Tip Off 12 The student newspaper of the Rider community since 1930 Volume 77, Issue VIII - Friday, November 10, 2006 STUDENTS MIA AT THE POLLS Only 30% turn out to vote By Olivia Tattory During late afternoon hours at Lawrence Senior Center on Darrah Lane, the voting center for those regis- tered in Lawrenceville, there was a scat- tered crowd of voters — but none under the age of 50. This is not hard to believe, because according to a poll conducted by The Rider News, only 30 percent of 165 students surveyed cast their votes during this year’s crucial midterm elections. “I’m just lazy … no particular rea- son I didn’t vote,” said one survey par- ticipant. Although the Lawrence Senior Center is only a quick five-minute drive, Photo illustration by Karly Hamburg and the process of casting a ballot could Students were missing from the polling booths Tuesday, Nov. 7, with only 30 percent of surveyed students voting. be less than a minute, students still found it difficult to find time to vote. actually the largest young voter partici- two campuses might have been increased, register to vote locally in Lawrenceville. The polls in New Jersey were open from pation in a congressional election in at based on results from the non-systematic Of those 56 non-voters, 29 of them, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. least 20 years, according to Reuters. The poll of students with anonymous survey almost 52 percent, said they would “I didn’t vote because I didn’t have overall turnout of voters under 30 was sheets. have been more inclined to vote if they time since I’m a college student,” said 24 percent – even lower than Rider’s. Among the 116 students who knew they could register and vote in another survey participant. Yet, with help from the University, responded that they did not vote, 56 Lawrenceville — a solution for several From a national perspective, it was the number of student voters on Rider’s said they were unaware that they could See Election, p. 4 Student housing is no longer assured By Julia Ernst more seriously how housing arrangements are determined, For most college freshmen, said senior Nick Barbati, the anticipation of residence Lawrenceville SGA vice presi- hall life is one of the most dent. exciting — and frightening “The proposal will have — aspects of their new school. a set amount of beds for Upperclassmen wonder about freshmen as well as for upper- this part of college, too. classmen,” said Barbati. However, questions about “The current graduate stu- residence hall life are usually dents living on campus will basic. Students never have to be grandfathered to stay Photo by Steph Nardi ask themselves, “Will there be living on campus. There will a room for me next year on no longer be housing from grad campus?” students currently not living on A royal sea of cranberry Though this isn’t something campus. students have to seriously worry “More people want to The winners of the Cranberry King and Queen title, seniors Mike Caputo and Alexandra about quite yet, the subject stay on campus over four years Khashkes, stand with the rest of the court on Saturday, Nov. 4, in the Bart Luedeke Center The- of where to put all of Rider’s and there are more first-year ater after their final self-expression piece. Queen candidates, from left, were Lindsey Thomas, growing student body was students than ever before. It’s Shelly Helfgott, Nicole Southern and runner-up Daphkar Lahens. King candidates, from left, brought up in a Senate meeting not a disappearance of space.” were runner-up Nick Barbati, Karson Langenfelder, Anthony Coruccini and Michael Grimm. this past week. There are a number of Residence Life announced a proposal that would regulate See Housing, p. 4 Visit the Rider News Online at www.rider.edu/ridernews/ 111006p1REVISED.indd 1 11/9/06 11:01:27 PM 2 Friday, November 10, 2006 SECURITY BRIEFS Where’s the fire? There was no fire in Conover Hall, but someone used the fire extinguisher any- way. On Saturday, Nov. 4, at 11:59 p.m., Public Safety was alerted to Conover Hall after a dry chemical extinguish- er was discharged, causing the fire alarm to be set off. Photo by Karly Hamburg Photo by Steph Nardi The used extinguisher The electronic sign at the south entrance lies in ruins after it The destroyed sign is currently masked by a material banner was found on the second- was struck by an unidentified vehicle on Saturday, Nov. 4. and will remain covered until damages are repaired. floor landing. The area was aired out and UNICO work- ers were called in to clean the Car strikes, destroys entrance