Fall '23 Issue No. 4

TheSPOOKY Signal ^

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Vol. LIII, No. 4

The spooky mystery of the Jersey Devil

By Shaim Akhtar Staff Writer

SLAYING Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

October 20, 2023

How horror movies evolved into the thrillers today

By Lake DiStefano Staff Writer

The horror movie genre, at least the western iteration of it, is a relatively new phenomenon. Due to this modernity, it has a noticeable history that one can chart. Despite this, the origins of the genre are not common knowledge. It is often in understanding of our roots, that we can gain a deeper appreciation for what is happening in the present.

Widely considered the first proper horror film, 1896’s “House of the Devil” set up what are now tropes of the genre.

The movie details the story of Mephistopheles, an agent of the devil. After summoning demonic entities from a cauldron, he is defeated when a man uses a crucifix to make him disappear.

It is a simple plot, and the subpar technology is certainly noticeable in its grainy shots, but it is not hard to spot the similarities between it and the horror staples of today.

In this early phase of the genre, there were long stretches between notable releases. It wouldn’t be until the see DEVIL page 20 1920s and 1930s when more horror

It is that time of year when Halloween is just around the corner, and the spooky season in the Garden State is in full swing.

Yet, in our own backyard, lies the most frightening tale, one that has been told to many New Jerseyans and Pennsylvanians for generations: the Jersey Devil.

The first reported sighting of the Jersey Devil occurred in 1735 in the Pine Barrens region of New Jersey. According to the legend, the creature was believed to be the result of a curse placed

by Jane Leeds, who had become frustrated with her numerous pregnancies and sought to prevent the next one through a curse on her thirteenth child. After the birth, her child began to transform, with its feet turning into hooves, its face adopting goat-like features, leather wings expanding from its back and a forked tail thrashing about violently.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Horror movies evolved drastically since the first one in the 1890s. classics debuted.

The two major films of this time were 1920’s “Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” and 1922’s “Nosferatu.” These films were the first to strive for an anxious atmosphere and to use suspense as a means of furthering the impact of their scenes. Continuing the trend of paranormal elements, with hypnosis and vampires respectively, these films cemented the early idea of what a horror film should look like.

After that era of horror, technology finally allowed for films to have sound.

The idea of a non-human threat continued with films like 1931’s “Fran-

kenstein” and 1932’s “The Mummy.”

These films made their villains mainstream in a way previously unseen.

The 1960s marked the beginning of the zombie sub-genre with the all-time classic “Night of the Living Dead” being released in 1968. The film was massively successful, and as evident by such pop-culture giants such as “The Walking Dead,” it was far more than just influential; it was the origin of the zombie film, which would go on to become one of horror’s most known sub-genres. see HORROR page 2

A guide to the best Halloween activities near the College

By Alena Bitonti Staff Writer

formation can be found at shadybrookfarm.com.

With fall officially upon us and Halloween right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to embrace the spirit of the season.

Luckily, the surrounding area offers many festive opportunities to make this time of year memorable. From pumpkin patches to haunted houses, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Scarecrows In The Village at Peddler’s Village (Lahaska, PA) Peddler’s Village is home to over 60 shops and 15 dining and tasting spots set on 42 acres of landscaped gardens and brick pathways. Until Oct. 29, pathways at the Village will be lined with over 100 unique scarecrows created by Philly area residents and organizations.

The creations are inspired by characters, mascots and more.

All guests are encouraged to cast a vote for their favorite scarecrow and enjoy fun fall activities at the Village. Admission is free.

More information can be found at peddlersvillage.com.

FallFest at Shady Brook Farm (Yardley, PA) Shady Brook Farm is bestknown for their exciting seasonal events, including the popular FallFest. This event includes a five-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, wagon rides, live music, food and drinks. After dusk, the farm presents “Eerie Illuminations,” a not-so-scary Halloween light show.

FallFest will be open on weekends and select dates until Oct. 29. Ticket pricing and more in-

Pick Your Own at Terhune Orchards (Princeton, NJ) Experience farm fun at Terhune Orchards! Here you’ll find a farm store, winery, farm animals,

Photo courtesy of Flickr

There are many fall offerings in the areas surrounding the College.

and a “Pick Your Own” section.

Enjoy Jersey-fresh produce and treats including cider donuts.

Guests can pick their own delicious apples at the farm any time from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All guests must purchase a picking bag before entry. Pumpkin picking is also available at the main farm just down the road, with admission tickets required on weekends.

More information can be found at terhuneorchards.com.

FrightFest at Six Flags (Jackson, NJ)

FrightFest at Six Flags Great Adventure returns this season and runs on select dates through Oct. 31. Once the sun sets, the park takes a frightening turn.

The Halloween-themed event includes eight terrifying haunted houses, six heart-racing scare zones, roller coaster rides in the dark and more. Watch your back, as you may even encounter lurking zombies or witches as you walk through the park.

Happy Halloween!

page 2 The Signal October 20, 2023

Halloween traditions and their history

By Olivia Harrison Staff Writer

Halloween is a special holiday filled with many fun aspects and traditions. Carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, trick-ortreating, witches and black cats are some of the first things that come to mind when one thinks about Halloween. But, the history of Halloween is one that is broad, mysterious and full of lore.

The origins of Halloween started in the eighth century in Ireland. Originally known as the Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced “Sah-win” in Gaelic), it started as a Pagan holiday as a way to welcome the harvest. The holiday then evolved to be called “All Hallows Eve” before becoming what everyone now knows as Halloween. The traditions of Halloween have become modernized, but the back stories are truly eerie and entertaining.

According to the Library of Congress, the following Halloween lore has evolved overtime, and has mostly stemmed from Pagan traditions. It was additionally influenced by Irish immigration to the former colonies.

Carving Jack-O-Lanterns Legend has it that a man named Stingy Jack found a way to trap the Devil. As Stingy Jack

begged for mercy, he made a bargain with the Devil that when he died, he would not go to Hell.

When Stingy Jack died, heaven rejected him and he became a ghost. Seeing him wander, the Devil carved a lamp out of a turnip and filled it with coal. The lamp lit Stingy Jack’s way and he was free to roam the earth.

As this story circulated, locals began to carve their own turnip lamps to help ward off spirits. The modern day tradition has now evolved into carving a pumpkin instead of a turnip and lighting the inside of the pumpkin. In honor of Stingy Jack, the carved pumpkins are referred to as Jack-O-Lanterns.

Costumes and Trick-Or-Treating

Back in the days of Sahmain, the Celts believed that dressing up in costumes would ward away ghosts. Their frightening costumes would help them blend in with evil spirits. Additionally, associating themselves with the evil spirits would keep them from being terrorized. Nowadays, people all around the world dress up as a form of novelty.

Trick-or-treating was another tradition that evolved from Sahmain. Citizens believed that spirits would travel the Earth and get hungry, so they would leave

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

Halloween has a lot of spooky traditions that have a variety of histories. food and drink to appease these Witches spirits. However, people caught onto this and began to take the Many young women believed food. Because they were dressed in Halloween as a day of “diviup in costumes, nobody suspected nation” where they would seek a thing. Today, trick-or-treating out fortune tellers to find out the is a fun pastime for children who names of their future husbands. walk from house to house receiv- This, combined with elements ing candy. from Sahmain as well as The Salem Witch trials, have creatBlack Cats ed what people believed to be “witches.” The Salem Witch The adage of black cats being trials were a series of hearings considered bad luck has been and prosecutions of individuals around since the middle ages. who were accused of pertaking in The dark color of their fur was witchcraft. Because Halloween associated with the Devil. Cenevolved from Sahmain, witches turies later, many young women have been associated with the who were considered “witches” holiday. Along with their cat had black cats for companions, companions, they have become a leading to more stigma around spooky symbol of Halloween. black cats. Today, black cats are As the years have gone on, still among the least to be adoptthe traditions of Hallowen are ed from shelters but are loved still ever-changing and evolving. around the world.

However, the history and lore of the holiday shall not be forgotten.

HORROR / From cheesy flicks to psychological thrillers Continued from page 1 The 1970s and 1980s called back to that initial occult-related horror, with releases like 1973’s “The Exorcist” and 1976’s “The Omen.”

These films tapped into the supernatural and paranormal side of things.

The horror was less based on the idea of it being an abomination of nature than the idea of the antagonist being above human understanding; that lack of knowledge created was scary about them.

Other notable entries in this vein were 1976’s “Carrie,” 1980’s “The Shining” and 1982’s “Poltergeist.”

Of course, around this time, the most well-known version of horror was finally conceived of: the slasher.

The first real slasher film was released in 1974, entitled “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” This brand of horror was focused on introducing an iconic and deadly antagonist who would hunt a group of survivors.

Many famous horror films are in this category: “Hal-

loween,” “Friday the 13th,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Chucky.” These movies garnered fame because their villains were memorable in a different way; these were villains with distinct personalities, killing methods and visual iconographies.

These films were majorly successful, which led to the rise of a new model for horror movies: franchises. Sequels became commonplace, and continuous storylines across multiple films were introduced into the genre.

The popularity of specific killers, and even certain survivors, allowed them to appear in films canonically following the original. This built-in appeal to the films made them a much safer bet for studios, as opposed to risking a “box office bomb” with new, original ideas.

With a previously-established story for a sequel to consider, most of them had to make the choice between resetting the franchise and trying to contend with all the plotlines introduced by whatever films they may be trying to follow up. Retconning

with simply confusing storytelling became the face of the genre for a while.

However, in this stale period of the genre, there came a franchise dedicated to poking fun at such monotony. In the wake of formulaic slasher movies and their sequels, the genre finally gained self awareness for what it was, in the form of 1996’s “Scream.”

By this point in the genre’s life the tropes had been established, so now it was time to deviate from them. The Scream franchise is dedicated to being a living, breathing satire of the horror movie genre, utilizing plotlines overused in horror films and making fun of the narrative inconsistencies within them.

In the early 2000s, the era of slashers finally calmed down in time for a revival of the zombie sub-genre.

There were a few notable releases during this time, such as “28 Days Later,” “World War Z” and “Zombieland.”

Interestingly, “Zombieland” borrowed the comedic and witty elements found in “Scream.” “28 Days Later” took a less dramat-

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Horror has led to pop-culture icons.

ic approach to horror, where instead of in-your-face action, it returned to a slow and drawn-out suspense based kind of horror.

So where is horror now?

Reboots and slashers reign supreme, and “Scream” sequels continue to get more and more elaborate with their parody of them. Jordan Peele in particular has been making great strides in the genre with a string of original and compelling horror films: 2017’s “Get Out,” 2019’s “Us” and 2022’s “Nope.”

To say it simply, horror, like it always has, continues to reinvent and rehash itself.

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Vol. LIII, No. 4

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

October 20, 2023

Students organize events to support one another amidst Israel-Hamas war

By Briana Keenan and Aliyah Siddiqui Staff Writer and Nation and World Editor

With the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, students around campus have experienced a shared sense of grief and pain. The College’s Chabad and Muslim Student Association (MSA) both hosted events on Oct. 12 to provide a safe space for students to discuss the events in the Middle East.

The College’s Chabad and Muslim Student Association both hosted events on Oct. 12.

The College’s Chabad hosted an event called “Unite for Israel.” Holocaust survivor. “Her family hesitate to call,” said Chief of Members of the community were — while desperately holding out Police Timothy Grant.

Romy Zemer, co-president of invited to pray, learn about available hope — does not believe she will Chabad and a junior nursing major, survive,” Einstein said. resources and hear perspectives At the beginning of the event, thanked everyone for their support from Jewish students. representatives from the Dean and said the organization is a “safe “I felt sick to my stomach,” said Kivi Greenbaum, the College’s of Students office and Campus space for everyone.”

“The story of Israel is complex, rabbi. “It was like my insides deep, Police discussed resources that are but the pain we feel is simple,” she available to students should they deep down wanted to come out.”

“This is no accident,” said Kay need extra support during this time. said. “Our ability to come together Dean of Students Jordan Draper in the face of adversity is something Einstein, a freshman biomedical mentioned UWill and “Let’s Talk,” we, the Jewish people, have too engineering major and member of which are therapeutic resources that much experience with.”

Chabad.

Benjamin Roytman, a offer 24/7 teletherapy counseling When speaking to the community and peer group therapy sessions, sophomore accounting major and at the event, they mentioned that one respectively.

Shabbat Coordinator, reinforced of the Israelis that was kidnapped is “I want you to look at Campus these sentiments and spoke about an 85-year-old wheelchair-bound Police as a resource too…don’t peace.

Photo courtesy of Briana Keenan

“We stand for peace, empathy and for a better future,” he said. “As a global community, we must strive to build bridges of understanding.”

In order to acknowledge the conflict, Rabbi Greenbaum had students read Jewish prayers and played a video for the attendees. The video was something he suggested turning to for advice, and it showed how the conflict between Israel and Palestine has lasted for a very long time.

“I think we’re all asking the same thing, ‘what can we do?’”

Rabbi Greenbaum said. “The first thing we do is pray.” see WAR page 5

Harvard students face backlash

Bernstein’s message on the next fiscal year

By Janjabill Tahsin Staff Writer

By Victoria Gladstone and Mike Sherr Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief

The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee has drawn heavy criticism from notable alumni and U.S. lawmakers for authoring a letter cosigned by over 30 student groups blaming Israel for the Hamas attacks, stating that students “hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”

The letter comes after a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, said that a “significant number” of Israeli civilians and soldiers are being held hostage.

