MARISSA HYMAN
Staff Writer

Marie Roberts, an art professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Metropolitan Campus, had the unique opportunity to have some of her artwork featured in a recent episode of TLC’s hit show, “Cake Boss.”
“Cake Boss” centers around Buddy Valastro’s bakery, Carlo’s City Hall Bake Shop in Hoboken, N.J. In the episode “Freaks, Fast Food & Frightened Frankie,” which originally aired on Nov. 30, 2009, Valastro and his crew designed a cake for the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, using Roberts’ paintings as part of the design.
When Roberts received a call asking permission for her pictures to be used on the show, she allowed it even though she had never heard of the show.
“I don’t have cable; I didn’t know what ‘Cake Boss’ was,” said Roberts. “Only after the episode aired, and Amusing the Zillion (a former carnival performer) did a blog on me, did I get an inkling of just how popular the show is.”
The works that appeared on the “Cake Boss” episode were edible reproductions of cast portraits. This cast included performers Scott Baker, Donny Vomit, Serpentina, Heather Holliday, Black Scorpion and Kryssy Kocktail.
Since 1997, Roberts has been painting banners for the Coney Island Circus Sideshow. The images, called the bannerline, hang over the entrance to the sideshow theater.
“I generally try to make a new bannerline each sideshow season. That is about nine new six-by-five foot paintings,” Roberts said.
Roberts’ uncle was a talker with the Dreamland Circus Sideshow in Coney Island during the 1920’s, and her father also worked with the Dreamland show.
“I grew up with all this sideshow culture,” she said. “I ran away from sideshow culture to become an artist.” 
In the early 1990s, Roberts said she saw a New York Times article about a contemporary sideshow in Coney Island. “It was started by Dick Zigun, who had an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in playwriting from Yale School of Drama. He understood both sides of my background, the sideshow and the professional artist.”
It was in 1997 that this contemporary circus sideshow moved to its present location, and banners were needed.
Roberts and her students painted 25 full-size banners for the 1997 sideshow season.
“I fell in love with the genre and continued to paint for the sideshow. I am an artist in residence there,” she said.
“I paint anything that needs to be painted, the banners outside and inside the sideshow theater, some installation work for programs like Creepshow at Halloween, and anything needed for the annual Mermaid Parade.”
After the “Cake Boss” episode aired, Roberts had the opportunity to meet Valastro.
Valastro allowed Roberts to tour the inside of his cake mobile, a white air-conditioned SUV.
Roberts learned that before Valastro designs a cake, he draws out his designs beforehand.
Roberts said, “I was really pleased with his work. I firmly believe in drawing as the basis of all design.”
As for the cake, “I told Buddy that he did an incredible job,” Roberts said.
“It was really beautiful; it had the feeling of the show and my paintings. The colors were keyed to my paintings.”

