By Alyssa Sanford
Web Editor
Vice President of Administration and Finance Tyler Holzer presented more information on the Metzger Loop closure project during Student Government’s general body meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 11.
According to Holzer, who recently met with the project’s director of construction and other faculty members on the Metzger Loop committee, the current plan would involve painting a “blue and gold stripe” and installing “mile markers” along a paved path that directs runners away from the road that encircles the campus. Closing the loop by extending the sidewalk all the way around Metzger Drive is too expensive, currently, according to SG.
According to Holzer, the College’s administration expressed interest in the project, which is tentatively called “The Lions’ Trail.”
“The faculty are actually pretty eager to get this going,” Holzer said before unveiling a campus map with the new loop system demarcated in purple lines.
Some new paved pathways and crosswalks would need to be installed, particularly near Lake Ceva and the campus entrance, as well as near Townhouses East. However, according to the map provided by the TCNJ Multi-Modal Access and Mobility Study of Pedestrian Deficiencies, much of the new loop system would cut through the perimeters of campus. For instance, part of the loop would cut around Forcina Hall.
“It would be a cheap move if we don’t have to put in any new pavement,” Holzer said.
Olivia White, vice president of Student Services, talked about the “signage” that would let runners know how far they’ve run around the loop, which she believes might be “an incentive” to use the new loop instead of the existing road around campus.
As for the stripes of blue and gold paint, White asked general body and elected members to speak to their constituents and find out if these “very discreet” lines on the pavement would detract from the College’s dignified, Georgian colonial aesthetic.
“Hopefully, we’ll stop running on the (existing) loop and start running on this loop that we’re going to create,” Holzer said.
Next, Executive Vice President Javier Nicasio announced a “town hall style discussion, basically about health and wellness on campus,” that will be held in Mayo Concert Hall on Thursday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m.
The event will focus on mental health and suicide prevention and will feature Psychiatrist Dr. Victor Schwartz from the Jed Foundation.
Later, White spoke about a new committee that she will be heading called the Spirit Squad.
Like Equity and Diversity’s committee, Bias Response Team, the Spirit Squad is not necessarily “a part of Student Government.”
“We’re calling it a Spirit Squad, and we’re going to try to increase school spirit by doing things like pep rallies,” White said, announcing the formation of this committee ahead of a campus-wide email.
According to Parliamentarian Ken Rubin, about 80 voter registration forms have been collected across campus as of Friday, Nov. 6.
Brittany Angiolini, vice president of Community Relations, announced that TCNJ Holiday, a popular event featuring crafts, giveaways and horse carriage rides to celebrate the upcoming holidays, will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 1, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Priscilla Nunez, vice president of Equity and Diversity, announced a meeting for all multicultural organizations on campus, which will be held on Sunday, Nov. 22, at 3 p.m. in the Social Sciences Building, room 130.
“There’s going to be a huge networking event where all the multicultural organizations” will be able to get in contact with one another and receive “networking opportunities,” Nunez said.
Next, the class councils updated the general body on their upcoming events.
The senior class was fully funded for its cooking class on Wednesday, Dec. 2, which is part of its “Real Life” series. A Qualtrics form will be sent out for sign-ups. The event will take place at 5 p.m. in the 1855 Room.
Spaces are still available for the junior class’s upcoming bus trip to Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 21. There are 110 seats in total and students can sign up in the Brower Student Center. There is a $10 deposit, but students will receive their money back on the day of the trip.
The freshman class will hold its formal on Friday, Nov. 20, at Cedar Gardens Banquet in Hamilton, N.J. Tickets are $15 apiece.
