Issue No. 4 Fall '25

The Signal

Bernstein talks past projects, what’s to come this semester

By Ally Uhlendorf, Isabella Darcy & Eddie Young Editor-in-Chief & Managing Editors

President Michael Bernstein sat down for an interview with The Signal on Sept. 24 to discuss updates on existing initiatives, the latest on the College’s debt and plans for the academic year.

Bernstein began his second year as president of the College, and third year in the presidential role in June. With a background in economics, he has spent his time at the College focusing on reducing its debt while maintaining its status.

“I think we’re doing pretty well,” Bernstein said, noting tensions at some higher education institutions across the United States. “I think we’re in a pretty good place. I think staff, faculty and students are in a pretty good place, and we get the job done.”

Here’s what the president had to say:

CATs & housing updates

At the beginning of Bernstein’s tenure as the College’s president in Fall 2024, he announced that there would be Coordinated Action Teams, called CATs, with three groups: dashboard, library and housing. The dashboard team was tasked with creating a spot on the College’s website where you could get all different kinds of statistical information about the school and how it operates. There are two dashboards now up and running and are up-

dated regularly, one externally for anyone that wants to access, and an internal one with more detailed information for people with login credentials for the College.

The library team is looking into renovating the library, taking a more modern approach in redesigning it.

“The core of the building is a collection of books and periodicals, and around the edges are all of you in your desks,”

President Bernstein said. “We want to

TCNJ ranked no. 1 College in the region

By Rose Padovano Correspondant

For the 34th year in a row, the College was ranked as the top public institution in the Regional Universities North category in the U.S. News & World Report in the 2026 Best Colleges rankings.

“We’re right there as one of the best institutions in the region, one of the best in the country,” the College’s President Michael Bernstein told The Signal.

The College has an 86% six-year graduation, the highest in the region. It was also named the no. 1 college in the region for veterans, providing a versatile environment along with proving their strong academics. Not only was the College ranked no. 1 in New Jersey, but also no. 6 overall in the North for Most Innovative Schools.

Sophia Scalera, a freshman health science and kinesiology major said she confidently agrees with this ranking.

“TCNJ is an amazing school. Between our great academics, inclusive community and our fun extracurricular activities, you easily find more opportunities at TCNJ than any other college.”

Scalera has only attended the College for a month, but she has already gotten involved in two extracurriculars and participated in multiple events. She said she is happily enjoying the environment the College has to offer.

Follow

Other freshmen at the College have shared similar sentiments as Scalera.

“I can tell TCNJ deserves a number one ranking after only being here for a month. All of my professors are so supportive and I’m excited to see what the next four years have in store for me,” said AJ Miller, a freshman management major.

Bernstein is proud to mention that the College is mentioned in a book that outlines 75 “dream schools” in the United States. The College is one of 75 schools in the country, and one of only four in New Jersey, to be included in the book.

reverse that.”

This renovation process is still in its design phase, but President Bernstein hopes it will take a year and a half to two years to complete.

Part of this renovation will also be to move the campus bookstore from Campus Town to the library.

“It’ll be much more focused on the digital delivery of materials to students for

their studies,” Bernstein said. Housing-wise, Decker and Cromwell will be getting air conditioning next summer. This follows the successful installation of air conditioning in Norsworthy last year.

See BERNSTEIN page 3

WTSR Underground 2025: Local, live & loud

By Danica Ward Staff Writer

This past weekend signaled one of the best times of the year for the College. On Sept. 20 and 21, the TV Studio in Kendall Hall became home to 10 local musical artists who came to showcase their talents.

The event was put on by both the College’s WTSR radio station and Lions TV. The studio was decked out in professional equipment and lit up with colorful stage lights that made it feel like a sold-out venue.

This event was no small feat — student signups were sent out in weeks prior to the event to garner help for the project ahead. Several students were manning the cameras, either laying on the ground to get the shot, or moving the huge machines around to film a wider view.

Headsets were worn, and “Quiet on set!” was shouted many, many times. More students worked the sound equipment, with an entire crew set up in the control room, giving directions and overseeing the entire production.

Both days started at 11 a.m. and lasted until 6:30 p.m., with each band receiving a time slot to come into the studio. In fact, the programming was down to a science: the bands came in, set up, played, packed up and then went downstairs into the WTSR studio for pictures and an interview.

For the show, each act prepared a

three-song setlist, and were allowed to do multiple takes if they wanted to tweak their sound. In addition, the event was free to everyone, students and Ewing community members alike. In fact, Sunday afternoon’s act Babe City gathered quite a crowd in the studio.

Saturday’s lineup featured acts such as Bovine Bandits, Velvet Heart, Talon, Exit 109 and Beach Daze, the last of which previously performed a couple weeks prior at the College Union Board’s Back to School Fest. Sunday’s lineup included Molly Ringworm (a returning act at Underground), No License, Vern Matz, the aforementioned Babe City and finally Assisted Living. It is safe to say that each musical act completely rocked the stage. Everyone brought their own unique energy to the show, highlighting the range of underground sound that Jersey boasts.

It was very fun to hear each band’s intra-member banter in-between takes, with it just going to show that everyone involved was having a blast. Even though the event was completely professional, it still felt lowkey enough to where it was really just bands coming in to play music they are proud of and have it recorded.

See WTSR page 9

President Michael Bernstein has been leading the College for three years.

Photo by Anthony DePrimo

Photo by Andre Paras

TCNJ remains no. 1 in the region.

page 2 The Signal October 3, 2025

Residents, NJDEP fed up after years-long problems at Trenton Water Works

By Raeanne Raccagno News Editor

Due to years-long frustrations with drinking water, Trenton Water Works and the Trenton City Council are seeing a petition against them, continue to receive complaints from residents and a lawsuit from the state and surrounding municipalities

TWW serves around 225,000 people from Trenton, parts of Hamilton Township, Ewing Township, Lawrence Township and Hopewell Township, according to its website. It is also the largest publicly owned urban water facility in the United States, supplying on average “27 million gallons of Delaware-sourced drinking water per day to 63,000 metered customers.”

The water facility serves a large number of residents, but the amount of complaints filed against the company regarding drinking water issues seems to outnumber the residents.

Frank Cusack, a 33-year-old born and raised in Hamilton Township, started a petition to “vote no confidence in Trenton’s Water Utility Management” on Aug. 28. Until six years ago, he lived in the part of Hamilton Township that is serviced by Aqua New Jersey. But after Cusack and his wife bought and moved into their current home, they have been receiving unsafe water notices from Trenton Water Works.

The College also receives its water from TWW and has received notices in the past that the company has sent out, according to Luke Sacks, the head media relations officer at the College.

When Cusack and other locals serviced by TWW receive notices,

it’s due to water boiling notices, taps running dry or Legionella bacteria. With the six years that Cusack and his family have been in their home, he estimates they receive about two to three notices per year regarding water issues.

“Not only is it personally affecting me, but I know the socioeconomic breakdown of this area, and I know for some people, having a filter at home is not in the cards financially,” Cusack told The Signal. “So there are less fortunate people in the area that have to make that decision [boiling water] way more than I ever have to.”

Along with creating the petition, Cusack has also started a Facebook community page called “Coalition for HELTHY Water.” The acronym “HELTHY” represents the five towns serviced by TWW: Hamilton, Ewing, Lawrence, Trenton and Hopewell.

People have been voicing their concerns and frustrations regarding TWW in Cusack’s Facebook group but also in general community Facebook pages designated for each town. Some members shared photos of filling a filtered water pitcher from the tap that also has a filter system as a do-ityourself double filtration.

Cusack has been voicing his concerns not only as an aggravated resident but also as a worried parent.

“The main concern is Legionella. In the summer, if she [Cusack’s daughter] wants to play outside in a sprinkler or run through a water pad, is it treated properly? Is there the possibility that she’s going to get Legionnaires?”

In the petition’s biography, Cusack mentions how an alternate management solution must be considered. On

Aug. 18, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s

Commissioner Shawn LaTourette gave a presentation to the Trenton City Council to go over the concerns associated with TWW, proposing regionalization and stating that the facility is at “extremely high risk of systematic failure.”

Trenton City Council members and some Trenton residents voiced concerns with a regionalized system and the idea of it being “forced” upon them.

“You’re saying you’re not sure if it’s sustainable or not. My question to you is, if you are here not to take something that is of value to us, and to collaborate with us. Why not empower us to maintain our own water supply?”

Councilwoman Teska Frisby asked the commissioner during the meeting.

The NJDEP regulates community water systems and the department has asserted direct operational oversight after the system “has struggled to maintain compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act for many years,” LaTourette told The Signal.

In 2020, LaTourette pursued a lawsuit against the Trenton City Council, along with the municipalities outside of Trenton that are serviced by TWW. The lawsuit was put on hold in 2022 while the state was conducting studies. Once the studies were completed, the mayors of the impacted surrounding towns met to discuss how the results showed “larger issues,” according to Hamilton Township Mayor Jeff Martin.

“You don’t have confidence in what you’re getting every day,” Martin said regarding the water quality. Even those who are a part of Hamilton Township that is not serviced by TWW will still be

NJDEP commissioner talks environmental policy at TCNJ

By Haley Mejias Correspondant

Shawn LaTourette, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s commissioner, spoke to students, faculty and staff about current environmental issues at the College’s R. Barbara Gitenstein Library Auditorium on Sept. 21.

The event was sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the Environmental Studies Program, in recognition of Climate Week.

LaTourette began by stating, “climate change is the single greatest long-term threat to our communities, our economy and our very way of life here in New Jersey.”

He added, “It’s hardly an environmental issue alone. It’s an intersectional issue. It has implications for every area of study, every profession, every institution, every business, every family, everywhere.”

LaTourette explained that 2024 was the hottest year on record worldwide and had detrimental effects on the state. New Jersey experienced a drought that devastated water supplies, threatened water availability, and lowered crop yields. That same year also brought one of the worst wildfire seasons on record for the state.

LaTourette also touched on the fact that the federal government is currently reversing efforts to protect the environment, against the country’s best

interest.

“Over the last several months, we have seen the federal government pull back from the mission of climate action. I do not believe that that is cause for despair. I don’t believe it’s cause for fear. I believe it calls us to greater action,” LaTourette said.

Throughout his speech, he placed a special emphasis on not focusing on the negative climate news that gets the most media coverage. Instead, he encourages people not to underestimate the power of the state government.

