The Signal: Fall '19 No. 1

Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net.

Vol. LI, No. 1

August 28, 2019

Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885

VP of Facilities College redirects mental health procedures New Management joins College

Jennifer Somers / Photo Editor

Mental Health Services looks to offer more support for students.

By Len La Rocca News Editor

The College will update mental health resources after the last academic year consisted of four student deaths, a racial intolerance incident and a student stabbing at an off-campus house.

This past May, a confidential wellness survey went out to all students via email in an effort to evaluate mental health resources at the College.

Mark Forest, the director of Counseling and Psychological Services and assistant vice president for Student Affairs, Health and Wellness, sent the survey to

students, along with Jen Sparks and Carole Kenner, the director of the Center for Integrative Wellness and the dean of the School of Nursing, Health, and Exercise Science, respectively.

Going into the fall with increased staff, streamlined procedures and new programs, Mental Health Services looks to strengthen a welcoming foundation of support to help students cope with trauma in the future.

Although Forest could not give specific details due to confidentiality, he helped shed some light on the future of mental health resources for students.

“The past year was a very difficult one for the entire campus community,” Forest said. “Any trauma on campus reverberates throughout the TCNJ community in a myriad of ways, but when there are multiple seemingly back-to-back traumas, it amplifies the reaction significantly.”

Forest offered general statistics from the student wellness survey, and said that many of those who responded have not utilized resources on campus due to a lack

see SUPPORT page 2

By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer On Sept. 23, the College will welcome new Vice President of Facilities Management Michael Dixon, who will be responsible for aspects pertaining to the College’s operations, constructions, management, design, real estate and planning.

At his current school, The Ohio State University, Dixon oversees building maintenance and custodial operations for 14 million square feet of research labs, academic and administrative space as well as grounds for the 1750-acre main campus and other sites.

On Aug. 13, College President Kathryn Foster informed the campus community of Dixon’s hiring via email.

“Mr. Dixon was selected from an extraordinary pool of candidates. Under the leadership of Sharon Blanton, CIO and VP for IT and Campus Safety, the search committee did an extraordinary job in vetting the candidates throughout the process and I commend them for their work.” Foster said.

Dixon will focus on helping the department become more effective by constructing a long-term energy plan for the College.

see MAINTAIN page 11

MONEY Magazine ranks College’s value

By Kalli Colacino Social Media Editor

Among the annual college rankings, it’s not uncommon to see the College’s name stand out.

In MONEY Magazine’s recent “Best Colleges for Your Money” rankings, which was published on Aug. 12, the College ranked 48th overall in the nation for colleges with the best value.

The ranking marks an improvement for the College, which had placed 94th in the nation for the same findings three years ago.

“TCNJ has always been committed to delivering an exceptionally high-quality education and it’s gratifying to see the hard work of the college community reflected in MONEY,” said Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer.

The “Best Colleges for Your Money” rankings serve as a helpful tool to assist families in their college search, according to MONEY. In order to be considered for the ranking, a college must have at least 500 students, not be in financial distress, have sufficient data to be analyzed and obtain a graduation rate at or above the median for its institutional category, public or private.

Using this criterion, MONEY determined that 744 schools met the requirements.

These rankings combine the most accurate pricing estimates available with indicators of alumni financial success, along with a distinct analysis of how much value a college adds when compared to other

INDEX:

Nation & World / page 3

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The College places 48th out of the top 744 schools in the nation. schools that take in similar students, according to MONEY. MONEY utilizes three main categories to rank the colleges — quality of education, affordability and outcomes after graduating.

“TCNJ delivers an education and outcomes that are on par with the elite private colleges, but without the high sticker price,” Sacks said.

MONEY estimates a college’s ‘valueadded’ by calculating its performance on important measures such as graduation Editorial / page 5

rates, student loan repayment and default rates and post-graduation earnings, after adjusting for the types of students it admits. MONEY believes this analysis gives students and parents a much better indication of which colleges will provide real value for their tuition dollars.

The College, according to MONEY’s analysis, has a 12 percent higher graduation rate compared to schools with similar student bodies.

In addition to the College’s high

Opinions / page 6

Features / page 11

tcnj.edu

graduation rate, MONEY reported that recent graduates report an average salary of $57,200 within three years.

In MONEY magazine’s current rankings, the College ranks 32nd in the nation for “Best Public Colleges”.

“While it’s gratifying to be recognized in these rankings, TCNJ’s only focus is delivering an exceptional student experience,” Sacks said. “As long as we continue to do so, the rankings should continue to reflect those efforts.”

Arts & Entertainment / page 15

Sports / page 20

Sarnoff Collection Guided tour presents history of sound

‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ Film sends love letter to ‘60s

Football Lions preview upcoming season

See Features page 11

See A&E page 15

See Sports page 20

page 2 The Signal August 28, 2019

Support / Survey illustrates student conditions

Len La Rocca / News Editor

Roscoe’s Resources is located in the Brower Student Center.

continued from page 1

of awareness.

The survey, which received 513 responses, according to Forest, showed that approximately 40 percent of the respondents had not used any of the services.

“A common theme among comments was a lack of awareness of available resources,” he said. “Historically, advertising and educating students via social media, health and wellness events and student involvement are run throughout the academic year. We will continue to explore new ways to promote available resources to our campus community.”

Nevertheless, last year’s tragedies resulted in a surge of students turning to resources in hopes of recovery. The sudden spike of traffic proved to be a lot to handle.

“The mental health resources on campus were pushed to their limits this past year as we increased efforts to offer postvention services to those most impacted,” Forest said. “This included both increased individual and group sessions, debriefing and postvention sessions for groups affected.”

Yet, the surge did not lower the quality page 2 The Signal August 28,

of the experience at CAPS, according to its internal satisfaction survey.

“Response to our internal CAPS satisfaction survey, which is given to everyone who uses the service, was quite positive this year and slightly higher than the prioryear — 4.55 out of five compared to last year’s 4.33 out of five,” Forest said.

This fall, the College community will see proactive changes to Mental Health Services, including full staff with two new members who will work on outreach to students underutilizing services, streamlining the process to access services, increasing the number of new clients every week and increased case management services for students in need of long-term care.

Student Affairs has also made strides over the summer, including a suicide hotline specifically for the College through a partnership with Mercer CONTACT. “CONTACT will offer free on-campus training to TCNJ students interested in volunteering to answer hotlines,” Forest said. “The hotlines will include the CONTACT line, a national suicide prevention line and a TCNJ specific hotline for students needing support.”

Student Affairs has also created a new 2019

suite for recovery in the Recreation Center.

“A grant-funded capital project allowed us to build a new Recovery and Wellness Suite within the Recreation Center,” Forest said. “The Recovery and Wellness Suite will have a grand opening in September.”

The Center for Integrated Wellness will be implementing “long-term counseling options to include holistic, integrative health services,” Forest said.

In coordination with the Anti-Violence Initiative, the Center for Integrated Wellness will be launching a new program this fall called AmIOK. AmIOK will be free and confidential to aid students who have fallen victim to a violent crime. This program will offer 24/7 medical assessment, transportation to the local emergency room if needed, information on the legal options going forward and counseling for the student and their loved ones, according to Forest. AmIOK will be a confidential service with a private entrance at an unmarked location.

While administration has unveiled upcoming changes, some students feel that these adjustments are what is necessary at the College now.

“It’s great that TCNJ has made positive, impactful strides to aid and help those in need in regards to mental health,” said Matthew Long, a senior psychology and special education dual major.

Senior computer science major Ethan Zeigler felt that updating services will increase the number of students who use it when necessary.

“It’s great that they’re offering more specific help for certain things like violent crime that happens on campus,” Zeigler said. “It’s rare, but it happens.”

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Vital Signs: Healthier ways to order coffee

By Victoria Giardina Columnist Let’s be real here — transitioning from fun in the sun to cramming for exams is the perfect excuse for a caffeine pick-me-up. After all, according to a recent study on Clinical Nutrition, 79 percent of college students drink the popular beverage to stay awake, making coffee seemingly the best solution for late-night study sessions.

