Issue No. 1 Fall 2024

The Signal

Vol. LIV, No. 1

https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/

September 6, 2023

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

Mercer County Community College students living at TCNJ at reduced price

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

The College has partnered with MCCC to house students in Wolfe Hall.

By Isabella Darcy News Editor Some students enrolled at Mercer County Community College are living at the College at a reduced rate, as of the beginning of this semester, per a partnership between the two institutions.

MCCC students who participate in the partnership, which was announced July 15, also have access to campus resources and future room and board discounts.

The partnership comes during a period when the demand for housing has decreased following the COVID-19 pandemic. “We recognized that there were opportunities that would allow us to fill unused beds and support

a community that had a need for housing,” Associate Vice President for Communications David Muha told The Signal.

Housing for double-occupancy rooms and a required meal plan costs undergraduate students who attend the College $16,642 for the 2024-25 academic year, while MCCC students are being charged $8,500. Students of both institutions reside in Wolfe Hall and have the same meal plan options, but students of the College are paying nearly double the price.

MCCC students also have access to the College’s dining facilities, in addition to the library, the fitness center, recreational spaces, athletic events,

Former star point guard named interim men’s soccer coach

By Aidan Mastandrea and Joe Caruso Sports Editor and Staff Writer The College’s men’s soccer team has not had a winning season since their 2019, 10-4-4 campaign. It was clear a change might be needed, and when longtime head coach George Nazario stepped down in June, the College had a chance to start fresh.

After a small search, PJ Ringel got tagged as the interim head coach for the 2024 season. For those familiar with the College’s athletics, that name may sound familiar, but not from soccer.

Ringel was a star on the court for the men’s basketball team winning an NJAC championship in 2019. He also was a graduate assistant on Matthew Goldsmith’s staff this past season, helping claim another NJAC championship.

While that experience in the blue and gold is great, it certainly begs the question of whether Ringel can be a men’s soccer coach. A team deprived of success, turning to a man with no college soccer experience may seem strange on the outside, but behind closed doors, the College and the program are excited to see what Ringel can do.

Culture is the key in this hiring for the College. With all of his achievements on the court in Packer Hall, the hope is

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that Ringel can bring that to the soccer program that is so desperate for an identity.

“Obviously it’s a ‘what the hell’ hire, but the school had faith in me and the people I brought on staff,” said Ringel.

Ringel played soccer from a young age and was a three year varsity soccer player at Marlboro High School. He scored 21 goals and tallied 6 assists his senior year taking home first team all-state honors. Despite having many Division 1 soccer offers, Ringel chose to play basketball instead.

The interim tag is only for a year, as the College has said they will conduct a national search for a coach after the season, but Ringel’s goal is to win the full-time job and be here long-term.

“Culture is built from its athletes, you just need someone to direct it and then it’s infectious,” said Ringel.

One of those athletes is senior captain Julien Carraha, who has now played in 53 games over three seasons at the College.

The two-time All-State selection in his time at West Orange High School is now a captain for the second year in a row.

After playing 51 games under Coach Nazario, it was certainly going to be an adjustment after hearing of his departure.

FEATURES

see COACH page 12 page 3

Nursing Mentoring Hub

Department of nursing introduces a new Mentoring Hub for nursing students to engage in personal and professional development.

OPINIONS

intramurals and student organizations, and they will receive discounted room and board in the future if they decide to transfer to the College after completing their associate’s degree.

The College is currently housing 35 MCCC students, according to Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer. Those students are living in Wolfe Hall, a freshmen residence hall, on their own floor, separate from students of the College.

To support MCCC students, the College’s Department of Residential Education and Housing assigned a dedicated community advisor from the College to the MCCC floor.

“ResEd will perform their normal services and supports,” Tina Tormey, director of residential education and housing, told The Signal. “Mercer students will have access to the typical programs that any residential student would have access to as a result of living in the residence halls.”

MCCC already has an existing housing partnership with Rider University, but was in need of more housing. However, many MCCC students choose to complete their bachelor’s degree at the College after completing their associate’s degree.

Because of this, according to Muha, a housing partnership “seemed like a natural way to create a smoother transition for future potential transfer students.”

For years, the College and MCCC have had conversations about potential partnerships. It was when President Michael Bernstein arrived and began new collaborations that the agreement came to fruition, according to MCCC President Deborah Preston.

Throughout his first year at the College, Bernstein developed the LIONS Plan, which stands for “Linking Innovation with Operational Nimbleness and Sustainability.” Its purpose is to reduce or eliminate the College’s expected budget deficits.

Through the plan, working groups formed to brainstorm new revenue sources and cost reductions. that promotes inclusivity regarding community college students and their residential needs.”

Jared Williams, Student Government’s Executive President senior political science major, told The Signal that SG is “aware that schools like Rider University have had a successful partnership with MCCC housing, and we like the prospects of new students possibly transferring to our campus after their completion at MCCC.” Aimey Sebastian, a junior chemistry major, said she is in support of the housing partnership but thought it would make more sense for MCCC students to be housed in upperclassmen dorms see MERCER page 2

2024 Biennial Faculty Exhibition: “RE/NEW” through art

By Lake DiStefano Arts & Entertainment Editor The College presented its 2024 Biennial Faculty Exhibition, entitled “RE/NEW,” on Sept. 4. The exhibit was carefully curated by the many members of the studio art, interactive multimedia and graphic design faculties. The many works now displayed in the AIMM art gallery are all meant to encompass and display the theme of renewal, with each faculty member interpreting this theme through their preferred medium of choice.

The exhibit features pieces from Anita Allyn, Chung Sum Chak, Quinn Collins, Belinda Haikes, Kenneth Kaplowitz, Kyle LoPinto, Elizabeth Mackie, Sorraya Brashear-Evans and Liselot van der Heijden.

A discussion panel was held prior to the opening of the gallery where the many members of the faculty discussed the intentions and processes behind their pieces, each tying in the theme of renewal into the specific benefits of their particular medium.

The discussion was facilitated via interviews by students who are also members of the art and art education department, with their questions allowing the artists to provide insight and context into the motive and intentions behind the pieces.

Many discussed their choice to explain or not explain their piece fully, and why they

Alumni Adventures

page 5

Global head of Dossier Development and Operatios, Melissa Mertzman shares her experiences.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

decided to leave or not to leave their pieces up to interpretation — all of which decided with the theme of renewal in mind.

“I took it as my own personal journey with renewal, so speaking specifically to that evergoing process of creative block and inspiration — kind of that ongoing off and on renewal process that I go through intermittently,” said Evans, when asked how her work identifies with the theme of renewal. “So in that creative spark, as it makes its way back around, I found myself falling in love with going back to the basics of why I chose to be an artist.”

“I guess there’s two different connections that I make with renewal,” said Mackie about the inspiration behind her pieces. “During the pandemic, I started looking more at the Delaware River and bodies of water. I became really fascinated by the fact that all route shifts had been renewed by waters, natural weather, rain, and became these beautiful ponds that became recreational areas and places for a lot of the wildlife.”

The exhibit is now open and available to experience for anyone interested. It is open from noon to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays. It will be open until Oct. 20. The exhibit can also be opened via appointment if needed by contacting margarep@tcnj.edu.

page 9

‘It Ends With Us’ Review In light of the recent controversy surrounding the ‘It Ends With Us’ film, it is evident that its message has been sorely ignored.

SPORTS

page 12

Women’s Soccer Wins

Women’s soccer opens their season with two major wins, building momentum and anticipating surrounding their upcoming matches.

page 2 The Signal September 5, 2024

MERCER / Housing partnership Student parking decal prices increase

By Tristan Weisenbach Managing Editor

The price of student parking decals increased for the 2024-25 academic year, the first increase in six years. All decal options, including those for residential students, commuter students and weekly parking permits, now cost more compared to previous years.

This is the first time the College raised parking decal prices since the 2018-19 academic year. Here is the breakdown of the previous and current fees: Fall 2018 - Spring 2024: - Commuter Decals - Full Year: $105 - Residential Decals - Full Year: $290 - Commuter Decals - Half Year: $64 - Residential Decal - Half Year: $160 - Weekly Pass: $20 Photo by Kate Zydor

This partnership allows MCCC students to experience college residential living.

Continued from page 1 “TCNJ has limited housing options for their current students as it is,” Sebastian told The Signal. “As long as TCNJ has measures to expand housing and puts MCCC students into nonfreshmen housing, I don’t see an issue with it.”

Michael Kalinoski, a junior marketing major, said he finds the housing partnership to be a “solid solution” for MCCC students who want to experience living at a higher education institution.

Kalinoski, said the administration should

ensure that students of the College retain priority over MCCC students when it comes to choosing housing.

“As long as there are leftover dorm spots, then I find it to be a great way to incorporate those students into a situation where they are dorming as well as filling up extra spots no one has filled,” Kalinoski said.

