Fall '23 Issue No. 1

The Signal

Vol. LIII, No. 1

September 8, 2023

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

Bernstein suggests differential tuition and housing pricing

Rise in Covid-19 cases disrupts beginning of semester

By Victoria Gladstone Managing Editor

Photo courtesy of Matthew Kaufman / Managing Editor

In his speech to faculty and staff, Bernstein addressed new ideas for housing and tuition.

By Matthew Kaufman and Ally Uhlendorf Managing Editor and News Editor Interim President Michael Bernstein suggested that differential tuition and housing pricing be implemented at the College at his first address to faculty members last week.

Speaking to a full house in Kendall Hall, Bernstein emphasized that his proposal is just an “idea” that can be discussed in the coming months with campus stakeholders.

There are not currently active plans to implement this system at the

College.

“We will generate more revenue that way, and we will have more resources for scholarships to students who want and can join us,” Bernstein told the audience.

“To put it crudely,” he added, “I think we may have been leaving some money on the table here that we can use for the benefit of our students.”

Across the country, many different colleges and universities have started to use differential pricing for tuition and housing.

Differential tuition is where students who are in “high-demand programs”

Lions Football defeats Eastern University

By Joey Bachich Staff Writer The College started off the football season hot, with a comfortable 41-21 home victory over first-year program Eastern University. Senior quarterback Trevor Bopp was the star of the show, throwing for a school-record 405 yards and four touchdowns, while also getting another touchdown on the ground.

The Buildup The Lions this season are one of the dark horses in the NJAC looking to crack the top three in the standings. Last season, the Lions finished with a record of 3-6 and lost three of those games by one score or less. This team is on the upswing and the Lions are returning a bulk of their squad heading into the 2023 season.

The defense was solid, barring a few outlier games last season, but the offense seemed to be more hot and cold rather than consistent. The good news is that many of those

Follow us on The Signal @tcnjsignal

same offensive pieces are returning and have a good chance at becoming more comfortable in the offense.

Key offensive returning players including senior quarterback Trevor Bopp and senior tight end Thomas Burke, who missed week one with a pulled hamstring but should be able to return next week.

Junior running back Jayson Schmidt looked to have the running back job won with his performance last season, so this opening game is important to see the use of the running back room.

The defense is returning a ton of talent including two fifth years in nose tackle Ryan McGuire and defensive back Cole Groschel who both were All-NJAC second team players last season, along with senior linebacker Logan Flaherty.

The Game In the first half of the game, the Lions came out a little slow from an offensive standpoint. Bopp was rushed into a bad throw early that led to an ugly interception. see FOOTBALL page 12

will receive an additional charge on their tuition, due to the fact that some programs are more expensive to run than others.

David Blake, professor of English at the College and former chair of the Strategy Working Group, said in an email that universities often employ differential tuition as a means of improving “access and equitability.”

“The idea is that different pricing structures recognize that some programs are more expensive to run than others and that students should pay accordingly,” Blake explained.

To some, the Covid-19 pandemic feels like a fever dream they never want to re-live again. While it may not be on the forefront of most people’s minds, it still very much exists and continues to infect students on campus.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency. However, the organization still emphasizes that “it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.”

According to the Covid-19 data dashboard monitored by the state of New Jersey, there are 93 postive cases of the illness in Mercer county where the College is located. Over two months ago during the week of July 7, Mercer county had 17 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

see BERNSTEIN page 2

see COVID page 4

UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member killed in shooting

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A graduate student has been charged with first-degree murder after the shooting.

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer A graduate student has been charged with first-degree murder after fatally shooting his faculty advisor at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. According to AP News, students and others were prompted to shelter in place for hours as the campus entered a lockdown while police searched for the gunman.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Tailei Qi, a Chinese citizen who is in the United States on a visa. According to Orange County

District Attorney Jeff Neiman, Qi made his first court appearance on Aug. 29 and is being held without bond, as reported by CNN. He has been charged with first-degree murder and a misdemeanor for possessing a firearm on educational property.

In remembrance of the victim of the shooting, Zijie Yan, an associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences’ applied physical sciences department, makeshift memorials were constructed around campus, including one featuring a model of a molecule.

Check out our website for these stories, campus news, sports, student opinions and more!

see UNC page 7

page 2 The Signal September 8, 2023

College to charge for course overloading above five units in spring 2024

By Rebecca Heath News Editor Full-time students have been able to register for an ‘unlimited’ number of courses — as long as they are granted dean approval — without an increase in tuition since the College’s establishment, but that policy will change this spring semester.

The College is slated to implement a variation of the course overload model found in a majority of higher education institutions across the state, according to Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeffrey Osborn.

This new approach will only allow students to take up to ten courses per academic year at the College’s standard tuition rate. For additional classes, students will be charged in alignment with the cost of course units, which varies for instate and out-of-state students.

“We’re catching up to how most campuses do business here,” Osborn said via Zoom. “We don’t want to limit students’ opportunities and flexibility to take the courses they want, but we’re not guaranteeing five minors at no additional cost.”

Osborn said this strategy is part of an ongoing effort to improve student success.

“Sometimes students enroll in

more courses than is required and they think they can do really well, but in fact it’s a lot of work and then they don’t do as well as they could,” Osborn said. “We want to help students finish on time and be successful.”

In an effort to ensure prospective overloaders will be able to maintain their grade point average while balancing the additional workload, they will still be required to visit their respective dean’s office, fill out a form and gain approval prior to registration.

“Your dean is going to ask some pretty hard questions…we don’t want you to overstretch yourself,” Osborn explained. “At the same time, we want to give you agency and allow you to determine that.”

Though Osborn noted the number of students taking more than five courses in a given semester is already limited, he hopes the new model will help prevent students from “occupying spots in courses that are required for other students to take as part of their major.”

Some students, like engineering majors, are given strict class schedules they need to follow in order to graduate in four years. Class of 2027 engineering schedules have been modified to only have five or less credits per semester, with an optional sixth credit, but if a student

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone / Multimedia Coordinator

The College is slated to implement a variation of the course overload model found in a majority of higher education institutions across the state.

fails just one class they will have to overload.

And with only three “college core” courses, formally known as liberal learning, built into the curriculum, junior civil engineering major Ethan Moyer said finding classes that fulfill multiple requirements, which is a necessity to avoid overloading, proves challenging.

“We don’t really have much room in our four-year schedule to take [college core courses] because the rest are taken up by required engineering classes,” said Moyer.

“So, if I want to graduate on time I have to find liberal learning classes that satisfy like three requirements, or else I’d have to overload.”

Nonetheless, Osborn emphasized that the new model will largely benefit students.

“This approach is designed to help students stay on track, graduate on time, and to be successful. And to allow us to serve as many students as we can,” Osborn said.

While the new model will remain in place for the foreseeable future, Osborn said a revised version that caps students at only nine courses per academic year without a tuition upcharge is currently in the works.

“But until we can put in place a logistical and administrative system that will accommodate that, we’re capping it at five course units per semester,” he said.

BERNSTEIN / New pricing option presented to faculty Continued from page 1

Multiple well-known universities such as University of Maryland, Colorado State University, Utah State University and University of Arizona have started to use this tuition system.

“To make sure we can welcome students from all backgrounds,” the University of Maryland Office of Student Financial Aid states on its website, “we use differential tuition to provide financial aid to the students who need it most.”

At UMD, the system applies to students in the schools of business, engineering and computer science who have completed at least 60 credits.

In 2019, then-president of UMD Wallace Loh defended the school’s differential pricing system by pointing to the varying outcomes of different majors, according to The Diamondback, UMD’s student newspaper.

“People in fields that are reported to not make as much income are basically subsidizing people in computer science or engineering,” Loh said at the time.

Two factors would determine which programs will carry a more expensive tuition: demand and cost.

Majors that have a high demand

may result in a higher tuition.

There are both benefits and drawbacks to this system. Providing differential tuition would generate more revenue for the College. It would also offer a more accurate price for what each student gets out of their education.

However, implementing this system could also result in some students becoming discouraged from choosing certain majors. If a major is more costly, a student of low income may decide to not choose a certain major based on the pricing.