ASIA YOUNG
Staff Writer

In collaboration with the Office of Alumni Relations, SGA Senior Senators Brittany Laning and Erika Baldino hosted an event on Feb. 9 at the Bottle Hill Pub to mark the countdown of 99 days until the class of 2010 walks at graduation on May 18.
There was a $3 admission charge for every participant, which entitled the guest to a glass of champagne and appetizers from 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. There was also the option of purchasing a decorative class t-shirt of FDU’s “devil” insignia by donating a total of $20.10, in honor of the class year, according to Beth Reuse, director of constituent programs.
By the end of the night, 100 guests were in attendance, and a total of $300 was raised. The proceeds of the entrance fee were donated to the class gift fund, with a gross amount of $1,300 assembled thus far.
“We had this event in mind since last semester, and as soon as we got back to school we started to make the preparations. We were happy with the turnout due to the fact that we only had a short amount of time to advertise for it,” said Laning, referring to the mass FDU student e-mail and Facebook announcements sent out only the day before.
Students piled in to celebrate with peers and make the toast at 11 p.m.
Senior Anthony Del Conte said the event was sentimental because he was able to interact with people whom he has not seen since freshman year.
“I came because it’s my last year of being here with everyone,” said Del Conte, who is continuing his studies at FDU through the Quest five-year master’s program come Fall 2010. “It’s really the last hurrah, I don’t want to regret anything. I’ve had a great time here, and I want to remember it.”
Other students had similar feelings. Senior Homecoming King Evan Weinstein recalled his shyness upon entering college and his social progress since then over Magic Hat 9 beer.
“Let’s put it this way: to be completely honest with you, I cannot believe how fast my college career has gone. [The] champagne toast made me realize that college is coming to an end, and I got a chance to relish in the years that I’ve been here and the friends that I made.”
Senior John Schneider was pleased to steal away with friends for the night. “We’re going to have to start thinking about careers. Reality is setting in. I think it’s a good thing they’re doing this, to bring everyone together,” he said.
While swirling the drink in his cup, Senior Dan Rolwood shared his sentiments by quoting Semisonic’s “Closing Time,” saying, “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
Rolwood added, “College was a next step, but now it’s time to end. We set our mark, our footprint, and it’s time for a new start.”
The commencement countdown continues, but seniors still have other events to look forward to, such as the Senior Dinner Dance on April 16, according to Laning. She also hopes to have a “50 Days ‘Til Graduation” affair.

KAYLA HASTRUP
Editor-in-Chief

When disaster strikes, many people turn to the media for the latest news and updates. As people at home watch the story unfold, media professionals are forced to give constant updates and information, resulting in what some critics would consider sensationalized news.
“In moments like these, it is the media that takes advantage,” said Kathleen Haspel, professor of communication studies and moderator for the latest Hot Topics event.
On Feb. 19, about 30 students and some FDU faculty and administrators gathered in Lenfell Hall to listen to a panel discussion titled, “When Disaster Strikes: The Media Coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the Earthquake in Haiti.”
In the aftermath of the Haiti earthquake, scholars, including those who spoke on the panel, have begun to research and analyze the media coverage.
Some media critics would agree that the news coverage of Hurricane Katrina prevented society from seeing the true victims as victims, according to Haspel, who has researched the coverage. “New Orleans was depicted as a third world county,” she said. “This created an unsympathetic portrayal of victims.”
She also noted that rumors and exaggerations from bystanders were picked up by the media and published as fact, such as stories of children being raped that were later found to be untrue.
“The news stories shape our world views,” she said. “We were depicting our own people as ‘others,’ that act as violent criminals that do not deserve help.”
Gregory Adamo, a professor of communication studies at Morgan State University and another panelist, noted the criticism that the media received for Katrina coverage “may have slightly tempered the coverage for Haiti. It seems there have not been such ridiculous and outlandish statements.”
While that may be true, there are still flaws in media coverage of disasters. Haspel pointed out a story on “Nightline,” when a reporter said, “As you can see I’m surrounded by refugees.” But a refugee, by definition, is a person who flees his or her own country for safety. Calling people who stayed in their home country “refugees” was inaccurate and, many believe, offensive.
Katherine Dunsmore, professor of communication studies here at FDU, also spoke to the audience about the problematic coverage.
“The coverage depicts the worst possible kind of case,” she said. “The process gets left out and people don’t see the whole picture.”
Dunsmore went on to talk about the ten Americans who were arrested for trying to bring 33 Haitian children to the United States for adoption. But they were not orphans, just separated from their families.
That was just one story that captured headlines in recent weeks. Consumers of the news were anxious to learn more about the Haiti earthquake, and the U.S.-based media was forced to parachute into the story, according to Sarah Latson, lecturer in journalism at FDU.
“Many members of mainstream media did not have people on the ground,” said Latson, who cited a Columbia Journalism Review report that only one foreign correspondent from a U.S. media outlet was based in Haiti at the time of the earthquake. It wasn’t until the day after the earthquake hit that other correspondents arrived from the U.S.
Latson went on to talk about the impact social media played in the initial hours. Even The New York Times, she said, was asking for people in Haiti or people who knew someone in Haiti to post comments about what was going on.
Once news outlets were in Haiti, she pointed out, the images produced were seen as being more graphic than ever before.
“Some criticisms are that the graphic photos are considered offensive,” she said. “Others say these images are telling the stories.”
While the Hot Topic issue was that the media often fails to adequately report stories, it was not the only subject addressed. Instead of being concerned with the facts and history of Haiti, Adamo said, people are more concerned about Tiger Woods’ apology and baseball’s spring training in Florida.
“Criticism of media coverage still goes on today,” Adamo said. “But we also need to support the media that does correctly cover important stories.”

