The Signal: Spring '16 No. 2

Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net.

Vol. XLV, No. 2

September 7, 2016

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

Construction around CUB starts year with triple the laughs campus progresses

By Tom Ballard News Editor While most members of the campus community spent their summer away from the College, construction crews worked to keep its ongoing projects on pace.

According to Tom Beaver, head media relations officer for the College, construction is on schedule for the new STEM Building, the addition to the Chemistry Building in the Science Complex and the renovation and addition to the Brower Student Center.

Construction crews are currently in the process of enclosing the new STEM Building and chemistry addition after the steel structures were laid out last semester, according to the College’s campus construction website. Beaver said the Chemistry Building addition is scheduled to be completed for July 2017 and the STEM Building is set to be finished the following month.

“Taken together, the STEM building and renovated chemistry facilities will expand classroom and laboratory space by fully 60 percent, and become the cornerstone of our larger STEM complex,” Beaver said.

After the completion of Traditions last February, construction in the student center continued in order to complete offices on the second floor and finalize the renovations being made for the new food court, according to the construction website. see STEM page 3

Martin flashes a stunning smile onstage.

By Connor Smith Sports Editor

The College Union Board’s (CUB) Three For Free comedy show on Thursday, Sept. 1, delivered laughter, awkward banter and a handful of generously titled “TED Talks,” all bundled together into one worthwhile, and free, package in Kendall Hall.

Sean Donnelly, Arden Myrin and Monroe Martin were the event’s featured

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

comedians. According to CUB, Donnelly has been featured on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Conan” and NBC’s “Last Comic Standing.” Myrin’s claim to fame was her role on Netflix’s “Orange Is the New Black,” while Martin was featured on “Guy Code,” “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Jim Gaffigan Show.”

Each comic had a different performance, however, all of them worked their own appearances into their respective sets.

After CUB announced the College’s upcoming fall comedy show, featuring T.J. Miller, Donnelly was welcomed to the stage for the night’s first act.

He was quick to throw jabs at his physique, which he said could be confused with that of a trucker.

“Some of you don’t even think I’m the comic that’s supposed to be up here,” Donnelly said. “You think I’m just here to fix this microphone and then the real comic comes up onstage. I can’t not look like this, okay... I have manuallabor face, that’s what it’s called.”

Once he finished poking fun at a nursing major with a similar body type, Donnelly recounted his experience ordering from Piccolo Pronto in Campus Town.

“I went to that pizza place, Piccolo?

Piccolo Pete’s?” he said. “You walk in and I’m like, ‘Do you have slices?’ They’re like, ‘No, you get your own 10-inch pie.’

I’m like, ‘That’ll do. I’ll do that.’”

Donnelly then continued to question several audience members, specifically when he found a biology major interested in optometry. After his response seemed to cause confusion, Donnelly used the opportunity to poke fun at the crowd.

“Doesn’t sex get gross when you take biology classes?” Donnelly said.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have said that. You know, cause you learn about the entire see COMEDY page 13

Alumnus scores first kiss with JoJo College aims to be more inclusive

Haduch enjoys his time on the show, despite his short run.

By Kelly Corbett Staff Writer

Picture this: It’s almost Christmas Day in 2014. In between a round of drinks with your mom, a commercial

INDEX:

interrupts the holiday festivities to invite all eligible bachelors to apply to a new season of romantic reality rivalry.

You consider it because, after all, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to appear on TV and win over the girl of their

Nation & World / page 5

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Editorial / page 6

dreams, while millions of other women watching from home fawn over you?

Will Haduch, a civil engineering alumnus (’12) and former football player for the College, didn’t think his drunken submission of “I build skyscrapers and I live on a boat,” accompanied by a photo of himself, would land him a spot on “The Bachelorette.” But fast forward 11 months and Haduch received a call from the network to let him know he was being considered as a contender for Season 12. Suddenly, the reality TV show was an actual reality.

The 26-year-old eligible bachelor from Somerville, N.J., had caught the eyes of ABC, and he found himself fighting for the heart of JoJo Fletcher against 25 other men.

Haduch landed the first kiss with Fletcher, despite having little screen time on “The Bachelorette,” and although he was sent home after the second week, the New Jersey-native made fast friends with the other contestants on the show. According to Haduch, the Bachelor mansion, where they all stayed, was pretty lush — definitely a

Opinions / page 7

see ROSE page 10 Features / page 10

By Sydney Shaw Editor-in-Chief

Students at the College who wish to be identified by a first, middle or last name that is different than the legal name they were given at birth may now use their preferred name in College-related documents, according to an email sent on Thursday, Sept. 1, by Kerri Tillett, associate vice president and chief diversity officer.

“As we strive to make The College of New Jersey an inclusive community, I am happy to introduce the Preferred Name Policy,” Tillett wrote in the email. “This policy helps us to be a campus of choice to those who desire to work/live/learn in inclusive environments.”

Tillett explained that this change does not include documents that require a legal name by law or policy.

For students who wish to use their preferred name, they can make the change through their PAWS accounts.

The new policy also applies to faculty and staff members, as well. They can change their preferred name through the College’s YESS network.

Canvas should reflect the name change within 24 hours, according to Tillett, while other information technology systems will be updated to reflect the name change within the coming months.

Arts & Entertainment / page 13

Sports / page 20

Classic Signals College student followed around by MTV

‘Finding Dory’ Review Sequel is a hit with children and parents alike

Field Hockey Ducks silenced by the roaring Lions

See Features page 11

See A&E page 13

See Sports page 16

page 2 The Signal September 7, 2016

Club helps students live ‘the green life’ Organization talks trash, recycling and carbon footprints

By Tom Ballard News Editor Students at the College have many things on their plates, but an organization on campus is challenging them to try to pay attention to one more thing — their carbon footprints.

The College’s Environmental Club held a presentation called Livin’ the Green Life outside Travers and Wolfe halls on Wednesday, Aug. 31, with the goal of educating students about ways they can become more environmentally conscious while living on campus.

“I think that (the environment is) something that is very important throughout your entire life because it affects every corner of your life,” said Elizabeth Eisenhauer, president of the Environmental Club and a senior math major. “I think that it is something that can often be forgotten when you’re distracted by the social life of campus and everything else, (it) can be difficult (to be environmentally conscious).”

On display were posters showing activities that the extracurricular organization is involved with and information pertaining to the College’s recycling policy.

“We do a lot of recycling education on campus because there are some specific rules,” said Melissa Natividade, secretary for the Environmental Club and a junior environmental studies and graphic design

double major. “There are seven different types of plastics, (but) TCNJ only recycles types one and two, so a lot of the things that go through the recycling bins on campus are not recyclable… If you have past a certain quantity of non-recyclable products in the recycling bin, it contaminates (the whole bin, and the College) has to throw it out instead of recycling it because there isn’t a set process to remove all that waste.”

According to the Society of the Plastic Industry, an organization that promotes growth in the U.S. plastic industry, type one (polyethylene terephthalate) and type two (high-density polyethylene) plastics consist of items like beverage bottles, clothing, shampoo bottles and milk jugs.

Natividade points out that students at the College use items everyday they might think can be recycled, but really cannot.

“This is stuff we use all the time,” Natividade said, pointing to a disposable paper coffee cup. “Because it’s lined with wax, (it can’t be recycled).”

According to members of the club, plastic items that can or cannot be recycled on campus can be recognized by a small logo located on the bottom of most plastic goods that consists of three arrows that form a triangle with a number in the middle. While numbers one and two can be recycled on campus, numbers three through seven cannot. The lid of the coffee cup is labeled with a type six

Tom Ballard / News Editor

Only types one and two plastics can be recycled at the College.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Students learn about the strict recycling policy on campus. plastic — polystyrene.

According to the College recycling program’s website, other commonly used goods that cannot be recycled include pizza boxes, textbooks, Naked juice bottles, paper towels and paper plates.

In addition to type one and two plastics, other goods that can be recycled in recycling bins include paper, cardboard, bottles, glass and cans. The College also provides drop-off locations for students to recycle CDs, batteries and cell phones on campus, according to the recycling program’s website.

Eisenhauer also said that the College’s ecosystem makes it important for students to be environmentally conscious.

“It’s very important to pick up trash and not litter (on campus) because we (have lakes Sylvia and Ceva) and all the wildlife in the lakes is harmed by all the trash that is washed into (them),” Eisenhauer said.

Members of the organization said it is important for students to remember to turn their lights off and unplug appliances when they are not in use in order to save electricity and use refillable water bottles instead of plastic one-time use bottles.

“We focus on a lot of education with the student body because every individual has control over some aspect of their environmental impact,” Elsa Leistikow,

co-environmental chair of the Environmental Club and senior sociology major, said. “So we focus on those little habits, as well.”

In addition to education, Leistikow also said that the club is active at the President’s Climate Commitment Committee meetings, which handles ways that the College can reduce its carbon footprint and have more of a positive impact on the environment.

The Environmental Club also had a display for its new initiative called Veg Life, which seeks to educate the College community on how to reduce the amount of animal products they use, but not to necessarily live completely without animal products, according to group members.

The organization is looking into having Veg Life be its own Student-Government recognized group.

Overall, Eisenhauer said students at the College care about the impact they have on the environment, but they might not know how to go about being environmentally conscious.

“Most of the students that we talk to are very aware of global warming and they’re very aware and interested in helping the environment, but they just don’t know what to do,” Eisenhauer said. “So this is just sort of an avenue for them to make a change and take action.”

College caps private alcohol at upcoming tailgate

By Tom Ballard News Editor No off-site alcohol will be allowed at the College’s annual Homecoming tailgate on Saturday, Oct. 29, according to a campus-wide email sent on Thursday, Sept. 1, by Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs, and John Donohue, vice president for College Advancement.

