Fall '23 Issue No. 7

The Signal

Vol. LIII, No. 7

https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

December 1, 2023

Forcina Hall to undergo $22 million renovation

The renovation, which is slated to begin this summer, will be completed by October 2025.

By Kate Zydor Staff Writer During their meeting on Oct. 17, the College’s Board of Trustees discussed the upcoming renovation scheduled to take place in Forcina Hall.

While discussing the College’s capital project budgets, the Board approved a budget of over $22 million for this renovation which is set to begin in the summer of 2024.

The funding allocated to this project will come from Asset Renewal

Reserves as well as a grant from the N.J. Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE).

“The Forcina Hall renovation will reimagine and renovate instructional and academic support spaces in the building for a number of academic programs,” said Jeff Osborn, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The renovation will include the construction of designated spaces for the Department of Nursing, Department of Public Health and the School of Nursing and Health

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

Sciences offices. Several building upgrades will also be completed which include improvements to the hall’s elevator.

“This work is funded, in large part, by assistance from the State of New Jersey through the Higher Education Capital Facilities Program,” said Osborn.

This program allows institutions of higher education to better their instructional facilities, focusing primarily on technology improvements, capital construction, rehabilitation of space and acquiring

necessary academic equipment.

“Recognizing the space limitations that our current Nursing and Public Health students, faculty, and staff are experiencing, [the College] directed its proposal, successfully, on improving training facilities for the state’s future healthcare workforce,” said Osborn.

“TCNJ’s proposal to the state program was titled “Educating New Jersey’s Next Generation Health Workforce.’”

The Forcina Hall renovation will ultimately allow for all nursing and public health programs to exist in a common location. However, this will require the displacement of a number of groups and classrooms currently located in Forcina Hall to Roscoe West Hall.

“I was told about potential renovations at the beginning of the semester when the nursing panel was introducing us to the program,” said freshman nursing major Lindsey O’Leary. see FORCINA page 2

Navigating dining with restrictions Campus Town begins barnacle system

By Nicholas Steinhauser Correspondent

dietitian at the College.

At every station in Eickhoff, there are signs regarding dietary Dietary restrictions are an im- information in the meals that are portant part of many students’ being served so the students will lives, whether they be an allergy know what they will be eating in or a personal choice. No matter their meals. However, depending the needs, there are resources on the day, Eickhoff may have available at the College to ac- little or nothing that a student commodate students with food with dietary restrictions can eat, that they are safe and comfort- thus limiting their options and able eating. meal consistency.

One option to assist with acStudents may instead feel more commodations is Eickhoff Hall. comfortable forming their own preHere, students have a lot of flex- planned menu for the week with ibility when it comes to how safe and related options. By meetthey want to manage their re- ing with Sugrue, students can set up a menu for the entire week and strictions.

“The dining hall displays the select a time to pick up their food foods we are serving, the aller- each day so they can have a safe gens associated with the foods, meal prepared for them when they need it. and it is where we have our alEickhoff can have some safe oplergy chef to accommodate stutions for some students at stations dents with food allergies, so it like the Simple Zone, which offers is the primary location to go to gluten-free and nut free options for for students with food allergies,” people with allergies. see DINING page 4 said Anne Sugrue, the registered

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By Isabella Darcy Opinions Editor

Campus Town recently implemented the usage of “Barnacles” or window blockades to its parking regulation process, eliminating towing for parking violations.

The Barnacle is a device that Campus Town maintenance staff place on vehicles that violate parking regulations in order to immobilize them. The device works by attaching to a vehicle’s windshield via two large suction cups, obstructing motorists’ view. The Barnacle remains attached to the windshield until a $200 violation fine is paid.

“We want to enforce the parking rules but we don’t want to send people down to the yard every time they make a mistake, so we are doing it this way,” said director of sales and marketing for the PRC Group Jeff Kearns.

Campus Town parking regulations are violated when a mo-

torist parks in a residential space that does not belong to them or in front of a Campus Town retail location that they are not actively a patron of.

Prior to the implementation of the Barnacle, vehicles that violated Campus Town parking regulations were towed and taken to a yard in Trenton. Motorists would have to travel to the yard to pay a fine to pick up their vehicle.

With the Barnacle, vehicles stay where they are parked, and motorists can settle the violation fine directly at their vehicle.

Sophomore marketing major Gianna Sassi recently removed a Barnacle from her vehicle. Sassi said that she found the process to be a quick and convenient alternative to towing.

“I like how I was able to do it myself rather than having to contact a company or going to get my car,” Sassi said.

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

see BARNACLE page 2

page 2 The Signal December 1, 2023

BARNACLE / Parking regulations Professors contextualize Israel-Hamas war

Photo courtesy of Ela Kirimca The barnacle blocks the view of motorists.

Continued from page 1 “It is a way more time efficient parking fine for sure, but the only downside is that you have to pay with a credit or debit card, and pay on the spot.”

To pay a violation fine, motorists must visit payandrelease.com and enter the five-digit number located either above the Barnacle’s keypad or on the side of the device. Once they have done that, the violation fine and refundable deposit amounts will appear on the screen. These are $200 and $300, respectively, and must be paid for using a banking card.

Motorists must then enter their cell phone number to receive a three-digit verification code by text.

After the phone number is verified, motorists should enter their card details and select “Pay,” review the transaction agreement and select “Confirm.” Motorists then receive a four-digit release code that they should enter into the Barnacle.

Once the release code is entered into the Barnacle, the device can be

removed from the windshield and handed in to the return receptacle located at the corner of the Fitness Center, 700 Campus Town Drive.

So long as the Barnacle is returned to the receptacle without any damage, the $300 deposit will be refunded to the motorists banking card approximately three to five business days after the Barnacle is handed in.

“The process was pretty simple,” Sassi said. “It took me less than a minute to take it off, so it was easy.”

While Sassi feels that the Barnacle is an efficient solution, another Campus Town resident, sophomore elementary education major Faith Cerreta, fears that the Barnacle may pose some obstacles.

“It can be difficult to carry groceries from the roof of Lot 7 all the way to my Campus Town apartment,” Cerreta said. “The Barnacle creates challenges when wrongfully parking my car in Campus Town to quickly drop my groceries off, since they might be more inclined to put a Barnacle on a car than they would be to tow one.”

Cerreta said that she is afraid that she may have to pay a large fine for only a few minutes of violating parking regulations.

The easiest way for motorists to avoid getting a Barnacle put on their vehicle is to always abide by Campus Town parking regulations.

“We’d rather people respected the rules, but obviously [parking violations] is something that continues,” Kearns said. “We saw [the Barnacle] as a better way to try to control the problem.”

By Lauren Diaz Correspondent

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, many people, regardless of age, have struggled to make sense of the conflict at hand. With its extensive history — and polarizing sides — it is often difficult to find where to start.

In collaboration with the School of Humanities and Social Sciences and the School of Arts and Communication, the College’s Department of Inclusive Excellence put together a panel to contextualize and explain the complicated relationship between Israel and Palestine on Nov. 15.

In front of a sizable, diverse audience congregated in Physics 101, the panel explained the deep-rooted history of the modern conflict between the Israeli and Palestinian states, which dates back to 1948 with the breakout of the Arab-Israeli War. The panel featured political science professor Sarah Chartock, international studies professor Miriam Lowi, English professor Mindi McMann and sociology professor Miriam Shakow. The panel and discussion was moderated

by Zakiya R. Adair, who is an associate professor of women’s, gender and sexuality studies and African American studies, along with being the co-director of the international studies program.

“We designed this panel as a way to

model for the larger TCNJ community how to come together to engage in civil dialogue around difficult subjects,” Adair said to the audience.

Shakow said she joined the panel after seeing the one-sided opinions of not only the campus community, but also the news and media.

“There was a perspective that was missing,” Shakow told The Signal. “It was very upsetting to me that there were groups saying they mourned the Jewish people who died, or they mourned the lives of Palestinians who died, and there were few groups saying that they mourned everyone.”

All four panelists are of Jewish descent, and they clarified that they are not experts on the topic. However, they aimed to take an unbiased approach to presenting their information.

They emphasized that the U.S. is partially responsible for the perpetuation of violence in the Middle East, and it’s important to educate yourself, not only on the conflict, but also on how the United States involves itself within it.

