welcome Scott Pilgrim Beauty Marked: My Pet Dragon Back! Gets an A Fall Must-haves Steps into the P. 7 P. 4 Scene P. 9 The Tower www.kean.edu/~thetower Kean University’s stUDENT NEWSPAPER Volume 11 • Issue 1 Sept. 23 - Oct 13, 2010 Kean Students Clean up Gulf Spill BY SAMANTHA FELLER any findings for 10 years. People at the Foundation spoke to the Kean University has become the unex- group from Kean and described instances pected home for some 60 samples of oil where locals defied BP and took matters and dead sea life from the Gulf taken this into their own hands, according to Bowe. past summer during the Beyond Petro- For example, a local fire department pro- leum (BP) oil fiasco, thanks to the work ceeded to use home made boom (plastic of an intrepid Kean professor, Dr. Norma rubber which floats and skims the oil) to Bowe and her students. clean the oil out of water. Another neigh- The samples are being tested for possi- borhood started a donation of hair and ble contaminants, which may have leaked collected as much as possible to make into the local food supply in Pass Chris- boom to collect oil. This was an desper- tian, Long Beach, Gulfport and Biloxi Mis- ate attempt to keep the oil from reaching sissippi area. the shoreline. Photo: Stephanie Musat Diana Calle stands in front of the Board of Trustees on Sept. 13 with 36 Hispanic students A local fisherman who has a hog farm, The trip was also an educational experi- in support of their adviser, Myriam Quinones, who was laid off in August. fishes everyday to give his hogs a high ence in public relations, as the group saw protein diet. The beaches and fishing piers are open to the public and there is noth- ing prohibiting fishing in waters where BP “I was So concerneD For the subcontractors are picking up tar balls. PuBlIc’S heAlth Down there KFT Questions Layoffs “I was so concerned for the public’s health down there that I decided to go back thAt I DecideD to Go back BY STEPHANIE MUSAT Philip Connelly, executive vice presi- and get more samples,” said Dr. Bowe. dent for operations, said that he met with The journey began as a mission of help AnD Get More sampleS.” In response to layoffs of 26 staff mem- administrators to explore saving options over the summer on July 25 with lim- bers since August, the Kean Federation of like tuition increases and salary freezes, ited funding from Kean and seven “Be firsthand how the crisis was mismanaged; Teachers questioned the management of but that those usual ways of closing bud- the Change” students: Nicolette Maggio, showing the best possible picture to the Kean President Dawood Farahi’s adminis- get gaps could not be done without a re- Kayla Duncan, Elissa Hyer, Becca Bowe, public, an image that did not always tell tration before a crowded room at the Sept. duction in personnel. Benito Nieves, Mario DaCosta, Alexandra the whole story. 13 Board of Trustees meeting. Kean faced nearly a 20 percent reduc- Bastos and Dr. Norma Bowe, a professor The students encountered another Before about 150 faculty, staff and stu- tion in aid, $5 million in increased salary in the health department. obstacle when their plan to visit the In- dents, James Castiglione, president of the costs and a four percent cap on tuition, The group rented a Chevy Suburban, ternational Wildlife Rescue Association, KFT described the latest cuts as financially said Steve Hudik, Kean’s director of com- packed it full and drove 19 hours with de- which was located right on the beach, was irresponsible and discriminatory. munications. termined spirits to change the world. abruptly closed. The group was eager for “How the students will be served is one Of the 26 layoffs, 12 people were part Upon arrival to the Gulf, plans to as- an explanation and they found that one of the great hypocrises of the Farahi ad- of professional staff and nine were man- sist the Alabama Coastal Project were once again BP took control and the birds ministration,” Castiglione said. “The list agers. Five were believed to be secretarial denied because BP had already taken full at the rescue center were relocated to the contains individuals who work very close- positions that were part of the Commu- control of the clean up and prohibited Hammond Rehabilitation Center, 2 ½ ly with students in advising positions and nications Workers of America Union, ac- volunteers. They were informed that hours inland in Louisiana. it is clear that despite the claims from the cording to the KFT. the workers were contracted by BP and Once arriving to the site, the Kean stu- university that students will not be hurt, Richard Katz, an associate professor had signed agreements