The Towerlight (Feb. 16, 2016)

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

Feb. 16, 2016

a preview of lacrosse, tennis, golf and baseball pgs 19-21. also inside, details on former diving coaches’ trial, pg. 7.

Photo by Chris Simms, Photo illustration by Kara Bucaro The Towerlight

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Social Media

February 16, 2016

TOWSON TRENDING Week of 2/3 - 2/15

Men’s basketball won against William & Mary Saturday with a final score of 99-82.

Monday, Towson cancelled class and students took advantage of the day off to catch up on homework, hang with friends and get in a few extra hours of relaxation.

Men’s Basketball I’ve seen A LOT of bad basketball over my time at Towson. Today’s win showed me @CoachPatSkerry might have his best team at TU.

@kevinlhess

I love Towson basketball games! @Towson_MBB

@emma_conine9

S/O to the Towson Men’s basketball team for a hard earned win against William and Mary

@SportBusinessTU

Monday Snow Day! Towson cancelling classes and there’s less than an inch of snow on the ground....perks on going to a school in the south

@tucccmagooch

“Towson doesn’t have off for President’s Day? I’ll just make it snow again”Mother Nature, probably

@TubaTim817

Thank you Towson for closing. But could you wait until a decent hour to start removing the snow. I shouldn’t be up rn. @TowsonU

@_SimpleElegance

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Opinion

February 16, 2016

Editor-in-Chief Carley Milligan Senior Editor Cody Boteler News Editor Sam Shelton Assist. News Editors Nilo Exar Sarah Rowan Arts & Life Editor Annie Sragner

On the trial, saga of Maureen Mead

Sports Editor Assoc. Sports Editors Jordan Cope Assist. Sports Editor Tyler Beard Staff Writers Tim Anderson Kati Day Lauren Cosca Kristin Helf Ryan Permison Hailey Miller Tyler Young Christine LaFrancesca Caitlin Wolfarth Photo Editor Assoc. Photo Editor Chris Simms Staff Photographers Cody Boteler Adrilenzo Cassoma Nilo Exar Carley Milligan Allen Stewart Video Producer Sarah Chmieloweic Assist. Video Producer Stacey Coles Staff Videographers Tyisha Henderson Proofreaders Sarah Rowan Kayla Baines Alaina Tepper Chris Pretrides General Manager Mike Raymond

News Editor Sam Shelton and I went to Maureen Mead’s trial last week (see pg. 7), and, like, dang, guys. It was, easily, the most intense thing that I’ve covered for The Towerlight so far—both as a person and as a reporter.

The courtroom was packed with members of the swimming and diving team—there, presumably, to show support for the affected women and to watch the fate of their former coach unfold. It was a beautifully human moment, seeing that kind of solidarity.

I still remember, vividly, when a few members of the swimming and diving team reached out to The Towerlight last semester to meet with us, because they felt they had waited too long since the phone was found for answers.

Two Towerlighters met with those team members in the Union and we just talked. It was candid,

powerful and hard. One of the team members who spoke with us, I learned at the trial, was one of the women in the locker room when the phone was found.

It was a wonderful thing, to see the members of the team get, I hope at least, some kind of closure.

In investigating and following this story, it’s been nice watching the team members advocate for themselves and to not let this go.

It was hard to hold back tears listening to the seven victim impact statements from the women on the team who were in the locker room when Maureen Mead’s iPhone was discovered.

They talked about losing their sense of identity, developing depression and anxiety and feeling betrayed.

They cried as they talked about Maureen Mead being like a second mom to them.

Imagining the betrayal and the pain those women felt and were still feeling, even for a second, was heartbreaking.

Their testimonies, though, showed an undeniable courage. It couldn’t have been easy to stand up and say aloud, to the court, how the incident had affected their lives— especially with Maureen Mead just a few feet away.

I hope that the women who stood up and spoke, even though they might not be entirely happy with the outcome of the plea hearing, feel some sense of closure.

I hope that, despite the anxiety and stress and fear that has come from this process, will hope to go away.

And I hope, sincerely and truly, to be done with all this. I hope that the next time someone from the swim team talks to a reporter, it’s because of the swimmers successes, not because of drama surrounding the team.

This hasn’t been a regular crime story. This has been a story about broken trust, cover-ups and heartbreak. It’s been tough. It wasn’t nearly as hard as a reporter as it was a person, but it was still tricky.

The Towerlight faced (and won) a Public Information Act request battle. We had to grapple with the ethics of using unnamed sources— would it hurt our credibility (I don’t, for the record, think it did) or make us look opportunistic?

And then there was the difficulty of keeping track of what was happening in the courtroom and scrambling to write everything down, because recording devices aren’t allowed in court.

Or, put more simply—I am so, so glad to be, finally, closing the book on this. The saga of Maureen Mead has dragged on long enough and impacted enough lives.

Here’s to the swimming and diving team and all their accomplishments. Here’s to the bonds between them that were, undoubtedly, strengthened by this experience they took on together.

And here’s to their success and happiness—may they do well at the CAA Championship this month and make it all the way to the NCAA tournament.

Art Director Kara Bucaro Production Assistants Daniel Andrews Christine Kim Webmaster Hafiz Aina Circulation Staff Jasmine Edwards Nilo Exar Shawn Halerz

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Please Recycle!

The meaning of being “problematic” In regard to social activism, we often hear the term “problematic” being used to describe a person thought to be in the wrong. So what does that term mean, exactly?

By proper definition, it means to present or constitute a problem or difficulty. But here’s my definition in the context of activism: to be problematic is to hold or act on a belief that is inherently negative toward a person or group of people (to be sexist, racist, homophobic, etc.).

When we think about it that way, we realize that some people don’t care if their beliefs or ideas are problematic. Some people hope that theirs aren’t, and some people think they know that theirs aren’t.

Well, reader, allow me to let you in on a little secret: we are all problematic.

You could view yourself as the most open-minded, accepting, antihate person to exist, and I can guarantee that you’ve felt/done/said something problematic in your lifetime, and that you will do so again.

This happens because whether we know it or not, our society has

internalized hate within us. Through various outlets, especially the media, we are taught that men are better than women, white is better than black, and straight is better than LGBTQA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Asexual), along with many other discriminatory and problematic beliefs.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about internalized misogyny, and how a prime example of that is slutshaming amongst women. But here’s another example of internalized hate: In the documentary “Dark Girls,” a young, 5 to 7-year-old, darkskinned girl is asked to attribute

personality traits to a chart showing five drawings of cartoon girls. The drawings each have a different skin tone, ranging from very light, to tan, to very dark.

When this child was asked “who is the smart child?” and “show me the good looking child” she points to the drawing of the girl with the lightest skin.

When asked, “show me the dumb child” and “show me the ugly child,” she points the the drawing of the girl with the darkest skin. She points to the girl that looks like her.

