Vol. LV, No. 5
The Signal
https://www.tcnjsignalnews.com/ October 16, 2026
Serving The College of New Jersey since 1885
TCNJ Homecoming & Family Day: Celebrating school spirit and Lion victory By Andre Paras Managing Editor
The College welcomed students, faculty, families and alumni to campus on Oct. 10 for their annual Homecoming & Family Day, bringing together the community for a day of activities, live performances and Lions athletics. The day featured activities across campus, including lawn games, a concert on the steps, student performances, photo booths, interactive experiences and even a campus scavenger hunt. Lions Stadium served as home to not only one, but two games for the day, beginning with the men’s soccer team facing Rutgers University-Newark at 11 a.m. The game ended in a scoreless draw, which extended the College’s unbeaten start to the season to 12 games, a new record for the program. The College’s football team followed with a 38-23 victory over Castleton University in the Homecoming game. The Lions offense recorded 302 rushing yards, securing the win in front of a crowd of 2,209 people, according to TCNJ Athletics. Outside of athletics, Homecoming & Family Day offered opportunities for families and visitors to explore the college and participate in activities throughout the day. Alumni from the College’s Greek life, student organizations, former residence hall floors and more came together for the
Photo by Andre Paras
Janelle Estime and Estevan Escamilla Zarate pictured next to the College faculty. alumni tailgate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lots 3 and 4 on campus. “It has been so fun to reconnect with some friends and see some familiar faces,” said Amanda Colangelo ‘04, a communication studies major. “I love the energy and excitement here at the alumni grounds.” The schedule also included a concert featuring the College’s concert band, student choir, alumni and friends on the lawn outside the Music Building. More performances took place inside the Brower Student Center, predominantly featuring TCNJ Musical Theatre’s sneak preview of upcoming show “Urinetown,” the College’s a cappella teams as well as various cultural organizations.
NJ College Civility Tour visits TCNJ to discuss civil political dialogue
Visitors could also take part in a guided bonsai workshop, compete in family trivia, attend planetarium shows and explore the TCNJ Art Gallery. Other activities included a driving simulator trailer outside the BSC, caricature artists, face painting and a sports inflatable on Sundial Lawn. The College even offered professional spirit photos near the bronze lion statue on campus, for those looking to make mementos of the big day. The day’s festivities culminated in the 38th annual Lion Royalty Homecoming Court ceremony during halftime of the football game. The ceremony marked the conclusion of a three-week competition to select the top two senior students
Rosina Lozano explores Spanish American roots in new lecture By Natalia Tomczak News Editor
Photo by Ryan Parker
The Civility Tour is sponsored by the College’s student democrat chapter. By Luke Hunter Correspondent The New Jersey College Civility Tour visited campus on Oct. 2. The Civility Tour is a statewide dialogue series aiming to bring students from both sides of the political aisle together through civil debate and conversation. The tour was headlined by Andrew LoMonte, vice president of the College Democrats of New Jersey, and John Rendzia III, chairman emeritus of the New Jersey College Republicans, who engaged in a moderated political discussion in front of a crowd of students. The Civility Tour is sponsored by College Democrats, College Republicans, Bridge USA, Gen Z for NJ and Jersey 1st. The New Jersey College Civility Tour was originally started by two members of the New Jersey Legislature following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The aim of the tour was to bring the political temperature down throughout the
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state by encouraging civil political discourse. After scheduling conflicts fizzled the Legislators’ tour out, students John Rendzia III and Andrew LoMonte picked the tour up themselves with full approval from both legislators, Republican State Senator John Bramnick and Democratic State Senator Joseph Cryan. Their visit to campus marks the second stop of the tour, the first being at Rutgers University. The tour’s next stop will be at Rowan University, followed by two more college stops in the fall, with another five planned for the spring. The Oct. 2 visit to campus consisted of two portions. First, LoMonte and Rendzia answered and debated prepared questions, with the debate being moderated by the College’s Student Government Vice President of Government and Community Relations Francis Karanja. Read more on our website!
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representing the College as 2026 Lion Royalty. Amongst ten running, eight students advanced to the Lion Royalty court, each representing a recognized student organization on campus and walking out on field with an escort. Seniors Janelle Estime, representing TCNJam and Estevan Escamilla Zarate, representing Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. won the competition, taking home the crown and tiara. “Stepping onto this field and through the whole interview process, it was to bring visibility to the organization that means so much to me and to all the children battling childhood cancer,” said senior elementary education and psychology major Estime. “I give it all to [my family], they’re the ones who were able to get me here. My friends are the ones who voted for me… I wouldn’t be here without them,” added senior finance major Escamilla Zarate. First runners up were Michael Bulluck, with student government, and Ryan Gensch, with the College Union Board. Second runners up were Aileen Hardy, for Unified Sports, and finally Riley Manfredi, for Theta Phi Alpha. With activities spanning academics, entertainment and athletics, the annual celebration offered students and families various opportunities to enjoy campus life while supporting the College’s tradition and student community.
The College hosted Rosina Lozano, associate professor of history at Princeton University, to speak on her book, “An American Language: The History of Spanish in the United States” on Oct. 12. Lozano’s book has received the PROSE award in Language and Linguistics and the First Book Prize from the Immigration and Ethnic History Society. She is currently working on another book, tentatively called “Intertwined Roots: Mexican Americans and Native Americans in the Southwest,” about the relationship between these two groups. She began her presentation by highlighting that, while she will mostly be focusing on the Southwest region, particularly New Mexico, there is a history of Spanish language in various regions of the United States. In the Southwest, many city names come from the Spanish language and have remained, relating back to the era when Mexican land was ceded to the United States in different stages. North America used to look quite different, until Mexico lost half of their land to the United States. With the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ending the War in 1848, the first group of about 100,000 Mexican Americans was
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created. They were promised property, liberty and religious rights – but not language rights. Nevertheless, this treaty has been used to fight for language rights due to its inextricable tie to the other rights listed there. The first part of Lozano’s book focuses on how Spanish was “a language of politics” after the Mexican-American war. Many elite Mexican Americans were uninterested or unconfident with English, but in regards to politics, learning English brought more opportunities. For example, Jose Francisco Chavez had the ability to give speeches in both English and Spanish, and he became a respected politician. Lozano explained how his father said, “‘The heretics are going to overrun this country. Go and learn their language, and come back prepared to defend your people.’” His skill was imperative in New Mexico, where most people did not speak English. With a large population almost exclusively speaking the Spanish language, Spanish became “a language of politics” for the United States. The second part of her book then delves into how Spanish becomes a political language. Read more on our website! page 10
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Harry Styles performs in New York for his “Together, Together” tour.
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Field hockey secures big 8-0 win.and enters NJAC play.
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Cop Shop: A stolen Nintendo Switch, a kicked down door and a gas leak
Graphic by Sandra Abrantes
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 faced a kicked down door, a stolen game console and per usual, many fire alarms.
Fire alarms Between Sept. 30 and Oct. 12, Campus Police were dispatched across campus for fire alarms. The alarms were triggered because of vape smoke, steam from showers and humidity from hair appliances. Residents in Townhouses East, prompted the officer to submit a request for a vent next to their shower to cause the detectors not to go off as often. October 1: Dude, where’s my door? On the no-camera second floor of the Physics Building, there was a door that was broken, seemingly by force. The door showed signs of someone kicking it from the inside on the handle, breaking it and
splintering the wood on the other side of the door. The estimated cost for replacing the door is up to $3,800. October 5: Runaway Mario A student went to Campus Police to report her Nintendo Switch and about eight games were missing. Her Switch had a red “Mario” on it. The student mentioned she occasionally leaves her door unlocked, even though her door sometimes doesn’t require an ID swipe, though when Campus Police checked, the door worked fine. The student got a notification on her phone that her console was being used for 25 minutes on Oct. 3, and for one
minute on Oct. 5, after it was taken. Campus Police advised the student to begin locking her door. The estimated replacement cost is $340. October 5: A gas leak Right outside Eickoff Hall in Lot 16, a 2009 Chevrolet was leaking gas, causing enough smell for Campus Police to be notified. Once they got there, the building was set into full evacuation. Police found there was no active leak occurring while it was parked, though there was a small puddle under the car. The driver was notified, and was given a pass to park outside of the Spiritual Center.
TCNJ introduces reusable takeout containers at Traditions
Students eat Traditions in the new to-go containers in the Brower Student Center. By Sydney Harold Correspondent The College has introduced a new reusable takeout container system at Traditions, an on-campus restaurant located in the Brower Student Center. This pilot program has replaced the previously used disposable containers with reusable tupperware, in an effort to reduce dining waste on campus. The program is operated through Dispatch Goods, a company founded by Lindsay Hoell in 2020 in order to prevent waste from polluting the planet. It is designed to allow students to take food in reusable containers and return them to designated bins after use. The orange containers are made from food-grade polypropylene, a durable, heat-resistant plastic. This tupperware is free of harmful chemicals including BPA, BPS and PFAS, and is also microwave safe after the lid has been removed. After using a container, students can return it to any orange Dispatch Goods bin on campus. All bins are marked with a “reusables” label and the Dispatch Goods logo. The
program’s frequently asked questions page explains that students who take a container to another building or off campus do not have to return it immediately. Instead, they can bring it back the next time they are on campus. Students are asked to remove leftover food before returning the tupperware. Rinsing is encouraged, but not required in order to return the containers. Dispatch Goods then transports the tupperware to a commercial washing facility, where they are sanitized before being returned for reuse. The system is intended to reduce the amount of waste generated by single-use food containers on campus. Dispatch Goods states that washing and reusing its tupperware is more environmentally friendly than using single-use alternatives. The company also explains that producing a compostable container uses about five times more water than washing a reusable one. Students have had varying reactions to the new system, particularly regarding the convenience of the containers themselves.