Yet, most people don’t realize that the coffee you’ve been craving can be unhealthy if you don’t order it mindfully. Luckily, Registered Dietitian Anne Mauney has healthy hacks to order the coveted beverage the next time you’re jumping for java.

Cut Down on the Syrup There’s no shame in loving your iced vanilla latte or caramel macchiato, but cutting down on the syrup serving is what Mauney recommends.

“Ask for one-half or one-fourth of the syrup when ordering a flavored drink — you’ll get the delicious flavor but without quite so much sugar,” she said.

She also recommends having cinnamon instead of sugar for a healthier alternative to sweetener.

Switch Up Your Choice of Milk Oftentimes, coffee shops will ask you if you would like room for milk with your cup of coffee, but certain kinds of milk are more nutritous than others. Mauney reccomends whole milk rather than skim or two-percent.

“The extra fat will keep you full for longer,” she said. “It will also slow down and buffer the absorption of any sugar added to the drink so that you will have less of a blood sugar rush and crash.”

August 28, 2019 The Signal page 3

Nation & W rld

Protests in Hong Kong call for liberation

By Jesse Stiller Staff Writer

Protesters in China attempted to restore a level of peace between the People’s Liberation Army and antigovernment demonstrators on Aug. 17 and 18, as tensions continue to boil on the streets of Hong Kong.

CNN reported that for the 11th straight weekend, 1.7 million people joined the predominantly peaceful rally starting in Hong Kong’s Victoria Park, a welcome sight for the city that has recently faced a string of violence. Last weekend’s protests called for greater democracy in Hong Kong and more government accountability, in addition to a currently-shelved extradition bill.

The international pro-democracy organization, Civil Rights Human Front, organized the group’s third rally since June. Most participants wore black in solidarity and called for Hong Kong’s liberation from China, according to CNN.

There were other peaceful demonstrations in Tamar Park and nearby Mong Kok as well, and despite a few skirmishes with law enforcement, there were few reports of violence against protesters.

According to NPR, the protests first arose in February when the Hong Kong government proposed a bill that would allow Chinese authorities to extradite crime suspects from Hong Kong to mainland China.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam shelved the bill indefinitely in July, but stopped short of declaring the bill “dead,” leaving the possibility of the bill returning to the Legislative council, according to NPR. The Hong Kong Free Press reported that the move came shortly after protesters stormed and briefly occupied the chamber.

The peaceful protests came only a week after anti-government protesters occupied the Hong Kong International Airport, according to Time Magazine.

Xu Luying, a spokeswoman for the Macau Affairs Office under the State Council, told The South China Morning Post that the assaults and protests constituted “nearly acts of terrorism.” “‘Their behavior was in extreme contempt for laws, and they have seriously tarnished Hong Kong’s international image,’” Luying told The South China Morning Post.

However, CNN reported that the attempts for more peaceful protests came at a time when Chinese paramilitary forces are organizing along the Hong Kong border in an apparent attempt to subdue the growing protests.

President Donald Trump also warned China against a “Tiananmen Square” crackdown against protesters, according to France 24, and said that such a crackdown would harm ongoing trade talks between the U.S. and China. “‘I think it’d be very hard to deal with if they do violence. I mean, if it’s another Tiananmen Square,’”

People rally in the region’s Victoria Park.

Trump said, according to France 24. “‘I think it’s a very hard thing to do if there’s violence.’”

Beijing has commented against the protests on a frequent basis, with strongly worded statements from officials within Chinese President Xi Jinping’s cabinet and members of mainland China’s Communist party, including new accusations that

YouTube

China used Facebook and Twitter to fuel disinformation and sew discord in Hong Kong, according to Vox. “‘I need to reemphasize a plain truth,’” said Hua Chunying, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson in a general presser in February. “‘Hong Kong is part of China, and its affairs are entirely China’s internal affairs.’”

President sparks controversy with Greenland proposal

By David McMillan Staff Writer

YouTube

Trump pursues the island’s strategic value.

President Donald Trump confirmed on Aug. 18 that he has discussed buying Greenland from Denmark for its strategic value, and has likened the prospect to a “large real estate deal,” according to The Associated Press.

Such a purchase would block attempts by China to continue offering loans for commercial projects, and may disincentivize the ongoing territorial expansion of Russia, according to The Atlantic.

The historical relationships between the United States and Greenland and the degree of freedom Greenland now enjoys have culminated into the proposal from Trump to purchase the island.

According to CNBC, the last time an administration made an inquiry into buying the island was in 1946, when President Harry Truman expressed a desire to acquire the island for $100 million in gold.

According to professor Mark Nuttall, who published “Self-Rule in Greenland: Towards the World’s First Independent Inuit State?” in Indigenous Affairs, Greenland, the first population of Inuit origin to achieve a status of self-government after having received Home Rule in 1979, currently remains dependent for 60 percent of its budget revenue from an annual Danish block grant.

Greenland’s dependence will lessen, according to Nuttall, as oil and gas production on the island would enable the economy to flourish. The economic forecast seems to have spurred former Premier Hans Enoksen to express a desire for Greenland’s independence in 2021, a date corresponding with Denmark’s tricentennial of colonization.

With some believing Greenland is nearing its independence, others question whether a purchase of the island would necessitate a removal, incorporation or intrusion of the Greenlandic population.

Hospitalizations lead to investigations of vaping

By Liya Davidov Nation & World Editor

Recently, several dozen actively vaping teenagers were hospitalized throughout the nation, with many cases emerging in the Midwest.

According to The New York Times, the teens that were admitted to the hospital for lung issues had previously been vaping either nicotine or marijuana.

Public health departments in the Midwest are investigating the possible connection between vaping and severe lung-related illnesses.

The New York Times reported that doctors believed there was an infectious disease among the teenagers when they were first admitted.

When they were unresponsive to their antibiotics, there were suspicions about exposure to a toxic substance. The common factor found between the teenagers was their vaping addiction. “‘We are deeply concerned by the severe cases of lung injury associated with vaping that we are currently seeing,’” said Dr. Emily Chapman, the chief medical officer at the Children’s Minnesota hospital system, according to The New York Times. “‘These cases are extremely complex to diagnose, as symptoms can mimic a common infection yet can lead to severe complications and extended hospitalization.’”

Those hospitalized in the Midwest are not

the only concerns, as there have been over 90 cases reported in at least 14 states, according to The Huffington Post.

Fox News reported that the Food and Drug Administration acknowledged an ongoing investigation of 127 reported seizures that occurred after vaping. “‘The risk here is that if people are presenting to hospital emergency rooms or urgent cares, they either may not think of vaping as something that is threatening and may not include it in their history,’” Chapman told The New York Times.

The Huffington Post reported that the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took interest in the growing issue by reaching out to physicians, clinics and hospitals, asking for information about the cases and for any available samples to study. “‘While some cases in each of the states are similar and appear to be linked to ecigarette product use, more information is needed to determine what is causing the illnesses,’” the CDC said in a statement to The Huffington Post.

The CDC also said that it is unknown if a specific vaping brand causing these reactions or whether it is an ingredient that needs to be reviewed, The Huffington Post reported. The only certainty is the common symptoms that

E-cigarettes are a common factor for those who are admitted. teenagers are presenting, even though the level of severity depends from case to case.

According to Fox News, the FDA does not mandate that e-cigarette devices have lists of all ingredients in them, which adds to the uncertainty among the investigations. As e-cigarettes and vaping attract younger generations, both the shortand long-term health issues are still unknown.

However, there is documentation of the negative effects of cigarette and cigar use that

Flickr

influenced the decline in use among teenagers, which Chapman acknowledged in addition to the public’s view on vaping. “‘The truth of the matter is, we have so little experience with vaping relative to the experience we have with cigarettes and cigars,’” Chapman told The New York Times. “‘Recall how long it took us to figure out that cigarettes were linked to lung cancer. There is so much we don’t know.’”

page 4 The Signal August 28, 2019

August 28, 2019 The Signal page 5

Editorial

People should use fear as motivation

This summer, I insisted, despite the reasonable objections of my parents, that I return to my summer camp one more time to be a counselor. I figured that my summers of carefree cannonballs into the deep end and late-night bonfires were numbered, and that I could squeak out one more season by returning to the iconic place that defined my childhood.

