Issue No. 3 Fall '25

The Signal

Vol. LIV, No. 3

https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/

September 22, 2025

Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885

Impractical Jokers visit TCNJ for their latest prank episode

By Sky Pinkett Staff Writer On Aug. 29, the College welcomed the Impractical Jokers to the nursing school’s simulation lab to film a prank for their latest episode, “Hoop! There It Is!” which aired on Sep. 9.

The Impractical Jokers are a trio of men, Sal Vulcano, James Murray and Brian Quinn, who dare each other to perform public pranks. Their show, also called “Impractical Jokers,” captures these pranks and airs them on national television.

“The Impractical Jokers production team first reached out to me by email, looking for a nursing or medical program that incorporated standardized patients (patient actors) into its simulations,” Chelsea Lebo, who is the simulation coordinator for the College’s simulation and clinical learning resource center, told the Signal. “We responded right away with interest, and from there the planning process began.”

For those uninvolved in the College’s nursing program, the nursing simulation labs are meant to nurture a controlled environment where nursing students can practice treating patients in realistic medical scenarios.

“Whether with high-fidelity manikins, standardized patients (patient actors), or even virtual reality, the simulation helps nursing students build confidence in their skills, decision-making, communication, and critical thinking before they step into real patient care,” Lebo said.

The nursing simulation lab provides students with positive and constructive

feedback from the patient actor at the end of their scenario in order to mold the students into better medical professionals.

For the Impractical Jokers, however, the objective of their prank was seeing who could be the worst medical professional in a clinical scenario.

“For the episode, the prank was that the Jokers posed as medical or nurse practitioner students taking part in a simulation with standardized patients, who believed they were working with real students.” Lebo explained. “Just like in an actual doctor’s visit, the Jokers were tasked with assessing their ‘patients.’”

These assessments included outlandish diagnoses, unprofessional bedside manner and other bizarre behaviors that each Joker was tasked with carrying out when it was their turn. When it came time for the patient actor to rate the performance of those they thought to be “medical students” on a scale of one to ten, these scores would determine which Joker ultimately won the prank.

“Being featured on Impractical Jokers puts TCNJ Nursing in the spotlight in the best way — showing off not just our program, but also the fun, energy, and creativity our simulation staff, faculty, students, and standardized patients bring,” Lebo remarked. “It’s a chance for people across the country to see that while we work hard in the classroom and simulation lab, we also know how to laugh and build community.

“Plus, it gives everyone at TCNJ a little extra pride seeing our nursing program on national TV!” she added.

According to Lebo, preparation for the Jokers’ arrival took almost a year, begin-

Photo courtesy of Chelsea Lebo

Preparation for the Jokers arrival took almost a year, beginning in Fall 2024 and continuing throughout this past summer. ning in Fall 2024 and continuing throughout this past summer.

The long wait paid off, as the episode is the latest one of the show. Season 12, Episode 9, “Hoop! There It Is!” is available to watch on multiple streaming platforms.

Lebo, who got to take a group photo with the Jokers and fellow nursing colleagues at the end of filming, reflected on the positive impact this exciting event has had on the nursing department and on the College as a whole.

“While nursing education is rigorous and demanding, this lighthearted spotlight

reminds us that joy, teamwork, and community are also at the heart of the TCNJ experience. Being featured on Impractical Jokers not only celebrates the creativity and spirit of our nursing students, but also shines a national spotlight on the pride and energy that make TCNJ special.” she said. “It’s a moment our program—and the entire campus—will remember with a smile for years to come.”

Check out a preview of the episode at https://www.tbs.com/shows/impractical-jokers/season-12/episode-9/hoopthere-it-is.

TCNJ Highlighted in National List of 75 ‘Dream Schools’ Charlie Kirk, conservative activist, dead at 31

By Olivia Suh Correspondent The College is mentioned in the recently published book “Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You” by The New York Times best-selling author Jeffrey Selingo.

Selingo created a list of hidden-gem schools that not only hold value and opportunities, but also are accessible and affordable. He draws attention to major factors in deciding on the right school. These include financial health, student engagement, geographic diversity and career success.

Selingo said in an Instagram video posted by @tcnj_official, “Your campus made the Dream School’s list because it embodies so much of what I believe that after working in and around higher ed for nearly 30 years makes for a truly great institution: accessibility, student engagement, financial sustainability and strong outcomes.”

After surveying more than 3,000 parents, Selingo found what matters most when deciding on a college: career preparation, hands-on learning

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and belonging. To guide families, he created a list consisting of 75 schools that deliver on these priorities.

The College made the cut in part because of its low student-faculty ratio and the many undergraduate research opportunities that compete on the same level as more recognized universities.

President Michael Bernstein reacted by saying, “This recognition underscores our commitment to providing an educational experience that’s affordable, academically rigorous, and deeply focused on student outcomes.

Jeffrey Selingo’s holistic approach to compiling this list emphasizes all aspects of the college experience, and we’re proud that TCNJ is recognized for our efforts across so many of these key areas.”

“We’ve always focused on providing the highest quality education and will continue to do so. We are gratified for our consistency to be acknowledged and recognized,” Luke Sacks, head media relations officer at the College, told The Signal in an emailed statement.

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FEATURES

page 4

‘Bella Ciao’ is Now Open The new pizza resturant is open in Campus Town for the College and surrounding communtiy to enjoy.

OPINIONS

By Ally Uhlendorf Editor-in-Chief Conservative activist, close ally of President Donald Trump and the founder of the nation’s pre-eminent right-wing youth activist organization Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was fatally shot on Wednesday while speaking at a campus event at Utah Valley University.

Andrew Kolvet, Kirk’s spokesman, says Kirk is dead, according to The New York Times.

Trump also confirmed Kirk’s death in a post on Truth Social.

“The Great, and even Legendary, Charlie Kirk, is dead,” the president wrote on Truth Social. “No one understood or had the Heart of the Youth in the United States of America better than Charlie. He was loved and admired by ALL, especially me, and now, he is no longer with us.

Melania and my Sympathies go out to his beautiful wife, Erika and family. Charlie, we love you!”

Ellen Treanor, a university spokeswoman, said that Kirk was struck about 20 minutes after he began speaking on the university’s campus in Orem, Utah. A suspect had fired from the Losee Center, a

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

building about 200 yards away.

The university originally claimed that the shooter had been taken into custody.

However, officials later determined that the person being detained by police officers in videos posted online was not the gunman, according to university spokesman Scott Trotter.

According to The New York Times, “search activity is continuing at Utah Valley University, where several groups of armed and outfitted agents can be seen making sweeps through central campus, on foot and on trucks.”

The shooter is still at large.

Update 6:31 p.m.: F.B.I. Director Kash Patel said the “subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,” according to The New York Times.

Update 6:33 p.m.: Commissioner of the Utah Department of Public Safety, Beau Mason, said there is still an active investigation for the person of interest, who is still at large. This contradicts a social media post made by the F.B.I. Director Kash Patel stating that a suspect is now in custody.

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Dead body in D4vd’s car

A female, dismembered body was found in singer and songwriter D4vd’s Tesla in Los Angeles.

SPORTS

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Football beats Wilkes

The College’s football team won their most recent game against Wilkes University, giving them a 2-0 season record so far.

page 2 The Signal September 22, 2025

Trenton will once again be home to a minor league hockey team

Photo by Sky Stewart

The CURE arena will host the new Trenton minor league hockey team once they officially enter the league in the 2026-2027 season.

By Raeanne Raccagno News Editor TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey’s state capital will once again host a minor league team after the ECHL Board of Governors approved the sale and transfer of the Utah Grizzlies from Grizzlies Hockey Club, LLC to Pro Hockey Partners, LLC. On Sept. 9, Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora and CURE Insurance Arena leadership came together to announce, at the CURE arena, that at the end of the 2025-2026 minor hockey league season, the Utah Grizzlies team will be relocating to Trenton, N.J. “I could not be more excited to welcome professional hockey back to Tren-

ton,” said Benson, according to a news release on the ECHL website. “... This is another major step in our mission to make Mercer County, and especially our Capital City of Trenton, a true destination for sports, business, entertainment and tourism.

I can’t wait for our new hockey team to drop the puck for its first season.”

The ECHL, formerly East Coast Hockey League, was founded in 1988 as a mid-level professional minor league where players aiming for the AHL or NHL can further develop their skills.

According to the ECHL website, Pro Hockey Partners, LLC is a 14-partner team that was formed to bring hockey to Trenton, N.J. The partners plan to not only be dedicated to their team on and off the field but also make an impact on the community

surrounding them in Central New Jersey and Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

The Utah Grizzlies first announced and began the process of selling their team on June 22. After playing in Utah for 30 years, the selling decision came after the death of former owner Dave Elmore in 2023 and the declining health of Co-Owner Donna Tuttle, according to 2KUTV. “This was a difficult decision, but it is one that we feel is in the best long-term interest of the franchise,” said D.G. Elmore, the chairman of Elmore Companies, in a news release on the Utah Grizzlies website.

“Our focus right now is entirely on the fans and the community that have supported us for three decades. We are dedicated to delivering the best possible experience for our final season and celebrating the incredible memories we’ve made together.”

The Grizzlies’ schedule begins on Oct. 11, playing against the Idaho Steelheads at the Idaho Central Arena, and their season closer will be on April 11, hosting Rapid City Rush.

According to video coverage by CBS Philadelphia, Fran Rodowicz, CURE Insurance Arena General Manager, shared that the new Trenton team will play 36 home games, increasing the arena’s events to over 125 per year and bringing more than 300,000 people to Trenton.

The new minor league team has yet to be named, and owners are asking the public to submit their ideas online, which will eventually be chosen by the team’s staff. CBS Philadelphia also reported that the team will be completing infrastructure improvements, including a new ice system.

The team will also have planned affiliations with AHL and NHL teams, which have yet to be decided as well. Fans can learn more about the ECHL Trenton team on their website before their inaugural 2026-2027 season, secure a season mem-

bership or propose potential team names.

Trenton’s Hockey History This is not the first time Trenton has been home to a minor league hockey team.

The Trenton Titans, the former ECHL team associated with the state capital, was established in 1999 and played at the CURE arena when it was still known as the Sun National Bank Center, according to HockeyDB.com.

The team was affiliated with the Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia Phantoms and won the ECHL’s Kelly Cup in the 2004-2005 season. The New Jersey Devils purchased the team in 2007, renaming it the Trenton Devils, also known as the T-Devils.

The T-Devils quickly fumbled with poor records and attendance ranking last in the ECHL, according to NJ.com. This led to another ownership turnover, where the Devils became the Titans once again in 2011 after Blue Line Sports, LLC took over the team after the New Jersey Devils shut the team down.

NJ.com also reported that when the New Jersey Devils closed their doors in Trenton, they still had 36 scheduled games to play. Local fans and officials lobbied and encouraged people to purchase season tickets to prompt investment in the team.

Despite fans and the news owners’ efforts, the Trenton Titans once again struggled financially and closed their doors officially in 2013.

“The CURE Insurance Arena is excited to welcome pro hockey back to Trenton,” said Rodowicz. “Twenty years ago, we proudly hosted the 2005 ECHL Kelly Cup championship season with incredible support from our fans and the community. …

Hockey will once again play a prominent role among the many diverse and dynamic events we host each year, and we can’t wait to drop the puck.”

Center for Community Engagement announces Service Mini-Grants availability

By Brinda Patel Staff Writer

The College secured funding for the second year from The Allstate Foundation in June, being one of 65 colleges and universities across the country to receive financial assistance to award individuals or student organizations with service mini-grants.

Katie Sheridan, the program manager of the Center of Community Engagement, was awarded a $15,000 grant from The Allstate Foundation, the nonprofit leg of the Allstate Insurance Company, to distribute to students who are interested in planning service activities independently or with an organization on campus. This is the second year The Allstate Foundation has partnered with the Center for Expanding Leadership & Opportunity to “support and drive youth-led service and leadership.”

“This is about encouraging and empowering young people at TCNJ and providing the support and the funding to let them thrive,” Sheridan told The Signal.

In an email sent to the campus community on Sept. 4, Sheridan said the funding will range from $250 to $1,000 to support students’ initiatives.

“We are able to support financially for either transportation, food for volunteers or supplies for the project. We cannot directly pay partners or students to do the service, but we want to help them get involved,” Sheridan said in an interview. “If students are not sure

Photo by Brooke Zevon

Indivduals and groups with service event ideas can be awarded up to $1,000 if their idea is approved. if their idea would qualify, they can reach out to me and just ask for ideas.”

Beach cleanups, sorting donations at a soup kitchen or collaborating with community partners who host English as a second language classes are a few examples that Sheridan mentioned. However, she encourages students to think creatively when pitching their ideas, given that there is no one right option.

