You can stop government corruption, reporters say

Sex, bribery, conspiracy, extortion – these are common scandals that plague our nation’s government. But ordinary citizens can help fight corruption and restore ethical behavior, a panel of Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters recently told Monmouth University students.

They should know. The reporters, Dean Calbreath of the San Diego Union Tribune and Marcus Stern and Jerry Kammer of the Copley News Service, credit readers and bloggers with helping them uncover one of the largest congressional corruption cases in history.

At the center of the scandal was Duke Cunningham, a Vietnam War veteran and well-respected Congressman. Cunningham resigned from the House in late 2005 and was sentenced to eight years in prison after pleading guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion.

“This was an organized system of legalized bribery between the congressman and his lobbying buddies,” Kammer said at the Nov. 15 discussion.

The scandal came to light when Stern grew suspicious of Cunningham after he purchased a $5.5 million home. The reporters eventually uncovered that Cunningham was receiving bribes in exchange for helping businesses secure millions of dollars worth of government and military contracts.

Many readers jumped in to help by e-mailing the reporters information that they had found concerning Cunningham, the reporters said. The reporters stressed the importance of the bloggers, who helped put the pieces of the puzzle together. This is one of the ways ordinary people can fight unethical behavior in government, they said.

For their work, the reporters were honored with the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting.

Breaking up is good to do

Everyone dreads a break-up. But research from a Monmouth University psychology professor suggests the negative reputation may be unfounded.

Gary W. Lewandowski, Jr. surveyed people who had recently experienced a break-up to examine how the break-ups affected those involved. His results were surprising.

“If the relationship that ended was a source of self-expansion – i.e., helped you grow as a person – then a person tends to experience self loss,” Lewandowski explained. “More interestingly, when a person ends a non-expanding relationship, they experience more positive emotions and growth.”

The research found that, overall, most people experienced positive benefits from breaking-up.

“Most likely, this is due to the previous relationship holding them back in some way,” said Lewandowski, whose research has received notice in publications such as the British Psychological Society Research Digest and Self magazine.

Lewandowski began his research on break-ups several years ago, while in graduate school.

“Based on personal experience, I knew there were times when breaking-up was a good thing, but it was something the [academic] literature had not addressed,” he said.

There’s more to come.

“I have another paper coming out shortly that shows the influence of learning about a person's personality on how you perceive their physical attraction,” he said. “Basically, if you learn that an attractive person has a bad personality, you come to see them as less physically attractive. Similarly, if you learn that a less physically attractive person is really fantastic, you come to see them as more physically attractive.”

Lewandowski's work has also been published in The Psychology of Survivor, a new book in which experts in the field looked at psychological issues in the popular reality television show.

“I try to take any chance I can get to show people how psychology fits into everyday life and this seemed like a good way to do it,” he said.

-Candyce Cook

Men's soccer unravels at end

A season that began with a bang ended with a whimper Friday, as the top-seeded men’s soccer team fell at home in the first round of its conference tournament.

Monmouth University, the regular season Northeast Conference champs, won’t be back in the NCAA tournament this year. The once nationally-ranked team was stunned by Central Connecticut State (7-8-3), which scored with under five minutes left to play.

Despite having a losing record, CCSU just three weeks earlier ended the Blue Hawks’ 24-game unbeaten streak at home.

But records -- and appearances -- can be deceiving.

“Overall, it was a good year,” said junior midfielder John Castro. “But, in the end, we lacked character and cohesion.”

Monmouth finishes the year at 12-5-2. The team opened the season by defeating then-No. 16 ranked North Carolina in the Carolina Nike Classic. Up until two weeks ago, Monmouth was ranked 31st among all Div. 1 teams and 1st among teams in the North Atlantic Region, according to a poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

In recent weeks, however, the squad faltered, losing three of its final five games to teams with losing records.

The heart-wrenching loss marked the final game in blue and white for senior standouts Michael Millar, a first team All-NEC selection; Tom Gray, a preseason All-American; and Damon Wilson, the team’s leading scorer. Also graduating are Predraq Brasic, Chris Ell, John Feery and Daniel Schenkel.

On a bright note, the team returns 13 players next season, including a defense anchored by junior Angelo Amato and sophomore Daniel Bostock, both second team All-NEC selections. At the helm will be Coach Rob McCourt, the NEC’s Coach of the Year. The coach is credited with transforming the program from a doormat to a power.

-Natalie Whalen

Men's b-ball could be dark horse in NEC

The youth movement is underway at Monmouth University’s Boylan Gymnasium.

With no seniors and three starters gone – including John Bunch, who was selected in the NBA’s Developmental League draft – the 2007-08 men’s basketball team is looking to their underclassmen to step up and make things happen on the court.