The panel is one of three events that the Department of Inclusive Excellence will be hosting to further educate the Campus community on the conflict in Israel and Palestine. The second event will feature a Jewish studies professor and the third event will be delivered by Palestinian scholars.

Read more on our website!

FORCINA / Cop Shop: Damages, theft and fire (but not really) Upcoming changes By Liz Ciocher at the time of the incident. He re- from his sleep. After an offiContinued from page 1

According to Osborn, Roscoe West Hall will be renovated simultaneously to create additional classrooms, house the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning and upgrade and extend the Center for Student Success and Mentoring as well as the Career Center. The administration’s current plans also include the addition of a new Advising Center and the relocation of the current Tutoring Center.

“I think the renovations could provide more resources for students to meet and help each other,” said O’Leary. “Updates and open spaces will help the [nursing] program become closer with individual students and better prepared for when we graduate.”

As stated in prior messages from President Bernstein, the College has gone over its annual budget significantly. This has resulted in funding being limited across the College’s numerous departments and institutional structures.

The Forcina Hall renovation is expected to be completed by Oct. 2025.

According to Osborn, the College’s goal in renovating this hall is to create state-of-the-art educational spaces. In turn, these improvements will bolster the student experience and allow students of all majors to be properly accommodated in their studies.

Arts & Entertainment Editor

mains unidentified.

Nov. 10: Music building theft The Signal and Campus Police Prior to a 7:30 p.m. orchestra work together on a weekly basis practice, a student wrapped her to inform the campus communi- belongings in a jacket and sety about crime on and around cured them in the basement campus. All records given to The lobby of the Music BuildSignal are public records and do ing. Inside the jacket not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students.

Since the start of November, Campus Police has recorded four separate instances of misbehavior or troublesome actions. In order for our campus to stay up to date, they are listed here in order included a gold ring chronologically. with a green jewel, a walNov. 8: Hand sanitizer brutal- let and a set of keys. Upon ity returning to the basement lobby A community advisor (CA) at 9 p.m., the student noticed her in Decker Hall filed a report to belongings seemed disheveled Campus Police about the resi- and her ring, valued at $350, was dence hall’s sixth floor hand san- missing. Her keys and wallet reitizing station. According to the mained untouched.

CA, a resident reported a shirt- Nov. 12: Not disruptive, but less male screaming and running still drunk around in the common areas the Campus Police was contacted day before. In his frenzy, the shortly after 2 a.m. with constudent knocked the hand sani- cern for a student’s safety in tizer station to the floor, causing Wolfe Hall. When the officers damage to the apparatus. While arrived on the scene, the student the report does not specify if the was found severely intoxicated student was a resident of or visi- but asleep in his bed. Concern tor to Decker, he appeared to be prompting police contact arose under the influence of something when the student failed to wake

cer performed a sternum rub on the student, he woke up, slightly disoriented. Once he noticed what appeared to be vomit on the student’s shirt, the responding officer contacted campus EMS. After noticing the vomit, the officer also noticed a handle of Tito’s vodka, which he promptly disposed of. The student was taken to Capital Health Hopewell and was written a warning citation for alcohol possession and consumption.

Nov. 13: Townhouse “gas leak” At about 11:30 a.m., Campus Police received a call from a resident of Townhouse South claiming they smelled gas. After arriving on the scene, officers noticed a smell, but did not recognize it as gas. For safety measures, the Ewing Fire Department arrived at the townhouses to confirm or deny the presence of gas at around 11:35 a.m. Once they arrived, Townhouse South was evacuated by the instruction of Campus Police, where shortly after a student reported a lit candle on the third floor of the building. At 11:40 a.m., a firetruck from Prospect Heights also arrived on campus. The candle was blown out and Prospect Heights deemed that there was no gas leak.

Features

Alumni Adventures: From sorority to CEO - Adriana Carrig’s entrepreneurial journey

Photo courtesy of Adriana Carrig

Carrig and her family

By Kayla Del Correspondent

From a sorority project to a thriving brand, Adriana Carrig is a testament to the power of passion and an entrepreneurial spirit.

As a 2012 graduate from the College and the founder and CEO of jewelry brand Little Words Project, Carrig’s success story invites students at the College to embrace their aspirations and believe in unconventional career paths.

Over the last 10 years since its creation, Little Words Project has seen an incredible growth trajectory with $20 million in revenue in 2022, as well as products in 900 Target stores and 10 retail store locations across the country.

Little Words Project centers on kindness and connection.

Customers select or customize a handcrafted bracelet with an inspirational word or phrase that means something to them, wear the reminder for however long they need and pass it along to

someone who needs it more. Each bracelet has an ID tag allowing customers to register their bracelets online, share their stories and track their bracelet over time.

Motivated by her personal experiences with bullying growing up, Carrig started a business with the goal of shifting the narrative towards kindness and positivity.

“At the collegiate level, Little Words Project can come in handy,” Carrig said. “As young women, we are walking around college campuses trying to figure ourselves out, trying to find where we belong in the world, trying to find where we’re gonna go; these bracelets really act as little, gentle reminders that you can do it and you will get there, you just have to spread that love.”

Carrig’s entrepreneurial success was not always in her plans.

“When I was a kid, I was always playing imaginary games where I was the CEO and I definitely always wanted to maybe run a business, but I never thought I’d be an entrepreneur,” Carrig said.

Carrig initially planned to follow a writing pursuit either in the magazine industry or law school.

Despite taking the Law School Admission Test and never taking college business courses, Carrig followed her heart and launched Little Words Project in November 2013.

With the support of her parents, who believed in her enough to let her bead bracelets in their basement, Carrig confidently embarked on her journey.

“I think my support system of my parents prevented me from having uncertainties,” Carrig

said. “I’ve been told by my mother my entire life that ‘querer es poder’ which means ‘if you want it you can achieve it;’ I always led with that energy of ‘I can do anything that I set my mind to.’”

Carrig also found an ongoing support system within her sorority at the College, Delta Zeta.

“Delta Zeta is the whole reason why I started this brand,” Carrig said. “That experience led me to believe that women could be kind to one another and it was very different from everything I experienced growing up. The chapter really brought me so much both in what it proved was possible in the female world but also in the support they’ve given me since.”

Initially designed for her Delta Zeta sisters, the bracelets sparked continued interest among them after her graduation. Carrig sought permission to develop it into a brand and gained enthusiastic support from her sorority sisters, who were instrumental in its successful Facebook debut.

“Making sure you surround yourself with people who do believe in you is my best piece of advice for entrepreneurs,” Carrig said. “It’s very lonely and it can be very hard; if you don’t have people who believe in you, then you better believe in yourself.”

Carrig also urges aspiring entrepreneurs to be resilient, as uncertainty is common in the field.

“Just go for it because at the end of the day, you won’t know until you’ve tried,” Carrig said. “‘Failing forward’ is my other favorite thing about entrepreneurship. I’ve learned from every failure and as a result, I’ve grown.”

Carrig believes that some of

young people’s uncertainty about pursuing their creative endeavors and unconventional career paths could be eliminated if colleges and universities emphasized entrepreneurship.

“I didn’t really know about the entrepreneurial journey, so my goal and my hope is that TCNJ and all schools will put a little more of an emphasis on this third way,” Carrig said. “You don’t have to go to school to become a lawyer or a doctor or a teacher. You can go to school with the knowledge that you want to create something of your own.”

The College’s Entrepreneurship Club teaches students about the possibilities of entrepreneurship by bringing in guest speakers who have created their own businesses and can offer advice.

“I enjoy being in a club with like-minded, motivated people with an entrepreneurial spirit,” said junior management major and chief advisor of the Entrepreneurship Club, Ava Mokrzecki.

Connecting with like-minded individuals in the world of entrepreneurship is crucial for overcoming doubts and challenges.

“Success to me is the knowledge that I’ve done something really hard and I’m still here to tell the tale,” Carrig said.

Carrig’s story motivates students and emphasizes the value in sharing experiences with others.

“It is truly inspiring to hear Adriana Carrig’s story; she is exactly what I want to be,” Mokrzecki said. “To hear stories like hers makes me realize that the dream is absolutely achievable, especially as a woman in business at such a young age.”

American Heart Association.

“We’re just trying to spread awareness on, obviously, life-saving techniques such as CPR and First Aid,” said senior biology major Alexander Saykali, one of the instructors.

When asked about why it is important for students to sign up for these classes, Saykali said that “if you have a general idea, a few minutes could help save a life.”

