Breaking news, blogs, and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIII, No. 1
Beloved professor passes away
Stud construction well underway
By Chelsea LoCascio Opinions Editor Robert Carlton Cole: “father of journalism,” “fearless,” “one of the great ones.” A stream of positive comments poured in on the College’s Facebook post announcing the death of the 78-year-old English professor emeritus on Tuesday, Aug. 4. According to the College’s website, he died from pneumonia and complications from Parkinson’s — a disease that made the once outgoing and enthusiastic professor grow quieter over the years. “That was the cruelest of all, to see someone whose career was based on dissemination and communication slowly go inside a shell that robbed him of both joys,” Ray Hennessey, editorial director at Entrepreneur, wrote in his tribute to Cole entitled, “What the Death of My Teacher and Friend Taught Me About Mentorship.” Like Hennessey, many students can fondly recall the outspoken man that Cole was before his descent into silence. “He looked like he was something from the backwoods … a combo of a hippie and Abraham Lincoln,” said Charles Stile, a political columnist for The Record and ’82 see COLE page 2
August 26, 2015
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
A wall replaces the old bookstore and information desk. By Alyssa Sanford Web Editor Between Campus Town, the upcoming STEM building and the Brower Student Center renovations, various construction projects are well underway at the College this semester. In the months between commencement and the arrival of the new freshman class, the green fencing around the Student Center has extended, indicating significant progress.
According to Student Center Manager Seth Zolin, the demolition of old spaces and construction of new ones are in progress. “From my perspective, (the construction team, KSS Architects) have built the temporary office suites in what used to be the game room, George Jackson room and Simon Bolivar room,” Zolin said. “They have cleared the Sundial Lawn in preparation for the building addition and have begun demo of the bookstore space, info desk, box office, Rat, old student organization areas and suite
BSC 230.” Demolition of these spaces will pave the way for modern-looking additions to the 40-year-old building, Zolin said. Though the ubiquitous presence of trucks, drills and fences might be a tiresome sight for students, administrators hope there are more benefits than drawbacks for the Student Center renovation. The Student Center, while shutting down basement offices and hotspots like the old college bookstore and the Rathskeller, will allocate spaces for students to hold club meetings or to simply lounge around. “During the 2015-16 academic year, students will have access to the atrium, which now houses our pool tables and ping pong tables in addition to soft seating; the Lion’s Den; and student organization office spaces in BSC 202,” Zolin said. Students can also reserve BSC 210 and BSC 211 for events, according to Zolin. The large space on the ground floor of the Student Center is mostly cordoned off, making it difficult to accommodate as many students as the building did in previous years. Now, residence halls will host students who want a large space for recreational activities. According to Zolin, Decker Hall will unveil the “Decker Hall Social Space” as a solution to the Student Center’s slightly smaller accommodations. “A space in the basement of Decker Hall, see RENOVATIONS page 2
Family, friends remember Donohue Highly-awaited Campus By Julie Kayzerman Editor-in-Chief
Pat Donohue didn’t dedicate his life to community service and helping others for accolades or awards. He simply did it because “he felt that part of the responsibility of being here on earth was to try and make things better,” said Pete Donohue, 50, Pat’s twin brother. Donohue, the former assistant provost who died tragically last month after jumping off the George Washington Bridge on Tuesday, July 7, had spent nine years at the College with the Bonner Institute for Civic and Community Engagement and was dedicated to serving the community of Trenton. He retired from the College on Wednesday, July 1, in part because of job-related stress, according to Pete. Donohue is the fourth suicide related to the College in three years. “I knew he was doing good stuff, but I was just blown away by this turnout (at the funeral),” Pete said in a phone interview last month. “It’s just crazy to me. I mean there was like a threehour wait to get into the wake … there were people coming up to me saying, ‘He changed my life doing this work.’ Really mind blowing.” The wake, held on Friday, July 17, had a wide turnout of about 700-800 people at the Sacred Heart Church in Trenton, Pete said. Under the leadership of Donohue, the Bonner
INDEX: Nation & World / Page 5
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program increased from 24 to 101 students and the number of First Seminar Program community engaged learning sections grew to over 40, according to a May email from Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jacqueline Taylor, that announced Donohue’s retirement. “He just works to try to improve things, make things better, in Trenton particularly,” Pete said. “He spent many, many years trying to improve the lives of people who are less fortunate in the city of Trenton itself.” Donohue also helped create the Trenton Violence Reduction Strategy two years ago to help teens turn away from lives of crime, according to the New York Daily News. He also worked closely with the Institute for Prison Teaching and Outreach and TCNJ TrentonWorks. According to The Times, Donohue was instrumental in opening a satellite office of the College in downtown Trenton to offer classes, lectures, movie screenings and workspace. “Pat was a charismatic leader who saw potential in the projects and the people he worked with,” said John Laughton, dean of the School of Arts and Communication who worked with Donohue for six years. “He understood the need for social engagement and connecting people with a shared vision.”
Editorial / Page 7
see DONOHUE page 3 Opinions / Page 8
Town opens for students and town to enjoy
Photo courtesy of Chris Flannery
Officials welcomed in Campus Town on Wednesday, Aug. 19, with a ceremonial ribbon cutting. The nine buildings now house 446 students, as well as retail stores, many of which plan to open this coming fall. Pictured above are Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, Acting Governor Kim Guadagno, College President R. Barbara Gitenstein and CEO of PRC Group Robert Kaye.
Features / Page 11
see full story page 2
Arts & Entertainment / Page 15
Sports / Page 20
Campus Movie Fest Winners advance to Hollywood
New professor Haikes joins staff at the College
Field Hockey Reigning national champs aim high
See Features page 11
See A&E page 15
See Sports page 20
page 2 The Signal August 26, 2015
Campus Town finally opening for business
By Olivia Rizzo Social Media Editor
After a highly anticipated wait, buildings are now up, dorms are occupied by students and retail space is rented out — Campus Town is finally open for business. Since the project was announced, students and faculty alike have been watching the progress of Campus Town build for over a year. For months, the space between Pennington Road and Metzger Drive seemed to be made of nothing but large mounds of dirt as progress on the build was delayed by the harsh winter of 2014. However, once the ground thawed and the snow melted, construction crews hit the ground running with buildings seemingly popping up overnight. Now, the first phase of the $120 million project is complete, and the College community is anxious to see what Campus Town has in store. “I feel like the project is a showcase of the College itself,” said Greg Lentine, director of university campus development for PRC Campus Centers. “It’s almost anticlimactic because every day has been crazy leading up to this. The opening is the end of all our work.” The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Wednesday, Aug. 19, welcoming the campus and Ewing communities to everything Campus Town has to offer. Vendors offered food samples and tours of the new buildings. “We thought it was going to be this small, little event where a few people would show up, and now we have politicians and local businesses calling up saying they are attending,” Lentine said. Some feel the project helps bridge the gap
tcnj.edu
Barnes & Noble Bookstore is the first vendor to open in Campus Town. between the College and the larger Ewing community, Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann said at the ceremony. “It’s about community, and it’s about The College of New Jersey and Ewing Township sharing those experiences handin-hand,” he said. The College’s President R. Barbara Gitenstein shared her sentiments. “It provides students the opportunity to live independently, study and prepare themselves to enter their profession and community as leaders and still be very close to the academic and social life of the campus proper,” Gitenstein said.
With the first phase of the project complete, 446 students will be the first tenants of the newly built Campus Town apartments. Each apartment will house one, two or four students from the College. “I’m most excited about the fact that Campus Town is brand new and I’ll be part of the first group of people to ever stay in those buildings,” junior communications major Michael D’Angelo said. The fully furnished apartments were completely booked three months after it was announced that students could sign up to lease the space, according to Lentine. Along with student apartments, Campus
Town has also rented space to local businesses, many of which are expected to move in within the month. The planned retail shops available are Barnes & Noble, RedBerry Frozen Yogurt, Piccolo Pronto (sister restaurant to nearby Piccolo Trattoria), Spencer Savings Bank, Mexican Mariachi Grill, Panera Bread, Yummy Sushi, Verizon Wireless, Polished Nails salon, California Tanning and Brickwall Tavern & Dining Room. Space has also been leased by the College for a new fitness center and a new space for Campus Police, Lentine said. “I think Campus Town will bring more excitement and easily accessible off-campus activities to the College,” senior English and women and gender studies double major Erin Shannon said. “It will be a greater incentive to stay on slower weekends.” D’Angelo agreed that Campus Town will add something extra to the community. “I think Campus Town will bring a tiny bit of much-needed city (aspect) to TCNJ, regardless of how small that city is,” he said. “Our campus is in the middle of nowhere, so any attraction that gives us something to do is always a plus.” Although most of Campus Town is complete, there will still be construction happening on site as Phase II of the project is being completed. According to Lentine, two additional apartment buildings are underway and will house an additional 166 students. The goal is to rent out more retail space that will sell goods, as the restaurant slots have been filled, according to Lentine. “You look around and see students with their families and local businesses interested in the space,” Lentine said. “It’s like Main Street U.S.A. and that’s really what we want.”
Renovations / Cole / College ‘changed for the better’ Changes to Stud
continued from page 1
called the Decker Social Space, is available for reservations and will serve as a replacement for BSC 202,” Zolin said. “The space will hold 242 people and can be configured in multiple room setups.” Zolin is optimistic that the “Decker Social Space will help alleviate some of the vacuum created by taking BSC 202 off-line.” Other programs held at the College over the summer could not avoid being affected by the reconstruction project in the Student Center. In spite of the obvious roadblock at the center of campus, programs like Freshmen Orientation thrived without access to the Student Center, according to Lindsay Barndt, chair of the TCNJ Orientation Committee. “Fortunately, the closure of the Stud did not significantly impact our freshman orientation program this past July,” Barndt said. “While some families might have been inconvenienced trying to get to the bookstore, and the building itself wasn’t the prettiest to look at, I think the majority would say the longterm pros outweigh the short-term cons.” Barndt looks at the reconstruction efforts as a symbol of exciting changes to come. “It’s like I always tell visiting prospective students: If a school doesn’t have an ugly green construction fence somewhere on campus, that’s actually a bad thing. It means they’re not investing their resources into bettering the facilities, and thus experiences, for its students,” she said. Students and alumni bemoaning the closure of the Rathskeller, and the end of small-scale concerts held at the pub on weekend nights, need not worry that the reconstruction project will interfere. According to CUB’s Facebook page, their new program, CUB Alt, will stage shows at the Lion’s Den this semester. The Student Center is “the hub of campus life,” according to Zolin, and he hopes the reconstruction project, set to be completed in the summer of 2017, will only make that more apparent.
