Issue No. 5 Fall '24

The^ Signal

https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/

Vol. LIV, No. 5

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

November 1, 2024

SPOOKY SPOOKY

Interim CFO receives $101k salary increase after changes to work arrangement

By Tristan Weisenbach Managing Editor

The College’s interim chief financial officer, Richard Schweigert, received a $101,900 salary increase this year, bringing his annual salary to $393,900, according to documents obtained through a public records request.

Schweigert’s contracts from July 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2023, and Oct. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023, each provided him an $84,000 salary. Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer, told The Signal that if Schweigert worked hybrid for the full year last year, then his total salary for last year would have equaled $336,000, resulting in a total salary increase of $57,900.

However, because Schweigert worked remotely for a period of time, from Jan. 1 through April 30, his contract for these fourmonths provided him a $68,000 salary. He earned a $56,000 salary from May 1 through June 30, resulting in an annual total of $292,000 and a year-to-year increase of $101,900.

Schweigert was appointed as interim CFO on a “short-term basis” by former President Kathryn Foster on April 17, 2023, after the departure of the former interim CFO, Valarie McDuffie.

Schweigert’s employment was then extended by several multi-month-long contracts from the start of President Michael Bernstein’s role as interim president on July 1, 2023, through the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2024. During this period, Schweigert largely worked on a hybrid schedule, except for a period during spring 2024 in which he

Photo by Shane Gillespie

Photo courtesy of Anthony DePrimo

Interim Chief Financial Officer Richard Schwigert recieved a salary increase. worked remotely.

Over the course of that year, Schweigert received a salary totaling $292,000, in addition to $16,017.61 in reimbursements for travel expenses, beginning in April 2023, to New Jersey from Colorado where he resides. His current year-long contract, which began on July 1 of this year, no longer provides for travel expenses.

However, Schweigert does still retain accommodations and a vehicle to use while he is in New Jersey. Sacks said these two items

of his contract did not cost the College any additional expense.

According to Dave Muha, the College’s associate vice president for communications, marketing and brand management, the decision to increase Schweigert’s salary this year was based on multiple factors.

First, because the College is no longer paying for travel expenses, Schweigert’s travel to New Jersey from Colorado is coming out of his own pocket. Additionally, Muha said President Bernstein “feels the College is

benefitting from [Schweigert’s] leadership as we work through the LIONS Plan,” and wanted to provide him with a salary increase as an incentive to keep him on board in a temporary role.

Schweigert is also not working remotely, like he was for a period of time earlier this spring. Lastly, in addition to his responsibilities as interim CFO, Schweigert has taken on the role of managing the College’s Human Resources department this year — a responsibility previously held by Sharon Blanton, vice president of operations.

“As a new president, Dr. Bernstein has been assessing operations at the College and as any new president would, he has been making decisions about structure and organization,” Sacks said in a statement. “He determined that human resources belongs under the portfolio of the CFO.” However, Sacks clarified that the portion of Schweigert’s salary increase for taking on human resources was an added expense.

No portion of Blanton’s salary was shifted to Schweigert in accordance with the shift in responsibilities.

The specific breakdown of the portions of Schweigert’s total salary increase for travel expenses, retention incentives and additional responsibilities is unknown at this time.

In an Oct. 25 email, Bernstein announced the search committee to appoint a permanent chief financial officer, chaired by Lisa Angeloni, vice president of enrollment management.

Schweigert made the decision to not be considered for the permanent chief financial officer position, but will be a member of the search committee, according to Muha.

Igniting Homecoming excitement with childhood magic Psychology

Photo by Andre Paras

Jared Williams and Alec Ferguson were crowned Lions Royalty on Oct. 19.

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer Editor’s note: Kate Zydor, one of The Signal’s news editors, is Student Government’s Vice President for Student Services. She also contributed to the planning of this year’s Homecoming events. She does not assist with writing or editing stories about Student Government.

Special events during homecoming week raised roars across campus leading up to the Lions football game against Kean University and family day on Oct. 19.

With the change of seasons, it can be

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shocking to students how much time has passed since the beginning of the school year. While some are still wondering where September went, others have been planning for this time of year since the summer.

Student Government hosted its 36th annual Spirit Week, a week full of affairs to unite students on being a part of the Lions Den. The week of festivities kicked off with Roaring Nights on Oct. 15, where students dressed up and danced the blue and gold evening away.

“I really loved seeing all the students come together and get dressed up for the night in their fancy attire,” said Julia Fonti, a junior communication major who attended

the Homecoming dance. “I thought the event was cute and well put together…the music and overall atmosphere was a good vibe, and I’d consider going to another event like this again.”

Kate Zydor, a sophomore psychology major and SG’s vice president for student services, started planning Homecoming week with Sean Stallings, the College’s vice president for student affairs, in July.

The two worked together to create events that could encourage students to embrace their school pride.

“Initially planning, I was trying to think — what do students like to do, what do they find fun?” Zydor said. “I feel the events that students enjoy are the ones that bring them back to their childhood.”

This is where the idea of hosting the College’s first-ever Homecoming dance came from.

Dance attendees began their night by taking advantage of various appetizers, pasta entrees, desserts and fall-themed mocktails.

After plates were cleared, attendees moved to the dance floor where the College’s sports teams pumped up the crowd by sharing their records and throwing t-shirts into the masses. The DJ then got the audience on the dance floor as music and euphoria filled the room.

reintroduced as dual education major

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See PSYCH page 3

By Isabella Darcy News Editor

The Office of Admissions reinstated psychology as a dual major option for prospective early childhood and elementary education students on Oct. 25, just months after it was removed as a choice on the Common App. The School of Education and the Department of Psychology recently collaborated to revise the dual major before re-launching it amid changes in the New Jersey state education code.

The state previously required education students to have a second major. Now, it instead requires education students to complete “a sequence of courses.”

“Some colleges have said to education students, ‘You don’t even need a double major,’ but we said no, we still want to have the dual major,” Tabitha Dell’Angelo, interim dean of the School of Education, told The Signal.

Happy Halloween!

page 2 The Signal November 1, 2024

TCNJ and state officials urge fire safety amid drought, wildfire risk

Photo by Brooke Zevon

New Jersey is currently experiencing drought conditions and wildfires

By Isabella Darcy News Editor Wildfires are burning throughout New Jersey amid a statewide drought watch that has been in effect since Oct. 17. To mitigate the spread of more fires, state and local governments, along with the College, are urging people to adhere to fire safety protocols.

The Office of Ewing Township Mayor Bert Steinmann sent out an alert Tuesday, informing residents of a mandatory statewide Stage Three Fire Restriction that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection implemented earlier this month. The Stage Three Restriction prohibits all fires unless they are contained in an elevated stove using only propane, natural gas or electricity.

“We are currently experiencing some

of the driest conditions ever, making our forests…especially vulnerable to wildfires that could spread very quickly and threaten property,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette in an Oct. 23 news release. “It is critical that members of the public be extra cautious about fire prevention and refrain from using any open flames.”

The campus community received a reminder about fire safety and proper cigarette butt disposal earlier this week from the College’s emergency preparedness and fire safety manager, Daniel Posluszky.

“Dry conditions and the presence of flammable materials like mulch and shrubbery significantly increase the risk of fires,” Posluszky said in an email to the campus community. “Improperly

discarded cigarette butts are a common cause of wildfires and can easily ignite these materials.”

Prolonged dry conditions across the state make New Jersey especially susceptible to wildfires.

According to the State of New Jersey 2024 All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, wildfires can start from lightning or other natural causes but are most frequently ignited by human activity. These fires can damage natural resources, destroy homes and threaten human lives and safety.

Some students at the College study the environment in classes, organizations and initiatives. An environmental sustainability initiative, Campus as a Living Lab, has been active on campus since last October, and environmental studies was added to the College’s list of major options at the beginning of this semester. Many students involved in these keep up with the current state of the environment.

Peri Wiser, a senior environmental studies major, was surprised when she first noticed that New Jersey had not gotten rain for a while. When the statewide fire restrictions were announced, the realness of the situation sunk in for her.

“I feel like this doesn’t happen ever in New Jersey,” Wiser said. “People need to be careful. I don’t think the fire restrictions are very effective. I think it gives a good warning to people who actually care and listen, but it won’t stop people from having fires if they want to.”

Wiser was not the only student who was initially surprised by the current drought conditions. Dana Laissle, a senior sociology major and intern for

Campus as a Living Lab, was shocked by the severity of the conditions, but made more sense of them upon further consideration.

“While working on planting native plants on campus this semester with CaLL and the first-year Community Engaged Learning program, we found very quickly how dry it has been and how little rain we’ve gotten this fall,” Laissle said.

The intern told The Signal that it is important, for both human and environmental health, to make efforts to prevent droughts and wildfires from happening again.

“The biggest thing is educating and notifying the public on the restrictions and measures being put in place so additional restrictions are not as necessary,” Laissle said. “Each of us doing what we can to help the environment is going to be the most impactful, even if it seems simple.”

Laissle was in Burlington, New Jersey, earlier this week, and said that when she walked out of a building, it smelled smokey.

“I think [wildfires] can affect our communities much faster and more easily than we realize,” Laissle said.

New Jersey has experienced over 900 wildfires this year, which have burned nearly 6,800 acres across the state. Most wildfires can be avoided if people adhere to wildfire safety measures, according to the NJ DEP news release.

“Please do your part to keep our community safe and litter-free,” said Posluszky. “Report any unsafe fire conditions to the Emergency Preparedness Manager or Campus Police immediately.”

TCNJ achieves mention in The Princeton Review for sustainability initiatives

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer

The College was named in The Princeton Review’s 2025 edition of Guide to Green Colleges. It was recognized alongside other institutions that have made efforts to become more sustainable for themselves, students and Earth.

The Princeton Review has examined higher education institutions since 2010 to provide information to applicants wishing to attend universities that value environmental responsibility. This year, it examined almost 600 academies, ranking only the top 50 and listing the rest.

The College did not make the top 50 but is listed among 511 other schools.

Paul Romano, sustainability officer and the co-chair for the Environmental Sustainability Council, said he has hope and a plan for the future.

“The college has actually done quite a bit around the sustainability and innovation over the years,” Romano said. “It’s kind of experimental and belongs to different strategies. I think as I see my role now is to bring it up to scale.”

According to the methodology, institutions that made the top 50 displayed remarkable sustainability practices, a strong foundation in educating sustainability and a healthy quality of life on campus.

One of the ways Romano intends to rise up in the rankings is to get a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment and Ranking System from The Association for the Higher Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.

STARS, as it is also known, is a selfreporting framework for colleges to measure their sustainability efforts and gives awards of platinum, gold, silver, bronze and reporter.

“It was good to hear that we were recognized as a Green College, but we’d love to get into their top 50,” Romano said. “So we’d like to compete and get into that top 50, and one of the ways we’re going to get there is through this STARS rating.”

There will also be other initiatives and projects happening soon with the council, including a grant awarded by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, along with other New Jersey colleges. ESC will empty the dumpsters on campus and analyze what waste is in them to see what produces the most waste and how it can be converted into other opportunities or prevented altogether.

Before Romano arrived in 2021, the College entered into a power purchase agreement that allowed them to install solar panels with a capacity of 2.5 megawatts on campus. On a sunny afternoon, solar panels could represent a third of the energy used on college grounds, being mainly derived from the solar canopies in the parking lots and on top of buildings.

A push for Romano’s position at the College derived from the 2020-2024 Sustainability Plan, developed by the political science department, which advocated for having a sustainability officer.

When Romano first came to campus, his efforts had to be focused on operational responsibilities after pandemic-related problems in the powerhouse. It took almost two years to restore the plant to its original operation, which now produces power for campus.

About 85% of the College’s power is self-producing. The steam seen around campus is used to heat and cool buildings and produce hot water.

“Since I came on board, the effort that I’ve been trying to initiate is primarily focused on our energy consumption,

The College was recently recognized for its sustainability. because for me, that is the means by which we can be most impactful in terms of climate change,” Romano said.

To discover areas of improvement, Romano and his team completed a comprehensive energy audit of the entire campus, identifying all the light fixtures and mechanical equipment. Now, they’re proceeding into the next stage, which involves replacing about 25,000 light fixtures and various mechanical equipment.

“We expect to reduce our energy consumption, probably close to 20% on that basis alone,” Romano said. “So that’s tremendous in terms of financial savings, but it’s also tremendous in terms of all associated kinds of emissions.”

Romano and his team are also currently working on a decarbonization plan to reduce carbon emissions by 2040, which sometimes aligns with energy management, but differs in some ways like storage technology.

According to him, this technology is desirable because the College can shift

Photo by Derek Meola

its power demand to times when the grid is greener.

In the evening, the power grid produces less emissions. With less available grid energy, the College could use stored energy and ship it to where it’s needed. This would also allow the College to accommodate electric vehicles more efficiently.

Recently, all of the old chargers were replaced with new network chargers to better study who is using them and when. The council will have a public presentation on the decarbonization plan in November.

The council expects to devise a new five-year plan for sustainability to present to the college next year by following the AASHE STARS guidelines.

“I think the greatest thing that any student can do is just become conversant in the issues,” Romano said. “Understand the issues surrounding climate change [and] surrounding sustainable practices.

You have to influence change.”

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 3

Cop Shop: Stay sober, stay out of Cop Shop

By Isabella Darcy News Editor

The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students.