Hamas claims the number of Israelis kidnapped was “several times greater” than dozens and that the hostages have since been dispersed throughout the Gaza Strip.

Since Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on Oct. 7, according to AP News, over 1,400 Israelis have been confirmed dead and at least 155 hostages have been seized. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza said that more than 2,670 Palestinians have been killed and 9,600 wounded in retaliatory Israeli air strikes.

Following Bernstein’s “Welcome Back Address” last August, the interim president has promised to be more transparent with the College’s plans for the budget for the fiscal year of 2025 (FY25). Bernstein sent an email on Wednesday to the campus community with the intention of being transparent.

After finding the College overestimated its revenue for its tuition, fees and housing, and underestimated the state’s imbursement for employee fringe benefits, the College lost 20 million, or seven percent of the overall budget.

In order to reduce operating costs by $11 million, a hiring freeze was put into place to capture salary savings and cuts were made across all divisions on campus. Additionally, the physical plant asset renewal budget was reduced by four million dollars and, in turn, four million will be taken from reserves.

With this, FY25 will begin with a $5 million deficit and will have an overall

anticipated gap of nine million dollars with increased costs of services, supplies and salaries.

“We want to aggressively pursue support from our state,” Bernstein told the Board of Trustees on Oct. 17. “We want to make the case where need that support.”

The College receives some of the lowest support from the state compared to other institutions. Rutgers-New Brunswick received over $8,000 per student in FY2023 while the College only received about $4,000.

The interim CFO Rich Schweigert and Deputy CFO Mark Mehler are in the process of developing budgeting protocols in order to avoid further unexpected losses.

“Obviously we want to get things right for our college now and for the work ahead this year, next year and in the years after that,” Bernstein told the Board. “But we also have a responsibility and…an ethical responsibility, to people we don’t know. People who will come to our college long after we’re all gone are counting on us to do our jobs right.”

Photo courtesy of Anthony DePrimo

Bernstein’s email addresses new budget plans.

According to his email, the interim president’s goal is to enhance our offerings and “determine what may no longer be a priority for institutional investment.”

“There will be no surprises,” Bernstein wrote. “As we work together to develop the FY25 budget and plan for future years, you should expect transparency from me, the Cabinet, and the college Treasurer’s Office.”

see HARVARD page 13

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page 4 The Signal October 20, 2023

College replaces Honors and Scholars program director

By Rebecca Heath News Editor

Christopher Murphy, associate provost for curriculum and liberal learning, began his tenure as interim director of the College’s Honors and Scholars program on Sept. 20, replacing English professor Harriet Hustis.

The Honors and Scholars program offers an individualized, rigorous curriculum of five Honors course units to students who seek to enhance their cross-cultural and disciplinary thinking, according to the College’s website.

Murphy, who oversees the program as part of his administrative duties, has temporarily assumed leadership while the College searches for a permanent replacement.

“The call has gone out, and so I’m waiting for applications from faculty at this point,” Murphy said via Zoom. “The idea is for the new director to come in in January.”

Administration declined to provide an explanation as to why Hustis, who had been serving in the capacity for the past two years, was suddenly replaced, stating the College does not comment on personnel matters. Murphy noted, however, that while the average tenure for the role is three years, it may be “shorter or a little bit longer, de-

pending on the circumstances.”

“The decision came as a surprise, obviously, but I respect the fact that Dr. Murphy has to do what he believes is in the best interests of the Honors & Scholars Program and its students,” Hustis told The Signal.

Since joining the College’s administration in 2014, Murphy has coordinated a number of cross-College undergraduate academic programs in addition to the Honors and Scholars program, including Faculty-Student Collaboration, First-Year Seminar, First-Year Writing, Global Engagement, Liberal Learning and Summer Reading. While each program’s respective director does “the vast majority of the work,” Murphy said he frequently collaborates on initiatives and serves as a source of guidance and support.

Murphy’s passion for academia stems from his early stint as a biology professor at James Madison University. After receiving his Ph.D. in neurobiology and behavior from Cornell University and serving in a post-doctoral position at the University of Missouri-Columbia, Murphy relocated to Virginia to begin his first faculty position at JMU, where he quickly “fell in love” with teaching science courses to students with career aspirations outside of the discipline.

“I’ve become very committed

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

A new Honors & Scholars program diector is expected to be appointed this Janurary.

to helping to generate science proficient citizens who can go out and use high quality scientific information and scientific approaches to make good decisions, either in their personal lives or in their professions or as part of agents of change involved with social issues,” Murphy said.

During his 14-year tenure at JMU, Murphy kick started his career in administration through serving as coordinator of the math and science portion of the University’s general education program.

He later transitioned to a full-time administrative position at Indiana State University, where he led the Department of Biology for several years before returning to his roots

in general education at the College.

“I really love the job,” Murphy said.

As he settles into his interim position and prepares to hand over the reins to a new director this January, Murphy said one of his main priorities is to “innovate and make changes where necessary that’ll improve the program and maintain its excellence.”

“The directors are the ones that serve as the leaders of the program and they also set the vision for the program, so I work with them to connect that vision and leadership with the mission of the College,” he said. “My main goal is to make sure it’s an excellent program that serves the students well.”

Differential housing confirmed, first-year resident requirement possible

By Matthew Kaufman Managing Editor

Residential Education and Housing sent representatives to the College’s Residence Hall Association and Student Government to outline the upcoming differential housing policy, along with the possibility of requiring first-year students to live on campus.

The differential housing system, which will go into effect next fall, will increase the price of single rooms compared to doubles and triples. Tina Tormey, director of ResEd, said in the Oct. 18 presentations that the system was designed to increase flexibility for students while boosting revenue for investment in the facilities.

“Obviously, the cost of higher education has continued to increase,” Tormey said at the RHA meeting. “Students may be very committed to living in [oncampus] housing but might want to be able to choose a more affordable option. So having different room rates allows them to choose how much they’re willing to pay for housing.”

While other colleges often have varying prices based on the amenities of housing, such as air conditioning or kitchen facilities, the only differentiator at the College will be the occupancy number of the room.

Assistant Vice President of Student Development Kelly Hennessy said this was because the College’s housing facilities are generally split up by cohort, so upperclassmen — who are the sole occupants of apartments with singles, air conditioning and kitchens — would otherwise end up paying a significantly higher amount than underclassmen.

Though the price difference has not yet been finalized, Hennesy said it would most likely cost around $500 more per semester to live in a single.

Delaney Smith, a junior journalism major and president of RHA, which serves as an advocacy group for on-campus residents, said in an interview that she supported the differential housing initiative.

“There is a lot of opportunity to get fair pricing for different accommodations in different buildings,” Smith said. “So I think that there is definitely a lot of positive potential there.”

Eitan Halevi, vice president for advancement of student government and sophomore biology major, told Lions TV in an interview that he thinks differential housing can be beneficial to both students and the College as a whole.

“Differential housing is a very realistic solution to a lot of the financial problems that our school is having,” Halevi said. “I don’t

think it’s unreasonable to make [singles] more expensive.”

Another policy that ResEd is exploring is requiring firstyear students to live on campus.

While the office has not officially decided to implement this, the representatives solicited feedback from students at these meetings nonetheless.

David Cruz, associate director of housing, said one of the drivers of this policy was that commuters often have trouble making connections on campus. He pointed to a survey that found half of the College’s commuters were not involved in a co-curricular activity, and a quarter reported not having any close friends on campus.

“According to national data, students who live on campus are more likely to stay at their institute, graduate in four years and connect with the resources to attain success,” Cruz said.

“They’re also more likely to get involved and experience a sense of community and belonging.”

There would be exemptions allowed, including for students who reside with their parents or guardian within 10 miles of campus, financial need, health issues and other extenuating circumstances.

Students in RHA and student government had a more skeptical reaction to this proposal compared to differential housing.

“I am still very on the fence about it,” Smith said. “I definitely think it would put an unnecessary financial burden on commuters, and I’m still not on board with that.”

Sarah Kasziba-O’Rahilly, senator of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, told LTV that there are many considerations a student and their family make when deciding on housing options.

“I think there are a lot of personal and financial aspects that go into why students choose to commute,” Kasziba-O’Rahilly said. “But I’m sure that staff have their reasoning for making it mandatory.”

Even though the policy is not official yet, the College’s ambassadors have been told to start telling tours of prospective students that the requirement may be put in effect. Hennesy said this was because they want prospective students to be informed even if ResEd decides not to enact the requirement.

“It’s easier to say there’s a requirement than to not ever tell them about the requirement until they get on board,” Hennesy said.

A final decision on the first year residency requirement will be made in the coming months.

Housing costs for the 2024-2025 school year will be decided at the July 2024 Board of Trustees meeting.

October 20, 2023 The Signal page 5

WAR / Israel-Hamas war sparks conversation among students Continued from page 3 Shoshana Frank, a junior psychology major, and Jacob Newman, a freshman undecided major, read prayers in Hebrew and English to commemorate those lost, injured and suffering in Israel.

“It gives a lot of comfort during times like this,” Frank said. “This is not a matter of religion, but Hamas is a terrorist group.”

Eitan Halevi, a sophomore biology major, said that he has a Palestinian friend and grew up knowing that they “shouldn’t” be friends. He said people need to challenge what they learn.

“The horrors of war are true for both sides,” Halevi said. “True peace is not the path for the weak…peace takes sacrifice and patience.”

A similar sentiment was echoed by the e-board of the MSA, which hosted a different type of event to reflect on the ongoing war: a Palestine Teach-In. The hopes for the event was to teach the campus community about the history of Palestine and to add context to the story that may not always be highlighted in the media: the story of Palestine’s colonization and occupation.

“We asked everyone in the beginning to come in with an open mind, an open heart and hear the history and then put your efforts into believing whatever you think is right,” said Shaheed Zaki, president of the MSA and senior marketing major.

The event featured Dr. alma

khasawnih, associate professor of women, gender, and sexuality studies. khasawnih started the teach-in by explaining how the presentation would be grounded in the fields she studied, such as critical cultural studies and Middle East studies, as well as her own experiences as a Palestinian and Arab.

This background, she noted, made it particularly difficult to lead the teachin.

“As I think about my personal story, it becomes really hard to do a teach-in about Palestine because it means that I need to. It means that there is something that is missing,” khasawnih said. “How do I talk about the necessity for my life? The fact that I deserve life or that all Palestinians deserve life when we are in a context that is so singular in its support, that uses language like human animals that need to be caged, where there is no access to water, electricity, fuel, basics, food. So I am in that context.” khasawnih went on to discuss the attack that occurred on Oct. 7 and media coverage of the Israel-Gaza war, noting how she believes the media portrays a “single story” that strips Palestinians of their humanity and glosses over the injuries and death that Palestinians also endure. khasawnih shared statistics, an infographic and video regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict to give historical context to the current situation as well as demonstrate how Palestinians have been affected by occupation throughout the years,

including how Gaza has been called an “open-air prison.”

Following the video, a discussion took place in which several students shared their experiences of coming from families whose nations had been colonized, noting the common struggles in advocating for their lands. khasawnih also briefly described the history behind the creation of Israel, going back to World War I with the Sykes-Picot Agreement that partitioned the region including Palestine to make European colonies. In 1917, the Balfour Declaration was written, which expressed British support for a “Jewish home in Palestine.” Jumping forward to 1947, the United Nations created a Partition Plan that divided Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem being under international rule. On May 14, 1948, Israel declared its independence from Britain with 77% of the land. Here, khasawnih told the story of her mother and her aunt, who were five and three and a half at the time, and how her grandparents sent them to Damascus once occupation began.

“My grandparents shipped them, they sent them out to Damascus,” khasawnih said. “My grandmother is from Damascus, and she sent her children to stay with her family there.” khasawnih ended the teach-in with a spoken word poem by Rafeef Ziadah titled, “We teach life, sir.” Although performed in 2011, the poem struck a chord with those who attended the

event, leaving many crying or holding back tears. Ziadah, who was serving as Palestinian media spokesperson during an Israeli war with Gaza, wrote the poem in response to a journalist who asked her, “Don’t you think it would all be fine if you just stopped teaching your children to hate?”

“We teach life, sir,” Ziadah said in the poem. “But today, my body was a TV’d massacre made to fit into soundbites and word limits.”

Another part of Ziadah’s poem that was particularly striking when covering the event was the line in which Ziadah described how journalists spoke to her about covering the Israel-Palestine conflict.

“And just give us a story, a human story,’” Ziadah said. “You see, this is not political.”

The reality, however, is that the ongoing war between Israel and Gaza is political. Due to this politicalization, many students who attended the Palestine Teach-In were apprehensive or unwilling to be interviewed, citing fears of being doxed or being personally attacked. These fears were further substantiated by the threats both groups experienced, necessitating security to be at both events.

Despite these threats, however, Chabad and MSA will continue to hold events regarding Israel and Palestine to educate and provide support to students. Continuing this conversation is critical to facilitating compassion and respect regarding such divisive issues.

Cop Shop: The wallet, the catalytic converter and the pimp

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

Some information provided may be triggering for some students.

There have been four incidents of crime reported to Campus Police since the start of this fall semester. These incidents will be listed in order chronologically, not in order of relevance.

Sept. 8: Lost Wallet in Education Building A student reported to campus police that his wallet went missing while residing in the Education Building.