MCCC students are excited, Preston said. “MCCC is one of the only community colleges in the state of New Jersey that offers student housing, and students are happy to have the opportunity to engage in the total college

Fall 2024/Spring 2025: - Commuter Decals - Full Year: $150 - Residential Decals - Full Year: $300 - Commuter Decals - Half Year: $83 - Residential Decal - Half Year: $165 - Weekly Pass: $25 According to Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer, the administration raised prices this year because of an increase in maintenance and operations costs for parking lots on campus.

Over the summer, the College completed repairs to the Eickhoff garage, installing an upgrade to the garage’s fire suppression system, according to an email from Dan Posluszny, emergency

preparedness and fire safety manager.

Additionally, the Forcina garage underwent “punch list repairs” over the summer as well, according to an email from Joseph Como, senior project manager.

The cost increase for commuter decals is disproportionately higher compared to the cost increase for residential decals.

Sacks did not provide a reason for this, saying “we feel that the rates we settled on are equitable.”

According to Sacks, the College is not expecting there to be an increase in the number of commuter students this year compared to last year. Additionally, there will be no changes to the lots in which students have access to park or the total number of spots available for commuter and residential students to park in.

Michael Brown, a senior electrical engineering major, is a commuter student who started commuting last year. He said he did not notice the price increase for the parking decals this year, but hopes the additional money is being put toward improving the parking situation for students.

Gianna Melhorn, a freshman clinical and counseling psychology major, said she doesn’t have a car on campus but isn’t surprised at the price increase for parking decals.

“With the two weeks I’ve been on campus, everything is very expensive, from the books to food if you don’t have points, so I think an increase anywhere else is kind of ridiculous.”

It is unclear at this time what other additional maintenance will be completed at other parking lots or garages on campus.

Cop Shop: Fire alarms, busted-up finger and a Taco Bell arrest

By Isabella Darcy News Editor

The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information.

Some information provided may be triggering for some students. Incidents included in this report occurred between Aug. 15 and Sept. 2.

Aug. 15: Allen Hall fire alarm At approximately 8:04 p.m., Campus Police arrived at Allen Hall after being alerted that a smoke detector was activated in a room.

Campus Police and Ewing Township Fire Department checked the room and determined that there were no signs of smoke or fire.

Aug. 26: Someone’s laptop A Brower Student Center staff member discovered an abandoned Lenovo Chromebook in her BSC office at approximately 4 p.m. on Aug. 26. She did not know how long the Chromebook had been there or who it belonged to, so she reported it to Campus Police. With the help of Information Technology, the laptop was returned to its owner on the following day.

Aug. 26: New Residence Hall fire alarm At approximately 11:11 a.m., the fire panel in New Residence Hall activated after being triggered by a smoke detector in one room.

Ewing Township Fire Department and Prospect Heights Volunteer Fire Company arrived on the scene at approximately 11:20 a.m. It was determined that the cause of the trigger was an air fryer.

Aug. 28: Nerf gun, Orbeez, marijuana and Taco Bell Two 18-year-old non-students drove around campus firing Orbeez from a Nerf gun, striking multiple people.

Campus Police was first alerted of this when a student reported being hit in the forehead, with what he assumed were BBs, while walking near the Biology Building at 9:35 p.m. The student t o l d campus police that someone in a white sedan had shot at him, and was able to provide the first t h r e e d i g i t s of the vehicle’s license plate. Minutes later, another person reported being hit near Norsworthy Hall. Neither person needed medical attention.

Campus Police and Ewing Police Department teamed up to identify the suspects’ vehicle and found it at Taco Bell on Olden Ave. Visible inside the vehicle were the Nerf gun and marijuana. Both occupants of the vehicle were arrested and are set to appear in court later this month.

In total, Campus Police received reports from three students who reported being hit.

Aug. 29: A hit, write and run A commuter student parked on level two of Lot 7 at approximately

noon. Five hours later, that student returned to the lot, only to find damage to his vehicle and a note on the windshield. The note apologized for the damage and included a phone number, which the owner of the vehicle could text to have the damages paid for.

When they were contacted, the person who left the note again agreed to pay for the damage.

Aug. 30: Blood on his hand A student, who had jammed h i s hand in a door, was bleeding heavily from his left index finger onto the floor of Travers Hall at

approximately 12:51 a.m.

Campus Police and EMS were dispatched to the scene and found the student conscious, breathing and bleeding. EMS treated the wound, getting the bleeding under control. The student was then transported to a hospital for further treatment.

Aug. 30: Detective dad A commuter student told Campus Police that his vehicle was damaged while he was parked on the first floor of Lot 13. Damage to the vehicle included minor dents, scratches, paint transfer, and damages on its bumper and wheel well trim.

The student was unsure if the collision that caused the harm to his

car had occurred on or off campus.

It was not until the student’s father pointed them out, that the student noticed the damages.

After reviewing camera footage, Campus Police found no evidence that the collision occurred on campus.

Sept. 1: Intoxicated student A student called Campus Police at approximately 12:06 a.m. to report an intoxicated male student on the front staircase of Travers Hall.

The intoxicated student, who is a commuter, vomited on the staircase at some point before Campus Police got to the scene.

When Campus Police arrived, the intoxicated student was lying in front of Travers Hall’s entrance. The commuter was alert and conscious, and with the help of Campus Police, got onto a chair outside of the building. The intoxicated student told Campus Police that he had consumed four or more shots of vodka that night.

EMS was dispatched and was helping the commuter onto a stretcher for transport when he vomited two more times. The intoxicated student was then transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center.

Sept. 2: Bike thief A student reported their bicycle missing to Campus Police after noticing it was not on a bike rack near Centennial Hall, where they had left it the previous night. The lock that had been securing the bike to the rack had been cut.

The student did not have a photo of the bike, which was not registered with Campus Police, making it more difficult for Campus Police to locate it. The student told Campus Police that his bicycle is full-sized and black with orange and blue stripes along the sides. The bike is still missing.

September 5, 2024 The Signal page 3

Department of nursing introduces a new Mentoring Hub for students

Photo by Kate Zydor

Nursing department Co-Chairs introduce the Mentoring Hub.

By Kate Zydor Kenner, dean of the school of nursing, News Editor and Yolanda Nelson, associate professor and co-chair of the department of nursing, The College’s department of nursing opened the ceremony with remarks and has launched a new Mentoring Hub for introduced the distinguished speakers. nursing students. According to the hub’s “This Mentoring Hub is more than website, it is a space that provides support, just a space — it’s a beacon of support; fosters character development, enhances a place where students can find guidance, leadership skills and builds self-confidence encouragement and tools to succeed,” among the College’s nursing majors. said Interim Vice President for Inclusive On Aug. 28, the Mentoring Hub’s grand Excellence Tacquice Davis.

Mentors consist of nursing faculty opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony occurred outside Trenton Hall. Carole members, community members who

work as professional nurses and mentors from the African American Student Nurse Mentorship Program, also known as Moving Forward Together.

Founded in 2017 by Nelson, Moving Forward Together aims to positively impact the lives of African American nursing students at the College. This program has opened doors for students to engage in meaningful opportunities such as accompanying the Black Nurses Association on Capitol Hill Day. “This program has been very successful and it is now time to expand and open up mentoring opportunities to the entire department of nursing,” said Nelson.

Alongside the personal and professional development the Mentoring Center provides, it will be guided by the mission to improve intercultural understanding and collaboration within diverse communities.

“I’m really excited for the Mentoring Hub for all nursing students to utilize to get extra guidance and mentorship,” said Gianna Glover, a junior nursing major.

The Mentoring Hub will encourage peer-to-peer relationships, allowing undergraduate nursing students to network and form lasting connections. The goal is that this will contribute to the retention of first-year nursing students.

“I hope that we all utilize…the space and once we’re in the [mentor’s] position, turn it back around and pay it forward to

those coming after us,” said Glover.

The Mentoring Hub provides an avenue for alumni to remain involved at the College and work with students currently enrolled in the school of nursing.

The hub will temporarily be housed in Trenton Hall Room 116. It is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. According to Nelson, monthly activities and workshops will focus on test-taking strategies, goal setting, stress management and more.

“All of your voices matter. You are all special and we want you all to succeed.

That’s our number one goal,” said Nelson.

“Progression, retention, and we want to see you graduate and become professional nurses.”

Students and mentors who participate in this program will also have the opportunity to connect with the Trenton Soup Kitchen and the Trenton Rescue Mission to volunteer and teach workshops, gaining invaluable leadership and community service experience.

This ties into one of the key tenets of the hub, which is to develop an understanding of health equity best practices in contemporary society.

“Listen, this is your home,” said Kiel Jordan, intensive care nurse and community mentor. “You don’t need an invitation to come home. You come home any time.”

