Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net Vol. L, No. 9
April 3, 2019
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Sabbatical-prize winner presents research By Brenden Edgeworth Correspondent
Artists rock Cub Alt
In an effort to expose the severity of water management and scarcity issues around the world, an associate professor of history a the College discussed his research on March 27 in the Education Building Room 212. Matthew Bender was the recipient of the 2016-2017 Gitenstein-Hart Sabbatical Prize. This award helped him gain the support needed to finalize his book, “Water Brings No Harm: Management Knowledge and the Struggle for the Waters of Kilimanjaro.” After an introduction from William W. Keep, the interim provost and vice president of academic affairs, Bender reflected on the origin of his interest in the subject of water scarcity and management. Having gone to England on a study-abroad program, he became interested in former areas of the British Empire, specifically Kenya. “After I came back home, I went to Kenya in order to collect research,” Bender said. “I found it to be a life-changing experience that challenged my perceptions of the region, and I became drawn to the topic of African history.” Bender explained how his research brought the issue of the global water scarcity crisis to his attention, especially in Africa. Bender stressed how the issue of water scarcities and contaminants, shown through both see WATER page 3
Samantha Shaw / Staff Photographer
Community hosts vigil in wake of mosque shooting By Amani Salahudeen Staff Writer One was a well-known soccer player. Another was visiting New Zealand for the first time. One had become a father just days before. Another was only three years old. On March 15, 50 victims were killed by a 28-year-old gunman in Christchurch, New Zealand at the Al Noor mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre. Across the world, thousands of people gathered to mourn and honor the innocent victims through vigils and donating to the victims’ families online, according to theNews.com. Although they are thousands of miles away from New Zealand, many students at the College were deeply impacted by the tragedy. The College hosted a candlelit vigil to honor the victims on March 28 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Spiritual Center. The victims’ names were spoken and remembered, as students recited du’aas (supplications) and had a moment of silence. “I think that the shooting is horrible and tragic,” said Lorena LiMato, a senior music education major. “I believe that any loss of life is something we should all grieve, especially if an innocent group is targeted.” Many students also added that the tragedy could have happened to anyone. “This was definitely heartbreaking and I cried
Musicians bring their sound to campus. Read the story on page 19.
see GRIEF page 15
Tcnj-snap’s actions spark confusion, controversy By Jane Bowden Features Editor
When Jennifer Massa, a junior special education and English dual major, wanted to sell a few pairs of her used sneakers back in October, she had a range of options. Online resale stores such as ThredUp and Poshmark had thousands of customers nationwide, while local thrift shops like Plato’s Closet offered convenience with a 15-minute drive. As a college student on a budget, every dollar and second mattered to Massa. It could take months for her shoes to sell online, and even then, most retailers only give back 15 to 40 percent of how much they sell, according to ThredUp and Plato’s Closet. That was when Massa turned to tcnj-snap. Tcnj-snap is an unofficial, student-run account on the popular multimedia messaging app, Snapchat. Students at the College often advertise club events, items they are selling and more for no charge on the account’s Snapchat
story, which receives more than 4,000 views per story, according to the owner of tcnj-snap who has agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity. The owner is a College graduate, according to Massa. In order to receive the promotion, students must message tcnjsnap via Snapchat, at which time tcnj-snap will post the advertisement on its story. However, when Massa reached out to tcnj-snap to sell her three pairs of shoes, the organization would not post the advertisement until she paid $12 to “TCNJ M” on Venmo and claimed that the charge would be given to other clubs and organizations on campus. Without proof that the money from the charge was going back to the College, Massa was hesitant to accept. Months later, news of tcnjsnap charging students like Massa sparked outrage across the campus, causing many to question if the platform has the right to sell promotions and if the money is being donated to the College. “When they have the word
INDEX: Nation & World / page 7
Follow us on... The Signal @tcnjsignal
Editorial / page 9
‘TCNJ’ in their Snapchat, a lot of people thought they were affiliated with the College, but that’s not true at all,” said Abhi Vempati, a freshman computer science major after he was charged $12 to sell an iPhone X on tcnj-snap in December. “What’s the guarantee that the money goes back to the College?” Vempati asked. Vempati also claimed that he learned through experience that if the student’s item does not sell after three weeks, tcnj-snap still keeps the money it charged. “Doing that means they’ll get the guaranteed sale and they keep your money,” the computer science major said. “That’s what quite bothered me at least.” Although news of the charges only became public in late February, senior biology and public health double major Justine Wilson said tcnj-snap’s charges are nothing new. In February 2018, Wilson asked tcnj-snap to promote the Biology Club’s T-shirt tabling event, where the sales of the shirts were being donated to
Opinions / page 11
Flickr
Users can sell items and promote events on the account.
charity. However, when tcnjsnap said they would not post the advertisement unless it was paid, Wilson stopped answering. “I didn’t ask how much, because I thought it was an abuse of their platform to charge students to advertise things,” Wilson said.
Features / page 15
While many students followed Wilson’s footsteps in refusing to comply with the charges, others took matters into their own hands. On March 5, a student at the College — who wished to remain see APP page 5
Arts & Entertainment / page 19
Sports / page 24
Campus Style Flowy dresses are in style for spring
‘In the Groove’ Exhibit Students explore history of music
Lions defeat four rival opponents
Baseball
See Features page 15
See A&E page 19
See Sports page 24
page 2 The Signal April 3, 2019
Water Professor researchwith in Africa Protest // Students fightpresents for betteron relationship Trenton April 3, 2019 The Signal page 3 May 3, 2017 The Signal page 5
continued from page 1
current placement process.” TCU acknowledged Gitenstein’s response as “a great according to an official list of demands produced by TCU. first step in helping to repair the relationship between TrenAdditional demands included “a reversal of the closure of ton and the College,” according to a document produced by the TCNJ Clinic” and “an open forum so that the campus and the TCU entitled “TCNJ Committee on Unity Response to local community can discuss the Clinic and its proposed clo- President Gitenstein.” sure with the administration.” However, TCU argues that their demands for the future of “TCU chose to take on the Clinic as its own charge, the TCNJ Clinic and Paul Loser Hall are yet to be met. Their believing in its value as a connection to the community in reasons were detailed in the aforementioned document. which the College exists,” said Jennifer Sparks, director of TCU states that Gitenstein has “taken the closure of the the TCNJ Clinic. “This speaks to the importance of the Clinic clinic as a given” and that “closing such a vital institution that on campus. provides mental health services to the Trenton community is “We were surprised by TCU’s decision to fight for the once again a slight against Trenton.” Clinic, and at the same time incredibly honored and grateful With regard to Paul Loser Hall, TCU claims that in her Photo courtesy of TCNJ Committee on Unity for the support and awareness it has brought to our commu- response, Gitenstein “merely restated that she has already nity,” Sparks added. created a commission to address this problem” and did not TCNJ Clinic supports TCU with pizza. Gitenstein responded to TCU at approximately 3:00 p.m. “outline the further responses to this issue and receive input Clinic, compounded with the lack of a new name for on Wednesday, April 26, with a written statement after a brief from residents and students on how to go about repairing this Paul Loser Hall, highlights the College’s strained relameeting with the sit-in participants. relationship (with Trenton).” tionship with Trenton. “TCNJ President R. Barbara Gitenstein met with stuIn addition to the sit-in organized by TCU, over 1,300 stu“Both of these items are symbolic of a greater distancing dents this morning who were staging a sit-in in her confer- dents and community members have signed a petition entitled that the College has done over the last 20 Gonzalez years,” / said Miguel PhotoChris Editor ence room,” said Luke Sacks, head media relations officer “Save the TCNJ Counseling Clinic: Wellness is Worth It!” Loos, a sophomore history major. “Since we are one of the Left: Keep introduces the College’s associate history professor. Right: Bender’s book details the global water scarcity crisis. for the College. “The students had not requested a meeting “The emphasis behind the petition is basically to have the major schools in the area, it is our duty as community leaders with the president prior it, the about administration our disappointment thatwhat the key constiturespectas and work with the people of Trenton.” continued from page 1 to the sit-in. Had they requested consideration what can know past watersaid. “I do I can to maketopeople irrigation canals they referred to as ‘mipresident would have certainly met with them.” ents were not sought for input in the decision,” said Jennifer While long term mental health care be considered available at management methods teach us.” comfortable with me as possible.” fongo,’ and the womenwill were Gitenstein acknowledged concerns about both the TCNJ Peck-Nolte, a supervisor of students in the Counselor EducaInFocus Urgent Care, which opens this summer Campus the drought in California and the waIn order to research the issue further, Bender explained the tribe’s inter- to have the most knowledge ofinwhere to Clinic and Loser Hall in the written statement. tion Program and the author of the petition. “We felt that those Town, opponents of the TCNJ Clinic closure maintain that ter crisis in Flint, Michigan, are just Bender traveled to the Kilimanjaro re- action with and use of the water, to find water in the region.” agree yourwhen concerns regarding troubled his- that are most impacted the decision the TCNJ the Urgent Care will not be as affordable as the Clinic. the tip“Iof the with iceberg it comes to the gion in Tanzania, where he met withby and which toheclose referred as Clinic the “waterscape,” After Bender concluded his presentorical and current relationship between The College of New are students and clients. Neither of those groups had input.” “As with most private clinical settings, InFocusthe requires the issues surrounding water around observed the Chagga tribe. While this and how they have managed to avoid tation, the audience followed lecJersey and the city of Trenton,” Gitenstein wrote. “Because of The low cost of mental health care at the TCNJ Clinic made insurance. All students are required by the College to carry the globe and they are still being un- was not his first visit Africa, this was a water scarcity crisis for so long. The ture with applause and commendation. my agreementWith with these I named ‘The College of it a popular resourceofforthat students and community insurance, that does not mean they have access to menderestimated. theseconcerns, observations his first experience with people waterscape wasmembers. handled using a sys-but Overall, Bender’s lecture provided inNew Jersey Advisory Commission on Social Justice: Race in “I’ve used the Clinic for a year and a half now, and I hontal health. Insurance often requires a copay or includes in mind, he began to research which region and he noticed how seclusive and tem of water management that utilized sight as to what can be done to addressa Educational Attainment.’” estly people wouldn’twere be here at TCNJa ifwide it wasn’t for of the knowledge affordable and largeexperdeductible, of whichissue can beofbarriers actions can be taken to alleviate the cautious the Chagga in prorange theboth growing waterto receiving scarcity Gitenstein also acknowledged TCU’s concerns for the mental health care that they provided,” said Ariana Chuba, treatment,” Sparks said. “This is no different forwas community growing concern. tecting their land, something he pointed tise, namely a system of irrigation ca- throughout the world, which effecTCNJ Clinic. a junior history major participant. “This the is affordmembers, sametively issuesindicated apply. The in only difference is thatcloscom“Water scarcity is defined as a region out as being much different from and his sit-in nals that utilized geography of the one of Bender’s “We discussed a number of activities we are actively purable not just to TCNJ students, but to the community, and munity members, especially in this area, are often uninsured. having insufficient economic resources home in the Midwest. He shared how area, which allowed the region to have a ing remarks. suing toclean ensure thatreliable the longwater term counseling needs of our shutting it down… (the College been continuAnd who thinks to“Water go to Urgent Careisfor therapy?” that will to bring and to its important it wasthey’re for him to accommosteady andhas) reliable water supply. scarcity something students are met with the highest level by professionally lially distancing themselves from the Trenton community.” TCU provided a closing statement at the end we of the sit-in, people,” Bender said. “This is some- date for the drastic cultural differences “The waterscape has been hugely in- continue to be an issue unless address censed clinicians,” she wrote. “We expect that these opportuTCU says that the closure of the Clinic will cut off which stated: “Until the TCNJ Committee on Unity feels that thing that goes far beyond Africa. The he shared with the tribe in order to con- fluential in shaping the identity, relations it,” Bender said. “In order to help protect nities will also be available to the external community… the access to affordable mental healthcare for Trenton resiour demands are adequately addressed and met by the adminrecent drought in California is a nota- duct his research. and beliefs of the Chagga people in the the future, sometimes you have to learn of ourIgraduate students to accumulate the dents in who mayways,” not be he able to afford services at InFocus istration of Thefrom College New Jersey we will not yield in bleneeds example. eventually came to the “I necessary was an outsider many region,” Bender said. “The tribe utilized the of past.” clinical hours to graduate on time will be met through our Urgent Care. TCU also maintains that the closure of the our pursuit for justice.”