There was an unknown amount of cash in the wallet, but the loss of government issued identification and debit cards were missing along with the wallet.

There were no suspects of theft.

Campus Police has suspicion that the student may have lost or dropped the wallet en route to the Education Building.

Sept. 15: Catalytic Converter Stolen from Student’s Car After noticing her car was unusually loud, a student reported theft and damages done to her car, citing a missing catalytic converter.

Originally unsure of what the damages were, the student referred to a message sent out by Campus Police earlier in the semester warning students of catalytic converter thefts. Upon further investigation, the student found her exhaust disconnected from her muffler. She took her vehicle to a mechanic who confirmed the converter was stolen.

The location and exact timing of the incident is unknown, the student has parked her car in various parking lots on campus.

There are no suspects, as the thieves managed to avoid security camera footage in all parking lots.

These damages can be covered by insurance, but otherwise sum up to about $2,500 in repairs.

Sept. 19: Student receives threats from Pimp In the afternoon of Sept. 19, Campus Police received a call from a student in a bathroom stall in Brower Student Center, requesting a police escort to class and fearing

for his life. When police arrived, the student presented the officers with photos on his cell phone of dismembered human remains he received in a text message as a threat.

Police escorted the student to his class and requested he come down to the station when he was finished to explain the nature of the threats.

After deliberation and confusion, the police managed to piece together the story of the incident.

Earlier in the day, the student was using a mobile device to access adult content online and was redirected to a website for soliciting prostitution.

After further inquiry, the student made a selection and reached out to her via Whatsapp.

The student was then in connection with the prostitute and her pimp, and made two separate payments of $81.62 and $41.46. The student and prostitute arranged to meet at the Courtyard

by Marriott hotel, a six minute drive from the College.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the student received a call from the pimp, ordering a third payment of $400.

The student refused to make the payment, came in contact with the prostitute and told her he changed his mind and was going home.

The student returned to campus without receiving any services, but then began to receive the threatening messages from the pimp.

At Campus Police’s advisement, the student blocked all phone numbers involved and was subsequently left alone.

Oct. 1: Intruder in Phelps Hall At approximately 12:15 a.m. on Oct. 1, a Phelps Hall resident advisor made a call to Campus Police citing an intruder sitting in the hall’s common area.

The intruder was identified as a repeat offender by the police, a college-age person undergoing some family troubles in search for a place to stay. Witnesses also confirmed the intruder disclosed having an intention to “meet girls.”

According to another witness, the intruder began making uncomfortable remarks to the girls in the building in this attempt.

Campus Police conducted a pat search before escorting him to the station. After further discussion and regulation, officers escorted the intruder off campus to a nearby 7/11 at his request.

page 6 The Signal October 20, 2023

UWill partners with CAPS to bring new teletherapy program

By Lauren Diaz Correspondent

This fall, the office of Counseling and Prevention Services at the College announced a partnership with teletherapy group UWill, which provides twentyfour hour immediate appointments with therapists across the country.

The CAPS office at the College decided to partner with UWill after the number of students seeking counseling rose within the last few years.

“College counseling centers across the country have been struggling to meet demand for services for many years now, and TCNJ is included in that,” Beverly Mason, director of CAPS, told The Signal. “It’s a great way to meet the needs of more students than we can possibly do ourselves.”

All appointments on the service are done virtually via face chat, phone call or through text message over the site.

“It’s also a great option for students who can’t come to CAPS,” Mason said. “For instance, they have evening and weekend hours, so that’s great for students who can’t come when we’re open.”

Many students agree with Mason’s reasoning behind joining the UWill program. Freshman

undeclared major Samantha Magin believes UWill is an important resource for students at the College.

“I think it’s a great resource,” Magin said. “It is essential for those who have high anxiety to seek help out, and it makes it much more accessible since it occurs at all times throughout the day.”

Freshman psychology major Ally Araujo also agreed with Magin, noting that mental health can sometimes be a conversation people do not want to have.

“Not many people outwardly show that they are struggling with their mental health, and it can be really isolating,” Araujo said.

In order to get an appointment with a therapist, you must register with UWill, create an account and identify as a student of the College. The sign up process is quick, simple and efficient, and the service is entirely free for college students.

Students can also pick the type of therapist they would like to talk to in categories such as gender, sexuality and race.

Most colleges in the state of New Jersey are using UWill, because it is being funded by Governor Phil Murphy’s administration, utilizing leftover funds from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some other New Jersey schools that have implemented the program include Princeton University, Montclair State University and Rutgers University.

Mason and the CAPS office believe UWill will have a positive impact on the student community.

“It gives great options,” Mason said. “I think there are students who don’t necessarily want to come to CAPS, and would prefer the flexibility UWill offers.”

“Every year, there are hundreds of students leaving home for the first time, and its a huge adjustment,” Aruajo said. “So having a mental health service provided to all college students can help make that adjustment.”

When asked if they would utilize UWill’s services, Magin

said she would.

“If I felt like I was struggling mentally, this is an easy way to look for assistance without worrying about who will see me seek it out,” Magin said. “Seeking out help is something that can be frowned upon, or at least embarrassing to admit you need– so a resource like this is a step in the right direction.”

Araujo, on the other hand, has already used UWill’s services.

“As someone that has struggled with mental health for most of my life, knowing that I have that resource is such a huge help,” Araujo said.

To learn more about UWill and the services it provides, visit UWill’s website or the CAPS office, which is located in Eickhoff Hall.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

A number of New Jersey colleges and universities have implemented the service.

Student Government prepares for Homecoming in a new setup

By Briana Keenan Staff Writer Student Government at the College has been preparing for Homecoming 2023 and is planning on changing the way it is outlined compared to previous years.

Aria Chalileh, Vice President for Student Services, said that SG is incorporating a new, competitive element called Battle of the Classes, which resulted from brainstorming new ideas after having budget cuts.

“In the past, [there] used to be competitions between Recognized Student Organizations,” Chalileh said. “However, because not everyone is a part of an RSO, this new process of Battle of the Classes allows everyone to participate in whichever way they desire.”

Students will be able to earn points for their class by dressing up for the spirit days during the week and participating in the events, including banner creation, traditions

trivia and masked singer.

The class that wins the most points will be presented with trophies at the homecoming football game, receive a banner to be hung in the Student Center and have their class year engraved in a large trophy.

Other members discussed ways that they feel this year’s homecoming has improved.

“I personally have felt super connected to our campus and TCNJ,” said Jackie Faulk, sophomore class Vice President of Public Relations.

“Additionally, this is the first year we are in class competitions, which builds camaraderie with our class.”

“In previous years, there has been a serious lack of activities that get the student body excited for homecoming,” said Olivia Chiarella, junior class president. “This year, Aria has worked incredibly hard to program a week of events that intend to make memories, instead of just giving them away.”

Photo courtesy of Aria Chalileh

Members of student government pose with the Homecoming trophy.

The members were asked about which event they are most excited for, and many agreed that they’re most excited for the masked singer event.

“I have never seen anything like this in the history of my time at TCNJ, and it is sure to make for a spectacular night of entertainment,” Chiarella said.

Faulk agreed, and said that she is “most excited for the masked singer event and also the homecoming game.”

Some of the members share excitement about Spirit Friday being the event they are most looking forward to.

“I can’t wait to see the school decked out in some school spirit merch,” said Anthony Berchie, member of the freshman class council.

“The entire Student Center is going to be decorated in blue and gold, there will be a photo station with props, free giveaways and so much more,” Chalileh said. “I am mainly excited to see the entire Student Center filled with TCNJ spirit and eager students.”

In addition to Chalileh’s efforts, SG members have helped contribute to the preparation of Homecoming in several different ways.

On Oct. 4, SG posted a promotional video on their Instagram

page, @tcnjsg for homecoming, which many were involved in.

Berchie said that this was to “get more people’s attention on the best Homecoming TCNJ has ever seen.”

Faulk also participated in the video and helped in other areas.

“I have helped prepare for homecoming by participating in the video, making some graphics for the advancement committee and supporting Aria and the team as much as possible,” she said.

Chiarella added, “Together, we have curated marketing content, programmed events, and boosted morale for the student body at TCNJ.” Aside from Chalileh, who said that she sees reasons for each class winning, each SG member thinks that their class will win spirit week.

Berchie, Faulk and Chiarella all agreed that their respective classes will win due to their energy and competitiveness.

“We are hungry and ready to win,” Chiarella said.

Chalileh said that she hopes these changes to Homecoming can leave an impact this year, as well as for the years to come.

“I am truly hoping that Battle of the Classes during Spirit Week can become its own tradition that students will love for years to come,” she said.

Features Justin Yuen continues running his business, J Bakes, alongside his freshman studies

By Briana Keenan Staff Writer

While operating a business on top of college studies may be challenging for some, one freshman at the College makes it “doughable.”

Justin Yuen, a freshman and anticipated finance major, runs a dessert business called J Bakes, where he has sold up to a few hundred cookies at a time.

Yuen created the business as a result of a dare when he was in seventh grade.

“I was just in class, and basically, someone challenged me to do a bake-off…the next thing you know, I was selling them out of a classroom,” Yuen said.

Yuen taught himself how to bake by using recipes and shadowing his sister. The passion grew to such an extent that he decided to quit his job at a bubble tea shop to focus on growing his personal business.

“I realized there’s so much more potential if I focus everything on my business and just leave the bubble tea world,” he said.

According to Yuen’s website, he sells a variety of cookie flavors including chocolate chip, matcha and hot cocoa. He is trying to expand and sell other types of baked goods, too.

“I’ve been experimenting with a couple other products like cupcakes and mochi cake, which is inspired from Hawaii, and it seems like…people around here

like the idea and are willing to try it,” he said.

He is currently working on three specific flavors of mochi cake including matcha, ube and red bean.

Yuen has sold his cookies at events such as the weekly farmer’s market at Bell Works, located in Holmdel, N.J. This was the first market that he ever sold his baked goods at, and he has continued to work with them for over a year.

“I think it’s just really about networking and seeing new opportunities because as a small business owner, it’s really a real step into the business world,” he said.

Currently, Yuen’s business is based in his Freehold, N.J. home, where he makes everything that is sold to the public.

“I have a whole setup over there; I have all of my equipment, and basically, I always prepare more flavors, more doughs, and I just keep my inventory rolling in the freezer,” he said.

When Yuen is ready to use the dough, he is able to let it thaw in the fridge and bake it to have fresh cookies.

Students at the College have tried some of his baked goods and gave positive feedback.

“I honestly can’t say anything bad about anything he makes,” said Amanda Stiller, a freshman early childhood education and special education major. “I don’t have a particular flavor that’s my favorite because they’re all so yummy, but some of my favorites

Yuen in his J Bakes merch.

are the matcha, cinnamon chip, banana chip, and raspberry lemon.”

“I can assure that J Bakes cookies [are] some of the softest cookies I’ve had,” said Antonia Forte, a freshman deaf elementary education and math major. “I absolutely recommend the Banana Chip and Matcha.”

Yuen balances the business and his academic studies by using his time well.

“It’s kind of just like juggling

Photo courtesy of Justin Yuen

everything at once. Time management is definitely the most crucial aspect,” he said.

Yuen hopes to use his finance degree to have knowledge in running the business.

“I wanna make sure I learn and know what I’m doing before I actually make a shot and [try and open a spot],” he said.

For more information about J Bakes, take a look at Yuen’s website and Instagram.

Students react to the College’s new LED board: What exactly is its purpose?

The LED Board

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

By Delmis Vargas Staff Writer Since the LED board was installed near the Brower Student Center last semester, many questions have been raised. For one, why is it so bright? Students at the College did not hesitate to make jokes on social media such as Instagram about the LED board’s excessive brightness.

All jokes aside, many stu-

dents wonder what the true purpose is behind this huge digital wall that stands just outside the student center. According to the College’s website, organizations are welcome to submit advertising content to be posted on the LED board by submitting a request form through the Office of Student Life’s Posting Request Form.

The website also lists protocols and charges, including that any ads that are submitted and approved will run for seven consecutive days, unless requested for another week. Additionally, third party usage is limited to retail businesses on Campus Town for $150 per advertisement for two consecutive weeks.

It is also stated that Recognized Student Organizations and the College’s offices and departments that are hosting events in the Brower Student Center are allowed to request a hold of the

LED board where their ad is exclusively displayed for a maximum of eight hours the day of the event.

The LED board raises the concern of where the funds that went towards it could alternatively have been allocated.

“Our school’s money could’ve been utilized for better things,” said junior biology major, Olivia Impomeni, “I’d like to see more flower beds and plants for biodiversity. I feel like the money could’ve gone into that and overall care for the school.”

The College’s campus is known to be very in touch with the surrounding nature, as it is surrounded by small forests and the animals that live within it.

According to the College’s website, the LED Board was funded through student fees with no cost to the College. The website then goes on to explain how the charges and protocols are

used to support maintenance and future equipment replacements.

The charges listed include: all RSO flagship Programs, all non-RSO flagship Programs, all College department postings and Third Party Usage that is limited to Retail Businesses in Campus Town.

The resounding sentiment across the student body seems to be that the LED board serves no actual purpose, neither cosmetic nor for usefulness.

“The board is pointless, everything they post on it I’ve already seen on Instagram,” stated Impomeni.

“I don’t like it,” said junior anthropology major Riley Stellitano.