“These changes are intended to further enhance the memorable Homecoming experience that (students) have come to expect while making the event more welcoming and inclusive for all of our guests,” the email read.

Students who are of the legal drinking age will now have to purchase beer and wine from a third-party vendor that will be on-location and monitor consumption, according to the email.

Hecht and Donohue wrote that changes in the policy were brought about in order to ensure the event remains family friendly.

“The students, alumni, administrators and other representatives to the Steering Committee remain dedicated to providing programming for the campus community that is enriching, fun and, above all else, consistent with the College’s broader commitment to the health and safety of (its students), (their) friends and families,” the email read. “We believe that the improvements to this year’s Homecoming

Students will no longer be able to bring their own alcohol to Homecoming. event are well aligned with these overarching goals.”

In previous years, students who were 21 years or older were able to bring and drink their own alcohol at the tailgate.

The Homecoming 2016 website will go live in the

Photo courtesy of Tim Lee

coming days, according to the email, and will include a list of festivities planned for the day. There will be performances from alumni bands and student entertainers, and family-friendly recreational activities.

STEM / Progress on projects

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 3

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Construction crews are currently building the new STEM Building. continued from page 1

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“The improvements to the Brower Student Center will ensure that the building remains the hub of student activity for current and future TCNJ students,” Beaver said. “Assuming construction continues as planned, (the)... project should be complete by the beginning of the ’16-’17 academic year.”

The public-private partnership of Campus Town also experienced progress over the summer, as Phase II of the project was completed. The new buildings have added additional accommodations for 166 students, Beaver said.

The Campus Town development currently has a total of eight retail locations opened, including the College’s Fitness Center, Mexican Mariachi Grill and Spencer Savings Bank. According to Beaver, the development will host an additional 11 storefronts that will include InFocus Urgent Care Center, Gstar Sporting Goods and a gourmet hot dog establishment.

page 4 The Signal September 7, 2016

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 5

Nation & W rld

ISIS recruits children for violent acts In addition to the prisoner execution footage, the nine-minute video also depicts graphic scenes of destruction across the ISIS-controlled territory of Raqqa, Syria, with images of dead bodies and war-torn buildings, and features threats against world leaders, like President Barack Obama, according to The Sun. The release of this latest video comes just days after Iraqi police interceded a child attempting to complete a suicide bombing mission for ISIS on Monday, Aug. 22.

According to CNN, video footage AP Photo depicts police carefully cutting ISIS recruits child soldiers to carry out terrorist acts. away a belt loaded with explosives

By Olivia Rizzo shown standing behind kneeling from a visibly upset boy in Kirkuk, Staff Writer prisoners dressed in orange jump- Iraq. It is believed that the 15-yearsuits. Moments later, the children, old boy entered the city from the In a video released on Friday, dressed in camouflage and black ISIS stronghold Mosul.

Aug. 26, by ISIS, five children gloves, executed the prisoners, acThis occurred a day after anotharound the age of 10 years old are cording to The Sun. er child soldier detonated a bomb

in an attack at a Kurdish wedding in Turkey on Sunday, Aug. 21, which killed 54 people.

ISIS has recently been increasing its use of child soldiers on the front lines, particularly as a method in targeting civilians. The governor of Kirkuk Governorate, Najmaldin Karim, told CNN, “(ISIS tells) them if they do this, they will go to heaven and have a good time and get everything that they ever wanted.” The terrorist group maintains its child army by encouraging families to join its mission, kidnapping children and seizing schools, while promising free education.

Human Rights Watch reported that ISIS and similar terrorist groups, “have specifically recruited children through free schooling campaigns that include weapons training and have given them dangerous

tasks, including suicide bombing missions.”

According to CNN, it is believed that the group uses threats, intimidation and exhausting endurance training to physically and emotionally break children down to make them comply with orders.

These tactics involving children are of top concern to lawmakers and human rights advocates. Researchers who compiled an open source database of ISIS child propaganda estimate that approximately 1,500 child soldiers are training and fighting for the terror group, according to CNN. Charlie Winter, co-founder of the database, told CNN, “This is something that, sadly, we have to expect to increase and accelerate, as the situation becomes more precarious for ISIS in the years to come.”

EpiPen’s price increase concerns allergy sufferers

By Danielle Silvia Staff Writer Since the drug company Mylan bought the EpiPen in 2007, the price has increased from $100 to $600, according to The New York Times. The EpiPen is used to aid someone having a severe allergic reaction.

Washington Post reported that people generally carry around the EpiPen to guard themselves against anaphylactic shock, which typically comes as a surprise and, in serious cases, can kill an individual.

Mylan classifies the EpiPen as “a generic” medicine, as opposed to a “brand-name drug,” which allows them to give a smaller discount to the states and make state Medicaid programs overpay for the drug, according to The New York Times.

While many are concerned how they will afford this increased cost, the price hike also raises some questions about how thoroughly the government is monitoring the prices of drugs and other various medicines paid for through health programs.

In 2016, the federal government issued a rule that stated all companies with drugs that have been approved under what the Food and Drug Administration identifies as a “new drug application” must either reclassify them as brand-name drugs or seek a waiver, according to The New York Times. Mylan was one of the several companies that planned to seek a waiver. Mylan argued that the rule was a reversal of a long-standing policy and that many older products would not benefit from the “same patent protections and market exclusivity” as other branded products, according to The New York Times.

The New York Times also reported that Mylan wants to address the criticism by saying it will offer more financial help with costs that are deemed “out of pocket” for patients. The company also intends to expand the number of uninsured patients who can obtain EpiPens without cost.

A generic version with a lower retail price is said to be introduced to the market in the future, according to The New York Times. Many doubt this final part of

EpiPen users are concerned about the higher cost of the drug. the agreement, however, since Mylan is the only company currently selling the EpiPen. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote a letter asking the Medicaid agency for more information—her daughter has severe allergies and relies on the EpiPen.

AP Photo

“It just seems like we opened up a powder keg here, potentially, if, in fact, this is not only with Mylan, but is just par for the course,” Klobuchar said. “The government has to go back and review all these drugs, and the practice has to stop.”

Syria still unchanged after calls for development

AP Photo

Daqneesh is rescued after an airstrike in Syria.

By Jahnvi Upreti Staff Writer

The world wept on Sept. 2, 2015, when 3-year-old Aylan Kurdi’s lifeless body washed ashore on a Turkish beach.

Public outcries were heard throughout the world, as the brutality of the Syrian Civil War started to dawn on general populations. Political leaders were pressured more than ever to intervene, and aid organizations received an increase in volunteers and donations.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Nullifier Demir,

the photographer who captured the picture of Kurdi, said that “the only thing (she) could do was to make his scream heard,” in hopes that something finally changes. Almost exactly a year later, it’s evident that little has changed.

While ISIS has lost control in Iraq to militaristic government forces, Syrian rebels elsewhere have been supported by Saudi and Qatari beneficiaries to lead a new attack against the tyrannical President Bashar al-Assad, according to The Independent. This has lead to a new wave of warfare in Syria’s capital, Aleppo.

External interventions, such as the U.S.’s and Turkey’s recent decision to send in supplies and forces to fight ISIS with the hopes of simultaneously combating Kurdish advances, further complicate the situation, as they are fighting against Russia and Iran, who support the military regime.

These interactions are causing the Syrian war to be the “most significant proxy war since Vietnam. (And) it is the civilians who suffer,” The Independent reported.

BBC noted that Oxfam, an international group dedicated to ending hunger released a report that stated the mortality rate has increased by 20 percent in the last year, resulting in the loss of another 1,000 refugees. Although, this statistic could potentially be larger, since the information does not include the undocumented individuals who perished at sea.

Currently, hundreds of refugees, including unaccompanied minors, are trapped in multiple camps throughout

Turkey and Syria, hoping for rescue from European governments, The Independent reported. Unbeknownst to them, many European nations are falling short on their promise to take in a number of refugees. For example, Britain recently expressed concern that it would not be able to house 20,000 refugees by 2020, as it had offered earlier, according to The Guardian.

The U.S. is about to accept its 10,000th refugee on Saturday, Oct. 1. David Milliband, president and chief executive officer of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), told CNN that the “IRC encourages the White House to consider this 10,000 milestone ‘a floor and not a ceiling.’”

He continued by urging President Barack Obama to increase the number of accepted refugees to 140,000 by 2017.

Other countries, like Macedonia and Slovenia, are closing their doors to refugees completely, BBC reported.

Other notable changes within the past year include the results from the University of Sheffield’s 2015 study, which reported a shift in language regarding the Syrian crisis. While newspapers and headlines had previously labeled the individuals as “migrants,” the use of the term “refugee” among the public has increased greatly.

In 2015, many hoped that Kurdi would be the catalyst for change toward the Syrian crisis. However, merely three weeks ago, the photo of a dazed and bloody Omran Daqneesh had surfaced, proving that not much has changed.

page 6 The Signal September 7, 2016

Editorial

History of Loser Hall proves Losers were anything but

First impressions are often the most lasting, and I will never forget my first impression of the College.

My dad pulled up to the round, stone steps, to drop me off at the College’s open house on a windy October morning in 2015.

My first sight? A sign that read “Loser Hall.” I snickered to myself as I climbed up the steps. Somehow, a building with the name “loser” on it was enough to calm some of my nerves about touring the school — an uncharted ground — even if the pronunciation of the building’s name is slightly different from that of the popular insult. Think more along the lines of “Losher” — but that didn’t stop anyone from laughing.

During my freshman year, I found that other students had the same amused impression about Loser Hall. Other than, “Wow, that kid must have gotten beat up a lot at school,” we wondered what person would be brave enough to have a last name like that declared on the face of a building — the admissions building, nonetheless, and the first one you see when you turn onto Metzger Drive.

