The Signal: Fall '16 No. 1

Page 1

Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLV, No. 1

August 31, 2016

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Campus installs EV charging stations White House

becomes office for student intern By Alyssa Gautieri Production Manager

Gitenstein unveils the new EV charging stations on campus.

By Tom Ballard News Editor

A new program has the College driving in a greener direction. On Wednesday, July 27, the College hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to formally introduce a pilot program with the Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) that placed five new charging stations for faculty and staff to charge their electric vehicles

(EV) on campus. “The College… is proud to partner with PSE&G on this innovative project that further advances our longstanding and broad-based environmental sustainability goals,” College President R. Barbara Gitenstein said at the event, according to a press release. “Through the generous support of PSE&G, we are now able to provide our faculty and staff with access to electric vehicle charging stations,

reaffirming our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint in a fiscally responsible way.” The EV charging stations located in Lot 7 are available free-of-charge for faculty and staff who own electric vehicles, according to the press release. As part of the pilot program agreement, PSE&G provided the EV charging stations free-of-charge,

Senior philosophy major Shawn Syed not only had the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden and hug First Lady Michelle Obama, but his internship at the White House last semester meant seeing these world leaders on a regular basis. “Occasionally, I might just turn down a hallway and (the president or the first lady) would be there,” Syed said. Syed spent 16 weeks interning at the White House during the Spring 2016 semester. “I was not sitting around having coffee with (the president) because he was a little busy,” Syed said. “But I cannot underscore how inspiring it was to be around the president and first lady and see their initiatives at work.” Syed compared his experience to a sort of study abroad program. For four months, he lived far from campus and communicated with professors to complete 3.5 course units for the College. On top of taking classes for the College, Syed worked alongside 35 interns in the Office of Presidential Correspondence. A total of 150 interns were selected for the White House internship, which focuses on public service and leadership development.

see PSE&G page 5

see INTERN page 13

Photo courtesy of Mark Lovretin

Trustees implement College provides best value for MONEY tuition increases for this academic year By Tom Ballard News Editor Students will have to dig deeper into their pockets in order to attend the College this academic year. The College’s Board of Trustees unanimously voted to increase the price of tuition and fees by 2.25 percent for the 2016-17 academic year at its meeting on Tuesday, July 5, in Loser Hall. The cost increase comes after a presentation to the board from College President R. Barbara Gitenstein and Treasurer Lloyd Ricketts in regard to possible price increases on Thursday, April 26. Gitenstein and Trustee Christopher R. Gibson led an extensive conversation on the College’s tuition. “While it would be wonderful if we could have a year in which there is no tuition or fee increases, I don’t see that in my future and the reason for that is because we are committed to providing high-quality programs (in which) our students want to participate,” Gitenstein said. Gibson, who is chair of the Finance and Investments see TUITION page 3

INDEX:

Nation & World / page 7

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Tom Ballard / News Editor

The College is named a best-value college by MONEY magazine.

By Tom Ballard News Editor

In the plethora of college rankings released every year, the College is no stranger to making the cut. In MONEY

Editorial / page 8

Opinions / page 9

magazine’s recent “Best Colleges for Your Money” rankings, the College ranked 39th for public colleges and 94th in the nation for colleges with the best value. “MONEY has done a number of

Features / page 13

rankings in the last year and TCNJ has done very well in all of them because, according to their metrics, we have a very high return on investment,” College spokesperson Dave Muha said. According to its website, the criteria MONEY used to examine colleges required the schools to have at least 500 students, a graduation rate at or above the average for its school type (public or private), sufficient data to be analyzed and financial stability. MONEY noted that after applying that criteria to the nation’s approximate 2,000 four-year institutions, 705 were able to be ranked. The MONEY rankings combined the available price estimates for attending a college with what a student would likely earn after graduation, as well as how much “value” a college adds when compared to similar schools, according to their website. “We estimate a college’s comparative value by calculating its performance on important measures, such as graduation rates, student loan repayment and default rates, and post-graduation earnings see MONEY page 3

Arts & Entertainment / page 16

Sports / page 24

Harlaxton Manor Students track origins of famous stories in Europe

Firefly Review Festival features famous bands, singers and rappers

Women’s Soccer Team is ready to have a successful season

See Features page 13

See A&E page 16

See Sports page 24


page 2 The Signal August 31, 2016


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 3

Money / Employment rates a factor for impressive rank continued from page 1 after adjusting for the types of students it admits,” according to MONEY’s website. “We believe this analysis gives students and parents a much better indication of which colleges will provide real value for their tuition dollars.” The website goes on to explain that the magazine built its rankings around three core factors: quality of education, affordability and the outcomes of students after graduating. Muha said students and parents should expand their view of affordability when looking at colleges in order to include the benefits of attending and graduating from prominent institutions like the College. “When people think about affordability, they often look only at the cost of tuition and fees,” Muha said. “But they really should think about the total cost of earning the degree. Tuition adds up and the longer it takes to graduate, the more you will ultimately pay. TCNJ has placed an emphasis

on helping students complete their degrees on time, which is reflected in the fact that we have the fifth-highest four-year graduation rate in the country.” In addition to having a high graduation rate, the College also boasts a high percentage of students who find success after receiving their undergraduate degree from the College, said Tom Beaver, head media relations officer. According to Beaver, 96 percent of undergraduate students are either employed or seeking a graduate degree within one year of their graduation. “To us (at the College), this factors into the overall return on investment of a TCNJ degree, and goes a long way in explaining why we fare as well as we do in rankings like MONEY,” Beaver said. According to the College’s page on MONEY’s website, students from the College take home an average annual salary of $50,500 within five years of graduating. The average student debt for students who attend the College is $23,196, according to the website.

Photo courtesy of Tim Lee

The College’s high graduation rate helps it get spot on the list. On Thursday, April 7, MONEY named the College one of the 20 public colleges in

the country that are the most likely to pay off financially for students.

Tuition / Room and board among charges affected

Information courtesy of Board of Trustees Public Meeting Agenda

continued from page 1 Committee that brought about the resolution for the increase, said it is difficult to propose a tuition increase given the current economic climate. “On a personal level, it really does pain me for me to come in here and talk about tuition increases… The simple truth is that we haven’t had (a tuition decrease) since I have been a trustee,” Gibson said. “We all kind of give each other a little bit of high-fives when our funding is held flat.” The increase, which affects the price of tuition and fees like the Student Service Fee, Student Center Fee and Student Activity Fee, will bring the total cost for full-time undergraduate students — students who take 12 or more credits (3 units) in courses — to $15,793.60 in total tuition and fee costs for the next academic year, an increase of $346.54 from last year’s total costs of $15,446.06. Out of state full-time students will also see their costs jump to $26,971.05, a $593.50 increase from $26,377.56 last year. The per credit, or .25 of a unit, cost for in-state, parttime undergraduate students will increase from $568.26 last academic year to $581.05 per credit for this academic year. Students will see an increase of $12.79 per credit, according to the resolution. Out-of-state, part-time undergraduate students will see their per credit cost increase from $954.71 last year to $976.19 next academic year, a $21.48 per credit increase. Room and board charges will also see price increases from the 2015-2016 academic year. The cost of all meal plans will increase by 3.5 percent compared to last year’s rates, while room rates will increase by 2 percent — an increase of $86.21 — raising the room rate to $8,793.62 per academic year, according to the resolution.

During the meeting, Gitenstein praised the board for its engagement in topics pertinent to the College. “What is particularly important for the community to realize is the intensive engagement (of the board members) in regard to safety and management risk,” Gitenstein said. “We began several months ago, at the beginning of this year, a very intensive enterprise risk management program… In this climate of heightened attention from the public and the government, both federal and state, it is very important that the senior leadership — meaning the board — is aware of what the challenges are and help us.” Gitenstein and the board also welcomed the new dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Jane Wong, to the College. Wong, who came to the College from Armstrong State University in Savannah, Ga., officially took over the post on Friday, July 1. The board also approved the reappointment of several faculty members with tenure. “One of the things that the provost (Jacquelyn Taylor) and I talked about with great pleasure was… what a great joy it was… to see the quality of the faculty and engagement of

the faculty with the students,” Gitenstein said, while congratulating the faculty members on receiving tenure. In her report to the board, Gitenstein relayed positive numbers about the College’s incoming freshman class, as well as the diversity of the student body. According to Gitenstein, there was a 5 percent increase in applications for the freshmen class, and so far, the College has received 1,480 deposits for freshmen — 50 above the goal. She also noted the increase in transfer students, who make up 280 of the deposits. “Our enrollments are very good indeed,” Gitenstein said. “We’re continuing to see (advancement) in growth of underrepresented groups. Seven percent of students are coming from out of state — that includes both out-of-state nationally and out-of-state internationally… We are seeing growth in our student body and we are seeing growth in the different categories adding into the diversity of the student population.” Gitenstein also remarked on the ongoing presidential campaign and recent tragedies across the globe from Orlando, Fla., to Saudi Arabia, pointing out the role of the College’s staff and faculty to prepare students for the outside word. “We must recognize that our country is going through a chaotic time,” Gitenstein said. “Fear and apprehension are overwhelming and in the midst of an aggressive — and in some cases divisive and, frankly, embarrassing — campaign for the presidency, that we in higher education must embrace our responsibilities, inviting students to learn how to confront these conflicts.” She stated the importance of people civilly discussing how to fix the problems facing the world. “Our response (to the latest events) must not be simple answers to complex problems,” Gitenstein said. “We must be a place where difference can be embraced and understood… We must insist on civil (discussion) not because we are without passion or without conviction — in fact, we have plenty of both — but because we know that shouting and name calling might feel good for that one small moment, but they will not be the foundation for addressing a productive end. I think that will be the main target of our work going forward.” Gitenstein also discussed optimistic numbers for the Campaign for TCNJ, a fund that collects donations intended to enhance students’ experiences and academics at the College. According to Gitenstein, as of Tuesday, May 31, the campaign is $5 million shy of its $40 million goal with one year remaining.

Information courtesy of Board of Trustees Public Meeting Agenda


page 4 The Signal August 31, 2016

Athletes compete at annual Special Olympic Games Rio de Janeiro and Ewing, N.J., had something in common this summer: both hosted record-breaking Olympic Games. From Friday, June 10, to Sunday, June 12, the College hosted the annual Special Olympics New Jersey Summer Games. According to Special Olympics New Jersey (SONJ), nearly 2,500 athletes participated in the Games from across the state in events such as aquatics, gymnastics, powerlifting, track & field, softball, tennis and bocce, a lawn bowling game. Powerlifter Steven Kryspin, a 28-yearold resident of Florham Park, N.J., beat the competition’s records in the bench press, squat and deadlift, lifting 1,335 pounds in total across the powerlifting competitions, according to an NJ.com article from Saturday, June 11. “I just breathe, I focus and I lift,” Kryspin told the news site. He had some advice for others looking to claim a victory at the Games. “Remain focus(ed) at all times… just focus,” he said. Kryspin set the SONJ record in 2013, according to an NJ.com article from June 8, 2013. Athletes partaking in the annual Games were required to qualify by competing and placing in area and sectional contests. Heather Anderson, president and CEO of SONJ, praised the athletes’ dedication to preparing for the Games. “Our athletes work really hard to train and get here,” Anderson told NJ.com. “They really want that medal.”