Many students seem to be concerned about where the College’s priorities lie in terms of funding and whether the way they are using this money is wasteful or used for relatively useless projects.

page 8 The Signal October 20, 2023

What to expect as a grad student at the College

By Nicholas Steinhauser Staff Writer

There are many graduate programs offered at the College that give students more experiences here on campus. These can include academic opportunities with their departments or leadership experiences with undergraduates. What people might not know is how these graduate programs change students’ involvement on campus.

As a graduate student at the College, one can usually expect to be busier during the day due to more demanding coursework and a tight job schedule. Since many of these graduate students have already been with the College for four years, they usually know the Ewing area well and have been able to get important jobs pertaining to their field. Their course classes tend to be tailored to usual work-hours, and thus usually take place during the evening.

Due to these busy class and occupation hours, it can be difficult for graduate students to stay involved in campus clubs and activities. While all clubs (with the exception of Greek life) allow graduate access, it is difficult for many graduate students to stay involved and attend meetings, so they often just try to stay involved in the clubs of utmost importance to them (usually pertaining to their career interests).

“Graduate coursework is pretty similar to undergraduate coursework, but the classes and scheduling are kind of tailored for people who work,” said English master’s student Victoria Kerins.

“Campus events conflict with our schedule because classes are usually pushed in the evening hours,

Photo courtesy of Marceline Hale

The College has been expanding its graduate offerings in recent years.

making it harder for some graduate students to stay involved.”

Commuting can also be a major factor impacting graduate involvement. Many graduate students have their own place off-campus, making it inconvenient for them to commute late at night just for a club meeting. Involvement in clubs is also more tailored to undergraduates, so it is usually fairer for the graduate students to take a back seat and let the younger students shine.

Since undergraduate students are new to campus, it is better for them to get involved and meet new people. The graduate students have already gone through these club experiences, making it fairer to let undergraduates be more involved in them.

This does not mean that graduate club involvement is impossible, as it just requires making the time to pursue it.

Vanessa Seidner, a public health master’s student, commented on her club involvement on campus.

“I’m really happy to be here and continue my involvement

through clubs and organizations and just being an involved member of my campus community,” Seidner said. “Through being a graduate student, I will continue to foster these connections at not just these clubs, but also on a faculty and professional level.”

While usually less involved with extracurriculars, graduate students may be more involved with networking and professionalism on campus. As many have four years of experience at the College under their belts, graduate students have often made the connections between fellow students and faculty that undergraduates are still trying to foster.

Working closely with faculty helps graduate students develop relationships that will benefit them in the graduate program and beyond. Many graduate students at the College have a job under their department major, which is due to their involvement and connections with the faculty.

“The coolest part about being a graduate student at the College is having the opportunity to work at a professional level through a

graduate assistantship in addition to being a student,” said Avina Sharna, an English master’s student and a graduate assistant for the School of Education.

Not only do these department-based jobs give graduates the opportunity to dive early into their field of interest, but they also help pay for their tuition.

Although it may seem daunting for graduate students, the best way to have fun in their extra year is to maintain a healthy work-life balance and continue developing new skills and relationships that can grow in the future.

Completing undergraduate school yields more professional treatment from faculty. The graduate course load reflects that, requiring more critical thinking and a deeper knowledge of the skills cultivated in undergraduate years.

“Undergraduate and graduate are two very different experiences in both coursework and social life,” said Kerins. “They are engaging, challenging and exciting, but in their own ways.

She added, “Undergraduate is a great way for you to delve in your interests and meet new people; graduate school has you using what you learned from undergraduate and being involved in a tightgroup with more professional experiences.”

Anyone interested in pursuing a graduate degree at the College should know that despite the differing opportunities from undergraduate time, the new experiences that stem from it can lead to professional and work accomplishments that prompt a head start in a career and foster lifelong bonds.

A second life for jack-o’-lanterns

Jack-o’-lantern

By Myara Gomez Staff Writer Each year, once November rolls around and all of the fun of pumpkin-carving is over, pumpkins begin to slowly rot on porch-

Photo courtesy of Flickr

es. Over time, they take the mold of the concrete steps. Not exactly the best way to start the month.

It’s a shame to watch these pumpkins go. However, they don’t have be wasted. They can still be used in environmentally

responsible and innovative ways According to Fiorentino’s Farm Market, pumpkins can be repurposed by donating, cooking, planting or composting them.

Some specific examples of what to do with a pumpkin when it is no longer functionally decorative include turning it into a bird feeder or a pumpkin planter.

It can also be placed into a garden or a field nearby.

As for cooking, there are many recipes that can include pumpkin puree, including foods like pie, pancakes, soup and muffins. People can also roast pumpkin seeds.

Sophomore psychology major Alexander Vance said that he tries to avoid throwing pumpkins in the trash.

“Occasionally I will put the old pumpkins in the forest by my house for animals or as compost

given they have no paint or any other chemicals on them,” Vance said.

According to The Atlantic, over 1 billion pounds of pumpkins are thrown away and end up in landfills every year.

When pumpkins decompose in a landfill, they release methane gas. According to NASA, Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas.

Apart from carbon dioxide, methane gas is the next contributor to climate warming.

Repurposing food, whether pumpkin or not, helps fight against climate change. This is why it is important that leftover bits from carving and the pumpkin itself stays out of the landfill.

Doing little sustainable changes in life makes a difference and encourages change in the world for the better.

Bernstein’s statement on the Israel-Gaza War was disappointing

By Ally Uhlendorf News Editor

As devastation and tragedy take the world by storm due to the attacks occurring in Israel, support is one of the most important factors within every community.

Specifically on college campuses, where students do not typically have the accessibility to be close to their family, support within the college community holds a pivotal position. Slowly, several college administrators have released statements regarding the Israel-Hamas war – some saying much and others saying nearly nothing of substance whatsoever.

At the College, the campus community received an email from Interim President Michael Bernstein regarding the tragedies – which was lackluster, to say the least. Like many other colleges, Bernstein’s response tip-toed around the issue at hand, and simply just offered counseling services for students.

For both communities that are being affected by the war, there is an overwhelming amount of a whirlwind of emotions. College students, often at a stage in life focused on personal growth,

struggle with a complex blend of feelings. In situations such as these, many students experience a sense of helplessness as they witness the news and see images of the destruction and suffering. Simultaneously, there is a deep concern for the well-being of friends and family who may be directly impacted by the conflict. In this turbulent time, students seek not only guidance from their educational institutions but also a supportive community.

In the wake of any international conflict, colleges and universities have a responsibility to foster a climate of open discussion, empathy and understanding. Going into detail and providing an emotional understanding of what is occurring and how students may be affected by said issues should go without saying in these circumstances.

“I call on all of us to remain committed to open, respectful, and compassionate dialogue on the tensions in the Middle East,” Bernstein said in his email. “As an academic community, we have a particular obligation to ask difficult questions and to be open to differing viewpoints on all issues — especially now in pursuit of a

fuller understanding of the causes and resolution of the terrible, tragic conflicts in the Middle East.”

Although it is commendable that the President acknowledges the importance of open and respectful discussion during this time, it is difficult to gain inspiration from a rather lacking response to these pressing issues. Without a solid foundation and lead into these heavy-topic discussions, it is hard for students to feel comfortable enough to take leadership into their own hands. This statement was not enough to call for dialogue. Instead, the College should actively facilitate discussions, encourage openness to difficult questions and acknowledge all diverse perspectives.

Like most college responses to conflicts, the message highlights campus counseling services.

While this is an extremely important part of processing all that is happening, leadership in challenging times calls for more than just offering counseling – it demands a proactive effort to create an inclusive, understanding environment for the entire campus community.

“While there are opposing po-

litical and cultural viewpoints on what has happened in the Middle East, I know we are all united in our conviction that nothing justifies wanton violence, kidnapping, and mayhem directed at innocent civilians,” Bernstein said.

While it’s true that there are opposing viewpoints on this complex issue, it’s important to acknowledge that these viewpoints often reflect deeply held beliefs, personal connections and a complex historical context. The framing of this sentence seems very oversimplified, and dismissive in a manner, leaving students feeling marginalized and not truly heard. This can be disheartening and alienating to students who may have a personal connection to the region or who genuinely grapple with the complexities of the conflict.

While well-intentioned, Bernstein’s response can be perceived as dismissive to students who are being affected by the Israel-Gaza tragedies. Although condemning violence and advocating for unity, Bernstein simplified a highly intricate issue, and his words fell short of providing the support and empathy that is crucial for such a tumultuous time.

The College does not communicate its resources to transfer students

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

Some transfer students have a difficult time finding the College’s resources.

By Liam Simonelli Editorial Cartoonist When it comes to providing its students resources, the College is second to none. But in telling its students of such, it feels like it falls dead last.

I began my first semester at the College this fall. I took the route that many of my peers take; I transferred from Mercer County Community College after completing my first two years there. I am now left with the standard two more years to attain my Bachelor’s Degree.

There is no shortage of resources for transfer students. We are welcomed with the same multitude of

services as all incoming students — academic guidance services, mental health counseling, veteran services and financial aid counseling, to name a few. Each seems sufficient from afar, but at first there was a lack of clarity as to how to locate and utilize them.

I do not feel as though I was the only one of the hundred-some that gathered at Kendall Hall for a welcome lecture this past June who exited feeling uneasy. I was left with countless questions in mind and a hope that they could be answered in some form sooner or later.

A few weeks ago, I found myself in a common position — withdraw-

ing from a class. When I reached the decision, I did not have a clue as to how I would go about it, let alone the obvious daunting questions. How will this withdrawal affect my academic standing? My credits? How will this affect my student aid?

After the matter was sorted out and the withdrawal process was complete, I found myself asking if there was any way I could have avoided such confusion. And, on a larger scale, how many other students are currently coursing through to proceed with the ultimately simple, painless process of withdrawing from a course?

Email advertisements for bookstore apparel and brand-spanking new textbooks were plentiful. Nearly every day for two months straight they landed in my inbox. Frankly, I wish that I had received the same number of emails on matters that could help equip me with the knowledge and tools I wound up needing this fall.

I believe it is the student’s responsibility to research their institution’s academic, financial and health services. However, most or even half of incoming students probably will not do so. Incoming students, inhibited by work, application paperwork, getting acclimated to the school and burnout recovery are tied up. By the time we come to need one of these resources, there is little to no knowledge as to

how to use them.

In the months leading up to the start of my studies at the College, there was one method of communication that I always read — physical mail. Blast emails from the school got lost and Welcome Week lectures often went through one ear and out the other, but physical mail was a surefire way of getting my attention. Having something that I could physically hang up might have done the trick. I valued what information was mailed to me, always filing it in case I’d need to look back at it.

I imagine that method would have been very effective in learning how to withdraw or change my class schedule, understanding PAWS, learning about Flex Points and much more. I found myself waiting for weeks on end for this critical information, but had no luck.

The College should utilize mail and emails to alert incoming students of its many resources or just how to manage my PAWS portal. Through my acceptance process up to the last week of August, there was a scarce supply of either. Something I can hold in my hand can mean much more than an email. I am not the only student out there to be lost in a sea of email blasts in frustration. It is too late for my class, but it is not for future classes.

page 10 The Signal October 20, 2023

Infinity Pool is the best horror film of 2023

Photo courtesy of IMDB

“Infinity Pool” generated $5.2 million in the box office.

By Maia Venuti Staff Writer Only 27 days into the year of 2023, the best horror movie of the year was released. “Infinity Pool” (2023) starring Alexander Skarsgaard, Mia Goth and Cleopatra Coleman is a horror/sci-fi film about a couple vacationing to a fictional island, in which they discover the country’s perverse, hedonistic culture lying

below the surface. Directed by Brandon Cronenberg, son of horror legend David Cronenberg, “Infinity Pool” is his fourth film.

As we are entering the final months of 2023, I feel it is now safe to say, with definitive certainty, that “Infinity Pool” is the best horror movie of this year.

Setting aside the knockout performances from Skarsgaard, Goth, Coleman and the rest of the cast, the premise of this movie is unprecedented. I knew when I first saw this film that it was going to be the best movie of this year, because of how unprecedented and just how unique it is.

The premise of “Infinity Pool” revolves around human cloning, more specifically human cloning for the purpose of capital punishment. When the film’s main character, James (Skarsgaard), was found to have committed a crime, he was arrested and the authorities explained to him the options for his punishment, one of which being the use of a clone of him to take his place in the death penalty. The way this ele-

ment is introduced is extremely abrupt and direct, James is given no time to think about what was laid out in front of him.

What really got me about “Infinity Pool” is that the aspect of human cloning does not feel that far away. Scientific developments of the past decades have led to some incredible advances, like the use of stem cells which are cloned human embryo cells.

Animal cloning is already a thing, with entire animals being cloned. The way this film uses human cloning for capital punishment would certainly violate the 8th Amendment of the US Constitution, as it is cruel and unusual, but terrifyingly feels like a very real thing that could occur in some part of the world at some point in the future.

This film also feels very much like a Stanley Kubrick film, particularly a beautiful blend of “A Clockwork Orange” (1980) and “Eyes Wide Shut” (1999).

The camaraderie James develops with other vacationers is extremely similar to Alex’s droogs in “A Clockwork Orange,” with

there even being shots in “Infinity Pool” that directly mirror shots from the former. The prominent use of masks, a small group of people engaging in debauchery, hedonism, and a bit of the old ultraviolence is so reminiscent of “Eyes Wide Shut”, with emphasis on the hedonism and debauchery.