Jon Hauptman, a junior biomedical engineering major, said that he was skeptical of the benefits of a differential tuition system.

“I already pay an engineering major fee that’s built into my tuition bill every semester, so I don’t see how tacking on more fees is going to fix issues that aren’t broken,” Hauptman said, referring to the $150 fee applied to engineering majors, in addition to laboratory fees.

Differential housing recognizes that certain residence halls offer more amenities than others, such as air conditioning, and that students should be paying accordingly depending on housing.

The College has been exploring this option since at least last

semester, when a survey was sent out to students asking if they thought that students in doubles or dorms without air conditioning should pay less for housing than those in singles or buildings with air conditioning.

“The differential price for housing recognizes that some residence halls have more amenities than others and that students in 40 year old buildings should not be subsidizing students in brandnew air-conditioned ones,” Blake explained.

Bernstein emphasized that a pricing model like this would be a

beneficial revenue source for the College.

“The idea is to generate revenue that will enable us to and to support other aspects of our operation,” he said. “It’s not an effort to block out some students who want housing” These new pricing systems are sure to be debated more in the coming months, as the College seeks ways to increase revenue to offset expected enrollment declines in the future. Bernstein said he will continue to meet with campus community stakeholders this semester as he settles into his role.

Photo courtesy of Matthew Kaufman / Managing Editor

Residential Education and Housing sent this text to some students asking for input on a differential houing system.

September 8, 2023 The Signal page 3

Campus Town announces new shops and restaurants

By Ally Uhlendorf News Editor Since the sudden closing of Arooga’s Grille House and Sports Bar in Campus Town on Jan. 29, students have been wondering what would be put in place of the beloved sports bar. Finally, Campus Town has responded by announcing two new restaurants, as well as a new shop, are being added to the center. Found on the “featured shops” section of the Campus Town website, Bella Ciao Pizzeria and Blueberry Kitchen & Tap are coming this year to the College’s shopping center. The center is also welcoming a small business sneaker store, Laced By VC, next to Jersey Mikes.

It is official that Blueberry Kitchen & Tap will be opening in what was previously the spot for Arooga’s, right across from Barnes & Noble. The tavern is a brand new small business, expected to open in about 60 days. The menu will offer all different types of food, from burgers to seafood to fajitas.

Currently, the Ewing location is going to be their first and only restaurant, so the College gets the opportunity to experience the grand opening.

“There are so many empty spaces

and pre-owned sneakers. With brands ranging from New Balances to Nike, the shop will bring the latest shoe trends to the campus.

Updates and details can be found on the boutique’s Instagram page, @laced_by_vc.

With the new school year beginning, adding brand-new attractions to Campus Town is always a great way to draw students in. Giving students more options for dining and places to shop will enhance the student experience here at the College.

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie / Photo Edior

New restaurants and places to shop are opening up in Campus Town.

in Campus Town that I’m glad to see that they’re finally acting on it by putting in new restaurants, especially a pizza place – which is something students have been wanting for a while,” sophomore marketing major Cristina Collins said.

Bella Ciao Pizzeria is a chain restaurant, with another location in Wallington, N.J. The restaurant is set to open in about six months, across from Frutta Bowls. As of right now, the owners are still waiting for approval to start construction. The menu features all different types

of Italian classics, including vegan and gluten-free options.

“I think that having more places such as a pizza place on campus for students is a very smart move because everyone loves pizza,” junior secondary and special education major Stefan Stojanoski said.

“Hopefully these two new restaurants will have a better response to the College community than past businesses have, which I honestly think they will.”

Laced By VC will be opening later this Fall, offering both new

Incoming students discuss accessibility during the summer reading program

Artwork courtesy of Taylor Aldridge

Unlike previous years, students were encouraged to respond to one of many prompts through different forms of media, such as art.

By Rachel Lea Correspondent Between convocation and being introduced to their academic departments, the class of 2027 and transfer students finished their summer reading requirement by attending the keynote address delivered by author Cristina Henríquez at Kendall Hall.

This year’s theme was “Access and Opportunities,” which pushed students to focus on the cultural mechanisms that either enable certain groups to advance in society or constrain them. In order to prepare them for future discussions, students read Henríquez’s “The Book of Unknown Americans” over the summer.

Even before opening the book itself, students could tell it would

be different from the summer reading assignments they did during high school.

“At first, like most summer reading assignments, I wasn’t too thrilled,” explained Lucas Calderon, a freshman mechanical engineering major. “I figured, ‘Oh, it will just be another boring book about something I do not care about’… but when I knew it was about immigration experience, especially from a Latino perspective, I was a bit more interested, because that matches my family’s experiences.”

Written in 2014, the novel explores the lives of Latin American men and women, and how those identities affect their access to opportunities in the U.S. Opinions on the narrative itself varied. While some students, for example, were satisfied with its conclusion, others saw it as anticlimactic.

“I think one of the cool and kind of sad parts about the immigrant experience is that it is pretty universal,” said Alya Hussain, a freshman English major. “You will see that immigrants tend to have the same experiences in feeling alone in America or feeling different. [The book] really touched on those ideas.”

Students of Latin American descent especially appreciated how Henríquez revealed different aspects of hispanic culture — both positive and negative.

Freshman business management major Miguel HernandezDelgado related to one of the main character’s longing for the beauty of her home country, but also acknowledged that the stigma towards disabilities portrayed in the book is accurate.

“In Mexico, if you grew up with a disability, you had to deal with it,” Herdnandez-Delgado said. “There is no such thing as a therapist or a psychiatrist…I would say that this book highlights an appreciation for disabilities.”

The summer reading experience itself had been revised to promote creativity and independence.

Whereas students from previous years had to respond to one of many essay prompts based on the themes of the story, students this year had the option to respond through artwork or another form of media. They also had a chance to choose the book for next year’s class.

Interactions with the author were modified to encourage engagement. Henríquez was available before the keynote to

sign copies of her book and talk with new fans at Trenton Hall.

“It was kind of like watching an address; we just listened to her speak and then we left,” Hussain said. “[But] I think that I enjoy this format more. It felt like we had more control over what we wanted to learn from the author and we could ask about the topics that we were actually interested in.”

After the address, students were divided into groups around campus to discuss the book in person. Topics ranged from typical analysis questions, such as characters and points of view, to student’s own experiences with immigration and stereotypes.

“Something I have been seeing here at [the College]...has been the inclusive environment — seeing people express their roots, be happy with their roots and kind of want to learn about each other — so that is something I really am thankful for,” said HerdnandezDelgado. “I look forward to a great year here at [the College].”

page 4 The Signal September 8, 2023

COVID / Cases rise on campus as semester starts

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone / Multimedia Coordinator

Student health services are located in Eickhoff Hall and offer $5.00 Covid-19 tests.

Continued from page 1 To some, the Covid-19 pandemic feels like a fever dream they never want to re-live again. While it may not be on the forefront of most people’s minds, it still very much exists and continues to infect students on campus.

Earlier this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) stated Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency. However, the organization still emphasizes that “it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.”

According to the Covid-19 data dashboard monitored by the state of New Jersey, there are 93 positive cases of the illness in Mercer county where the College is located. Over two months ago during the week of July 7, Mercer county had 17 confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Senior history and secondary education major Melissa McClymont said she has noticed

a rise in Covid-19 cases at school, at home in Bridgewater, NJ and on social media accounts of people she is connected with.

“With the new variant that’s been coming up in the news, I have noticed an uptick of cases not even just around campus but in my own community as well also,” McClymont said.

McClymont has personally not contracted Covid-19 this semester but knows of a fellow student falling ill within the past week. As far as her preventative measures, McClymont’s approach is to social distance, which she notes she used to do much more frequently during the pandemic. In addition, she’s fully vaccinated and has received the booster shot.

Student health services monitor all positive Covid-19 cases at the College and report that the current level of cases on campus is “expected.”

“The amount of positive cases is no more than expected as we repopulate the campus for the semester,” said Holly Heller, Interim Director of Student Health Services and Family Practitioner.

“Even though most of us have some immunity from vaccination, infection, or both, we can still get [Covid-19]. The infection is mild to moderate in most people but continues to be contagious and disruptive.”