continued from page 1 English alumnus, in a phone interview. “He was plain spoken. He spoke very directly, sometimes colorfully, sometimes coarsely. He did not speak with the smooth polish of an academic, but he was intelligent. We never felt he was a professor talking down at you.” Prior to teaching at the College, Cole obtained his bachelor’s degree from Marshall University, master’s degree from Wake Forest University and Ph.D. from Lehigh University. His wife, Nancy Cole, four children, two stepchildren, six grandchildren and three siblings survive him. Cole, who was born June 2, 1937, in Beaver, W.Va., to mother Naomi Cole and father Carlton Cole, attributed much of his success to his parents’ nurturing upbringing. “I can’t talk about my career without mentioning my parents,” Cole said in a 2006 interview with The Signal. “My father was a coal mine foreman and my mother was a registered nurse in West Virginia. They raised four kids up to believe they could do what they wanted to do. They encouraged me and helped me get through hard times, and for the same purpose, my four kids have been a real inspiration to me and I am terrifically proud of all they have done.” Cole’s pride carried over to his students, as well, according to Chris D’Amico, USA Today NFL editor and former English major at the College in the late ’70s. “He kept tabs on you long after you left. He kept up on everyone,” D’Amico said in a phone interview. “He knew what everyone was doing and it reminded you of the passion he had for
the people he taught. The first time I saw him long after I left (the College), he knew every stop I had made, where I was, and he was proud of what I did. It confirmed my feelings about him.” Cole’s interest in his students ran deeper than merely checking up on them. During his 33 years of teaching, and after he retired, Cole helped over 400 students find jobs post-graduation, according to tcnj.edu. The transition from college to the real world was easier, said Tim Quinn, marketing and communications director for the Princeton Public Library and ’81 English alumni, in a phone interview. Not only did he have plenty of connections in the field, but Cole forced his students to get off campus by covering town meetings, investigating crimes made up by the Hamilton Police specifically for his class and writing for the Trenton Times and Trentonian. “He gave me a recommendation for my first job at The Sentinel-Ledger in Ocean City. He was instrumental in helping me with that job,” Stile said. “I feel like I grew up in a family who venerated newspapers. I had a vague admiration for newspapers, but he clarified that (feeling) for me. He made it seem like an important thing.” The Signal would not exist if Cole had not started teaching journalism classes at the College in the ’70s. Quinn, a formal Signal editor, said he would dread production nights each week because he knew Cole’s famous red ink and criticism would grace every edition of the paper. “He was hard on us and his expectations were high for us, but it came across in a caring, compassionate way,” Quinn said. “He wouldn’t mollycoddle us, but he
wouldn’t dwell on it either. He’d make his point, sometimes with humor, but we would know exactly what we screwed up and work on it for next time.” To say Cole had a profound effect on his students is an understatement, as people like Peggy Ballman, director of issues management communications at Johnson & Johnson and ’80 English alumni, were fundamentally changed by Cole. “When I heard the news of his passing, my first thought was how much I, The Signal team and any of the students he taught — whether they stayed in journalism or not — owed him. You came out of the program and were changed for the better,” Ballman said in a phone interview. “We couldn’t have learned from a better example … he was an amazing teacher and amazing person. I was blessed to know him and be taught by him.” Students of the past make it clear to those of the present and future that they would be lucky to encounter a professor as captivating as Cole was. His dedication and passion held everyone’s attention so much that they never once checked the clock in class, Quinn said. “He infused in us a sense of commitment to social justice. He was teaching us how to use this tool to educate people and make the world a better place. He saw journalism as a vital tool to challenge power. He reflected the new journalism after Watergate,” Stile said. “You couldn’t come away from a meeting with Bob Cole without a huge morale boost. He would talk your ear off and get you so amped up about journalism. It was a special thing to benefit from.” Those who would like to honor Cole’s memory can donate to the College’s Robert C. Cole Journalism Prize.
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 3
Donohue / Assistant provost helped better community continued from page 1
Photo courtesy of friends of Pat Donohue
Donohue is remembered for expanding programs to benefit the student body.
Donohue left behind his wife Donna, his daughter Cate, 16, and his son Patrick, 20. “They’re devastated,” Pete said of Pat’s family. “Absolutely devastated.” “In my mind, Pat couldn’t have died to teach us a lesson because no lesson could ever equal the good Pat would have accomplished with the rest of his life,” Pat’s older brother Jimmy said in his eulogy during the funeral. “At the same time, I refuse to believe, I absolutely refuse to believe that Pat has died in vain. So I’m going to ask you a favor. I’m going to ask you to take a solemn vow, right now in this church. “I’m asking you to tell someone today, before the sun sets, that if you are ever in so much pain that you feel you might do harm to yourself, you will tell that person, that you will make one simple phone call and say, ‘I don’t trust myself right now.’ I would like to ask you to raise your hand if you promise you’ll do that today.”
Pete admitted he’s had trouble knowing what to say to people regarding his brother’s death, but knows that if his story can save someone someday, it’s absolutely worth telling. “Because of the stigma, people don’t talk about (suicide), so I think that’s part of the problem,” Pete said. “It’s got to be a more candid and honest discussion and (there must be) recognition that this happens to a lot of good people and it’s happening a lot more often than you think.” The Pat Donohue Family Fund has been created to support the family and his children’s education. Donations can be made at http://www.bonner.org/pat-donohue-family-fund. Donations in honor of Donohue can also be made to his favorite charity, The Greg Grant 94 Ft. Academic Sports Academy. “I love all of you in this room because you loved my brother,” Jimmy said in his eulogy. “I know that he would want you to leave here, have a beer and look forward to the rest of your wonderful lives.”
while enjoying activities set up in the Olympic Village. “(These are) athletes who in their lives and in their competitions make it a point to charge forward and through every obstacle they face,” Jack Ford, the announcer at the games, said in an nj.com article from Friday, June 12. For over 20 years, the College has hosted the summer games, which seek to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate
courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community,” as stated on the Special Olympics NJ website. Led by a police honor guard, the athletes marched into Lions’ Stadium for the opening ceremony wearing color-coded T-shirts as a representation of their home-regions across the Garden State. Following their entry, the night was capped with the famous lighting of the Special Olympics of New Jersey caldron. The games themselves kicked off Saturday morning, while the entire event was free of charge.
The College hosts annual Special Olympics Games By Ellie Schuckman News Editor This past summer, for over 2,500 athletes, the College was home to the 2015 New Jersey Special Olympics Summer Games. With the opening ceremony on Friday, June 12, the games lasted the weekend, concluding on Sunday, June 14. Participants ranged from age two to 65 and competed in different sports such as aquatics, baseball, bocce, gymnastics, powerlifting, softball, tennis and track and field. The non-profit event saw over 2,000 volunteers, according to Special Olympics of NJ President and CEO Heather
Andersen, in an nj.com article from Saturday, June 13. “The athletes are experiencing all of the good outcomes that come from participating in sports, such as being a part of a team, making new friends, and setting goals for themselves,” Andersen said in the same article. “They’re challenging themselves to do better, and they’re showing us that it’s not about their disability, but their ability. The games empower them and build their confidence, which spills into the rest of their lives.” The athletes not only competed at the College, but some also had the opportunity to live in the dorms for the weekend
AXiD getting ready for first full year on campus By Gabrielle Beacken Nation & World Editor Sometimes there are too many cooks in the kitchen. That’s how Abigail Hosonitz, the public relations vice president for the Iota Omega Chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, puts it. With an organization including just over 100 people, patience and understanding are both necessary skills. “I mean, can you imagine meeting 106 people for the first time and trying to instantaneously get along,” asked Hosonitz, a junior interpersonal/organizational communications major. “It’s hard.” Careful coordination and intricate planning were required for the one-semester-old AXiD sorority and now the ‘new kids on the block’ are ready to start their first year on campus with passion and confidence. “I was looking for a place to call home at TCNJ,” said Jennifer Schablik, the AXiD membership vice president. “I was looking for somewhere that I could see myself grow and thrive while also having the opportunity to become involved with a huge network of individuals.” Schablik, a junior biology major at the College, found that “home” with her sisters in AXiD. By becoming membership vice president, Schablik will be able to help new and current students find “a space that made prospective members interested and comfortable in.” By planning recruitment events on campus, she hopes to showcase what AXiD stands for. “With the support of other organizations and the Panhellenic community at TCNJ, we are able to give women the chance to find their home away from home at Alpha Xi Delta,” said Brittany Hartory, the colony and new chapter development coordinator. “Alpha Xi Delta’s vision is ‘inspiring women to realize their potential’ — which is something our chapter at TCNJ works hard to do through leadership opportunities and support of each individual woman’s successes.” Many members joined AXiD to find their place on campus and to make long-lasting friendships. Some also joined to continue or begin community engagement
and charitable work. “When I came to college, a part of me that I left behind was working with and for children with developmental disabilities,” Schablik said. “I realized that if I joined AXiD I would be supporting Autism Speaks … I am thrilled to maintain my involvement in a cause that is so near and dear to my heart while still being a college student.” Alpha Xi Delta supports and partners with Autism Speaks — the world’s largest autism advocacy organization, according to AXiD’s webpage. Autism Speaks spreads awareness of Autism and funds biomedical research that investigates causes, prevention and a possible cure for autism. “I hope that our presence on campus will bring more attention to autism awareness,” said senior health and exercise science and teaching double major Roisin Dougherty, who serves as president of the College’s AXiD chapter. “We are super excited for our philanthropy event this fall and hope that all members of campus are motivated to participate and spread awareness.” Current students and prospective members will be able to participate in AXiD’s philanthropic events, as well as familiarize themselves with the girls of the sorority through fall interest sessions. According to Hosonitz, there will be three interest sessions for incoming freshmen and sophomores. “I definitely want to encourage girls who are interested to feel free to come up to any one of us and ask why we chose AXiD,” Hosonitz said. “We are all looking forward to welcoming some bright new faces to our sisterhood.” Dougherty is also excited to share AXiD’s presence and message on campus. “I mostly just want to see people fall in love with Alpha Xi as much as I did,” Dougherty said. “After joining the chapter and attending National Convention, I have nothing but love and positive vies for my sisters and my organization.” Partnering and getting acquainted with Greek and non-Greek organizations on campus is an integral part
Photo courtesy of MaryAnn Corcione
Sisters of AXiD pose, holding up the symbol for their sorority, while helping students move-in.
of this year for AXiD, Schablik said. She looks forward to establishing her sorority’s reputation by promoting their programs and philanthropic events. Being new is not a burden — that is the beauty of AXiD, according to Hosonitz. The girls of the sorority were able to experience everything together, including, most importantly, the creation of their very own chapter. “We really do pride ourselves in being the new kids on the block. No matter how much opposition and negativity we may receive as we start on campus, I know the power our organization holds,” Hosonitz said. “We strive to be respectful to every other organization and can only ask that we receive the same from them.” As AXiD starts their journey on the College’s campus, they strive to make strong ties with fellow Greek organizations by demonstrating respect and kindness. In turn, the sorority hopes that they receive that same respect, Hosonitz said. “Although we’re new, and we’re still learning what it is to be Alpha Xi Delta. I am so glad I made the decision to join,” sophomore iSTEM early childhood education major Victoria Lai, a sister, said. “I don’t think I’ll ever regret it.”
page 4 The Signal August 26, 2015
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 5
Nation & W rld
News highlights of summer 2015
U.S. Women’s World Cup team and Pluto shine
• Cecil the Lion murdered Cecil, the 13-year-old, black-maned lion, was killed by American dentist, Walter Palmer, during a hunt in Zimbabwe in early July. Palmer, an avid big-game bow hunter, paid at least $50,000 to go on the hunt where he spent 40 hours tracking Cecil and then shot, skinned and beheaded him. Protests were held in front of Palmer’s dental office and death threats were made against him. The event sparked outrage on social media. It is under investigation whether Palmer knew the guides had lured the lion out of its protected area.