Sheridan added that this semester, CCE will be awarding the minigrant only once per individual or group. Students are allowed to enter twice, independently and part of an organization, only if someone else in their same organization takes the

lead on the service opportunity.

She also noted that although the grant has been awarded to the school for the fall and spring semesters, she will be applying for it again this upcoming spring for the next academic school year. She adds that CCE is fortunate to receive it two years in a row, but it is a “very competitive grant process,” and her team wants to “always have opportunities to continue supporting students doing services.”

She encourages every student to “take a leap of faith and apply,” and with feedback given throughout the process.

A committee of five staff members at the school will review the applications and make sure the

website’s requirements are met.

“I know oftentimes students will have great, big ideas, but money can be a hindrance. So hopefully, this would open doors to students who might have ideas but not be able to execute them without some additional support,” Sheridan said.

Eligibility criteria and application instructions are attached to the email.

Applications for the College Service Mini-Grants are due at midnight on Sept. 19. This deadline allows CCE to confirm that all proposals can be reviewed and approved by the committee with enough time for students to plan and host their event before the fall semester ends.

September 22, 2025 The Signal page 3

TCNJ property included in controversial Hopewell Township housing plan

By Isabella Darcy Managing Editor Deborah Miliaresis has spent the last three months overwhelmed by the prospect of development near her neighborhood. The 52-year-old lives next to a 100-acre natural habitat that is owned by the College in southern Hopewell Township. Woodlands, wetlands and streams make up the habitat, and separate Miliaresis’s neighborhood from developed parts of the community.

“It means everything to me,” Miliaresis told The Signal.

Miliaresis enjoys her fairly secluded and quiet neighborhood, and likes her proximity to numerous plant and animal species. Bald eagles, box turtles and deer are just some of the wildlife that call the habitat home. This could change soon.

Township adopts plans to build under a looming state mandate Under the Mount Laurel doctrine, established by the New Jersey Supreme Court in 1975, each municipality must provide a “fair share” of affordable housing opportunities.

On June 27, the Hopewell Township Committee finalized the township’s strategy for meeting affordable housing obligations through 2035 by voting to adopt a new Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, according to a township news release.

The plan includes building new housing units, maintaining existing units and converting existing structures into affordable housing. Before the township can begin any construction, a full planning process must be completed, involving traffic, sewer, water and environmental reviews of the areas that surround where the housing may go.

The set of properties owned by the College that contain the natural habitat near Miliaresis’s neighborhood is a part of the plan and is located approximately one mile from

Screengrab courtesy of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, map by Isabella Darcy

The parcels of land outlined in blue, south of Interstate 295 and north of Bull Run Road, are owned by the College. campus. On that land, general affordable units, age-restricted units and a unit-assisted living facility are slated to be built. The College itself is not developing the property; however, it is partnering with the company American Properties, according to the housing plan.

“TCNJ has been exploring the possibility of selling this property for the past several months,” said Luke Sacks, the College’s head media relations officer, in an emailed statement to The Signal. “How the land will ultimately be used will be determined by the buyer.”

Hopewell Township Mayor Courtney Peters-Manning said the plan is a “major win for residents” in the township’s news release, citing that it allowed the township to avoid even further development and met a state-mandated June 30 deadline to submit plans. Meeting the deadline protects the township from “builders remedy” lawsuits, which could force development without local control.

Residents say there is “a lot to lose” David Galli grew up surrounded by nature in the same neighborhood Miliaresis lives in, but has since moved to a more northern part of Hopewell Township. Galli remains connected to his old neighborhood through the Camelot Nursery School, which he owns with his wife.

The natural habitat is one of the last spots in southern Hopewell Township not to be developed, according to Galli. Development over the years has increased traffic congestion, bulldozed open space and limited the number of places wildlife can live in the township.

“It’s completely out of hand,” Galli said. “Quality of life is completely diminished and it’s going to get worse.”

Galli and Miliaresis both said they would leave the neighborhood if the development plans are pursued. In the meantime, they and other locals

are advocating for the township to leave the land alone.

“There hasn’t been a day since June 16 that I haven’t been actively working on this to either get answers to figure out where we stand, to outreach, to knock on people’s doors,” Miliaresis said. “That’s how I spend my weekends. I walk around and knock on people’s doors.”

Advocacy efforts were brought to social media in July, when Miliaresis, Galli and his wife, Susan, began a Facebook group for those who are dedicated to the preservation of the woodlands. The group, titled Bull Run Woodlands Preservation Team, currently has 234 members.

Group members believe preserving the wetlands, streams, lake, flora and fauna in the area is vital to the well-being of the people and animals who live in the area, as well as the health of the environment.

Environmental impacts of development Replacing natural areas with impervious surfaces, like roads and rooftops, reduces the amount of water that can infiltrate the ground, according to Michael Pisauro, the policy director for The Watershed Institute. Less water being absorbed into the ground can create more stormwater runoff and flooding.

“When we increase how much runs off our land and into our streams, everything that we put on our land — all the fertilizers, the pesticides, the brake dust, the oil, antifreeze that drips out of our our cars, all the dust and dirt that we turn up — all of that runs off when it rains,” Pisauro told The Signal.

Too much water runoff overwhelms storm drains, raises water levels in streams, causes localized flooding and contaminates water bodies.

A tributary of Shabakunk Creek runs through the property owned by the College and into Assunpink Creek, a major tributary of the Delaware River. The Shabakunk also flows through the College’s Lake Sylva, which already has water quality concerns leading to issues such as Harmful Algal Blooms.

The property in question already floods during heavy rainfall, and residents fear that this will only be exacerbated if development occurs.

“If the land is built on it would change the landscape of the neighborhood dramatically. It’ll never be the same,” Miliaresis said. “I don’t know what to say. It’s just very sad.”

Features

TCNJ Professor wins prestigious 2025 Hagiography Society Article Prize

Photo by Andrea Kane

Professor Boero won for her work in the study of saints.

By Gloria Vittadello Correspondent History professor and scholar Dina Boero won the acclaimed 2025 Hagiography Society Article Prize for her groundbreaking research article, “The Space of the Stylite: Columns and Their Topographical Contexts.”

The prize recognizes exceptional scholarly articles that bring major contributions to the study of saints, holy men and women, according to the Hagiography Societies’ awards and prizes section. A winner is chosen biennially.

Boero self-submitted her article to be considered for this year’s prize.

Boero’s award-winning article Boero’s article not only discusses the traditional boundaries of hagiography, but she additionally emphasizes the physical spaces that saints inhabited and how those landscapes helped shape their perceived spirituality.

Hagiography, or the study of saints, often focuses only on written narratives of saints’ lives.

“We want to study the veneration of saints in the lots of different forms that it takes. So that might be through artwork, or it might be through visiting a pilgrimage site, or church,” Boero said.

Because studying saints involves numerous diverse elements, the Hagiography Society serves as a platform for scholars with a wide range of specialties to collaborate. The society includes historians, anthropologists, archaeologists and others, offering a platform where they can share their fieldwork methods and research approaches, according to Boero.

Boero said receiving the Hagiography Society award and her upcoming books are, “The big top of the mountain, and this is a really nice stepping stone to help make the top of the mountain more successful!”

Taking into account all the sections that shape a saint’s legacy is the approach Boero took in her years of research on Symeon the Stylite, a fifth-century Christian ascetic who famously lived atop a column in the Syrian desert.

When reflecting on the award, Boero

said, “It wasn’t a total surprise … but there’s a big difference between me getting this award and a Pulitzer or a MacArthur.”

Research and early beginnings When Boero started college, initially, she was drawn to studying religion, coming from a Christian background.

“I really wanted to study religion because I felt like religion was kind of really formative in history, and really formative in lots of people’s lives,” Boero said.

Over time, her perspective shifted.

She went from studying religion as a believer to examining religion through a historical lens. She emphasized that neither approach is wrong or bad; it just depends on the context. For her academic work, a historical perspective made more sense.

Boero began her archaeological work in Syria for her dissertation in 2008 and 2009.

Like many archaeologists in 2010, she had to stop her pursuits when the Syrian Civil War began. But, during her time there, she spent her weeks visiting many archaeological sites and engaged herself in the region’s cultural and historical landscapes.

Boero began her work studying Symeon the Stylite during her dissertation on religious work in 2010.

She recalled a memory from when she visited Symeon’s column site in Syria, which she described as being in beautiful archaeological condition before the war.

As she stood overlooking the landscape, feeling the sun and the warm summer breeze on her face, she said she suddenly

understood why someone like Symeon would have wanted to spend his life there, even 1,500 years ago.

In that moment, a personal connection was sparked to the area of Coloxamon, where the article is based, becoming central to her research. She said that both her article and one of her books under contract are deeply rooted in this landscape she now feels such a strong connection to.

What’s especially interesting to Boero about Symeon and the group of Christian monks known as stylites is that they chose to live at the top of columns for decades, sometimes for 40 or 50 years, Boero acknowledged that the idea may sound unbelievable today, but for some reason, it was really effective and meaningful to the people of his time. So much so, more than 100 stylites have been documented over the 700 years following Symeon’s life, not including the stylites that aren’t documented in historical records.

She said her article was grounded on one question: why? Why did this practice resonate so powerfully?

While some scholars have different answers, she believes much of it comes down to the topographical contexts.

Symeon, being already on a hill, and then elevated even further on columns, created a very powerful image.

“It is this feature that’s raising the holy man higher into the heavens so that he can live amongst angels,” Boero said.

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experience…fast-casual has to offer. “The building itself is Bella Ciao Pizzeria brings Italian Style’ but with classic Italian care and nice, it had a nice painting on the quality,” Ramos said. wall, lots of seats and four TVs dining to TCNJ The owner said he believes that playing different channels.”

Photo by Andre Paras

Bella Ciao Pizzeria opened its doors to the campus community in August 2025.

By Ashley Ragone Features Editor Bella Ciao Pizzeria opened its doors for business in August, bringing a new dining option to Campus Town. It is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m., with options to eat in, take out or order delivery. The business does not take Campus Town dollars.

Campus Town is gaining this new restaurant just months after the closure of Blueberry Kitchen + Tap, another eatery that was located in the building next to where the pizzeria sits.

“We designed Bella Ciao for the TCNJ community, locals and visitors who value quality ‘brick-oven’ pizza with speed and convenience,” shared Ricardo Ramos, the owner of the restaurant.

Bella Ciao was inspired by the time Ramos spent living in Italy.

The owner’s experience allows him to bring an authentic touch to the establishment’s Naples-style pizza, according to the restaurant’s website.

Ramos is excited to introduce authentic Italian dining at the College.

“We’re proud to support campus life with a ‘Campus Dining, Jersey

students have been fairly receptive throughout the restaurant’s first month of business.

“The cozy fast-casual setting and the quick, flavorful menu have made [Bella Ciao] a hit during move-in.” Ramos also attributes the restaurant’s current traffic to both takeout and delivery options of service.

Although, some students have not been entirely satisfied.

Freshman political science major Sydney Salant shared her dining experience after ordering the penne vodka dish. Salant said she enjoyed her meal, however “the sauce…was really thick and there was too much compared to how little pasta there was.”

Junior nursing major Isabella Almeida felt that her lunch left much to be desired. She ordered a plain slice, which came to $4.26.

“It’s on the thicker side for crust, which isn’t my favorite as well as it isn’t as crispy which is what I prefer,” Almeida said. “I would say it’s more cheesy and greasy than an average plain pizza I’ve had. It is larger than an average slice of pizza though, which is nice.”

As for the general ambience of the restaurant and new storefront, Almeida enjoys what Bella Ciao

Ramos hopes to grow Bella Ciao within the community, developing future plans and staying true to their vision.

“Our vision is to stay deeply rooted in the TCNJ community by continuing to deliver fresh, high-quality Italian fare with fast, friendly service,” Ramos said.

Some of the restaurant’s bestselling menu items so far include the margherita pizza, bella chicken sandwich and the slice combo, which includes two slices of pizza and a canned drink. The menu also offers salad and dessert options.

Fresh ingredients are used in all dishes, according to Ramos.

Despite being new to the community, Ramos already has high hopes for Bella Ciao’s future in Campus Town. Specifically, the owner is excited to introduce students to rewards opportunities to keep bringing satisfied customers back.

“Students earn points with each online/app order and can redeem them for free food,” Ramos said.

“We will be learning as we grow with all the hungry Lions out there but we have some new specials that will be rotating in soon.”

Bella Ciao Pizzeria is now open in Campus Town Suite 500.

There should be limits to who gets concert presale

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Die hard fans should have the chance to get tickets before resellers.

By AJ Mun Staff Writer

With several sold-out venues for Ariana Grande’s mini Eternal Sunshine tour, superfans around the country are left heartbroken without tickets. On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Grande’s United States presale began on Ticketmaster, leaving millions of fans to fight in the war for seats at the venue.