Student health services currently do not have a Covid-19 vaccination requirement, although it is strongly recommended.

If a student tests positive for Covid-19, they should upload a picture and date of their test results to student health services to the online wellness link found on tcnj.medicatconnect.com. Faculty should report a positive test by emailing human resources (coviddocumentation-group@tcnj.edu).

When a member of the campus community tests positive for Covid-19, student health services urges students and faculty to stay safe and follow the guidelines.

“Isolate yourself for five days,” Heller said. “Day zero is the day you test positive. Return to normal activities but wear a mask on day [six through] day 10. During your

illness, stay well hydrated, use overthe-counter medications to manage your symptoms, and contact your primary healthcare provider if you are at risk for severe illness.”

Senior marketing major Shantal Romero has not heard of anyone in her circle testing positive for Covid-19 but still maintains her preventative measures to avoid falling ill. Aside from using hand santitizer, washing her hands and masking up in larger groups, Romero said she feels like she does not take too many steps to prevent catching the coronavirus.

“I really don’t do anything,” Romero said. “If I do hear that like somebody is a little sick like coughing or sneezing, I’ll honestly subconsciously but more consciously keep my distance and be aware of that.”

Romero said she has almost “forgotten” about Covid-19 this semester.

Remember: wear a mask when feeling ill, even if the symptoms align with allergies or a common cold. Staying home and using a home self-test kit can stop the spread and keep the campus community safe.

Student Finance Board creates new guidelines

By Myara Gomez Staff Writer It’s a new year, which means new guidelines from the one and only Student Finance Board (SFB).

Registered student organizations should be made aware of these new changes because it directly affects them. Some of these changes are in regards to food, travel, celebrations, retreats, sanctions and randomized audits.

According to the executive director of SFB and senior public health major Antigone Antonakakis, one larger change the organization has made lies with their base budget and special application procedures.

First, SFB has replaced these with “flagship” and “standard requests.”

A flagship request is for any event over $5,000. This allows student organizations to request funding for the full year and submit to the board for approval. Overall, this would give the board more time to approve these requests.

“The timeline for the previous funding requests was on a semester by semester basis. So an organization could only request funds for events that were in the current semester,” said executive assistant of SFB

Photo Courtesy of Kevin Hornibrook

The Student Finance Board has created new guidelines for all student organizations.

and sophomore accounting major Grace Raber. SFB found this to be inefficient and decided to change it to a yearly basis so organizations can plan more in advance. “...Several organizations would submit their base budget requests with multiple events, and the board would try our best to get funding decisions back to organizations within a timely manner, but it was difficult as our meetings were only 3 hours long.”

Antonakakis also stated that SFB is also now requiring randomized audits for all student organizations and this is being done by the assigned

liaisons. This is to ensure that the funds are being used appropriately and so that the organization feels supported as well. These audits are replacing their office hours.

“Another big change is instead of weekly office hours, our members will be required to attend events across campus to audit and support recognized student organizations.

Our goal is to build strong partnerships and support studentled initiatives,” Antonakakis said.

Digging deeper into the events themselves, SFB has made a lot of changes in that department. These

changes are definitely smaller compared to the other changes but still important to keep in mind.

If a student organization is buying food for an event, it is required that they submit an itemized list of all food items being purchased.

Also, food is always connected to a celebration so all events must be aligned with the organization’s mission or core values.

Some more changes to keep in mind are travel costs and retreats, retreats are no longer being funded by SFB. Registered student organizations will only be reimbursed for an event or travel to an off-campus location.

Some sanctions that will take place if a student organization doesn’t follow the rules are loss of bus privileges for a semester, a budget account freeze, funds drawn from the organization’s cash account, or a written warning.

“Ultimately, we hope to work collaboratively to create a thriving environment for student-led initiatives, prioritizing creativity, innovation, and inclusivity.

Together, we can elevate the TCNJ experience and leave a lasting legacy,” Antonakakis said.

September 8, 2023 The Signal page 5

Opinions

Eating vegetarian on campus is difficult but not impossible

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone / Multimedia Coordinator

Green Farms Salads in Eickhoff Hall.

By Isabella Darcy Opinions Editor Eating as a vegetarian at the College means endless pasta, potatoes and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Following a vegetarian diet is challenging, as is. Eating every meal at a school where vegetarian options are slight makes it even harder.

As a vegetarian, I often struggle to find nutritious and diverse foods on campus. A lot of the food options contain red meat or poultry, which means that I can not eat them. I have found that it is hard to find protein-rich foods that are not meat. There have been days where I only consume five grams of protein when I should be

consuming around 43 grams. On other days, I find myself eating the same foods over and over.

Nutritious vegetarian options on campus are limited and hard to find, but they do exist. After trying out nearly every vegetarian option on campus, I have learned how to eat a healthy and balanced diet while living at the College.

I used to exclusively go to Eickhoff Hall for meals. It has several food stations, which means that there are many options to choose from, and some of them are not so bad. During breakfast hours, Eickhoff serves vegetable omelets that are delicious and full of protein. For lunch and dinner, I usually have a burrito bowl with rice, beans, lettuce and salsa.

Unfortunately, the omelets and

burrito bowls are some of the only vegetarian options at Eickhoff that have sufficient protein.

Once in a while, when they are not serving plain pasta, the Vegan Loop at Eickhoff will prepare a hot meal that includes tofu or beans. Checking the online menu is the best way to find out when these days are. It is on these rare days, and when I am craving omelets or burrito bowls, that I eat at Eickhoff. Otherwise, I steer clear of the dining hall.

Senior secondary special education major Luca Bottitta is also a vegetarian who lives at the College. Bottitta has spent the past four years learning about and navigating on-campus dining.

“Eick is not really an option,” Bottitta said. “You can choose to go to Eick when you see that there are good options that you want, and if there aren’t good options then you don’t have to waste your money going to Eick.”

I did not want to keep spending points and swipes at Eickhoff just to leave disappointed. I needed to discover more options, so I checked out The Lions Den dining in the Brower Student Center.

Similar to Eickhoff, it has multiple stations to choose from, and a decent amount of vegetarian options. I have enjoyed black bean burgers from OBC Grill, salads from SubConnection and vegetable pasta from Pasta & Co..

The Lions Den has become my go-to for dinner as of lately, since I know that I will be able to find something decent to eat.

Two dining locations on campus have never let me down.

They are the Education Café and the Library Café. Both of these locations have delectable egg and cheese sandwiches, which can come on a bagel, croissant or sliced bread. I am obsessed with these sandwiches because eggs have lots of protein, and I can eat them at any time. The Cafés also offer nutritious snacks like Greek yogurt, hummus and crackers and vegetarian soup. I have at least one meal or snack from a Café almost every day.

Since I get most of my meals from The Lions Den, Library Café and Education Café, meal equivalency and points are necessities.

The ability to browse multiple locations for food, rather than being confined to one dining hall, makes it possible to find something decent to eat.

“As I’ve grown up through the College, I’ve realized that an all-points plan is the only way to make it work,” Bottitta said.

I am currently a sophomore at the College, so I am required to have a meal plan that includes meal swipes for Eickhoff Hall. I use three swipes a week at Eickhoff, tops. Next year, I am going to follow Bottitta’s lead and choose a meal plan that does not include meal swipes.

Eating every meal on campus as a vegetarian can be a struggle, but it is possible when you know where to look.

The Republican Party is moving further to the right…and it will backfire

By Michael Bulluck Staff Writer

The most recent Republican Party debate was…interesting to say the least. The debate stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was filled with the likes of a former senator, former governors, current governors and a former vice president.

The debate was jarringly missing the Former President and current front running GOP candidate Donald Trump. Whether he skipped the debate due to fear of further legal scrutiny or because he is confident in his lead is irrelevant. The current discussion should be focused on what is happening in the Republican party.

The debate was filled with usual Republican party talking points such as reducing government spending and cutting taxes. But beyond the typical elevator pitch on why government spending is bad was something much more sinister. Each of the candidates

demonstrated their support for far right policies.

Not even 30 minutes into the debate, the candidates received a question about the validity of climate change. Vivek Ramaswamy, with no hesitation claimed that climate change was a “hoax.” Something that is universally agreed upon by scientists and is obvious to anyone who has been outside in the past few years, has been declared a hoax by the fourth place GOP candidate. The Florida governor completely dodged the question regarding climate change.