What I realized is that there are so many life lessons to be learned from hanging out all day with little kids. One of many tasks — teaching them to ride bikes — was particularly transformative for both me and the kids.

When you’re 8 years old and you’ve never ridden a bike before, the first thing you have to do is push it up all the way to the top of the hill. Then, from the top of that hill looking down below, I made three rules — always keep pedaling, don’t give up and trust both yourself and the bike.

The next step is to get on the bike, which may seem simple, but when you’re 8, getting on the bike at the top of the hill is the beginning of everything you’ve ever been scared of.

I never thought this could apply to my life in such a real way. But when I face the challenges of a new year, a heavy course load and studying abroad next semester, it sometimes feels as though getting on the bike and pushing the pedals is insurmountable.

Diving headfirst into a brand new setting isn’t easy for anyone — the idea of picking up my life and starting over again is something that is often a harrowing concept of change.

Yet, the true adventures await after taking the plunge to start anew, finish my abroad applications and work as hard as I can.

The process is still daunting, and still a constant struggle with my brain. But what is life if I’m not willing to push through and show up for the things that scare me?

Part of growing up and learning to be brave is not just taking on new challenges, but taking them on even when they are daunting and doing them anyway.

When you combine persistence, resilience and trust, the downhill battle to success can be achieved much faster than I can teach an 8-year-old how to ride a bike.

— Lara Becker Arts & Entertainment 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.

Learning how to ride a bike can teach lifelong lessons on perseverance.

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Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu

Editorial Staff Garrett Cecere Editor-in-Chief cecereg1@tcnj.edu Jane Bowden Camille Furst Managing Editors bowdenj1@tcnj.edu furstc1@tcnj.edu Isabel Vega Len La Rocca News Editors vegai1@tcnj.edu laroccl2@tcnj.edu Christine Houghton Sports Editor houghtc1@tcnj.edu Viktoria Ristanovic Features Editor ristanv1@tcnj.edu Lara Becker Arts & Entertainment Editor beckerl3@tcnj.edu Richard Miller Opinions Editor miller20@tcnj.edu Liya Davidov Nation & World Editor davido11@tcnj.edu James Mercadante Reviews Editor mercadj5@tcnj.edu Jonah Malvey Project Manager malveyj1@tcnj.edu

Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718 Jennifer Somers Photo Editor somersj2@tcnj.edu Madison Oxx Production Manager oxxm1@tcnj.edu Muhammad Siddiqui Web Editor siddiqm4@tcnj.edu Kalli Colacino Madison Pena Leigha Stuiso Social Media Editors colacik1@tcnj.edu penam9@tcnj.edu stuisol1@tcnj.edu Diana Solano Distribution Manager solanod1@tcnj.edu Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Mina Milinkovic Business/Ad Manager milinkm1@tcnj.edu

“In a hundred years, we went from a tin foil wrap cylinder that could only be played once and poured a very substandard sound to a way to create music without even humans.

In a hundred years, sound has come an awfully long way, and who knows what it’s going to look like in the next hundred years?”

— Florencia Pierri Sarnoff Collection Curator

“I believe this can be another successful season if we execute well at the end of the season and stay committed and focused on our team goals throughout the year.”

— Justin Lindsay Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Head Coach

“The past year was a very difficult one for the entire campus community.

Any trauma on campus reverberates throughout the TCNJ community in a myriad of ways, but when there are multiple seemingly back-to-back traumas, it amplifies the reaction significantly.”

— Mark Forest Director of Counseling and Psychological Services and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs — Health and Wellness

page 6 The Signal August 28, 2019

Opinions

More people should eat vegetarian, vegan options Reducing meat intake benefits health, environment

By Jane Bowden Managing Editor If you asked me years ago what my favorite food was, I would’ve said a hamburger. Medium-cooked beef topped with American cheese, lettuce and ketchup between a toasted bun — it was what I ate every time my family and I went out for dinner since I was born.

But since becoming a vegetarian for more than a year and a half ago, my answer and lifestyle have changed.

My vegetarian journey started in 2018 when I watched the Netflix documentary, “What The Health.” Directed

by Kip Andersen, the 2017 film discusses the numerous health problems people can develop by consuming meat and animal products regularly, such as diabetes, heart disease and more. According to the documentary, “one serving of processed meat per day increases the risk of developing diabetes by 51 percent.”

Inspired by the documentary’s promised health benefits, I traded beef

hamburgers for quinoa and black bean alternatives and joined on the vegetarian and vegan bandwagon that dozens of celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Beyonce and Joaquin Phoenix have been riding for years.

But a vegetarian diet or veganism isn’t just a trend for celebrities. It’s a movement towards a cleaner, more sustainable future for not only ourselves, but the world around us, too.

Studies show that the meat industry is one of the leading causes for climate change, as raising animals on farms and factors creates harmful CO2 emissions, nitrous oxide and ammonia. It also takes 1,847 gallons of water to produce one pound of beef, which means you can save more water eating one pound less of beef than you could by not showering for six months.

It’s also no secret that the meat industry is terrifyingly, heartbreakingly physically and emotionally abusive to the animals we eat. Cows are forced to stand in their own filth, chickens are

The poor treatment of cows by Fairlife Dairy was highlighted this year. stuffed in dark, overcrowded cages and pigs are beaten, punched and kicked day in and day out.

Even animal-product companies that promised fair treatment of their animals, like Fairlife Dairy, have been exposed that they’ve misled the public and regularly abused animals, too.

While many argue that cows, chickens and pigs are bred to be eaten by us, this doesn’t excuse the unthinkable torment these animals endure every single

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second they’re alive. Just like us, they have souls and deserve better treatment.

The simple truth is this — we need to change our diets to save the world. While real change will happen when corporations find environmentally-friendly, sustainable ways to run their businesses, we as consumers can still make a difference. Even just opting for a vegetarian dish every so often — not cutting meat and animal products out completely — will save lives and better our world. Every little bit helps.

Heat, overcrowding makes summer overrated Love of season fades among college students

Beach tourism makes it difficult for locals to enjoy the warm months.

By Richard Miller Opinions Editor As we approach the end of August and the back-to-school season is upon us, we see the end of what I believe to be the most overrated season of the year — summer.

You may be in utter shock after reading that statement, because for years, we have been taught that our

reward for surviving the soul-crushing bleakness of winter is that brief sliver of summer happiness that is brought to our cruel and brutal lives.

I started to realize that all of the other seasons may be better only because they don’t promise to be magical, and that summer is more hyped than anything else.

It was not until this past summer that I had my epiphany. I was

overworked, over-tired and wiping sweat from the forehead when I thought, “no part of this is fun.”

Summer may be fun as a child, but for a college student, it is the worst.

Now, full disclosure, I live in the southernmost part of New Jersey and the majority of our yearly commerce and general economy stems from our beaches and boardwalks that create the

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iconic summer atmosphere. Now for those of use who live close to those famous Jersey beaches, we know that summer is no vacation.

Due to this, you will find most of the locals of the area on their busiest hustle and bustle of the year.

With my new found discovery, I was determined not to be the only one who felt this way, so I did an investigation to find out.

Along the way, I found that I was not alone and have compiled a list of the most popular summer complaints. Summer is the worst for college students.

The first and most popular answer by far was the heat. This summer heat is something that some long for especially in the cold depths of winter. But for most, it becomes something to dread. The intense summer heat can cause a myriad of issues such as sunburn, nausea and heatstroke.

However, far and wide, I found that most college students hate summer because it rips them away from the new community they have formed. My friend described it as “making the best of friends and adjusting to this new lifestyle, just to be taken away from it for three months.” Students go from living their own independent lives to back into their hometown, away from this newfound life they’ve crafted for themselves.

Hopefully, I’ve busted the myth that summer is the best season of all time, and now we can get excited about the upcoming autumn.

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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.

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August 28, 2019 The Signal page 7

Students share opinions around campus “Should students adopt a meatless lifestyle?”

