Breaking news, blogs and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIV, No. 7
March 9, 2016
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Comedy Show has College saying ‘Oh Bo’
Burnham puts on profound yet funny performance By Chelsea LoCascio News Editor The world is not funny. “Can I get a little more pink light?” The world is not funny. “Every building here is made of brick. Why?” The world is not funny. “The cop has retreated to the grassy knoll of the building, which is really unsettling.” Before Bo Burnham entered the stage, the crowd in Kendall Hall anxiously awaited his theatrical musical comedy, but the audience was instead met with an empty stage, choir music and a Siri-esque voice that warned, “You are here because you want to laugh and you want to forget about your problems, but I cannot allow it. You should not laugh. You should not forget about your problems. The world is not funny.” The audience thought otherwise. Following comedian and “Daily Show” writer Matt Koff, Burnham headlined the College Union Board’s Spring Comedy Show on Tuesday, March 1. As Burnham performed bits from his most recent “Make Happy” tour, the audience was smiling, laughing and cheering. They were happy. Burnham entered the stage to animated applause, while sporting an over-priced sweatshirt from the College, and immediately broke into his first song with “feminine Eminem”-like swagger. After pumping up the audience, the heavy beat changed to a softer, sadder tune as Burnham became introspective — juxtaposing ironic jokes with self-aware observations is an essential part of his comedic style. During the song, Burnham pointed out the stage’s
Heiner Fallas / Photo Assistant
The musical comedian performs parts from his ‘Make Happy’ tour and makes fun of the College.
noticeably-pink lights, as lighting plays a significant part in his shows. “Look at all these pink lights. Who has pink lights? I have pink lights. It will remain that way,” Burnham
said. Despite the technical setback, Burnham was just happy to be playing at TCNJ rather than contracting it. see BO page 12
Famed feminist, Steinem, gives lecture Students share personal struggles
Steinem recounts personal experiences.
By Kimberly Ilkowski Arts & Entertainment Editor
True to form, when feminist icon and social activist Gloria Steinem visited the College on Wednesday, March 2, she split her time evenly between lecturing and leading an open
discussion of ideas among herself and those in attendance. After all, Steinem is no stranger to bringing people together in their beliefs. A mother of three teenage daughters was the first to address Steinem with her question, who did so eagerly. “I often find that while I raise
INDEX: Nation & World / Page 7
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Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
Editorial / Page 8
(my daughters) to be strong, powerful women, I lack the words and the wisdom you may have to encourage them to continue your work,” she said. “Where does the next generation of females start?” To which Steinem aptly replied, “Wherever the hell they want it to.” This first event in the celebration of Women’s History Month offered a truly one-of-a-kind experience. “We have something very special today, which is about an hour and a half together in this room with a combination of people that has never happened before in exactly the same way and will never happen again in exactly the same way,” Steinem said. “If all goes well, I hope each of us leaves here with some new ideas, new organizing tactics, a new feeling of support, some new friends, some new colleagues, something that makes our lives better and makes the world better.” Steinem, who turns 82 this month, was utterly captivating throughout her lecture, somehow making it feel like
Opinions / Page 9
By Alyssa Sanford Web Editor The National Eating Disorder Awareness (NEDA) Monologues on Thursday, March 3, featured seven speakers who have struggled with eating disorders and insecurities with body image, but the overwhelming theme of the evening was self-love and acceptance. Standing at the podium in the Library Auditorium facing dozens of members of the College community, these speakers shared their stories and struggles. Some were painful to recollect and difficult for friends and peers to hear. Nonetheless, the audience took in each monologue with compassionate silence. Senior math major Rose Costanzo spoke frankly about her forays into emotionally abusive relationships, a pattern that she connects to her past struggles with body image and self-love. “I loved to love others,” Costanzo said. “Unfortunately, not everyone gives back the love they receive.” Costanzo revealed that it took years for her to come to terms with her eating disorder and that it wasn’t until she transferred to the College in her sophomore year that she “decided to take control back” and finally help herself.
see FEMINISM page 3 Arts & Entertainment / Page 12
see NEDA page 17 Features / Page 17
Sports / Page 24
R-Word Monologues Speakers spread the word to end the word
‘Xanadu’ Performers rollerblade across stage in musical
Around the Dorm Staff talks racewalking, eating and NASCAR
See Features page 19
See A&E page 13
See Sports page 23
page 2 The Signal March 9, 2016
Life inside Eick: Dining hall seeks student feedback
Photo courtesy of Natalie LaSpisa
While some complain about the quality of food in Eick, others enjoy it. By Jackie Delaney Review Editor
Ask the students on campus about their opinion on the food from Eickhoff Hall and you’ll get a mixed response. Some love the variety of options and are simply content with the quality, while others avoid the dining hall at all costs. The main dining location is a common conversation topic for students — whether it’s about what is being served at Quimby’s Kitchen for dinner or if the popular soft-serve ice cream machine is up and running. “You run into the occasional discolored meat or under-cooked pasta, but on a good day, the food isn’t terrible,” junior special education and English double major Julia McKinnies said. Like McKinnies, freshman communication studies major Danielle Silvia has a changing opinion of the food in Eickhoff Hall.
While she said that the food is “not terrible but not great,” she stated that “it is pretty decent for college food,” but still with room for improvement. Other students feel differently. “It’s not as bad as people make it out to be,” junior physics major Shreyas Shirodkar said, referencing the common complaints heard around campus from students. Junior psychology and history double major Kevin Moncayo listed convenience and variety as his favorite parts of Eickhoff Hall, but said that sometimes, these aspects are affected by the volume of students. “My least favorite part about Eick is that at times, it gets so busy and the lines get really long,” Moncayo said. With all these varying opinions of Eickhoff Hall, how does Dining Services collect student feedback and respond to it? Sodexo General Manager Patrice Mendes cited many ways for students to provide Dining Services with their opinions and suggestions.
Comment cards are located at the dining hall’s registers, allowing students to write and submit their concerns. Electronic comment cards are also accessible on the Dining Services’s website. Mendes said that “a student can ask to speak to a manager (in Eickhoff Hall) at any time.” Her contact information, as well as emails for Operations Director Steven Reader and Registered Dietician Aliz Holzmann, can be found on the televisions at each food station. Mendes mentioned that Dining Services is on both Twitter and Facebook for students to contact. There is a texting service available for students to use, as well. Students can send a text to 82257 with the keyword “TCNJDining” with a message or question. Mendes said that they will receive a response back within 24 hours. “Responses that require immediate action are given to the appropriate person to handle,” Mendes said. Student concerns and suggestions from these feedback avenues are discussed in Dining Services Committee meetings, which are a direct way to share suggestions with Dining Services. The meetings, which are held by the Dining Services Marketing and Culinary teams every other Wednesday at 2 p.m. in room 324 of the Social Sciences Building, began in the ’90s, according to Mendes. Turnout to these meetings has been sparse, Mendes said, with five to seven students usually attending with dietary concerns or requests. But Mendes said that these meetings are a great way for students to make sure their voices are heard. “We are always looking for and encouraging students to attend and be heard. The more students we have at these meetings, the better the entire campus community is represented,” Mendes said. “We discuss all
student comments submitted and the possible resolutions.” The next Dining Services Committee meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 9, according to Dining Services’s website. According to Mendes, most of the improvements they have made to increase the variety in food are the result of this open forum. She said that grilled chicken and quinoa in the salad bar, soy milk options, infused water and the soft-serve ice cream machine have all been changes in Eickhoff Hall as a result of student feedback. Even with all of these outlets for voicing concerns, many students do not take advantage of these services. Moncayo has never submitted a feedback form to Dining Services because he “never thought that would accomplish anything.” Silvia, on the other hand, was unaware of the feedback options for students to use. But now knowing about them, she said “in the future I will have to keep an eye out for them.” She thinks it is important for Dining Services to collect feedback, because “there is no way that a situation can improve” without it. McKinnies agrees that sharing one’s opinion is the only way to spark a dialogue and bring about change. “Every student here that is paying for a meal plan has an opinion or preference on what they’re eating, so I think it’s extremely important to take their ideas into consideration,” McKinnies said. Mendes stressed that feedback is also very important to Dining Services. “This is the student’s program and we want their input and suggestions to ensure that the atmosphere, menu and service are all meeting their expectations,” she said. “If students want to be heard, we want them to know we are listening.”
Political panel plots plans for more student involvement By Megan Kelly Correspondent TCNJ Political Union held its “Students as Changemakers: The State of Campus Activism, 2016” panel on Friday, March 4, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the Brower Student Center to discuss student activism on campus The panel’s purpose was to discuss past political events run by various student organizations at the College, to come up with ideas for future events and to brainstorm ways to increase student participation. Senior history and urban studies double major Sam Fogelgaren, director of TCNJ’s Political Union, was the moderator of the panel. Three other students were panelists representing their organizations: junior political science and Spanish double major and member of TCNJ College Republicans Ryan Jones, junior political science major and President of TCNJ College Democrats Ian Penrose and sophomore international studies major and Vice President of NAACP Vanessa Fiore. The discussion began with the current level of student activism on campus, as observed by the members of the panel, and the difference between becoming politically involved on and off campus through internships and other professional opportunities. “I think we do have a lot of
venues when it comes to internships, but being an activist on campus is (more difficult)… I think as a campus, we probably do have to do a little bit more,” Penrose said. The panel discussed how students need to get involved in politics not just through activism, but voting, as well. Fogelgaren said it is important that discussions regarding topics like voter registration are held now to ensure that everyone is on the same page for the upcoming presidential election. The panel talked about different ideas and theories on how to peak students’ interest in getting prepared for the election and voting. “To get the attention of college students, we have to engage them in fun ways… I know speakers help a lot, but I’m like, ‘OK what can bring freshmen (to these events) and what can bring seniors, who have other things to worry about other than these events?’” sophomore nursing major Jhamillex Carmen said. The panel also discussed the importance of networking as many groups have held political events before and found it difficult to spread the word. “It’s hard to kind of get the word out or to get people to come because a lot of people sometimes feel like it’s not their place or like they might not be welcome,” senior psychology major Queneisha
Jones said. The group moved on to talk about how politics is a broad topic that most, if not all, students would be able to find an aspect of it that speaks to them. “I think a lot of these national issues, or political issues in general, relate in some way to each of our interests and I think if people were to really pinpoint that, they could come out to these events and realize, ‘Oh, a little bit of what I’m interested in pertains to this,’” Jones said. Fogelgaren expanded on this to discuss the connection between each student’s area of study and that it is important to show students how attending a political event could be interesting to them. “Every student has a major,” Fogelgaren said. “Every student has an area in which they put 30 hours of their week to studying and doing research and learning about. So if we can find a way to identify the intersection between politics and different areas of study, then there would be a compelling reason for every student at TCNJ to participate, in one way or another.” The panel considered the reasons behind the lack of student political involvement, including the fact that students are sometimes unfamiliar with the speakers that come to the College or that they have classes when these discussions are going on. Those in attendance mentioned a lack of effective
Photo courtesy of Aaron Wilson
The group discusses voting and being politically active. advertising by the College. “My freshman year, we had (New York Times columnist) Paul Krugman come here... The event was very well attended and the difference was that professors were advertising it themselves,” sophomore international studies major Precious Molokwu said. The discussion came to a close with the students and panel members listing what they took away from the panel as well as creating a plan of action for the coming months to encourage activism among student organizations. The group will continue to meet and discuss activism as well as prepare for election time throughout the semester.
According to Fogelgaren, TCNJ Political Union was formed to get students to participate in politically-charged events, and they held the panel to get students’ opinions on how to do this. “(TCNJ Political Union’s) goal is to engage all students with a particular focus on the substantial number of students who are politically engaged,” Fogelgaren said. “We will do this by meeting halfway — by identifying intersections between politics and common areas of student interest, and working with student groups, TCNJ faculty and administration, and off-campus partners to build effective programming.”
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 3
Feminism / Speaker sends powerful message
continued from page 1
an intimate conversation between friends. If there’s one thing Steinem is always asked, it’s where the women’s movement has been and where it will go. According to Steinem, that’s like saying, “Describe the universe and give two examples.” It only made sense, Steinem said, to talk about the ideologies of past societies in order to understand the present and where we need to go in the future. “The southern tip of India, Kerala, was a matrilineal, and perhaps was one of the few, matriarchal cultures, which means that it is still the most democratic. It still has the highest rate of literacy in India, and higher than in many other countries in the world, because it didn’t have that fundamental division, artificial division into masculine and feminine,” Steinem said. “So, wherever we look in the world, we see how basic this is, and it’s so basic that we kind of assume it, like there’s oxygen in the air. We don’t stop to think that it could really be different.” Through examples such as Kerala, as well as early Native American settlements and tribal studies which Steinem touched upon in her lecture, it becomes clear that this way of thinking isn’t all that challenging. “We get caught into feeling that how it is human nature, that it’s inevitable, that there has to be a gender difference, that there has to be a racial difference, that there has to be, in many ways, a hierarchy,” Steinem said. “But the paradigm of most of human history was not a pyramid, not a hierarchy — it was a
circle. We were connected as human beings and to all living things. We were linked, we were not ranked.” With the 2016 presidential race in full swing, as well as a landmark abortion case in Texas hitting the Supreme Court on the very same day as Steinem’s lecture, it further put into context the bigger picture of various groups’ desire to control reproduction, which means controlling women’s bodies. Steinem referenced “Sex and World Peace” by Valerie M. Hudson, a book she said was worthy of the audience’s attention for its studies of modern countries’ sources of violence. “It concludes that the single biggest element of whether a country is violent inside itself or will be violent and use military violence against civilians is actually not poverty, not access to natural resources, not religion or even degree of democracy — it’s violence against females,” Steinem said. “It’s not even that female life is any more important than male life. (It’s) because the command to control reproduction is the first political command.” Steinem praised the College and many schools like it for offering courses in women’s and gender studies, African American studies and Native American studies, all things she did not have access to as an undergraduate student in the 1950s. “A part of the way we’re going forward is learning every day,” Steinem said. “Nothing is more important than what you’re doing here today and that you do have courses that begin to make everyone visible, that begin to say, ‘The division of masculine and feminine is just wrong.’ There’s human, there is not
Photo courtesy of Aaron Wilson
Steinem signs copies of her most recent book, ‘My Life on the Road.’ masculine and feminine.” With deep contentment, Steinem looked back at the early days of her activism, proudly stating that what once was a handful of “crazies” has turned into a majority mindset on the major issues. “All of our social justice movements are connected to each other,” Steinem said. “When a movement first starts, it is absolutely crucial that those who were invisible can become visible and name ourselves and say what the problems are and rise up and have a voice.” As her lecture wound to a close, there was one last powerful message Steinem wanted to leave with the audience, and so she read the dedication to her most recent book, “My Life on the Road.”