To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Opinion

February 16, 2016

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Using Islamophobia as an opportunity Slay, or you’ll get eliminated USJID HAMEED Student

As-salamu alaykum, My fellow Muslims, I write this letter to you all ten minutes after finding out that multiple Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) offices needed to be evacuated due to the fact they all received “suspicious packages.” The packages carried white powder and in some cases, a message.

One of the messages reportedly read, “die a painful death.” Many say that the amount of Islamophobia we are seeing in America today has reached an unprecedented level as hate crimes against Muslims have continued to rise these past few weeks with each incident becoming progressively worse.

Before the attempt to intimidate CAIR office workers this week, there was the report of a New York shop owner who was viciously assaulted by a customer who claimed he will “kill Muslims.” Then there was the story about the Muslim cab driver in Pittsburgh who was shot by a passenger shortly after he asked the driver about Daesh (Another moniker for the self-proclaimed Islamic State). Every day I am nervous to read the news in fear of there being an even more horrific incident than the day before or even worse, that the story will be about one of my own loved ones.

At this point, many in the Muslim community are unsure how to respond to all the threats and violence. There are those who argue that we need to keep to ourselves until this all “blows over” and normalcy returns to this country. I understand this rationale completely.

We are angry, scared, and most of all confused. However, being reclusive at this moment is the worst thing we can do. Please, do not let this opportunity go to waste. Now is the time more than ever that we engage our communities and our non-Muslim peers.

The best way to stop the spread of Islamophobia and hatred is to go out and become involved. Volunteer with your local political party, join your child’s parent-teacher association, join a bowling league—it doesn’t matter but you must do something.

I understand this task may seem daunting, especially if you or your loved ones recently emigrated here from a foreign country, but there is

no better way to erase the misconceptions about our faith than by working alongside our neighbors to better the community in which we live.

Those skeptical of my approach would say that Muslims have no need to prove their “Americanness.” Allow me to be clear, my urge for Muslims to become more participatory in their communities is not to prove anything.

It is a reassertion of our values.

Muslims are productive members of society who believe in equality, peace, and social justice.

We work as doctors, lawyers, and servicemen and women in the US military.

Unfortunately, there is a very violent minority which believes all Muslims are inherently evil and therefore think that their horrific acts are justified.

My approach does not excuse this violent minority’s cruel deeds either.

The discriminatory rhetoric is being spewed by a few presidential candidates that is fueling this group’s fear does not show sign on slowing down.

As Muslims, we can lament all day long about how awful our circumstances are, however nothing will be accomplished until we all stand up and take action.

The popular saying “people fear what they do not understand” rings true now more than ever. The best way to help others understand is to engage them.

If you doubt this approach, look at the Muslims in San Bernardino. One day after the massacre, they began a fundraising campaign for the victims’ families. They ended up raising over $100,000 and have touched the entire nation, not only as tremendous Muslims, but as tremendous Americans who have taken a stance against terrorism and prejudice.

Now is the time for us to rise together and transform our communities one person at a time. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” If we hate those who hate us, we allow them to win. Now is the time to build new relationships and strengthen our communities to ensure long lasting understanding for one another as Americans.

Show those who wish to hurt us that no matter what, we will not close our doors. We will not close our minds.

Most importantly, we will not close our hearts.

SEY ELEMO Columnist

All praises and honour to the High Priestess Beyoncé Giselle KnowlesCarter, Saint Bey, Our Lady of Perpetual Slay.

Have you heard the good word of Formation?

Queen Bey has called on us! We must humbly arrange whatever is left of our edges (the shorter, wispy, hairs at the cusp of the hairline, also know as baby hairs) and get in formation!

“I did not come to play with you heauxs. I came slay, bitch-” A declaration of realness before the Queen snatched everyone’s follicles back five generations.

Bey donned braids in all various forms (from French to box), and in fact slayed with the most unapologetically black song and even more unapologetic video. This was a reminder to everyone (because it

seems that people, most often white people, forget) that Beyoncé, is in fact, a strong, successful, fleeking black woman and she’s extremely proud of her heritage and where she comes from.

Queen Bey would like us black women, her sisters (ladies), to join her in her flagrant display of black pride and bad bitchery, and celebrate our strength and our beauty, openly without regret (get in formation), so that we may slay eternally.

And theeeeeen Beyoncé got her black ass up on the Super Bowl stage and performed this black ass song, with her black ass back up dancers, and caused me to evaporate into thin black air.

It was the most public and necessary display of black opulence I have seen in a long time.

Now, as per usual, there were haters (the same ones that the queen would like us to twirl on) and they were

mostly white women that didn’t know “how to sing along,” so they resorted to calling Beyoncé a “cop hater.” They said that the song is unfair to white girls. They called her a black panther (Looooooord, that is a whole other topic for a whole other article), and so on.

Why? Because she opened the video sitting atop a police car submerged in water, and showed several homes also submerged in water, to remind you of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina and the hundreds of black people that were left for dead in the urban areas of NOLA? Because she showed a young black boy dancing, literally just dancing, in front of police cars with the message “STOP SHOOTING US” spray-painted on the wall?

Oh, whatever.

To read the rest of this column online, visit www.thetowerlight.com

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February 16, 2016

1860

1870 1880

1890 1900

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1930

1940

1950

1960

1970 1980

1990

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The 1970’s was a decade full of

athletic accomplishments for the Towson Tigers. In 1970, the Women's lacrosse team was initiated. They began competing under the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) with Maggie Faulkner as their coach. Coach Faulkner helped the Women’s Lacrosse team win three state titles and led them to two East Coast Conference (ECC) appearances before resigning.

In 1972, Doc Minnegan established the Towson Athletic Hall of Fame. Minnegan was the Hall’s first member after retiring in 1972.

Women’s Lacrosse team from the 1970s Dan Dullea was Towson’s first All-American in 1974 The men’s basketball team gears up for the Mason-Dixon conference tournament in this photo from the late 1970s

Quarterback Dan Dullea was recognized as Towson's first All-American when he was honored on Kodak's Division III first team for leading the Tigers to their only unbeaten season (10-0) in 1974.

In 1976, the Softball club moved from club to varsity status; it took many wins and a competitive season for this achievement. In this same year, the Towson Center complex opened, featuring a 4,500-seat arena and separate fields for lacrosse, soccer and field hockey, as well as tennis courts lights for evening play.

In 1976, the Men’s Golf team won their first conference title by taking the Mason-Dixon championship.

In 1976 – 1978, the men's basketball team compiled a 53-7 record over its final two years at the NCAA Division II level, making post-season appearances both times. By 1979, Towson moved its entire athletics program (with the exception of football) to Division I.

To be continued…

Share your memory: TU150.towson.edu

News

February 16, 2016

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Ex-diving coach gets three years probation Maureen Mead accepts plea deal in locker room recording incident

Former Towson diving coach Maureen Mead was sentenced to three years of unsupervised probation before judgment Wednesday, in connection with the smartphone found recording students in the women’s swimming and diving team locker room in October.