MELISSA HARTZ
News Editor

Although FDU has hosted many blood drives in the past, a bone marrow drive was something new and different.
This week, the Office of Campus Life and Phi Sigma Sigma hosted a bone marrow drive in the Bottle Hill Room. For senior Janae Sones, coordinator of the event, the drive hit close to home.
“I found out that my stepfather was diagnosed with leukemia while I was on travel break during my semester at Wroxton,” said Sones. “When he was first diagnosed, he went through five rounds of chemotherapy. Though he’s been in remission since last October, there’s a high chance of relapse during the first year. If he relapses, he’ll have to get a bone marrow transplant.”
Sones noted that her stepfather is only in his early 40s, and has no history of leukemia or blood disorders. While the mention of bone marrow donation conjures up images of large needles and extreme discomfort, Sones made sure to address the rumor that donating bone marrow has to be painful.
“It’s a complete misconception about modern marrow donation,” Sones said. “When doctors first began the process, they did use needles to extract marrow from the pelvic bone. When they drew it from the bone, it was incredibly painful and complicated, but modern medicine has made marrow donation a lot easier.”
Now, instead of extracting from the pelvic bone, they draw blood and use stem cells. For the donor, there are no needles except the ones used to draw blood.
“The process is really similar to donating blood like the blood drives FDU does every semester,” said Sones.
The process of donating bone marrow is remarkably simple for such a crucial, life-saving substance. In an initial screening, potential donors are given four cotton swabs to swipe each side of their mouths. The samples are then checked for various diseases, such as AIDS and hepatitis.
Sones noted that those with blood disorders, auto-immune deficiencies, or a history of leukemia are not allowed to donate, but for the most part, anyone can decide to be a donor.
Once a donor and recipient are matched, the donor takes two weeks of medication that increases production of stem cells. The only needles involved on the donating end are those used to draw blood. For the recipient, it is a painful, but often life-saving procedure.
Sones said that the most successful bone marrow matches come from siblings because the DNA structure is most similar.
Sones’ stepfather, however, did not find a match in either of his sisters, and turned to non-related donors for marrow.
“Even though related matches are usually best, about 70 percent of patients get specimens from people who aren’t related to them,” said Sones.
Unlike blood donation, a bone marrow donor has the opportunity to contact the recipient of their sample, forging a bond between the two people.
“It’s an incredibly rewarding procedure,” said Sones. “When you donate blood, you aren’t really sure what it’s going to be used for or who it’s going to, but when you donate bone marrow, you’re really saving a life - that person will die if they don’t receive the transplant. You’re getting an opportunity to save a life and you know exactly who it is.”