Students present College brand campaign to SG By Alex Shapiro Columnist Student Government held a branding presentation and announced several upcoming events at its meeting on March 27. SG began the meeting with the presentation by senior business management major Kelly Kozar and sophomore communication studies major Bryanna O’Keefe, who are interns working on the College’s new “Hi!” campaign, meant to publicize the College’s efforts as an institution of higher education. The campaign’s positioning framework is to present “TCNJ (as) a destination for high-caliber students, faculty and staff, who seek intellectual challenge. We are self-starters who set goals, pursue them with tenacity, and commit to achieve them by performing at the highest level,” explained O’Keefe and Kozar. Kozar and O’Keefe also said that the College “possesses a restless curiosity for exploring new ideas and conducting work that makes a difference. We see an always-brighter future for ourselves, our community and our world.” According to the presenters, the College wants to hear the stories of accomplishments and success from students from the College, such as getting good grades or winning a sports game. The “Hi!” campaign showcases how students feel as part of the community. Students at the College can participate by posting a picture of themselves with a professor, friends, a sports team or organization on Instagram or Instagram stories and using the hashtag #TCNJsaysHi. Students can also use one of the “Hi!” phrases, such as #HiTCNJ, #HiDemand, #HiHopes and #HiAchiever in
a post on social media, to talk about how they are involved on campus. Prizes for participating in this new campaign, by posting pictures and tagging or direct messaging @tcnj_official on Instagram, include phone wallets, baseball hats, laptop stickers, water bottles, food and limited-edition long sleeve T-shirts. Each week these exclusive prizes and selected winners will be announced. SG Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Eashwayne Haughton announced that Spring Diversity and Inclusion Week will be during the second week in April. On Monday, April 8, SG will hold “TCNJ Epcot” in the Brower Student Center from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. The annual event highlights the College’s diversity and will be presented with an art and culture theme this semester. A “Privilege Walk” in Lions’ Stadium at 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, will allow students to learn the effects of societal power. On April 10, the “Second Annual TCNJ Diversity Summit” will take place in the Brower Student Center from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The “#IAmTCNJ Monologues” will be held Thursday, April 11 in Mayo Concert Hall at 8 p.m. These monologues were last held in October of 2018 where students took to the stage to discuss their lives at the College and advocate for their experiences surrounding diversity and inclusion. SG announced that the “For the Culture” event will be taking place in the Decker Social Space at 8:30 p.m. on April 12. The event will have music, food and dancing for students to take enjoy while they take the time to learn about each other’s diverse backgrounds.
page 4 The Signal April 3, 2019 page 4 The Signal April 3, 2019
Professor examines effects of lobbying
Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor
Students learn how businesses can influence lawmakers’ decisions on policies.
By Sumayah Medlin Staff Writer
As part of the Politics Forum Series, Professor Alexander Garlick of the political science department presented his lecture on the effect of lobbying groups on policy processes, which was held on March 26 in the Social Sciences Building Room 223. The lecture, “What do Groups Want?,” focused on how lobbying groups affect the policy process in an effort to inform citizens. The talk consisted of a sample of the research in his upcoming book, “The Menu,” which has yet to be released. His title was inspired by an old Washington, D.C. saying, “If you’re not at the table, you’re
probably on the menu.” In his presentation, Garlick promised to reveal how the menu gets created. At the start of his lecture, Garlick — who formerly worked on Capitol Hill as a congressional fellow for the American Political Science Association — presented an infamous edited picture of former House Speaker John Boehner wearing a NASCAR suit with patches symbolizing his biggest donors, such as AT&T and the Walt Disney Company. The photoshopped picture was presumably inspired by former non-partisan Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura’s suggestion that politicians should wear NASCAR suits when they campaign, according to USNews.com. “‘They (could) have their
sponsors, or donors, on big patches. Then we can learn as citizens who owns (which) candidate,’” according to USNews.com. Garlick explained that businesses and organizations donate to politicians or to a certain political party, which almost guarantees that the values of the party or politicians and their donors will align. Garlick believed that this is the reason why it is so difficult to get certain programs into effect, such as the Green New Deal or Medicare for All, which he said would decrease economic inequality. Political and policy implications including polarization, inequality and mass participation decide how far a bill gets in the legislative process. “It doesn’t matter what the
public supports if the legislators never get to vote on it,” Garlick said. According to Garlick, lobbying influences politicians’ agendas. They take lobbyists’ views into account when deciding which issues are considered, particularly for passage. There are two types of lobbying — positive, which pushes for a bill’s passing, and negative, which pushes for its rejection. The majority of lobbying is negative and business lobbying is more negative than nonbusiness lobbying. According to Garlick, businesses engage in negative lobbying because they prefer less government interference. Along with engaging in more negative lobbying, Garlick’s research predicts that some business-lobbyers will tend to support Republican policies. Garlick found these predictions to be true in his research. For instance, general businesses in Colorado engage in negative lobbying against Republican bills, except when the bill was proposed by another business, which was more guaranteed to serve their particular interest. Garlick also found that when businesses engage in positive lobbying, the bill is usually a Republican bill. According to Garlick, “business support can particularly help Republican bills during Democrat control.” A major takeaway is that organizations and businesses have sway in the legislative process. If
an organization or a business does not support a bill, it is more difficult for it to get passed by the governor, especially if the bill does not have the support of both businesses and organizations and vice versa. While the research does say that businesses tend to lobby for Republican bills when they engage in positive lobbying, it does not necessarily mean that businesses are inherently Republican or always side with the Republican party. Due to the two-party system, it is possible that businesses and organizations do not always agree with one party — they may have certain interests that may cause their support to waver. According to Garlick, citizens should look out for behind-thescenes lobbying so that they can be more informed. “These groups have more of an impact on the state level than they do on the federal level, because fewer people are paying attention,” he said. Major groups affect politics by deciding what legislators get to vote on, according to Garlick. Knowing this information gives voters an idea of the people to whom their representatives are more likely to pander, as well as why a bill that will objectively help people may not pass. Referring back to the old Washington, D.C. saying, the information gives voters an idea of who is seated at the metaphorical table.