Richard Miller / Opinions Editor

Gabriel Caruso, a sophomore philosophy major

Instagram

“Yes, meat consumption should be lowered to help decrease the effect of greenhouse gases.”

Richard Miller / Opinions Editor

Kaitlyn Cleary, a freshman economics major

“Yes, people do not realize the harmful toxins and gases that cows release, like methane.”

“Is summer the most overrated season?”

Richard Miller / Opinions Editor

John Phelan, a sophomore mathematics major

“Summer is not overrated. I just think people do not take advantage of all the season has to offer.”

Instagram

Richard Miller / Opinions Assistant

Jack Brubaker, a sophomore interactive multimedia major

“Summer is overrated because all people do is work, there is more opportunities during school.”

The Signal’s cartoon of the week ...

The Chip: Rumors Confirmed: Freshmen are Still Terrifying

By Tony Peroni and Vinny Cooper Correspondents As the warm August sun glistens over Ewing, the upperclassmen enjoy their morning coffee, the birds chirp, the deer graze and that big ol’ picture of Harold W. Eickoff still has a grease stain from someone kissing it on the lips. A lot can happen over the summer, but some things never change.

The library is still crowded, the bees are still everywhere and, most importantly, the incoming freshman class still travels in terrifying packs like starving feral animals.

“Honestly, I get it, I was a freshman

once,” said Mark Strongman, former freshman and current senior. “But I always feel so uneasy whenever I see seven dudes from like, Travers 5 all wearing Nike sweatpants and backward hats.”

As anticipated, many reports have come in about the newly-collegiate people toting around portable Bluetooth speakers. This is a trend that has become more and more popular among freshmen in the past few years, but this year it is more prevalent than ever.

A sophomore who requested to remain anonymous for his own well-being sat down and spoke with The Chip about an encounter with a pack of “speaker-freshmen.”

“It was crazy. I think there were about six of them. All guys, from Wolfe 3, all wearing Nike Elite backpacks. I was walking to the library to print something out, and as soon as they walked out of Eick they immediately gave me a stare. I tried to mind my own business, but the music … the music was so loud. It must have been

one of those XL Beats Pills in one of their backpacks. My life flashed before my eyes as that one DaBaby song nearly erupted my eardrums…”

“It’s an interesting phenomenon, these freshmen,” explained Dr. Percy McWilliams, head of the College’s very own wildlife biology department. “Pack hunting is predominantly only seen in predatory animals, most commonly found in the African Savannah.”

Recent reports say that now that upperclassmen have returned to campus, the freshman packs have only gotten larger and more vivacious, wreaking havoc at dusk.

“I was doing work in Alumni Grove when all of a sudden, 40 freshmen, all from Centennial Hall, came out in leather jackets and slicked-back hair, snapping to an unheard beat … I was shaking in my boots,” reported Blarf Garson, a Signal reporter trying to make his deadline.

“As they approached me, they asked me if ‘any cool kick backs’ were happening

this weekend. One even asked me if it was true that the Exxon on Olden & Pennington asked people for their ID when buying juul pods … it was outrageous.”

In an exclusive interview, The Chip was fortunate enough to sit down with 13 of these terrifying freshmen at the same time to get their take on the trend. When asked about why they do the things that they do, one freshman stood out amongst the others and finally put this confusion to rest.

[Name Redacted] is an 18 year old open options business major from Piscataway, New Jersey. When I presented the group with “What do you guys do in your free time?”

“Listen to music and chill.”

The crowd of hormonal young men gave a solitary “yerrr” in confirmation.

DISCLAIMER: This is obviously a satirical piece and does not describe a real event.

page 8 The Signal August 28, 2019

Dear TCNJ Community, July 2 was my one-year anniversary as Director of the City of Trenton’s Department of Water and Sewer, which operates the 200-year-old Trenton Water Works (TWW).

I would like to report to you what TWW has done to return to high water quality and how we plan to maintain this excellence, including a summary of future capital projects and customer service.

TWW began its revival in 2018, during which we began to think more strategically about our filtration and water-distribution systems, our workforce, current and future capital projects, and our communication with internal and external stakeholders. Fundamental to the latter are our customers, TWW’s most essential asset.

Together with my management team, and the deep support of Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora, we are executing a comprehensive plan to reorganize TWW and position it for stronger water quality and operational success. We have made substantial progress.

In December 2018, TWW professionals restored high water quality by aggressively implementing our Disinfection Byproducts Reduction Plan.

The goal: eliminate DBPs from our finished drinking water. Federal and state water-quality regulations had required TWW to mail several violation notices to our 63,000 customers between 2017 and 2018 as a result of high DBP levels. The 2018 Disinfection Byproducts Reduction Plan was a success.

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August 28, 2019 The Signal page 9

Our quarterly sampling and testing for DBPs, data that is supplied to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, continue to exemplify that TWW is meeting federal and state water-quality expectations.

At TWW’s water-filtration plant, we fixed key water-treatment systems, including four Superpulsators, to improve turbidity (a measure of water clarity); we launched a year-long $5 million rehabilitation of two chlorine contact basins to improve disinfection of raw water drawn from the Delaware River; and we completed an upgrade to an advanced control system called SCADA, which stands for Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition.

SCADA allows plant personnel to control and monitor plant operations, filtrationprocess performance, pump stations, several multi-million-gallon storage tanks, the 100million-gallon Pennington Avenue Reservoir and other parts of TWW’s 683-mile waterdistribution system.

We continue to biannually flush water mains throughout TWW’s water-distribution system to remove sediment and stagnant water. In June, we started flushing our multi-million-gallon elevated storage tanks, a standard maintenance procedure that ensures high water quality and optimal pressure.

Advancing Capital Projects We measure our capital projects in the millions. In fact, TWW will take on 36 projects over the next five years, more than $80 million in improvements to the TWW system. This will ensure high water quality for years to come.

Between this fall and the spring of 2020, TWW will launch its $15-million Lead Service Line Replacement Program. This initiative replaces risky lead and galvanized steel waterservice lines at residential properties in our service area for around $1,000, a substantially reduced cost to the homeowner. Banned in 1986, these lines can be a source of lead contamination in drinking water. We envision spending $50 million in the next 10 years to replace water-service lines on private properties, as well as those that are part of our water-distribution system (from our water main to the curb). This fall, TWW will introduce corrosion-control techniques to prevent lead particles from entering the water flowing through service lines connected to our system.

To improve the flow of water throughout our water-distribution system, TWW will spend $40 million to clean and line water mains and upgrade four-inch water mains to six-inch mains, as needed. The cleaning and lining

Shing-Fu Hsueh, Ph.D., P.E., P.P. Director

process removes iron oxide tuberculation— small areas of corrosion—that accumulate in water mains over time, and helps to substantially increase the pressure at fire hydrants.

In the near-term, we plan to make $2.7 million in improvements to the raw-water intake system at our water-filtration plant, which draws from the Delaware River, to make it less susceptible to vegetative and frazil ice clogging and more resilient to drought conditions. System designs are complete.

We have launched a $2.2-million capital project to replace all 24 of our water-filtration plant's filter media. These filters, viable for 20 years, are an important part of the filtration process, which enables the plant to produce 27 million gallons of drinking water each day.

Recently, we have proposed to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection the creation of a decentralized finished-water-storage-tank network. This project would be an alternative to installing a $30 million, limited-life-span floating cover on TWW’s 100-million-gallon Pennington Avenue Reservoir. The network, enabling TWW to phase out the reservoir completely, would meet our finished-water-storage demands while reducing the age of water in our water-distribution system. It would also improve water-system resiliency, performance, operations, safety and security. The current reservoir is essentially a 120-year-old dam that is prone to leaks and has the potential for failure.

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page 10 The Signal August 28, 2019

Improving Communications

Better Customer Service

TWW has vastly improved its communications and outreach. Since early this year, we have taken out print ads in service-area publications that convey important messages regarding our operations, we have launched a robust social media presence using Facebook, and we have rolled out TWW-Connects, a Reverse 911 System used to issue emergency and routine alerts.