In addition to the athletes, the College’s athletic facilities were also crowded with 3,000 volunteers and more than 10,000 spectators, according to the same NJ.com article. “The nice thing about (the College) is (that) we take over the campus,” Anderson told NJ.com. “The community really embraces (the Games).” The Games began with the 33rd annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR), in which more than 3,000 law enforcement officers across the state supported the Games by carrying the SONJ torch more than 750 miles. Last year, the run raised more than $3.5 million for SONJ, according to a LETR press release from Tuesday, April 19. “From training to competition, and healthcare to athlete leadership opportunities, (SONJ) provides all of its programs completely free of charge to all of its athletes,” said Jason Schubert, senior director of Law Enforcement Sponsorship for SONJ, according to the same press release. “That would never be possible without the dedication of our law enforcement officers. They raise millions of dollars for our athletes each year.” According to a Signal article from Aug. 26, 2015, the College has hosted the competition for more than 20 years. In addition to athletic events, SONJ also brought its Youth Activation Summits to the College, which was meant to bring together “opportunities for young people of all abilities to be leaders in their school and communities,” according to a Facebook post from SONJ published on Friday, June 10. “Equality and acceptance are the themes as students with and without intellectual disabilities participate in leadership activities to help them find their voices and teach

Photo courtesy of SONJ’s Facebook

The College has hosted the SONJ Summer Games for more than 20 years.

them to become agents for respect and inclusion,” the same post read. According to the SONJ website, in order to be able to participate in the games, athletes must be at least 8 years old and

identified by an agency or professional as having an intellectual or developmental disability or experience functional limitations in both general learning and adaptive skills.

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By Tom Ballard News Editor


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 5

PSE&G / Partnership fuels College’s commitment

continued from page 1

for faculty and staff who own electric vehicles, according to the press release. As part of the pilot program agreement, PSE&G provided the EV charging stations free-ofcharge, while the College will pay for the installation and continual maintenance of the stations, as well as the electricity cost, according to the press release. The decision to join the pilot program with PSE&G is part of the College’s goal to reduce its carbon footprint, according to Tom Beaver, head media relations officer. “For the College, the EV charging station project is well-aligned with our long-held goal of reducing our carbon footprint,” Beaver said. “The partnership with PSE&G enabled us to provide this benefit to current and future EV users in a cost-effective way.” The charging stations come nine years after Gitenstein signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment, a national initiative that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance environmental sustainability on college campuses across the country, Beaver said. Since then, the College has also adopted its Climate Action Plan, a 33-page document developed under the guidance of the President’s Climate Commitment Committee that sets forth goals to make the College more environmentally efficient. Beaver also stated that the College community has expressed a high level of interest in the stations and he expects to see more EV drivers take advantage of them as awareness about the program spreads. “We’ve already seen significant interest in the stations, and anticipate that as awareness increases, other EV drivers will begin to take advantage of this unique on-campus benefit,” Beaver said. “Access begets demand, and we’re glad that we can do our part to encourage broader adoption of this technology statewide.” EV owners will not have to pay for using the charging

Photo courtesy of Mark Lovretin

Faculty and staff can take advantage of the new EV charging stations on campus. stations, according to Beaver. While the stations will only be made available to staff and faculty, Beaver said that the College is considering working with PSE&G to make them available to students, but will first have to determine the feasibility of expanding the working capacity of the stations. According to the press release, PSE&G will be able to collect real-world data about how the vehicle chargers in the pilot program are used. This will allow the company to see how large-scale EV charging could affect the electric grid, identify areas of potential high-EV charger density and plan for any infrastructure upgrades that may be needed in the future. The PSE&G pilot program currently has 60 charging stations operational at 11 different locations across the

state. The goal of the program is to have 120 stations, according to the press release. According to a press release from Tuesday, March 29, the company plans on reaching that goal by the end of the year. “As the mileage range of electric vehicles continues to increase, we can expect that they will become more popular both across the country and in New Jersey,” said Courtney McCormick, vice president of Renewables and Energy Solutions at PSE&G, according to the press release. “By partnering with organizations like (the College), PSE&G is helping to provide the needed infrastructure to support EV owners now while also demonstrating to potential owners that EVs are a viable option in the future.”

College students named Woodrow Wilson fellows STEM graduates receive $30,000 to continue education By Tom Ballard News Editor

The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship (WWNF) announced 62 New Jersey teaching fellows for 2016 — including two College alumni and 15 future College graduate students — during an event held at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J., on Wednesday, June 15. Gov. Chris Christie attended the event. According to the organization’s press release, the fellowship provides an opportunity for recently-graduated teachers in science, technology, engineering and mathematic (STEM) fields to continue their education. Each fellow receives $30,000 to complete their master’s degree based on a year-long classroom experience. In return, each fellow agrees to teach for three years in the state’s rural and urban school districts that are most in need of

STEM teachers. “Strengthening our educators with high expectations and strong support and training systems can make a life-changing difference for our children,” Christie said, according to the release. “Through the Woodrow Wilson Teaching Fellowship, we are transforming the way teacher candidates are prepared so they can equip our students with the STEM skills required to succeed in the knowledge-based, global digital economy.” Arthur Levine, president of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, said that as the state’s economy evolves to focus on more science and math related fields, it is important to place an emphasis on those fields in education now so that students are able to find careers after they graduate. “New Jersey now stands as a model for how to transform teacher education and ensure a

The new STEM building will assist students pursuing WWNF-related majors. strong pipeline of effective beginning teachers for all schools, particularly our hard-to-staff ones. New Jersey Teaching Fellows are the future of teaching in

Christie speaks at a gathering of Woodrow Wilson teaching fellows.

AP Photo

New Jersey, and we are proud to welcome these 62 teachers into this important effort,” Levine said, according to the release. Two of the College’s undergraduate alumni — Kodjovi Afanyihoun (’14) and Brianna Farrell (’13) — were named as fellows and will continue their graduate career at the College. Other fellows who will be attending the College to complete their fellowship are Salam AbuJoudeh, Kelsey Allen, Alexandra Bakerman, DiAsia Brooks, Walter Buhro, Matthew Chioffe, Leah Cocco, Olivia Dambrosia, Vanessa DeHart, Kaitlin Geraghty, Veronica Lopez, Erin Moran and Jamie Quinn. According to a New Jersey Herald article from Wednesday, June 15, the WWNF’s New Jersey teaching fellowship program dates back to 2014 and is offered to graduates of five of the state’s

tcnj.edu

public colleges — Montclair State, Rowan, Rutgers-Camden and William Paterson universities, and the College. Fellows can be placed across any of the 20 participating school districts in New Jersey, including public schools in Ewing, Trenton, Glassboro and New Brunswick, according to the release. Applicants for the fellowship must have majored or have a professional background in a STEM-related field, demonstrate commitment to the WWNF’s goals, received an undergraduate degree from an accredited U.S. college or university and have a GPA of a 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, according to the WWNF’s website. The WWNF was founded in 1945 and is driven to promote and develop the nation’s education in order to meet critical challenges, according to the release.


page 6 The Signal August 31, 2016

2016 Fall Opportunities Fair Friday, September 23, 2016 Rec Center 11AM - 2PM *Employer List on the App* TCNJCareerFairPlus & career.tcnj.edu

See You There!


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 7

Nation & W rld

US Olympic swimmers cause trouble in Rio

AP Photo

Lochte discusses the incident at a press conference in Rio. By Danielle Silvia Staff Writer

U.S. Olympic swimmer and 12-time Olympic gold medalist Ryan Lochte, along with gold medalist teammates Jack Conger,

James Feigen and Gunnar Bentz, tainted their winning reputations in Rio de Janeiro during this summer’s Olympic Games in Brazil. According to Fox News, the swimmers reported that they exited a cab to go to the bathroom at

a gas station after 5 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 14, at a Shell gas station in Barra de Tijuca. The swimmers had allegedly vandalized the bathroom and were approached by a security guard asking for money for damages. Due to a language barrier, Lochte said he interpreted the encounter as a robbery attempt, as the security guard pulled out a gun to control the situation. To avoid further confrontation, Feigen handed over the money, the swimmers said. Fox News also reported that Lochte had been arrested and later released. During an interview, Lochte stood by his original robbery story, but had changed some details. “The Lochte Mess Monster,” as some news outlets have been calling him, admits that he left out a fair amount of details, such

as what he had done to provoke the confrontation and the fact that he was intoxicated at the time of the incident, along with the vandalism and rowdiness at the gas station. People Magazine reported that Lochte is “taking full responsibility for the incident,” and while his teammates are detained back in Rio, he is putting his immaturity in the past and promises to not let his image or country down again. CNN quoted Lochte, who claimed that he is “100 percent sorry for his actions” and wants to remedy his mistakes. However, Lochte faced some repercussions, as he lost all four of his commercial sponsors: Ralph Lauren, Airweave, SyneronCandela and Speedo. The Washington Post explained that Lochte had signed

a 10-year deal with Speedo back in 2006, but the company does not want him representing its products, or the company itself, any longer because of his actions. Speedo chose to donate $50,000 of Lochte’s fees to the Save the Children charity, an organization that aids young children all over the world—in this case Brazil specifically— with any issues they have. The organization helps developing countries and their children get an education, health care, goals for their futures, as well as relief from natural disasters and assistance during times of crisis, such as war or other governmental conflicts. As for Lochte, he wishes to continue his swimming career and attend the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, according to the Washington Post.

A devastated Louisiana desperate for volunteers

By Nicole DeStefano Nation & World Editor

The disastrous flood affecting Louisiana has become the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to CNN. The news outlet reported that about 6.9 trillion gallons of rain flooded Louisiana, resulting in 13 deaths and damage to more than 60,000 homes between Monday, Aug. 8, and Sunday, Aug. 14. Despite these numbers, Louisiana has received only a small fraction of the attention that was given to Superstorm Sandy. “Thousands of people in Louisiana have lost everything they own and need our help now,” said Brad Kieserman, the American Red Cross’s vice president of Disaster Services Operations and Logistics, according to a press release. In response to the crisis, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited the flood-stricken areas on Thursday, Aug. 9. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump and President Barack Obama also visited the Baton Rouge, La.,

area. However, Obama was criticized for not cutting his summer vacation at Martha’s Vineyard short to visit sooner, as he arrived on Tuesday, Aug. 23. While the Red Cross estimated the storm’s aftermath would cost at least $30 million, more than $132 million has already been approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for home repairs and disaster response aid. With such devastating damage, the state is desperate for volunteers. “The more volunteers that come in, the quicker we can get people taken care of,” said Sherry Buresh, director of U.S. Disaster Response for All Hands Volunteers, according to USA Today. Buresh, Obama and others are not only looking for volunteers to help with the extended effort to rebuild the communities, but are also asking for Americans to donate and help fund recovery efforts. “Federal assistance alone is not going to be enough to make people’s lives whole again, so I’m asking every American to do what you can to help get families and businesses back on their feet,’’

AP Photo

Louisiana residents help each other during unprecedented flooding. Obama said during a press conference in Louisiana on Tuesday, Aug. 23. The likeliness of a flood this severe in the Baton Rouge area is just once every 500 years, according to CNN. Despite the extreme damage that resulted from the rare storm, Craig Fugate, the Federal Emergency Management Agency administrator, expressed concerns that Americans might not realize how necessary it is to help flood victims.