Back in 1987, those people were businessman Tom Loser and his wife, Carol Loser, a trained biologist. The building was named after Tom’s late father, Paul Loser, who served as a superintendent for schools in Trenton, N.J., according to a news release from the College in September 2006.

Both husband and wife have made major contributions to the building’s development. In 1987, Tom made College history with his $1 million gift to fund Loser Hall. Tom was president and cofounder of Wyrough & Loser, Inc., a medical firm in Ewing, N.J., that established new forms of chemicals for the rubber industry, according to the same release. During her scientific career, Carol was a member of the ’50s Rockefeller Institute scientific team, which discovered that genes were made from DNA, and that DNA is responsible for transmitting hereditary information — a pretty revolutionary conclusion.

Fast forward almost 30 years later, when the Losers donated $5 million dollars to the College, now the largest donation in the history of the school. Their donation went toward the development of the School of Nursing and Health and Exercise Sciences, which are still housed in Loser Hall today.

President R. Barbara Gitenstein expressed her appreciation for the generous donations made by the Losers who were, as she put it in the release, “exceptional individuals who have their roots in the Trenton community.”

So were they losers? Definitely not. Their donations made history, and Loser Hall is an integral part of campus today. Even though I’m not taking nursing or health and exercise science classes there, I remember first walking up those steps for my tour of campus, and months later, smiling for my student ID photo taken at orientation.

So, my first impression has been irrevocably altered. I guess we have the Losers to thank, even if their last name still brings a smile to my face.

— Elizabeth Zakaim Social Media Editor

Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted.

Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.

tcnj.edu

Despite the seemingly amusing name of Loser Hall, Paul and Carol Loser were very accomplished individuals who supported the College.

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“I think that (the environment is) something that is very important throughout your entire life because it affects every corner of your life”.

— Elizabeth Eisenhauer, president of the Environmental Club and a senior math major

“The improvements to the Brower Student Center will ensure that the building remains the hub of student activity for current and future TCNJ students.”

— Tom Beaver, head media relations officer at the College

“I was constantly paranoid. There was really no privacy in the house, except (for) the bathroom.

One day, I was eating a ham sandwich and I was wondering, ‘Is America actually watching me eat this ham sandwich?’”

— Will Haduch, a civil engineering alumnus (‘12) and former “Bachelorette” contestant

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 7

Opinions

Taking on Welcome Week one bite at a time

First-year students live in Travers and Wolfe halls.

By Mia Ingui I’m always up for a challenge. Before moving into college, I said, “This is going to be great! Freedom, new friends and newfound success.” What I really should have said, though, is, “Mom, we need to buy another fan.”

tcnj.edu

This summarizes my heartbreakingyet-heartwarming story of Welcome Week at the College. Though Welcome Week was an action-packed, highlyanticipated couple of days, it proved to be far from easy.

My Welcome Week began in Wolfe Hall. Holding my container full of paper

towels and granola bars, I looked up at my new home, not fully digesting what was in store for me. The move-in was easy, if your idea of “easy” is dragging furniture across a tiny, sweltering rectangle of a room with 10 people in your way and fussing with hanging strips because “that picture of my cat must go up.”

When the time came, my Community Adviser dragged my away from me, even though I grappled onto my mom for dear life and whimpered, “I love you. I’m going to miss you so much. I’ll see you soon,” as she pulled away and walked toward the elevator through the crowd. That moment was when it hit me. My whole body hurt from the sudden realization that I was now completely alone.

This was really happening.

But then, I remembered something. My dad has a famous quote he always offers when I’m overwhelmed, which is, “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” Though it was kind of strange, I found some comfort in it.

I could do this. I’ll do it one bite at a time.

The week pressed on and everything seemed to be coming up roses, until Sunday rolled around. I was watching TV from my bed when I glanced over at the two strands of pictures hanging from my shelves. The nostalgia became so potent that I couldn’t ignore it. These were the best photos of my family and friends in some of our happiest, brightest moments together. Now, I wasn’t

with any of them and did not know when I could experience great moments with them again. How do I come to terms with that?

How am I going to be OK? I called my mom because talking to her is the best relief when I’m panicking.

She reminded me that I have so much to look forward to, and to remember what I was here at the College to do — follow my dreams, be successful and live larger and fuller than I ever could have back in my hometown. Her words made me feel all right again.

Welcome Week surprised me, enraged me, enlightened me and emotionally tried me all at once. But in this one week, I began to tap into true college. Some of it is glamourous, like any outsider would envision college to be like — late night walks around the twinkling campus, all you can eat whenever you feel like eating it in Eickhoff Hall and making new friends every time you turn around. With that, though, comes the utterly un-glamourous — sharing one bathroom with 30 other girls, awkward first introductions and, the lack of cool, breathable air in Wolfe Hall, where I currently and modestly reside.

As most things in life, Welcome Week had its highs and its lows, but it taught me so much more about myself, how to make the best of things and to eat the elephant one bite at a time.

Marshawn Lynch: greatest player of all time

AP Photo

Lynch’s personality and aggressive playstyle are underappreciated.

By Jake Mulick

With no real qualifications to determine what the future will look like, I’m going to suspend reality. As society’s views of traditional masculine roles are changing, people will begin to gravitate toward less dangerous and physically detrimental sports and activities.

The notion that football will be played in the next century is absurd. If this were the case, then we need to decide who will be remembered as the greatest football player of all time.

The greatest player will be decided by a society that views football as brutish. It will be somebody whose intriguing personality and rough playing style was underappreciated in their time. This player’s body will have to have taken a toll, since a majority of people will think of football as a sport devoted to bashing in one’s brains. The player will be underappreciated in

their time because our perception of football will change.

Now, we gauge a great football player by how well they compare to others statistically. The game will have dramatically shifted by then, and comparing statistics will prove to be nonsensical. The numbers won’t tell the same story that play style and in-game film will.

Of course, personality will be the most important part because most people need something beyond a game to entice them. They need a character, a person to fixate on and obsess over. A man in a uniform, where his face isn’t even visible, is nowhere near as appealing as someone who has actual thoughts and ideas, especially if they disagree with the current norm or cause any sort of conflict.

That being said, I think this player should be Marshawn Lynch of the Seattle Seahawks. If the future plays out as I described it and the perception of football as a sport shifts this dramatically, I think Lynch will be remembered as the greatest player of all time.

Is he actually the greatest player of all time? Absolutely not. Numbers alone will disprove the thought that Lynch is even the greatest of his era. Lynch’s aggressive, power-back style of play will lend itself to a society that will remember the sport for its proclivity to brutalism.

He has won a Super Bowl and was a member of the Seahawks team, which will be remembered as one of the better football dynasties. The most important thing about him is that he embodied a bizarre personality in the media.

The lack of personality he demonstrated during his peak years will lend itself to his future fame. People will cling to what little they know about him and develop a persona around him because they can fill in so much.

He’s not like Odell Beckham Jr. or Tom Brady, who are constantly featured in pop culture. He’s ambiguous, keeping a certain distance from the limelight. What little people know about him will work to his advantage and people will

fill in the blanks. There is a plethora of video of him actually playing, which makes knowledge of him easily available and lends to a resurgence of his presence in pop culture.

It is also important to observe that Super Bowl XLIX will be remembered as one of the best football games ever played. Both rosters included future hall-of-famers and the game featured a phenomenal storyline: the reigning Super Bowl champions pitted against Brady and Bill Bellicheck’s football dynasty. The interception that sealed the fate of the Seahawks will tremendously add to Lynch’s legacy, as well as a sense that he was underappreciated in his own time.

It will also add for speculation about how that play in particular affected the length of his career and his decision to retire following that season. Pete Carrol, the Seahawks coach, will undoubtedly be demonized and unfairly rewarded the blame for Lynch retiring — adding a villain to our futuristic storyline.

YouTube.com

Carrol is often blamed for Lynch’s retirement.

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 8 The Signal September 7, 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!

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 9

Students share opinions around campus “How was your Welcome Week experience?”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Lindsey Seidman, freshman open options humanities and social sciences major.

“It was really fun, and made the College feel like home. It made my floor a family and is what makes the College unique.”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Corinne Castaldo, freshman English and secondary education dual major.

“I really appreciated all of the activities that kept me busy and distracted because I was feeling homesick.”

“Who will be the best football player of all time?”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Matthew Ajaj, senior history major.

“Tom Brady because he has just as many championships as Joe Montana, he has better stats and has twice the heart.”

Craig Dietel / Opinions Editor

Bobby Pallein, junior criminology major.

“John Elway because he was a major clutch player and put the Broncos where they are now.”

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

page 10 The Signal September 7, 2016

Features

Rose / College grad tells all from ‘Bachelorette’

continued from page 1

TS: Did you make any friends on the show?

WH: Yes! We have a group message going and we still chat in it a couple times a week.

step up from the freshmen Towers on campus.

In a phone interview with The Signal, Haduch spoke about his time on the popular reality series, “The Bachelorette.”

TS: Do people often recognize you from the show when you go out in public?

WH: Yeah, actually. I didn’t have much screen time, but it seems people study the contestants beforehand, and I would go out to bars in Hoboken (N.J.), and people would recognize me.

The Signal: Was it love at first sight when you met JoJo? Will Haduch: Haha. No, I don’t think so.

TS: What was your favorite part of the show?

WH: Definitely getting that first rose and going to the hotel to pack up our bags and move into the bachelor mansion. We were half-drunk on the bus, and James Taylor started singing Justin Bieber and it turned into 20 drunk men singing along.

TS: What was your least favorite part of the show?