While Grande had previously stated in an interview with Zane Lowe that she would want to tour the album in a smaller, more low-key setting, fans were easily able to imagine just how much of a bloodbath the fight for tickets would be.

With an alleged 1 million plus people in the queue, tickets were sold out in seconds. While this was to be expected, those without tickets were outraged to see the reseller prices skyrocket, given the number of seats that they had been able to obtain. At the time of writing, some of the cheapest seats on Seatgeek.com are showing $714 for nosebleed viewpoints.

As a fan, the outrage stems from the base knowledge of concerts and the assumption of who was able to get good places in the queue line for presale. Online, many hardcore and longtime fans were upset to see that less dedicated fans were able to secure seats for low prices.

Some fans believe there should be a way

to prove that you are deserving of a spot, as they believe they are more entitled to a ticket than others, and unfortunately, I agree.

If you have ever fought in a Ticketmaster war, you would know that scalpers and resellers are a poison to the concert community. The concept of greed is severely prevalent within TikTok posts of fans who weren’t given a good spot in the queue, despite some of them waiting on the website for hours before it opened. Fans have also been seeing those who have gotten tickets being able to secure tickets for multiple nights of the show. Thus, bringing back the concept of greed.

Should people have been able to get tickets for multiple shows? Should there be some sort of trivia quiz that filters out the diehards from the fake fans? Should influencers have had the opportunity to get tickets over everyday people, despite not even being a fan? TikToker Mikayla Nogueira had previously made some subtly unsavory jokes about Grande’s love life and seemingly was able to obtain front row seats to her concert.

When looking in the comments, the fans’ overall reaction can be summarized with one word: undeserving. On one hand, if someone has the money to pay for a ticket, they are entitled to it. On the other hand, why should someone who has made publicly negative comments about an artist be able to sit front row at their concert over someone who’s loved the artist since the beginning of their career?

Something that consistently comes up in conversations about who deserves

tickets versus who doesn’t is the yearly Spotify Wrapped. For reference, Spotify Wrapped, like Apple Music Replay, displays a user’s top-streamed artist, albums and songs. Some fans have taken to TikTok, telling those with tickets to show their Spotify Wrapped results to prove their claim to tickets.

Now, I am certainly not saying someone should have to submit their results to ticketing websites in order to get presale opportunities, but I strongly believe that there should be a set of standards put in place to help aid superfans in their journey to get tickets.

While I was lucky enough to be able to secure my seats, I went into the process prepared to be deeply upset if I had lost the fight because I, too, felt as though I was more deserving than some of the people I knew I would see at the concert.

The issue that arises when thinking about solutions for this problem is actually finding a viable answer to the question: “Who deserves priority and who doesn’t?”

Spotify wrapped playlists aren’t always a telling statistic of who is a hardcore fan. Though in the same vein, are fans expected to do multiple rounds of trivia to reserve themselves a place in line?

Grande’s team is currently aware of the reseller issue that is becoming increasingly more ridiculous by the day and is actively working to correct it.

Whether it be trivia, a Spotify Wrapped or a signed personal note from Grande herself, all I know is one thing: you will see my Instagram post at the Eternal Sunshine Tour.

We have become too comfortable with hate on social media

By Tasnim Oyshi Staff Writer

In the prime age of social media, encountering hate speech online is nothing new. Whether you rarely post on the internet or are a famous influencer, you have likely received or seen hateful content pop up on your feed.

Nowadays, this type of language has become entirely too common and even casual. Typically, the easiest object of netizens’ critiques tends to be celebrities.

This summer, we saw many being the target of public scrutiny, seemingly with a lack of good cause. Of course, it is understandable when a celebrity has done something wrong that they receive criticism for it.

Cases like Kanye West, who has made very controversial statements about the Holocaust or Sean “Diddy” Combs are ones where the disapproval was justified.

In certain instances, however, they are bred without reason.

Possibly the most notorious example of this is Benson Boone, who gained an immense following after his song, “Beautiful Things,” went viral last year.

Many praised his voice at the time, but this year, the reason for his virality was the opposite.

Many argue that Boone’s most recent album, “American Heart,” was bad. This is a valid argument to make about anything, as preference in music is subjective. Writing hate comments and sending death threats, however, is a completely ridiculous reaction to a pop musician making mediocre music, which is not a rare occurrence.

One is entitled to their opinion and sharing it can even be healthy. Once it gets to the point of genuine hatred over such mundane things, it becomes unreasonable and harmful to the people on the receiving end as well as the ones who contribute to it.

Recently, there has also been a rise in instances where a joke has evolved and ended up becoming hate. In Boone’s case, it started with people making jokes about his signature backflips during his performances last year.

At this point, netizens still had positive things to say about him and “Beautiful Things,” which was topping charts at the time. With the release of his new song, “Mystical Magical,” the jokes intensified and people began making fun of the absurd nature of the lyrics.

While it is true that “moonbeam ice cream” and “dancing at the movies” make absolutely no sense, the humor people once had regarding him took an unanticipated, dark turn. Netizens began to make TikToks bashing him as a person.

They made death threats in his comment section and insulted his personality and voice. At one point, Boone himself asked his haters to have a good reason for their actions.

Boone was not the only one facing the brunt of this phenomenon. Another celebrity that went viral for the wrong reasons this summer was Pedro Pascal, who has had devoted fans and a positive reputation up until recently. During the press tour of “Fantastic Four,” internet users began to notice how touchy he was with co-star Vanessa Kirby.

It seemed like overnight, people’s

perception of Pascal changed. He was suddenly creepy, rather than wholesome.

What was completely ignored by haters was the fact that Kirby was reciprocating and initiating touchiness with Pascal, and Pascal has had a history of this type of behavior with both male and female costars in the past. The actor himself has attributed such behavior to his welldocumented anxiety.

Pascal has also been a prominent advocate for the transgender and LGBTQIA+ community, which has made some wonder if the recent hate train against him was a result of that.

Even newer faces on the internet, such as the newest cast of “Love Island” have faced backlash, despite only being famous for a very short time. The seventh season of “Love Island” premiered in June, and the internet was immediately hooked. Contestants like Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown saw instantaneous popularity and love from fans.

As the season progressed, however, comments made online by viewers of the show became nasty, and the producers even had to put out a statement for them to stop. This was especially concerning as people started to look into Mustafa’s young child, who lacks the ability to give consent to her personal information being public.

Online hate is already a problematic thing for an adult to deal with, but bringing a child into the matter unfairly subjects them to dangerous territories such as doxxing, cyberbullying and the ability for internet creeps to see them.

This type of intense hatred falls under the topic of parasocial relationships.

This term is usually used when there is strong — and rather unhealthy — loyalty by fans to the people they follow. This generally comes with passion regarding the celebrity, and a positive type of obsession.

In the case of Boone, Pascal and “Love Island,” the obsession is negative and leads to netizens becoming hateful.

Because these people feel confident enough to show themselves on screen and on social media, netizens have become familiar, and, frankly, too comfortable talking about them in any way they want.

But ultimately, the celebrities that people are hating on are strangers to them. These are not people that have committed personal harm against their haters or even had an actual interaction with them.

There is not really a good reason to criticize them so harshly, especially when comparing them to people like Combs or West. It really just boils down to how comfortable people have gotten online.

In today’s world, where parasocial relationships have become normalized, unfortunately hatred without reason has become a part of life on social media.

While this is an unfavorable reality many of us have come to accept, we do not have to fall into the same line of thinking.

Social media can be a collaborative and positive place if we think twice before voicing our critiques online.

Not only does this promote a healthier environment on the internet, but it also improves our own outlook on the world around us.

page 6 The Signal September 22, 2025

Conan Gray should have more acclaim and recognition

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Conan Gray deserves more roses than he currently gets as a songwriting.

By AJ Mun Staff Writer In light of the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, it is all too common to see another pop star rise from the ashes of their TikTok trend takeoff. It seems as if everywhere you look, someone has finally gotten their “big break” and is now opening for Taylor Swift or performing after Sabrina Carpenter. While female pop stars come and go with relevance, male pop stars seem to be an all too rare occurrence, and Conan Gray has seemed to slip under the mainstream radar.

Gray was a 14-year-old dreamer with a passion for making YouTube videos and quickly rose in popularity for his quirky videos and aesthetically pleasing outfits. In fact, his first video titled “Let Me Introduce Myself” has

a current 3.5 million views despite being posted 12 years ago, in 2014. As a Pinterest “soft-boy” and internet hit, Gray would occasionally post song cover videos accompanied by a ukulele or guitar.

On December 31, 2015, Gray posted his first-ever original song titled “Sometime.”

While Gray had published other unreleased original songs on his YouTube channel, it wasn’t until the release of his song “The Other Side” on August 22, 2016, that he officially released a single to streaming services. “The Other Side” currently has 3.5 million views and is the predecessor to Gray’s first EP, titled “Sunset Season,” released on November 16, 2018.

With a total of four studio albums and a musical career spanning eight years, Gray has yet to secure a Grammy nomination despite

having a viral TikTok song, “Heather,” and securing the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Top Album Sales chart with his latest studio album, “Wishbone.”

While his career is lengthy and he has established a loyal fanbase, Gray has yet to break through the glass ceiling that his other male pop star counterparts have. Counterparts such as Sombr and Benson Boone have had a seemingly shorter career but a quicker rise to mainstream stardom.

What Gray brings to the table is a fresh sound, unlike any other pop star currently in the game. As a small-town boy, he’s able to write songs that his fans can relate to, thus showing that his way with words is seemingly unmatched compared to “moonbeam, ice cream,” but we all have our moments. With the virality of “Heather,” many listeners have felt seen in his heartbreaking lyrics that describe an unknowing love lost to someone else.

Additionally, Gray has proven time and time again that he holds the versatility needed to adapt to what people want to hear without losing sight of himself. With his first studio album, “Kid Krow,” Gray explores a more mainstream pop sound. Giving us hits like “Heather” and “Comfort Crowd” that explore a sound known to regular pop listeners, while combining cleverly written and relatable lyrics. Though when we advance to his following album, “Superache”, Gray taps more into the grieving romantic inside of him with melancholy music like “Memories” and “People Watching.”

During 2024, throwback ’80s synth music was, and quite frankly still is, all the rage, thus

prompting Gray to give us “Found Heaven.”

In this album, he explores an ’80s rockstar sound, with vocals that hit the range of the late Freddie Mercury. Mercury is clearly an inspiration to most male pop stars, including Boone and Harry Styles, so it’s no surprise that Gray should follow suit and aspire to reach the level of fame he left behind, but with Styles on a musical hiatus and Boone being flooded with internet hate, I feel as though we should turn some positive attention towards our beloved Gray.

With his most recent performance of his song “Vodka Cranberry” at the VMAs, Gray hit his high C note at the climax of his performance.

By combining stunning visuals and costumes with an impressive display of vocal talent, I could only hope that the general public finally becomes aware of what he can bring to the table and, in turn, throws some roses and respect his way as a true popstar.

In my personal opinion, anyone can make music, but not everyone can be a pop star. We see one or two trick ponies on the day-to-day.

Little 15-second-of-fame singers who made their way off of one viral TikTok song that they carelessly made on their iPhone. But it takes a specific person to make art that can truly touch people.

Coming from someone who has been to multiple concerts of his, Gray’s fans truly feel seen by the words he writes and vocals he brings, and I think that is something special. I can only wish that the rest of the world soon knows just how much of a powerhouse he truly is.

By Jack Salaki Correspondent

And sure, it’s fair to say that genres rise and fall. However, the reason why characters like Captain Marvel and Black Panther had such popular films was because of the intentional storytelling leading up to “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” People were genuinely excited to see these stories unfold.

That hasn’t been the case as of late.

The big issue here is that the multiverse introduced the idea of zero-consequence storytelling. Characters are no longer permanently killed off. Now, studios can bring back any character they want, whether or not it fits within the context of the story.

I’m not necessarily a hater of the concept of a multiverse — films like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” have shown that it can be done well — but you can’t expect it to work in interconnected universes, where bringing back old faces can create massive box office returns.

Studios are going to go for the profit over the story every time.

It still doesn’t change the fact that the multiverse is being utilized carelessly.

The first 10 years of the Marvel Cinematic Universe worked so well because they were innovative and required directors to work hard to create a connection between the audience and the characters. It wasn’t just about seeing someone from an old superhero movie that you loved as a kid.

When you do that, you’re relying on someone else to do the work for you.

That may be a big reason why fans have lost interest in superhero stories, even big ones like “Superman.” They aren’t telling us anything new about these characters; they are just throwing them up on screen to get us to come to the theater. The box office is on the decline because there are no longer real consequences. Plus, instead of real human stories, we’re getting ones that feel cheap and reliant on nostalgia.

My hope for the future of the superhero genre is that it reverts to character-first storytelling. Instead of trying to create the biggest spectacle possible, let’s understand who these characters are as people.