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 5
App / Students weary of advertisement charges
Account claims money goes toward food pantry
Left: Students can publicize events for free on tcnj.news. Right: People use ThredUp to sell items such as clothing and jewelry. continued from page 1 anonymous — created tcnj.news on Instagram in retaliation. “I was in the Library Cafe and overheard some girls having a conversation,” the owner of tcnj.news said. “They were saying that tcnj-snap was charging them to post about their organization’s philanthropy event. That kind of rubbed me the wrong way. Why should organizations have to charge to post about events that will help out our community? The previous owner of tcnj-snap didn’t charge, so why now? On a whim, I sat down in one of the cubicles in the library and started the account.” A week after the account was created, tcnj.news reached 1,000 followers. It receives approximately 10 requests a day from students asking to advertise on its platform. With its intention of remaining free for students, tcnj.news believes its influence on the College’s campus will only grow. “Since we are on Instagram, the thing that makes this platform
unique is that we can go on student’s stories,” tcnj.news said via email. “If they have something we think would be valuable for our community to see, we shoot them a (direct message) and ask if we can post it. After all, our account was created to help out the TCNJ community.” In response to the outrage from students like Wilson and the creation of tcnj.news, tcnjsnap posted on its story to address the outrage. “It has come to my attention that many feel this account is not transparent enough,” tcnj-snap said via its Snapchat story. “In the next couple of days, information will be provided to show exactly where the donations have been given and to alleviate any concerns regarding where the funds are ending up. I’m sorry for any misunderstanding.” Tcnj-snap also added that students would be able to participate in a scavenger hunt at the end of the spring semester, where those who had donated would receive free publicity on tcnj-snap and win prizes. According to tcnj-snap,
students who wanted to sell items through the account were offered a price of $3 to $5 per item, but the charges were not forced. If students accepted the deal, they would Venmo the money to “TCNJ M” and their advertisements would be promoted through tcnj-snap for three weeks. After the allotted time, the students would get their money back through Venmo if their items did not sell. As far as where the money from the charges was going, tcnj-snap said via Snapchat that the profits were being donated to the College’s food pantry. As of Monday, April 1, the TCNJ Food Pantry Fund did not receive any donations through the TCNJ Foundation that would indicate that it is a contribution from tcnj-snap, according Michell Lin, assistant director for Stewardship and Donor Relations for the food pantry. Despite tcnj-snap’s clarification, students were still questioning if tcnj-snap could be trusted. “I think it’s great that they
want to help out the community, but as of right now, (students) are just going off of their word,” tcnj.news said via email. “If they can provide proof that the money is going to important causes for the school, then that in my opinion is perfectly acceptable.” On March 15, the College graduate and owner of tcnjsnap stepped down due to lack of time and the backlash. Later that day, the new and current owner of tcnj-snap, a student at the College who asked to remain anonymous, made an announcement saying that students would no longer be charged. “This is supposed to be a resource and fun, and charging students turns viewers away,” tcnj-snap said via Snapchat. “My goal for this account is to promote (events) but also be used as a resource for students to find out about things happening on campus and stay informed.” Tcnj-snap also added that there would be changes to how the account is utilized. “I want to make it more student friendly, so I want to incorporate funny videos at events
and parties for example, and to also give info about events and parties happening on campus.” On March 19, tcnj-snap said that the previous charges — which totaled $350 — had been donated to the College and sent a screenshot via Snapchat that showed a confirmation email from John P. Donohue, executive director of TCNJ Foundation. Donohue could not be reached for comment. Since the announcement of free promotions, tcnj-snap has seen a spike in student outreach. “Some of (the students) were still scared that they would have to pay after asking, but when I said no, they were very grateful,” the new owner of tcnj-snap said. Although students like Wilson — who said she is unsure if she will ever promote on tcnjsnap in the future — remain hesitant, Massa said she will definitely be reaching out to the platform to sell more items. “I think it’s better this way,” Massa said. “No one should be making money off a free app unless they pay taxes.”
Campus Police cautions students Vital Signs: Beware of mumps outbreak By Raquel Sosa-Sanchez Columnist Suspicious person lurks on campus On Thursday, March 28 at approximately 2:35 a.m., Chief of Campus Police Tim Grant sent out a campus-wide alert via email regarding a suspicious individual on campus grounds. The email stated that on March 27 at approximately 10 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to the Brower Student Center on a report of a suspicious person seen by building service workers. According to Campus Police, the individual was male and lingering in the women’s restroom. The individual identified himself and said he was not a student at the College. Upon arrival, Campus Police spoke with the suspect and he proceeded to leave the premises voluntarily. At approximately 10:20 p.m. on the same night, a female student residing on
the second floor of Hausdoerffer Hall reported that a suspicious male matching the description of the suspect had knocked on her door and asked if she was alone. According to the student, the individual proceeded to make flirtatious remarks and then left the premises without any incident. Upon review of the building’s security footage, Campus Police observed this individual as fitting the description of the individual reported at Brower Student Center. Campus Police advised that students should use caution when giving others access to resident halls. An officer emphasized the “potentially dangerous” consequences this incident could have resulted in. Campus Police urges anyone with information pertaining to this case to call them immediately. There is no further information reported at this time, according to Campus Police.
By Anna Kellaher Columnist Last week, a mumps outbreak started at Temple University and spread to some Philadelphia residents, according to NPR. As of Thursday, March 28, the city’s health department reported 106 cases. Mumps is a viral infection that affects the saliva-producing glands located near your ears, which causes the cheeks to puff out. The symptoms include swollen salivary glands, fever, headache, muscle aches, weakness, fatigue and loss of appetite, according to the Mayo Clinic. While incidence of the virus has reduced significantly since vaccination became routine, outbreaks still occur. Outbreaks are more common in close-contact settings like schools and college campuses. The outbreaks normally affect people who are not vaccinated with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
According to the CDC, doctors advise that all children receive the MMR vaccine. However, in this case, most of the students affected were vaccinated as children, according to NPR. The protection that the vaccine provides wears off over time. “‘By the time (students) get to college, their immunity is lowered,’” said James Garrow, a Philadelphia Department of Public Health spokesperson, according to NPR. The good news is that there is an MMR booster shot to increase your immunity. The Mayo Clinic says that doctors may recommend a booster if you are in an area that is experiencing an outbreak. Mumps is spread through saliva and mucus from the mouth, nose or throat of an infected person. Always cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoid sharing items like cups and utensils and wash your hands frequently.
page 6 The Signal April 3, 2019
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 7
Nation & W rld
Boeing announces software updates for 737 Max By Anandita Mehta Staff Writer
On March 27, Boeing declared that the flight control system — which has been connected to the cause of the crashes in Ethiopia and Indonesia that killed 346 people — will be updated, according to CNet. The Ethiopian Airlines crash killed 157 people and follows in the wake of a Lion Air crash over the Java Sea last October that resulted in the deaths of 189 people, which was also caused by issues with the Boeing 737 Max aircraft, Fortune reported. Fortune also reported that on March 13, President Donald Trump grounded all 737 Max aircraft in the U.S. after the Ethiopia crash, according to Fortune. The 737 Max aircraft have been in service since 2017, even before flight simulators were finished for airline use, The
Wall Street Journal reported. The flight control system, the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, was the culprit under scrutiny. The system in the 737 Max pushes the nose down when it detects that the aircraft will stall. According to CNet, “preliminary data from both crashes show that flight crews struggled to take control as the airplanes continually dove just after takeoff.” In last fall’s Lion Air crash, the MCAS engaged based on incorrect information and kept pushing the nose of the plane down, despite pilot’s attempts to override the system, USA Today reported. While developing the 737 Max, Boeing sought to minimize changes that would necessitate extra pilot training in an effort to reduce airline’s costs, the Wall Street Journal indicates. According to CNet, Boeing
and the FAA are facing charges due to the current 737 Max pilot training not mentioning the MCAS system in order to “minimize the cost and time of certifying pilots.” The flight crew training is the center of several investigations including one by Congress, which had a hearing on March 27. Part of the software updates will include making warning lights a standard feature, rather than a paid alternative, so that pilots will be alerted when the MCAS is engaging, the Wall Street Journal indicates. Another part of Boeing’s “fixes” is flight crew training. “Twenty-one or more days of instructor-led and simulator training on the 737 Max, including interacting with MCAS, will be required before pilots can fly the aircraft,” CNet reported. Since computer systems have
The MCAS appears to be at fault for the crashes.
been shown to respond more smoothly to unusual situations than humans, there is a hesitation to disengage the MCAS completely, the Wall Street Journal indicates. Analysts have determined that the repairs could take between three to six months and cost $500 million. The estimates do not include costs to compensate airlines for lost revenues resulting from grounded planes. However, the
YouTube
more severe costs are likely to result from loss of confidence in the Boeing aircraft, Fortune reported. According to the Wall Street Journal, the negative consumer sentiment is highest in Indonesia, since that is the location of the first crash. USA Today reported that Indonesia’s Garuda Airlines has canceled its entire order of Boeing 737 aircraft due to a loss of confidence in Boeing.
Flooding leaves reservation in state of emergency
YouTube
Many residents are without clean drinking water. By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer
On March 24, The New York Times reported on the state of emergency at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota where a number of residents were stranded by severe flooding in the Midwest. Residents have been stranded in their homes for nearly two weeks and emergency rations can only be delivered to some areas via horse, boat or helicopter. The Oglala Sioux
Tribe manages the reservation and officials have said that they do not have the necessary resources or technical skills to deal with such a major crisis. Tribe officials emphasized that they simply do not have enough people to pull off the large-scale aid, according to The New York Times. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe also declared a state of emergency after the Moreau River overflowed. About 50 people were evacuated, with some having to be airlifted by helicopter. The river was expected to crest at more than 30 feet, according to Argus Leader. Henry Red Cloud of Pine Ridge has lost five homes, multiple vehicles and the location of his solar energy business, has described the situation as a “‘state of emergency,’” according to The New York Times. Pine Ridge is not the only affected area — many regions of the Midwest have been flooded, destroying small towns, killing three people and causing over a billion dollars in economic damages. However, while aid came quickly to Iowa and Nebraska, Pine Ridge was left in a state of chaos. Many accused South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem of being slow to act. The relationship between the governor and the state’s Native American population is already fraught, The New York Times reported. The reservation is dealing with loss of equipment, jail inmates being required to fill sandbags and new mothers
running low on infant formula. Some medical patients also required help and ambulances could not reach them, The New York Times reported. Pine Ridge is one of the most poverty-stricken parts of the state, with 50 percent of people living in poverty and a 20-percent unemployment rate. The poor infrastructure exacerbated the problem caused by the flooding, as many residents live in aging houses far from any roads, according to the New York Times. Eight-thousand residents lost clean drinking water as a result of the flooding. Many fear climate change will only make weather situations worse in the future, The New York Times reported. Many residents were refusing to evacuate due to concern for their livestock and property, causing the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe government chairman, Harold Frazier, to tell residents to take the threat seriously. “‘You are placing not just your life, but the lives of those who will try to rescue you, at risk,’” Frazier said, reported Argus Leader. The tribal government is gathering resources at White Horse and looking for water rescue teams. The Emergency Operations Center sent a water response team, and the Army Corps of Engineers sent a sandbagging machine, reported the Argus Leader.