“In this media environment and in this political environment, I think it’s important for us to be, in this space, mindful of a truth, which is that your state government and the states from which you may hail, if you’re not from New Jersey, implement over 90% of the environmental and climate laws in this country. A very often overlooked fact,” LaTourette said.

Similarly, he encourages people to make individual change within their local communities as it makes a bigger difference than one may assume.

“There is something you could do locally right at home in your community that makes a meaningful difference. It might sound like it’s not enough, but with the scale of the challenge before us, every single act matters,” LaTourette said.

The event ended with a 15-minute Q-and-A section where audience members could directly ask questions to the

affected by their issues in restaurants, offices, stores or schools, according to Martin.

“... clearly it was understood they [Trenton City Council] would never be supportive of creating a regional entity,” Martin told The Signal, referring to the Aug. 18 meeting with the Trenton City Council, so the state and municipalities involved in the lawsuit decided to continue to pursue the case.

“I think there is a knee-jerk reaction that can happen in the water sector when folks have a municipally owned water system,” LaTourette told The Signal. “Any change to it can sometimes be viewed as privatizing it, selling it to a corporation, but that’s not what is at issue here.”

If the water facility is regionalized, it would be as a public entity, and not sold off to a corporation, where Trenton is its largest shareholder, according to LaTourette.

When The Signal asked TWW for a statement regarding the recent backlash they are facing, TWW replied in an email statement, “Trenton Water Works drinking water meets state and federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) standards. However, we are aware that we must strive to rebuild trust with our valued customers and service-area consumers, and we are working to achieve this goal. We are undertaking critical capital work, strengthening customer service, training our personnel, and laying the groundwork to improve our communications. And we continue our dialogue with servicearea Mayors regarding the future of the water system and our sprawling, wellengineered infrastructure.”

Tips for N.J. voting

commissioner. Questions pertained to New Jersey’s efforts to continue fighting against climate change and also how to stay hopeful while being constantly surrounded by negative environmental news.

This event was organized primarily by psychology Professor Christopher Holland with the assistance of environmental studies Professor Diane Bates.

“I believe it is valuable to hear officials in government speak on matters, especially as it relates to a class currently in progress. It is an interesting perspective, one that they may not often have access to,” Holland told The Signal.

Audience members walked away with new insights from attending this discussion and listening to the commissioner speak.

James Bachman, a junior psychology major, said, “It was important to hear how much you can do locally and even passively without realizing it. For instance, turning the light off when you leave your room. There’s a lot you can do without even really thinking about it to help on the local level.”

Bachman also walked away with possible future career insight with the help of the commissioner’s promotion.

Bates told The Signal, “At a time when the federal government is withdrawing its political and financial resources from climate change issues, Commissioner LaTourette emphasized the importance of state and local government, which is also where individuals can have the most impact when they get involved. His message was a call to action.”

October marks the College’s very first “Sustainability Month” with the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. Similar to Climate Week, Sustainability Month aims to raise awareness and bring attention to the global issue of climate change. There will be events held throughout the month to get students involved in becoming more environmentally sustainable.

By Raeanne Raccagno News Editor

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s term is coming to a close, and it’s time for New Jersey residents to vote for his successor. The state governor is in charge of signing bills into law, overseeing the state’s agencies in the executive branch, appointing officials and managing the state’s budget. Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli won their respective primaries in June, and are the front-runners for the general election. Also on the ballot are Vic Kaplan for the Libertarian party and Joanne Kuniansky for the Socialist Workers Party.

Important Dates

• Mail-in ballots begin to be mailed: Sept. 20

• Deadline to register to vote: Oct. 14

• Early in-person voting period: Oct. 25 to Nov. 2

• Mail-in ballot application deadline (by mail): Oct. 28

• Mail-in ballot application deadline (in-person): Nov. 3 by 3 p.m.

• Election Day: Nov. 4

NJDEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette speaking at the College.

Photo courtesy of Haley Mejias

Cop Shop: Pissers and karens and cars — oh my!

By Natalia Tomczak Opinions Editor

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

Sept. 5 and Sept. 16: ‘TCNJ Pisser’ leaked

On Sept. 5, Campus police received a report that a male had urinated on the front door of the restaurant Blazin J’s, located at 100 Campus Town Circle. Officers found that a TikTok account named “TheTCNJPisser” had posted a video showing the “urination” at Blazin J’s.

Campus Police reviewed nearby security camera footage, which showed two males walking towards Blazin J’s entrance at approximately 11 p.m. the night before. One was holding a water bottle in one hand and his phone in the other. He proceeds to squeeze water out of the bottle and appears to be recording it with his phone. He and his friend walk away as they rewatch the video.

On Sept. 16, a student was interviewed on whether he had any involvement with the “TCNJ Pisser,” to which he declined taking any videos and stat -

ed that someone else was responsible. He noted that the person was using a water bottle and never actually peed on anything.

They then brought the suspect, who the previous interviewee mentioned, into the interview room. He admitted to being the TCNJ Pisser and apologized. Campus Police advised him to delete the “TCNJ Pisser” TikTok ac count, which he did.

Sept. 13: Clash of Campus Town

At 8:18 p.m., Campus Police was dispatched to a restau rant in Campus Town with a report of a fight in progress inside of a store involving two customers. One of the customers in volved fled the scene before Cam pus Police arrived.

Upon arrival, Campus Police found Person A applying pressure to a wound she suffered during the altercation on her right wrist. Person A explained that she had been assaulted by an unknown woman. The incident began when Person B commented on Person A’s disregard of the No Stopping or Standing signs when they were outside. They met again inside the store, and began to argue back and forth, with Person B entering Person A’s personal space and

calling her a bad mother. Person A warned the woman to back away, Person B pushed her, and then Person A punched her in the face. A physical fight began. Person A grabbed the woman and yelled out to two employees to call the police. Person A tried to hold the woman in the store until police arrived, but Person B bit down on Person A’s right wrist, forcing her to release her hold. Person B then exited the store and walked to her vehicle, leaving the area. A sergeant spoke with one of the employees and was able to obtain possible contact information on the suspect through the receipt. A criminal history was completed on Person B and revealed no known prior history of assault. After review of all CCTV footage, Person B will be charged with simple assault, as there is not enough evidence to prove intent of serious bodily injury.

Sept. 14: Pedestrian road rage

At 3:50 p.m., there was a reported road rage incident involving a pedestrian. The pedestrian says that as she was waiting to cross, a car sped by going well over the speed limit and flipped her off. The driver then stopped, rolled her window down and continued to

curse her out before speeding off. She recorded the vehicle after the incident, where the license plate was identified. Campus Police acquired the road rager’s phone number and she told her perspective of the story. She was driving and saw a pedestrian on a run, heading toward the sidewalk. As she drove toward the crosswalk, she stopped her vehicle, which prompted the runner to stop as well. Once the pedestrian stopped, she started driving again, thinking the pedestrian was not going to cross the street. This caused the pedestrian to “throw up her hands” and say something. The diver then rolled her window down and they began arguing.

The driver was advised that the pedestrian always has the right of way even if they stop momentarily. She understood, and they ended the call.

Boots and fire alarm recap

Between Sept. 18 and Sept. 26, there were three booted vehicles on campus. A vehicle is eligible to be booted if it has three or more unpaid citations. The highest amount of unpaid tickets for this month’s reports was eight, totalling $400.

The majority of fire alarms reported were on Wednesdays this September. Causes included dry shampoo, a lit match, a hair dryer, welding, over-cooking food, burnt popcorn and diesel fuel.

BERNSTEIN / President provides insights on TCNJ statuses

Continued from page 1

Starting next year, the College will be implementing a “differential housing pricing scheme,” according to Bernstein. This means that the price of housing will be dependent on the building you live in, instead of the rate being constant for everyone.

“What’s currently being paid for housing will be the mid-range rate,” Bernstein said. “There would be a discount below that rate for certain housing that doesn’t have a lot of amenities, like the towers, and there would be higher rates for dorms like Phelps or Hausdoerffer who have more amenities and are in better shape.

TCNJ adding early action

The College recently added early action as an option for prospective students. Previously, students were only able to apply to early decision or regular decision. The president said this has and will increase application rates and attract more applicants.

“We don’t want students to be avoiding applying to TCNJ because we don’t have early action, and they want it. From what I understand, there’s been an increase in applications in response to our posting early action,” Bernstein said.

This decision was influenced by schools similar to the College offering early action and providing a more equal opportunity for prospective students who are looking into attending the College.

“As always, we’re in a competitive marketplace. If peer institutions are going to do it and students are responding, we’re going to do it,” Bernstein said.

TCNJ highlighted in “Dream School” list.

The College was one of the 75 schools mentioned in “Dream School,” a recently published book by New York Times bestselling author Jeffrey Selingo. The College was considered a

“Breakout Regional” in the book, and was one of four New Jersey colleges mentioned.

“[Selingo] associates us in the same breath as UNC-Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia and the University of Michigan,” Bernstein said. “That’s pretty damn good company. I’ll take that any day of the week. Really proud about that recognition.”

Nationwide college threats

The president touched upon the nationwide increase in violent threats against colleges and universities, and how the College prioritizes safety for the campus community.

“Our campus police force is pretty damn good at what they do. They have systematic critical incident plans and emergency plans. You know, God forbid, but I am quite confident that if an active shooter incident [were to occur] on our campus, that police force would respond immediately,” Bernstein said. “We have protocols, you know, to-do lists. They’re a pretty impressive group. Chief Grant does a great job.”

However, the president recognizes that this is a trying time for higher education institutions in the United States due to the rise in threats and active violence.

“All that being said…we’re living in pretty difficult times. There’s a lot of challenging and frightening stuff that goes on out there, so we’re very vigilant,” he said. “Police are monitoring social media, they’re monitoring general communications.”

The College recently received two anonymous, non-specific threats via a post on the social media platform Fizz Social Corp. The threats were deemed false following an investigation by Campus Police, but followed an ongoing theme of anonymous threats spreading on various campuses. Schools such as Villanova University, Montclair State University and multiple historically Black universities and colleges were subjects of these threats recently.

Speaking on the incident, the president reassured that these cases are taken seriously.

“We live in fraught times, and we have to take everything seriously. We have a student post something on social media that they thought was a joke; we’re not joking about it,” Bernstein said. “Because you can’t say, ‘oh, yeah, this is just a joke.’ We don’t have that luxury anymore.”

Debt updates

Like many other institutions across the country, the College has been facing adversities with debt. Currently, a schedule is being followed to pay off the debt. Bernstein said the College will make significant payments through the end of academic year 2027.