WH: I was constantly paranoid. There was really no privacy in the house, except (for) the bathroom. One day, I was eating a ham sandwich and I was wondering, “Is America actually watching me eat this

Twitter.com

Haduch arrives at the Bachelor mansion for Fletcher’s season of ‘The Bachelorette.’ ham sandwich?”

TS: Growing up, were you always one to be in relationships?

WH: No, I haven’t had too many long-term relationships.

TS: If you could say anything to JoJo right now, would you?

WH: No, definitely not.

TS: What was it like after you

got that first call 11 months after you applied?

WH: I got the call during my lunch break at work around November or December of 2015.

They were asking me about my boat life. It had become my storyline, my quirky thing. They then asked for 25 pictures of me and a 10-minute video. Overall, I went through five rounds (of screening). One was a (New York City)

interview and eventually, they flew me out to (Los Angeles).

TS: How did you feel during the firefighting challenge? Were you nervous? Excited?

WH: It was honestly pretty hot out. I was lucky I didn’t drink beforehand. Wells’s was six or seven beers deep, which is why he looked like he was about to pass out.

INDO-US RELATIONS: PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE THE COLLEGE OF NEW JERSEY SCHOOL OF BUSINESS DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER DR. SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY Subramanian Swamy is an Indian politician and economist who serves as a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament. He is considered by many to be the grandfather of economic reforms in India.

• Chairman of the School of Communication and Management Studies in Kochi, India • Five-time parliamentarian and two-time Union Minister • Founding member and past president of India’s Janata Party • Former Professor of Economics at Harvard University • PhD in Economics from Harvard under thesis adviser Nobel Laureate Simon Kuznets • Author of numerous books and articles with a large following on social media

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14 1:30 P.M. IN THE BUSINESS BUILDING LOUNGE This presentation is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the School of Business, the Department of Political Science Politics Forum, and the Economics Club

TS: If you had a chance to do anything over, would you?

WH: No do-over. I’m a pretty goofy dude and I think I stayed true to myself.

Maybe Fletcher wasn’t the one for Haduch. But no worries, as there are still plenty of fish in the sea. Now, Haduch is making music under the stage name Thrills Wilson. The biography on his Facebook page reads, “I live on a boat and make rock’n’roll music.” His lead single is aptly titled “Steal Your Girl.”

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 11

: Sept. ‘05

Campus Style

College student turned celebrity

Don’t overlook that favorite pair of jeans from American Eagle.

Brandy Melville.

I find that simple outfits with basic clothing pieces are always the most rewarding because I am the most content in them. I can go about my day without even thinking to check my outfit in the mirror or in the reflection of a glass door while on my way to class. I feel great all day and I’m confident that I look great, too.

It is easy to overlook the basics hanging in your closet because you are accustomed to buying new apparel with each season. However, I’ve learned that the simplest looks never go out of style and never fail to make me smile.

It’s back-to-school season and time to go back to the basics. Mix up your wardrobe, but never overlook those jeans that fit you to a T or that simple tank that seems to go with anything.

Simple pieces are staple items you must have in your closet.

With each new season comes new trends. This year, we’ve seen the floral pants movement and the rise of gladiator sandals. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the new, fancy trends that each season brings to the fashion world, and I try my best to keep my wardrobe upto-date and never out of style. However, we must not forget those favorite pair of jeans hanging in our closets or that plain black T-shirt that you never seem to outgrow.

Sometimes, the simplest outfits come across as the most elegant, classy and most importantly, comfortable. There are often mornings when I just don’t have the time or energy to create an extravagant statement outfit.

This is when I turn to my American Eagle jeans that fit to perfection and pair them with a simple, soft tee from

Sometimes, the most stylish pieces are the simplest ones.

Elise Schoening / Features Editor

A student from the College gets her 15 minutes of fame on MTV.

Every week, Features Editor Elise Schoening hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories.

The College made headlines this summer when a civil engineering alumnus (’12) was featured on the latest season of “The Bachelorette.” But Will Haduch isn’t the only graduate at the College to make it on TV. Back in 2003, MTV cameras followed Lauren Wanko around for an episode of “True Life: I’m a High School Senior.” When Wanko came to the College the following fall, she was routinely recognized by her peers and deemed a campus celebrity.

True, the College can’t brag about the Olsen twins walking its hallowed halls. There are no paparazzi hidden under tables at Brower Student Center or trailing students as they walk to their English classes: no bodyguards securing the dining hall before lunch; no torrid tabloid incidents taking place on our campus. For the most part, we’re just a bunch of regular, wholesome college kids... or are we?

As a matter of fact, the College is home to some unique faces that have made headlines in the last few years.

Who can forget Lauren Wanko, the junior communication studies major who allowed MTV cameras to follow her

around and document her senior year for an episode of their hit series “True Life”?

After participating in a casting call in her high school’s library, Wanko was selected by MTV producers to be profiled for “True Life: I’m a High School Senior.” Taping began one week after the initial interviewing process, and MTV’s cameras followed her around from February until her graduation.

Although the special aired months before the College’s freshmen moved in for Welcome Week in the fall of 2003, Wanko was still recognized by the majority of her classmates.

“I did not expect to be recognized as much as I was when I arrived on campus,” she said. “Total strangers were commenting about how I changed my hair color. I was definitely surprised by the amount of students who watched the show. I quickly realized just how large of an audience MTV had.”

These days, Wanko has taken charge of launching her career, without the help of MTV’s cameras. Last April, she signed a contract to work at New Jersey Network, located in nearby Trenton. She is both a reporter and associate producer for a weekly, half-hour program.

Celebritease

Coldplay honors Wilder at its Denver show.

By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist

In 2016, we’ve found ourselves at a loss for words time and time again in the wake of celebrity passings. Last week, Gene Wilder, known for bringing the magic of Willy Wonka in “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” to life, passed away. A writer and painter in his spare time, Wilder kept a low profile throughout his long career. To honor the actor, Coldplay performed a heartfelt

Flickr.com

By Jillian Greene Columnist

Flickr.com

Wilder made world sweeter

YouTube.com

rendition of “Pure Imagination” at its Denver concert on Monday, Aug. 29.

Carrie Underwood has been hard at work during her NorthAmerican leg of her “The Storytellers Tour — Stories in the Round,” while traveling with her son, Isaiah Michael. To keep herself grounded, the country singer keeps a washer, dryer and cooktop on her bus so she can do her own cooking and laundry. Underwood told People that she tries to feel as “human” as possible,

despite her international success and NHL husband.

Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna have released new photos of their life at home during Chyna’s pregnancy. The photos feature Chyna pushing Kardashian to live a healthier lifestyle after being diagnosed with diabetes last year.

The couple appears overjoyed by their relationship, despite the backlash they have felt from Kardashian’s famous family.

Khloe Kardashian has been spotted with NBA star Tristan Thompson. A source told People that the two are a “mini-thing,” as they spent Labor Day weekend in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

After spending time together earlier in a nightclub in Beverly Hills, Calif., it is reported that the duo like each other and are simply hanging out.

Gold medal gymnast Laurie Hernandez showed off her pitching skills at the New York Mets game on Saturday, Sept. 3. Hernandez did an aerial cartwheel, landed and then threw the first pitch. Her upcoming “Dancing With The Stars” partner, Val

Chmerkovskiy, praised her pitch, even though it wasn’t a strike, and joked that she threw it better than the famed, failed pitch by rapper 50 Cent.

Mel Gibson is on the rebound, but not in the romance department. The acclaimed actor and director is returning behind the camera for the first time in 10 years to direct the World War II film “Hacksaw Ridge.”

The cast is headed by heartthrob Andrew Garfield, who was spotted alongside the rest of the cast

in Italy this weekend for the Venice Film Festival.

In the aftermath of last week’s MTV Video Music Awards, Alicia Keys was met by harsh criticism for not wearing makeup to the show. Keys has been a notable spokesperson for the makeupfree movement, and Nicole Richie has also joined the singer in appearing makeup free. Keys shut down critics with a tweet that read, “Y’all, me choosing to be makeup free doesn’t mean I’m anti-makeup. Do you!”

Twitter.com

Hernandez does an aerial cartwheel before her pitch.

page 12 The Signal September 7, 2016

fun stuff

The Funniest Job Titles in “The Bachelor” and “The Bachelorette”

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

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 13

Arts & Entertainment

Comedy / Audience connects with performers continued from page 1

body, right? That’s creepy. You guys are weirdos, I guess.”

Donnelly ended with a warning that students should keep away from New York if they don’t want to become a “shittier person.”

“I saw a homeless person giving the finger to an ambulance,” Donnelly said.

“I’ve lived there so long that my reaction wasn’t, ‘What is that man doing?

That’s an ambulance that’s trying to help somebody.’ I’ve lived in New York so long, my reaction was, ‘Yeah, fuck that ambulance.’”

Donnelly went on to introduce Myrin, whose set thrived around awkward sexual tension.

“Clearly, sex is on the mind,” she said.

“I dressed up for you guys. I was like, ‘What? Back to school time? I’m gonna put on my sexiest outfit. I’m gonna wear my very sexy Forever 21 Mormon-tween dress…’ It’s like a combination between a girdle and a scuba suit that I have under my teen tunic.”

Like Donnelly, Myrin was self-inflicting and poked fun at the theater education she now deems useless.

“I’ve never been in a room with so many people that will at some point in time have college degrees,” she said.

“You guys might even have jobs. Everyone I’ve met actually has a plan... I’m available, College of New Jersey.”

Myrin then flirted with several students to the point where she asked for permission to touch them. She explained that in California, even the doctors take the time to ask if they can make human contact.

“I feel like if you have to ask to touch me, there’s probably a reason,” she said.

Aside from touching the audience and asserting her “power stance,” Myrin gave unsolicited advice, which she named after the popular “TED Talks” series. Myrin said she wished she took better advantage of the “Talks.”