While the team may be inexperienced, it’s definitely not lacking for talent.

“I’m confident about our play,” said sophomore starting guard, Jhamar Youngblood, last year’s Rookie of the Year in the Northeast Conference. “We have a lot of young talent that really works well with our veteran players.”

Already, the young squad is showing its tremendous potential.

The Blue Hawks took Big East power Seton Hall into overtime Sunday, before falling 89-81. Two days earlier, Monmouth suffered a 63-60 season opening loss to Colgate. Youngblood has led the offense, averaging 23.5 points per game.

But the Hawks' busy schedule won’t allow them to dwell on the heartbreaking losses. This weekend, they travel to St. Thomas to play in the University of Virgin Islands Paradise Jam. They open against Notre Dame. On Dec. 2, the Hawks begin conference play at home against Sacred Heart.

Players expect a big improvement on last year's 12-18 record.

“If we keep working hard with this level of intensity and do as coach [Dave Calloway] says, we should get some pretty impressive results,” 6-9 sophomore center Dutch Gaitley said.

“We are a bunch of hard workers," said junior guard Whitney Coleman, a team co-captain. “We push each other every day in practice, which makes us better as a whole.”

Monmouth Basketball at a Glance…

Last year: 12-18 overall, 7-11 NEC; did not qualify for conference tournament.

Coach: Dave Calloway; 142-140 in 10 seasons, 3 NEC titles.

Key returnees: G Whitney Coleman, 6-3, Jr. (9.1 ppg last year); G Jhamar Youngblood, 6-1, Soph. (12.3 ppg last year, NEC Rookie of the Year).

Key newcomers: G James Hett, 6-0, Fr.; C Nick DelTufo, 6-8, Fr.; F George Barbour, 6-7, Fr.

Noteworthy: In 2006, the team qualified for the NCAA tournament and defeated Hampton University in the play-in game. It was the first time since 1983 that an NEC school won a game.

-Megan Brennan

If you can't beat them ... beat 'em up

Monmouth University's club hockey team has started its season with a BOOM! POW! BANG!

Literally.

Following a 7-6 win Sunday over Southern Connecticut State University, a fight reportedly broke out between some players from both teams. The game had been quite physical, but tensions didn't reach a flashpoint until the post-game handshake exchange, said a player on the team who asked to not be identified because the team has a gag order.

Who started it? How bad was it? Accounts vary. But there's a lively ongoing discussion about it on hockey101.com's message board.

The good news: the Ice Hawks improved their record to 6-1. The offense has been led by Jordan Zimmel, who has 10 goals, and Kevin Wettmore, who had a 7-goal game against Stockton College.

The bad news: there's a 100 percent chance Monmouth will lose its next game. Both the Hawks and SCSU had their entire roster suspended for one game, the player said. That means an automatic forfeit against their next opponent.

-Staff reports

Stop the presses! Watch this film

Monmouth University will premiere The Paper, a journalism documentary film, on Wed., Nov. 28, at 6 p.m. in Bey Hall's Young Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The film spends 78 mins. tracking the trials and tribulations of Penn State's daily student newspaper as a way to illustrate issues that every newspaper faces: plummeting circulation, barriers to investigative reporting, and criticism of coverage. Students and young journalists alike might find it more interesting than other journalism films because 1) it's real and 2) it's told through the eyes of college students. The Boston Globe reviewer recommended it.

Audience members can be among the first to see this documentary, which does not make its national premiere until Dec. 11. Food and refreshments will be served following the film.

Monmouth University is located in West Long Branch, exit 105 off the Garden State Parkway. For directions, click here.

-Professor Grabowski

Listen up: Latinos are here!

Latinos are here. And Monmouth University’s radio station hopes they’re listening.

WMCX 88.9 FM Tuesday will premiere “Latinos acá,” or “Latinos are here,” an hour-long Spanish show that will feature music, news and interviews with community members.

It’s the first ever Spanish show for the student-run radio station.

“The spirit and music will be 100 percent Latino,” said Priscilla Gac-Artigas, chair of the university’s Department of Foreign Language Studies.

Despite their growing presence in Monmouth and Ocean counties, many Latinos think the cultural opportunities in the area are scant, she said.

The radio show aims to reach out to the Hispanic population in Monmouth and Ocean Counties which make up 8 and 7 percent of the populace, respectively. Latinos are by far the fastest-growing demographic in both the counties, according to census figures. Yet, there are only two Spanish radio stations in the area.

The show will be on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., and will be broadcast primarily in Spanish. Tuesday’s premiere, however, will run from 8:30 to 10 a.m. and be in both Spanish and English. Monmouth University President Paul Gaffney II will be a guest on the first show. Each week, the program will dedicate time to playing contemporary and traditional music from a different Spanish-speaking country, beginning with Argentina.