“Our debt is high, but it’s not catastrophic. They’re not punishing us about it in the financial markets,” he said. “But I think we have an opportunity to, as I say, generate a little more headroom over the next couple of years. And I think the CFO and his team are going to start to develop a strategy to do that.”

Multiple New Jersey institutions, including the College, have brought this issue to the attention of elected officials. However, there is no current solution to these debts from the state.

Government affairs

With the New Jersey gubernatorial election approaching on Nov. 4, Bernstein is keeping up with the campaigns of candidates Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciatterelli. The College’s government affairs officer is in regular contact with both campaigns, according to Bernstein.

Over the summer, Bernstein and numerous presidents from other New Jersey institutions met and spoke with the candidates at a retreat hosted by the New Jersey Association of State Colleges and Universities.

Bernstein said he and the candidates discussed deferred maintenance —

which refers to postponed capital projects that drive up the College’s borrowing costs, maintaining affordability and accessibility for public schools in the state, and how candidates would deal with potential pressures from the federal government.

“It was good to have a chance to talk with both of them,” Bernstein said.

Looking ahead

Along with monitoring CATS groups’ progress, Bernstein and his team are working to refurbish the College’s academics.

Revisions to the Common Core are on the horizon.

“I think all of us would agree the Common Core is a little overgrown, muscle-bound … hard to understand ” Bernstein said. “We’re going to try to slim it down, rationalize it, make it a little more efficient and straightforward.”

The College is also looking to add more programs to the new School of Graduate, Global, and Online Education, and to establish a clear set of plans to handle artificial intelligence.

Standards on how the College will enforce academic integrity when AI comes into play are already being developed. Bernstein said he wants to expand standards even further by embedding AI in curriculum “in ways that make the most sense” to best prepare students for the next steps in their lives and careers.

By spring 2026, Bernstein hopes to finalize and publish a “master plan” that consolidates the College’s two strategic plans. “TCNJ 2027: Extending Our Excellence” will be integrated with “We are TCNJ: A Strategy for Inclusive Excellence” if everything proceeds as expected.

The president is currently looking forward to welcoming families, friends and alumni to campus on Oct. 11 for the College’s Homecoming celebration. He is also excited to cheer on the football team, as they take on William Patterson University.

Features

Alumni Adventures: Jaime Alford’s pursuit of sustainable living

By Ashley Ragone Features Editor

What started as an aspiring art career now fuels a grassroots refill shop; Jaime Alford ‘99 is preserving the planet’s environmental health, one reusable container at a time.

Building a foundation at the College

Alford’s college journey began in 1995, attending Trenton State College before the name change a year later.

“My time and energy on campus was largely centered around the art building, Holman Hall. Studio classes were four hours, but a lot of fun because they were a great opportunity to meet people, connect and build lasting friendships,” Alford said

of her experience as a student.

She obtained a BFA in Graphic Design, often working in the art gallery and constructing pieces she often carried around campus. “It was a very physical major,” she said.

The landscape of her major and the art field as a whole may have changed since her years studying, however the important principles have remained the same: “delving deep into understanding subject matter in order to best promote it, connecting dots, being a sponge; having an openness to ideas,” in Alford’s words.

It’s this diversity of experience that she took away as her most important lesson from the College, and further aided her to be multi-faceted in business.

She also looks back fondly on her professors and how their varied skills informed her future. “Some were loose and creative, others taught unyielding precision. This was foundational to my career and life.”

Shaping her career

After graduating, Alford hoped to find an entry-level job close to home, which she accomplished with Coyne Communications in Morristown, N.J. She worked with automotive collateral, which she noted was the origin of her love for MINI cars.

However, she quickly made a drastic career change; Alford was picked up by Firmenich, where she would work for the next 22 years in the creative marketing

Alumni Adventures: Isabella Percontino’s

By AJ Mun Staff Writer

The lessons Isabella Percontino ‘25 has learned since leaving the College have led her all the way to “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

A recent communication studies graduate, Percontino’s involvement at the College was no small feat. With engagements in TCNJ Musical Theater, Theta Phi Alpha, TCNJ Ambassadors, Communications Honor Society and the Communications Student Advisory Board, she filled her collegiate days with hard work and passion. Her work at the Disney College Program is no different.

As a child, Percontino was always in love with the magic of the Walt Disney Company through film and

department. Firmenich, a Swiss fragrance company, has produced many notable scents and ingredient substitutes since 1895.

“My role was to research future trends, envision new products or ideas and design multi-sensorial spaces and experiences for clients,” Alford said.

Despite enjoying her position and the ability to travel, she changed her job once again due to the hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A jump to business ownership

While at Firmenich, Alford met the people with she would eventually own her business alongside: Dan and Karin McLaughlin, as well as her husband, Rob Knab. Having worked at a fragrance house, which supplies scent for a variety of household items, they gained invaluable knowledge of the consumer products market.

“Dan owned and sold three hardware stores and was looking to do something new in Yardley, so I pitched the refill shop idea to the group and we forged ahead,” Alford said.

The result was the Yardley Refillery, the first refill shop of its kind in Bucks County, Pa. “A ‘refillery’ is a term coined in the Zero and Low Waste industry to describe a store where you can bring your own containers or purchase reusable ones to fill with bulk essential goods, often with more sustainable & health-conscious profiles,” according to the store’s website.

journey

from

Kendall

but ultimately she was offered a role of character attendant, primarily in Hollywood Studios.

Percontino mostly spends her days hanging out with characters in Hollywood Studios, featuring Mickey Mouse & Friends, as well as the Disney princesses. Her personal favorite characters to hang out with are Goofy and his son Max from “The Goofy Movie,” because most people don’t realize how they can make a diehard fan’s day so special from the interaction with a niche character like Max.

“This is a program that I always dreamed of doing. Throughout college though, I never saw it in the cards for me, but the timing felt right and now I am living a dream and fulfilling the goals of little me,” she said.

“Products are sold by weight or each, so you can buy what you need, a great benefit in an uncertain economy.”

Alford had the idea after following the trend at Firmenich, a refill shop acting as a provided solution model for zero-waste consumers. The store has been a hit in her hometown, providing a “unique vibe and product selection” due to its independent ownership, she believes.

The store’s website features its menu of filling options, which changes seasonally and features pricing dependent on the amount purchased. Their available products include anything from bird seed to body wash, and toilet cleaner to taco seasoning. They use mostly organic products according to their menu, and identify their local suppliers. They keep their menu and product offerings fresh with periodic selection updates, redesigning the refillery to reflect their evolving supply.

They also boast a selection of consumer services, aiming to repair or refresh existing products instead of contributing to waste by buying completely new. These include window screen repairs, knife sharpening, key cutting and more.

Alford wanted to emphasize the refillery’s eco-friendly mission, prioritizing human health over capital.

Read more on our website!

Hall to castle walls

every day.

“Not only am I fulfilling a lifelong dream, but I’m learning how to grow in entertainment and do what I want to do in the future,” she said.

Whether it be the networking, work days, storytelling in the parks or managing her schedule, Percontino feels it’s all helping her to build her skillset to strengthen her potential to ultimately grow as a professional. She also finds it rewarding to end her days with a sweet snack underneath the magical Disney fireworks.

When asked if she would recommend this program to other students, Percontino lit up and said “yes, absolutely.”

TV. With her love spanning to the Disney Parks, she consistently saw and interacted with cast members who were able to add that extra bit of pixie dust to her day.

Upon entering college, she had known about the Disney College Program but had felt as though there was never a right time for her to apply, and so she had let that dream slowly fizzle out. It wasn’t until speaking with a friend who had done the program, secured a permanent job offer and had returned to the College, that she learned that Disney offered a postgraduate program.

Percontino applied in late January 2025 and accepted her role in late February. When applying, the roles she had in mind were in merchandise, character attending and attractions,

Percontino is currently staying on property at Disney’s Flamingo Crossing and loving her experience so far. While balancing her 40-hour workweek, she’s learning about life outside of the collegiate bubble. She has had the opportunity to attend networking events, meet employees on the communication teams and even some of the chief marketing directors.

Throughout all of this, she’s learning how to grow with the company and assemble her tool belt for her future professional endeavors.

Her career goal was always to work in entertainment and the Disney College Program helps her do just that. Percontino finds it inspiring to meet other people just like her, who studied communications and are finding their way in the entertainment world through the program. She believes that one of the biggest cores of communication is the art of storytelling, and that’s exactly what she’s doing each and

“If you are a fan of Disney, it will be life changing for you and you will have a blast. If you want to work in networking, entertainment, or with Disney longterm, this could be a great opportunity,” said Percontino.

She also advises joining for those that may have an interest in engineering, as the Disney College Program provides insight into the company’s “Imagineering” candidates; that is, the creatives and builders responsible for new, exciting concepts in Disney.

Percontino misses the College everyday, mostly because of the community that she was able to build. She knows she would not be where she is today without her extracurricular involvement, encouraging peers, roommates, friends and faculty.

To any incoming or current students, Percontino says: “Take any opportunity that you can that the College offers and use it as an opportunity to learn and grow. Even things you may view as steps back, take it as a moment to grow as a person, student or leader.”

Photo courtesy of Bill Cardoni Alford ‘99 is a co-owner of the Yardley Refillery in Yardley, Pa.

Photo courtesy of Isabella Percontino

Isabella Percontino ‘25 embarks on her post-graduate career with Disney.

Commuters don’t get the full college experience unless they put in extra effort

By Gloria Vittadello Staff Writer

For many students, the college experience includes dorm rooms, late-night study sessions and having a newfound freedom away from home. But for commuters, students who travel to and from campus every day, life becomes a different balancing act — one that consists of gas stations, late-night car rides and a lingering feeling of “do I belong here?”

The Commuter Life

There are pros to being a commuter: paying significantly less than those who live on campus, having the freedom to come and go as you please (though finding a parking spot on campus can be treacherous) and opportunities for personal growth.

But the question remains: can a commuter really experience college life to the fullest?

As a commuter, it is easy to feel left out. Not being on campus, steps away from everything the College offers, makes it harder to show up

Labubus are the epitome of consumerism

By Tasnim Oyshi Staff Writer

Collecting is a hobby that has been enjoyed by many for ages. The fun in this activity lies in its versatility, as it can involve virtually anything. Whether you harbor a passion for pens, coins or even spoons, everyone is familiar with the concept of gathering various items of the same type and keeping them as a way to cherish them. This is a fairly innocent pastime that can prove to be gratifying for those who partake in it. The problem, of course, begins when money gets involved.