Mead, who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of visual surveillance and altering physical evidence, was fired from her position at the University on Nov. 24, just one day after she was formally charged in connection with the Oct. 16 incident. The state prosecution dropped an additional interception of communication felony charge.

“I would like to say how very, very sorry I am to the girls and this team,” Mead said.

Assistant State’s Attorney Lisa Dever said that she did not pursue a full trial because she didn’t want to subject the women on the team to the stress of cross-examination and a drawn out process. Dever also said that Mead had no prior offenses and that, because the laws related to her charges are not clear cut, there was a strategic reason for going for a plea instead of a full trial.

During the plea hearing, Dever called seven women from the team to provide victim impact statements.

“This way [the swim team] got to say everything they wanted to say,” Dever said. “And that’s what they wanted, and what we accomplished.”

As part of the probation, Judge Jan Marshall Alexander ordered Mead, 43, to have no contact with members of the team, to stay away from campus and to not coach or train in any capacity. If Mead successfully completes her probation, criminal charges will be removed from her record.

Swim team member Hannah Snyder said many members of the team were disappointed with Alexander’s decision. They didn’t want her to be able to coach again in the future, she said.

During the hearing, Dever gave the first public account of what happened inside the women’s swim team locker room Oct. 16.

Dever said that none of the women on the team believed that Maureen

Mead was trying to record them undressing, but instead that she was likely trying to eavesdrop on their conversations. Swim team coaching staff suspected that there were disagreements between upperclassmen and freshmen members of the team and that some members were trying to sabotage recruitment.

At around 7:30 a.m. on Oct. 16, just after the team had finished morning practice, the women noticed a light reflecting from the back of Mead’s black locker. Upon investigating, they found an iPhone standing upright against a shampoo bottle, partially obscured in front by a knit hat.

When she picked up the phone, 19-year-old Kendall Krumenaker saw that it was recording and had captured at least two women in the act of changing. When other women on the team informed Assistant Coach Adrienne Phillips of the device, Phillips returned the phone to Mead, who acted as if she had lost it.

Snyder later consulted former Head Swim Coach Pat Mead, Maureen Mead’s husband, who downplayed the incident and attempted to assure her that nothing was recorded, according to Dever’s account.

The coaches “didn’t understand why the girls were making such a big deal,” Dever said.

None of the coaches contacted Towson University Police, who were only made aware of the situation after the mother of a team member contacted University administration.

TUPD then responded at 11:10 a.m., almost four hours after the incident, and seized the phone. An investigation showed that the phone had undergone a factory reset around 9 a.m., Dever said. “[The team] trusted their coaches to lead them in the right direction and these coaches did anything but that,” Dever said.

Phillips and Pat Mead both quietly resigned in December.

According to Dever’s account, Pat Mead met with Phillips off-campus and recommended that Phillips do a factory reset of her iPhone, and told Phillips that he and Maureen Mead had already reset their phones and tablets.

Maureen Mead’s attorney, David Irwin, did not offer any corrections or objections to Dever’s account of events.

Dever said that Phillips and Pat Mead were not charged in connection with the incident due to lack of evidence.

“We looked into everything,”

Cody Boteler/ The Towerlight (Top) Former Towson Diving Coach Maureen Mead appears outside the Baltimore County Courts Building with her defense lawyer, David Irwin, following Wednesday’s plea hearing. (Bottom) Seven members of the Towson swimming and diving team answer questions following the hearing.

Dever said. “We weren’t limited in who we could charge. If there was evidence against anyone else, we would have charged.”

In their victim impact statements, women from the team described feelings of paranoia, anxiety and depression they have developed since finding the phone in the locker room.

A few said that they experienced identity crises, because they no longer enjoyed swimming, being in the pool or going to practice.

“The family I had once been so proud to be a part of was shattered,” Krumenacher said.

“For the first time in 15 years, I was ashamed to be a swimmer,” Snyder said.

Two women said that the stress from Mead’s breach in trust contributed to other physical ailments like stomach ulcers and mono, while another described not wanting to do anything aside from sleep and stay in

bed. One woman talked about bursting into tears during class without any provocation, because of the incident.

The University began offering Counseling Center services for the women immediately following the Oct. 16 incident and a counselor attended this week’s plea hearing.

Two members of the team have transferred from Towson since the phone was discovered, according to another swim team member.

Towson Athletics would not confirm the number of students who transferred from the University, citing the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. After the team gave their testimony, Mead spoke briefly. She apologized to the team and explained that she has not been able to find a new job due to the charges against her. The Meads have four kids, all under 15 years old.

“I just want to be able to provide for my kids, and I can’t do that right now,” she said.

Even though the trial is over in court, Mead may still be facing sanctions from USA Swimming, the governing body of the sport, according to her defense attorney.

USA Swimming Director of Communications Scott Leightman said that he could not comment on any specific sanctions or actions being taken by the organization, but did say that USA Swimming does pursue such proceedings.

A Nov. 17 statement from the University announced that Director of Athletics Tim Leonard had appointed former assistant coach Jake Shrum as acting head coach. The same statement announced that Tim Perkins was hired as temporary diving coach.

The diving team is scheduled to compete in the CAA Championship in Newark, Delaware, from Feb. 20-12 and the swimming is scheduled to compete in the CAA Championship in Richmond, Virginia, from Feb. 24-27.

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News

February 16, 2016

The birth of a new coalition HOSPITAL STRUCK IN SYRIAN AIR STRIKE DAMASCUS, SYRIA

The United Nations has reported that about 50 people have been killed in Syrian air strikes on Monday. The air strikes hit various regional hospitals and schools, including one on a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital that killed seven people and left eight others missing. These strikes happened despite the ruling that attacks on medical facilities are forbidden in conflict zones under international humanitarian law. The UN believes that either the Russian or Syrian governments are responsible for the strikes. The strikes happened just days after world powers agreed to cease hostilities in Syria this week.

U.S. TO BUILD NEW FACTORY IN CUBA

Courtesy of Daniela Beall Members of environmentally-focused student groups meet to discuss a possible “Environmental Coalition.”

HAVANA, CUBA

The Obama administration has approved a new U.S. factory in Cuba, to be completed by early 2017. The factory, a tractor plant for farmers in Cuba, has been enthusiastically endorsed by Cuban officials. A two-man company from Alabama, led by partners Horace Clemmons and Saul Berenthal, will lead the project. This will be the first factory built by a U.S. Company in Cuba in over 50 years, since Fidel Castro took power in 1959. “I think it’ll have a tremendous impact on their ability not only to help their economy but to set an example across the Caribbean and Latin America,” Berenthal said.