Oct. 14: Super steamy Steam caused by hot showers in the seventh-floor men’s bathroom of Wolfe Hall triggered a heat detector, which set off the building’s fire alarm just before midnight. Both Travers and Wolfe Halls were evacuated, while Campus Police, Ewing Township Fire Department and a technician from Johnson Controls International responded to the alarm.

The Ewing Township Fire Department checked the bathroom and found no signs of smoke or fire, only steam. The firefighters then deemed Wolfe safe to re-enter.

JCI’s technician changed the heat detector in the bathroom so that higher temperatures are required for it to go off. This will help mitigate the amount of alarms that are caused by steam, according to Campus Police.

Oct. 15: Fire alarm A Wolfe Hall fire alarm was pulled in the early morning, causing both Travers and Wolfe Hall to be evacuated.

Campus Police and Ewing Township Fire Department found no signs of smoke or fire throughout the floor where the alarm pull station is located.

Campus Police reset the pull station, and firefighters reset the alarm, deeming the building safe to reoccupy.

Oct. 19: Intoxicated student A community advisor found an intoxicated student outside of Norsworthy Hall just after midnight. The student said that he had been drinking at an off-campus party, and had not been feeling well since before his friends dropped him off at the residence hall.

When the CA noticed the student, he was sitting and hunched over. The CA directed the student into the Norsworthy lobby and called Campus Police.

Officers arrived to find the student sitting in the lobby with his head in a trashcan.

Campus Police called for Lions EMS, who evaluated and released the student.

Oct. 19: Intoxicated roommates Two intoxicated students who live together received medical attention from EMTs in Travers Hall just after midnight.

Campus Police were first alerted of the intoxicated roommates when another student noticed one of the roommates vomiting and called for assistance.

Officers arrived at the residence hall to find the student lying on the ground, unconscious and unalert. The

student who had called Campus Police continuously called the student’s name, until she woke up.

Lions EMS responded to Travers and began caring for the student. While the EMTs monitored her vitals, the student vomited. Lions EMS then dispatched Mercer Central, who sent Ewing EMS to the residence hall.

Both roommates had been drinking alcohol while at an off-campus party earlier that night.

The student who had been vomiting said that she had drunk an unknown amount of Tito’s vodka, along with two cups of “jungle juice.” She also said that her roommate had drunk one cup of “jungle juice.”

While caring for the first student they had found, Lions EMS was alerted that the roommate had been vomiting in a bathroom for 30 minutes and needed medical attention.

Soon after the student in the bathroom received medical attention, Ewing EMS arrived and began caring for the roommates.

The student who Campus Police found lying on the ground was transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, and her roommate refused further medical treatment.

Oct. 19: Intoxicated and confused student An intoxicated student was transported from Campus Town to Capital Health Medical Center in

Hopewell in the middle of the night.

The student, who lives in Campus Town, had been knocking on a random Campus Town apartment door. Students who were in that apartment called a residential advisor to report the behavior.

The RA recognized the student and noticed that she was in the wrong building, so the RA brought the student to the correct building and called Campus Police.

When Campus Police arrived, they spoke with the disoriented student whose speech was slurred. Ewing EMS also responded to the scene. EMTs evaluated the student and decided that she needed further medical care.

Oct. 20: A fall in the fall An alumna of the College fell in the Lot 7 garage, which caused her to injure her head in the middle of the afternoon.

The alumna, who said that she had not been on campus in 45 years, tripped and could not react fast enough to put her arms forward and break her fall. Her forehead was cut, so first responders were called. Lions EMS, Ewing EMS and Campus Police responded to the scene.

When the alumna was being checked out, she seemed normal and did not have any pain or symptoms. She said she felt fine but was just embarrassed.

The alumna declined further medical treatment.

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PSYCH / Changes to NJ state education code Amazon Lockers added to campus Continued from page 1

Keeping dual majors as a part of the School of Education has opened up the possibility of cutting down class requirements for majors.

“Some majors are 10, 11, 12 classes,” said Dell’Angelo. “We could potentially ask the majors if they can reduce it down to eight because TCNJ college policy says the dual major has at least eight classes.”

In the past, students in the School of Education have been met with limited availability in their heavily-packed schedules. Reducing how many classes are required to fulfill majors allows students to gain space in their schedules to take elective classes that they are interested in, according to Dell’Angelo.

“The idea was students could either use them just to take classes that they’re interested in and feed their soul,” said Dell’Angelo. “Or they can start graduate courses while they’re still in undergrad so they can get additional certifications or get a masters.”

Some dual major options in the School of Education were easier to cut down on compared to others. Psychology is one major that took more time to revise.

“What we didn’t want to do was advertise it and have students choose it, and then get here and it feel like a bait and switch,” said Dell’Angelo.

Some prospective early childhood and elementary education students did not have the opportunity to choose psychology as a dual major because they had already applied to the College prior to Oct. 25, so the Office of Admissions is working with the Common App to notify applicants of the change.

“Communication is shared with prospective families about any changes at any and every stage of the process,” Grecia Montero, executive director of admissions, told The Signal.

Prospective students who have already applied to the College but would like to change their major can submit a change of major form through their Common App application portal.

Education students often choose a dual major that they believe will be most beneficial to them in their future endeavors.

Charlotte Reinhardt-Hepler, a senior elementary education and psychology dual major, told The Signal that her psychology coursework has provided her with a deeper understanding of how to best support students socially, emotionally and academically.

Reinhardt-Helper is interested in exploring different career paths, such as teaching, school psychology and guidance counseling, and said that her dual major has provided her with a wide variety of experiences and opportunities that she would not have otherwise had.

“I feel that being a dual major has provided me with a very enriching, wellrounded education and has allowed me to grow more than if I had just one major,” said Reinhardt-Helper. “Both of my majors combined provide me with a broader skill set to help me in whatever future career I choose.”

Mia Lynch, another senior elementary education and psychology dual major, chose the combination so she could gain a deeper understanding of how children behave, think and engage.

Lynch told The Signal that she has experienced some difficulty balancing content as a dual major, and she thinks that education majors should get to choose how many majors they take up.

“I believe the school should provide students the options of being solely an education major or a dual major,” said Lynch.

While Lynch had no choice but to pick a dual major, she said that it has exposed her to unexpected insight and helped her cultivate connections with professors across diverse areas of expertise. She also said that her experience as a dual major has been extremely rewarding.

“We want [the dual major] to be a really great program,” said Dell’Angelo.

“We also need to make sure that whatever adjustments we make will still set students up for success.”

Photo by Brooke Zevon

Students have 24/7 access to packages.

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer

The College added two Amazon lockers at the beginning of October to make the parcel pick-up process easier and prevent unclaimed packages.

To help fix previous problems with mailing, the College installed two Amazon lockers on campus which provide students and faculty with 24/7 access to retrieve their package from the lockers.

“I thought if we provided more convenient hours and locations for package pick up that it might benefit students,” said Sharon Blanton, vice president of operations.

When placing an order, the receiver will choose the “pickup” option at checkout and then choose either the “Deputy” locker located behind Cromwell Hall or the “Ulrich” locker located inside the lobby of the Administrative Services Building. ASB is accessible 24/7, but Campus Police needs to buzz students in after hours. The “Deputy” locker is outside Cromwell, obtainable from the parking lot.

Packages must be picked up within three days of delivery and will be returned back to Amazon if they are not.

Sitting and collecting dust on the counters of the Decker Hall mailroom are bins of Amazon packages that students have never picked up. Adding to that problem was Amazon drivers not dropping off containers at the correct location before the lockers were installed. “[Decker Hall] has been the designated drop-off location for everything since

2020,” said Alex Schulz, the senior postal clerk at the College. “COVID protocol kind of changed things, so issues that came out of that were drivers going to incorrect pins that are on their GPS or just leaving them on the opposite side of this building.”

Schulz estimated that about 10% of mailroom package traffic came from Amazon orders beforehand.

The lockers are meant for smaller parcels. If an item is too large, then Amazon will not offer pickup as an option during the ordering process.

“The delivery drivers place the order right into a locker,” said Blanton. “The purchaser then receives a locker code via email. The purchaser then goes to the locker, enters the code and the appropriate locker door pops open. It’s super easy.”

Blanton started this project several months ago after she toured the mailroom last summer and was shocked at the amount of unclaimed packages.

The lockers were coincidentally established right before Amazon Prime Day for students to take advantage of.

Not only can students use this new feature, but so can the surrounding community. When checking out, those living in the nearby area also have the chance to select the lockers as a pickup location instead of it being delivered to their house.

After choosing pickup, Amazon states that the lockers are not in a public place and buyers must affirm they have access to the location before they can complete their purchase.

“So far so good,” Schulz said about the new program.

A problem the mailroom now faces is instructing a lot of drivers to where the lockers are located so they can place them in the lock boxes.

The lockers are fully operated by Amazon, who supplied the compartments for free, so none of the College’s resources have to be used. Amazon will start sending usage reports to Blanton and will notify the College if additional lockers are needed from the demand.

Dining Services student interns make their mark on campus

Photo courtesy of Dining Services

Dining Services staff members pose outside of Eickhoff Hall.

By Raeanne Raccagno Staff Writer ‘Twas was a typical morning at the College.

Students were burrowed in their beds, as visions of Eickhoff Hall’s waffles danced in their heads.

Little did they know, as they dreamed, the Dining Services staff was having their ritual morning huddle to set the tone for the day. The crew commits themselves daily to providing a safe environment and excellence to hungry young scholars.

As the season of college tours kicks up, potential first-years have to consider many elements while picking their home for the next four years: campus size, location, student life, majors offered and dining options. Information about Dining Services and what it has to offer has been pushed through feeds by the hard work of student interns on social media and campus.

“Something I love about the team I work with

is truly the leadership,” said Gianna Barone, a senior psychology major and one of the Sodexo marketing interns. “Our marketing manager Evonne allows us to all be creative in a way where I feel like my work is truly my own but also TCNJ Dining’s work.”

Adding to the merry crew of dining staff at the College are the eight student interns who help strengthen their digital marketing efforts. The Dining Services marketing team works behind the scenes taking care of tasks like creating the events calendar.

Last academic year, Dining Services had three interns, but this year it expanded its program to eight students, with two more joining the team shortly.

Dining Services operates under Sodexo Group, the food services and facilities management company that manages the dining facilities at the College.

“These internships help students gain real-

world experience alongside their education, helping them obtain great jobs once they graduate,” said Evonne Ryan-Grandell, dining services field marketing specialist. “We are proud to have recently hired one of our former TCNJ marketing interns as a full-time member of our marketing team.”

Students interested in working with Dining Services can either apply as a student worker or a student intern who works in the marketing department. Barone and seven other marketing interns’ main duties are creating graphics for fliers and Instagram posts, creating Instagram Reels and TikToks of special dining events, promoting dining surveys, taking pictures of events and food for the Dining Services webpage, working together on Win-it-Wednesdays, hosting a monthly Game Night in Traditions and helping decorate Eick for any big events.

“We believe that collaboration is essential to creating a vibrant campus community,” RyanGrandell said, “and we actively seek to engage with different groups to understand their needs and preferences.”

Barone was president of the Chinese Student Association last year, which hosted a Lunar New Year-themed lunch with Dining Services. She explained how Ryan-Grandell, the head chefs in Eick and Jordan Shyi, director of Intercultural Affairs, made sure that the food served was significant to Asian cultures to make the event special.

“I love that they care about the little details like that,” Barone said. “As a student of a cultural organization, it made me really proud to see our dining hall staff work hard to prepare the food and menu for holidays that are underrepresented, and I

love being a part of a team that helps deliver these events to our student body.”

Promoting dining surveys is an essential part of Dining Services, because changes brought to dining are driven by constant student feedback, which is addressed daily, but especially in the summer leading up to the school year.

“Student satisfaction is always our top priority, as we understand the significant role it plays in student well-being and overall campus experience,” said Ryan-Grandell.

Dining Services has been working hard to elaborate menus and events offered to students to expand dining diversity.

“We use these insights to develop new concepts, while our chefs begin planning menus and working on limited-time offerings,” Ryan-Grandell said. “Additionally, our team is constantly reviewing trends and innovations in dining to stay current with the latest ideas.”

Marketing interns have been conquering social media trends lately with their quirky videos reels on Instagram and TikTok. “I love doing reels and making graphics that are more niche and playful, while other interns like to follow internet trends and create more elegant graphics,” Barone said. “I can tell who makes what graphic or post, and I love that we can all come with our own ideas and be able to express them.”

Feedback comes in every day through multiple channels, including regularly distributed survey cards, the feedback form on the dining website, texts to Dining Services at 82257 and talking to dining managers in person.

Read more on our website!

Eddie’s Edventures: Edinburgh and St. Andrews, Scotland

St. Andrews, Scotland

By Eddie Young Former Sports Editor Eddie Young, The Signal’s former sports editor, is studying abroad in the United Kingdom this semester and will chronicle his travels each print edition.

Edinburgh is a wonderful city up north in Scotland. It has a great blend of historical sights and older architecture along with more modern sections littered throughout the city.

In terms of population, Edinburgh is not nearly as big as some other cities in the U.K., and it is not even the most populated city in Scotland, as Glasgow has it beat.

However, the cobblestone streets were packed with tourists and locals every time I set foot in them. People come from all over the world to visit this unique city, and they have every reason to do so.