“People are kind of, like, tuned out because of, I think, everything from the elections to the Olympics,’’ Fugate said, according to USA Today. “I don’t think people across the nation realize how big or how bad this is or how much help the Salvation Army, Red Cross, Catholic Charities — just a whole bunch of volunteer organizations that are down here — are going to need.” If you are interested in helping, visit VolunteerLouisiana.gov.

Universities move to gender-neutral communication

AP Photo

Princeton University offers guidelines for gender-inclusive language. By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer

In an effort to be more inclusive, Princeton University’s Office of Human Resources sent out a memo earlier this month to its staff and faculty that outlined new

guidelines for using more gender-inclusive language in its job postings, Human Resources (HR) communications, policies and job descriptions, according to AOL. “These communication guidelines reflect the inclusive culture and policies at Princeton University,” the memo reads. The document further explains, “Gender binary is the traditional view on human gender, which does not take into consideration individuals who identify as otherwise, including and not limited to transgender, genderqueer, gender non-conforming and/ or intersex.” A number of tips are given throughout the memo to aid staff in making the language they use more gender-neutral. Princeton’s HR office suggests avoiding or replacing gendered pronouns when applicable, and incorporating titles that are gender neutral. Examples include replacing “actress” with “actor,” “cleaning lady” with “office cleaner” and “mailman” with “mail carrier.” For more general terms, replacements include changing “average man” to “average person,” “mankind” with “humankind” and “layman” with “layperson.” Princeton isn’t the only college campus striving to create a more inclusive environment for its students and staff. The University of Missouri (MU) has also

taken to renaming its unisex bathrooms after complaints that the term wasn’t inclusive. The restrooms intended to be used by people of all genders will now be labeled “toilet,” a change that is meant to accommodate students of all genders. “‘Unisex’ is just such an uncomfortable and outdated word,” Sterling Waldman, an MU student, told the Columbia Missourian. Waldman also serves as the social justice chair in MU’s student senate, and as a result of Waldman’s efforts, the student government has agreed to donate $5,000 for the sake of relabeling bathrooms around campus. However, the donation is not enough to replace every relevant bathroom sign on campus. It is currently estimated that it will cost at least $11,600 to change relevant signs for all 28 unisex restrooms on campus, a figure of over $400 per bathroom. The school cannot currently supply the funds to finish the sign change due to budget cuts and a drop in the university’s enrollment totals. As with any amount of change, reactions have been mixed to the language change on both campuses. Many Twitter users have been very vocal about their dislike for the new change in language, but only time will tell if the new policies will stick.


page 8 The Signal August 31, 2016

Editorial

Transferring proves difficult despite College’s efforts

Transferring to any college or university is no easy feat. Switching schools brings along a change of scenery, but also introduces an array of new social and academic challenges. Transfer students often enter an environment with little knowledge of the community or culture, and without a sense of belonging. As a second-year transfer, I have seen the College’s attempts at indoctrinating these incoming students, but feel that despite its best efforts, entering as a transfer student still proves difficult. Welcome Week is a staple for incoming freshmen at nearly all four-year schools. This is a crucial time for students to become acclimated to the school, learn the culture and build potential friendships. It’s an easy gateway to making the transition easier. Until this year, transfer students lacked a formal Welcome Week at the College. This meant that the summer orientation was the only pre-semester opportunity to get acclimated to the campus layout. This event doesn’t offer much opportunity to meet the other students. Thus, transfer students were left entering the semester with little knowledge of geographical details and no friends for support. However, since the College has decided to implement a Welcome Week for transfers, this could change. The living situation of a student also plays a large role in introducing them to potential peers and prospective friends. Depending on the year you transfer into the College, your housing situation varies. In my personal experience, I entered as a junior and I resided in Townhouses South, which left me with my own room on the first floor and only one suite mate. While the townhouses are great, they don’t introduce as many opportunities for building friendships as other residence halls do. There is also a club at the College dedicated to transfer students called the Student Transfer Association, which aims to assist transfer students in meeting new students who are going through the same struggles as they are. The club offers activities and trips for students to acclimate and meet new people. However, I think it still proves difficult to find your niche as a transfer student. Many mixers and forced ice breakers often turn awkward, and they lack the synthetic nature of meeting new people. When it comes down to it, being a transfer student is difficult. It is through no fault of the College, though, which seems to be searching for ways to make the transition easier. When a student is entering a community of already-established groups and friendships, and joining a campus of students who already have their own social circles and have adapted to the culture, it can be difficult to fall into place. Housing situations, Welcome Weeks and occasional mixers can assist in building these relationships most college students strive for, but as a transfer, you just have to put yourself out there. Being yourself, putting yourself in social situations and finding clubs you’re passionate about can lead you to the end goal. Of course, that isn’t always easy and some people are simply more socially articulate than others. Despite that, transferring is a challenge worth overcoming despite its difficulties, since it will ultimately improve your college experience. — Andrew Street Social Media Editor

AP Photo

Transfer students often encounter difficulties fitting into already-established social circles on campus, but the College is always coming up with new initiatives to ease the switch.

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Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Nicole DeStefano Nation & World Editor destefn1@tcnj.edu Thomas Infante Review Editor infantt1@tcnj.com Alyssa Gautieri Production Manager gautiea3@tcnj.edu Jennifer Goetz Web Editor goetzj1@tcnj.edu Andrew Street Lizzie Zakaim Social Media Editors streeta1@tcnj.edu zakaime1@tcnj.edu

Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Ricky Zhao Business/Ad Manager zhaof1@tcnj.edu

“My parents were both born outside the United States. As a first generation American, to be able to bring them into the most powerful office in the world was very inspiring to me.”.

— Shawn Syed, senior philosophy major

“We must recognize that our country is going through a chaotic time... fear and apprehension are overwhelming and in the midst of an aggressive — and in some cases divisive and, frankly, embarrassing — campaign for the presidency, that we in higher education must embrace our responsibilities, inviting students to learn how to confront these conflicts.”

— R. Barbara Gitenstein, College president

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.


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 9

Opinions

Apple’s emoji change won’t make impact

Michelle Lampariello won The Signal’s Summer Opinion contest. “I am a freshman communications major. I like to describe my three favorite things as family, friends and food, but I also really enjoy writing. I can’t wait to get involved with The Signal at the College and I’m extremely excited for my next four years here.” By Michelle Lampariello Apple recently announced its decision to replace the pistol emoji with a green squirt gun as a symbolic stance in America’s

ongoing debate regarding gun control. However, this change reflects more on Apple’s stance on the First Amendment than the Second Amendment. Supporters of the change argue that the pistol emoji promotes violence in everyday language, and that by keeping the pistol emoji in use, Apple would be feeding into the rise of gun violence. It is true that too many shootings occur in modern society and stricter gun laws are a critical component in solving the issue. However, Apple’s squirt gun emoji will not change actual gun laws — changing an image in a text message is certainly far less powerful than restricting a real-life weapon. Critics of the switch see the change as ridiculous and even comical. A brightly colored squirt gun is the pistol’s replacement? This might result in the switch backfiring, as people might see Apple’s decision as gun control taken too far or an example of major companies trying to brainwash youth. While Apple is trying to support gun control laws with this change, the company has the potential to hinder the movement by providing gun control critics with an example of where the gun control movement has overstepped its bounds. Taking the pistol emoji out of an iPhone user’s vocabulary will not change their behavior. Whether they will simply type out the word, use the squirt gun instead or switch to using the knife emoji, those who wish to be threatening will always find a way.

Apple will change the pistol emoji to a water gun emoji. As for those who use the pistol emoji to joke with their friends, this change will not affect them, either. The idea that replacing the pistol will help keep violence away from everyday language is rather naïve. Everyone has access to violent movies, TV shows, games, music, books and other forms of media that do not censor guns or any type of violence. Guns and other weapons are unfortunately already a part of Americans’ daily lives, with or without a pistol emoji. Apple sometimes adds new emojis in software updates to allow users to be more expressive. Some changes were long overdue, such as the addition of an array of skin colors rather than strictly white characters. Some changes were solely for entertainment, such as the addition of a unicorn. Nonetheless, all additions to the

AP Photo

emoji list were added in an effort to expand the options of an Apple customer. Apple now seeks to restrict these options instead of increasing the freedom of its users. The elimination of the pistol is a symbolic disarming of Apple customers, but it is impossible to disarm people when their weapons are words. Emoji characters are language, not actions. Therefore, the replacement of the pistol is an infringement on Apple customers’ freedom of speech. It is the job of lawmakers to impact gun control in America, not software. Replacing the pistol emoji with a squirt gun is taking a step backwards rather than a step forward. Symbolic changes like these only prolong the journey to safer gun laws. It is time that we focus on actual change rather than what emoji we choose when sending a text.

Online shopping: better than leaving the house?

Amazon’s two-day shipping can deter customers from shopping in person. By Tom Ballard Shopping can often be a painstaking series of events. A person has to plan a time to go out, drive to the store, browse the aisles in hopes of finding the items they seek, wait in line to check out and then drive back home. In a time where convenience and ease of use are in high demand, though, it is no surprise that people are seeking an alternative way to shop in order to avoid wasting time. Online retailers like Amazon are beneficial for people, but will fail to entirely eliminate traditional storefront businesses. As college students, shopping can be a bit of a hassle.

AP Photo

In addition to having to find time between going to class, partaking in extracurricular activities and remembering to take a moment to relax, college students often have to find time to purchase necessities, like toilet paper or office supplies, or to replenish the supply of food and drinks for their rooms. While many students have vehicles on campus, some do not and access to TCNJ Rideshare and Enterprise CarShare programs are not always dependable for a student’s busy schedule. Thus, purchasing goods from online retailers like Amazon makes sense. In a few clicks, people can order everything that would have taken up to an hour to find in-store. After a few days, the items are

delivered. Shopping online has clear benefits for college students and people without easy access to transportation. The convenience of online shopping has had negative effects on many retailers that still rely mostly on in-person shopping. According to a Chicago Tribune article from Friday, Aug. 26, Sears has closed stores amid $9 billion in losses in the past years, and Macy’s will close its doors at 100 locations. The same article reported that other retailers, like J.C. Penney, are trying to stock their shelves with exclusive items that are only available in-store in order to turn around what some might see as a dying market. The fact is that even though a majority of Americans are now doing most of their shopping online, according to a Fortune article from Wednesday, June 8, in-person shopping will never be a thing of the past. While online shopping provides convenience and fast shipping options, nothing can beat the promptness of being able to purchase and have the item available for immediate use. Even though Amazon’s Prime Fresh, a membership program that allows people to purchase groceries online to be delivered to their homes, can deliver milk to a person’s house, it’s not beneficial if the person needs the milk right away. For procrastinators like myself, shopping online is difficult around the holiday season, since there is often little guarantee that the item will arrive on time depending on how late I wait to place my order and how busy the shipping industry is at that time of the year. While online shopping may appear to be an overall solution, it will never take away the ease of mind when shopping in person. While online shopping inserts a middleman and boundary between the consumer and product, in-person shopping allows the buyer to see exactly what they are buying and know when exactly they are going to have it. It is that certainty that will prevent storefront businesses from entirely disappearing.

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 e-mail 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 300 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 e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.


page 10 The Signal August 31, 2016

THE REST OF THE WORLD IS CALLING YOUR NAME

STUDY ABROAD FAIR TH SEPT 7 2016 11 AM - 2 PM ALUMNI GROVE RAIN LOCATION: BUSINESS BASEMENT LOUNGE


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 11

Do Americans need a law and order candidate?