Photo by Gloria Vittadello
Jenica-Liezel Reyes, a junior speech pathology major, said she prefers the tupperware to the previous disposable takeout containers. “I really like them, they hold food a lot better than the previous containers,” Reyes said. Christian Manzie, a freshman political science major with a prelaw specialization views the new tupperware differently than Reyes. “I am honestly indifferent about them because I think it’s important to have less trash going into our environment, but it can be an inconvenience at times to bring them back,” Manzie said. “It really depends on where you want to bring your food to. Regardless, for me, it’s not really a big deal and everyone will get used to it pretty quickly.” Reyes’ main concern is the size of the return bins as they can become crowded after busy meal periods. “I do wish the bins to put [the tupperware] back were bigger because after the lunch rush they tend to get really full,” Reyes said. “My only concern is that the bins to put them back aren’t big enough because Traditions is a popular spot.”
Reyes believes that the reusable system can work if the return infrastructure can be adjusted to accommodate the number of containers being used. “It’s sustainable, but they have to adjust the space issue first,” said Reyes. “Otherwise people will start throwing them out.” Manzie shared similar concerns about the sustainability of the reusable tupperware system. “I do think people will simply forget to return the containers and some people may just see it as an inconvenience,” he said. “It could become an issue for Traditions if they start to get lower on the amount of containers.” For Reyes, the success of the program ultimately depends on how easily students can incorporate it into their routines. Despite this, she feels positively about the potential of the program. “It’s a matter of how efficient you are going to make it for the students,” Reyes said. “It’s a good system to implement.” As the College continues implementing the system at Traditions, students are adjusting to a new routine for handling the reusable tupperware. The new system offers an alternative to single-use containers and gives students flexibility in when and where they return them, but its effectiveness depends in part on whether the return process remains convenient. For now, the tupperware pilot program remains limited to Traditions, giving the College and its students time to see how the system works in practice. As students become more familiar with the container system, the College will be able to assess whether the system is meeting its intended purpose while remaining practical for everyday campus dining.
Features
Major Spotlight: When I grow up I want to be… a biologist!
This week’s spotlight is on the biology major. By Sky Pinkett Features Editor Around 80% of college students change their major at least once, with the average professional changing careers at least five to seven times in their working life. When I Grow Up is an academic spotlight series that digs deep into the majors offered at the College. It details opportunities, future job prospects, testimonials from students and professors and how a major may be a good fit for you. “Have you ever walked around campus and thought about, “Huh, I wonder why those two squirrels are running at each other and look like they’re playing? Have you ever looked at the side of a tree and noticed this green stuff on it? Have you ever been in your bathroom and you saw that little pink film that goes in the corner near the drain of a bathtub? Have you ever thought about the plaque on your teeth and how you can feel them?” If the answer to any of these questions is an enthusiastic “Yes! Tell me more,” biology might be just the degree for you according to Kevin Dillon, one of the College’s biology professors. “Pretty much any topic or anything that you can think of in your daily life, you can probably throw biology in there in some way.” Dillon said. “You can either talk about some type of animal interaction or you can talk about some type of tiny bacterium. You just think about anything in life and how they interact with each other. That’s what you would study here in the biology department.” From medicine to conservation, ecology, zoology, dentistry, research, forensics and even journalism, law, teaching and more — the possibilities that a biology degree offers are truly endless according to the College’s biology degree website. “I’m a microbiologist, so I will always focus on that stuff,” Dillon said. “We have a new professor here who’s more of a developmental biology and neurobiology person interested in certain proteins that have a correlation with autism. We have people here that
Graphic by Ananya Maddali
work on birds…So, it’s very exciting that we have such a diverse offering of opportunities for students, and we all work together to try to give our students the best education that they can get.” For those interested in biology but unsure of what they want to do with it, the program starts everyone out with the fundamentals in addition to the College Core. “All of our bio students have a core curriculum that they have to take, so we have four foundational courses,” said Wendy Clement, chair of the biology department. “And then, like many biology programs, you also need some training in math and in chemistry and in physics. So in the first couple of years, students are working on building that foundation. Then in the upperlevel curriculum, sort of our 300 and 400-level classes that are on a range of topics, they’re better prepared to take a deep dive into many of those different areas.” Students can choose to minor in biology or pursue certain specializations in molecular biology, cell biology and genetics or in ecology, evolution and biodiversity. “You can have a BS degree or a BA degree,” Dillon said. “The BS just requires more very specific science courses and is like the quote-unquote traditional route that a lot of people have done to go on to some type of graduate education or some type of medical-focused career.” According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 70% of workers in biology-related fields required a bachelor’s degree, while 59% of workers in biology-related fields had an advanced degree in 2023. “The BA allows you to be more flexible,” Dillon continued. “Maybe you have other interests outside of biology, but you still want to be a bio major. The sequence of courses in the BA allows you to take other courses, like if you also wanted to take a number of different English courses [for example]. And you can hopefully incorporate biology in some other discipline that you can study within the college.” Students within the department are
taking full advantage of the opportunity to integrate other disciplines with biology, like junior biology student Elena Sretenović, who was able to add a major in computer science. “I saw another side of biology that had a lot of potential, because a lot of people were not going into it, but it was a burgeoning field and that was computer science,” Sretenović said. “So I thought, okay, maybe I can combine biology and computer science and go into the field of bioinformatics. So I came in with biology, and I found a lab that was interested in computational stuff that was related to plants, which I was very interested in. And I saw that there was a potential to go to conferences which immediately hooked me.” There are a multitude of ways that students can mix and match other interests with biology. “There are people who, for example, do a double major in art and biology. One person in my lab did that, and she now does science illustration because that’s something that’s very much in demand,” Sretenović said. “There are people who go on to do science communication, so they combine writing and science. You can combine biology with math and go into the field of biomathematics. You can combine it with chemistry, looking at maybe secondary metabolites that cells produce.” The opportunity to combine other fields with biology opens students up to even more career prospects in the future. Areas in education, management, health, business and more
are possibilities for biology students. The question is, how does the College uniquely prepare students for their careers versus other universities? “TCNJ really puts a strong emphasis on giving undergraduate students the chance to do research and I love that,” Dillon said. “That’s what I want to do with students and that was a major reason for me coming here. We have a lot of great facilities for our labs that allow us to work with our students and get them exposed to brand new techniques that we can teach them in their typical lab classes, but also we implement them in our research labs where the students can delve into what it really means to do science and how to really go about asking a question, following that scientific method that you always hear about.” “Across TCNJ, there’s a really close communication with professors and students. We have small class sizes, and professors are really getting to know their students,” Clement added. “And I think one of the other things that makes our department pretty unique is the equipment and facilities that we have, like a state-of-the-art scanning electwron microscope that some of our students are trained to use [and] a highperformance computing center that are able to analyze big data sets that take up more space and time than a laptop can possibly manage.” Students like Sretenović feel the benefits of the small class sizes and research opportunities. Read more on our website!
OPINION: Fraternities lack accountability on college campuses
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Colleges need to do more to combat dangerous practices by fraternities. By Ashley Ragone Managing Editor The news coverage and developing information in connection to the Jane Doe case at Cornell University right now is unavoidable. The Signal itself has already covered the case and its implications for Title IX departments, with nationwide protests taking place against Cornell’s lenient punishment for the seven men in connection to the allegation. As public outcry builds and the discussion further unfolds, we naturally look back to the countless Jane Does that have come before, and those not able to come forward. Social media posts and news headlines urge us to remember Brock Turner, the performance artwork of Emma Sulkowicz and the countless other cases of sexual assault on college campuses. An “I am Jane Doe” trend has emerged
on social media, with many women boldly standing with the former Cornell student to share their own stories of feeling helpless in an instance of violence at the institutions that are supposed to protect and educate them. Most concerning to me is a major throughline I have been unable to look away from in many of these stories: the harmful traditions and culture that has been perpetuated through fraternities on college campuses to allow this behavior. This is not me ignorantly claiming that all participants in Greek life are evil. I appreciate the honorable origins of it, a place of gathering for like-minded scholars and an opportunity for social connection among students. In fact, I deeply admire my own friends who engage in philanthropy and work alongside charitable organizations in their chapters. What is most concerning is recent discussion of behavior within fraternities specifically, and the creation of what can only be described as an echo chamber allowing young men to believe pervasive misogyny and sexual violence is okay, as well as assault against one another. In late September, two members of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus were arrested for unsafe hazing conditions discovered in their house, the fraternity having been expelled from the university 11 years
OPINION: AI art turns customers away
prior. On Oct. 7, the University of Arizona suspended activities for all of its affiliated fraternity chapters. Alleged reports of misconduct included “assault, hazing, and drug and alcohol-related behavior,” Dean of Students Chrissy Lieberman calling the number of cases and severity of the allegations “egregious.” As mentioned before, these incidents are not something new. Sexual violence and unsafe fraternity conditions, though only recently taking up such a large part of the national conversation, have been a problem for some time, and are only becoming more pervasive. A study from 2021 found that men in fraternities “have a 62% higher likelihood of sexual aggression across the first two years of college.” With this concerning statistic and only an increasing number of worrisome reports coming out of higher education institutions across the country, there needs to be a sweeping reform in the current culture surrounding fraternities. Of course, this is a significant undertaking, and may not be entirely realistic or convincing to hear from one person; but it certainly is not impossible. With somewhere between 4,000 and 6,000 chapters of Greek-letter organizations in the United States, and current regulations clearly not having enough impact, it is up to col-
lege administrators and one another to pay attention and take swift action. Letting disaffiliated chapters maintain a campus presence, maintaining weak Title IX procedures and turning a blind eye to the reports of young women is an easy place to start. For students, we must hold one another accountable, and the dialogue will begin to change. TCNJ Panhellenic Association, the governing body for the College’s sorority chapters, released a statement including resources for sexual assault victims and a firm stance promoting safety within the Greek life community. The Interfraternity Council, an equivalent organization for the fraternity chapters at the College, has not made any such statement. Fraternities are national organizations, and work from within is critical as well. The screenshots of Snapchat messages among the Chi Phi fraternity members at Cornell showed 57 young men staying quiet, and staying complicit. When young men begin to take accountability and change the conversation around them, others will take note. I, and countless other women, know what it feels like to feel scared and helpless in the face of the actions of young men around us. Having better resources to turn to and peers that will not be complicit may have made this reality different for so many women; let’s not continue to fail each other.