Knowing what to do in an emergency situation is important and can be life-saving.

As Basic Life Support is a class meant for healthcare providers, it requires some basic background knowledge. Students can sign up for the other three courses without prior medical knowledge.

“The healthcare course is like ‘you are 911’” said Matthew Cyktor, a senior psychology and premed major who also is an instruc-

tor for the courses.

“The courses we offer are characterized for people who don’t have any medical training or knowledge,” Saykali said.

According to the EMS website, the prices for the classes are as follows: a CPR class costs $60, a First Aid class costs $65, a Stop the Bleed class costs $5 and a Basic Life Support class costs $90.

“The BLS one is more expensive because it’s a higher, more detailed course,” Saykali said.

The sign-up states that the CPR and First Aid classes are both 2 1/2 hours long, where the Stop the Bleed class is an hour, and the Basic Life Support class is 4 1/2 hours.

During a typical class, Saykali said participants watch a video provided by the American Heart Association, and the instructor demonstrates the skills before the

participants give it a go.

According to both instructors, all classes cover skills such as CPR, mouth-to-mouth and using an AED. The Basic Life Support class is the only one with an exam, as it is meant for healthcare providers.

The frequency of classes depends on instructor-availability, with Saykali holding two per week and Cyktor offering one or two per week.

The classes also require a minimum of three participants to sign up and are open to everyone, according to Cyktor.

“It is open to literally anybody, regardless of their age, and it’s open to people outside of [the College],” Saykali said.

More information on the classes and how to sign up can be found on the TCNJ EMS Website.

Learn how to save a life at TCNJ’s EMS courses

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

Emergency vehicles

By Johanna Evans Correspondent In an effort to educate people around campus, the College’s Emergency Medical Services hosts four different First Aid classes aimed to inform students about what to do in a worst-case scenario. The four classes include Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers, Stop the Bleed, HeartSaver CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and HearSaver First Aid. All instructors are trained through the

page 4 The Signal December 1, 2023

DINING / Rare conditions require unique solutions Continued from page 1 Sometimes, however, these options can also not be appealing for these students, which makes it more reliable for them to set up their own meals with the dietitian.

One of the most notable attributes of Eickhoff in regards to dietary accommodations is that students have freedom to choose how they get their food by making their own menu with Sugrue.

“Most students do a little of each option,” said Sugrue. “They may find breakfast easier to navigate on their own but may have some lunches and dinners made for them by the allergy chef. It is about what they are most comfortable doing.”

Sugrue knows a lot about how to manage meals at Eickhoff Hall and can also help students with other food recommendations on campus.

“For anyone with dietary restrictions, I would recommend trying to form a relationship with the dietitian and the chefs as a way to have a stable connection in how to get safe meals,” said Shane Maccarone, a sophomore interactive multimedia major.

Maccarone has a rare condition eosinophilic esophagitis, commonly referred to as EoE, which causes

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

Students with dining restrictions have a challenging time finding specific food.

his throat to close up in the presence of certain allergens like nuts, eggs and milk. Maccarone said that Eickhoff has been helpful for him in navigating the difficult process in finding safe options to eat at the College.

“I really haven’t had any trouble navigating where to eat because I’ve mostly gotten those resources from the dietitian and received most of my allergy meals from Eickhoff,” Maccarone said.

At all other dining locations, it is best for students to ask about the nutritional information regarding the meals served there. Even then,

some students may be uncomfortable with cross-contamination, especially those with allergies.

“I wish the other locations on campus could have more outright safe options for students with dietary restrictions like me,” said Maccarone.

On the other hand, some students might prefer the meals at these other locations, but they are limited by the amount of flex points that they are offered at the beginning of the semester.

“In regards to the meal plans, I think it may be interesting to provide more flex points specifically

to students with dietary restrictions,” said Owen Konowicz, a freshman political science major.

Konowicz has a severe allergy to dairy and finds more options at locations like the Brower Student Center and TDubs for his dietary needs, but struggles to maintain his flex points due to him constantly going to these outlets.

Having more points “would give these students with dietary restrictions more flexibility in their options besides just Eickhoff,” Konowicz said.

How students find sufficient eating options on campus can entirely depend upon what kind of restrictions they have and whether or not they are comfortable with potential cross-contamination. It varies for every student, but it is recommended to check out all of the dining options at the College and see what works best for them personally.

“I would recommend keeping food in your dorm for quick meals if you have dietary restrictions,” said Konowicz.

Anyone with dietary restrictions who are interested in making accommodation-specific meals can make an appointment with Sugrue on the College’s dining site.

TCNJ Barkada: A taste of Filipino culture in an NJ suburb

By Leah Cruz Correspondent

The enchanting sound of the bamboo sticks fills the Brower Student Center with echoes of Filipino culture as four students stand around the balcony.

Two students are crouched on the floor holding the sticks, as the other two are placed between the sticks preparing to engage in a dance of ancestral connection known as “Tinikling.”

The dancers are members of Barkada, the Filipino cultural organization at the College. Barkada is the Tagalog word for “a group of friends,” a name that perfectly encapsulates the mission and meaning of the campus club.

The group’s overall mission is to “nurture an environment that allows everyone to feel understood, and that allows everyone to understand what being Filipino is all about,” according to the organization’s website.

The Barkada club transcends the ordinary. It is a living testament to the power of culture, friendship and the shared heartbeat of a people.

General body meetings bring members together every week to get everyone acquainted and celebrate Filipino culture through a series of games, educational

crafts and club bonding.

For many members, being a part of Barkada ignites a sense of belonging in an environment that is predominantly white.

“Barkada, to me, means acceptance,” said Katrina Lucero, a sophomore computer science major and the club’s performance chair. “I grew up in a predominantly white area where it was hard to find people who shared my culture.”

The club’s website shares that Barkada is one of the seven organizations that make up the Pan Asian Alliance at TCNJ. For Asian-identifying students, having a cultural club that they can join means everything.

“Having a cultural club that’s solely focused on Filipino Americans and embracing that culture was nice to find at the College,” said Lucero.

From Mystique of the East to Magkasama and Barangay, the Barkada club participates in a host of events that bring awareness of Filipino culture to non-Filipinos and provide a space for Filipino students to embrace and celebrate their culture.

Students spend months preparing and practicing dances, musical numbers and a whole array of performances that aim to showcase appreciation for Asian culture and heritage through art.

Barkada hosts a number of events that aim to educate others on the history of the Filipino people. As food is a large part of the culture, many events incorporate delicious meals like Adobo, slow-cooked meat or Halo-Halo, a cold dessert made of crushed ice and evaporated milk.

The best part about Barkada is that you do not need to be Filipino to join; it is a welcoming space for anyone who is interested in learning about the culture or even just interested in trying the mouth-watering Filipino meals.

Rachel Guloy, a senior psychology major and the club’s internal vice president, appreciates the ability to relate to other Filipino students in the club.

“Having the space to talk about yourself and identity and shared experiences with others and not having to worry about explaining yourself is what I love most about Barkada,” said Guloy. “It’s a space to appreciate your culture with other people who get it.”

Others in the club, like sophomore psychology major Miroh Alicea, feared not being accepted into Barkada.

“Because I’m mixed race, Filipino and Puerto Rican, and because I couldn’t speak the language, I had doubts about joining Barkada,” said Alicea.

Many may relate to this strug-

Photo courtesy of TCNJ Barkada Website

TCNJ Barkada

gle of not feeling like they are “Filipino enough” to join the club. Alicea’s story, however, offers a gleam of hope for those who find themselves in the same situation, hesitant to join a cultural organization due to fears of not identifying as strongly with their heritage.

“I first heard about Barkada the summer before I started at the College through a member who reached out to me on Instagram asking me if I would be interested in being a part of the Filipino club on campus,” said Alicea. “She was always very welcoming and helped me feel more accepted.”

The presence of Barkada at the College has had an immense impact on the Filipino student experience, as it has created an environment that continues to foster new relationships and forge bonds between its members.

“Barkada is a special community,” said Lucero. “It’s a unique one where we all have each other’s backs.”

Bookstore emails border on spam

By Liam Simonelli Editorial Cartoonist

“Last Chance - 23% off Diploma Frames!” “Give the Gift of Tech!”

“Higher Education Skincare is here!”

Please! Spare students all of these email advertisements, we have enough emails to sift through.