The current Republican party has also embraced the overturning of Roe v. Wade. It is very clear that this is an unpopular position. So unpopular that even voters in red states have voiced their disapproval of the decision at the ballot box.

For example in 2022, a ballot measure in Kansas asked “Should the Kansas constitution be amended to remove protections of abortion rights?”. 59% of the state voted

“No.” A majority of Kentucky voters also rejected a similar ballot measure during the 2022 midterm elections.

So, why did almost Republican party logo. every GOP candidate on the debate stage embrace the unpopular decision? I genuinely do not know.

The topic of immigration brought some of the most fascistic talking points out of the candidates. Ron Desantis was very clear about how he would use “lethal force” at the southern border and treat border crossers as “terrorists.”

Former Vice President Mike Pence also stated he would send forces into Mexico to fight cartels. Even supposedly “moderate” candidate Chris Christie said he would send

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

illegal immigrants back to their country of origin.

I believe the further to the right the GOP goes, the harder it will be for them to win elections. Barring the fact the GOP has not won the popular vote since 2004, it is obvious the American people know what they want. They know the difference between policies that benefit them and culture war issues. Only time will tell for sure how moving further right will affect the Republican Party electorally.

page 6 The Signal September 8, 2023

Editorial

Reclaiming 138 years of our newspaper

By Mike Sherr Editor-in-Chief

In December 1885, students at the New Jersey State Normal School published the first edition of this publication. The editorial board of that long ago version of The Signal dedicated the organization to “all rights and the highest interests of those whom we would represent.” Basically a fancy way of saying students.

Those editors also wanted the publication to be thought of “as a Knight of the Sorrowful Countenance,” which is a reference to Don Quixote apparently. I never read the book so the reference is wasted on me but the words sound pretty which is good enough.

The Signal of 2023 is, hopefully, very different from the Don Quixote quoting literary publication of 1885. We have

become a reliable source of news for the College community, covering topics from sports wins to administration shortfalls.

The Signal has been part of the institutional history of the College, covering almost every major event to happen to this small speck in Ewing, NJ. The Covid-19 pandemic that shut down our print production in March 2020 was detrimental to our place on campus. For many students like myself, a print newspaper has never existed on campus. There are probably students who have no idea that the College even has a student newspaper. Multiple members of the faculty and staff have told us that they either did not know we existed or thought we dissolved a long time ago.

In today’s world of news alerts and infotainment, The Signal,

have kept this ship running since March 2020.

Special thanks must be given to our fantastic faculty advisor, Emilie Lounsberry, who has been an immense resource to our organization for years, especially in recent semesters. I personally can not thank her enough for how much she has helped in this return to print.

Finally, I must thank the campus community for continued interest these past years in the ongoings of this College. Without you, we would have fizzled out long ago.

On behalf of this organization, both past and present, it is my pleasure to proudly reaffirm our signal in the interests of the students of The College of New Jersey. Like the editorial board of a long forgotten period, we ask for your support.

like many other small news organizations, has changed to try to fit in with small attention spans and disinterest. We have “relaunched” (multiple times) and have focused purely on our website and social media accounts, still providing the same level of journalism as we did in print.

Even though we have been successful in continuing the legacy of The Signal, it is time that we return to our roots in print and rejoin the campus community.

In order to do so, however, I must acknowledge the many people that have helped us get to this point including the seven Editors-in-Chief whom without which this newspaper would not exist. I also have to thank the countless staff writers, correspondents, photographers, graphic designers, coders, business managers and section editors that

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

Editorial Staff Mike Sherr Editor-in-Chief Victoria Gladstone Matthew Kaufman Managing Editors Ally Uhlendorf Rebecca Heath News Editors Photo courteesy of Shane Gillespie / Photo Editor

The Signal has been serving the College community since 1885.

Liz Ciocher Tristan Weisenbach Arts & Entertainment Editors Catherine Gonzalez Features Editor Isabella Darcy Opinions Editor Eddie Young Sports Editor Aliyah Siddiqui Nation & World Editor

Administrative Staff Elizabeth Gladstone Multimedia Coordinator Shane Gillespie Photo Editor Ela Kirimca Social Media Coordinator Jenna Weldon Web Editor

Nation & World

September 8, 2023 The Signal page 7

UNC / UNC-Chapel Hill faculty member killed in campus shooting Continued from page 1 person before Qi but quickly realDuring a press briefing, UNC ized that they were not the gunPolice Chief Brian James said Yan man, according to CNN. After Qi served as a faculty advisor to Qi was taken into custody, the campus in the same department. The two remained in lockdown to confirm have previously worked togeththe shooter’s identity and find the er to co-author several research firearm used. About an hour and a papers, including one published half passed before the lockdown last month, and collaborated as a order was lifted, according to part of a department research group James, in order for police to make over the last year. sure they had the right suspect in Authorities have not publicly custody. Several calls had been speculated about a motive for the received from different parts of shooting. campus about potential victims “We want to ensure that we which needed to be thoroughly gather every piece of evidence to investigated. determine exactly what happened Classes and campus activities Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons here today and why it happened,” were canceled on Monday and A faculty member was killed at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

James stated. “It is too early in this Tuesday, and the University aninvestigation to know a motive for nounced that the campus would Videos posted to social media “Then we all started hiding bethe shooting.” remain closed on Wednesday but captured the desperation faced neath our chairs and under desks.

On Monday at 1:02 p.m., camby students and faculty after the Some students went and locked the would return to normal operations pus police received a call reporton Thursday. emergency alert was issued. Two doors.” ing shots being fired at Caudill Caudill Labs remains off-limits students were seen jumping out of Some students began listening Laboratories, a chemistry studies as the investigation into the shoota two-story window and more were to police scanners to try to get building. Emergency alerts were ing continues. seen huddling under desks and more information about where the issued and sirens sounded two “This loss is devastating and sending messages to their loved shooter was. Eventually, after three minutes later, prompting students the shooting damages the trust and ones, according to NBC. hours of hiding in the classroom, and faculty to barricade themselves safety that we so often take for Clayton Ulm, a graduate stuthe panic subsided as people were in classrooms, bathrooms and dorm dent, told AP News in a LinkedIn granted in our campus commuallowed to use nearby bathrooms. rooms, according to AP News. nity.” Guskiewicz said. “We will message how his class of 50 to 70 Qi was taken into custody Approximately two hours after work to rebuild that sense of trust people went into lockdown after shortly after 2:30 p.m. after being the first alert was released, officers screens in the room flashed with and safety within our community.” located on foot about one mile were still arriving on scene, with the lockdown order. away, as stated by UNC-Chapel about 50 police vehicles at the “Then there was quite a bit of Hill Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz campus and helicopters circling panic as students were trying to during the press briefing. overhead. figure out what to do,” he wrote.

Authorities had detained one

Waves of “Me-Too” in Spain following World Cup kiss

By Rajika Chauhan Staff Writer

After a year fraught with administrative tensions and player protests, the path to the FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup was certainly harried for the Spanish women’s team, affectionately dubbed ‘La Roja’ by its fans. The trophy itself has unfortunately not marked the end of an already contentious road, with Luis Rubiales, the Federation’s president, non-consensually kissing Jenni Heramoso, a Spanish soccer player. The incident has ignited a firestorm of debate within both the soccer world and the wider Spanish community, appearing to be an inflection point for long-simmering tensions over sexism in Spanish sports.

The issue at hand began during the post-final medal ceremony when players were lining up to receive congratulations and thanks from Spanish sporting officials. Rubiales appears on video to have grabbed Hermoso by the head and kissed her on the lips. Footage from the women’s locker room following the ceremony depicts Hermoso watching a video of the incident and telling her

teammates: “But I didn’t like it,” as reported by AP News.

According to NPR, anger had already begun to mount against Rubiales over social media in the hours after the kiss. In addition to the assault, the dismissive approach taken by both Rubiales and the Royal Spanish Football Federation in the days following only incensed fans.

