Vol. LV, No. 4
The Signal
https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/ October 2, 2026
Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885
Going for the gold: TCNJ ranked No. 1 public regional college again by US News By Andre Paras Managing Editor
The College continues to hold its position as the top-ranked public institution in the North region, according to the 2027 Best Colleges rankings released by the U.S. News & World Report on Sept. 22. Not to mention, the College also ranked No. 5 in the Regional Universities North category, which includes both public and private higher education institutions. The College has been holding the No. 1 position for public universities in their category for 37 years in a row. “Thirty-seven years at the top of the U.S. News ranking is both gratifying and impressive,” President Michael Bernstein wrote to The Signal. “This kind of sustained recognition is a direct reflection of what sets our college apart from the competition — the unparalleled experience TCNJ provides its students and our students’ remarkable academic and personal outcomes.” The annual U.S. News & World Best Colleges rankings evaluate schools using measures including student outcome, social mobility, academic performance, faculty resources and financials. In addition to overall ranking, the College has also received recognition in several other categories.
The College was ranked No. 1 among public institutions. The College ranked No. 1 in New Jersey for Best Value Schools for In-State Students category among Regional Universities. This is the first year for the category, introduced for the 2027 rankings, which considers both academic quality and affordability for students attending public schools within their home state. The College received another No. 1 ranking in New Jersey and placed among the top 20% nationally for undergraduate engineering programs at schools without doctoral degrees or programs. The Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Photo courtesy of Kit Ackerman
program offered by the College was also ranked among the top 20% nationally. The 2027 rankings see several changes to the U.S. News’ methodology, with the publication introducing a new “Earnings by Major” factor using data from the U.S Department of Education’s College Scorecard. This measure looks at graduation and retention rates, social mobility and postgraduation earnings, meaning student outcomes account for more than half of a school’s overall ranking score now.
The College boasts statistics appealing to these requirements, with a 91% first-to-secondyear retention rate, 75% four-year graduation rate, 86% six-year graduation rate and 450+ employers recruiting students of the College. “TCNJ has allowed me to grow as a student and as a person because it gives me opportunities to learn, try new things and connect with people who support me,” says junior inclusive early childhood education and English major Adriana Minerva, in agreement with the No. 1 ranking. Several other national accolades also preceded the College’s repeat No. 1 ranking. Time Magazine ranked the College No. 99, which falls in the top 20% of its first-ever inaugural America’s Best Colleges ranking, and No. 39 among public colleges and universities. The Princeton Review has also recognized the College as one of the academically outstanding colleges in the Northeast for 2027 and included the College among its 392 best in the nation. Money Magazine named the College in its 2026 list of the Best Colleges in America, while Forbes included the College on its 2027 list of America’s Top Colleges. The College received a record-high of 14,400 applications for the class of 2030, giving them an additional challenge next year to maintain its top ranking streak with more people on campus than ever before.
TCNJ’s All College Theatre brings a modern New Jersey lieutenant governor resigns amid twist to the classic story of ‘Antigone’ allegations of sexual and ethical wrongdoing By Luke Hunter Correspondent
Photo courtesy of Finn Singley
King Creon lecturing his niece, Antigone. By Jadyn Buccilli Staff Writer The College’s student-run straight-play theatre group, All College Theatre, presented their fall production of “Antigone” in Kendall Hall’s Don Evans Black Box Theater. The production, which opened on Sept. 24 and closed on Sept. 26, sold out entirely by opening night. Originally written in the Ancient Greek period, the play follows Antigone, a young woman who defies her uncle, King Creon, to give her deceased brother a proper burial. This particular production is based off of Jean Anouilh’s adaptation of the story, in which the events all take place during Germany’s occupation of Paris during World War II. ACT’s take on the play was directed by Janet Quartarone, executive director of the local company Shakespeare 70, which works with the College. ACT saw this idea and took it to the next level, having the entire show take place in the present day. Quartarone achieved this with the intentional costume design of the characters. King Creon, despite his royal status, is dressed in a suit with slicked back hair, looking more
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presidential than king-like. His three guards wear camouflage pants and bulletproof vests, creating a military-style presence. Antigone, despite Creon’s laws, ventures out to where her brother’s body is located in broad daylight, and attempts to give him a proper burial. Since Polynieces was seen as a traitor for attacking his own city, Creon decided that his body must instead waste away above ground for betrayal. Even when the guards catch Antigone in the midst of her burying and bring her back to Creon, she is determined to either finish the burial or die trying. Antigone, once she is caught by the guards and Creon, is given the chance to pretend that nothing happened in order to save herself. Despite Antigone’s desire to live, she’d rather be executed than change her beliefs in order to please the king. Though the play concludes with her being sealed alive into a cave and then dying, there is a glimmer of hope. After Creon loses his son and wife to suicide as a result of Antigone’s absence, the audience could see Creon begin to sit with the guilt of what he has done.
FEATURES
Honors program
see THEATRE page 9 page 3
Wayne Heisler, the College’s director of the Honors and Scholars Program, has worked to strengthen the program.
OPINIONS
New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell offered his resignation to New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Sept. 25. Caldwell’s resignation comes in the wake of several allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior towards women and other allegations of ethical misjudgement, ABC Action News reports. Before stepping into the role of lieutenant governor, Caldwell had served as a Methodist pastor and was the president of Centenary University. Earlier this year, Gov. Sherrill initiated an investigation into the conduct of Caldwell after an anonymous letter accused him of sexual and ethical misconduct, according to The Guardian. The launch of this investigation happened only five months into the Sherrill-Caldwell administration. Investigators walked away concluding that aspects of the allegations were credible, according to the article. Caldwell made several sexual comments to female staffers. In one instance, after the friend of a female employee rejected the advances of Caldwell, he launched into a derogatory rant directed at women. Caldwell, after being made aware he was placed under investigation, further went on to lobby for a promotion for his girlfriend, a fellow state employee. Caldwell denied the allegations, originally showing zero sign that he would resign from his office. Contained
Letter to the editor
page 4
TCNJ needs to better understand its students and the higher eduction market.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
2026 VMAs
within the misconduct report was a letter saying, “Caldwell said he suspected his relationships with women were being subjected to extra scrutiny because he was a single Black man,” ABC reports. Following the release of the investigation into Caldwell’s misconduct, several New Jersey politicians put pressure on Gov. Sherrill to call for Caldwell’s resignation, though New Jersey state law says the governor of the state has no authority to fire the lieutenant governor as the position is independently elected, ABC says; they can be stripped of “nearly all duties and responsibilities.” Gov. Sherrill called on Caldwell to resign on Sept. 24, after the team of lawyers she hired concluded Caldwell had acted inappropriately towards women. Caldwell answered the Governor’s call for his resignation on Sept. 25. Caldwell’s lawyer, Thomas Calcagni, in a statement reported by the Guardian, stated “Dr Caldwell’s resignation, submitted to put an end to the targeted campaign to discredit his character, does not in any way diminish our outrage concerning the investigative process and its specious findings.” Given the magnitude of importance the role of secretary of state plays in the impending midterm elections, Gov. Sherrill announced in a press conference that acting state Comptroller Shirley Emehelu will also serve as acting secretary of state until a replacement lieutenant governor is appointed. Gov. Sherrill has 45 days to find Caldwell’s permanent replacement. page 9
At the 2026 VMAs artists like Sienna Spiro, Taylor Swift, and Nirvana went home with awards.
SPORTS
Field hockey
page 11
Field hockey secures big 8-0 win.and enters NJAC play.
page 2 The Signal October 2, 2026
Cop Shop: Slashed tires, harassment and a stolen dollar By Gloria Vittadello News Editor
The Signal and Campus Police work together on a weekly basis to inform the campus community about crime on and around campus. All records given to The Signal are public records and do not contain personal information. Some information provided may be triggering for some students. During the past two weeks, Campus Police have received reports regarding slashed tires, a case of harassment, a car break-in and more. Dude, where’s my Dasher? On Sept. 26, two reports were made to Campus Police about a woman who was allegedly driving through Campus Town and campus harassing and damaging property. All of the individuals related to the case were not students. The alleged assaulter is known to Campus Police, though her identity has not been disclosed.
campus. The second victim, who found campus police sitting outside of Lot 7, said she was being followed in and out of Lots 3 and 4. The second victim observed the Camry driver was waving her arms erratically as she followed the victim’s vehicle. After the driver of the Dodge eventually parked, the woman driving the Camry parked next to her and immediately made eye contact. She then took out a pair of scissors and stabbed a water bottle, all while maintaining a gaze, the victim said. The victim then stated the alleged assaulter hit her vehicle, but police did observe any damage. She was also able to take a photo of the Camry. The assaulters car was last seen leaving the College at about 1:51 p.m. A New Jersey Victim
had his Apple iPad. He said the last place he had it was in Roscoe West on Sept. 23, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. He made attempts to find it, but was unsuccessful. He used Apple’s Find my iPhone app, and saw his device was dinging in Travers or Wolfe at 9 p.m. The staff member said the device has since been turned off. The estimated cost of the iPad is $570. September 22: Don’t spend it all at one place In the North Lot of Campus Town, a student reported a car break-in. The Campus Town resident the last time he was in his car was Sunday, Sept. 20. When Sept. 22 rolled around, he went back to his vehicle and observed h i s
Her journey to campus After the white Camry driver left Panera, she began to follow a woman driving a black Dodge Journey into
Fire alarms There were over a dozen incidents of fire alarms between Sept. 20 and 29. They were primarily due to steamy showers, hair dryers and even an air freshener. The Townhouses, specifically the Townhouses East, which had seven triggered alarms, faced many evacuations. One of the alarms was triggered for seemingly no reason. September 29: A warm hair dryer At around 1:00 a.m. there was an alarm that went off in the Townhouses East, with light strobes and audible sirens fully activated. The alarm went off on the first floor of one of the units. There, a female student said the alarm went off while she was blow drying her hair, which was still warm when the police checked. September 28: The rules of air fryers On the third floor of one of the units in Townhouse East, at around 3:52 p.m., strobes and audibles were active, and there was a full evacuation. Campus Police reported there were no signs of fire, but officers noticed a haze of smoke and smelled something burning.