The first touristy activity that I embarked on in Edinburgh was a hike up Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano overlooking the city. If you do anything in Edinburgh, you have to get to the top of Arthur’s Seat. The hike was not the easiest thing in the world, but it was doable.

Photo by Eddie Young

The path to the top was filled with uneven rocky stairs, but when I made it to the top, I was greeted with one of the most breathtaking views I have ever been lucky enough to see in my lifetime.

At the peak of Arthur’s Seat, you are able to see everything in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Castle, Murrayfield Stadium and both the Old and New Towns are visible from this height. In the distance past the city, you get to be eye-level with all of the other hills that surround Edinburgh.

And if you look away from the center of the city, you get a great view of the North Sea, the sea that separates Scotland from Scandinavia. The views from this peak alone made the entire trip worth it.

After my descent from Arthur’s Seat, I made a trip into Old Town, a section of the city that is filled with old and wellpreserved buildings and streets. The centerpiece of Old Town was Edinburgh Castle, perched upon the top of a hill.

The castle carries a lot of history, as it was built in the 11th century and has withstood many battles and sieges in the past millennium. It has been claimed by many royal members in the past, whether

they be Scottish or English, and has been a symbol of strength to the Scots for years.

It was filled with many different rooms and buildings to tour; it seemed like I was going to spend all afternoon there, but every room had something new to offer and had to be seen. Since Edinburgh Castle is on a hill in the center of the city, there were many great views of the city from a different point of view compared to Arthur’s Seat.

About an hour and a half north from Edinburgh is a tiny town named St. Andrews. Many people may not have heard of this town on the coast of the North Sea, as it is quite small with a population about half that of Ewing. However, every fan of golf knows the significance of this town.

It is known as the “home of golf,” and has seven beautiful golf courses at St. Andrews Links, including the oldest course in the world, the Old Course. Golf has been played here for 600 years, and to anyone who is a fan of golf, it is like a pilgrimage to visit this place.

The Old Course had a walking path right along its edge, allowing tourists to see all 18 holes while watching people lucky enough to have their names drawn from a raffle play the course.

The course looked as tough to play in real life as it does on TV. The bunkers all go straight into the ground and look like hell to play out of, especially “Hell’s Bunker” on the 14th hole. I watched as someone teed off on 18, trying to place their ball on a narrow fairway, but instead crashing it into a building on the road right on top of the course.

The course’s historical landmarks were also amazing to see in person. The Old Course Hotel, right next to the 17th hole, was a nice sight to see in-person and just helped to show how hard that hole truly is for the pros. One bad drive, and your ball is going to end up in someone’s hotel

room.

The Swilcan Bridge on the 18th hole was also right next to the path, and while we were unsure on whether we were allowed to walk across it, my three friends and I ran up to it to go get some pictures while there was a break in the action.

Every single store around the courses seemed to be selling golf attire, as this town seemed to know its selling point as a tourist destination. However, even though it was the most majestic golf course I have ever seen in my life, St. Andrews still had more to offer than the Links.

The town is on the coast of the North Sea, and you are able to walk the West Sands Beach, getting a beautiful view of the sea and the town as you walk further away from it. St. Andrews also has some very interesting ruins of an old cathedral that was destroyed in the 1500s. Also, it has the University of St. Andrews, Prince William and Princess Kate’s alma mater.

Even if you are not that into golf, St. Andrews is definitely worth making a trip to. The links are a gorgeous sight to see.

They even had a mini golf course right next to the second hole on the old course that only cost two pounds to play. This day trip from Edinburgh was the highlight of my entire group’s trip, even for the people who were not as into golf. Both Edinburgh and St. Andrews were amazing places to visit, and you have to go at least once in your life to see both cities.

Graphic by Sandra Abrantes

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 5

What’s stopping voters from voting, and what we can do about it

Photo by Andre Paras

Political polarization could be playing a role in declining voter registration turnout.

By Chiara Piacentini Staff Writer As Election Day is fast approaching, voter turnout will play a major role in the results of the 2024 election. But not everyone is on board with going to the polls.

“The divisive climate in these last few elections have really turned people away,” said TCNJ Votes!

Fellow Andrew Lomonte, part of the student-run organization that encourages students to vote by informing them about the voting process.

According to an NPR poll, 23% of respondents said they weren’t interested in politics and nearly 30% said they didn’t vote in the 2020 election because they weren’t registered.

These numbers have appeared to

grow, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s most recent data on voter registration, which shows that in 2022, only around 48% of Americans were registered to vote, an estimated 2% decrease from 2020’s voter registration numbers.

Political polarization could be playing a role in the declining voter registration turnout. Cadence Willse, an assistant political science professor at the College, said voters could be turned off from voting in the election due to “misinformation about the validity of elections, the partisan bickering and extremism within the party.”

Since the 2016 election, concerns about misinformation started to gain more attention and have continued to become a more prevalent issue since then, according to data from the National Library of Medicine.

After former President Donald Trump claimed that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, 36% of Americans believed President Joe Biden was illegitimately elected, according to a December 2023 survey by the Washington Post and University of Maryland.

“Any sort of rhetoric that undermines the institution of voting is going to make it less likely for folks to vote,” Willse said.

In terms of partisan rhetoric, the two parties have become more polarized since the mid-1990s about political values, according to the Pew Research Center. The pandemic and the outcome of the 2020 election has only exacerbated the divide.

“I would love to make politics boring again and have people disinterested in politics because they don’t need to be interested in politics,” said Daniel Bowen, an associate political science professor.

“Not everyone needs to be interested in politics. I think it’s totally fine to have boring every-day politics where there are very low barriers for people to get involved and interested and let people choose.”

However, disinterest in politics isn’t the only factor turning people away from the ballot box. Voters’ busy schedules also play a part in their failure to turn up at the polls, according to The Washington Post.

Bowen said that since most people have busy lives, “registering to vote may not be on their agenda.”

While New Jersey has made voter registration more convenient, with an option that doesn’t require driver or non-driver identification, voters had

until Oct. 15 to register this year.

Most states require voters to register weeks in advance of Election Day. “Every state in the country could have Election Day registration if they wanted to,” Bowen said. “But it’s a hassle and it means that people who are less engaged have a greater chance of voting and not every state wants that.”

Conservative-leaning states tend to have stricter voter ID laws compared to progressive states, according to USA Today. Some have adopted new voting restrictions, propelled by Trump’s claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election.

“My first hope is that we can get rid of these laws or that we can give everyone universal IDs,” Willse said.

Minnesota, which has a history of making the voting process convenient, can provide some insight into how the voter turnout rate would result if this logic is applied. In fact, The North Star State had the highest voter turnout in the 2020 election, beating out the national average by about 12 percentage points, according to The Hill.

Trading opinions on election issues that matter to voters may also be a way forward to encourage more voters to the polls, according to Bowen.

“On the individual level, we can help inform the people in our lives,” Bowen said. “We can talk to our neighbors, we can talk to our family members and our friends. We can say, ‘Hey, this is really important to me.

Let me tell you about what I think.’

That’s not a bigger solution, but it could be helpful.”

Hometown to campus: Students shift political perspectives

By Shaina Smookler Correspondent

As young voters embark on or continue their college journeys, many experience a profound shift in their political views.

This transition to college not only marks a significant moment in their lives, but also exposes them to diverse perspectives that challenge their pre-existing views.

Lauren Manzie, a freshman elementary and special education major at the College, feels more educated on political topics since moving to college. Growing up in Burlington County, she noticed a greater political freedom on campus, which made her feel disconnected from her family and hometown influences.

“I feel like it made me think more openly and I’m not basing my opinions on other people anymore,” Manzie said. “We’re in this new environment with new people that you don’t necessarily know, so no one’s really telling you how you’re supposed to feel.”

Manzie, like many first-time voters, has been influenced by going to college and the exposure of a new environment and new surroundings. An article from Diverse Education shows that nearly 60% of college students reported that a school’s political climate influenced their college choice.

Jude Bazerman, a junior broadcast journalism major at Syracuse University from Essex County, said his political views have changed as well, becoming more conservative since going away to college.

Previously a strong liberal, exposure to a range of perspectives has weakened his strong beliefs.

According to Best Places, 77.1% of the Essex County population voted Democratic in the last presidential election. Bazerman said he did not experience much political exposure in Essex County, as he did not see much of the “real world.”

“Growing up in Caldwell, it’s a unique

environment because it’s a very 50/50 town.

There’s a lot of conservative voices, a lot of liberal voices, a lot of voices in the middle,” Bazerman said. “Going out in the city of Syracuse, meeting people from different walks of life, is why my political opinion has changed — not really hearing new opinions, but actually seeing for myself.”

Syracuse has one of the highest overall poverty rates in the nation. According to U.S. Census Bureau, 29.6% of the population was living below the poverty line in 2022, which has allowed Bazerman to personally recognize important issues, such as where his tax money goes.

This issue frustrates him because he believes his hard-earned money could be better utilized elsewhere or kept for personal use, especially since many of the programs appear to be ineffective or underutilized. This perspective has become more important to him since college, he said.

“Looking at the city of Syracuse, it’s a very diverse city in terms of wealth and who has the wealth,” Bazerman said. “If I’m paying a lot of money for taxes and there are people that are not paying anything for taxes, but they’re getting use out of all these programs that either aren’t working or they’re not taking full advantage of, that’s a little frustrating.”

Similarly, since moving away from home, Manzie said she feels that the issue of women’s rights has become increasingly important to her, especially the right for women to make choices about their own bodies.

“I feel like women’s rights have definitely become something I feel very strongly about since moving to college,” Manzie said.

“Women have the right to choose what to do with their own body because that’s not a decision men should be making.”

Both Manzie and Bazerman emphasized the influence of their friends and peers on their political decisions. This positive impact affected both students, changing the way

they think and view the world.

But Bazerman is amazed by the impact of the Electoral College on voting, observing that his friend’s vote in Pennsylvania holds great significance, while his vote in New Jersey feels unimportant due to the predictable outcome.

However, Abigail King, a freshman music education major at the State University of New York at Fredonia, said her political views have not changed since moving on campus. She explained that many students at her school have similar beliefs and values that she does.

On Sept. 10, Fredonia’s Democracy Initiative club hosted a debate watch party on campus. According to an article by “The Leader,” SUNY Fredonia’s student-run newspaper, the goal of the watch party was to promote civil engagement and inform young and active voters.

King had not seen a debate prior to this viewing on her campus. As a first-time voter this year, she feels that her campus experience has solidified, but did not change, her decision in the presidential election.

Like SUNY Fredonia, the College offers political engagement opportunities for students. TCNJ Votes!, for example, works to inform the campus community on how politics affects them and prepares them to engage politically in diverse ways. Events previously hosted by this program included voting discussions, virtual events, early voting celebrations and movie screenings.

Cecilia Colbeth, director of the College’s Women in Learning and Leadership program, believes that the role of educators is not to interfere with students’ political perspectives, but to empower them to exercise their right to vote and encourage independent research.

Colbeth feels that educators play a vital role in promoting political engagement.

“We are so influenced by who we live with and where we live and that means our community,” Colbeth said. “As professors, we should encourage students to research all of the candidates’ platforms, all the issues up for debate from the local to federal level, and find where their passion is. Students might find that they diverge from their parents’ point of view and there is nothing wrong with that.”

Observing various political events on campus, Colbeth noted a lack of representation for independent and alternative parties. Events being hosted focus mainly on Republican or Democratic parties, she said.

Many, like Colbeth, come from firstgeneration backgrounds, fostering a shared understanding of the struggles involved in reaching higher education. Attending college in North Jersey, a diverse urban area, allowed her to recognize the struggles and ambitions in each individual’s life experiences, fostering a new way of thinking.

“You have this right to vote, you need to exercise it,” Colbeth said. “Don’t ignore it because, yes, even one single vote does matter.”

Photo by Andre Paras

Many first-time voters in college have experienced a shift in their political views.

The honors program needs a revamp and its benefits are highly glorified

The honors program highly exaggerates its advantages.

By Lacey Okamura Staff Writer The College promotes the Honors and Scholars Program as a way of providing “challenging and stimulating opportunities to students who seek to enhance their educational experience.” In its current form, the program does not enhance students’ experiences at all, but rather causes unnecessary stress with little reward.

Many of the “benefits” they claim that students receive as being part of the hon-

Photo by Derek Meola

ors program are glorified. For example, honors students are supposed to receive priority registration when selecting academic classes for the next semester.

These alleged priority dates, however, are not priority at all.

Registration for the spring 2025 semester will be open from Nov. 5 to Nov. 15. If the priority date for an honors student is Nov. 11, they are still picking after a majority of graduate and undergraduate students have already selected their courses. Priority should be the first

or second day that registration opens, not a few days before it ends. Students may fail to get into their required courses with such a late registration day.

Another benefit the program proclaims is the ability to take classes only available to other honor students. However, these alleged “honors” classes are often regular courses that non-honors students can also take, but honors students are required to. There are very few honors courses offered every semester, and there is no guarantee you will be able to find a class within your area of study.

Trying to find honors courses that fit into already busy schedules is challenging, especially with limited options available.

The program requires students to complete five honors courses in order to graduate with the distinction. Only two of the classes can be honors-by-contract, which allows students to turn regular classes into honors courses by completing extra work, such as an additional essay or project. While this may alleviate some of the problems students face in finding honors courses to take, it can only be done twice. Students are still stuck taking three random honors courses they may have no interest in, or that fulfill zero academic requirements, other than honors.