If you keep as close of an eye on your school email inbox as I do, you probably know what I’m talking about. Those repetitive emails from the College’s Barnes and Noble Bookstore that fill our inboxes weekly. They border on spam and scatter the emails that are actually important.

I did some counting. Since Aug. 1, I have received a total of 57 emails from the College’s Bookstore. Fifty-one of which were advertisements for apparel, textbooks, notebooks, thermoses, laptops and the list goes on.

I certainly expected such at the beginning of the semester. At that point, students are scavenging for used textbooks and perhaps treating themselves

The College’s Barnes and Noble bookstore sends too many emails.

to a piece of school apparel. It makes sense that the Bookstore would want to catch the eye of these students with those ads, but pitching to us for weeks and weeks afterward is a bit overwhelming.

The bookstore’s prices are fair at best. Realizing this, I purchased my textbooks from an outside seller this

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie

semester. As the first week went by, the system must have gotten wise to this and began inundating me with those, “you may not have ordered your textbooks” emails. The first of these was more than enough, six of them felt endless.

If at this point you’re asking, “why not just block the email address so you

won’t receive these emails?” I already tried. In fact, that was the first thing I tried. I immediately found that this was impossible, however, as the College’s domain does not allow students to block senders from any department.

So, I’m still comically asking myself, “will it ever end?”

I do realize that our campus bookstore must — underline must — rake in some income to survive. Like any business, it has an overhead: employee wages and supply costs to cover.

And after those funds are met, actually make a profit. Advertising helps this goal to be met, but it’s my guess that too much advertising can have the opposite effect and can repel an audience.

A solution to all this? Well, it’s as simple as refraining from sending these almost daily advertisements to student inboxes. We get it: sales are here and we don’t want to miss out.

Supposing we do want to “miss out,” respect that and give space. Send out an ad once a week, and that should be plenty.

Fake viral Thanksgiving Day parade float video highlights importance of media literacy

By Tristan Weisenbach Arts & Entertainment Editor In today’s ever-changing era of technology, social media has grown from what was once simply connecting with friends online to now providing an avenue for seemingly anyone to create anything and share it under any name — whether it’s real or not.

While these state-of-the-art developments have garnered many creative and once-unimaginable creations, they have also given an outlet to share information online that is false.

Last week during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, many well-known balloons of fan-favorite characters flew down city streets for millions of onlookers.

One TikTok video posted on Thanksgiving Day by Madline Salazar (@Immadsal), however, appeared to show a balloon of Universal’s Minion floating away from the parade off into the sky. The video, which now has over 4 million views, shows the balloon being walked down the street when the crowd around Salazar gasps, causing her to drop her phone. The end of the video shows a few photos of the Minion floating up past the city skyline.

The catch? The video is completely fake. While Salazar did attend the parade, most of what occurred in the video was created using Photoshop.

“I filmed [the Minion] marching down, and then once it got in front of me, I kind of wobbled the camera and dropped it to my knees,” said Salazar in an interview with The Signal.

“And then when I got home, I edited

the photos, I took the video and I sped up the wobble and dropping part, and I felt like I didn’t have enough of a drop so I filmed a little more footage of me fumbling with my phone, and then added in some crowd noises of crowds screaming.”

Salazar, who works as a producer, said she has experience working with photo and video editing programs. She said it did not take much effort

Image courtesy of Liam Simonelli

for her to create the video that now has over 200,000 likes on TikTok. “My intention was not to dupe the world. I just kind of thought it would be funny if a Minion balloon got loose,” she said.

Comments on the video are mixed, ranging from people sharing their frustration at Salazar for not capturing the initial moment of the balloon escaping on video to those voicing their skepticism of the Minion’s New York flight.

While many people in the comments seemed to recognize the falsity and humor of the video, some seemed to believe it.

“I think people ingest news and media so passively these days because of social media…that it’s so easy to acknowledge, like, ‘oh, that happened because I saw a picture of it’ and take it as true,” Salazar said.

Today, it does not take much “proof” for someone to consider something they see on social media as true. While Salazar does not consider her Minion story as being “newsworthy,” an article was recently published by Disney Dining that highlights the video.

However, the article’s headline — “SHOCKING: Video Surfaces of Universal’s ‘Minions’ Balloon Floating Away at Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade — does not state that the video in question is false. In fact, it isn’t until the sixth paragraph of the article that the reader learns the video is fabricated.

The Disney Dining article seems to be the only news article currently published that addresses the Minion balloon video specifically.

Journalists cannot investigate the legitimacy of every social media video that exists in the world. While many that do go viral end up being covered by media outlets to some capacity, it is impossible to include every single one.

This is why it is so important for social media users to be skeptical of the information they find on platforms like TikTok. Salazar’s ability to use photo and video editing programs to create a video of a fabricated event is not a brand new phenomenon, and it is likely that some of the other content we see online is at least partially false in some capacity.

Salazar posted a follow-up video a few days after her original Minion video where she explained her entire process of creating the fake video. She included screen recordings of how she easily photoshopped a cutout of the

Minion balloon into the sky and how she added in crowd noises that did not actually occur.

“I didn’t think it even looked that real, but I think that when you’re so engaged in your work, you’re overly criticizing it,” Salazar said.

The content of Salazar’s video was lighthearted and intended to be humorous — and it was. Her video is not causing harm in any way. However, the ease in which she was able to create it highlights the possibility for individuals to carry out something similar involving content that is much more serious. Media literacy in today’s society could not be more important, and we ourselves are the only ones who can do something to improve it.

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page 6 The Signal December 1, 2023

Decorum is disappearing in movie theaters

By Maia Venuti Staff Writer

In the past few weeks, two movies came out that are extremely important to two very distinct fanbases. They are “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour”, and “Five Nights at Freddy’s” (FNAF).

One film is a concert film of the entire three hour Taylor Swift Eras concert, and the other is a film adaptation of an iconic horror game franchise. These two movies and their fan bases are different, but they share a blatant commonality: a complete utter absence of decorum and manners in movie theaters where the films are shown.

People at “The Eras Tour” movie are dancing in giant circles in the front row, shining flashlights, belting all the songs as loud as possible and even taking bows at the end of the concert.

What I have seen many defenders of this behavior say is that “The Eras Tour” was made so all of Swift’s fans could experience this iconic tour and that Swift wanted people to treat the movie like a concert. While that may be true, at what concert does the audience bring their own chair to dance with? Or start a massive “Midsommar”-esque dance circle in the front row, or take a bow with the person performing? The answer is none. There is no concert where people do those things.

The way folks act in movie theaters is changing — for the worse.

I could ignore the singing, it could be easily overlooked as a part of a concert movie, if it didn’t interrupt other films in neighboring theaters.

It has been reported by many that people going to see “Killers of the Flower Moon” are hearing the muffled screams of fans singing along with the Eras Tour movie. This has become so much of a problem that it has been recommended that people wanting to see “Killers of the Flower Moon” go see the film on either a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, the days when the Eras Tour movie is not playing.

The fact that this is a problem is ab-

Photo courtesy of Flickr

solutely absurd, and completely unheard of. This kind of behavior is not only negative for people looking to simply watch the Eras Tour respectfully, but for folks wanting to see a different movie who are being unwillingly subjected to this lunacy.

Moviegoers at the FNAF film are just as bad, if not worse. Many filmgoers had to leave the theater due to the amount of people not only talking, but full on screaming as the film played. One moviegoer said that they and the person they were with could not sit fifteen minutes before they left because of just how rowdy it was in

there. Many fans are seeing the movie as an opportunity to try stand up comedy, screeching unfunny, cringey jokes related to the movie. Whenever there was a scare, people would scream so loud, and for so long that they would still be howling well into the next scene. People I know personally went to see this film at a time on a weeknight to avoid a large crowd and any such negative experience.

This all leads me to beg the question: Why are people acting like this? What is it about these two movies that are causing people to go so feral and lose all manners? Personally, I feel like this is a microcosm of a far bigger issue beyond the two movies.

In general since the pandemic, people have forgotten how to behave in public settings, whether it be mistreating minimum wage workers, or eating 48 oysters on a first date or forgetting to be quiet in a movie theater. People have forgotten that other people exist around them, and that their actions affect others.

I understand being excited to see a movie, especially when the movie is so highly anticipated like these two films are. I am all about having fun and going all out getting dressed up to see a movie, I do that for most movies I see in theaters. But the hijinks occurring at the FNAF movie and the Eras Tour movie are absolutely outrageous.