SPITZER INVESTIGATED FOR ALLEGED ASSAULT NEW YORK CITY, USA

Former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer will be investigated by authorities for an alleged assault at the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan on Saturday. Police say that a 25-year-old Russian woman made a claim that Spitzer pushed and choked her inside a room at the hotel. Spitzer has known the woman for the past two years, and the altercation was not sexual in nature. The woman was hospitalized for an attempted suicide that same night at Roosevelt Hospital.

She will not press charges against the former governor. Spokeswoman Lisa Linden said that “there is No truth to the allegation” in a statement. Spitzer resigned as governor in 2008 in the wake of a prostitution scandal.

Stories compiled by Sarah Rowan; stories compiled from The Daily Beast

In what I think is an unprecedented move on Towson’s campus, a number of environmentally-focused student groups have decided to form an “Environmental Coalition.”

If all goes as planned, these environmental groups—including the Towson University Urban Farm, TU 350 and the Student Environmental Organization—will make up the coalition, which will exist under the umbrella of Enactus, an entrepreneurially-based student group that works to tackle problems though projects.

Representatives from some of the student groups, academic departments on campus and the office of Civic Engagement and Leadership met Friday and decided to pursue the goal of consolidating all the environmental groups on campus into Enactus.

I got to sit in on the meeting. The discussion was dynamic, and everyone present definitely, wholeheartedly, wanted the best for these different student groups. As someone who’s passionate about protecting and preserving our environment, it was exciting to hear that there are people on this campus working

toward those goals.

The meeting concluded with people excited at the idea and ready to move forward—but with me wondering a few things about specifics. I want to go through my concerns quickly, because I believe in this program and want the best for it and, like I’ve said in previous editorials, writing critically about programs or institutions that I believe in is one of my ways of contributing. Someone’s got to hold the mirror up.

I’m a little concerned about the money and the democracy of this whole thing.

Enactus is already a Package IV student group in the Tiger Stripes program, so they get a budget from the Student Government Association and can apply for supplemental budgets. In addition, since Enactus is a nationwide organization that has a chapter at Towson’s campus, the Towson chapter can apply for different grants from the national level.

Put simply, Enactus (the same student group that opened a Café in Stephens Hall) can pull in a lot of cash and can put that cash to good use—if it’s distributed well to the student groups.

I’m a little worried that, since this kind of thing has never been

done before, it might be a bit tricky for some of the smaller environmentally-focused student groups who get absorbed into Enactus to get funding.

I also noticed that not every student group oriented toward the environment was present. Yeah, everyone who was there loved the idea and has already begun working out the kinks, but not every group that has a stake in the coalition was there. Also absent? Representatives from the SGA. It’s my sincere hope that this environmental coalition works out, and I choose to believe that it will.

Maybe that’s the naïve optimist in me, but everyone who was at the meeting seemed like they truly cared about not only our planet, but the student groups that care about the planet, too.

And, as noted by a few people at the meeting, think how impressive a massive grouping of environmentally-focused student groups will look clustered together at an involvement fair.

The idea of this environmental coalition sends a strong message— TU takes the environment seriously. TU takes its student groups seriously. Towson is going to do its part to preserve our environment by empowering its students.

News

February 16, 2016

9

Last week’s flurry of snow upsets students Waking up to canceled classes Monday was a stark contrast to how the University reacted to snow last week--and how students felt about it.

After a bout of snow last Tuesday morning, many students took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the way the situation was handled by Towson University.

During the snow, shuttle routes were temporarily suspended and garage roofs were temporarily closed. Students also expressed concern about a lack of campus communication and the fact that campus remained open, with no delay due to weather.

According to Director of Communications Ray Feldmann and Vice President of Administration and Finance Joe Oster, the weather situation was unique in that the shutdown was only temporary. “Given the fact that this was sort of an unexpected microburst that forced the shuttle operations to get

off the road, we just felt the most important thing was to get information out to students as quickly as we possibly could,� Feldmann said. “We felt that NextBus and Twitter were the most efficient and expeditious ways to get it out.�

Throughout the day, there was also an “interactive dialogue� over social media between students and administration, according to Feldmann.

Shuttle services were suspended for about an hour last Tuesday morning.

According to Director of Parking and Transportation Services Pam Mooney, the shuttles were running on schedule all morning until the sudden microburst of snow fell around 10 a.m. “We had our drivers calling in that they were having trouble,� Mooney said. “We said we needed to suspend services because we wanted to make sure we could move around as safely as possible.�

Shuttle information was placed on the NextBus app and on the Parking and Transportation website. Because of how quickly the storm passed, some notifications were able to get out, while others

were not, according to Mooney.

University garage roofs were open before the storm and were mostly full throughout the morning. When the snow hit, cars were temporarily suspended from parking on the roofs.

Garage roofs can freeze faster than surface parking lots because a garage roof has two exposed surfaces, so roofs were closed to allow for retreatment for snow and ice.

“

Facilities and the University as a whole do our best to make everyone as safe as possible.

KEVIN PETERSON Kevin Peterson, Associate Vice President of Facilities Management

During snow events, commuter students are encouraged to park in the Towson Center, where there is ample space to park during winter weather, Mooney said.

Associate Vice President of

Facilities Management Kevin Petersen emphasized that all decisions made during the weather event were made with campus safety in mind. “Facilities and the University as a whole do our best to make everyone as safe as possible,� Petersen said.

Because the temperatures were too high to pretreat the roads early in the morning, facilities crews instead salted the walkways in preparation for the snow. According to Petersen, if the temperatures are not low enough, pretreatment will wash away on the roads.

After the microburst hit, crews salted again to make them safe for people to access campus roads and walkways.

One area was noticeably not treated–at least on Twitter. The newlyfinished stairs outside of the Center for the Arts were temporarily closed, instead of salted.

According to a tweet from Towson University, the stairs were too new for the concrete to be treated with salt, so they had to be closed.

Petersen, Mooney, Oster and Feldmann all felt that despite the mid-morning snow conditions, it was

still right for campus to stay open for the day. “At the time that we were looking at the storm [last Tuesday morning], it was breaking up,� Oster said. “Temperatures were in the mid-toupper 30s. We felt as though those conditions did not warrant a closure.

Other than the microburst, the entire day was incredibly manageable.�

Students are advised to monitor the Parking and Transportation website, the NextBus website, Towson University email and university text alerts, because those are the main channels used by the university during winter weather events.

Students are also asked to be patient during weather events and to plan commute times accordingly when on-campus and off-campus routes are affected.

About the storm, Mooney said, “They don’t happen very often, but when they do, they can be rough.

They can almost be over as quickly as they start, and they can wreak havoc in a very short period of time. That’s really what happened [last Tuesday].�

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News

February 16, 2016

Schatzel spotted

You could be a paralegal by fall Prepare to enter the in-demand paralegal profession in just one summer with a Graduate Certificate in Paralegal Studies.

The GW Paralegal Studies Summer Academy begins this May. On-campus housing is available.