A tire slashed Campus Police was summoned to Panera Bread for a call about a punctured tire at about 1:44 p.m. The victim said she was picking up a DoorDash delivery from the restaurant when a white Toyota Camry turned into the do not enter drive-through. The driver of the Camry got out of her vehicle and proceeded to yell at the victim as she walked in and out of the establishment. When the victim came out of Panera, the assaulter, dressed in a black hoodie, was waiting by her car. The victim then said she witnessed the woman slash her rear passenger-side tire with a large pair of scissors, doing about $300 worth of damage. Right after, the driver fled the scene, north onto Route 31. The whole interaction was caught on security cameras. The victim was able to take a picture of the alleged assaulter and her car.
could have been how the intruder got in.
Notification form has been filled out, but there is nothing else to report at this time. Stolen property There were a couple of thefts on Sept. 24 and 22. September 24: iPad’s first Towers visit A College faculty member made a call to Campus Police around 12 p.m., after he realized he no longer
registration, insurance and other papers were scattered in the front of his car. He did notice something was stolen though: a dollar. The intruder also left something behind, a bar-shaped item on his dash board, that appeared to be soap. The student said there were short black hairs on it as well. He stated his front passenger door doesn’t function properly, which
The resident of the dorm said he was using an air fryer, and placed a packaged sandwich inside of it, which caused the smoke and smell. He took the air fryer outside, and showed the cops the burned paper. Officers advised him to not cook wrapping paper again. September 23: Burned popcorn At approximately 9:55 p.m., a smoke detector went off in Wolfe Hall. When Campus Police got there, strobes and audibles were not activated, so the officer manually turned it on. On the seventh floor, there was a strong odor of burned popcorn coming from one of the dorms. When officers entered the room, there was no food, but it was determined the alarm went off because of careless cooking. September 22: Steamy showers Both the Townhouses West and East experienced alarms go off due to shower steam. Both buildings were completely evacuated, but returned safely once Campus Police deemed the area safe. September 20: A sensitive alarm At approximately 4:58 p.m., an alarm went off in the Townhouses East for what seemed to be no reason. Students were fully evacuated from the building.
Photo courtesy of Kit Ackerman
The Signal shares police reports since the beginning of the fall semester.
September 20: Burnt steak Campus Police were notified of an alarm that went off in Campus Town building 600 at around 5:40 p.m. Upon entering the room, police reported the room was smokey and there was a smell of charred steak. The resident of the apartment said the alarm went off when she was cooking a patty, but left it in the pan for too long. The building was not evacuated.
Features
TCNJ makes efforts to rejuvenate their honors program for students
Photo by Andre Paras
The program continues to improve and elevate student experiences. By Natalia Tomczak News Editor Following multiple changes in director leadership between 2023 and 2025, Wayne Heisler, the College’s director of the Honors and Scholars Program, has worked to strengthen the program. The honors program at the College has three pillars: depth, integration and purpose, with courses that are intentional about meeting at least one, if not multiple, of those pillars. The goal for all honors courses is that they take an interdisciplinary approach and foster community. “The emphasis at TCNJ is on excellence. The way I think about it is that students in the honors program and the experiences they have should exemplify and model the excellence of the institution,” said Heisler. Heisler has been teaching honors classes at the College since 2009 and previously served as the director of the program from 2016 to 2017, but when he got called to chair the Department of Music, he had to leave the director position. He remained on the Honors and Scholars council, and when there was an opening for a director position in August 2025, he was interested in taking it up again, and began the position in September 2025. One of the reasons why Heisler has been trying to strengthen the program as it exists is
because they are currently in the midst of a selfstudy to evaluate the program. The previous self-study was conducted ten years ago in 2016. The self-study is submitted to the National Collegiate Honors Council, then two external reviewers from other institutions evaluate the program and weigh it against the self-study, creating a report to make recommendations on how the program can be improved. The self-study seeks to evaluate the program so that strategic decisions can be made about what will be changed going forward. For that reason it is not ideal to make big changes during the midst of the evaluation, as this is a time of reflection before action. Within the next couple of years, it can be expected that there may be some changes to the program based on this process. In the meantime, improvements have been made as Heisler focuses on enhancing communication and operations. There have been more frequent updates on Canvas and Instagram, as well as the creation and use of a GroupMe chat for all honors students. Communication amongst staff has also been fortified. Prior to each semester, Heisler has begun to meet with all faculty who teach cross-listed honors courses to brainstorm and standardize the practices for the honors enhancement. For students, a program-wide meeting is held where the course list for the following semester is presented. This takes place in the middle of October and the middle of March. These meetings used to happen at the beginning of the semester, but now they’re taking place a few weeks before students start meeting with their advisors for the next term. Additionally, when students are accepted into the program, they are offered a one-on-one advising session with the director. Heisler has also worked to bring back the student advisory board as well as rekindle the promotion of and investment in conference opportunities.
SAB, which had been inactive for about a year at the time when Heisler began as director, has been revived. The first meetings of the new SAB took place during 2026 in the spring semester after a representative from each school at the College was assembled for the board. Brooke Zevon, senior psychology major and School of Humanities and Social Sciences representative on the advisory board, spoke about the efficacy of the board. The board has one representative from each school and meets monthly with Heisler to coordinate events and talk about ways to improve the program experience. Representatives also serve as the point of communication between current and prospective honors students and the director of the program. Currently, the focus of the board has been the self-study. “It’s definitely hard at a smaller school like TCNJ to build that sense of community, but part of Dr. Heisler re-establishing the SAB is to find ways to increase our unity as a program,” Zevon commented. “We held a pizza event last semester, and this semester we offered honors students a special program from the leadership office! Our hopes are to improve upon the program experience for students and create more of a feeling of community.” In regards to conference opportunities, participation in the Northeast Regional Honors Conference had waned in recent years, in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Last year, Heisler made sure to disseminate the information about the conference, and four students attended and presented there. The College was able to fund all of the students who attended the conference, which was held in New Haven, Connecticut. This year the conference will be taking place in Baltimore, and information has already been posted and shared. Additionally, money has already been committed from the budget to support students’ travel. Heisler also aims to address concern and misunderstanding about how the program works. A frequent concern amongst students,
which can be felt on a national scale, has been the relationship between honors courses and students’ majors. “That tension is definitely evident at TCNJ too, but honors programs in general are centered on the liberal arts and college core, again, because interdisciplinarity is a huge part of it,” Heisler said. “Sometimes those skills are referred to as soft skills, but I think that wording is unfortunate because the ability to communicate, to do the research, figure out what’s true and what’s fiction, to put things really into context is not a soft skill—it’s a very important skill,” he adds. To combat this concern, the College offers something many other institutions do not, which is an emphasis on honors-by-contract course enhancements that can be done in any course. Students can take two honors-bycontract courses and complete one honors and scholars project, meaning three of their five required honors courses can focus specifically on their major. Another frequent misunderstanding about how honors courses are curated is that there’s a curriculum, but since faculty are committed first and foremost to their department rather than college-wide programs, the course offerings change every year. Heisler further explained, “Similarly, firstyear seminar topics and faculty change every year because it just depends on what faculty are interested in and what faculty have time [to do].” Nonetheless, the program continues to improve and elevate student experiences. Heisler believes the benefits are undeniable, saying, “to have recent graduates who are applying into jobs, who have interdisciplinary experience and can write and research well, is something that translates to every field.” Editor’s note: Brooke Zevon is a staff photographer for The Signal. She was interviewed as a source for this story and had no involvement in the writing, editing or publishing process.