Days after the kiss, the Federation attempted to mitigate blowback by releasing a reconciliatory statement without Hermoso’s input. The statement purports that the kiss was “a totally spontaneous mutual gesture,” and that Rubiales and Hermoso maintain “a great relationship,” as per the Washington Post. Hermoso issued a rebuke of the message later in the week, claiming that the Federation had attempted to intimidate both her and her family into silence over her discomfort.

The attempt by the Federation and Rubiales to rewrite the narrative surrounding the assault quickly became a point of particular frustration for the Spanish public, triggering a torrent of remarks from the government, players and administrative officials. The incident has united two typically polarized fronts in Spanish politics, with leaders on

both the left and right attacking the Federation for sullying what should have been a proud victory for the women’s team.

Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez declared Rubiales’ apologies “insufficient and unsuitable” in a press conference, and Acting Second Vice President Yolanda Diaz has called for his resignation, as per NPR. Rubiales has doubled down in the wake of further attacks, claiming in a spirited speech on Aug. 25 that he has been made the victim of a “witch-hunt,” insulting “feminist extremists” for the campaign against him and vowing to not back down. His televised speech featured many members of the Spanish soccer elite applauding in the audience, including women’s coach Jorge Vilda, according to AP News.

Measures have been taken in recent days to force a disciplinary response, beginning with Hermoso and 22 members of Spain’s national team refusing to play until Rubiales is made to step down. The Federation has allied itself with its president, threatening to sue Hermoso and her union, FUTPRO, for defamation and a false characterization of events. Spain’s government is

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Jenni Hermoso, a Spanish soccer player.

now looking to file its own suit under the claim that Rubiales violated sporting laws, and FIFA has since suspended the president for 90 days as it conducts an independent inquiry, as reported by NPR. In a nation where women’s sports are often trivialized and deprived of attention or funding, La Roja’s victory should have been a watershed moment, a final proof of legitimacy for female athletics. The misdirection of attention from an essential victory to scandal is a further consequence of the attitude of entitlement and disrespect towards women and their bodies which pervades Spanish culture. While a road to punishment for Rubiales seems clear, the Spanish women have already suffered the damage of robbed glory, with the public hoping for increased accountability going forward.

page 8 The Signal September 8, 2023

Blue Supermoon marks summers end, India’s moon landing starts new future

By Aneri Upadhyay Staff Writer

The end of August is usually associated with summer ending and school beginning. This year, however, it was also marked with a blue supermoon in the sky.

According to NASA, a supermoon is when a full moon passes through the closest point to Earth in its orbit. This causes the moon to look bigger and shine brighter than usual. Blue moons occur when there are two full moons within one month, which is incredibly rare.

The next blue supermoon will be seen in 2037.

Moon phases are the same from anywhere in the world, so everyone could see the blue supermoon in action Wednesday night, as reported by the New York Times.

Not only did the moon appear 14 percent bigger because of the super-

“Get out there and observe it. Just enjoy the beautiful view of the moon,” he said, according to NPR. “Really think about what you’re seeing out there.”

The blue supermoon was not the only lunar achievePhoto courtesy of Shane Gillespie / Photo Editor ment happening The next blue supermoon will be in 2037. this month. Just moon, but Saturn was also visible recently, India became the first near the moon as it moved closer to country to land a spacecraft, Chandrayaan-3, near the moon’s south Earth, according to PBS. As stated in NPR, the moon was pole. As mentioned by NPR, this 222,043 miles away from Earth. could open the door to holding froDave Teske, the lunar topographic zen water reservations in the south studies coordinator for the Associa- pole for future missions.

India has now been the fourth tion of Lunar and Planetary Observers, commented on how easy it is to country to land on the moon, prelook outside and see the beauty of ceded by the United States, China and the Soviet Union. the moon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared his pride for India as he watched the landing, stating that “India is now on the moon. India has reached the south pole of the moon no other country has achieved that.

We are witnessing history.”

According to Reuters, India also launched a rocket to study the sun on Saturday after the successful moon landing.

That launch was watched by more than 860,000 people on a livestream from the Indian Space Research Organisation. Thousands of people watched it in person near the site.

The next few months will be crucial in space exploration as the discoveries made by the Chandrayaan-3 and rocket expand scientists’ understanding of the moon and sun.

First Republican debate kicks off 2024 presidential election

By Nicole Trinkl Correspondent

The first Republican primary debate for the 2024 Presidential election was aired on Fox News Network on Aug. 24 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Eight GOP candidates with different backgrounds were asked about a variety of political issues facing the U.S. and were given the space to address what they would do if they were to be elected into office.

Those present at the debate include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Gov. of South Carolina and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former Vice President Mike Pence and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. In light of the several recent indictments and charges, former president Donald Trump was the only candidate absent from the debate.

According to AP, Trump announced that he would not be participating in the debate via his social media platform Truth Social, writing, “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had … I will therefore not be doing the debates.”

Instead, Tucker Carlson, Former Fox News Commentator, interviewed Trump on the night of the GOP debate and posted the interview to X (formerly Twitter). In the interview, Trump said that for various reasons, including his lead in the polls, he did not feel the need to participate in the debate.

“I’m leading by 50 and 60 points,” Trump said. “Do I sit there for an hour or 2 hours … and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president …

and a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?”

Each GOP candidate on stage in Milwaukee was asked on issues including government spending, inflation, climate change, abortion rights, homelessness, crime, drugs, gun control, the Russia-Ukraine war, immigration, education and more. Several different impactful moments came out of the debate, making clear the different viewpoints of each candidate.

When the candidates were asked their views on climate change, Desantis made clear how he had addressed previous climate disasters in Florida by being active, present and helpful. Ramaswamy expressed how he believes the climate change agenda to be a hoax.

Haley, on the other hand, expressed how she believes climate change is real and believes in taking action to have clean air and clean water. She also expressed the importance of telling China and India to also lower their emissions.

When the candidates were asked their views on abortion, almost all identified themselves as pro-life, but each had different views on when they believed abortion should be banned.

Haley expressed how instead of passing legislation regarding abortion in which the majority do not agree, she advocates for creating legislation that would take 60 Senate votes and the majority of the House. She talked about creating consensus in things like banning late term abortions, encouraging adoptions, having access to contraception and not putting women in jail or giving them the death penalty for getting an abortion.

Desantis, who signed a six-week abortion state ban in Florida, did no deny if he was elected president he

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The first Republican primary debate of the 2024 presidential election.

would sign a six week ban federally. Pence along with Scott called for having a 15-week abortion ban in every state. Bergum expressed that he believes that there should not be a federal abortion ban.

In addition to abortion, candidates were asked about their views on the Russia-Ukraine war. When asked if any candidate would support an increase in funding to support Ukraine, Ramaswamy said that he would not. Ramaswamy expressed that he would use that funding to instead secure the U.S. southern border. Christie, having visited Ukraine, expressed the importance of standing up to Russia and Putin.

Haley also stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine and preventing world war.

Ramaswamy, being the youngest candidate on stage and having a background in business, was the target of many candidates. Pence and Haley both pointed out his lack of experience with Pence calling him a rookie and Haley commenting on his lack of foreign policy experience. Despite their attacks, Ramaswamy had the second highest performance rating in the debate

after Desantis, according to a poll conducted by The Washington Post, FiveThirtyEight and Ipsos asking potential Republican primary and caucus voters who they thought performed best in the debate.

According to The Wall Street Journal, despite Trump not showing up to the GOP debate, he “has drawn at least 50% support in aggregated polls of GOP voters nationally every day,” since early April.

When all the GOP candidates on stage were all asked if they would still support Trump if he were to be convicted in a court of law for the crimes he committed, the majority of the candidates raised their hands, except for Hutchinson and Christie, who hesitated to raise his hand fully.

With Trump getting higher voter and majority candidate support, who is likely to become the Republican nominee is still unclear. With this being the first debate to kick off the 2024 presidential election, the public got the opportunity to get to know each candidate and form their own opinions on who they support.

Arts & Entertainment

September 8, 2023 The Signal page 9

The old and new are indistinguishable in The Princeton Art Museum’s new exhibit

by Old Masters, are able to draw from these seminal works to explore their own identity, change our perception of the artwork and rediscover the images by manipulating the visual imagery that is so familiar.