Caught Stealing: review Multiverse ruined storytelling

Photo courtesy of IMDb

“Caught Stealing” stars Austin Butler, Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber.

By Mahnoosh Arsalan Correspondent After a three-year break from directing, Darren Aronofsky has returned to the silver screen with his new feature crime thriller “Caught Stealing” starring Austin Butler, Zoë Kravitz, Matt Smith, Vincent D’Onofrio and Liev Schreiber. “Caught Stealing” details the odyssey of a young bartender and former baseball player, Hank Thompson, who’s down on his luck and gets drawn into a conspiracy way bigger than him.

Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” introduced me to the world of film at a very young age and holds a very special place in my heart.

Luckily, “Caught Stealing,” though vastly different from anything Aronofsky has done before, was a wild ride and overall a fun time.

Surprisingly, “Caught Stealing” had me belly-laughing in the theater. Aronofsky is notorious for gut-wrenching, perturbing movies, so contrasting that with a violencefilled comedy was riveting. Aronofsky was emulating the styles of the Safdie Brothers, Guy Ritchie and the Coen Brothers, stacking the movie with a breakneck pace and explosive action.

The movie was also chock-full of twists and jaw-dropping moments, which culminated in a very fun viewing experience.

With that said, there was something I felt missing from the movie, and that was depth. While Aronofsky was portraying wild moments like you’d see in a movie like the Safdie Brothers’ “Good Time,” it didn’t feel like an Aronofsky movie.

Typically, in his films, each character

feels real. The characters are given enough time to grow and develop; unfortunately, this is absent from “Caught Stealing,” in which Butler’s character is the only one with a proper character arc.

Austin Butler’s portrayal of Thompson brought the character to life, allowing the audience to connect with him. We see this through Thompson’s little quirks like his disdain towards cats, his daily calls with his mom and his love for baseball. These small things allowed the viewers to get a peek into Thompson’s life and connect with him on a deeper level. We even see him grow as a person and transform with each new thing he experiences.

As for the other characters in the movie, I personally didn’t feel connected to them. Yes, they were comical and brought chaos to the movie, but Thompson went on a transformative ride, which allowed me to understand him and feel for him.

Additionally, since the release of the movie, I haven’t seen enough praise for Matt Smith, who played Russ, Thompson’s British nextdoor neighbor.

Smith is an incredible actor with insane versatility. He’s taken on roles that are vastly different, yet he blends into the world of every movie or show he’s been in. He played the detestable Russ perfectly, and I hope to see him in more critically acclaimed roles.

Ultimately, I still give it four stars. I hope Aronofsky explores this genre more, just with more care for each character. “Caught Stealing” was a thrilling time, and was a reminder that a well-made action movie can be a very fun experience!

When you look at the type of superhero movies released in the past few years, you’ll notice a pattern: an over-reliance on multiverse storytelling. “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” one of the most popular movies of 2021, kick-started this trend.

A multiverse generally worked for the context of that movie. The film brought back Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire, two previous Spider-Man actors, in addition to several old villains. Fans appreciated this. The movie garnered a 93% critics’ score and a 97% audience rating.

However, the market for multiversal stories quickly became oversaturated. Most likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted major film studios, executives planned reactively rather than proactively.

In 2022, Marvel released “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness,” a more controversial movie with a 73% critics’ score. The multiversal trend did not end there. “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” features elements of the multiverse, as does “Deadpool & Wolverine.”

Marvel’s counterpart, DC, also tested out the multiversal waters with its 2023 “The Flash,” bringing back Michael Keaton, the original 1989 Batman actor.

Recently, superhero films have seen a noticeable dip at the box office. Most notably, James Gunn’s “Superman” only grossed $614 million overall, despite some pundits predicting a $1 billion performance. Superman is one of the most popular comic book characters ever, and yet the movie still struggled to garner excitement.

If you go back a few years, characters that were far less popular had films that performed better than this. In 2018, “Black Panther” made $1.3 billion, in part due to up-and-coming Director Ryan Coogler’s talents. A year later, Captain Marvel, a C-list comic book character, grossed $1.1 billion. In essence, superhero movies are not creating the same excitement for fans that they used to.

Read more on our website!

September 22, 2025 The Signal page 7

Oversaturation murders quality media

Photo Courtesy of Pexels

Too much of the same type of content can bore audiences.

By Tasnim Oyshi Staff Writer Too much of a good thing is bad.

This is a sentiment that has been around for millions of years. Consume things, whether it is food, literature, or media, in moderation. When it comes to the entertainment field today, however, it seems we no longer care about following such a warning.

There is a plethora of shows, films, music, and even social media content like memes and videos coming out every day. This can be considered a good thing to some extent. After all, in an age where technology thrives and most of the world has access, people should be free to exhibit their ideas however and whenever they want. Freedom of expression is a privilege that we are lucky to experience,

so why not take advantage of it?

That question is answered when there ends up being so much content released that no one film, song or video is uniquely distinguishable anymore. The danger of oversaturation in media is that it all ends up being too similar. We grow tired of getting excited for a new release only to be met with the same thing we’ve already witnessed before.

Artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Gracie Abrams have faced many criticisms for making music that people think sounds like Taylor Swift. Shows such as “The Summer I Turned Pretty” or “My Life with the Walter Boys” get compared to each other as well as their film predecessors of the same genre, like “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “The Kissing Booth.”

Not even social media trends are safe from this problem, with audios trending on TikTok getting filled with people all over

the world using them to make the same type of videos.

There is also the problem of sequels, which has been an established grievance of audiences for much of the modern entertainment era. It seems as though every year, there is a new film or series coming out that is connected to popular films and series of the past.

The newest “Jurassic World: Rebirth” film and the “Jurassic World” franchise have capitalized on the fame of the original “Jurassic Park” film that came out in 1993.

Musicians are also guilty of this, as sampling and interpolation have become an increasingly popular tactic for artists such as Ava Max and Doechii, with their songs having taken inspiration from older hits like “Barbie Girl” by Aqua and “Somebody That I Used To Know” by Gotye.

Many media content creators alike have fallen into the trap of going with what works. They simply follow the formulas that have performed well in the past in hopes of recreating the success of the content that came before. There is little room for creativity and ingenuity to flourish when everyone is focused on piggybacking off the fame of another film, song or series.

This, however, is not entirely the fault of those who are responsible for creating such media. We, the consumers, are just as much to blame. We crave original content, yet when it is offered to us, we often fail to take the chance to contribute to its success.

Pixar’s “Elio” was promoted and thought to be a film that would bring

something different to cinemas than the sequels and remakes we are used to.

However, not many have talked about it since its release, while the “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Lilo & Stitch” remakes both grossed over $600 million worldwide, with “Lilo & Stitch” making over $1 billion. Even artists like Rodrigo and Abrams don’t seem to decline in popularity, despite the complaints of their music sounding “unoriginal.”

Today’s entertainment industry is littered with failed original ideas and a myriad of remakes on the way. Audiences are no longer anticipating the next big thing because they already know what’s to come. They know that there is simply too much of the same thing surrounding them in the current media landscape. This breeds disappointment in both themselves and the people who are releasing the content. Ultimately, it becomes a cycle where neither the audience nor the creators are satisfied.

However, this does not have to be the case. There are so many original ideas left in the world for people to come up with.

And they CAN be successful. Films like “Sinners” and artists like Alex Warren have thrived in 2025.

There can be more original content produced if we stop focusing on what was popular in the past and give our attention to what creative minds in the industry have to offer. We do not have to remain bored with the abundance of indistinguishable media that we are served, when there is unique and inventive media out there for us to find and enjoy.

You should consider a new favorite number universe, that it’s never been written down in full before. The last fifteen digits are known to be 627262464195387.

Warning: could get cosmic

Negative one

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Don’t be boring. Get creative with your favorite number.

By Natalia Tomczak Opinions Editor Let me guess, your favorite number is seven? Most people’s favorite number is seven, most of their favorite numbers are prime, and most fall between two and nine.

Let’s think outside the box here.

For those of you who have yet to choose a favorite number, or feel the spirit of change in the autumn air — don’t fret, it’s not too late! I think everyone deserves their own unique, special, favorite number.

You can invent sentimental meaning for any number of your choosing. We’ve seen what we’ve done to 67. You can do that too. You can invent your own personal 67. But I have some suggestions to help get the ball rolling. Let’s talk numbers.

Zero

For people who invite controversy and debate, this number’s for you.

Is zero a number? Debate it with

everyone you come across when zero is your favorite number. This is equivalent to saying black is your favorite color, because, evidently, someone will always point out to you that black is actually the absence of light, so it can’t be your favorite color. Debate everyone. Be that person.

Zero is the most interesting man in the world. Add zero to the end of any number, and you get an even bigger number.

Without zero, how would we know the value of a number?

You could argue that zero is timeless.

To some, zero represents infinity. Whatever zero means to you, this pick is sure to be a conversation starter.

Warning: could get spiritual.

Googol, Googolplex, and Graham’s number

Remember childhood, when numbers inspired us and we dreamed big? We learned how to count to 100 — the biggest number in the world for every 5-year-old. It was exciting to think of the

biggest numbers, as if it were some kind of competition. Who can run the fastest? Who can count the highest?

The biggest number the universe could conceive? It is impossible to know. All we know is the biggest number humans have named. The truth is, there is no biggest number in existence, since numbers stretch to infinity, but humans have tried to name the biggest.

Googol is one of the biggest numbers.

It is the number one followed by 100 zeros, written as 10(^100) or 10,000,000,000,000,​ 000,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00,​ 000,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00,​ 000,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00,​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00, ​ 0 00,​ 000,​000. It is also the number that inspired the naming of Google, given how many results come out of a single search.

Googolplex is even bigger; it is 10 googol, or 10(10^100). Want to aim even bigger? Graham’s number was developed considering Ramsey Theory, which seeks to prove that order is guaranteed to exist in the universe. The number is so big, bigger than the number of atoms in the observable

Who says your favorite number should be a positive number? A negative number says I don’t write with a black pen on white paper like a commoner, no: I write with a white pen on black paper. I see the inverse.

I see what you don’t.

To put this number into perspective, consider how, before numbers, humans would only count on their hands or with tally marks. What they had wasn’t a number system; it was the addition of one plus one repeating. If zero comes to represent nothing, negative one represents something more philosophical: less than nothing. How much less than nothing do you want your favorite number to be? Put a negative sign in front of any number, and conceptualize the depths of nothingness.

Warning: could get philosophical

789

Who’s to say that you need to read this number as seven hundred eighty-nine?

To me, and to many others, this is seveneight-nine. The punchline to the setup of the joke: why is six afraid of seven?

Seven-eight-nine, a tale as old as time.

A little number humor. A classic wordplay.

A punchline only possible because of the English language and homophones. If you always see double meanings, 789 might be for you.

Warning: could get silly A number is much more than a representation of quantity. Numbers are concepts. When you pick your favorite number, consider the connotations and the conversations you could be having about numbers, beyond what’s numerical.

Editorials

Check on your people this suicide prevention month

Photo courtesy of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration

We should support each other year-round.

By The Signal Editorial Board Content warning: Mention of suicide September is suicide prevention month.

It also falls at the beginning of a new academic year, which can be a stressful time for many students.

As the semester progresses, college can become somewhat lonely and difficult to navigate. As the workload increases, extracurriculars become more intense and more factors build on stress levels, it can be hard for students to feel a sense of stability.

It is crucial, not just during the month of September, to check on your peers.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death for college students in the United States, according to the National Institute of Health.

At the College, mental health resources are actively available both on campus and online for students. Counseling and Prevention Services offers a range of resources and support to help students access the assistance they need. CAPS offers individual counseling, group counseling and workshops, referral and case management services, psychiatric services and alcohol and other drug support services.

CAPS’ resources can be accessed in person in Eickhoff Hall, suite 107, or online. Their website provides additional information about the services available, including current and upcoming workshop programs, a service request form, and selfhelp resources.

Students who would prefer to receive mental health support virtually can do so through BetterHelp and Uwill. Both of

these services offer teletherapy provided by licensed therapists.

As students sharing a campus we should feel united, or at least treat each other with respect. Even something as simple as a smile at a stranger you pass while walking on campus can make a difference to someone. At the end of the day, we all share at least one thing in common: we are all college students who experience the whirlwind of emotions that is young adulthood.

While we will never know what everyone around us is going through, we can take actions to support others.

This suicide prevention month, and even all year long, make an effort be kind to yourself and anyone you encounter.

(CAPS) Eickhoff Hall, Suite 107 To access services, visit https://health. tcnj.edu/appointments/.

TCNJ Campus Police Dial 911 from any campus phone or 609-771-2345 from a cell phone.