Cruise line under investigation after evacuation at sea By Viktoria Ristanovic Nation & World Editor
On March 25, Norwegian authorities launched an investigation on why the Viking Ocean Cruises cruise ship set sail despite storm warnings and why it experienced a power blackout while out at sea. The Norwegian Maritime Authority has been consulting with the cruise line and Lloyd’s, the “ships classification society,” to discern why the situation happened, according to USA Today. Lars Alvestad, head of the NMA, reported that low levels of oil were the “‘direct cause’” of the engine failure that left the cruise ship stranded on March 23, reported USA Today. However, the NMA stated in a press release that while the oil levels were indeed low, they were “within set limits,” USA Today wrote. Due to the stormy weather, the movement of the oil tanks triggered an alarm. Media outlets in Norway also reported that winds reached up to 43 mph
and waves reached over 26 feet. According to NBC News, the crew sent out a mayday call and authorities initiated a rescue operation involving a team of helicopters airlifting 479 passengers out of the nearly 1,300 people on board. After regaining engine power on March 24, the ship was aided by two supply ships and a tug vessel. It finally sailed into the Norwegian port of Molde, freeing the remaining 436 passengers and crew of 458 on Sunday, CNN reported. The U.S. Embassy in Oslo sent out “a consular team to Mold” to help evacuate U.S. citizens who were on the ship. Viking Ocean Cruises reported that there were 20 people who sustained injuries and were being treated at “medical facilities in Norway or had already been discharged,” according to CNN. One of the passengers, Rodney Horgen, reported his experience on the ship to The Associated Press. “‘When the windows and door flew open and the (six feet) of water swept
The ship braces for 26-foot waves and wind gusts of 43 mph. people and tables 20 to 30 feet that was the breaker. I said to myself, “‘This is it,’” Horgen explained, according to the AP. “‘I grabbed my wife but I couldn’t hold on. And she was thrown across the room. And then she got thrown back
Flickr
again by the wave coming back.’” According to NBC News, the operator revealed on Sunday that the cruise line’s next trip to Scandinavia and Germany, which had been scheduled to leave on March 27, was canceled.
page 8 The Signal April 3, 2019
fun stuff
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 9
Editorial
Home is a mindset, not a location
“Where are you from?” This is such a straightforward question that is typically answered in a short sentence, but having experienced four major moves and only being 18, I often find myself struggling to find the right response. I was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, which is in the area where my parents met and started their lives together. Soon after I was born, they built a house in King George, Virginia, where I lived until I was about 4 years old. Once I was ready to start kindergarten, my dad accepted a job in Washington D.C. This meant packing up and moving back to Maryland, –– this time to a small town called Huntingtown. Huntingtown was where I lived for the longest –– a whole nine years. I have many memories of that place — it is where I started elementary and middle school, where I made my first friend, where I learned how to swim and where I adopted my dog. Growing up, I felt a strong connection to Huntingtown. When my dad accepted yet another job in New York and I learned I’d have to start the eighth grade in New Jersey, I was terrified. This move affected me much more than the first did. I was older now and had to say goodbye to the friends I had made and everything I had grown so comfortable with. After moving to Randolph, a small town in North Jersey, I found the adjustment to be less challenging than I thought. I made many friends easily, got involved in extracurriculars and came to love New Jersey. Within a short period of time, I felt welcomed and comfortable. When it came time to apply to colleges, I knew I wanted to stay instate. Afterall, New Jersey was my new home. I decided to apply early decision to the College, and when I was committed by the beginning of December 2017, I could not have been happier. Going to school about an hour and a half away from home meant I was close enough to my family to leave campus on the weekends whenever I wanted. That February, I learned that my parents were looking at houses all the way in Chicago. “Nothing’s set in stone, we’re just looking” is what I was always told. My home was put on the market and sold later that month. We decided to close on our house in July 2018 after my high school graduation. This was the hardest move of all. Not only was I leaving what I believed to be my true home for the first time, but I was also moving into college the following month. Saying I had a lot to handle was an understatement. The end of July came and we were all packed up and ready to make the long 10-hour drive to Chicago. In August, I flew back to New Jersey with my mom to get moved into college. Having to fly home and back on breaks, while everyone around me only has a short drive, was incredibly difficult and involved a lot of readjustment. I spent a lot of time being angry at my parents for moving our family again, especially right before such a huge chapter in my life was beginning. However, I soon realized that being mad wouldn’t make my parents move back to Randolph, help me adjust into my first year at college or change the fact that while my friends can easily drive home and then back to school, I have to get on a plane. After I was able to change my attitude toward the situation, I made an important discovery. Home is not a specific location on a map. Home is where you feel the most yourself and where the people you love are. Home is getting disco fries at 3 a.m. with my best friends. Home is playing Mario Kart with my siblings. Home is playing with my little cousins and watching them unwrap their gifts on Christmas. Home is sharing a beautiful meal at my grandmother’s house. Home is not being able to sleep at night because of my dog’s loud snores. Home is a warm hug from my mother at any time of day. By this definition, I have many homes, and for that I am extremely grateful. I have come to terms with my most recent move and can now say that when I’m asked where I’m from, I am no longer hesitant to answer. I now respond with a simple, “everywhere.” — Isabel Vega Opinions Editor
Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.
Flickr
A true home provides its residents with a sense of belonging.
Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu
Editorial Staff Elizabeth Zakaim Editor-in-Chief zakaime1@tcnj.edu Emmy Liederman Garrett Cecere Managing Editors liedere1@tcnj.edu cecereg1@tcnj.edu Camille Furst Nicole Viviano News Editors furstc1@tcnj.edu viviann1@tcnj.edu Christine Houghton Sports Editor houghtc1@tcnj.edu Jane Bowden Features Editor bowdenj1@tcnj.edu Nicole Zamlout Arts & Entertainment Editor zamloun1@tcnj.edu Isabel Vega Opinions Editor vegai1@tcnj.edu Viktoria Ristanovic Nation & World Editor ristanv1@tcnj.edu Lara Becker Reviews Editor beckerl3@tcnj.edu Miguel Gonzalez Photo Editor gonzam23@tcnj.edu Kalli Colacino Production Manager colacik1@tcnj.edu
Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Muhammad Siddiqui Web Editor siddiqm4@tcnj.edu Lily Firth Alexandra Parado Social Media Editors firthl1@tcnj.edu paradoa1@tcnj.edu Len La Rocca Distribution Manager laroccl2@tcnj.edu Richard Miller Opinions Assistant miller20@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Derek Falci Business/Ad Manager falcid1@tcnj.edu
“People get married at the mosque, people celebrate their children’s accomplishments at the mosque, people host their Eid events at the mosque — it’s meant to be an open and safe space for everyone.” — Zahra Memon
Senior deaf education and biology dual major
“No one should be making money off a free app unless they pay taxes.” —Jennifer Massa
Junior special education and English dual major, regarding tcnj-snap.
“Are we allowed to curse? We should be. You guys are in college ... fuck.” — Dominick Fox Bad Luck lead singer
page 10 The Signal April 3, 2019
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 11
Opinions
Addicts deserve forgiving support system
Stigma leaves victims in silent, lonely misery
Lovato’s struggle with drug addiction unfolds in the public eye. By Richard Miller “Either you are calling me crazy or the bravest woman you know,” said talk-show host Wendy Williams after
admitting on her show on March 19 that she is seeking treatment for addiction. According to the The National Survey on Drug Use and Health, Williams is one of the 19.7 million American
adults who battle a substance use disorder. However, only four million people receive treatment, which is only 19 percent of those who need it. Williams’ statement perfectly sums up why less than one-fifth of those struggling with addiction actually seek treatment. Our society stigmatizes addiction because of the impaired judgment or erratic behavior associated with abusing drugs and alcohol. These actions can have legal and occupational consequences, as well as relationship problems. Understandably, these kinds of consequences cause embarrassment and shame among those involved. More celebrities are opening up about their personal struggles in an effort to de-stigmatize addiction. One of the most memorable instances was this past summer when Demi Lovato suffered a severe opioid overdose after almost six years of reported sobriety. The public’s response to her overdose ranged from supportive to extremely hurtful and disturbing. This divisiveness is what makes many who are struggling with addiction hesitant to reach out for help. Drug and alcohol addiction are too often seen as a moral issue or a criminal matter rather than a health problem. Despite advances in understanding addiction as a
disease, substance use disorder remains largely marginalized by the mainstream medical field, which stems from a lack of robust education on the topic in medical school. As evidenced by New Jersey’s opioid crisis, our country is paying the price for years of neglecting the fiscal and educational investments required to confront dangerous addiction. I have lost loved ones and relatives to addiction who were very young-, some even in their early twenties. I believe that if the stigma surrounding addiction was not so prominent in our society, then they would not have been afraid to seek the help they needed. The world can be cruel for those battling addiction. Addicts are the ones who need love, acceptance and support the most, yet society turns its back on them. When someone dealing with addiction is faced with societal rejection, they may feel that the only way they can ever again find their bliss is by succumbing to their addiction. Between healthcare professionals, loved ones, and the rest of society, people who need help have been let down time and time again. If you know someone facing addiction, the best thing you can do is dispel all judgment and offer empathetic support.