She said: “Dr. John Sharpe of London who, in 1957, a decade before physicians in England could legally perform an abortion for any reason other than the health of the woman, took the considerable risk of referring for an abortion a 22-year-old American on her way to India. “Knowing that she had broken an engagement at home to seek an unknown fate, he said, ‘You must promise me two things. First, you will not tell anyone my name. Second, you will do what you want to do with your life.’ “Dear Dr. Sharpe, I believe you, who knew the law was unjust, would not mind if I say this so long after your death: I’ve done the best I could with my life. “This book is for you.”
SG discusses Senior Week events and speaker
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
Members talk about diversity survey. By Alyssa Sanford Web Editor
Student Government’s (SG) Executive Vice President Javier Nicasio opened the Wednesday, March 2, general body meeting with an announcement about a campus climate survey. “It’s not about the weather outside,” Nicasio said, but a survey that focuses on the “diversity and inclusiveness on campus.” Associate Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Kerri Thompson Tillet sent the survey to the campus community via email on Friday, Feb. 26. “TCNJ continually strives to ensure that students are having the best college experience possible and we need your feedback to continue these efforts,” Tillet wrote in the email. Nicasio, who served as the vice president of SG’s Equity and Diversity committee last year, said that not enough students participated in the campus climate survey last year. According to Nicasio, it was “hard for me to figure out” how students felt about diversity and inclusivity at the College. Though the email from Tillet last month said that the survey closed on Monday, Feb. 29, Nicasio said that the
survey is still open due to a low response rate and urged general body members to inform their peers and constituents to participate, as well. Darshak Vekaria, the vice president of Academic Affairs, announced that per the general body’s decision to ask Provost Jacqueline Taylor to include funding for the 24/7 library hours during finals week in upcoming budget proposals, SG will need to seek out options for outside sponsors for the event. According to Vekaria, Red Bull declined requests to sponsor the week-long event. Vice President of Student Affairs Olivia White asked general body members if anyone was interested in serving as the new Spirit Squad chair. SG established the Spirit Squad in November 2015 and described it in a campus-wide email as “a new team that will work to spread school spirit and pride through a variety of avenues.” The new chairperson would be responsible for putting together “really cool stuff” during the Spirit Week preceding Homecoming, White said. On Monday, March 28, GA will co-sponsor a Union Latina debate in the Library Auditorium at 7:30 p.m., Parliamentarian Ken Rubin said. According to Rubin, students will present “background research” about the Democratic presidential candidates and debate the merits and flaws of each candidate and “present ideas of what the Democratic candidates each believe in.” The College Democrats “have not reached out to Union Latina in sponsoring the event,” Rubin said, so any students interested in participating are welcome to volunteer to speak. Vice President of Community Relations Brittany Angiolini announced that Youth Outreach Day is taking place on Saturday, April 2, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Senior class President Emily Montagna had exciting news about Senior Week, which will last from Tuesday, May 17, to Wednesday, May 18, with ceremonies beginning on Thursday, May 19. “It’s finalized,” she said. On Tuesday, May 17, seniors will embark on a moonlight cruise. “Shoutout to the sophomore class council for giving us the idea,” Montagna said, referring to the class’s successful proposal to the Student Finance Board (SFB) to hold
a moonlight cruise as a sophomore class fundraiser after SFB initially zero-funded the event. The guest speaker on Wednesday, May 18, will be Aron Ralston. Ralston was forced to cut off his own forearm while trapped after a climbing accident in Utah in 2003. His story was the subject of the 2011 film “127 Hours,” which starred James Franco. “It’s inspirational,” Montagna said in a nod to Ralston’s ability to overcome incredible adversity. Montagna also mentioned that there will be a field day, a toast from President R. Barbara Gitenstein and a gala at Celebrations in Bensalem, Pa., on Wednesday, May 18. While more details are forthcoming, the packages for Senior Week are between $185 and $220, if seniors wish to stay on campus on Thursday night. “It’s cheaper than last year,” Montagna said. “We’re happy about that.” The sophomore class will hold their Date Auction on Wednesday, March 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the location is yet to be decided. The event is $2 at the door. Class representatives explained that “a couple people from Student Government are going to be auctioned off” along with other members of the College community to go on a “date” with the highest bidder. All proceeds will go to the Class of 2018.
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
SG brings up the upcoming Union Latina debate.
page 4 The Signal March 9, 2016
FALL 2016 REGISTRATION APPOINTMENT PERIOD Initial Registration Period for Undergraduate and Graduate Students
Tuesday, April 5 Through Friday, April 15
Your enrollment appointment reflecting the first time you will be eligible to register for the Fall 2016 semester can be accessed via your PAWS account. To view your scheduled enrollment appointment, visit the Enrollment Appointment section in the PAWS Student Center. Once eligible, students remain eligible throughout the registration period. Undergraduate students who do not register by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 17, will be subject to a late registration fine. Graduate Students have until Friday, July 15: Late Registration Fine Undergraduate: $150 Graduate: $125
The Fall 2016 Schedule of Classes is available on PAWS and can be viewed by using the Search for Classes button. Both Winter 2017 and Summer 2016 registration are also open along with Fall 2016 registration. Check PAWS frequently for any updated winter/summer course offerings and consult with your advisor for appropriate course selections.
Visit the PAWS HELP website for complete information on how to log-in to PAWS, search for classes, browse the Course Catalog, view your Holds, add courses to your Shopping Cart, and register for classes: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/
Use the Validate feature directly from your PAWS Shopping Cart to check for potential pre-requisite issues before registration! For more information on the Validate feature, visit: http://pawshelp.pages.tcnj.edu/files/2011/07/validate.pdf
Check PAWS early and frequently for Holds that will prevent you from registering. All Hold Flag information can be viewed under the Holds section in the PAWS Student Center.
Access your Academic Requirements Report on PAWS to view your degree requirements via the Advising Tools link.
Make an appointment to see your advisor to discuss your Academic Requirements Report. Your advisor’s name and email address can be located in your PAWS Student Center.
Double-check call numbers and course sections prior to your registration appointment for schedule changes and periodic updates.
Graduate Students: If you are a non-matriculant who is applying for Fall matriculation, you should not register during this timeframe. If accepted for matriculation, you will be invited to register during the Graduate Orientation summer orientation sessions.
THE OFFICE OF RECORDS AND REGISTRATION Green Hall 112, M-F 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 5
SFB OKs funds for Bollywood Night 2016 By Roderick Macioch Staff Writer During its weekly meeting on Wednesday, March 2, the Student Finance Board (SFB) granted funding for several requests, setting the stage for a variety of events in the coming weeks. The Deaf Hearing Connection Club proposed for its annual Deaf Awareness Day, designed to “raise awareness of deafness and American Sign Language with the student body. (Specifically), students will have the opportunity to communicate with members of the deaf community… and also have the opportunity to learn about interpreting and audiology, and other professions in the related field,” according to the request form the club presented. The event will also feature appearances by deaf illusionist Sam Sandler and deaf model and actress Stephanie Nogueras. The board unanimously voted to fully fund the event in the amount of $3,500 to cover the appearance fees of Sandler and Nogueras. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 6, with events held throughout the day in various locations around campus. The Environmental Club then proposed its Engage! workshop, which “intend(s) to bring together (College) faculty, students, staff and the public at large to educate (them) about activism (by presenting) student activists who will lead discussions on their activities in movements for change in the United States,” according to the request form. In all, the club was requesting $500. The board acknowledged that the event would be beneficial to the campus community and would receive funding under normal circumstances, however, Engage! was planned by the Cultural and Intellectual Community Program Council — the Environmental Club’s only contribution toward the event was to request Student Activity Fee (SAF) funding. As stated by SFB Executive Director Brandon Klein, “We want to make sure that the money goes to students for students. We can’t be covering a department’s budget shortfalls.” Consequently, a motion to zero fund the event passed. The Indian Student Association (ISA) then requested funding for ISA Bollywood Night 2016. This event “will showcase the multi-faceted culture of India. From the traditional Punjabi food being served to the performances put on by (the College’s) classical dance team, TCNJ Jiva, Bollywood Night will expose students to
various aspects of Indian culture,” according to the request form. Concerns were raised over the planned date of the event, Saturday, March 26, which falls during Easter weekend, but ISA had already been aware of the potential conflict and was not concerned about it potentially detracting from the attendance. The necessity of the proposed $500 disc jockey (DJ) and $800 chocolate fountain was debated and ultimately, a motion to table the fountain and DJ but fund the rest of the proposal passed. In total, $2,255 was granted to pay for expenses, including refreshments, decorations and a photobooth. The event will take place on Saturday, March 26, from 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. in room 212 of the Education Building. The College Union Board (CUB) requested funding for its annual Spring Lecture. The event strives to “appeal to different types of students by sticking to the traditional, but successful and popular, topic of discussion that the TCNJ community has expressed interest in,” according to the Special Appropriations Request form. Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson and actor Wilmer Valderrama each requested $30,000. “Broad City” actresses Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson each requested $25,000, as did CUB’s other choices for a guest lecturer — singer Todrick Hall, “Parks and Recreation” actor Ben Schwartz, “Community” actor Danny Pudi and social media star Matt Bellassai. A motion to cap the funding for an appearance fee at $25,000 passed, which meant that CUB will only receive $25,000 even if Johnson or Valderrama are booked for the lecture. Furthermore, the motion included a stipulation that if the lecture is in Mayo Hall, a second lecture following the first lecture from the same speaker will be considered to compensate for Mayo’s smaller seating capacity. In all, the board granted $26,302 to CUB for both speaker and building fees. The event will be held on an undetermined weekday evening in either Mayo or Kendall Hall, based on availability, at 8 p.m. The Asian American Association (AAA) proposed Mystique of the East 2016, cosponsored by Taiko, Barkada, Chinese Student Association, Korean Student Association, Jiva, Saathiya and ISA. According to the club’s Multicultural Request form, “Mystique will feature performances that have origins rooted in various Asian countries, such as China, Japan, India, the Philippines and Korea.” These performances, in the format of a fashion show, will allow all students to “be
David Colby / Photo Assistant
The board zero funds the Environmental Club’s proposal over budget concerns.
taught about traditions that may be similar to their own, or be exposed to something completely different from what they know.” Funding in the amount of $26,302 to cover the Kendall Hall booking fee and AAA’s portion of the fashion show, was granted. However, the rest of the requested funding, including funds for the costumes and music for the event’s co-sponsors, was tabled, as these organizations were not present to discuss their requests in greater detail. The event will take place on Saturday, April 23, in Kendall Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event starts at 8 p.m. Friendship and Unity for Special Education (FUSE) proposed “‘Oh, You Needed Me to Pay Attention?’ Classroom Perspective from a Deceptively Remarkable Student,” an appearance by guest speaker David Finch, after the event was tabled in last week’s meeting due to FUSE’s lack of involvement in the planning of the event. Finch, the author of “The Journal of Best Practices,” a New York Times bestseller, was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome as an adult in 2008. The event is designed to allow “education majors, professors or people interested in working with students with disabilities to hear from an adult diagnosed with Asperger’s about his experiences in the classroom,” according to the request form. Deciding that FUSE had shown enough influence in planning the event, the event received full funding in the amount of $4,520, to cover Finch’s appearance fee. The event will take place in room 115 of the Education Building on Wednesday, April 13, at 7:30 p.m. Union Latina proposed the Presidential Election Informative event, co-sponsored by the Republican Club to represent Republican candidates and Student Government to represent Democratic candidates. According to the request form, “the purpose of this event is to educate the TCNJ campus on the importance of voting, introduce important issues and the presidential
candidates in this upcoming presidential election, (including) a 15-minute introduction by (history Professor Christopher Fisher) regarding the important issues and topics of this presidential race. (That will be followed by the) Democrats and Republicans each (giving) a 15-minute presentation on their parties’ candidates and where they stand on specific issues.” A motion to table the event passed on the grounds that Student Government is a co-sponsor and will likely agree to provide its own funding — thus rendering the $117 of SAF funding unnecessary. The final order of business was The Mixed Signals’s Rather Outrageous Comedy Kickout, an event that was tabled in last week’s meeting because The Mixed Signals had not submitted the necessary paperwork to be recognized by the board. Having submitted this paperwork, the organization was recognized and permitted to present a proposal for its own event. The event will “provide a free comedy event for the student body and local community through which they will be able to watch alumni improv troupes as well as improvisational comedy on a professional level,” according to the request form. In addition to the performance, “a (one) hour workshop will be provided by the professional troupe, UCB TourCo, so that anyone interested may try their hand at improv comedy,” according to the form. The board’s motion to fully fund the event was unanimously passed, and the requested $4,350, which will cover TourCo’s appearance fee and Mayo Concert Hall fees, was granted. The event will be held on Saturday, April 2, from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Mayo Concert Hall. *Even though SFB agrees to finance certain events, there is no guarantee these events will take place. The approval only makes the funds available.
Duct tape in door lock leaves damage to lever By Ellie Schuckman News Editor
• Campus Police were dispatched to Packer Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 24, on a report of criminal mischief to a door’s lock, according to reports. Around 12:54 a.m., officers observed an open computer lab door. It appeared that duct tape was stuffed inside the door lock making the lock unable to function properly, police said. Officers were able to lock the outside door leading into the lab. Access control was contacted and advised of the situation, police said. • Around 8:50 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, Campus Police were dispatched to Travers Hall regarding a theft, reports said. Upon arrival, officers met with a female student who reported leaving her keychain wallet on the outside of her dorm room door lock between 6:25 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The wallet contained several credit cards and $100 in cash, she told police. The student left the wallet attached to the lock for about five minutes while she got settled in her room. When she went to retrieve her wallet, she found that the zipper was open and her money was stolen. The credit cards were left in the wallet, according to police.
• On Saturday, Feb. 27, at 7:55 p.m., Campus Police were dispatched to Townhouse East regarding an assault. Upon arrival, officers met with two students who reported that their male friend was assaulted and injured by an unknown male, police said. The student approached the officers, who observed that he was bleeding from his head and had several bruises and scrapes on his face, according to police. TCNJ EMS arrived and provided patient care and an evaluation, police said. The victim told the officer that he came to campus to meet his two friends. He parked his car on the second level of Lot 13 and then walked to Townhouse East when he was assaulted by an unknown male wearing all black, police said. He stated that the assault happened so fast he couldn’t get a good look at the suspect and no one else was in the area when the assault occurred, according to reports. The victim said several times that he was not robbed and had all of his possessions, according to police. The suspect fled on foot toward Travers and Wolfe halls, the victim reports, police said. The victim refused to go to the hospital for further medical treatment, according to police.