CAPS implements new walk-in hours

Photo by Brooke Zevon

CAPS is a resource that can be used by students seeking mental health support.

By Isabella Darcy In the past, students with non-urgent News Editor needs who wanted to meet with a CAPS clinician were required to fill out an online Counseling and Prevention Services Request for Services form. They would is implementing new walk-in hours this then have to wait for CAPS to call them to semester, where students can visit the CAPS schedule an appointment, which would be office and meet with a clinician within followed by another waiting period before minutes in an effort to remove barriers the appointment itself. to care and make seeking support more “That doesn’t really work with [the accessible. current] generation,” said Mason. “Phones As of Aug. 27, any student can promptly are not for calling, so we were spending a see a therapist by visiting Eickhoff Hall great deal of time tracking students down to Room 114 between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. CAPS set up appointments.” has always been open for students in need of The RFS form is still open, but students urgent care to walk in during its operating who do not want to go through the online hours, but the new specified hours allow for process, cannot find an appointment that anyone who is seeking support, urgent or fits their schedule, or would rather quickly not, to meet with a clinician. speak with someone in-person can receive “We want to make it as easy and seamless care by walking in. as possible for students to get the mental “I’d probably rather go in-person with health care they need,” said Beverly Mason, the open hours,” said Ryan Mendes, a director of CAPS. sophomore business management major.

CAPS has a staff of six clinicians who “I wouldn’t be one to schedule an online work on a rotating schedule that allows for appointment, and I think it’s a good thing for one of them to work with walk-ins each day. people to be able to go and talk to someone Students who visit the CAPS office should whenever they need it.” tell the front desk that they would like to Emily Black, a sophomore nursing make an appointment to immediately speak major, also said that she believes the new with a therapist. Those students will then open hours are a positive addition to CAPS. meet with the designated clinician, as they “I would feel more comfortable going inbecome available. person than scheduling online,” said Black.

The walk-in appointment takes There is no limit to the number of times approximately 10 minutes. During that a student can use the walk-in hours to seek time, the therapist gathers information and support. However, the office’s goal is to help works with the student to create a care students find and receive the care they need plan, depending on the student’s reason for after their first time walking in. If that goal seeking support. This entails connecting is met, the same student would not need to the student to a mental health professional, walk in more than once. either on or off-campus, depending on their “I’m really hopeful that this is an needs. improvement that students like and take Since its first day of operation, students advantage of,” said Mason. “There’s no have been taking advantage of this new problem too big or too small for you to ask opportunity, according to Mason. about at CAPS.”

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page 4 The Signal September 5, 2024

Students no longer able to make posts on TCNJ Roar app

Students used to be able to freely write posts on TCNJ Roar.

By Matthew Kaufman Editor-in-Chief The College has removed students’ ability to make posts on TCNJ Roar, an app that serves as an information hub for the campus community.

Where previously students could write a post on the Student Feed and make it visible to any app user, TCNJ Roar now only shows a series of curated news highlights from TCNJ Magazine, TCNJ.edu, TCNJ Athletics

Photo by Matthew Kaufman

and The Signal. Students can still send direct messages to each other.

“In reviewing the use of the chat feature, the College determined that it did not warrant the increasing amount of resources and support to maintain it given its generally low and inconsistent usage by students,” Luke Sacks, the College’s head of media relations, told The Signal.

While the Student Feed was not extremely popular across campus, there was a community of students

who frequented the app. Because of this, some students who spoke with The Signal said they were disappointed by the changes made to TCNJ Roar.

“I really liked posting on the Roar app because it was a good way for me to connect with people that I didn’t know,” said Meredith, a sophomore biology major who preferred not to give her full name. “It just helped me feel more connected to people.”

Meredith said she even made a friend on TCNJ Roar, Michael McNaughton, who saw her posts on the app and messaged her. McNaughton told The Signal that he enjoyed the memes Meredith was posting, and they formed a connection through that and a mutual enjoyment of video games.

“That’s a good example of how the Roar app allowed students to find out more about each other and find common ground,” Meredith said.

McNaughton said that in addition to the social aspect of the Student Feed, the feature provided a utility for students who lost things, were giving old things away or were selling old textbooks and supplies. “I don’t know where else to advertise that,” McNaughton said.

The two agreed that what made the Student Feed special was the fact that every TCNJ student had access to it.

“It’s 2024. People meet each other on social media,” Meredith said. “[TCNJ Roar] is an app that everyone

downloads, and everyone can use, as long as they’re not breaking terms of service. It’s the best way to facilitate meeting people, and I can’t think of a more efficient way to do that.”

For students who were not frequent users of TCNJ Roar’s Student Feed, the news did not provoke much of a reaction.

“Personally, the Roar app isn’t something I frequently use to stay connected on campus so this change doesn’t bother me,” said Janelle Estime, a sophomore psychology major.

Dora Sauer, a sophomore political science major, said that she supported the change, saying that the use of the Student Feed for joke posting created a distraction for users of the app.

“I think people lost sight of what the Roar app was designed for and used it more as a form of social media instead of its intended purpose of helping out students,” Sauer told The Signal. “I think using it the way people did led to many individuals not taking the app seriously and overlooking it as a resource.”

A version of TCNJ Roar was first released in 2018. Though the Student Feed feature has been removed, other features like Canvas schedule and assignment integration, event checkin, a campus directory and more are still available. While the app is developed by Ready Education, the College retains control over the features accessible to students.

of her Puerto Rican heritage.

Diamond Evans, a senior mechanical engineering major, said he was ready for a change from Carlitos. Evans cut his dining ties with Carlitos after having a pool of grease pour out from his tacos.

“I get with Carlitos it was supposed to be for Hispanic, Latino culture, but as a guy who’s part Puerto Rican, my grandmother wouldn’t be okay with [Carlitos],” Evans said. “[Teriyaki] is way way better, both simple but impactful.”

Both Evans and Thomas are also fond of the sushi offered right next to Teriyaki, Hissho Sushi, which is a franchise with over 2,000 locations nationwide. Tahidar Myo, who has been making sushi for the College for six years, is now running Teriyaki with her husband Zaw Oo. “Whatever you want — spicy, salty, if you have a taste, let me know,” Myo said. “They like it or they don’t like it … I’ll change it for them.”

Some students said ordering in the BSC makes them apprehensive due to a few workers’ dispositions, but Teriyaki has been a pleasant change of food and demeanor.

“Customer service is always a big thing for me,” said Dylan Carabello, a junior business management major.

“If the customer service is good then I can at least take something away from it, but I think both the customer service and the food were good [at Teriyaki]. It was very fresh and I definitely enjoyed the quality of the food.”

The Teriyaki vendor comes from Sodexo Group, a food services and facilities management company that manages the dining options at the College. Teriyaki is inspired by Mein Bowls, another Asian food vendor that is offered on other college campuses through the company.

“The restaurant aims to be ‘glocal,’” said Morales, “meaning it provides global flavors crafted with local ingredients whenever possible, to be respectful of the environment and to make the consumer feel welcomed and special each visit through friendly service.”

Nelson encourages students to contact dining services in person or through their feedback form online about what they want to see more of in terms of on campus regarding food options.

Teriyaki Takeover: World Fusion continues to diversify dining

A new dining location is now open in the Brower Student Center.

By Raeanne Raccagno Correspondent World Fusion Teriyaki’s name has been making its way across campus and capturing students’ taste buds in Brower Student Center since opening at the beginning of the semester.

Customers can choose from various teriyaki bowls, starters, a la carte and flavorful sauces from the new Japanese food station.

The space was previously occupied

by Carlitos Barbecue Taqueria, which opened last fall and was beloved for its pit-smoked barbecue tacos.

Carlitos’ closing came after “the Student Government requested new food offerings to be added in a rotation,” said Nelson Morales, resident district manager of dining services at the College. “We decided to replace Carlitos with World Fusion Teriyaki, and we will collect student feedback to see if it should be rotated out next school year.”

Student Government did not specifically ask to replace Carlitos

Photo by Erin Riley

while advocating for new food offerings in the BSC and other locations on campus, according to Jared Williams, the College’s executive president of student government.

The College renovated the cooking space over the summer to be more dynamic for various restaurant ideas.

Teriyaki’s bowls come with an option of chicken, beef, a combination of both or tofu, and are served over white or fried rice, with a brown rice substitution for an additional $1.

“It literally just melted in my mouth,” said Ella Thomas, a graduate special education major. “It was a perfect balance of rice, chicken, beef and mixed veggies.”

While Thomas has been enjoying the new dining option, she also described herself as “Carlitos’ biggest fan.”

“I think I miss Carlitos a little bit just because of my heritage,” she said. Thomas frequently enjoyed the plantains because they reminded her

Carlitos also added diversity to on-campus dining options.