TikTok shop is a capitalist ploy and consumerist trap for its users

By Kelly Kim Staff Writer

It comes as no surprise that social media plays a huge role in trends dying hard and fast, leaving people to participate in fads that only last until something trendier comes along.

Social media has the ability to market and announce anything with ease since influencers have the capacity to reach a large audience.

Through social media’s influence, a slow and steady trend seems to be forming as with the rise of capitalism. That is, a rise of consumerism, which has drastically changed the ways in which people shop, allowing justification for unnecessary purchases without a second thought.

One of the most evident examples of a powerful social media company exploiting its platform for the sake of capitalism and consumerism is TikTok and its new feature: the Shop tag.

TikTok released what was known as the TikTok Shop this year on Sept.

12. Since then, TikTok has made drastic changes to how it markets to its consumers, one of the more recent efforts being adding a tab at the top of the page that allows one to access the shop with a single swipe.

Controlled by an economic and political system of private enterprises that a country’s trade and industry depends on, capitalism has been a

TikTok recently added a shop feature to its platform.

very popular word that has been utilized within the context of consumerism during recent years on social media.

With consumerism, the protection or promotion with the interest of the consumer in mind, platforms like TikTok have only worsened people’s need to want more things simply to have more, rather than judging what they have and utilizing what they can.

The two can be seen going hand in hand with one another as social media platforms like TikTok have gotten more popular and have expanded on its capabilities from just a content sharing app.

Through recent shop addition, people have at their fingertips the

Photo courtesy of Flickr

ability to purchase whatever they want. This leaves no room to deliberate whether or not they actually need the item, especially because of how cheap the price is set on most of the items.

An item that keeps popping up on my page is for a seemingly spacious leather shoulder bag, titled “1 Piece Women’s 2023 New Stylist Tote Bag as a Christmas Gift, Large Capacity Shoulder Bag for Women, Retro Trendy PU Leather Handbag for Commuting & College Student” that comes in a range of colors such as cream and burgundy. As of right now, prices for this bag range from $3.95 to $4.39 depending on the color you choose.

While this seems like a steal, I

can’t help but wonder if the bags are made ethically, with workers receiving a fair pay, a good working environment and benefits from their hard labor. With a price that cheap, I feel as though there has to be some sort of catch, as the benefits of one can be at the expense of another.

While there are many fast fashion companies that sell their items for extremely cheap prices, the fact that items as such are being advertised on TikTok is what interests me. The app was originally just a platform in which people would post their videos, but it has slowly evolved into influencers making money from brand deals to now TikTok itself being able to make money through the simple clicks of a few buttons.

The act of consumerism displayed in TikTok’s decision to incorporate the TikTok Shop shows the dangerous after effects that occur when consumerism meets capitalism appealing to an overwhelmingly young audience.

Capitalism and consumerism depend and thrive off of the contributions made by teens or younger impressionable children, therefore targeting the one place they know will work — social media, while completely disregarding the wellbeing of the younger and current generation at the expense of the company’s personal and economic self benefit.

Editorials

Letter from the Editor: A bittersweet goodbye

By Mike Sherr Former Editor-in-Chief

I am not entirely sure how I came to lead this paper. Unlike many of the people I work with, I am not a journalism major nor have I ever taken a journalism class (and it shows sometimes). I never saw journalism as a career path for me and I still don’t; the only reason I joined The Signal was so that I had something to do during my fully online, first semester in 2020.

Because of that random decision freshman year, I have been lucky enough to somehow fall upward into this leadership position that has forever changed my life. I have personally grown into someone my freshman self could never recognize. Not only have I found the confidence to be in such a leadership position, but I found my voice to speak up for what is right.

These past few semesters have seen drastic changes for The Signal, the most obvious of which is the return of the print paper. I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of these improvements and could not be prouder of where this organization is today.

Even with these accomplishments, I’m not sure if I’m ready to step down from editor-in-chief. After working in this organization for over three years now, it is difficult to acknowledge that I probably won’t have as large of a role in The Signal next semester.

I will be going from working almost constantly on editing, organizing and

Image courtesy of Skylar Stewart

managing to doing almost nothing— an article here and there when I find the time, or some copy editing during production nights. It will be a drastic shift in my life that comes at a time when I am also reconciling with the fact that I’m graduating this coming May. If I had the chance to continue leading into next semester, I would take it. But sometimes a forced change is needed. I often find myself looking at my work through rose-tinted glasses, but in reality this drastic change is extremely needed in my life.

I have noticed my academics slipping this semester as I tried to edit the many articles I have to read during class, or as I prioritized writing an article over a homework assignment due the

next day. I found myself isolated from the people around me because instead of hanging out with my housemates, I was at the office or in a meeting. The few moments of down time I had were filled with anxiety over the fact that I was not doing any work for The Signal at that moment.

Even with these challenges, I loved every second of my experience as editor-in-chief. From the late nights (that turned into early mornings) making the print paper to reading the amazing work my friends do, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

I would be remiss to not acknowledge and thank those who I have worked with for these past years. I have worked with seven different editorial boards whom

The Signal

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

Editorial Staff Mike Sherr Former Editor-in-Chief Victoria Gladstone Editor-in-Chief Matthew Kaufman Managing Editor Ally Uhlendorf Rebecca Heath News Editors Liz Ciocher Tristan Weisenbach Arts & Entertainment Editors Catherine Gonzalez Features Editor

I am extremely grateful for in helping me grow into the writer I am today. My home department of political science as well as the journalism department have been vital in changing my perception of the world forever. As I start to step into life after college I feel so much more prepared because of the amazing faculty and staff of these departments.

Finally, I have to recognize the wonderful people I have gotten to know this semester. The staff members who quickly became my friends are the reason I got through this job without going crazy. I cannot express in words just how thankful I am for these people coming into my life. Thank you for dealing with my antics, mistakes and really bad jokes.

As I step back and face this personal transition, I leave The Signal under the leadership of one of my closest friends and a remarkable journalist. The Signal can only grow from here and I would not have anyone else pushing this organization forward than her. I cannot wait to see what amazing work she and her staff will do next semester.

This paper has been my home for years and I cannot thank it enough for being the community it has become for me. I know that The Signal will continue to be a home for students for long after I’m gone from the College. The Signal has always been for the students and by the students, and I couldn’t possibly be any prouder of what we’ve done and more eager to see the future we will accomplish.

Isabella Darcy Opinions Editor Eddie Young Sports Editor Aliyah Siddiqui Nation & World Editor

Administrative Staff Elizabeth Gladstone Multimedia Coordinator Shane Gillespie Photo Editor Ela Kirimca Social Media Coordinator Jenna Weldon Web Editor Liam Simonelli Editorial Cartoonist Emilie Lounsberry Faculty Advisor

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

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

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

National Climate Assessment predicts risky future

By Nicole Trinkl Staff Writer

The United States government released its Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) on Nov. 14, which details how the U.S. is currently addressing and being impacted by the climate crisis. The report describes the current and future risks the nation faces, how global greenhouse gas emissions are leading to rising temperatures and what actions are needed to be taken to mitigate the future impacts of climate change.

The report met the requirements of The Global Change Research Act of 1990, which mandates that the United States Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) provide reports to Congress and the president detailing the most pressing issues of climate change around every four years. The USGCRP and its 14 member agencies contributed to the assessment along with nearly 500 authors and 250 contributors from every state and territory, including Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the U.S. Global Change Research Program.

The Fifth National Climate Assessment outlined significant climate study topics from potential global carbon dioxide emission projections, what climate risks the U.S. faces, what inequalities different communities and regions are and might face due to the climate crisis, and what potential actions can be taken to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

President Joe Biden announced the release of the climate report in a White House briefing Tuesday, where he explained the report’s significance and what actions his

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Climate change is expected to have worsening effects in many parts of the U.S.

administration has been taking and plans to take to continue addressing the crisis. “[NCA5 is] the most comprehensive assessment on [the] state [of] climate change in the history of America,” Biden said. “It shows that communities across America are taking more action than ever to reduce climate risks and warns that more action is still badly needed.”

Biden announced in the briefing that he would be contributing $6 billion in new investments from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to strengthen climate resilience across the country. This new investment would go towards strengthening America’s electric grid infrastructure, reducing flood risk to communities, supporting conservation efforts and environmental justice.