• On Sunday, Feb. 28, a Building Services attendant
contacted Campus Police to report that he observed a vending machine that appeared to have been broken into. At 7:35 a.m., officers observed a snack vending machine on the first floor of an undisclosed building with the safety grate partially pulled down and broken glass on the floor. The unknown thief pilfered snacks from the top four vending rows, according to police. The value of the products taken from the machine is unknown at this time, police said. • On Tuesday, March 1, at 11:20 a.m., Campus Police spoke with a professor who was at Campus Police Headquarters to report a stolen key ring containing various College faculty keys. The professor stated that on Tuesday, Feb. 23, around 9 p.m., she set her keys down on a table in the Art and Interactive Multimedia (AIMM) Building, police said. She stated the keys on the ring are in different colored key covers and allow access to rooms in the AIMM Building. The keys are valued at $16, according to police. Anyone with information can contact Campus Police at 609-771-2345.
page 6 The Signal March 9, 2016
Campus Town’s Fitness Center more modern
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
The old gym in Packer Hall is outdated compared to the new Fitness Center.
By Melissa Reed Correspondent
One by one, students walked into the College’s new Fitness Center, located in Campus Town, with their sporting gear, gym bags and water bottles, flashing their College ID cards to the desk worker. The sun had barely risen, but a few students were already in the Fitness Center. Some students watched TV, others listened to their music and a few read their books while working out on the gym’s up-to-date equipment. “One of the goals of Campus Town was to enlarge the old Physical Enhancement Center from its original 3,500 square feet and make it more competitive with our peers,” College spokesperson Dave Muha wrote in an email.
According to students, Campus Town’s new Fitness Center has improved the quality and condition of the College’s “outdated” Physical Enhancement Center, which was formerly located in Packer Hall. “The old gym was much smaller and everything was stuffed into the room,” said senior psychology major Kristina Koskinen, one of nine student managers at the Fitness Center. “It’s also just a lot healthier because you can actually breathe the air in here, and in the old gym, it (got) really stuffy.” Other students agree with Koskinen that the new Fitness Center is an improvement from the Physical Enhancement Center. “The gym is better, the facilities (are) a lot larger, there’s more equipment here and it’s better for what we’d like to do here,” said senior history and secondary
education dual major Jimmy Gill, an associate worker at the Fitness Center. The innovation of the Fitness Center caters to two different types of students — those who don’t mind the trek across campus and those who think the Fitness Center is too far away. “The gym is convenient for students who live in Campus Town or in the apartments (Hausdoerffer and Phelps), but for students who live in the Townhouses or in the Towers (Travers and Wolfe), it’s not, because we have to walk very far,” senior business management major Esther Osei said. “With the old gym, it was in the middle of campus so it was more convenient for everyone.” Osei said that she only attends the Fitness Center twice a week, compared to the five days per week she attended the Physical Enhancement Center, because it is too far from where she resides on campus. “The College picked the building because of its physical location in relation to the campus and the size because it met the needs,” said PRC Group Vice President Greg Lentine, whose company is overseeing Campus Town. However, the new Fitness Center does not meet the needs of every student. “Even though it’s more room in general, it (has fewer) weights, which doesn’t make any sense,” senior biology major Kendrick Abad said. “I like the old gym better. (In the new gym), there’s no room for free weights and there’s only one squat rack.” Abad also expressed discontent with the quality of the machines in the Fitness Center. “Most of the machines here don’t have height adjustment, so if you don’t fit the height requirement, you can’t use
the machines,” Abad said. Other students agree that the Fitness Center can improve on the spacing of the gym and the quality of the equipment, as well. “It can still be a lot bigger, there could be more of one machine, like the back squats machine,” senior business management major Taiwo Akinmboni said. “If it (had) more of those machines, it would be much better.”
“The gym is better, the facilities (are) a lot larger, there’s more equipment here and it’s better for what we’d like to do here.” — Jimmy Gill
history and secondary education dual major and Fitness Center associate worker Although the students showed their gratitude for the improvements of Campus Town’s Fitness Center compared to the Physical Enhancement Center, they also expressed that this gym’s layout needs to improve. “It’s spaced weirdly, there’s unnecessary spacing (and) there’s a big, weird walkway,” Abad said. “The gym can improve on its spacing.” Although the College aimed to build a larger fitness facility that could serve the student population, it appears as if some students are not entirely satisfied.
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March 9, 2016 The Signal page 7
Nation & W rld
Trump and Clinton dominate Super Tuesday
Presidential candidates vie to gain the total amount of delegates needed to secure the nomination for their respective party. By Olivia Rizzo Staff Writer Historically, the results of Super Tuesday have functioned as a crystal ball that is able to predict the two final candidates of the presidential race. On Tuesday, March 1, 11 states held primaries or caucuses and party-registered voters selected the candidate they wanted to see represent their party come November. Super Tuesday also functions as a way for candidates to rack up delegate votes from their respective parties, which puts them one step closer to becoming the final candidate. Additionally, with so much going on in so many different states at once, the candidates must strategically balance spending time and money across 11 states, giving
them a real feel for what it will be like to campaign across the entire nation. Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton came out on top of each of their parties, but according to CNN, they have not completly secured their respective party’s nomination. On the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) end, Trump won seven states, bringing his delegate total to 382 out of the 1,237 that he needs to win. Sen. Ted Cruz won three states and Sen. Marco Rubio won one state, bringing their delegate totals to 300 and 128, respectively. Tuesday’s outcome secured Trump’s position as the official frontrunner for the party, proving he has the ability to win over voters even among ongoing controversy while his rivals spend the latest Republican debate trying to tear him down.
Clinton swept the southern states, especially among minority voters, according to CNN. She took Texas, Georgia, Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee and Arkansas, but only narrowly defeated candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders in Massachusetts. Although Clinton currently holds 663 delegates to Sanders’s 459, she has not completely knocked him out of the race, as the Democratic Party nominating contest allocates delegates proportionally. It may seem like the presidential race is all tied up, but some very important variables could come into play during the next eight months. Cruz won in his home state of Texas on Tuesday, making him eligible to continue on in the race. According to CNN, Cruz has claimed that after his Super Tuesday results, he could turn the campaign
Infographic by Surbhi Chawla
around. The New York Times reported that if Tuesday’s voting pattern continues across the country, Trump will reach the number of delegate votes needed to become the Republican Party candidate. Even though it may seem like Clinton has a stronghold on the Democratic Party, Sanders is still hanging on in the race. He is able to stay competitive due to the more than $42 million he raised in February alone, according to CNN. The Vermont senator’s other advantage is that he has the chance to further sell his platform in the upcoming debates. Super Tuesday reveals a lot about voting patterns, as well as the candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, but it isn’t election day yet. If this race has showcased anything, it is that anything can happen.
Japanese census reveals shrinking population By Catherine Herbert Staff Writer Japan’s official 2015 census, which was released on Friday, Feb. 26, revealed that its population has made a dramatic decline of over 1 million people in just the past five years, according to the Washington Post. The last Japanese census, recorded in 2010, showed a population of over 128 million people. This new data reveals that the Japanese population today consists of 127 million people. Such a significant decrease in population is unheard of for Japan, and the country has recorded population data ever since 1920, the New York Times reported. Despite this lack of empirical data showing population decline prior to 2015, experts and various smaller surveys have predicted
this kind of drop in population for years based on birth and death rates, the Washington Post reported. This exponential downward slope in Japan’s inhabitants is due to a myriad of reasons. One echo of this can be found in Japan’s birth rates. For a long time, Japanese citizens have not been meeting the universal birthrate of 2.1 babies per woman that is believed to be the number needed to preserve and promote population growth. Instead, they have been maintaining a lower birthrate of approximately 1.4 children birthed per woman, according to the Washington Post. Another reason for this decline lies in Japan’s current demographics. The Washington Post reported that in 2015, about one-third of all Japanese citizens were over the age of 65.
These findings show that Japan has the oldest population in the world, a title likely to remain with the country for a while, according to Newsweek. According to the New York Times, this large demographic of elderly people making up Japan’s population is expected to increase to up to 40 percent by the year 2060. According to the United Nations, Japan is one of the world’s highest on the list of countries with low fertility rates, along with the U.S., Russia and Vietnam, Newsweek reported. Attempts by the government to urge women to reproduce have been largely futile because many women don’t want to give up their careers in pursuit of a family, the New York Times reported. Immigration to Japan has not been prioritized or advertised by the government, which contributes to a stagnation
AP Photo
Japan’s 2015 census reveals significant population decline. in population, according to the New York Times. Interestingly, geography seems to be playing a big role in the fate of Japan’s population rising or sinking. Population seems to grow in major cities, such as Tokyo, but struggles in the more rural areas. The Japanese government has attempted to reinvigorate the populations of depopulated rural areas by sending
in as many as three times more Parliament representatives than they give to other places, as some provinces have less than 1 million people, according to the New York Times. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe cited this population decline as the nation’s top priority and aims to keep their population above 100 million, according to the Washington Post.
page 8 The Signal March 9, 2016
Editorial
Steinem preaches an outdated brand of feminism
This past week, Gloria Steinem — the celebrated women’s rights activist and journalist — visited the College to deliver a lecture. I can’t decide if this was poor or impeccable timing, given how often Steinem has been making headlines lately. We all know the controversy by now: In early February, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Steinem spoke at a rally for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton ahead of the New Hampshire primary. The duo essentially said that any young woman who is supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders instead of Clinton is not a true feminist. This, coming from two well-regarded feminists in our nation’s recent history, is dangerous. “There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t help each other!” Albright reportedly said, according to the New York Times. In an interview with Bill Maher, Steinem suggested that young women are voting for Sanders because they’re hoping to attract male attention: “When you’re young, you’re thinking: ‘Where are the boys? The boys are with Bernie,’” she said, according to the same New York Times article. Steinem has since apologized for these controversial remarks, but women are still objecting to Steinem. The backlash has gotten to the point that the clothing company Lands’ End had to pull a featured interview with Steinem from their upcoming spring catalog. I respect Steinem and all that she’s done to advance women’s rights since the 1960s. As a feminist, I certainly can’t begrudge her the right to speak out in favor of women supporting other women in politics. I believe it’s time to put a woman in the White House, too. But I object to being told that it’s my duty as a young woman and a feminist to vote for a woman, just because it’s politically expedient. At that rally in New Hampshire a few weeks ago, Steinem, Albright and Clinton advocated for an outdated brand of feminism. They asked women to rally behind a female politician for the sake of female empowerment. To me, that’s not feminism. That’s tokenism. I’m still undecided about who I’m going to vote for in November, but I know that whoever I do choose to support, it will be the candidate who is most qualified to be president. It won’t be because he or she represents an underrepresented class of people. I resent the implication that all young feminists are obliged to vote for Clinton because she’s a woman. Personally, I feel that feminism is about giving women the freedom to make choices without having to explain themselves. If young female voters want to support Sanders or Rubio or a third-party candidate, it’s ultimately their decision. If they rally behind Clinton because they believe she is the best candidate, that’s perfectly acceptable, too. I won’t be guilted into voting one way or another. Even though they’re from a bygone era of feminism, I think Steinem’s words are pertinent here: “A feminist is anyone who recognizes the equality and full humanity of women and men.” — Alyssa Sanford Web Editor
Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
While many flocked to Kendall Hall on Wednesday, March 2, to hear Steinem speak, others view her as an activist who is out-of-touch with modern feminism.
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“When a movement first starts, it is absolutely crucial that those who were invisible can become visible and name ourselves and say what the problems are and rise up and have a voice.” — Gloria Steinem, social activist
“I think political correctness is a slight over-correction to a problem that needs to be corrected. It’s a little bit clunky… but it’s young people caring about things, so I don’t really care and I’m a tough guy.” — Bo Burnham, comedian
“Seeing and hearing the audience engage in the humor... is awesome and I’m glad we were able to bring an hour and a half of pure fun to the people who came out to see it.”
— Steve Munoz, senior English and secondary education double major
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 9
Opinions Trump symbolizes the death of satire in politics
AP Photo
Trump’s bid for the presidency shows that the American people have taken satire too far.
By Alex Holzman
There is a tragedy looming on the cultural horizon. This November, the American people risk murdering, in cold blood, one of the most cherished institutions of dissent, critique and comedy: satire. No doubt most Americans have already sensed this, if not by that description then certainly by some other. The 2016 election has already become, should we say, the most interesting in a century or more. The revolt against the parties’ establishments, led by Donald Trump on the right and Bernie Sanders on the left, reflects nothing if not a general sociopolitical dissatisfaction, the likes of which has possibly never before been experienced. According to a Gallup poll released on Jan. 22, 2014, dissatisfaction with the American government has risen from 23 percent in 2002 to over 66 percent in 2014. A more recent Gallup poll from March 12, 2015, found that the U.S. government itself is considered the “No. 1 problem” facing the United States by the American people. Conventional realist political science would predict either a violent revolution or another civil war. Yet, no reasonable American fears imminent civil war, nor do international money markets, political analysts or foreign governments. The great tragedy we tempt stems not from the potentially violent consequences of this dissatisfaction, but from the markedly non-violent popular and political response to it. What exactly is satire, though? This is a topic worthy of far more discussion than anyone can offer in an opinion column, but it can be generally understood by its Oxford English Dictionary (OED) definition: “The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.” Notice that this definition accurately describes not only Trump’s modus operandi, but also the source of his visceral appeal. Trump is a satirist, possibly even the most successful satirist of all time. He viciously insults and ridicules everyone from Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush to disabled reporters to female debate moderators to talk show hosts, all with the impunity of an established comedian. It is undeniable that Trump has focused more on ridiculing his opponents, along with anyone else who opposes him, than he has on laying out a thoroughly substantive policy plan. At the absolute least, it is what the media and many Trump supporters have made most salient. Now consider this: In an effort to curb the perceived negative effects of political correctness and pandering, Congressional deadlock, structural economic changes, eight years of a controversial presidency and a fiercely divided nation, millions of Americans — and soon to join them, the Republican Party — have chosen as their standard bearer none other than Donald Trump.
