Rutgers University Student Plans To Start Company

By John McLaughlin

Rutgers student Shea Cahill, unlike many other people, is able to say that at 20 years old he had his own company. At one time he was in fact in charge of his own production company, Balcony Men, and is currently trying to start up another one.

Cahill started Balcony Men about five years ago with a friend of his. The name of the production company came to be after Cahill and his friend were looking at shadows from people.

Balcony men worked on a number of projects, one of them was an 8 part miniseries, which Cahill described as a love letter to the television series, Lost.

Unfortunately, after a year the production company came into some hard times. “Things didn’t work out after hitting multiple brick walls, projects being left unfinished and losses of clients.” Cahill said. He attempted to resurrect the company two years later by producing music videos but there was a continued lack of income.

Cahill has not let this discourage him and although things did not work out at first, he is currently determined to get another company started. He has an interest in pursuing video game production when he is able to get another company going.

Now at 26 years old, Cahill is currently residing in Red Bank, where he works as a co-manager and waiter at the Chowder House. He has worked there for about two and a half years now.  

While growing up, Cahill went back and forth between living in Holmdel, NJ and Ocean City, MD as his parents lived in separate houses.

His interest in entertainment began during his childhood, when Cahill dabbled in some modeling and acting. His mother got him into the trade where he did various work such as runway, photoshoots and small commercial work. He even had a speaking role in the movie, Runaway Bride, which was unfortunately cut from the movie.

Cahill was asked about his experience working on the set of the movie, to which he recalled that Richard Gere was nice but Julia Roberts was less than pleasant. He even remembered one incident where she became so aggravated over something that she started throwing things out of her trailer.

The summer before Cahill began high school his mother convinced him to become a certified mime. “I think it was a way for my mom to get me to shut up.” said Cahill.

Cahill proved to be quite the thespian in high school, as he participated in a children’s theatre which ran two to three shows a day. After playing a comedic role in one successful production, he then typically played a comic relief-type character which became a recurring theme. He participated in a lot of short comedies throughout his time there.

Aside from theater, Cahill also participated in sports and played lacrosse for five years in a private league in Maryland. During his five years playing for the Beach Lacrosse league, he played defense and striker.

Cahill, in addition in getting another production company started, is currently working towards earning his bachelors in Journalism and minoring in sociology at Rutgers University.                   

The Scarlet Knights football program has been dealt a devastating blow. The team is coming off of their first season in the extremely competitive Big Ten Athletics conference, and are looking to build on the momentum of their rookie season.

 

On September 3^rd of this year, five players on the team’s defense were arrested, and later suspended, on charges of assault and armed robbery.

 

This came as a huge shock to both the University and it’s students. Students have always looked at football players as a representation of the school and all it has to offer. Now, that image is forever tainted with these allegations being brought to light.

 

In New Brunswick, when it rains it pours. Days later star receiver Leonte Carroo was suspected of domestic violence against an acquaintance following the 37-34 loss to Washington State.

 

Carroo’s involvement was unclear at the time and was suspended indefinitely by the team. The altercation took place right outside of High Point Solutions Stadium on the Busch Campus in Piscataway. This was the second suspension for Carroo this season, the first being for violating curfew at training camp.

 

This Rutgers Football program looks to be spiraling out of control at an astounding rate. Coach Kyle Flood already had his hands full dealing with the elevated competition of the Big Ten Conference, and seems to be fighting a two-front war at this time.

Rutgers University Student Is Aiming For The New York Times

By Ben Sobsey

NEW BRUNSWICK — Rutgers commuter student Theodora Appleton began writing for her local newspaper, “About Our Town Community News” three summers ago and now she is looking forward to landing a job with the New York Times.

“I would love to develop a Dear Abby type of column where I can communicate with younger audiences about everyday issues,” Appleton said.

                                                                                                              

She started writing as a promoter for local businesses but this summer she was able to start her own column. Appleton, she says, likes to write about the “muses of life,” where she can share her feelings and opinions on things like pop culture, current events, and international affairs.

Appleton also likes to write about significant life experiences, she says. Last week, Appleton wrote an article highlighting how life has changed for the generation that experienced 9/11. Her piece will be released in the October edition of the monthly paper.

In the mean time, Appleton continues school at Rutgers double majoring in Journalism and Media Studies and Psychology.