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

Features

Bernstein assumes presidency: A new era of TCNJ leadership

Photo by Anthony DePrimo

Board of Trustees chair Rebecca Ostrov and President Michael A. Bernstein.

By Ally Uhlendorf and Isabella Darcy Managing Editor and News Editor Michael A. Bernstein was formally appointed the College’s 17th president on June 6. Following his service as interim president since July 2023, the permanent presidency is effective immediately.

“I’m delighted about the formal appointment,” Bernstein said in an interview with The Signal. “I’ve been doing the job, as you know, for about 11 months. So the work just continues.”

Bernstein, originally residing in San Diego, California, has discussed plans to make New Jersey his new home, balancing his professional responsibilities and personal life.

“For personal reasons, I’ve traveled back to California on a regular basis. But my home base becomes New Jersey,”

Bernstein said. “I’m living in the official residence of the TCNJ president, which is wonderful. So I enjoy that very much and I’m very grateful for it.”

Bernstein said his family will not be relocating to New Jersey, as they are anchored on the West Coast.

“My travel as president will probably increase now with my formal appointment in terms of doing work in raising funds for the college, meeting with alumni around the country, engaging with elected officials both in Trenton and in Washington, D.C.,” Bernstein said. “So I expect that there’ll be a lot of travel around those engagements, which is pretty typical for most college presidents.”

Student reactions to the new appointment have varied, reflecting on diverse concerns and hopes for the campus community. Through various comments

on both the College’s official Instagram and The Signal’s Instagram, students have expressed worries of the president’s travel costs, the LIONS Plan and other upcoming initiatives.

In response, Bernstein emphasized his approach of being judged by actions rather than titles.

“I’ve always believed that actions speak louder than words, so I will always try to explain what I’m doing and why I’m doing it,” Bernstein said. “But, at the same time, we’re looking for results and the results that generate the best possible outcomes for our college — so that’s what I’m focused on.”

Bernstein has plans to become even more engaged in the campus community and become involved directly with students.

“I’m always eager to spend more time with the students and communicate formally with the campus, through various updates and messages as required,” Bernstein said. “But, the opportunity to informally interact with people and spend time with them will be very welcome too, so I’m looking forward to that.”

It is a tense time for many colleges and universities, in light of the ongoing IsraelHamas conflict. Protests have disrupted higher-education campuses across the United States, with many protesters calling for schools to “cut financial ties with companies that facilitate Israel’s war in Gaza,” according to The Washington Post.

Multiple college presidents have been called upon to resign because of their response to protests on their respective campuses.

The College experienced student activism last academic year in response to

the war, but on a smaller scale compared to institutions like Columbia University and Harvard University, where typical campus life was disrupted by larger forms of protests such as encampments earlier this year.

At the College, people from differing roles in the campus community addressed the conflict. Students led demonstrations, professors hosted a panel to contextualize the conflict and student groups hosted events aiming to teach and support.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the College,” Bernstein said. “I think the College has managed itself very, very well.”

Bernstein said his goal in any interaction related to the conflict is to closely examine what exactly is going on, determine if it is consistent with the values of the campus community and then decide if it can go on or if a line needs to be drawn.

“I’m optimistic and hopeful, especially on the basis of what happened this past year,” Bernstein said. “I think we have a good community here.”

At the end of the fall 2023 semester, Bernstein announced a plan called LIONS, which stands for “Linking Innovation with Operational Nimbleness and Sustainability.” Bernstein has since been providing monthly updates to the plan as it progresses toward its mission of reducing or eliminating the College’s expected budget deficits.

The president said that he and working groups are currently deciding which aspects of the LIONS Plan final recommendations, released in May, will be implemented, modified or discarded. Bernstein said he recognizes that the decision making process takes a while.

Read more on our website!

Alumni Adventures: Melissa Mertzman’s chemical balance

By Aimee Bulger Staff Writer

Finding a balance between work and play can be difficult — especially when holding a career position of high importance and power. However, Melissa Mertzman ‘96 shows just how possible this can be when done right.

After attending the College and earning her bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Mertzman went on to earn her doctorate in analytical chemistry from Drexel University, where she was a leading researcher in the field of chiral microemulsion electrokinetic chromatography, a separation technique for chemical solutes, according to Science Direct. Mertzman then went on to work in the field of pharmaceutical drug development, where she has gained 25 years of experience.

Mertzman is currently the global head of Dossier Development and Operations, a group in pharmaceutical development within Janssen Research and Development, LLC, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

There, she oversees approval, review and authoring of chemistry manufacturing and controls content for several different aspects within the chemical field.

Globally, she serves as a representative for her department in China, where she works to understand requirements and advocate for global standards of pharmaceutical drugs, an aspect of her work she says she is most proud of.

Within her job, responsibilities include clinical trial application, marketing applications, responses to health authority questions, briefing books and investigator brochures that support global

submissions during development and commercialization.

Within her field, Mertzman is highly successful, and she spoke with The Signal about a few of her accomplishments that stand out to her the most.

“The Dossier Community of Practice is definitely something I feel proud of,” she said. “I remember pitching the idea to senior leadership back in 2016, at which time the answer was ‘no.’ But a year later, we’d experienced some pain points in the regulatory intelligence and advocacy arena, and I sensed there was a new opportunity to revisit the discussion. Sure enough, the next time it was proposed, the answer was a resounding ‘yes.’”

Mertzman’s perseverance and patience allowed for her idea to be put into motion, bringing success to her company as the plan went live in 2019, placing her in charge of oversight.

In addition to being a highlyaccomplished chemist, Mertzman also spends her free time as both a photographer and a mother, all of which she had to learn to balance with grace.

“I had hit a rough patch in my career,” she said, “and it forced me to re-evaluate how I was working and helped me realize that somewhere along the way of pouring myself 150% into my career and my children I had lost my identity. And while I was doing well by external standards, the truth was that I felt empty and burned out.”

Working with a high pressure schedule is not something new to Mertzman, as she did so during her time at the College as well.

“I was working 40 hours a week waiting tables, while attending as a fulltime chemistry major,” Mertzman said.

“Granted, somehow, I still found time to join a sorority, Delta Phi Epsilon. Seriously, I have no idea how I ever had that level of energy. I couldn’t do all of that now.”

Mertzman credits her experience with her ability to persevere, make decisions, take risks, be a leader and be “scrappy.”

With the close-knit community of the College, as well as help from the professors and dean at the time, Mertzman was able to successfully graduate and go on to earn her doctorate.

Over time, Mertzman said she was able to find her balance, find her “no” and become more selective for herself and her well-being within her career. Discovering the importance of turning down tasks and responsibilities that do not promote the best possible results for her career path or her mental health, Mertzman maintains a workload that allows for her creative side to bloom.

Mertzman also explained how, despite having a very supportive husband, the work at home falls “disproportionately” onto women, even when they are the main breadwinner of the family. Mertzman said the idea of always saying “yes” to everything can be toxic to lots of women, overloading their already full plates.

In her personal life, Mertzman detailed the importance of finding “Melissa” within her identities of wife, mother and boss.

One key thing that helps her achieve this is photography, which she displays on Instagram, @bnw_goddess.

“Photography nourishes the creative side of me that was so strongly present when I was younger, but that I had placed on the back shelf in adulthood,” Mertzman said. “Taking these realizations together, that I needed to be selective with my career

management at work, and that I needed to introduce activities that would help me take better care of myself, resulted in me becoming laser focused on how I manage my time and energy.”

With this balance discovery, Mertzman realized an important aspect of everyday life, so important that she offers it as a piece of advice: taking care of health, both mental and physical, is a key life priority.

“The better care I take of my body, heart and mind, the more energy I will have to support the balance,” she said.

Finding a balance of work and play, Mertzman is able to flourish in both her career in chemistry and her photography.

Discovering how to say no, not taking too much onto her plate, and finding things that make her happy, Mertzman is able to thrive with her perfect balance in life.

Photo courtesy of Melissa Mertzman

Aside from chemistry, Melissa Mertzman also dedicates her time to photography.

Let’s dial down the microtrends: The hidden cost of fast fashion

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The amount of personal style that microtrends can strip away is staggering.

By Brinda Patel Staff Writer Since 1990, the allure of microtrends has been a prominent staple feature in fashion. Today, this term is commonly referred to as “fast fashion.”

In this new decade, technology and social media have taken the trajectory of trends to new heights. Sometimes, various trends can emerge and get put in the spotlight within a single week.

Let’s be frank, microtrends are the equivalent of fast-food. These speedy trends are exciting at first, but are ultimately frivolous and distasteful.

Each trend provides a chance to experiment and be a small part of

fashion history as each cycle unfolds.

But at the same time, these never-ending surges not only hinder the creation of a distinctive personal aesthetic but also encourage unwarranted splurges and a dire strain on the environment.

This affects everyone at any given price point.