OPINION: The Social Reckoning falls short of its predecessor
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Generative AI art is rapidly integrating into advertising flyers and videos. By Jadyn Buccilli Staff Writer Over fall break, I attended the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Historic Smithville, where they often have a variety of food stands and vendor tents. As usual, I had a great time, but I have unfortunately noticed that some of the vendors had begun using AI art on their advertisements and even their merchandise. Luckily, the tables that I purchased items at did not use these obnoxious “works of art,” but I couldn’t help but notice how this use of artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly common. The next day, I took a trip to New York City, and some of the street food vendors had menus that were all made with AI, and even posts from my former school district used these platforms to make Instagram posts for the school. It’s everywhere, and it’s infuriating. It is much easier to tell that a graphic is made with AI or not than some may think. These products are often overstimulating. They use the same scribble font and have cartoonish elements that are simply unnerving.
The advertisements made with these features are not aesthetically pleasing, which is the point of graphics in the first place. I purposely avoid companies that implement these graphics. Not only are they aesthetically unappealing, but they show laziness on the behalf of the company. I even noticed ads I get on YouTube are using AI, whether it is just a voice or sometimes even a badly animated video that is made using AI platforms. I get especially upset about this because I am a publicist for one of the College’s organizations. I spend a minimum of 30 minutes and sometimes hours coming up with aesthetic social media posts, and it does not cost me a single penny. Websites like Canva, Picsart and CapCut have non-premium versions that still have more than enough resources to make a decent advertisement. If you do not want to make an advertisement yourself, hire a publicist who will make a much better flyer or video advertisement than anything AI could make. Even a badly drawn picture on notebook paper is better than the “slop” I have been seeing recently. Read more on our website!
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Jeremy Strong, portrays an older version of Mark Zuckerberg in the companion piece to “The Social Network.” By Jack Salaki Opinions Editor This piece contains brief spoilers of “The Social Reckoning.” Making a movie about Facebook’s controversies should be easy. Making a good movie about the social media behemoth is not so easy. “The Social Reckoning” understands the first part, but struggles with the second. The sequel to “The Social Network” has lots of material to work with — Facebook’s massive, documented role in spreading misinformation through its negligent fact-checking, promotion of extremist content and contributing to mental health issues among young users. Aaron Sorkin, the vaunted writer-director of “The Social Reckoning,” chose to focus on the Facebook Files investigation by The Wall Street Journal. These files involved an employee at the mega Meta corporation blowing the whistle that Facebook knew the problems its platform caused and chose to ignore them for the sake of
profit. It is a solid topic with a lot of evidence. In fact, most of the film is straightforward and competently told. The performances are strong, the story is well-structured and the corporate sequences feel realistic. But Sorkin fails to tell an engaging story around them, and the film feels like a dramatization of news events rather than a unique story. In 2010, Sorkin paired with director David Fincher for “The Social Network.” While Sorkin tackled the sequel by himself, pairing with Fincher allowed him to balance his weaker instincts in the prior film. Sorkin is a brilliant writer, known for his sharp dialogue and entertaining character interactions, but he also has tendencies that hold him back. He is an unabashed patriotic liberal, believing in the power of institutions and good people to always win in the end. This can work for some stories, but for others it can make things overly simplistic, lacking the nuances of real life. Read more on our website!
Editorials State government should make education more accessible to everyone
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New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently expanded the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program.
By Tasnim Oyshi Editorialist Tuition is expensive. This is something we are all unfortunately familiar with. Most, if not all, college students have a gripe with the amount they have to pay to be able to obtain a degree. While things like financial aid and scholarships can make it a little easier for students straight out of high school to deal with overwhelming charges on their tuition bill, adult learners often lack any sort of help. On Oct. 5, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that the state will expand free attendance to community
college for New York residents between the ages of 25 and 55, starting in January of next year. New Yorkers can enroll in “high demand” degrees at State University of New York and City University of New York, according to the official New York State website. Residents will be able to take advantage of this opportunity even if they have previous college degrees. Thus, adults in New York will be able to gain the education needed to work in quickly growing industries, such as technology, healthcare and cybersecurity, and even switch career paths if they desire. This is an extension to Hochul’s existing SUNY and CUNY Reconnect
program established in 2025, which was initially limited to New York citizens with no previous college degrees. Through this initiative, Hochul is attempting to lessen the usage of artificial intelligence in the workforce and provide more New Yorkers with skills and education needed for jobs. This is undeniably good news for New Yorkers. During a time in which big corporations in the nation like Amazon and Meta are heavily investing in AI and laying off workers, education is a crucial tool to have. Therefore, the expansion of the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program can be a lesson for other states and even the federal government.
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There are few other states in the country that have launched similar free community college initiatives, such as Michigan, Tennessee and Massachusetts. However, these other programs still require adults to not have any previous degrees. In New Jersey, former Governor Phil Murphy started the Community College Opportunity Grant in 2018, which allows eligibility based on household income. While the programs in other states are helpful, they fall behind New York’s accessibility to a wide range of adult learners. Furthermore, those that live in states without any such programs suffer from the lack of options to gain education that could move them forward in the job field. When a proper college degree is a necessity for many jobs, education should be a basic right in the country for people of all ages. New York’s ability to introduce and then amplify the SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program in such a short amount of time tells us that it is possible to make education a priority in the country. Funding for important educational opportunities like this should be a priority for every state. Especially considering the fact that there are no federal policies regarding this matter, it is up to each state to invest in and implement programs like New York’s for their own residents. Jobs are an essential need for people to survive in the real world. Without a college degree, citizens are unable to get jobs that pay them a sufficient wage, especially when they are competing with AI. Every state should be taking care of its people and, thus, they need to make college education accessible to all their residents.
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Alena Bitonti Editor-in-Chief Andre Paras Ashley Ragone Managing Editors Gloria Vittadello Natalia Tomczak News Editor Devyn Briones Arts & Entertainment Editor Jack Salaki Opinions Editor
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POLICIES The Signal is published bi-weekly during the academic year and not financed by the Student Activity Fund, but solely by advertisement revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The Letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. The Signal willingly corrects mistakes. If you think we have made a mistake, contact us at signal@tcnj.edu.