The fact that many of us read that and flippantly think, “Well, yes, of course,” demonstrates the extent to which we have already mortally wounded satire. The 2016 U.S. presidential election now more closely resembles the plot of a mediocre episode of “The Simpsons” than any other upheaval our country has endured. I do not mean this as a lazy criticism of Trump as a person or politician. Politics in a democracy, like so much else, is largely controlled by the laws of supply and demand. Being literally nothing if not a shrewd businessman, Trump saw a niche and filled it. He is a political capitalist. However, it is not always clear whether or not demand caused supply or vice versa. In this case, we should go back to the coverage of Trump’s participation in the 2012 Republican Primary, according to an ABC News article from April 7, 2011. It reads as utterly, forgivably naïve. In 2012, a serious Trump presidential bid was laughable. Four short years later, not only is it a reality, it might also achieve fundamental success. The electorate’s demand has seemingly changed in a way that in one fell swoop eliminated career politicians such as Jeb Bush and Rand Paul and put meaningful satire on life support. On one hand, this is the unsurprising conclusion of a political atmosphere that has for decades rewarded showmanship substantially more than policymaking. The seemingly valid notion that Sanders — a dedicated civil servant who has categorically stuck to his admittedly unpopular policy views for over 30 years — is “unelectable” serves as a testament to this (and even his poll numbers are on the rise, according to the Huffington Post). On the other hand, the OED definition of satire omits a key component. Most satire parodies something — that is, it constructs a believable, relevant straw man version at which to levy the aforementioned ridicule. Let me be perfectly clear: Trump is a parody in himself. He has become a self-fulfilling and self-causing parody of the very thing that he currently satirizes. This should not be a controversial claim. The United States and the world at large have been laughing at Trump for decades. He is funny and provides mountains of material for other satirists. But how many among us would stand up and declare that they have always supported Trump and what he stands for — how he acts, what he has constructed — and have always considered him an ideal American worthy of election to our highest office? Again, this is not a criticism of Trump himself in any way. First, he has not changed much of “who he is” yet has enjoyed mainstream success, so it must be mainstream tastes that have changed. Second, we know that he has consciously profited off this exact sort of attention — how else could an otherwise runof-the-mill successful real estate investor become a cultural icon if not by embracing and promoting his own extreme personality? According to a Forbes article from June 16,
2015, Trump has gone on record that his very name and personality is his brand (which he values at $3.3 billion). Trump was (and remains) an effective straw man parody of an American: a rich, tanned, toupeed, bold billionaire reality TV celebrity with multiple wives, scandals and bizarre political beliefs. A presidential run is the next logical step in the construction of that parody. The fact that he’s succeeding is another matter entirely. Let’s recap: Trump is a self-realizing parody of an American, who is currently running a campaign whose primary strategy is the satirical takedown of opponents, and has so far dominated the election for the most powerful person in the world. If Trump’s campaign were performance art, it would be the most brilliant work of art in the 21st century. If he were a Democrat/Clinton plant designed to destroy the Republican Party, it would be the most effective political tactic in American history. Unfortunately, it is unlikely to be either of those things. Instead, his run represents the end of satire as an effective or meaningful tool of critique, and perhaps even strips it of its fundamental comedic value. In a way, this is because Trump has perfected satire. The “problem” with satire up until now has been that it was reasonably clear that the satirist did not hold to the beliefs in which they claimed — rather, they were parodying people who do. This is not the case with Trump, who seemingly truly believes in himself, a parody, and his campaign, which is purposefully satirical. He has collapsed the boundary between satire, parody and the real world. Elsewhere, other professional satirists are retiring or turning to more direct forms of commentary, most obviously in the cases of Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. The dread that so many feel from their inopportune departure is symptomatic of both the declining vital signs of modern satire and to the efficacy it once enjoyed. But what good would Stewart’s and Colbert’s style of satire be in a world where a walking, talking parody is doing their job for them? This state of affairs is what so many heady, unreadable philosophers, such as Jean Baudrillard, refer to as the “postmodern culture.” Trump is what the German sociologist Jürgen Habermas would call “hyperreal,” although he considered President Ronald Reagan to be the hyperreal president, so Trump might represent something even further removed from “regular” reality. Culture is postmodern when it seems normal that someone can go from reality TV star to president of the United States in less than a year without changing anything other than their job title. Culture is postmodern when irony becomes the norm rather than the exception. Culture is postmodern when our idea of a successful politician becomes only arbitrarily distinguishable from an effective lampoon. In short, we have no idea what a postmodern culture truly is because we can’t even operationalize its basic terms. What is a “politician” when a Bush is bullied out of a legacy by a casino mogul? What is a “Republican” when the leading “Republican” candidate is despised by the Republican National Committee? What is a “debate” when participants spend their time insulting one another, and this is the most prudent possible strategy? Singer Tom Lehrer said that “Political satire became obsolete when Henry Kissinger was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.” His mistake was that Kissinger, often accused of propagating subtle but horrific worldwide violence, being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize was merely ironic. A Trump presidency would instead be the ascendency of irony into the most salient aspect of our political reality, with the blood of satire being not on the hands of some Norwegian elites, but of the American people themselves. Satire is dead, and we have killed it.
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 March 9, 2016
Students share opinions around campus Is Trump a real candidate? Have you heard of Kasich? “I do think that he is a serious candidate... I think that once (Trump wins) the primaries... he will start to appeal to a wide range of people... He’s not a dumb man.”
“(No)... There’s a lot of candidates in the race... (Such as) Hillary (Clinton), Bernie, Trump and Ted (Cruz).”
Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor
Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor
Patrick McSorley, junior accounting major.
Vanessa Oyeneye, freshman psychology major.
“Oh, God... I’m going to say yes... I’m hearing that he could cause bad relations with other countries, (but) that his business background (can be beneficial).”
“(No)... I think that there is a lot of attention on Trump... for reasons not regarding the presidency.”
Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor
Olivia Gorski, freshman health and exercise science major.
Tom Ballard / Opinions Editor
Sophia Grigolo, freshman criminology major.
The Signal asks... Should the drinking age be lowered?
Patrick: “It would cause havoc... High schools will have to change (what they teach about alcohol)... I don’t think high school (students) are mature enough.” Vanessa: “I would say yes... If we’re 18 and (an) adult (then) we should be able to make decisions.” Sophia: “(It’s) debatable... I know that there’s the whole brain decay issue.” Olivia: “Yeah, I do... I feel that in the college (we’re) at, the whole drinking age (thing) isn’t stopping anyone anyway.”
Rob Birnbohm / Cartoonist
A bill to lower the drinking age from 21 to 18 has caused a ruckus in the State House.
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 11
Kasich cares for the American people By Tom Ballard Opinions Editor
Throughout the muckraking and mudslinging of the current Republican presidential election, it is easy to oversee a candidate whose virtues shine through as a welcoming reminder that politics do not have to be cruel and violent spectacles. Ohio Gov. John Kasich — who only polls at 7 percent of support of likely Republican votes, according to analysis from FiveThirtyEight.com, a website focused on opinion poll analysis published on Sunday, March 6 — is the best choice for the Grand Old Party’s (GOP) presidential nomination. With the recent withdraw of Ben Carson from the presidential race, the field of nominees for the GOP now stands at four from the original 17 candidates, according to a New York Times article from Friday, March 4. What was once a circus of GOP contenders is now reduced to businessman Donald Trump, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Kasich. While Trump and Cruz are seen to cater to the conservative base of the party, Rubio and Kasich are seen as more moderate voices whose viewpoints are more in line with the GOP’s standpoints. Kasich is an experienced candidate — the most experienced one left in the GOP field. He served nine terms (18 years) representing Ohio’s 12th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Six of those years (1995-2001) he served as the chairman of the House
Budget Committee following the “Gingrich Revolution,” in which Republicans swept control of the U.S. of Representatives and elected Newt Gingrich as the speaker, according to a PBS “Newshour” article from Wednesday Feb. 10. As chairman of the committee, Kasich was seen taking on not just Democratic lawmakers, but also fellow Republicans. He played a fundamental role in passing the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, which received bipartisan support, and was known to work with the administration of President Bill Clinton in order to help reduce the deficit, according to an Aug. 9, 2015, article from Politifact, a Pulitzer Prize-winning political fact-checking website. In 2010, Kasich went on to be elected governor of Ohio and was re-elected in 2014. As governor, Kasich supported the expansion of Medicaid included in the Affordable Care Act, despite criticism from fellow Republicans, saying that it was important for Ohio residents to receive the additional medical coverage, according to a PBS “Newsroom” article from July 21, 2015. In comparison with his GOP rivals, Kasich has almost three decades worth of political experience in comparison to his current challengers, which includes two first-term senators and a real estate magnet that has never served in public office. Kasich has proven that he has the willingness to reach across the political aisle in order to do what he believes is right and he
YouTube.com
Kasich hugs a young supporter after he shares his personal hardships with him.
fights for the betterment of the American people. The Ohio governor is also known to be a compassionate person — not known to take political shots at his opponents, but willing to show people that he cares about them. According to a CNN article from Thursday, Feb. 18, Kasich hugged a supporter from the University of Georgia at a town hall in South Carolina after he told Kasich about recent hardships that he has endured, such as the suicide of a man who was like a father figure to him and his father losing his job. The presence of Kasich in this race to crown the GOP’s nomination has brought a human element to the competition. While his competitors often attack each other over matters of flip-flopping on political issues to petty fashion issues, Kasich is a
candidate committed to taking the high-road and discussing the issues that matter to Americans, such as taxes and the environment. Not only is Kasich the best candidate for the White House, but he is also the best-situated Republican to compete with Hillary Clinton in the general election. According to a Suffolk University/USA Today poll from Wednesday, Feb. 17, Kasich would defeat Clinton in a hypothetical presidential matchup with the largest margin being 49-38 percent. While I may not agree with Kasich on every issues, his record of being a leader willing to compromise is a needed trait to get things done in Washington, D.C., and is a trait that no other candidate on the GOP side seems to be willing to claim.
On Nov. 23, 2015, the Pew Research Center released a report that showed that only 19 percent of Americans, or roughly one out of every five, trusts the government. America needs a president that they feel they can trust. America needs a leader with an experienced and proven record of compromise that benefits the people. Americans need a president who is able to connect with them at a personal level. America needs John Kasich. Although his humbleness may pale in comparison to the flamboyance of Trump and his humility may seem quiet amongst the GOP contenders who try to flaunt that they are the most conservative Democrat-despiser of them all, Kasich is an experienced candidate that hugs the country with authentic and genuine kindness.
page 12 The Signal March 9, 2016
Arts & Entertainment
Bo / Burnham burns ’em in Kendall Hall
Heiner Fallas / Photo Assistant
Burnham uses a combination of music and stand up in his show. continued from page 1
“I like my colleges to sound like a sexually transmitted disease,” Burnham said. “It’s good. ‘Mom, I got into TCNJ.’ ‘What? Edward, she got TCNJ. How?’ You know how dads are Edward.” After some jabs at the audience in an attempt to give them their $5 worth of comedy, everything but the pink lights dimmed as Burnham sat down at his keyboard to reveal “some of the problems in my life.” “God only knows why he cursed me to be a straight, white male,” Burnham sang, interjecting midway, “This song is ironic. I don’t mean any of this, I mean the opposite of this. Are we all clear?” In an interview with The Signal, Burnham said he could understand why the audience might not be aware that his material is satirical.
“The fact that the young people might be coming into their morals and be a little irony-deaf in exchange of not being bigoted is fine,” Burnham said. “The idea that like ‘Oh, my God, kids aren’t so psyched for my subtle racial humor.’ They should understand that I’m actually making fun of the privilege.” Not long after some jabs at the College’s architectural style reminiscent of the colonial era — a time heavy with privilege and bricks — a computerized, high-pitched voice asked Burnham to sing a song that calls him a faggot. Burnham told The Signal that he understands why bits like this can easily offend people. “If someone were like ‘I don’t like hearing that word. I just don’t like hearing it,’ I’d be like ‘That’s completely fair.’ I can defend it in terms of, like, what it does in the show and what it is for me, but if someone’s offended,
then that’s completely fine,” Burnham said. “I mean, that’s what you’re doing. You’re asking for people’s judgement and you’re asking for their approval, so you might not get it.” Audience members, who spent their Super Tuesday at the show, fell silent at Burnham’s mention of Donald Trump. “Nothing makes a room quieter than mentioning Trump to a bunch of college-age kids,” Burnham said. “I can feel the tension. Welcome to the next four years.” Burnham told The Signal that Trump is spearheading the anti-politically correct movement, and even though they might not support the candidate, other comedians think that having to be inoffensive is damaging to their profession. “I think political correctness is a slight over-correction to a problem that needs to be corrected. It’s a little bit clunky… but it’s young people caring about things, so I don’t really care and I’m a tough guy — supposed to be — other comedians complain about it,” he said. “I just think that if comedians spent half the time working on their shows as they did talking about comedy or talking about the problems of comedy, comedy would be a lot better.” Burnham interrupted his show by coming down into the audience to “get to know the kids of New Jersey.” After calling out a few students about their majors, he targeted the police officer in the room. “I know what you do. Justice for the people, baby. Hand on the belt. I am terrified,” Burnham said. “He’s just maintaining eye contact with me. Comedians’ lives matter, all right?” After praying for Campus Police’s patience, Burnham invited the audience to sing along to his older song, “From God’s Perspective.”
Burnham showed a more down-to-earth side of himself as he uncovered the point of the show: performing on stage and in life. The comedian told The Signal that performing, and the attention he receives as a result, is the only thing he feels qualified to speak about and wants to alert people to how strange the process really is through his show. “I wanted to wake people up to what was happening, which is like, there’s a 1,000 of you here,” Burnham said. “I’m up here and I’m trying to be relatable and you guys all like me and I’m the cool guy, but this is so weird. This is truly, truly weird.” To make it weirder, Burnham ended the show by breaking into an auto-tuned tale of his struggles with performing and happiness, inspired by a rant done by Kanye West during his “Yeezus” tour. Though the song appeared personal, Burnham said in an interview with The Signal that it’s not telling of the person he is off stage. “Me on stage is still a character. It still kind of is. It is me as a performer. So for me as a performer, them liking me or not is life and death,” he said. “The good thing is truly in my real life, I have strong personal relationships and stuff that fulfill me to the point where I don’t totally 100 percent need this.” Burnham’s serious side seems to be an honest glimpse into the person behind the persona, but it’s just an exaggeration with a hint of truth. “It’s funny that I do something crazy and funny and people are like, ‘Ah ha ha, he’s kidding,’ and then I do something a little dark or whatever and everyone is like, ‘This is him. This is absolutely him.’ Both are exaggerations of something, but yeah, I mean I’ve never been great with performing… It’s very strange to me. I feel like I signed up for a life that I wouldn’t have necessarily chosen if I had started now.”