Peele’s films accurately highlight contemporary issues By Casey Lewis On March 22, horror movie fanatics began flocking to theaters to see the highly-anticipated film, “Us,” directed by Jordan Peele. After Peele’s wildly successful debut of “Get Out” in 2017, he’s proven to have what it takes to succeed in the industry. Peele has quickly become a household name, which is often a rarity in the modern horror genre. Even James Wan, who has directed some of the most famous horror movies of the 2000s, has not reached his level of popularity. So, what has set Peele apart from others in the industry so early on in his career? The answer is simple –– he has found his success by breaking the mold of modern horror films. Typical modern horror movies usually play out in predictable ways –– plots are often simplistic, the cast lacks diversity and gore and jump scares are favored over well-built suspense. Studios continue to produce these predictable and monotonous movies for one
main purpose — to make money. Despite poor reviews of these standard horror movies, they still make large profits in the box office. Since they are cheap to make (2014’s “Ouija” only had a budget of $5 million, according to Box Office Mojo), they are typically money-making machines for studios. For example, 2014’s “Ouija,” based on the Ouija game, scored an abysmal six percent on Rotten Tomatoes but earned over $100 million at the box office, according to Box Office Mojo. More recently, “The Nun,” a spin-off of “The Conjuring,” earned over $350 million, according to Box Office Mojo, despite only scoring 26 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. These two movies made money solely because they were based on concepts familiar to the audience. Meanwhile, “Hereditary,” a horror movie widely considered the best of 2018 with a score of 89 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, only managed to bring in about $80 million, according to Box Office Mojo. This is not a bad number,
considering the movie had a low budget of $10 million, according to Box Office Mojo, but it is still considerably less than two lowrated movies that were sold off of their titles alone. On the contrary, Peele thrives by doing everything differently. From his casting, to his themes and style of horror, he is challenging the modern methods of horror movies. His first two movies have cast black leads, giving new opportunities to an underrepresented group in the horror genre. This allows more audience members to relate to these movies, as it opens the genre to a larger demographic. Peele also isn’t afraid to introduce complex themes and plots to his films, that stem from some level of our contemporary reality. “Get Out” addressed racial issues in America, while “Us” explores the duality of the American people. Both movies incorporated societal themes with bold and borderline sci-fi plots that were incredibly developed. Peele has mastered the art of creating real horror rather than relying on the
The protagonists in ‘Us’ are targeted by their look-alikes. predicted jump scares. Peele’s film are not only different, but they have proven to be successful, too. His debut film, “Get Out,” has a phenomenal 98 percent on Rotten Tomatoes while “Us” scored a 95 percent. Peele is also succeeding in the box office. According to Box Office Mojo, “Get Out” pulled in over $250 million and “Us” broke box office
records with its $70 million opening weekend. Peele has expanded the targeted demographics for horror movies and proved he can make a quality horror movie that breaks away from the standard mold. Peele’s success will most certainly pave the way for a more advanced and sophisticated future for horror movies.
Policies
The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via email to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or email us at signal@tcnj.edu.
page 12 The Signal April 3, 2019
fun stuff
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 13
Students share opinions around campus “Does the stigma around addiction need to change?”
Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant
Kelly Ryder, a freshman communication studies major. “There shouldn’t be a stigma. Everyone deserves to have access to the help they need.”
Kendel Stiles
Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant
Conner Stine, a freshman engineering major.
“Drug addiction is a tough battle and no one should judge what others are going through.”
“Is the horror movie industry changing?”
Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant
Haleigh Moriarty, a freshman secondary education and mathematics dual major. “Yes, horror movies are making a change in addressing more relevant social issues.”
Kendel Stiles
Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant
Morgan Choma, a senior health and exercise science major.
“The genre is beginning to change. As a long-time fan of horror movies, it is nice to see.”
The Signal’s cartoon of the week ...
Vegans Rejoice : Board votes to ban animal slaughtering on campus By Tony Peroni and Vinny Cooper Correspondents It’s a problem that we all hear way too much about –– vegans and their lack of dining options on campus. Vegans are constantly complaining about how “they can’t eat the chicken from Eick,” “they had to eat dry Froot Loops for dinner for the fourth time this week” or “it bothers them that the College slaughters farm animals right outside of their dorm rooms.” This weekend, however, the administration made a decision with the school’s non-animal consumers in mind. The board of directors voted to finally abolish the
raising and slaughtering of farm animals on campus. The bloody ritual started on what is called “Roscoe’s Pasture,” when the College was first founded in 1855. It was a regular practice back then –– students needed food to eat, so the campus employed a staff to raise and slaughter animals for their delicious, fresh meat. This was just the way that the typical college operated. Students liked eating meat that originated from the turf that they called home. Today, we live in a technologically advanced world. Students are no longer worried about where their meat is coming from. Instead, they are worried about Snapchatting their digital friends and “swiping right” on their dating apps. Instead of lighting up a hand-rolled stogie in the middle of class, students are burying their face into their elbow to sneak a drag of their flash drive smoke sticks. The times have really changed, but Roscoe’s Pasture still remains. This is the last campus in the country that still actively maintains a pasture to raise and execute animals. While rural South Jersey students consider the bloody pasture to be a beautiful sight for their sore southern eyes, the majority of normal students hate the fact that they cannot walk to class without seeing a large, gorgeous animal being
shot directly in the temporal lobe. “Like, why can’t I just walk to the dining hall to get a sub-par dinner without getting a disgusting reminder of the gorgeous life that I’m about to cover in salt and swallow?” asked freshman accounting major Julia Booch. “It’s just so annoying and weird. The dirty old men who work on the pasture are super careless with their guns, too. One time I was walking to my FSP, and an actual .22 caliber bullet flew into the ground like a few feet away from me. I have friends who go to Stockton and Rowan, and they never have to see this weird stuff on their campuses. I just want to eat the meat, not look the animal in the eye while it bleeds out!” Complain no more, students! The decision to finally abolish the slaughtering of livestock on campus is the first victory for vegans at the College in a long time (ever). The dining halls will now get their carnivorous treats from the socially accepted source –– a massive corporation’s slaughterhouse where no cameras are ever allowed and cruelty definitely takes place. The campus vegans consider themselves victorious. DISCLAIMER: This is obviously a satirical piece and does not describe a real event.
page 14 The Signal April 3, 2019
Fall 2019 AND Winter 2020 REGISTRATION PERIOD Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Tuesday, April 2 through Friday, April 12
Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for the Fall 2019 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the Enrollment Appointment section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate students who do not register for Fall 2019 by 11:59 pm on Sunday, April 14, will be subject to a late registration fine. Undergraduate Late Registration Fine : $150
The Fall 2019 Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes button. Both Summer 2019 and Winter 2020 registration are also open, along with Fall 2019 registration. Check PAWS frequently for any updated summer/winter course offerings and consult with your advisor for appropriate course selections.
Visit the PAWS HELP website for complete information on how to log-in to PAWS, search for classes, browse the Course Catalog, view your Holds, add courses to your Shopping Cart, and register for classes: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/
Use the Validate feature directly from your PAWS Shopping Cart to check for potential pre-requisite issues before registration! For more information on the Validate feature, visit: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/validate1.pdf
Check PAWS early and frequently for Holds that will prevent you from registering. All Hold Flag information can be viewed under the Holds section in the PAWS Student Center.
Access your Academic Requirements Report on PAWS to view your degree requirements via the Advising Tools link.
Make an appointment to see your advisor to discuss your Academic Requirements Report. Your advisor’s name and email address can be located in your PAWS Student Center.
Double-check course numbers and course sections prior to your registration appointment for schedule changes and periodic updates.
Graduate Students: If you are a non-matriculant who is applying for Fall matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Graduate Orientation session on May 30, 2019.
THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION Green Hall 112, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 15
Features
Grief / College mourns New Zealand deaths Students, faculty honor Christchurch victims continued from page 1
reading every post I came across because this could have been any of us — not just a mosque,” said Zahra Memon, a senior deaf education and biology dual major. “This could have been a church, synagogue, temple and the worst part is that these houses of worship have been attacked before.” Others were scared for their own families. “I felt angry that something like this could happen, (but) I was also scared that something like this could happen to my own family,” said Ali Shamshad, a senior business major. In response to the attack, New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern banned militarystyle semi-automatic weapons, assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, according to CNN.
Inspired by Ardern’s actions, students at the College were driven to fight back against gun violence. “I don’t know a lot of Muslims, mostly because of the area I live in has a large Catholic demographic, but I do have a couple of Muslim friends,” LiMato said. “I think having (them) makes it more real for me…the fact that someone would attack people that are just like some of the people in my life that I hold dear makes me angry.” Many believe that the attack should result in a greater effort to build a safe environment for the Islamic community. “(Masjids) should have voluntary security or contact local authorities next time someone suspicious shows up at the masjid,” Shamshad said. Each of the students agreed that society needs to join together to
Students pray for the recovery of the Muslim community.
create a safer world for everyone. “I think they can have open discussions with adults and children alike - because the world, unfortunately, is no longer a safe place,”
Memon said. “I would have suggested a security system, but the mosque serves as an open space, where so many events take place — not just prayers. People get married
Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor
at the mosque, people celebrate their children’s accomplishments at the mosque, people host their Eid events at the mosque — it’s meant to be a safe space for everyone.”
Rolling Latenighter provides 80s-themed fun Event unites students from variety of organizations
Left: Participants play Jenga and other games at the event. Right: Students rollerblade to upbeat oldies classics. By Olivia Grasing Correspondent Multicolored lights danced across the walls as students dressed in neon shirts and high-waisted pants dashed across the room in rollerblades and Dexy Midnight Runner’s “Come On Eileen” blasted throughout the Brower Student Center Room 100. On Thursday, March 28, the College Union Board hosted an 80s discothemed Rolling Latenighter from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event was cosponsored by the Inter-Greek Council. According to Moe Rahmatullah, a junior marketing major, vice president of programming for IGC and student center board event coordinator. The purpose of the even was to provide some sober fun for interested students.