Christa Pike’s failed execution attempt and case background
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Christa Pike’s attempted execution failed, and she is now in the hospital. By Grace Gorsline Correspondent Fifty-year-old inmate Christa Pike was sentenced to death-row in March 1996 for the murder of Colleen Slemmer. She was going to be the first woman executed in over 200 years in the state of Tennessee. Her execution was set to happen on Sept. 30, 2026, but was met with multiple complications. After receiving two doses of pentobarbital, Pike was still alive. According to multiple
witnesses, Pike was heard snoring even after the two lethal injections, the Death Penalty Information Center reported. Pentobarbital is a barbiturate class drug that affects the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord. According to several authors and studies from ScienceDirect, it can be used in small doses to treat insomnia or as a method of anesthetic before a surgery. However, it is also used as a lethal injection because it is a short acting barbiturate and therefore, is quick in
Fort Hood shooter’s execution to be carried out by firing squad; the first in over 80 years By Sarah Rich Correspondent Nidal Hasan, former U.S. Army psychiatrist, is to be executed by firing squad on Dec. 3, it being the first U.S. military execution in over 60 years and the first time a firing squad has been used since World War II, according to NPR. The Army has been planning to bring back military executions, issuing “Operation Resolute Justice” in February. The military has not executed a service member since 1961, when Pvt. John Bennet was hanged after he was convicted for rape and attempted murder of an 11-year-old girl in Austria, ABC News reported. Hasan was convicted and sentenced to death for the killing of 13 people, 12 being soldiers and the other a civilian, at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. The mass shooting, which specifically took place at the Soldier Readiness Processing Center, also wounded 32 other people. Hasan was sent to a military detention center at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas to sit on death row, only one of four death row inmates in the Army justice system, ABC News reported. As reported by The Washington Post, Hasan was an Army major and psychiatrist. Hasan is Muslim and was scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan before the shooting occurred, but was against the deployment. When on trial, Hasan represented himself, and said in his opening statement that he decided to “switch sides” on the “war” the United States had against the Islamic religion. A letter Hasan wrote in 2017 reveals more of what his motive was for the mass shooting. As quoted from The Hill, the letter stated, “I considered those who were trying to help the U.S. undermine the Taliban’s attempt to establish Sharia (God’s) Law as the supreme law of the land and replace it with something else like a democracy that doesn’t rule by God’s law the enemies of God, and thus
worthy of fighting/killing.” Pete Hegseth, head of the Department of Defense, specifically recommended Hasan be put to death by firing squad, and it was approved by President Donald Trump, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. “I am 100 percent committed to ensuring the death penalty is carried out for Nidal Hasan,” Hegseth said on Sept. 23 to The Hill, “This savage terrorist deserves the harshest lawful punishment for his 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood. The victims and survivors deserve justice without delays.” Only earlier this year did federal executions by firing squads be made an option again by the Justice Department, as directed by President Trump, NPR reported. Seven states have execution by firing squad now available, it being the highest number of states to ever allow it. An undisclosed official within the Defense Department told reporters from BBC that the execution would be livestreamed. The U.N. human rights office said livestreaming the incident would be “tantamount to a public execution and would breach the absolute prohibition of torture.” Multiple government officials have also spoken out against the idea of the execution being livestreamed, including Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who told CNN Anchor Erin Burnett, that it is “disgusting” to plan to livestream Hasan’s execution. Murphy also reportedly asked Burnett, “What is he mimicking? ISIS executions?” The remarks can be found on Brunett’s Instagram page. Although it is not currently known for certain why the Department of Defense is choosing to execute Hasan by firing squad, NPR was reportedly told by death penalty experts that one possible reason could be due to the failed lethal injections of Christa Pike in Tennessee. Read more on our website!
inducing a coma followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest and then death, according to the National Library of Medicine. With all of this knowledge in mind, this gave rise to a lot of questions as to why Pike’s execution was unsuccessful. According to The Associated Press, her attorneys believe that the IV line may not have been properly placed, which would have caused the injection to go into her body, rather than directly into her vein. It should also be noted that Pike’s legal team made an effort to make it known that she had pre-existing conditions that could have caused blood clotting at the injection site, which could also factor into the failed execution. After the second injection, Pike was rushed to the hospital since there was no protocol if the second round of injection does not work. As of Sept. 30, Pike has been hospitalized and is on a ventilator within the care of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to Pike’s lawyer, she has not yet regained consciousness. The background regarding Pike’s case was horrific and unsettling. She was found guilty on account of first degree murder of 18-year-old Colleen Slemmer and conspiracy to commit murder. The act was graphic and as the
facts became known in court that Pike and her boyfriend at the time, Tadaryl Shipp, who acted as her accomplice, lured Slemmer to an abandoned steam plant where she was brutally attacked and killed, NBC News reported. “The case got widespread attention because of the brutality of the killing, the ages of the people involved and because a satanic symbol was carved into the victim’s body,” said Jeffrey Collins, a reporter for The Associated Press. The victim’s skull was deeply injured, too, according to Collins. Pike admitted to the killing and was sentenced to death row, while Shipp was sentenced to life in prison as he was still a minor at the time, Cornell Law School reported. Another important part of Pike’s case, however, was her traumatic childhood and upbringing. Her parents were relatively absent in her life and she was repeatedly sexually assaulted at a young age. A neurology professor at Georgetown, Dr. Jonathan Pincus spoke with Christa Pike after her sentence and stated that Pike’s upbringing was “almost unbearably abusive.” Overall, this case sparked more questions than answers. The morality of death row, the neuroscience behind childhood trauma and the unexpected result of two pentobarbital injections are just a few of the topics that arise.
New York declares state of emergency over measles outbreak
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Measles pneumonia causes lung cells to fuse into giant “super-cells.” By Felicity Flynn Staff Writer New York has declared a state of emergency on Sept. 5 after over 100 reported cases of measles since mid-July, while Pennsylvania’s outbreak has now infected at least 1,136 people and caused five deaths, according to Politico. “Even a mild case of measles can cause permanent blindness, deafness, brain injury, and temporarily weaken the immune system,” according to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. Measles is the most contagious virus known on the planet, and up to 9 of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to the virus will get infected. Each infected person can transmit the virus to 12 to 18 others, so a spiderweb of infection spreads quickly, according to the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases. “No state can address this on its own, which is why the Governor will partner with anyone who can support our efforts to protect New Yorkers,” wrote Nicolette Simmonds, a spokesperson for Governor Hochul of New York, in a statement to Politico. The governor also said she will provide a “detailed and specific” request from the federal government including support from
the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said Pennsylvania doesn’t need to issue an emergency declaration because the state has the money and personnel to bring the outbreak under control without the help of the CDC. This comes after Shapiro and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. got into a dispute over the deaths in late August. Kennedy accused Shapiro, without evidence, of using the deaths for political gain and suggested that they could be fabricated. Shapiro accused Kennedy of spreading misinformation about vaccines that contributed to the resurgence of measles, according to CNN. After this argument, Pennsylvania had reported three more deaths related to measles, which were not officially counted by the CDC, which Kennedy oversees, Reuters reported. The CDC responded, “it was seeking more information.” This changed two weeks ago when one death was finally counted and again last week when a second death was added to the tally, according to The Associated Press News. Read more on our website!
page 8 The Signal October 16, 2026
French student protests continue nationwide over education conditions
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The protests began on Sept. 28 with no signs of a peaceful conclusion in sight. By Aidan Krause Staff Writer The largest French student protests in decades erupted at the end of September, including marches held in 40 French cities as far-reaching as Caen to Marseille, The New York Times reported. One protest drew a crowd of 256,000 people on Oct. 6, while roughly 6,000 people have been arrested since the unrest began. One of the first protests was at Saint-Exupéry High School in a Paris suburb, where students joined teachers in protesting against a lack of staff and school resources. While students’ and teachers’ demands were eventually met, other protests quickly started at separate schools in Paris and the surrounding region, according to CNN. The initial issues arose from a high birth rate in 2010, as well as the number of teachers in secondary schools now being lower than in 2008, even though there are 250,000 more students enrolled. This means that in public schools, 70% of classrooms have more than 30 students. The student union leaders, who represent a portion of the students protesting, have drawn up a 10-point
list of proposals including reworking student workloads, the university admissions system and ending police violence against students, CNN reported. The student unions have also called for a 11.2 billion USD investment in high school and university education. The spokesperson for the Student Union federation of unionized students, Sabrine Kharbach, stated that “blockades would continue until their demands were met.” The largest of the protests occurred on Oct. 6, during which a 14-yearold’s jaw was shattered by a police tear gas grenade; the officer who fired it was later arrested. In the town of Lens, a 15-year-old lost a hand in an incident with a police stun grenade and a 16-year-old was supposedly partially blinded by a police riot control round, according to The Associated Press. Following the incident of the 15-year-old losing a hand, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced on Oct. 7 that the model of stun grenade used will no longer be utilized against high school students. Alongside the students in Paris protesting with a white armband on Oct. 6, was Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a leader of France’s far-left party, France Unbowed. He called on students to take to the streets in protest but added that “You must use nothing but nonviolent methods of struggle.” Interior Minister Nunez, responding to Jean-Luc Mélenchon calling on students to join the protest, said to the party leader while in the National Assembly, “Why wear a white armband to better give a leg up to those wearing black balaclavas?” And that “violence is part of your political plan to throw the country into chaos between now
and the presidential election,” The New York Times reported. The Interior Minister still stands by police action, defending it by stating that, “police have been obliged to intervene when protests led to rioting, vandalism and other violence, and have done so mindful that they’re largely dealing with children.” Also among those who joined the protests was a rising star within the France Unbowed party, and the mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, who listened to students, assisted in putting out small fires set by disruptors, and fielded questions with journalists. Critics of Mr. Bagayoko highlighted an interview he gave outside an early blockade of a school in which he stated that, “Violence, at a certain point, can be legitimate.” However, Bagayoko was quick to add that his message to students was that it’s always better to avoid violence. After the massive demonstrations on Oct. 6, in which labor union members, parents and teachers joined the students in protest, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that the government had heard protesters’ demands and that regular classes would be suspended on Oct. 8 and 9 in order to come up with a solution, according to The New York Times. The demonstrations come at a pivotal time for France, in which presidential elections are scheduled for April. Polls show the far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen, has a chance to succeed current President Emmanuel Macron, The New York Times reported. As far as action to solve the students’ stated problems, Prime Minister Lecornu said that parliament would debate a budget that includes 71.6 billion USD, slightly more
than last year. Lecornu also said that the government has launched five initiatives, including school renovations and improvements to student schedules. However, the situation did not improve as of Oct. 8, as a reported 224 high schools were closed, leaving 94% of high schools closed or partially open, and demonstrations roared on. Overall, 700 police officers and 300 students and school staff members have been injured, some seriously. Some high schools were ransacked, set on fire and heavily damaged as of Oct. 8. Some have compared the mood of the protests to May of 1968 when mass protests, nationwide strikes and street battles affected France. Julian Bourg, a professor at Boston College, however, said that the recent protests differ by remaining more tightly focused on education conditions, according to The New York Times. Bourg continued by saying, “That said, each major French protest movement does raise the possibility that the demands of a specific cohort may lead to more generalized protest and a broader political crisis,” he said. “That is the echo of 1968.” In a speech to the nation on Oct. 7, Prime Minister Lecornu pledged to address student grievances and also said that “young people’s anger doesn’t come out of nowhere,” and he urged students to “choose their path and look to the future with confidence.” One response to Lecornu came from one 17-year-old, Augustin Lassaab, who said, “His speech motivated us to keep blocking our school until the government stops refusing to listen to us and responds to our demands,” adding, “we will not stop.”