To date, we have held more than 10 Public Education Forums, during which residents, customers and public officials have asked questions about their drinking water and water-utility infrastructure and interacted directly with TWW representatives. This personal public outreach has been an effective way to discuss important topics, including the science of water treatment, lead in drinking water and localized sources of lead, TWW’s corrosion-control strategy, capital projects, and our work to fill vacant employment positions. To that end, TWW has hired 34 people in the last 12 months, reducing our vacancy rate to 14% from 40%.

I believe that providing customers and residents with a view of our operations through ongoing communication—including our day-today production activities and detailed information about the quality of the water—improves transparency and helps restore customer confidence in TWW’s mission to produce drinking water that meets or exceeds federal and state Safe Drinking Water Act standards.

We are enhancing our customer service. We have upgraded our customer-service computer and telephone systems at our Cortland Street operations center and added two additional customer-service representatives (CSR). We are working to hire four more, including two bilingual CSRs. Our goal is to elevate personal service, reduce on-hold times, and improve the overall service experience. In the second half of this year, we will launch InvoiceCloud, an extension of our service that will allow customers to manage their accounts online, provide additional ways to pay bills, check previous bills, set payment reminders and alerts, and more. And, we are offering home delivery of lead testing kits by calling (609) 989-3033.

We are reorganizing Trenton Water Works for today and tomorrow. We are building a trained workforce and investing in a water-filtration, storage, and distribution infrastructure to achieve continued water quality and operational success.

We deeply value our customers and the communities we serve.

As we work to achieve excellence in water quality and operations and to reclaim our status as one of the leading public water systems in the United States, please know that we are at your service.

Dr. Shing-Fu Hsueh, P.E., P.P. Director

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August 28, 2019 The Signal page 11

Features

Sarnoff Collection showcases retro sound

Exhibit displays early recording tools, instruments

Pierri experiments with the theremin’s distinct noise.

By Garrett Cecere Editor-in-Chief

In a world where technology is constantly evolving, it’s hard to imagine a time when people couldn’t record any music and play it back instantly to enjoy a pleasant melody.

In Roscoe Hall West Room 204, the College’s Sarnoff Collection serves as a reminder of an era when the only ways people could hear music were if they made it to a show or learned to play themselves.

Florencia Pierri, the collection’s curator, led a guided tour of the exhibit on Sunday, Aug. 25, which chronicled 100 years of recorded sound’s history in America, beginning with Thomas Edison’s phonograph and ending with computer synthesizers.

Edison, who had pioneered the phonograph as a foil wrap cylinder, considered Alexander

Graham Bell’s recent development of the telephone, as he felt people would benefit from the ability to record their conversations and listen to them.

“Edison thought that the telephone would never, ever catch on in business because there was no way to record the message,” Pierri said.

However, a downside to the phonograph was that recordings were limited to being played back just two times, so Bell helped modify it by adding a wax cylinder.

“It was this wax-covered cylinder that meant that you could record sound with much higher fidelity and you could play it back a couple of times more than the foil wrap cylinder,” Pierri said.

It wasn’t long before people figured out that the invention could go beyond use for work and business, and the recording

Garrett Cecere / Editor-in-Chief

of music was born. In a time before stereos, tape recorders and MP3 players, people had found a way to hear music and enjoy it over again.

“Before the 1870s, if you wanted to listen to music, well, you had to learn how to play the piano. You had to learn how to sing. You had to learn how to play some sort of instrument,” Pierri explained during the tour. “There was no way of storing music.”

Pierri explained that the process of music entering people’s homes became possible in the 1890s with Regina discs, which were based in New Jersey and could be mass produced due to their sturdy metal material.

Mass production became cheaper due to German inventor Emile Berliner, who eventually teamed up with Elridge Johnson, a machine shop owner in Camden, New Jersey. The result

was the inception of the Victor Talking Machine Company. But its successful production of records was short-lived, as radio literally sounded off at a new height during the 1920s and the Radio Corporation of America bought out the company.

After World War II, CBS employee Peter Goldmark had an idea for developing records without using the original material, shellac, which was unavailable because it could only be found in Japan and couldn’t be accessed due to the war. Goldmark’s idea involved polyvinyl chloride, which paved the way for the vinyl record.

According to Pierri, one advantage of vinyl was that grooves on the record could be cut closer together than before, which allowed for more music. “(The vinyl record) holds a lot; it is long-playing. Columbia (Records) thought that was a great name, so they called this type of record the ‘LP,’” she said.

Pierri went on to discuss magnetic storage of sound, which Danish engineer Valdemar Poulsen pioneered by magnetizing a thin wire and putting sound on it. “(The wire recorder) is something that I had no idea even existed,” she said. “Even people who are familiar with, say, 8-tracks or early cassettes or reel-to-reel players — a lot of them didn’t realize that the first magnetic storage was a wire.”

Pierri said that the surge of technology in homes during the

first 30 years of the 20th century can be attributed to the vacuum tube, which went into many devices, such as wrist watches, hearing aids and the theremin — an experimental instrument known for high-pitched sounds, as well as its use in The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations.”

After the development of the theremin, RCA desired to find ways to synthesize music to resemble an orchestra’s sounds, which eventually led to the company wanting its engineers to build a machine that creates music. The result was the electronic music synthesizer. “(The Sarnoff Collection) does show a lot about how technology has changed a lot in a very relatively short amount of time,” Pierri said, reflecting on the tour. “People went from not being able to record sound.

So if you had one sound, it was gone forever. You would hear one music performance just once and that was it … You went from that to being able to artificially synthesize anything you want with computers.”

While the tour took people back in time, Pierri looked ahead to what future innovations may be possible.

“In a hundred years, we went from a tin foil wrap cylinder that could only be played once and poured a very substandard sound to a way to create music without even humans,” she said. “In a hundred years, sound has come an awfully long way, and who knows what it’s going to look like in the next hundred years?”

Maintain / Former GM employee brings years of experience to campus continued from page 1 “I would like to see the TCNJ Facilities department become a model for how small colleges and universities with limited resources can lead the way in innovative methods to maximize service delivery to students while enhancing the academic experience,” Dixon said.

Before coming to the College, Dixon did project management for General Motors from 1982 to 1993, and felt that his time with GM helped him understand how to complete jobs in a large organization.

In 2004, Dixon then worked for Ohio State as the maintenance director. He was then given responsibility for Roads & Grounds and Building Services. He said that integrating those groups was a major accomplishment.

“We executed a major, customer-centered reorganization in 2008 that has often been studied for its customer satisfaction impact,” Dixon said.

He also added that prioritizing efficiency allowed the school to allocate more money for scholarships.

“A lot of what we focused on was efficiency and customer service,” Dixon said. “Being on a college campus is unique because it is not only a classroom and workplace but also home for many of our students.”

During his second year at Ohio State, Dixon was introduced to the Midwest regional group of APPA, formerly the Association for Physical Plant Administrators, an organization that promotes leadership in educational facilities. In 2016, the school won the APPA Award for Excellence based on the success of the whole facilities organization. Dixon also helped Ohio State win the APPA Sustainability Award in 2017 and the APPA Innovation Award in 2018.

Dixon described his involvement with those awards as being an encourager and facilitator, “personally investing time and energy in work initiated by others and helping them gain recognition for their success.”

“President Foster and the members of the search committee did an excellent job of showcasing this job as an opportunity

Dixon currently leads building maintenance at Ohio State. to use my experience and interests to help TCNJ improve while also allowing me to grow as a leader,” Dixon said.

Now at the College, Dixon is excited to become part of the campus community.

“My overall impression is that there is

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a group of very passionate people working very hard to make TCNJ the best it can be,” Dixon said. “I am excited to get on campus with the students, faculty and staff to learn what their priorities are and understand how the campus operates.”

page 12 The Signal August 28, 2019

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: Oct. ‘96 Peer group educates students about alcohol

August 28, 2019 The Signal page 13

Campus Style

Instagram Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive

As the new semester begins, students are expected to be responsible.

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

As the new semester begins, it’s important to remember the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. There’s a dangerous stigma attached to alcohol being a part of the “college experience,” which can sometimes lead to the involvement of ambulances and campus police helping an intoxicated student.