ASIA YOUNG
Staff Writer

This semester’s Politics on the PublicMind events, sponsored by the College at Florham Library and the PublicMind Poll, is covering “Law and Society.” The topic directly correlates with a Spring 2010 course taught by Bruce Peabody, chair of the Department of Social Sciences.
Peabody elaborated on the importance of this season’s theme: “Law is everywhere - it shapes everything from how they serve food at FDU’s cafeteria to whether your parents can know your grades to what constitutes sexual harassment in the classroom or the dorms. And yet, despite the ubiquity and importance of law, many students and citizens don’t know a lot about it. So the class is intended to shine a spotlight on law’s importance and meaning throughout our lives.”
Every Monday from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. until Apr. 19, a guest speaker will discuss “law in theory and practice in the context of important contemporary issues and controversies,” according to Peabody.
Each week after, the featured expert will offer professional and original insight on pressing topics for the audience to participate in and debate. These influential speakers are scholars, judges, prosecutors and attorneys. The showcase includes many FDU professors.
The series kicked off Feb. 8 in the Orangérie, featuring FDU’s David Rosen, professor of anthropology and sociology, who discussed “Child Soldiers and International Laws.”
According to Eleanor Friedl, curator and reference librarian, Rosen reviewed children as young as eight joining war throughout world history. Friedl said Rosen spoke about how Americans tend to be shocked by this truth because their society has a distinctive view of childhood.
Friedl recalled that Rosen said Americans today view children and youth as victims of war who are exploited by adults.
The following week, Roger Koppl, director of the Institute for Forensic Science Administration, examined “Forensic Science and Criminal Law.” Koppl’s presentation featured a slideshow titled, “That’s Not How It Works on T.V.,” which observed the errors in forensic science and the repercussions wrongly accused victims face. According to Koppl, these inaccuracies roughly contribute to over 33,000 false felony convictions per year. He pointed out unfortunate circumstances such as that of Josiah Sutton, who spent nearly four and a half years in prison after he was charged and convicted of rape, as a result of botched DNA testing from a crime laboratory. Koppl produced a picture of the laboratory, which showed a leaking gap over what should have been a sterile lab environment.
Another famous case mentioned was that of Brandon Mayfield and the 2004 Madrid train bombing. Rosen said the FBI initially made a “100 percent match” to Mayfield from fingerprints found at the scene. The FBI later had to retract its statement and apologize.
Koppl believes there are three main reasons for forensic flaw: forensic science is subjective, crime labs are part of “law enforcement” agencies, and crime labs have a twofold monopoly. He proposed some solutions, particularly random, independent, and multiple examinations, to avoid damaging miscalculations, such as “sequential masking,” which is allowing forensic examiners to know information in advance about the case or person in question, potentially leading them to form biases about the results.
Koppl also shared a saying he likes to use: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link; a net may be stronger than any of its knots.” Overall, he believes television shows, such as “CSI,” hinder his efforts. “These shows [display] forensic scientists as the infallible wizard, so it’s frustrating,” said Koppl.
Peabody said Koppl’s solution is “a marvelously creative, ‘common sense’ set of checks and balances that keep forensic examiners accountable and practicing good science.” Towards the end of his lecture, Koppl said, “Humans need truth like they need water,” which could be the fuel for his cause.
The first two weeks of the series were well-received by students, faculty and members of nearby communities. According to Colleen DiGregorio, public relations and marketing coordinator for the University’s library, more than 100 people attended Rosen’s lecture and about 90 attended Koppl’s. Peabody said these events are good opportunities for the FDU community to interact and learn from one another. “I think our students like hearing from outside speakers, especially those who bring different academic and professional perspectives and expertise to our discussions,” he said.
Peabody’s students are required to attend, and he believes it is essential for students of any major to participate because it can be relevant to any academic discipline. He also said that the sessions could help students make professional connections and develop ideas about their career path.
“One of the most irritating depictions of the academy is its portrayal as an ‘ivory tower’ isolated from the concerns of the real world,” Peabody said. “The Politics on the PublicMind series is a great reminder that this is utter hogwash. Our speakers have taught us about current public policy, human rights abuses, how to protect the wrongly accused from unfair incarceration and death, and the state of crime in New Jersey.”