• Pluto gets a clear close-up NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft that was launched in 2006 flew past Pluto on Friday, July 14, providing the most detailed pictures ever to be taken of the dwarf planet. New features of Pluto were discovered because of these images.
• Court rules: Love wins
• Murderers escape NY prison
On Friday, June 26, the United States Supreme Court declared that same-sex marriage is constitutional nation-wide. The court was split, with a 5-4 vote.
• Child hand transplant The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia performed the first pediatric double hand-transplant on 8-year-old Zion Harvey in early July. The planning of the surgery took about 18 months.
• Women’s World Cup win The United States Women’s National Soccer Team brought home the FIFA World Cup trophy on July, 5. The team was led by South Jersey native Carli Lloyd, who scored three goals in USA’s 5-2 win in the final against Japan.
Two convicted killers, Richard Matt and David Sweat, escaped from a maximum-security prison, Clinton Correctional Facility in N.Y., on Saturday, June 6. After a 23-day manhunt, police captured Sweat just two days after Matt was shot and killed by police. Sweat is now back in a maximum security prison, after nearly one month.
• Confederate flag lowered The Confederate flag was removed from the grounds of the South Carolina Statehouse on Friday, July 10. The response was spurred following the shooting massacre at a North Carolina church by 21-year-old Dylan Roof, who reportedly had a racial agenda in the shooting and was often photographed with the Confederate Flag. Thousands of people cheered from outside the statehouse when the flag was lowered.
Taiwan endures fiercest storm on planet
AP Photo
Heavy rain damages buildings in Taipei, Taiwan.
By Candace Kellner Staff Writer
Taiwan faced violent winds and torrential rain earlier this month after Typhoon Soudelor hit, killing
five people before making its way to China as a tropical storm, according to CNN. CNN reports that approximately 402 people were injured and five others remain missing. A mother and her 8-year-old
daughter were among the five Taiwanese victims. The girl’s twin sister, who is suspected to have been swept out to sea with the rest of her family, is still unaccounted for, according to the nation’s Central News Agency, CNN reported. Soudelor became the strongest storm on the planet so far this year, with wind gusts reaching 180 mph. Storm chaser James Reynolds told CNN that fierce winds and blinding rain hit as the storm came ashore. The result, he said, “was a lot of flying debris, a lot of tree damage and along the coastal areas, the waves had inundated the low-lying areas, damaging the roads in places as well as some vulnerable properties which were right by the coast.”
Many communities suffered mudslides and flooding. Video footage of the storm shows rescue workers struggling to move through the surging, thigh-high waters. More than four million homes across the island lost electricity. According to CNN, it was the biggest power outage seen on the island. A weakened Soudelor headed to China the same night in the nation’s southern Fujian province with maximum sustained winds of only 52 mph and gusts up to 62 mph, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center. In preparation for the storm, nearly 185,000 people were relocated to safer areas in the Fujian province. Torrential rains proved to be
the greatest burden for the nation that has already seen heavy downpours for the past couple of months, CNN reported. In Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, Soudelor saturated the land which resulted in disrupted water and electricity. Mudslides resulted in the death of 14 people in the eastern Chinese cities of Wenzhou and Lishui, according to CNN. The affected Pacific nations have since received aid from the Red Cross and other organizations. The government of Guam has donated thousands of dollars to the victims of Typhoon Soudelor. In the midst of disaster, the Pacific region has opened up their hearts and wallets to help those in need.
Canada and Australia top livability charts By Abigail Burns Staff Writer The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) recently published the annual Global Livability Ranking and Report for 2015. This ranking compares 140 cities from around the world and uses 30 factors, such as safety, health care and the environment, to assign each city a score, according to marketwatch.com. Australia was highlighted with two cities in the top five, including Melbourne, Australia, the only city in the world to rank number one on the list for five years running, according to abc.net. Also topping the list is the city of Adelaide, Australia, which tied for fifth with Calgary, Alberta. Canada also had two other cities in the top five, with Vancouver, British Columbia, and Toronto
ranking third and fourth on the list. In fact, seven of the top 10 ranking cities were in Canada and Australia. According to eiu.com, these cities have relatively few challenges to living standards. This may not be surprising, as Canada and Australia are well known for maintaining low murder rates and a good healthcare system. The main focus of this list usually falls on the cities that make up the top five most livable cities in the world. However, this year the attention turned to the cities that made the last five spots on the list, making them the least livable cities in the world. This is because these cities reflect a marked increase in global instability over the last 12 months, according to eiu.com. “The ranking, which provides scores for lifestyle challenges in 140 cities worldwide, shows that
since 2010, average livability across the world has fallen by 1 percent, led by a 2.2 percent fall in the score for stability and safety. While this may seem marginal, it highlights that 57 of the cities surveyed have seen declines in livability over the last five years,” according to eiu.com. Eiu.com and marketwatch. com each name incidents such as the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, civil unrest in America and the terrorist shootings in France and Tunisia as just a few of the factors as to why the livability score dropped in over 50 cities worldwide. Damascus, Syria, is ranked last on the list as the least livable city. The Syrian capital saw the biggest fall in livability scores over a five-year period, said abc.net. Over five years, the city dropped by a score of 27, and ended up with an overall rating of 29.3 out of a possible score
Top five most livable cities: 1. Melbourne, Australia 2. Vienna, Austria 3. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada 4. Toronto, Canada 5. (Tie) Adelaide, Australia and Calgary, Alberta
Least five livable cities: 136. Tripoli, Libya 137. Lagos, Nigeria 138. Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea 139. Dhaka, Bangladesh 140. Damascus, Syria Info from website: marketwatch.com
Damascus falls in last place as the least livable city and no American cities make the top five. of 100, according to eiu.com. The ranking on eiu.com also states that there were no cities that scored a perfect 100, but the top five most livable cities all had overall ratings between
97.5 and 96.5. As for the United States, Honolulu, Hawaii, placed 19th. This was the only U.S. city that ranked in the top 30, according to marketwatch.com.
The Art Gallery at TCNJ presents
page 6 The Signal August 26, 2015
FLUCTUATIONS:
TCNJ ART FACULTY
EXHIBITION 2015 On view September 2 - October 11, 2015 Art Faculty Panel Discussion September 2, 2015 at 4:00PM in AIMM 125 Opening reception 5:00-7:00PM in TCNJ Art Gallery Musical performance by Moon Hooch 6:30-8:00PM in the courtyard behind AIMM The exhibition includes artwork by faculty members Anita Allyn, Josh Brilliant, Chung Chak, Dickie Cox, Belinda Haikes, Kenneth Kaplowitz, Kyle LoPinto, Elizabeth Mackie, William Nyman, Jordan Rathus, Philip Sanders, Marcia Taylor, Liselot van der Heijden, and Mauro Zamora.
TCNJ Art Gallery
2000 Pennington Road Ewing, NJ 08628 609-771-2633
Gallery Hours Mauro Zamora, Guerilla Tactics, 2015 Acrylic, ink and ink-jet print on Photo-Tex on canvas
Tues, Wed, & Thurs 12:00-7:00PM Sun 1:00-3:00PM
August 26 , 2015 The Signal page 7
Editorial
Marriage equality just a step toward a more fair society for everyone
History was made earlier this summer when the Supreme Court ruled to make same-sex marriage the law of the land. This groundbreaking decision allows millions of gay and lesbian Americans to openly express their love. It also marks a turning point in the acceptance of gay and lesbian individuals in America. Such a ruling would not have been possible 10 years prior. Today, most Americans have come to accept and embrace difference. The fear of being outed and consequentially ostracized for one’s sexuality is not as threatening as it once was. Support of the LGBTQ community following the Supreme Court decision was remarkable. The entire country rallied behind the gay marriage movement and came together to celebrate this human rights victory. Social media outlets such as Facebook and Snapchat rushed to stand by the decision and show their support. Facebook unveiled a new feature allowing users to overlay their profile picture with a rainbow, the iconic symbol of the gay community. Snapchat similarly added a variety of filters celebrating the day. Gay marriage pride even extended as far as Capitol Hill, where the White House was aglow in rainbow colors on Friday, June 26, the eve of the Supreme Court decision. Fast forward a few months and most Facebook users have changed their profile pictures back and the coverage of LGBTQ rights seems to have died down. Marriage equality has been the most visible social justice cause within the LGBTQ community in recent years. While the legalization of gay marriage is certainly a cause for celebration, it is important to note that the fight for equal rights is far from over. Acceptance of gay and lesbian individuals may be at an all-time high, but there other members of the LGBTQ community who are continuously excluded and belittled within our society, such as intersex, bisexual and, particularly, transgender individuals. Members of the transgender community struggle for basic human rights here in America. In many states, they are unable to use the bathroom aligning with their gender identity. Exposure as a trans individual can also put one’s job at risk as transphobia pervades American society. In addition, transgender people are frequently denied housing. Such blatant discrimination is unjustified and should not be tolerated today. The next step for LGBTQ activism must be to address these issues. The legalization of same-sex marriage demonstrates that change is possible and the tide for equal rights is turning in our favor. We must remember this as we continue to strive for a better world. Marriage equality is the first of many steps towards a more just society for everyone. We must ensure that the fight for equal rights does not end here. The harsh reality is that there is still a lot of work to be done. Those who rallied for gay marriage will hopefully join other campaigns for LGBTQ rights. — Elise Schoening Review 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 and Sports editors and the Business Manager, 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.
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‘We must ensure that the fight for equal rights does not end here. The harsh reality is that there is still a lot of work to be done,’ Elise Schoening writes.
Quote of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Business Office (609) 771-2499 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu
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Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Gabrielle Beacken Nation & World Editor beackeg1@tcnj.edu Elise Schoening Review Editor schoene1@tcnj.edu Jackie Delaney Production Manager delanej2@tcnj.edu Alyssa Sanford Web Editor sanfora1@tcnj.edu Olivia Rizzo Kelly Corbett Social Media Editors rizzoo1@tcnj.edu corbetk2@tcnj.edu
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“I think Campus Town will bring a tiny bit of much-needed city life to TCNJ, regardless of how small that city is.“
— Michael D’Angelo, junior communications major
“I know that (Pat Donohue) would want you to leave here, have a beer and look forward to the rest of your wonderful lives.” — Jimmy Donohue at his older brother, Pat’s, funeral
“It’s like I always tell visiting prospective students: if a school doesn’t have an ugly green construction fence somewhere on campus, that’s actually a bad thing. It means they’re not investing their resources into bettering the facilities, and thus experiences, for its students.” — Lindsay Barndt, chair of the TCNJ Orientation Committee
page 8 The Signal August 26, 2015
Opinions
Students share opinions around campus Should interns get paid? Is studying better abroad?