In the capitalistic society we live in, it comes as no surprise that once something becomes popular or desired by the masses, it will ultimately be monetized. From mobile apps to social media platforms and even to parking, it is impossible to avoid corporations trying to make a profit in any way they can. Consumerism has become a significant part of our daily lives.

One of the most prominent targets for our consumer-focused society is collecting. The monetization of this hobby has been years in the making, with items such as comic books, Pokémon cards and music albums being a few of the more popular products that people purchase.

The new product trending among consumers at the moment, however, is the monster-faced, furry plush toy from Hong Kong called Labubu. This collectible toy has gained the adoration of many due to its unique aesthetic and marketing. In fact, celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Cardi B and Blackpink’s Lisa have all paraded their own collections online. Lisa’s interview

and put in the effort. It’s frustrating, wanting to do clubs and events on campus, when they don’t fit in your schedule as someone travelling everyday. It often leaves me with the inflicting scenario of; I can wait and stay on campus, but then I may be too tired to drive home.

As a commuter, driving to and from college daily only adds to the already overwhelming transition from high school to college.

In addition to juggling new academic expectations, making friends and the immense independence college presents, commuter students also contend with long commutes, unexpected traffic and limited time on campus. All of which makes it harder for these students to network and effectively use all of the resources the College provides.

How the College is Making Space for Commuters

To try to assuage the hardships of commuter life, the College has implemented outlets for commuters to meet people and experience college life. There was a pop-up commuter lounge, a commuter picnic during Welcome Week, a GroupMe and even a commuter breakfast, according to commuter students.

These endeavors have not gone unnoticed, but they’re not without tribulations.

When reflecting on Welcome Week, Caitlin Potter, a first-year psychology major said, “I’m glad that it was more of an all-day thing, but there were some events with huge breaks in

between, so I was like, I’m not coming back to this”

For many commuters, a large break in between isn’t just an inconvenience, it’s a decision point. Choosing to either stay on campus, potentially for hours, with no dorm or private place to go to, or going home and missing out.

The College’s Wonderful Community

Though being a commuter is hard, the College’s welcoming community makes all the difference.

“I’ve met like five people that have offered to let me stay in their dorm for the night, so having that as a commuter makes life so much easier,” Potter explained.

These acts of kindness are greatly appreciated, she declared.

Being a commuter has its challenges, but here at the College, with its diverse clubs and organizations, making friends is not out of the question.

“Just as long as you join a club,” Potter described, “there’s really not a whole lot that is holding you back from having an involved social life. You just have to put your best foot forward!”

with Vanity Fair in November of 2024, in particular, was a core reason why the brand blew up.

Labubus are not the only collectible items that are having their moment of fame right now. They face competition from products like Smiskis and Sonny Angels, which have also gone viral for having a distinctive look. For Smiskis, customers find their appeal in their playful poses and glow-in-the-dark feature. Sonny Angels, on the other hand, are well-liked because of their cute babylike faces and minimalist style (although the nudity aspect of the dolls is quite jarring).

What makes products like Labubus, Smiskis and Sonny Angels so addictive to people is that they are all sold in a “blind box,” which means that the customer is not sure of which particular design they bought until they open the box. In a YouTube video, Levi Hildebrand explains how this can cause consumers to feel an addictive rush that leads to a burst of satisfaction when they get the one they wanted or disappointment when that is not the case. Not unlike gambling, this encourages the consumer to make more purchases until they get the one they want and/or have of every single figurine.

While collecting these items is not an issue, spending an absurd amount of money on them certainly is. Labubus are relatively small toys, but they are listed on Popmart with prices ranging from $19.99 to $54.99. There are even plush doll versions that cost $119.99. Many of the Labubu products on the site are out of stock, which raises the concern of resales by those who have already bought the item and are planning to sell it for a much higher price.

Overconsumption does not have to be such a big part of this hobby, however. There are ways to participate in this activity and enjoy yourself without hurting your wallet. This can happen in the form of limiting yourself to the amount you spend on collecting, donating the items you either don’t have room for or no longer want, and even switching to collecting something you can find rather than having to purchase. While it’s true that consumerism is everywhere, it does not have to define the hobbies we enjoy.

No such thing as ‘too old’ for cartoons

By Tasnim Oyshi Staff Writer

Most of us have grown up watching cartoons as children. Whether it was “SpongeBob” or “Peppa Pig,” we’re familiar with at least one animated show that was popular when we were kids. At a certain point, many grow out of this stage of their life and the form of entertainment they consume changes as they age. This is not the case for everyone, however.

Certain individuals continue to watch the series that they enjoyed in their childhood well into their adult lives. Despite being in the minority (or perhaps because of it), this group often faces criticism from others. The objections to this hobby are usually attributed to its “weird” or “immature” nature, which many claim it has.

There are, of course, animated shows that are meant for adults. A few popular ones include “Family Guy,” “Bob’s Burgers” and “Rick and Morty.” These series are catered to an older audience, containing profanity, edgy jokes and storylines that children are too young to understand.

When an adult watches these, they are not subjected to the same disapproval from their peers. Rather, it is expected of them to watch such shows. While there are those who consider animation a lesser medium than live action, adult animation is still more respected than the ones made for a younger generation. An adult watching “My Little Pony” is much more likely to be ridiculed than one watching “BoJack Horseman.”

In reality, many animated shows for children end up having mature themes. Series like “Gravity Falls” deal with complex relationships between family members while exploring a supernatural world, while ones such as “The Amazing World of Gumball” are littered with jokes that go over kids’ heads.

Regardless of whether a show contains topics that pander to older spectators, it should not be considered such a bad thing for an adult to find enjoyment in a cartoon. Cartoons often deal with less gritty themes, unlike R-rated series like “Breaking Bad”

or “Game of Thrones.” While these hardhitting, drama series are critically acclaimed and enjoyed by many, they can be stressful or tedious for people to watch. Not everyone relishes the intense plots of these shows, and some would much rather prefer to relax while watching an episode of “Adventure Time.” The need to criticize such behavior truly begs the question: What is so wrong about watching cartoons as adults?

Those who contribute to the condemnation of adults who watch cartoons might claim that it is because of the childish nature of hanging onto a nostalgic thing of the past. They may consider it weird for a grown person to find joy in something that children do. The problem with this attitude is that it is completely pessimistic. This type of behavior attempts to bring down those who have found a pleasurable hobby, while also negatively affecting the mental state of those who have it as their only focus on things to hate.

Sure, there is something to be said about the notorious “Disney adults.” While it is okay to like Disney’s animated movies and shows, there is a point at which it turns into an unhealthy obsession. This is when we end up seeing cases of people spending too much money on merchandise, or even women trying to give birth at Disneyland. Most of the adults who are entertained by cartoons are not like this, however. For them, it can be a form of stress relief to watch PG-rated shows.

There are even studies by mental health professionals that show there can be benefits to watching cartoons as adults.

“Kids’ cartoons can be a support treatment because they incorporate themes like community order, friendship, family, teamwork, that good always wins over evil, and that the sun will always come out tomorrow,” said psychotherapist Dr. Laurel Steinberg in an interview with Vice.

When it comes to something as harmless as watching cartoons, it’s best to let people enjoy the things they do. There are plenty of difficult situations in the world for us to worry about. For some, watching cartoons can be a therapeutic way to decompress.

Photo courtesy of Pexels

Commuter waiting in a subway station.

Consumer culture encourages Labubus.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The importance of voting in the gubernatorial election

Every ballot matters, it is critical to register to vote.

By The Signal Editorial Board

With the upcoming gubernatorial election on Nov. 4, it is crucial to recognize the importance of voting, no matter how big or small the poll.

The New Jersey gubernatorial election determines the 57th governor for the next four years. This year, the Republican candidate is Jack Ciattarelli and the Democratic candidate is Mikie Sherrill. The winner will be sworn in as the next governor on Jan. 20, 2026, succeeding Gov. Phil Murphy, who is term-limited.

Ciattarelli previously served on the Raritan Borough Council and the Somerset County Board of Commissioners, then represented the 16th District in the Assembly for seven years, as well as running for governor in both 2017 and 2021, but ultimately

losing the race.

Sherrill has represented the 11th Congressional District since 2018, as well as previously serving as a helicopter pilot for the U.S. Navy and a federal prosecutor.

Various key issues are at the center of the New Jersey gubernatorial race, including cost of living, education funding, taxes, transportation, drug policy, immigration policies and the role of national politics.

It is critical to understand where each candidate stands on these issues to vote with well-rounded knowledge.

The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Oct. 14, 21 days before the election. To register, you will need either a current and valid Driver’s License or non-driver Identification Card issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission or a social security

number.

There are two ways to register, either online or on paper. To register online, you can fill out the virtual Voter Registration Application Form. If using your social security number, you must be able to provide a digital signature to validate your identity.

If you are not registering to vote online, you can fill out the physical Voter Registration Application Form, which can then be mailed or delivered to the County Commissioner of Registration or Superintendent of Elections for your county. There is a separate form for each county. On this ballot, you can request Mail-In Ballots for future elections.

You can check the status of your registration on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal.

There are three ways to vote in the gubernatorial election in New Jersey. The first is by mail.

If you requested to vote by mail when registering, you will receive a Mail-In Ballot. There are three options when voting by mail. You can bring it to the post office, where it must be postmarked on or before 8:00 p.m. on Election Day and be received by your county’s Board of Elections on or before the sixth day after the polls have closed to be counted. You may also bring your ballot to a secure ballot drop box by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. You can find where these drop boxes are located on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Lastly, you can bring your ballot to your county’s Board of Elections Office by 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Another option is to take part in inperson early voting. This period, which was introduced in the 2021 general election, will be open from Oct. 25 to Nov. 2. This gives voters the option to vote in person in their counties at their

The Signal

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

Business Email: thesignalbusiness@gmail.com

Editorial Staff

Ally Uhlendorf Editor-in-Chief

Isabella Darcy Eddie Young Managing Editors

Rae Raccagno News Editor

Alena Bitonti Arts & Entertainment Editor

Natalia Tomczak Opinions Editor

Ashley Ragone Features Editor

Joseph Caruso Sports Editor

Lake DiStefano Nation & World Editor

POLICIES

convenience at select polling locations. These locations will be open from at least 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, and they can be found on the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. No appointment is required. The third option is to vote in person at your local polling place on Election Day from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The polling locations can be found in the New Jersey Voter Information Portal. Beyond the obvious platitudes of exercising your right as a citizen, voting is also important from a very basic political perspective. While it’s easy to feel like the presidential election is the only one that matters, other elections such as this one actually carry a noninsignificant amount of weight, and can create change that directly impacts those of us who live in New Jersey.