When I first watched “Infinity Pool” I remember saying that Brandon Cronenberg could have directed “Eyes Wide Shut” or “A Clockwork Orange,” but Stanley Kubrick could not have directed “Infinity Pool.” Maybe I say that because there is no source material that “Infinity Pool” was based on, and Kubrick’s films were book adaptations, whereas “Infinity Pool” is an entirely unique and unheard of premise.

It is for these reasons and many others that I maintain the belief that “Infinity Pool” is the best horror film of the year. I genuinely am looking forward to seeing what Cronenberg does next, and how he will continue to flawlessly raise the bar for the horror/science fiction genre.

Letters

The number of graduate students is growing at the College

Dear Editors,

I am writing to you today to laud author Nicholas Steinhauser’s Oct. 5 article (“What to expect as a grad student at the College”) and your editorial team for its publication. The piece does an excellent job of encapsulating key intricacies of the graduate experiences offered at the College and how these experiences both expand upon and differ from the undergraduate experience.

As the article suggests, graduate students are a vibrant and growing part of the campus community, and come from many different backgrounds, such as recent graduates of the College and undergraduate programs at other institutions, current College students in combined bachelor’s-to-master’s programs, working professionals and more. Due to the variety of backgrounds, graduate students’ schedules can vary greatly and their experiences are often more individualized based on what opportunities they are most able to participate in.

We—myself and the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education—aim to meet the needs and interests of this population and further bolster this community by working with academic departments, current students and other stakeholders to identify and develop new areas of programming at the graduate level. This effort is explicitly aligned with elements 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the College’s most recent strategic plan, TCNJ 2027: Extending our Excellence.

Two recent examples of such programming include the new Master of Public Policy program and the Master of Arts in Educational Studies, in which students at the post-baccalaureate level complete two education-related graduate certificates as part of an interdisciplinary master’s program. Readers who have ideas for program areas not currently offered by the College are strongly encouraged to contact the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education directly via email (graduate@tcnj.edu).

Sincerely, Suzanne McCotter, PhD Dean of Graduate and Continuing Education

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Editorials

We can revitalize local news by strengthening student media

By The Board

Signal

Editorial 70-year-old conflict that single journalists 10-times-moreexperienced than our staff For about a week now, our cannot decide on? staff has been struggling to How can we communicate the wrap our heads around the devastating impact of bombs current state of affairs in Israel dropping on hospitals when we and Palestine. Obviously, we have never experienced such recognize that students at the damage? How can we even College may not be reading comprehend this violence in breaking news about the any way whatsoever? conflict from The Signal.

We are just college students.

Journalists across the world And yet the horrors of our dropped their projects and fled lifetime continue to manifest to the region to communicate and will continue to demand with the rest of the world the more from each of us each year. level of violence occurring.

And yet we as students are We cover the conflict from the constantly given the immense comfort of our office. weight of the world not to We have spent hours carry on our shoulders, but to discussing phrasing and make lighter. framing and context to the We have been having a point that our discussions difficult time covering this lost meaning. How can we violence because it should talk about such things about a never have been our job to try

to cover it in the first place.

It is our job to cover college finances and sports games and silly events in the Stud.

These events impact our campus, however, and it becomes our job to measure

and communicate how they do.

We will therefore do our best to make these hard decisions that seasoned journalists never can in order to provide the most reliable information to students as we possibly can.

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Thousands of Palestinians and Israelis dead in Israel-Hamas war

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer Israel has formally declared war on Hamas, a militant group that governs, but does not represent all Palestinian people living in Gaza, after it launched an unprecedented attack by air, land and sea on southern Israel. The highly coordinated assault has killed thousands of people, both soldiers and civilians, with Oct. 7 being called the “deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust” by United States President Joe Biden.

Hamas militants fired over five thousand rockets toward Israeli towns from the Gaza Strip, a coastal enclave over which it has control, before breaking through portions of the heavily fortified, twentyfoot-tall fence at the Gaza barrier with bulldozers, according to The Associated Press. Hundreds of militants have crossed the border to launch ground attacks on civilians in several towns in southern Israel, storming into communities on motorboats, paragliders and pickup trucks.

Hundreds of buildings were decimated and civilians were left trapped beneath the rubble.

Simultaneously, Hamas armed fighters burst into homes, shooting residents and taking others, including women, children and the elderly, as hostages. Over 1,300 Israelis have been killed as a result of the attack and 3,200 left wounded, as of Oct. 15. Militants also opened fire at the Nova Festival, an outdoor music festival celebrating the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, taking some attendees hostage. At least 260 bodies were found at the rural farmland grounds about two miles from the Gaza-Israel border where the festival took place, according to CNN. “We didn’t even have any place to hide because we were at [an] open space,” Tal Gibly, a festival attendee, told CNN. “Everyone got so panicked and started to take their stuff.” Videos circulating on social media show hundreds of attendees running across an empty field with gunshots heard in the background.

Hamas is a political party in the Gaza Strip that believes in the creation of a Palestinian state, according to NBC. Since its founding in 1987, it has es-

Israel has formally declared war on Hamas.

poused violence as a way to liberate occupied Palestinian territories. The U.S., Canada and the European Union designate it as a terrorist organization because of its previous attacks on Israel. Its actions are divisive among Palestinians and those who support establishing an independent Palestinian state due to its use of violence. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, Hamas has ties with Iran, which provides the organization with material and financial support, and Lebanon-based militant group, Hezbollah.

Within hours of the attack, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu formally declared war on Hamas. The country retaliated by launching by far the most powerful bombing campaign in the 75-year-old history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, dropping about 6,000 bombs on Gaza between Oct. 7 and 12. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are targeting weapons storage centers and infrastructure used or occupied by Hamas militants, but, according to United Nations reports, at least a dozen health facilities in the territory have also been hit in the strikes, including 20 United Nations Reliefs and Works Agency facilities and schools sheltering displaced civilians.

As of Oct. 15, over 2,300 Palestinians have been killed as a result of the airstrikes, more than half being women and children.

Since 2007, the Gaza Strip has been under a land, air and sea blockade instated by Israel and Egypt. The United Nations and international human rights groups have condemned the blockade and have described Gaza as “the world’s largest open-air prison” as residents

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

are unable to leave the territory without Israeli-approved permits, according to NBC. Israel maintains that the blockade is meant to prevent border crossings and restrict what can go in and out of Gaza. Concrete walls and barbed wire fences also serve as a physical blockade meant to guard against Hamas’ attacks.

A humanitarian crisis has unfolded in Gaza after Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant imposed a complete siege on the region, meaning food, water, fuel and electricity have been cut off for 2.2 million residents. The enclave’s only power plant has been switched off, and most hospitals, which are nearly at maximum capacity, are running out of fuel for backup generators. Gaza is on the brink of running out of clean water, fuel and critical supplies as no aid has been able to enter the region after Israel closed off its two border crossings with Gaza, leaving the only way in or out through the crossing with Egypt at Rafah.

According to CNN, the Rafah crossing has not been officially closed, but airstrikes on the Palestinian side have prevented it from operating.

The crisis is expected to worsen as more than 1 million residents of the Gaza Strip were told in paper notices dropped from the sky to leave their homes in the north within 24 hours and evacuate to the south before an anticipated ground invasion. The evacuation order unleashed a new level of panic as residents fear they do not have a safe place to go, and hospitals and clinics treating wounded patients from the nearly-constant attacks have no way of safely evacuating victims.

Abu Safiya, who works with the international nonprofit MedGlobal, said his hospital is treating complex injuries, such as missing limbs and full-body burns. “Most of the injured, they’re all children, all children,” he told NPR in a voice message. “There’s been evacuation orders. People have children, elderly. Where should they go?”

Israeli officials have vowed to “obliterate” Hamas using any means necessary, yet some of the tactics, which have resulted in a significant loss of civilian lives, are classified as war crimes under the Geneva Convention. A group of independent United Nations experts along with many human rights groups say the reprisal strikes on Gaza amount to “collective punishment” and that there is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. They also condemn the crimes committed by Hamas in their statement, saying its actions are violations of international law for which there must be accountability.

The U.S. and many European countries condemned the attacks by Hamas, expressing solidarity for Israel and stating that the nation has a right to defend itself from armed attacks, whereas many Middle Eastern countries have expressed solidarity for the Palestinians, blaming the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories as the root cause for the escalation of violence.

“So, in this moment, we must be crystal clear: We stand with Israel,” Biden said in a speech.

“And we will make sure Israel has what it needs to take care of its citizens, defend itself, and respond to this attack.” The White House has confirmed that it has already begun delivering critically needed munitions and military equipment to Israel, including the Ford carrier strike group and A-10 fighter aircraft squadrons.

The IDF has amassed military personnel and equipment at the border of Israel and Gaza after it announced plans to carry out “an integrated and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land.” With Israel calling up 360,000 reservists ahead of the attack, a cessation of hostilities seems to be a distant prospect.

October 20, 2023 The Signal page 13

McCarthy removed as House Speaker in historic vote

By Ailya Khan Staff Writer The United States House of Representatives enters uncharted waters with the recent removal of Republican Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House. This ousting is quite extraordinary, marking the first time in U.S. history a speaker has been voted out of office. Several members of the GOP aligned with the House Democrats and moved to push McCarthy out of office, rebelling against their own party.

The rebellion was instigated by Republican Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, after McCarthy’s debt deal with President Joe Biden in efforts to prevent a government shutdown. This sudden ousting was actually the final explosion of long building tensions between McCarthy and the right-wing faction of the house, as he has been criticized by Republicans for not living up to his promises and being untruthful, according to AP News.

McCarthy had originally secured his position as speaker of the house on the 15th ballot with 216 votes, after a drawn out process of 14 unsuccessful ballots, according to Roll Call. In order to gain the support of Republicans that were not entirely in his favor, McCarthy agreed to a number of concessions, one being a rule change that would allow only a single member to bring on a “motion to vacate” and try to force him out of office. This modification is what eventually allowed for his re-

moval by the efforts of Gaetz.

Gaetz has long accused McCarthy as unreliable to uphold certain conservative principles, according to BBC News. For example, conservatives strongly opposed McCarthy relying on Democratic votes to secure a short term spending deal as they adamantly demanded larger spending cuts. McCarthy had also negotiated with Democrats in the summer to raise the debt ceiling without establishing the spending cuts Republicans called for, further perpetuating these complaints.

Gaetz introduced a motion to vacate, which initiated a 48-hour process in which the House was able to remove the speaker. The motion to vacate passed with a vote of 216210, officially declaring the office of the speaker of the house as vacant for the first time during a term.

All 208 Democrats, along with eight Republicans, teamed up to push McCarthy out of office. The majority of Republicans attempted to save McCarthy, but were unable to battle the storm Gaetz had set into motion, according to NBC News.

The now former speaker has asserted that he does not intend on re-running for the position, according to AP, leaving the path clear for any Republican who may want to take the position.

As for the next steps, Republican Patrick McHenry has been named speaker pro tempore, and is currently acting speaker. McHenry was chosen as temporary speaker from a private list given to the House Clerk

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

McCarhy was removed as Speaker of the House in a historic vote.

by McCarthy when he was initially elected. This list consists of options for replacements in the event of a vacancy.

The speaker pro tempore can fill the role of the speaker indefinitely, but does not have the full authority of an elected speaker, but only those that are deemed “necessary and proper,” according to AP. McHenry is unable to bring any matter of legislation to the floor, but he is however urgently faced with the matter of electing a new speaker.

The minimal power of a temporary speaker significantly immobilizes legislative action in the House, presenting a dire need for someone to be elected to the position urgently.

Additionally, this shocking majority decision intensifies questions surrounding crucial matters such as an annual budget, avoiding a government shutdown and financial aid for Ukraine, according to BBC News.

Prominent issues such as these and many more will become pressingly urgent as the House works to fill the office of the speaker. A vote is planned to take place after the House resumes from a week-long recess.

These latest events within the House of Representatives seem to be generating chaos within the government. Differing opinions amongst Republicans regarding McCarthy’s ousting are causing deep divisions within the GOP, hindering the process of choosing a new speaker.

Two potential candidates that have announced their intention to run are Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, and Steve Scalise (RLa.), according to The Washington Post. As Congress grapples with this issue, the future of the Republican majority within the House becomes steadily unclear.

HARVARD / Harvard student groups face backlash over pro-Palestine letter Continued from page 1 Former Harvard University president Lawrence Summers took to X and wrote how he has never been as disillusioned and alienated as he was in nearly 50 years of Harvard affiliation.

“The silence from Harvard’s leadership, so far, coupled with a vocal and widely reported student groups’ statement blaming Israel solely, has allowed Harvard to appear at best neutral towards acts of terror against the Jewish state of Israel,” Summers said.

Some of the university’s current faculty and staff rebuked the student statement as well, including Harvard Hillel, the university’s Jewish center, which claimed the statement was a sign of “further hatred and anti-Semitism.”

A statement made by Harvard University leadership on Oct. 9 did not directly address the controversy but instead said university leaders were “heartbroken” by the Hamas’ attack on Israel and that “the violence hits all too close to home for many at Harvard.”

In another statement issued by President Claudine Gay on Oct. 10, she clarified that the school “condemn[ed] the terrorist atrocities perpetrated by Hamas.” She also stated that while students have the right to speak for themselves, no student group speaks on behalf of Harvard University or its leadership.