TCNJ’s new dietician, Natalie Tannehill, is here to make healthy eating easier By Sky Pinkett Features Editor
As students, eating can be one of our favorite pastimes while also being one of our biggest challenges. Some good news for those of us at the College is that we have Natalie Tannehill, our newest dietitian, to guide us into cultivating healthy relationships with food. “I think being able to help people navigate what health looks like to them and meeting individualized goals and also helping to kind of break down some irrational beliefs around food and health and dieting [is what I love],” Tannehill said. “I mean, we live in such a diet-consuming culture that what might be good for one person really isn’t good for the general population.” Helping students be their healthiest selves, especially in a campus ecosystem, is what Tannehill does best. “Allergens, events, and one-on-one counseling are my primary focus. One-on-one counseling for sure is really where my heart is,” Tannehill said. “Specifically for campus dietetics, the work is really focused on health and wellness.” Tannehill’s specialization in dietetics, specifically for college students, covers a wide scope. “I do a lot of work with students who have allergens to make sure that they are accommodated and that all of their dining needs are met. I’m also available for nutrition counseling, whether it be for healthy eating, any kind of medical nutrition therapy needs, sports nutrition, eating disorders, weight management, whatever that may be,” Tannehill said. “Specifically in the campus setting, everything is more so geared towards how we
can accommodate [for students] and meet it with our dining program,” she added. Tannehill’s range as a dietitian speaks to her passion to help. And yet, there was almost a reality where she would’ve been Chef Tannehill: pastry professional. “I wanted to be a pastry chef in high school and was looking at different schools to become one,” Tannehill said. “And I got totally, totally freaked out by the average age of students enrolled and felt like most of them were in their 20s or 30s or 40s and went back to school for a second degree.” She continued, “At that point I ended up in Rutgers and started actually as a communications major. In spring semester of my freshman year, [I took] a nutrition one-on-one course to satisfy my science requirement and at that point I was like, wait, no, this is totally it.” From there, Tannehill added nutrition as a second major and came into a job where meeting students where they’re at is crucial. “I also work very closely with the Accessibility Resource Center for students who either need a modification or accommodation to their meal plan to meet medical or allergy needs,” Tannehill said. “And then I’m the person that they go to from the dining point of view to be able to actually execute their accommodation.” Tannehill is truly for the students, in large part because she remembers what it was like to be one herself. “I struggled with an eating disorder throughout high school and had gone to a couple of different dietitians that really didn’t give what I actually needed. [I was] a 15-year-old who wanted nothing to do with what they said,” Tannehill said candidly. “So another kind of side of that too was I
actually love this. I can take what I’m getting from here and go be the type of dietitian that I feel like I did not have when I was in high school,” Tannehill continued. “I was able to kind of adapt what I feel like those times specifically needed based on my own experience and be able to give back in that way.” Not only was Tannehill decisive in wanting to help future students in this way, but she was also decisive in where she wanted to go to do it. “This actually was my first choice of school when I was in high school. I ended up not going here when I was looking at prospective majors,” Tannehill said. “But when I was only 17 years old, this was the most beautiful campus that just felt like home, so I always was kind of drawn to TCNJ for that reason. But it also just has such a great sense of community and belonging.” Now Tannehill is contributing to that sense of belonging by making sure she is available and meeting student needs. “[Students] can stop by anytime in the atrium at Eickhoff where I’ll be sitting behind the 31 North Deli. They can email me or there are also QR codes all over campus on the napkin holders or on different signs where you can scan the code and book an appointment that way,” she said. Tannehill encourages students to reach out for help, and to especially keep an open mind about what campus dining has to offer. “I think a misconception is that there are no healthy foods on campus or there’s nothing good for [students] at Eickhoff,” Tannehill said. “But really looking around at the different stations, seeing what we have from day to day, utilizing our online menus and our online apps to see our different options for the atrium at Eickhoff as well as in the 1855 room, where all calories and nutritional information is also available online…
Photo courtesy of Natalie Tannehill
Tannehill encourages students to reach out for help. can be extremely helpful.” For students who find eating on campus difficult, scheduling a meeting with Tannehill may be just the solution to become informed on their options. “When I do have students who are having a hard time navigating different options that may be considered to be healthier, there usually are a lot of different areas or resources in the dining hall that they’re not aware of,” Tannehill said. As the semester continues to kickoff, Tannehill encourages students to start the season off right with a balanced view of food and eating. “Know that all foods can stay in moderation,” Tannehill said. “Don’t restrict or limit yourself from anything that you might deem to be unhealthy because anything taken too far is not healthy long-term. So eating in moderation, actually letting yourself enjoy food, being adventurous and asking for help if you have any questions or concerns at all is my advice.”
Letter to the editor: TCNJ needs to understand itself and its enrollment markets
Graphic by Liam Simonelli
Dear Editor, TCNJ needs to move forward and find a focused and sustainable place in higher education. However, it continues to fail to understand the market forces that influence its enrollment. This is the responsibility of the entire institution. The personal goals, motivations, and dreams of students who enroll in an institution are often different from the mission and goals of the institution itself. These two are frequently misconstrued as being the same. For example, TCNJ traditionally describes it-
self through the language of the liberal arts, but much of its current enrollment is oriented towardprofessional pathways. This does not mean that TCNJ should abandon its liberal arts mission. For TCNJ to be successful in that mission, it needs to speak to the students it attracts, understand where it sits in the market for students, and differentiate itself from its Competitors. Every year, TCNJ collects data on what students desire, and it is all hidden in plain sight in the admissions report. This report divides student in-
terest among well over one hundred majors, specializations, and pathways. There may be academic meaning in these distinctions, but they obscure the markets in which TCNJ actively competes for students. These markets naturally vary in size. This fact is generally ignored in TCNJ’s haveand-have- not mentality: if you have students, you are good; if you don’t, you better watch out. There is no future in this type of mentality. We need to consider both the size of the applicant pool, represented by the number of applications, and our competitive position within that market, represented by our yield. Under the current mentality, a program that attracted 972 applications and enrolled 107 freshmen would be considered highly successful by TCNJ’s standards. It would garner academic resources to continue doing what it is doing. However, these numbers need to be considered in the context of the market available to the program. Of the 972 students who applied, 754 were admitted, and only 107 of those admitted students enrolled. In other words, the program enrolled only 14.2% of the students it admitted. TCNJ as a whole enrolled 18.5% of its admitted students. The program’s below-average performance in this large market demands institutional at-
OPINION: TCNJ needs to take care of its deer population
A buck was recently found injured on campus.
By Tasnim Oyshi Editorialist When you step onto the College’s campus in late August, one of the first sights that welcomes you is of the well-known and loved deer. It can feel overwhelming to begin your college journey or to come back for another semester after three months, but seeing the carefree deer roaming around campus is always a highlight. While it is nice to have the ability to see deer up close, this means that our deer are relatively unafraid of humans. The deer can’t necessarily know better when it comes to getting too close to people, which can lead them into dangerous situations. Within the past week, students at the College have witnessed an injured deer across campus. On Sept. 16, a Campus Alert was sent to student emails about the wounded animal. The email reported that many people have seen and informed Campus Police about the “severely injured buck near Green Hall.” “We are working directly with local New Jersey Fish and Wildlife officials, who will be on campus Thursday, Sept.
Photo by Erin Reilly
17, to evaluate the buck and determine the most compassionate course of action,” the email stated. In addition, students were encouraged to not approach, touch or feed the buck and to give wildlife officials space when they arrived on campus. According to Emily Dodd, a digital content editor for the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Brand Management and spokesperson for the College, “The officers tranquilized the deer and removed it from campus for assessment. After determining that the deer would not be able to survive in the wild, New Jersey Fish and Wildlife officers humanely euthanized the deer.” Students have called Campus Police about the deer several times throughout the week, so it is concerning that the College took this long to take action. There hasn’t been any reports on how long the buck has been hurt for. Within the time that necessary attention has not been delivered, however, the animal has been suffering. While an injured animal seems like enough of an emergency to get someone on campus as soon as possible, it’s possible scheduling a time for the New
Jersey Fish and Wildlife officials to come by was difficult to figure out. Regardless, there is no doubt that there should be more effort put into making sure the wildlife in the area don’t get hurt in the first place. The unfortunate situation with the young buck is not the first instance of a deer getting hurt in the area, with a deer being found two years ago having been struck by an arrow. There is an overpopulation of deer in this area and that makes it much easier for them to be harmed by potentially stepping on the road at disastrous times or getting too close to humans. The College is reportedly working with Friends of Hopewell Valley Open Space to restore the surrounding ecosystem, which can include planning for ways to get the deer population under control, according to Community News. This, however, does not change the fact that the deer are currently unprotected and can often be at risk. The College should be more committed to making sure that hurt animals get the proper care as fast as possible and proactive in their attempts to keep deer out of danger. The College’s relationship with the campus deer runs long and can almost feel sacred with how much the wild animals seem to trust the people going here. The College’s official Instagram account occasionally posts pictures of them and there’s even a non-affiliated Instagram account, @deeroftcnj, that posts student-taken pictures of the deer. The deer on campus are a part of nature and it’s the College’s responsibility to protect them whenever possible. The College should take measures so that campus deer aren’t put in danger by the environment they create.
tention. It is important to understand why students enroll elsewhere. Instead of spending the summer pursuing personal, scholarly, and/or creative endeavors without distractions, a department in this position should also be asking what the market is telling it, why so many admitted students choose to go elsewhere, and how it can diferentiate itself and improve its competitive position. TCNJ’s systems give programs little reason to ask these types of questions as long as their enrollment remains high. In fact, our system rewards absolute enrollment without adequately considering performance within the market. TCNJ is a primarily undergraduate, tuition-driven institution whose longterm stability is tied to attracting students, understanding what those students want, distinguishing ourselves from our peers, and providing students with strong outcomes. If we can’t do this, TCNJ cannot fulfill its mission or accomplish its goals. Finding a focused and sustainable place in higher education requires every academic program to understand the market in which it operates and critically evaluate its position within that market. Institutional resources need to focus on this simple fact. Sincerely, Andrew J. Bechtel
OPINION: Tipping culture has gone too far
Photo courtesy of Flickr
Tipping is seen as a social norm and it’s been taken advantaged of by companies.