While there are some small scholarships and prizes that honors students are able to apply for, these are typically only available to seniors. There are no incentives for underclassmen to join the honors program, other than potential priority registration. A few years ago, the College removed its freshman honors housing, which was a major motivation for incoming students to participate in the program.

If the honors program wants to attract more students, there needs to be genuine benefits that students will receive by being part of the program. Priority registration, for example, should be the first few days of the registration periods.

It is understandable that the College may not be able to provide separate housing, but there could be an automatic scholarship awarded to honors students to make first and second year housing cheaper. Exclusive scholarships and research opportunities should also be made available to honors students in every grade, not just seniors.

By adding extra benefits and incentives, the honors program will be able to expand. If this expansion happens, the College can start offering more genuine honors courses. Until then, the program will continue to fade out as students lose interest.

Reasons why you shouldn’t study abroad (there are none)

Photo by Parisa Burton

Don’t think twice and just study abroad.

By Parisa Burton Opinions Editor

I still remember it vividly. The day I decided to dismiss my doubts and take on a new chapter of my college life – studying abroad. It was my second semester of sophomore year. If I were asked to describe this period of my life, I would say I was completely lost and felt stuck in my environment, longing to break free and spread my wings in a way I never have before.

Little did I know at the time that living in Milan for four months during the fall semester of my junior year would completely change my life and shape me into the person I am today. Submitting my application and receiving my acceptance letter was the scariest yet most exciting moment for me. I had no idea what to expect. My mind was filled with doubts and what-if scenarios but I ultimately knew this course of action would help me discover a new version of myself.

The months leading up to my departure felt fragmented. I didn’t truly process the fact that I would be living on another continent for four months. I bottled up my emotions and avoided thinking about this reality until it hit me. Not only was I leaving my life behind, I was doing it alone.

I was the only student from the College participating in this program this semester, despite it being marketed to students on the Global Engagement website.

Before I knew it, I had 24 hours under my belt before my everyday routine would

completely change. Being the person I am, I procrastinated packing my suitcases until the day before. I didn’t know exactly what to pack — there was no way of fitting my entire life into two suitcases and a personal item. I packed everything I could possibly need, cramming my bags to the brim. But when my dad told me to split it in half because there was no way I could manage that load on my own, I completely broke down. In that moment, I released the flood of emotions that I had built up for months, finally allowing myself to feel everything at once.

To make everything worse, I developed some sort of illness just days before my departure, experiencing non-stop coughing and a pounding headache, among other symptoms. The nine-hour plane ride felt like a battle between holding my breath or annoying every other passenger with incessant coughing. I wanted to escape my own body and tell myself to shut up.

What felt like a million hours later, I finally arrived at Milan Malpensa Airport.

I felt completely depleted and mustered the energy to look for my step-by-step instructions on what to do next in my email. I had to wait for three other girls to arrive, so I popped a few painkillers and waited patiently.

I recognized them immediately by their clothing; they all looked very American and around my age. We had to take a onehour scheduled ride together to our new apartment. As much as I wanted to socialize with my new peers, my low energy and the pain I was feeling made it impossible. I tried my best to hold back my coughs, but I couldn’t, and I already felt like they hated me. All I wanted to do at that moment was go home.

Looking back, the first few miserable days of my experience were so insignificant compared to the overall journey. When I say I found myself in Milan, I mean it wholeheartedly.

I didn’t connect with the people living with me the way I hoped I would, but I did find a girl that would soon become my best friend living on the floor above me.

I met her during the international school’s orientation. We were both by ourselves among our program group, and I took that opportunity to strike up a conversation with her. After this initial meeting, we spent every single day together.

It felt so refreshing to finally have a connection with someone in a new environment. The most amazing thing about it was there was no period of awkwardness, we immediately bonded and became inseparable. This was something I’d never experienced before with a friend, as it usually takes me a while to open up to new people.

We were miraculously placed in the same two-week required Italian language course, before our actual classes began.

We spent this time figuring out the public transportation system together, stifling our laughter in class and exploring the shopping gems that the fashion capital of the world had to offer after school.

I spent every waking moment escaping from my “dorm” room to head upstairs, where we planned trips and activities to do together or just relaxed in her space.

She introduced me to her roommate, and I became the unofficial third roommate. The three of us created countless memories together.

I had the opportunity to be a part of diverse classrooms, composed of people from all over the world. The courses were taught in English by Italian professors, and the assignments were group-based, encouraging us to learn about each other’s cultural backgrounds and unique perspectives. I took two journalism classes for my minor, and two marketing courses for my major.

The course work was manageable, with little to no homework, as the professors understood the significance of travel during study abroad and didn’t want to burden the experience. Solo travel was encouraged, but my program also offered several field trips, including a visit to Lake Como, a two-day trip to Florence and Verona and other Milan-based attractions.

“It’s hard to believe you guys just met

two months ago,” my roommate said to me during one of the group field trips as she witnessed us uncontrollably laughing together while waiting for the train. I couldn’t believe it either, and I also realized that in just two more months, we wouldn’t be able to spend every day together. The entire experience felt bittersweet.

Our program advisors warned us all from the beginning that the experience would fly by, but I didn’t realize just how quickly it would go or how important it was to absorb everything and anything before it was stripped away.

My weekends were filled with spontaneous last-minute trips to different parts of Italy and other European destinations, as well as restful days in Milan, where I explored local flea markets, tried new restaurants and enjoyed the nightlife with my new best friend.

As an American living abroad, I certainly did experience the typical phases of cultural adaptation: the honeymoon phase, cultural shock, homesickness, acceptance and excitement for returning home.

However, what resonated most with me was the exhilarating sense of freedom I felt for the first time in my life. Everyday felt like a new adventure, and I had almost no responsibilities to hold me back. It was a sweet escape from reality and one that I will cherish forever.

The reverse cultural shock I experienced when returning home is something that I will never forget. I felt lost once again and missed the connections I met abroad who were now resuming their lives in different states. It took me a while to shake this feeling and accept that I could never relive those experiences, and only my memories could keep me connected to this chapter of my life.

Above all, I am so grateful that my experience led me to find genuine happiness, and forced me outside of my comfort zone. It instilled in me a newfound sense of independence and confidence to conquer uncomfortable situations and make the most of them.

You need to let go of things that do not serve you anymore

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

You should let go of things that don’t serve you anymore.

By Lacey Okamura Staff Writer I was typical doom scrolling on social media one day, avoiding my homework by mindlessly swiping past video after video.

Nothing caught my eye or grabbed my attention, until I came across something that stopped me in my tracks.

The clip was extracted from a YouTube video by the creator Brittany Broski, who is primarily known for her comedic content.

It was not Broski’s comedy that made me pause, but rather a powerful quote she said: “I am trying to let go of things that do not serve me.”

Broski went on to describe how she will leave claw marks on those things because while she loves them, she knows they are no longer good for her. It was an emotional

minute of dialogue that brought tears to my eyes. Her words left me with such a profound feeling that I was left reflecting on the message.

We form a lot of physical and emotional attachments to things, whether it be our phones, our clothes, or even our friends. It is hard to imagine our life without them.

These things have all at times brought us great joy, but they can also be a source of pain.

Phones and social media have reached the point where they consume our lives.

When was the last time you went anywhere without your phone? How long have you gone without opening a social media app such as TikTok or Snapchat?

Our automatic instinct is to put our heads down and open our phones, even if we do nothing but stare at the home screen.

This kind of attachment prevents us from engaging and interacting with real people.

Life goes by fast, and we miss out on so much that we don’t even realize.

Letting go of material things can be difficult, but nothing is harder than letting go of a relationship. I recently found myself in a position where I had to decide what kind of people I wanted to surround myself with. Someone who I had been very close to for years had turned into a person I couldn’t recognize, and I was continuously hurt and frustrated.

It wasn’t until I heard Broski’s words that I was able to convince myself that letting go of this friendship did not make me a bad person. I think I will leave a lot of those claw marks she spoke about, but I also know my future self will thank me for putting my well-being first.

We’re all at a point in our lives where we’re going through a lot of change. As we decide what paths our careers will take us, we should also reflect on what can improve in our lives right now. Ask yourself whether or not the things you prioritize in your life are benefitting you in any way. Are there other things or people you can be giving greater attention and love to that will serve you even more?

I know what I am asking is not easy. It took me a while to accept the attachments I had made in my own life that needed to be let go, but I’m proud of myself for doing so. We all have things that do not serve us anymore, and while those claw marks may run deep, letting go will benefit you more than you know.

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 7

Graphic by Brooke Zevon

Water bottles are the Silly Bandz of college

Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Water bottles foster a herd mentality on campus.

By Parisa Burton Opinions Editor In elementary school, keeping up with the latest social trends was a fundamental aspect of fitting in.

Trends would emerge out of thin air, and it would be a struggle to keep up with. Once you finally tormented your parents enough to buy you something you believed would make you “cool,” the trend was over and you’d be left with an outdated product.

I vividly remember the third grade craze for Silly Bandz — colorful rubber bands that came in a variety of fun shapes. I couldn’t quite understand why they were so popular or what their practical use was. But in reality, there was no real purpose; they were simply collectable accessories designed to be worn and traded among friends.

Classroom popularity was dependent on how many of these rubber bands decorated your wrists, causing those with small or nonexistent collections to feel inadequate.

Silly Bandz are only one of many examples of a fleeting trend that determined your social status in elementary school. Some other examples of emerging trends were Rainbow Loom, patterned duct tape, Heelyz and feather hair extensions.

Once we entered middle school, trends became less craft-oriented and were more about embodying a style that was deemed popular. Iconic products like Adidas Originals Superstar sneakers, Thrasher tees, JanSport backpacks and Air Jordans became mainstream.

This brings us to today. As college students, most people have grown out of the herd mentality and now buy products that align with their personal tastes and preferences.

However, trends will never fully disappear. Popular products will always emerge, whether we like them or not.

While we may not face ridicule for resisting these trends, they can still feel desirable, as you frequently see others on campus flaunting

certain items. This can make you question yourself on whether you genuinely like these products, or are simply drawn to them because they are popular.

What was particularly concerning about these trends when we were younger was that it wasn’t just about owning these items, it was more about the fear of not having them. The fear of missing out made it essential to keep up and conform to these social norms. Being without these trendy items often labeled you as an “outcast,” highlighting how deeply ingrained consumer culture was in our childhoods.

With the introduction of Vine, a popular meme emerged in 2015 where a filmer recorded a police officer, panned the camera down to his shoes and said the iconic catchphrase: “What are those?” This video quickly accumulated 8.9 million loops in just 24 hours, provoking others to recreate it for fun.

Following this viral moment, shoes became even more significant in middle school. If you were caught wearing “roast-worthy” shoes, people who considered themselves established in the sneaker scene would mock you. Brands like Skechers and other less popular labels were often ridiculed, creating a problematic circumstance for students whose families could not afford to keep up with ever-changing trends.

Reusable water bottles are one of the many trends in college that are ever-changing. During my freshman year in 2021, nearly everyone owned a HydroFlask after the popular “VSCO girl” trend. I did zero research into this water bottle before purchasing it. I was pulled back into a child-like mentality, buying into this trend to fit in with the crowd.

But before I knew it, everyone was moved on to a new water bottle: the

Stanley.

I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon this time, despite the conformity I witnessed on campus.

There must be a reason everyone is using this product, right? It must be amazing! So I gave in—again.

I bought the renowned 40-ounce Quencher cup, and to say the least, I was highly disappointed. Its large size made it a hassle to carry; I often found myself balancing it on my pinky finger while juggling other things.

Today, there is yet another water bottle that feels almost cult-like on campus: the Owala. I honestly didn’t see it coming after we seemed to have finally settled on the Stanley. I find myself drawn to the fun colors it offers, but I am trying to resist the urge to buy one until I prove to myself that it will be beneficial to my lifestyle.

Do I want to buy one because everyone else has one, or do I genuinely see its usefulness and long-term benefits? This is an internal debate I have myself every time trends like these emerge. While trying to fight the impulse to be a follower and revert to child-like instincts, I am holding off for now.

But it isn’t easy.

I never saw the use in Silly Bandz, but I still begged my parents to fund this new desire. While water bottles are more practical than rubber bands, this theme carries into our adulthood. Trends come and go, and I fear spending money on something that quickly becomes outdated.

However, I think it’s important for us to embrace our unique preferences; if we find joy in Sillybandz while the world has moved onto Rainbow Loom, we should feel free to flaunt these bands on our wrists while others proudly wear their starburst bracelets. After all, it is our tastes, not trends that make us who we are.

Editorials

Financial literacy is a necessary addition to the College Core Letter to the editor

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Financial literacy is crucial to a well-rounded education.

By Kate Zydor News Editor No matter your major at the College, you will be required to complete a multitude of general education requirements: natural science, world language and belief systems — just to name a few. Based on the College Core program, it is evident that our institution prides itself on providing students with a well-rounded education founded on diverse perspectives.

While I agree that the College encourages interest and knowledge outside the scope of one’s major, we are sorely lacking in one critical area: financial literacy. In my experience, this topic is not nearly discussed as much as it should be, in high school or college.

As a psychology major and aspiring clinical psychologist, I cannot foresee myself using geology or meteorology in my everyday life — two of the more popular natural science course options.