sign mess. As of this time there By Steph Mostaccio William Brockett, said he saw under investigation. Both the Estimated costs are $10,000 to are no suspects and anyone a shower of sparks after the LTPD and Public Safety are $15,000, he said. with information should call vehicle sped away. pursuing the incident. “This is significant,” said The new University sign Public Safety at x. 5029. The Department of Public Ronald Schneck, detective Voorhees. “It’s costly, and it’s at the south entrance was Safety immediately notified for the Department of Public significant.” “literally destroyed” on Saturday, What’s going on? the Lawrence Township Police Safety, said they have identified According to Voorhees, Nov. 4, when an unidentified Department (LTPD) about the a few cars that may be the one NW Signs, a company based car slammed into it, accord- Suspicious activity was crash. they’re looking for. out of Pennsauken, N.J., is ing to Phillip Voorhees, assis- reported in the University Facilities was also notified “We have active leads,” he currently building a new sign. tant vice president for Facilities House on Saturday, Nov. 4, at and responded to the scene at said. “It’s not a dead case by any NW signs expects to have Operations and Construction 12:25 a.m. An unknown per- 6 a.m., to ensure that the elec- means.” the new sign completed in two Management. son walking by the Lambda trical service was safe, to clean Yet, anyone with informa- weeks, but Voorhees said it Voorhees said the sign is Theta Alpha sorority observed up the debris and to implant tion should call the LPTD at could take longer. beyond repair. possible hazing through an temporary signage. (609) 896-0225 and ask for “There’s other things that “Not only was there electri- open door. Public Safety and Thomas Ritter, spokesman Officer Robert Wagner or come into play [such as] if they cal service damage, but the entire Greek Life came to the scene for the LTPD, said the inci- Public Safety at x. 5029. can get the materials or not and sign was literally destroyed,” he and identified 20 members, dent is still under investigation According to Ritter, the whether they can get it in their said. “I have it in a pile over only three of whom were and that the LTPD and the crash is only a minor incident. paint shop to get it finished,” here in Facilities.” from Rider. The investiga- Department of Public Safety “I wouldn’t call it [the acci- he said. “It depends on their After striking the sign at tion is continuing and any- are currently searching for the dent] major,” he said. “Right production schedule and how 5:20 a.m., the vehicle proceed- one with information should vehicle. now it is labeled as a hit and things work.” ed north on Route 206, said call Public Safety at x. 5029. “All we know is that it was run.” Voorhees said he is confi- Public Safety Director Vickie a black four-door vehicle with But Voorhees disagreed. He dent that the sign will be suf- Weaver. Say cheese front-end damage,” said Ritter. classified the incident as a major ficiently restored. Weaver noted that the Ritter also said that the accident because of the amount “We’re going to get it back Public Safety officer who wit- Someone now has a new cause of the crash is also still of damage done to the sign. to what it was,” he said. camera. Sometime between nessed the accident, Officer 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 29, a digital camera was Saranded by plastic stolen from the Alumni Gym basketball court, but was not reported missing until Friday, Nov. 3. After returning to her room, the female stu- dent realized the camera was missing when it wasn’t in her bag. The camera is val- ued at $230. Police services were offered and declined, and anyone with information should call Public Safety at x. 5029. Harassment A female faculty mem- ber was harassed by a male resident after a motor vehi- cle accident. On Tuesday, Photo by Karly Hamburg Oct. 31, at 4:02 p.m., while A student’s car was all wrapped up in plastic wrap on exchanging information Wednesday, Nov. 8, while parked in the Residence Lot next after the accident on South to Daly’s Field. A passerby notified Public Safety about this Mall Drive, the male student sticky situation. Public Safety attempted to contact the harassed and verbally abused owner of the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. The time of the the female. The matter was wrapping is unknown, but the photo was taken around reported the next day and has been referred to the Office of 9:15 p.m., with the plastic wrap still intact.