Photo by Lilly Ward / Staff Writer Bill Viola, “The Quintet of The Silent,” 2000, single In Bas Meeuws’ still-life of channel color video on wall-mounted plasma display. flowers, the photo is a result of

By Lilly Ward many images that Meeuws’ took Staff Writer of over 13,000 species of flowers.

Each flower is photographed from The term “Old Masters” often different angles and then used to conjures images of a table burstcreate a composite image remiing with opulent fruits and vegniscent of a painting by the artist etables, or stately individuals in Jan Davidsz, or Rachel Ruysch. rich garments steadily gazing at Just as Old Masters used vibrant the viewer. oil paints to accentuate and exagIn The Princeton Art Museum’s gerate the beauty of flowers, the new art exhibition at the Hulfish images are edited to appear brightgallery, however, the work of er and more colorful. Although Old Masters is reimagined and the process of image-making has presented through the lens of the radically changed, the resulting contemporary photographer. “Art image still manages to evoke an about Art: Contemporary Phoappreciation of nature. tographers Look at Old Master Likewise, the artist Bill Viola Paintings” features work from uses a single channel color video artists such as Vik Muniz, Nina to convey the intense emotionKatchadourian and Sharon Core. al expressions of subjects with“Old Masters,” as described by in works, such as Hieronymus art historians, refers to formative Bosch’s paintings of the Passion figures within the Western canon of the Christ. Although the figures of art history, from Leonardo da are dressed in modern clothing, Vinci and Michelangelo to Remthe impassioned overwrought brandt and Jacques-Louis David. emotion comes through to the Popular subjects for Old Masters viewer. include still-lifes displaying fruits In the work of Ori Gersht, the and flowers alike, portraits of noserenity within still-lifes of flowbility and religious genre painters is imploded both literally and ings. figuratively. Inspired by the stillEach of the artists in the exhibit, lifes of a 19th century French who are inspired by specific works artist named Henri-Fantin Latour

who studied Old Master paintings, Gersht meditates on a connection between beauty and violence, as well as tranquility and calamity.

In his series “Blow Up,” Gerscht first arranges the flowers meticulously, freezing them with liquid nitrogen and then detonating the arrangement with explosives.

The image, captured by the digital camera at three-quarters of a second, depicts the exact moment of the explosion. Similarly haunting, his single-channel video references 19th and 20th century photographers’ enamor with high speed photography, as demonstrated by photographers such as Ernst Mach, Peter Salcher and Harold “Doc” Edgerton.

Pomegranate (Off Balance) features a still-life of the artist Juan Sánchez Cotán’s “Still life with Quince, Cabbage, Melon and Cucumber.” The choice to replace the quince hanging by a rope with a pomegranate pierced by a bullet (seeming to drip blood as it sways within the immobile frame) offers the chance to ponder humanity’s repulsion and attraction to violence.

The artists Yasumasa Morimura, Katchadorian, Ray Johnson and Jitka Hanzlová examine identity through photography. Yasumasa Morimura’s “Princess A,” from the series “Daughter of Art History,” examines his identity in relation to Diego Velázquez’s iconic painting, “Las Meninas.”

Morimura places himself in the center of the image as a five-yearold princess in order to illustrate the complex relationship he has as a Japanese artist with works of art such as “Las Meninas.”

Katchadorian’s “Lavatory Portraits in The Flemish Style” from the series “Seat Assignment”

lends a sense of whimsiness to the show. While traveling on an airplane, Katchadorian fashioned hats and collars from bathroom tissue and seat covers to create the appearance of 15th century Flemish dress, taking her own portrait with a cellphone. The result allows the viewer to ponder between how visual identity is constructed, and how the tradition of the construction of identity through portraiture continues in the modern day.

“Lavatory Portraits in The Flemish Style” captures the essence of what works about this exhibition: the embrace of tradition while searching for reinvention. The tension between the tradition of oil painting and the manipulation of images in photography offers opportunity for innovation.

As Muniz said in an interview with BOMB magazine in 2000, “art is primarily a copy. I don’t believe in originality as much as I believe in individuality.”

Muniz’s work recreates iconic works of art with unconventional materials. His print, “Double Mona Lisa (Peanut Butter and Jelly,)” itself a copy of Andy Warhol’s silkscreen print of the Mona Lisa, offers insight into how the process of making the image changes our relation to it. However, at the same time, viewers will always recognize the face of the Mona Lisa — whether she is smiling at us through paint, a silkscreen print or peanut butter and jelly.

“Art about Art: Contemporary Photographers Look at Old Master Paintings” asserts that technology and tradition can coexist within the space of the gallery — not opposing, but complimenting each other.

Michael Oher versus the Tuohy family — was he blindsided?

By Riley Eisenbeil Staff Writer

In recent weeks, shocking revelations have emerged regarding the once-celebrated relationship between former NFL star Michael Oher and the Tuohy family that took him in, famously portrayed in the 2009 film “The Blind Side.”

The movie portrayed the true story of Oher, a young Black man who was experiencing homelessness and had a difficult upbringing. His life took a turn for the better when he found support and a new family in the Tuohys, portrayed by Sandra Bullock and Tim McGraw. They opened their home to him, offering love and support, and together, they helped

him fulfill his dream of becoming a professional football player.

“The Blind Side” presented a seemingly heartwarming narrative of a family’s compassion and the transformative power of mentorship. However, the recent disputes have cast a new light on this tale, raising questions about deception, exploitation and the true nature of their connection.

According to USA Today, Oher, 37, claims he just found out in February that he was never legally adopted by the family, but rather put in a conservatorship. Following this, on Aug. 15 he filed a 14-page court petition in hopes that the conservatorship would be dissolved after this “painful” realization, as he called it.

Photo courtesy of IMDB

While Oher felt blindsided after realizing the true power that a conservatorship held, the Tuohy’s insisted it was the best and only choice that they had.

The very next day, the family’s legal team countered, insisting that Oher had been aware of this fact for years. Randall Fishman, one of the two Tennessee-based lawyers hired by the Tuohys, said that although Oher claimed he was unaware of this until recent-

ly, he actually acknowledged the conservatorship on three separate occasions in his 2011 autobiography titled, “I Beat The Odds: From Homelessness, to The Blind Side and Beyond,” as reported by The Today Show.

“It kind of felt like a formality,

page 10 The Signal September 8, 2023 ter realizing the true power that a Continued from page 9 conservatorship held, the Tuohys as I’d been part of the family for more than a year at that point,” insisted it was the best and only choice that they had.

Oher wrote in the book. “Since I was already over the age of eighFishman noted that the conservatorship only happened in the teen … Sean and Leigh Anne first place so that Oher could atwould be named as my ‘legal conservators.’ They explained to tend the University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, the me that it means pretty much the exact same thing as ‘adoptive paralma mater of both Tuohy parents. In an interview with The ents,’ but that the laws were just Daily Memphian, Sean Tuohy written in a way that took my age explained that since he was an acinto account.” tive promoter of the school, also From this wording, it seems as though Oher did know about the known as a booster, the NCAA would only allow Oher to go to conservatorship, but was unaware Ole Miss if he was legally “part of what it actually meant or how of the family.” it would affect him in the future.

“Michael was obviously living Oher’s attorney stated that he was with us for a long time, and the falsely advised by the Tuohys that NCAA didn’t like that,” Tuohy “the legal action to adopt [him] started. “…We contacted lawyers would have been called a ‘conwho had told us that we couldn’t servatorship’ but it was, for all intents and purposes, an adoption,” adopt over the age of 18; the only thing we could do was to have a as reported by the New York Post. conservatorship.”

While Oher felt blindsided af-

In an article by the New York Post, Oher’s attorney spoke more on the matter. He explained that at no point did the Tuohys inform him that they would have complete control over all of his contracts and business deals. Therefore, he did not understand that if the conservatorship was granted, he was signing away his right to make those decisions himself.

Oher’s attorney also noted that the Tuohy family continues to misrepresent themselves as Oher’s adoptive parents. He pointed out that the family still uses his name, pictures and life story to promote their website and their foundation called “Making It Happen,” which aims to “promote awareness, provide hope and improve the standard of living and quality of life for all the children fighting to survive,” as their mission statement says.