Trump becomes the Republican Presidential nominee at the RNC. By Paul Muholland Law and order candidates, who are infamous for endorsing illegal state violence against groups they find undesirable, have little respect for the law as evident through their own actions. Donald Trump, this season’s law and order candidate — as he called himself in his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention (RNC) — told George Stephanopoulos on “This Week” that he promotes torture of prisoners of war “beyond waterboarding,” as well as the murder of their non-combatant families, both of which are illegal under U.S. and international law. His immigrant “deportation force,” a term he coined in 2015 to describe his efforts to deport 11 million unauthorized immigrants, would require warrantless searches and detentions. Two recent presidents who peddled law and order rhetoric frequently, Bill Clinton and Richard Nixon, were both nearly

AP Photo

removed from office for their erratic and flagrant violations of the law. I mention all of this because I drove out to Cleveland, Ohio, this July for the last three days of the RNC. I was curious — it seemed as if every other person in the city was a police officer. I met many interesting and friendly people, including Vermin Supreme: a satirical third party candidate and YouTube personality who wears a boot on his head and promises free ponies if elected. I also saw several members of the Revolutionary Communist Party arrested for burning the flag, just outside of Quicken Loans Arena, where the convention was being held. As they were ushered into a police van, one Trump supporter, who I spoke to later on, yelled to the officer, “You guys have to be nice now, but just wait until Trump gets in. He’s going to unleash you guys.” He was greeted amicably by a few Cleveland officers. Hoping for the police to be “unleashed” is not the sort of sentiment

I am prepared to endorse. But it is one that is supported by Trump supporters and by Trump himself. The police have too much power to search and detain Americans as it stands today, and I will not vote my remaining liberties away. Trump and his supporters do not howl for more law enforcement for any halfway respectable reason, such as a recent spike in violent crime. In fact, violent crime has been steadily falling for a generation. Trump’s appeals to law and order invariably argue for state violence to be wielded against groups associated with the political left, and should be understood as a power struggle against it. In George Orwell’s “1984,” O’Brien tells Winston when he is locked up that “Power is not a means; it is an end… The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power.” This line is worth bearing in mind. According to the Senate’s Report on torture, many Guantanamo Bay detainees were kept awake for days at a time, locked in boxes and stress positions and at least one was frozen to death. This is not done to gather useful intelligence. Someone kept awake for a week by listening to pinging noises will not be in a position to report actionable intelligence. So why do it? Torture is committed for its own sake. Although I won’t vote for a police state, I refuse to accept the racketeering state that a second Clinton administration would introduce. Hillary Clinton lies so incessantly about her private email server that she may not actually remember what the truth really is, and Bill Clinton — my least favorite part of Hillary’s campaign

— is so corrupt that I think he would pay for the pleasure of selling himself. The most egregious instance of what Trump has labelled “pay for play” was the pardon of Marc Rich, a fugitive sanction dodger who made millions helping states, such as Iran and Sudan, work around U.S. sanctions. Luckily for him, he was a donor to the Clintons and the Democratic party. During the Democratic primaries, Senator Bernie Sanders challenged Hillary Clinton to put out her transcripts for a speech she gave to Goldman Sachs, in which she was paid $250,000. It should hardly matter because according to research done by Todd Purdum at Vanity Fair, Bill Clinton made over $50 Million in speaking fees alone between 2000 and 2008.

YouTube.com

Vermin Supreme attends the RNC.

Accessible healthcare: a top concern on campus By Rosie Driscoll, Olivia Laura and Reid Maglione Picture this: You’re a first-semester freshman. You’ve been on campus for three weeks, you don’t have a car and don’t know anyone well enough to ask them to drive you to a doctor’s office. You don’t feel comfortable asking your parents for help. Where do you go if you need to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs)? The College is the only campus in New Jersey with a Planned Parenthood Health Center located on site. This means that students have access to all of the important reproductive health care that Planned Parenthood provides right on campus. The services include STD testing and treatment, pregnancy tests, counseling, pelvic exams, birth control and pap tests for cancer screenings. Planned Parenthood is widely known for its professional, nonjudgmental and quality healthcare, and is a convenient and affordable option for students at the College. For freshmen and other students without transportation, the on-campus Planned Parenthood health center may be their only easily accessible source of reproductive services. That’s why it matters that it not only remains open, but also have a variety of hours for students to access those services. In 2009, Gov. Christie cut $7.45 million in funding for family planning services in New Jersey according to an article on NJ.com. This money had previously been reserved for health centers, including Planned Parenthood locations. It allowed them to provide their lifesaving services at affordable costs. The results of the funding cuts were that six New Jersey health centers closed. Some, including our Planned Parenthood location, reduced hours and staff. This decreased the organization’s accessibility to those in need of care. Our students only have access to this convenient health care on campus three days per week. If you have classes or an internship on the few days of the week when the center is open, you may wait longer for care and put your health and future on the line. “I needed care from Planned Parenthood, but they weren’t open on campus that day,” said a senior who

chose to remain anonymous. “I don’t have a car on campus, so my friend had to drive me, and we both missed class. It would have been easier to just get what I needed on campus.” According to data from the New Jersey Department of Health, sexually transmitted infection rates have risen 27 percent across New Jersey since family planning funding was cut. In some counties, the rate has risen nearly 50 percent according to a study done by Planned Parenthood. This is unacceptable. If we want to reverse this trend in our state and ensure that health centers remain open and accessible, we need to step up and take action. Fortunately, there are many ways that you can help restore funding to health centers. One easy way to take action is to contact your state legislators. A bill to restore funding recently passed in the state legislature, but Gov. Christie quickly vetoed it. This fall, there will likely be a vote scheduled to override his veto. Call or email your legislators’ offices and

ask them to support funding for family planning services. You can find out who your legislators at njleg.state.nj.us. Other ways to take action to support Planned Parenthood on campus include signing up to volunteer with Planned Parenthood, educating others about Planned Parenthood’s services, making sure you and your friends are registered to vote so that you can elect legislators that support reproductive health and access and following Planned Parenthood Action Fund of NJ (PPAFNJ) on social media to stay up to date with their current campaigns and issues. You can also sign up to attend PPAFNJ’s Reproductive Health Summit: Student Activist Training, which is set to take place right here at the College on Wednesday, Sept. 17. There, you can learn more ways to get involved. Register at http://bit.ly/ ReproHealthSummit16. By taking action, you help ensure that our campus health center always remains open and accessible for all students.

Planned Parenthood is open three days a week at the College.

AP Photo


page 12 The Signal August 31, 2016

Students share opinions around campus “Does America “Will changing the need a law and pistol emoji work?” order candidate?” Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Shannon Kelly, senior graphic design major.

“Statistically speaking, it’s not necessary. Crime rates are down.”

“I don’t think it will make a difference either way, but if a big company wants to get involved, I’m for it.”

“If it’s Trump, absolutely not.”

“It’s irrelevant when it comes to the real issues at hand.”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Ceili Boles, senior early childhood education and English double major.

“Will Amazon “Are health take over?” services accessible on campus?” “Yes, they offer things at a lower price and our generation and newer generations will soon become the majority.”

“No, I don’t think everyone shops online, but a majority of the younger population will fill that market.”

“Something is better than nothing, but Health Services and the like should be open seven days a week.”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Jenna Kirby, senior communications major.

“TCNJ’s efforts are better than nothing but access should be more readily available.” Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Courtney Ling, senior graphic design major.

The Signal’s student cartoon of the week...


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 13

Features

Intern / From Green Hall to the White House Student spends semester alongside the president continued from page 1

The White House internship is open to students all over the nation. Applicants must submit a resume, two essays and two letters of recommendation. The program is highly competitive since both undergraduate students and college graduates from throughout the country are eligible to apply. According to Syed, the selected staff represented a diverse group of people from nearly every state. Syed worked with the other interns in his department “to maintain an open dialogue between the president and the American public to ensure every voice was heard.” The Office of Presidential Correspondence reads through the president’s mail and chooses what will get passed onto him, Syed said. Obama has vowed to read 10 letters a day from the American

Photo courtesy of Mike Morgan

The White House Internship Program focuses on leadership developement. people. With tens of thousands of letters and emails arriving at the White House daily, it is a hard task to narrow the pile down to just 10 letters for the president to read.

Syed worked a 40-hour workweek and was required to complete additional public service hours as part of the internship. Some of his time was spent working in food banks

throughout Washington D.C. “I think one of the most important things for me was finding out that public service is something I definitely want to go into,” Syed said.

How was Syed able to land such a life-altering internship? His previous experience interning for New Jersey Federal senators, Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, certainly helped him stand out during the application process. Syed also has experience working at local law firms, as well as the New Jersey Superior Court. “I do not think anything ever makes anyone fully qualified to work for the White House,” Syed said. “But I think they saw my devotion to public service.” For Syed, a highlight of his 16-week internship was having the opportunity to show his parents around the Oval Office one day. “My parents were both born outside the United States,” Syed said. “As a first generation American, to be able to bring them into the most powerful office in the world was very inspiring to me.”

Summer session sets scenes from classic tales

Alyssa Gautieri / Production Manager

Left: The month-long class takes students throughout Europe. Right: Students reside in Harlaxton Manor during their time in England. By Melissa Natividade Staff Writer Visiting Anne Hathaway’s Stratford cottage, touring a medieval forest and spending the night at an English castle is all but a taste of the European adventures that students from the College experienced during the “Literary Landscapes” course offered this summer. The class spanned four countries in just under four weeks. Students earned college credit for traveling to England, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. “The Harlaxton study abroad trip was any English major’s dream,” said Giovanna Lomio, senior English and secondary education dual major. “When I heard about all of the different countries and cities that we would be going on, I knew that I had to be a part of this trip.” Directed by English professor Michele

Lise Tarter, “Literary Landscapes” aims to bring classics like “Hamlet,” “The Grimm Brothers’ Fairy Tales” and “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” to life by immersing students in the actual settings of these stories. “The students on this literary adventure feel the pulse of literature,” Tarter said. “I know that they will remember walking through Anne Frank’s secret annex much more than they will recall sitting in the classroom discussing the text.” The literature course is offered through the College’s Center for Global Engagement for four course units. It can be counted as a Liberal Learning elective toward the College’s literary, visual and performing arts requirement. With no pre-requisites, language requirements or GPA restrictions, students of various years and majors are encouraged to embark on the journey.

