:30 p.m. Earn $8,000 Women age 20-30 needed to help infertile couples realize their dream. Call 1-888-968-3447 or email [email protected] Help Wanted Summer Jobs! Spend an active summer outside as a day camp counselor! No nights/weekends (except training) Now hiring: group counselors, lifeguards/WSI, instructors for sports, crafts, boating, karate 908-647-0664, [email protected] or apply at www.campriverbend.com Seeking ambitious, entrepreneurial person with excellent interpersonal, organization, and computer skills for management position with private real estate investor in Lawrenceville home office. Part-time, $10/hour plus incentive bonuses. Contact Bill at 609-977-9118. 2/8/07 9:34:46 PM 12 Friday, February 9, 2007 On a Roll Again Rider overcomes injury bug, wins three in a row WRESTLING By Paul Mullin It’s a tough schedule. The head coach admitted it himself at the beginning of the year, and it has certainly played out that way so far. The problem is, it doesn’t get any better, even if there are only four matches left in the season. But it might be a little easier with a dose of confidence on your side. Despite a season marred by injuries and a few disappointments, the wrestling team remained on track with wins over Rutgers on Jan. 31 and Clarion on Feb. 3, giving it a three-game winning streak going into its match against the No. 3 Iowa State Cyclones tomorrow in Ames, Iowa. Photo by Karly Hamburg “In one week, we will wrestle two teams in the top six in Freshman Matt Bradley (133-pounds) became one of many Broncs to go down with injuries this the United States,” said Head season when he suffered a concussion during Rider’s trip to the CAA Duals on Jan. 19-20. Coach Gary Taylor. “I would much rather have some wins season that saw them go 4-5 in it’s a turnaround, but a lot of it This time around, it started going into those two matches the first nine contests before a has to do with hitting the top off in the Scarlet Knights’ favor, than losses coming in, so in that surge of life found them at the people.” as they jumped out to a 9-0 sense I am happy we have been Colonial Athletic Association Then came the match at lead. Junior Don Fisch gave able to turn it around and get (CAA) Duals on Jan. 19-20, Rutgers, a team the Broncs Rider its first points with a some wins under our belt and where they won three out of defeated 26-15 at home a year major decision at 141 pounds get our confidence back up a four matches against confer- ago behind a pin by sopho- to close the gap to 9-4. little.” After a win by sophomore more Doug Umbehauer at 174 ence teams. These two victories give “I think we are wrestling pounds and a technical fall by the Broncs five wins in their a bit better coming out of it,” junior T.J. Morrison at 197 See Wrestling, p. 10 last six matches, resurrecting a said Taylor. “And in that sense pounds. Iona, Marist deliver surprising blows MEN’S BASKETBALL By Leo D. Rommel Photo by Karly Hamburg Senior guard Terrance Mouton produced 12 points and seven rebounds against Marist on Feb. 5, but did not play in a loss to Iona two days earlier. 020907p12.indd 1 Following a weekend that included a fight amongst teammates, an embarrassing loss that generated national headlines and a heartbreaking one-point defeat at home, Rider’s once promising chances of earning a first-round bye in the opening round of the upcoming MAAC tournament are suddenly on life support. Thanks largely to the superb play of Marist senior guard Will Whittington, who scored a careerhigh 32 points, and the play of backcourt mate Jared Jordan, who poured in 18 of his own, Marist escaped Alumni Gym on Monday with a surprisingly exhilarating 79-78 win over Rider, who has now lost two in a row. Down by 15 points midway through the second half, Rider showcased its trademark toughness by fighting back with an 18-5 scoring run – eight points by freshman guard Ryan Thompson and four by junior center Jason Thompson – to cut the lead to a mere two points with 2:53 to play. But the rally was eventually offset by Jordan, who sank a jumper and two free throws to push the lead back to five with 1:29 to go. A successful free throw try by Whittington with seven seconds left sealed the deal. “As well as Will Whittington shot the ball in the first half, we needed every point and every play in the second half to hold on,” said Marist Head Coach Matt Brady, whose team is tied for first place in the MAAC with Loyola and Manhattan. “[Rider] made so many shots in the second half it was like watching the Phoenix Suns play.” In the first half, however, it was Marist (17-7 overall, 9-4 MAAC) that best resembled the NBA’s hottest team. After Rider (12-11 overall, 6-7 MAAC) took a slim two-point advantage following a 13-6 run, the Red Foxes answered forcefully with a 17-2 run to surge comfortably into the lead, 42-29, by intermission. Whittington, See Basketball, p. 11 Leo D. Rommel A proven winner I heard what Nathan Galloway was all about. He’s the total package, powerful and vigorous and on the mat, as mean as a character played by Tim Curry. A tremendous specimen specifically equipped with the strength of a Mack truck but the quickness of a Porsche. Flawless and tough, a vanquisher, I was told over and over again by my friend. When I grew annoyed with all the adjectives he used to describe Galloway, he substituted them with the cutesy, cheesy cliché “hard like a rock.” “Like a Chevy?” I asked jokingly. “Exactly!” my friend replied. All right, who is this guy? Why haven’t I seen him before? I didn’t even know he went here. I didn’t get an e-mail, a postcard, a text message or anything. All I know is that Bell E. Flopp has seemingly worked his magic and put a new beast on the team and I’m nowhere near the action. I have to meet Nathan Galloway face-to-face. I have to see what all the fuss is about. The other day I did, and when he strolled into the wrestling office smiling and in good spirits, I thought to myself, this is him? This is the guy who can pick me up and hand-toss me like pizza dough? Look at him. He’s shy, yet without even speaking, he’s charming. I don’t think I could sniff out an ounce of meanness in him if I got a hound dog to do it for me. Galloway sat down in the chair right next to me. Twitching his leg, he looked at me. I looked back. Then he coughed, not the kind of cough you would see in a NyQuil commercial, but a light cough, short and quick. It sounded like a nervous See Galloway, p. 10 2/8/07 9:37:02 PM