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline Call 988 Dean of Students If you would like to submit a CARE referral for yourself or someone you may know, visit https://tcnj-advocate. symplicity.com/care_report/index.php/ pid518182?.

Mental health resources: Counseling and Prevention Services

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POLICIES The Signal is published bi-weekly during the academic year. It is an independent publication. 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.

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September 22 Signal Stories Crossword Across: 4.

Type of food Bella Ciao offers 6.

LSU mascot, where 66-year-old joined marching band 8.

Italian fashion designer that recently died 9.

France’s new Prime Minister 10.

Channel where you can watch he Impractical Jokers

Down: 1.

Play Leslie Odom Jr. recenly returned to on Broadway 2.

Opponent football beat at home this past weekend 3.

Scorer of the winning goal in fielf hockey’s 2OT match 5.

Country that recently had a revolt led by Gen Z 7.

Local city that is getting a minor league hockey team

Deadly protests erupt in Nepal over recent social media ban

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A revolution has recently ignited in Nepal over government-enforced social media.

By Violet Hollar Correspondent A Gen Z movement in Nepal sparks protests against governmental corruption and a social media ban, leading to 22 deaths, multiple resignations and a fire at the parliament building, according to BBC. Protests began the first

week of September after the Nepali government banned 26 social media apps, including WhatsApp and Instagram. The bans were triggered by the apps’ r e f u s a l t o r e g i s t e r w i t h N e p a l ’s Ministry of Communication a n d I n f o r m a t i o n Te c h n o l o g y, according to the BBC. The bans were the final straw for Gen Z Nepali people

who had been battling against youth unemployment and governmental corruption since early 2024.

The protesters, most of whom were aged 13-28, formed a movement to combat the social media ban, governmental corruption and the wealth d i s p a r i t y a f f e c t i n g t h e c o u n t r y ’s youth. The demonstrations began with the focus of accountability from “nepo-babies” flaunting their wealth on social media, with little response from the Nepalese government about the economic crisis affecting Nepali people.

The protests turned violent when protesters began clashing with police, who, according to CNN, used live ammunition, water cannons and tear gas against the protesters. The clashes between police and protesters continued to escalate the situation, when on Sep. 9, protesters began pushing through restricted areas near the capital of Kathmandu.

The escalating protests and tension led to a full governmental collapse with the Prime Minister resigning, leaving the power of the government to the Nepali m i l i t a r y. A u t h o r i t i e s i n N e p a l enforced a curfew and ban on large gatherings; h o w e v e r, the movement disregarded the enforcements, breaching the capital and setting multiple buildings aflame.

On Sep. 10, the Supreme Court and Palace Complex in

Nepal were set on fire. The movement moved back online, where the burning buildings were posted to social media p l a t f o r m s l i k e T i k To k .

Wi t h t h e p o w e r i n N e p a l mostly in the hands of the m i l i t a r y, according to the N e w Yo r k T i m e s , t h e G e n Z movement has begun rallying behind Sagar Dahkal, a former political candidate, and Kul Man Ghising, an ex-CEO, through Discord chatrooms. The social media platform now acts as a makeshift government for t h e c o u n t r y.

Nepali citizens utilized Discord to elect Sushila Karki, a former chief justice, to represent the movement to the c o u n t r y ’s a r m y. A c c o r d i n g t o t h e N e w Yo r k T i m e s , t h e G e n Z Nepali citizens on Discord wanted to hold a mini-election f o r a n i n t e r i m l e a d e r, b u t d i d not claim to represent the entire c o u n t r y.

The server rapidly grew to over 145,000 members and attempted some democratic votes, but found it impossible due to the hundreds of thousands of opinions.

Although the Discord movement lacked organization, it was an effective first step to resolving the disputes between protesters and the Nepali government. The Gen Z elected Karki is now serving as the first female prime minister of Nepal, as the country rebuilds following the massive demonstrations.

France’s president faces public crit- China’s military parade strains inicism as the government collapses ternational politics

By Sarah Sankel Correspondent President Emmanuel Macron of France has recently been facing widespread public criticism in his country. The controversy escalated significantly when Macron selected a new prime minister on Sept. 9, according to The Economist.

In France, executive power is balanced between the president and the president-appointed prime minister, as stated in a Britannica entry. When the government in parliament collapses, public opinion is typically directed at the prime minister who has been dismissed, rather than the president, who will appoint the next prime minister. This time, however, things are different.

Just nine months ago, in Dec. 2024, France’s legislature passed a vote of no confidence in Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who had only been in office for three months. The motion was passed because of Barnier’s unpopular budget, which planned to use 60 billion euros in savings to shrink France’s deficit, according to Reuters.

Prime Minister François Bayrou, who was appointed by Macron after Barnier, was defeated by a vote of no confidence this September due to his unpopular budget plans that aimed to shrink France’s deficit, according to

The Economist.

Macron quickly appointed the liberal centrist Sébastien Lecornu as the next prime minister, who currently holds the office and hopes to find common ground among the various political parties in France.

“Humility,” he said, was the key approach to gaining support and unity. Lecornu also claimed that his government would be different from the others, according to the Guardian.

Although some public criticism was directed towards Macron in December, according to Reuters, France’s inability to keep a prime minister for long is an escalating public criticism directed towards Macron.

The “Block Everything” movement began to spread on social media in May. According to Reuters, although it largely consisted of right-wing groups in its infancy, recent discontent with Macron has expanded the movement to include the left and the far left.

On Sept. 9, the tension exploded.

According to AP News, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau reported that nearly 200,000 people had protested on the streets by the evening. Other estimates drew the number closer to 250,000. Retailleau also reported that over 450 people had been arrested due to the protests and that over a dozen officers had been injured.

Read more on our website!

By Sarah Sankel Correspondent Tensions across the world ran high on Sept.

3 as China displayed its military might in an internationally broadcast parade.

As a climax to the various World War II remembrance celebrations this year, Sept. 3 marked the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender to the Chinese government. The People’s Republic of China celebrated with a military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, where, according to CNN World, over 50,000 people gathered.

The Chinese military is the largest in the world, boasting about 2 million soldiers, according to The Economist. This is its first parade since 2019, and the display was meant to showcase the military’s growth and improvement since then, particularly in the realm of military technology.

President Xi Jinping presided over the parade, saying in his speech that “today, humanity again has to choose between peace and war, dialogue and confrontation, win-win co-operation or zero-sum games,” according to The Economist.

By connecting World War II to the present day, Xi warned the world of the military capabilities and power of China amidst current international tensions. In Xi’s own words at the parade, according to The Independent, China is “unstoppable.”

According to Naval News, the parade boasted a large number of nuclear-capable and supersonic missiles in addition to the rows of soldiers, tanks, and patriotic flags. In addition, the Chi-

nese military displayed its recent advancements in drone technology. This show of military might has been viewed in recent days as a message to the West, as leaders are confronted with the impressive military capabilities of China.

What unsettled the West more, however, was an appearance of Xi alongside President Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong Un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, according to CNN World. This show of solidarity is particularly significant after President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with Putin in Alaska.

Trump responded to the parade on Truth Social, according to NBC News, writing, “may President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration.

Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against The United States of America.”

According to NBC News, the Russian government said that they thought Trump was being ironic, assuring the West that “no one was plotting any conspiracies.”

While the West analyzed the meaning of the impressive parade, Chinese citizens seemed to be filled with enthusiasm and patriotism.

According to NBC News, one user on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, wrote “I’m grateful that our country made us feel so secure.”

The military parade is also significant in China’s relationship with Taiwan. According to The Economist, American officials believe that Xi has set a deadline for the Chinese military: it must be ready to take Taiwan by 2027.

Read more on our website!

September 22, 2025 The Signal page 11

Good News Lions: Critically endangered species birth help with revitalization; 240,000 acres of land reversed desertification

Kidney donors and recipients compete together in a 316-mile race A team of 11 in Alameda, Calif., is training for the Source to City race in New York City, all of them sharing the same determination, and some of them sharing the same organ. The running crew is the “Renal Warrior” team from the Mission HQ gym, FOX KTVU reported.

One of the team members, Wilson Du, is also the founder of Mission HQ, a gym where anyone, including kidney patients, cancer patients and stroke victims, can work out together. He started the organization in 2019 after struggling with his weight and trying to get on the kidney donor list.

“There’s a shared trauma that everybody’s going through something. And with that, they’re able to bond with each other and they’re able to push each other,” Du told Fox KTVU.

After 21 years Kimmel’s show has been taken off the air.

Graphic by Sandra Abrantes

The theme of this week’s Good News Lions article is focused on individual and group efforts bringing communities together with inspiration.

A 66-year-old man pursues his dream of becoming an LSU marching band member Kent Broussard dreamed of becoming a tubist in the marching line for Louisiana State University after seeing a halftime show during a game he attended as a child. Years went by, and Broussard never reached that goal, until he retired from his job and decided now was the time to try, Steve Hartman reported in his “On the Road” series with CBS. After retiring as an accountant and reflecting on his past, Broussard thought, “...​​ about something that I always wanted to do, but just didn’t get a chance to do it,” he told The Associated Press.

Broussard trained for a year by relearning the tuba and marching around his neighborhood in Baton Rouge, La., while playing. Before trying out for the band, Broussard also had to apply to LSU, where he is now a freshman and takes classes during the day. While he didn’t expect to make the marching band because of

By Ally Uhlendorf Editor-in-Chief ABC has suspended Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show, “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” indefinitely after the host made comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

The announcement followed after “the head of the Federal Communications Commission suggested the broadcast licence of ABC, which is a subsidiary of Disney, was at risk, and after Nexstar Media Group said its stations affiliated with ABC would ‘preempt ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ for the foreseeable future beginning with tonight’s show,” according to AP News.

During his opening remarks for Monday night’s show, Kimmel referenced Tyler Robinson, the man accused of fatally shooting Kirk. The comedian suggested that Robinson was aligned with President Donald Trump’s MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement.

“The MAGA Gang desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it,” Kimmel said. “In between the finger-pointing, there was grieving.”

According to CNBC, “a person familiar with the situation told

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

By Raeanne Raccagno News Editor

‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ pulled off air indefinitely

his age and the group’s vigorous competition, he was overwhelmed with joy when he cut, according to the CBS story.

“People retire,” Broussard told AP. “Dreams don’t.”

Photo courtesy of IMDb

CNBC that Kimmel is not fired and that Disney plans to speak with him about what he should say when he goes back on the air.”

The President of Nexstar ’s broadcasting division, Andrew Alford, said, “Mr. Kimmel’s comments about the death of Mr. Kirk are offensive and insensitive at a critical time in our national political discourse, and we do not believe they reflect the spectrum of opinions, views, or values of the local communities in which we are located.”

“Continuing to give Mr. Kimmel a broadcast platform in the communities we serve is simply not in the public interest at the current time, and we have made the difficult decision to preempt his show in an effort to let cooler heads prevail as we move toward the resumption of respectful, constructive dialogue,” Alford said.

President Trump celebrated Kimmel’s show being pre-empted on Truth Social.

“Great News for America: The ratings challenged Jimmy Kimmel Show is CANCELLED. Congratulations to ABC for finally having the courage to do what had to be done,” the president wrote.

Trump added his thoughts on fellow late-night show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Myers.

“Kimmel has ZERO talent, and worse ratings than even Colbert, if that’s possible. That leaves Jimmy and Seth, two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!!” Trump wrote on the platform.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer condemned ABC’s move.

“America is meant to be a bastion of free speech,” Schumer wrote in a tweet.

“Everybody across the political spectrum should be speaking out to stop what’s happening to Jimmy Kimmel. This is about protecting democracy,” the senator wrote.

There was no immediate comment from Kimmel.

Florida looking to establish an end to state Evergreen High School shooting leaves two vaccine mandates for school children students injured, suspect dead

By Zo Terrana Staff Writer The state of Florida is aiming to eliminate vaccine requirements, being the first state to do so in the United States. The statement was officially made by Joseph Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, on Sept.

3.

This key public health policy, if passed, would make inoculations only voluntary for millions of school and college-aged people across Florida, according to Reuters.

The Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, and Ladapo both stated that the case for vaccination is “one of personal choice.”

According to the Miami Herald, all 50 states and Washington, D.C have laws mandating certain vaccines for children to be able to attend school.

This new forecasted vaccine mandate would need new legislation, according to what DeSantis and Ladapo stated in their address. However, there needs to be approval of the state’s Republican controlled legislature, which is showing signs of opposition to the mandate, Reuters stated.

Ladapo’s implementation of the vaccine initiative could start with a reduction of six mandated vaccines, which are unspecified. However, more cooperation will be necessary with the Florida legislature for a package of reforms, according to Reuters.

Under administrative law, the half dozen existing vaccine mandates can be ended immediately. Another six mandates for vaccines encompassing diseases like measles, mumps and polio have to be ended by the legislature since they are mandated laws.