Outside of the classroom, she is working as an assistant director for the Livingston Theatre Company’s upcoming play Anything Goes. She also dabbled in some Rutgers clubs like baking and soccer before ultimately committing to her directorial position for the November showing.

When away from Rutgers, Applegate keeps active working hectic nights as a waitress at the Outback Steakhouse, which is just a short drive from her home. She does not let her busy schedule; however, stop her from exploring new challenges.

Last Spring, she entered a Spartan Race—a massive obstacle course at the Mountain Creek Resort in New Jersey which she admits is something that was, at first, a step outside her comfort zone, but is now something she loves and is enthusiastic about.

Enthusiasm, Appleton says, is what helps her manage her busy schedule between writing, working, and school. Even though she stays busy around the clock, she says that she enjoys every moment of her jam-packed days.

Appleton sometimes likes to draw her writing from her own experiences. Being the middle sibling between her older sister Paige and her younger brother Paul, Appleton has the resources to reach varying age groups with her writing. Appleton believes that being surrounded by people of different ages will help her serve as a mouthpiece for the youth.

One of her classmates speaks for all of Appleton’s close friends when she says, “she is so lively and full of character. I really believe that she will be a New York Times Writer one day, or anything else she wishes to be, because of all the devoted energy she puts into her everyday life.”

Looking ahead, Appleton has big plans for her future, “two summers from now, I would like to see myself at an internship in the city with a well-known newspaper or a some sort of media company.”

Appleton has two semesters remaining before she can walk off her graduation stage at Rutgers University with a ticket to her dream job.

Photo: Appleton posed outside of the School of Communication and Information Building on the College Ave Campus at Rutgers

Rutgers University Student Aspires to Help Others

She was only six years old, when Shahar Platt, a Rutgers University sophomore, was in a room with her twin brother who started choking on an olive pit. She felt helpless as she saw her brother struggling. Fortunately she called for help and her mother performed CPR.

Since then, Platt was hooked. She wanted to become a doctor. She felt a need to help others.

The chaotic atmosphere mixed with the heroic ending, urged her to learn more in order to know what to do in dangerous situations and be able to save lives.

She plans to be a pediatrician and help more children like she tried to help her brother.

She is not just concerned with her struggle to get through biology and chemistry; she tries to help in every aspect of her life. 

“She is the first person to help someone whether it is the tiniest thing or the biggest thing. She doesn’t wait until someone needs help, she notices what one would need and asks, Yasmine Radi, her housemate said.

Radi said Platt cooks everyone breakfast in the morning and helps everyone in the house with their schoolwork. She is the first to clean up the whole house, even when she did not make the mess.

“One time I came home after a terrible day and did not feel up for anything. Shahar noticed and without asking baked me cookies and put on a movie and we watched it together. It was exactly what I needed. She always knows exactly what people need and makes it her duty to get it to them,” Radi said.

This need to help does not stop there for Platt. She is also involved in many social activist groups.

“She will be the one to be taking over social media with posts about discrimination and attempts at trying to make a change in society, Radi said.

Platt attended a campaign to create awareness and celebrate social justice at Rutgers, called IDEA week, which stands for intersectionality, diversity and equity awareness week.

She also sat it on a talk at Rutgers where LGBTQ activist, CeCe Mcdonald spoke out about race and sexuality on April 28.

Platt aspires to help change the world in many ways. She thinks it all starts with helping the individual. She spends her free time volunteering at soup kitchens, old age homes and hospitals.

She said she visits the same man in an old age home every week. They play chess together and they both look forward to it all week.

Platt believes one person is able to make a difference.

“One persons action or actions can be powerful, and has the potential to be just as powerful or more than the actions of a group,” Platt said.

Platt said numbers are important but all you need is one person to start something, to make a change in the world, or a difference in someone’s life.

Rutgers University Student Next Future Author



Photo: Rutgers Bus

Daniella Cardona



Rutgers Student Gabby Roldan, 18, one of the youngest students to attend a Dodge Festival at the NJ Pac Theatre in Newark, has been inspired to pursue her dream in Journalism.


Out of her whole high school, only two people were chosen to attend, and she was one of the lucky ones.


Gabrielle Roldan said, this is good…put attribution at the end of the sentence “My teacher saw a future for me in journalism and told me she could not think of anyone else she would have rather chosen to attend the festival.”


With that in mind, Gabby got motivated to become a Journalism and Media Studies major. Wanting to become an author, of course this was her first step at achieving her goal, she said.