The assessment emphasized how across the U.S., climate action has also increased since 2018. Although, even with increased climate action, future projections of global carbon dioxide emission show that significantly more action is needed to get to net-zero CO2 emissions.

“US net greenhouse gas emissions remain substantial and would have to decline by more than 6% per year on average,” the study stated.

“By comparison, US greenhouse gas emissions decreased by less than 1% per year on average between 2005 and 2019.”

The assessment also pointed to the climate events that have occurred as a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions, which include: rising temperatures, rising sea levels, melting ice, ocean warming, acidification and changing rainfall patterns.

The assessment emphasized the different impacts and risks climate change causes on different sectors and regions. Some communities are at increased risks of social and economic inequalities, according to the study, and these “overburdened communities” will be disproportionately impacted by climate events.

The study went on to describe some potential mitigation strategies and scenarios to decrease CO2 emissions and reach net-zero emissions, including increasing wind and solar energy usage, making transportation and heating systems use low carbon

As of Nov. 18, the meteorological office has reported “high and constant” seismic activity related to the sudden formation of a magma intrusion that has left a crack along the communities of Grindavik.

“The largest earthquake during the last 24 hours had a magnitude of 2.8 and occurred near Hagafell, 3.5 km NNE of Grindavík,” reported the meteorological office on its website.

For residents of the nation, the influx of earthquakes means the likelihood of a volcanic eruption along the nine mile magma tunnel has increased significantly, according to AP News.

Located just above a hotspot in the North Atlantic, Iceland has experienced at least one eruption every four years, as reported by AP. A geologic hotspot means that

Iceland is sitting just above a large area where hot magma rises from the depths of the earth’s mantle.

Situated on the divergent plate boundary of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland has become home to significant volcanic activity as the plate boundaries continue to move apart.

“At this stage, it is not possible to determine exactly whether and where magma might reach the surface,” said the meteorological office.

Iceland’s most famous tourist attraction, the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort, has been temporarily closed due to the danger of the potential volcanic eruption.

According to AP, the nation’s aviation alert has been raised to orange, signifying an increased risk of a volcanic eruption that may expose airplanes to hazard-

electricity/fuel sources like hydrogen, increasing public transportation use, improving urban planning and building designs to lower energy use and making food production, distribution and consumption sustainable.

In the NCA5 Rollout, contributors of the assessment, along with climate leaders, made their remarks and opinions of the assessment, among them being Allison Crimmins, American climate scientist and director of the National Climate Assessment in the U.S. since 2021.

“Americans don’t need another report to tell them that climate change is real,” Crimmins said. “As more and more people face more and more severe climate impacts, people are taking action. Communities, businesses, state, local, and tribal governments are increasingly taking steps to reduce emissions and prepare for the future and they’re not just talking about it, they’re doing.”

Crimmins went on to list a couple of examples of cities, local communities, businesses and organizations fighting the climate crisis, including the city of Pittsburgh, which built a stormwater infrastructure that can withstand the impacts of storms, and the organization Soulardarity, which installed solar powered street lights that supply wireless internet across local communities in Michigan.

“The hundreds of experts that contributed to [NCA5] really work[ed] to ensure that this is not just a report written by scientists for other scientists,” Crimmins said.

Overall, the insights provided in NCA5 into how climate change is affecting the U.S. might point to ways nations can collectively work together to find global climate solutions.

Iceland earthquakes foretell volcanic eruption

By Leah Cruz Staff Writer

Residents of the southwest of Iceland have been evacuating their homes beginning Nov. 11 as officials declared a state of emergency, warning of a potential volcanic eruption.

Grindavik, a small fishing town on the Reykjanes Peninsula where the volcano Fagradalsfjall is believed to be rumbling underneath, has been experiencing thousands of earthquakes since the end of October, according to the Icelandic meteorological office, with over a thousand occurring in just one night.

Residents who evacuated the town were allowed back into their homes on Nov. 16 to gather basic necessities, according to Icelandic authorities.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Fagradalsfjall may erupt soon.

ous ash material and reduce flight visibility.

As geologists and meteorologists in Iceland continue to monitor the ongoing volcanic activity, residents of the impacted areas are being encouraged to stay out of their homes and communities as they await an eruption.

“The likelihood of a volcanic eruption is high, and an eruption can be possible on a timescale of just days,” warned the Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue on their website.

The TCNJ Art Gallery ‘transforms’ with newest student exhibit

By Alyssa Serrano Staff Writer

The College’s Article Gallery had the opening night of their latest gallery of student works on Nov. 8.

The theme of this gallery was “Transformation,” with students coming together to create multifaceted works of art. Throughout the week that the gallery is open the students will continue working on their works so that no two weeks have the same pieces.

Besides the pieces themselves changing, they also will be having different performers perform at the gallery each week. For their opening night the College, the Guitar Ensemble performed.

Elizabeth Mackie, professor of fine art and photography, and Teresa Nakra, chair of the design and creative technology department, came together for the first time to teach the class, “Image-Movement-Sound Lab,” which is where students developed their ideas into what is currently being displayed.

“Teresa is from a music background, and I do installation and visual art, so we are from completely different worlds,” said

active multimedia major, is one of the students in the class displaying his work from the class in the gallery. On the night of, he presented a video game, however, he started the project planning something completely different.

“I initially did a painting, but it just wasn’t working out, and I originally didn’t want to do a game because I had a lot of ideas and it got really big but the class really encouraged me to do (it) and allowed me to expand on my ideas and figure out where I wanted the project to go,” said Stokes.

Stokes wasn’t the only student leaving his comfort zone, Rachael Photo courtesy of Brooke Zevon Dewey, a junior art education maThe students’ works will keep growing and changing up until Dec. 8. jor, took up something completeMackie. “We have people from tirely different image than how it ly new to her and weaved for her different classes and majors who looked at the start of the show. In project. never had the opportunity to work doing this it also allowed for the “It was definitely a learning together before learning how to work to catch the light from the curve because I had never worked collaborate with each other and room at different angles which with a loom or done any weavdeveloping unique ideas.” created real beautiful projections ing before, so working on such a The pieces were very interac- on the wall and floor. large scale was difficult,” Dewey tive; one such piece began the Despite the changes being made said, “but it was really rewarding night with all of its pieces togeth- throughout the night and the run- and I’m excited to add more as er and at the same level. Howev- time of the show, there were a the gallery continues.” er, as the night continued, audi- lot of changes that occurred beThe gallery is open until Dec. ence members were able to move fore the audience was able to see 8, and the student’s works will rocks that were attached to indi- these works. keep growing and changing up vidual pieces, thus creating an enMatthew Stokes, a senior inter- until then.

In Grounds for Sculpture’s ‘Night Forms,’ reality and simulation mesh

By Lilly Ward Staff Writer

In Grounds for Sculpture’s third and final season of “Night Forms,” the contemplative stillness that characterizes many of their contemporary sculptures makes way for a rediscovery of the work through the intersection of art and technology.

“Night forms” comprises 13 site specific installations along the Main Loop path of GFS that experiment with our perception of reality.

Take abstract expressionist sculptor Bruce Beasly’s 1989 sculpture “Dorion,” for example. During the night and the day, a visitor’s experience of the sculpture vastly differs. In the day, the “Dorion” is a large steel sculpture consisting of geometric forms that paradoxically seems to gently float on the surface of a rectangular pool. At nightfall, the light outlines all of the sharp silhouettes and shimmers against the brushed steel.

The beat of the music written and produced by Berlin artist, Julien Grefe, pulsates through the air as perfectly manicured arborvitaes take on vibrant tints

Photo courtesy of Lilly Ward

“The Oligarchs,” Michelle Post. “Froghead Rainbow,” by Klip Collective.

of blue, red and green. “Cheat. code” is the name given to this new alternative identity of the sculpture.

Overwhelmingly popular with visitors, this multi-sensory light and sound experience is the result of GFS’s partnership with Klip Collective, a creative studio in Philadelphia founded in 2003 that specializes in using projection mapping, lighting and sound design to actualize immersive art experiences that are “site-specific.”

Projection mapping, which involves video projection on irregularly shaped objects, is particularly suited to creating an immersive art experience with sculpture. The result is mesmerizing, as the landscape and the artwork are transformed into an

alternative reality made more tangible by the enhancement of textures and forms that undulate, flicker and even glitch.

“I think this exhibit is at its best,” said Ricardo Rivera, the lead artist of Klip. “I’m really blown away. It’s a privilege to have this opportunity to come back and refine something like this.”