200 placed in quarantine following The USS Abraham Lincoln returns after mysterious pneumonia death at Russian lab nearly year-long deployment By Emma Alejandro Staff Writer Twenty-eight-year-old Darya Shipilova, a laboratory worker at a Russian research facility specializing in plague prevention, died at the start of October. She died after developing pneumonia of unknown etiology, according to Reuters. Rumors of a second case raised alarms about a possible infectious disease exposure in Siberia, according to The BMJ and CBC News in “Front Burner.” However, Russian officials later dismissed the reports as false, according to PBS NewsHour. As reported by The Associated Press, Russian authorities introduced precautionary public-health measures by placing approximately 200 people who may have come into contact with
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A laboratory worker in Siberia died.
Shipilova in quarantine. By Oct. 8, officials reported that health checks had been completed, nearly 5,000 samples had tested negative for dangerous pathogens and most people under observation had been released, according to Reuters. One unconfirmed theory of the outbreak suggests that Shipilova may have dropped a test tube containing plague bacteria, potentially exposing her to the pathogen. However, this account remains unverified, and Russian authorities have rejected the reported explanation, according to CBC’s “Front Burner.” Shipilova was employed at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Research Institute of Siberia and the Far East, a public health facility that has operated since the 1930s. As mentioned by CBC’s “Front Burner,” the institute studies plague and other regional infectious diseases to develop diagnostic tools and medical countermeasures. Shipilova’s death prompted international attention because of the facility’s work with dangerous pathogens and the possibility that she had contracted pneumonic plague, according to CNN. However, Russian authorities have not confirmed plague as the cause of death. The country’s public health agency reported that tests had not detected microorganisms associated with the worker’s professional duties, according to CNN. The World Health Organization has sought additional information to establish what caused the illness and whether any publichealth risk remains.
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Families gathered to see their loved ones after USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego. By Isabella McHugh Nation & World Editor The USS Abraham Lincoln returned to San Diego for the first time in 321 days on Oct. 8, CBS News reported. Hundreds of family members waited by the harbor to greet their loved ones as the vessel pulled in. Over 4,500 sailors and Marines came home. CBS reported cheers erupting from the pier, and sailors began calling their loved ones. “Ten and a half months is a significant amount of time away from home. The mission required that sacrifice, but it does not make up for missed birthdays, anniversaries and other important family milestones,” Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Barker, USS Abraham Lincoln’s public affairs officer, said at a news conference, The Military Times reported. Sailor Brent Ledbetter, an air traffic control center officer, was excited to see his son for the first time. Ledbetter’s son was born shortly after the USS Abraham Lincoln’s Nov. 21, 2025 departure. “I just want to hold him, play with him,” Ledbetter said to NBC News.
Ledbetter was only one of many new dads who got to meet their babies after their deployment supporting the Iran war. Alex Adkins was on the USS Abraham Lincoln, and video called in when his wife, Mackenzie gave birth about 10 weeks prior to their return. “I’m feeling a little bit of everything. I’m excited above all else, just so ready to have my husband back, to have him finally meet his son,” she said to KFMB. Adkins expressed extreme happiness at her husband’s return after they expected him to come back many times before. The reunions were deeply emotional. Family members described losing sleep after hearing about shortages in supplies and “deteriorating mental health among the crew” during their deployment, according to The Associated Press. The Navy had initially downplayed the issues occurring during deployment. Another major issue was the plumbing. Capt. Daniel Keeler, the ship’s commanding officer, said that the USS Abraham Lincoln is “a floating city as you can see and at any moment there might be a clogged toilet.” Read more on our website!
‘East of Eden’: Human born evil in Netflix adaptation
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Mike Faist, Christopher Abbott and Florence Pugh in Netflix’s “East of Eden.” By Molly Tursi Staff Writer Writing far from his home in Salinas, California, author John Steinbeck had grown apprehensive of what would become his seminal novel, “East of Eden.” Literary acclaim for earlier works such as “The Grapes of Wrath” and “Of Mice and Men” had established Steinbeck as a pillar of American fiction, yet he knew his best work was yet to come. “This book will be the most difficult of all I have ever attempted. Whether I am good enough or gifted enough remains to be seen,” the author wrote in his dedicated journal.
After 11 years of conceptual development, “East of Eden” was published by Viking Press in September 1952. The novel overcame initial criticism and won over readers, who raised it to No. 1 on the fiction best-seller list. Writing the novel so that his sons could understand their lineage, Steinbeck sought to preserve the essence of Salinas through the sweeping 600-page long generational saga of the Trask and semi-autobiographical Hamilton family. “East of Eden” takes its name and thematic form from the biblical story of Cain and Abel, as depicted in Genesis 4:16. The story of brotherly rivalry is alluded to twice over, starting with Adam and Charles Trask,
and repeating with Adam’s sons, Aron and Caleb Trask. “East of Eden” was adapted for film in 1955 by renowned director Elia Kazan. The film debuted James Dean in the leading role and was the only film to be released before his untimely death the same year. While Elia Kazan’s adaptation remained the only high-budget production of the novel for over seven decades, the film only covers the final third of the novel. Consequently, Steinbeck’s full epic had been pushed to the wayside, beckoning for another visionary to pick up the pieces. Fortunately, Elia Kazan’s favor for “East of Eden” is hereditary. In 2022, Netflix announced that his granddaughter, American actress and writer Zoe Kazan, was attached as writer for a limited series adaptation of Steinbeck’s full novel. “East of Eden” wrapped production in March 2025, a year after beginning principal photography in New Zealand. Despite the distinct American setting of “East of Eden,” the series was filmed predominantly in New Zealand locations, including Auckland, Dunedin and Oamaru. Cinematographers Stuart Dryburgh and Sam Chiplin imagine a stunning imitation of Salinas through picturesque vistas and bucolic landscapes, which is complemented by nature’s ambience and a painstakingly beautiful score composed by Laura Karpman. “East of Eden” premiered on Netflix on Oct. 1, 2026. Zoe Kazan served as creator,
executive producer and screenwriter, working alongside co-showrunner Jeb Stewart and the production companies Anonymous Content and Fifth Season. Zoe Kazan distributes Steinbeck’s sprawling American saga across seven moderately paced episodes. The series is divided between directors Garth Davis and Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, with Davis directing episodes one through four and Tonnerre directing five through seven. Davis and Clermont-Tonnerre’s directorial techniques mesh seamlessly, leaving behind no tonal shift at their passing point. Each stylistic choice is vivid and intentional, without diverting attention from the plot-driven narrative. “East of Eden” opens with the jarring introduction of Cathy Ames, who drags herself onto the porch of Adam and Charles. Mangled and blood-stained, Cathy’s appearance foretells the magnitude of carnage her presence will wreak on the Trask family, who mire her into their own tortuous lives. In Netflix’s rendition of “East of Eden,” Cathy is the catalyst of the story. Regarded as baseless in Steinbeck’s novel, Zoe Kazan gives Cathy’s malice a causal reason to be. Burdened by sexual trauma and the gender limitations of the 19th century, Cathy makes ruthless choices to regain her agency. As she becomes hemmed in by the men in her life, she thrashes against a lack of control and free will. Read more on our website!