By Jadyn Buccilli Staff Writer Tipping in the United States is basically unavoidable nowadays. It seems that no matter where you go, there is always someone flipping around a small tablet saying “It (the tablet) is just going to ask you a few questions.” It was not always like this though. It was common for delivery drivers, waitstaff and hairdressers to receive tips in the past, and rightfully so. A ton of employees who are in these types of jobs are not paid the minimum wage, so tipping allows people in these positions to have enough money to live comfortably. However, I have noticed that more and more places that have not usually asked for tips have joined the bandwagon. Quick service counters are definitely one of the first places I have noticed where this is implemented and it’s always via a small tablet. For example, I frequent the nearby Panera and the Teamalaya because it is in Campus Town, where I am a resident. The infuriating part is I usually order on one of the tablets and do not interact with a single person besides getting my name called to retrieve my items. Read more on our website!
Editorials
Colleges need stronger Title IX policies to protect their students
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The recent Cornell lawsuit raises concerns about the power of Title IX. By Tasnim Oyshi Editorialist All federally funded colleges in the United States are covered by Title IX, a law that essentially forbids discrimination on the basis of sex. Title IX is also supposed to protect students who have been victims of sexual violence during their time at the school. In light of the recent lawsuit against Cornell University, the current protections under Title IX raise ethical questions. On Sept. 14, a former Cornell student, known only as Jane Doe, filed a lawsuit against seven current and former Cornell students for allegations of drugging and gang rape. The students were Matthew Ingalls, Johnathan Newell, Winston Lee, Gillio Lopes, Diego Sarabia, Scott Norris and Scott Kretzschmar. The university and Chi Phi fraternity chapter were also sued, of which the seven
male students were members. Additional defendants include the former president of the chapter, multiple sororities, a local bar that allegedly overserved Jane Doe along with other Cornell alumni and faculty. The lawsuit accuses the seven men of an alleged 2024 incident at the Chi Phi fraternity’s house, where the plaintiff met up with her friend and one of the defendants, Ingalls, on Oct. 19, 2024 at about 11 p.m. There, defendants Ingalls and Jonathan Newell allegedly sexually assaulted her. A screenshot from page 27 of the lawsuit shows a Snapchat group chat of Chi Phi members, where Newell invited other members to join with the message, “Free p***y in alum pu,” at around 1:42 a.m. Several members joined and the assault continued until about 5:45 a.m., the lawsuit states. When the plaintiff reported them to
the Cornell University Police Department on Nov. 8, 2024, the school put the fraternity on “temporary suspension for alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct,” according to The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell’s student newspaper. The seven defendants were also temporarily suspended. Around Jan. 14, 2025, Cornell launched a Title IX investigation, resulting in at least 12 hearings in May 2025. “Upon information and belief, Cornell’s Title IX investigation is concluded,” the lawsuit states. The Cornell Daily Sun was one of the first to break the news of the lawsuit. In the same issue, they published an accompanying editorial titled, “Cornell Won’t, We Will,” that began with the names of the defendants. The editorial board criticized how long the university took to conduct an investigation and the lack of disclosure regarding the consequences the defendants received. One particularly contentious point in the lawsuit was that the seven were given the chance to submit essays as recompense for the alleged assault. According to a Sept. 28 statement from Cornell, “At its conclusion, the hearing panel issued a range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions from Cornell. None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement.” What allegedly happened to the plaintiff is, without a doubt, horrifying and life-altering. As per the intentions of Title IX, it is Cornell’s job to provide her with the support she needs after the fact and thoroughly investigate the accused. Cornell maintains that they were
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thorough. This was not clearly communicated to their students and certainly not The Cornell Daily Sun, who had to take it upon themselves to publish the names of the defendants. The way Cornell handled this situation can be debated in several ways and definitely has been if you look at social media discourse. The important question, however, is if Cornell truly did their job based on Title IX or if Title IX itself is flawed in its protection of sexual assault victims. While Title IX investigations typically conceal the identities of the accused and victim, there is no rule about what can be revealed once the investigation is done. Perhaps, Title IX should have a specific policy on what should and should not be shared with the public after an investigation. Maybe Title IX could also use stronger and clearer rules about how to conduct sexual violence investigations. As of Sept. 28, New York prosecutors have decided to reopen the case, according to ABC News. The same day, the Department of Education decided to rescind “a 2024 Title IX rule…that required schools to move proactively on sexual assault harassment cases, calling on them to strengthen and specify their protections for campus survivors,” stated The New Republic. The timing of this news is unfortunate and concerning. Weakening a law that already has unclear policies leaves students unprotected and no place to turn if they face situations like the one at Cornell. Colleges should give students the opportunity to receive education without having to worry about their safety and Title IX should enforce that responsibility.
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Federal judge declares White House media ban unconstitutional
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President Trump tense relationship with left-leaning news outlets manifested in a media ban from the White House. By Emily Lindsey Correspondent A security guard at a media checkpoint near the West Wing confiscated CNN correspondent Betsey Klein’s White House issued badge and denied her entry on Sept. 19, according to The New York Times. His only explanation was to refer her to the White House Press Office. On Sept. 21, The White House formally announced that “President Donald J. Trump removed CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House grounds after years of false
reporting.” All three news outlets were quick to respond with a lawsuit. The Associated Press reported their joint lawsuit asserted that the Constitution “does not allow a president or any other government official to deprive the press of their First Amendment rights and liberty and property interests with no notice or process based solely on his dislike of the content of their reporting.” The White House, however, maintained that while “the First Amendment protects their right to publish; it does not entitle them to
a hard pass, briefing room seat, or place in the press pool.” While all three outlets were excluded from the first two items in the White House’s list of privileges, The Associated Press reported that CNN’s removal from the press pool that it shares with five other networks prevented them from covering events that the president attended outside of the White House. “CNN had been scheduled to cover Trump’s trip to New York for the General Assembly on Monday, but was not able to provide a pool feed,” according to Reuters. In solidarity, The Associated Press “joined a number of news organizations, including The Washington Post and The New York Times, in a decision not to publish photographs of presidential events on Monday.” In the midst of these major global events, Reuters reported that U.S. District Judge Tom Kelly, appointed by President Trump in his previous term, decided that “the revocation of the White House credentials of the journalists ‘likely violated their constitutional due process rights.’” CNN itself argued that Judge Kelly’s decision aligned with his ruling in 2017 to override a previous Trump White House ban on CNN reporter Jim Acosta. When Judge Kelly announced his decision then, he relied “on a 1977 precedent
establishing that press pass holders were entitled to due process before their White House access was yanked.” The New York Times elaborated that his current ruling included a two week lift of the enforcement of the ban, and Kelly instructed The White House to “‘immediately return, reinstate, and restore’ the press credentials held by employees of the three outlets.” However, according to Reuters, when the banned outlets arrived at the White House on Thursday morning, all three were independently denied entry. The Hill reported that “journalists working for the outlets were not allowed back onto the White House grounds until after noon Thursday.” So, when President of China Xi Jinping and his wife Madam Peng arrived at the White House early that morning for a meeting that Trump described on Truth Social as “made for television,” not a single U.S. camera documented it. Although the three banned outlets’ prosecution attorney Theodore Boutrous described the judge’s decision to CNN as “a strong ruling vindicating freedom of the press, due process and the rule of law,” The New York Times contended that the ruling “is a temporary reprieve for the three outlets while the litigation proceeds.”
Key moments in the UN General Assembly debate
By Isabella McHugh Nation & World Editor
World leaders amassed in New York City where the annual United Nations General Assembly High Level debate took place between Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, CNBC reported. Here’s what you need to know. Day 1 President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva spoke first on Sept. 22, following the long-standing tradition that Brazil always speaks first, Aljazeera reported. President Donald Trump spoke after representing the host country. “I can report to you with pride that America is back, and our country is stronger today than ever before,” Trump said among his other opening sentiments, according to the United Nations Web TV. He highlighted issues such as border security and crime rates, while consistently telling everyone that he turned the United States into “the most powerful country in the world.” Not long after, Trump spoke about the U.S.’ action against Iran and threatened to “annihilate” Iran if the countries didn’t reach a peace deal. Day 2 The U.N. debate unfolded into talks of worldwide conflict and security on Sept. 23. Argentina’s President Javier Milei believes that the U.N. is not doing enough to guarantee collective security, the United Nations News reported. World leaders gave attention to the Russia-Ukraine war, which arguably threatened regional security and global resources. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of ending
the war, standing by the conviction that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the determining factor. He stressed that Russia has consequently suffered the loss by death or severe injury of nearly 250,000 troops. Zelenskyy also mentioned additional repercussions in other countries. “A war that was not prevented in time, was not stopped in time, and for which Russia was not punished in time, keeps spreading and spreads evil with it,” he said. He additionally stated, “The more freedom Putin has to act, the more dangerous the world becomes for everyone else.” Zelenskyy discouraged intensive trade with Russia as he said this was fueling the war by giving Russia more means to sustain their resources.