According to Earth.Org, about 92 million tons of textile waste is produced every year. The key “drivers” of the industry’s global pollution impacts are dyeing/finishing at 36%, yarn preparation at 28% and fiber production at 15%.

The emphasis on the quick production and depletion of natural resources is not lost upon. Microtrends

only quicken global pollution levels.

To address these issues, it’s important to advocate for more sustainable practices that are more affordable to every consumer’s spending range and effectively reduce the harmful consequences of fast fashion. One person’s trend-based purchases are another person’s suffering.

A common reason for this behavior is the overwhelming desire to fit in, commonly portrayed from younger generations today. Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and other related social media platforms play a significant role in this rising phenomenon. These platforms constantly adjust each user’s algorithm, keeping everyone just a touch away to further feed their need for constant validation. This need for approval is particularly strong in the realm of fashion. The constant exposure to curated and trendy content creates pressure to align with current styles and trends.

The amount of personal style that microtrends can strip away is staggering. This is why many young adults end up dressing similarly just to fit in. Following trends seen online without any hesitation is comparable to putting on different masks every day, hiding who you really are to meet others expectations.

However, once each microtrend passes, people often find themselves confused about their sense of identity.

They end up with clothes that no longer reflect their individuality,

making them question their own fashion choices.

An interview on NPR between an unidentified person, Alina Selyukh and Mandy Lee dives deeper into how social media speeds up fashion trends and promotes disposable clothing practices. “I think that the problem really lies with the idea that a wardrobe is revolving and, you know, people striving to constantly replace things that may not be on the pulse,” Lee said.

Microtrends, while often seen as fleeting and superficial, offer a positive angle in which one can explore and refine their personal style as they find suitable. The trends encourage consumers to dive deeper into fashion, and simultaneously stay conscious of their individual wardrobe needs and preferences.

The mistakes in micro trends offer very valuable lessons for consumers.

By watching when and where these trends fail, whether it’s due to the hype or cheap quality, everyone should make smarter choices and avoid buying into these influential fads. Spend wellearned money on products that have real value, not a fleeting interest.

Understanding where trends go right and wrong also helps spot the green/red flags of future fads. On a broader scale, this awareness helps create a market that truly values both sustainability and authenticity, benefiting every consumer in the long run.

Changing majors isn’t intimidating with the right mindset

Photo by Brielle Zimmer

Students study diligently at the library.

The College’s School of Education building.

By Briana Keenan Correspondent At the start of spring semester my freshman year, I had an identity crisis. I no longer felt passionate about having a career in journalism.

I stuck it out for a while and confided in my fellow Signal editors about ways to accommodate my shifting interests. When the spark wasn’t as bright as it had been since my freshman year of high school, I knew that it was time to make a change.

I was frightened at the thought of changing my major because I had wanted to go into the journalism field since ninth grade. I consider myself to be a strong writer and figured that’s what my career would be.

One night in February, I anxiously visited the School of Education’s website, considering it was another

Photo by Briana Keenan

field of interest I wanted to explore if journalism no longer felt right.

I read about the speech pathology major and felt that it was a fitting choice for me; I enjoy helping others, was in speech classes as a child and have a kind and patient demeanor.

I contacted a professor in the program who was recommended on the website as a contact. After she gave me a breakdown of the program and its expectations during a Zoom call, I immediately filled out the change of major request form. I was eager to learn about verbal communication after having so much experience with written communication.

That spring, I joined more campus organizations within the education field, including ROSCOE Educators and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA), where I started making

more connections.

I saw information about NSSLHA on the School of Education page, and thought it would be a great way to meet more aspiring speech pathologists.

I heard about ROSCOE Educators from a “This Week at TCNJ” email, attended one of their community events and was subsequently added into the program.

Is changing majors always this easy? No. I am fortunate that many of my former classes count towards my elective credit and “core” requirements so I should still graduate within four years.

I still do have a love for journalism and talked to Professor Kathleen Webber, head of the journalism department, about minoring in professional writing. She has been incredibly supportive in this process, and I am thankful for her guidance in this change.

I took SLP 102 and I found myself smiling — not only out of excitement for the new topics that I will be learning, but also for her genuine support for her students.

I am beyond fortunate to attend a college that has incredible faculty across many disciplines.

Fast forward to my first semester of sophomore year, and I am already loving my new major. Although it is still the first week of classes as I am writing this article, I am already reassured that I made the right decision.

I used to feel ashamed about losing my desire to pursue a career in journalism because I felt it was the path I had set for myself. However, I’ve come to realize that writing will always be a part of my life. I

am now proud I was brave enough to advocate for myself and switch into a major that I am eager to pursue as a career.

For any students at the College that are considering changing their major but are unsure or intimidated like I was, I advise you to take the chance and reach out to each department’s respective advisor. It doesn’t hurt to ask questions, and the information that you receive will help you make an informed decision.

Changing majors is common among college students and college is meant for trying new things.

The unknown behind change can be intimidating, but switching majors can be both exciting and a setup for broader success.

By holding yourself to high standards of academic achievement, you not only improve your future prospects, but you also contribute to creating a campus community that is driven towards excellence.

Currently, return on investment is a hot topic surrounding institutions of higher education. Students want to ensure that the experiences they glean from their chosen university or college will set them up with future career prospects.

With all the focus on the cost of higher education, it stands to reason that if we are going to put ourselves in thousands of dollars worth of debt, we would want to leave with every benefit and every ounce of knowledge we could gain.

When I write that monthly check toward my student loans someday, I want to know without a shadow of a doubt that it was worth every penny.

Editorials

Parking lots are too congested at the beginning of the semester

Lots 5, 6 and 7 are some of the lots designated for commuters.

By Signal Editorial Staff Every semester, during the first week of classes, students flock to campus for syllabus week. Virtually every student enrolled at the College shows up for the first days of school and stays on campus to spend time with friends they haven’t seen in many weeks. This highlights a very clear issue: There is not enough parking on campus for students.

Depending on the time of day, finding a spot to park your car could turn into a 15 to 20-minute ordeal.

And forget about getting a spot in Lot 5, that’s almost impossible.

Many students have mentioned they are getting to class late because of the lack of available parking. The sheer design of the Lot 7 garage is nothing to write home about — and is, at times, dangerous — but the real problem is plain and simple: the lack of spots.

According to data collected by The Signal last semester, more than 3,000 student parking decals are issued at any given point in the semester.

Photo by Kylie Macallister

However, there are only 2,699 student parking spots available.

Parking passes are designed to help manage the limited parking spots available on campus by only allowing students who have paid for this privilege to use parking spaces.

Because the College issues more parking decals than the number of parking spots — a decision that Head Media Relations Officer Luke Sacks previously said was made by considering the findings of a spring 2023 parking study — students with parking decals may already struggle to find a space.

However, this issue is worsened by some students who bypass this requirement and park on campus without purchasing a decal, reducing availability even more for those who have.

Parking passes cost $300 per year, or $165 per semester for resident students and $159.93 per year, or $88.50 per semester, for commuter students. It is unfair for the students who bear this burden to fight for parking against people who have not

paid for passes.

For residential students and commuters alike, parking is always a stressor — as well as for students living in Campus Town.

Students living in the apartments are already paying high expenses for rent, with the extra payment of parking on top. Students are given three parking options when living in Campus Town — two being parking lots in Campus Town for $480 and the other being Lot 7, an on campus garage for $330. However, students don’t technically get a choice in where they can park, as they are given a random timeslot to select parking.

In Lot 7, Campus Town residents are only permitted to park on the top floor. Students are paying over $300 to park in the same garage as permitted commuters, residential students and visitors — not to mention the people without permits

who park there.

At a minimum, the College needs to be stricter when it comes to enforcing the use of parking permits.

However, a comprehensive, longterm solution must include creating additional parking spaces for students to utilize.

The College seems to anticipate large numbers of students being off campus at any given time, allowing for the number of available spaces to be significantly lower than the number of issued permits.

However, if the College wants to fulfill its mission of providing an inclusive campus environment where all students — specifically commuters and those who live offcampus — want to spend time and get involved, then the issue of student parking needs to be seriously reevaluated.

Lots get congested quickly, especially during class times.

The Signal

https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/ Email: signal@tcnj.edu Business Email: thesignalbusiness@gmail.com

Editorial Staff Matthew Kaufman Editor-in-Chief Ally Uhlendorf Tristan Weisenbach Managing Editors Isabella Darcy Kate Zydor News Editors

Alena Bitonti Lake DiStefano Arts & Entertainment Editors Parisa Burton Opinions Editor

Photo by John Bonacci

Rebecca Heath Features Editor Aidan Mastadrea Sports Editor Aliyah Siddiqui Nation & World Editor

Administrative Staff Elizabeth Gladstone Multimedia Coordinator Ela Kirimca Social Media Editor Jenna Weldon Web Editor Liam Simonelli Editorial Cartoonist Kathleen Webber Faculty Advisor

POLICIES The Signal is published bi-weekly during the academic year and not financed by the Student Activity Fund but solely by advertisement revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal.

The Letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed.

The Signal willingly corrects mistakes. If you think we have made a mistake, contact us signal@tcnj.edu.

Across 6. Outdoor meal 8. Summer month with fireworks 9. Summer footwear 10. Flying, wind-powered toy 11. Overnight outdoor stay 12. Sunny season

Down 1. Vacation spot 2. Sun eye protection 3. Cooling device 4. Protective lotion 5. Summer fruit that’s green and red 7. Cooling treat

Romanticization and the need for a happy ending: ‘It Ends with Us’

By Lake DiStefano Arts & Entertainment Editor

If you are even remotely aware of the happenings in pop culture, you’ve likely heard of Hollywood’s newest alleged feud and, of course, the film behind it: “It Ends with Us.” This tension is mostly in regard to accusations of creative differences between director Justin Baldoni and producer Blake Lively, who just so happened to play the two leads in the film.

Despite all the controversy, at the center lies the film itself, which hasn’t received much attention in light of all the scandal surrounding its inception.

It seems that, at least in terms of conversation around the film, most of the discussion is focused on typical celebrity drama, with most of social media debating which of the two leads is most wrong in the apparent feud.

This is less interesting to me than the film itself, however. The film is an adaptation of the book by the same name, written by equally controversial industry titan Colleen Hoover.

Despite the sheer numbers that her books do, Hoover has remained an often maligned figure in the world of literature, as her style of writing is often most simply described as low-brow, spicy romance – a genre not really respected in the wider world of writing, given that its primary demographic is often teenage girls.

Regardless, this is often regarded as Hoover’s most known work as it attempts to actually tackle the unhealthy and abusive relationships her books are so often rooted in, with

Photo courtesy of IMDb

The film’s controversial nature has muddied most of its reception.

a serious attitude and realistic tone.

The end result is “It Ends with Us,” a novel — and now movie — that is definitively and sternly about domestic violence.

Feedback on the book is often negative, with many pointing out that the cheesy quirks of her writing do little to serve the message. The most common example is the main character, who is named Lily Blossom Bloom and, you guessed it, works in a flower shop.

These goofy details are perfectly at home in her other books, but in one that takes itself so seriously, it merely makes the whole ordeal seem like a poor interpretation and representation of the real world trauma these relationships can, and do, cause.

This is all to say that upon seeing the movie, I was pleasantly surprised that some things were actually

improved upon from the book. Due to it being a movie, whatever weakness was present in Hoover’s prose simply doesn’t make it into the film, allowing for specific scenes to hit harder. The immediate example coming to mind is the flashback scenes with Lily’s first love, Atlas.

In a similar vein, due to the constriction of the runtime, the writers were forced to actually reduce the film to only its essential parts. Visually speaking, the film is surprisingly well constructed. The shots, while not always particularly innovative, are at the very least visually appealing.

Some do wonders to highlight the theme of generational trauma in the film via flashbacks of Lily’s father’s abuse rapidly cutting into present day moments.

This is where the improvements end, however, because underneath the gloss and sheen of a big budget Hollywood

production, this is still a movie based upon an incredibly sensitive topic using an arguably tone deaf book as its source material.

The film has an unfortunate obsession with desperately needing to give reasons as to why the abuse happens. This nearly ruins the film for me. Not only does it inject an unneeded nuance into a situation that is already difficult to navigate, but it also takes time away from the story of surviving abuse that this film claims it is trying to portray.

The soundtrack of the film is also incredibly uneven, with the many contemporary hits sprinkled throughout, often drawing attention away from dark scenes and undermining them tonally.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the film is the overreliance on the love triangle. This is especially awful when, at the end of the film, instead of ending on a shot of Lily driving off from her abusive marriage, it opts to end only when Lily finally reconnects and rekindles her flames with Atlas.

This effectively draws focus away from the power in her leaving and instead makes her happy ending solely about finding love.

It is as if the film cannot comprehend the idea of focusing completely on the story of Lily’s survival. It can’t help itself but let the love triangle dominate the plot, and reduce the film to simply a love story but with extra steps, instead of a powerful story about surviving abuse.

At the end of the day, despite what I assume are noble intentions from the cast and crew, this is a portrayal of

The Signal’s Fall Vibes Playlist Phoebe Bridgers

Halloween

I JUST WANNA BE PART OF...

S THE SIGNALLLLL

Sixpence None The Richer

Kiss Me

Tje Crane Wives

Cry

Phoebe Bridgers

Curses

The Cranberries

Linger

Taylor Swift

All Too Well American Football

Uncomfortably Numb Wallows

1980’s Horror Film Paramore

Conspiracy Bon Iver

For Emma Our Editorial Board put together a mix of our favorite songs to listen to during the fall season.

page 10 The Signal September 5, 2024

‘Only Murders in the Building’ returns with a murder victim too close to home

The series follows three amateur sleuths who solve murders.

By Chiara Piacentini Staff Writer The murder mystery drama has picked up where it left off in season four of “Only Murders in the Building.” Charles-Haden Savage and his partners in crime, Mabel Mora and Oliver Putnam, are pulled into the depths of another murder case. As their true crime podcast, “Only Murders in the Building,” is part of the show and has covered three seasons worth of murders, we can only expect an additional plot-twisting season will be added to the series.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

The series follows three amateur sleuths, Charles, Mabel and Oliver, who solve murders that happen only in their Manhattan apartment. They provide coverage of these murders through their true crime podcast. Each season follows a different murder mystery.

Season three ended on a cliffhanger with the murder of Sazz Pataki, Charles’ close friend and former stunt double in the movie that gave him his big break. The murder occurred in Charles’ apartment while Charles, Mabel and Oliver were celebrating the successful opening night of their

Broadway musical in the next room, tragically oblivious to her death.

The first episode of season four was another cliffhanger in and of itself, as it wasn’t until toward the end of the segment that the three friends put the pieces together that Sazz had been killed. Before then, dramatic irony ruled the stage, as Charles, Mabel and Oliver failed to pick up on the clues Sazz left behind. In their defense, the biggest clue, Sazz’s body, was mysteriously missing from the apartment.

While their obliviousness to Sazz’s murder was frustratingly long at face value, I learned to appreciate their prolonged ignorance given the show’s comedic intentions. It was then that I realized the suspense of episode one depended more on the discovery of the victim rather than the murderer. Looking at it from this new perspective, this episode kept me on my toes for when their situational awareness would come around.

As part of a subplot, the trio took a trip to Los Angeles to meet with a team of marketing executives who were looking to adapt their podcast into a movie. Since Sazz just so happened to have an apartment in the City of Angels, the crew decided to stop by to see if she was home.

However, they were met with a dark empty room. With the glitz and glamor of Hollywood so tantalizingly close,

their concern for Sazz’s disappearance soon pulled them away from the deal of a lifetime.

The disappointment at seeing them lose their chance at fame was overshadowed by my excitement to see their long-awaited reactions to Sazz’s death. Back at the Manhattan apartment, their conclusions about her disappearance led them to the apartment’s incinerator where they finally found Sazz — or at least what was left of her. As Charles held the ashes of his friend in his hand and looked in stunned silence at his friends, there was a grief in that moment that was tangible, even through my computer screen.

Overall, while it took awhile to sell me on the characters’ ignorance, “Only Murders in the Building” made up for it in the meantime with both the characters’ unintentional humor and the the mystery surrounding Sazz’s body itself. The first episode was also able to continue to successfully pull off the murder mystery theme through a classical lens. If you’re looking for a worthwhile comedy with a bit of action, this show is as unserious as you can get while still managing to maintain the characteristics of a fun thriller.

I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve come up with in their next episode. You can watch the series on Hulu.

Sabrina Carpenter keeps things ‘Short n’ Sweet’ ‘Everything but Normal’ opens on AIMM building with her latest album

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Carpenter released “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23.

By Kelly Kim Staff Writer When you envision sparkly heart outfits, big go-go boots and voluminous silky blonde hair, there is only one person you can think of. Pop sensation and icon Sabrina Carpenter put out her newest album “Short n’ Sweet” on Aug. 23, including pop hits “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” which were released throughout the summer.

It’s safe to say that Carpenter is the definition of what a pop star embodies and what they can be when given the right spotlight.

In her 12-track album, Carpenter takes the audience on a musical journey starting with a warning to other women in her seemingly “successful” relationship in her first song of the album, “Taste.” The album shifts to a heart-wrenching and emotional experience with a complex and unstable relationship in her song “Sharpest Tool.”

Humor is embedded within her various songs, with many bordering on the line of joyful and sad, the rest of the songs on the album all focus on topics that are relatable, current and common, making them great additions to an otherwise pop-focused album.