Courtesy of @KimSchatzel Towson President Kim Schatzel poses with sorority women during recruitment at Towson. Since arriving, Schatzel has made it a point to get out on campus and interact with students, faculty and staff.

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Learn more or RSVP for our online information session: Visit cps.gwu.edu/paralegal or call 571.553.0321 The George Washington University is an equal opportunity/ affirmative action institution certified to operate in Va by SCHEV.

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Feb. 1: At Barton House, a student’s bike was taken after he left it secured to a bike rack over break.

410-296-2737

Feb. 3: In the University Union, a non-affiliate was cited for theft after taking a beverage from a dining area.

On Campus

Feb. 5: In 7800 York Rd., a commuter student reported her computer stolen. She later found it where she originally left it.

7800 York Rd Building

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Feb. 10: At Tower A, TUPD and Baltimore County are investigating a possible rape on campus involving two students.

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Feb. 11: In the University Union, bias writing was reported and removed from a bathroom stall.

Feb. 11: At Tower B, TUPD reported investigation a resident student in possession of an electronic control device.

Fri m n Mo to 2p m 11a

The Towerlight’s “Police Blotter” is a representative sample of crimes occurring on and off campus. The blotter is not intended to be all inclusive.

For a list of all crime reports, visit www.towson.edu/police.

10

Jobs

Business competition kicks off

Candidates introduced for The Associate

September 15, 2015

Towerlight

February 16, 2016

Your ad in print & online - $15

CLASSIFIEDS help wanted LOOKING FOR A FUN JOB??

HotPots, a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio in Timonium is hiring FT/ PT staff. Flexible schedules, great coworkers and fun environment.

Email hotspots@comcast.net, stop by or call the studio for an application. 410-561-3035 Q’S MASTERMIND’S BUSINESS CLUB Needed NOW! 3 business assistants, 1 business scout, 1 to run business club (assistant). Luncheons and drinks, pay negotiable. Call Rita Davis 9am-1pm Mon-Fri 443-3799064

services Alex Best/ The Towerlight Candidates in this year’s “The Associate” competition introduce themselves Feb. 9 in Stephens Hall, Room 216. The competition wil continue with first case presentations Tuesday, Feb. 16.

This year’s iteration of the College of Business and Economics’ annual student competition, The Associate, kicked off Feb. 9 with candidate introductions.

Each year, eight CBE seniors battle for the title of “The Associate”

and a post-graduation job offer from a sponsoring company by showcasing their business skills in weekly case challenges. The competition mimics reality TV show “The Apprentice.”

After each case, one student will be eliminated until finalists are announced March 22. Presenting Executive Brad Callahan is the president and CEO of this year’s sponsoring company, Vantage Resort Realty.

Tuesday’s case, provided by mobile device accessories-producer Ventev, calls for the students to create a “low budget marketing campaign” to make Ventev a household name, according to the case documents.

Boardroom sessions take place every Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Stephens Hall, Room 216 until the end of March. The March 29 final case presentation will be in Stephens Hall, Room 310.

– TU Students & Alumni Encouraged to Attend –

Questions? Contact the TU Career Center at 410-704-2233

Take the Collegetown Shuttle for FREE!

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To place your ad, go to TheTowerlight.com and click on “Classifieds” ($15 /one week)

14

February 16, 2016

Advertising

Arts

February 16, 2016

New improv group offers laughs ALEX BEST Contributing Writer

Towson’s largest and only official improvisation group, ImprompTU is a club of students who love comedy and are interested in developing skills in the art of improv theatre.

Founded last fall, ImprompTU aims to give students the opportunity to learn and practice improvisational skills and techniques in a group environment, as well as to develop interpersonal communication skills, spontaneity, quick thinking and a sense of community.

“Improv is all about teamwork, you really want to make your partner look better than you at all times during performances,” President Ryan Welch said.

Welch emphasizes the importance of the “yes, and…” rule of improvisation, where a participant should accept what another participant has stated and then expand on that same line of thinking to keep the per-

formance going. The group’s weekly meetings usually feature a variety of games that help members develop their skills.

In one activity, called “the question game,” members stand in two lines across from each other and carry on a conversation through a series of questions. When one member cannot come up with another question quickly enough, they must go to the back of the line as everyone shifts.

Aside from the games, meetings also give members a space to practice and showcase their skills with the opportunity for critique.

“One of our eventual goals for ImprompTU would be to be able to do public shows and compete with other colleges in the area,” Welch said.

The group is also working to set up seminars taught by qualified faculty, as well as to get local stand up comedians to perform on campus.

Although the group is mainly geared toward improvisation, ImprompTU also works on activities

and skill-building, like writing and performing sketch comedy, stand up, character building and doing impressions.

While the group is still new to campus, the founding members are very eager about the potential for future growth.

“It’s a very exciting time for comedy, especially women in comedy,” Vice President Sam Brunner said. “Over the past year, we’ve seen alumni from Towson, such as Amy Schumer, make it big. We’re totally open to suggestions, and we want it to be a community thing, not just us running it.”

Meetings are held every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m.

For more information on how to get involved with ImprompTU, visit their page on Involved@TU or email towsonimprov@gmail. com.

Inspiration from a new friend CHRISTINA MATTERA Columnist

It’s a funny thing when expectations don’t meet reality. It leaves your head and heart in a jumbled mess trying to readjust, turning gears in a way that just can’t work.

Although I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for the reality of South African townships, they certainly weren’t what I expected.

As I entered my first township I was immediately struck with just how little there was. It looked abandoned all around me. As I walked around, I realized it wasn’t abandoned at all, but that there were hundreds of people inhabiting the small area.

The inhabitants emerged from their shack-like homes as they heard us approaching. The children swarmed the streets shouting, “Mzungu,” the Bantu word which means “white people.”

A little girl named Mala immediately came running toward me. She

was wearing a little green dress and had dark almond eyes that sparkled in the sun. I bent down to greet her and she immediately reached out her little hands and started touching my face, pushing and pinching as if she’d never seen flesh before.

She crawled into my lap and started combing her fingers through my hair in amazement and disbelief.

From that moment on, I had a best friend who wanted to shadow me.

We played, laughed and walked through the town hand-in-hand until her little legs got tired and she decided to semi-permanently reside on my shoulders. We also played jump

rope with some of the other children as I tried to take everything in. The shack that Mala lived in was no bigger than the size of a handicapped bathroom stall. There were no doors, no comfy beds with throw pillows or One Direction posters hanging on the wall – she actually lived like this.

My heart broke with each passing minute as I got to know my new friend and saw the poverty that she lived in.

I offered Mala the extra water bottle I had brought along, even though we were advised not to give the children anything. She held the big water bottle above her tiny head and drank half of it without a single breath. She tried to give me the rest but I told her she could keep it. When I turned around I saw her sharing the water with all of her friends. She had nothing and yet was still willing to share.