In an October 1996 issue of The Signal, members of Insight, a team of peer educators for the College’s Drug/Alcohol Education program, wrote to the editor about their concerns pertaining to students drinking too much and essentially poisoning themselves.

To the editor, Insight, the peer education group for the Alcohol/Drug Education Program, wants to take this opportunity to introduce our campus community to the detrimental effects of the wonder drug — alcohol. There have been situations in recent weeks that have concerned us. We work VERY hard to educate our community about the misperceptions of alcohol and other drugs. Unfortunately, alcohol has been stereotyped

as part of the “college experience.” However, when the party is over, the reality of alcohol remains. Too often, students are not prepared physically, psychologically and/or emotionally to deal with the consequences of alcohol abuse. These consequences span across a large continuum. This can include the violation of campus policies, but more importantly, the terror of a near-death experience. Yes, you can die from excessive alcohol consumption.

In recent weeks, we, as residents of The College of New Jersey community, have been told of numerous times when a student has nearly died of alcohol poisoning.

Some of you may think vomiting after alcohol consumption is a way for your body to release “the poison.” Alcohol poisoning is “the excessive intake of alcohol to the point of toxic, or deadly, levels seriously disabling the body’s normal functioning.”

Vomiting is one of the ways your body rejects the alcohol. However, at times, the amount of alcohol consumed is so great that the response to vomit is impaired, and the body shuts down.

Lions’ Plate

Left: Pair a white tee with a blazer for a preppy but chic look.

Right: Printed leggings and a sweater are the perfect fall outfit.

By Diana Solano Distribution Manager It’s that time of year when weekend beach trips are replaced with going to classes and enjoying the lovely fall weather. We’ll be trading in our flip flops for sneakers and tank tops for comfy tshirts and denim jackets.

The task of figuring out what to bring and wear during the half-summer/half-fall time period can be overwhelming. But fear not, because here is a list of the three essential pieces that should absolutely be included in your college wardrobe.

1. Denim A jean jacket, skirt or a good old pair of good-fitting jeans are a must! Although summer is ending, it doesn’t mean that we have to pull out our winter coats just yet. Fall is a lovely time of year when the air is crisp and you can put on a jean jacket if it’s a chilly day. You can also style a jean skirt or jean pants with some boots and a t-shirt or a long sleeve. These articles of clothing give you a combination for the fall weather where you want

to avoid feeling chilly but don’t want to be bundled up.

2. T-shirts White t-shirts are not only easy to find while shopping, but are also easy to style and can take a regular outfit up a notch. A white t-shirt can be styled with blue jeans or gray joggers and in a matter of seconds and you have an outfit to go to class with.

You don’t just have to pack that one white t-shirt — you can also bring graphic tees or tees you got from high school. They’re a nice reminder of home and add a distinct part to your outfit.

3. Lounge Wear Whoever said leggings aren’t pants has never woken up 10 minutes late to an 8:00 a.m. class and had to run across campus in the rain. Black leggings pretty much go with everything in your closet and are comfortable to wear. Loungewear such as hoodies and joggers are a musthave for every college student, especially for the fall. The options and combinations of your loungewear are endless and can be worn around your dorm, on campus, at the gym and in class.

Breakfast overnight oats

Left: Garnish the oats with honey and fruit for added flavor. Right: The dish makes for a perfect morning treat on the go.

By Elizabeth Casalnova Columnist As many college students know, daily life can be crammed with responsibilities and jam-packed schedules might cause students to miss breakfast or grab an unhealthy sandwich from a drivethru. Neither option is optimal for every day of the week. That’s why on my busiest mornings, even Sundays when I just don’t feel like cooking, I grab my

jar of overnight oats from the fridge, add a few toppings and voilà! I have a delicious, satisfying meal in less than two minutes.

The best part of this recipe is its versatility. Each batch starts off with the same few ingredients — rolled oats, chia seeds and milk of your choice. Then, when you wake up, you can throw in some fruit, nuts or even chocolate chips and have a meal that will keep you full for hours.

Whether you’re up two hours before

class or just five minutes, you’ll always have a treat waiting for you in the fridge.

Ingredients: - ½ cup rolled oats - ½ cup almond milk (or any milk of your choosing) - 2 tsp chia seeds - ½ banana - Fresh blueberries - Fresh strawberries, sliced - Apple slices

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- Honey (optional but recommended) - 1 sealed container for storage Directions: 1. In a container, combine oats, milk and chia seeds and stir gently.

2. Cover your container and place in the fridge for two hours or overnight.

3. When ready to eat, take the oats out, and top with fresh berries, sliced bananas and apples.

4. Drizzle honey on top for extra sweetness, and enjoy!

page 14 The Signal August 28, 2019

W RLDFUSION

NEW! World Fusion Comes toThe Lions Den! Customize the perfect

burrito or bowl the way YOU like it!

Choose from a variety of

choices to craft the perfect lunch or dinner!

Vegetarian or Vegan?

World Fusion has something for you!

August 28, 2019 The Signal page 15

Arts & Entertainment

Tarantino film delivers thrills, pays homage

YouTube

Left: Robbie brings Tate to the big screen. Right: Booth and Dalton share an unbreakable bond against all odds.

By Debra Kate Schafer Staff Writer

If a film is full of Hollywood’s biggest stars, historically accurate (for the most part), aesthetically pleasing and has a killer soundtrack, it’s hard not to love it.

Directed by Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” creates a narrative that brings its audience back to the 1960s by not only morphing fantasy with reality, but also by using true moments and real people in history to create a feeling of nostalgia, convey a message of distortion and interpret a specific period of time, as well as its corresponding, lifechanging events.

With a runtime of two hours and 45 minutes, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” follows a multitude of silver-screen stars of the 1960s. Rick Dalton (Leonardo

DiCaprio) is a fictional western actor whose backwater cowboy television show has just come to a close, leaving him as an agedout character actor trying to find work and break the mold that he has created for himself over time.

His stunt double and right hand man, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), is also struggling to find work and make his mark in the impending new age of Hollywood, albeit in a much different way than Dalton. What Dalton has, aside from enough money to drive sports cars and live in Studio City, is celebrity status and notoriety due to his time as the lead of a hit television show.

He craves to get back that level of fame and adoration from both the industry and his fans. Booth, on the other hand, is an aging stunt double. All he wants is a job that will pay him enough money to feed his dog and keep his trailer heated.

The first storyline surrounds the fictional duo as they come into contact with various wellknowns from the real world, such as Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie), Marvin Schwarz (Al Pacino), Steve McQueen (Damian Lewis), Tex Watson (Austin Butler) and Charles Manson (Damon Herriman) — some of the biggest names, or soon to be biggest names, in the media during this time in history.

They serve as portrayals of the real people and events of 1969, while Dalton and Booth are interspersed into that narrative to bring a real point in time to life on screen decades later.

The second storyline tells of the genuine, heartbreaking and mind-boggling story of the Manson Family Murders. Tarantino uses the fictitious characters and their subsequent backstories to showcase a very specific time and place in history and convey

the real-life tale that both manipulated and haunted a generation.

After watching “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” the first time, I had quite a few thoughts on what unfolded in front of my eyes, none of which were truly negative. I will always appreciate a good shot of Pitt driving a convertible through downtown Los Angeles while listening to Simon and Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson,” which can only be seconded by a 10-year-old starlet like Julia Butters putting DiCaprio into his place with just her honest, youthful wit. Not to mention that the palm-treelined streets of sunny Los Angeles are draped in an authentic aura of cinematic psychedelia, with Tarantino strategically placing young hippies hitchhiking in homemade tye dye outfits and classic out-of-production vehicles zooming by in the background of intricately color

graded scenes.

However, after seeing the film a second time, reading a bit deeper into the history of the transformative subplots and having some lengthy discussions about the film with friends who had also seen it, I’ve come to the conclusion that the film is quite fantastic.

This is not in the “commercial movie meets indie cinematic genius” way, but in a “there’s a story to tell and we’re gonna find a thrilling way to tell it” type of experience.

“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” encapsulates a defining era and a very specific moment in time through differing, yet highly intertwined storylines. There is heart, meaning, brutality and so much truth found within the characters, both written into the story and based on real people. It is historical fiction at its finest.