Among the returning installations from previous years is “Froghead Rainbow,” presided over by New Jersey artist Michelle Post’s stately busts known as “The Oligarchs.”

Rainbows emerge from the mouths of the solemn figures creating pools that swirl on the ground. A field recording of frogs at GFS plays in the background interspersed with

Grefe’s electronic music.

While some installations inspire awe with artful distortions and illusions appear to be imbued with surging energy, others require quiet contemplation and reflection, such as “password.regret,” an installation set against a still landscape of trees.

“It’s one of the understated pieces,” said Rivera. “If you have the time, please take that time to just live in it for a moment. It really is beautiful. It transcends that space.”

In “Night Forms,” visitors lose themselves in the landscape both literally and figuratively, changing the understanding of what it means to experience and process works of art. This exhibit requires active participation as well as a willingness to lose oneself in a constructed reality.

When the lights dim and the scene goes dark as the music fades, do not be surprised if you still find yourself standing there waiting to bask in the glow of the simulation once again.

You can experience the meditative power of “Night Forms” through April 7, 2024.

page 10 The Signal December 1, 2023

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’

By Jasmine Lee Staff Writer

“The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” hit theaters worldwide on Nov.17, creating a buzz among enthusiasts of science and dystopian fiction.

Set in the dystopian realm of Panem during the 10th annual Hunger Games, the narrative revolves around Coriolanus Snow (played

by Tom Blyth), the future tyrannical President Snow featured in the original trilogy. Directed by Francis Lawrence, the film offers a compelling prelude to the 74th Hunger Games of the first film, offering a fresh perspective on this captivating world.

Featuring a notable cast includ-

ing Peter Dinklage portraying Casca Highbottom, Viola Davis as Dr. Volumnia Gaul and Hunter Schafer in the role of Tigris Snow, this film boasts an impressive ensemble.

The actors, along with their respective characters, play pivotal roles in shaping the main protagonists, Snow and Lucy Gray Baird.

This film manages to breathe new life into the familiar movie series, captivating both longtime fans and newcomers alike with its fresh and engaging approach.

Whether or not you are familiar with or have watched The Hunger Photo courtesy of IMDb Games series, its reputation preRachel Zegler takes on the role of Lucy Gray Baird, while Tom Blyth portrays Coriolanus Snow. cedes it. Exploring themes of class, “ballad” in the title comes as no politics, war and violence within the through metaphorical elements.

With music playing a prominent shock. realm of entertainment, this movRead more on our website! ie delivers impactful commentary role in the film, the presence of a

Sabrina Carpenter’s Christmas EP is a holly jolly sprinkle of love day-themed EP, “fruitcake.” The singer announced the news via an Instagram post last week with a release date set for Nov. 17.

The EP includes 6 songs and is her first holiday release. The pop princess has deliciously graced fans with sugary sweet tunes that symbolize the power of love and heartbreak during the holiday season.

The record starts with “A NonPhoto courtesy of Apple Music sense Christmas,” which was The EP includes six songs and is her released last year. This song’s first holiday release. instrumentals remain the same

By Giulia Campora as the original version, as she Staff Writer delivers fun and witty Christmas-centered lyrics.

Sabrina Carpenter has given Track two of the EP has a clevout Christmas presents early to er holiday-like instrumental. In fans with the release of her holi- “buy me presents,” Carpenter

sings about a boy that she likes who doesn’t want anything to do with her, hence her having more boys that treat her better during this cozy season.

The third track, “santa doesn’t know you like i do,” is a fresh tempo beat on theme with this time of the year, in which Carpenter tells the boy of her dreams that she knows him better than Santa does. This song is becoming my favorite the more I listen to it. “cindy lou who” is an anti-Christmas anthem. It is a Grinch-inspired ballad in which Carpenter speaks to the girl who is with her ex now, telling her how she now has the boy that she once loved, which makes her

suffer during this cold season.

The penultimate track, “is it new years yet?” is an upbeat, fresh tempo that makes me want to dance around the room. Another anti-Christmas anthem, Carpenter speaks about being tired of Christmas and wants to go directly to the New Year, because she misses the boy she loves during December.

The last track is a splendid cover of the famous holiday classic “White Christmas.” Carpenter’s “white xmas” lets her beautiful vocals shine. This song is delivered beautifully with a jolly beat that gives the listener another excuse to sing along.

Read more on our website!

‘Pretty Boys are Poisonous’: Megan Fox writes about past relationships

By Olivia Harrison Staff Writer Actress Megan Fox has released her first ever book, “Pretty Boys are Poisonous,” featuring poems about her past relationships, abuse, self-growth and motherhood.

Known for acting in movies such as “Jennifer’s Body” and “Transformers,” Fox has never written before. Fox said in an interview with People Magazine that she felt as if she could never fully express herself through acting. Poetry and writing gave her a more creative outlet and freedom of expression.

The book features seven original poems in which Fox uses a variety of ways to describe her for-

WTSR

NEW NOISE

mer lovers. Although the poems are small in structure they pack quite the punch, giving the reader a raw, emotional and cathartic experience. It is not just a simple book of poems recounting toxic relationships, but a complex book of expression.

Fox first opens the book with a letter, addressing readers and stating her mission. She tells readers she has been reluctant to share her true feelings, writing, “Because when I do it has made the men who have loved me feel intimidated, inadequate and insecure.”

In order to express her experiences, Fox uses lots of analogies and metaphors. Additionally, each poem is written in lowercase letters, giving the book a tumblr-esque style rhetoric. All these

elements contribute to the dark, alternative and edgy style Fox is known for.

In one poem, “Lessons in Hot Boy Demonology,” Fox writes, “you will find that bibles and silver bullets will fail you…you will let him feast on your tears and your self-esteem.” The comparison of bullets and bibles together are used to represent Fox’s prayers for trying to get out of an abusive relationship, with bullets representing the physical and emotional abuse hitting her. These powerful comparisons pack a punch while reiterating the complex feelings she felt.

Another powerful quote of Fox’s is, “I forgot that I had a voice long before you decided to become my ventriloquist and somehow, in

spite of your genuine longing to be loved you prefer it this way.”

Read more on our website!

Band Name: Lydia Lovless Album Title: “Nothing’s Gonna Stand In My Way Again” Release Number: 6 Hailing From: Columbus, OH Genre: Alternative Country Label: Bloodshot Records Reviewer: Chloe Peterson

This album is definitely an acquired taste. Lydia’s vocals create a mixture of pop and alternative country that present a twang you’ll either love or hate. The instrumental flowed beautifully throughout the album and gave a live quality to the album that you wouldn’t normally

get with other music. Her album displays the story of empowerment, which is also very clear from the leading title. Most of the songs I enjoyed didn’t follow FCC, unfortunately, so I recommend tracks 7 and 8. They had more of a slower tempo but still were enjoyable.

Photo courtesy of Amazon Books

Megan Fox shows a new side of herself through poetry.

Men’s basketball squeaks by Rowan in mid-week NJAC battle

By Aidan Mastandrea Staff Writer The College’s men’s basketball team took a trip to Glassboro, New Jersey, to take on Rowan University on Wednesday night. They walked away with a hard fought 82-72 win.

Both programs are off to solid starts this season. Rowan, coming off a sweet 16 run just last season, was 4-2 heading into Wednesday with a 0-1 conference record. The College came in boasting a strong 5-1 record and a 1-0 conference record with a 75-68 win over Rutgers-Camden in their previous game.

The three ball was falling early for the College, as they hit five in the first 20 minutes, and defensively they seemed to have Rowan’s number. The typically high-powered offense of the Profs was limited to just 26 points heading into the break.

Scoring came in bunches for the Lions in the first half. Senior Jack Vreeswyk continued his recent hot streak with 10 points in the half.

Sophomore Nick Koch ran the show from the point guard spot, setting up his teammates while also pouring in 11 points of his own as the College went into halftime up 42-26.

Early on in the second half, the

My face when

S The Lions earned a big victory over a rival in Rowan.

College’s lead ballooned to 20 and it looked as if they would cruise to a big victory, but the tide quickly turned. Five minutes into the half, Rowan started to apply the pressure. The full court press proved challenging for the Lions.

Turnovers and missed shots started to compile for the College due to the pressure from the Profs, and a layup by Rowan’s Khalif Meares cut the Lions’ lead to 56-53 with just nine minutes remaining.