As I got back on the bus to go home, I let go of Mala’s hand and knelt down to say goodbye. I don’t know if I’ll ever get to see my new friend again, but she humbled my heart in a way I’ll never forget.

15

Towson celebrates “make a friend” day SYDNEY DOUGLAS Contributing Writer

In celebration of “National Make a Friend Day,” on Feb. 11, students could play air hockey, LED foosball, a giant game of Connect Four and games like Mario Kart on the Wii in the University Union, courtesy of Student Activities.

“Towson University community ambassadors decided that they wanted this to be one of the off-campus living series events,” Coordinator of Off-Campus Student Services Joyce Herold said. “They had a thought that perhaps students might make new friends and even make some great memories with existing friends by having some good fun around some classic games.”

The event was held during the afternoon as many students passed through to grab a friend or someone they didn’t know to play the games.

“It’s a day to just really get to know people on your campus that you walk by,” senior and community ambassador Zane Smith said. “You get to network and make connections. I enjoy the event and it’s very productive.”

The bright lights attracted many students passing through the

University Union lobby with the games and the sound effects.

“This is nice [because] it gives people a chance to meet someone new and to see if they are compatible as friends,” sophomore Divine Odilatu said.

Groups of students gathered around the “Strike-A-Light” game as they battled one another through hitting buttons on the machine that followed a pattern.

“I honestly came because I like this game,” senior Cecil Sutherland said. “I think the event is good, it should happen more often. It’s a good stress reliever. I was stressed walking in, but I’m not now.”

Towson plans to build upon these types of social- based events in future semesters.

“The community ambassadors really focus on building community both on and off campus and helping students make connections through resources on campus,” Herold said.

“I think this event might be kept in our lineup because it really did draw a lot of students. Sometimes we think that you need food in order to have a good event, but students are just coming and playing. I think games are a natural type of classic connector between people.”

Sydney Douglas/ The Towerlight

Students play a “SimonSays” inspired game called “Strike a Light” at the “Make a Friend Day” event in the University Union.

16

February 16, 2016

Arts

Movie Review: Deadpool

“Deadpool” breaks the mold Ryan Reynolds film brings violence, laughs

KYLE CASEY Staff Writer

Superhero movies are often great appeal-to-the-masses flicks. These films hone in on heroic protagonists who become iconic figures for the audience, making fans idolize the protagonists.

But then there is “Deadpool,” which is far from your average hero film. The new Deadpool movie is anything but your typical superhero film.

For starters, Deadpool is just about the complete opposite of a superhero. If anything, his rampant killing and give-no-damn attitude essentially make him a villain.

The newest Marvel film does a complete 180 on the typical plot of average person obtains super powers, newly appointed hero encounters evil, hero saves the day and protects humanity.

Aside from the fact that Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) goes from average guy to nearly indestructible man, the plot of Deadpool hardly follows the typical storyline of a comic book film, and for the best.

With raunchy scenes and a slew of not-so-kid-friendly four-letter words from the leading character, Deadpool becomes a superhero that only operates in the best interest of himself, not others. He is on a tour of vengeance to overcome his villain, Francis, who ruined (or improved?) Wilson’s life and kidnapped his girlfriend.

Courtesy of Fox Movies

Deadpool does not care about saving others; his sole purpose is kicking some ass, winning back his love and pleasing the crowd in the process.

From the “R” rating, to the increased level of violence, drug references, and frequent use of the f-word that seems to rival that of “Wolf of Wall Street,” the film is the most unique comic book movie to ever hit theaters.

Reynolds revived his career in the performance of a lifetime as Deadpool.

His immature tone of voice, masterfully delivered lines and bonafide cool costume were the perfect storm for the casting of the role.

Twentieth Century Fox and Reynolds teamed up to change the game of comic book movies. They worked to find a way to give fans the typical underlying themes and action of a comic book film, while throwing in Grade-A comedy and

Courtesy of Screen Rant

violence.

The film can appeal to just about anyone of age.

It hardly relies on the fantasies of comic book films, but rather produces the ultimate blend of every movie category into one. There is drama, action, violence, comedy and romance all bottled up into one jam-packed film.

And unlike many other comic book films, this one fails to drag at any point.

The pace and length (less than two hours) make for a smoothsailing viewing experience.

If there is a drawback to the film, it lies in the decision to use Colossus as Deadpool’s key comrade.

Colossus, like Deadpool, stems from the X-Men universe, and is essentially just a large man made of steel.

The introduction of Colossus in the film, and his relation to Deadpool, blow by much too quickly.

He plays a key role in the final third of the film, but it feels as if the movie could have been better off without the inclusion of Colossus. This is just one opinion, but Colossus is a pretty lame character. Nonetheless, “Deadpool” is fairly defunct of flaws.

Reynolds hilariously pokes fun at previous failed comic book film attempts, and there is even an enjoyable Wolverine stab at the end of the film.

For comic book movie fans and non-fans alike, this film will likely turn out to be one of the most enjoyable experiences at a movie theater this year. I give this film 9.75 out of 10 stars.

Uplifting beats KRISTIN HELF Columnist @kristinelise_

For the past few years, I’ve gone out of my way to avoid listening to music that I perceive to be sad. This is not advice that I would give to anyone who writes about music or who otherwise works in the field, unless you face the same problems that I do.

There is such a great amount of lamenting /melancholy/downer music in the world.

I would go as far as to say that if you’re not listening to these songs, you’re not listening to most of the songs that exist— and that’s a lot to miss out on.

There are so many terrific songs, sonically or lyrically, that deal with tragedy, heartache, and all kinds of emotional pain.

But if any of those songs particularly resonate with me, I can’t add them to a playlist or sing along to them (terribly off-key) on my morning drive to campus.

That’s unfortunate, and I know I’m missing out on a lot, but my other option is far worse—wiping away tears in my 8 a.m., and then skipping my 10 a.m. class to melodramatically curl up in a ball on my bed.

I’ll spend the better part of the day in this ball, reaching down into the depths of my soul to emotionally match the sorrow that Adele’s lyrics describe.

Meanwhile, in the far-away corners of my memory, I’ll pull something out from fifth grade and suddenly be sobbing uncontrollably about the time my crush said “hi” to someone who was standing behind me and I—oh my god, how could I be so embarrassing?—I said “hi” back.

Even if that’s not exactly the kind of memories that tend to surface, you get the idea.

I didn’t provide this anecdote to illicit any sympathy (although, if you’re truly sorry about the state of my music-listening habits, I live in Baltimore and am always accepting condolence flowers and heartshaped boxes of chocolate).

For whatever reason, not all “sad music” is sad to my brain. I can

listen to Beach House’s melancholy “Thank Your Lucky Stars” album for hours on end.