“I want to study abroad because I’d like to enjoy their culture and you can immerse yourself in their language. America doesn’t really have a culture or a good history to lean back on.”
“I think that it undervalues our skill set to not pay us for doing a job well. I think it’s a modern way to take advantage of students. I heard horror stories of people filing papers and not getting paid.”
Chelsea LoCascio / Opinions Editor
Chelsea LoCascio / Opinions Editor
Alex Cretella, freshman computer science major.
Annie Elfers, junior sociology major.
“I think it depends on the type of internship. There doesn’t have to be a monetary award, especially if it’s in your chosen field. I shadowed a dentist and it was a once in a lifetime experience. Just be cognizant of what internship you pick. Any work is easier when you’re passionate about it.”
“To have a home campus and experience something totally different … that would affect you. I have doubts about (studying abroad) being cheaper. It seems pretty equal to TCNJ tuition.”
Chelsea LoCascio / Opinions Editor
Julia Lester, junior psychology major.
Chelsea LoCascio / Opinions Editor
Kelly Adair, sophomore biology major.
The Signal asks ... What would happen if Donald Trump were elected president?
Kelly: “I don’t know if we’d get any progressive changes, but he would structure us better. I don’t think we’d advance. We just had the gay marriage laws pass and I don’t think he would have gone for that. We wouldn’t advance in equality.” Julia: “I would leave the country. It makes me so mad that (he’s running). We’re such a joke to other countries.” Alex: “I think it’s horrifying he’s leading the republican candidacy. He likes causing drama … he’s a funny guy, but he says racist things. He’d go back to subjugation of the minority. We haven’t improved much, but he’d set us back by benefiting white people.” Annie: “I would throw up.”
Trump builds a Mexican border with his elusive hair.
Illustration Courtesy of Raphaëlle Gamanho
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 9
Experience is worth more than money Interns’ funds shrink while gaining valued skills By Kelly Corbett Social Media Editor During one of my early morning commutes to my unpaid summer internship, I squeezed through the rush of New Yorkers and found myself asking, “Is this really worth it?” I had already been on a bus for over an hour and the clock had not yet struck 9 a.m. I still had a 15-block trek from Port Authority to my office building and I couldn’t bear the thought of losing more money on much-needed coffee as I passed at least three Starbucks and two Dunkin Donuts. I realized then how heavy my bag was with my packed lunch and old bus tickets — which now outnumbered the dollars in my wallet — as I mentally prepared myself for an eight-hour workday inside a cubicle. Although the night before I brainstormed ideas to pitch at a meeting, re-worked my article until I was content and read up on some old issues, I reminded myself that I’ll walk out of my Park Avenue office building after work today zero dollars richer and two bus tickets poorer. My internship at Working Mother magazine in the city did not include a travel stipend. Although some argue that was quite silly of me because of my depleting bank account, I disagree. Unpaid internships can be worth it, and this one exceeded my expectations. While I was not paid in cash, I was paid in experience. I learned skills that I was not taught in my journalism courses at the College. I learned what it was like to actually work in the magazine industry. I was able to pitch ideas, write articles and
attend events. While I can read a textbook about being a journalist in class, this summer I actually was one — even if it was at my own expense. An added bonus was that I was showered in freebies since any newbie company wanting exposure will send stuff to magazines for publicity. I was given free books, food and other little tidbits as the companies strived to make their way onto our pages. I was even invited to attend events, such as holiday showcases, where professionals treated me, the 19-year-old unpaid intern, as if I was the editor-in-chief. Besides the free goodies, I took this internship for a reason. I started the summer being a magazine reader, but not a magazine writer. In the course of two months, I adapted to writing magazine pieces, added more clips to my writing portfolio and made connections with esteemed writers who trooped their way up the magazine food chain, just like I hope to do one day. I learned what it’s like to work for a magazine and what it’s like to sit in on a meeting and pitch ideas. I also used a content management system other than WordPress, and I’m now able to upload my own articles. I learned what it’s like to be on deadline and to be in a writer’s block slump. I was even given an editorial calendar to follow for the month. All of this made me feel like I was a part of the team. While I could have taken internships that were closer and cost less in travel, would it have been something I liked as much as interning for Working Mother? I constantly see internship opportunities in Trenton, which is convenient during the
Commuting and losing money is worth the invaluable experience. semester, but I don’t want to write their typical hard news stories or press releases. Even if it’s paid, I don’t want to type all of this technical nonsense because that’s just not me. I observed all the other workers in the office and saw their daily tasks and, while they have a demanding workload, I realized I want that workload. One day, I want to be that full-time New York magazine writer. Though I’m not getting paid now, one day I will be. Bottom line is, I woke up in the morning excited to go to my internship for the low wage of unpaid, the hectic commute and the morning scramble to get to the office on time. That’s when I knew it was worth it. Sometimes you have to sacrifice to get what you want and I’m glad to say I left
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with new writing skills, clips and a good idea of what the professional working world is like. A paycheck would have been nice, but definitely not necessary. You have the rest of your life to make money. If you really like the opportunity, make changes, bring your lunch, be frugal and don’t pass up learning experiences just because they aren’t followed by a paycheck. Unpaid internships are worth it if it’s something you love to do — not just something you’re doing to plaster on your resume. As long as the commute is reasonable and the travel expenses are low, why not take it? I began my journey as a journalist this summer and I loved it. When will your journey begin?
Life outside of US superior to life within
AP Photo
UK maintains land by valuing environment. By Chelsea LoCascio Opinions Editor
America claims to be the land of the free. While I respect the country I grew up in, my perception of America changed when I flew back across the pond after studying in Scotland this summer. Instead of free, I could only see it as the land of crippling student loan debt, slow deaths from consuming genetically modified food, stifled student life and superfluous waste desecrating the environment. Though I didn’t miss the haggis, I pined for Scotland more than ever when I paid a large chunk of change for this semester even after I received student loans. Fortunately, tuition is free
for Scottish natives and when I told a few locals how much I pay for my own education, they laughed at what they thought was a joke. Of course, their free tuition does not include the cost of living, but there are only a few outside expenses, such as textbooks, food and public transportation. Of these, food is the biggest expense for a U.K. student since they would have to go shopping weekly. Lucky for them, and unlucky for us, the U.K. and the rest of Europe use far less preservatives and hormones in their food. For example, hormones like rBGH and rBST are found in Monsanto’s GMOs, approved by the FDA and have connections to breast and prostate cancer, thyroid disease, diabetes, obesity, infertility, asthma, allergies and early puberty, according to seattleorganicrestaurants.com. Consequently, food outside the U.S. expires at a quicker rate, which would irritate the average American, but I would gladly pay a few extra bucks a week to not be slowly poisoned by my food. Like Americans, the Scots love eating, but certainly not as much as drinking. On my first day there, my program director handed me, a 19-year-old, a glass of wine and toasted the new students’ arrival. Americans are so uptight about alcohol consumption that it has become a taboo topic in which professors and parents alike try to ignore and pretend it doesn’t happen. Yet in Europe, they embrace alcohol in moderation as a huge part of their culture. The lowered drinking age throughout Europe is actually a lot safer, according to Laurence Steinberg, a psychology professor at Temple University who studies adolescent brain development. In a New York Times debate, Steinberg argues
that though drinking does impair brain development, no one can stop teens from illegally consuming alcohol. Steinberg said that because American colleges have a split population of illegal and legal students, it makes it easy for underage drinking to occur. Even though Scottish students depend heavily on public transportation, Steinberg also said that places with driving and drinking ages both at 18 have safer roads than the USA. In addition to understanding the realities of college life, the Scots are aware of the importance of protecting and maintaining the environment. Any traveler can tell how much the U.K. cares when they see the verdant hills, exotic flowers and lack of excessive man-made eyesores. How do they protect their land? Through simple acts such as paying for every plastic bag or minimizing toilet paper waste by allotting just one paper square each time you pull on the roll. They also clearly label what can and cannot be recycled — which would be a major aid to the College as I’ve seen students try to “recycle” shoes, bedsheets and even loaves of bread. I’ve determined that the rest of the world is so mindful of not only others, but also the planet, because they do not have this capitalist “I’m going to be the best and couldn’t care less about how I get there or anyone in my way” mentality that many Americans have. As a country, we are setting up society to fail as we rob students of funds post-graduation, pump everyone full of chemicals, ignore and consequently exacerbate underage drinking and single-handedly destroy the planet that gives us life. Land of the unfree and ignorant, I would argue. I’d take haggis over a hamburger any day just to live where the country acts in the best interest of its people, not its wallet.
Policies The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via e-mail to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 300 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or e-mail us at signal@tcnj.edu.
page 10 The Signal August 26, 2015
Interested in studying abroad? STUDY ABROAD FAIR WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9 11 am - 2 pm ALUMNI GROVE (rain location: SOCIAL SCIENCES ATRIUM)
Sponsored by: The Center of Global Engagement
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 11
Features
Smartphone app provides instant help
By Kelly Corbett Social Media Editor
Who do you confide in when your mind is heavy with fears, problems and emotions? You’re a college student with a couple bucks in your pocket, not nearly enough to shell out on therapy — and the real world doesn’t accept dining hall points. You’re frightened to tell your friends that you’re struggling and your family is so far away. It’s 3 a.m. and you’re skipping the shut eye as your mind races with thoughts and you rock back and forth in your extra-long, twin-sized, pieceof-rock bed. You need to talk to someone, but you’re confined to this campus. There are mentors and support groups on campus, as well as CAPS. There is help, but you’re still scared and you don’t want to watch the clock tick until morning. Everything is dark in your dorm and in your mind and the only light you have is your glowing LED screen and your laptop — and fortunately, that’s all you need in this tech-inclined world. Help is waiting for you on the same device that you send Snapchats from and dominate Candy Crush on. Best of yet, it’s free and it’s 24-7. 7 Cups of Tea “is an online emotional support service” providing live emotional support and self-help guides where anyone in need can log onto and connect “with individuals from all walks of life who want to provide compassionate care,” according to the website. All listeners on the site
Jessica Ganga / Features Editor
The app provides instant emotional support for those who need it.
have completed an online course, created a listener profile and “Take an oath to keep everything private and anonymous,” said Tara O’Reilly, a campus leader of the app and senior clinical psychology major at the College. “A lot of students use 7 Cups of Tea to vent about the stresses of college life: academics, sororities/fraternities, athletics, dating/the hook-up scene, etc.,” O’Reilly said. As college students struggle with heavy book bags, a cruel workload and the drama pounding down on them of trying to figure out their life and who they are as a person — this smartphone app and website combo is a new resource that many people believe others should be made aware of.