According to Tarter, 17 students attended the trip, which has been running for 13 years. When the trip kicked off in Harlaxton, England, the students spent their nights at a castle in the countryside. There, they took part in traditional British activities, such as a High Tea in the conservatory and a formal banquet in the castle’s ballroom. After traveling to renowned English sites, such as the Cotswolds and Stratfordupon-Avon, students made their way to Denmark to visit yet another royal destination: Hamlet’s castle. While in Germany, the group took a trip into the Grimm brother’s fairy tale world. They visited everything from Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Rapunzel’s tower to the recently-launched Grimmworld museum. “I chose this study abroad trip over the other options because it went to the

most countries and it was in my major,” said Alyssa Gautieri, junior English major and The Signal’s production manager. “It was the perfect amount of time for me — I could never do a full semester and we were moving around so much, you didn’t have time to be bored.” In between all the action, students had a free weekend penciled into the travel itinerary. During this time, students had the option to travel to a destination of their choice, whether it be Edinburgh, Scotland; Ibiza, Spain or Paris, France. The month-long trip then concluded in Amsterdam, where the students toured the Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and other museums and markets. According to Tarter, plans have been finalized for next year’s trip, which will include France, Spain and Italy. Applications are now available for those interested. The course will be capped at 20 students.


page 14 The Signal August 31, 2016

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August 31, 2016 The Signal page 15

: Sept. ‘05

Campus Style

New students from New Orleans

Gladiator lace-ups are a stylish alternative to heels.

mixes a classy ballet flat with a gladiator lace up. Pair them with a stylish dress when you don’t want your feet to be screaming in those cute-buttorturous heels, because deep down, we all know the truth — comfortable heels do not exist. You can also pair these shoes with jean shorts and a cute tank or T-shirt. You’ll find them everywhere, from Marshalls to Lord & Taylor, and you can be sure to see some pairs around the College campus. Today’s fashion also includes offthe-shoulder tops, chunky clog heels and high-waisted everything, from shorts and bathing suits to lingerie. It seems like the ’70s style is making a comeback. Maybe soon we’ll be seeing bell bottom jeans, too. For now, the new floral pants trend is taking over. But be warned — I’ve had to get every pair I’ve purchased hemmed so that I don’t need to wear those cute-but-torturous heels I mentioned earlier.

At the end of every August, I struggle to accept the start of a new school year. This semester was no different. Once again, I managed to ignore my responsibilities over the summer and wait until the last minute to order books, pack my clothes and read those welcome emails sent out by professors. I’ll get to it all eventually — I always do. But the one thing I haven’t procrastinated this summer is shopping for back-to-school clothes. Every trip to the mall, Nordstrom Rack or trendy and chic boutique in Red Bank, N.J., was really just an excuse for stocking up on some backto-school clothes. This semester, I’m coming back to the College with a few must-have items that are definitely worth reporting. A new shoe style out this season

High-waisted shorts mark the comeback of ’70s fashion.

Elise Schoening / Features Editor

The College opens it doors to out-of-state students following Katrina.

Every week, Features Editor Elise Schoening hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. The new school year is upon us. Residential halls have finally opened their doors and classes have officially begun. Most students on campus hail from throughout the state, with only a handful of New York and Pennsylvania residents enrolling in the College each year. But in 2005, over a dozen students at the College originated from Louisiana. The influx of out-of-state students was due to Hurricane Katrina and the devastation left on colleges and universities in New Orleans. As the nation comes to terms with the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, the reality facing many students in New Orleans is that most of its schools are simply too damaged to accommodate them for the semester. The College, however, is making efforts to accept undergraduates who were to attend schools in New Orleans until their schools recover from the storm. According to Lisa Angeloni, dean of admissions, as of Friday afternoon, the College has already admitted a number of students displaced by the hurricane. “It could be up to 15 at this point,” she said. “It’s going to keep fluctuating. Our phones haven’t stopped ringing.”

The students, which Angeloni said represent Tulane University, Louisiana State University, Loyala University New Orleans and Xavier University, have been for the most part, New Jersey residents. However, Angeloni said the College would consider admission requests from out-ofstate students as well. “We probably will begin to get inquiries from out of state students. We’re all trying to help as much as we can,” she said. “It’s so horrific that it’s hard not to help people.” Angeloni added that a hotline was set up for students who want to make inquiries over the holiday weekend. She said the number of admitted students will likely increase as the week progresses. “Because this is such a dire situation, we are going to push ourselves beyond what we consider capacity under normal circumstances,” said Matt Golden, assistant director for the office of College and Community Relations. “Depending on how many students are interested in coming, we want to turn some of the lounges within the dorms into housing facilities.” Golden said more than 20 faculty and staff members have offered to open their homes and take in refugees.

Celebritease

If your summer was anything like Taylor Swift’s, then I send you both my jealously and apologies. The pop mogul lost love, found love and burned some bridges during her very busy summer jet-setting around the globe. After her breakup with disc jockey Calvin Harris, the two took to Twitter to assure everyone (mainly me) that the conscious uncoupling was out of respect and there was no bad blood between them

By Jillian Greene Columnist

Flickr.com

: Troubled times for Taylor

The West-Swift drama continues at this year’s VMAs.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist

Flickr.com

AP Photo

(this pun will never go out of style). However, very shortly after the news of their breakup went viral, Swift was seen galavanting around Rhode Island, England, Italy and Australia with actor Tom Hiddleston. Amid rumors that the matchup was just a publicity stunt or an elaborate music video, the couple made it clear that they are very much together for real. While news was breaking over Swift’s romantic involvements, Kim Kardashian West was preparing to make headlines herself. When her husband Kanye West dropped the single “Famous” this year,

he caused quite the controversy by provocatively including Swift in the song lyrics. It was reported that Swift was never aware of the lyrics and felt they were unjust. Meanwhile, Kardashian West released videos on Snapchat that indicated otherwise. The videos revealed a phone conversation between West and Swift discussing the song. Swift took to Instagram to publish a statement that explained while she was aware of one part of the song, she was never notified of the second reference to herself. Swift noted that she never asked to be part of the narrative. Soon after, Kardashian West fans overwhelmingly took to social media to use the hashtag #KimExposedTaylor. So far, it does not appear that any of their careers were harmed negatively in the process. Swift was not present at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), which aired Sunday, Aug. 28. The notorious award show did not shy away from the recent drama, as it featured an extremely long speech from West himself during which he thanked his wife, defended his choice to call Swift and asked the audience, both in house and at home, to just have a good time. Coming full circle from the 2009 VMA drama when Swift beat out Beyoncé for best

female video, the “Lemonade” songstress took home the top prize of the night this year. But Beyoncé’s visual album, “Lemonade,” came with its own drama. The album seemed to allege her husband, rapper Jay Z, had cheated on her. Nevertheless, Beyoncé thanked him in her speech for “Formation,” which won Video of the Year. Neither Justin Bieber nor ex-girlfriend Selena Gomez attended the award show Sunday night, but Bieber has come under fire recently for his own cheating allegations. Although Gomez had been dragged by the internet after her response to the video release of the Swift/West phone call, she tried to win back public support when she called out ex-boyfriend Bieber on Instagram. Bieber made it very clear that his relationship with his newest love interest, Sofia Richie, was the real deal by posting a series of photos of her to his Instagram. When fans reacted negatively to the pictures, Bieber threatened to make his account private. Gomez took it upon herself to defend his fans by alleging that he was a cheater and shouldn’t be pointing fingers. After disparaging comments back and forth, Bieber got the final word in by accusing Gomez of having an affair with former One Direction member Zayn Malik. Gomez has yet to respond to the claim.


page 16 The Signal August 31, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

Firefly fills The Woodlands for fifth year to play, as well as Jai Wolf, who previously played on Thursday. The Chicago-based DJ duo filled the tent to the brim as they spun what was one of the best DJ sets of the weekend with ease — excluding the other headlining acts, naturally.

Photo Courtesy of Firefly’s Facebook

Fans watch from the front row as Blink-182 performs on the final day of the festival.

By Sean Reis Arts & Entertainment Editor

The Woodlands of Dover, Del., was an escape from reality for music fans from Wednesday, June 15, to Sunday, June 19, as it hosted Red Frog’s Firefly Music Festival and sheltered communities of campers. The locale was beautiful, and so were the artists, attendees and friendly-faced workers that came together to make the event possible. When fans began flooding the campsites on Wednesday — for those who had premier camping — and Thursday, the diverse masses of people left behind the real world as they kicked off their summer, ready to forget responsibility and enjoy what was soon to become one of the greatest weekends of their young lives. The days started early, while the nights ended late, however, the memories made during the time between will last a lifetime.

Early Days The festival’s fifth year did not feature legendary artists Paul McCartney and Morrissey, who performed at Firefly 2015, but fans who frequent The Woodlands felt that 2016 was one of the best years yet — Firefly was filled with talent, from the headliners to the newcomers who had never played a festival before. The latter acts were especially impressive, and the artistry in their performances retained the prowess of experienced festival veterans. It isn’t easy for musicians to perform to a crowd that is unfamiliar with their music, but the artists at Firefly didn’t seem to have a problem with it. Boston’s William Bolton, who performed what he calls “soul-hop,” kicked off the first official day for many premier campers on Thursday afternoon. He performed as if he were personal friends with every member of his crowd.

“I’ve never been to a music festival before, but now I’m playing one,” Bolton said, but if he felt apprehensive, it didn’t show in his performance. Another artist, Los Angelesbased disc jockey (DJ) and producer-turned-alternative rapper, gnash, took the stage on Saturday at The Pavilion tent — normally home to most of the weekend’s DJs — with similar fashion to Bolton. Garrett Nash, known as gnash and for his recent hit “I hate u, I love u” with singersongwriter Olivia O’Brien, drew quite the large crowd for such an early set time. Though many gnash fans made an appearance and knew every word to every song, many only knew the musician from his recent hit track. Most of them stuck around anyway to witness the young, upand-coming artist perform. At that same stage the next day, Louis The Child was one of the more popular early-time DJs

Late Nights The headliners that played through the nights and into the next mornings were all unbelievable — with the exception of Fetty Wap, who did not even come out on stage until half of his set time had passed. Instead, his DJ played for a majority of his allotted time, leaving only time for six or seven hits from the New Jersey-born sensationalized rapper. Kings of Leon, though, proved its members were true kings and ruled the stage on Friday night. The following night, Florence and the Machine’s songstress Florence Welch captivated the crowd with beautiful, dominating vocals before deadmau5 unleashed what was one of the single greatest electronic music acts I have ever seen. Mumford & Sons also had

quite a stellar performance and played for two hours on Sunday night, but nothing compared to three of the other second-row headliners: The 1975, Blink-182 and my personal favorite artist, Porter Robinson. The young men better known together as The 1975 were rock stars on the Lawn Stage on Sunday night. Earlier this year, the English rock band released its sophomore album, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,” and the band made sure to perform a mix of songs from both of its albums — most notably, “Chocolate,” “Girls” and “Sex” from the debut album. While another fan-favorite song, “Somebody Else” from their more recent album, brought the crowd to sing together at the top of their lungs one last time. Before attendees made their way to the Lawn Stage on Sunday night, many headed to the Firefly Main Stage to see Blink-182 perform. The alternative rock band, which set the soundtrack for many fans’ see FLY page 18

Sean Reis / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Porter Robinson admires his live show visuals.

Blink-182 takes ‘California’ to New Jersey By Maddi Ference Staff Writer Any punk lover that grew up in the past 20 years has to be familiar with the revolutionary alternative rock band Blink-182. The band influenced countless others with its music over the years, such as Fall Out Boy, Panic! At the Disco and the All American Rejects. When most people found out that the group was gearing up for the California Summer Tour, they could not get their hands on tickets fast enough. Blink-182 was ready to perform again, and what better way to do it than a summer tour? From diehard fans in their mid-30s who have been fans of Blink-182 since its inception in 1992 to younger fans just discovering the band, the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., was packed to capacity on Friday, Aug. 14, with fans from all over eagerly anticipating Blink-182 to close the night after openers All Time Low and A Day to Remember. It was a hot and humid day, but no one seemed to mind as they were stuck in traffic on the Garden State

Barker wails on the drums at a Blink-182 concert.