DeSantis has created a state “Make America Healthy Again” commission, chaired by Lt. Gov. Jay Collins and Florida first lady Casey DeSantis, according to AP News. This commission would help pursue a substantial medical package presented to the state’s legislature to address the state vaccine mandates, as well as a permanent statute on Florida’s relaxed COVID vaccine restrictions.

The Republican counterpart, the state’s Democratic Senate leader, Lori Berman, ridiculed the mandate, calling it a reckless attempt to harm children.

Anna Eskamani, a Democrat Representative running for Orlando mayor, echoed a similar sentiment to the mandate, saying “this is a public health disaster in the making for the Sunshine State,” according to Reuters.

Florida Republican leaders in both bodies of Congress have not spoken on the issue, nor have they offered any supportive comments regarding the cancellation of the vaccine mandate.

Read more on our website!

By Gauri Patel Correspondent A tragic school shooting at Evergreen High School, about 30 miles west of Denver, has left two students hospitalized and the community in shock, according to The Associated Press.

The incident, which occurred on Sept. 10, ended when the 16-yearold suspect, a student at the school, turned the gun on himself. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Authorities identified the shooter as Desmond Holly. Investigators said Holly had been “radicalized by an extremist network,” though details about how that radicalization occurred will be released at a later date, according to NBC News. Officials are still searching for a motive and investigating how he obtained the revolver used in the attack.

The gunfire broke out shortly after 12:20 p.m., both inside and outside of the school, according to NBC News. Three of the students, including the suspected shooter and two victims, were rushed to the nearby St. Anthony Hospital in critical condition.

One of the victims, 18-year-old senior Matthew Silverstone, remains hospitalized. His family expressed gratitude for the community’s support and asked for privacy during his recovery, according to NBC News.

The other victim, whose name has not been released, was treated and later discharged, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office.

According to CNN, Holly brought a significant amount of ammunition with him on the school bus that morning and roamed the campus while firing repeatedly, shooting out windows and lockers.

According to Jacki Kelley, public information officer for the Jefferson County Sheriff ’s Office, he was only stopped from causing greater harm because classroom doors had been locked during the lockdown.

Investigators have since obtained warrants for his phone, home and locker as they continue to piece together the events leading up to the attack.

More than 100 officers from across the Denver area responded to Evergreen High School as the situation unfolded, according to PBS. Read more on our website!

A future without guns? TCNJ’s new art exhibit says it’s possible

By Sky Pinkett Staff Writer

On Sept. 3, the College’s art gallery hosted one of its most pertinent and serious exhibits to date. “Futures Without Guns” uses paintings, videos, sculptures and more to tackle one of the most controversial topics dividing the country today, as well as one of the leading causes of death for young Americans: gun control.

“This exhibition does exactly what an academic gallery should do – engage in the academic community with important questions and force us to reflect on topics that affect us as individuals in these communities,” Pamela Barnett, the dean of the School of Arts and Communication, told The Signal.

The exhibit was first showcased back in 2024 at the University Science Center in Philadelphia, where USC’s gallery director, Angela McQuillan, curated the exhibit. Working to find a topic that mingled both art and science, McQuillan explained how the art show intended to present the complex issue of gun violence in Philadelphia and in the United States as a health equity issue.

“The artists weren’t meant to come up with solutions to gun violence, because the issue is so complex and not easily fixable,” she said during the artists’ panel. “Their art was meant to envision a future scenario first to start working toward it.”

In the exhibition, these future scenarios come in forms ranging from

Photo by Sky Stewart

The exhibit is a feat in art mediums, showcasing photography, musical composition, sculpture, comic art, video and more. computer-generated images of a destroyed Philadelphia being rebuilt without the use of guns, such as Tim Portlock’s “Time After the Hunter” to “Prayers Answered”

by Mikael Owunna, which utilized unique camera techniques and glow in the dark paint to depict two men who were murdered by guns peacefully praying back-to-back as spirits.

The exhibit is a feat in art mediums, showcasing photography, musical composition, sculpture, comic art, video and more.

“The artists work in a huge range of media, and we have students here who do all kinds of things. So I think that is really valuable for students to see artists working in all these different media around a common idea,” said art gallery director Margaret Pezalla-Granlund.

All genres and art media were utilized for this show. Artists like Natalie Hijinx and Wi-Moto Nyoka integrated their horror and science fiction specialties to create “Long Action” and “A Funeral for The Death Machines” respectively, where

future AIs have invented a way to turn gunpowder into a fungus, and where the gun and the bullet are being laid to rest and eulogized.

“The piece is… a way of practicing laying our guns down and stepping into a future without guns. And if we practice that enough, then maybe we can do it,” Nyoka said during the panel.

In the same breath, Nyoka admitted how complex and morally gray the issue of gun violence truly is, “[The piece] is really coming at it from that angle of why we like guns, why we use guns… the narrative is always the people from the NRA who are gun nuts, but what about the people who use it for self defense, to protect themselves?”

A lot of the artists, many of whom were from Philadelphia, related their own experiences with gun violence, whether through losing a loved one, witnessing a shooting nearby or a general feeling of unsafety in their own homes.

Award-winning filmmaker, Kyra Knox, created the 30-minute documentary, “Futures Without Guns,” following some of the artists on their long and often emotional journeys of creating their works for this exhibit.

“I wanted to pay respect to the artists’ stories and avoid exploiting their pain,” Knox told the audience.

The pain of the artists’ works was definitely palpable as they dealt with topics of school shootings and the use of the death penalty, to playgrounds being gunned down and people being murdered

Leslie Odom Jr. returns to ‘Hamilton’ Chloe Malle rises as Vogue’s new editor

By Devyn Briones Staff Writer

Leslie Odom Jr. was the original actor for Aaron Burr.

By Isabella McHugh Correspondent Fans no longer have to “Wait For It”.

After starring in the original “Hamilton” cast, Leslie Odom Jr. will reprise his role as Aaron Burr from Sept. 9 to Nov. 26.

On Sept. 9, audience members gathered at the Richard Rodgers Theatre to be transported back in time. After capturing the crowd’s heart and soul in a less than three-hour spectacle, the performers take their bows.

Odom can be seen standing right alongside his fellow actors, beaming from ear to ear in an Instagram video.

His return falls only three days after the show’s 10th anniversary, which makes for two celebrations. Many Broadway shows don’t withstand the test of time, but Hamilton has remained a top seller throughout its existence.

Odom described one of the dress rehearsals to Vogue, stating, “It’s for all the new cast members coming into a long-running show. I’m going in with five other new people. It was weird and cool and wonderful. It’s heady.”

The actor expressed his excitement in another statement, saying, “I feel

Photo courtesy of IMDb

so lucky and privileged to have the opportunity to dip back into this thing that at first just meant a lot to me, but now has come to mean a lot to so many people.”

Odom’s return is met with great enthusiasm from long-time fans of the show. Some may even describe it as “historic.” In the Instagram video, a reallife spectator, Ashley Hufford, described the pure happiness and energy from the audience.

From this particular performance, there were moments when Odom was given a standing ovation.

While this is a joyous occasion, many fans are frustrated by the record-high ticket prices. With Odom’s return and the show’s 10th anniversary celebration, prices have skyrocketed. This leaves many unhappy fans who wanted the chance to see Odom reprise the role but cannot afford it.

Fans took to social media, posting angry comments regarding the price. “[I am] waiting to buy the tickets and the ones available are nothing less than $1600,” one wrote.

Read more on our website!

After almost four decades, a new editor has been selected for Vogue.

Anna Wintour has worked as Vogue’s editor-in-chief for 37 years, but stepped down from the position this past June.

However, she isn’t retiring as a whole.

Wintour’s focus is now primarily on her work as chief content officer for Condé Nast and overseeing editorial for brands, according to Vogue.

Wintour tapped Chloe Malle, a 39-yearold journalist, as Vogue’s new head of editorial content for U.S. Vogue, which took place effectively immediately as of Sept. 1. Although Wintour no longer holds the position, Malle will still report to her.

“Fashion and media are both evolving at breakneck speed, and I am so thrilled— and awed—to be part of that,” Malle told Vogue. “I also feel incredibly fortunate to still have Anna just down the hall as my mentor.”

Wintour broke the fashion industry during her time as editor at Vogue. In her works, she focused on highlighting celebrities and undiscovered models, and was even the first editor to mix affordable fashion with designer pieces in photoshoots, according to Biography.

“At a moment of change both within fashion and outside it, Vogue must continue to be both the standard-bearer and the boundary-pushing leader. Chloe has proven often that she can find the balance between American Vogue’s long, singular history and its future on the front lines of the new,” said Wintour. Malle has some pretty big shoes to fill.

Born to actress Candice Bergen, who ironically played Vogue’s editor in the television series “Sex and the City,” and French filmmaker Louis Malle, who passed away from lymphoma when Chloe was 10, it’s safe to say that she is a nepo baby.

Malle now lives in New York with her

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Malle stated she is a “proud nepo baby.” husband, two children, and their dog, Lloyd.

Despite the nepotism, Malle is fully transparent about her situation and believes that it makes her work harder. She grew up in Los Angeles and New York, and then continued her studies at Brown University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in literary arts and comparative literature.

“There is no question that I have 100 percent benefited from the privilege I grew up in,” Malle said in a New York Times interview. “It’s delusional to say otherwise.

I will say, though, that it has always made me work much harder. It has been a goal for a lot of my life to prove that I’m more than Candice Bergen’s daughter, or someone who grew up in Beverly Hills.”

Malle’s career in Vogue first began in 2011 as the Social Editor. This included a wide variety of topics, as she covered weddings, social coverage, politics, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and many more.

Her works and writings have also been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest and other publications.

Read more on our website!

September 22, 2025 The Signal page 13

A body inside a Tesla linked to singer D4vd

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

D4vd’s “WITHERED” album cover — the tour he was performing on when the body was found.

By Devyn Briones Staff Writer A female’s dismembered body was found in a Tesla at a Los Angeles impound lot.

After a strange odor was detected in the lot on North Mansfield Avenue, the Los Angeles police were notified and called to investigate the source of the smell.

The odor came from a Tesla that was impounded to the lot after being reported abandoned, but was never reported stolen.

The Tesla is registered in Hempstead, Texas, to singer/songwriter D4vd, pronounced “David,” who was on tour when the body was first discovered.

D4vd is continuing his Withered World Tour. He performed at The Fillmore in

Minneapolis on Tuesday night, Sept. 9, after the news broke. During his show, he gave fans the trending toy, Labubus, which has become a popular video on X. D4vd’s spokesperson said that D4vd “has been informed about what’s happened, and although he is still out on tour, he is fully cooperating with the authorities,” according to NBC News.

The victim’s remains were found dismembered in a bag that was located in the trunk of the Tesla.

The medical examiner’s office revealed that the victim was wearing a tube top, black leggings, a yellow metal chain bracelet and stud earrings. She had wavy black hair, was about 5’2 and roughly weighed 71 pounds. The victim also has the word “Shhh…” tattooed on her right index

finger. Because of the state of her body, the medical examiner was unable to identify the victim, her age, or her ethnicity.

Sources claim that she has been deceased for an extended period of time, according to ABC News.

D4vd was born in Queens, New York, and is only 20 years old. He first started playing with music in video game montages, but his creations were taken down for copyright infringement. And so, he began creating his own music for these videos.

“I made ‘You and I,’ which is the first song I ever put in a montage. It was just for the montage, but I didn’t expect much,” D4vd said in a statement. “But then, people started using it in their montages and I was like, ‘Okay, this could be something,’ so I kept making songs.” With over 33 million listeners a month, according to Spotify, and 3.8 million followers on TikTok, the artist gained popularity from his hit singles “Romantic Homicide” and “Here with Me.” This investigation is ongoing, but L.A. police are treating the case as a homicide.

UPDATE, Sept. 17: Forensics have identified the victim as 15-year-old teen Celeste Rivas. Her initial cause of death was listed as “deferred”, according to ABC7 Eyewitness News. Rivas was from Lake Elsinore, California, and was reported missing to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office on April 5, 2024. The teen’s mother also reported that her daughter had a boyfriend named David, according to Complex.

Rivas mother recognized the description of a red inked tattoo on her daughter’s finger that read “Shhh…”. Allegedly, fans of D4vd realized that he has the same tattoo on his right index finger, according to Yahoo Entertainment. However, other celebrities have the same tattoo as well.

In 2008, Rihanna initially popularized the tattoo in that same placement. Lindsay Lohan and Lily Allen also have the same tattoo on their fingers, according to TMZ.

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The fashion industry mourns icon Giorgio Armani, dead at 91

By Abigail Holliday Copy Editor

Fashion legend and trailblazer for the past 50 years, Giorgio Armani, or “Re Giorgio” (King George) as Italians deemed him, died on Sept. 4.