“There are many students that are too afraid to seek help from CAPS or admit they are struggling to anyone,” O’Reilly said. “7 Cups of Tea allows that terrified student to seek help in an environment that they feel most comfortable, whether that be his or her bed, the library, the lib caf, or anywhere with internet connection.” 7 Cups of Tea was made available in the app store in the summer of 2013 by Glen Moriarty. One day at his kitchen table, as he confided to his wife, a licensed counselor, about an issue he was having, he realized the luxury of having someone to talk to all the time and wanted others to share the same opportunity. The app’s name was inspired by a Chinese poem and suggests that each cup of tea
provides a different level of healing. Furthermore, it’s significant that 7 Cups of Tea is a place where users can visit often and sip on several cups of tea with a friend, returning for more whenever their cup is empty. According to O’Reilly, the site helps approximately 18,000 people a day, and a chat can range from 15 minutes to several hours depending on how much support a user needs. O’Reilly, also a certified listener on the site, reveals, “as a listener, I don’t know the age, gender, ethnicity, location or anything about the people that I talk to unless they choose to tell me.” Users on the site are not required to reveal anything they don’t want to — they are able to dish out as little or as much information they want to the listener. “Everything is confidential and all communication is automatically deleted as the conversation goes on,” O’Reilly said. The site also allows users to track their growth, join chatrooms, read self-help guides (maybe if they’re not in a sharing mood) and request their favorite listeners. While college students battle with their emotions, not just on the College’s campus, but in all universities and schools, this app is a handy tool for those who need instant relief. Whether you’re struggling with a huge crisis or just a small day-to-day issue, log on, sit down and relax. You’re tea is on it’s way. You’re going to be OK!
‘Paramnesia’ takes home award in Hollywood
Photo courtesy of Josh Lewkowicz
Students attend the award ceremony in Hollywood.
By Gabrielle Beacken Nation & World Editor
As a kid he believed in the art of magic. Discovering the elements that made magic so spectacular led him to pursue a path of wonder and storytelling. Class of 2015 interactive multimedia major Josh Lewkowicz always wanted to know what was happening behind the scenes. Now, as a pursuant cinematographer, Lewkowicz knows what it’s like to have the backstage pass. But this is a different kind of magic — this is movie-making magic. Lewkowicz, along with his film teammates Chris Lundy, Andrew Kuserk and Ryan Laux, received high praise and earned the “Best Special Effects” award for their five-minute short, “Paramnesia,” at Campus MovieFest (CMF) 2015 on Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, 12 this past summer in Hollywood, Calif. “If a machine was intelligent enough to believe it was human, would we be morally obligated to treat it as a human?” asked Laux, “Paramnesia’s” 2D and 3D visual
effects artist and editor, a junior interactive multimedia major. “(‘Paramnesia’) raises the question of the fine line between being human and being a machine.” The film’s protagonist, Alex, takes a test to establish the difference between a human and artificial intelligence. Throughout the short, Alex makes shocking revelations about himself, and viewers are able to catch a glimpse of a possible “disturbing reality,” Laux said. “Reality and life as we know it is a matter of perspective. How does one know the extent of reality,” posed the film’s composer, sound designer and writer, Lundy, a junior interactive multimedia major. “The thing everyone should take away from ‘Paramnesia’ is that there is a fragile, almost nonexistent line between artificial and human experience from the point of view of the individual.” “Paramnesia” offers thoughtprovoking questions, while delving into a futuristic world where psychology, humanity and technology converge — the entire film was created in just seven days. With a script finalized only four days before the
deadline, the team shot the fiveminute film in one day and edited for three, according to Laux. To successfully submit a piece to CMF, all filmmaking, besides preproduction, must occur in one week. Pre-production endeavors, such as writing scripts, casting actors and finding locations are allowed. “In our usual fashion, we submitted the film about 10 minutes before it was due,” said Lewkowicz, who served as the film’s cinematographer, editor, colorist and gaffer. Most of the editing done is to try to make the special effects look realistic as possible, according to senior interactive multimedia major Kuserk, who was the 3D visual effects artist and heavy-shots coordinator. “In a week… I’ll only get three hours of sleep a day,” Kuserk said about the production week for CMF. “It’s never an easy task.” In last year’s successful CMF film, “Iris,” the team featured a grand 3D concept that appeared for over half of the film. This year, the team decided to take their piece in a subtle visual effects direction. “We went for a much more compelling story and cinematic piece that would really pull in the viewer’s attention, and in the end, I think that is what we achieved with ‘Paramnesia,’” Kuserk said. “Likewise, with the viewers’ attention being drawn in by the story, cinematic feel and amazing sound design this had left them wide open for the final visual effects shot in the film to really finish out strong.” Travelling to Hollywood together, the team enjoyed a week
of workshops, Q&A sessions, screenings and a red carpet finale. Adobe, RED Digital and Panasonic representatives attended the week-long event, as well. Guest speakers, such as actor Elijah Kelley and cinematographer Michael Goi, offered “cool and insightful” lectures, Lewkowicz said. From each school competing, the top four films are able to see their short on the silver screen in AMC Theatres in Universal City Walk. Creators of the film then participate on a panel where they answer questions about their film. Students from all over the country had the opportunity to talk and connect with one another. “Meeting and talking to these people was a valuable experience,” Lundy said. “I learned much from them not only about the industry but where my passion lies and how I can apply it to my career down the road.” The red carpet finale — held on the last day — took place at the Universal Globe Theatre. Here, the top five films in the country nominated
for Best Picture are screened. The nominees aren’t revealed until the ceremony the last night. “We all lost it when our film started playing — and it was the last one announced so it was extra exciting,” Lewkowicz said. “Two years ago I would have never imagined that my work would be displayed on a national stage,” Laux said. “I am beyond fortunate to have met and worked with such talented people… I know the friendships I have formed will last me a lifetime.” Classwork and club commitments were put on pause for their week of production. Ewing was just a small town back home during their time in big-town Hollywood. “For a week, a bunch of my best friends and I drop everything and make a movie and have the time of our lives… nothing gets in the way,” Lewkowicz said. “For me, I’ve been able to produce work I’m genuinely proud of, have some incredible life experiences and make some of my best friends. No class can teach you that. ”
Photo courtesy of Josh Lewkowicz
The cast and crew of ‘Parmnesia’ celebrate their success.
page 12 The Signal August 26, 2015
: Sept. ‘99
Campus Style
Campus construction
Jessica Ganga / Features Editor
Sutcliffe reports on some changes as students return to school. By Jessica Ganga Features Editor As the College undergoes renovations to the Brower Student Center and construction to a new STEM Building, it is hard to think back to a time that there weren’t people with hard hats walking around. According to Mairin Sutcliffe in the Sept. 7, 1999, issue of The Signal, the students were welcomed back with similar construction. Bliss Hall was undergoing some renovations and Bray Hall was demolished and the Business Building and Biology Building were brand new to campus. Students returning to the College should expect to see some new faces — on the academic buildings. According to Greg Bressler, associate vice president of Facilities Management and Planning, every academic building will be newly built or newly renovated by the 20042005 academic year, in time for the college’s 150th anniversary. Construction projects in the works this fall include the new School of Business Building, the new Biology Building, the demolition of Bray Hall and renovations to Bliss Hall. The school of Business Building, scheduled for completion two weeks ago, should be finished within the month, according to Bressler. Construction projects on the building’s exterior include birchwork, the
installation of windows and the completion of sidewalk extensions surrounding the building. Inside, workers are still installing sheet rock, ceiling tiles and carpeting before the building is ready for academic use, Bressler said. By October, he anticipates that students and faculty will be able to move into the new offices and classrooms. Bliss Hall has undergone renovations over the summer in order to house the humanities departments: philosophy and religion, English, modern languages and women’s and gender studies. According to Bressler, only “punch list,” or small construction projects, remain. Within a few days, more fences should begin to go up around Bray Hall, Bressler said. The demolition is expected to take approximately a month and a half. The demolition will be primarily contained in an “island construction site,” to leave the surrounding area as unobstructed as possible. The area immediately surrounding Bray Hall will be fenced off, as well as a triangular area between the student center and the main sidewalk leading to Loser Hall. Sidewalks will be blocked only temporarily while construction vehicles pass between the two fenced-in areas, Bressler said. Once demolished, construction will begin on a new social sciences building, which will stand just south of its predecessor, closer to
Photo courtesy of Jordan Koziol
A pair of old shoes can bring back countless memories. By Jordan Koziol Columnist As summer comes to a close, I find myself in that awkward August limbo — bittersweet nostalgia meets unbridled excitement for a new semester. But nothing says “back-to-school” like that impending to-do list. My mental state goes from zen summer bliss to the inevitable monologue: “Really need to order my textbooks, definitely will do that tonight (LOL) … should I get Eick points or will my brother trade me meal equivs for rides to Chipotle? Crap! I really can’t keep cancelling my dentist appointment.” Then, of course, came the annual closet audit that revealed my beat-up Converse desperately need to be replaced. As I surveyed the stains, the rip near the sole and the graying-laces, I was reminded that these shoes bore witness to countless adventures. The wear and tear was a collective token of one of my favorite years yet. the Brower Student Center. Upon completion in the summer of 2001, the New Bray Hall will house the political science, history and psychology departments, Bressler said. According to Bressler, construction on the
The grass stain is like a medal for hiking the military bunkers in Barcelona. Sludge from a frat basement. Sand ingrained from Manasota Key to Manasquan. They remind me of the dog that my friend Allie met at the Eiffel Tower while she wore these shoes. The gross gray tinge from an accidental plunge in the Barnegat Bay. Countless hours spent in my car, on a plane, making plans, laughing with little abandon. These trusty shoes have been with me as I studied abroad, experienced my first 21-year-old summer and, consequently, gained the funniest stories ever. I realized that campus style isn’t necessarily about the latest trend or the perfect first-day-of-class outfit. It’s wearing exactly what you want: the comfy zip-up, the lived-in jeans, the shoes that become your expressive self portrait. So this fall, don’t shed all your layers in your new back-to-school wardrobe because those old pieces in your closet inevitably tell the best stories. new Biology Building is running on schedule, projected to finish in June 2000. Workers are close to completing the brickwork, he said. Although the classrooms are in place, the building requires extensive ventilating systems and piping, Bressler said.
:Summer of bad blood
Drake ends up in Twitter feud with Meek Mills.