‘Jane the Virgin’ breaks hearts in final season

By Minji Kim Correspondent

After the quite confusing and disappointing series finale of “Game of Thrones,” I now watch TV with lower expectations. Placing a lot of pressure on the directors to create an ending that satisfies everyone with isn’t fair, but I can honestly say that “Jane the Virgin” has ended in a way that made me happy and sad.

I was happy because it went above my expectations, but sad because it meant that the show was completely over. So, in my somewhat biased opinion, I really did enjoy the ending of “Jane the Virgin.”

Anyone who’s seen the show knows that Jane and Rafael’s love was a long time coming. The most important part of the finale wrapped up their love story in a way that nearly brought me to tears. It was great.

But in a very Jane fashion, new happiness turns to absolute chaos with the biggest surprise appearance I ever could have imagined. And Jane’s life gets turned upside down. Again.

But after a drunken night out, a trip to Montana involving a bull, and the revelation of the century, Jane makes the right decision for herself. I loved every second of this part of the story, and while I had doubts about Jane’s choices of partners in the past, I came to understand her love and appreciate it. It was such a sweet moment and it couldn’t have been done better.

The show did such a good job of tying up loose ends. It was such a crazy mess of things, but somehow, in the telenovela-like world, it made perfect sense. My favorite thing about “Jane the Virgin” was exactly that — how crazy things were just the norm.

After watching a different telenovela, “Jane the

The protagonist’s story wraps up with a heart-wrenching and comedic twist.

Virgin” seems tame, but also like a magical love story. It pulled all the aspects of a good telenovela, and made it perfectly targeted to American viewers as well. It was bilingual, too, which made it even more special due to its effort to be multicultural.

The twists and turns of this show make it so interesting and without a dull moment. The scenes surrounding the

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show’s crimes were so interesting and suspenseful, while the familial love of the three Villanueva women is touching and heartwarming.

Each moment contributed to the story and helped move it along, as I shed more tears than I can count and laughed even more as the show went on. I’ve always appreciated the love on the show, and the finale was the cherry on top.

page 16 The Signal August 28, 2019

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August 28, 2019 The Signal page 17

‘Euphoria’ proves to be breakout series of summer

Zendaya plays Rue, a teen struggling with addiction and mental disorders.

By James Mercadante Reviews Editor Blending powerful performances and painful honesty with glittery visuals and compelling storylines, HBO has created the cinematic masterpiece that is “Euphoria.”

Created by Sam Levison, “Euphoria” follows a group of teenagers as they grow up and become exposed to the consequences of drugs, sex, social media, addiction, mental illness and

many other factors of life.

The show follows the main protagonist, Rue Bennett (Zendaya), as she has been released from rehab and struggles with her addiction of seeking ways to numb her depression and bipolar disorder. Throughout the episodes, Rue narrates not just about herself, but also about everyone involved with the story.

The show introduces new upand-coming actors, who also implement authentic portrayals of real-life teens. Hunter Schafer, who plays Jules

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Vaughn, is a transgender actress, who gives the representation to the LGBTQ community but also has captivating performances throughout the season, such as her kitchen scene in episode 1, where she angrily waved a knife to Nate Jacobs, played by Jacob Elordi.

Nate’s character is definitely seen as an antagonist, as he is filled with suppressed anger and confusion about his identity because he refuses to come to terms with his sexuality. However, he conducts his performance in such a

bona fide manner.

“Euphoria” is quite distinct in general, especially with its storytelling and how it handles its visuals. The visuals can be awkward, yet smooth at the same time, like how there are multiple scenes where the narrative gets lost in Rue’s narration about unpredictable subjects, which kind of emulates the effects of a hard-hitting drug and fits the theme of chasing euphoria.

In the last episode, the last scene demonstrates a musical number, which may seem unfitting. However, it felt like the missing piece to this puzzle of fiction. Zendaya sings and interpretively dances to demonstrate a myriad of emotions, such as disappointment, selfhatred and feeling mentally paralyzed, which concludes the first season in a theatrical approach.

While there are stunning visuals in the show, coated with glitter-based makeup and fluorescent lights, there are also uncomfortable and painfully blunt scenes, like relapsing on drugs or domestic abuse, which make you immediately want to look away from the screen. Although they are hard to watch, those particular moments render the series to be so undeniably real and showcase the true trauma humans face during the process of self-discovery.

The title is perfectly suited for the show since it demonstrates the gritty and harrowing aspects of life being beautifully captured on film.

There is so much more that lies beneath the surface of euphoria.

‘Derry Girls’ shines with rambunctious antics

Netflix

Left: The distressed group of teens gear up for a rocky weekend. Right: Clare fears embarassment as she scales a mountain.

By Ariel Steinsaltz Staff Writer

While two groups of teenagers have a meetup that makes them reconsider their prejudices against each other, one of their mothers gets obsessed with a kitchen bowl. This dichotomy between the grand and the mundane starts off the second season of a show that often perfectly balances the two.

On Aug. 2, Netflix released the second season of “Derry Girls,” a Northern Irish show that follows the lives of five teenagers living in Derry, Northern Ireland in the 1990s during the period known as “The Troubles,” decades of violence between the Catholics and the Protestants.

The show has five main characters who attend a Catholic girls’ school: Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), her cousin Orla (Louisa Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O’Donnell) and Michelle’s English cousin James (Dylan Llewellyn), who attends their school because they felt that he would be beaten

up at the boys’ school on account of him being English.

Season 1’s six episodes saw the girls go through various teenage misadventures in the country’s fraught political landscape, while season 2 continues this trend with episodes revolving around events like a meetup with a group of Protestant boys, the girls sneaking out to a concert and former President Bill Clinton’s 1995 visit to Derry.

The new season also continues the show’s trend of perfectly balancing the comedic tone and lighthearted teenage antics with the darker tone of the circumstances in which these characters are growing up.

The season also ends on a touching, heartfelt note that reinforces the theme so often seen in the show — Despite all of the political problems occurring in their world, the teens and those around them still have hope for the future. It’s a theme that resonates now, even for those living out of the context in which the show is set.

The characters go on a journey that continues their arcs from the first season, and the growth they’ve gone

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through is remarkable given that the combined total runtime for both seasons is less than 300 minutes.

Fundamentally, these characters are still the same people, and their personalities make the show a delight to watch, such as Orla’s quirkiness and Michelle’s total disregard for authority.

The antics that the girls and James get up to, such as sneaking out of the house and going to prom, reinforce the fact that they are still teenagers, and many of those ideas are relatable to anybody who’s been a teenager.

Everything that happens to these characters feels real, and gives it broad appeal despite the specificity to its setting, such as when they bring a suitcase full of vodka onto a bus only for it to be boarded by their teacher or accidentally feed pot-filled scones to a group of people at a wake. It’s hilarious and captures the rebelliousness of being a teenager that not everyone might have experienced, but most can understand.

The show is witty and clever, the actors are perfect and the comedy is hilarious. My only criticism of Season 2 is that I wish it had been longer.

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August 28, 2019 The Signal page 19

Sports Tennis

Tennis hopes to keep streak alive

Katrine Luddy lunges to volley the ball back to her opponent.

By Christine Houghton Sports Editor

Maintaining national ranking just doesn’t seem to be enough for the men’s and women’s tennis teams as they go into the season with high hopes for the future.

After losing eight seniors, the men’s team looks to gain experience during the fall season’s tournaments in preparation for the spring’s dual matches. The four incoming freshmen are all candidates for the starting lineup to lend their efforts to head coach Scott Dicheck’s goal of

Field Hockey

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

maintaining national rankings.

Sophomores Matthew Michibata and Justin Wain are two promising returning players, as they hope to reclaim their starting positions for their second season. Senior Thomas Wright aims to remain injury-free and maintain his exceptional performance from last season.

Now graduated Matt Puig (’19) and Tim Gavornik (’19) will leave the biggest shoes to fill due to their reliability as consistently good players. Gavornik leaves behind his 100-wins poster, proudly displayed outside the tennis courts, and Puig returns this fall as an assistant coach.