Day 3 The Israel-Palestine war took precedence on Sept. 24 of the General Assembly’s discussion, according to the United Nations News. World leaders expressed concern for the effect it would have on food and security in many areas. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the war in Gaza was a “Genocidal War” that brought about incomprehensible tragedy. Contrarily, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the media of overlooking Palestinian attacks. Comoros President Azali Assoumani discussed the resource instability, especially with food that suffered due to constant interference with the Strait of Hormuz. Day 4 The U.N. debate switched to discussions about the climate crisis on Sept. 25. Small island states highlighted
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The United Nations General Assembly debate takes place from Sept. 22 to Sept. 28 in New York City. the fact that climate change is something the world is experiencing currently, and is no longer a faraway issue, according to The United Nations. Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre said that climate change threatens economic stability and security. “Climate finance is not charity,” he said. Mauritius called for the implementation of the High Seas Treaty which is designed to protect ocean life as well as manage and share resources. Day 5 On Sept. 26, the debate progressed to discussions about AI and the role it plays in the future. China’s Vice President Han Zheng argued that it should be used “for the positive and for good,” the United Nations reported. Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan expressed the need for safeguard investments. He said, “human beings must remain in control and accountable.” Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul added to the discussion of responsible AI usage, saying that AI can be a source for good to help humanity but could destroy economy and civilian
life if it falls into the wrong hands or is used without regard for the rest of the world. Day 6 During the final day of the debate, the U.N. reflected on the issues presented over the past several days. The General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman reiterated issues like sustainability, saying that more should have been done to stay on track with their goals. He also pointed out the hidden voices within the Assembly that were also some of the most affected by global issues. Rahman spoke about minority groups, and the importance of making sure their voices are heard, and once again brought up the growing presence of AI. As of Sept. 28, the General debate is concluded, but the General Assembly session is still underway from Oct. 1 until December where the U.N. will delve deeper into the issues discussed in the General debate and others that arise. In closing the debate, Rahman said “This is only the beginning of the session.”
page 8 The Signal October 2, 2026
Man left with bullet near spine after ICE shooting in Austin, Texas
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A DoorDash delivery driver was shot by an ICE agent not wearing a body cam. By Emma Alejandro Staff Writer Twenty-eight-year-old Wilber Rafael Garcés Pérez from Venezuela was attacked by ICE agents on Sept. 20 at a traffic stop in Austin, Texas. Initially, Garcés Pérez believed it to be a road rage incident after Immigration and Customs Enforcement sideswiped his car according to The Guardian. Reported by CBS News, Garcés Pérez was on his way to deliver food as a DoorDash driver when he was confronted and shot in the back by ICE. Garcés Pérez was then taken into custody at a federal detention center in South Texas with the bullet still lodged in his back near his spine according to Representative Greg Casar’s official statement following his detention-center visit. The shooting has since renewed debate over the conduct of ICE officers after reports indicated that the officer who shot Garcés Pérez was not
wearing an activated body camera at the time of the incident despite reportedly being issued one, according to The Washington Post. The lack of body camera footage has intensified calls for transparency from both lawmakers and immigrant rights advocates seeking a complete account of the encounter, according to The New York Times. According to Garcés Pérez’s attorney, Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch, the bullet was not removed because doctors believed it was too close to his spine. The bullet remained lodged near his spinal column while he was transferred from the hospital to ICE custody, leaving him in severe pain and raising concerns about possible longterm mobility complications, according to The Guardian. “I am not doing well, and I am not receiving the medical attention that I require,” Garcés Pérez said in remarks published by The Guardian after being transferred to the ICE detention facility in
Pearsall, Texas. According to his attorney, Garcés Pérez was held in isolation in a non-medical bed and initially received only ibuprofen and Tylenol for his pain. Garcés Pérez also said that he spent his first night sleeping on the concrete floor of a cell without a bed, according to NPR News. The Guardian reported that he remained in isolation after speaking to reporters, while Rep. Greg Casar said that when he visited Garcés Pérez, he found him in a wheelchair with his left arm in a sling and said he had only recently received stronger pain medication. Speaking by phone during a press conference, Garcés Pérez described the moments before the shooting. According to The Texas Tribune, Garcés Pérez said an unmarked SUV struck his vehicle more than once before he realized federal agents were attempting to stop him. After noticing emergency lights, Garcés Pérez said he tried to find a safer place to pull over rather than stopping in traffic. Shortly afterward, he said he felt a shot strike him from behind, according to The Texas Tribune. Friends and family members describe Garcés Pérez as someone whose life revolved around “family, soccer and work” after arriving in the United States in 2024. A childhood friend of Garcés Pérez characterized him as a quiet individual who spent most of his time working to support loved ones both in Texas and Venezuela, according to Houston Public Media. His attorney said Garcés Pérez worked as a DoorDash driver to help support his family, including a son in Venezuela who has special medical needs. His mother told reporters that he has been hardworking since childhood and regularly sent money home to help pay for his son’s treatment and medical equipment. As mentioned by NPR News, the case has sparked protests throughout Austin, where
demonstrators have gathered outside the Texas Capitol and elsewhere to demand Garcés Pérez’s release and accountability for the shooting. More than 100 people attended one protest on Sept. 21, according to The Texas Tribune. Students at schools around the Austin area also walked out during the week, according to The Guardian. Garcés Pérez’s immigration history has also become a central part of the case. According to remarks from Garcés Pérez’s friend recounted by Houston Public Media, Garcés Pérez “came to the United States totally legally” through CBP One, a federal mobile application that allowed migrants to schedule appointments with immigration officials at ports of entry during the Biden administration. The Texas Tribune reported that Garcés Pérez used the application to enter the country and later applied for asylum. He had also obtained a valid work permit according to Houston Public Media. Attorney Lincoln-Goldfinch said Garcés Pérez missed an immigration court hearing after the notice was sent to a previous address despite having updated his address with the court, resulting in a removal order being issued in absentia. Garcés Pérez was reportedly unaware of the removal order until after he was taken into ICE custody following the shooting, according to Houston Public Media. Although he had entered the United States through the CBP One process and received authorization to work, he was later subject to a final removal order after missing the hearing. Garcés Pérez’s attorneys are seeking to block his deportation while he pursues legal options, including a possible U-visa application connected to the shooting, according to The Texas Tribune.
Trump tells Mamdani he has ‘great potential’ Government ‘kill’ order issued after By Jack Salaki Opinions Editor
President Trump flew to New York City, where he met with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Sept. 21. The pair who have met twice before, once last November and then in February, have had a surprisingly amiable relationship. At their first meeting last year, Trump said, “I’ll be cheering for him,” when referring to Mamdani becoming mayor at the start of 2026, according to BBC. Their most recent meeting focused on a major plan to transform Sunnyside Yard in Queens into a new neighborhood with over 12,000 affordable homes while creating 30,000 new jobs, according to ABC News. Mamdani commented on the project, saying, “We’ve agreed to set up a new level of that conversation between our housing and operations team at City Hall and the White House team.” “I appreciate the President and his interest in this, and we know the President not just as the leader of the country, but also as someone who has built quite a lot of housing here in our city,” which he stated in the press
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The pair have met twice before.
conference. Trump seemed to support Mamdani’s project, which would require a significant influx of federal funds. The President said the project will be “a very federal-oriented job.” Trump said he previously owned real estate in the area, saying, “It was a great building. I know it very well.” He concluded by saying that “maybe they have a shot at doing it.” Trump also reminisced about past memories at Gracie Mansion, posting on Truth Social before he arrived, “It’s one of my favorite places in the world,” according to the New York Post. Trump also conversed with Mamdani about his initial reservations about living in Gracie Mansion, and Trump encouraged him to live there. The conversation shifted to Trump’s recent ban on news organizations in the White House press room, including CNN, Politico and MS Now. The move has drawn strong condemnation from both historians and those across the political spectrum, with Fox News and other major networks committing to not cover White House events until other news organizations are allowed back into the White House, according to Variety. Mamdani pushed back on the President’s ban during the press conference saying, “I told the President that we’re going to have all of the members of the press here on the lawn, and that is something that I believe in, is everyone, no matter the opinion or the critique, that we engage.” Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his ban of those newspapers, saying that the press has an obligation to report the truth. He told reporters that he has settled eight wars and that the economy is the greatest in the history of the country, which is why he is upset with news coverage. “If you look at CNN, it’s fake news. If you look at MS Now–I don’t even know what MS Now is, I guess it’s the MSNBC, what it used to be–or MSDNC, as some people call it, that’s the Democrat National Committee. But it’s just biased news,” Trump said during the press conference. Read more on our website!
swimmer death
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Western Australian government issues “kill” order on deadly Great White Shark. By Luke Hunter Correspondent Beachgoers watched in terror as a swimmer was mauled to death by a great white shark in the Western Australian city of Perth on Sept. 18, reports CBS News. According to Surfer, the deceased swimmer was identified as 63-year-old Greg O’Neil. On the day of the shark attack, O’Neil had been swimming close to the shore with a friend. While the friend managed to escape the water with his life, O’Neil’s body was left behind and has yet to be recovered. O’Neil’s family described him as a “generous, devoted family man” and avid swimmer who “loved the ocean.” On the day of the attack, local onlookers described seeing blood in the water. According to CBS News, Ryan Rowe, an eyewitness who arrived on the Perth beach soon after the shark attack said, “I couldn’t believe there was that much blood (that had) come out of a human body.” Authorities closed the beach immediately following the shark attack, CBS News reported. While attempts to find O’Neil’s body were unsuccessful local authorities utilized boats and helicopters in their search and recovery attempts.