“I wish I had saved myself four to nineand-a-half years of my life, and tens of thousands of dollars of debt, if I could have just gotten ‘TED Talks’ and downloaded an app for free so I sounded smarter at dinner

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Myrin’s set focuses on flirtatious conversation and sexual jokes.

Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor

Donnelly’s trucker physique gets loud laughs from the audience.

parties,” she said.

Her “Talks” ranged from sexual experiences to the regret of cutting her bangs.

She finished by describing the time she was tricked into leg wrestling with lesbians at a friend’s bachelorette party.

The final comic was Martin, who opened with a recount of the first time he was called the “N-word.” Martin continued to be an open book, as he pivoted to his first pregnancy scare when he was only 17 years old.

“Seventeen kind of sucked because it was the first time having sex, and I got a girl pregnant,” he said. “That’s like crashing your car during your driving exam...

There’s no instructor there to watch two teens fuck up their lives.”

Martin then stopped to make note of the students in the front row, who were shaking their uncovered feet with nervous jitters.

“I don’t like all these white people shaking up front,” he said. “What’s this, a flash mob? Was this something planned?

‘I’m gonna tap my feet 25 times and then

when he says something, you do it.’ It’s only dudes with flip-flops on... What, are you trying to fucking scare me with white toes?”

Martin’s performance turned toward drugs, which he said was a problem for his biological mother.

“I smoke weed — I don’t do drugs,” he said. “I smoke weed and eat edibles, but I want to cut back on the edibles cause edibles hit you too fucking hard. It’s like a one-night stand that follows you on all social media.”

He also described his experience of telling his mother he smoked, but her negative reaction was ironic coming from a woman that had done crack, he said.

Martin ended the night by describing his trip to China, and he dispelled the rumor that natives are racist.

“I know the cops don’t carry guns there,” he said. “I was excited. I was kinda like ‘Get em’... Everybody was like, ‘They don’t have guns? How do they shoot their black people?’ They don’t. They just take pictures of us and call us Kobe.”

‘Finding Dory’ shows the true meaning of family

By Lily Firth Correspondent People all over the world had been waiting more than 13 years for the sequel to the beloved Disney Pixar classic “Finding Nemo.” This summer, fans were not disappointed with the finished film. “Finding Dory” shattered records upon release and raked in more than $140 million in its opening weekend alone.

“Finding Dory” is guaranteed to drag fans along on a rollercoaster of emotions. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and your heart will be warmed with pure joy.

The return of the all-star “Finding Nemo” duo, Ellen DeGeneres as Dory and Albert Brooks as Marlin, set a strong foundation for the film right from the beginning.

As usual, DeGeneres makes viewers laugh out loud with her famous sense of humor.

Honestly, no one could have voiced a better Dory than DeGeneres. She played the role with conviction, which has made Dory such a believable character for all these years. She acts funny yet vulnerable throughout the film, and these dueling emotions make her character relatable.

For those who never saw the original, “Finding Nemo” tells the tale of a clownfish, Marlin, and his journey to find his missing son, Nemo, with the help of his new friend, Dory. She is extremely fun-loving, but has shortterm memory loss. In “Finding Nemo,” Dory is primarily there for the comic relief — the foil character in relation to the strict, uptight Marlin.

However, in “Finding Dory,” fans are finally given more of Dory’s backstory, which helps her grow beyond just a comedic character. Fans learn how she lost her parents when she was young and how she grew up to be the Dory we see throughout “Finding Nemo.”

This turns her once-funny affliction into a heartwrenching illness. It is clear that her parents loved her very much, but due to her memory loss, Dory can’t even remember who they are anymore. This sparks a new desire within her to finally find them, to feel as complete as Marlin did when he found Nemo.

Of course, Marlin and Nemo agree to accompany Dory on her journey, since she helped them reunite in the first movie. As she travels, fans get a peek into Dory’s life before she met Marlin and Nemo: her old friends, talents, home and self. Dory is finally portrayed as a complex character rather than a two-dimensional sidekick.

As always, Disney was sure to include outrageous, fun scenes for the audience, such as a goofy bird who helps transport fish in a little green bucket and even fish driving a truck. The story was made for anyone who loves the classics, as “Finding Dory” will inevitably become one.

‘Finding Dory’ brings back the star-studded cast from the original movie.

YouTube.com

CUB hosts Café Under the Stars page 14 The Signal September 7, 2016

By Khadijah Yasin Staff Writer

The Fall 2016 semester kicked off with musical performances by some of the College’s very own at the College Union Board’s (CUB) annual Café Under the Stars.

On Sunday, Aug. 28, three student bands, Prince and Beggar, Good Luck Spaceman and Oral Support, played a range of music from pop-punk to folk rock and many genres in between.

“Café Under the Stars is an event that TCNJ has held at the beginning of every fall semester. There’s a good number of people who show up,” said CUB Alt coChair Dana Gorab, a junior communication

studies major who organized the event.

This year, a strong turnout from all grades took to Green Lawn to enjoy free pretzels and soft drinks as they watched a show with a nearly palpable sense of passion.

“We’ve played Café Under the Stars the past three years and it’s been a blast each time. There was a great crowd this year, too, and everyone seemed to have fun,” said Jake Rubin, Good Luck Spaceman’s frontman and a senior communication studies major.

“Playing outside is electrifying, as well. (It) goes hand-in-hand with the cathartic experience that is live music.”

Good Luck Spaceman’s lineup is rounded out by Mikey Rosen and Kyle Newins, both senior communication studies majors,

David Colby / Photo Assistant

Oral Support plays original music at CUB’s Café Under the Stars.

as well as Mike Laudenbach, a senior English and philosophy double major, and senior Danny Galli.

Each band’s chemistry was undeniable, as most of them have been playing together since their first year at the College.

“We actually met two years ago at Café Under the Stars,” said Brandon Martinez, Oral Support’s drummer and a junior marketing major.

Oral Support comprises Martinez on drums and two others: bassist Nelson Kelly, junior history and secondary education dual major, and lead vocalist and guitarist Alec Schactman, a junior management major. Oral Support primarily plays original indie punk music, and sometimes, the band even pulls inspiration for songs from past experiences at the College.

“I basically wrote (the song ‘Peepa’s Gone’ when) I was reminiscing about my CA (Community Adviser) who left,” Schatman said. The song is about his CA from freshman year, who has since graduated.

Though the bands all played music within the genre of rock, the sound and styles varied, as they all brought something different from each band’s respective set — changes that the crowd enjoyed.

CUB plans to host events every week through the end of the semester, including seven open-stage events where students can perform and show off their talents in music, comedy and more.

Chance releases colorful mixtape

By Jake Mulick Staff Writer Chicago-native Chancelor Bennett has been dominating the rap game. The world is next. More commonly known as Chance The Rapper, the 23-year-old released his third mixtape in the last five years, “Coloring Book,” earlier this summer.

Chance’s “Coloring Book” speaks at length about the artist’s struggle with substance abuse, religion and parenthood, as well as a scathing critique of the music industry. Featuring hip-hop titans like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay Electronica and Justin Bieber, “Coloring Book” was released on Friday, May 13, and eventually climbed to the No. 8 spot on the Billboard 200 — the first streaming-only LP to do so.

Fellow Chicago-native West laid claim that his most recent album, “The Life Of Pablo,” was going to be “a gospel album with a whole lot of cursing” in an interview with Rolling Stone on Thursday, Feb. 4, however, such remarks may be better fit for “Coloring Book.”

It would even be fair to say that Chance has embodied the spirit of a street Al Sharpton. With lines like, “I get my word from the sermon / I do not talk to the serpent / That’s the holistic discernment” and “Exalt, Exalt, glorify / Descend upon the Earth with swords and fortify the borders where your shorties lie” from “All We Got” and “How Great,” respectively, Chance lays praise to Jesus and God as only hip-hop can.

Chance derives his gravitation to religion as an escape from a time in his life when he lived extravagantly and with little care about productivity. In an interview with GQ from Tuesday, Aug. 23, Chance The Rapper decries his life: “I was a Xan-zombie, fucking not doing anything productive and just going through relationship after relationship. Mind you, this is six months. So think about, like, how could you even do that?”

It was not until an intervention from his grandmother and a return to Chicago that Chance was able to turn his life around.

Chance The Rapper has made a name for himself in the musical world for refusing to sign to a record label. Courted by a myriad of labels, such as Sony and G.O.O.D. Music, Chance The Rapper continues to be the only truly independent major rapper in the world.

While most within the music industry argue that artists need record labels, this allows him autonomy to release his music for free online and not have to release singles leading up to his albums. His independence has allowed him to break down barriers and he was even able to have his stream-only album be considered for a Grammy Award.

Chance The Rapper has not been shy about his disdain for record labels and the music industry. In his second song “No Problem” featuring 2 Chainz and Lil Wayne, Chance explores his relationship with record labels trying to halt his independence by saying, “If one more label try to stop me / It’s gon’ be some dreadhead n****s in ya lobby.”

Chance’s point was further reinforced by Lil Wayne rapping, “I got problems bigger than these boys / Lord, free the Carter, n****s need the Carter / Sacrificin’ everything, I feel like Jesus Carter / And if that label try to stop me / There gon’ be some crazy Weezy fans waitin’ in the lobby / Mula, baby,” in reference to his own personal issues with Cash Money Records.

Chance The Rapper discusses much more than religion, drugs and record labels on “Coloring Book,” though. Chance was lucky enough to welcome into the world a daughter by the name of Kinsley Bennett in October 2015. He references his daughter and his longtime girlfriend on the mixtape multiple times, specifically on songs “All We Got,” “Blessings” and “Finish Line.”