Love prevails in Troye Sivan’s ‘She’s the Best’ ‘Digger’: A snapshot of the future
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Troye Sivan and Felix Mayr in the “FF” music video. By Mahnoosh Arsalan Staff Writer A tale of love, devotion, parties and a tinge of melancholia, Troye Sivan spills his guts in his latest album “She’s the Best.” Sivan’s fourth studio album was released on Oct. 9, already making a significant impact on fans’ hearts. Through a series of emotional anecdotes, admiration for others and quest for love, Sivan allowed listeners to truly feel their feelings. Starting with “She’s the Best,” Sivan takes listeners on an auditory descriptive journey. With simple instrumentals, the lyricism carries. By describing the outgoing, carefree and refreshingly authentic women he admires, he marks the importance of female influence in one’s life, emphasizing the impact that women have had in his own life. Following the titular track are “Canada Dry,” “Party” and “I Do This For You,” three high-energy dance tracks that each sound extremely different. “Canada Dry” follows a classic flashy and charming pop song formula, while “Party” sounds perfect for a club DJ set. “I Do This For You” takes a different approach, still maintaining that sense of high-energy, but combining it with a mixture of heavy, raunchy bass and piano. The mixing is disorganized, the vocals are raspy and deep and the atmosphere pulls listeners in. These three back-to-back smashes are clear standouts in Sivan’s record. Track five is “Cowboy,” a dreamy, country-esque pop song. This track explores the intimate side to Sivan’s interpersonal relationships, while still admiring that special person in his life. This complements the next song, “Embarrassing,” in which Sivan is explaining the
awkwardness of falling in love and how it takes a great deal of vulnerability to truly love someone else proudly. With a shift back to pop beats rather than the acoustic and ethereal tone, Sivan finds comfort in the uncomfortable. Track seven, “Le Boy,” highlights the universal struggle of not yet meeting the one. Sivan sings about different joys in life while having a voice in the back of his head wondering who to share it all with. With fried, messy instrumentals and vocals, along with the use of “Le Boy” rather than “The Boy,” Sivan indicates the kind of person he wants in life– suave and chic, in an almost unattainable way. Following “Le Boy” is “Sex Star,” another vulnerable and unpredictable track. What’s expected to be a vivacious and seductive song turns out to be a surprisingly romantic, tender ballad, further proving the overall theme of yearning on this record. Sivan switches the sonical ambience back to a partiful, DJ-like song with “Troye Meets World,” using fast-paced beats and distorted vocals, making it a great song to dance to. This break from vulnerability comes to a quick end with the next track, a standout from the entire album, “FF.” Sivan’s “FF” is powerful pop bliss. He defines love through small anecdotes from his intimate relationship with another, grounded in honest communication and deep respect. Sivan truly admires his significant other and the relationship they share, announcing that he’s done with everyone else because he and his partner are forever. With powerful instrumentation that elicits an emotional response, Sivan hits listeners where it hurts. “FF” is a tough act to follow, but “Love So Big It Hurts” pairs nicely with the song as Sivan carries the theme of romance and healthiness in his relationship. With a return to the classic pop-song formula, Sivan paints a picture for audiences while carrying the tune of simpler instrumentals. His lyricism almost sounds like internal dialogue, thoughts someone wouldn’t actually say to their significant other.
Read more on our website!
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Tom Cruise as Digger Rockwell in Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger.” By Mahnoosh Arsalan Staff Writer Art that takes risks and leaves audiences bewildered with the urge to self-reflect is always worth taking a look at, and Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s latest film “Digger” is one to consider. What starts out as a confusing and ridiculous story expands throughout its course, becoming a cautionary tale of what could happen if the human race isn’t more thoughtful of itself. Iñárritu’s film follows a man named Digger and how he, with the help of governmental administration, caused the destruction of the world. Through an eclectic ensemble, “Digger” paints an abstract and almost surrealist image of the inner workings of the world and how to cause complete deterioration. While the film cost a heaping $160 million to make, its opening weekend brought in an unsatisfying sum of $8 million. Despite great audience anticipation before the film’s release, early reviewers criticized the film to pieces, leaving bad reviews wherever they could. This reaction, while unfortunate, isn’t shocking due to the heavy amount of critique aimed towards the U.S. government throughout the film. Iñárritu has created a film so blatantly targeted, it’s hard to ignore. He portrays people of high gubernatorial authority as moronic and spineless, which is bound to cause frustration for certain viewers. By tackling the extremely pressing and relevant issue of climate change and presenting its treatment from certain individuals in power, Iñárritu makes his opinions on
today’s government crystal clear. Tom Cruise portrays the titular Digger Rockwell flawlessly. From confident and humorous line delivery to absurd physical acting, Digger was brought to life. Though the character lacks a known title within the government, he is known to be one of the most powerful men in the world, putting heavy expectations on him, only leading to madness. Digger is an egotistical, eccentric and foolish leader, who is surrounded by a gaggle of deranged government officials. Iñárritu portrays the president and his men laughably while leaving one Dr. Ganesh to make an effort to minimize the global issue being faced in the film. Ganesh, played by Riz Ahmed, is a scientist working under Digger in order to regulate the active climate crisis. With a weak and shy exterior, Ganesh is pushed over time and again. By working alongside Digger, he is able to speak freely and come up with possible solutions to the pressing matter of the film. However, at the end of the day, he is still a man under Digger’s power. Ahmed executed Ganesh extremely well, eliciting feelings of awkwardness and empathy from the audience. Iñárritu’s film also stars Sandra Hüller, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons and more wonderfully talented actors. Without revealing too much information about the film, each of these brilliant actors’ characters play an important role in different parts of Digger’s life. Read more on our website!
page 10 The Signal October 16, 2026
Harry Styles celebrates togetherness at his 30-night residency in New York
Photo by Robyn Seltzer
Harry Styles’ billboard welcomes fans outside of Madison Square Garden. By Robyn Seltzer Staff Writer Harry Styles is lighting up a select number of venues in his “Together, Together” tour, and Madison Square Garden is the latest to be blessed by his presence. Styles returned to the iconic venue after nearly four years, where he hosted a 15-night residency for his last tour, “Love on Tour,” in 2022. Now, Styles has doubled the amount of nights he is performing in New York for his “Together, Together” tour residency, which began Aug. 26 and finishes on Oct. 31. While some may think that 30 nights would allow fans easy-access of tickets, the tour sold out almost immediately when it was announced in January. Many tickets were resold for double or even triple the original price. After finding his footing in the first month of shows at MSG, Styles delivered an 18th night on Oct. 3 that went off without a hitch. Fans
of all ages gathered around the arena to take pictures, eat and enjoy the camaraderie before doors opened at 7 p.m. This featured several photo opportunities, dozens of restaurants surrounding MSG and a crowd of people gathered outside the backdoors of the venue, hoping to catch a glimpse of Styles walking into the building. As the sun began to set, the doors opened wide and the “Harries” flocked inside. Thousands milled around to find food, wait in line for merchandise or went straight to their seats. The venue sold signature mocktails served in souvenir cups and gave clip-on ties with an order of popcorn or cotton candy, a staple in Styles’ wardrobe. At 8 p.m., the opener of the show, Jamie xx, took center stage and played a continuous set with no time for him to take a break. Jamie began his career as part of group The xx, contributing to remixes for artists like Florence + The Machine and Adele. Now, years into his solo career, he plays for thousands of Styles’ fans each night of the MSG residency, many of whom have likely become fans of the opener himself along the way. Jamie’s blend of different instruments and R&B sonics entranced the crowd as the jumbotrons focused on people dancing in the pit and getting excited for what was to come later that night. As the DJ’s set came to a close, Styles’ band and dancers entered the stage, followed by the British popstar himself. Jamie left the stage as Styles launched into the first song of his set, “Dance No More,” a fan-favorite off of his newest album, “Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally,” which was released in March 2026. He danced around his long, circular runway of a stage as fans passionately screamed the lyrics “respect your mother” loud and proud.
Dressed in all black, Styles took off his blazer to play “Carolina,” a track from his self-titled debut album that made its tour debut on the New York setlist after being absent from earlier shows. While Amsterdam, London, Saõ Paulo and Mexico City had songs on the setlist like “Golden,” “Treat People With Kindness” and “Matilda,” these fan-favorites were replaced by other beloved songs like “Cinema,” “The Waiting Game” and “Satellite.” Before strutting down his red-and-green-lit runway for “Watermelon Sugar,” Styles shed his black sweater to reveal a white button-down, his final costume change of the evening. Fans went crazy as he launched into his older songs, then brought the crowd back to one of his newer hits, “Taste Back.” As Styles took a break off-stage, his backup singers covered “From The Dining Table” from Styles’ debut album. Though the popstar himself was not present, thousands of fans in MSG sang along to the song and cheered when he returned. Styles took time to glance around the pit and read fan-made signs, leading to a series of lighthearted interactions. After predicting an unborn baby’s gender and signing a onesie for the parents, he held up a sign reading “Check out my wiener Albert” that featured photos of a dog. He also donned a pair of alien-like glasses thrown onto the stage, saying, “We come in peace, sister.” Styles soon sang four songs in a row from his newest album, starting with “Are You Listening Yet?” which previously opened the tour in earlier cities. While many critics of the album have claimed this track to be too wordy and repetitive, fans at the “Together, Together” tour didn’t seem to mind as they screamed the lyrics back to him. He continued with “Ready, Steady, Go!,”
“Pop” and “Season 2 Weight Loss” before giving another blast from the past with one of his first songs, “Kiwi.” The aesthetic of the venue turned the reds and blues of the last few songs to a stark black and white, enhancing the cool, rockstar image Styles was looking to portray. Omitting the track from his international tour dates made the moment extra special for the Madison Square Garden crowd, as fans shouted “It’s New York, baby, always jacked up,” in the Big Apple itself. Styles then ditched the black-and-white colors of the stage upon singing his bright radiohit “American Girls,” and then sang potentially the most hyped-up song of the night, “As It Was.” A single from Styles’ third album, this song formed a cult-like fanbase when sung on tour, with the lyric “leave America” becoming one that Harries all over the world hope to scream back to the singer someday, even those in America. Styles took to the piano in front of the pit to play a stripped version of “Carla’s Song,” joined by a string ensemble for “Coming Up Roses.” The latter featured Styles’ dancers spinning around the stage, with many fans in the pit dancing with each other as well, making for a pure and heartfelt moment for the artist to see. Styles moved to the other end of the pit to play his hit, “Sign of the Times,” on guitar, and beforehand reminded the crowd to spread kindness to each other and to get home safe. While the audience emotionally recovered from the song, Styles played around with the soundboard and sang his final song of the night, “Aperture.” For a couple of hours, 22,000 people were able to forget about the world and embrace happiness, showing the truth in Styles’ lyric: “If you must join a movement, make sure there’s dancing.”