The confirmation of his passing was announced by the Armani Group on Instagram. “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani… Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”

Born in Piacenza, Italy, Armani grew up during World War II, losing friends to war, playing with dolls made of mud and coffee beans, and fulfilling his required military service. To escape the horrors of war, Armani used to go to his local theatre for hope. “The cinema in Milan was a refuge — a palace of dreams — and the movie stars seemed so glamorous,” he said. “I fell in love with the idealized beauty of Hollywood stars.”

According to Biography, after serving in the military, Armani dropped out of medical school and went to work for La Rinascente, an Italian department store, and later got the opportunity to work under Nino Cerruti, an Italian businessman and luxury stylist, as a designer.

It was there that he met Sergio Galeotti. The two quickly became partners, both business and romantic,

opening Giorgio Armani in 1975. Their first collection, introducing a men’s clothing line that silhouetted a “natural fit,” was groundbreaking for its time, according to Biography. They removed shoulder pads and the harsh internal lining of what was a traditional men’s suit to create a more comfortable and flattering look, catching the attention of businesswomen Seizing the opportunity for new clientele, Armani released a women’s line the very next year, keeping with the natural fit and using more neutral tones, they introduced what can only be described as a mix “between the stuffy establishment attire popular among male executives at the time and the prim skirt suits favored by many professional women,” according to The New York Times.

Even though Armani dominated Europe, it wasn’t until Richard Gere wore their designs in the film “American Gigolo” that they started to gain America’s attention in 1980, according to Biography.

Armani exploded in popularity throughout the United States thanks to celebrities such as John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster wearing the brand on red carpets. The brand instantly became “a symbol of success for many business professionals.

They especially sought out the brand’s ‘power suits,’” according to Biography.

This new demand allowed Armani and Galeotti to begin to expand their growing empire, starting by opening more stores in Milan.

Photo courtesy of IMDb

Fashion legend, reigning for over 50 years, Giorgio Armani died on Sept. 4 Galeotti died in 1985 due to AIDS, leaving Armani the sole owner of Giorgio Armani, where he remained until his death. Armani admitted, “When Sergio died, a part of me died with him.

I’m still amazed that I found within myself the resilience to withstand such an immense pain.” Galeotti’s death led people to question Armani’s power as a solo businessman. His following supremacy over the fashion industry proved them wrong.

Armani went on to open restaurants, hotels, fragrance and cosmetic lines, release accessories (shoes, purses, jewelry, watches, etc.) and own over 600 stores worldwide. In 2005, he premiered his first haute couture line because he wanted the creative challenge, saying, “Think how liberating it is for a designer

to make one dress, perfectly, to satisfy only one customer.” Armani also kept his love for the cinema, earning costume credits for opera, theatre, and over 200 movie productions, including “The Dark Knight,” “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Social Network,” according to Vogue.

Despite being “King George” and owning a $7 billion fashion conglomerate, Armani remained humble, claiming, “I like the idea of having built this beautiful empire, but I still like to think of myself as the stable boy.”

According to the Armani Group, Armani’s funeral chamber was set up in Milan on Sept. 6 and 7, at Via Bergognone 59, inside the Armani/ Teatro, and respecting Armani’s wishes, the funeral was held privately.

page 14 The Signal September 22, 2025

Wet Leg fires up Philly: The ‘moisturizer’ Tour

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

The setlist featured songs from their recent sophomore release, “moisturizer.”

By Danica Ward Staff Writer Fog fills the stage. Ethereal fairy music plays as the five-piece takes their places on the stage. Frontwoman Rhian Teasdale asserts herself, her back facing the crowd as she flexes her muscles.

It’s like you’ve entered heaven.

Teasdale, dressed in all white, draws in the crowd as white lights flash from above.

For a sold-out show at Philadelphia’s own Franklin Music Hall, formerly The Electric Factory, Wet Leg really gives their all.

The show begins with “catch these fists,” one of the first songs dropped as a

sneak peek to the full album, released on July 11. Immediately, the surround sound is filled by drummer Henry Holmes’ hi-hats and the piercing riff of guitars, played by Hester Chambers and Joshua Mobaraki. During the chorus, Teasdale takes hold of the mic stand and lunges back and forth, energizing the crowd.

Immediately following is their hit “Wet Dream” from their 2021 self-titled album.

If there was a song I definitely wanted the band to play, this one was it. The intense bass groove from Ellis Durand and the catchiness of the song, “Beam me up / Count me in / 3,2,1 / Let’s begin,” have the crowd rocking to the beat. Although Teasdale might’ve messed up the lyrics to the first pre-chorus, it was hard to tell, and it proves even more that the band is just there to have fun.

The setlist wavered back and forth from songs from their first album and their recent sophomore release, “moisturizer.”

Midway through the set, the band invites the crowd’s help for the blazing diss “Ur Mum.” Teasdale hammers the chords and asks Philadelphia to “practice their loudest scream.” The band halts to a stop, and everyone in the audience just goes feral. Everyone is screaming for what feels like a minute. And then, the band goes right back into the action, leaving the crowd feeling euphoric.

The only time the setlist really slows down is for “11:21,” off of the

new album. With a dreamy, child-like keyboard part and a soft addition from the drums, Teasdale shows off her skills as a professionally trained singer. After that almost four-minute long piece, the band kicks it back into gear with the sexuallyexplicit banger “pillow talk.” This might be the most alternative the band has gotten so far in their career, almost harkening back to the ‘90s Riot Grrrl movement with their unabashed mentions of taboo subjects.

On “u and me at home” the crowd is again invited to repeat the title. Teasdale dances in front of the mic while smiling and making eye contact with the crowd. She runs back and forth across the stage trying to see which side can sing louder, and fills the venue with her joy. Unfortunately, the song had to be stopped and restarted since someone in the audience fainted.

So folks, here’s your concert reminder to keep hydrated and not lock your legs! But the band immediately stopped the song and waited for security to come over for assistance, and then again allowed the crowd to experience communal joy.

Towards the end of the show, the band breaks out “Too Late Now” from their discography. The song starts slow, with Teasdale and Chambers getting to connect by running in place and twirling with their respective guitars. As the song picks up, it’s impossible not to at least move your head back and forth to the beat.

And then the moment everyone has been waiting for: “Chaise Longue.”

Recognized by its quick drum beat, their breakout hit has everyone dancing and singing along. The call and response of “Excuse me? / What?” has the crowd screaming their answers and completely rocking out. It’s heartwarming to see that after endlessly touring for their first album, the band still hasn’t gotten sick of their first hit.

The show ends with two of my favorite songs from “moisturizer.” “mangetout” is a groovy, almost nihilistic track, which I learned the lyrics to as soon as the album dropped. Teasdale again entrances the crowd while crawling across the stage and singing as her hair is blown back by one of the stage fans.

The band’s final song is “CPR,” the first song off the new LP. Teasdale and Chambers have a conversation on a red rotary phone, asking, “Hello? 999 / What’s your emergency? / Well, the thing is- / I’m in love!” Again, it is impossible not to move your body, as the fog envelops the crowd and the bright white lights flash.

Overall, this concert was one for the books. The entire band took time to engage with the crowd and each other, and it looked like everyone involved was just having fun. From dancing around to moving across the stage to play next to each other, Wet Leg just has that cheeky charm that makes them one of the most

‘The Conjuring’ delivers its last rites Sea Hear Now: Hozier, Blink-182 and more

Photo courtesy of IMDb

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” is an unmissable cinematic event.

By Isabella McHugh Correspondent

For 12 years, the Warrens’ paranormal stories haunted our screens, and now, “The Conjuring” series delivers its last rites.

“The Conjuring: Last Rites” horror movie was released on Sept. 5, and fared well at the box office. According to Variety, “‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ exorcised an impressive $34.5 million across Friday and preview screenings in 3,802 locations.”

“The Conjuring” has clawed its way to the top, becoming a renowned horror movie series worldwide. Starring Vera Farmiga as Lorraine, Patrick Wilson as Ed and Mia Tomlinson as Judy, this last film serves as the perfect ending, concluding the Warrens’s sinister cases once and for all.

The series is centered around a paranormal investigative couple, Ed and Lorraine Warren. In each suspenseful case, they confront forces that disrupt the fabric of life and death itself, tear into the mysteries behind each haunting, and bring to light incomprehensible evils that roam the Earth.

“The Conjuring” isn’t just a ghost story.

It is based on the actual cases by the Warrens, who were paranormal investigators. While

heavily exaggerated for cinematic purposes, the basis of these cases is supposedly real, which legitimizes the audience’s fears.

It is important to note that the “Last Rites” film was not really their last case, and some artifacts, like the demonic mirror, were not part of the real events. That being said, the true story is still disturbing and terrifying in every way.

Each case has left its mark upon the Warren family, but none so harrowing as their last.

The scene opens with the Warrens in one of their early cases. Lorraine is pregnant at the time and makes contact with a demonic presence, sending her into an excruciating and terror-filled labor.

This scene is frightening not only due to the tension and obvious pain of labor, but also the blood-chilling paranormal visions Lorraine has as well. It truly sets the tone for the film. The scene plays on maternal and familial fears that will grow in significance as the film progresses.

There is a time skip shortly after this scene, which leads to the film’s present-day case.

The entire movie feeds off of viewers’ fear through scenes that build upon one another, each more heart-pounding than the last.

There are also many tender moments shared between the Warren trio of mother, father and daughter, as well as the daughter’s boyfriend. These themes of love and support are the emotional backbone behind the film, making it more than just a scary movie. It is easy to connect with the characters and feel their pain as they embark on this arduous journey.

Apart from the excellent storyline and acting, the film itself has a dark atmosphere, characterized by its color schemes and lighting.

In the film, shadow lighting was a notable element, which subconsciously depicts an eerier story world. In a review

by Big Gold Belt Media, they said, “What really elevates ‘Last Rites’ is the craft on display… The low-light photography is especially impressive, turning darkness into a character in its own right.”

Read more on our website!

Photo by Jack Beja

Sea Hear Now is a recent staple of the Jersey Shore.

By Jack Beja Correspondent The annual Sea Hear Now festival returned to the Asbury Park beach, featuring headliners Hozier and Blink-182, along with other notable artists like LCD Soundsystem, Sublime and Lenny Kravitz. The festival also has dozens of surfers out in the water, vendors from many different restaurants selling food and tons of merchandise from businesses.

The seventh year of the festival was expected to have tens of thousands of fans lining the beach, listening to their favorite artists perform their favorite songs, trying all different kinds of foods, and meeting people from all over the world who traveled here.

On Saturday, after a wrench was thrown in my plans, I arrived a few hours late, but made it just in time for the 7:35 band LCD Soundsystem.

LCD Soundsystem was electric on the Stone Pony Summer Stage. Their EDM, lights and stage presence were absolutely enchanting.

The headliner of the night was Hozier, and despite getting to the festival several hours late, I was able to push my way through to get a great view of the performance. Hozier captivated the audience, with many people around us frequently calling the songs a “religious experience.”

The crowd at the festival was energetic for the 90-minute set, screaming the words to “Take Me to Church” and the ocean breeze cooling

everyone down as they were singing and dancing.

Unfortunately, yet another wrench was thrown into the plans for Sunday, except this time, my festival attendance did not persevere.

Sunday’s headliner was Blink 182, along with other performers like Sublime, Lenny Kravitz and Public Enemy. This ’90s-2000s rock throwback lineup was sure to get an enticed and excited crowd down to the beach.

The festival notably had an art exhibit, in which performers on the various stages donated or created art to be put on display. There were a ton of murals and sculptures that made for a lot of good scenery, especially for pictures.

A big draw of the festival was the surf competition, in which surfers from all over the region show off their skills.

It is really engaging as a time to take a break from all the excitement and sit and watch the surfers.

There is also a huge section full of food trucks, with tons of local businesses getting the chance of exposure at the festival. There was a variety of foods from American, Indian, Mexican, and Asian cuisine to choose from.

The festival is also a great opportunity to discover new artists.

Earlier in the day, a lot of smaller artists get the chance to play short sets, and checking them out can help find your new favorite band.

Performing at Sea Hear Now for exposure by these small artists is extremely beneficial, and is highlighted by how much the bigger artists bring light to them. Both LCD Soundsystem and Hozier shouted out all the performers who came out earlier.

Overall, Sea Hear Now is a recent staple of the Jersey Shore, and this year’s festival is no different. Riding on the backs of past headliners like Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, Green Day and Foo Fighters, this year really stood up on its own for an unforgettable experience.

Next year’s festival will take place in September, and it is sure to be another celebration of music, art, and culture.

September 22, 2025 The Signal page 15

First puck drop of the season for TCNJ’s D1 men’s club hockey team

Club ice hockey fell to Temple in their season opener.