During the festival Gabby found her favorite poet, Mojgani. Mojgani is a slam poet. In other words, is involved in a competition where people read their poems and get scores based on their poems. This poet is still fairly young, is known but not yet that big, and has published a couple books such as: Songs from Under the River and The Feather Room.


Gabby said she connected a lot to this poet because Mojgani is very descriptive and it made gabby want to take her own poetry into that perspective. Meeting Mojgani encouraged her to share more using more metaphors and similes.

“I want to paint pictures with my stories rather than just stating. I think that is the problem with most authors at the moment,” Ms. Roldan told me during the interview. These words came exactly from the future author herself, so you know what to expect in the next couple of years.

Gabby mentioned, “My goals in life include publishing books mostly concerning family because I have had to deal with so much throughout my whole life,” and then later added,“I then want to turn my books into movies,” the future author told me.


Although Gabby is focusing on her schoolwork, she writes poetry on the side just to help her get into a better mood. Some people take naps to feel better, nope, Gabby writes poetry. Only being a freshman at Rutgers University, Gabby has landed a job with the RU-TV right here on campus. She plans to do big things with this, get her foot out the door, and gain experience from this amazing opportunity.


When talking about gaining for experience, Gabrielle’s first language is English, but is also bilingual in Spanish. In High School she took French, and of course that was not enough so now currently she is taking Arabic in college.


She says, “There is always something new we can learn; everyday is a new day and if you do not take advantage of it, you are living life wrong.”


Ms. Roldan has been attending these “Verbal Mayhem’s” every week that are held usually around the College Avenue campus, reading her poems out loud to be heard. Many slam poets gather here and share the pieces they wrote, and sometimes even well known poets guest speak. The people there share feedback, and also participate as well. Gabby gains confidence whenever she reads there because everyone is very supportive.


Gabby said, “I had never actually read any of my poems out loud in a public place like that, and getting over the fear of people not liking my poem, I have overcome.”

There will always be haters out there, but Gabrielle is focused on achieving any obstacle she must do in order to get to where she needs to be.

Rutger's University student is on a path to greatness.

By Allan Vanterpool 

Rutger's University student Ashley Berry dreams of going far in the field of journalism. This sophomore, Delta Gamma Sorority sister, and journalism and media studies major has led a life of fast paced progression.

From her early years of education she had shown an aptitude for journalism.

In high school Berry joined many clubs and sports teams. 

She was a member of the field hockey, soccer and swimming team. Although she like playing sports Berry felt that her true calling lied in writing about the action.

Berry’s passion was in journalism which prompted her to join her school television station. From then on Berry had access to cameras, editing software, and others that shared her journalistic interests. Her duties were limited to script writing for the teleprompter, but due to her industrious nature she was running the place in no time.

First she began to expand her responsibilities by not only editing footage, but also doing some reporting in front of the camera. This led to her producing her own show for the channel and basically managing everyone else’s stories and ideas for the show.

Every week Sussex central high school was greeted with the enthusiasm and intrigue that Ashley Berry brought to every one of her stories. She had hands on training that acted as almost a mock professional setting of a news room. 

Berry stated, “The club acted as a catalase for my vision, I was able to create and explore all aspects of writing and reporting.”

From the highlights of last night’s high school football game to the topics debated at the latest town hall meeting, Berry was always up to date. Being a high school journalist and getting the experience of editing, reporting and producing further propelled her enthusiasm for journalism.

Berry had aspirations of becoming the next Katie Couric, this inspired her to never allow anything to get in the way of her realizing her goals; for news writing was her passion.

When college came hurling by, Berry had her objectives clear. In order to realize her goal of becoming a world renowned journalist she would need connections. 

She had some experience on her belt, but in order to attain great success in her field she knew she had to travel through the proper channels.

Berry knew that networking and forming relationships were essential in attaining her ambitions. This prompted her to join the sorority Delta Gamma. The objective was to find girls that she could relate to and find internships and job opportunities that are in her field.

The Delta Gamma sorority as a late has helped in assisting Berry with internship opportunities related to journalism. Berry currently weights her options in regards to which internship to pursue, but she hopes to have one during the summer.

More recently, she joined a newspaper-writing club and is in the works of joining RUTV. Her early experience in the field will make her a great asset to the RUTV team.

Berry continues to find journalism writing and video production clubs, which will give her even more experience that will help her realize her goal of becoming a television journalist.

 Photo: Ashely Berry Rutgers New Brunswick