While I am not a proponent of removing the natural science requirement, I am confused as to why laboratory skills are

deemed more important than learning how to be a successful, financially stable adult.

According to Next Gen Personal Finance’s 2022 State of Financial Education report, only eight U.S. states have mandated that all students be required to take a finance-oriented course during their time in high school. This means that students across 42 states are likely coming to college unequipped to manage their finances.

Being named No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 Best Colleges rankings in the Regional Universities North category, the College should set itself apart from other institutions by fostering a sense of financial responsibility among its students. This can be accomplished through the inclusion of a financial literacy course within the College Core curriculum.

As students with varying economic backgrounds, it is safe to assume that many of us have or will eventually take out loans to pay for our education — whether it be for undergraduate or graduate schooling. This is no trivial matter; it requires a thorough understanding of how to manage student

debt and plan for the future.

As tuition costs continue to increase nationwide, taking out student loans means that you may be committing to at least 10 to 20 years of repayment post-graduation.

This is a daunting reality, but one that we, as stakeholders in our future success, must take steps toward addressing.

Post-college, a student’s success is not only determined by the job opportunities they receive but also by their capacity to flourish in all areas of life. It is no secret that being in immense debt has the potential to alter one’s mental health and, in turn, affect how one performs in their career.

At the College, such courses could teach students how to go about alleviating the burden of loan repayment, such as outside scholarships, grants and federal work-study programs.

Looking at the behavior and practices of college students as a whole, there is a reason that they are deemed financially irresponsible. I, along with many other students, am guilty of spending my hardearned money on non-Eick food, going-out clothes and the newest items on TikTok Shop.

The value of budgeting, saving and investing money are not skills that are naturally ingrained in us; they must be continuously put into practice. It will not be long before we file taxes, take out mortgages and invest in stocks — all of which have an impact on our credit scores and means of “moving up” in society.

Some students may view this addition as unnecessary or just another hurdle to graduate. My response to this is: Why are we in college if not to equip ourselves with the competencies that prepare us for the real world?

It is evident, no matter how you look at it, that financial literacy is a crucial component of modern education, empowering students to make fiscally responsible decisions that leave a lasting impact on their lives.

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

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

In a recent letter to the editor, World Languages Chair Marimar Huguet Jerez shared her perspective on the impact faculty retirements, coupled with a reduction in the adjunct budget, have had on the workloads of those in her department.

The deans and I recognize that 26 faculty members accepting the Voluntary Separation Incentive Plan offered in March puts some additional academic responsibilities on their departments and colleagues.

There is some good news on the horizon for some departments — the college is moving to fill many of these positions. We expect to make decisions in January so that those being given permission to hire can make the most of the recruiting season.

I do need to point out, however, that faculty positions won’t necessarily be filled in the departments in which the vacancies originated. In an era of limited resources, the College must look carefully at student demand. By allocating faculty lines to high-demand disciplines, we expect not only to increase capacity in these areas, but also allow us to recruit faculty with expertise in exciting new areas.

This is reflective of the shift in enrollment happening nationally over the past decade. Students are choosing majors more closely aligned with specific career tracks over those in many of the liberal arts disciplines. While this is unfortunate — data has long shown that degrees in the humanities and social sciences serve graduates incredibly well over the course of their careers — it is reality and one to which the College must adjust.

Suzanne McCotter Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs

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

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

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

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

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

Across: 3. Feline symbol of bad luck 5. Creature wrapped in linen 8. Classic Halloween spooky pumpkin 9. Spooky October 31st activity 10. Undead creature with a taste for brains Down: 1. Costume with a broomstick 2. Nocturnal bloodsucker 4. Haunted house sound effect.

6. Monster stitched together 7. Sound of a ghost

Early voting for presidential election underway in dozens of states

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

More than 41 million Americans have already cast their ballots.

By Gauri Patel Staff Writer With election day quickly approaching on Nov. 5, Americans are getting a head start on shaping the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump.

More than 41 million Americans have already cast their ballots in the November election, either by mail or through early inperson voting, according to The Associated Press.

Across the country, the popularity of early voting has grown dramatically, setting records in at least two battleground states, Georgia and North Carolina.

Over 2.5 million people have voted early in Georgia, according to Secretary of

State Brad Raffensperger, which is about a quarter of the voters in the state.

In North Carolina, more than 353,000 people cast ballots on the first day of the state’s early voting period, according to the North Carolina State Board of Elections, breaking records even in regions impacted

by Hurricane Helene.

Record numbers of voters turned out in Yancey County, North Carolina, despite being one of the areas hardest hit by the storm. As of Oct. 23, 3,000 voters cast their ballots in person, out of the county’s 15,000 voters, according to NPR. “You wouldn’t believe the people [that have] come through here today [that have] said, ‘I don’t have a home,’ but they’re here to vote,” said Yancey County elections director Mary Beth Tipton.

In states where early voting numbers are strong, both Republicans and Democrats are urging their supporters to take advantage of early voting. At a rally in Georgia, Kamala Harris, joined by high-profile supporters including former president Barack Obama, urged voters to “please vote early” ahead of the upcoming election, according to Reuters.

Trump also urged voters to cast their ballots early, stating, “I am telling everyone to vote early,” during a podcast hosted by Dan Bongino, according to The Associated Press. The Republican National Committee has also encouraged early participation to avoid long lines on Election Day and ensure that votes are counted, representing a significant change from the 2020 election, where skepticism toward early and mail voting was widespread among conservatives.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many states expanded the use of ballot drop boxes to provide a safe, contactless voting method. However, former President Trump and some allies later spread baseless claims that these boxes enabled widespread election fraud, alleging they were used to “stuff” fake ballots, according to NPR. Investigations by election officials and law enforcement found no evidence of significant issues with drop boxes in 2020, confirming they were secure, closely monitored and effective for voting.

The Associated Press also reported no significant issues with drop boxes in the 2020 election.

According to NPR, more people are likely to vote in-person than by mail compared to previous elections, partly due to increased restrictions on ballot

drop boxes. For example, Georgia limited drop boxes to early voting locations and reduced their availability, especially affecting larger, urban counties with more Democratic voters.

In the battleground state of Wisconsin, fewer ballot drop boxes are available than they were four years ago, going from more than 500 in 2020 to 78 today, according toThe Associated Press.

However, other states, like Michigan, have also worked to expand drop box access and ease mail-in voting requirements, and Nevada has adopted a universal vote-bymail system.

Republicans have made gains in early in-person voting, while Democrats are leading in mail-in voting.

According to The Associated Press, early voting among Republicans has surged in key battleground states, largely spurred by encouragement from GOP leaders. In Nevada, where Democrats have historically relied on strong early voting to balance GOP turnout, approximately 6,000 more Republicans than Democrats had cast early ballots as of Oct. 22. As of the same day, Democrats have submitted approximately 350,000 more mail-in ballots than Republicans.

Still, experts emphasize that while early voting enhances election security and administrative efficiency, the data collected primarily reflects party registration rather than actual voter preferences. They caution that early voting patterns do not guarantee election outcomes and that turnout patterns alone don’t determine results.

Ultimately, the final outcomes will depend on the collective turnout on Election Day and dynamics of voter preferences as the election approaches.

2024 presidential election polls: The possible futures America faces

By Fiona Espinoza-Castro Staff Writer

As the presidential election draws closer, the race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald J. Trump has captivated the entire nation. Polls show Harris and Trump undergoing an intense battle as they fight for the popular vote.

According to USA Today, a poll conducted online by ABC News and Ipsos from Oct. 18 to 22 surveyed several U.S. citizens. Harris is reported to have a 5147% advantage among voters, but the race between the two candidates remains close, especially given the influence of swing states.

USA Today reported that in the ABC News/Ipsos poll, Harris has the upper hand among voters who prioritize healthcare access and who want to protect democracy, while Trump performs better with those focusing on immigration policy and the current economic state.

One poll conducted by Quinnipiac University observed registered voters in the swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin.

Michigan is reported to have 49% of voters supporting Harris and 46% supporting Trump, with the remaining candidates coming in at 2%. Wisconsin shows an even split, with 48% backing Harris and 48% backing Trump.

Quinnipiac also reported a clear gender gap between the two states. In Michigan, 57% of women support Harris, while 56% of men support Trump. In Wisconsin, Harris has 57% support among women, and Trump holds 59% among men.

In North Carolina, Spencer Kimball, an executive director of Emerson College

polling, said that “Eight percent of Trump voters plan to split their ticket and also support Stein on the gubernatorial ballot, while little to no Harris voters are splitting their ticket to vote for Robinson.”

This comment refers to the upcoming election for governor between Democrat Josh Stein and Republican Mark K. Robinson. Emerson College reported that the main issue in North Carolina is the economy, with 40% of voters saying the issue is most important to them.

This is followed by protecting democracy at 14% and housing issues and immigration at 11%. In Wisconsin, the top issues for the voters are the economy at 41%, protecting democracy at 17%, access to abortion at 10%, and immigration and housing at 9%.

According to the Times/Siena College poll, nearly 15% of the surveyed voters named immigration as their top issue.

Trump has pledged to hold the largest mass deportation in American history, capitalizing on concerns over immigration after the Biden administration’s records.

According to the New York Times, voters trust Trump over Harris on immigration by an 11-point margin.

Sandra Remiker, a Republican from Barron, Wisconsin, told the New York Times, “​​I’m sorry, I do not agree with the illegals and the refugees coming in the country.” She later added, “I mean, if we can’t help our own people, our own veterans that are living on the streets, we shouldn’t be helping other countries.”

Despite this, some voters were swayed after watching the presidential debate, particularly by Harris’ composure on stage.

Luis Mata, for example, said he changed his mind to vote for Harris instead of Trump,

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Polls show Harris and Trump facing an intense battle, fighting for the popular vote. after acknowledging her governmental experience in contrast to Trump’s business background—two aspects that set the opponents apart.

While many voters remain pessimistic about the future of the nation, polls can provide insights into the public’s current leanings, though they are not entirely reliable. Polls rely on a diverse sample of voters, but with the country’s changing demographics and individuals choosing to opt out of surveys, some voices may be drowned out, according to Pew Research.

Weighing a poll on variables like age, race and gender is often not enough to get accurate results, as older adults and college graduates are more likely to take the survey than younger people.

Polling in 2016 and 2020 further showed large errors. Pew Research found that “the 2020 polls featured polling error of an unusual magnitude: It was the highest in 40 years for the national popular vote

and the highest in at least 20 years for statelevel estimates of the vote in presidential, senatorial and gubernatorial contests.”

The errors in the polls conducted two weeks before the election showed that Biden’s margin was twice as larger over Trump than it ended up being, according to the research outlet.

Pollsters are working to improve the accuracy of the polls, but an error of 4-5% is not concerning if the purpose is to describe whether the public has favorable or unfavorable opinions about candidates, according to Pew Research.

Swing states, too, can drastically change the course of the presidential election. Although one candidate may appear to have the advantage in several polls, the outcome remains uncertain and is far from set in stone.

As the nation waits, the uncertainty remains in the air, a reminder of the various futures America faces after election day.

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 11

NASA’s Europa Clipper to search for signs of life on Jupiter’s moon

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The mission aims to ascertain whether its underground ocean is suitable for life.

By Padmaja Thirumalai investigate it. The spacecraft, NASA’s Staff Writer largest for a science mission, will make 49 flybys, reaching as low as NASA has recently released a new 25 kilometers above the surface. It is $5 billion mission to explore Europa, about 16 feet tall and over 100 feet one of Jupiter’s moons. The Europa long, weighing 3,241 kilograms. The Clipper mission aims to ascertain spacecraft is powered by a large solar whether its underground ocean is array. suitable for life. The spacecraft Before traveling towards Jupiter, launched on Oct. 14 from NASA’s the spacecraft will first slingshot Kennedy Space Center in Florida. around Mars. According to Space.

According to NASA, Europa com, on Dec. 1, 2026, the spacecraft Clipper will perform adjacent flybys will then slingshot around Earth as of the moon to gather detailed well. These gravitational assists will measurements to help scientists allow the spacecraft to be thrown in

a high-speed trajectory toward Jupiter.

Orbital scientists call this Mars-Earth gravity assist. Europa Clipper is scheduled to reach Jupiter on April 11, 2030.

The science process won’t start right away, however. The spacecraft will take one year to adjust its orbit around Jupiter before getting closer to Europa. According to Space.com, instead of Europa, Europa Clipper will be orbiting Jupiter because of the dangers of radiation.

This mission wouldn’t have been possible if the devices weren’t tested or if the trajectories weren’t updated.

Before commencing a mission, it’s important to check the possibilities of dangers. According to the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, in July, researchers found out that extreme radiation levels on a group of Europa Clipper’s transistors could cause the parts to fail.

Since the 1960s, scientists have been creating radiation-resistant electronics to function in a radioactive environment. NASA scientists used a process called annealing, which is a process of treatment with heat, to repair defects and redistribute trapped charges.

This mission seeks to help scientists better understand the universe.

Scientists will discover the potential of habitable worlds beyond Earth.

Through this mission, scientists will also gather an understanding of the ice shell’s nature and the ocean beneath it. Scientists will also learn about the moon’s composition and geology.

According to NASA, scientists say that Europa may be a likely place to find habitable environments. Europa Clipper hopes to determine if there are places beneath Europa’s surface that could support life. The spacecraft

is embedded with cameras and other instruments that will produce highresolution images and maps of the moon’s surface. Europa is estimated to contain twice as much water as Earth’s oceans.