Parkway, with many blasting Blink-182 songs until the moment they walked into the venue. All Time Low started the night off with nine lively songs, closing with the band’s most popular track, “Dear Maria, Count Me In,” which had nearly everyone on their feet and singing.

AP Photo

A Day to Remember then showed off a much heavier set. Mosh pits broke out all over the lawn and the energy in the crowd was terrifically high, which only added to the excitement for the night’s headliner. Once the first drum beat was heard, the crowd went ballistic. Blink-182 ran out and opened the night with “Feeling This.”

The entire audience erupted into song as everyone screamed the lyrics in unison while frontman and bassist, Mark Hoppus, danced around on stage. He was joined by drummer Travis Barker and the newest band member: guitarist, Matt Skiba (formerly from Alkaline Trio), who recently replaced founding member Tom DeLonge. Blink-182 kept the audience entertained and singing for about an hour and a half, making sure to play some new material from its most recent album “California.” The band also dug into its backcatalog for some classics, such as “I Miss You” and “All the Small Things.” Blink-182 concluded its set with a newer song, “Los Angeles,” but of course, the audience wanted more, so an encore was in order. The band ran out on stage one more time and played a few more songs until it ultimately concluded the night with “Dammit.” At the very last chord, confetti cannons shot into the audience. Fans left the venue with the knowledge that Blink-182 can still put on a great performance and is not going anywhere anytime soon.


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 17

Frank Ocean releases new album By Thomas Infante Review Editor

Frank Ocean has become somewhat of an enigma of the music industry. His first album, 2012’s “Channel Orange,” received rave reviews, earning Ocean a Grammy Award and several nominations. While Ocean has never conformed to a single genre, his music so far has been best categorized as a blend of hip-hop and R&B. But with the release of his latest album, “Blonde,” Ocean experiments further with his music, while finding inspiration in introspection. Ocean’s instrumentals have always sounded clean and pretty, which compliments his sentimental lyrics. He takes this sound quality a step further on “Blonde,” as many of the songs on this album have an ethereal quality to them — instruments and background vocals are wrapped in effects or distortion. At times, such layers of music are a jarring departure from Ocean’s previous R&Bcentric style. However, a majority of the album is catchy, and both Ocean’s singing and rapping are passionate and unfailing. The track “Ivy” features Ocean singing over dreamy, aquatic guitars sounds. His lyrics reflect on a failed relationship from his adolescent years. “I ain’t a kid no more / We’ll never be those kids again.” His lyrics are mature, and he ends the chorus by saying, “It’s quite all right to hate me now / but we both know that deep down, the feeling still deep down is good.” Rather than bitterly regret the end of the relationship, he is glad he was able to experience something so beautiful during such important, formative years of his life. The track “Solo” is similar in tone. Musically, it is very simple, with only a droning

synthesizer to compliment Ocean’s vocals. It is minimalist to the point that it can sound like background music if it wasn’t for Ocean’s captivating singing and clever lyricism. He alternates between saying “solo” — as in single — and “so low,” as if he needs to get high. He also references his use of drugs like marijuana to escape the difficulties of life: “It’s hell on Earth and the city’s on fire / Inhale, in hell there’s heaven,” he sings on the track. There are also several short skits on the album that drive home Ocean’s overall message in “Blonde.” The first is titled “Be Yourself,” and it features a spoken word recording of Frank’s mother advising against using drugs just to fit in with others. At first, this seems odd and out of place, since Ocean himself has frequently referenced drug usage in his own music. However, it fits into the more mature attitude that Ocean now retains, as he was able to recognize what his mother said about peer-pressure holds merit, even though he hasn’t always taken her advice.

Another one of these skits is titled “Facebook Story” in which a man talks about how his girlfriend thought he was cheating on her because he didn’t accept her Facebook friend request, despite spending time together in person every day. It is a poignant 21st century anecdote and shows how easily one can become obsessed with the imaginary and intangible world wide web, causing one to lose sight of what is truly important in the process. A highlight from the album is the song titled “Solo (Reprise),” which features a terrifically powerful verse from rapper André 3000, who has one of the few prominent guest appearances on the entire album. His performance is thoughtprovoking and his lyrics criticize society, which fits nicely into the theme of the album. “I can admit / When I hear that another kid is shot by the popo it ain’t an event no see OCEAN page 18

This week, WTSR Assistant Music Director Nelson Kelly highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.

Band: Dinosaur Jr. Album: “Give a Glimpse of What yer Not” Release Number: 12th Hailing From: Nashville, Tenn. Genre: Alternative Slacker Jam Extravaganza Label: Jagjaguwar

Dinosaur Jr.’s back with “Give a Glimpse of What yer Not.” For 30-plus years, these Nashvillians have been pumping out music that’s both grungy and psychedelic, featuring catchy pop melodies that complement droning riffs and soul-crushing solos. “Give a Glimpse of What yer Not” upholds the band’s proud neo-grunge traditions perfectly. From the opening of “Goin Down” to the pop YouTube.com single “Tiny” through the heart-wrenching Ocean’s music video for ‘Nikes’ uses artistic retro cinematography. guitar solo on “Good to Know,” the album reminds fans why they love Dinosaur Jr. The band sticks to its roots well without sounding like they are trying too hard (a welcome change from the summer’s slew of poppunk comeback albums). Overall, “Give a By Kevin Shaw Your team, balanced between offensive damage dealers, damage Glimpse of What yer Not” stands testament Staff Writer absorbers (referred to as “tanks”) and healers to support the team, to a band that’s been around for decades, and must join together to complete your objective. Naturally, the enemy it is clear that they do not intend to give up I did not know what to expect when I first jumped into Bliz- team will try its best to stop you. anytime soon. zard’s newest game “Overwatch.” Blizzard has proven itself a The various objectives include moving a payload across the tried-and-true game development company by creating classics map, holding a capture point against the enemy team and taking Must Hear: “Tiny,” “Be a Part,” “I Told such as “World of Warcraft” (WoW), “StarCraft” and “Diablo.” checkpoints from the enemy team. These game types were played Everyone” and “Good to Know” All three game series have been objectively popular — WoW had across the 14 maps currently included with the game. an unmatched 5.5 million subscribers as of Nov. 2015, according With a price tag of only $40 for PC players, compared to the to Polygon. usual $60 for Triple-A games, “Overwatch” was headed in the It was safe to say the Blizzard game designers were doing right direction out of the gate. Plus, with switching characters to something right, however, I still had my reservations. All of these counter others being such an integral part of the game, every single games were role playing or strategy games, meanwhile, “Over- character was unlocked to play as soon as you bought the game. watch” would be Blizzard’s first time developing a first-person- In games like “League of Legends,” characters must be unlocked shooter (FPS), a vastly different genre. Nonetheless, I took the with in-game currency acquired by winning games — or bought risk and bought the game anyway and it quickly became one of using real money, which isn’t very fun. my all-time favorites. I didn’t really think it could get much better than that. Then Bliz“Overwatch” is an objective-based team game — similar to zard announced that every single character and map released after “League of Legends” — set as a cartoon FPS like “Team Fortress launch would be free, as well. Other companies should take notes 2.” You’re on a team of six heroes and villains chosen from 22 because the launch of “Overwatch” is how you launch a game. playable characters. They all have their strengths and weaknesses, “Overwatch” is not without its downsides, though. The game which allows them all to be countered one way or another by an could really have more content for the price because playing the experienced player. same maps repeatedly can get a bit monotonous. Then, there have Band: The Frights been the cheaters using auto-aim mods and wall hacking to reveal Album: “You Are Going to Hate This” the location of enemies, which ruins matches for everyone. Release Number: 1st Full-Length The biggest problem, however, was the release of competi- Hailing From: Southern California tive play, since there were serious balancing issues. Players were Genre: Garage Surf Punk forced into games against others with much higher skill levels Label: Dangerbird Records than themselves, and some characters were heavily favored, while some weren’t being played at all. The Frights deliver a charmingly aggresThese problems no longer worry me, though. Blizzard has been sive dose of garage surf punk that rattles very actively looking for new ways to fix the game. The competi- with post-adolescent angst and Southern tive play will feature changes next season and Blizzard has re- Californian sunshine. From the anthemic leased several patches since the launch, giving certain characters first single “Kids” to the trippy fever-dream more or less health, raising or lowering the damage of others, etc. of “Puppy Knuckles” and the shimmering Blizzard has also been continuing its efforts to improve every- guitar lines and frank pop confessions of day matchmaking, giving out permanent hardware bans to cheat- the new single “Afraid of the Dark,” The ers. A regular ban will ban your account from playing, while ban- Frights killed it. The Frights debut album ning hardware prevents the components in your computer from “You Are Going to Hate This” — proplaying the game. With the latter ban, cheaters can’t even buy a duced by FIDLAR’s Zac Carper — can be new copy of the game. ironically so very easy to love. Overall, I have been very happy with “Overwatch” and BlizYouTube.com zard. It has been a fun game to play with friends or by myself, and Must Hear: “All I Need,” “Kids,” “Afraid ‘Overwatch’ offers a diverse group of characters. definitely worth the price tag. of the Dark” and “Puppy Knuckles”

Blizzard’s ‘Overwatch’ outdoes itself


page 18 The Signal August 31, 2016

Fly / Festival Ocean / ‘Blonde’ surprises fans

features wide Differs from ‘Channel Orange’ music variety continued from page 16 ’90s and early 2000s, was one of the top reasons attendees made the trip to The Woodlands this year. Though the band also went on tour this summer, no one could say for sure how many more opportunities there would be to hear hits like “I Miss You,” “Dammit” and “All The Small Things” played live, which made Firefly a must-go-to for the biggest Blink fans. The main reason I made the trip to The Woodlands this year, though, was to see an electronic music artist from Chapel Hill, N.C., known as Porter Robinson. His performance was by far my favorite set all weekend. Robinson started out as a DJ, but following the release of his debut album “Worlds” in 2014, he created a live show featuring visuals that virtually brought his world to life. When Robinson first went on his live tour for the album, such a show was unprecedented for modern-day DJs. Since then, his show has only grown and other DJs have followed suit by developing their own extravagant live shows. Robinson’s updated live show was an amazing performance on Friday night, as were the other headliners, and Firefly as a whole. If only Fetty Wap lived up to the hype his DJ attempted to build for more than half an hour.

Twitter

Left: Ocean’s album artwork for ‘Blonde.’ Right: Ocean draws from a variety of musical influences.

continued from page 17

more,” he raps, echoing the sentiment shared by many other Americans whose ideas about police violence have grown jaded and pessimistic. Most of the other collaborations are very subtle, such as Beyoncé’s accompanying vocals on the orchestral “Pink and White.” On many modern hip-hop albums, rappers often have a multitude of featured artists on each song. With “Blonde,” however, Ocean did quite the opposite, focusing the album on himself. Even the instrumentals, while often beautiful and melodic, serve as only a backdrop to Ocean’s singing, rapping and lyricism.

AP Photo

Perhaps Ocean’s best song on the album is “Nights,” which begins with an upbeat celebration of hedonism. Ocean raps, “If I get my money right, you know I won’t need you / I’m fuckin’, no I’m fucked up / Spend it when I get that.” Halfway through the song, the beat, along with Ocean’s singing, transitions to be much softer and contemplative. He sings, “Every night every day up / Every day patches the night up,” as he reflects on his exhausting and destructive lifestyle. Ocean’s approach to “Blonde” shows his focus and maturity over all else. Within a culture and genre of music that has so heavily been reliant on trends and recognizable production, Ocean delivered a refreshing and touching project that truly inspires hope for what his music can achieve in the future.