Chance attributes the birth of his daughter to a fair amount of his religious piety. The affection that he shows the females in his life has been noted as different from many artists of the same genre, which speaks to the level of respect he has for them.

Chance started his “Magnificent Coloring World Tour” this past month and will be touring through the end of the year. He is set to make some nearby festival stops along the way. Chance has been one provocative figure and has knocked down many of the barriers that have stood in front of him since his first mixtape was released nearly half a decade ago. It will be exciting to watch this rapper come of age and embrace his newfound celebrity.

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: Diarrhea Planet Album: “Turn to Gold” Release Number: 3rd Full Length Hailing From: Nashville, Tenn.

Genre: Stadium Punk Fury Label: Infinity Cat Recordings If you’ve never heard of Diarrhea Planet, it’s probably because its name is gross — I had to convince the WTSR Music Director Melissa Morgan to not throw this album away. That is actually Diarrhea Planet’s strategy, though, as having a repulsive name forces them to pull crowds in with pure musical prowess, of which these guys have plenty. Huge riffs, choruses underlined with noodlely leads and straight-up punk vocals drive home a layered, ambitious sound that no other band on the market offers.

Must Hear: “Announcement,” “Life Pass,” “Let It Out” and “Bob Dylan’s Grandma”

Band: White Night Album: “Weird Night” Release Number: 5th Hailing From: Orange County, Calif.

Genre: Noisey Dirtbag Punk Label: Burger Records The only way to describe these guys’ sound would be ever-inclusive punk.

White Night covers all the bases — the horrorific vibes of Misfits, the catchy melodies of surf punk and the hard-hitting attitude of the recent resurgence in angry surf punk. The sound takes a track or two to get used to, but differing feelings and tempos on this album make it a great listen.

AP Photo

Chance’s mixtape drifts from traditional hip-hop.

Must Hear: “Liverpool Boy,” “AI,” Dr. Bellows” and “Clouded Head”

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 15

Traveling orchestra brings video games to life

Photo courtesy of Video Games Live

VGL features more than commonplace orchestral instruments.

By Alyssa Apuzzio Correspondent

Gamers of every variety flocked to the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, N.J., on Saturday, July 23, for a performance by Video Games Live (VGL), an orchestra that performs music from hit video games.

Unlike most orchestras, screams, roars and claps were heard throughout the show as the audience cheered on their favorite video games. Synchronized lighting, solo singers and electronic percussionists also accompanied the standard orchestra.

A myriad of video game hits were included in the tour, such as music from “Mario,” “The Legend of Zelda” and “Kingdom Hearts.” While the orchestra played the music, the concert venue’s screens displayed scenes from the respective video games. Other segments incorporated video game characters between songs and during intermission,

which helped the show retain its whimsical, geeky vibe.

Some of the musical arrangements were exclusive to Video Games Live, such as a performance by Triforce Quartet, a string quartet that created its own medleys from video game music. The Triforce Quartet appeared onstage twice during the show, once to play a “Mario” medley and the second time to play a composition of the boss battle themes from multiple “Final Fantasy” games. The audience went wild for a twist on some of their favorite classic games.

VGL also featured a choir to lend vocals to a few of the music arrangements.

For the encore, the orchestra and choir collaborated to perform the famous track “One Winged Angel” from the worldwide hit game “Final Fantasy VII.” As soon as the first note sounded, the crowd rose from their seats and screamed in excitement. The fans loudly sang along

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throughout the song, proudly proclaiming their love for the game. The blaring shouts of “Sephiroth” — one of the game’s villains — in the theater were so loud they could probably be heard from outside the theater.

Fans cheered in delight when the show’s creator, Tommy Tallarico, announced that footage from Disney movies would play in place of video game footage for the “Kingdom Hearts” piece. Combining Square Enix with Disney, “Kingdom Hearts” has become one of the most popular and successful video game series in the world. The audience hummed and clapped along to the “Kingdom Hearts” segment that featured a beautiful rendition of “Opening.”

In addition to hand-held and system video games, performances of multiple arcade game songs were executed during the show. Songs from fan favorites, like “Donkey Kong,” “Pong” and “Tetris,” were

introduced with original footage from the games playing on the monitors. These segments reminded the audience not only of these beloved classic games, but also how far video games have come.

Video Games Live premiered at the world-renowned Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles in July 2005. Since then, its fan base has grown rapidly and it has continued to tour for the past 11 years. The concert was created and is still led by video game composer Tallarico and Jack Wall, who have both traveled with the tour worldwide to cities including London, England; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Shanghai, China.

Gamers, geeks and fans alike enjoyed the progression of beeps and boops from arcade video games to the powerful orchestra music from recent games. Video Games Live allowed the audience to hear nostalgic songs while they remembered their favorite games and the memories associated with them.

Photo courtesy of Video Games Live

VGL performs with Toon Link from ‘The Legend of Zelda’ on screen.

page 16 The Signal September 7, 2016

Sports

Stevens can’t score quack on Lions Field Hockey

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Field hockey combines to shut out Stevens University, 6-0, to start the season 1-0.

By George Tatoris Sports Editor As students and faculty ran for cover from a surprise rain shower last Thursday, Sept. 1, the College’s field hockey team was practicing for its opening matchup against Stevens Institute of Technology at Lions Stadium.

The rain subsided by the time the action started, but the field and the Lions occupying it were soaked, making for poor playing conditions. Wetness can cause a player’s hands to slip when performing the simplest of skills.

“As you can imagine, our turf shoes were soaked, so we were slipping a little more than usual,” said Lexi Smith, a senior defender. “Also, water makes the

ball roll faster on field turf, thus, (we were forced) to adjust accordingly.”

The adjustments paid off. Despite the weather, the Lions had a spectacular opener — the team overpowered the Ducks, 6-0.

Smith made the first goal of the season, striking the Ducks net just two minutes into the game. Smith was relieved to get a head start for the Lions.

“When you play from ahead, it makes everybody’s job easier,” Smith said.

The Ducks defense responded by holding off would-be goals from Smith, senior midfielder/forward Jaclyn Douglas and freshman forward Zoe Sparks, but Stevens soon slipped. Senior midfielder/ forward Danielle Andreula fed the ball to junior forward Elizabeth Morrison, who

added another tally to the Lions lead.

For the next 10 minutes, the Lions didn’t ease up. Sophomore midfielder/ defender Sidney Padilla added to the momentum with a goal off an assist from Smith. Before the first 15 minutes of the game were up, Smith added two more goals, which earned her a hat trick and an assist.

The Ducks hardened their defense for the remainder of the half, but so did the Lions. Throughout the final minutes of the first half, senior goalkeeper Kelly Schlupp made two saves and senior defender Shannon Cowles made a defensive save of her own, closing out the half 5-0.

The teams returned to the field. The clouds seemed ready to break.

The Lions offense surged straight out

of the gate. After six minutes of attacking the Ducks goal, freshman forward Iris Schuck broke through with a feed off Morrison, resulting in her first collegiate goal with the College.

Neither team allowed a goal after that, as both turned to defense.

“There was no need to continue going hard to goal and there were also other aspects of our game we needed to concentrate on,” Smith said.

Junior goalkeeper Christina Fabiano, who played during the second half, contributed to the shutout with a save in the final three minutes.

The Ducks put up a fight, but they needed more to take on the Lions. Meanwhile, the Lions stormed through poor conditions to get the win.

Cheap Seats

Wake me up when fantasy football begins scoring or Points Per Reception (PPR), but PPR can make the decision much more difficult. Below are my top RB picks outside of ESPN’s top 10.

11. Jamaal Charles (KC vs. SD) 12. Thomas Rawls (SEA vs. MIA) 13. DeAngelo Williams (PIT at WAS) 14. Latavius Murray (OAK at NO) 15. Ryan Matthews (PHI vs. CLE) 16. Carlos Hyde (SF vs. LA) 17. C.J. Anderson (DEN vs. CAR) 18. DeMarco Murray (TEN vs. MIN) 19. Frank Gore (IND vs. DET) 20. Jeremy Langford (CHI at HOU)

Sanders is an undervalued pick that could prove useful in PPR leagues.

By Sean Reis Arts & Entertainment Editor As the first week of the season approaches, it is safe to say your team has been drafted, so who do you start to get the first win?

Obviously, you expect only the best results from your top draft picks, but what about when you have two solid quarterbacks (QB) and you don’t know who to start? What about your third string starting wide receivers (WR) that may not see as much action? What if your league runs a flex position you have yet to fill? I have the answers.

Quarterbacks Let’s talk QBs first, excluding Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson and Ben Roethlisberger:

AP Photo

the top five QBs in the league and whom you should start without hesitation. Here are my top picks.

6. Drew Brees (NO vs. OAK) 7. Derek Carr (OAK at NO) 8. Blake Bortles (JAX vs. GB) 9. Carson Palmer (ARI vs. NE) 10. Kirk Cousins (WAS vs. PIT) 11. Matt Ryan (ATL vs. TB) 12. Marcus Mariota (TEN vs. MIN) 13. Eli Manning (NYG at DAL) 14. Andy Dalton (CIN at NYJ) 15. Ryan Fitzpatrick (NYJ vs. CIN) Running backs Regarding your running backs (RB), the best players to start depend on whether your league uses standard

Wide recievers Lastly — and likely the trickiest to choose from week after week — will be wide receivers (WR). Similar to RBs, below are my top WR picks outside of ESPN’s top 25 receivers.

26. Jordan Matthews (PHI vs. CLE) 27. Kelvin Benjamin (CAR at DEN) 28. Emmanuel Sanders (DEN vs. CAR) 29. Allen Hurns (JAX vs. GB) 30. Michael Crabtree (OAK at NO) 31. Tyler Lockett (SEA vs. MIA) 32. Marvin Jones (DET at IND) 33. DeVante Parker (MIA at SEA) 34. Sterling Shepard (NYG at DAL) 35. Torrey Smith (SF vs. LA) The top WRs for the Arizona Cardinals — Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown — may all be worth the start. However, I warn you to start them at your own risk because no one knows who Palmer will lean on this season.