‘The Revenant’ reveals rough and rugged journey By Thomas Infante Staff Writer
The 2016 Academy Awards were remarkable for several reasons, including a fevered controversy regarding the lack of diversity among the nominated films. Amid the storm of public outcry, many viewers’ main concern remained not with social justice, but with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who was nominated for best actor for his performance in “The Revenant.” DiCaprio’s frequent nominations in this category without once winning had become a running joke of sorts, which left
many wondering what role would finally win him the award. His portrayal of fur-trapper Hugh Glass, as it turned out, was that role. Throughout “The Revenant,” Glass is forced through one instance of horrible physical pain after another. Based somewhat on a true story, the film follows Glass’s journey after he is viciously mauled by a bear and subsequently left for dead by his cohort, John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Before leaving, Fitzgerald murders Glass’s son in front of him, fueling Glass’s intense desire for vengeance, which keeps him alive throughout his adventure.
AP Photo
DiCaprio finally wins best actor for his role as Glass.
DiCaprio’s performance is outstanding — every bit of pain is reflected in his expressions and vocalizations. Much of the film shows Glass alone in the wilderness attempting to survive, and it is here that we can truly admire his prowess as an actor. Engaging an audience with almost no dialogue can be extremely difficult, but effective if done correctly. When Glass struggles to make a fire or climbs inside a hollowed out horse carcass to stay warm, it leaves the viewer truly unsure whether he will live or die. The strong acting is complemented by exceptional cinematography and great direction, which earned the film several other Academy awards, as well. Emmanuel Lubezki, who previously worked on films like “Gravity” and “Birdman,” handled the cinematography for “The Revenant.” The film takes place in the early 1800s in the frontier territory that would later become North Dakota and South Dakota. The sweeping, undisturbed landscape is the focus of many beautiful shots, which only emphasizes Glass’s plight while stranded in the wilderness. Alejandro González Iñárritu, who just last year won several Academy awards for writing and directing
AP Photo
Hardy’s character pushes Glass to his breaking point.
“Birdman,” is the director of the film. The constant stream of violence and suffering gives the film a raw and intense atmosphere that is not often achieved in cinema. The film’s focus on Glass’s survival against overwhelming odds through sheer force of will keeps the viewer interested and in suspense. Another subplot has Glass seeing repeated visions of his deceased Native American wife, which haunt him throughout his journey. These visions make the entire trip seem even more surreal, adding to the already unbelievable
tale. Although there are points in the movie during which Glass’s survival seems ridiculous given the circumstances, it is never absurd enough to disengage the viewer, so long as one can suspend their disbelief. A truly great film is one that leaves the viewer stirring with emotions long after the credits have rolled. Thanks to a remarkable performance by DiCaprio, beautiful cinematography and strong direction, “The Revenant” is an extremely compelling ride that will leave any viewer stunned.
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 13
‘Xanadu:’ Greek myth, Spandex and rollerblades
Heiner Fallas / Photo Assistant
The cast performs 15 musical numbers throughout the show.
By Jake Mulick Staff Writer
A small cast of passionate students performed the pop rock musical adaptation of the 1980 film, “Xanadu,” which details the adventure of a young California native trying to find his purpose as an artist. TCNJ Musical Theatre put on the performance in the Don Evans Black Box Theatre from Tuesday, March 1, to Saturday, March 5. The main character of the show, Sonny, is persuaded by the Greek muses to work hard and attempt to create his artistic magnum opus — a roller disco. On his journey, he changes the life of somebody who was once like him, but now only cares about personal wealth. There is also a love story between Sonny and one of the muses, Kira. Students performed 15 songs throughout the musical, many paying homage to, as well as satirizing, the film that stars Michael Beck and Olivia
Newton-John. Kyle Elphick, a freshman history major who has been performing since elementary school, played the jaded businessman Danny Maguire. “Performing (in) ‘Xanadu’ is an exhilarating experience,” Elphick said. “The show is a high-energy and humorous piece that requires the commitment and cooperation of everyone on stage. Every member of this cast is a major part of making this musical what it is.” All 10 people on cast were extremely dedicated to their roles and it was clear in their performances. Multiple musical numbers involved most, if not all, members of the show and require intense and precise dancing. Some of the scenes even required cast members to rollerblade around the stage, something that is no simple feat. Izabella Sandoval, a sophomore English major, had the lead role in the production as Clio/Kira. “Although the process leading up
to the show was an immense amount of fun, it definitely required a great amount of focus and hard work,” Sandoval said. “My experience in ‘Xanadu’ has only opened my eyes even more to the amount of time and work that goes into creating any kind of production. I have most definitely learned a lot from my own struggles with this production, whether that be roller skating, putting on an Australian accent, simply remembering my entrances and exits, as well as from the talented people I was blessed with the chance to work with.” Something that makes this rendition of “Xanadu” particularly special is that many of the students in the show have been performing for most of their lives. “I would have to say that ‘Xanadu’ has been an experience like no other,” Sandoval said. “I have been a part of countless productions since my freshman year of high school, yet this production has to be the most unique. The
amount of time that was put in every single aspect of this show is profound, whether on stage or behind the scenes, everything required such diligent time and planning.” What gets the performers through the process of putting together a show is the love of their craft. Steven Munoz, a senior English and secondary education dual major, played the character of troubled artist Sonny and truly loved taking on this new role. “‘Xanadu’ is one of my favorite musicals because of how it makes fun of other musicals and the conventions of musical theatre,” Munoz said. “The whole show just pokes fun at the genre while being really campy and wild, and it’s been a great time to work on. Seeing and hearing the audience engage in the humor and play along with the whimsy is awesome and I’m glad we were able to bring an hour and a half of pure fun to the people who came out to see it.”
Heiner Fallas / Photo Assistant
Munoz skates around the stage as troubled artist Sonny.
‘Hitman’ entertains gamers Simple design succeeds By Andrew Street Social Media Editor “Hitman Go” was released on the App Store and Google Play two years ago amid much fanfare. While mobile games often get bad reputations among traditional players, “Hitman Go” is surely worth your time. The “Definitive Edition” has now been released for Sony’s PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita and the transition was executed perfectly. “Hitman Go” does not offer the traditional “Hitman” experience. Yes, Agent 47 and his iconic red tie are back, but this isn’t a stealth action game. Instead, it involves turn-based strategy in the styling of a board game. Turn by turn, you must assist Agent 47 in reaching the end goal. To do this, you have to avoid, assassinate or distract the guards that stand in your way. You are allowed to move one space per turn and after each move, the enemies are allowed to make their move. It’s a battle of outclassing these guards to
collect intel and escape without being noticed. While the gameplay may be simplistic, it is addictive and entertaining. As I progressed deeper into the levels, the difficulty began to spike and I found myself enjoying the game more and more. Solving a puzzle and executing a perfect level was rewarding. Each level conquered felt like an achievement I had earned due to the amount of effort it required. It became easy to jump into the game and waste long periods of time progressing through each stage. This was especially true on the PlayStation Vita, as the game just feels perfect for pick-and-play moments while on the move. While “Hitman Go” lacks a narrative, it makes up for it with its gameplay and art style. The game sports a minimalist design that feels perfect for what it is. It resembles a neat and simplistic board game — one that would require too much time to set up and experience, but one that still features an amazing design.
The game’s performance on both PlayStation Vita and PlayStation 4 is great. As expected, Sony’s home console ran the game smoothly with zero hiccups. Surprisingly, the Vita version also holds up extraordinarily well. I saw no stuttering or frame drops on either platform. Additionally, the game handled cross-save between the two platforms better than most. A simple button click synced game data between the different devices, making it a seamless experience to pick up wherever you left off. In the end, although “Hitman Go” is a mobile game ported to consoles, it doesn’t make it an experience to miss. It’s an extraordinary turn-based strategy game that will keep you entertained for a few hours. Each conquered puzzle is a worthwhile achievement and picking up and playing was an excellent time killer. Whether you go for the “Definitive Version” or chose the original on mobile, “Hitman Go” is a game well worth your time and money.
page 14 The Signal March 9, 2016
Wind Ensemble presents ‘Spiritus Mundi’
Heiner Fallas / Photo Assistant
Mitchell plays soprano saxophone during the composition ‘Velocity Meadows.’ By Shayna Innocenti Staff Writer
Nestled within Kendall Hall Main Stage Theater, the TCNJ Wind Ensemble delivered the electric performance, “Spiritus Mundi,” on Friday, March 4. The group was guided by the visionary David Vickerman, conductor and director of bands at the College. The spectacular performance featured two new compositions and special guests. The first was Kathleen Mitchell, a principal saxophonist and director of the saxophone ensemble at the College and the Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band. The youth band was composed of musicians from 14 local high schools. “At the College, we not only like to show off what we can do, but we also like to support the community, as well,” Vickerman
said. “It was a lot of fun putting this collaboration together.” “Spiritus Mundi,” a term coined by the Irish poet W.B. Yeats, describes how different universal components thrive together harmoniously. This driving force of inspiration perfectly titled the performance, as new age technology played alongside the wind ensemble. The concert opened with the uplifting medley of “Shepherd’s Hey” (1913), composed by Percy Grainger. Despite having only rehearsed together for the first time 20 minutes before the concert’s start, the TCNJ Wind Ensemble collaborated effortlessly with the Eastern Wind Symphony Youth Band. Vickerman explained that the original Grainger composition was at a faster pace, reflecting that of an English Morris dance, but that he had to alter the tempo to best suit the ensemble.
“We spent a long time trying to work the gestures of the dance into how we performed the piece,” Vickerman said. The second piece performed by what Vickerman dubbed as the “Mega Band,” was the somber “Dusk” (2004), composed by Steven Bryant. Following a brief intermission, the TCNJ Wind Ensemble premiered Christopher Stark’s composition “Velocity Meadows” (2015). The group was accompanied by soprano saxophonist Mitchell for this rendition. Consisting of five uninterrupted movements, the piece was originally scored for an oboe solo with chamber winds. What made this arrangement truly special was the accompaniment of video manipulation. Created by designer Andrew Lucia, the video of a static dreamscape was projected behind the musicians.
“Stark is very interested in creating landscapes and creating textures,” Vickerman said. Vickerman also noted that Stark often focuses on having a soloist complement or echo the ensemble, rather than in typical concerto form where the soloist is featured against what the ensemble is doing. “It is a very organic concerto process, which as someone from California, I appreciate,” Vickerman said. Mason Bates’s composition, “Observer in the Magellanic Cloud” (2010), was the second new piece for the ensemble. The work was originally scored for a chorus, but with the permission from Bates, Vickerman spent the last year arranging the piece for a wind ensemble. Vickerman explained that Bates’s composition was inspired by a satellite in deep space. Subsequently, the start of the piece is denoted by a metronome, a sound resembling that of a lone satellite. “In a lot of ways, this piece embodies our integration of technology — reflecting both the negative and positive aspects,” Vickerman said. The concert closed with a second Steven Bryant composition, “Ecstatic Waters” (2008). This award-winning piece, inspired by the poetry of Yeats, featured a harmonious blend of the wind ensemble and live electronics. As denoted by the five movement titles, the piece was like watching a well-oiled machine
evolve. It opened with a playful tune that melted away, showcasing the unified power behind the ensemble. But among the chaotic notes was one of the soloists, junior music education major Rachel Kopania, who played the soft-winded ballad that disrupted and disbanded the machine of “Ecstatic Waters.” Kopania explained that learning to play alongside the electronics was challenging, particularly during her solo as the notes she played were simultaneously being electronically processed and overlaid with pre-recorded sounds. “There are cue cards for where I have to listen to the electronics and come in with it,” Kopania said. “It was hard to learn, but today, it was just amazing to have it all come together.” Freshman physics and secondary education dual major Samantha Staskiewicz said that despite her initial concerns about incorporating electronics into the compositions, she was utterly impressed by the ensemble’s performance. “I have never really heard anything like it before,” Staskiewicz said. “I did band in high school and none of the pieces compared to what I just heard. It was really good.” The next event the Department of Music will be hosting is on Monday, March 28, entitled East Meets West — where the TCNJ Chorale will be accompanied by choir students from Japan.
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 15
‘Fuller House’ makes its debut The ’90s classic gets a reboot
AP Photo
DJ, Stephanie and Kimmy are back in ‘Fuller.’ By Danielle Silvia Correspondent
It’s been 29 years since families across America first sat down to watch the Tanner family experience the trials and tribulations of growing up. One of television’s favorite families is back in a reboot called “Fuller House,” which premiered all 13 episodes of Season 1 on Netflix on Friday, Feb. 26. Twenty-one years after the show’s end, “Fuller House” documents the beloved Tanner family and friends moving in new directions. Danny is now remarried and a grandfather to his daughter DJ’s three adorable sons. Stephanie is a popular disc jockey traveling the world and Kimmy Gibbler, the classic girl-next-door, has recently separated from her husband and has a young daughter, Ramona, who is very similar to her. Family favorites Uncle Jesse and Aunt Becky also make an
appearance (and if I do say so myself, John Stamos seriously does not age!) with their grown twins, who all plan to travel California. And, of course, Uncle Joey also shows up — still hilarious and continuing to always be there for the family. Sadly, most of the adults made an exit after the pilot episode and only make appearances as guest stars here and there. The show stars the original children in parallel roles from “Full House.” DJ is a single mother after her husband, a firefighter, recently passed away on the job. Her three boys are the same ages as she and her sisters were in the original series, with the boys sharing a bedroom, just as DJ and Stephanie did. The baby playing DJ’s youngest son is played by twin actors, just as Michelle Tanner was portrayed by both Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. In “Full House,” there were three male adults leading the household and now, in this spin-off series, there are the three lead women — DJ, Stephanie and Kimmy. But even with the majority of the old cast returning, there were two members who did not. The Olsen twins did not reprise their role as Michelle. I was upset to learn about the character’s absence, since some of my favorite memories from “Full House” are of Michelle and her hilarious catchphrases. The rest of the show, however, does hold up. The Tanner home still looks the same, just updated. The floor plan and structure of their home resembles that of the old San Fransisco house that held so many memories. The kitchen looks the same in size, except it is redone and a bit fancier. The living room has the same familiar layout, but now it includes a modern television and new couches. The set has definitely been revamped for the reboot. Now for the big question: Does the series live up to its expectations? In my opinion, there will never be anything quite like “Full House,” especially with the shifting of the characters. Although nothing can compare to the original series, the acting is funny and the plot lines are set up well, which is propelling for the reboot. Personally, I hope that “Fuller House” continues to deliver humor and entertaining storylines as the show continues. For now, we can enjoy watching the Tanner family work through all its mishaps in the modern, updated “Fuller House.”