There is a sense of cohesiveness found within the similar upbeat melodies woven throughout “Short n’ Sweet.” This leaves the audience with a reminder that Carpenter has again

come out with a fantastic album that documents the trials and tribulations of what it means to be a woman in today’s society.

From the lack of choices of men in “Slim Pickins” to the extreme and uncontrollable romantic interest portrayed in “Juno,” Carpenter understands the conflicted emotions of lackluster men to choose from to finding someone so irresistibly attractive that there is no choice but to bear their offspring.

Carpenter’s previous album, titled “emails i can’t send,” with pop hits “Nonsense” and “Feather,” garnered an overwhelming response and attention from the public, creating an immense amount of pressure to top.

Despite the initial pressures, Carpenter has created a sound paralleling that of her old music, retaining the same hard-hitting, extremely relatable lyricism with playful wordplay that the audience has become accustomed to.

As a long-time fan, I would say “Short n’ Sweet” is definitely a more developed sound for the singer. Starting with the level of production, one can hear the more refined and distinctive sound of the singer, making it known that she is trying something new and is doing it well. Singers always have to take a chance when it comes to switching up their music, but what has remained steadfast in the singer is her ability to showcase the pop star energy she was born with.

Photo by Alena Bitonti

The mural was created by Kelly Mazzucca ‘24 and opened on Sept. 4.

By Alena Bitonti Arts & Entertainment Editor Walking onto campus, you may notice the AIMM building is a lot more colorful.

The “Everything But Normal” mural, created by art education major Kelly Mazzucca ‘24, opened on Sept. 4 at the side entrance of the AIMM building facing Lot 3.

After about 25 different renderings of the image, the painting was finalized with the help of students of the Mural Art class with guidance from professor Eddie Villanueva.

“We all got together as a team and drew it out, and then we had to work on the panels separately to paint,” Mazzucca said. “That was an effort too — to make sure everything aligned, and moving these panels are very heavy, so we kept figuring out how to make it work. It was a learning process for all of us, and I’m really happy with the way it turned out.”

The name was inspired by the College’s origins as New Jersey’s inaugural Normal School, and the piece was influenced by the art department’s new mission statement: “Transforming lives and communities by fostering creativity, connections, and careers.” The work includes a pearl, symbolizing wisdom and transformation, being passed from one hand to another. This signifies “the passing of knowledge, the nurturing of talent, and the empowerment of individuals through creativity and connection,” according to the mural’s

description displayed on the wall.

The mural was revealed as one of the School of the Arts and Communication’s several signature events this season. At the opening, Chung Chak, chair of Art and Art History, and Pamela Barnet, Arts & Communication dean, introduced the piece.

“This mural is really the shining product of a very long process, an educational process that our students engaged in,” Barnett said. “I love walking to work every day — I always get to see the mural on my way in.”

At first glance, the mural is a vibrant pop of color to an otherwise bland brick wall. But it’s more than just an eye-catching painting — it tells a story and captures the spirit of the College’s community.

The description mentions its mixed patterns as a symbol of “the diverse paths and backgrounds of the TCNJ community.”

The French origin of the Normal School platform “guided the use of influences from French graffiti artist DeCruz and graphic designer Hermann Koudou (Saturn).”

“It is my way of paying homage to the institution’s long-standing commitment to education and transformation,” Mazzucca said. “I really want to express my deep, deep gratitude to TCNJ for making that dream come true for myself and my team.”

The mural was painted by Kelly Mazzucca, Makala Amos-Whitfield, Jenna Clayton, Abigail Hall, Stephanie Krontiris, Jenna Mulcahy, Dean Olivier, Kria Rubiano, Carson Ruggia and Shane Tomalinas.

Trump reindicted in election interference case

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The indictment contains the same four charges brought against Trump last year.

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer A federal grand jury in Washington, D.C. has reindicted former President Donald Trump on charges related to his alleged attempts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election. The new indictment was brought by Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith in an effort to comply with a landmark Supreme Court ruling on the matter, according to The Associated Press.

This comes after the Supreme Court ruled on July 1 that former presidents have broad

immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts taken while in office. As a result, certain allegations of the special counsel’s original indictment could not proceed, as they fell within the scope of his powers as president.

The revised indictment contains the same four felony charges brought against Trump last year, including conspiracy to defraud the U.S., conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, attempting to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against the right to vote, according to The Associated Press.

However, allegations were removed to focus on the distinction between his

private actions taken as a political candidate seeking reelection, which can be the subject of criminal charges, and his official actions taken as the president at the time, which are subject to immunity.

The election interference case was sent back to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who will sift through Trump’s allegations to separate official acts and private acts and decide which allegations will proceed. This process may further stall the case for months, and it appears unlikely to reach court before the presidential election on Nov. 5, according to Reuters.

One of the most significant changes to the new charging document, which was shortened from 45 to 36 pages, was the removal of claims that Trump attempted to push the Justice Department to spread false claims about election fraud, according to The New York Times. It removes references of Jeffrey Clark, a senior Justice Department official who allegedly was one of six coconspirators in Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Prosecutors have alleged that Clark had promised to conduct sham election fraud investigations and to falsely inform states of fraudulent election results.

However, following the Supreme Court’s ruling, Trump will not face charges concerning these dealings, as his actions with the Justice Department are considered official duties within his constitutional powers as president. The revised indictment also removes details about Trump’s communications with senior White House

attorneys and certain government officials who allegedly told Trump his election fraud claims were false.

Despite these changes, the revised indictment retains allegations that Trump mobilized slates of fraudulent electors in key swing states to sign certificates falsely attesting that he won in those states instead of President Joe Biden. It also maintains allegations that Trump pressured former Vice President Mike Pence to reject legitimate electoral votes from states that Trump lost as Pence presided over the ceremonial certification of the election results on Jan. 6, according to Reuters.

“The defendant had no official responsibilities related to the certification proceeding, but he did have a personal interest as a candidate in being named the winner of the election,” the revised indictment states.

Trump criticized the new indictment in a statement on his Truth Social media platform and called for it to be dismissed “immediately.” He also claimed that the Justice Department bringing the revised indictment was a violation of the ‘60day’ rule, an unofficial practice aimed at avoiding investigative action 60 days before an election. Although Justice Department officials caution against taking actions that could interfere with an election outcome, the so-called rule is not written in formal policy.

This case, one of four criminal prosecution cases faced by Trump, is back in the hands of Judge Chutkin. Both Smith and Trump’s team are scheduled to return to the courtroom to propose a path forward.

Bangladesh anti-government protests bring change to the country

By Janjabill Tahsin Staff Writer A surge in student protests across Bangladesh began on July 1 when students at the University of Dhaka started peaceful demonstrations against the country’s job quota system. However, the protests took a violent turn when police and some of the members of the student wing of the ruling party, the Awami League, began attacking protesters. Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets a day after six people, including at least three students, were killed in early violence, according to Reuters.

Introduced in 1971, Bangladesh’s quota system was a direct result of the Bangladesh Liberation War, when Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistani rule. According to AP News, shortly after the Liberation War officially ended, the government mandated that 30% of government jobs be reserved for the Bengali Mukti Bahini “Freedom Fighters” who fought the Pakistan Army.

Over the decades, the job quota system was modified to include certain groups of people. As stated by the Voice of America, the system covered groups such as freedom fighters’ descendants, with women and people residing in underdeveloped districts receiving a share of a 10th each, with 5% set aside for indigenous communities and 1% for persons with disabilities. Except for the last two, the protesting students want all categories abolished.

In 2018, the government abolished Bangladesh’s job quota system after a similar student movement occurred over road safety.

Earlier that year, two high school students — a boy and a girl — died while waiting on the side of the road in Dhaka. According to the BBC, they were struck by a speeding bus operated by a driver “thought to have lost control of the vehicle while racing another bus to pick up passengers.”

However, according to NPR, the

country’s quota system was reinstated this June because Article 29 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh allows “making special provision in favour of any backward section of citizens for the purpose of securing their adequate representation in the service of the Republic.” Bangladesh’s high court thus ruled that ending the system was unconstitutional since it ensured pragmatic equality.

As a result of the decision, the students stepped up their protests, citing the court proceedings when Sheik Hasina, now former prime minister of Bangladesh, refused to meet their demands. Hasina had been in power for the past 15 years, and she won a fourth consecutive term at the beginning of this year in elections boycotted by the main opposition. The protests are the first challenge to Hasina’s government since she won in January, according to Reuters.

In response, Hasina not only condemned the loss of lives and asked for protesters’ patience until the court hearing but also called the protesters “razakar,” a derogatory term for conspirators of the Bangladesh Liberation War who collaborated with the Pakistan army.