But if I hear The Brian Jonestown Massacre’s “David Bowie I Love You (Since I Was Six),” which isn’t nearly as somber as other songs of theirs, a heavy invisible blanket of sadness-nostalgia would surely suffocate me.

I provided said anecdote so that if there’s anyone out there feeling particularly down in these cold and gray winter months, mixing up your music library might help a little.

I’m not saying that constantly blaring “Walking on Sunshine” is the answer to all of your problems (actually, oh my god, that would surely cause more problems), but deleting whatever your version of “David Bowie I Love You” is, could be a healthy step in the right direction towards combating seasonal depression or just regular old gloominess.According to a study called “Crossmodal Transfer of Emotion by Music,” by Nidhya Logeswaran and Joydeep Bhattacharya, the way a piece of music makes us feel can influence how we see neutral faces.

Everyone knows that music has a strong influence on the brain, but here’s a concrete example: after hearing a short piece of music, participants in the study were more likely to interpret a neutral facial expression as happy or sad, depending on how they perceived the tone of the music.

If a certain song makes you feel sad, even the most neutral of surroundings can take on a dismal appearance as well.

Other studies claim that both perceived emotions and felt emotions are related to music-listening.

Some people find listening to sad music more enjoyable than others, because they are more easily able to separate the emotions of the song from the emotions they are feeling.

But if you’re like me and have a habit of absorbing all of the tragedy and sorrow of whatever you’re listening to, I recommend taking a break from those crooning ballads of heartbreak and loss, no matter how beautiful they are.

Your mental health should always come first.

Puzzles

17

February 16, 2016

Crossword Sudoku

? ?

Turn to page 18 for answers to today’s

9-5-14

● Each row and each column must

contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

● The numbers within the heavily

outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages

with the number in the top-left corner.

Please support independent student journalism @ TU

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2014 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

Puzzles

?

We bring you The Towerlight every Tuesday for free. But we ask for your support as we continue our mission of giving the next generation of student journalists their first real-world experience in reporting, editing, photography, and design.

To make a donation, please go to TheTowerlight.com/youcanhelp/ Or mail a check to Baltimore Student Media, 8000 York Rd., Towson, MD 21252.

We are a non-profit corporation, so your donation is tax-deductible.

And we will gladly provide a receipt. Thank you for your support!

18

February 16, 2016

Arts

Old jokes fall flat in reboot CAITLIN MOYNIHAN Columnist @cmmoynihan

9-6-14

contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

● The numbers within the heavily

Solutions to Puzzles appearing on page 17.

outlined boxes, called cages, must combine using the given operation (in any order) to produce the target numbers in the top-left corners.

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages

with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2014 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

● Each row and each column must

Check out our blogs page thetowerlight.com/blog

Like many people, I was thrilled when it was announced that after 15 long year of waiting, we were finally getting a Zoolander sequel.

During the beginning phases of the film, I was impressed with their marketing and campaigning strategy.

From Derek Zoolander having his own verified Instagram account, covering an actual issue of Vogue to having celebrity appearances and promotions, I’m pretty sure that even the animals that live under rocks know about “Zoolander 2.”

I wasn’t surprised about the amount of press that the movie received, especially because of how the original has become such a classic. After only a few months of seeing advertisements though, I began to get annoyed with Derek and Hansel’s behavior.

I could no longer sympathize with their stupidity and laugh at their ignorance.

The society that we live in has changed so much since we first met the supermodel duo in 2001, and while we, as an audience, have

Courtesy of Screen Rant

Stiller returns in “Zoolander 2” with his classic “Blue Steel” model pose that originated in the first film. evolved, they have stayed the same.

There were good intentions behind the creation of “Zoolander 2,” but those intentions were definitely not portrayed correctly.

The movie was released in theaters Feb. 12 and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a positive review as the days go by. The jokes are stale, the acting is subpar and the several celebrity cameos did nothing but add an extra layer of confusion.

My main problem with “Zoolander 2” was how they relied on jokes modeled after the original Zoolander to maintain its audience. I felt like I was watching a re-mastered version of Zoolander, not a continuation of

the storyline.

Once again, the two must look past their differences with the help of a super-hot woman, this time played by Penelope Cruz, to take down Mugatu, who now has a partner-in-crime played by Kristen Wiig.

On paper, this should have been a home-run, but in reality it is the bench player that cost the team the championship.

As much I disliked “Zoolander 2,” I am doing everything in my power to not let it skew my feelings toward the original.

If you wish to maintain your current feelings for Hansel and Derek, I suggest you refrain from seeing the sequel.

Or you can follow my dad’s advice and see it straight to DVD, and if you know Michael Moynihan, than you know it really must be bad.

wide-range of subjects including finding funding for their trips, overcoming culture shock and language barriers, and how they prepared for their programs.

“The biggest obstacle was living in a country that you don’t know the language,” Perez said.

The speakers also shared some tricks that students can use in order to prepare for studying abroad.

“Watching travel shows on the travel channel can help prepare you for the trip,” Williams said.

CSD graduate assistant Ryan Padgett led the discussion. He said he “wanted to have an event where a lot of minority students could come together and talk and ask questions” about all aspects of studying abroad.

“The goal was to encourage students from all cultural backgrounds to consider and hopefully go ahead

and take the study abroad experience,” Senior Director of Student Retention and Development Joel Bolling said.

This event was mainly advertised through social media, especially through the Center for Student Diversity’s Facebook page, according to Padgett. While the forum highlighted minority students abroad, he said that organizers wanted the rest of the student body to also feel included.

Despite some travel struggles, most of the speakers talked about all that they learned abroad and how valuable the experience was.

“Remember to be in the moment and enjoy the experience,” Bean said.

Students can find more information about studying abroad in the Study Abroad Office in the Psychology Building, Room 408.

Study abroad discussion SYDNEY ENGELHARDT Staff Writer BHAVISHA DAVE Contributing Writer

A panel of students described studying abroad as a minority Wednesday, during a forum in the Center for Student Diversity office aimed at encouraging students to go abroad.

The panel included recent TU graduate Randi Williams, who studied in Italy, Indonesia and Australia, seniors Gabriel Perez and Maia Williams, who traveled to Spain and Ghana, respectively, and second year clinical psychology student Yvette Bean.

Bean studied in Brazil and South Africa during her undergraduate years and Ghana during her graduate studies.

The panelists talked about a

19

SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

TYLER BEARD Assistant Sports Editor @tylerbeard2

The Towson Tigers opened the 2016 season with a 14-2 win against the Mercer Bears Friday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but both coaches agreed to move the game up to Friday due to weather conditions.

“I’m excited and happy to earn our first win to start the 2016 season,” Head Coach Shawn Nadelen said. “I thought our guys did a great job all week preparing for someone we didn’t know a ton about. As far as team effort on the field today, and getting out there in the right mindset, and great energy and executing, I thought for the most part from start to finish was an exciting thing to see from our squad.”