TCNJ Student Health Services Schedule your appointments online … https://tcnj.medicatconnect.com or call (609) 771-2889  Sickness & Injury: sore throats, coughs, skin problems, pink eye, urinary tract infections, ankle sprains and MUCH more!

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August 31, 2016 The Signal page 19

Sports

Field Hockey ready to reclaim National title By George Tatoris Sports Editor The field hockey team, looking to redeem itself after a disappointing end to an impressive 2015 season, returned with a No. 1 rank in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) coaches’ preseason poll, along with a stew of raw and seasoned talent. After they ended the regular season with a single loss, the Lions trampled through their preseason competition, only to be stopped short of being able to defend their National Championship title by lesser-ranked Middlebury College in the semifinals, losing 4-1. The Panthers defense kept the Lions at bay while their offense scored four unanswered goals across two halves. The Lions were only able to crack Middlebury’s defense in the final minutes of the game. Sophomore defender Elizabeth Morrison sent the ball into the circle where forward Alicia Wagner sent it into the cage. But the recovery was not enough. Middlebury went on to steal the Championship title away from the Lions in the finals. The team’s other loss last season, which was to Ursinus College, ended a 27-game winning streak. The College showed mettle throughout the season. They were undefeated at home and against

Senior goalkeeper Schlupp returns to play for the Lions in the 2016 season.

NJAC opponents. They amassed 87 goals throughout the season while opponents only managed to score 14 goals against them. Some of last season’s victories were personal. Coach Sharon Pfluger, who returned to coach the Lions for her 30th year, reached her 1,000th combined career win last season — a first for a coach of two programs in the entire NCAA. Her overall record is 1,023-1356. The National Field Hockey

Coaches Association (NFHCA) named Pfluger its 2015 regional coach of the year last season. On the field, senior midfielder Jaclyn Douglas and senior defender Lexi Smith received national honors by being placed on the 2015 Longstreth/NFHCA Division-III All-American First Team. Both Smith and Douglas, as well as senior goalkeeper Kelly Schlupp, should be returning to the field for another season.

Douglas, Smith and Schlupp are veterans and should provide excellent tutelage to incoming freshmen — all three played a part in defeating defending champions Bowdoin College in 2014, which ended in a 2-0 victory for the Lions. The win was in thanks to a domineering defense outmaneuvering the Panthers’ offense. A stalwart Schlupp made five saves throughout the game while her classmates made for the goal. Douglas scored

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

first while Smith assisted forward Erin Healy in making the Lions’ second goal. The team’s first game of the 2016 season is scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 1, at home at 7:30 p.m. against Stevens Institute of Technology. The Lions will then venture to Radnor, Pa., on Thursday, Sept. 8, where they will take on Cabrini College on their home turf. After, they return home to take on Juniata College on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Cheap Seats

Is this the real life? No, it’s just fantasy football

Left: Suspended Brady may be a good backup quarterback. Right: Cook is a hidden talent for your fantasy drafts. By Sean Reis Arts & Entertainment Editor Another year. Another football season. And another fantasy football league. While many already rallied their friends together to draft a team for the new season, some have yet to do so. I hope to be of assistance as you assemble a team to play for your pride — and maybe your money. The 2016 season certainly looks to be different from past years. As Points Per Reception (PPR) leagues continue to be the new fantasy football standard, the wide receivers are the most sought-after players. For those unable to pick the top three receivers — Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones — I urge you to pick running backs

before they are all gone. Though the falloff between elite wide receivers and the rest might be significant, the running back position can drop off before you even draft your second back. There are a few high-upside picks during the latter half of the draft, such as Jay Ajayi, Jeremy Langford and Justin Forsett, but you will likely prefer these options to be drafted as backups. Meanwhile, the second-tier wide receivers tend to be more plentiful and last through the first six or seven rounds, depending on how many teams are in your league. Plus, there are many dependable third-tier receivers you can draft. As for quarterback, some people like to reach for the elite players — primarily Cam

Newton and Aaron Rodgers. Though these players are arguably the best at their position, will they be worth the early pick? When other above-average quarterbacks tend to be picked late, such as Carson Palmer, Derek Carr and Eli Manning, the earlydrafted quarterback probably won’t be worth it. For those who disagree, I suggest you look at the suspended Tom Brady to be an elite backup, giving you two superstars for a majority of the season. Not only will this pick give you options at quarterback week after week, but it will also lead to owning an extra quarterback you can trade for a top-tier player at another position you might need to make a push for the playoffs. Keep in mind that Brady does not pair well with Rodgers because Green Bay will

AP Photos

be on the bye for the last week of Brady’s suspension. However, Brady works with Russell Wilson, who will be on bye when he returns. Finally, let’s talk about the last position to be drafted — excluding any decent defense and kicker — a tight end. Rob Gronkowski will most likely be drafted during the first round, but most leagues do not pick tight ends for the next three or four rounds. The next best tight end has to be Greg Olsen, especially with Newton as his quarterback. I wouldn’t draft Olsen before the fourth round because Gary Barnidge and Julius Thomas barely crack the top 100 projected picks. I will leave you with my top sleeper for this season, Jared Cook, who also happens to be a tight end. Good luck!


page 20 The Signal August 31, 2016

Did you know that The Signal is active on social media? Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on breaking news: @tcnjsignal Like us on Facebook to find out about campus events: /TCNJSignal And follow us on Instagram for even more: @tcnjsignal


August 31, 2016 The Signal page 21 Women’s Soccer

Goal / Chemistry is key Want to be on the Want to be on the other other side of this paper? side of this paper? We have a number of The Signal has a positions number of available! positions available!

:H·UH ORRNLQJ IRU We’re looking for: :ULWHUV %H WKH RQH ZKR EULQJV WKH VWRU\ WR - Writers to cover various onWKH FDPSXV campus events. 3KRWRJUDSKHUV &DSXWUH HYHQWV RQ FDPSXV The women’s soccer season begins on Friday, Sept. 2. - Photographers to bring the DQG EULQJ WKH VWRU\ WR OLIH events to life. players and set an important College Marlins in Norfolk, $VVLVWDQWV -RLQ RXU HGLWRULDO VWDII DQG KHOS continued from page 24 for them to follow. Va. The Marlins will pose - Assistants to join the staff joining the squad, includ- example “As a senior captain on a challenge for the newly PDNH WKLV SDSHU KDSSHQ and help make this paper happen ing seven new midfielders, the women’s soccer team, the adapted Lions. Chemistry such as Haley Bodden and example I set on and off the will be key. Last season, week after week! Despina Liandis. field for the younger players they only lost two games at &RQWDFW 8V 6LJQDO#WFQM HGX Weeder will also have the is extremely crucial,” Petro home and won seven. Petro believes that after /RFDWHG LQ WKH %URZHU 6WXGHQW &HQWHU chance to train new faces as said. “Being a role model Contact: signal@tcnj.edu the team welcomes two new vocally and leading by ex- everything she’s mentioned, EDVHPHQW 8VH WKH VWDLUFDVH WR WKH OHIW RI freshman goalkeepers, Sam ample is a characteristic I the team has all the pieces /RFDWHG RQ WKH VHFRQG ÀRRU RI Carney and Nicole Dis- will abide by throughout the to succeed this year. WKH LQIR GHVN Forcina Hall. pasquale, to the team. duration on the season.” “With these changes, Petro believes that as a seThe Lions play their first I know we are going to &RPH WR WKH RI¿FH DQ\ WLPH RQ nior, she has a responsibility game on Friday, Sept. 2, achieve great things this sea0RQGD\V 6XQGD\V DW S P to help lead these younger against Virginia Wesleyan son,” Petro said. Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Sack / Lions kickoff on road Cross country gets set Cross Country

Football

Lions are ready to run

By Danielle Silvia Staff Writer

As the fall season approaches, the College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams are ready to gear up for another great season. Both cross country teams are led by coach Justin Lindsey, who is entering his fourth season as head coach and eighth season as a member of the program. Lindsey led the Lions to the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championships berth during the 2015 season. The cross country teams will begin with an invitational meet on Saturday, Sept. 3, titled the Blue/Gold Invitational. Following that meet will be the Rider Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The men are hoping for their 23rd consecutive crown, while the women are aiming for their fourth. Given their impressive results last year,

this should not be too much of a challenge. During the last Regional Meet, the Lions were able to finish ninth for both teams in a total field of 41 men and 37 women — about 300 runners in total. Junior Andrew Tedeschi qualified for NCAA Nationals and finished 12th in the race with a time of 25:43, while senior Jon Stouber finished 34th and earned regional honors crossing the finish at 26:14. While Stouber graduated in May, Tedeschi, along with fellow seniors Brandon Mazzarella and Ed Bohi, are expected to lead the Lions again and fuel an energized season for all. As for the women, Marissa Lerit, who finished 32nd at 22:58, recently graduated, so now the team looks up to see who will be leading the pack. Senior women include Caroline Moore and Laura Straub. This cross country season should be filled with plenty of surprises, successes and an overall love of the sport.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Football looks to improve on a 4-5 overall record.

continued from page 24

Osler, are back for the upcoming season. This year, the Lions must once again overcome low expectations. The NJAC preseason rankings have them pegged as eighth in a conference of 10 teams. Although these rankings are subjective, the Lions have room for improvement. A class of 28 incoming freshmen could be what coach Wayne Dickens needs to pull ahead. The Lions will begin their season on the road against the University of WisconsinWhitewater on Saturday, Sept. 3. They must wait until Saturday, Sept. 24, for their home opener against Christopher Newport University. Homecoming will take place on Saturday, Oct. 29, against William Paterson University. With last season’s momentum, a fresh slate and a mixture of seasoned vets and young talent, the Lions have a chance to overcome the odds for a second straight season.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Cross country prepares for the Blue/Gold Invitational.


page 22 The Signal August 31, 2016

What’s Your Legacy? BECOME A FOUNDING FATHER OF BETA THETA PI Known for its award-winning Men of Principle initiative, Beta Theta Pi ranks among the top 10 fraternities in North America for number of chapters, undergraduate members and living alumni. This past academic year, the Fraternity achieved a 3.199 GPA—the second highest mark in its 177-year history.

Beta Theta Pi is offering $1,000 in scholarships designated for Non-Greek male students at The College of New Jersey. Deadline September 18, 2016 To apply, visit tcnj.beta.org/scholarship

Notable alumni include United States Senator Richard Lugar, Denison ’54, Legendary Basketball Coach John Wooden, Purdue ’32, Walmart Founder Sam Walton, Missouri ’40, Nike Co-founder Bill Bowerman, Oregon ’33, Hall of Fame Baseball Player Mike Schmidt, Ohio ’71, Retail Guru Bruce Nordstrom, Washington ’55, Adobe Co-founder John Warnock, Utah ’61, and Composer Stephen Sondheim, Williams ’50. Interested? Contact Colony Development Coordinator Bryant Fiesta at bryant.fiesta@beta.org or 513.280.3126, or visit GOBETA.COM.