By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Sports Editor
Unlike regular people, the summer for celebrities is filled with Instagram posts featuring yachts, skimpy bikinis and beaches my eyes will never see. Summer 2k15 was the summer of feuds, the end of love itself, but mostly Taylor Swift. Drake and Meek Mills proved that baggage never really leaves you. The feud went down after a tweet that read: “Stop comparing Drake to me too ... He don’t write his own raps!” After Rick
AP Photo
Ross, OG Maco and Lupe Fiasco chimed in, the ball was in Drake’s court. Drake couldn’t produce a total slam dunk, but he definitely could hear a “swoosh” in the net as he released “Charged Up” — a diss aimed at Meek. Although Meek called the song “baby lotion soft,” he didn’t realize Drake was about to land a half-court shot. Drake dropped “Back to Back Freestyle” calling Meek out by borrowing a line from Meek’s girlfriend, Nicki Minaj, “Is that a world tour or your girl’s tour?” The feud ended with Meek’s
much weaker “Wanna Know.” In this round of Celebritease Family Feud, the win goes to Drake. In the next round of Celebritease Family Feud we have Taylor Swift in one corner and Nicki Minaj in the other. When the MTV Music Video Awards committee omitted Nicki’s “Anaconda” music video as a contender for Video of the Year, she took to Twitter to express her anguish. In a series of tweets, she called out MTV’s lack of diversity in their nominations. Taylor took these tweets as personal jabs and responded to the rapper in defense of her music and her take on feminism. But in a turn of events the media did what the media does best and threw a sandstorm at the two to make a misinterpreted conversation the feud to end all feuds. Thankfully, the two leading ladies were able to resolve the bad blood in private. As the tension cooled between friendly celebrities, love across all of Hollywood froze over. When the ring fell off
Perrie Edwards’s finger and her engagement to Zayn Malik was called off, the world should have seen the inevitable coming: love is dead. Next up, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Ross divorced after 13 years of marriage. The country world was no stranger to loss as Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton broke off their four-year marriage. But in the most heartbreaking of stories, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have left me breathless. I will never be able to watch “Pearl Harbor” again. Just their mere presence
near each other will send my heart into a million pieces. Rumor has it Affleck couldn’t stay faithful to one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood and, allegedly, his latest affair was with none other than their childrens’ much younger nanny, Christine Ouzounian. Affleck had always had a serious reputation of being a playboy with his cohorts including Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. The only thing getting me through such a sad summer is Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift’s romantic summer of swans and cat sitting.
AP Photo
Garner’s and Affleck’s marriage crumbles over the summer.
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 13
She’s the First founder inspires young leaders
By Jessica Ganga Features Editor
It all started with a simple video uploaded to YouTube. The College alum, Tammy Tibbetts, launched a fundraising campaign in 2009 with some friends in the hope to raise awareness on girls’ education. Flash forward six years and She’s the First (STF), the nonprofit organization started by Tibbetts, has helped hundreds of girls around the world be the first in their family to receive a secondary education along with inspiring these young women to be future leaders. Tibbetts’s story begins on this campus where she was a journalism major. She said her first entrepreneurial experience was starting the College’s chapter of ED2010, a magazine club. “My dream at the time was to break into the magazine industry, and I saw that the way to do it would be building a network and camaraderie among other students who shared that dream,” Tibbetts said. Tibbetts’s dream would come true during the beginning of STF, where she worked as the very first social media editor for Seventeen.com During her time at the College, Tibbetts found inspiration in College alum Leigh Belz, who at the time worked for Elle magazine. Tibbetts “snail mailed” Belz a letter and was surprised when the editor wrote back. “I remember being so blown away that a magazine editor in NYC actually responded to me,”
Tibetts said. Tibbetts would later become someone else’s inspiration through her work and leadership with STF. Carissa O’Larte, a senior elementary education and mathematics major, is the president of the College’s STF chapter, She’s the First*{TCNJ}. She joined the club as a sophomore during the annual activities fair held in the fall. Overwhelmed by all of the tables stacked with information pamphlets and free candy, O’Larte said she had just happened to pass by the STF table and quickly grabbed a sheet of paper, not realizing at the time that that piece of paper would one day allow her to be a leader. O’Larte first met Tibbetts at the She’s the First Summit in New York City and has gotten other chances to speak to her, each time being reminded how “caring and down-to-earth she is.” “She is very involved with the campus chapters of She’s the First and she makes sure that we are all connected, whether it’s through Facebook, Twitter or in person at the She’s the First Summit or campus events,” O’Larte said. STF does a lot on campus to bring attention to the mission of the global organization, and this year, O’Larte says that they want to make their presence even more well-known. Along with their annual, signature tie-dye cupcake sales, the club will be having a #SweatsforSTF fitness campaign. O’Larte said that the organization would like to increase involvement outside of the campus by partnering with after school programs or
scout troops. On a larger scale, Tibbetts was excited to bring up #BakeAChange, the organization’s fifth annual TieDye Cupcake Bake-Off campaign. Students can help out the campus chapter by purchasing a cupcake during the annual bake sell on Sunday, Oct. 11. STF is also helping lead the way in achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, the main focus being high-quality education. According to the 2014 She’s the First Annual Report, at the United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in September 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals will be approved, with the key goal being gender equality and female empowerment. Though STF is helping girls all over the world, the organization is also helping the girls involved with making others dreams come true. “Being a part of this organization has had a huge effect on my life,” O’Larte said. “I am in a leadership role that I was once too timid to take on and have learned a lot by working with the She’s the First leaders who have come before me.” Tibbetts is one of those leaders who, O’Larte says, she has learned a lot from. “I have gained leadership skills through my participation in She’s the First that I would never have gained otherwise,” O’Larte said. “Just by watching Tammy and listening to her speak, I have gained confidence and learned that even a very shy person like me can be a leader and make a difference.” Once voted “Most Shy” by her
Fun Stuff
Photo courtesy of Kate Lord
Tibbetts speaks at She’s the First Leadership Summit.
senior class, Tibbetts would go on to prove that anyone, no matter how shy or timid, can have a voice and shed light on an issue they feel strongly about. Tibbetts voice has definitely been heard. In 2014 she was named one of Marie Claire’s “20 Women Who Are Changing Your World,” along with being named on other lists in various magazines such as Time and Glamour. “I’m always honored to be recognized in places where the visibility of She’s the First will be raised and our mission will receive more credibility.” Tibetts said. “I do hope people realize I’m representing She’s the First — and those awards should not be seen as a solo spotlight. Each and every one reflects the hard work and dedication of so many volunteers, teammates, and students.” That hard work is reflected through O’Larte’s work on campus and in the end it all pays off. “It’s cool to think that $400 is equivalent to a year’s worth of education.” O’Larte said. “This $400
will change a girl’s life, change her family’s life and in turn, change a whole community.” STF is an organization that is not only meant to inspire the young girls they help, but also the people involved. There are 86 campus chapters, according to the 2014 She’s the First Annual Report, and that number is only growing. The chapters on campus allow students, like O’Larte, have a chance to make a difference in a girl’s life, something Tibbetts wants people to be aware of. “I would like the reader to know, if they took the time to pick up The Signal and read this article, then it is their signal — literally — to DO something. Take one action. Follow She’s the First on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook. Go to our website and sign up for the newsletter. Show up for a She’s the First chapter meeting at TCNJ. Take one action to support, in any small or medium or big way, a girl having a chance to graduate from high school, just as you have. I promise you it adds up. It matters.”
Back to School! Solve these riddles! What can travel around the world while staying in a corner? Answer: A stamp!
What is the longest word in the dictionary? Answer: Smiles, because there is a mile between each ‘s!’
page 14 The Signal August 26, 2015
WED 09.02.15 DOORS 6:00PM SHOW 6:30PM FREE ADMISSION
Courtyard Behind AIMM Building In conjunction with
FLUCTUATIONS: TCNJ
Art Faculty Exhibit 2015
Opening reception: Sept 2 / 5:00 - 7:00PM
TCNJ Art GallerY
Rain Location: Black Box Theater in Kendall Hall
The School of the Arts and Communication
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August 26, 2015 The Signal page 15
Arts & Entertainment
An inside look at The Mixed Signals
The College’s comedy troupe bursts with energy
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Edmondson
Left: The troupe utilizes physical comedy and wacky characters to make the audience laugh. Right: Steuerer and Munoz share a scene. By Jonathan Edmondson Staff Writer One day last spring, The Signal went were many people can only dream of — inside a Mixed Signals rehearsal. The College’s premier improv troupe, The Mixed Signals, rehearses twice a week in a Kendall Hall classroom. They play games, they practice, they talk about their feelings and most importantly, they laugh. A lot. In fact, conducting an interview with the troupe is near impossible — there are countless jokes and laughter breaks. While one tells a story, another interjects with a funny anecdote. Their chemistry is, as expected, unrivaled. There is a natural rhythm to the way the members interact, and each of them has their distinctive role in the troupe. Steven Munoz, a senior English and secondary education double major, is the fearlessly humorous leader. As president, Munoz runs rehearsals and leads each performance. He’s supported by his
trusty sidekick and Vice President Rachel Friedman, a senior history and secondary education double major, whose laughter is contagious. They are both quickwitted and deftly skilled in the art of improv, having been in the troupe since their freshman year. Then there’s Beau Aranosian, a junior interactive multimedia major, who commands scenes with his quirky characters and well-timed jokes. Matthew Steuerer and Max Calsetta offer up a large serving of sass and humorous physicality. Nolan DeVoe, Ian Cooley, Emma Young and Emily Mullin joined the troupe last year and have quickly become favorites among audience members thanks to their contagious energy. “When I saw my first Mixed Signals show I thought, ‘Wow, they’re so cool. Maybe I could be that cool one day, too,’” Friedman said. Almost every member agrees that they were enthralled by the troupe on first glance. The instant attraction is understandable
— The Mixed Signals have a lot of fun, and on top of that, they are really good at what they do. “I was a huge, mega-fan,” Mullin said. “I wanted to audition because I thought it would be like going to a show every practice, and I was happily surprised to find out that was the case.” The audition process, as described to The Signal, is “long and tiring.” After an initial audition in front of the whole troupe, some auditionees are invited back for a second day that spans many hours and includes various activities to test both solo and group dynamics. “We need to not only see how funny you can be on the spot, but we need to see how well you can work with other people,” Munoz said. “It’s really hard because there are people who come in and who are intensely funny and just don’t work well with us and our aesthetic.” As many members of the troupe pointed out, improv is a distinct comedy form that takes a certain innate skill. Therefore, starting a troupe and finding
the right chemistry is no easy task. In 1996, All College Theater held a Monologue and Paired Scene competition and was looking for acts to fill the void while judges picked the winners. Matt Chiappardi and Lyndsay (Schaeffer) Korbylo submitted a proposal for an improv troupe, and they were accepted. The duo held auditions to find more members, and the act was such a success that they decided to continue. Now approaching their 20th year as a troupe, The Mixed Signals are looking forward to adding new members to their group. They will hold auditions in October and encourage everyone to go, whether they have a background in improv or not. During the course of the interview with The Mixed Signals, there were many questions, but none more important than this: How would you describe your experience with the troupe thus far? The responses sum up the troupe’s unprecedented dynamic pretty well: “Damp. Growth. Dream. Leap. Opportunity. Cult. Inspiring. Joy. Wild.”