forbidding them dents realized they had reached a military students are going to be hurt.” in the English (Continued on page 9) from talking to the media or publishing base. There was (Continued on page3) NEED HELP UPDATING YOUR FALL LOOK? GET SOME TIPS ON PAGE 4. INQUIRING PHOTOGRAPHER: How has Kean fulfilled your expectations regarding college life thus far? BY CELLESTE VALEANU Nikki Lyn Rogers Alex Gallegos Kalimaah Bolden Joe Hunt Freshman, Major Undecided Freshman, Business Major Freshman, Psychology Major Freshman, Physical Education Major Photos: Celleste Valeanu “My experience has been great! I’ve met “The campus and students are nice. “So far the classes are easy, icebreak- “Everyone is really friendly here, and a lot of people and am also interested in I am “living the dream!” ers in class gave me a chance to meet the campus makes it really easy to joining a sorority soon.” diverse people.” find my classes.” Fighting Hate 2 Review: The Cougar’s Den 5 Health & Fitness: Steroid Use 10 The Legacy of 9/11 3 Arts & Entertainment 6-7 Sports 11 Fall Fashion 4 Editorial & Op-Ed 8 2010 Fantasy Football Picks 12 2 Sept. 23 - Oct. 13, 2010 | The Tower Fighting Hate in Edison BY ANDREA EDWARDS ignorance will not end with the Jewish The “Stop the Hate” rally will be held on community, but will move on from Jew September 27 at the Congregation Beth There has been an increase of awareness baiting to Muslims, Latinos, and other El. Located at 91 Jefferson Boulevard in surrounding the town of Edison recently ethnic backgrounds. Edison, the event will start at 7:30pm and regarding the hatred toward the commu- “We are Americans who believe in the will be sponsored by the Metuchen Edison nity’s Jewish residents. Bill of Rights and that all people should Area Clergy Association. Swastikas, which are associated with be treated with respect and dignity,” said According to Rosenberg, the mayor and Nazi Germany, have been showing up Rosenberg in a recent press release. the police chief of Edison are expected in the town’s playgrounds, synagogues, Rosenberg recalls a situation where to be in attendance. He encourages every- and more recently, cars on the lot of a he and his wife were walking home from one in the community to participate in Lexus dealership. the synagogue on Route 27 and a pass- the event. Photo: www.nj.com Rabbi Dr. Rosenberg of the Congrega- Synagogue defaced with swastikas. erby in a vehicle had shouted out to them, Rosenberg is the author of three books tion Beth El in Edison believes the in- “F…ing Jews.” and has served as the chairman of the Hu- crease of vandalism in the area may be bias exist,” said Rosenberg, who is also Rosenberg dismisses the notion that man Rights Commission for 10 years. He attributed to a situation about a year ago the son of two holocaust survivors and is these are just mere adolescent pranks. also held the position of Chaplain of the involving a Yeshiva University student dedicated to fighting against hate in its “Hate is taught,” said Rosenberg. “These Department of Public Safety in Edison who was physically attacked on his way many forms. displays of hatred have always been here.” for 18 years until recently. He possesses a home in the township. Rosenberg admit- Rosenberg, however, has met resistance With this in mind, Rosenberg has Doctorate degree in communication and ted to being very vocal in that matter, and in his fight. His synagogue and the grounds reached out to the local clergy and educa- education among others. he thinks that the harassment has esca- that surround it, have been marked with tors to come together in an effort to edu- lated as a result. graffiti of the swastikas. cate teens on the topic of hatred. In doing “We dare not be silent when bigotry and Rosenberg believes that this type of so, he hopes to change their behaviors. Fresh Start: A Welcome Back Cultural Event BY CARLOS M. REYNOSA dents to the start of another semester. backgrounds with Indian, Italian and Lat- were upbeat and positive, there were oth- “Kean University is one of the top five in foods. ers that found it disappointing. Some stu- As a cool breeze wafted through the air most diverse schools in the country,” “It doesn’t hurt to try something new,” dents felt it lacked information about the on a sunny day, Kean students decided to Jones said. “It just seems fit to have a fes- said S.O. treasurer, Liscet Duran. “There is cultures and hosted more of an entertain- fill their stomachs with a little culture at just so much diversity on this campus and ment value, expecting more of an expla- Student Organization’s “Fresh Start: A it just hasn’t been seen yet.