To see extended rankings at the primary three positions, check out more players to start online.

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 17 Women’s Tennis

Tennis tops Rutgers-Newark, falls to Wellesley

Left: Rangu trounces Rutgers-Newark in both her sets. Right: Prestera comes back after losing her first set to Wellesley.

By Rohan Ahluwalia Staff Writer

In search of their 34th straight New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) crown, and with hopes to build on last season’s undefeated record in conference play, the women’s tennis team began the 2016-17 season with a win in the opening matchup on Friday, Sept. 2, away from home against Rutgers-Newark, 9-0.

Following their victory, the Lions returned to action at home on Sunday, Sept. 4, in an interconference matchup against Wellesley College. Despite their great start just two days prior, the Lions lost in a closely contested 5-4 defeat, making their record 1-1 for the first week.

During Friday’s season-opening matchup against Rutgers-Newark, the Lions dominated their hosts in both singles and doubles competitions, with all six singles competitions being decided in straight sets.

The Lions were already heavy favorites coming into this encounter, with the women’s team recently earning the top spot in the NJAC Preseason Poll after its undefeated 6-0 season last year in conference play. That record also extended the team’s winning streak to 165 matches in all NJAC matches.

With the NJAC containing seven colleges, the Lions earned all seven first-place votes.

Returning all-conference players sophomore Sneha Rangu, junior Brittany Reedman and senior

Anna Prestera managed to win their matches comprehensively 6-0 in both sets. Sophomore Alyssa Baldi and senior Katie Buchbinder also managed to win their matches in straight sets, 6-0.

Sophomore Emily Szkudlarski was the only player to not win both her sets, 6-0. The sophomore instead settled for a 6-1 victory during her second set against Rutgers-Newark’s Nell Karpinski, after winning 6-0 during the first set.

In doubles competition, the Lions continued their dominance over Rutgers-Newark, winning all three matchups. Sophomore Grace Minassian and junior Maddy Stoner — both returning all-conference players, as well — combined to earn the College an 8-1 victory, while

Rangu partnered with fellow sophomore Baldi to gain a 8-1 victory.

Prestera and junior Danna Tsay’s 8-0 victory in their match concluded the team’s 9-0 rout of their hosts.

On Sunday, the Lions were back in action against Wellesley College.

Coming into this match, Wellesley was 2-0 after earning victories over Stonehill (5-1) and Smith (8-1) on Thursday and Friday, respectively.

The match, which began with doubles, unfortunately saw the Lions unable to express the same level of dominance as they did against Rutgers-Newark. Going into singles play, the College found themselves down, 2-1.

Prestera and Tsay were the only pair to win their match-up, coming out 8-3 winners. Rangu and Baldi,

Football

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

as well as Minassian and Stoner, were not able to replicate that result. They lost their matches 8-6 and 8-4, respectively.

Despite the negative doubles results, the Lions were able to match up closely against Wellesley in singles play. Rangu came out on top in two sets (6-4, 6-2) along with Baldi (7-5, 6-0), while Prestera rallied after losing her first set. She secured victory in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-0).

Despite their valiant efforts, Reedman, Stoner and Szkudlarski could not save the Lions from their first defeat of the season.

The Lions (1-1) will return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at home in a face-off against Stockton University before going on the road to take on Ramapo College.

Cross Country

Lions lose in Wisconsin Lions step ahead at Blue/Gold

By Alex Reich Correspondent The football team’s road trip translated into a long game against the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks.

The Lions fell, 51-3.

During the first quarter of the game, the Warhawks handled themselves well.

They put up 14 points on the board without the Lions scoring offensively.

The College had 12 first downs all game, compared to Wisconsin-Whitewater’s 26. The Warhawks moved the football better than the Lions did by getting

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Osler completes 75 passing yards.

more touches and finishing well.

As the second quarter opened up, the Lions managed to put three points on the board with a field goal to make the score 14-3. That was as close as the Lions ever got to the Warhawks. After that, UW-WW scored 27 unanswered points to make the halftime score 41-3.

The Lions defense played much better in the third quarter, when the Warhawks didn’t score any touchdowns, but made a field goal, which put them up 44-3. Unfortunately, the Lions offense didn’t do much better. They, too, were unable to score.

In the fourth quarter, the Warhawks scored their final touchdown, which made the final score 51-3. The leading rusher for the Lions was junior running back Khani Glover, who had 47 yards.

Junior quarterback Trevor Osler passed for 75 yards and senior receiver Jeff Mattonelli had six catches for 52 receiving yards. Sophomore linebacker Jesse Streb lead the College with eight tackles.

It was a difficult way to begin the season. The College came off a 17-hour bus ride from Ewing, N.J., to Walworth, Wis., to play a game the next day against the No. 3 Division III team in the country. The Lions are hopeful this will be a learning experience.

On Friday, Sept. 16., the Lions will travel to Union, N.J., to play Kean University in their first New Jersey Athletic Conference matchup. This will be Kean’s first game of the season.

The Lions return for their home opener against Christopher Newport University on Saturday, Sept. 24.

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

Cooper finishes in the top 10 at the Blue/Gold Invitational.

By Danielle Silvia Staff Writer

While Labor Day weekend marks rest and relaxation before the summer draws to a close, the College’s men’s and women’s cross country teams spent their weekend at the Blue/Gold Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 3.

The Blue/Gold Invitational is an annual event that the College hosts as a fun kickoff to both the cross country and autumn seasons.

The meet included Division I athletes from St. Joseph’s and Rider universities.

A Division II program, Georgian Court University, rounded out the action.

In the 5K event, three runners from the College made it into the top 10 with phenomenal finishes. Standouts from the Lions in this event include junior Dale Johnson.

Johnson has been continuously strengthening his athletic abilities and cutting down on his running times over

the summer. Overall, Johnson placed second in the meet with a time of 15:43.

Another achievement came from senior Brandon Mazzarella, who has not only been contributing his athletic ability to the team, but his leadership skills, as well.

Mazzarella finished in eighth place with a time of 15:58 overall for the College’s men’s team.

Additionally, sophomore Matthew Saponara finished with a time of 16:04 and made the cut off for the top 10 spots.

For the women, sophomore Natalie Cooper clocked in at 19:18 to snag a seventh place finish. Behind her was fellow sophomore Erin Holzbaur, who placed ninth at 19:29.

Many alumni were also able to compete in this weekend’s race, too, and while many are not quite in the shape they were back in their college years, they were able to finish the race and enjoy themselves along with the current team.

The College will return to action on Friday, Sept. 16, for the Rider Invitational.

page 18 The Signal September 7, 2016

LIONS

September 7, 2016 The Signal page 19

AROUND THE

D RM

Matthew Ajaj “The Ref”

Miguel Gonzalez Sports Assistant

Connor Smith Sports Editor

Otto Gomez Staff Writer

In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Matthew Ajaj, asks our panel of three experts three questions: What kind of impact will Teddy Bridgewater’s injury have on the Vikings 2016 season and the rest of his own career? Do the Yankees have a chance at the playoffs? Has ESPN become too political for its own good, or is the network’s recent focus on politics appropriate?

1. What kind of impact will the Teddy Bridgewater injury have on the Vikings?

Miguel: Despite Bridgewater’s torn ACL injury, the Minnesota Vikings are still capable of defending their title against formidable opponents. Running back Adrian Peterson has been gaining more than 1,000 yards per season. Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson looks to become productive again after being absent last season. No need to acquire Michael Vick because that is like putting too much salt on your fries at Eickhoff Hall. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer would not want Vick to make the locker room salty.

Quarterbacks are another story. Shaun Hill is at the twilight of his career and Joel Stave did not show much potential during the Viking’s preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. Nevertheless, Bridgewater is 23 years old and has plenty of promising years ahead of him. I just learned that the Vikings traded of their first and fourth round picks for Eagles quarterback Sam Bradford. Ugh. Connor: In the wake of Bridgewater’s

AP Photo

season-ending injury, Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman told reporters, “People are asking for some crazy things.”

I guess they got what they asked for. Conventional wisdom says Sam Bradford — who the Eagles already failed to sell before the draft — isn’t worth a first round pick.

The Vikings are a different case, however.

An aging Adrian Peterson and a relatively open division gives this gamble some credibility. The Vikings think they’re on the verge of winning it all, and I respect that.

They’ve built up picks in the 2017 draft, and they likely won’t sacrifice a top 10

pick for Bradford. If Bradford succeeds, it could have disastrous effects on Bridgewater’s legacy. More likely, though, is that Bradford joins Bridgewater on the injured reserve list.

Otto: The biggest injury storyline going into week one of the NFL season has quickly become Bridgewater’s torn ACL. Fortunately for the Vikings, they were able to secure an average to above average starter in former overall pick Bradford.

While I know that referee Ajaj personally dislikes Bradford, the former Eagles quarterback was able to set a franchise record for completion percentage, while his team led the league in drops. Any way you look at it, that’s an incredible statistic. The Vikings are in win-now mode, and Bradford helps the team. For Bridgewater, time will tell what he will be like coming back. A lot of quarterbacks suffer immensely from that type of injury. Hopefully Teddy’s youth will allow for a shorter recovery period and a better career post-injury.

Connor gets 2 points for Bradford’s susceptibility to injury. Otto gets 2 points for that profound statistic. Miguel gets 1 point for thinking Patterson was ever good.