Prof. Haikes joins the College’s graphic designers
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
Haikes will teach typography and web production. By Lily Kalczewski Staff Writer Harboring an impressive past, Belinda Haikes joins the College as the assistant professor of visual arts, where her
courses are primarily based on design, web and graphics. She will be teaching Typography as well as an introductory course on web production. Born in South Africa, raised in Canada and now residing in
Philadelphia, Haikes can be referred to as a modern day renaissance woman. She has interests ranging from art, designing, writing, gardening and teaching. Not only has she lived in a variety of places, but she has also been featured in a variety of exhibitions. Notably, she won third place in Radius 250 in 2013. She was also named a Digital Graffiti Award Finalist in 2012. Haikes earned her Ph.D. in media, art and text from Virginia Commonwealth University and an M.F.A. from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Before coming to the College, she was an assistant professor of interactive design at West Chester University. “I love the approach to teaching that TCNJ uses,” Haikes said. “It’s student-focused, and it’s a campus where students and faculty help each other to
learn new knowledge.” She added that she also appreciates how the College views its students holistically — the students are listened to and their interests are embraced, she said. As for her expectations as a professor, she hopes to instill both a “passion for learning and a passion for design” in her students. Haikes wants her students to realize that it’s an exciting time to be a designer and that there are many possibilities for them to pursue. Additionally, Haikes values the importance of collaboration and wants her students to expand their ideas in class to outside experiences. Haikes hopes they will take advantage of all their resources. “There are opportunities for real world learning and opportunity to work on large projects,” she said.
Haikes is currently designing an app with a digital humanities scientist, where they are mapping out Philadelphia to show residents nearby places that they can successfully harvest plants, fruits and vegetables. The app can also identify potentially harmful spots, which, for example, could reduce the risk of children in the area getting lead poisoning. There are over 100 people involved with the project so far, however, Haikes plans to extend an invitation to her students. It will allow her students to transfer what they learn in class to real world projects, as well as being a step towards doing good in the world. This year, Haikes is eager to further her teaching career at the College while continuing to try and make a difference, one student or project at a time.
page 16 The Signal August 26, 2015
Large Pie, wings, and a liter of Pepsi
2 Large Pie special
$17.95
$16.95
609-434-1188
609-434-1188
Welcome back! Mamma Flora’s is great for the beginning of the semester! We do fundraisers for organizations!
All coupons expire at the end of September!
ALWAYS BRING YOUR MEDICAL INSURANCE CARD AND PRESCRIPTION INSURANCE CARD TO ANY MEDICAL APPOINTMENT
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 17
Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa hit the open road The Boys of Zummer tour takes on Hershey
AP Photo
The band plays a mix of new and old material for its sold out show. By Jessica Ganga Features Editor
It was a night mixed with hip-hop, punk rock and bad dancing (on my part) during the Boys of Zummer tour headlined by rapper Wiz Khalifa and rock band Fall Out Boy in Hershey, Pa., on Saturday, July 3. The Giant Center was packed and ready as Wiz took the stage to open the show with “Ass Drop” off his recent album, “Blacc Hollywood.” With the stage lit up in yellow, Wiz rapped his well-known hit, “Black and Yellow,” which had fans moving to the beat. “Let’s have some fun,” Wiz said before running off stage. As the crowd started to cheer, Wiz could be seen running out onto a mini stage, giving the people in the seats a chance to see him up close. Like a small tidal wave, fans in the pit ran toward Wiz as he began his performance of “Taylor Gang.” In true Wiz fashion, during his hit song “Young, Wild and Free,” large inflatable
joints were bounced throughout the pit as he had a real one on stage with him. The crowd went crazy as Fall Out Boy’s bassist, Pete Wentz, ran out and joined the rapper during Wiz’s song, “Stayin Out All Night.” Wentz had a huge smile on his face as Wiz rapped alongside him, clearly enjoying the moment along with the crowd. The lights dimmed as Wiz encored with his recent hit featuring Charlie Puth, “See You Again,” which is featured on the “Fast and Furious 7” soundtrack. The lyrics, “We’ve come along way from where we began / Oh I’ll tell you all about it when I see you again,” echoed throughout the stadium as images from the movie flashed on the big screen. It was a beautiful moment during the concert that still gives me chills. With a short break in between, it was finally time for the reason I had driven two and a half hours out into middle-ofnowhere Pennsylvania: Fall Out Boy. The band came out and opened with their 2005 hit “Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down.” Lead singer Patrick Stump did not start out singing, but instead let the
crowd belt out the lyrics. I screamed along to the chorus and was suddenly transported to my teenage years. Like Wiz, guitarist Joe Trohman, Stump and Wentz left the stage to sing acoustic versions of “Young Volcanoes” and “Immortals” on a smaller stage away from the pit. Throughout their performance, Wentz stopped and took a moment to talk to the crowd, at one point giving a shoutout to the brand new mountain lion cub in Hershey Park. What stood out the most, however, were the moments when Wentz connected with the crowd and offered words of encouragement for people going through rough times. “At some point, the storm clears for everybody and you realize you can fucking move mountains,” Wentz said, before the band played their recent hit, “Uma Thurman.” The crowd started to cheer as large, lighted “FOB” letters came down and reminded fans of their music video for
“Thnks Fr Th Mmrs.” Once again, the crowd sang along to the famous song. Wentz gave one last speech to the crowd, touching upon how special it is to be different. “Most of the status quo in this world kinda sucks and it’s kind of cool to be outside of that,” Wentz said. “If we weren’t considered outsiders, then we wouldn’t have ended up in this band on this stage.” The band ended the unforgettable night with the 2003 song, “Saturday,” where Wentz made his way to the front of the crowd to hold hands with some lucky fans, a tradition of his dating back to the early years of the band. It was an unforgettable night that had been seven years in the making for me. I left the stadium with barely a voice, sore cheeks from the neverending smiling and memories that I will never forget. Wentz was right when he said, “Hopefully these songs can be the bodyguards of your dreams.”
AP Photo
Wiz plays hits like ‘Black and Yellow’ and ‘Young, Wild and Free.’
Canadian post-rock band releases fifth album By Brandon Agalaba Staff Writer
“Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress” is the fifth album by the Canadian post-rock band Godspeed You! Black Emperor. After reforming in 2010, the band has been busy in the studio, releasing several LPs since. Godspeed You! Black Emperor formed in 1994 and are known for their instrumental compositions which include massive crescendos and philosophical spoken word interludes that create a powerful atmosphere. These aspects have led Godspeed You! Black Emperor to fame and praise within the post-rock — and “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress” continues this reputation. The band’s musicianship is consistently strong. Much of the album consists of lengthy songs that attempt to take the listener on immersive sonic adventures, and the instrumentation supports this goal quite well. Instrumentals vary from noisy and intense to calm and relaxed, and the band pulls this off in a way that feels very natural.
Many of the instruments are able to set the scene. For example, much of “Lamb’s Breath” consists of nothing more than a keyboard, but the way that it is played produces an undeniable mood. Other instruments, such as the drums and bass, back up the songs well and manage to contribute to what the album is trying to convey. All the songs on “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress” flow very well together. As in Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s
previous releases, the songs segue into each other and are meant to be listened to as a whole. The album accomplishes this feat by stringing the songs together in a way that unfolds a kind of aural story. This is demonstrated with how the droning keyboards of “Lamb’s Breath” leads to the indecipherable vocals and strange sound effects of “Asunder, Sweet” and guitars are slowly introduced to signify the new territory that the album explores. The songs do a good job of
creating a bigger overall picture, and they make the album into a cohesive whole that feels like a complete story. “Piss Clowns Are Trebled” is one of the best songs on the album, with its use of jagged, feedback-drenched, unrelenting guitars which lead into a climax of tremendous intensity. “Lamb’s Breath” is another highlight, as its minimalistic, droning treatment of keyboards shows how Godspeed You! Black Emperor still has a knack for expressing vivid emotions
flickr.com
Godspeed You! Black Emperor makes a comeback following a 2010 reformation.
without the need for vocals. The guitar work on the album is reminiscent of noise rock at times, too, as the guitars are often layered with distortion and angular, dissonant sounds. “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress” is an enjoyable listen, but is lacking when compared to Godspeed You! Black Emperor’s previous efforts. It’s missing the overpowering darkness of “F#A# Infinity,” and does not have the cinematic and masterfully composed tales of “Lift Yr. Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven!” The album may come as a bit of a letdown after their previous album, “Allelujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!” reassured listeners that Godspeed You! Black Emperor had not lost any of their talent during their hiatus. While the album mostly succeeds in what it does, it is unable to impress listeners in a way the band once did. The album is just satisfactory without making noticeable strides in textures, mood or power. “Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress” is good, but not essential.
page 18 The Signal August 26, 2015
Men’s soccer gets ball rolling as season opener draws closer
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Players get ready for the opener as they look to impress. By Otto Gomez Staff Writer
The men’s soccer team will begin its 2015 season at home on Wednesday,
Sept. 2, against York College at 7:30 p.m. The team, led by Coach George Nazario, aims to improve on a 7-9-2 season from a year ago, an aberration from what has been a stellar coaching career for Nazario. With 12 winning seasons, four NCAA berths and a 1996 national title under his belt, Nazario will be in charge of leading the team in hopes of a rebound season. His first victory this year would give him his 200th career in the program, an incredible feat. The team brings back a great rising senior class, including starter defensive backs Greg Kaye and Dan McMillan. Together, along with fellow younger players looking to step up this year, they will anchor a defense trying to start the season off on a good note. They will set the tempo for the rest of the team and will try to spark the offense with its strong play. Junior Sean Etheridge, a forward who is stepping into a much bigger role on offense this year, will be part of the group of players that looks for the defense to get things started. When asked about what the team needs to do to be successful, he responded, “We just need to believe in ourselves and trust each other on the field. We got a few new guys that can definitely impact our style of play in a positive way and overall we just need to keep our heads up and believe in the system and each other.” The last regular season game for the Lions will be at Rowan University on Wednesday, Oct. 28, and might be the deciding factor for either team to advance to the NJAC tournament.
Lions ready to kick off By Michael Battista Sports Editor With the fall semester starting, the College’s women’s soccer team is making its final adjustments before their first match on Tuesday, Sept. 1, at home against Gettysburg College. After the team’s loss last year to Montclair State in the NJAC Tournament final, and their loss to Williams College in the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals, the Lions are looking to bounce back with a strong regular season. They also hope to make an impact at this year’s TCNJ Adidas Classic, with their first match against SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, Sept. 12. Coach Joe Russo and his squad posted an impressive 18-3-1 record last year and hope both returning and new players can keep up the stellar performance. Besides practicing, some of the Lions made a trip to the Great White North earlier this summer in hopes of seeing the United States Women’s National Soccer team compete for the World Cup. Team members from years past, including former goalie Kendra Griffith (’15) and Kate Landrigan (’13) joined current players and staff on the trip, to see the U.S. beat Germany 2-0 on their way to the finals, where they later beat Japan 5-2, capturing their third World Cup. Sophomore marketing major, defender Christina Stabile told tcnj.edu that the entire experience was incredible. “The American spirit was contagious,” she said. “Seeing that game in person was nothing compared to watching it on a screen. The fans, the food, being with my teammates and the atmosphere all contributed to an incredible experience.” Back home, the Lions now have the
large task of trying to mold their own team into championship caliber. The team has a large class of new freshmen all vying to be on the field, including Kelly Gallagher of Annandale, N.J. (Raritan Valley), who is hoping to get a spot as one of the team’s goalies. Another hopeful is Kate Galgano of Toms River, N.J. (Toms River North), who is one of two new freshmen hoping to get a spot as a forward on the team. The final roster will be made before the first ball is kicked, meaning a lot of tension for these students who already have the normal difficulties a new college student has.