KAYLA HASTRUP
Editor-in-Chief

FDU’s Green Day, in mid-April, is not the only time the College at Florham is thinking about sustainability through recycling. RecycleMania, a benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs, started Jan. 17 and will continue through March 27.
The year 2010 will mark FDU’s fourth year being involved in RecycleMania, which has been running since 2001, according to Joel Harmon, professor of management and executive director of Silberman College’s Institute for Sustainable Enterprise. Harmon has been helping to fund and coordinate RecycleMania since day one.
“It began with FDU’s Institute for Sustainable Enterprise (ISE), and one of its associated faculty, Christine Farias, helping to launch the Green Club, with Christine as its first faculty advisor,” Harmon said. The Green Club, he said, has been the catalyst for the first participation in RecycleMania.
Amber Charlebois, a chemistry professor, has been the lead RecycleMania coordinator since 2009.
“Ultimately, we hope that the RecycleMania experience on campus will increase the awareness of what can be recycled and to have everyone on campus just stop and think when you are about to throw something away, ‘Can this be recycled?’” said Charlebois.
It is easy for students, faculty or staff to participate in RecyleMania, they simply need to recycle. The friendly competition happens over a 10-week period where schools report recycling and trash data, which are then ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or have the highest recycling rate.
With each week’s reports and rankings, the schools watch how their results fluctuate against other schools and use this to rally their campus communities to reduce and recycle more.
According to Charlebois, in 2001, there were only two schools competing. This year, there are over 600 schools participating, including 12 from New Jersey.
There are three different ways to win the RecycleMania competition. Overall, FDU competes against other colleges for an overall highest number of pounds of recyclables per person.
Within the College at Florham residence halls, the dorm with the highest value of pound of recyclables per person while at the same time having the lowest value of pounds of garbage per person will be awarded a pizza party. Additional prizes, she added, will be awarded to students and staff on campus that are “caught green handed,” or going above and beyond typical recycling efforts.
Last year, there was a rumor that the company that removes the trash and the recyclables from the campus were putting everything into the same trash container. This rumor, Charlebois said, was partially true. This year, however, FDU changed contracts with the waste removal company to include a more complete separation of the trash and recyclables.
Other efforts FDU has made include the purchasing of hundreds of new recycling bins, which have been placed all around the College at Florham campus. If students or faculty see a place that still needs a bin, they can call Facilities to request bins.
Another effort that senior Brianna Logan has successfully championed is the donations of aluminum cans that are recycled by the Florham Park Fire Department. “On all floors in Park Ave. and Rutherford, there are large cardboard bins around the recycling areas. These bins are designated for aluminum cans only,” Logan said. All proceeds from the cans are given directly to the burned children’s unit of St. Barnabas in Livingston. Last year, FDU donated approximately 5,000 cans.
To get in the spirit of RecyleMania and become more aware about sustainability, the Sustainable Campus Committee (SCC), headed up by Provost Kenneth Greene, developed recycling quizzes. The quizzes were developed to make learning about the rules of recycling a fun and competitive process, said Charlebois. The quizzes can be found in the Student Center information desk and in the Mansion. There will be two winners, one student and one faculty/staff, chosen from entries that correctly answer all ten questions by Feb. 17 deadline. The prize, a $75 gift certificate for the bookstore or $75 added to your Fairleigh 1 account, will be announced the following week.
Overall, FDU hopes the program will teach students, while being able to keep the campus green. “We not only hope to greatly increase the percent of waste that we recycle but also to expand recycling and many other ecologically responsible practices all year round throughout our campus operations and courses,” said Harmon.