Ninajirachi shares her digital love in Brooklyn
Photo by Shaun Bulayo
Ninajirachi opening her set with “girl EDM” through digitalized glitchy visuals. By Shaun Bulayo Correspondent Australian producer and DJ, Nina Wilson, better known as Ninajirachi, has been busy following the breakthrough success of her debut studio album, “I Love My Computer.” Continuing to ride off the success, Ninajirachi has come back to North America on her return tour, “I Love My Computer and It Loves Me.” Performing the weekend at Brooklyn Steel on Oct. 3 and Oct. 4, Ninajirachi left a lasting impression on her fans before she returned to Australia for a short, but much deserved break. Originally released on Aug. 8, 2025, “I Love My Computer” provides an innovative, introspective look into the digital world as it enters the electronic music scene. Based on Ninajirachi’s personal experiences of primarily growing up on the internet, the album explores the relationship between humanity and technology, detailing both its ups and downs. Even though a year has passed, the album continues to obtain recognition, most recently sweeping the 2026 Australia Independent Records Awards with eight total wins in different categories. Ninajirachi’s tours for the North American leg have been filled to the brim as shows all over are sold out. Despite the hectic schedule,
Ninajirachi has even managed to make an appearance at the All Things Go Music Festival a few days before in Washington, D.C. before returning to her tour. Accompanying Ninajirachi for Brooklyn Steel was the New York City-based electronic pop and clash duo MGNA Crrrta. The duo consists of Farheen Khan and Ginger Scott who’ve notably collaborated with Ninajirachi before and have built a lasting relationship since. Being a part of the original formation for “girl EDM,” coined by Nina, it’s no surprise that the pair captivated the crowd as they opened off hits from their recent album, “Beautiful Disaster.” MGNA Crrrta’s opening remained wild as the elements of electro clash took over the stage with headbanging accompanying the noise. The bass would blare in front as the music soared, leading to an undeniable experience for those up close. Playing to “I Love My Computer’s” connection to technology, the duo met online as kids before establishing the friendship they hold today. With the growth of the internet, it has provided experiences that could never have been replicated before as everything’s a click away. Even now, their synergy can be seen throughout their performance, especially playing well to their home crowd of New York City.
Khan and Scott would exchange vocals between songs and accelerate the crowd’s hype through bubble guns, wristbands and close-up serenades in their performance. As MGNA Crrrta’s set came to a close, the audience could only wait in anticipation as the setup for Nina’s performance began to occur on the stage in front of them. Soon, the screen behind the DJ controllers began to flicker on and boot up akin to a computer. As the screen’s system initialized, so did the show as the visuals began to change and corrupt. Flashing Ninajirachi’s logos, Ninajirachi would appear on stage as the beat began to warp into a sudden drop for “girl EDM” to play. Although “girl EDM” wasn’t from the album, it was one of the tracks that started it all, leading back to Ninajirachi’s playful desire for women to tackle the male-dominated electronic music scene. Fighting for inclusivity, “girl EDM” has truly taken shape with more female and queer artists adding their own flair to the now developing culture. While the original album flows beautifully into each subsequent track from front to back, Ninajirachi would provide remixes and inclusions of other songs she worked on. Providing a new way to listen to her music, fans could only be excited by her experimentation and vision to keep things fresh. Ninajirachi’s experience as a DJ would play well in her set as she found moments in her music to perfectly mix into and taking previous sets into consideration for her own use. Audiences could feel influences from big names such as Porter Robinson, Madeon and umru, showing just how far she’s grown. While Ninajirachi has been shy before to present her art, her confidence has only grown as she showed brilliant showmanship throughout the concert. Leading the crowd through chants and cheer, the joy on her face was infectious with the audience only continuing to return the same energy. One of the biggest components that elevated the concert were Ninajirachi’s visualizers.
Each one would blow the performance away as it created a new atmosphere that perfectly fit each song. Pictures regrettably don’t provide justice to the experience as there were just too many individual pieces to feature and take in as scenes constantly changed and evolved. Through digitalizations of real-world elements, artwork created by fans, references to programming, computer workflow or even snippets of music videos, Ninajirachi managed to capture the vibe every time. Lyrics would even be broadcasted onto screens, providing a perfect interactive experience for fans to unite and sing along with their favorite artist. Finishing her set with one of her biggest hits, “F–k My Computer,” Nina wished the crowd a safe trip home. Leaving the stage, the visuals would turn to black and the lights turned back on. However, the crowd couldn’t contain their excitement as they chanted “One more song!” Dashing back onto stage, Ninajirachi would come back and finish off with an unforgettable encore, reminiscing of her first concerts in New York City. Including remixes of “iPod Touch,” “WannaCry,” “Hypervisor” and “F–k My Computer,” Ninajirachi would rock the audience one last time. Even as Ninajirachi finishes the first part of her tour for “I Love My Computer and It Loves Me” in New York City, fans should be excited to expect more as she only seems to become increasingly prominent in the mainstream. Recently announcing a new line up for festivals she’s participating in for 2027, Ninajirachi shows no chance of slowing down anytime soon as she’s playing with big hits such as Tame Impala, Charli XCX, Skrillex and countless others. For those into electronic music and are willing to have a blast with something fun and new, “I Love My Computer” is the perfect album to jump into front-to-back. Ninajirachi’s “I Love My Computer and It Loves Me” tour will continue on Nov. 11 at the Fonda in Los Angeles with tickets unfortunately being sold out for the rest of the tour.
October 16, 2026, The Signal page 11
Men’s Soccer continues historic undefeated streak
Defense has played a major role in the team’s success. By Shawn Retta Staff Writer With a 0-0 tie on Oct. 7th against high-level New Jersey Athletic Conference opponent Montclair State, the Lions Men’s Soccer team broke the school record for the longest undefeated streak in program history. They followed it up with another 0-0 tie to RutgersNewark. “I think breaking the program record for
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Weiss
longest unbeaten start to a season is something that our group should be extremely proud of. I think we have dealt with our fair share of adversity through the season, and have consistently responded well,” stated head coach Steve DeMatteo. “That is a testament to the character of our players and their togetherness as well as belief. We certainly want more from the season but this is an accomplishment that is very challenging and something the group can be proud of, and build from.”
This Lions Defense has been stellar all season. They’re averaging 0.83 goals allowed per game, which puts them at third in the NJAC rankings. “Defending and defensive organization is something we take a lot of pride as being a big part of the DNA of our program. We are very intentional about coaching it and our players have taken well to things, and have applied and executed,” Coach DeMatteo responded when asked about how the defense has been an x-factor all season. “We defend from front to back so every guy in our program is really dialed into how critical defending is and how we can control the game for spells without the ball.” One big factor to this stellar Lions defense is the final line of defense. Goalie Sean Najdzinowicz has been a brick wall as of late. In his last six games, he has only given up two goals compared to his first three games, where he gave up five. He was also named NJAC Defensive Player of the Week. “It feels great to receive NJAC Defensive Player of the Week, all the credit goes to the team though,” Nadjzinowicz stated. “Breaking the program’s undefeated streak and being one of the few undefeated teams left in Division III is something we’re really proud of. Not losing is something we take pride in, but we know there is more coming… I’ve also felt more confident in goal and have been able to stay focused, make the saves I need to make, and
help lead the defense in front of me.” However, with all the great defensive performances going on, the offense seems to have lost its footing a little bit. The team is averaging two goals per game, including two back-to-back goalless performances, which puts them at fifth in the NJAC. Even with the mini-slipup of the offense, the Lions have been able to gain six points through the first four games of NJAC play, and fans shouldn’t fret about these struggles continuing. “Taking the next step and trying to get more from some of the games than just ties is just us continuing to be committed to being us. We have to continue to be committed to winning critical components of the game, being organized without the ball, and working to create chances,” Coach DeMatteo said. “There is a strong internal belief in our group and determination to keep chasing a new level of standards each day.” Legendary college football head coach Bear Bryant has a quote that goes, “defense wins championships.” If the Lions continue to play this level of defense, and the offense is able to find its footing again, there is a great chance that they could come home with an NJAC championship at the end of the season. The team travels to New Paltz on Oct. 17. They join a slate of Lions teams, including Women’s soccer and field hockey, who are taking on New Paltz that weekend.