Later that day, after Gay’s statement was issued, at least five of the original student group co-signers withdrew their endorsements, including Amnesty International at Harvard, Harvard College Act on a Dream, the Harvard Undergraduate Nepali Student Association, the Harvard Islamic Society and Harvard Undergraduate Ghungroo, despite the full list of endorsing groups being taken off the public statement earlier, according to the Harvard Crimson.

Harvard Computer Science professor Boaz Barak asked the university’s leadership to denounce the statement for “condoning hate crimes against civilians based only on their nationality.”

As of Oct. 11, he has not received a response to this letter. While the statements “partially” address what Barak raised in his letter, he felt that they “still [feel] short of condemning, rather than only distancing from, the outrageous statement by 35 student groups.”

Within 72 hours of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee’s statement, they have since been forced to postpone their vigil due to credible safety concerns and threats against student security, reporting to be flooded with “racist hate speech and death threats,” with hundreds of students being persecuted both on campus and online, even without affiliation with the committee.

Several CEOs have contacted the university to release the names of the student groups tied to the letter, according to USA Today, to prevent their companies from hiring them in the future. The conservative media group Accuracy in Media also claimed to be responsible for a truck driving around Harvard University’s campus on

Photo coutesy of Wikimedia Commons

Harvard groups face backlash.

Oct. 11, displaying the names and faces of several students allegedly affiliated with the student statement.

The Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee rejects the notion that Palestinian solidarity groups are always expected to preempt their statements with condemnation of violence and claims that the university “invests in Israeli apartheid” and how they, as students, reserve the right and responsibility to interrogate and educate about the core reasons of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“We hope to open up a space for grief and processing in the coming days, and will be in communication as soon as possible,” the committee posted on Oct. 11.

page 14 The Signal October 20, 2023

Youth sue European nations for climate change inaction

By Rajika Chauhan Staff Writer

The climate crisis has been affixed to the global consciousness and for no group more strongly than today’s youth, who have taken on the issue by leading protests and staging demonstrations. The fight has now taken an unprecedented legal footing as a group of youth activists in Portugal begin a legal challenge against 32 European governments for what they claim has been a violation to their human rights, as reported by NPR. The six Portuguese youth have raised the case on the basis that the failure of the contested European governments to adequately address the issues of climate change or institute appropriate reforms has unlawfully deprived young people of a quality life and guarantee of future.

Reuters reports that the case is being brought forth in the European Court of Human Rights based in Strasbourg, France, and is the largest climate case of its kind to be heard in that setting. It was filed in Sept. 2020, against the 27 members of the E.U. and Britain, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, and Turkey.

The case is unique in its attempts to specifically tie the effects of climate change to a decline in the quality of individual lives. The ultimate goal is to hold the inaction and policy positions held by governments responsible for

the progression of the climate crisis and mandate changes in action going forward.

The six activists, ranging in age from 11 to 24, are backed by the Global Legal Action Network, based in Britain. A successful complaint could force court orders for the cutting of carbon monoxide emissions at a pace far faster than governments had originally planned for, as mentioned by AP News. The rulings of the court hold considerable leverage over the actions of member countries, with failure to comply with mandates potentially incurring heavy fines.

Lawyers representing the 32 nations are building a defense around a lack of evidence that a significant proportion of the youth have experienced any quantifiable suffering due to climate change.

Reuters reports that they additionally seek to disprove the ties between the

worsening impacts of climate change and any specific policies enacted by the governments under trial.

Claims are also being made from the opposition that the European Court of Human Rights does not have appropriate jurisdiction over the case, being that the pursuant are not nationals of any of the countries they are suing other than Portugal.

As profiled in NPR, the six members of the Portuguese activists include Sofia and Andre Oliviera, siblings who were first spurred to action when the 2017 wildfires in Portugal killed over a 100 people. The remaining four are all siblings and cousins, hailing from a region in central Portugal where similar wildfires are also common.

The complaints in the case include difficulties for the young activists in sleeping, concentrating or enjoying time outside during heat waves. The case is being crowdfunded by support from international nonprofits and donors.

There has been contempt on the side of the activists for what they claim is trivialization and belittlement on the part of the governments.

“I am shocked by the countries’ attempt to ignore the evidence that we’ve put in front of them, and trivialize the current state we are facing,” André Oliveira stated to AP News.

A ruling on the case is expected to be

The second category is the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The 2023 winners are Moungi G. Bawendi, Louis E. Brus and Alexei I. Ekimov for the “discovery and synthesis of quantum dots.” According to the British Council, a quantum dot is a nanoparticle that is made from a semiconductor material. They appear to have quantum effects due to their small size. These quantum dots have proven to be integral to the field of medicine due to their applications in drug delivery, live imaging and medical diagnosis, as the National Library of Medicine reports. The third category is the Nobel Prize in Medicine. The 2023 winners are Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman for “their discoveries concerning nucleoside base modifications that enabled the development of effective mRNA vaccines against COVID-19.” According to Penn Medicine, Dr. Kariko and her co-collaborator, Dr. Weissman discovered a way to modify mRNA fifteen years ago. This technique developed the ability to package the mRNA in a lipid base, in order for the mRNA to trigger an immune response and allow the vaccine to work. Not only has the development of this vaccine helped fight a pandemic, but it has allowed for the preservation of future generations to come.

The fourth category is the No-

bel Prize in Literature. The 2023 winner is John Fosse for “his innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.” According to Britannica, John Fosse has written over seventy works, which have been translated into over fifty languages. His most famous works focus on the lives of ordinary people on the outer reaches of society, specifically describing the lives of the lower and working classes in a meaningful way, as reported by The Atlantic. His works “This Is How It Was” and “Strong Wind” are particularly popular as a result of this award.

The fifth category is the Nobel Prize in Peace. The 2023 winner is Narges Mohammadi for “her fight against the oppression of women in Iran and her fight to promote human rights and freedom for all.”

According to Britannica, Mohammadi is an Iranian journalist and human rights activist known for her position as director of the Defenders of Human Rights Center, which advocates for prisoners captured for political purposes by the Taliban. Not only has she been arrested for advocating for this cause, but she has also saved countless lives.

The sixth and final category is the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. The 2023 winner is Claudia Goldin for “having advanced our understanding of women’s labor

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Kids sue 32 governments to force action.

achieved by mid-2024. Until then, back and forth continues between nations who claim that adequate measures are being taken to address the impacts of climate change and youth activists who fail to see the results. For example, NPR cites the 2015 Paris Climate accord, which set a pledge to curb carbon emissions and reduce global warming, but has been severely missed by a majority of countries in the time since. Global average temperatures are expected to rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius by 2100.

Precedents set in similar court cases recently offer hope to the Portuguese cause. A group of Montana youth won a case this August, proving that the state’s approval of new fossil fuel projects had been neglectful of climate change.

NPR reports that in 2019, the Dutch Supreme Court ruled in favor of a sustainability group, the Urgenda Foundation, finding that the emission targets set by the government were unlawful. The government responded with advanced measures, pledging to shut all coal-fired power plants by the year 2030.

The scope of this case in an international court makes it difficult to use past rulings as a predictive tool. Despite the variable outcomes, it remains a remarkable example of the transition of the activist movement beyond protest, moving into concrete strategies that seek to use institutional resources to force corrective change.

Inspiring Discoveries: Nobel Prize Winners 2023

By Abigail Gilder Staff Writer

On Oct. 2, the Nobel Prize Winners for 2023 were announced. The Nobel Prize was first developed conceptually by Alfred Nobel, a Renaissance inventor, entrepreneur, scientist and businessman.

He also held interests in poetry and drama. Each of his interests are reflected in the six different types of Nobel Prizes, which are Physics, Chemistry, Medicine, Literature, Peace and Economics.

The first category is the Nobel Prize in Physics. The 2023 winners are Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier for the “experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter.” An attosecond is an incredibly short pulse of light, and is the natural timescale for the movement of electrons, as reported by PBS. It is one quintillionth of a second, and the aforementioned physicists have used experiments to generate these attoseconds in order to study the movement of electrons, according to Electro Optics. Electrons are small particles responsible for the atomic makeup of the elements, and understanding them and their functions has proven to be crucial to the development of scientific knowledge.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The Nobel Prize winners in 2023.

market outcomes.” According to The New York Times, after studying women in the workforce and its implications, Goldin has uncovered massive gender gaps in the labor force and the causes for such phenomena. Her research has shown that the rate of employed married women significantly decreased in the 1800s as people moved away from an agricultural economy. Not only has her research helped to advance the understanding of inequalities in the workforce, but she has made multiple publications of her research available to the public.

The Nobel Prize is not easy to win; nominees must go through a difficult and arduous process in order to win the prize. Thousands of university professors and scientists are asked to submit nominations each year. While each subset of the Nobel Prize category has a different nominations and awards process, it is impressive, to say the least, to all winners selected.

Unveiling the artistry of four seniors in the BFA Senior Solo Exhibition

Photo courtesy of Brielle Zemer

Senior students had to curate a solo exhibition.

By Jasmine Lee Staff Writer Step into the world of artistic excellence as four talented senior fine arts students – Jessie Bodnar, Brighid Keller, Jenna Clayton and Emily Vargas – unveiled their individual exhibitions. These captivating displays were hosted in AIMM 111 and 119, enticing viewers until Oct.18.

Within the framework of their Professional Practice course, senior students must curate a solo exhibition, crafting a significant collection of their work for presentation in an exhibition venue.

Each of the four exhibitions provided a unique viewer experience,

effectively conveying the artists’ individual messages in their distinct styles. Through mediums such as papier-mâché, photography and diverse 3D displays utilizing various materials, these artists expressed their emotions in diverse and creative ways.

Specializing in photography and video, Bodnar found inspiration in Wendy Cope’s poem “The Orange,” which celebrates the joy of spending time with loved ones and cherishing life’s simple pleasures, such as sharing an orange, taking leisurely strolls in the park or shopping.

Bodnar’s images radiated happiness and positivity, notably evident in her choice of using friends as

models, a creative twist that beautifully resonated with the poem’s themes.

In the same exhibition space, viewers saw Clayton’s artwork titled “The Saddest Part Ever,” which, at first glance, appeared to exude a similar sense of positivity through its colorful exterior. However, upon closer inspection, viewers discovered the hidden depths of darkness within the piece.

Clayton, who specializes in fine arts, employed a multitude of artistic techniques, ranging from paper, painting and embroidery to creating contrasting colors and bold text using thick markers.

In an interview, Clayton conveyed her intention to create art that stands in contrast to potentially insensitive portrayals of mental health issues. Her artwork is designed to be thought-provoking and open to interpretation.

“It’s mostly based on childhood trauma,” said Clayton. “It shows a play on mental health and sort of acting like you’re okay when you’re not. Kind of like the feeling when you suppress feelings and put on a brave face. I wanted to show the intrusive thoughts dancing around your head, as well as a feeling of isolation.”

Vargas, also specializing in fine arts, called her project “Chromatic Canvas,” which centers on “abstraction, texture, collage and the

symbolism of color,” according to a post on the School of Arts and Communication’s website.

Vargas primarily utilizes painting as her medium of choice, and for her exhibition, she aimed to experiment with a variety of textures, layering techniques and materials.

In an interview, Vargas expressed her desire to recreate the childhood sensation of wanting to touch objects, seeking to evoke a sensory experience through her art.

Specializing in photography and video, Keller’s objective was to elicit distinct emotions from her audience through her visual work.

Her exhibition, titled “Salt Air,” predominantly revolves around beach scenes. Keller articulated her desire for her photographs to transport viewers into a serene and peaceful state of mind, providing a temporary rest from their stress.

“I feel like I wanted to do a place about comfort, and I grew up going to the beach, specifically the Jersey Shore,” Keller explained. “It’s somewhere I can go to find peace in the different colors and sounds.

I wanted to show scenes that would bring other people the same comforting feeling they brought me.”

When visiting, viewers saw how much effort these artists put into their exhibitions, and it was really nice to see their own art on display.

Stay tuned for more Senior Solo Exhibitions in the future!

Professor Cassandra Jackson discusses her new memoir ‘The Wreck’

Photo courtesy of Marceline Hale

Professor Cassandra Jackson and Professor Piper Kendrix Williams.

By Lilly Ward Staff Writer On Oct. 5, Cassandra Jackson, a professor of English and African American studies, discussed her new memoir, “The Wreck,” along with colleague Piper Kendrix Williams, associate professor of English and African American studies, at an event in Kendall Hall.

Jackson is also the author of “Barriers Between Us: Interracial Sex in Nineteenth-Century American Lit-

erature” and “Violence, Visual Culture, and the Black Male Body.” She also co-authored “The Toni Morrison Book Club” with Williams.

In “The Wreck,” the past and present converge as Jackson reflects on the connection between her yearning for motherhood and the lingering echo of a family tragedy that took place before her birth.

By focusing on her childhood, as well as her struggles with infertility, Jackson draws parallels between her own family’s experiences of

racism, with her own chilling encounters of discrimination.

“When we talk about the past there is so much that has not only been forgotten but actively repressed,” said Jackson.

While struggling to conceive her first child, Jackson reflected on how a 1960 car accident in Alabama caused her father to not only lose his first wife, but his mother, sister, husband-in-law and his 3-year-old niece, San. This event irrevocably changed his life. The loss of San in particular, for whom Jackson was named, reverberated throughout Jackson’s childhood.