Students rock at CUB Alt band night By Melissa Natividade Staff Writer
Shaky hands, anxious smiles, sweaty palms — all are symptoms of classic preshow jitters that many artists often have before a performance. Unless, of course, you were one of the aspiring musicians performing at the CUB Alt Student Band Night on Friday, March 4, in the Brower Student Center. Decked with an aura of confidence, the bands Prince and Beggar, Good Luck Spaceman and Secret Mountain took the stage and shook the crowd out of its slump of quiet winter nights with some alt-rock vibrations. The night started slow, but took shape as the band, Prince and Beggar, played the first set of the night a few hours before its second scheduled performance of the night at the Music for Multiple Sclerosis event hosted by TCNJ’s STAND. “We always enjoy playing Cub Alt events,” Prince and Beggar drummer and sophomore political science and Spanish double major Karl Weiskopk said. “They’re SAF-funded, so we have actual, proper equipment to perform and a stage and that’s the only way to actually get our full sound to come through.” The funding and structure set for the event were definitely a major plus for all of those who performed. A special thanks from all three bands was also extended to the sound engineers of the night, interactive multimedia majors and siblings, freshman Karin and senior Chris Flannery. Secret Mountain was the second band to hype up the crowd with original songs like “Shift Happens” and “Fiona.” “We weren’t nervous, but that’s because we prepared ourselves by meditating and looking up some dank memes. That’s what
This week, WTSR music staff member Kimberly Ilkowski highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Band: The Dirty Nil Album: “Higher Power” Hailing From: Ontario, Canada Genre: Loud Wailing Rock Label: Dine Alone Records This album immediately rips open like a bat out of hell, starting at the first second with wailing guitars, distorted vocals and a damn catchy chorus on the track “No Weaknesses.” The Dirty Nil is a threepiece band from Canada and delivers a stellar debut album. “Higher Power” continually gains momentum with each song, with no sign of slowing down any time soon. The lyrics and the frontman’s vocals remind me of a grittier, angstier version of Cage the Elephant’s frontman Matt Shultz. These songs come in fast, demand your complete attention and then are gone before you even know it. This is a band you’ll want to keep on your radar this year. Must Hear: “No Weakness,” “Zombie Eyed,” “Friends In The Sky” and “Bruto Bloody Bruto”
Band: I the Mighty Album: “Connector” Hailing From: San Francisco, Calif. Genre: Throwback Emo Label: Equal Vision
Secret Mountain performs a medley of original songs.
gets us going,” Secret Mountain drummer and freshman urban education major Max Falvey said. The one flaw of the evening, which was pointed out by all of the students who were interviewed, was the lack of publicity for the event. Posters were hung up and a Facebook page was created for the event, but as freshman psychology major Dylan Brigden said, “There were definitely not enough people who knew about this event.” Playing original tracks off their EP “Come Here It’s Quick,” Good Luck Spaceman finished the night with a bang, announcing its upcoming tour in May, as well as a new EP to be released soon. “It’s always awkward to play for such
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
For an album released in 2016, “Connector” would have fit in perfectly during the heyday of emo’s commercial success 10 years earlier. I the Mighty has very clear emo, pop punk and, dare I say, screamo influences. This theatrical sophomore effort even features collaboration with Max Bemis of Say Anything, one of the biggest bands of the genre. The track, “Friends,” that he is featured on is one of the best on the album. This is really a nostalgia-heavy release. The band seems to have taken bits and pieces of genre greats — the thrashing guitars of A Day to Remember, the electronic elements that bands experimented with behind screaming vocals — and mixed them together, creating “Connector.”
a small crowd, especially in a place like the Stud,” Goodluck Spaceman vocalist and junior communication studies major Jake Rubin said. “But I think that has more to do with the publicity than it does with the event. Still, the sound is great and you get paid some good cash, and that’s always great.” Each band of the night has music available on the music streaming website Bandcamp. CUB Alt showcases several shows a semester, including three soloist nights and four band nights, as well as a student comedy night and spoken word night. Don’t miss the next student soloist night Must Hear: “Psychomachia,” “Adrift,” is on Tuesday, April 5, in the Decker So- “Friends (featuring Max Bemis)” and cial Space. “Andrew’s Song”
page 16 The Signal March 9, 2016
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March 9, 2016 The Signal page 17
Features
NEDA / Monologues reveal student struggles Eating disorders portrayed as mental illnesses
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
Hudson tells the audience meditation helped heal her.
continued from page 1
“Here I stand, telling the story of a once-broken girl,” Costanzo said. “I no longer feel broken.” Junior elementary and urban education double major Maureen Hudson talked about her experiences with meditation and how it has helped her cope with
a negative body image. “I woke up to the present moment,” Hudson said. “(And) It felt better than any amount of food could.” Because eating disorders and body dysmorphia are considered mental illnesses by organizations like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the
speakers didn’t pretend that their struggles were completely over. Lauren Plawker, a junior clinical psychology major who, by her own admission, is “holistically better” now than she was even a year ago, said she is still working toward acceptance. Plawker co-founded the College’s Student Alliance to Facilitate Empathy (SAFE) in 2014 to provide a supportive and all-inclusive environment for students that is stigma-free. Plawker thanked another speaker “for getting me back up here” to share more of her story at the monologues once again. “It gets better… when you acknowledge your situation,” Plawker said. “It is finally better when you learn to love yourself.” Senior political science major Francesca Buarne told her story about struggling with an eating disorder in her junior year of high school. Buarne said that she was pleasantly surprised that she is “in a better place five years later.”
“I felt everything in life was against me, but really, I was against myself,” Buarne said. Junior journalism major Kelly Corbett, who covered the monologues last year for The Signal, admitted that since her recent diagnosis with an eating disorder, she’s “been doing better… A lot better than I was a year ago.” In spite of the challenges with which Corbett has dealt, she said she looks at her experiences as an opportunity to learn more about mental illness. According to NEDA’s website, “the goal of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week is to put the spotlight on eating disorders and improve public understanding of their causes, dangers and treatments. Millions of people across the country suffer from eating disorders, but by increasing awareness and access to resources, we can encourage early detection and intervention.” The speakers reflected an awareness that their stories also
represent the silent struggles of others within the campus community. They each offered bits of advice for audience members: surround yourself with people who want to lift you up, refuse to define yourself in terms of your appearance and recognize that you don’t know everyone’s story. The message of the night was best reflected by Plawker’s words, “Be strong. Be brave. Be kind and be-you-tiful.” The College offers resources for students who might need help dealing with eating disorders and other mental health struggles. Counseling and Psychological Services, which sponsored the event, is a free on-campus resource staffed by counseling professionals who offer group and individual therapy sessions. The National Eating Disorder Association offers a helpline — (800) 931-2237 — and a click-to-chat feature on its website so help is easily accessible for anyone struggling.
Ambiance celebrates Haitian culture and cuisine By Sierra Stivala Staff Writer
The walls danced along to the rhythm of the pulsating music while the air carried the enticing aroma of savory cuisine. With the help of some festive decor, the Decker Social Space was illuminated on the eve of Saturday, March 5, for the Haitian Student Association’s 11th annual Ambiance event. The event is a formal celebration of Haitian culture. Each year, the Haitian Student Association (HSA) hosts Ambiance with the goal being to expose the rest of the campus to all that Haiti has to offer. The gathering represents far more than a steaming plate of rice or a roaring dance floor. For the HSA, Ambiance symbolizes a budding opportunity for unity. The yearning to spread the essence of the Haitian culture is an overarching theme for both the club and the annual event. According to HSA’s brochure, “The purpose of the HSA is to promote the awareness,
respect and better understanding of the Haitian history, culture and traditions.” The widespread popularity of the event enables it to serve as a platform to channel the greater College community. With more diversity among its members than ever before, the HSA is certainly on its way. Sophomore international studies major Vanessa Fiore is one of the club’s many non-Haitian members. Previously unfamiliar with the Haitian culture, Fiore said she most enjoys exploring the day-to-day aspects of Haitian life. The club has even inspired her to choose Haiti as the subject of her international research project. “I like learning about the little things they do that are different,” Fiore said. Senior finance major and former HSA treasurer Christelle Beauvais said the purpose of the Ambiance event is for people to “not just listen but (also) enjoy and understand. It’s for people to experience.” From beginning to end, the night was
Photo courtesy of Sierra Stivala
This year marks the 11th annual Ambiance celebration.
Kim Iannarone / Photo Editor
Students enjoy authentic Haitian food while listening to kompa music. filled with tributes to the vibrant culture. Guests enjoyed a performance of the Haitian national anthem, followed by a traditional Haitian dance routine performed by the Mikerline Dance Troupe. Later, the beauty of the Haitian language was demonstrated with the presentation of a poem. Traveling all the way from Florida, the band Xtassy performed authentic “kompa” music. This style of music heavily relies on the piano and guitar, delivering a sound specific to Haitian culture. Sophomore sociology major and HSA Vice President Rose Cherilus classifies the music as radiating a party vibe conducive to close dancing. “It’s both upbeat and slow at the same time,” Cherilus said. Meanwhile, toward the back of the room, a savory mixture of seasonings engulfed the air. Local Haitian restaurant, Mommie Joe’s, has been catering for the annual event since it began back in 2006 and provided food again this year. The spread was filled
with traditional Haitian cuisine, including creole chicken, fried pork, shrimp, beans and seasoned vegetables. Each of the round tables was draped in red and gold and topped with beautiful, floral centerpieces. Haitian postcards were laid out on tables, the backs of which contained facts about the country’s culture and history for guests to read “It was really cool to see people of all different ethnicities come together to celebrate the value of one in particular,” said junior finance major Alexis Keiper, who attended the event for the first time this year. Sophomore marketing major and HSA President Baldween Casseus said she is proud of the impact the event is having. “People are learning more about the Haitian culture outside of the negative media,” Casseus said. The event truly resembled an authentic Haitian celebration. In looking around at the room, Casseus says, “It’s like taking a trip back home.”
page 18 The Signal March 9, 2016
: Feb. ‘04
Campus Style
College studies slacking
Elise Schoening / Features Editor
The College is ranked 19th among schools where students rarely study.
Every week, Features Editor Elise Schoening hits the archives and finds old Signals that relate to current College topics and top stories. With midterm exams approaching, the library will soon be overcrowded with students working hard to obtain high grades. However, it seems students of the College may not have always been so studious. In 2004, the College was criticized for offering light classes with small workloads. “The Princeton Review” named the College on its national ranking of top colleges where students “(almost) never study.” According to the College’s viewbook, this school is “the public ivy,” a moderately priced school that has all the academic qualities of an Ivy League. According to “The Princeton Review’s” Top 351 Ranking Colleges, the College, however, is ranked among the top 20 colleges where students “(almost) never study.” The rankings in the book range from positives such as “toughest to get into” and professors bring material to life” to negatives like “class discussions rare” and “professors make themselves scarce.” The College is number 19 among schools in the “their students (almost) never study” category, which is clumped into the group of negative rankings. Students at the College have mixed feelings about such an embarrassing ranking. Some students feel the ranking is accurate and that very little work is done once admitted to the College. Other students feel it is a matter of time
management and that students here just manage to get all their work done in a timely manner, so they can enjoy other activities. Students here are constantly reminded that the College is one of the most selective colleges in the Northeast. But despite the hard work that goes into getting into the school, the Princeton Review ranking shows that once enrolled, students do little to no work. “There’s less homework and tests I’ve taken are a lot easier here,” Holly Davies, freshman engineering major, said. “I’ve only been here for a month, but it seems like I studied a lot more last year.” A recent transfer student from Penn State, Davies feels that the workload here at the College is typically easier and smaller than the workload she had before transferring. However, Ted Tyburczy, sophomore health and physical education major, feels that while the College is not necessarily a tough school, a student’s major plays an important role in how hard he or she has it, workload-wise. “I had it much harder as a biology major than I do now as a health and pys. ed major,” Tyburczy said. “But no matter the workload gets pretty tough at times. It’s never impossible, but most of the teachers just give tests from what they talk about in class so if you don’t fall asleep, which does happen from time to time, you can get by with minimum study time,” Tyburczy added.
Celebritease
Nostalgia has made a real presence recently with reboots and revivals taking over 2016. The most recent celebrity to jump on the ’90s bandwagon is none other than the queen of the decade herself, Sarah Michelle Gellar. The star debuted brunette locks via her Instagram in anticipation of the “Cruel Intentions” television reboot. It’s been 17 years
By Jordan Koziol Columnist
As college students, we know that nothing is certain besides death, taxes and an exorbitant amount of work before the mid-semester break. Hang in there. Whether you’re headed for the beach or your hometown this spring break, there are blue skies ahead. In preparation for some warm-weather downtime, check out the stylish spring trends below. • The dress: From the red carpet to the runway, the slip dress is all the rage for the 2016 spring/summer season. With an easy silhouette and lightweight fabric, this functional layering piece is perfect under an open cardigan or motorcycle jacket. By tweaking your accessories, you can easily transition the look from day to night. So don’t wait — take advantage of the upcoming break by raiding your mom’s closet or a local thrift shop for one of these silky numbers. • The shoe: Ladies and gentlemen, lace-up for the next spring trend — literally. That’s right, the shoes of the moment criss-cross and wrap around the ankle. Think leather sandals, gladiators, espadrilles or even peep-toe booties.
Flickr.com
Backpacks are in style again and make for a great accessory.
:Love is in the Hollywood air
Teigen and Legend are expecting their first child.
By Mackenzie Cutruzzula Columnist
Flickr.com
The slip dress is a spring essential.
Paired with jeans and a knit tank top or a simple cotton dress, these strappy shoes are the perfect finishing touch for any spring ensemble. • The bag: Paging all college students. The next hot trend is none other than your trusty backpack. You can thank Burberry, the fashion empire that recently launched a parade of backpack-clad models down the runway, for bringing school back into style. Since then, hotshots like Karlie Kloss and Gigi Hadid have sported the look. Perfect for traveling and taking adventures, the grown-up backpack is officially in. • The accessory: The skinny scarf, a slimmed-down version of winter’s massive blanket scarf, is making its debut this spring. Looking to spice up a boring T-shirt or button down? Grab this simple and budget-friendly accessory for a fresh, ’70s-inspired look. If none of the above suits your fancy, fear not, for there are plenty of other trends to try. The spring forecast is calling for a heavy chance of wrap skirts, lightweight denim, plaid, pleats and orange hues. So finish up those papers, take that midterm exam and get excited about the warm (and stylish) spring break ahead.