Critics have long noted the

film’s focus on the Tuohy family, perpetuating the “white savior complex” trope. It implies that Oher’s success was primarily due to their intervention, overshadowing his inherent talent and hard work. Oher’s recent claims add a new layer to this critique, raising questions about the family’s true intentions and motivations throughout the whole process.

Now, 19 years after the conservatorship began, the Tuohy family says they intend to end their conservatorship for Oher, according to NPR. Although they are still denying the claims that he did not know, Fishman said, “If that’s what [Oher] wants to do, is terminate it, then we’re more than glad to do so.”

Even as they now announce their intent to end the conservatorship, the legal and ethical complexities persist, casting a permanent shadow over the story.

Jimmy Buffett, ‘Gulf and Western’ music legend, dead at 76

By Ally Uhlendorf News Editor

After a four-year battle with Merkel cell skin cancer, “Margaritaville” singer Jimmy Buffett died on Sept. 1. According to his official website, the star passed away peacefully “at his home in Sag Harbor, Long Island surrounded by family and friends.”

During the years following the discovery of Buffett’s cancer, the artist continued to perform up until his last show — a surprise performance in Rhode Island last July.

Buffett has had one of the most successful careers in the world of music. With such a unique and specific sound, his music is hard to forget. His musical legacy began when he moved to Nashville, Tenn. to work for Billboard Magazine and test the waters of country music. There, he released his first record, “Down To Earth,” in 1970. Later that same year, the aspiring artist moved to Key West, Fla., where he found his sound — a mix of musicality and storytell-

Photo courtesy of Flickr / Kenny Jenkins, April 11, 2006

Buffett’s legacy will continue to live on forever, through his records and his fandom.

ing.

The song “Come Monday,” from his fourth studio album “Living and Dying in ¾ Time,” was the single that put him on the Billboard charts, peaking at No. 30. His tour kickstarted in 1974, performing at well-known folk venues across the country, and he had been touring up until this past year.

His most famous hit, “Margar-

itaville,” spent 22 weeks on the charts, peaking at No. 8 in 1977 after its release. This song and the story behind it were what launched Buffett into his national fame, inspiring him to build a business empire.

“He sold at least 23 million albums in the United States alone… on par with Jimi Hendrix and the Beastie Boys,” according to The New York Times.

Not only did Buffett’s music make its mark, but so did his fashion sense and ambition in the business world. The singer was typically known for his laid-back style, rocking a Hawaiian button-down and leaving the shoes behind. His business empire, based around the idea of good vibes and island escapism, included Margaritaville restaurants and resorts, clothing, drinks and even a Broadway show, “Escape to Margaritaville.”

He also had a side career as an author, writing both fiction and nonfiction stories. Buffett wrote eight books in total, three of them being No. 1 New York Times best sellers.

Buffett is survived by his wife, Jane Buffett, and his children, Savannah Jane, Sarah Delaney and Cameron Marley.

Through all of his different careers and legacies, Buffett was an all-around star. The singer’s passion for his craft lived with him throughout his entire career and will continue to live with his fans forever.

Icona Pop returns with “Club Romantech” Exploring Zach Bryan’s self-titled album

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Swedish duo Icona Pop brings the energy with their newest album “Club Romantech,” which is bursting with energy and songs perfect for a night out dancing.

By Alyssa Serrano Staff Writer

Swedish duo Icona Pop brings the energy with their newest album “Club Romantech,” which is bursting with energy and songs perfect for a night out dancing. The album, released Sept. 1, is the first album they have released in a decade since “THIS IS..ICONA POP,” which included their hit single “I Love It.” The songs on this album are very suitable for a club; they are fun with high energy, and I could definitely see myself twirling around to them with my friends!

Read full review on our website!

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

His new album shares some of the nostalgic feel of his past hits, including “Something in the Orange,” which launched him to fame.

By Jasmine Lee Staff Writer

Zach Bryan’s new self-titled album beautifully encapsulates the thoughts and emotions within his mind while pulling the heartstrings of many who have struggled to express these feelings themselves.

Bryan’s fourth album, 16 tracks long, was released on Aug. 25 and features collaborations with The Lumineers, Kacey Musgraves, The War and Treaty and Sierra Ferrell.

Bryan is known for classic folk and outlaw country that is sung with a raspy voice and lyrics that will cut you straight to the bone.

Read full review on our website!

September 8, 2023 The Signal page 11

The Signal sports staff’s NFL bold predictions

By Eddie Young, Joey Bachich, Aidan Mastandrea, Joe Caruso and Zach Jacovini Sports Editor and Staff Writers

The NFL season is back, and with its return comes the return of hot takes about the entire league.

Every member of our sports staff is here to give you one bold prediction to lock in before the season.

Eddie’s Take: Jaguars win the AFC behind a Trevor Lawrence MVP Season The Jacksonville Jaguars have been on the rise from the moment they drafted Trevor Lawrence first overall in the 2021 draft. After a rough rookie season for Lawrence, the Jaguars took a big step forward last season on the back of their star young quarterback. Lawrence improved on every major statistical category in his second year, the Jaguars won the NFC South, and they had a massive comeback win led by Lawrence in his first playoff game. All signs point to this team and its quarterback continuing to improve this upcoming season.

They have an easy schedule, thanks largely in part to them playing in one of the worst divisions in the NFL, the AFC South. Calvin Ridley, the talented receiver who the Jaguars traded for at the deadline last season, will be ready to debut for the team this season. Lastly, Trevor Lawrence, who was touted as one of the best quarterback prospects ever when he was drafted, is showing tons of signs of becoming the superstar many thought he would be. This season, he will finally step into his own and win the NFL MVP award while leading his team to the Super Bowl.

Joey’s Take: Steelers win the AFC North Right now, the Steelers are the betting underdogs to win the division behind the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns. All offseason, the Steelers have been quietly praising their young second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett about how he has improved dramatically since last season. Pickett is surrounded by one of the most underrated wide receiver corps in the league along with the running back duo of bruiser Najee Harris and receiving back Jaylen Warren, who should have a 60/40 split this season in touches. The Steelers defense should return to the top ten this season with star T.J. Watt having had a full offseason to heal his pectoral muscle, which he injured early last season. The Steelers also added key rookies like cornerback Joey Porter Jr. from Penn State and former University of Wisconsin teammates, linebacker Nick Herbig and defensive lineman Keeanu Benton. This team has the coaching and the talent to make a mark on this NFL season and return to the playoffs as the winners of the AFC North.

Aidan’s Take: Jets miss the playoffs and Aaron Rodgers retires The hype around the New York Jets this season is through the roof. Between the acquisition of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the spotlight from Hard Knocks, expectations for the Jets are high.

While the defense is special, Rodgers will not be enough to take this team to the next level. Coming off of a down year statistically, Rodg-

ers now finds himself in a season which will see him turn 40 years old. His age, mixed with a very tough schedule early on, will lead the Jets to struggle and have them missing the playoffs for the 13th straight season. Rodgers, who has been contemplating retirement for years, will see the writing on the wall and call it quits at the end of this season, leaving the Jets once again with an above average roster and quarterback-less.

Joe’s Take: Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner win Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year After their stint on Hard Knocks, there is no team that is exceeding the hype of the New York Jets this preseason. Future hall of fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be under the helm, but it is New York’s pair of young All-Pro skill position players that will lead the team. A stellar season from Garrett Wilson saw him take home Offensive Rookie of the Year, despite some less than ideal quarterback play from now-backup Zach Wilson. Garrett Wilson will enter a Davante Adams-esque role with elevated quarterback play that should lead to an increase in already impressive statistics for the second year product out of Ohio State. On the other side of the ball, there may have been no cornerback who was more impressive than Ahmed “Sauce” Gardner last season. The rookie out of Cincinnati bullied opposing wideouts en route to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide. Gardner should continue to prosper in coach Robert Salah’s defense as he continues to hound offenses. The duo of Wil-

son and Gardner became the first teammate duo since 2017 to take home the honors of Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year, and this season, they will become the first teammate duo since 2003 to take home the Associated Press Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Zach’s Take: Kenny Pickett takes a massive step forward If one were to take a look at Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett’s numbers from last season, they likely would not be impressed with what they saw. Over the course of the 2022-2023 NFL campaign, Kenny Pickett appeared in 13 games, throwing for seven touchdowns and nine interceptions. Over the course of a full season, those numbers would paint Pickett as an average to below-average quarterback at best, but the numbers do not tell the whole story with the quarterback.