Instead of lamenting about our lack of agency within this current political climate, we can focus on the change we can make through local elections like this. It’s hardly a hassle to vote, and it’s better to say you voted than to feel regret if the upcoming representatives elected aren’t aligned on the same issues as you.

This is our chance as a citizen to feel represented in the government, arguably more so than the more national elections. This is about New Jersey, and New Jersey alone.

Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli are both candidates whose policies will directly impact college students. Whether or not their policies are overtly about colleges, their stances on social issues and state taxes in general will impact local life in Jersey on a grand scale. It’s important to tune in and be educated about how these candidates are going to impact your life, even if it’s not through the college directly.

Administrative Staff

Sky Stewart Multimedia Coordinator/Editorial Cartoonist

Andre Paras Video Editor

Abigail Holliday Copy Editor

Amanda Incalcaterra Erin Reilly Social Media Managers

Cristina Collins Joshua Post Business Managers

Jenna Weldon Web Editor

Kathleen Webber Faculty Advisor

SThe 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.

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

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

United States Government shuts down after failed budgeting talks

By Sarah Sankel Correspondent

The United States government shut down at midnight on Oct. 1 after Congress faced a deadlock regarding the 2026 budget, according to CNN Politics. Many worry that the shutdown could lead to significant problems as all non-essential operations come to a halt and some federal workers face blocked salaries.

Every year, Congress must pass legislation that dictates the

government’s budget for the upcoming year. If an agreement is not reached by Oct. 1, a government shutdown occurs, according to Congressman Dwight Evans’ FAQ page.

This year, as lawmakers prepared for 2026, the division between Democratic and Republican proposals was extreme. While the Republicans wanted to continue President Trump’s drastic cuts in federal spending, the Democrats advocated for a larger budget, emphasizing the need for additional healthcare spending, according

to BBC News. For a week, both Democrats and Republicans refused to budge, ultimately culminating in the government shutdown.

The last government shutdown took place in 2018, and it was the longest shutdown in American history, lasting 34 days, according to NBC News. However, the shutdown in 2018 was only a partial shutdown, as Congress had already approved funding for certain agencies. Still, the consequences were significant, as 300,000 of the 800,000 employees from affected federal agencies were furloughed, according to CNN News, meaning that the workers were forced to be on unpaid leave.

This time around, many federal employees will be furloughed or expected to work without pay and services are already being put on hold. According to the NY Times, services that have been put on hold include communications from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), assistance for veterans, data collection and economic analysis, civil litigation from the Justice Department, and any new education grants. The same article emphasizes that the longer this shutdown lasts, the more it will negatively affect everyday Americans.

The Economist also emphasizes that economic policymaking will essentially be put to a halt, which could have serious consequences if the shutdown continues.

Many speculate whether the Trump administration could use the shutdown to their advantage. According to the Economist, Russell Vought, who is the director of the Office of Management and Budget and works closely with Trump, “is threatening to use the shutdown to

fire thousands of federal workers and gut government programmes.” This would assist Trump in his aim to cut federal spending through the Department of Government Efficiency.

According to the NY Times, on Sept. 30, Trump said that if a government shutdown were to take place, “we can get rid of a lot of things that we didn’t want, and they’d be Democrat things.”

During a press conference, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the negative consequences of a government shutdown, saying that layoffs must, unfortunately, be part of the picture. Vice President JD Vance spoke similarly, according to The Guardian.

Since the shutdown, Democrats have been blaming Republicans, and Republicans have been blaming Democrats. Democrat Senator Chuck Schumer wrote that “the Republican shutdown has just begun because they wouldn’t protect Americans’ healthcare… We’re going to keep fighting for the American people.”

Republican House Speaker Mike Johsnon wrote, “Democrats have officially voted to CLOSE the government… How long will Chuck Schumer let this pain go on — for his own selfish reasons?” according to the NY Times.

As of Wednesday, it is uncertain how long the shutdown will last, and lawmakers continue to make proposals and vote. According to the NY Times, the Senate vote on the morning of Oct. 1 was a deadlocked 47-53, with all Republicans rejecting the Democrat proposal. Upcoming proposals are also likely to fail, meaning that the shutdown could last for days, if not weeks.

Fatal genetic disease, Huntington’s, successfully treated with new gene therapy

By Violet Hollar Correspondent

A new gene therapy developed by the University College London Huntington’s Disease Center has shown miraculous success in reducing the fatal genetic disorder’s progression by 75%, according to the BBC.

Huntington’s Disease is a fatal genetic disorder that affects around 100,000 Americans, caused by toxic proteins that damage brain cells. Usually appearing during the late 30s to early 40s, the degenerative disease causes issues with movement and brain function, typically progressing over 15-20 years according to ABC News. The rare disease is passed down through families, with 50% of gene

carriers developing the disease.

The symptoms are variable but can include movement disorders like chorea, involuntary movement, trouble walking and trouble speaking.

It can also cause cognitive conditions like lack of impulse control or awareness, according to the Mayo Clinic. For most patients, the time between diagnosis of Huntington’s disease and death is 10-30 years.

The experimental therapy aims to reduce the levels of toxic proteins that exist within a diseased brain.

Using a catheter, surgeons infuse a safe virus into the brain, where the new DNA rewrites the brain to block out the toxic proteins.

The therapy was administered to 29 patients with Huntington’s disease at the start of a 3-yearlong study. After the 12-18 hour brain surgery, where the therapy was administered, patients were monitored for 3 years. The study found patients now showed a 75% decrease in clinical progression of the disease.

This is considered to be a huge medical breakthrough.

The therapy had few side effects for patients treated with the virus. Some patients experienced inflammation in the brain and headaches after receiving the therapy; however, after receiving steroids, they recovered, according to BBC.

Although the study has not been

officially reviewed by other experts, professor Sarah Tabrizi says the study is a breakthrough in curing Huntington’s disease, according to the BBC. Despite the success, officials are saying the important new treatment will cost in the millions for Huntington patients. Professor Tabrizi is now taking the success from the first trial, and running a second trial for young people who carry the Huntington’s disease gene, known as stage zero Huntington’s, according to BBC. The goal of the second trial is to find a preventative treatment for the fatal disease.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

A deadlocked congress is unable to pass legislation for the 2026 budget, resulting in a government shutdown.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

New Supreme Court ruling makes way for racial profiling amongst ICE agents

By Nikita Dhawan Correspondent

In a recent decision, the United States Supreme Court has ruled in favor of allowing immigration services in Los Angeles to consider race, along with language, occupation and location as justification for targeting certain individuals, according to The Guardian. With a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court voted in solidarity to give Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents more autonomy in whom they decide to pull aside and question, a striking blow to lower courts, which barred ICE agents from targeting individuals without “reasonable suspicion,” BBC reports.

Now, immigration services can pull aside anyone they deem to be undocumented, despite no actual evidence proving the individual to be so. Scotusblog reported how this ruling is in relation to the prominent immigration sweeps in LA, which some government officials have called the “largest Mass Deportation Operation” in U.S. history.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a conservative judge and Trump appointee who voted in favor of the ruling, wrote that race alone is not enough to be deemed as “reasonable suspicion.” Instead, there must be a “totality of the circumstances,” in which circumstances like whether or not there is a high number of undocumented immigrants within the area, as well as an

Ben & Jerry’s — minus Jerry

By Devyn Briones Staff Writer

After almost half a century of unique flavors and fights for social causes, co-founder Jerry Greenfield has made the tough decision to leave the famous ice cream company, Ben & Jerry’s.

Over the years, Ben Cohen and Greenfield have leveraged their brand to raise awareness about a wide range of issues, including racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change and other causes. Once Unilever, one of the largest consumer goods companies, bought Ben & Jerry’s in 2000, the cofounders found that they were facing immense pressure to silence their core values.

Greenfield’s departure statement was shared by Cohen on X on Tuesday, Sept. 16.

“That independence existed in no small part because of the unique merger agreement Ben and I negotiated with Unilever, one that enshrined our social mission and values in the company’s governance structure in perpetuity,” Jerry wrote. “It’s profoundly disappointing to conclude that that independence, the very basis of our sale to Unilever, is gone.”

Cohen and Greenfield grew up together in Long Island, N.Y. In 1978, the co-founders opened their first ice cream shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.

Now, Ben & Jerry’s can be found in 38 countries around the world.

The brand offers 98 different flavors, including dairy-free and glutenfree options. “Half Baked,” “Cherry Garcia” and “Chocolate Fudge Brownie” were ranked the top three flavors of 2024.

While being an incredibly successful, tasteful business with exotic flavors, their brand reaches further than just ice cream. The co-founders have transformed the company itself into a platform for activism, using their flavor labels to promote awareness about current issues.

Flavors “Save our Swirled” (2015) helped spread awareness about climate change; “Empower Mint” (2016), which reminded people that real change for justice and equality is possible through direct activism or voting for personal values.

Similarly, “Home Sweet Honeycomb” (2017), released in partnership with the International Rescue Committee to support legislation resettling refugees in Europe, is just a few examples of Ben & Jerry’s mission-inspired flavors.

“For more than twenty years under their ownership, Ben & Jerry’s stood up and spoke out in support of peace, justice, and human rights, not as abstract concepts, but in relation to real events happening in our world,” Greenfield wrote.

individual’s fluency in English, are considered.

Justice Kavanaugh points out how immigrants often “gather in certain locations to seek daily work” and “often work in certain kinds of jobs, such as day labor, landscaping, agriculture and construction,” stating all these factors taken into account together provide sufficient evidence for ICE agents to question somebody, according to Scotusblog.

In contrast, Justice Sonya Sotomayor wrote a long dissent, claiming the new ruling is in violation of civil liberties. The Guardian reports how Sotomayer, one of the three liberal judges on the court, worries about the repercussions of the ruling and what it may mean to the Latino population as a whole, stating,

“we should not have to live in a country where the Government can seize anyone who looks Latino, speaks Spanish and appears to work a low wage job.” It is important to note that this ruling is solely temporary. Its purpose was to block the rulings of lower courts, specifically U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, who had issued a restraining order limiting ICE agents on whom they can target.

Judge Frimpong argued that targeting individuals based on their occupation and race violates the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits the government from conducting unreasonable searches and procedures.

The Supreme Court issued a stay on this restraining order, putting the lower court’s decision on hold until the case is reviewed by the appeals court and ultimately makes its way back to the Supreme Court to issue a final decision.