Monmouth students will provide the on-air talent for the show. Founded in 1974, WMCX broadcasts within an approximate 25 mile radius of West Long Branch, N.J. It was the first media outlet to announce the death of singer Bob Marley.

-Jarred Curcio

Wilson scoring high marks on and off field

Imagine a college schedule like this: 21 credits per semester and two-hour soccer practices everyday.

“I find it difficult at times to balance my academics and athletics,” admitted Monmouth University senior Damon Wilson, “but that’s the life of a student-athlete and I can handle it.”

Not only does Wilson handle it, but he does it well.

The star forward is the Blue Hawk’s leading scorer and has a solid B grade average to boot.

Last Sunday, Monmouth won its third straight regular season NEC title. The Blue Hawks are ranked 3rd among teams in the North Atlantic Region, according to a poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. At 12-4-2 overall and 7-2 in conference play, the team is hoping for its second consecutive NCAA tournament berth. But first, they must win their conference tournament, which begins Friday.

Wilson transferred from Div. III powerhouse Ohio Wesleyan University, and lost some credits in the process. The extra courses are necessary in order to graduate on time, he said. Wilson’s teammates and coaches are glad he made the switch.

“In the classroom Damon is diligent, attentive and always does his work,” teammate John Castro said. “On the soccer field he is determined and an all-around great teammate, always being inspirational to everyone.”

Assistant coach Hugh MacDonald agreed. “Damon’s a very talented player with great speed and good upside,” he said. “If he puts the work in and maintains the right mental attitude, he could have a shot at the next level.”

-Natalie Whalen

Journalist: "Don't let anyone intimidate you"

Award-winning 24-year-old Asbury Park Press reporter Alex Biese told students at his alma mater that the toughest part of reporting is getting public officials to talk.

"Don't let anyone intimidate you," he advised a Monmouth University journalism class on Oct. 22. The public needs reporters to be inquisitive and dogged in getting answers. "You are a conduit for the public to know."

Biese, a 2006 graduate, also offered advice on breaking into journalism, including landing an internship. For more info, see The Outlook story on page 11.

Biese's talk was part of an ongoing series of talks by professional journalists sponsored by the Communication Department.

Upcoming journalism talks this semester include:

Nov. 26: Tony Romeo, state capital bureau chief for KYW News Radio 1060 in Philadelphia, will discuss broadcast journalism. Tony has more than 20 years experience as a broadcast journalist and has covered many major stories. As an 18-year-old Penn State student, he began his professional career, covering the Three Mile Island nuclear disaster for WSBA Radio in York, Pa. He'll speak from 6:30 to 7:15 pm in room 234 of Plangere.

Dec. 10: Steve Chiger, president of the Garden State Scholastic Association, will speak about online journalism from 6 to 7:15 in room 234 of Plangere. Chiger has an M.A. in new media journalism from Northwestern and was project manager of the E-zine @Chicago. He' s also a former reporter for The Courier News and Westfield Leader. Additionally, he runs the annual summer Diversity Journalism Workshop at Monmouth.

All talks are open to the public. For more information, e-mail mgrabows(at)monmouth(dot)edu.

-Professor Grabowski

What the heck is this?

All of the gloomy reports about newspaper circulation rapidly dropping might lead some to believe that journalism itself is dying. But journalism is alive and well. It is just that the way reporters do their job is changing.

With the popularity of the Internet, gone are the days of print-only or TV-only newsrooms, according to Career Opportunities in Journalism, a new book by Jennifer Burns, assistant dean of career services at Quinnipiac University. Media companies no longer have to wait for the evening broadcast or tomorrow’s edition to report the news. Almost all media outlets are breaking stories on their Web sites, and the news cycle has become 24-7.

Journalists need to change, as well, Burns says. Instead of thinking of themselves as only print journalists or broadcast journalists, they need to think of themselves as journalists, period. And they must be able to report the news in publication, online or in front of a microphone.

That is where this blog comes in. As a Monmouth University journalism professor, my aim is to prepare the next generation of journalists for the changing job market. As a former newspaper reporter, I view journalism as a skill or a trade. The best way to learn it is by doing it.

So, my class is teaming with the Asbury Park Press to produce a daily blog for the newspaper’s Web site. We will be reporting about the goings-on at our university and in our college town.

This partnership has all kinds of potential. But it will be wasted if no one reads the blog.

That’s where you – the person reading this blog – comes in. Let us know what you think about our posts. Are they informative? Do they move you? Upset you? Did we overlook something or – gasp – make a mistake? Is there something you’d like us to cover?

I invite your feedback. E-mail me at mgrabows(at)monmouth(dot)edu.

-Professor Grabowski