Pickett’s Steelers finished their last six games of the season with a 5-1 record, with Pickett steadily improving every game. This season, he will continue improving and will be seen as one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL, improving more than anyone else.

Men’s soccer suffers two losses in Turk Emekli Classic to start the season

very talented Messiah University on Friday, Sept. 1. Messiah came into the game as the 12th ranked Division III team in the country and is one of only two nationally ranked teams on the College’s schedule this season.

Photo Courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone / Multimedia Coordinator In the first half of the game, the Sophomore J.J. Zaun on the ball.

Lions were able to hold their own.

By Eddie Young They were unable to get any shots Sports Editor off, but the defense did their part and did not break. Messiah took The College’s men’s soccer nine corners in the first half, but team fell to No. 12 Messiah Union the back of two saves by senior versity and Shenandoah Universigoalie Julian Franco, the game ty in their first two games of the went into halftime as a scoreless season on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, retie. spectively. The two games were Messiah was finally able to played as part of the Turk Emekli break through the College’s deClassic, hosted by Catholic Unifense in the second half. They versity in Washington D.C. put up four goals, with three of The Lions played their first them coming in a five-minute game of the season against a span. Franco was able to add two

more saves that half, bringing his total on the game up to four, but ultimately, the Lions suffered a 4-0 defeat to start the season in a game that was dominated by their opponent.

There was a less-than-24-hour turnaround to the next game for the College, who on Sept. 2 played their second game of the Turk Emekli Classic, this time against Shenandoah University.

This game got off to a much quicker start, with senior forward Luke Pascarella being shown a yellow card in the third minute.

Not much later, in the 14th minute, Shenandoah took a 1-0 lead.

The Lions fought hard for the rest of the half, outshooting Shenandoah 11-9 and also getting more corner kicks than them, but the 1-0 scoreline held through the end of the first half.

The second half started off with some more back-and-forth play, until in the 61st minute, when

freshman midfielder Matias Hornos scored his first goal for the College to tie the game at one a piece.

When asked about scoring his first collegiate goal, Hornos, an engineering management major, said, “It was a very exciting moment for me, but the game was still even at 1-1. We had to continue to work hard for the win.”

This goal lit a fire under the Lions, and the game heated up after it, but just 12 minutes later, Shenandoah scored what would end up being the game-winning goal to put the score at 2-1.

Looking ahead, the College goes to Muhlenberg University on Wednesday, Sept. 6, and then will play two more games in the Brick City Classic on Sept. 9 and Sept. 10. Their first home game will be against RPI on Wednesday, Sept. 20.

page 12 The Signal September 8, 2023

Sports FOOTBALL / Quarterback Trevor Bopp sets school passing yards record in win NFL Divisions Preview

Junior running back Jayson Schmidt on a carry.

Continued from page 1 However, dusting off some cobwebs, the offense really found a rhythm in the second quarter. Bopp looked very good when forced outside the pocket and rushed for a good amount of yards.

The biggest standout of the first half was sophomore receiver Ryan Gil who had some great looks on screens along with a highlight play in the endzone catching a touchdown over a defender. The defense looked lights-out besides one long drive from the Eagles.

The first half ended 24-14 in favor of the College. In the second half, Bopp played his best half of his career as a Lion. He stayed calm under pressure and really used his mobility to create a lot of plays. Bopp had a total of five

Photo Courtesy of Shane Gillespie / Photo Editor

touchdowns and 405 passing yards, which broke the record for most yards in a single game for the College, previously held by Bob Lockhart in 1980 with 383.

Bopp looked incredible and put together nice drives and seemed to light a spark that the Lions needed when the game got close.

Barring a fumble in the second quarter, Jayson Schmidt had a great game taking a large percentage of snaps at running back, but junior running back Al-Shakier Drake was a nice change of pace on a number of the plays with some impressive bursts of speed.

The defense seemed to have a bend but don’t break mentality, getting an interception late in the game by sophomore Jack Young to put the game on ice. Jayson

Schmidt capped off the game catching a late shovel touchdown to secure a 41-21 win for the Lions, moving them to 1-0 on the season.

When asked about the mentality of the team this year, fifthyear captain and criminal justice major Cole Groschel said, “This game mentality wise, we weren’t there…we have a hard schedule coming up so mentally and physically we have to get there.”

When asked about how, as a captain, he gets his teammates on the same page, Groschel said, “I try to lead by example and at halftime. I try to pump the guys up… as a captain, along with another captain Ryan McGuire, we try to do as much as we can because this game was a lot closer than it should have been.”

What’s Next The College is looking to keep the good times rolling with the next two non-conference opponents. On Sept. 8th the Lions will play away at Franklin and Marshall College, who started the season 1-0 with a win against Lebanon Valley College, 16-12. On Sept. 16th the Lions come back home and play against Muhlenberg College, who sit 1-0 with a win over Moravian, 53-12. The Lions look to go 3-0 before the important conference games start with a leg up over the competition.

By Zach Jacovini Staff Writer NFC East Winner: Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) This team is well-coached and talented, making it hard to find losses in their schedule.

NFC North Winner: Detroit Lions (10-7) The Detroit Lions are a team with a talented roster and a fiery coach, making them the popular pick to win the division.

NFC West Winner: San Francisco 49ers (11-6) The 49ers are a stacked team across the board, and with talent such as linebacker Fred Warner and tight end George Kittle...

NFC South Winner: Atlanta Falcons (10-7) Expect the Atlanta Falcons to shock the league and finish with a record of 10-7, AFC East Winner: Buffalo Bills (12-5) AFC South Winner: Jacksonville Jaguars (12-5) AFC North Winner: Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) AFC West Winner: Kansas City Chiefs (14-3) For further analysis, check out out our website!

Field Hockey battles in double overtime loss against Catholic University

Photo courtesy of Jimmy Alagna

Field Hockey during double OT loss.

By Aidan Mastandrea Staff Writer The College’s field hockey team opened their season against Catholic University at home on Friday, Sept 1. The game went to double overtime and saw the Lions lose 2-1.

Having opened the season ranked 11th in the Division III national coaches poll, the College’s loss was a large upset by way of the Catholic University Cardinals.

Prior to the game Friday, the Lions

had dominated Catholic, winning all six previous matchups between the two schools, including a 1-0 overtime win just last season.

This year’s meeting was reminiscent of the 2022 contest. Both teams were struggling to score early, with the game quickly turning into a defensive battle. The Lions seemed to be in firm control, with three shots on net compared to the Cardinal’s zero in the first quarter.

The momentum quickly switched during the second period, as the Cardinals scored the first goal of the game with six minutes to go in the half. Sophomore Mary Rojack put the goal away for Catholic as they took a 1-0 lead over the College heading into halftime.

“During halftime, we tweaked a

few things and knew that we were in control of the game even if the scoreboard did not reflect that,” said the College’s midfielder and junior nursing major, Rayhanah Ahmed.

The Lions used those adjustments to regain command early in the second half. With another six shots in the third quarter, the College was knocking on the door, but they could not find the back of the cage.

Eventually, with only five minutes left, they broke through.

Freshman psychology major Codie Sciacca was able to get open and score to even the game up, off of the assist from junior computer science major Claire Engebreth.

For the second year in a row, the game between the College and Catholic headed to overtime.

Despite a horde of opportunities from the Lions, Catholic’s Rojack scored her second goal of the game, this time off of a penalty stroke, in the second overtime period to take down the Lions.

While an opening day loss is not what the Lions hoped for, the highly ranked program has plenty of time to right the ship.

“Our team goals for this season are to continue a legacy of playing in the NCAA tournament and win the NJAC title,” said Ahmed.

“Using this loss as motivation to fuel our determination throughout the rest of our competitive schedule, I am confident that we can accomplish so much this season” The College heads to Center Valley, PA on Saturday, Sept 9 to take on DeSales and will look to improve to 1-1 for the season.