In an interview with CNN, Robert Pappalardo, the mission’s project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, described the potential benefits of the mission.

“To me, it would be to find some sort of oasis, if you like, on Europa where there’s evidence of liquid water not far below the surface and evidence of organics on the surface,” Pappalardo said. “Maybe it would be warm, maybe it would be the source of a plume. That could be somewhere that in the future maybe NASA could send a lander to scoop down below the surface and search for signs of life.”

NASA is hopeful that this mission will lead to greater discoveries and possibilities for the future.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Europa Clipper simulator.

BRICS nations forge stronger ties: Key takeaways from the 2024 summit

By John Kavallines Correspondent The BRICS organization, an acronym that stands for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, hosted the annual BRICS summit from Oct. 22 to 24 with several global leaders, including Xi Jinping of China and Narendra Modi of India.

The summit took place in the city of Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan, akin to a state or province in Russia, about 450 miles east of Moscow.

BRICS, which encompasses nations that collectively represent nearly half of the global population, has been viewed by some as a possible alternative to western organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or nations like the U.S., according to Modern Diplomacy.

The group of nations is a diplomatic organization that held its first official summit in 2009 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. South Africa joined the following year, which added the ‘S’ to the end of the group’s name. The term originated from a 2001 research paper

by Jim O’Neill, who was then the head of Global Economic Research at Goldman Sachs. Broadly, it is a group of emerging economies that, according to the paper, were set to be more important in the global economy in the future.

In addition to the original five members, BRICS now incorporates Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates. This summit marks the first since the block’s expansion, which Xi praised last year as a “historic” occasion that signified a “new starting point for BRICS

cooperation.”

Kazakhstan chose not to join the summit, with local media stating that Indonesia and Algeria also plan to remain outside for the foreseeable future. Argentina has also refused its invitation. Although Saudi Arabia takes part in BRICS events, it has not yet formalized its membership, according to Reuters.

Of the 38 nations invited to the summit by the BRICS hosts, 24 sent their leaders, with a total of 32 participants aside from the original members, plus the United Nations.

Leaders from the majority of member countries attended, including the leaders of South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia and the UAE. The president of Brazil has canceled his visit due to a medical issue, according to Reuters, so the foreign minister was chosen to represent Brazil instead.

Additionally, leaders from several non-BRICS countries were present in Kazan, including leaders from Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The U.N. secretary general, António Guterres, also participated, as confirmed by the U.N. The general purpose of this year’s summit was to discuss the future of the alliance. The organization has stated that up to 30 countries have shown interest in joining BRICS. Turkey is among them, having filed for membership, as confirmed by the Kremlin in September, according to PBS. This would mark the first entry of a NATO member into the group. The Russian government has said that this year’s BRICS summit explored

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The BRICS organization hosted the annual summit with several global leaders. a framework for allowing secondtier countries to function as partners before potentially transitioning into full membership.

This would function by having nations who wish to work with BRICS, but either do not want full membership or wish to join but have not gained the approvals of members, to cooperate more closely with the goals and actions of BRICS. According to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, thirteen new potential members received approval.

During the summit, economic activities were also discussed, including the creation of a grain exchange that could be spread to other commodities in demand like metal

and oils, as reported by Reuters.

According to Manara magazine, this, along with the potential for further economic integration so payments could more easily be made between members, aimed to make alliance members more self-sufficient and less reliant on the other countries.

The BRICS organization issued an official statement regarding how it wishes to reform global finance, as they said in their Kazan declaration, “We underscore the need to reform the current international financial architecture to meet the global financial challenges including global economic governance to make the international financial architecture more inclusive and just.”

TCNJ Choirs honor female composers with ‘Beauty Through My Own Eyes’ The piece, which was inspired by poet Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself,” concluded with the striking visual and auditory choice of the chorale lining the aisles of the venue. The choir delivered the final line in haunting layers.

The evening was marked by several stunning performances. Among the highlights was “Hymne au Soleil” by Lili Boulanger, a work that celebrates the symbol of the sun for life and happiness, with an air of optimism and intensity.

“No Time,” composed by Susan Brumfield, is a camp meeting song inspired by traditional sermons. Sophomore secondary education and history major Anthony Berchie, a member of the choir, stated this was his favorite song to perform because of “its amazing harmonies.”

Additionally, “Gloria” from Carol Barnett’s “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass”

brought liveliness, infusing traditional holy music with an upbeat rhythm. Hyo-Won Woo’s “Pal-So-Seong,” or “8 Laughing Voices,” is made up of nonsense syllables and is highly entertaining with its intermittent laughter.

Leonard expressed his own enthusiasm for the music, and how it feels “refreshing” performing this new repertoire. Berchie also shared that his love of singing makes him “feel like a totally different person” when he has the chance to perform.

Looking ahead, the College’s choirs will present their next concert on Nov. 23, which will specifically feature “Gloria” with an expanded band ensemble. They will continue their commitment to performing female composers and highlighting the vibrant contributions of women in music.

Photo by Andre Paras

The College’s Choir and Chorale came together to present music composed entirely by female artists.

By Ashley Ragone Staff Writer The College’s Choir and Chorale kicked off their 2024-2025 season in Mayo Concert Hall with “Beauty Through My Own Eyes” on October 18th. The performance celebrated music composed entirely by women, a theme that will be continued with new selections by female composers for future concerts.

Leading the choirs was John Leonard, director of choral activities and professor of music. Leonard shared some insights into his approach to the season, noting that he had never before created a season with this dedication to

female work.

“I hadn’t done it before, and there’s such great repertoire,” Leonard said. “And as I was putting together the whole season this year, everything I had already solidly picked were female composers…I like to generally do a theme every year, and I said ‘Well why don’t I just make it all female composers?’”

Under Leonard’s artistic direction since 2010, the College’s choral program has premiered numerous works, including Andrea Clearfield’s “Poet of the Body and the Soul.” The 2012 commission was revisited by the singers during this performance, with Clearfield in the audience herself.

Photo by Andre Paras

The College’s Choir and Chorale perormed a variety of pieces during the concert.

Shakespeare 70 brings ‘Waiting for Lefty’ production to TCNJ

Photo courtesy of Shakespeare 70

The play follows the lives of different New York City taxi drivers in the 1930s.

By Andre Paras Staff Writer Shakespeare 70, a local theater company that’s brought adaptations of past and present straight theater without the use of music, was back again at Kendall Hall’s Don Evans Black Box Theater with their most recent production, “Waiting for Lefty.” The play opened on Wednesday, Oct. 16, and closed with a matinee on Sunday, Oct. 20.

As a company, most of Shakespeare 70’s talent are either connected to the surrounding community or are alumni of the College.

“The best thing is being able to work with the students, and to go into their classrooms to talk about the play… and being able to look into the crowd and see students there,” said director Frank Falisi after the show.

Written by Clifford Odets, an American playwright and activist, the

original play premiered in the mid1930s following the Great Depression.

Deemed at first as Communist propaganda, it has since been reevaluated and put on again many times since its first opening. Now, it’s regarded as an American classic for how boldly it challenged the status quo.

The play follows the lives of different New York City taxi drivers in the 1930s arguing whether or not to unionize and go on strike for better wages. It navigates intimate moments with members of the ensemble cast and their tolls of everyday life, living paycheck to paycheck.

Despite never appearing in the play, the cast waits on the character Lefty for the majority of the show, who acts as a radical left-wing symbol and is supposed to lead positive change for these workers to fight for change – but he never shows.

Falisi’s “Waiting for Lefty” opens with characters rising from the same seats the audience is sitting in, wearing contemporary clothing ranging from solid colored tops to a modern New York Mets jersey.

“When the first actress stood up in the audience, I understood that this was going to be something different than a typical play,” said freshman psychology major Gianna Melhorn on her first impressions.

There is no stage, so both the audience and talent are always on the same level. The performance space’s seating is arranged in a thrust, with the audience facing the performers from three different angles. This is a deliberate direction choice from Falisi to both immerse the audience and make viewers feel as equals, as performers walk through the aisles constantly to join or leave scenes.

Early on, a lot of the crowd’s big laughs are derived from on-the-spot

crowd engagement and interaction. The audience let out its biggest roar as one of the performers who set the scene revealed his shirt reading “Trump is a scab. Vote Harris,” which sets the tone for this show’s politics and how it aims to reflect the world around us today.

With a modest stage setup, a lot of the production’s heavy lifting via visual style is led by technical director Dale Simon, who helps the show carefully transition from scenes interacting with the crowd to dialogue between two characters, and even creating tenderness with subtle warm lighting throughout the show.

What’s new about Shakespeare 70’s adaptation was the choice of adding both classical and contemporary music to a play which previously had none.

Falisi said the music served as an additional reminder “that we fight and we organize so we can have pleasurable lives, and so we can have romance.”

The performers taught choruses to the audience to sing together, and even handed out printouts for the production’s grand finale.

What isn’t new is the play’s subject matter with commentary on social classes and wealth inequality, along with its extremely honest performances resembling real life. It’s all a testament to how well this play has aged almost a century later, and shows how especially concise it is for tackling all of this in just an hour.

“This is a play that has real class analysis in it, and we wanted to get that on campus… All the union stuff, all the political stuff in the play still works,” said Fallisi on putting on “Waiting for Lefty.”

This performance drew in friends, family, students and theater lovers alike, bringing a unique, artistic and professional experience you don’t find on campus too often.

The Signal

Halloween Tunes Phoebe Bridgers: Halloween Lady Gaga: Bloody Mary Sunday (1994): Blonde Halestorm: Mz. Hyde Michael Jackson: Thriller Ethel Cain: Strangers Lady Gaga: Disease Billie Ellish: THE DINER Halsey: Lonely is the Muse Iron Maiden: Run to the Hills Chappell Roan: My Kink Is Karma My Chemical Romance: Helena

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 13

Four Chinese poets present work during poetry reading event

By Sky Pinkett Staff Writer

The College’s Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition and Department of English sponsored a poetry reading on Oct. 24, where four renowned Chinese poets were invited to read their works.

The four poets featured in this event were Wang Jiaxin, Jinjin Xu, Li Jiaoyang and Wang Jian.

The reading took place in the library’s auditorium. After some welcoming remarks from faculty, the first featured poet, Wang Jiaxin, stood up to begin reciting his poems in Chinese.

A common trend throughout the event was the poets reading their works in Chinese. While some of the poets, such as Xu and Jian, read both the Chinese and English translations of their poems, Jiaxin called upon audience members to read his poems in English.

One notable audience member who read out loud was an 8-year-old girl, who read Jiaxin’s last poem, “In Our Time,” which he wrote after the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Coming after Jiaxin was Xu, whose poems “There They Are” and “To Red Dust,” played around with time and its

constraints upon our lives. Her next poem, “To a Brother Without a Name,” drew upon her grief in losing a close friend of hers whose name was forbidden to be spoken following his death. She read this powerful work of grief in English.

Jiaoyang followed Xu with her odes to various American states, such as “Odyssey in New Jersey” and “Letter from New York.” Jiaoyang then called back to the times of the pandemic with her “Ode to the Sea,” a poem that placed special emphasis on the difficulties the pandemic wrought upon the Asian community.

The poet to close out the reading was Jian, who switched from Chinese to English midway through his poetry.

His poem, “White Pigeon Square,” used the humble perspective of a pigeon to explore commentary on human behavior and the environment.

As Jian finished with a bow, the audience was invited to engage in a Q&A with the poets. Multiple questions involved the difficulty with translating the essence of their works across languages and cultures.

“I think there was always this gaze of the English-speaking audience on my own work. It’s hard for me to figure

Photo by Sky Pinkett

Four Chinese poets performed their pieces. out what I am writing for myself versus something back,” Jiaxin added. “Poetry what I am writing for the audience,” can have a lot lost in translation.”

As foreign as Chinese culture may Xu told the audience. “Because I have internalized this gaze in whatever I write, have been to many of the American whether it’s in Chinese or English, there’s members of the audience present at the always this translation and awareness of reading, the poetry of the four poets the audience on what they may or may revealed that despite different cultures, the nuances of human emotion and not understand.”

“You have to find a way to give experience remain familiar to all.

Former One Direction star Liam Payne dies Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho

Photo courtesy of IMDb

The former One Direction star died at 31 in Argentina.

By Mia Shea Staff Writer Singer and former One Direction star Liam Payne died on Oct. 16 at the age of 31 after falling from his third floor hotel room in Argentina.

According to ABC News, Payne was staying at the Casa Sur hotel in Palermo, Buenos Aires, where he plummeted to his death. CBS reported that Payne was in Buenos Aires to attend the concert of his former One Direction bandmate, Niall Horan.

Pablo Policicchio, the spokesperson for the Security Ministry of Buenos Aires municipality, released a statement to The Associated Press stating that Payne “had thrown himself from the balcony of his room.” Police were dispatched to the hotel to deal with an “aggressive man who could be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

Upon arriving at the hotel, police found Payne’s body in the hotel’s courtyard. Authorities concluded that it is likely that he jumped voluntarily, as the autopsy also found that there were no defensive injuries on his body, and they believe that he did not make any attempt to break his fall.

The Buenos Aires police shared with TMZ on Oct. 18 that they believe Payne may have been under the influence of a potent drug called “cristal,” which is known to cause extreme highs and lows

as well as hallucinations.