Flickr.com
since the original film aired, and Gellar is excited to be back on set. Blonde or brunette, Gellar remains in one of the strongest Hollywood couples to date — she’s been married to Freddie Prinze, Jr. since 2002, after meeting back in 1997 on the set of “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” While Gellar and Prinze bask in their timeless love, Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris proved that they are well on their way to that level. The couple celebrated its one-year
anniversary on Sunday, March 6, with a cake. Harris posted a video to Snapchat showing off the cake that appeared to be homemade by his girlfriend and resident baker, Swift. She is featured in the video looking exuberantly happy and Swift even posted a photo to Instagram to continue the love fest. The photo depicted a close-up of a gold heart-shaped locket with an engraving of the couple’s anniversary date. Beneath the photo, Swift wrote, “3.6.15 One year down!” Swift has had an extremely successful year, but to see her so happy in her personal life is all I ever want. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez seemed to have been the couple to root for before Harris and Swift took the top spot and the former called it quits. However, in the midst of the breakup, we were lucky enough to revive Bieber’s career from the ashes. In his recent glory came the hit single “Love Yourself,” reportedly about Gomez. Although I will probably never get tired of this
song, Morgan Freeman just made it better. The clip of the famous baritone was as serious as your feelings about your ex. Freeman somehow maintained a somber expression throughout the video, as the camera panned between himself and an iPad displaying the song’s lyrics. Chrissy Teigen and John Legend are gearing up to welcome their baby girl in mid-April. Teigen’s baby shower, which took
place on Sunday, March 6, was princess-themed — fitting for one of Hollywood’s royal couples. Dawning paper crowns and eating crown-shaped cookies, Teigen expressed over Instagram how lucky she felt. Even her beloved dog, Pippa, got in on the action, looking delighted to welcome her future sister. It seems that most of Hollywood is happy and in love this week, so I’ll be collecting bets on how long this will last.
AP Photo
Swift and Harris have been together for a full year now.
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 19
Best Buddies ‘Spreads the Word to End the Word’
David Colby / Photo Assistant
Left: The room fills with students who support the R-Word Monologues. Right: Killian opens up about her sister’s struggles with cerebral palsy. By Craig Dietel Correspondent On Thursday, March 3, the second floor of the Education Building was more than just a place where one could find classrooms and conference rooms. It was a safe, sheltered and accepting environment where students and professors freely expressed their frustration over the word “retarded,” which has been deemed the “R-word.” The student-run organization Best Buddies held its annual “Spread the Word to End the Word Week” from Monday, Feb. 29, to Friday, March 4. They set out to expose how harmful using the R-word can be. According to Best Buddies, “The R-word is a derogatory term that has the potential to hurt families across the nation.” If this derogatory word brings more harm than good, why use it at all? This was one of the many questions School of Education Dean
Jeff Passe addressed in his opening speech at the R-Word Monologues. “People have a natural tendency to put things into categories,” Passe said. “It is helpful to do that when it works. To try and make a point, we use hyperbole. We exaggerate.” Passe cited how “idiot,” “imbecile” and “moron” were all formerly used to describe how many I.Q. points a person had, but are now words used to insult and mock others. The same concept applies for the use of the word “retarded.” “People don’t always know the meaning or origin of words, nor do they know the harmful effects of words. We need to educate them,” Passe said. Passe was not the only individual to stand up and speak against the use of the R-word. Eight others took a stance against the use of this derogatory word. Speakers of the night ranged from current students to graduates. Junior business management
major Catherine Killian spoke about the effects of the R-word on her life. Her oldest sister, Jessica, was born with cerebral palsy and is unable to move her left hand. However, Jessica hasn’t let her disability hinder her ambition to succeed and determination to overcome the obstacles that stand before her, Killian said. Jessica recently graduated Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J., and has since gone on to become a teaching assistant who helps others with special needs. According to Killian, though, her sister’s journey there was not an easy one. Jessica was laughed at and dismissed outright at one of her first interviews simply because of her disability. “The hateful words demoralized my sister,” Killian said. After the interview, Jessica was shaken to her core, but she refused to give up on her dream. She applied to other schools and eventually landed the job she had been
seeking, Killian said. Killian told the crowd that her sister is one of her greatest inspirations in life. “She’s the reason why I am Catherine Killian and I love her every day for it,” she said. Many students from the College’s Career and Community Studies Program also took to the stage to tell their stories at the monologues. Among them were junior Katie Burns and freshman Shawna Dedonado. Their stories were empowering and touched on how rude and hurtful the use of the R-word can be, even if it is said jokingly. Aside from the R-Word Monologues, Best Buddies put on a fantastic week of events aimed at raising awareness for the harmful effects of the R-word and encouraging people to think carefully about the words they use. The week began with a movie night on Monday, March 1, when the group showed the film “Where
Hope Grows,” which centers around the friendship between an ex-baseball player and a man with Down Syndrome. Later in the week, the group supported the (DIS)ability Monologues hosted by the Students for Disability Awareness Club. The organization also held a fundraiser at RedBerry in Campus Town and ended the week with a celebration in the Decker Social Space on Friday, March 4. “This year, we were trying to reach a wider audience and, for the most part, any person we can reach, we take that as a success,” said Abbi Anker, a special education and sociology double major and president of Best Buddies. “We take what they learn and what they see and spread that to their friends, and that is what we are really trying to accomplish. Through education and awareness, we can spread acceptance through our TCNJ community, because language affects attitudes and attitudes affect action.”
page 20 The Signal March 9, 2016
Sports
Softball
Softball has a shaky start to the season
Photo courtesy of Sports Information Desk
The softball team comes out with strong bats in their season opener.
By Miguel Gonzalez Sports Assistant
The College’s softball team commenced its season with a road trip to Salisbury, Md. On Saturday, March 5, the Lions defeated the Clarkson University Golden Knights, 9-3, in extra innings. The following day, Sunday, March 6, the Lions earned another victory from the Golden Knights in a dominant 9-1 win before falling to the Salisbury University Seagulls in an 8-0 loss on the same day. After posting a 20-12 record before falling to the Kean University Cougars
in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) tournament last year, coach Sally Miller and the Lions are striving to continue their winning momentum from the last regular season. “We have been working hard since we came back from winter break and we were eager to start the season off,” senior infielder Deanna Utter said. Initially, both the Lions’s and the Golden Knights’s offenses were locked down for three scoreless innings. In the fourth inning, the Lions played small ball to score their first run, with senior catcher Jamie Purcell reaching first base off a
single towards the left outfield. Sophomore infielder Cathy Drury pinch ran for Purcell and was able to reach third base on a sacrifice bunt by Utter. With one out remaining, sophomore outfielder Madison Levine slammed the ball toward center field for a double, sending Drury to home plate for the lead, 1-0. “We found ourselves being overly aggressive in the box and not swinging at the best pitches,” Utter said. “Once we made the adjustments offensively and settled in our routine, we were able to lay off the bad pitches and drive the good ones.” In the sixth inning, the Lions’s extended their lead to three runs after Levine hit another double and allowed sophomore infielder Jess Stevenson and Utter to score. The Golden Knights countered in the bottom of the sixth off a sacrifice fly to left field brought in a run. With the momentum, Knights’s sophomores utility player Erika Jensen and outfielder Bridget Woolley batted one runs batted in (RBI) each and equalized the score. After another scoreless inning, the Lions sparked a captivating six-run inning through sophomore pitcher Sam Platt’s RBI double and freshman infielder Jess McGuire’s triple home run. Platt closed out the game after forcing Golden Knight Caggaino to line out towards the center infield, giving the team the victory. The following day, the Lions smashed their hot bats to a 9-1 victory in a rematch against the Golden Knights. Senior pitcher Austin Helmer threw
a complete game while regulating the Golden Knights to only three hits and one run. In contrast to their previous game, the Lions immediately marked the scoreboard in the first inning when Purcell batted in a sacrifice bunt to allow freshman infielder Jess Santelli to score from third base. From the first run, the Lions continued to score in almost every inning. In the fourth inning, the Golden Knights countered when sophomore infielder Chelsea Elliott singled and drove sophomore infielder Raeanna Dunn to home plate. It was the Golden Knights’s only run of the game. After a brief, scoreless fifth inning, the Lions added another run and secured their second victory. Platt singled and capitalized on a throwing error to reach second base. Freshman infielder Daniella Marino pinch ran and reached home off an RBI single from freshman outfielder Gabby Bennett. Later on in the afternoon, the Lions encountered a more difficult opponent and endured an 8-0 shutout loss from the Seagulls (6-3). The Lions’s offense was limited to two hits by Seagulls’s freshman pitcher Brooke Mizelle. Meanwhile, the Seagulls scored with home runs from senior catcher Paige Knussman and senior infielder Kim Dorsey. With a 2-1 start to the season, the Lions will travel south to Clermont, Fla., for a 10-game series during the College’s spring break. The Lions’s next opponent will be the Calvin College Knights on Saturday, March 12.
Cheap Seats
Headliners mean a fresh start for the Yankees By Joseph Passantino Staff Writer
Last year, the New York Yankees returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. Unfortunately for fans, the team’s stay did not last long, as the Houston Astros eliminated the Yankees in a one-game wild-card playoff. Thus, for the past three consecutive seasons, the Yankees have not won a game in the postseason. Surely, the blue-and-white squad will look to break that streak this year. The team’s goal, as Yankees Manager Joe Girardi reminds fans, is to add another title to its impressive World Series legacy. But just how feasible is that goal? As always, there are plenty of moving parts that make the 2016 Yankees an interesting bunch. One of the biggest improvements General Manager Brian Cashman made in the offseason was acquiring relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds. Chapman will serve a 30-game suspension to start the year in light of domestic violence reports, which is hardly an ideal start to a career in pinstripes. Nonetheless, his return will signal one of the most impressive bullpens in the major leagues, as he joins
dominant relievers Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances for a formidable closing trio. With questions surrounding the starting rotation, this configuration figures to prove trustworthy to shut down opposing offenses late in the game. While Yankees fans are familiar with the names in the rotation, they might not know what to expect — and for good reason. One of the biggest stories surrounding the 2015 postseason was CC Sabathia’s highlypublicized stint in rehab for alcoholism, which removed him from the Yankees’s brief October roster. Sabathia returns to the spotlight this year, though, and it will be interesting to see how he rebounds. While he is not the pitcher he once was, fans will likely stand behind Sabathia as he attempts to put his real-life struggles behind him and get back to doing what he loves. Sabathia will compete with Ivan Nova and Luis Severino for spots in a rotation that also looks to include Masahiro Tanaka, Michael Pineda and Nathan Eovaldi. Tanaka is undoubtedly the ace, but had elbow surgery in October, which the Yankees hope will be a non-factor. Severino was a standout in 2015, but Girardi insists he will have to earn his spot this
year. Severino pitched poorly in the Yankees’s spring opener, but it is hard to imagine that the Yankees’s rotation will not feature this promising young star. Examining the offensive side of things takes us to another big off-season acquisition — new second baseman Starlin Castro. The Yankees’s second base position had been in flux during the past two years after the team lost homegrown superstar Robinson Cano to the Seattle Mariners. Players hope that Castro, the former All-Star who has played six seasons in the Major League at age 25, will be their answer. Joining him up the middle will be Didi Gregorius in his sophomore season, who proved his mettle last year after a rough start. After 2015 was the first Derek Jeterless season in roughly 20 years, it is exciting to watch bright young talents prove themselves. Of course, the Yankees’s offense will also rely on its stalwarts, as Alex Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira return in veteran roles. Both players had bounceback years last season, with Rodriguez’s being particularly notable after his 2014 suspension for performance-enhancing drugs. He is now within reach of Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list, sure to draw the ire of
AP Photo
Chapman will be an asset for the Yankees’s bullpen. many baseball purist. If the highly-paid designated hitter has learned anything from his media debacles, he should try to ignore the milestones and focus on helping the Yankees win. Teixeira has publicly stated his desire to retire as a Yankee, but his contract ends this season and it seems unlikely the Yankees would pick him up for another. He has struggled to stay healthy and despite his 31 home runs and 79 runs batted in last year, he is certainly past his prime. If Teixeira wants a shot at remaining in pinstripes, he’ll have to output similar numbers in 2016.
Rounding out the lineup are catcher Brian McCann, third baseman Chase Headley and outfielders Brett Gardner, Jacoby Ellsbury and Carlos Beltran. Beltran is another aging player who the Yankees will count on to produce, while Gardner and Ellsbury remain key cogs atop the club’s batting order. The 2016 Yankees, buoyed by key acquisitions and veteran presences, are a fascinating mix of old and new. If the puzzle pieces can fit together, the team’s old tradition of winning just might net it a brand new Commissioner’s Trophy.
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 21 Tennis
Early sweeps lead to victory on the road
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Left: Junior Jack August helps the Lions score a win in the doubles competition. Right: Junior Mike Stanley hopes to have a successful season. By Connor Smith Social Media Editor The men’s tennis team hit the road on Saturday, March 5, to compete in its first away match of the year against Haverford College. The Lions captured a 6-3 victory, which was set up by an early sweep of the doubles competition. “Any time you go on the road, the surface can have a bigger difference,” head coach Scott Dicheck said. “We got there early to adjust to the different playing surfaces and the guys adjusted well.” Juniors Jack August and Mike Stanley returned to action on court one. With an impressive 3-0
record at risk, both juniors were ready to defend their budding undefeated streak. The Haverford duo kept the matchup close with an early 3-2 score, however, August’s and Stanley’s synergy was on full display as the Lions claimed a court one victory with an 8-3 score. Senior Pierce Cooper tested out the new blood as the veteran paired up with freshman Mitchel Sanders on court two. With a decisive 8-4 victory, Cooper brought himself another win closer to being fourth all-time in the College’s record books for combined singles and doubles career wins. At 115
wins, Cooper trails ’06 alumnus Corey Ball’s 124 wins by just nine victories. The College’s deep pool of young talent was well represented. Freshmen Matt Puig and Tim Gavornik combined to win an 8-1 victory, bringing the Lions’s lead to 3-0 at the end of doubles competition. “It was the best we’ve played doubles all season,” Dicheck said. “We really won convincingly in all three.” Haverford struck its first blood in singles by defeating Cooper in straight sets (4-6, 4-6). Sanders avenged his partner’s loss with a two set victory of his own (7-5, 6-3).