MELANIE ANZIDEI and KAYLA HASTRUP
Staff Writers

For the College at Florham, the “Eyewitness News This Morning” announcement of six more weeks of winter was not the top news of the day on Feb. 2. FDU’s Association of Black Collegians was more concerned with their first event of the semester, the opening ceremony of Black History Month.
On Groundhog Day, while Lori Stokes of WABC gave Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction, Association of Black Collegians’ President Tashon Thompson prepared for Stokes’ arrival on campus.
“I was nervous the entire day,” Thompson said. “That no one was going to show and it was just going to be me and her.”
When 2 p.m. rolled around, Thompson had nothing to be nervous about anymore as Lenfell Hall was slowly filling.
Stokes, anchor for “Eyewitness News This Morning” and “Eyewitness News at Noon,” spoke to FDU students and faculty about her life, experiences and her familiarity with social restraints and movements.
Throughout her career, Stokes has covered everything from her first-ever story about opening day for deer hunting season, to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. She also went undercover as a homeless person for three days in Baltimore and covered the election of Barack Obama.
Along the way, Stokes has received a variety of awards, including an Emmy, for her reporting.
“I don’t think I would have wanted anyone else to come in and speak,” Thompson said, following Stokes’ speech.
The ceremony started with Thompson, who has been ABC’s president since May of last year, introducing the other members of the club. Following him, freshman ABC member Kadi Cisse, kicked off the ceremony with a reading. Cisse gripped the microphone in her left hand as she read a powerful poem called, “Million Man March.” Kristin Fulton, vice president of ABC, then welcomed Stokes to the stage.
“I was excited,” Fulton said later. “I love Lori Stokes.”
Stokes told the audience about her experiences as a daughter of the first black American to represent the state of Ohio in the House of Representatives. She said she saw herself as “a kid who grew up with a dad that paved the way for a black president.”
Stokes also spoke about her life, from campaigning with her father at the age of six, to arriving at her first crime scene. As she progressed, she discussed just how far we’ve come from the days of segregation, and how far we still need to go.
“We are all beautiful people when we appreciate everything that we each bring to the table,” Stokes said. She recalled the Greensboro sit-ins, the Million Man March, and the most recent presidential election.
“My grandmother always told me you have to know where you came from to know where you are going,” she said.
Stokes also spoke of the conflicts she has had to face as a black woman. At one point earlier in her career, she said, she was called into her manager’s office with her then-boyfriend, NBC’s Brian Thompson, and was told, “You should stick with your own kind.” She then told the FDU audience, “I couldn’t believe it, but I had to accept his ignorance and left his office.”
Stokes went on to quote President Obama saying that “race is an issue that cannot be ignored.”
“Let’s hope that as we move forward as a nation and celebrating Black History Month, we realize we are all on this earth together,” Stokes said.
Thompson, on behalf of ABC, thanked Stokes with FDU-themed gifts of a university t-shirt, keychain and mug.
“She was great,” Thompson said. “She e-mailed me after about how much she loved the campus.”
Stokes told Thompson that she gave the t-shirt to her co-anchor, Ken Rosato, and the mug to senior meteorologist Bill Evans, while she kept the keychain. She also mentioned FDU on-air before and after the event, Thompson said.
“We had a great turnout,” Thompson said.
For ABC, this was just the first of many events for Black History Month and the rest of the semester.
Upcoming events include panel discussions, a bad romance party, a taking over of the cafeteria, the annual fashion show, and a Black History Month closing ceremony on Feb. 26.