“There’s a way in which grief was always present. It was always there.

It was like another family member, and you just didn’t talk about that presence, but I feel like you were all very aware of it,” said Jackson.

As a young child, Jackson struggled to put the pieces together of what exactly had happened on the day of “the wreck,” as her father referred to it. When she visited her father’s relatives, they always remarked on the uncanny similarities in her appearance to her deceased grandmother, aunt and cousin.

She knew there had been a car accident, but she didn’t know how many relatives had died. Her mother was resistant to questions asked about the accident, and her father was unable to talk about the event, haunted by grief. She often heard him call out the name that belonged to her and her cousin in his sleep.

As an adult navigating infertility, Jackson became conscious of how her own desire for a child mirrored the sense of loss that she inherited from an early age. She began to meditate on the need to continue her family line that had endured so much amidst what was considered to be the worst car accident on record in the state of Alabama, combined with the stark rules of Jim Crow.

A white driver was responsible for causing the accident that killed Jackson’s family. As they were going over a hill, a white driver decided to go around them, driving into an oncoming dump truck on the left side of the road. Still, it was her family that was blamed for the accident in the press, Jackson said.

Read more on our website!

page 16 The Signal October 20, 2023

‘The Eras Tour’ movie: Not your usual theater experience

By Rebecca Farber Contributor

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Taylor Swift poses for “The Eras Tour” movie poster.

2023’s favorite celebrity, Taylor Swift, adored by hopeless romantic girls and notorious for emptying parents’ wallets worldwide, premiered her concert film of “The Eras Tour” on Friday, Oct. 13.

Much like the live show itself, the film is a meticulously choreographed masterpiece that lives up to the anticipation surrounding the Eras Tour concert experience. Flashing lights, bright and sparkly outfits, adoring energy, and the performance of a lifetime–all on the big screen.

During the performance, Swift seamlessly transitions across seventeen years of music from her ten

studio albums, dedicating an ‘era’ to each of them within the set. Opening the movie with an overhead shot of SoFi Stadium assisted with text at the bottom of the screen, viewers learn that the filming took place over the duration of her shows at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Notably, this film isn’t a typical documentary style tour diary at all; it’s primarily a recording of the live concert, devoid of interviews, side discussions or behind-the-scenes clips. Swift made it explicitly clear that this movie isn’t meant to be a passive viewing experience like traditional cinema. Singing, dancing, taking pictures and chatting are all encouraged while watching.

Read more on our website!

G-Idle brings the ‘HEAT’ with their new EP es on their latest EP and first-ever entirely English release, “HEAT.” Having previously gone viral on TikTok several times for the strong messages of female empowerment in their songs, the five-member K-Pop girl-group G-Idle definitely has another hit on their hands with their latest EP. The album begins with “I Do,” is a romance song that reminds me of “Love Me Like You” by Little Photo courtesy of IMDb Mix. This is the perfect post-breakG-idle showcases their stunning vocals up introspection song; it’s sad and on their newest release. captures the longing for that love

By Alyssa Serrano that was once shared well. I love Staff Writer the vocals on this song; all of the girls’ voices blend well, so everyG-Idle returns with their signa- thing flows nicely. ture high energy and catchy chorusThe following song is a com-

plete mood switch. Going from sorrowful, the group switches to a very confident and high-energy song. Instead of begging for their ex back in “I Want That,” G-Idle is listing out their demands, and their voices ooze confidence. This would be the perfect song to strut to; both the beat and the energy are immaculate!

“Eyes Roll” continues that streak of confidence, but this song’s lyrics are a lot more sexual. “I Want That” feels like it is building up to something in the singer and their partner’s romance, but “Eyes Roll” feels like the climax in that relationship, where that tension finally peaks.

Read more on our website!

WTSR

NEW NOISE

This week, WTSR highlights some of the best new music that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 WTSR, puts into their weekly rotation.

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Band Name: Sufjan Stevens Album Title: “Javelin” Release Number: 13th Hailing From: Detroit, MI Genre: Indie, Alternative Rock Label: Ashmatic Kitty

This album drowns the listener in walls of sometimes lilting, sometimes wailing instrumentation that is a collage of classical, folk and indie sensibilities. Stevens’ masterful understanding of alternative song structure allows the songs on Javelin to breathe and be each an experience all their own. This album will leave the listener balled up and crying on the floor in the best way possible, a must listen if you are a fan of that airy, acoustic form of sonic depression.

Reviewer: Addie DiPietro

Drake’s new album is both bland and repetitive

By Bailei Burgess-Simmons Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Drake is known for his clever bars and fusion of Hip-Hop and R&B.

On Oct. 6, Drake released his highly anticipated eighth studio album, “For All The Dogs.” The album cover, which depicts a goat drawn by the rapper’s son, combined with the general assumption that this new project would be some of his best work, made the wait for the album an eager one.

However, what we got was nothing short of forgettable. While I initially planned to rank the album in

order of the songs I liked most to least, it proved to be difficult considering most of the songs felt unoriginal and half-done.

Rather than re-enter the debate about the greatest artists of our generation, Drake has left critics with nothing to discuss besides how — with the last three consecutive albums — his music has failed to mature with him.

The album opened with “Virginia Beach,” sampling Frank Ocean’s unreleased 2012 single, “Wiseman.”

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‘Re: This Is Why’: Paramore’s unnecessary remix record

By Lake DiStefano Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

The album cover presents a new take of the original album’s artwork.

When Paramore released their sixth studio album back in February, the standard edition of “This Is Why,” I was elated. It was a stunning record. So when the remix album, “Re: This Is Why,” was announced, I felt a sense of dread.

How does one reimagine such a tight record in a fresh and compelling way?

Despite the featured artists on each track, who were tasked with

remixing one song from the main album and are featured in the new song titles, “Re: This Is Why” falls short of any semblance of quality.

The record starts with “This Is Why (Re: Foals).” Electronic beats are added onto the original song, as well as removing the instrumental in its entirety. Due to this, the vocals feel unsupported, and the song sounds choppy and artificially created. You can practically hear the stray parts of the song being forced together.

Read more on our website!

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Band Name: Molly Burch Album Title: “Daydreamer” Release Number: 4 Hailing From: Los Angeles, CA Genre: Indie pop Label: Captured Track Records

Burch’s melodies create an environment of nostalgia as Burch reflects upon her childhood in the early tracks of her album. Midway through, the interesting lyrics about love and the enchanting vocals shine in its tracks.

Some also carry subtle rock influences, which enhance Burch’s J-pop-influenced sound. Burch’s two concluding tracks almost resemble lullabies, as her light, airy vocals and the steady backing instrumentation lull listeners into a daydream state, in accordance with the album’s title.

Reviewer: Allison Silver

October 20, 2023 The Signal page 17

Men’s soccer loses to No. 6 Montclair State

By Eddie Young Sports Editor

The College’s men’s soccer team dropped a home game on Oct. 14 to No. 6 Montclair State University by a score of 4-0. This loss gives the College a 3-10-2 overall record, and a 1-4-1 record in the NJAC. Things never really got underway for the Lions, as Montclair State took control of the game right from the start. They controlled the ball for most of the first half, and were able to take 10 shots in the half, compared to one from the Lions.

Five of the Red Hawks’ shots were on goal, with one by junior midfielder Amer Lukovic getting past senior goalkeeper Julian Franco in the 21st minute to give them a 1-0 lead at halftime. Franco had four of his seven saves in the first half.

Things only got worse for the College in the second half. In the 47th minute, Franco was called for an illegal touching foul outside of the penalty area, giving Lukovic a penalty kick, which he converted.

The Red Hawks scored

Junior midfielder and captain Julien Carraha. twice more later in the half, as they were just too much for the Lions to handle in this game. They outshot the College 11-3 in the second half, tallying up to a total of 21 shots compared to four for the College.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

Franco had four more of his seven saves in the second half, and his work in net kept the game from being more of a blowout than it could have been. Freshman midfielder Matias Hornos had two of the College’s four shots, with one

being on goal, and sophomore midfielder J.J. Zaun had the team’s other two shots.

For Montclair State, this win added on to an already dominant season for their team. Lukovic had 10 shots, with seven of them being on goal in this game. He scored his 21st and 22nd goals on the season, which has him leading the NJAC in goals by an absurd 10 goals.

The Red Hawks became 12-1-1 with this win, and 6-0 in conference play. They are atop of the conference, and at No. 6 in the country, they are the highest ranked team the College has to face this season.

“Playing a team like Montclair shows us what the top level teams in the NJAC look like and what we need to do to be able to compete on the same level,” said Zaun.

The Lions only have three games left in the season before the NJAC conference tournament rolls around. They will travel to Rowan University on Oct. 18 and New Jersey City University on Oct. 21.

To end off the regular season, they will host Rutgers-Camden on Oct. 25 for the team’s Senior Night.

Football loses heartbreaker, drops a close game at home four of those being by one score or less.

Coming into the game, the Lions were 1-3 and coming off three bad losses where the offense looked one dimensional and anemic.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone Rowan was Senior defensive back Jacob Maurice in also having a tough start to the coverage year 1-3, but their issue is not

By Joey Bachich scoring, but defense, letting up Staff Writer almost 37 points a game so far this season.

The College lost a hardfought defensive battle to rival What Unfolded Rowan University on a walk-off The Lions looked good in touchdown by a score of 9-7. It the first half, but had a special was close the entire way, but a teams fumble in the first quarlast-second 30-yard touchdown ter with a blocked field goal was enough for Rowan to claim that would loom large later in the victory. the game. The Lions broke a huge play in the second quarter The Buildup by senior business management The Lions faced off against major Thomas Burke who had a NJAC rival Rowan in an im73-yard catch that led to a Lions portant game for the Lions as TD. they were trying to climb the Besides the big play, the standings of the NJAC. Rowan College again had a tough ofhas had the Lions number the fensive outing in the first half. past few seasons, with the ColThe Lions defense played unlege losing five in a row with

believably, keeping the normally high-flying Rowan offense down to only three points at halftime.

The Lions in the third quarter had a great offensive drive that led the team down to the red zone, but yet again special teams woes continued with a missed field goal and again kept Rowan in the game. In the red zone on the next drive, the College decided to not kick the field goal, but instead gave up a strip sack fumble that gave Rowan the ball back and kept the game unnecessarily close.

In the fourth quarter, the College was again driving at the Rowan 26-yard line when senior quarterback and finance major Trevor Bopp threw an interception after a really good drive and stopped the momentum for the College again near the red zone.

Later, after taking a penalty for a false start, the College had another field goal missed, but this time due to it being blocked. To add insult to injury, Bopp went down with an apparent leg injury that let senior finance major Stephan Began see some game time. Up 7-3 with a minute to play Rowan drove down the field and with time expiring the

Lions defense finally broke and let up a 30 yard touchdown to end the game, allowing Rowan to win 9-7.

What to do now Special teams, costly penalties and offensive red zone efficiency need major changes in the future for head coach Casey Goff if he wants to have a Lions team go over .500. Since his tenure started in 2017 the team has not won over five games, but they have had more allNJAC selections every season than the previous.

So if the players are getting better for the Lions, something on the offensive side of the ball has to change. The run and gun offensive set is not working with the College, averaging eight points a game in their last four losses. If an opposing team can stop the inside zone run play, the offense cannot seem to switch gears and change its plans, especially in the red zone.

The next two games against 0-5 Kean University and 2-3 Gettysburg College are crucial for the Lions to salvage the season as they look to try and get to .500 for the first time since 2013.

Football completes dominant shutout of Kean Cougars

By Zach Jacovini Staff Writer

Through rain and a sloppy offensive performance throughout the game, the Lions were able to get back in the win column with a dominant, shutout win over the Kean University Cougars.

Senior Stephen Begen started the game at quarterback for the Lions for the first time this season, playing a decent game in a hostile atmosphere. Begen would end the day with just 134 yards and two touchdown passes, but he took care of the football, yielding only one interception to the Cougars.

The real story of the day was the Lions power-running game in the rain. Lions coaches did an excellent job of planning for the poor weather conditions throughout the contest, and they decided on keeping the ball in the hands of their running backs for most of the afternoon.

These extra carries given to junior running backs Jayson Schmidt and Ryan McKinney paid off for the Lions, as Schmidt ran 19 times for 112 yards, and McKinney ran 16 times for 93 yards.

The Lions entered the game with a ground-oriented offensive game plan, and against

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The Lions on a punt.

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

the porous Cougars defense, it worked to perfection, as the Lions outran the Cougars, putting up a net 229 yards rushing compared to just 40 from Kean.

This power-running game scheme by the Lions along with an immaculate defense is the real story of the game. The Lions shut-down opposing quarterback Robbie Nungesser, as he threw an abysmal 86 yards on 12/27 passing with two interceptions on the day as well, both by sophomore cornerback Jack Young.

Nungesser was limited as a quarterback because of the pressure created by the Lions defensive line, and as a result the entire Cougar offense sputtered. Sophomore edge rusher

Jameson Sessa led the team with seven total tackles, and sophomore linebacker Dave Giulian led the team with two sacks on the day. The Cougars finished the game with a pitiful 126 yards of offense, compared to the Lions 363 yards.

This shutdown performance was exactly what the Lions were hoping to bounce back into after their previous heartbreaking loss last week versus the Rowan Profs at home on a hail-mary pass.