Despite the impermanence, the Supreme Court’s recent ruling gives an idea of how they may rule on this case in the future, effectively allowing for legal “racial profiling” within law enforcement, according to the American Immigration Council.

The new ruling marks a significant milestone for the Trump administration. California Governor Gavin Newsom strongly criticized the decision. According to The Guardian, Newsom asserted, “Trump’s private police force now has a green light to come after your family — and every person is now a target. But we will continue fighting these abhorrent attacks on Californians.”

Ticketmaster sued over scalping and hidden fees

By Nikita Dhawan Correspondent

The Federal Trade Commission and several other states are suing Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, for permitting and coordinating with scalpers, forcing consumers to pay significantly higher prices for tickets and events, CBS reports.

Joining the FTC suit were attorneys general in Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Nebraska, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.

According to AP News, the FTC pointed out how both Live Nation and Ticketmaster often utilize a “bait and switch” tactic, advertising their tickets to be cheap but ultimately burdening consumers with considerable hidden fees.

These fees can amount to as much as 44% of the original ticket price, CNN reports.

Additionally, the agency highlighted that despite claims to do so, both companies fail to limit the number of tickets an individual is able to purchase. Instead, resellers are able to create bot accounts to purchase millions of tickets with ease.

Rather than condemning the practice of price gouging, the FTC accuses Ticketmaster of actively cooperating with scalpers to drive prices up, allowing the resellers to buy millions of tickets and sell them at a higher price on Ticketmaster’s own platform.

Ticketmaster, in turn benefits from

these sales through the additional fees consumers have to pay which, according to CNN, amount to about $16 billion from 2019 to 2024.

AP news reports how Ticketmaster controls ticketing for about 80% of major venues within the United States, making it nearly a monopoly in the live event market. With higher ticket prices, consumers are having a harder time attending the concerts and events of their favorite artists.

FTC chairman Andrew Ferguson weighed in on this issue, saying “American live entertainment is the best in the world and should be accessible to all of us, … It should not cost an arm and a leg to take the family to a baseball game or attend your favorite musician’s show.”

As described by CNN, the FTC claims Live Nation and its subsidiary Ticketmaster violated the Better Online Ticket Sales Act (BOTS), an executive order signed by President Barack Obama in 2016 during his first term. The act bans individuals from using software and bots to purchase resale tickets, and subsequently bans platforms from selling tickets acquired through these means.

While there is no clear number as to how much Live Nation and Ticketmaster may have to pay, The New York Post reports that under the BOTS act, the FTC can sue for as much as $53,000 per violation. If found liable, Live Nation may have to pay upwards of hundreds of billions of dollars in fines.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

The legal ramifications of this ruling will be widely felt.

WTSR / Underground brings new sounds to TCNJ campus

Continued from page 1

As mentioned before, after their sets, each act gave about a 20-minute interview to WTSR News Staff. Each act answered a bunch of questions, and then created their own on-air bumper (“Hey! You’re listening to WTSR 91.3, and this is our band!”)

I was able to sit in on the interviews, and even ask a couple of my own questions. One of the questions that came up the most frequently was about how the bands go through their songwriting process.

Most of the interviews I attended had a similar answer. Sarah Holt,

frontwoman for Molly Ringworm, remarked that it “[u]sually starts with me coming up with something either usually starting with a chord progression, or a melody that comes to me. And I kind of work out a form of some sort, bring it to the guys and everyone kind of helps arrange and build on that little demo that has some potential, add their own parts and make it into something else…”

Each band had similar answers when it came to their brainstorming processes, but honestly varied vastly across musical inspirations. Influences ranged from Liz Phair, to A.G. Cook, Wilco and The Beatles, of course. When band No License did their interview, we even had a whole conversation about indie

giant Guided by Voices, with an additional five-minute promotion of The Wrens, one of their favorite New Jersey bands.

No License likened the Underground experience to that of what it would be like to perform on “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon. They also took the time to promote not just their music, but some other key ideas, too. “Make sure you’re registered to vote. Get your flu shot. Drink eight cups of water a day. Call your grandma,” said Lance, one of the band’s guitarists.

Sunday’s third act, Vern Matz, mentioned his goal of making 10 albums and then quitting the music scene all together. But it seems like

some of the other bands are just getting started.

Molly Ringworm has an album release show at the Anchor Rock Club in Atlantic City on Oct. 24, Assisted Living has just released music as part of a compilation album supporting global non-profit Baitulmaal and Babe City has an upcoming show at Laurel Road Studios in Brooklyn this upcoming Saturday.

WTSR’s 2025 Underground show was a huge success. You can check out all of these artists across Bandcamp and other music streaming platforms, and make sure to keep an eye out for new releases and local shows.

‘Romeo & Juliet’: All College Theatre’s exceptional take on a timeless story

By Mia Shea Correspondent

All College Theatre’s unique approach to the classic “Romeo & Juliet” Shakespearean story takes place in a hospital waiting room. The show was performed in the Don Evans Black Box Theater from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27.

ACT is the College’s studentrun theatre organization for straight plays. They put on several plays and other performances throughout the year that feature students of all majors on stage and in production staff roles.

ACT’s Romeo & Juliet follows

two star-crossed lovers as they fall in love in a hospital waiting room. Juliet was played by senior communication studies major Olivia Ayala and Romeo was played by junior psychology major and pre-law minor Andrew Parisi.

The play was produced by ACT’s publicist, junior art education major Katie Gallagher, and ACT’s vice president, junior elementary education major Angelina Grippaldi.

Grippaldi shared, “Producing this show was definitely challenging, but incredibly fulfilling to watch the cast and crew put on such a beautiful show.”

The show was narrated by the Old Nurse character, played by senior Psychology major, Rachel Patek. Some scenes were narrated at the same time by the Old Nurse and the Nurse, played by junior biology major Ana Generelli.

This creative choice was very well received by the audience. Junior elementary and special education and English major Megan Hurley shared, “Something that will stick with me was the use of two different characters to display the nurse.”

Director Scott Glading shared what he initially had envisioned for this show in the director’s note.

“A hospital waiting room. A wheel-chaired patient – an old woman – dressed all in white. Who is she? Who was she? Her story? No, more her tale. No, more a lesson she wanted – needed – to tell, one with a moral,” the note said. “The characters? Those one would find in

a hospital waiting room, of course: medical personnel, staff, visitors, … they would become the Old Woman’s clay. They would act her story.”

The camaraderie between Tybalt, played by sophomore elementary and special education English major Lauren Manzie, and Benvolio, played by Matthew Sudnick, a senior English and secondary education major, highlighted the themes of love and hate that this story so clearly portrays.

Each of these characters was beautifully portrayed, leaving the audience in tears. In the final moments of the show, “Somewhere” from “West Side Story” played, another timeless take on the classic

story.

Hurley also shared that “having the show take place in a hospital waiting room, that is a really emotionally vulnerable and tense setting, which added to the meaning of the show.”

The play ends with both Romeo and Juliet committing suicide on a hospital gurney together. The gurnee was the perfect way to end such a unique interpretation of the classic show while still continuing to remain authentic with the timeless story’s ending.

All College Theatre’s season continues this fall with Frankenstein and an interactive dinner theatre production.

Romeo and Juliet in All College Theatre’s recent production.

Photo by Jayne Ritter

Photo by Jayne Ritter

ACT’s approach to the Shakespearean story takes place in a hospital waiting room.

Molly Ringworm plays Sunday’s first set.

Photo by Andre Paras

Talon poses for their introduction at Underground.

Photo by Andre Paras

Photo by Andre Paras No License smiles for a photo in the WTSR studio.

Zara Larsson celebrates summer and explores ambition in new album

By Tasnim Oyshi Staff Writer

With the release of her new album, “Midnight Sun,” on Sept. 26, Zara Larsson is establishing her role as a main pop girl. The album is influenced by Swedish folklore, Lisa Frank and Y2K aesthetics. It consists of 10 songs with tracks ranging from dance-pop anthems to more personal tracks

After about 10 years in the industry, the singer experienced a resurgence in popularity after opening for fellow popstar Tate McRae on her “Miss Possessive” tour. Videos of her on stage have gone viral on TikTok recently, just in time for the release of the album. Her performance of the album’s first track, “Midnight Sun,” in particular, has been applauded for the choreography and her run during the chorus.

The music video for the song features Larsson surrounded by water and lying

on grass as colorful words like “Believe” and “Connected” show up on the screen with butterflies surrounding them. In an interview with Fader, Larsson revealed she drew inspiration from Swedish myths of long-haired blonde nymphs, Lisa Frank and even the dolphin memes of her 2017 hit song with Clean Bandit, “Symphony.”

“Lisa Frank was such a full circle moment because my original idea was to have a really nymph-y [vibe],” she said. “The Lisa Frank thing, intentionally or not, really inspired the colors and the feeling. And then it kind of opened the door to, like, Barbie mermaid core.”

This theme is reflected in “Blue Moon,” which has a more romantic and airy feel. In an exclusive with People, Larsson shared that she wrote the song for her long-term partner, Lamin Holmén. “…I think he has just made me more expressive and confident in saying what I’m thinking or who I am as a person,” she said.

The song ends with a spoken outro by Larsson and producer MNEK, where he claims that they should “clean that up,” but she replies, “No, let’s get messy.” “Messy?” he questions. “Like really messy,” she says. This serves as the perfect transition to the next track, “Pretty Ugly.”

The music video for the third song on the album has Larsson dancing in a field with her backup dancers. The song is energetic and hype, beginning with the chant, “Have you ever seen a pretty girl get ugly like this?” The video has closeups of cars, which are reminiscent of McRae’s music videos, and shots of the girls fighting and dancing in mud and rain,

Mariah is back with ‘Here for it All’ and we are here for it

By Sky Pinkett Staff Writer

With a steady flood of newcomers streaming out onto the music scene every day thanks to social media and streaming platforms, getting new music from a familiar face feels like coming home. Especially when that familiar face happens to be the legendary Mariah Carey.

Carey released her 16th studio album “Here For It All” on Sept. 26, her first album in seven years since 2018’s “Caution.” Considering everything she’s been through recently, it is a triumphant declaration and a testament to her perseverance.

Carey lost both her mother and her sister on the same day last year, and most, if not all, of the 11 songs on this record were made during that period of grief.

When speaking about her loss and upcoming album to CBS Morning’s Gayle King, Carey said, “I don’t know how I processed it. I just know that it was extremely difficult for me to navigate.”

