The Signal: Spring '15 No.2 by TCNJ Signal

Breaking news, blogs, and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLII, No. 2

February 4, 2015

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

TCNJam raises $50,566 to end cancer College’s CEL

Photo courtesy of Brendan McGeehan

Students raise money for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. By Sydney Shaw News Editor Over the course of 12 straight hours, 1,000 students from the College danced to support children fighting cancer and raised

over $50,000. Co-sponsored by InterGreek Council and Student Government, the dance-a-thon TCNJam was held in the Brower Student Center on Saturday, Jan. 31, to raise money and

awareness for the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation. The organization funds pediatric cancer research and encourages people to “Live Like Andrew,” meaning that individuals should set goals,

strive to be their best, show affection and be comfortable with themselves. The event, which lasted from noon to midnight, is comparable to Penn State’s “Thon.” “Everyone has been working so hard for so long,” said Navid Radfar, a senior biology major who was instrumental in organizing the event with his Student Government committee. “To see it finally come to fruition is amazing.” The area where students usually sit and eat food from the Lions Den during Meal Equivalency was cleared and decorated for the all-night dance party. Colorful streamers wound around the cement pillars, balloons were tied everywhere and signs bearing inspirational messages were hung on the walls. “Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference,” one read. Other signs encouraged participants and their teams to donate to the B+ foundation. Of the 27 teams, at least five individuals had to be dancing for the full 12 hours.

By Kimberly Ilkowski Features Editor

INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5

The Signal @tcnjsignal

By Mylin Batipps Social Media Editor Any student who has experienced being a freshman at the College can say they have impacted a community outside the campus through Community Engaged Learning (CEL) programs. Not only has this shown the College’s dedication to student-led service, but it has also won the school a Community Engagement Classification from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The award is highly competitive, and only 8 percent of colleges and universities across the nation have received the award, according to see CEL page 3

see TCNJam page 3

The Mowgli’s headline concert There’s no better way to start off the semester than a night of dazzling lights, wicked dance moves and exuberant live performances. CUB’s Welcome Back Concert on Saturday, Jan. 31, featured the indie-pop sensation Misterwives and the Southern California, eight-piece folk rock group The Mowgli’s in Kendall Hall’s Main Stage Theater. After its wildly successful EP “Reflections” and being named one of MTV’s Artists to Watch in 2015, Misterwives has already garnered a great amount of attention and acclaim for a band that has yet to release a full-length album. The bubbly young group, comprised of vocalist Mandy Lee, bassist William Hehir, drummer Etienne Bowler, guitarist Marc Campbell and keyboard and trumpet player Jesse Blum, bopped around the stage playing a few tracks off its upcoming album for the first time ever live. Dynamic frontwoman Lee danced around the stage with an ensemble and demeanor that matched Gwen Stefani’s fiery, girl-power persona.

program called one of the best

Photo courtesy of the Bonner Center

The CEL program began in 2006.

Older students in the classroom By Natalie Kouba Former Editor-in-Chief

House,” which featured a fresh and funky trumpet and saxophone solo at the end. The band’s first full-length album, also entitled “Our Own House,” will be released on Tuesday, Feb. 24, which will be followed by a spring headlining tour with opening act Borns.

In the short span in two years, Valerie Tomaszewski, 45, found her life completely changed from a being a stay-at-home mother of three to becoming practically a single mom — juggling classes at the College during the day, caring for her children before and after school and the whole family visiting her husband together in a nursing home throughout the week. Her husband, Jon, suffered from brain injuries after a news-breaking doubledecker bus accident on Sept. 11, 2010, in which he attempted to drive the bus under a bridge with a low clearance hidden around a bend in the road. Four people died, a two-year long court case followed. Just when he was acquitted and things began looking up for the family, tragedy came again when he had a stroke in 2012, leaving him permanently brain damaged and

see CONCERT page 13

see STUDENTS page 2

Samantha Selikoff / Photo Editor

The Mowgli’s sing ‘Emily’ and ‘Clean Light’ as part of their set.

Performing new tracks like “Vagabond” and “Not Your Way,” the band had the crowd moving and clapping to the music. Halfway through the show, the band switched gears and opted for a synthhappy cover of Cyndi Lauper’s 1983 hit, “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.” Misterwives wrapped up its set with a bang, playing the new track “Our Own Editorial / Page 7

Opinions / Page 9

Features / Page 10

Arts & Entertainment / Page 13

Sports / Page 20

Whammy! ‘Anchorman’s’ David Koechner visits campus

WIRED The 24-hour play competition is a success

Track & Field excels Several athletes earn top honors at Invitational

See Features page 10

See A&E page 13

See Sports page 20