The game then became the Jason Larranaga show. The fifth year senior and captain for the Lions

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

halted the Profs’ run by hitting three threes and scoring 13 points in just three minutes of game time.

Larranaga finished with a team high and a career high 23 points.

Another late push from Rowan gave the Lions a scare, but they ultimately pulled out the win thanks to the run led by Larranaga. This win took the Lions to 2-0 in NJAC play and 6-1 overall. Looking ahead, they will face off with New Jersey City University in Packer Hall on Dec. 2 and will travel to Kean University on Dec. 9 to continue their conference schedule.

Women’s basketball falls to Rowan in conference game

Senior guard and captain Izzy Leazier.

By Joseph Caruso Staff Writer Rowan University defeated the College 71-51 in an early season rivalry matchup on Nov. 29. This marked the fourth win of the season for Rowan, and their first win in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC). For the College, this was their third loss total and their first conference loss.

The Lions continued the beginning of their conference schedule in this game, traveling to Glassboro for the matchup against Rowan.

The College kicked off their NJAC schedule in their last game on Nov.

December 1, 2023 The Signal page 11

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

21 by embarrassing Rutgers-Camden 114-55 in Packer Hall to become 3-2 on the year and 1-0 in conference play.

Rowan entered the game 3-3 on the young season, but dropped their inaugural conference game to Stockton, 48-40. They looked to get back on track when hosting the Lions for their second conference game.

The Lions started well, where graduate student Julia Setaro scored five quick points to give the Lions a lead going into the second quarter.

She ended the first half with a gamehigh 13 points, but Rowan stormed back to tie the game at 26 going into

halftime, thanks to a team-high nine points from fifth year guard Savanna Holt.

Rowan came out of the half on fire, and hit four of their five three point attempts in the third period, giving them a seven point lead over the College heading into the final 10 minutes of action.

Despite the Lions’ best efforts, the Profs shooting barrage continued, and their lead ballooned to as high as 22 points in the fourth quarter, before taking the victory 71-51 over the Lions.

Senior guard Eliana Santana led the way for Rowan with 17 points, and two of her teammates scored in the double digits as well. Setaro led the way for the Lions with 18 points, which gave her exactly 1,000 points for her career as a Lion, and was the lone Lion in double digits. Sophomore guard Katie Fricker also put together a solid statline with seven points and nine rebounds in the loss.

This was the first loss for the Lions in conference play this season, and dropped them to a .500 record at 3-3 in total. They will look to bounce back in more upcoming NJAC matchups when they host New Jersey City University this Saturday, Dec. 2 and travel to Kean University on Dec. 6.

My face when you write for The Signal.

TCNJ Athletics Schedule Wrestling Saturday, Dec. 1, 9 a.m.

Away at York College for New Standard Invitational Swimming and Diving Saturday. Dec. 2 all day and Sunday, Dec. 3 all day Home for TCNJ Invitaional Women’s Basketball Saturday, Dec. 2, 1 p.m.

Home vs. NJCU Men’s Basketball Saturday, Dec. 2, 3 p.m.

Home vs. NJCU Track and Field Saturday, Dec. 2, 5 p.m.

Away in New York City for TCNJ Winter Open Women’s Basketball Wednesday, Dec. 6, 5:30 p.m.

Away at Kean University Men’s Basketball Wednesday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m.

Away at Kean University Wrestling Friday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m.

Away at No. 7 Johnson & Wales University

Club men’s hockey holds off the University of Oregon

By Joey Bachich Staff Writer The College’s club hockey team defeated the University of Oregon by a score of 5-2.

Physicality and strength really helped to put the Lions on top in this win.

The Lions faced off against the Oregon Ducks on Nov. 17 in a heated battle of cross-country teams. The Lions and Ducks were both in need of a win having less than 10 points in their own respective conferences in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

The Lions were coming off of a win against RIT, who was third in the conference. The Ducks start their east coast road trip against the Lions after dropping a game to Grand Canyon University 3-2. For the Lions, forwards Logan May and Jake Barrera lead the team in points, with 17 and 15 respectively, along with goalie Michael Bussanich having a decent season, posting a career save percentage of .909.

Against Oswego State University, Bussanich posted a .939 save percentage with 31 saves on 33 shots.

The first period opened with a lot of pressure from Oregon,

The Lions during their victory against Oregon. who quickly backed the Lions defense in their defensive zone for much of the first half of the period. A great strategic play was to let Oregon shoot the long pucks and make it difficult to get easy shots on net.

Bussanich again stood on his head in the first period, fending off any effort of the Ducks who really pushed to break the deadlock. Late in the first period, a puck hung in front of the net and Scott Martin buried the goal, giving the Lions confidence going forward.

The second period started the same as the first, with a little more pressure from the Li-

Photo courtesy of Eric Houwen

ons. Oregon tied the game up with a great play off a faceoff that tied the game 1-1 in an exciting contest. Oregon had a great stretch of sustained puck control when they doubled the lead a minute after their first goal that saw a Duck wide open in the slot who sniped the top right corner. The Lions at this point had a great forecheck that they put on Oregon that made the defense stumble over themselves trying to get it out. This led to a bad pass which Emmanuel Ammendola took advantage of and tied the game in the middle of the second period.

At this point physicality started to show itself in the game, which favored the Lions, who seemed to enjoy the body to body contact and Oregon had trouble handling that. After a charging call on the Ducks, the Lions scored on a powerplay which Logan May put away.

When it rained it poured for the Ducks, who let up a late goal to Nick Staudt after a full team effort where defender Alex Gatsonis almost went coast-to-coast where he rattled a shot off the crossbar and later in the play Staudt was there to flick the puck into the net, putting the Lions up 4-2.

The third period saw Bussanich shine when he made an acrobatic save, which directly led to a breakaway goal

by Eric Szanto. Oregon had a ton of great chances to close the game with two late power plays which tested Bussanich late, where he did not waiver and stood tall to hold on to a convincing 5-2 victory over the Oregon Ducks.

Bussanich was the MVP of the game with his 50 saves on 52 shots, shutting down the offense of the Ducks. He had a career game and had some really impressive saves on the night.

No. 14 Wrestling wins two of three matches in Albany

Junior Nick Sacco in one of his bouts.

By Eddie Young Sports Editor The College’s No. 14 wrestling team won two of their three matches on Nov. 18 in a dual meet at the Arm Bar at the Armory in Albany, N.Y. The day started with a dominant 49-0 victory over York College and finished with a 30-10 win over Cornell College; sandwiched

Photo courtesy of John Haddad

in between the two wins was a tough 25-9 loss against No. 5 Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The College had 10 wrestlers fight in each meet, and all 10 won their respectives matches in the York matchup. This helped the College continue their recent dominance over York College, as they have won the last four matchups dating back to 2019. 125-pound fresh-

man Matt Griffin and 285-pound fifth-year Peter Wersinger both won their bouts on pins; four other technical fall wins, three decision wins and a forfeit victory gave the College the sweep over York.

The next matchup for the Lions was against a fellow ranked opponent in No. 5 Wisconsin-La Crosse. Griffin continued his hot start with another victory in the 125-pound class, this time by decision. 133-pound junior Kyle Nase and 165-pound junior Alex Sacco also won their bouts on decision, giving the Lions two wins in the two smallest weight classes and the 165-pound class, but that was where the wins would end in this meet. Six victories by decision and one by technical fall gave the higher ranked Wisconsin-La Crosse a fairly easy win over the Lions, officially by a score of 25-9.

The College ended their day off against Cornell College. To start things off, Griffin was able to complete a three-win day as

he earned his third victory on a technical fall. Sacco was also able to secure a technical fall win in his bout against a Cornell College wrestler, also giving him a perfect three wins on the day. 157-pound senior Alex Strashinksy was able to get a big pin for the Lions in just under two minutes, and that helped propel his squad to their win. Four more decisions in favor of the College helped them to secure their 30-10 victory over Cornell College, giving them two wins on the day in Albany.

The Lions will have a bit of a break before their next round of meets, as on Dec. 1 and Dec. 2 they will be heading to York College to compete in the New Standard Invitational. The following weekend, they will travel to Rhode Island to challenge No. 4 Johnson & Wales on the road. They will follow that matchup up with the Scott Viera Open in Bristol, R.I. on Dec. 9, which will be their final meet until Jan. 5.