MELISSA HARTZ
News Editor

After nearly a year and a half of planning, Fairleigh Dickinson University has announced that the Becton College School of Pharmacy will accept its first class in Fall 2012. Upon the program’s introduction, FDU will be one of only two New Jersey institutions to offer a four-year doctoral program in pharmacy.
Dean of Becton College Geoffrey Weinman noted that the high demand for a pharmaceutical program in New Jersey would attract exceptional undergraduate and graduate students to Fairleigh Dickinson. The first admitted class would contain about 85 students.
“Since Rutgers can only take about 200 students into its school of pharmacy, demand is high. Plus, the introduction of this program at FDU will help to keep New Jersey students in New Jersey,” said Weinman.
Though approved by the state in June 2009, the Becton College School of Pharmacy must go through a formal accreditation process before it can accept its first class. “The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education will make preliminary visits, plans, and follow-up visits over the next two years,” said Weinman.
Formal acceptance requirements are still being finalized, but students will come into the program with a four-year undergraduate degree and a concentration in the sciences. Because of high demand and limited openings, the program will undoubtedly be highly competitive.
Weinman noted that FDU’s program will stand out from the rest. “Graduates of the program will leave the school with two degrees, a doctorate in pharmacy and a master’s degree,” he said. “Students will be able to choose from one of five master’s degrees: business administration, public administration, pharmaceutical chemistry, regulatory affairs, or clinical trials management.”
The program’s rigorous curriculum consists heavily of “experiential education,” allowing students to work on site at hospitals, retail pharmacies, pharmaceutical corporations, and government sites. Time spent working at these sites will allow students to gain valuable on-the-job experience, as well as begin to establish themselves in the world of pharmacy as they obtain their degrees.
Weinman noted that the university is in the process of creating agreements with well-known sites such as St. Barnabas, Duane Reade, and other companies.
Weinman stated that an upcoming meeting with Wakefern, which is ShopRite’s group, and other major chains will help to establish more relationships with sites.
These opportunities to work with outside sources will continue to grow, as one of the main responsibilities of the founding dean will be to foster relationships with healthcare companies, Weinman said.
The introduction of the pharmacy program will also change the physical dynamic of the FDU campus. Due to Florham Park and Madison building regulations, the University is leaning toward leasing off-campus real estate in which to house the pharmacy program. The new building would be near the campus, most likely on Madison or Park Avenue.
“If we do lease off-campus space, we would make certain students and faculty have easy access to the main campus,” said Weinman. “These plans aren’t finalized yet, but that’s really the direction we’re going in.”
The university is currently seeking a founding dean for the program, but additional hires will be made in 2011 and 2012 before the program officially begins.

KAYLA HASTRUP AND MARISSA HYMAN
Staff Writers

It was one year ago that WFDM-FM, the College at Florham’s radio station, moved to the Student Center in order to better broadcast to the student body. The main goal in mind for WFDM was to become the voice of the College of Florham. Also they wanted to offer services for clubs to advertise events, and provide time slots for those who wanted to broadcast a radio show.
This semester, WFDM no longer exists in the Student Center. It has left the building, leaving some students questioning its untimely departure and its future plans. Now, WFDM is raising its voice, and assuring the campus population that it is far from being over.
Stephanie Gentile, former president of WFDM, said that the radio had moved from the Student Center to NAB because she, Dean of Students Brian Mauro, and Department of Communication Studies Chair Jennifer Lehr had all agreed on the move.
“I cannot speak for Dean Mauro or Dr. Lehr, but I feel that radio needs to get built up to be a stronger station, before moving to a space in the Student Center. The station must be deserving of getting space back in the Student Center,” said Gentile.
The radio is here for the student body to represent the voices of the College at Florham, Gentile said. She also mentioned that a survey was sent around to the student body, asking students what music they prefer, in order for the radio to better select songs to air.
“Whatever the body wants to hear, in respect to our rules and regulations set forth that we must follow, the station will play the type of music that wants to be heard,” she said.
Gordon Baker Bone, another radio member, confirmed what Gentile had said about WFDM’s move.
“Some say it moved because we didn’t utilize the space given to us; others say it was because the school needed it for more office space,” he said. “But we are now located on the first floor of NAB. Radio wants to provide something for all students to enjoy, so we’ll try to have a wide variety of music.”
Elise Kaplan, who was recently appointed president, said that although relocating to NAB may seem like a setback, there is some positive regard for the new location.
“Being in the NAB has positive aspects because it’s in a location where all students, including commuters, can look inside our room and see a live radio show going on,” said Kaplan.
The way in which students will be able to see the radio is through two large windows, which is currently covered in posters.
As soon as the radio is up and running and the studio has been reorganized, the windows will be free of posters, allowing students to see in.
“The radio is just like every other radio station. There will be different shows, and each show will have its own particular genre of music to play, or even just a talk show,” said Kaplan.
“Radio is open to anything, and that is why it will be so great to listen to, because it will be available to everyone’s interests on or off campus.”
Though WFDM is going through its changes, it is now more than happy to welcome anyone who would like to start their own show, as long as it meets with the Federal Communications Commission regulations.
Simone Hawkins, treasurer of WFDM, said that the reason why the radio had to move was because nothing was getting done.
“According to our adviser, we were ‘unworthy’ of having a location in the Student Center,” said Hawkins. “I agree that radio needs some TLC from its members. So, I guess the school had to do what it had to do.”
Hawkins also mentioned that people will soon have the option of having their own show.
“We are currently undergoing some maintenance issues, but as soon as everything is sorted out, we will be giving time slots to whoever would like their own show,” she said.
WFDM is currently looking for students who want to start up their own radio show, or work behind the scenes, said Kaplan. Those who want to do a show get to pick what time slot they want their shows to be aired.
“The radio station is flexible in its time slots,” Gentile said. “So if a student has classes going from 9:55 a.m. straight through to 2 p.m., then the student can have their show on the air at anytime after 2 p.m. Radio will not deny a student for not being available during a certain time.”
Kaplan said that she looks forward to getting the new station up and running, at which point students will be able to visit Fduradio.org and listen to the shows.
“Once we are finally up and running, FDU will have a radio station again,” she said. “Hopefully it will be even better than it was.”