Besides sending police and paramilitary forces into the street, the government ordered a nationwide curfew and shut down all schools, colleges and universities. According to the New York Times, it also downgraded internet connectivity to prevent the spread of so-called rumors and to protect the country’s residents, “making it harder for protesters to organize and make plans via social media platforms.”

Still, the movement spread across the country to other elite universities, where more students got involved. However, when the number of student deaths and injuries increased, the general public joined in.

At the time the curfew started to relax, the movement became increasingly difficult to contain because of protesters’ anger over the

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A surge in student protests across Bangladesh began over the job quota system.

200 people killed and 10,000 arrested in July.

On Aug. 3, tens of thousands of protestors called for the resignation of Hasina. In return, she asked her supporters to join counter protests and “to curb anarchists with iron hands,” reigniting the protests over the weekend.

As a response to her threat, protesters marched on her residence in central Dhaka on Aug. 5, where the government once again ordered a curfew, effectively shutting down the country. By midafternoon, protesters were allowed by police to cross barricades into the center of the city when the army chief announced that Hasina had resigned and fled the country, where she currently resides in India.

Currently, Nobel prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus has agreed to lead Bangladesh’s interim government and replaced Hasina’s administration, quelling the violence in the weeks before and some days after her departure.

Yunus was awarded the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for bringing thousands of people out of poverty through his work developing microcredit markets, where business people

could receive small loans because they would not qualify for regular bank loans through Grameen Bank.

According to AP News, he signed the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances last Thursday, following accusations of enforced disappearances against hundreds of Bangladeshis during Hasina’s rule. In the wake of the disappearances, the Yunusled government officially established a commission to investigate these cases in the last week.

The interim government is now attempting to rebuild morale in the country’s police forces and other government sectors after attacks by protestors, as well as handling a devastating flood that ravaged the country’s eastern and other regions, leaving at least 52 people dead as of Aug. 29.

All required actions have, however, been taken for flood-affected regions of Bangladesh in order to restore normalcy, according to Yunus during a televised speech to the nation on Aug. 25. He emphasized that “We are one family. We have one goal.”

Women’s soccer starts season with two wins

The Lions have their eyes on an NJAC Championship.

By Tyler Morello Staff Writer The College’s women’s soccer team kicked off their highly anticipated season with two games this past weekend. They picked up wins against Washington and Lee University and Plattsburgh State at the Stand on Their Shoulders Invitational.

The tournament was hosted by Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York.

After a strong 2023 season where the Lions finished 16-3-1, they entered this season ranked at No. 24 in the preseason rankings for Division III women’s soccer.

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

They are also picked to repeat as the New Jersey Athletic Conference champions, with Rowan University right behind at number two in the preseason poll.

Game One The Lions first played on Friday, Aug. 30, against Washington and Lee University and were able to escape with a 1-0 victory.

Senior business major Ava Curtis scored the lone goal for the Lions thanks to a 25yard free kick early in the first half.

The Lions were able to hold the Generals scoreless with strong play on defense, as well as stellar goalkeeping from freshman Kinesiology and Health sciences major Ellen Williams. Williams, making her first

start in her collegiate career, tallied 9 saves to hold the shutout. The Generals ended up with more total shots than the Lions, 1410.

Game Two The College then faced off against Plattsburgh State on Saturday, Aug. 31.

They came away with an assertive 5-1 win.

The Lions will be counting on a couple of their returning upperclassmen to lead the team this year, and they certainly got those contributions this weekend.

Senior business marketing major Victoria D’Imperio struck first for the Lions, picking up where she left off last season. D’Imperio was the 2023 NJAC Midfielder of the Year and led the team in goals and points.

Curtis also scored in the game, bringing her goal total to two on the weekend.

Senior marketing major Cassidy DiSabato scored midway through the first half on a penalty kick and had an assist later in the second half.

Sophomore nursing major Taylor Bielan and freshman management major Taylor Krott tallied the final two goals for the Lions in the second half.

Williams followed up her brilliant debut with another solid showing in the net, only surrendering one goal for the game. The Lions dominated the game in the offensive zone, putting up 32 shots to the Cardinals’ three.

Overall, the Lions should be pleased with the weekend as a whole as they start their 2024 season with two wins.

There are still a few weeks until

conference play begins, so the College will look to continue their solid start against some out of conference teams. They will head to Middletown, Pennsylvania, and match up against Penn State Harrisburg on Sept. 7, then host Arcadia University on Sept. 10.

Without looking too far ahead, the Lions will have their first real test of the year against no.2-ranked Johns Hopkins University on Sept. 18, and will look to carry their momentum from last year.

TCNJ Athletics Schedule Football Saturday, Sept. 7, 12 p.m Away at Eastern University Field Hockey Saturday, Sept.7, 4:30 p.m Away at Juniata College Women’s Soccer Tuesday, Sept. 10, 6 p.m Home against Arcadia University Men’s Soccer Wednesday, Sept. 11, 4 p.m Home against Drew University Men’s and Women’s Tennis Sept. 13-15

COACH / Ringel’s inexperience not a worry Field Hockey wins opening game Continued from page 1

Carraha said when he heard coach Nazarro was stepping down after 28 years at the helm, and considering that is longer than coach Ringel has been alive, the Lions were in for a change.

“I was definitely surprised,” Carraha explained when Ringel was initially hired.

His surprise did not last long, and after being around Coach Ringel claimed “He understands soccer at a high level,” and despite not playing soccer collegiately, has “brought so much togetherness, it’s something I’ve never seen, on any team I’ve ever been a part of.”

When the hiring was announced across social media, there were some people in the comments questioning the College for bringing on a man with such a lack of experience. Ringel was eager to fire back at the skeptics.

“Maybe their athletic careers didn’t go as well as they would have hoped but that is what we are here to fix.

If they doubt my ability as a soccer player, all they have to do is look at the accolades” said Ringel.

Carraha also continued to back his new coach.

Photo by Jimmy Alagna

The Lions left the weekend with a tie against Salisbury.

“He watches more film than anybody I think I’ve ever met,” Carraha said. “The mentality of the team was something I have not seen in my three years here” It has only been a couple of weeks, but that was not an empty sentiment.

The Lions earned a tie against an impressive Salisbury team with a goal from sophomore Joseph Lucignano in the 87th minute over the weekend.

“No matter how tough things get,” Carraha said, “we will literally fight until the last second.”

He continued to express how different things were this year, and that Ringel has enabled him and the rest of the team to play free and positive.

“This has probably been the most enjoyable two weeks of soccer I’ve played in a very very long time,” Carraha said.

However, despite the shakeup, The College is still ranked last in the NJAC preseason poll. A combination of a new interim head coach, and a plethora of departing starters have led to the Lions being doubted in conference play.

The College is hosting the Men’s Soccer Classic this weekend and then will continue to ramp up with their out-of-conference. They will head to Union on Sept. 28 to take on Kean University to kick off their NJAC schedule.

With that being said, both Ringel and Carraha feel like they aren’t just playing with house money. Coach Ringel’s goals include finishing the season over .500, making and winning the NJAC tournament, and most importantly, building a culture within the program. “[I want] to be proud of what we did this year,” Ringel said.

The College will look to continue their winning ways on Sept. 6.

By Joe Caruso Staff Writer The College’s field hockey team looked to continue its long history of success as it opened up against Catholic University on Sunday, Sept 1.

The Lions came out on top 5-0.

Coming into the year, the Lions were ranked second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference preseason poll, as they came off back-to-back NJAC Championship appearances. With a plethora of returning talent, and head coach Sharon Pfluger going into her 38th season at the helm, the College will look to secure its first title since 2019.

The Cardinals are impressive themselves, finishing with a conference record of 8-1 and 12-5 overall a season ago.

Through the first 25 minutes, the game was knotted up at zero. However, the Lions continued to put pressure on the Cardinal defense with 11 first-half shots compared to zero for Catholic. As a result, they finally broke through.

In the 27th minute, sophomore psychology major Jadyn Huff scored her first of three goals in the afternoon.

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

Before the first half came to a close, senior computer science major Claire Engebreth scored to make it 2-0 in favor of the College heading into the halftime locker room.

In the second half, the Lions picked up right where they left off, as Huff scored again to make it 3-0. Huff’s goal came off of another assist from Engebreth, who totaled three in the game. Huff scored again in the 47th minute, and then senior kinesiology and health sciences major Bella DiNardo put the finishing touches on to make it 5-0.

It was utter domination from the College, who allowed just one shot on goal all game from the Cardinals, compared to the 18 from the Lions themselves. With that being said, it was a nice day for junior goalkeeper Brigitte Racey, who needed to make just one save for her fourth career shutout.

Huff and Engebreth took NJAC home Offensive and Defensive player of the Week, respectively.

The College will look to continue their winning ways when DeSales University comes to visit for the Lions home opener on Friday, Sept. 6.