Music Student Wins Competition “Some of the Ideas We’Ve Talked About Are Student and Faculty Housing, As Well As by Raquel Fernandes Eugene J
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runningback dawn & Lisa With change dish out the big read P. 3 advice P. 6 FALL FASHION of heart P. 15 SPECIAL The Tower see page 5 www.kean.edu/~thetower Kean University’s stUDENT NEWSPAPER Volume 10 • Issue 2 Oct. 21-Nov. 17, 2009 Transforming Morris Avenue? Kean University and Elizabeth Look at New Ideas BY JOSEPH TINGLE prise zone,” which the state designates to promote growth and private investment Kean University President Dawood through special tax breaks and other pro- Farahi and Chris Bollwage, mayor of the grams. Jersey Gardens Mall is in an urban city of Elizabeth, have a plan for Morris enterprise zone. Avenue that would permanently change “[The plan] would need to be a private- the atmosphere of Kean University and public partnership,” Bollwage said, and parts of its neighboring city. “will not work with [only] government The plan, which was announced briefly money.” by Dr. Farahi at a welcoming address to faculty and students last month, would create a student-centered “walking path” Photo: Ana Maria Silverman which would stretch from the intersection Chapolera Latin Musical Festival (See centerfold, pgs 8-9.) between Morris Avenue and North Avenue to the Elizabeth train station, and attract private investment to Kean and the city of Elizabeth, according to Bollwage. Music Student Wins Competition “Some of the ideas we’ve talked about are student and faculty housing, as well as BY RAQUEL FERNANDES Eugene J. Cornacchia and Dr. YiLi Lin, other businesses that are minimal to Kean the symphony’s conductor, signed a for- University, like bookstores and clothing Kean University music student Kenny mal agreement. As the Symphony-in- stores,” Bollwage said. “We want to make Photo: Ana Marie Silverman Authentic Columbian Restaurants on Morris Avenue Medina has won the annual Hudson Residence at Saint Peter’s, the Hudson a university city between Kean and the will be part of the new walking path. Symphony Orchestra’s Youth Concerto Symphony Orchestra provides two annual train station.” Competition. concerts at the college, one per semester. Though Bollwage stated that it was “too Medina will be the featured performer Saint Peter’s students have the opportuni- early” to determine when work on the “We Want to make a univer- for the Hudson Symphony Orchestra on ty to perform in the orchestra under Con- project would begin, steps are already be- the October 22 at 7pm in the Roy Irving ductor Dr. YiLi Lin’s direction, and earn ing taken to begin planning. An outside sity city betWeen kean and Theatre at St. Peter’s College. Medina will credits as part of a degree program. consultant will be hired by the city of Eliz- be performing Darius Milhaud’s Concerto Medina had his first world premiere abeth once funds are approved by Trenton, the train station.” for percussion and small orchestra, Op.109, alongside Percussionist Simon Boyar for he said. The university would then need one of the earliest concertos written pri- Ars Vitalis. Medina was the first student approval from its board of trustees and When asked if the plans for Kean and marily for percussion. to be a feature performer for Ars Vitalis, student representatives. Dr. Farahi, in his Elizabeth could be compared to what “I’m really honored to win the competi- an arts initiative at Kean University which welcoming address, stated that the plan other universities were doing, Bollwage tion. It’s a new musical challenge for me, showcases the works of prominent New had already been “verbally approved.” answered that Rowan University in Glass- which I am excited to meet,” said Medina. Jersey area composers, under the artistic The Morris Avenue section of Elizabeth boro, NJ, is an influence. The Hudson Symphony Orchestra was direction of Dr. Matthew Halper. is home to several authentic Columbian “[They] were one of those areas we established as the “Symphony-in-Resi- “Those positions are reserved for fac- restaurants, of which Bollwage has said looked at for how to best get the students dence” at Saint Peter’s College in 2007, ulty and professionals, not students. the plan will take advantage. The area also and municipality involved,” Bollwage said. when President of Saint Peter’s College That honor brought (Continued on page 4) is already qualified as an “urban enter- Mayor Bollwage (Continued on page 4) TIPS FOR STAYING PHYSICALLY FIT (see pg. 11) INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER: What's your ambition for this semester? BY KELLY PENNISI Ziara Charles Myracha Luma Christian Mora Yi Chan Junior, Theatre Education Freshman, Film Sophomore, Music