2. Do the New York Yankees have a chance at the playoffs with how they’re playing now?

Miguel: During the trade deadline, the Yankees looked like Britney Spears at the Video Music Awards with aging players like Alex Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Afterwards, the team resurged with a young trio from Trenton, N.J.: Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and Tyler Austin. In August, the Yankees showed promise by beating the Red Sox, Orioles and Royals — all playoff contenders. However, the Yankees playoff dreams will be quite a challenge. The Red Sox have an explosive offense with Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and Mookie Betts. Meanwhile, the Orioles have a strong infield consisting of Chris Davis, Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado. If Yogi Berra was still here today, he would have been wearing his signature “It ain’t over till it’s over” hat.

Connor: The new-look Yankees are a playoff team. If they began the season with this roster, the Yankees could be in contention for the American League (AL) East. That said, the wild card race is flooded with contenders, and the Yankees were in a hole from the start. Four and a half games are manageable, but there are five teams in between the Yanks and the second wild card. They have a winning pedigree, so I would never count the Yankees out. That said, I’d feel safer siding with the field on this one.

Otto: The Yankees have been surprising this summer for a lot of different reasons.

Very few expected them to be above .500 with a squad of has-beens and certainly no one expected them to be competitive in the AL wild card race after being strong sellers at the trade deadline and bringing up touted prospects. However, they stand 3.5 games back in the race, needing to overcome two division rivals in the Orioles and Red Sox,

and two Central League foes in the Tigers and Astros. This deficit will prove to be insurmountable, mainly because of the lack of consistency coming from New York.

The club doesn’t know who will provide offense on a day-to-day basis, especially

now that former Trenton Thunder great Gary Sanchez has cooled down. The teams ahead of the Bombers have shown to play well against them and have played better all season. The future remains extremely bright for the New York Yankees, though.

AP Photo

Otto gets 3 points for recognizing the Yankees flaws. Connor and Miguel each get 2 points for acknowledging New York’s tough road ahead.

3. Has ESPN become too political for its own good, or is the network’s recent focus on politics appropriate?

Miguel: For a network that claims to be about sports, ESPN has certainly been focusing on race and violence. ESPN is overemphasizing the actions of Colin Kaepernick and Caitlyn Jenner. Did these athletes commit domestic abuse like Hope Solo? Or accused of murder like Ray Lewis? Or lie to authority like Ryan Lochte? Athletes such as Kaepernick show how players can be aware of the social-economic and political issues

occurring in urban neighborhoods. I have no concern with ESPN showcasing these situations as long as they continue to celebrate the accomplishments of teams like Maine-Endwell winning the U.S.’s first Little League championship or groundbreaking athletes, such as swimmer Simone Manuel. ESPN and ABC News should discuss which issues are appropriate for each other’s news outlets.

Connor: The world is too political in general. ESPN is a product of a media that spends hours forcing political beliefs down its viewers’ throats. It amazes

me that sports — a form of entertainment that writes itself — is put on the back-burner so we can watch Stephen A. Smith bark his political agenda for hours on end. I could watch “Baseball Tonight” or “30 for 30” documentaries for just as much time, but instead we’re stuck with non-stop coverage of a man’s refusal to stand up. There is a time and a place for politics, but not during game time.

Otto: I think that there’s a thin line between sports and politics for a couple different reasons. Sports is so important

to our culture that it intertwines with every other aspect of what we see and hear every day. Additionally, sports fans have idolized athletes to the extent that we expect them to think like us fans, when what we really care about is not the person, but their talent on the field. Since they’re more gifted than us, we try to bring them down to our level, making it incredibly easy to criticize them. ESPN does not need to report what the players say as much as they need to report what the players did on the field.

Connor gets 3 points for saying politics is separate. Otto gets 3 points for the fine line.

Miguel gets 1 point for not explaining why only certain issues deserve coverage.

Winner’s Circle

AP Photo

Signal

Sports

Women’s soccer strikes first in 3-0 win

Left: Goldman scores a goal in a Lions win. Right: Weeder helps shut out Virginia Wesleyan College.

By Michael Battista Staff Writer

After a tough loss to end its season last year, the College’s women’s soccer team started strong in its first game. The team fought for a 3-0 win against Virginia Wesleyan College on Friday, Sept. 2, in Norfolk, Va. Both the Lions and Marlins came out kicking early on with the home team getting the first shot against the College only three minutes into the game, going wide of the net. The Lions were able to counter back, taking their own wide shot and setting a back-andforth tempo for the early game.

Junior midfielder Jessica Goldman said she and the rest of the team knew what they were getting into.

“We came into today knowing that Virginia Wesleyan was

going to come out hard,” Goldman said. “We’ve beat them the last two years, and this was the first time playing them on their home field, so it was definitely different. They were very physical, which we had to get used to in the beginning of the game.

Once we all settled down and started playing our game, our confidence just grew.”

The Lions took three shots on goal in a 13-minute span, while they held Virginia to none. The Marlins couldn’t muster a single shot on goal during the first half.

Goldman was able to sink one of those shots into the net off an assist from senior forward Christina Levering in the 21st minute to put the Lions on the board, 1-0.

“I knew that a goal was coming.

We were in their half for the majority of the first half,” Goldman said.

“And once we got the first goal, the

team really just came together and made sure we were only increasing the lead from there.”

Two minutes later, Goldman’s prediction came true, as Levering sank her own goal off an assist from junior defenseman Abigail Emmert, putting the team up, 2-0.

The two teams were silent for the rest of the half, with the College outshooting Virginia, 3-1. The Marlins first shot on goal came in the first five minutes of the second half, which was saved by senior goalkeeper Jessica Weeder.

The Lions were able to get one more on the board, as freshman defender Jen McGrogan scored her first career goal in her collegiate debut off a corner kick from Goldman.

“The feeling I got scoring that goal was probably the best feeling ever,” McGrogan said. “I got a rush throughout my body —

words could not describe how ecstatic I was. Then being able to celebrate with my teammates in the moments after — especially Jessi for her outstanding corner kick — made me overjoyed. Having my teammates around me equally as happy just made the moment unforgettable.”

Goldman, who got an assist on McGrogan’s goal, said McGrogan’s play during the game was great.

“Jen played really well the entire game,” Goldman said. “She was extremely solid in the back and helped us get a shutout, which is always a main goal of ours. We got a corner in the second half, and Jen got in the box and took her chance. It was a great goal, and it was especially important because it was the third goal, and 2-0 is the most dangerous lead in soccer.”

As one of many new faces, McGrogan has impressed veterans on

Photos courtesy of Sports Information Desk

the team. McGrogan joined freshmen midfielders Haley Bodden and Alexa Beatty as they took shots during the match and kept pressure on the Marlins.

Goldman is impressed with the talent of the new group.

“This year’s freshman class is one of the most talented I think we’ve had in awhile,” Goldman said. “There are so many good girls, it’s honestly so hard to single out people. They are a bunch of hard workers who are already so devoted to the team. Their passion really shows.”

The Lions win on Friday was their only one this weekend, as the following day’s game against Christopher Newport University was cancelled due to weather caused by Tropical Storm Hermine.

The team looks forward to its next matchup against Johns Hopkins University on Saturday, Sept. 10.

Lions split opening weekend in Blue Jay Classic

By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Assistant The Lions opened the season on the winning and losing end last weekend, as they soundly defeated the Dickinson College Red Devils in a 5-1 victory, but lost to the Elizabethtown Blue Jays, 4-1.

On the road in Carlisle, Pa., the Lions competed against the Dickinson College on Friday, Sept. 2, in the Elizabethtown Blue Jay Classic tournament. The Red Devils offense pressured the team immediately with shots on the Lions goal. Senior goalkeeper Jake Nesteruk finished the first half with six saves.

Following a corner kick from junior midfielder Matthew Edmonds, senior midfielder Nick Costelloe scored off a pass from sophomore midfielder Nick Sample. At the 40th minute, sophomore midfielder Matt Skinner added another goal with an assist from freshman forward Mateo Panizza.

“Mateo has been a great offensive addition being that he has an assist and a goal within the first two games he’s

Lions Lineup September 7, 2016

I n s i d e

Lions push for a 1-1 start to the season.

played,” said Domenic Polidoro, a senior midfielder.

The Lions cruised to a 5-1 win. Senior forward Thomas Hogue scored the third Lions goal with an assist from Sample.

The Red Devils countered eight minutes later with a goal of their own, putting them on the scoreboard for the first time all game.

Toward the end of the match, the Lions increased their lead with a penalty kick goal by midfielder Joerg Jack and an own goal by

Around the Dorm page 19

Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk

the Red Devils.

The next day, the Lions struggled to carry momentum in a 4-1 loss to Elizabethtown College. During the first 20 minutes, the Lions offense shot to no avail. The Blue Jays reached to the back of the net first with a goal off a pass to the corner.

“Early in the game, it looked like we were going to be the team to break the 0-0 tie, but (Blue Jay) Gilbert Waso turned a half chance into a goal with his excessive agility and precision,” Polidoro said.

Football page 17

Cross Country page 17

The Lions confidence further receded when the Blue Jays scored two more goals in two minutes.

“We had some defensive breakdowns that led to two easy goals for them and before we knew it, the score went from 1-0 to 3-0,” Polidoro said.

The Lions 3-0 deficit proved too hefty to surpass, as the Lions only scored one goal, despite five corner kick attempts and eight shots.

“We had a number of quality chances against Elizabethtown, but we were unable to convert. In order to win games, we have to figure out how to defend as a team,” Costelloe said. “We will have time to find a rhythm in our non-conference schedule before we open up with conference play. This is a great group of guys with some real talent, and I fully expect us to rebound and have an incredibly successful season.”

The Lions remain on the road as they travel to Hoboken, N.J., for a match against the Stevens Institute of Technology Ducks on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The Ducks lost their home opener 1-0.

Fantasy Football page 16