LIONS

August 31, 2016 The Signal page 23

AROUND THE

D RM

George Tatoris “The Ref”

Sean Reis A&E Editor

Matthew Ajaj Staff Writer

Michael Battista Staff Writer

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” George Tatoris, asks our panel of three experts three questions: What was the most underrated performance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro? What NFL team looks the strongest as we head into the 2016 season? What is next for A-Rod now that he has left the Yankees?

1. What was the most underrated performance at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio? Matthew: The most underrated performance at the Summer Olympics goes to every participant who completed the 10-kilometer swim marathon. How is that even possible? For those who don’t speak metric system, 10 kilometers translates to over six miles. Swimming. In open water. The winners of the men’s and women’s event, Ferry Weertman and Sharon Van Rouwendaal, both managed to finish the race in just under two hours. It is tiring just to stand for two hours, let alone swim. Watching athletes swim their hearts out over a six-mile stretch is enough to make any viewer seated at home on their couch downing potato chips by the handful feel downright ashamed of themselves. But that is what makes the 10-kilometer swim such an under-appreciated and must-watch event: it makes people feel so ashamed of themselves that they will be inspired to get out of the house and exercise.

AP Photo

Sean: Ma Long from China brought home two gold medals for table tennis this Olympics, yet I did not see any coverage for his winnings. I understand that the United States may not be the best at table tennis, which would explain the lack of coverage, but what these athletes did was unreal. I have never seen anyone play

ping pong like these guys, and, personally, I consider myself to be an above-average player (on a scale where these athletes don’t exist). Long dominated the table to win not only one, but two gold medals, and there were only two events — take that, Michael Phelps! Long, the Chinese table tennis players and the sport

itself were the most underrated performance from this year’s Summer Olympic Games. Michael: Sweden’s women’s national soccer team was very underrated during the games. They accomplished a feat by beating the United States women’s national soccer team on penalty kicks and keeping them from winning any Olympic medal for the first time ever, and their performance was overshadowed by goalkeeper Hope Solo being a sore loser. The U.S. dominated that game, taking 27 shots — 6 on goal — compared to Sweden’s 6 shots — 2 on goal. Yet Sweden got that ball in the net, knew they couldn’t beat the U.S. normally, and adapted by being conservative. The U.S. is a powerful team, so keeping them from having the ball at all was the best choice! Plus, they were a third place team and still beat the U.S. and Brazil, Sweden’s adaptive nature and technique earned them that silver medal. But, hey, Solo can call them cowards all she wants as she stalls for time, fixing her gloves before that last penalty kick.

Mike gets 3 points for sore-loser Solo. Matt gets 2 points because swimming for 10 kilometers sounds like death. Sean gets 1 point for dissing Phelps.

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2. What NFL team looks the strongest as we head into the 2016 season? Matthew: The popular choice is the Carolina Panthers, what with reigning MVP Cam Newton heading the charge on offense a great defense. One problem: the secondary. With

cornerback (CB) Josh Norman’s shocking departure this offseason, the Panthers are left with CBs James Bradberry (who?) and Daryl Worley (huh?). You know who’s got a great secondary? The Arizona Cardinals. With Patrick Peterson (ooh!) and Tyrann Mathieu

(aah!) manning the defensive backfield, not to mention Calais Campbell and the newlyacquired Chandler Jones up front, opposing offenses will be left desperate for answers. On the other side of the ball, the Cardinals look even better — they have a great quarterback in Carson Palmer, an elite tailback in David Johnson, and three studly wide outs: John Brown, Michael Floyd and future Hall-of-Famer, Larry Fitzgerald. Right now, the Cardinals are the top dog and best birds of the bunch. Sean: It’s always tough to tell who will be the “strongest.” The National Football Conference (NFC) will likely see the Cardinals or the Seattle Seahawks make the deepest playoff runs, maybe even win the Super Bowl, while the American Football Conference (AFC) will likely have the New England Patriots at the top, as usual with the Pittsburgh Steelers or the Kansas City Chiefs close behind. To give you a bolder prediction, though, I would not be surprised to see the New Orleans Saints

and Indianapolis Colts make a splash this season. Other than that, I think the only teams that can be safe to predict have to be the New York teams, both of which honestly have been shaping up to be terrible. Michael: I can’t say the Patriots for once, so I’ll go with the Cardinals. Quarterback Palmer has talent, and football fans see that every year, but he also has some of the worst luck. He slipped up last year in the NFC Championship game against the Panthers, turning over the ball six times in total with four of those being interceptions. The team is usually one of the best in the NFC West, but can never finish strong. The team has made a fair amount of changes this year, cutting a lot of the extra fat off the team and bringing in players like Jones and rookie Robert Nkemdiche to improve their pass-rush game, which was desperately needed. So long as Palmer plays like we know he can, the team may be able to go 11-3.

Matt gets 3 points for oohs and aahs. Mike gets 2 points for Palmer’s bad luck. Sean gets 1 point for booze, jazz and general destitution (a.k.a New Orleans). 3. What is next for A-Rod now that he has left the Yankees? Matthew: Alex Rodriguez will be a special adviser for the New York Yankees organization come 2017 — this much we know. He has not yet officially retired from baseball. However, anyone who watched his final game in pinstripes knows that his ending was simply too perfect and that going out any other just would not feel right. A-Rod has gone through a massive transformation — from an 18-year-old slugger to a steroid-using scandal magnet to now a 41-year-old mature man. A-Rod has played baseball for his entire adult life — the time has come for him to leave the diamond and move onto the next stage. He is clearly very dedicated to the lives of his two daughters, and with no more 162-game seasons on his schedule, it looks like A-Rod is just going to be A-Dad from now on — and that is awesome. Sean: Oh A-Rod... I am sorry and I really rooted for you even during the darkest parts of your career, but what lies for you

in the future? Nothing. You may or may not make the Hall of Fame one day with all of the scandalous shenanigans. However, your career will be honored somehow, no matter what. You will likely find yourself working an office position at a clubhouse for some team — whether that’s the Yankees or another team, I do not know. Michael: Apparently, the Miami Marlins have been looking to pick up A-Rod since he quit the Yankees. His best years are behind him, but I think A-Rod can still be a good designated hitter and help teach younger players the basics. Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman even credited him for helping the team make the wildcard game last season. He’s four home runs away from 700, so if he wanted to play another year to reach that milestone, I can’t blame him for wanting to join that illustrious club. Another year or two with a smaller paycheck won’t hurt anyone... except Miami, since I can’t understand why a National League team would want him.

Matt gets 3 points for presenting a forgotten side of A-Rod. Sean gets 2 points for “scandalous shenanigans.” Mike gets 2 points for actually talking about baseball.

ner’s Circle n i W Matt wins Around the Dorm 8-7-4 “Why should I stretch? Does a cheetah stretch before it chases its prey?”

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Signal

Football ready to tackle this season

Sports

Lions poised for success this fall

By Connor Smith Sports Editor The College’s football team is hoping it hasn’t lost any momentum from a late 2015 season surge. The football team’s season mirrored an underdog’s tale of redemption. The Lions sunk to unimaginable lows, which included a loss against a Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham squad that hadn’t won a game since its 2013 opener against the Lions. The College staggered to a 0-5 record, which cast a shadow on its homecoming matchup with Montclair State University. Those faithful to the football team were rewarded with a 23-20 win that included a defensive stop with seconds on the clock. With renewed confidence, the Lions converted their lone win into a four-game winning streak, all against conference opponents. With a 4-4 record in conference play (4-5 overall), the Lions salvaged what could have been a disastrous season. Still, they banded together and finished fifth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). The Lions struggled in quarters one through three, as they were outscored by opponents 16282. In the fourth quarter, however, they scored 60 to their opponents’ 39. If they can improve their early-game, the Lions could be poised for a winning season. Most of the team’s offense came in the air, which included 76 of its 137 first downs and 11 of its 20 touchdowns on offense. That should continue in 2016, as both passers, senior Michael Marchesanoare and junior Trevor

The Lions look for another NJAC title.

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

As students return for the Fall 2016 semester, the women’s soccer team has already been hard at work at the College preparing for its upcoming season. The team has endured months of offseason training and two exhibition games against New York Universee SACK page 21 sity and Swarthmore College. Now, the

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

2016 season is ready to kick off under coach Joe Russo. After an impressive 11-0-3 start to the 2015 season, the Lions slipped up, falling in two of their last three games and losing the top spot in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) to Rowan University. In the playoffs, Rowan got the better of the women, beating them 2-1 in overtime. The Lions were also eliminated in the NCAA Tournament’s

second round by Williams College. Now, the team is ready to rebound for 2016, and senior defenseman Brianna Petro sees the team changing its ways. “If we continue to do what we’ve always done, we are going to get what we’ve always got,” Petro said. “This year is about change, starting with the way practice is conducted, players on the team, formation, team chemistry and mindset.” Petro said the team has been emphasizing chemistry both on and off the field. Last season, the team chemistry worked well throughout most of the regular season. The Lions defense only allowed seven goals during the regular season, with the first coming after seven straight clean sheets. Senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder, who earned All-NJAC Second Team Honors, dominated the season and earned 12 shutouts and 31 total saves. The offense also synced, scoring 49 goals all season, including one 12-0 routing of Penn State Harrisburg on Wednesday, Sept. 16, at home. Junior midfielder Elizabeth Thoreson led the team with 11 goals and eight assists last season, and she will be looking to dominate once again this year. The Lions are also welcoming a new freshman class, and Petro sees them as one of the key pieces of the new team. “The freshman class has provided depth to the team, which is exciting,” Petro said. In total, the team has 15 freshmen

see GOAL page 21

Men’s soccer seeks to improve in NJACs

The Lions are ready to improve on last season. By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Assistant

After falling short of competing

Lions’s Lineup August 31, 2016

I n s i d e

in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament last season, a more experienced men’s soccer team is preparing to defeat

Around the Dorm page 23

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

its NJAC opponents and push toward the postseason. The Lions capped off last season with a four-game winning

Cross Country page 21

streak in conference play before an overtime loss to Rowan University. The loss ultimately led to a seventh-place finish in the NJAC standings. With 10 seniors returning to the pitch — including the team’s top scorer, midfielder Nick Costelloe — the Lions are looking to improve their 4-5 record against conference opponents. The Lions are ranked No. 7 in the annual NJAC Men’s Soccer Preseason Coaches poll, behind nearby contenders, such as Montclair State and Rowan universities. On the front of the pitch, senior forward Thomas Hogue, sophomore midfielder Nick Sample and Costelloe will lead the offense. Meanwhile, senior goalie Jake Nesteruk, who completed 59 saves last season, will coordinate a young defensive end with sophomores Joerg Jauck and Nick Provenzano. Coach George Nazario enters his 22nd year with the Lions, as he seeks their first NJAC tournament

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appearance since 2013. Last May, Nazario was inducted to the Seton Hall Athletics Hall of Fame for his remarkable playing career. The Lions will begin the season with a trip to Carlisle, Pa., for a matchup against Dickinson College on Friday, Sept. 2. Then they face the Elizabethtown College Blue Jays on Saturday, Sept. 3. Afterwards, the Lions will head back to the friendly confines of the soccer complex to compete in the College’s Adidas Classic tournament against Keystone College and Whitworth University on Saturday, Sept. 10, and Sunday, Sept. 11. The Lions are scheduled to play their first conference away match in Wayne, N.J., against the William Paterson University Pioneers on Saturday, Sept. 17. The Lions will work hard with hopes to carve out a winning record in conference play.

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