Jackie Jarvis, the Fisheries Minister for Western Australia ordered that the great white shark responsible for O’Neil’s death be captured and destroyed, Surfer reported. According to Surfer, Western Australia is no stranger to implementing shark control measures. Previously in 2014 the Western Australian government tried a control measure which resulted in the capturing of over 170 sharks. Surfer reports that of those sharks captured none were great white sharks. The Surfer further reported that Minister Jarvis, in the wake of backlash from various environmentalists said, “This is not the return to the idea that we would cull all apex predators in the ocean.” According to CBS News, the death of Greg O’Neil marks the fifth fatal shark attack recorded this year in Australia. Previously, a 12-year-old boy was fatally slain by a shark while swimming in Sydney Harbor in January of this year. Following that deadly attack, three other individuals were killed as a result of Shark attacks within the months of May and June. Read more on our website!
THEATRE / TCNJ’s All College Theatre brings a modern twist to the classic story of ‘Antigone’ out of order and those in charge consistently make nonsensical decisions,” says junior early childhood education and psychology major Denae Johnson, who played the title role of Antigone. “I feel like I live in Antigone’s internal monologue. She constantly asks why things are the way they are and doesn’t take no for an answer.” This modern interpretation of “Antigone” had also received positive feedback from the crowd. Anusree
Deevi, a junior clinical and counseling psychology major, said, “I think it’s a really neat way to make old stories more accessible to younger people. I believe modernizing stories allows for olden jargon to not be a barrier in enjoying stories from the past.” With this modern retelling of a classic story, ACT was able to put on a production that was heavily thought provoking and will stay in the minds of viewers for weeks to come.
Photo courtesy of Finn Singley
Antigone is captured by the guards, who prepare to punish her for her crimes. By Jadyn Buccilli Staff Writer “I think it’s definitely a very relevant story to be telling right now,” said junior English major Kathryn Wyrovsky, who played the role of Antigone’s sister Ismene. “I think seeing that message of hope and the courage that Antigone displays is very import-
ant for people to see.” This idea of standing for what you believe in has resonated hard with the cast of “Antigone,” even in times of uncertainty, which contains parallels for what is happening in the real world today. “I see a lot of parallels between Antigone and Creon and the world we live in now, where everything seems
TCNJ’s Department of Music kicks off the Tuesday Recital Series By Stephen Martin Correspondent The Department of Music here at the College presented their first performance of the weekly Tuesday Afternoon Recital Series titled “Embracing Student Achievement.” Held at the Mildred & Ernest E. Mayo Concert Hall at 12:30 p.m. on Sept. 29, the recital was the first in a weekly series featuring student performances in both vocal and instrumental sectors of the department. The concerts start each year around a month into the semester, running weekly for its entirety. This installment of the series featured six performers: four instrumentalists and two vocalists. Jarett Gaslow, a junior music education major, works backstage at the recital. “I work with all of the performers making sure that the stage is set up how they want it: if they need a stand, how they want the piano set up, and just communicating with the booth for when they go on and off stage and opening the door [when they exit],” he said. Gaslow will perform at a Tuesday recital in November as part of his major requirements. “As any major related to music education and performance, you have to perform one a year. It’s just part of your lesson—you prepare a piece,” he said. Aside from those performing, the audience of Mayo was filled with students and families, all showing up for different reasons. For Allison Buchanan, a junior English major at the College, her appearance at the recital is routine. “My brother was a music major, he just graduated this past spring. So, I’ve been going to his recitals, his Tuesday recitals, for years— before I came to TCNJ even,” she said. Buchanan sat in the first row at the performance, cheering for each one after they played or sang. She said, “Basically, I just try to squeeze it into the middle of my day, you know. I’m between classes right now, and I just go and listen to great music.” Aside from a musically inclined pastime, the recitals also act as a job opportunity for many students not directly involved with the Department of Music. Katelyn Cunha, a sophomore education major, worked as an usher on
Tuesday. “Since I’m an art education student I’ve always been surrounded by art and music my entire life. So coming to college I wanted to find a job that allowed me to continue to tap into that environment, so I became an usher,” she said. Ushers like Cunha work many different events on campus including college theater shows, band and orchestra performances and with any outside organization that performs at the concert hall. Cunha added about the position, “It really allowed me to see all of the different parts of education and see people grow their passions while continuing to pursue education and teach young minds.” While branded under one recital, the show displayed different facets of music education at the college with each performance. One of the most diverse was a vocal performance by sophomore music education major, Anoop Singh. He sang “Im wunderschönen Monat Mai,” composed by Robert Schumann, and “Le Charme,” composed by Ernest Chausson, with accompanist Astghik Sakanyan. Singh noted the preparation process that goes into each of the pieces performed. “In the preparation aspect, a lot of it is just going through the basic rhythms, understanding the history of the piece, why it was made, and what’s being sung,” he said. “The grunt of the work is really focused on the story and the expression of that. So I spent most of my time in practice rooms every single day, working through those two pieces and trying to see how, how can I best express myself through them.” Read more on our website!
Photo by Stephen Martin
Anoop Singh performs at the first Tuesday Recital of the semester.
Ismene and Antigone standing together in unity.
Photo courtesy of Finn Singley
‘Vogue World’ brings its fashion spectacle to Milano
The Italian edition of Vogue. By Danica Ward Staff Writer The fifth annual Vogue World event just finished its stay at Milano’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II on Sept. 22. Beginning in 2022, Vogue describes its event as “an annual global livestreamed fashion charity event and street spectacular to celebrate fashion, local culture, and community causes.” In addition, all ticket proceeds and profits from the event are donated to organizations working in the chosen host city. In previous years, Vogue World has kicked off New York Fashion Week, taken over Paris ahead of the Olympics and visited Hollywood to celebrate its cinematic history. Sponsors ALO, eBay, Eli Lilly and Meta Glasses helped put on the spectacle, also raising funds for northwestern Milan’s Quarto Oggiaro Library. Supporting the library’s recent major redevelopment and creative expansion, Vogue World: Milano raised $4.25 million for the project. Paying homage to real human craftsmanship and touch, Italy’s famous and historical fashion houses were called upon to create pieces based on this central theme. Prada, Armani, Versace, Ferragamo and Gucci, among multiple generations of fashion models and celebrities, were invited to Milan to show off their creative talents.
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
This year’s theme specifically tried to highlight the importance of real creativity and pure human talent, opposing the recent widespread influence of artificial intelligence around the world. Francesca Ragazzi, Vogue Italia’s editorial content head, told the magazine “This extraordinary event offers a unique opportunity to celebrate with a global audience the timeless story of Made in Italy, a story of genius and craftsmanship,” and “It feels particularly meaningful to do so at this moment in time, in the era of artificial intelligence.” Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan’s primary shopping landmark, hosted this year’s fashion extravaganza and became home to all types of physical creativity. Landing on the first day of Milan fashion week, Vogue World heightened the city’s historical bond with the fashion industry. Even Anna Wintour, Condé Nast’s chief content officer and Vogue’s global editorial director, noted that “Milan is one of the great European capitals of craftsmanship, where heritage and modernity meet, and where art, literature, opera and industry have long converged,” and argued that “There could be no better place for Vogue World to honor everything that is extraordinary about this city than the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.” Read more on our website!
page 10 The Signal October 2, 2026
History is made at the 43rd Video Music Awards By Robyn Seltzer Staff Writer
Snoop Dogg hosted MTV’s annual Video Music Awards, an event full of glittering awards, memorable performances, recordbreaking achievements and internet-spiraling moments that unfolded on Sept. 27. Madonna opened the show surrounded by dancers in abstract positions and cameramen suspended from the ceiling with wires. She sang “Bring Your Love,” accompanied by Sabrina Carpenter on the piano, and the two excited the audience as they moved around the stage to the beat of their two-time-nominated song. Madonna was pulled across the stage on a table as Charli XCX appeared, and the two sang their collaboration, “Danceteria Afterhours.” The background changed to look like a bathroom as guests like Sombr and Seth Rogen danced around in streetwear. The award for Best Pop was presented by singer Teyana Taylor. As Taylor stated, “the ladies ran the game,” with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande as nominees. The win was awarded to Lisa of Blackpink for her song “Dream,” which featured Kentaro Sakaguchi. Lisa later performed a new song of hers, “SaWaDiKa,” and the stage featured a cityscape of dancers, fake-fights and even a carriage that she climbed on top of. In between awards, a number of spellbinding performers took stage to enchant the audience. Raye made her VMAs performance debut singing “I Will Overcome” and “WHERE IS MY
Sienna Spiro wins Best New Artist at the VMAs. HUSBAND?,” followed by a special clip of Bruno Mars on his Romantic Tour, singing “Dance With Me.” Kacey Musgraves honored Dolly Parton with a beautiful cover of “I Will Always Love You,” followed with a wild west scene that took center stage as Shaboozy and Gunna performed a medley of songs, with fire igniting on the roof of their “saloon” behind them. Many music fans expected PinkPantheress’s “Stateside” featuring Zara Larsson to win the award for Best Collaboration, but “Bring Your Love” by Madonna and Carpenter took home the prize. Madonna told the VMAs audience how the collab came to be, and revealed that after getting no response from Carpenter’s team
Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Lost Weekend’ of phone-less arena shows in Brooklyn
By Andre Paras and Ashley Ragone Managing Editors
Phoebe Bridgers brought an otherworldly performance to Barclays Center this past weekend, despite powerful winds, feet of flooding and thousands of power outages across the east coast. Coming off the release of her 2026 return “Lost Weekend,” Bridgers stopped by the Barclays Center for three sold-out shows as part of the North American leg of her tour. Even if Phoebe Bridgers has managed to steer clear of the public eye for most of the past six years, this time has been astronomical for her career. She headlined “The Reunion Tour” from 2021-2023, released a Grammy award-winning album “the record” in 2023 as a part of indie-rock supergroup boygenius and toured and released music with Taylor Swift during “The Eras Tour,” ascending her popularity to new heights. Prior to the announcement of her new album “Lost Weekend,” Bridgers performed in small U.S. towns, doing small, device-less pop-up shows, only selling tickets at in-person box offices. Her stops were notably mapped by locations with recorded UFO sighting rumors. The penultimate pop-up show took place at Madison Square Garden, with Bridgers donating all of the earnings from tickets to Community Justice Exchange’s Immigration Bond Freedom Fund. The rollout of her record was quite unique, with Bridgers hosting more device-free experiences in planetariums and laser shows accompanied by an early listening of the now-released “Lost Weekend” in random cities across the country. At the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, 10 sold out experiences were held from Aug. 10 to Aug. 14. A month later, the critically ac-
claimed, long-awaited “Lost Weekend” album and “The Lost Tour” were brought to New York Before the show begins there are several experiences for attendees to choose from, whether that be meeting Bridgers’ dog Maxine in line before doors open, free tarot card pickings, a photobooth opportunity or waiting for exclusive merchandise. This comes after fans scan their tickets and drop any recording or smart devices in Yondr pouches for the duration of the show. Alex G, singer-songwriter and collaborator with Bridgers, opened the night with a whopping 19-song supporting set, spanning just about every era of the DIY indie-folk artist’s career. He performed his entire set alongside his band with strobe lights from the “B-stage” in the middle of the arena, or as Bridgers renamed it, the “Below” pit. Still, he and the band are able to switch some songs up every night. Read more on our website!