“It is also part of a larger effort on IGC’s part to engage with all students on campus, not just Greek life affiliated students,” Rahmatullah said. “CUB and IGC worked to offer a variety of attractions to draw interest from a more diverse group of attendees with different interests.” Greeted by strobe lights and popular 80s music, students had the opportunity to rollerblade, pose in a photo booth, sing karaoke and indulge in food like pizza and cotton candy. Jenga, Twister and skeeball were also set up for students looking for competitive fun. “It’s an event we’ve done in the past and it’s always well received so we thought we would bring it back,” said Stephanie Dipietrantonio, a senior public health major and CUB’s finance director. “It’s been about four years since
we have done it in Decker Social Space and so with the more recently renovated Student Center, we thought we would bring it here. A lot of our events are themed, so the 80s has always been a successful theme we have had and everyone can relate and enjoy.” Many students liked how the event’s substance-free policy provided a safe and fun environment for everyone. “It’s different and something that you would normally have to go somewhere else for but it’s nice that it’s on campus,” said Jackie Bell, a junior psychology and elementary education dual major. “I think it’s great that TCNJ has this option and people are not pressured to go out to bars or clubs because these things are available and they feel they can socialize without drinking.”
Photos courtesy of CUB
Others agreed that the engaging students inside and outside of Greek life brought the campus together. “I think it’s important to have this collaboration between CUB and IGC because it gives an opportunity for all students to come together, mingle and have fun,” said Diana Lois, a sophomore biomedical engineering major. Frances Gallagher, a junior health and exercise science major and president of Sigma Sigma Sigma, agreed that a night of collaborative fun is beneficial for everyone. “So far I am enjoying seeing people in Greek life and not in Greek life come together for a really big event,” Gallagher said. “College can be very stressful so I think it’s important to take advantage of and free events to just get together with friends and de-stress.”
page 16 The Signal April 3, 2019
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 17
: April ’04
Campus Style
Students promote marriage equality
Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive
Same-sex couples participate in a mock gay wedding.
Every week, Features Editor Jane Bowden hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. This June marks four years since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the country. In an April 2004 issue of The Signal, a reporter wrote about same-sex couples participating in a mock wedding ceremony in an effort to promote equality. Because gay marriage hadn’t yet been legalized in all 50 states, the event drew mixed reactions of both support and uneasiness. Four same-sex couples, all comprised of students from the College, were married in a mock wedding ceremony last Wednesday in the atrium of the Social Sciences Building. Cameras flashed throughout the ceremony, capturing the procession of three female couples and one male couple down the aisle, their exchanges of vows and rings, and their first kisses as “husband and husband,” “wife and wife.” The program, which was intended to educate about and encourage acceptance of gay marriage, attracted a supportive crowd and proceeded without any protest, contrary to expectations. Marne Clune, sophomore business major,
and Ryan Androsiglio, senior psychology and sociology major, coordinated the event to fulfill their community service program requirement as community advisors (CAs). The Gay Union of Trenton State (GUTS) at the College cosponsored the event. The couples joined in mock marriage were Amanda Gerson and Sylvia Lugo, Meghan Thompson and Jessie Povolo, Amber Ramsey and Amy Renx, and John Kelley and Steven Schweixer. Ramsey and Renx, and Kelley and Schweixer are actual couples. The others volunteered to act as if they were to make a statement. Kelley, freshman communications major, and Clune both said they expected opponents of gay marriage to attend. Any who did created no disturbance. Clune said some flyers promoting the program had been torn down around campus and acknowledged this as a consequence of dealing with such a controversial issue. “We are trying to shake things up a bit,” Clune said. “We are looking to educate people on an issue that they might not be comfortable educating themselves on.”
Lions’ Plate
Left: Pair a floral dress with sneakers for a casual look. Right: Denim dresses make a trendy springtime outfit. By Danielle Silvia Columnist
Looking ahead in the forecast, it appears that the weather will be warmer these next few days. While it may not feel completely like spring yet, temperatures are steadily rising and spring fever is growing more tangible. Dresses are the perfect springtime staple and come in many different colors, fabrics and styles. You can also detail to your spring outfits with accessories such as sun hats and belts. 1. Fit and flare. This is my favorite type of dress because it is classy, timeless and flattering on all body types. A fit and flare dress is great for spring because you can easily add a neutral cardigan on a breezy day or go sleeveless if the sun is out. 2. Floral dresses. You can never go
wrong with a floral dress in the spring. Whether you are attending a formal, a lowkey get-together with old friends or a fancy wedding, incorporating flowers into your dress is always on trend. If you have a plain dress, add a floral design by pairing it with a scarf or a belt. Be sure that the flowers match your outfit — big, bold flowers go well with dark, solid colors while lighter, layered flowers should be paired with paisley or pale colors. 3. Denim dresses. Denim dresses are slowly making a comeback. The best part about them is that they come in all types of designs that exude different spring feels. Light denim dresses and tan boots create the perfect Western look for the springtime, and dark, denim dresses are perfect for a night out. If you are looking to create an edgy look, try pairing light and dark denim.
Peanut Butter Cookies
Left: This recipe requires simple baking instructions. Right: Top your cookies with Hershey Kisses for added flavor. By Shannon Deady Columnist
This easy, sweet peanut butter cookie recipe was a trick my old roommate taught me. I had a hankering for cookies, but I didn’t feel like running to the grocery store or spending a lot on an order from Insomnia Cookies. These simple peanut
butter cookies can be whipped up in 10 minutes and require just three common ingredients –– one cup of peanut butter, which is about half of a small jar, a cup of sugar and an egg. With these simple ingredients, you can make about 12 larger cookies or 18 small cookies. Although they are flourless, they bake perfectly, and optional
add-ons, like a Hershey Kiss or coarse sea salt, can transform them into an even fancier treat. Makes: 12 large cookies Ingredients: -1 cup smooth or 1 1/4 cup chunky peanut butter -1 large egg -1 cup granulated sugar
Optional add-ons: -A sprinkle of coarse sea-salt or sugar -12 to 18 Hershey Kisses
Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 2. Mix peanut butter, egg and sugar in a large bowl until a dough forms. Once formed, separate into 1-inch balls and place on baking
sheet with parchment paper. 3. Bake for 10 minutes before taking out to cool. 4. While cooling, use a fork to press into the cookie twice to form two sets of criss-cross lines for a fun design. 5. Optional- add a sprinkle of coarse sea salt, sugar or a Hershey Kiss on top of the cookies, and enjoy.
page 18 The Signal April 3, 2019
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 19
Arts & Entertainment
Bands electrify crowd with passionate show
Sam Shaw / Staff Photographer
Bad Luck’s bass player, Joe Fox, entertains students with both music and humor.
By Garrett Cecere Managing Editor
The lights grew dim, a violet glow illuminated the stage and the sound began to reverberate across every surface of the room. Students who came to last week’s CUB Alt Show, held on March 26 in the Brower Student Center Room 225E, eagerly watched three rock performances full of energy, passion and even some humor. The audience fervently watched headlining artist Sam Ray, who had just been on a tour with his band, American Pleasure Club. The band, originally from Baltimore, had performed in cities throughout the East Coast and Midwest, some of which included Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Nashville and Detroit. For the show, Ray chose songs that he felt would fit well with his solo performance and electric guitar. He picked pieces that were written to be played alone, but also
chose songs that were performed with the band. “...Some of (the songs) we play live as a full band are fun, but it’s not, like, how I had a song in mind when I wrote or recorded it,” he said. “So sometimes, it’s showing, like, a different version of something than anyone’s ever heard.” Bad Luck, a rock band from Long Island, played numerous songs, which ranged from the title track of the album “Cold Bones” to new releases like “Drug Phase” and “Mean Dudes.” Out of all the songs Bad Luck played, lead singer Dominick Fox said he especially enjoyed performing “Love Song,” which he said is the band’s most popular hit on Spotify. The show was not without occasional funny moments. After performing many songs with expletives, Fox asked if profanity was permitted. “Are we allowed to curse?” he asked the audience and CUB members. “We should be. You guys are in college … fuck,” he said, which garnered laughter from the audience.
The next performer, Dustin Hayes, performed solo with an acoustic guitar. Hayes is a member of the band Walter, Etc., formerly known as Walter Mitty and His Makeshift Orchestra. Hayes also snuck in some humor between sets, as he compared the College to his former school. “At least you have bands come through,” he said. “Where I went to school … in Oregon, there was, like, one anarchist coffee shop in the basement that got, like, shut down … no bands, no nothing.” During his college years, Hayes wrote a song called “Howl” while he was at the “Anarchist coffee shop,” which he based on Allen Ginsberg’s poem of the same name and performed at the show. “You know in your, like, freshman year of college, you think you’re … fuckin’, like, so intellectual, so smart?” he said. “I thought (‘Howl’) was … the smartest thing I had ever done.” Hayes especially enjoyed playing a song he wrote about a past relationship called, “I Bought You a Blanket in Mexico,” which he had never performed before. “...it’s kind of fun to play ’cause it’s just so new to me,” he said. Ray, who had concluded the night, said that one of the songs he enjoyed performing the most was “Dead Swans,” which is typically played with the rest of the band. “(‘Dead Swans’) is the one when I say that we play as … a full band version, usually, but I got to do it the way I always wanted to.” Ray also played an emotional song that he wrote with his friend, Ryan, who died after it was written. The song, “Abby’s Song,” was named for Ryan’s former girlfriend because she had sung it. “(This was) the last song I wrote with Ryan,” Ray said. After Ray played his last song and the final note faded into silence, the audience applauded. “It was really cool how intimate it was,” said Josh Tobia, a sophomore electrical engineering major. Ultimately, Ray hoped that his solo performance would resonate well with the audience. “I met a couple people before who knew my music and that’s cool,” he said. “So I guess some of them know it and maybe some don’t, and I hope in both those cases that it comes across really well this way.”