Upon searching Payne’s hotel room, the police also shared that they found drug paraphernalia, with the place trashed and the TV broken.

An autopsy was done in which forensic experts shared with TODAY that they found a total of 25 injuries “compatible with those produced by a fall from height.” Payne’s brain and skull injuries in particular were “sufficiently suitable to cause death.”

Payne was born on Aug. 29, 1993, in Wolverhampton, West Midland, England. Payne’s career began when he auditioned as a solo artist on “The X Factor” in 2008, later finding more success on the same show in 2010 when he was grouped with Horan, Zayn Malik, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson, who eventually formed the wildly successful boyband One Direction.

The band released their debut studio album “Up All Night” with Syco Records and then eventually released four more albums, including hits like “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Night Changes,” “Perfect” and “Best Song Ever.”

After One Direction broke up in 2016, Payne released the top-ten single “Strip That Down” in 2017. His solo debut album “LP1” was released in 2019 by Capitol Records. That record contained hits like “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Familiar” and “For You (With Rita Ora).”

In August of 2021, Payne released the single “Sunshine,” which was featured in the film “Ron’s Gone Wrong.” He did not release any more music until March of this year when he released a single titled “Teardrops.”

Payne’s current girlfriend, Kate Cassidy, was also on the trip to Argentina but returned home just two days prior to Payne’s death. In a TikTok video, Cassidy shared that she “was so ready to leave” after spending two weeks there. It was unclear why she decided to leave Argentina without Payne.

Payne’s death still remains under investigation by local authorities as they try to determine the true nature of his death and whether or not it was in fact accidental.

shine in ‘Cabaret’ at the Kit Kat Club

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Lambert and Cravalho took over the roles of Emcee and Sally Bowles.

By Ashley Ragone Staff Writer From the moment I stepped through the doors of the August Wilson Theater on Broadway, I was immersed in the vibrant, underground club scene of 1920s Berlin. A short walk down a neonlit alley, pulsating with heavy bass music, sets the tone as patrons are led to the intimate performance space “Cabaret” offers.

While exploring the offerings of the theater, including three separate bar offerings and merch stands, one may notice a recurring eye motif splashed across the walls. In an interview with Architectural Digest, scenic designer Tom Scutt shared his choice to incorporate the pattern of eyes, reflecting the show’s “obvious themes of voyeurism and paranoia.”

This attention to detail enhanced the immersion for me and was a subtle point that I was truly impressed with.

Once seated at a stage-side table with my guest for the night (my mom), I was blown away by the immediate engagement among the ensemble members of the cast. Actors intermingled with the audience, calling individual tables and engaging in conversation.

I was able to speak with Rosie, one of the ensemble cast members, sharing my thoughts on the production and my circumstances

for seeing the show. The highly interactive nature of the show truly stood out to me and transcended the typical definition of a Broadway performance.

As soon as Adam Lambert made his entrance onto the circular stage as the Emcee, he was nothing short of unrecognizable. Finishing in second place on American Idol in 2009, the now-frontman for the rock band Queen was dazzling. Dressed in shimmering eye makeup and a party hat, he truly embraced the character, embodying a vibrant yet haunting stage presence. His portrayal starkly contrasted with original cast member Eddie Redmayne’s interpretation, which leaned more subdued and introspective.

While Redmayne brought out the melancholy and darkness behind the Emcee with minimal makeup, Lambert infused his performance with electrifying energy and an unmatched level of theatricality, strongly reminiscent of Frankenfurter from “Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Auli’i Cravalho, best known for her role as the voice of the titular character in Disney’s “Moana,” takes a sharp turn from her island princess roots. In the role of Sally Bowles, she is transformed into a loud, vibrant woman full of spunk.

She commands the stage in her solo cabaret numbers, including the scandalous “Don’t Tell Mama” and the angry “Mein Herr.”

At the top of the show during “Willkommen,” Lambert’s commanding stage presence quickly captivated the audience. He seamlessly blends the charm and creepy undertones of the Emcee role, both seductive and absurd.

Redmayne had a slightly more reserved approach, which I felt held back some of the authenticity that the stage commands. Lambert invited the audience to dance along with him and find comfort in the seedy Kit Kat Club.

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page 14 The Signal November 1, 2024

Halsey navigates motherhood and chronic illness on ‘The Great Impersonator’

By Lake DiStefano Arts & Entertainment Editor

Halsey has always been a confusing artist to me. With her 2015 debut “Badlands,” she captured my attention by creating pop music with overt themes of mental health. However, as her career progressed, she seemed to accidentally fall into making unaffecting pop hits like “Closer” and “Without Me.” Thankfully, “The Great Impersonator” is a return to form for the singer, as she adorns a multitude of musical styles across this 18-track behemoth of a record.

Lyrically speaking, this album covers a ton of ground, and somewhat follows a narrative — albeit one that is far from chronological. Halsey meditates on generational trauma and mortality as she comes to grips with her chronic illness and newfound motherhood.

She announced via an Instagram post made earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with Lupus, as well as a rare T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder, and this diagnosis informs most of the lyrical content on the record.

This record is almost uncomfortable to listen to at times, as she reckons with the reality of her chronic illness. Her

diagnosis looms over every song like a shadow, as she makes many allusions to not expecting to live much longer.

The different “Letters to God” tracks — one for 1974, 1983 and 1998 — act as a structure for the narrative. They’re not really songs, and are instead more akin to a spoken-word poem performed to an instrumental.

My favorite of these is 1974, as Halsey recounts how she used to pray to get sick because a boy in her class started getting treated better by his parents after he got leukemia. She wants her parents to stop fighting, and this young narrator foolishly believes getting sick will do that for her.

Listening to this track, while not necessarily a song in the traditional sense, really moved me. The reality of her current illness makes this song almost hard to stomach.

She doesn’t drop this thread though.

She continues to interrogate what being sick means for her in “The End” and “Panic Attack” — the latter of which is a glistening Stevie Nicks-inspired track that is easily my favorite on the whole album.

In “I Believe in Magic” and “Hurt Feelings,” Halsey begins to reflect on how her parents have affected the way

Tyler, The Creator navigates life with new album ‘CHROMAKOPIA’

Photo courtey of Apple Music

After the release of teasers, “CHROMAKOPIA” was released on Oct. 28

By Andre Paras Staff Writer In just 13 days, Tyler, The Creator has gone through the entire rollout process for his new 14 track, seventh studio LP “CHROMAKOPIA.” The album’s promotion online boasts “All songs [are] written, produced, and arranged by Tyler Okonma,” something his entire solo discography has in common.

To help make this album experience a mystery, “CHROMAKOPIA” had a list of “hidden features” on its release day of old and new collaborators not listed on the streaming album, including Daniel Caesar, Teezo Touchdown, Childish Gambino, GloRilla, Sexyy Red, Lil Wayne, ScHoolboy Q and Doechii.

He began the rollout on Oct. 16 with his first of many song snippet teasers, beginning with “St. Chroma,” the album’s opening track, then announcing the album just a day later.

On Oct. 21, the lead single “NOID” was released alongside a music video of the first half of the song with both lyrical and visual themes of weapons, invasion of privacy and Tyler’s anxieties as a celebrity in the modern age.

Notably, the video featured actress Ayo Edibiri running up to the camera like a screaming fan with bulging eyes, and in her hand, her phone was changing back and forth to a gun. It critiques a new issue

of parasocial relationships devoted fan bases have.

After a vinyl announcement, release of tour dates and more snippet teasers, “CHROMAKOPIA” was released on Oct. 28, a Monday, at 6 a.m. which seems to be an intentional, artistic choice from Tyler. Most albums from major artists are released at 12 a.m. ET on Fridays.

“If you put [an album] out during the week, man that commute to work, or that commute to school… you really have that hour to dive in and really listen,” Tyler said in an interview back in 2023.

With all of this in mind, it’s no secret that a lot goes into Tyler’s creative process. He makes this apparent, with the album’s opening featuring the voice of his mother, and creative inspiration, Bonita Smith. Smith’s spoken word plays with this metaphor of “the light” as this need for Tyler to create.

Up next is “Rah Tah Tah,” featuring some of Tyler’s most aggressive lyrics and instrumentation on this record, reminiscent of his second album “Wolf” from 2013.

This song serves as a quick flex and celebration of his riches quickly devolves into something more vulnerable in its outro, playing with Tyler’s paranoia to provide a seamless transition into the lead single, “NOID.” Instrumentally, “NOID’s” stinging Black Sabbath-esque guitar riff reminds me a lot of Tyler’s 2015 album “Cherry Bomb.”

“Hey Jane” was an unexpected, raw and real surprise, featuring two extended verses of Tyler opening up on an accidental pregnancy with Jane, a character Tyler creates for the song. The title of the song was inspired by the New York City abortion service of the same name. Tyler emphasizes the importance of Jane’s choice and the support he has for her during this time.

In the second verse, Tyler writes from the perspective of Jane deciding how to face this situation alone while navigating through her relationship with Tyler given these new circumstances.

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she parents her own son. While the former isn’t incredibly melodically interesting, the latter is a very addicting lo-fi sound I find myself returning to often.

Despite the many successful experiments on the record, unfortunately, the sheer length of it makes it inevitable some will not fully land or work.

The album opener, “Only Living Girl in LA,” is a six-minute waste of time, as all the interesting points of the song, both musically and lyrically, only last for about a minute toward the very end. It felt very overwrought for seemingly no good reason.

Another miss on the record is “Lucky,” which features a hook interpolated from the Britney Spears song of the same name. It’s a bit too poppy for this album’s tone and doesn’t offer anything new lyrically either.

Despite these duds, the rest of the tracklist is incredibly strong, with the really strange sounds seen on “Dog Years” and “Arsonist” being some of the most compelling work here.

Halsey has really found her stride with this project, and I am pleasantly surprised with how well written the record is. There are multiple moments

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Halsey showcases her many musical influences on the record, inspiring its title. in almost every song where I felt a true depth within her lyricism, on top of the already rich soundscapes she’s playing with.

The nuance with which she details her emotions regarding her illness is really astounding, and her unflinching portrayal of the sheer horror of your body giving up on you really resonated with me.

I can only hope that she continues to approach her future work with this level of fearlessness and with a lack of concern for producing work that needs to fit some pop formula.

November 1, 2024 The Signal page 15

Signal Sports Staff’s way too early NBA predictions

By Aidan Mastandrea, Joseph Caruso and Tyler Morello The Signal Sports Staff Most valuable player Joe: Nikola Jokic Already having won the award three times in the last four years, the dreaded “voter fatigue” has been no match for Jokic’s historic offensive output.

Already with two 40-point games in the Nugget’s first four contests, Denver’s less-than-ideal supporting cast will force the three-time MVP to put up even crazier numbers than previous years if they have championship aspirations.

With Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. struggling to look like their usual selves, and sharpshooting Kentavious Caldwell-Pope lost in free agency in favor of the fossil that is Russell Westbrook, the Joker dragging this team to home-court advantage in a tough Western Conference would be his most impressive trick yet and enough to warrant serious MVP consideration.

Aidan: Anthony Davis After the Lakers championship in 2020, many people around the league expected Anthony Davis to take the baton from Lebron James and ascend to an even higher level. Unfortunately, some injuries in the two years following the ring thwarted that growth, and Davis started to be mocked for his proneness to injury.

Somewhat quietly, Davis has risen back to his pre-2021 form and been tremendous for the Lakers over the past two seasons. While only a few games into the young season, Davis has been a monster on both ends of the floor, averaging over 30 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks a game. It is clear that Davis is now the focal point of a new Lakers offense and barring injury, the Lakers should be in good position in the Western Conference which would give Davis a great shot at his first MVP. Tyler: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander After a week of the NBA season, it seems possible that we may get a first time MVP. The Thunder seem to be the

most well rounded team in the West, and if they finish with one of the top records in the conference, there’s a good chance Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will get the award.

Gilgeous-Alexander has been one of the most consistent players in the league over the past few seasons, almost always finishing with at least 30 points and 6 assists while also being one of the only star guards who play elite defense.

If he keeps up his consistent play with the Thunder getting a top two seed in the Western Conference, the MVP should be Shai’s for the taking.

NBA Champions

Joe: Oklahoma City Thunder Finishing with the second-best record in basketball in the 2023 season, the Thunder only have gotten scarier this season. The runner-up in MVP voting last season, 26-year-old Shai GilgeousAlexander is one of the brightest young stars in the league, excelling on both sides of the ball.

Chet Holmgren has taken a leap in his third season, and Jalen Williams is one of the most underrated young scorers in the league. All of this is expected from coach Mark Daigneault’s squad, but the moves they made over the summer are what should get Thunder fans excited.

General manager and basketball genius Sam Presti killed two birds with one stone, getting rid of Josh Giddey and replacing him with two of the most impactful role players in the NBA, Alex Caruso and Isaiah Hartenstein.

Assuming the stars stay healthy, Oklahoma City should cruise to the number one seed in the Western Conference and rack up 60 wins in the process.

Their experience will certainly be a question mark come playoff time, but their depth and shooting should make them the favorite to advance to the NBA Finals.

Aidan: Celtics There doesn’t seem to be much of an argument against the Celtics winning the championship this year other than

injuries. Even with that, star center Kristaps Porzingis has not played yet this year and Boston has looked as dominant as ever.

The depth of the roster alongside superstars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown is something that the league has not seen in a long time. Head coach Joe Mazzulla has proven to be one of the best in the league and his players seem to respond to his eccentric personality.