Cross Country struggles for first time No. 10 Women’s Soccer dominates week as they this season at NJIT XC Invitational gear up for end of season By Kevin Llumiquinga and Jhett Laurie Staff Writer and Sports Editor The College’s men and women’s cross country teams struggled at the 22nd Annual NJIT XC Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey. The College’s men’s cross country team faced the toughest competition they had all year, but they were still able to secure seventh place with an average time of 27:00. The team ultimately scored 198 points on the invitational eight-kilometer course, with all seven runners finishing within the top 75. The Lions showed consistency throughout the race. Freshman Will Nelson had an outstanding performance, leading the Lions with an eighth-place finish with a time of 25:21.82. Nelson was the top NCAA Division III runner in the race, securing a top 10 finish among other competitive runners. The team faced off against the likes of Army West Point, University of Albany and Marist University; all Division I programs. Nelson was followed by junior Silas Matteson, placing 50th with a time of 27:11.18. Freshman Tyler Hurst finished behind Matteson with a two seconds difference, placing 52nd with a time of 27:13.19. Junior Declan Butler and freshman Damian Smutek placed in 60th and 68th with a time of 27:30.10 and 27:44.61, respectively. Freshmen Stephen Martin and Ryan McCann completed the Lion’s performances, finishing 72nd and 73rd.
The team placed sixth overall and second among DIII teams, only behind Stevens. The Lions also had a strong performance in the men’s open eightkilometer race, securing second place with 58 points. Freshman Ryan Faulkner led the team with a 10th-place finish, with a time of 27:46.10. Faulkner was followed by freshman Mathew McDevitt, who finished 11th with a time of 27:55:67. Senior David Keefe and junior Jack Segalla also secured top-20 finishes, placing 15th and 17th, respectively. On the women’s side of the race, the College’s team also struggled, securing eighth place out of 24 teams and ultimately scoring 259 points on the five-kilometer course. The team finished with an average time of 20:33, with its top five runners finishing. Sophomore Lilla Porter had an outstanding performance, leading the Lions with a 32nd-place finish, with a time of 19:32.94. Porter was followed by junior Amaya Zorilla, who placed 35th with a time of 19:39.51. Both crossed the finish line under 20 minutes, only seven seconds apart. Sophomore Alissa Stumpf finished with a 69th-place finish, with a time of 20:53.77. Followed by both sophomore Mia Zicchinella and junior Alyssa Maybeck finished 75th and 87th, respectively. Freshman Layla Guarcello and junior Olivia Sullivan completed the Lions’ performance, placing 89th and 94th. Read more on our website!
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Weiss
Cross country travels to Connecticut on Oct. 17.
Photo courtesy of Matias Sanchez
Junior Jenny Ward leads the team in goals (9). By Edward Johnson Staff Writer The College’s No. 10 ranked team improved to 8-1-2, after defeating RV Montclair State University 2-1 at home and Rutgers University-Newark 6-0 on the road. The Lions enjoyed one of their best weeks of the season, as they dominated the Red Hawks on Oct. 7, scoring two goals in the game’s first 10 minutes of action. Senior Alyssa Alfano scored the Lions’ first goal of the night in the game’s first two minutes. Junior Katie Naughton, who received the pass from junior Jenny Ward, kicked it over to Alfano to drill the combination play. The College outshot Montclair 23-13 and took six corners to the Red Hawks’ five. The Lions would take a sizable 2-0 lead five minutes later, as junior Elaina Williams scored from an assist by junior Maggie Murphy. The Red Hawks finally scored out of desperation with 15 minutes left in regulation, but the Lions were able to remain in control the rest of the way and walked away with an impressive 2-1 victory. The Lions then went on to rout the Scarlet Raiders 6-0 in Newark, New Jersey on the road, possibly their best victory of the season.
The College outshot the Scarlet Raiders 24-3 in total shots, took five corners to Rutgers-Newark’s two and put up their highest point total of the year. Contributions came in from five of the College’s top players, including two from junior Lexi Caruso, recording a goal and a penalty kick. Murphy, Ward, junior Emily Weidner and freshman Maddie Nolan scored one goal each to help the Lions secure a massive road victory. Nolan scored the first goal of her college career as a freshman and also achieved her first career assist as a Lion. Caruso’s two goals were her second and third of the season, Ward achieved a five-game streak with at least a point and Murphy earned her team-best seventh goal of the season. Alfano scored her fourth goal of the year and has tallied 23 goals in her career. Junior Ellen Williams’ six saves against the Red Hawks gave her 150 for her college career. With 150 saves, that makes Williams only the seventh goalie in program history to reach that milestone. The Lions are hitting their stride and look to remain hot heading into their final five games of the season. They face a three-game home stretch over the next two weeks, as they face William Paterson, New Paltz and RutgersCamden.
No. 24 Field Hockey posts third 8-0 shut-out, improve to 3-0 in NJAC
Photo courtesy of Matias Sanchez
Junior Nika Eschmann has had a breakout season for the Lions this year. By Jhett Laurie Sports Editor No. 24 field hockey stands at 3-0 within the New Jersey Athletic Conference. They find themselves tied for first with Rowan, who also sit at 3-0 with a 10-3 record. This comes after back-to-back wins against Kean and Ramapo on the road. The team faced off against Kean on Oct. 7, with only one team able to preserve their 1-0 record within the
conference. Ultimately, it would be the Lions who would come out on top. The Lions played a strong game, dominating the Cougars through the first half. The team outshot Kean 192, forcing 11 saves. Graduate goalie Brigette Racey picked up a lone save in the second period. The stalemate was finally broken, with junior Nika Eschmann picking up the go ahead goal in the second period. The Cougars got a lucky break early in the second half, finding the cage on
a penalty corner. It didn’t take long for the Lions to answer, as just three minutes later, freshman Avery Gower took it solo into the circle and snuck it past the goalie to regain the lead for the Lions. Kean struggled early in the fourth period to find some momentum, but as the minutes winded down, they found some light. Four penalty corners were attempted in the last five minutes, but Racey and the defense were able to hold it down in the back half to cement
their win. The Lions then headed up to Mahwah, New Jersey to take on Ramapo on Oct. 10. The team’s offense was on fire, as they posted yet another 8-0 shutout victory. They came off the bus hot, posting two goals within the first eight minutes. Senior Kendall Justus netted her first goal of the season, and second of her career, four minutes into the game. She was followed by Eschmann picking up her first goal of the day. Right before the first period ended, senior Jadyn Huff extended their lead to 3-0 on a penalty stroke. The Lions continued to crush the Roadrunners, not allowing a single shot on goal for the first half. The offensive pressure from the College proved to be smothering, as they posted three more goals in the second period. Junior Prisha Dhruve scored her second goal of the season, junior Rachel Tetzlaff picked up her fifth and Eschmann picked up her second on the day. The second half was one of many firsts. Ramapo picked up their first and only shot of the game. Senior Megan McGavin picked up her first collegiate goal early in the third period. Senior Ines Sawyer, an exchange student from England, made her first appearance at the College. Finally, freshman Natalia Simcak scored her first goal at the end of the game. This victory puts the Lions at a 26-1 goal-differential over their last four games. Eschmann has now scored in five straight games, bringing her goal total to seven on the season, all of which have been during this stretch. The Lions take on New Paltz on Oct. 17 at 1 p.m. in Ewing, looking to improve to 4-0 in the NJAC.
Football conquers Castleton at homecoming
Freshman Grant Lorentzen picked up two touchdowns in route to win. By Tyler Fennell Staff Writer The Lions walked into homecoming with a 1-3 record following a hard fought loss to the No. 13 ranked Salisbury. With their record on the season not being particularly inspiring, the massive crowd of students, parents and alumni, despite their energy, couldn’t have expected much. What the Lions delivered far surpassed expectations, earning a victory against
Castleton in a shootout with a final score of 38-23. Castleton opened the scoring on the first drive of the game. Surprisingly, they attempted a two-point conversion very early in the game. This attempt was unsuccessful. This was followed by another surprising playcall with an onside kick. The College responded with a touchdown of their own, scored by junior running back Michael Strachan, taking the safe route and making the extra point to
Photo courtesy of Benjamin Weiss
take a 7-6 lead. The second quarter began with a scoreless drive from Castleton. The Lions fumbled the ball on their own drive, which was recovered by Castleton. Castleton’s offense took advantage of this opportunity with a touchdown of their own. They then went for another two-point conversion, this time they were successful, putting the score at 14-7. The Lions quickly responded with sophomore quarterback Walker Bailey launching a 69-yard pass caught by
freshman receiver Grant Lorentzen for a touchdown. Castleton answered with a field goal. The College closed the first half with another rushing touchdown from Strachan. To open the second half, the College tossed an interception over to Castleton. Castleton was not able to capitalize on the turnover with a scoreless drive. The team responded with yet another rushing touchdown, this time scored by freshman running back Sam Dech. Castleton was not able to put up a point of their own. Near the end of the third quarter, the College fumbled again and it was recovered by Castleton. The story for Castleton all game was not being able to capitalize on the College’s turnovers. This narrative would continue as Castleton would turn the ball over on downs. The fourth quarter would begin with the Lions also turning the ball over on downs. Castleton would follow up with another scoreless drive. The action would pick back up with Lorentzen breaking out for a 50-yard rush and scoring a touchdown. Castleton would break their streak of scoreless drives with a touchdown of their own to keep the game alive. The College would end the game’s scoring off with a field goal, logging the final score at 38-23. As the clock wound down, the Lions secured their first NJAC victory. The College takes on William Patterson next week for the third NJAC game of the season on Saturday, Oct. 17.