Photo by Andre Paras
Ground stickers around Barclays Center give fans unique photo opportunities outside the arena.
Photo courtesy of IMDb
about working together, the “Material Girl” singer messaged the “Manchild” popstar directly. Madonna also won Best Dance for her “Confessions II: The Film,” where Charli XCX returned with Troye Sivan as Madonna appeared sick of returning to the stage award after award. After a few jokes and initial confusion for what the award was for, she was able to enjoy the rest of the night as a viewer, now with a total of 26 VMAs won throughout her career. This year’s Video Vanguard award was presented to Nirvana for being “completely, unapologetically themselves” over the years, as said by presenter and rapper Chuck D. He recognized Nirvana as having “never bent to the will of the mainstream.” The band
honored late member Kurt Cobain. Ella Bright and Belmont Cameli, stars of “Off-Campus,” directed the audience’s attention to Sienna Spiro, who performed “Great Expectations,” dazzling the crowd with her debut VMA performance. Bright later went viral for her excitement upon meeting her idol, Taylor Swift. Spiro won her first VMA for Best New Artist presented by last year’s winner, Alex Warren. She appeared shocked upon receiving the award, and was struggling for words as she thanked “the incredible women” in her life for all their support in making the win possible. The 2026 VMAs introduced a brand new award called the Artist Director Honor, given to Taylor Swift. In a video montage, Swift revealed that she has “always written stories, poetry; directing just sort of grew out of a natural extension of that storytelling.” Her first self-directed music video was for her 2019 single, “The Man.” Throughout her 20-year-career, she has written and directed 18 total videos. After giving highfives to fans on the way to receiving her award, Swift said that she loved directing music videos because “you, the fans, make it so much fun.” However, as she was saying this, the camera panned to Charli XCX, who is allegedly the subject of Swift’s diss song “Actually Romantic.” She was seen frowning and appeared bored of the pop singer’s speech, causing the internet to further speculate on the relationship between the two. Read more on our website!
Jane Remover ‘turns up’ at Live Exhibit tour
Photo by Shaun Bulayo
Jane Remover stuns on stage as they perform “Music Baby.” By Shaun Bulayo Correspondent
Jane Remover has continued to break through the underground as they headlined their North American tour, Live Exhibit, at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on Sept. 25, 2026. The tour follows the releases of their third studio album “Revengeseekerz” and surprise extended play “Heart” in 2025. Now, as Jane continues to wrap up the last stretch of the Live Exhibit’s North American leg, they seem more confident than ever. However, their presence didn’t come out of nowhere, and their roots to the College are closer than one would expect. Producing music since high school, Jane began uploading tracks to their Soundcloud under various monikers such as leroy and c0ncernn. Under these musical pseudonyms, they would experiment with electronic sounds, hyperpop and digicore, eventually pioneering the microgenre, “Dariacore,” with subsequent albums brandishing the genre’s name. With their experimentation, they would eventually release their official debut EP “Teen Week” under a newly established alias, dltzk, amassing a small, but dedicated following. Jane would soon finish high school and begin attending the College during the fall 2021 semester, majoring in engineering. Enduring a brutal first semester as they attempted to balance
their classes alongside music, they would finalize and release their debut full-length studio album, “Frailty.” What soon followed was a flurry of attention as more prominent figures began to cover their full debut with Jane, even being interviewed by The Needle Drop while they still resided in their freshman dorm. Other musical outlets would soon follow with the Fader later going on to claim the album to be “The most elegant and panoramic album to have emerged from the digicore and hyperpop scenes.” Through this proven success, Jane finally convinced their parents to allow them to drop out of college and focus solely on their music. Officially changing their name to Jane Remover, they began to start a new chapter in their life. Now, as they go on tour years later, fans await outside venues such as the humble Franklin Music Hall in anticipation to see one of the current lead influences from the underground. Gathering inside, the crowd eagerly waits as American producer and DJ Dazegxd opens the show through a miraculous set that curated a wide selection of hyperpop and club classics. Being a pioneer in digicore himself, he understood what the crowd expected through pulls from current icons such as Ninajirachi and mixing tracks with popstars like Avril Lavigne. Dazegxd fully captured the energy and chaotic mashups that Jane previously exhibited in “Dariacore.” As the crowd’s energy heightened, a sudden fog began to flood the stage as Dazegxd began to wrap up his set. Mixing his last track directly into Jane’s opening song, “TWICEREMOVED,” vocals began to cut through before they ran out onto stage causing the crowd to burst into excitement. Read more on our website!
October 2, 2026, The Signal page 11
No. 21 Field Hockey enters NJAC play on a high note
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Weiss
Sophomore Lindsey Hoffman has been a stand-out player this season. By Jhett Laurie Sports Editor The College’s field hockey team split their last two games before entering New Jersey Athletic Conference play. They fell to No. 12 Ursinus in a double-overtime thriller before returning home on Sept. 30 to blow out Marywood 8-0. The Lions held the upper hand against Ursinus through the first half of the game. Junior Rachel Tetzlaff found the cage early on for her
first goal of the season. The Lions managed to hold onto the lead as both teams battled it out in the middle of the field. Ursinus attempted just four shots, three of which were saved by graduate Brigitte Racey in goal. One of these being an early penalty stroke which Racey miraculously saved. The offensive efforts by both teams seemed to find a new life in the second half, as a spray of shots from Ursinus netted them their first goal of the game. The Lions wasted no time responding,
with junior Nika Eschmann netting her first goal in the United States. The German was assisted by senior Jadyn Huff who picked up her 11th point of the season. The Lions’ defense held strong for the remainder of the third period, stopping four shots to hold onto the Lions’ lead. The trend continued into the fourth period, as five shots were unable to find the mark for the Golden Bears. Desperate for a goal, Ursinus pulled their goalie from the game to give them a man advantage. With just 35 seconds left on the clock, Ursinus found the break they needed and tied the game. As the College entered the first overtime period, their offensive luck seemed to fade away. Ursinus attempted five penalty corners and got one shot off, yet they were unable to find a break in the rock-solid Lions defense. The clock ticked away and both teams survived into the second overtime period. The second overtime may have been the chance for the Lions to net the game winning goal, but they fell short. A break away from Huff turned dramatically into the golden goal for Ursinus as the Lions were unable to transfer back to defense in time. They ultimately left Collegeville empty-handed. What would have likely been a comfortable win for the Lions on Sept. 26 turned out to be nothing more than a postponement as bad weather cancelled their game against Lebanon Valley.
The team would return to home again on Sept. 30 to take on Marywood where they were the favorites going into the game. The College would prove why they were the favorites as they crushed Marywood 8-0. The Lions took no time to get hot, as Eschmann put the first points on the board for her second goal of the season. Senior Codie Sciacca then recorded her first goal of the season as she snuck one past the goalie. She then scored her second goal just three minutes later. Everything was turning up Sciacca as she scored a hat trick just one minute into the second period. In unprecedented fashion, Sciacca ripped another one past the goalie two minutes later to score her fourth goal of the day, tying her for third all-time for goals scored in a game by a Lion. In just 10 minutes, Sciacca was single-handedly able to give the Lions a 5-0 lead. The fun was just beginning, as Huff picked up her third point of the day on a solo goal. Marywood was unable to get anything started and did not record a single shot on goal through the first half. The Lions offense slowed down in the second half as Marywood was able to get some shots of their own on the board. Their lone three shots on the day found Racey in goal, who picked up a pair of saves. The College answered with three shots of their own, but none of them were able to find light. Read more on our website!