There is a universe in which the Celtics break down and get beaten come playoff time, but it seems infinitely more likely that they will cruise through the Eastern Conference and win their second straight title.

Tyler: Boston Celtics It is difficult to picture a team other than the Boston Celtics holding up the Larry O’Brien trophy in June. Their high-powered offense that consists of shooting as many threes as possible has created a new dynamic for NBA offensive schemes.

Even though they are averaging over 50 three-pointers attempted per game, they never seem forced in any given situation. Their five-out set also allows the paint to be wide open when they are run off the three-point line. Even though they have the highest offensive rating in the league through four games, they also have a top tier defense thanks to their ability to switch positions one through five and protect the rim with centers Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis.

Jayson Tatum is playing like an MVP after his jump shot was seemingly fixed from the end of last season, and Jaylen Brown is playing with some fire within him after being snubbed off the USA Olympics team. The East is going to run through the Celtics again, it’s just a matter if a team from the West can stop them.

Dark Horse Champions Joe: Orlando Magic The Magic have everything you want from an up-and-coming squad. A budding superstar in Paolo Banchero, a do-it-all second option in Franz Wagner, and some

of the best role players in the league.

A 3-1 start has been spearheaded by the aforementioned Banchero, with a statement performance in a win against the Indiana Pacers where he recorded 50 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. At just 21 years old, the sky’s the limit for Banchero.

Alongside him and Wagner, Orlando has a plethora of great role players, including Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jalen Suggs, Anthony Black and defensive wizard Jonathan Issac. The Magic have a lot of room to grow before being thrust into contention talks, but if Banchero and Wagner hit their ceiling, there is no telling where this team will be come playoff time.

Aidan: Los Angeles Lakers Can a team anchored by Lebron James and Anthony Davis truly be a dark horse? According to the odds makers and television personalities they certainly are. It’s only been 4 games, but new head coach JJ Redick seems like the real deal.

With practically the same roster as a year ago, the Lakers look like a completely new squad. The offense has been refreshing and with Davis controlling play on the defensive end, and the ascendance of Austin Reaves this team could make a run through the Western conference and win a title.

Tyler: Los Angeles Clippers After reports that Kawhi Leonard would be out for an indefinite period, fans were worried the Clippers would be competing for the worst record in the league with their draft pick going to the Thunder.

However, James Harden is proving he can still lead an effective offense. The Clippers have all the right role players a team would want with a great mix of shooters and defenders. Big man Ivica Zubac is proving to be one of the more underrated players in the league and he provides great rim protection which is what all contenders need.

The biggest question is still Kawhi Leonard though. If he can come back by the end of the season with the Clippers in a playoff spot, he could put together one last playoff run.

Women’s soccer continues win streak with a clean sheet against Rutgers University–Camden

The Lions celebrating a gaol.

Photo by Derick Zelaya

By Fiona Espinoza-Castro Staff Writer The College’s women’s soccer team hosted Rutgers University Camden for the annual “Pink Game” on Oct.16, honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month with players wearing pink ribbons in their hair.

With 244 attendees, the pressure rested on the Lions, who were aiming to extend their winning streak to six games. The Lions entered the match with an undefeated record of 10-0-2, while the College’s opponent held a record of 6-6-2.

Right from kickoff, the intensity

of the game exceeded the Lions’ expectations, presenting them with an unexpected battle against the Scarlet Raptors. Both teams pressured hard, testing each other with defensive and offensive plays. Despite their record, Rutgers–Camden was an opponent that wasn’t going to be easily overpowered.

“We came out really strong,” said senior business marketing major Victoria D’Imperio. “We had a lot of chemistry and we moved the ball really fast, which helped us get the chances and finish our chances.”

Sophomore undeclared major Alyssa Alfano had an opportunity to drive the ball into the back of the net during the 25 minute mark, but Rutgers–Camden’s goalkeeper Michaela Graham blocked the shot.

Five minutes later, one of the Scarlet Raptors ran half of the pitch on her own after maintaining possession of the ball. However, the Lions freshman kinesiology and health sciences major goalkeeper, Ellen Williams, blocked the chance.

Nearing the 38th minute, D’Imperio scored an electrifying goal, which energized the Lions and caused them to amp up the atmosphere on the pitch. Two minutes later, D’Imperio found the net again, striking the ball into the back after a long pass from senior business major Ava Curtis.

This goal marked a milestone for D’Imperio as it launched her over 100 career points in her time at the College, making her the seventh player to ever do so.

“I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the team,” said D’Imperio.

“The ball was fed throughout the 18 a lot, and we just had to finish the chances.”

Rutgers-Camden’s Asia Horne tried to respond, but her shot went wide.

With 51.9 seconds remaining in the first half, D’Imperio took advantage of an error from Rutgers-Camden’s defense, who sent the ball backward.

D’Imperio shot the ball with her right foot, completing a hat-trick.

“They were good. It was a tough game,” D’Imperio said. “They were very physical, they had a lot of energy, which we did as well so it came out to be a good match.”

This secured D’Imperio’s third career hat-trick, placing her with 103 career points, only three away from joining the top five players in the College’s history. D’Imperio has received various accolades including the following: NJAC Midfielder of the year (2023), 1st team All-NJAC (2022, 2023) and NJAC Offensive Player of the Week seven times.

In the second half, the Lions continued their momentum, dominating possession of the ball

and firing 16 additional shots. Senior marketing major Cassidy DiSabato took four shots, including a header shot that went high in the 56th minute and another attempt four minutes later that went wide.

Freshman undeclared major Jenny Ward scored a goal assisted by freshman nursing major Emily Weidner after a rebound off RutgerCamden’s goalkeeper Jordana Fredo.

Moments later, Ward attempted to shoot again but was denied. With the score standing at 4-0, Williams secured another clean sheet for the Lions.

“Honestly just scoring more goals and getting more wins,” D’Imperio said when asked about the team’s goals moving forward. “We have to keep the energy going and keep it moving. Winning NJAC is a major one, and we’re focused on that.”

The Lions offensive dominance was clear as they totaled 26 shots throughout the entire match, while their opponent had two, neither of them being on target.

Since the Pink Game, the College has added a few more wins to their resume, bringing their record to 14-02. The NJAC tournament starts in just over a week and the College will shift their focus to trying to bring home not only an NJAC championship, but a national championship.

TCNJ Football continues to win with offense against Gettysburg

Photo by Andre Paras

The Lions now have a record of 5-2.

By Tyler Morello Staff Writer The 4-2 Lions’ football team traveled to Pennsylvania on Saturday and picked up their fifth win of the season against a gritty Gettysburg squad. They were looking to make it two wins in a row after their win against Kean University on their Homecoming day game.

It was another offensive explosion for the College, as they continue to show they can score with the best across all of Division III. Fifth-year Quarterback Trevor Bopp threw for 329 yards and a touchdown. Bopp has thrown for over 200 yards in each game this season.

Fellow captain and fifth-year Malin

Jasinski once again hauled in 10 receptions as well as passing the 200yard mark receiving for the second time this year. He and Bopp connected for the Lions’ lone passing touchdown on the day.

The difference maker for the Lions however was senior running back Jayson Schmidt, who ran for a career-high 247 yards as well as punching in four touchdowns on the ground.

“The offensive line play against Gettysburg was stellar,” said Schmidt, “and the main reason we were able to move the ball so effectively on the ground.”

The game was not as simple as it seemed for the Lions, as they found

themselves down 13-0, and then 19-7 in the second quarter. This was when Jasinski brought in his receiving touchdown of 36 yards to cut the lead to five.

The Lions’ defense immediately forced a three-and-out after two incompletions and a 0-yard rush gain.

This stop led to the Lions’ first lead of the game after a 3-yard touchdown from Schmidt to make it 20-19.

The defense was able to come up with another key stop after a pass breakup from senior Amir Vick on a third down, followed by forcing an incompletion on fourth down to end the half.

The College received the ball to start the second half, and made sure to capitalize on the extra possession. After a few short gains from Schmidt and a pass caught by fifth-year tight end Thomas Burke, Schmidt broke away for a 49-yard touchdown on a crucial 4th and 1.

Now with a 27-19 lead, the pressure was all on the Bullets to put together a quality drive ending in a score. On the second play of the drive, junior lineman Jameson Sessa recovered a fumble by Gettysburg, setting the Lions up at the Bullets’ 37-yard line.

After a turnover by the Lions and a punt by the Bullets, the Lions put together a nine-play, 74 yard drive that was capped off by Schmidt’s 4th touchdown of the game. Gettysburg fired right back with a 43-yard passing touchdown, and the Lions found themselves up 34-25 heading into the final frame.

College was able to force another punt by the Bullets but were pinned at their own seven-yard line early in the fourth quarter. On the first play of the drive, Bopp hit Burke for a quick pass and Burke was able to avoid tacklers all the way to the Gettysburg 43-yard line.

Bopp finished the drive off with a two-yard rushing touchdown after driving the team down the field, and the Lions got the cushion they were looking for.

The College’s defense was able to keep the Gettysburg offense in check until around the four minute mark where the Bullets ran in for a 20-yard touchdown.

The Lions were then able to chew out the clock thanks to some rushes

by Schmidt and a 40-yard catch from Jasinski.

The College is now entering the home stretch of the 2024 season with three critical conference games to finish the season. They now turn to this upcoming Saturday when they host Salisbury University, who is 7-0 on the campaign.

“We are looking to build off of the ground game from last week, while also attacking them in areas where we think we have better matchups,” Schmidt said regarding Salisbury.

A win against Salisbury will be vital if the Lions hope to bring home an NJAC championship.

“Our team knows the severity of this matchup and we have had a great week of practice so far with high focus and intensity,” said Schmidt.

Wrestling Preview: Sacco and team ready for new season to begin

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

The College open their season against Wilkes University.

By Joseph Caruso Staff Writer The College’s wrestling team had another stellar season in 2023-24, finishing with a dual record of 13-5.

Excluding the COVID-19 shortened season, The College has recorded double-digit wins in 10 of 11 full seasons under coach Joe Galante.

Now in his 13th year, Galante looks to continue his long-standing success as the Lions coach.

Galante has received the NCAA Mideast Regional Coach of the Year in three of the last four seasons, including back-to-back years in 2022 and 2023.

For him, it’s the consistency in the program itself that he preaches.

“Tradition and culture are the primary drivers of our success over the years,” Galante explained. “Culture may be a buzzword these days, but it’s something we genuinely believe in and work intentionally to build every day.

Our expectations for all wrestlers are to learn our system and embrace our team values. We have a style rooted in

intensity, technique and conditioning.”

With just 10 upperclassmen and 26 freshmen and sophomores, leadership from Galante and the seniors will be key to their success this season.

“From a leadership perspective, each wrestler brings a unique approach — some lead by example, others are more vocal, and some naturally bring their teammates along in areas like training, mindset, and nutrition.” Galante said.

One of the seniors the Lions will be expecting a lot out of is Nick Sacco.

A 2-time NCAA All-American and 2024 NCAA Champion, Sacco has had success from the second he stepped onto the mat as a freshman. He has gotten recognized academically as well, as he has been a NWCA Scholar AllAmerican in all three of his seasons.

Sacco is still focused on bringing home more personal and team hardware this year.

“This past offseason was nothing different than a typical offseason,” said Sacco. “I was still training and enjoying the summer weather. Winning a national title last year was an experience second

to none, but it is a new season and the results from last year don’t carry over to this year.”

Sacco wasn’t the only scholar on the team, as the College had eight honorees on the National Collegiate Wrestling Association list of Scholar All-Americans. As well as this, the College’s wrestling squad finished No. 21 on the NWCA’s Team Scholar All-America Top-30 with a 3.534 team GPA. It is safe to say that Galante is more than happy with the academic success that he has echoed to his players throughout his tenure.

“To me, a successful season means our wrestlers earn academic awards and grow closer as a unit,” Galante said. “I truly believe that if we achieve these things, our wrestling goals will follow. Our core values are character, commitment, and a positive attitude.

These are the foundational qualities we seek in recruits and reinforce once they join us on campus.”

Senior Mike Conklin is another name to look out for, being a 2-time NCAA All-American, and 2024 Mideast Region Champion with 70 career wins. Other seniors Kyle Nase and James Romaine will be key to the College’s season this year as well, having a combined 72 wins in their collegiate career thus far. Despite losing key seniors, this team can make some noise.

“We haven’t been shy about our belief that this team has the potential to stand out nationally, and we focus on our daily process goals in the hopes that they add up to a positive outcome,” Galante said. “Wrestlers come and go, but the lessons, opportunities, and experiences we offer are designed to

last a lifetime, no matter how long an athlete is with our program.”

On Friday, Nov. 3 some members of the program will compete at the Princeton University Open to kick off their season. The true season begins with a match against Wilkes University on Friday, Nov. 10. The College began their season against Wilkes a year ago and came out victorious, so the Lions will be looking to start the season on the right note.

“We are looking to bring home an NCAA team trophy in March,” said Sacco. “The top 4 teams get a trophy and we would love to bring some hardware back to the College come March.”

TCNJ Athletics Schedule Field Hockey Saturday, Nov. 2, 1 p.m Home against Salisbury Football Saturday, Nov. 2, 2 p.m Home against Salisbury Cross Country Saturday Nov. 2 NJAC Championship Wrestling Sunday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m Away at Princeton