Education Senior, Mathematical Science Photos: Pennisi Kelly "I want to stay focused especially in "I want to get a B+ in at least every “I want to manage my time wisely "I want to take my mathematical skills math." class.” between all my classes.” to a graduate level." Tribute to One of Kean's Own 2 A Word to the Wise 6 Health and Fitness 11 Composting Arrives at Kean 3 Fall of Arcades/Rise of Online Gaming 7 Women's & Men's Sports 12-15 Cosplayer Madness 4 Editorial & Life @ Work 10 NBA 2009/2010: John & Jay's Picks 16 2 Oct. 21-Nov. 17, 2009 | The Tower Governor's Race Debated in First Issues '09 Panel at Kean BY EMERALD VAUGHAN panelists “where they feel the state of the ter funding for the public school system, es to address key issues such as lowering campaign is today.” Generally the panel Corzine likely will be aided by the New property taxes, and is thus diminishing his Who will win New Jersey’s race for gov- felt that the race at that point was filled Jersey Education Association (NJEA) in effectiveness as a candidate New Jersey is ernor is still far from decided by voters with political attacks and was not address- this election. ranked as having the highest property tax only weeks before the Nov. 3 election “He lacks a positive message, and they’ll in the country, he said. That seemed to be the consensus of a give him one as the educator’s candidate,” “The main problem is [New Jersey] is a panel convened last month to shed light “anyone Who bets on this said Steinberg. really un-affordable state,” said Steinberg. on this year’s unpredictable governor’s eLection is nuts, you Panelists agreed that Christie is em- Since the panel, however, Christie has election between incumbent Democratic phasizing corruption so he can be seen begun to run ads attacking Corzine on Governor Jon Corzine and Chris Christie, can’t [reaLLy] teLL With as the candidate who will clean up crime those issues. the Republican candidate and former U.S. and political corruption in New Jersey. There was little mention of Independent Attorney for New Jersey. Chris Daggett, this one.” Joe Lauro, a Democratic strategist, said candidate Chris Daggett, who is gener- a long shot in the race, is also running on the issue may not resonate anymore with ally not considered a real contender in the the Independent ticket. ing issues of concern to New Jersey vot- New Jersey voters, who may be “anesthe- race. Steinberg said that although Dag- The panel held on Sept. 16 kicked off ers, such as jobs, taxes and the huge loom- tized” to stories of political corruption in gett lacks political clout in this election, Kean University’s Issues ’09 lecture series ing state deficit. the state. he would still make a good governor. designed to address topics of importance Journalist Max Pizzaro of www.poli- “People’s own well being will be the de- The panel eventually came to the con- to the campus community. The next one is tickerNJ.com, said candidates seem to ciding factor, not corruption,” Lauro said. clusion that this year’s governor’s race is on Oct. 22 when a panel of print journal- be more concerned with defending them- Pizzaro felt that the corruption aspect completely unpredictable. They all said it ists discuss the past and future of journal- selves from each other, rather than ad- could give Christie some traction, “but would be a close race, and at this point, it’s ism at 12:30 at the University Center in dress the main issues concerning New there are other issues people want to still not clear whether Corzine or Christie the Little Theatre. Jersey residents. talk about.” will win. Terry Golway, director of the John Kean Alan Steinberg, EPA official under for- “People want to hear things more perti- “Anyone who bets on this election is Center for American History at Kean and mer Republican President George W. Bush nent to their lives,” Pizzaro said. nuts, you can’t [really] tell with this one,” mediator for the political panel asked the said that considering his advocacy of bet- Steinberg also said that Christie refus- Steinberg said. A Kean Graduate, a Painter and an Inspiration BY RACHEL ROTHSPAN Retired Professor Stuart Topper, who cure. She is a big advocate for stem cell re- put together the exhibit, remembers Sy- search, although she hasn’t placed all her Christina Symanski is an artist; she is manski before the accident, when she was hope in it. a painter. She depicts the stories of her one of his students. “I believe that a “cure” will be a combi- life through her work. Her paintings nar- “She stood out not just because of the nation of therapies,” she said. rate the hardship and struggles of a young quality of her work, but her maturity,” he In the meantime, she hopes to continue woman, who four years ago was in an ac- said.