Men’s Soccer remain undefeated through Men’s Tennis secures co-championship at ITA non-conference play, ties against No. 3 Rowan Northeast Regional Championship By Shawn Retta Staff Writer A 3-0 win against a formerly undefeated Neumann capped off a successful out of conference performance. This is the second season in a row where they have entered New Jersey Athletic Conference play undefeated, and in their first match against No. 3 ranked Rowan, they ended the match still undefeated. With two goals in six minutes, sophomore Matt Maceri had himself a day to remember. Those goals set the tone for a dominant endgame, which was able to shut down the Neumann defense. The strong defensive performance was highlighted by Sean Najdzinowicz, who has now recorded back-to-back blanks for the first time this season. This comes after giving up five goals in his first three starts to begin the season. “I think I’ve just been more comfortable and confident in the last couple games. I’ve been able to stay focused, make the saves I need to make, and communicate well,” Nadjzinowicz said, “the defense has been great this year too as well, and I think the time playing with each other has helped significantly.” They say defense wins championships, and this Lions team is proving it with their playstyle. Across the first eight games, no team has been able to score more than two goals on this squad. Much of the success can be attributed to the unsung heroes of this team, defenders Maceri and Aidan Grund. “Not giving up goals is something
Soccer stuns No. 3 Rowan, forcing fifth tie.
that me and (the) team as a whole pride ourselves in. We are really together when we defend and we defend as a unit,” Grund responded. After the Lions ended one undefeated streak, they attempted to end another on Sept. 30, against the No. 3 ranked Rowan Profs. While they were unable to end the streak, they still found a way to remain undefeated by posting a 1-1 tie against one of the best teams in the nation. After the Profs Joey Kurak got one in the net in the 28th minute, sophomore Brennan Libo received a cross right in front of the net, kicked it right off the goalkeeper, then into the net to tie the score at one in the 39th minute. The goal was Libo’s first of his collegiate career. From there, the brick wall that is the Lions defense was able to hold off Rowan, who has scored two or more goals in five of their eight games. “We need to continue to play our game no matter who we play against. We just need to keep stacking good practices and good performances, so that Wednesday we give ourselves the best chance to win,” stated Nadjzinowicz before the game against the Profs. While they didn’t get the win they were looking for, they proved to the nation that they are here and ready to compete against anyone on the pitch. The Lions pack up their bags and head on the road to face Kean University on Oct. 3, and then head over to Montclair State to take on the Red Hawks on Oct. 7 in two key conference games that are pivotal if they want to climb the NJAC ranks.
Photo by Benjamin Weiss
Men’s tennis caps off fall season. By Edward Johnson Staff Writer The College’s men’s tennis team finished their fall season at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Championship on Saturday, Sept. 26, with the pair of junior Sidd Arudi and sophomore Tomas Velez going home co-champions. Arudi and Velez defeated the pair of Joshua Bey and Ryan Huang of Baruch 8-6, to be named cochampions after both the College and a duo from New York University decided not to contest a finals matchup between the two. The pair of senior Nathan Chan and freshman Felipe Postolov saw their regional run end after they were defeated 8-5 by NYU’s Bryan Hui and Boren Zheng in a close match. They made an impressive run, pushing all the way to the quarter finals. The duo fought their way through the likes of Farmingdale State and Union College, taking them down 8-4 and 8-6, respectively. Postolov also saw success in his singles debut, defeating Jonas Santas of Vassar by scores of 6-3, 5-7 and 10-6, before he was eventually defeated in the second round by No. 16 Stuart Konezny with scores of 6-3, 5-7 and 10-5.
Photo by Albert Nunez
Senior Aidan Twamly also saw some second-round action, defeating Alan Wang of the University of Rochester by scores of 6-1, 5-7 and 11-9, before he was eventually stopped by Vassar ’s Eugene Lee 6-3 and a 6-0 bagel. The men’s tennis team has historically struggled at Skidmore College during the regular season. At Skidmore, they have gone 2-11 in a total of 13 matches from 2008 to 2026. That is good for a win percentage of 15. In that time span, they have been outscored 36-70, losing their last eight matchups and going 1-9 in their last 10. When the Lions return to Saratoga Springs, New York, during the regular season, they look to avenge their struggles at the tournament. The College’s men’s tennis team season officially kicks off again in the Spring campaign, which starts up in February 2027. The team has high hopes as they look for a repeat of the success of last year where they secured their first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in program history. The team plays in the WIAC as there is no men’s tennis within the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the one which the College usually participates in.
to make the score 28-0. Football team runs past Juniata for first win of the season touchdown Juniata made their situation worse
Photo by Nick Kurti
Freshman Sam Dech led the way of Lions rushing attack. By Tyler Fennell Staff Writer After a slow start with their first two games, the Lions had a week to rest and start fresh going into game three. The College marched into Juniata looking for their first win of the season and they walked out of Juniata with a blowout 35-7 victory. 2 The first quarter opened with a scoreless drive from Juniata. The College responded with an 80 yard
drive that resulted in a rushing touchdown scored by junior Michael Strachan. The College showcased their ability to chew the clock and play a physical run game to exhaust the defense. This was the same strategy they used last year that led them to their 6-4 record. The second quarter opened with another scoreless drive from Juniata. The Lions responded with a drive that saw freshman running back Sam Dech
break out for a 26-yard rush followed by a 5-yard rushing touchdown. On the first play of Juniata’s responding drive, junior linebacker Matt Cassidy intercepted Juniata quarterback Zachary Grande and returned it for 17 yards. This set up a first and goal for the College’s offense. Senior Ryan Mendes punished the turnover with a two yard touchdown. The Lions defense held strong and got another scoreless drive from Juniata. Dech rushed for an 80-yard
after throwing another interception, this time to junior defensive back Sam Kuhns. The Lions marched all the way down to the goal line, but were stuffed at one yard line on fourth down. There was not enough time for Juniata to respond, however, as the first half came to a close. The College began the second half with another rushing touchdown from Strachan. Juniata woke up and responded to get themselves on the board with a rushing touchdown of their own. On the second play of the fourth quarter the College would fumble and Juniata would recover it. Unfortunately for Juniata, it would prove to be too late for them to attempt a comeback. The Lions defense held strong and forced a punt from Juniata. The College would fumble again, but would recover it to prevent any further Juniata momentum. To seal the game, junior linebacker Noah Croutch and sophomore Remy Feniello would combine for a sack on Juniata quarterback Ethan Eisenberg. The game was undoubtedly highlighted by the College’s run game. Dech rushed for 130 yards with only five attempts recording two touchdowns. Junior running back Jordan Morrell played the workhorse role with 18 attempts for 80 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry. The majority of the offense came from their ground game, with the team combining for 347 rushing yards. The College returns to Lions Stadium Saturday, Oct. 3 against the No. 13 ranked Salisbury. It also marks the start of New Jersey Athletic Conference play for the team.
No. 14 Women’s Soccer wraps non-conference slate
Photo by Benjamin Weiss
Women’s soccer has gone undefeated thus far. By Nick Kurti Correspondent The College’s women’s soccer team remains at No. 14 nationally after a road win at Ithaca, a draw at Stevens and a shutout against Berry. After improving to 5-0-2 on the season, the Lions have high
morale as they quickly approach conference play. The team made the trek 200 miles north for their match against the Ithaca College Bombers on Sept. 19. The Lions held possession for most of the first half, outshooting the Bombers 6-2. Ithaca’s Katrina Varnum made two
big saves against junior Jenny Ward and junior Elaina Williams to keep the score at 0-0 after half. After the break, the Bombers came back aggressive, as possession seemingly flipped and junior Ellen Williams tanked two huge chances from Ithaca in the first eight minutes. In the 63rd minute, senior Alyssa Alfano took a corner kick that came off junior Emily Weidner ’s back foot to senior Caroline Freer. Freer would make a quick shot into the bottom left to send the Lions up one. The lead held for most of the game as, in the second half, each side would have seven shots. The Bombers made a valiant effort, taking all five of their corners in the latter half of the game, but it was the College who came out on top. On Sept. 23, the Lions hit the road once more to Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom opponent Stevens. Weidner created a huge chance that hit off the crossbar, but the first half was otherwise a defensive stalemate. The Ducks cranked up their offense in the second half, but the Lions had made just as many chances. The team outpaced Stevens in shots 16-10 and corners 8-2. Both Williams and Stevens’ Maria O’Brien made crucial saves in goal on both ends of the pitch to
end the game in a draw, just the second one for a red-hot women’s team. The Lions faced off against Georgia’s own Berry College on Sept. 26, who made the trek all the way up from the Peach State to take on the Lions in what would be their final non-conference game. A corner by junior Maggie Murphy in the 22nd minute would come to Ward for a header into the net to send the Lions up 1-0 before the break. In the second, the team continued their dominant performance, with a goal by Weidner coming off Freer ’s free kick and Murphy netting the Lion’s first penalty kick goal of the 2026 season. The College had an overall dominant performance against the Vikings, outshooting them 30-6. The team took on No. 6 Rowan in Glassboro, N.J. on Sept. 30 as they began their push through the New Jersey Athletic Conference in hopes of picking up another conference victory. Rowan is currently undefeated, comfortably holding a 5-0 record with only one goal scored against them. A Lions offense that has been consistent throughout the year looks to take advantage of an overconfident Profs defense to upset the top team in the conference.