The women’s team lost only two seniors, but the incoming freshman class offers five players to fill their shoes. Now graduated Alyssa Baldi (’19) finished fifth for the amount of wins in program history and Grace Minassain’s (’19) doubles efforts will be missed. The current team as a whole is very underclassmen-heavy, with only one junior, one senior and 13 freshmen and sophomores.

All 15 members have potential and talent, with Dicheck referring to the squad as a “very deep team.”

Sophomore Liya Davidov looks to come back with the strength she had last year — the same vigor that got her the third most single season wins in program history.

The women’s continued success this season will hopefully add to their conference winning streak — the longest Division III conference winning streak in the country.

Both the men’s and women’s teams begin their seasons on Saturday, Aug. 31, as they host the Doubles Kickoff Tournament and face the University of the Sciences Southern Virginia.

Cross Country

Lions field hockey aims high Cross country looks to run far

By Christine Houghton Sports Editor

During the 2018 season, both the men’s and women’s cross country teams had very successful runs that carried over into their winter and spring seasons.

Even though the leaves and temperature changed, the Lions remained consistent in their ability to pace and cross the finish line well before their opponents.

The men’s season was filled with success, as they placed in the top percentages of most competitions, most notably second out of 14 at the Osprey Open and fourth out of 21 at the NJIT Highlander Challenge.

The team capped off its season with both a conference win at the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship and 13th out of 37 teams at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship.

The women out-performed all throughout their season, taking seventh out of 17

at the Bill Fritz Invitational, third out of 12 at the Osprey Open and sixth out of both 29 and 25 teams at the NJIT Highlander Challenge and Connecticut College Invitational, respectively.

The team also finished its season with an NJAC win, but placed fourth at the NCAA Atlantic Region Championship.

The team was able to finish the season at Wisconsin-Oshkosh for the NCAA Division III Championship, where it took 19th place out of 32 teams.

Justin Lindsay, the men’s and women’s head coach, feels confident that both teams can continue their success over the course of the 2019 season.

“I believe this can be another successful season if we execute well at the end of the season and stay committed and focused on our team goals throughout the year,” he said.

Both teams return to the track for the Blue/Gold Invitational, hosted by the College on Saturday, Aug. 31.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Two Lions high five after a successful play.

By Christine Houghton Sports Editor

With little allowance for failure in the 2018 season, the women’s field hockey team hopes for even more success this fall season.

Finishing with a 16-5 record overall, the team only allowed for two conference losses: one to Montclair State University and the other to Rowan University.

Ranked third in their conference to start their season, the Lions fell to seventh as the weeks went on, but that didn’t slow them down.

The team raced its way into the New Jersey Athletic Conference tournament, taking down Montclair in the first round, but soon falling to Rowan a few days later.

The College then moved on to the NCAA Division III Tournament, where they made it to the third round before falling to Middlebury College to end its season.

Although the team has only lost two seniors since last season, defender Jackie Scwartz (’19) and midfielder/defender Sidney Padilla (’19), their shoes will be hard to fill.

The team is currently ranked second in the NJAC, just below Rowan, and maintaining such a high ranking will prove valuable for the team upon a late season playoff run.

The College returns to the field on Saturday, Aug. 31, as they travel to Washington, D.C., to take on The Catholic University of America.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Sophomore William Mayhew leads the race followed by his teammates.

Signal

Sports

Football hopes for better season

Donoghue moves through a hole in the line as he runs for a down.

By Matthew Shaffer Correspondent

After a 3-7 record during the 2018 season, the Lions will look to bounce back in 2019.

This year’s roster will look drastically different, since the team will be without eight seniors who graduated this past spring.

According to head coach Casey Goff,

replacing leadership and experience after players graduate is always a challenge that annually plagues any team.

“Players like Max Busca (’19), the team’s leading tackler in 2018, will be hard to replace, as goes for losing any senior,” he said.

Goff will enter his third year at the helm of this young roster, and is hopeful to lead the Lions to a playoff appearance in the New Jersey Athletic Conference.

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Acknowledging last year’s issues on defense, such as allowing 31 points per game, he started by hiring a new face at defensive coordinator with Edwyn Edwards.

Edwards had an impressive track record at King’s College, where his defense held its opponents to under 10 points three times in 2018 and compiled a 5-5 record.

With a new defensive coordinator and the return of some senior defensive players, it could revamp the team’s secondary.

Senior defensive back Sam Jackson, who was injured for the majority of last season, has proven to be a game changer. Jackson had four interceptions during his sophomore year in addition to being one of the team’s leading tacklers.

On the offensive end, sophomore Dave Jachera — an NJAC Offensive Rookie of the Year — and junior Andrew Donoghue will be at the quarterback position. The two players were bright spots for the team last season, keeping their opponents on edge with Jachera’s running ability and Donoghue’s strong arm.

Returning for their senior year as wide receivers are top targets Vinny Gukin and Jack Clevenger, who will be joined by multiple incoming freshmen.

A main focus this offseason was not only to bulk up as a whole, but specifically focus on the offensive line. Goff mentioned that many of the team’s players honed in on nutrition and weightlifting to bulk up during the offseason, and look visibly prepared to face the tougher teams slated for 2019, such as Wesley College and Montclair State University.

According to Goff, it’s a consensus among the coaches that the team is “turning the corner in terms of a winning mentality, physical preparedness and overall numbers going into the 2019 year.”

The Lions will kick off their season on Sept. 7 at Muhlenberg College, followed by their home opener against SUNY College at Cortland on Sept. 14.

Soccer looks to keep up success

By Seva Galant Correspondent

As summer comes to a close, a rigorous soccer preseason begins for the men’s soccer team.

The Lions are looking to improve both on the road and in conference, coming off a 7-1-1 season, as their nonconference performance was just shy of spectacular.

With hopes for the NCAA championship, the Lions are focused on earning a top-four slot within their conference, with a top-two earning them a bye that would result in a good shot of competing for a title.

Top four performances usually merit an over .500 record, and with such strong performances in their non-conference games, it could mean the Lions will be strong competitors for the title this year.

“If we can place top four in the conference, we can make it big,” said George Nazario, the head coach of the men’s team.

Even being the No. 9 seed has no bearing on the Lions’ fate, as they have maintained the same seed from last year, which ended in a conference title. The team is currently focusing on developing scorers, assimilating underclassmen and building morale before the season, especially before preseason to induce better road game performances.

The coaching staff hopes these efforts will create options for the team to reduce overall fatigue throughout the upcoming season.

With the majority of conference games being home games this year, Nazario feels that the team has a significant advantage compared to last year, and that victory falls on the team’s conditioning and ability to execute.

Lions Lineup August 28, 2019

I n s i d e

In having strong leadership with senior defender Matt Decker, senior midfielder Michael Maltese and junior midfielder Sam Monaco, Nazario is hoping for great teamwork and communication on the field and greater camaraderie throughout the season.

As for other returning teammates, the Lions are looking strong, with junior midfielder Ryan Vasquez, a second team All-Conference scorer with 14 goals and two assists, and sophomore midfielder Ryan Santos, who had four goals and three assists.

After Maltese and junior midfielder James Pike constantly created scoring opportunities last season, Nazario is hopeful for the upcoming campaign.

The men’s first game will be in Washington, D.C., as they compete in the Catholic University Tournament on Friday, Aug. 30 against Lycoming College.

Meanwhile, the women’s soccer team has been preparing for yet another strong performance this year during preseason training. Coming off an NJAC championship title and a strong NCAA tournament, the anticipation is high for this upcoming season.

In a heartbreaking third-round sectionals loss in the NCAA tournament, eyes are on the current teammates, who are trying to see if they can reach what was so close to their grasp last season. With such a deep set of returners and a successful performance last year, Joe Russo, the woman’s head coach, has high expectations for his squad going into the 2019 season. “(The team) is the fittest they’ve returned in a while,” Russo said.

The women’s soccer team will begin its season at Swarthmore College on Friday, Aug. 30.

Tennis page 19

Cross Country page 19

Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk

Vasquez dribbles the ball upfield.

Field Hockey page 19