Despite this anguish, “Here For It

showing just how ugly and messy they can get.

The fourth track, “Girl’s Girl,” is not much different in sentiment. The lyrics talk about how she wants the boyfriend of her childhood friend, even though she “wants to be a girl’s girl.” “I’m singing about things that, five years ago or even a year ago, I couldn’t,” Larsson said to Vogue. “I don’t like to be mean, but I don’t have this feeling of having to be nice, a good girl, or a good feminist anymore. I’m 27 now, and I appreciate all parts of me.”

“Crush,” the fifth track, follows the trope of having messy experiences as she asks, “Am I just being messy?” as the lyrics express the feelings of crushing on another person while being in a relationship. The music video, released on Aug. 26, displays a sillier side of Larsson as she tries to kill a spider and gets bitten on the rear, resulting in it becoming giant. There are also clips of a Barbie-style version of Larsson going through the same dilemma.

“If you’re a fan fan and you’ve been following me for a while, you’ll know I’m not a mysterious person,” she said to Fader. “I want to bring more of my personality into the music and into the songs because I just don’t take it… I take it seriously, but it’s not that serious, you know? Humor is something I always appreciate.”

“Crush” is followed by a change in pace with the upbeat, Scandi-pop-influenced “Eurosummer.” The lyrics at the end ask, “How sexy am I?” which matches the intro of the seventh track, “Hot & Sexy,” spoken by Tiffany Pollard. “Beautiful, fly,

hot, and sexy,” Pollard recites her viral rant from the reality show, “Big Brother.”

Larsson shows a more vulnerable side of herself with track eight, “The Ambition,” and track nine, “Saturn’s Return.” In “The Ambition,” she talks about the competition that comes with being in the pop music industry. “I wanna be loved,” she sings, expanding on how she wants more, despite the heartbreak of her own ambition.

“I know it’s a brief moment in time, and you can’t be number one forever, that’s just the nature of it, but I just want to be it once, please just once,” she said to Fader. “I just want to taste it.” In the second-to-last song, Larsson looks back on her time as an artist. She sings about her expectations of filling up stadiums by 20, which “didn’t happen, so she changed the deadline.”

Larsson expresses how crazy time is and how she might want to have babies like her friends now. Ultimately, she concludes that it feels good not to know what she’s doing and that she loves being free in her naivety.

Larsson ends the album with a flirty track called “Puss Puss,” which means “kiss kiss” in Swedish. She talks about how much she doesn’t want to hang up the call with her lover because she enjoys talking to him too much.

Overall, “Midnight Sun” is fun and dynamic, with hints of vulnerability. The danceability of the album exemplifies the energy of summer and this will be an exciting release for audiences to listen to. Fans can witness Larsson perform soon as she will be going on her own tour this fall, starting in October.

Olivia Dean’s ‘The Art of Loving’: The soul we need

All” shows no traces of the dark place Carey was in when she created it. Instead, from the very outset, she reestablishes her diva status with the blunt track, “Mi” where she states, “I don’t care about much, if it ain’t about me / Let the money talk first, conversations ain’t free / I’m the D-I-V-A, that’s MC.”

Carey’s cutting confidence continues to shine through on tracks like the hip-hop laced “Type Dangerous” and the tropical “Sugar Sweet,” both of which were singles. Carey uses legendary hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim’s “Eric B. Is President” as a sample in “Type Dangerous,” giving it an effortlessly cool sound as she opens with, “I came in the door, dripped in Balenci’ / Cropped leather coat and some nine inch Fendis / The crowd opened up and I started to strut.” The hip hop homages continue throughout the song as she references Slick Rick’s 1988 “Children’s Story” with the line, “Then came in three hatin’ a** hoes / They don’t know the meaning of water nor soap.”

Even though “Sugar Sweet” goes in a more bubbly and sweet (as the title suggests) sound than “Type Dangerous,” Carey still sings like she’s having fun with features from Jamaican singer Shenseea and R&B mainstay Kehlani.

In the lineup after these two singles is “In Your Feelings,” one of my least favorite tracks on the record. It’s nondescript type of slow groove would have made it forgettable at best, but the clunky addition of “I think you might be getting a little bit too,” which Carey sings rapidly in order to make it fit within the melody, makes the listener take off their headphones, make a face, and ask themselves, “Why did she do that?”

By Molly Tursi Staff Writer

To create music is a relentless labor of love. Every artist breathes so their music can live, lovingly imbuing each piece with a fragment of their own soul. As music is passed down from generation to generation, each soul within gives the next artist the kiss of life.

Basking in the glory of soul is the 26-year-old British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean.

Graced with a sonorous voice and rhythmic melody that harkens back to artists like Amy Winehouse and Lauryn Hill, the singer has won the affections of jazz, soul, R&B and pop fans alike — a feat seldom accomplished in the modern sphere of music.

Dean’s anticipated sophomore album, “The Art of Loving,” was released on Sept. 26. Inspired by bell hooks’ book “All About Love,” Dean explores love as an art rather than an instance. Through twelve resonant tracks, the album lyricizes the essence of love on a granular scale.

The album opens with “The Art of Loving (Intro),” a ruminative reconciliation with a broken relationship. The intro establishes Dean’s throughline of the album, reiterating the famous adage, “Tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all.” The singer references Beauty and the Beast with the lyric, “‘Gotta throw some paint / That's what Belle would say,” a delightful yet somber nod to a fairytale motif embedded in the album.

Released as a single in May, “Nice to Each Other” has become a familiar favorite and an inseparable component of the album.

The song contemplates the durability of a relationship and if an irresolute love is worth the plunge. Throughout

the refrain, Dean wonders if they could be nice to each other, but wrong for each other, insinuating that being right for each other is out of the picture. “Nice to Each Other” primes listeners for the album’s analytical appraisal of love and showcases Dean’s talent as both a honed songwriter and musician. Dean flows into the empowering “Lady Lady,” an incisive representation of self-growth and the cyclical emergence from past turmoil. Dean exalts the femininity involved in adapting to the divine sway of the universe, proclaiming that change must be grown into. Dean’s voice melds with the velvety instrumentals to produce an immersive sound that echoes the depth of the song.

The fourth track on the album, “Close Up,” revisits an indecipherable love that draws Dean close up, despite the insincerity of the relationship. The song exudes the concurrent vitality of jazz and sorrow of R&B, a sound faintly reminiscent of the late Winehouse.

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Zara Larsson declares “summer isn’t over yet” in her new album.

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

The album cover art for Olivia Dean’s “The Art of Loving.”

Carey has released her 16th studio album.

Photo courtesy of Apple Music

Men’s soccer ends non-conference stretch winning, breaks streak in NJAC play

By Nick Kurti Staff Writer

The College’s men’s soccer team exceeded all expectations with their 5-0-3 non-conference start, capped off by a 3-0 performance against Keystone on Wednesday, Sept. 24. Now they’re ready to prove themselves in conference play.

From the first touch on Wednesday, the Giants (2-6) were somewhat physical, but lacked the ability to keep possession out of their end of the field. In the first half alone, the Lions littered Keystone goalie Kolten McVean with 10 shots as opposed to their two. Senior midfielder J.J. Zaun had an excellent shot driven low and centered, which counted as McVean’s lone save.

Set pieces were a usual favorite of the Lions; they had seven corners this half, and all three goals came from a set piece. Freshman Tyler Borenstein took a free kick at the 33rd minute, which floated its way straight to sophomore Lawrence Mancino for a header into the goal. It came right

past the goalie’s left shoulder, where McVean was just too slow to keep it out.

Coming back from the break, the second half saw another 12 corners and 16 shots from the Lions. Meanwhile, the Giants never got a corner once and kicked just three shots across the entire 90 minutes. The only statistic of note they racked up was two yellow cards in his half.

The set piece magic continued to grow in the second half. Freshman Aiden Grund lined it up at the 53rdminute mark, and yet again, a header would send it flying past McVean’s eyes. This time it would be junior Lucas Sample putting it in the bottom right corner to put the Lions up 2-0.

Just five minutes later, sophomore Omar Pollard would give a throwin to Borenstein. He passed it from deep in the right corner to senior John Ramos, who was at center field 20 yards out from the goal. The Biology major took the chance and shot from there, sending it past the keeper to wrap up scoring 3-0. This ended up

Field Hockey suffers small hit to rankings in shootout loss

By Jhett Laurie Staff Writer

The College’s field hockey team took a hit in the rankings as they fell from No. 17 to No. 18 following a shootout loss to Lebanon Valley College.

The Dutchmen went into the game with an underdog mentality, hoping to upset the ranked Lions who had had only one loss in the season, following a week three loss to No. 3 Johns Hopkins.

The Lions struggled early on as they were unable to capitalize on three penalty corners and four shots, keeping the game tied in the first period.

The second period saw the Lions fall on their back foot as Lebanon Valley found the net first late in the second period. The Lions attempted to avenge the point; however, they were unable to find the equalizer before halftime.

The College sought to put pressure on early with two attempted shots and a penalty corner, but strong goal work from Lebanon Valley kept them from scoring.

The Dutchmen were able to stun the Lions once again, scoring their second goal of the game with just two minutes remaining in the third period.

The College needed a huge momentum shift to have any hope of bouncing back. That shift came with just six minutes remaining when Sophomore Rachael Tetzlaff was able

becoming the College’s fifth shutout on the season, ending the nonconference play with five wins and three ties.

After the game, Coach Steve DeMatteo knew that non-conference play was just the beginning. “We feel good, but there’s still so much more. Conference games are competitive, and they’re tough.”

Kean (1-7-2) came to fight for a win on the College’s Alumni Day, honoring squads from 1995 and 2005. The Lions knew this was the match that would truly show their strengths. This match was much more physical, with nine yellow cards and three red cards. In the last three minutes, the Cougars were fielding eight men versus a full Lions 11.

The Lions and Cougars were contested in the first half, despite the College leading in corners 6-0. There were ultimately too many shots from the Lions barely missing the goal, or Kean defenders failing to clear the ball and causing additional corners.

In the 14th minute, Kean sophomore Ilyas Jaber gave a side pass to Jaime Madrid, who slammed it past Lions keeper Sean Najdzinowicz to take a 1-0 lead. A corner kick came in the 27th minute, where Mancino headed it into the bar, but the referee said it was no goal. The ball bounced out right in front of the goal, but cheers from the crowd erupted when they mistook Cougars keeper Jaxson Mast slapping the net for a goal. After that very close chance, the half wrapped up with Kean leading by one.