Sarnoff exhibit chronicles ‘Century of Sound’ By Lara Becker Reviews Editor Radiating from an early 1900s record player were the vibrations of a jazz melody that brought the room to a lulled hush. Hanging on the walls were 78s, 45s and vinyls of all shapes and sizes. A grant from the Mercer County Cultural Heritage Program aided the College’s effort to collect these artifacts, which gave way to the first guided tour of “In The Groove: A Century of Sound” on Sunday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. Sarnoff Collection curator Florencia Pierri coordinates the annual rotation of exhibits in Roscoe West, and when the time came this year, she settled on the idea of sound technology. “The students came here and had a handson tour of artifacts — they got to play old records.” Pierri said. “We’re doing an oral history project and over the summer we’re putting out a call for student performers. We’re putting together something for electronic music for students.” Pierri took students and interested guests on a tour of sound from 1877, when the first Edison cylinder was created, to 1978, which brought the first computergenerated music program. The journey of 100 years through sound began with Thomas Edison’s tin cylinder, which was birthed in his Menlo Park laboratory in 1876. That same year, Alexander Graham Bell
began working on the telephone. Bell’s telephone soon led Edison to telegraphy, which would allow voices and sounds to be played back and heard again. He was looking for a way to record voices heard on a telephone in order to keep a permanent record of the conversation. It all began with his foil-wrapped cylinder for dictation records, which then led to a wax cylinder for music recording and music box discs in the late 1880s. By 1902, Edison had finally found a way to mass produce his cylinder, making it the best recorded sound device on the market at the time. German-born inventor Emile Berliner crafted a way to pump out recordings of these sounds by the hundreds. He invented the flat disk where sound wires were pressed into one hand-held record. Columbia Records and the Radio Corporation of America engineers were integral in the mass-production of these early phonographs and records, becoming giants in sound modernization. As music history progressed, the first electronic instrument was created and was named the Theremin for Russian inventor Léon Theremin. It is a proximity sensor that transfers the conduction from one’s body into sound when hands are waved next to it. The Theremin was the first sound synthesizer, leading to the technology we have today such as computer-generated music and electronic synthesizers.
Timothy Ryan, a sophomore journalism and English double major, attended the tour. He went from knowing next to nothing about the history of music to being fascinated by these innovators by the end of the tour. “I’m used to just listening to digital music, or whatever is on my computer or on my phone,” said Ryan. “It was very interesting seeing the ingenuity of music over the years from the cylinder to the flat disk
to the records.” Pierri was grateful to visitors for joining the first tour of the new exhibit, which she explained was a test run for the grand opening of the installment in April. “I think it was incredibly interesting learning about the concrete history of music, especially over a century, and seeing how far we’ve come in that century,” he said.
Meagan McDowell / Staff Photographer
Pierri’s tour highlights music’s technological evolution.
page 20 The Signal April 3, 2019
fun stuff
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 21
New film echoes plot of ‘Fault in Our Stars’
Will manages to find love despite his medical hardships. By Amani Salahudeen Staff Writer
“Five Feet Apart,” a romantic film based off a novel by Rachael Lippincott and directed by Justin Baldoni, hit theaters on March 15. It’s a coming-of-age story about two star-crossed lovers who are diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes lung infections and prevents the patient from breathing properly, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Patients with the disease must stand six feet apart from others in order to prevent the spreading of bacteria. This movie reminds me of the plot of “The Fault in Our Stars,” but it still manages
to deliver its own original twist. The film features patients Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will Neuman (Cole Sprouse) who fall in love despite having to stand for apart their own safety. Although the movie has an 82 percent audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, some viewers are unamused and think it promotes dangerous behavior. Elise Tellier, a 22-year-old student and blogger with cystic fibrosis argued, “It’s not so much a love story as it is romanticizing self-harm and suicide and toxic relationships,” according to Refinery29. Despite the fact that the movie romanticizes the disease, it did demonstrate an accurate depiction of what it’s like to live with the disease and raises awareness for
those who might want to learn more. Although I saw the movie as a solid attempt to shine light on the severity of this disease, I understand why members of the cystic fibrosis community are offended. Although the love story between Stella and Will may trivialize the disease, Poe, who is Stella’s best friend in the hospital, has a backstory that adds some needed seriousness to the tone of the film. That being said, his character could have been given more screen time. Stella is hopeful and seemingly enthusiastic about her future. She vlogs about her experience with cystic fibrosis on her YouTube channel and ends up making an impression on Will, who compliments her bubbly personality with his sarcasm and reserved attitude. Will is much less hopeful about his health, which is clear when he shares that he can’t wait until his 18th birthday so that he can stop what he views as his pointless treatment. As their relationship blossoms, the two decide that the disease has taken enough from them, so what does it matter if they take one foot back — five feet instead of six? Throughout the movie, the two maintain a promise to stay five feet apart at all times. “‘After all that CF has stolen from me, I don’t mind stealing something back — 304 millimeters, 12 inches, one foot,’” Stella explains in her video during the film. Between the illness, the romance and the unshakable hope of these characters, it’s safe to say that if you decide to go see “Five Feet Apart,” be sure to bring a box of tissues.
Series brings fresh music to recital stage
This week, WTSR’s Music Director Brian Marino highlights some of the best new music that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band Name: Carl Broemel Album Name: Wished Out Release Number: 3 Hailing From: Tennessee Genre: Psychedelic Rock Label: Stocks In Asia Records In his third solo album, Wished Out, Broemel maintains the musical ability that is showcased in his previous work. This album is both an introspective and existential conversation of a veteran musician and a middle-aged man questioning his short time on Earth. Despite the heavy topics, the music is groovy with an emphasis on jangly to fuzzy guitar work and sometimes a driving piano. Wished Out is a breezy soundtrack for an existental walk around campus. Must Hear: “Dark Matter,” “Rain Check,” “Wished Out,” “Second Fiddle” and “Out of Reach”
Miguel Gonzalez / Photo Editor
Left: Krebs channels raw emotion during her flute performance. Right: Hecht unveils her vocal prowess. By Len La Rocca Distribution Manager Cheerful vocals, dancing piano melodies and blossoming talent rang at the weekly Tuesday Afternoon Recital Series on March 26 at 12:30 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall. A tuneful afternoon of sweetsounding vocals in various languages graced the Mayo stage as students showcased their soothing musical skills. “I really love seeing everyone’s progress and the work they put in,” said Keith So, a freshman music education major. “It’s a great environment. Everyone wants to see you do your best.” First up was soprano Marissa Grasso, a sophomore music education major. She performed an Italian song by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart titled, “Voi che sapete” (You who know). The joyous, upbeat tune along
with gestures and an authenticsounding accent gave the performance a sense of purpose and credibility that only a truly talented musician can establish. Followed by Grasso was Ashley Krebs, a senior music education major, with her stunning silver flute and determined demeanor. She performed “Poem” by Charles T. Griffen. Her performance was an unfolding work of emotion as her deep, sinister flute playing filled the concert hall. Tenor Joseph Ahn, a senior music education major, performed the French song, “En fermant les yeux” (When I close my eyes). Met with a lighthearted piano performance by staff collaborative pianist Stefani Watson, Ahn delivered powerfully deep yet delicate vocals that were met with roaring applause. After the performance, Ahn
expressed his gratitude to be able to perform at the recital. “It’s always fun to show your peers and colleagues what you’ve been working on because we don’t really get time to perform for each other,” Ahn said. Next up was Katherine Vilardi, a freshman music education major, performing “Solo de concours” on her clarinet. Her performance, which delivered a mysterious sound with rising and descending melodies, was complimented by the expertise of staff pianist Kathy Shanklin. Following was mezzo-soprano Danielle Hecht, a freshman music education major, performing the German song, “Daphne, deine Rosenwangen,” which was followed by “The Lass from the Low Countree” by John Jacob Niles. Her somber performance was impassioned by lyrics such as, “No one knows she loved him
but herself and God.” Last on the program was Erica Daughtery, a senior music education major, on the trumpet. She performed the upbeat tune, “Concerto In E-flat” by John Baptist Georg Neruda with the help of Shanklin’s fast-paced piano intro. Daughtery’s epic performance concluded an afternoon of stellar live music. The audience was ecstatic to applaud the performers as they made their exits from the concert hall to congratulate the musicians on a job well done. Fellow musician Giovanni Delgado, a freshman music education major, feels that the recitals improves with each show. “Everytime I come and see these I can’t pick a favorite,” he said. “All of them are just breathtaking. Seeing people grow with a much fuller sound is really amazing.”
Band Name: Walter Salas-Humara Album Name: Walterio Release Number: 9 Hailing From: New York Genre: Rock and Roll Label: Rhyme and Reason Records The consistent upbeat tempo proves that the Spanish lyrics are a big style element. The unabashed swagger gives each one of these songs a light and gentle tone that floats easily into your ears without warning. There are elements of guitar shredding and sick riffs that balance out the perfectly gritty vocals. It sounds as if this flawless record had been recorded during the peak of 70s rock, but flew under the radar for its distinct personality and Americana tendencies. Must Hear: “Here We Go,” “Out of the Band,” ”Come in a Singer,” “I Want to Be with You,” and “ Will You Be Ready”
page 22 The Signal April 3, 2019
Graduate Studies
LUXURY LIVING CLOSE TO CAMPUS Every detail was considered to create the ultimate off-campus residence. A place where students could complete their studies in a private and secure off campus setting while being only minutes from campus.
Call 609-357-2029 to see for yourself or visit OFFcampusNJ.com
...............................................
1573 Parkside Avenue at Spruce Street, Ewing Township Leasing Office: 650 Strawberry Street, Trenton, NJ
Pet Friendly
2&3 Bedroom Units BY CAMPUS STUDENT LIVING
TCNJ | Leads the Way It’s your move.
Find out more by visiting www.tcnj.edu/gradstudies Or call 609.771.2300
April 3, 2019 The Signal page 23
Sports
Lions start strong in season opener Outdoor Track and Field
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Left: Woods takes fourth place in the 400-meter race. Right: La Capria finishes second in the 800-meter race.