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Junior Sarah Marion is ready.
Football looks to improve over new opponents
Team hopes to better itself from last year’s season By Anthony Caruso Staff Writer
The College’s football team has been preparing for their upcoming season, begins away from home on Saturday, Sept 5 against Christopher Newport University, hoping to get rid of the memory of the 2-8 record from last season. Christopher Newport is a new team within the New Jersey Athletic Conference, along with Salisbury University, Wesley College and Frostburg State University. Of these new teams, Salisbury and powerhouse Wesley are the only ones coming to campus. Both will visit in back-to-back weekends, as Salisbury comes to Lions Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 3, then Wesley comes the following weekend. In total, there are going to be six home games this year. Following the Christopher Newport road trip, they won’t return to the road again until Saturday, Oct. 17, for Frostburg State in Frostburg, Md. The team will also go road tripping on Halloween to William Paterson and to end the season on Friday, Nov. 13, at Rowan University. All of the team’s games will be a noon kickoff except homecoming, which will start at 1 p.m. against Montclair State University on Saturday, Oct. 24. The Lions are hoping to improve their offensive efforts this year – since in 2014 they averaged 10.5 points a game, while the opponent averaged 27.4. The team is also hoping to improve their record, especially at home. Last year, the team’s only home win came on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, against Kean University by a score of 20 to 10. With sophomore Trevor Olser at quarterback, the team has a bright future. He will be joined in the backfield by sophomore Khani Glover who led the team in rushing. Glover had 107 attempts for 407 yards and also had five touchdowns. Many of the team’s receivers are returning, as well. Seniors Conor Mulholland, Nick Craig, Kyle Anderson and Andrew Lachawiec; junior Jeff Mattonelli and sophomore Gabriel Rios are back at the helm and will
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions look to start off strong against New Jersey Athletic Conference members, hoping to improve on last year’s faults and shortcomings. give Osler numerous opportunities to move the ball. Mattonelli led the team with 35 receptions for 312 yards and two touchdowns and Mulholland added 23 for 220 yards and a touchdown. Craig contributed 13 for 145, while Lachawiec had 11 for 158. The defensive unit is going to be strong once again. Senior Sean Kley is the leading tackler returning, as he had 81 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception, two pass breakups and a fumble recovery last season. Other key returning players include seniors Zack Vasilenko, Jeffrey Skomsky and Martin Flately and junior Abdelrahman
Ragab. All of these returning players were in the top six of defensive stats last season. Vaselinko had 71 tackles, including 5.5 tackles for a loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry, while Skomsky, who only appeared in seven games, added 51 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovery. Flately added 50 tackles, a tackle for a loss, an interception and a fumble recovery and Ragab contributed 31 tackles and 3.5 tackles for a loss. As the team continues its camp leading up to the new season, they are looking forward to the upcoming competition.
August 26, 2015 The Signal page 19
SummerSlam takes over Brooklyn Cheap Seats
Stephen Amell makes a guest appearance at SummerSlam. By Michael Battista Sports Editor If I told you a show took place where Stephen Amell, the actor from the CW’s “Arrow,” fought a British king and a cosmic prince and where Jon Stewart decided the outcome of a fight by hitting someone with a chair, what would the standard response be? It shouldn’t be that surprising, since the World Wrestling Entertainment was in Brooklyn for their yearly event, SummerSlam. Returning to New York/New Jersey area for the first time since 2007, the event was just one part of a packed weekend for WWE, which had three separate and individual shows on Saturday Aug. 22; through Monday, Aug. 24 — all in the Barclays Center.
AP Photo
NXT, the developmental level of WWE, which features the “future stars” of the company, took center stage on Saturday with NXT Takeover Brooklyn selling out the arena. Young talent, such as “Gorgeous” Tyler Breeze and Pamela Rose “Bayley” Martinez entertained the extremely loud crowd while competing for titles, pride and for a chance to be called up to the main roster. Other, more established, wrestlers in the independent scene, such as Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor also competed to the joy of the crowd. Sunday night saw the main roster take over Barclay for the company’s second largest show of the year, SummerSlam. Consisting of 10 matches over four hours, the show featured the WWE’s biggest stars, including John Cena, Brock Lesnar
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and the Undertaker. However, actor Stephen Amell was also on the card, competing with the high flying Nevil against Stardust and King Barrett, the former of which had attacked and insulted him multiple times before. The largest matches of the night were the bouts between Undertaker and Brock Lesnar, and the Champion vs. Champion match pitting United States Champion Cena against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins. In consistent wrestling fashion, the matches ended in a shocking way — but neither in a way any wrestling fan had ever seen coming. In the Title for Title match, comedian and former host of “The Daily Show,” Jon
Stewart, a passionate wrestling fan, ran into the ring while the referee was down and attacked Cena — who was celebrating fulfilling his 500th Make a Wish request that night. The plot twist cost him the match and his title. While in the Undertaker vs. Lesnar fight, a rematch 15 months after their last bout, ended in confusion. Late in the match, Lesnar caused the Undertaker to submit, or tap out from pain. However, the referee never saw it and restarted the match allowing Undertaker to pick up the win. To a wrestling fan, these results could bring happiness, anger or confusion. While anyone on the outside looking in will just say “that’s just wrestling.”
AP Photo
Undertaker fittingly takes down Brock Lesnar in a kimura lock.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE FOR FRESHMEN!
W e ’ r e l o o k i n g f o r : W r i t e r s - B e t h e o n e w h o b r i n g s t h e s t o r y t o t h e c a m p u s . P h o t o g r a p h e r s - C a p t u r e t h e e v e n t s a n d b r i n g t h e s t o r y t o l i f e . A s s i s t a n t s - J o i n o u r s t a f f a n d h e l p m a k e t h i s p a p e r h a p p e n .
C o n t a c t U s : S i g n a l @ t c n j . e d u L o c a t e d i n r o o m 2 0 4 i n F o r c i n a H a l l M e e t i n g s e v e r y S u n d a y a t 5 : 3 0 p . m .
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Field Hockey on the road to a dozen
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Left: Returning defender Smith looks to keep the NCAA title. Right: Lindsey Hatch leaves behind big shoes to be filled.
By Kacie Stettner and Miguel Gonzalez Correspondents
Having just come off an extremely successful 2014 season, the now reigning national champions, the College’s field hockey team, ended last season with an outstanding record of 23-1-0. The team is in the spotlight like never before, and with the loss of some key graduated seniors, the women will be stepping up their play to fill the big shoes of those star players. Last season was full of excitement for the team, ranking first in the South Atlantic Region with a record of 15-1. Snatching the number one spot in the Southern Region was Salisbury University — the Lions’ sole defeater last season — in a close match
against the Seagulls, which ended in a score of 1-3. The Lions greatly outshot Salisbury in the second half, and forced more penalty corners (14 to Salisbury’s three). These statistics prove that the team is more than capable of defeating the team this year, as long as they stick to the fundamentals and are able to finish their plays effectively. The College’s only goal during the match was by then-sophomore midfielder Jaclyn Douglas. With an extremely young team this year, there is a plethora of talent waiting to be unveiled. The lone senior on the team, attacker Alicia Wagner, will be joined on the field by a group of mostly juniors and sophomores, all of whom have their own skills to bring to the game. Wagner played a key role in the
2014 national semifinals with her “insurance goal” against Messiah College, locking in the Lions’ victory. Having won their 11th NCAA championship, the College’s field hockey team has tremendous expectations this upcoming season. The underclassmen will need to step up to replace the contributions of graduated players, such as Lindsey Hatch and Erin Healy. Fortunately, the team has retained the majority of their impenetrable defense, such as juniors Lexi Smith and Alexa Magnotta, who gave up nothing during the NCAA tournament. Notable returning players are senior midfielder/defender Mikayla Cimilluca (one goal, one assist), junior forward/midfielder Danielle Andreula (eight goals, three assists), junior
midfielder/forward Jaclyn Douglas (22 goals, seven assists) and junior goalkeeper Kelly Schlupp (54 Saves). Coached by last year’s NFHCA Division III National Coach of the Year recipient Sharon Pfluger, the Lions will be looking to continue their dominance in the competitive South Atlantic region and extend their impressive 15-game win streak. The most enduring obstacles this upcoming season will be avenging last year’s loss from Salisbury University and competing against Landmark Conference powerhouse Juniata College. The Lions begin their season away at Stevens Institute of Technology on Tuesday, Sept. 1 and play at home against Fairleigh Dickinson University on Tuesday, Sept. 8.
Cross Country leaves last season in the dust By George Tatoris Staff Writer
Last year, the men’s and women’s cross country teams dominated their competition in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, but were unable to secure a spot to nationals after the women’s team took 10th place and the men took 13th in the Division III Atlantic Regionals. At regionals, only the top two teams receive automatic bids to nationals. The top runner in the women’s race that day was then-senior Megan Stack, who placed 23rd with a time of 22:35.9, nearly 20 seconds faster than what she placed a week before at NJACs, where she earned third place overall. Last year’s regionals saw junior Andrew Tedeschi place the highest in the men’s race at 23rd place with a time of 25:47.7, improving on his NJAC time of 26:44.14, which earned him ninth overall. Despite the effort and improvement, it was not enough to go toe to toe with the nation’s toughest cross country teams. Stack is one of many talented teammates who graduated the previous semester, a list which includes Tara Nealon and Jeremy Garrell, who coach Justin Lindsey called “strong leaders.”
Lions’ Lineup August 26, 2015
I n s i d e
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions have their eyes locked on a spot at Nationals.
Coming back, the cross country team is looking positive. “I really feel not going to nationals last year has really motivated everyone to work extra hard this year and that hard work is definitely paying off,” junior Brandon Mazzarella said. The men’s and women’s teams are both returning NJAC champions — the men’s team with a 21-year streak holding the title. After a summer’s worth of training,
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cross country is ready to go at it again this year. Each runner was given a training regimen this summer based on what they needed to improve, and it looks like they’ve been doing their homework. “Both teams should have a significant chance” of getting to nationals, Lindsey said. At a time trial held this week, the top five runners on the men’s team finished faster than last year’s fastest time. At the head of the mens team’s pack
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was Tedeschi, who Lindsey said has the potential to be a leader this season along with seniors Scott Savage, Roberto Guiducci and Tyler Grimm. Tedeschi praised sophomore Connor McMahon’s performance at the time trial, saying he almost beat his personal best time in the 5k. “McMahon ran an excellent time trial,” Tedeschi said. The women’s team saw freshman Erin Holzbur lead the pack by threequarters of a second, showing promise for the upcoming freshmen. “They look strong and excited. I think all of the freshmen will make great contributions to the team,” Tedeschi said. “They worked hard over the summer to put themselves in great shape. I’m excited to see how they handle the 8k and the tough training college brings.” According to Tedeschi, the team’s mileage — how many miles the team runs per week — increased “exponentially” over the summer. “Everyone seems to be faster than they were last year and it’s going to make it real hard to take us down this year,” Mazzarella said. “We are all focused on going to nationals and we are counting on each other to continue working hard until that point in the season.”
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