The Lions are back in the win column, and must come up with another staunch defensive-effort for their homecoming week game versus the Gettysburg College Bullets on Oct. 21.

this game red hot and in the midst of an historic season under first year head coach Danny Blank, who has the team humming winning eight in a row with seven of those coming by way Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone of shutout.

The College huddling before a game.

The Lions are looking to

By Joey Bachich avenge their 2021 National Staff Writer Championship loss and need to win the NJAC to start that process The College’s women’s soccer on the right foot. team defeated No. 11 Montclair Montclair State came into this State 4-1 on the road on Oct. 14. game off of a 5-1 win over RutThis is a big win for the Lions, gers-Newark and before that tied taking down one of the top comanother strong Rowan University petitors in the NJAC. team that is also shooting for that top NJAC spot.

The Buildup This was a season-defining The Game game for the No. 14 ranked LiThe Lions came out of the ons as they faced off against gates hot like they normally do NJAC juggernaut, No. 11 Montunder coach Blank, piling on the clair State. The Lions came into

pressure early and often against the higher seeded Red Hawks.

Junior marketing major Victoria D’Imperio started the avalanche of pressure and scored within the first seven minutes off an assist by fifth-year journalism major Emma Pascarella, who leads the teams in assists.

Pascarella then scored five minutes later to put the Lions up two with just 12 minutes played.

The Lions have scored first in the last 12 games and have really understood what it is like playing with the lead and jumping ahead in games quickly.

In the first half, The Lions out-shot the Red Hawks eight to three and really put a stamp on the game early. They kept it up in the second half, when within the first three minutes D’Imperio assisted a goal by fifth year stats major Lindsey O’Keefe, who notched her eight goal of the season.

Montclair State had a better half, out-shooting the Lions and eventually gained a penalty and scored off a rebound to give them hope.

S

Women’s soccer continues its dominant season with win over No. 11 Montclair State However, seven minutes later, D’Imperio scored again and thus slammed the door on a comeback.

The Red Hawks hit the crossbar twice, but could not find a rallying goal. The Lions now hold a record of 11-1-1 and are looking ahead to the biggest game of the season.

What’s to come The Rowan University Profs roll into Ewing looking to upend the good times and take the NJAC top spot. Rowan has a record of 10-0-2, but had a draw to this same Montclair State team and are looking to become ranked with a win against the Lions.

With a win here, the Lions look to beat a heated rival and solidify themselves as one of the best teams in the country. New Jersey City University and Rutgers-Camden are up next, which will lead the Lions to the NJAC conference tournament looking to reclaim the title after losing last season in the final to this same Rowan team.

October 20, 2023 The Signal page 19

Spooky movies based on real NJ events frightening outlets of media, all of which were based on true events that happened within New Jersey’s state lines. No matter where you live in this state, one of these instances is bound to be within closer proximity to your hometown than you’d imagine.

The following movies are based on true events that occurred in New Jersey and are listed in order of scariness.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

New Jersey is the basis for several films.

By Liz Ciocher Arts & Entertainment Editor New Jersey stands as the foundational grounds for a lot of great things in this country and even manages to continue these contributions for spooky season activities.

While the original instances of these circumstances may have scared communities for real, the scary films and TV shows that have sprung after the fact have formed the silver lining these horrifying circumstances needed.

This Halloween season, turn your attention to these

“The Watcher” (2022) This seven-episode Netflix series focuses on mysterious and creepy circumstances that follow the Barannock family after moving into their dream home. The weird instances include threatening letters, creepy intrusions and a substantial amount of anxiety that were really experienced by a family in Westfield back in 2014.

“The Good Nurse” (2022) A West Orange-born serial killer is the primary subject in this film and is even given the same name: Charles Cullen. He is guilty of committing murder through purposeful medical malpractice, all whilst managing to maintain the reputation of a perfectly

good nurse. Because of his scheming, Cullen has committed an uncountable number of murders, something that happened across New Jersey from 1988 to 2003.

“Jaws” (1975) Based on the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916, this film follows a New York beach town’s newly-hired police chief as he undergoes attempts to protect the locals from an evil great white shark. The film portrays various brutal shark attacks and deaths, loosely based on five real shark attacks in Beach Haven, Spring Lake and Keyport in July of 1916.

“13th Child” (2002) A detective is sent on a mission to stop and discover a monster known as the Jersey Devil, who was responsible for multiple deaths in his town. While there is no confirmed report of the Jersey Devil as a cause of death in real time, this mythical creature’s origin comes from our state and is rumored to be lurking in New Jersey’s Pine Barrens.

“Crime of the Century” (1996) While not given a furtherly developed plotline or new characters than the original crime, this film is a dramatization of the very creepy and real 1932 kidnapping and murder of Charles Augustus Lindbergh Jr., a 20-monthold boy who came to his tragic fate in East Amwell.

“The Hindenburg” (1975) George C. Scott stars in this thriller depicting methods of sabotage, terrorism and Nazi manipulation whilst in the tense setting of a military crafted zeppelin. The film is filled with red herrings and drama as the pilots attempt to depict who comes in peace and who is a terrorist. While the ending may differ, the film is based on the famous 1937 airship explosion that occurred in Lakehurst.

While this list isn’t the most extensive, the levels of creepiness and uncomfortability rise with the knowledge that these situations happened here at home. What’s scarier than “based on a true story,” besides being in the same vicinity as the real thing?

Classic novels to read during spooky season

By Catherine Gonzalez Features Editor

Spooky season is a fun time of year filled with suspense and scares, although haunted houses and hayrides are not necessarily for everybody.

Here are a few classic novels that pair well with this season and can help you get into the Halloween spirit, whether you partake in the scarier parts of the holiday or not.

Photo courtesy of Flickr “Northanger Abbey” by Jane These books are perfect for a spooky October evening.

Austen “Frankenstein” by Mary Frankenstein’s monster!

Written during an era where Shelley Gothic literature was all the This novel also captures the “The Turn of the Screw” by rage, Austen pokes fun at the tragic, Gothic world that AusHenry James stereotypical dramatic “Goth- ten satirizes in “Northanger A story of a governess tryic heroine” and her fantasti- Abbey,” featuring many dis- ing to save her pupils from cal adventures with Catherine traught characters in bleak, ghosts, this novella plays feroMorland, a pointedly ordinary dark and suspenseful scenes. ciously with ambiguity in the girl who obsesses over such The characterization in this governess’s narration, prompt“horrid” novels, in her words. book is very well executed with ing questions about whether This book is a great time for its rotating first person narra- the reader should laugh at the those who find just a small tion, making it thought-pro- governess’s ridiculous pretaste of horror to be sufficient voking about human nature sumptions or just be concerned and enjoy the sarcastic humor while also possessing many about her. This book is great that makes parodies so delight- horrific elements, such as mur- for those who enjoy books that ful. It is chock full of charm der and a supernatural being. have more than one potential and perfect for a fun, relativeAnd hey, reading it will interpretation. Like “Nortly quick read! show you the origin of the hanger Abbey,” it is a relativeclassic Halloween character, ly quick read and filled with

Gothic allusions.

“Rebecca” by Daphne du Maurier Wrapped in the mind of the unnamed narrator, this novel features a young woman who is haunted by her husband’s late wife, Rebecca, in all ways except for the literal. People compare her to Rebecca constantly, and Rebecca’s fate proves inescapably tied with hers. The juxtaposition between the narrator ’s fanciful, straightforward innocence and the mystery surrounding Rebecca creates a very intriguing story, especially when more about Rebecca and her fate is finally revealed.

“Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontĕ Fans of passionate romances, supernatural elements and books that follow multiple generations are in for a treat with this novel. The first time I read it, I remember gaping at how utterly tragic the plot was. This novel is not generally high on cheer, but the ending is not entirely bleak. This novel is great if you enjoy drama, doom and suspense.

page 20 The Signal October 20, 2023

A brief history of the skeleton in art

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

Vincent Van Gogh’s “Head of a Skeleton with burning cigarette”

By Lilly Ward Staff Writer It’s October, and suddenly all the skeletons are out of closets (physical ones–not metaphorical). They languish on porches and front steps, their plastic jaws unhinged as if surprised, their limp limbs dangling uselessly, eyeballs bulging in sockets that should be empty.

There’s something about the imagery of a skeleton that speaks to our fascination with the macabre. The image of the skeleton has a powerful history that has existed long before they became popular decorations for Halloween, revealing an overlap between art and science.

The fascination with what’s underneath the skin is believed to have started as early as the Babylon Empire. The first use of human dissection for medical education is mentioned in the Babylonian Talmud around 500 c.e. Eventually, this practice also existed in other parts of the ancient world such as Greece, and later Persia.

Although the practice of dissection was never widespread in the Ancient world, dissection of the human body was virtually nonexistent in the Middle Ages for religious reasons not just in Europe, but in Asia and in parts of the Islamic world. Dissection was believed to be a sin, an idea in part attributed to the Greek physician Galen’s conception that the soul resided within the body.

It wasn’t until the 12th century that dissections began to gain popularity as an educational tool, and the dissection of executed criminals became sanctioned in late 13th-century and early 14th-century Europe.

These events were often open to the public.

During the Renaissance, there was a renewed interest in understanding the human body, and the demand for bodies was steadily increasing although access to cadavers was still heavily restricted.

It was then no longer just physicians who wanted to get their hands on corpses. In order to create

detailed and realistic depictions of the body, Italian Renaissance artists such as Giorgio Vasari, and later Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo all employed dissection as a way to create authentic representations of the human body.

Sketches from this period depict bodies of all ages stripped down to gleaming muscles and skeletons, the corpses set against landscapes standing upright as if alive. Renaissance artists’ efforts greatly contributed to the quality of medical illustrations.

The work of Da Vinci was particularly influential. Frustrated by the lack of bodies available, Da Vinci went as far as to pay grave robbers to bring him cadavers.

By the 15th century, the symbol of the skull had become a symbol of the fragility of human life, as well as the inevitability of death.

From the 17th to 19th century, the presence of skeletons in paintings served to remind viewers of their own mortality, a genre even developed known as “Vanitas,” which employed symbolism to convey the transitory nature of life. The study and popularity of skeletons in paintings continued well into the 19th century, as part of an artist’s formal education.

Van Gogh’s 1886 painting, “Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette,” just one of Gogh’s paintings featuring a skull, is be-

lieved to be from Gogh’s time at Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium. While a study of the human form, this painting is also believed to be a result of Gogh’s own contemplation of death, as he was in poor health at the time of the painting.

Of course, the imagery of skeletons in art also exists outside of the Western canon, as early as the 10th century. A large skeleton, conjured by a princess, looms over a terrified man in an ukiyo-e woodblock triptych by Japanese artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, who was renowned for his prints of historical and mythical scenes.

The skeleton’s mythical presence is an example of a Gashadokuro, or a spirit in Japanese mythology, that takes the form of giant skeletons made of the skulls of people who died in battle.

Similarly, the Aztecs also used imagery of skeletons to depict mythological figures that represented death and rebirth. This imagery remains present in the celebration of the dead in Día de Muertos, a, as well as in the work of the legendary artist Frida Kahlo.

From the desire to understand our inner workings, to meditating on the inevitability of our own demise, our skeletons attest to the curiosity and yearning within humanity. Plus, they also make great halloween decorations.

ing the area, causing widespread chaos. Some of the sightings included Naval Commodore Stephen Decatur firing his cannon at the creature and multiple New Jersey and Pennsylvania police officers attempting to shoot the creature.

When analyzing the origins of the tale in the mid-1700s, there is no recorded evidence of a Jane Leeds with a direct connection to the area or the events that supposedly occurred, according to Mythology and Fiction Explained.

Furthermore, there is also no concrete evidence, such as a recorded image or video, that has ever captured the presence of the horrific creature.

Yet, numerous news outlets during the creation of the tale and across various time periods have covered the story in a fictitious and rumor-filled manner to gener-

ate revenue and draw attention to the Garden State. As a result of the expanded coverage over time, the Jersey Devil became a prominent New Jersey urban legend known to many residents in the region and beyond.

The symbol of the Jersey Devil has also entered the mainstream through the creation of various New Jersey attractions that entice tourists to visit, such as the Folklore Guided Hikes in the Pine Barrens region. Additionally, the tale has become the exclusive symbol and mascot of New Jersey’s infamous National Hockey League team, the Jersey Devils.

While the existence of the Jersey Devil remains a mystery tainted by misinformation and false sightings, there is no doubt that the tale has had a significant impact on New Jersey’s culture and folklore.

DEVIL / Folklore to state symbol and sports team Continued from page 1 Subsequently, the child flew up the chimney of the house, eluding its parents and others who attempted to restrain the creature.

Multiple clergymen in the surrounding area believed that Leeds was a witch and allegedly had an affair with the Devil, resulting in the transformation of their thirteenth child, giving rise to the tale’s original name: the Devil of Leeds.

In 1820, the next significant sighting of the creature occurred in Bordentown, New Jersey. Multiple farmers and Joseph Bonaparte, the brother of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, reported seeing the creature flying above his estate and preying on farm animals. A few years later, a farmer in the same area shot and killed

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

In our own backyard, lies the most frightening tale, one that has been told to many New Jerseyans and Pennsylvanians for generations: the Jersey Devil

the creature with his rifle and showed the lost image to locals, who couldn’t match the creature’s features with those of any other known animals In the following years, there were numerous mass sightings and rumors of the creature roam-