By Jordan Washington Staff Writer
The College took part in its first outdoor event of the season in the Danny Curran Invitational in Chester, Pennsylvania from Friday, March 29 to Saturday, March 30. After dominating the indoor season, the Lions wanted to start strong for the outdoor season. As a team, the College took second place out of the 22 teams that participated. Another great performance in a line of meets proved that the team is dominant. Senior distance runner Madeleine Tattory took first place out of 46 runners in the 5000-meter race with a time of 18:08.30, while junior Katie La Capria finished
in second place in the 800-meter with a time of 2:14.88. Freshman Kassidy Mulryne took third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.55, while her teammate junior Kaila Carter took fourth place at 15.63. In the 400-meter race junior Christine Woods clocked in at 1:06.86 and took fourth place, while Mulryne finished right after her in fifth place with a time of 1:06.96. Junior distance runner Hailey Bookwalter took third in the 3000-meter steeplechase event with a time of 12:26.42. The College was a consistent threat in every race they were in. Mulryne added to her busy day, as she also took second in the high jump. The men’s team also took part in the Danny Curran
Invitational. Freshman William Mayhew took home ninth place in the 1500-meter, clocking in at 4:00.72 in a large pool of runners. Freshman Stuart Gruters took 11th out of 112 runners with a time of 1:58.79, which was a great achievement for the team. The men’s distance medley team took home All-Atlantic Region Honors. The team consisted of Gruters, sophomore Robert Adams, freshman Alex Amoia and freshman Brett Schuett. The women’s track team will see more action in the Colonial Relays and the TCNJ Invitational. The men will participate in the TCNJ Invitational as well next weekend, with both meets taking place Friday and Saturday, April 5 and 6.
Lacrosse
Tennis
Tennis holds back Ramapo Lacrosse falls to even record
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Wright prepares to deliver a forward pass during his singles match.
Fitzpatrck looks to make one of her three goals of the game.
By Christine Houghton Sports Editor
By Chritsine Houghton Sport Editor
On Saturday, March 30, the men’s tennis team traveled to Ramapo College in a conference match. The team came out on top, sweeping the match 9-0 and increasing its record to 9-1 while the women had the week off. The teammates truly outperformed themselves and won every singles and doubles match. The team of senior Mitchel Sanders and junior Thomas Wright won the match 8-4. Right behind them was the team of freshman Matthew Michibata and junior Gokul Murugesan, which swept its match 8-1.
Senior Matt Puig and sophomore Andrew Mok also swept their doubles match 8-2 to finish out the teams’ doubles sets. In singles matches, all players won their respective matches in two sets. Sanders took his match 6-1 and 6-3, while Michibata followed 6-1 and 6-2. Freshman Justin Wain swept his match 6-0 and 6-1, followed by Puig winning 6-2 and 6-1. Wright shut out his opponent in both sets 6-0 and freshman Nikola Kilibarda ended strong, coming out on top 6-0 and then 6-2. The Lions return to the court on Saturday, April 6, when both the men and women’s teams take on Ithaca College at home.
On Thursday, March 28, the lacrosse team took on Gettysburg University, where it lost its third game in a row and leveled its record at 4-4. The Lions outshot Gettysburg — the No. 1 team in the country — 33-31, but still fell in the end by a score of 16-5. After a three-goal scoring spree to start the game by Gettysburg, the College answered all three back in smooth succession. Junior attacker Olivia Cleale threw an assist to junior attacker Talia Bouzakis to score the Lions’ first goal of the game. Followed quickly by two goals from
junior midfielder Alexandria Fitzpatrick, the game was tied up 3-3. Gettysburg answered with four straight goals and ended the half up 7-3 against the Lions. Continuing its rally, Gettysburg scored six more goals to extend its lead, but the streak was soon broken by graduate student midfielder Erin Harvey, who scored her ninth goal of the season. Followed quickly by another goal from Fitzpatrick, that would be the Lions’ last score, as Gettysburg went on to score three more goals before the final whistle. The Lions will hope to snap their losing streak on Saturday, April 6, where they will face Montclair State University at home.
Signal
Sports
Baseball wins six consecutive games
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Persichetti swings hard and hits the ball to centerfield.
By Miguel Gonzalez Photo Editor
Coming back from a successful spring break trip, the baseball team continued to dominate its opponents. During the week, the Lions defeated Widener University, Haverford College, Cairn University and New Jersey Athletic Conference foe Rutgers University-Newark. On a trip to Chester, Pennsylvania on March 28, the Lions outlasted Widener
9-4 in 11 innings. The usual 10 innings were not enough for both teams, as the game was tied at four entering the 11th. With runners on first and second base, junior outfielder Thomas Persichetti hit a sacrifice bunt, allowing sophomore infielder Aydon Chavis to reach third base. Senior infielder Tommy McCarthy then ripped a single and drove in two runs to put the Lions up 6-4. The team then took advantage of a wild pitch and fielding error to score
three more runs. In the bottom of the 11th, senior pitcher Zac deRocco clinched the victory when he forced three Widener batters to ground out. The team then traveled to Haverford, Pennsylvania and defeated Haverford College, 6-4. Led by junior catcher David Cardona III’s three-hit performance, the Lions offense produced a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never stopped. Meanwhile, freshman pitcher/infielder Matt Volpe silenced Haverford’s bats and struck out six for four innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Haverford cut the Lions lead to 4-3 off of singles. After a scoreless fifth inning, the team added two runs in the top of the sixth. With Cardona III on third base, junior outfielder Jacob Simon smashed a home run to right field, pushing the team’s lead to 6-3. While Haverford added a run in the next inning, the Lions protected their lead and ultimately won. Back at George Ackerman Park on Friday, March 29, the Lions continued to surge ahead when they defeated Cairn University, 11-7. Down 6-4 in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Lions’ offense exploded. Cardona III got the big inning started when he ripped a single to the left field to drive a run. The team then loaded the bases after Haverford’s pitcher threw a wild pitch and walked McCarthy. Junior infielder Gary Otten capitalized
on the opportunity when he smacked a single and tied the game at six. With only one out, senior outfielder Matt Giacose hit a sacrifice fly to put the Lions ahead 7-6. Senior outfielder Ryan Fischer then delivered a roaring triple, padding the Lions lead 9-6. Fischer was not done yet, as he scored the team’s 10th run off a wild pitch. With a surmountable lead in hand, the Lions secured the 11-7 win with the help of sophomore pitcher Zachary Padersky and deRocco’s shutout pitching. As the weather grew warm on Saturday, March 30, so did the Lions’ offense. The team swept Rutgers University-Newark 7-1 and 5-3. Junior pitcher Peter Nielsen pitched a gem against Rutgers, only surrendering one run while tossing a complete game with 109 pitches. Fischer also had a strong performance at the plate, hitting a pair of singles and a double. In the second game, the Lions came from behind to sneak past Rutgers 5-3. With the team down 3-2 in the bottom of the eighth, Simon launched a double. Otten later added an insurance run when he hit a single to left field. Senior pitcher Dylan Crowley then closed out the top of the ninth to secure the win. The Lions will look to add to their dominant season when they travel to face Montclair State University for a conference matchup on Thursday, April 4.
Softball springs to top of conference By Malcolm Luck Staff Writer Following the conclusion of the Sunkissed Games in Plant City, Florida, the Lions returned home to take on DeSales University and Ramapo College in a pair of doubleheaders. In the four games, the Lions outscored their opinions by a tally of 30-2 and propelled themselves to the top of the New Jersey Athletic Conference standings. The first doubleheader came against DeSales University on March 27. Sophomore starting pitcher Alanna Namit took the mound in the first game for the Lions and put forth a dominating performance, hurling a no-hitter while striking out 10 batters. Namit now sits at 6-2 on the season. The Lions’ offense shelled DeSales’ starting pitcher for four runs and nine hits, chasing her from the game after just three innings of work. Sophomore infielder Lauren Conroy laced RBI singles in the first and third innings to provide her team with an early source of offense. Later in the third inning, she would come around to score on an RBI double from junior infielder Megan Mayernik. The College would add another run in the third and two more in the fifth, eventually winning by the final score of 6-0. DeSales found a weak pulse at the plate in the second game of the doubleheader, but had no answer for the Lions’ offensive attack. Already up 4-1 after the top of the fourth inning, a sixrun rampage proved to be too much for DeSales’ lifeless bats. Sophomore outfielder Katie Winchock knocked in the fifth run on a fielder’s choice. Conroy followed by pulling a two-run single through the right side of the infield. A
Lions Lineup April 3, 2019
I n s i d e
two-run single from senior outfielder Gaby Bennett and an RBI single from sophomore infielder Elyse Nardozza brought the Lions’ total tally to 10 runs. Sophomore pitcher Eliza Sweet allowed just one run on the mound, as the team went on to win 10-1 in five innings. In the team’s first NJAC game of the season, the Lions took on Ramapo College in Mahwah, New Jersey on Saturday, March 30. The College wasted no time getting the game’s first runs on the board, as it took advantage of Ramapo’s deficient defense. Mayernik scored on a throwing error Bennett laced an RBI single to right center four batters later to bring home senior catcher Jess McGuire. The Lions wouldn’t strike again until the fifth inning. Despite the first two batters getting out to begin the frame, McGuire’s two-out single set the table for a two-run home run by sophomore outfielder Kaitlin Kocinski to put her team up 4-0. The insurance proved to be a moot point, as Sweet once again went the distance and surrendered just two hits over her complete game shutout. Momentum was carried into the second game of the doubleheader, as the Lions won by a score of 10-1 for the second time in four days. In the first inning, despite only posting two hits in the frame, the Lions drew five walks –– three of which scored runs for the club. Ramapo’s starting pitcher couldn’t escape the first inning, as she allowed five runs while only recording two outs. The rest of the runs came in the second inning, as Conroy got things started by reaching on a throwing error. Following a sacrifice fly and a line out from the next two batters, Bennett doubled to left-center. Junior infielder Annalise Suitovsky then walked and two runs
Tennis page 23
Track and Field page 23
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Conroy rips the bat through a single hit.
would come in to score on another throwing error. Mayernik tacked on the ninth and 10th runs with a two-run single to right field. Before Ramapo came to bat in the second inning, they found themselves in an insurmountable 10-0 hole. The game ended after just five innings due to the mercy rule. The Lions will take the field in a doubleheader against Kean University on the road on Saturday, April 6.
Lacrosse page 23