By Lauren Czenszak Staff Writer The stands were quiet, everything paused. The puck dropped, and the season began. First game of the season, Sept. 12, for the College’s men’s club hockey team.

There was fire on the ice as they played against a rival team, Temple University. The starting lineup for the College was senior Joseph

Photo courtesy of Eric Houwen

Greenspoon, senior Logan May, Zach Duggan, junior Nick Staudt, senior Brian Gaboda and sophomore goalie Ethan May. The first period was heated, but the College powered through. It ended with no goals for the College, one goal for Temple, two penalties for the Lions by sophomore Josh Kushnir and freshman Alex Gibson, and three penalties for Temple.

This Division 1 men’s club hockey

team at the College only began in 2022 and plays in the American Collegiate Hockey Association.

They are a rising team, and their determination, resilience, teamwork, and potential were displayed on the ice Friday night.

Skating back onto the ice, the Lions reentered with power and focus. After the sound of the last cheer, the second period started.

About two minutes in, Temple scored, and now they were up two.

Not long after, the College scored a goal by Kushnir, assisted by Gaboda.

Temple was now only up by one, but not for long. The Lions scored another goal by freshman Kyle Gregory, assisted by Duggan. Before the end of the period, Temple scored again and was now up by one, making the score 3-2.

There was fire in their eyes as they walked back onto the bench, ready to start the last period of this tight game. Strategies, plays, focus and power are what they drew from.

Both teams fought, and no one scored until there were 4:53 left on the clock. Temple scored, and now it was 4-2 with them in the lead. The teams went back and forth across the ice, with so many shots on net from the College.

With just 34 seconds left, Kushnir scored, assisted by Staudt and Gaboda. Now the score was three for the College and four for Temple.

After a Lions timeout, the game resumed and they pulled their goalie.

Everyone was on the edge of their seats in the stands watching as the College rushed the net. They almost had it, but unfortunately, the goalie from Temple was able to grab the puck and hold it till the whistle. The team fought hard for the next couple of seconds, using all they had in that moment, but in the end fell short by a score of 4-3.

The College may not have won this game, but they won a moral victory. It was a close game and they proved themselves to be a solid team. Anyone who was there could feel the power and determination of this Lions team. Only being the first game, they are off to a great start.

Coach Paul Batcho said, “This is the best hockey team the College has seen in a while.” His confidence in the team is instilled in the players, and it’s evident.

There is only a bright future ahead for this team. The season has begun, and the College’s hockey team is just getting started. They’re back in action Friday, Sept. 19.

Men’s soccer ties in two games, remains undefeated Women’s soccer earns tough draw against Swarthmore

By Joseph Caruso Sports Editor The College played two tough opponents, earning a draw against both Stevens and Arcadia, respectively.

The College went into the weekend riding high, having rattled off four straight wins in dominating fashion, beating opponents by a combined score of 19-1.

On Saturday, the College traveled to Hoboken to take on a tough Stevens team, which had not lost in any of its previous three contests, boasting a stifling defense of its own.

The Lions were immediately aggressive, putting pressure on the Stevens defense with a scoring chance from junior Matias Hornos less than ten minutes into the game, which was barely prevented.

That was the best chance the Lions had for a while, as they were outshot significantly by the Ducks, who had five shots to just two for the College in the first half, and outshot them 15 to eight for the whole game. After some more back and forth, the first half concluded with neither team having registered a goal.

The second half started with a bang, as junior Chris Meder set up freshman Matt Will, who buried the chance just 26 seconds into the half.

The College continued to apply pressure, with consecutive scoring chances minutes later, but was denied repeatedly by a benddon’t-break Stevens defense.

After multiple good stops from the Lions, the Ducks finally broke through to tie the game on a header at the 79:20 mark, evening

the score at one a piece. The College had a few more decent chances, but was unable to convert as the game ended in a 1-1 tie.

On Wednesday night, the College was back home hosting an Arcadia squad that had three wins to just one loss.

Similar to the first game, the College was outshot by its opponent, as the Knights had 11 shots to eight for the Lions, two of which were on goal for each team.

While this game was lacking offensive power, it was also lacking power, as Lions Stadium temporarily experienced a power outage, which caused the game to pause briefly during the second half.

After resumption, Arcadia continued to hammer shots, with nine of their 11 in the second half. With that being said, the College continued to stand strong as its defense did not allow a goal, and the contest ended with a second straight draw for the Lions, ending 0-0.

On the bright side, the College’s new look defense has completely baffled their opponents, now having allowed just two goals in six games. This is a huge development for the Lions, who now stand second in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, just behind Rowan University.

This will be the final week before the College starts NJAC play, and they have thrust themselves into a great position under first-year coach Steve DeMatteo.

Now in their final two matchups of non-conference play, the College will face DeSales and Keystone, respectively, first facing off against DeSales on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Lions with two impressive wins to remain undefeated.

Photo courtesy of Derick Zelaya

The Lions got a result against No. 14 Swarthmore.

By Joseph Caruso Sports Editor The College had two games this week, which saw them fight No. 14 Swarthmore for a tie before falling to No. 24 Johns Hopkins in a tough loss.

Heading into the week, the College had a record of 2-2-1, putting up valiant efforts thus far, considering their arduous schedule Facing their toughest test yet, the Lions traveled to Swarthmore to take on the No. 14-ranked team.

Despite the difficult opponent, the College came out swinging against Swarthmore, getting on the board first at the 7:49 mark, with junior Alyssa Alfano scoring her second goal of the season, on a nice setup from senior Abby Najdzinowicz.

The Lions’ defense completely stymied the attack from Swarthmore, as they did not allow a goal in the first half, despite being outshot nine to six in the opening 45 minutes. The College had a few more close chances, but went into the half with just the one-goal lead.

Swarthmore came out uber aggressive in the second half, putting shot after shot against the College’s defense. And less than 15 minutes into the final period, Swarthmore jumped in front after cashing in consecutive chances to make the score 2-1. Now trailing, the resilience that the College has shown so far this year continued, as they refused to back down against the ranked opponent.

At the 67:06 mark, sophomore Elaina

Photo courtesy of Derick Zelaya

Williams scored her first goal, burying a free kick to put the game back even at two apiece. Both teams had real scoring chances in the remainder of the game, but neither could break the tie as the College drew Swarthmore 2-2.

Now 2-2-2, the Lions tried to build off their impressive tie against the tough Swarthmore squad when they returned home to host No. 24-ranked Johns Hopkins.

Johns Hopkins wasted no time, peppering the College with a flurry of shots, before eventually breaking through at the 16:51 mark. Johns Hopkins dominated the shots, tallying eight in the first half to just one from the College.

Despite the number of shots, the Lions held strong, conceding just one goal going into the half to keep the game within reach.

The Blue Jays didn’t waste any time in the second half, scoring less than two minutes into the half, and then putting two more up on the board to gain a four-goal advantage over the College. The Lions lost 4-0, marking the third time they have been shut out this season, bringing their record to 2-3-2 on the young season.

The College’s homestand continues, as they’ll wrap up their last two out-ofconference games against Penn State Harrisburg and Stevens, respectively. After that, they will begin their New Jersey Athletic Conference play on Sept. 27. against Kean.

The next game for the College comes at home against Penn State Harrisburg on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Photo by Andre Paras

The College’s rushing attack as led them to a 2-0 start.

Football remains undefeated in win against Wilkes

Coach Moody’s squad continues hot start

By Tyler Fennell Staff Writer The College remains undefeated coming out of their home opener with a 17-3 victory against Wilkes. Their record now stands at 2-0.

As opposed to last week’s flurry of scoring against Lycoming, this game was won on the back of an incredible defensive effort. They held Wilkes to only a field goal with no touchdowns.

In terms of the College’s offense, they struggled through the air, with almost all of their total yards coming on the ground, with only four yards of total passing offense.

In the first half, it was a de zfensive showdown, with neither team reaching opponent territory until the Lions crossed midfield halfway through the second quarter. Their drive stalled, however, and it was a 0-0 tie heading into the locker room.

To open the second half, senior quarterback Dean Licari showcased his legs when he rushed for 40 yards and scored a 15-yard touchdown to open up the scoring after a completely scoreless first half from both teams. The College had a huge game on the ground as a team, accumulating 262 yards of rushing offense.

Sophomore kicker Tim Williver scored a 34-yard field goal to extend the college’s lead in the fourth quarter.

Sophomore running back Jordan Morrell had almost half of the team’s rushing yards with 126 and scored a touchdown in the final quarter to close out the game.

It was a career day for Morrell, who set personal bests in every rushing stat, carrying the ball 22 times, which was more than his career total up to this point.

When asked about the slow start in the first half and then turning around the offense in the second half, Morrell, an accounting major, attributed the second half success to their mentality.

“Coach always telling us we got to see it through, we got to ride it out.

You know, we just got to see it through, grind it out every play. Defense really turned up for us, kind of saved us a little bit. We got it rolling in the second half.

We gashed them a little bit, and we used that momentum, and I got in the zone towards the end there, so yeah.”

On the defensive side of the ball, the College had three sacks. Senior defensive lineman Darian Ghahary, senior defensive lineman Dylan Patscher and freshman defensive lineman Clifford Dirkes all contributed one sack each. The entire defense played a huge role throughout the whole game in holding Wilkes to only three points and just five first downs the entire contest.

In addition, the College turned over Wilkes four times, intercepting the quarterback three times and forcing a fumble. Seniors Dave Giulian, Justin Kurc and Jack Young each recorded an interception. Wilkes failed to record a first down until midway through the third quarter.

The Lions return for their third game of the season, and their second at home, on Saturday, Sept. 27, against Juniata College. Both teams will go into this game undefeated.

No. 20 field hockey defeats Swarthmore in a double overtime thriller

By Jhett Laurie Staff Writer The College’s No. 20-ranked field hockey team added its first loss of the season on Sept. 13 to No. 3 Johns Hopkins, and then defeated Swarthmore in a barnburner.

The Blue Jays traveled to Ewing, where the Lions hoped to play spoiler against a hot Johns Hopkins team. They were coming off a win against previously No. 2 Salisbury, seeking to push their position higher up the rankings.

The Lions were riding a four-game win streak, looking for a massive ranked win to skyrocket up the rankings, yet the Blue Jays did not budge.

The Lions started the game off strong, outshooting Johns Hopkins 4-1 before finding the back of the cage early in the second period. The Blue Jays fought back almost instantly, tying the game with just one shot.

A dominating offensive performance from Johns Hopkins saw them score once again later in the period, giving them their first and final lead.

The Lions fought back, with an impressive seven saves from Lions senior goalie Brigette Racey in the back stretch of the game. Johns Hopkins used their strong midfield to shut down the College, not allowing a single shot in the second half.

The loss would ultimately hurt the Lions’ ranking, albeit not terribly, as they

fell from 19 to 20.

On Sept. 17, the Lions would prevent their loss from turning into a skid as they took down formerly No. 20-ranked Swarthmore in a two-overtime thriller.

Swarthmore took an early lead when a Lions misstep gave the Garnet a penalty corner, which they capitalized on.

Junior Jadyn Huff answered back, tying the game at 1-1 for her fifth goal of the season. The Garnet made a strong effort to take the lead again, but a stunning save by Racey kept it tied.

Swarthmore kept the pressure up through the period break, as they ripped off a shot in the opening seconds. Senior Mackenzie Hart made a last-second save, catching the ball inches before it crossed the goal line.

Unfortunately, the Garnet would find the goal halfway through the period.

The game would go on pause as it entered halftime, as a lightning delay forced the teams and fans alike to take shelter nearby. An hour later, the restriction was lifted and the game resumed.

The Lions would retake the field and swing the momentum in their favor as they outshot the Garnet 4-1, tying the game on an unassisted goal from sophomore Prisha Dhruve, her second of the season.

Swarthmore would get yet another break, as early in the fourth quarter, they would retake the lead on a penalty shot that slipped past the goalie. The Lions battled relentlessly, taking every opportunity

Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gladstone

Field hockey won a double overtime match over Swarthmore. they could to stay in the game. Racey pulled off a series of desperately needed saves, paving the way for an offensive breakthrough.

Freshman Lindsey Hoffman found a lane down the right side of the field, juked past a defender, and fed it to the middle of the field. There, junior Emma McElroy fed it to sophomore Ali Simmons, who found the cage to tie the game with just 15 seconds remaining. A relentless Lions team managed to find a break and send the game to overtime.

A desperate exchange commenced, with Lions sophomores Avery Vacca and Rachel Tetzlaff and senior captain Heather Kimak playing outstanding defense to keep the Garnet from scoring.

As the first overtime came and went, the Lions desperately needed that golden goal to finally ice the game. Junior Isabel Maher would be the one who called the game, as an assist from Hoffman set up Maher’s first goal of the season.

Field hockey will next take on No. 11 Ursinus on Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at home.