The Cougars fought aggressively to try and keep their lead alive, but the Lions weren’t done. They outshot this half 7-1 and led in corners 8-1.

After Ahad Shabazz-Henry and Marvin Munoz Garcia were sent off, the College took a corner at the 80th minute. It was deflected out to midfield, where Zaun and junior Matias Hornos worked it back into the penalty box. Junior Nathan Lipton’s

first shot was saved, but the second shot that bounced off the goalie went in. The Lions bench emptied as they crowded around the referee, who confirmed to an ecstatic team that it was not offside. That tie is what saved the Lions’ unbeaten streak.

In the last game of the week, the College traveled down to G. Larry James Stadium to face Stockton. The Lions and the Ospreys (5-2-3) held the game to a scoreless tie in the first half. Dodd made the lone save in the 4th minute, with a shot from Joseph Carbone curving straight to the Lions freshman. Stockton outshot the College 5-2.

Much of the second half was also much of the same contested play. The Ospreys took a corner in the 70th minute, where Chris Kall took a shot that bounced off the right post and nearly went in, but Dodd recovered it to save a potential rebound for going in. Just five minutes later, Stockton senior Uche Wokocha took a free kick which went into the left post and into the net. With only fifteen minutes to go in the game, the Ospreys were up 1-0.

In the 78th minute, Derek Tindall drove a pass into the center, where the Lions defense attempted to clear the ball, but to no avail. Worse, it went straight to the boot of Wokocha once more, who drove in the second goal into the same left side. Aiden Hoenisch sealed the game with a far-out shot outside the penalty box, driven into the left side once more to end the game 3-0.

This is where the game would end, with the Lions being handed their first loss, starting NJAC play 0-1-1, and ending the nine-game unbeaten streak for the Lions. Nonetheless, the start is still a massive step for the men’s soccer program, solidifying Coach DeMatteo’s progress for the College. Men’s soccer returns to Lions Stadium, where they will face Montclair State on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Women’s soccer wins first NJAC match

to find the goal for the Lions on a penalty corner.

This goal became crucial, as three minutes later, Freshman Lindsey Hoffman tied the game to force overtime. Both Tetzlaff and Hoffman recorded their first goals of the season, with Hoffman’s being her first career goal.

In the first overtime, the Lions kept the pressure up on offense, recording three penalty corners and three shots, none of which broke through. The teams remained deadlocked, forcing the Lions second double-overtime game this season.

The College traded blows with the Dutchmen, with each team attempting two corners. Senior Lions goalie Brigitte Racey proved to be the deciding factor, recording three saves to keep the Lions alive.

With neither team breaking the tie, the game went to shootouts. This was the first time since 2009 that the Lions had a game decided by penalty strokes.

Junior Jadyn Huff scored the first penalty stroke for the Lions before Lebanon Valley missed their first two. They would go on to make the next three, with the Lions missing all but the last. Lebanon Valley would win the game, defeating the College 3-2 in strokes.

The Lions Oct. 1 game against Albright College was unfortunately cancelled. The team looks to get back on track when they travel to take on Messiah on Oct. 4 at 1 p.m.

By Joseph Caruso Sports Editor

Women’s soccer kicked off New Jersey Athletic Conference play with a win against Kean and a loss against Stockton, respectively.

The College traveled to Union to face off against Kean in their opening NJAC match against the Cougars on Saturday.

The College came out firing, absolutely pelting Kean with shots on goal, and that was the story of the game. The Lions put a ridiculous 36 shots up, 11 of which being on goal to just four from the Cougars.

Despite the laughable difference in time of possession and attempts, the Lions had nothing to show for their domination, as the first half was a stalemate at zero despite the nonstop pressure from the College’s offense.

Sophomore Maggie Murphy paced the Lions in attempts with seven shots, including three on goal, registering more attempts herself than the entire Kean squad.

Already having three draws on the young season, it looked like it may be headed that way for the College as they continued to come up empty late into the second half despite the numerous opportunities.

However, at the 85:17 mark, sophomore Jenny Ward scored on a header via junior Alyssa Alfano on the College’s sixth header of the second half, breaking the tie and giving them

a one goal lead that would hold until the end.

After a win in their opening NJAC contest, the College hosted Stockton on Wednesday night for their first conference matchup at Lions Stadium. Contrary to their previous matchup, this was a high-scoring back and forth affair between the Lions and Ospreys that saw four different goals scored in the first half, three of which were scored by Stockton.

The College got on the board when sophomore Taylor Krott scored on a chance assisted by Alfano. Alfano, who made Second Team All-NJAC in 2024 also added a goal of her own in the second half to bring the College within one at the 73:19 to make the score 3-2.

The Lions continued to put the pressure on Stockton, and similarly to their previous matchup, they hammered the shots on goal all night, putting up 33 shots, 13 of which being on the goal compared to just seven from Stockton.

Unfortunately, their efforts fell short as Stockton was able to hang on and win 3-2, as the College fell to 4-4-3 on the season and 1-1 in NJAC play. This loss snaps a 22 game unbeaten streak that the Lions had over Stockton that dated back to 2008.

The College is back on the road to take on Montclair State Saturday, Oct. 4, for their next conference matchup.

Photo courtesy of Nick Kurti

Junior Sean Wood celebrates goal with sophomore Omar Pollard.

Football dominates in win against Juniata

Rushing attack leads to third straight victory

By Tyler Fennell Staff Writer

On Saturday, Sept. 27, the college defeated Juniata in dominating fashion, winning 35-0.

Coming into the game, Juniata was 2-1, while the College was 2-0. This game was not just dominant on the defensive side of the ball, like the College’s previous game, it was also dominant on the offensive side.

The Lions have continued to rely on

their strong rushing offense in every game so far this season. This game was no different. The College put up a staggering 300 yards of rushing offense, while just passing for 99 yards, not even a third of their ground output.

Senior running back Joe Visaggio opened up the scoring in the first quarter with two touchdowns. Visaggio had 54 yards rushing as well. Visaggio has been very involved in the Lions’ ground attack, averaging over 16 carries a game for coach Tyler Moody’s new look offense.

The College’s running backs continued their dominance in the second quarter, with sophomore Jordan Morrell scoring a touchdown of his own. Morrell yet again led the team in rushing yards with 89. The second-year back has run wild this season, now with a team-high 280 yards on the year.

Senior quarterback Dean Licari followed this up with a rushing touchdown of his own. After a scoreless third quarter, junior wide receiver Alex Dille scored a touchdown to start the

fourth quarter and close out the game. The defense as a collective also continued their excellent start. Not allowing any scoring certainly tells how well the defense played. Senior linebacker Nick Surdo had a sack that set Juniata back four yards, along with freshman linebacker Remy Feniello having a sack that pushed Juniata back for six yards.

Head coach Moody said this about starting 3-0 in his first season of coaching TCNJ football, “Obviously it’s a good win, so I’m excited. I’m really excited for the guys, they worked really hard, so that’s really the biggest thing there. I’ve been here for really five, six months, and what’s exciting is that everybody knows this place is a great place. So if we can provide, or add to that with football, then I’m happy. We did that today and that’s what’s important.”

Moody’s squad has been nothing short of perfect, sweeping their first three games of non-conference action. The College’s rushing attack has been its calling card, rushing for 948 yards through just three contests, while passing for just 204 yards. The College will need to prove they can move the ball through the air, however, as they face a top ten team in their next match.

After dominating their non-conference schedule, the college has their first New Jersey Athletic Conference game away against a ranked opponent, Salisbury, on Saturday, Oct. 4. The college defense is going to need to be strong against a Salisbury offense that has not had a single game in which they failed to reach 40 points. For context, the Lions have yet to have a game where they scored more than 40 points, despite coming close this past weekend. After Salisbury, the Lions will return home Saturday, Oct. 11, to host William Patterson for their second NJAC game and their Homecoming game.

Cross country battles at Don Cathcart Invitational

By Joseph Caruso Sports Editor

The College’s men’s and women’s teams finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively, at the Don Cathcart Invitational this past Saturday, Sept. 27 at Salisbury University.

For the men’s team, it has been a dominant campaign thus far, finishing first in each of their first three contests up to this point.

With that being said, the College struggled compared to their previous contests, as they had to deal with high levels of humidity and rain throughout the race, which proved to be difficult to handle.

Senior Nate Kidwell paced all runners for the College, coming in 25th place with a time of 26:58.90. Despite no Lions finishing in the top 24 runners, a team effort saw them grind out a finish in fourth place Kidwell recently saw himself earn New Jersey Athletic Conference Runner of the Week for his efforts so far in this young season.

Behind Kidwell, sophomore Will Evarts and sophomore Jack Segalla finished in 33rd and 34th with times of 27:36.70 and 27:37.70, respectively.

The College saw two other

runners place inside the top 40 of the 8K race, with sophomore Silas Matteson finishing 36th at 27:51.10 and sophomore Anthony Thomas finishing in 39th at 28:06.00.

The rest of the Lions to place were freshman Andrew Scalercio, sophomore Declan Butler, junior Dave Keefe, freshman Francisco Lopez and junior Shea Mantone. The College scored 115 points, placing them in fourth place on the afternoon, finishing just behind Salisbury (33), Navy (34), and Christopher Newport (69).

On the women’s side, they have found similar success in their early season, placing first in their first invitational and coming off of backto-back place finishes.

It was not smooth sailing for the women’s team either, fighting the same nasty conditions that were trouble for runners all day, as they battled for a fifth-place finish, despite some promising performances from a few freshmen.

In the 6K race, freshman Malissa Morabito paced all Lions, finishing 23rd with a time of 24:01.30.

Freshman Mia Zicchinella was the only other member of the College to finish within the top 40, registering a time of 25:09.80.

Morabito took home NJAC Rookie

Cross Country battles for top half finish.

of the Week for her results as the College’s best runner recently, as her freshman season has been excellent thus far.

Trailing the freshman duo of Morabito and Zicchinella was three other lions including freshman Alissa Stumpf, who finished in 51st with a time of 25:46.20, sophomore Ella Feehan at 54th (26:05.50) and

freshman Kristen Smerdon right behind her in 55th (26:09.90).

The Lions scored 143 points, placing them a respectable fifth place, finishing behind Navy (24), Christopher Newport (55), Salisbury (67), and Delaware State (117).

The College will aim to return to their dominant ways when they run in the Paul Short Run on Friday, Oct. 3.

Photo by Elizabeth Gladstone

Football continues dominance with shutout.

Photo courtesy of Shane Gillespie