MELISSA HARTZ
Design Editor

While students were at home enjoying the Thanksgiving holiday, changes were being implemented in the FDU cafeteria. Students are now able to utilize the trail mix bar and sushi station that were installed over the break. “Chef Jeff” Gourley, director of Gourmet Dining at FDU’s College at Florham, noted that the time had come to change up students’ cafeteria options.
“At this point in the semester, students have been eating in the cafeteria for almost four months,” said Gourley. “The quality is still there, but we needed to introduce a little variety.”
At the trail mix station, students can mix assorted nuts and dried fruits together to make a healthy snack or dessert. Gourley chose to place the trail mix bar right alongside the cakes, pies and pastries to provide students with a healthy alternative.
“While our pizza, fries, and burgers are still popular, there has definitely been a demand for healthier foods. We’ve noticed that we’ve cut back on our cakes and desserts, so it’s definitely nice to have a healthier option there,” said Gourley. Students have also noticed – and appreciated – the addition of healthier dessert options in the cafeteria.
“I think the trail mix bar is a great addition to the caf,” said junior Allie Leone. “It’s delicious and you don’t feel as bad eating it like you would a piece of cake or a bowl of ice cream.”
The sushi station has also seen tremendous success since it was introduced on Sunday, Nov. 29. From 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday, students can get sushi rolls with their lunch. At the moment, there is someone serving the sushi, but Gourley noted that once the novelty wears off a bit, it will become a self-serve station.
“Right now we’re going through ridiculous amounts of sushi, but that’s also because it’s brand new,” said Gourley. “Eventually, it will balance out; people will go back to the rotisserie and other staples because they’ve been eating sushi for a week.”
He noted that the idea of the sushi station becoming self-serve was an important part of the cafeteria’s purpose.
“After college, people go out into the corporate world, and we try to reflect a corporate eatery. Instead of someone handing you food, students really get the experience and freedom to create their own entrée. That’s really the concept of the caf – we call it a cafeteria, but it’s really a dining room.”
Gourley also said that he was not worried about the stations’ effect on sales at the Grill and other campus eateries.
“We know that people sometimes take extra nuts or fruit back to their rooms,” said Gourley. “But it’s not exactly convenient to carry a Styrofoam bowl of almonds around, so people will still buy the containers available at the other eateries on campus.”
The new stations were the result of ideas pitched to ASC-US, an organization which allows FDU students to suggest new foods and stations that they would like to see in the cafeteria.
“ASC-US is always looking for new suggestions,” said Gourley. “The communication is definitely up to the students, though; they have to come to us with any suggestions or dietary needs that they would like met.”
Gourmet Dining plans on working on new signs for the remainder of the semester. The new signs would include things like calorie counts, descriptions and inclusion of any possible dietary concerns such as nuts, lactose or gluten. These new signs will be available in the cafeteria in January, when students return from Winter Break.