Haverford proved its resilience on court three by overcoming a tiebreaker with a one set deficit to upset August (6-4, 6-7 (7), 2-6). After another three set win on court four, Haverford began to show signs of momentum. Facing his third 4-3 score of the season, freshman Omar Bokhari dashed any hopes of a Haverford comeback with wins in three sets (4-6, 7-5, 6-3). Bokhari improved to 4-0 on the year, already establishing himself as a gatekeeper for his team’s late-match hopes. With a Lion victory clinched, sophomore Chris D’Agostino battled for a win in straight sets (6-4,
6-4) to hand Haverford its first loss of the year, 6-3. The men’s tennis team will return to action on Tuesday, March 29, when players will take on Muhlenberg College at home. While the men’s team will have over three weeks to prepare for their next dual competition, the women’s tennis team will open its spring season on Friday, March 11, when the women take on Division II opponents, Chestnut Hill College. “(The women) have a very challenging schedule to get us ready for May,” Dicheck said. “Now we can test ourselves as much as possible to prepare for NCAA’s.”
Lions / Strong start Lacrosse
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The lacrosse team needs to keep the momentum going this season. continued from page 24 point,” Chrone said. Chrone says the win came from the team’s week of training. “We had a lot of time to go over the mistakes from last game and make ourselves better — we spent a lot of time scrimmaging to get ready for live play,” Chrone said. That training was especially important because the team is playing with several new rules for the league that have only been in action for one game so far. Players are now allowed to kick the ball, self-start after a penalty and have more than
one defender in the crease. “Overall, the changes have not been too difficult to adapt to,” Devlin said. “Especially with practice and time (the rules) will become more natural.” Though the fifth-ranked Lions were expected to win against the unranked Knights, Morrison said the team approached the game like any other. “I try to go into every game without expectations,” Morrison said. “When you think too far ahead, you forget what’s important and lose focus. With every game, you should have the same mentality — that you need to play your best and respect your opponent.”
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page 22 The Signal March 9, 2016
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LIONS
March 9, 2016 The Signal page 23
AROUND THE
DORM 5 3
Chelsea LoCascio “The Ref”
Ellie Schuckman News Editor
Colleen Murphy Editor-in-Chief
Jessica Ganga Sports Editor
In this week’s edition of Around the Dorm, the “Ref,” Chelsea LoCascio, asks our panel of experts three questions: Can the United States take home a medal for racewalking during the Olympics this summer? Who will qualify for the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog-Eating Contest and how far will Dale Earnhardt Jr. do during the Sprint Cup Series this year?
1. Do you think the U.S. will take home a medal in racewalking during the Summer Olympics in Rio? Ellie: The U.S. can’t not take home a medal in a sport where the title implies a competition. Although the U.S. has not placed in racewalking since 1972, there’s no time like the present. Don’t believe me? Just reference America’s favorite coffee supplier, Dunkin Donuts. “America runs on Dunkin” is not only a trivial slogan, but a motto by which to live. We Americans love to push forward and overcome adversity. Forty-four years since last winning is just unacceptable. Most definitely, placing in a race where one foot must appear to stay on the ground at any given time will be no easy feat, but our top walkers will be up for the challenge come this summer. So as average citizens, lets sit back, sip our coffee and watch our athletes walk to the finish. Colleen: First of all, if you’ve never seen a racewalking competition, go to Youtube right now and look it up. It is incredibly funny and the participants look as though they are in dire
AP Photo
need of the toilet. Or you could say they look like New York City commuters trying to catch the last bus out of the city. With that being said, I definitely think the U.S. will take home a medal in racewalking this summer because many of us have to do it as part of our routine,
everyday life already — walking fast is in our blood. Tell us we’ll get a medal for walking quickly and we’ll put even more pep in our step. Whether we Americans want to be in the front of the line at the buffet, be the first ones to get our hands on the best Black Friday
deals or navigate our way through a crowded city, we often walk with determination, and this societal instinct will translate easily to the racewalking course. Plus, America dominates at every Olympics, so it’s just natural that we win a medal in this event, too. Jessica: What a fantastic question! I really think the U.S. does have a shot at taking home a medal because, let’s face it, we racewalk in our daily lives as Americans. Have to go to the bathroom really badly? Racewalk to the bathroom. Late to journalism Professor Emilie Lounsberry’s class? Racewalk to class. Basically, the racewalkers have many ways to help them get a medal. The key will be to imagine themselves really needing to go to the bathroom or something along those lines and then they’ll race walk past the finish line, fists held high with pride like Rocky Balboa. The U.S., though, is not really known for their racewalking abilities in the Olympics, but who is to say we can’t start now? I think if the walkers put their mind to it, they can take home the coveted racewalking medal for the U.S.
Colleen gets 3 points for pointing out their poopy posture. Ellie gets 2 points because America “racewalks” on coffee and Jessica gets 2 points for applying it to everyday life.
AP Photo
2. Who do you think will qualify for the 2016 Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest? Ellie: A lot can happen in 100 years, but nothing says “America” quite like food. Mix hot dogs and an eating contest together and
“BOOM!” — instant American tradition. As Nathan’s approaches a monstrous anniversary celebrating a century of disgustingly fast eaten food, hopefuls are beginning to test their stomachs. Champ Joey Chestnut will make another appearance, having won
eight consecutive titles and marking a world record before falling to Matt Stonie in 2015. As for the ladies, current record holder Sonya Thomas should make a strong run this year, having lost the last two competitions to current reigning champ Miki Sudo. Perhaps someone from the College will make a surprise appearance. Colleen: Ah, the true spirit of America — gorging our faces with meaty goodness (get your minds out of the gutter). No one is better than doing that than Stonie and Chestnut. The two dominated last year’s competition, downing 62 and 60 hot dogs, respectively, with the third place finisher eating just 35.5. Frankly, the two will definitely make the cut for this year’s competition. No. 1 ranked competitive eater Stonie has had a strong showing for Major League Eating this year, breaking the world record for most tacos eaten in eight minutes. (It was 103. Who’s living más now, Taco Bell?) On the women’s side, Sudo, who
won the Nathan’s competition in 2014 and 2015, will have a great shot at returning to this year’s competition, which is sure to be a stiff one (get your minds out of the gutter). Jessica: Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will definitely be one of the qualifiers for the 2016 Nathan’s Hot Dog-Eating Contest. First off, his nickname is “Jaws,” so if that doesn’t scream “I win eating contests,” then I don’t know what would. Last year, Chestnut came in second place, behind new champion Stonie, but I think this will be Chestnut’s year. According to the Major League Eating Website, Chestnut is the “greatest eater in history.” You can’t just get that title and not have a winning chance. Chestnut has a long list of eating competitions under his belt, so he has the experience and is a veteran when it comes to the “sport.” Chestnut had an eight-year run at the top of the Nathan’s Hot Dog World. So keep your eyes on him because he’ll be holding the beautiful championship belt.
Colleen gets 3 points for hot dog puns. Jessica gets 2 points talking about Chesnut’s nickname and Ellie gets 1 point because it’s not disgusting, it’s beautiful. 3. How far will Dale Earnhardt Jr. get in the Nascar Sprint Cup Series this year? Ellie: Though Earnhardt Jr. has never won the Cup Series, he’s bound to make a strong run. Currently sitting 16th in the standings, the season has just begun with plenty of room for anyone to come out on top. The fact that his late father, Dale Earnhardt, won the Cup seven times is bound to be on his mind and a motivation to keep driving. Earnhardt Jr. has 26 season victories, placing him 28th all-time. It’s hard to say if he’ll win with reigning champ Kyle Busch — ranked 21st all-time in wins — competing. Perhaps the experience from competing for over 15 years and coming from a bloodline of racers will pay off for Earnhardt Jr. and 2016 will be his crowning year. Colleen: “Boogity, boogity, boogity, let’s go racing, boys (and girls)!” Earnhardt Jr. is currently ranked 16th in the Sprint Cup Series, having placed 36th at Daytona and recording a much better second-place showing at the Folds of Honor QuikTrip 500. This weekend, Earnhardt competed in the Las Vegas Sprint Cup race and placed seventh. Many experts say he doesn’t have the best shot at winning
and I’d have to agree with them. But I do think that his name will continue to be closer to the top of the leaderboard for a bit longer. Right now, he is 16th in the Round of 16 in the Sprint Cup Chase Grid. I do think he has a chance to make it to the Round of 12 because of the upswing he seems to be starting, but by the time the Dover race comes around in May, I’m going to say that he will not have enough points to make it to the Round of Eight. Jessica: In the beginning of the racing season, Earnhardt Jr. was a little shaky. He suffered a crash in his first race, the Sprint Unlimited, and placed 15th. He crashed in the Daytona 500 after a strong start with 30 laps to go, taking 36th place. The next week, he finished second in Atlanta. If Earnhardt wants to make it far, he has to work on his consistency… oh, and not crash into things. Last season, Earnhardt had a similar season last year, so he hasn’t really gotten off to an impressive season. He will most likely get far because he has in previous seasons. Also, Managing Editor Sydney Shaw’s grandmother loves Earnhardt. He has love and support, so he will most likely go far.
Colleen gets 3 points for Darrell Waltrip’s catchphrase. Ellie gets 2 points for optimism and Jessica gets 1 for a contradicting answers.
Colleen wins Around the Dorm 9-5-5.
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College bats blast baseballs in opener By Julia Livesey Staff Writer
Bases are loaded. Sophomore infielder Zach Shindler crushes a ball into left field. A wild pitch sends sophomore outfielder Mike Follet racing for home plate. Sophomore pitcher Joe Cirillo cruises through the Gwynedd Mercy University line-up. But there’s no mercy in this game. All eyes were on the College’s baseball team as they turned heads during the home opener on Tuesday, March 1, and defeated Gwynedd Mercy, 13-0, at George Ackerman Park. An explosive offense coupled with an errorless defense was the perfect mix to produce an impressive victory and a strong start for the team. Lions head coach Dean Glus said the game was a complete team effort. “The position players played great defense and the offense was very good,” Glus said. “The pitching staff threw the ball great and their location was good, allowing four hits and walking only three.” Although the team’s performance as a whole contributed to their success, a few standout players helped lead the Lions to a surefire victory. Shindler had an impressive day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with three singles and a triple while Cirillo tossed seven scoreless innings with
The baseball team opens the season with a huge 13-0 win. only 68 pitches. “The whole team has been working really hard to get better the past month of preseason and it really showed on Tuesday,” Shindler said. “Everyone went into the game really confident that we would succeed. I just fed off the energy we had and felt like I was going to do well.” Following a slow first inning, Shindler opened the scoring by blasting a long triple to right center and eventually darted home on senior catcher Matt Facas’s sac fly to right field. Facas sacrificed two fly balls during the game. A wild pitch hit senior outfielder John Rizzi while bases
were loaded, carrying in another run. Junior infielder Ben Varone toddled home when a balk was called and sophomore infielder Patrick Anderson knocked a single to right field, bringing in the fifth and final run of the inning. In the third inning, both Varone and Follet produced runscoring singles to make it 7-0 and yet another run was tacked on in the fifth inning off of Facas’s second fly. The Lions continued to dominate by scoring two more runs in the sixth and three more in the eighth. A sharp defense paired with near spotless pitching resulted in Cirillo giving up only three hits
Photo couresy of the Sports Information Desk
and facing a mere 23 batters total with 14 of those being ground ball outs. “Throwing seven scoreless innings was a great feeling and I was happy to see that all my pitches were working well and getting a lot of ground ball outs,” Cirillo said. “The defense behind me played very well and they helped me out by making some really nice plays.” Collectively, the team has their eyes set on one goal and will hard together in order to reach it. “All 33 guys are focused toward the same goal of winning the (New Jersey Athletic Conference) NJACs and that gives us a winning mentality to go into games with,”
Cirillo said. Freshman pitcher Michael Fischer also had a big day by closing out a scoreless eighth inning in his first collegiate appearance. “It was amazing to get off to a great start winning our first game,” Fischer said. “After working hard every day over the winter with the team, it was awesome to see all that hard work pay off and to come away with our first win.” During the off-season, the team had been working tirelessly to make improvements and enhance its performance since last season. “We gain experience from last year with the younger players and the off season weight and conditioning program will be huge for us,” said Glus. Glus said that the team’s goal for the rest of the year is to get a little bit better each game and to work hard at the little things. The team will go face-to-face with some of the toughest teams in the conference, so players are constantly working to maintain their competitive edge. Glus believes it is the team’s ability to come together as a group that will contribute to their success in the rest of the season. “We talk about family every day and these guys are family,” Glus said. The Lions (1-0) are scheduled to play Stevens Institute of Technology (3-4) on Tuesday, March 8 at George Ackerman Park.
Lacrosse pounces on vulnerable Knights, 12-1
Kratz kicks off the scoring for the Lions. By George Tatoris Sports Assistant
Their lances were dull, their shields were feeble and their armor was no match for a set of Lions incisors. The Fairleigh Dickinson University
Lions’ Lineup March 9, 2016
I n s i d e
Photo couresy of the Sports Information Desk
Knights (0-3) lacrosse team were not equipped to handle the pack of Lions (2-0) that devastated them, 12-1, on Saturday, March 5. Though Fairleigh Dickinson is unranked, the win will still be important in the post-season because the Knights are
in the same region, according to sophomore defender Elizabeth Morrison. The first bite marks appeared just three minutes in when sophomore attacker Emily Kratz landed the Lions’s first goal while another came just 27 seconds later from freshman midfielder Erin Harvey, who scored off an assist from graduate student midfielder Erin Waller. Harvey put on a strong showing in her second collegiate game — all three shots made it in the goal. Senior attacker Cortney Natalicchio’s hat trick helped the Lions end the half with a strong 7-0 lead against the Knights. Natalicchio led the Lions offense, ending the game with four goals and an assist that gave freshman midfielder Abby Flagler her first collegiate goal. The second of Natalicchio’s goals was off an assist from sophomore attacker Amanda Muller. Waller and senior midfielder Megan Devlin both netted one goal each, bringing the total goals to 12. Devlin attributed the win to the team’s “cohesion.” “Everyone had each other’s backs
and if a mistake was made, everyone worked hard to make up for it and create something positive,” Devlin said. “Our defense and attack fed off of each other’s energy.” While the team strived on offense, the defense also performed strongly, as well. Morrison made herself known on both sides of the field — not only did she pick up 11 ground balls over the course of the game, she also scored a goal in the second half. “As a defender, I don’t like shooting, but I know that if I do what my coach tells me — fake high shoot low — that I will be successful,” Morrison said. The same tactic earned her a goal against the State University of New York at Fredonia last Saturday, too. Freshman goalkeeper Miranda Chrone only let the ball pass by her once the entire game and registered a save early in the match. “It was their first shot of the game so I knew it was pretty important, especially since we were only up by two at that see LIONS page 21
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