Nadelen has been the head

coach for the Tigers since 2013 and is coming off his second CAA Championship as coach.

The Tigers had seven different goal scorers Friday, including senior attackman Spencer Parkers and junior attackman Joe Seider, who both finished with three goals.

Parks transferred from the University of North Carolina last season and finished with 16 goals and 15 assists in his first year with the Tigers.

Seider led Towson with 34 goals and 137 shots last season, which gave him All-CAA First Team honors.

“I think Coach [Nadelen] kind of expects not to feel pressure,” Seider said about the other top lacrosse schools in Maryland. “We don’t really look at the standings or care what rank we get. We’re just trying to play how we know we can play and what we expect.”

Seider opened the game against Mercer with a goal in the first min-

ute and scored his second goal in the last minute of the first quarter, which gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead.

Towson held Mercer without a shot in the first quarter, which was credited to a defense that lost Honorable Mention USILA AllAmerican JoJo Ostrander to graduation last season.

Redshirt freshman attackman Ian Kirby scored a goal in the first minute of the second quarter and was assisted by junior attackman Ryan Drenner. Drenner led the team with 17 assists last season and also scored 17 goals.

“We pretty much take every game like it’s the championship game,” Drenner said. “We’re out there trying our best and putting everything out on the field.”

Mercer scored its first goal in the second quarter, but it was the only goal redshirt senior goalie Tyler White gave up.

White finished the game with seven saves and was named Second Team USILA All-American last season, while also named CAA Defensive Player of the Year.

The Tigers finished the second half with four more goals, including

a goal from redshirt freshman attackman Dylan Kinnear. Kinnear transferred from Ohio St. last season and will come in off the bench this year.

Towson’s next game is another home matchup against Mount Saint Mary’s Saturday at 2 p.m. It’s the start of a season in which Coach Nadelen and Tigers look to capture

the CAA Championship again.

“We put a lot of pressure on ourselves in practice to perform at a high level,” Nadelen said. “We think being able to do that as a group with our athleticism and talent should put us in a good position to go far during the season and we just have to continue to work at that.”

Mike Dragon/ The Towerlight

Towson Men’s Lacrosse defeat the Mercer Bears 14-2 Friday night at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

20

February 16, 2016

Spring Sports Preview

Baseball CHRIS WELLS Staff Writer @cgwells00

The Towson baseball team is looking forward to getting the 2016 season underway.

The men are anxious to get out on the field as they look to improve after going 17-35-2 overall a season ago and 9-15-0 respectively, in Colonial Athletic Association games.

“I don’t point to a particular spot in the standings but I really like our position,” Head Coach Mike Gottlieb said. “Our players are really young and they have a chance to be really good.”

Gottlieb is entering his 28th season as Towson’s head coach and is tasked with a unique job this year. He intends on playing a lot of his young players, something that isn’t customary.

“They’ve never played college ball,” Gottlieb said. “I like what they could do.”

Although the youth on the

team may be evident this season with 11 freshmen and nine sophomores accounting for more than half the team, returning junior and senior Tigers look to lead the team.

“Returning Brady Policelli is a talented kid,” Gottlieb said. “He could have a breakout year.”

Junior Policelli is coming off a season during which he played a team high 54 games. He finished the year hitting .250 with 11 doubles, a team-high eight home runs and 35 RBIs. The team will rely on Policelli to be one of their more reliable experienced players this season.

Redshirt Junior Chris Henze was recently selected to the 2016 Preseason All-CAA First Team. Henze looks to build off of an impressive 2015 campaign that saw him lead Towson hitting a team-high .331 with five home

runs. He was also named the First Team All-CAA designated hitter.

Sophomore outfielder Mark Grunberg received recognition as well because he was selected as an honorable mention for the 2016 Preseason All-CAA First Team.

Grunberg will look to carry his momentum from an outstanding rookie season.

With a wealth of talent on this team, the offseason training was approached a little differently this time for the Tigers.

“We put in place a different training regiment for pitchers,” Gottlieb said. “It’s something we’ve never done before.”

The start of a new season is fast approaching and the Tigers will continue to prepare as they look to start off the upcoming season with a road victory in their 2016 opener at New Mexico State Feb. 19-21.

Men’s & Women’s Golf SARAH VAN WIE Contributing Writer @SarahVdubs

Women’s golf Head Coach Kate Schanuel has high hopes for the nine women on her team in the upcoming season.

Schanuel loves being around the team and helping them improve every season, and believes they will have a successful finish to this season thanks to the strong platform of the program.

“I’m looking forward to the freshman stepping up to compliment the seniors,” Schanuel said.

The same expectations as last season are expected for Schanuel’s returning members. She expects to see leadership on and off the golf course, and positive support for the new members on the team. Schanuel also likes her returning members to show what it’s like to be a leader on her team, so the new members know what to expect when it is their turn to fill their shoes.

“I have a great group of seniors,” Schanuel said. “They are the best play-

ers on the team that are dedicated to improving this program.”

Freshman members of the team have earned their spots by practicing their technique and golf skills over the summer.

“They came ready to play in the starting lineup,” Schanuel said. “They’re able to manage themselves on the golf course, and have an innate mindset of being ahead of the game and working hard to better their program.”

To u r n a m e n t s are a keen part of the season according to Schanuel. The team participates in four major tournaments under the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).

They compete against international teams, so their main focus is being better than their biggest competition, other CAA schools. Schanuel believes that her team is going to have an up and coming program this semester.

“We keep getting better,” Schanuel said. “It’s been fun to be a part of the ride.”

Head Coach Brian Yaniger, who is entering his 18th season with the Tigers, leads the men’s golf team.

Yaniger was not available for comment in time for The Towerlight’s print deadline.

The team will be returning eight upperclassmen including seniors Alex Church, Cas Dickerson and Ryan Siegler.

The Tigers will officially tee off their 2016 season at the Gary Freeman Invitational on March 3 in Daytona Beach, Florida. Other notable tournaments for Towson include the Kingsmill Intercollegiate, the Towson Spring Invitational and the Greenbrier Invitational.

The Tigers will conclude their 2016 campaign at the CAA Championships in Southport, North Carolina in April.

Women’s Lacrosse JORDAN COPE Assistant Sports Editor @jordancope26

Towson began its 2016 season with a 2-0 record after defeating Jacksonville State and Monmouth— one year after falling to James Madison in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Championship tournament.

“We’re off to a great start,” Head Coach Sonia LaMonica said. “There is still a lot of work to be done, but we’re on the right path and should have a great season ahead.”

Towson earned its second straight win with a victory in overtime on the road against Jacksonville State Saturday.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead over the Dolphins on a pair of goals from freshman attacker Carly Tellekamp. Later in the half, Jacksonville State tied the game 2-2 and took brief 3-2 lead over Towson on a goal from sophomore attacker Danielle Dellarocca.

Towson responded as both teams traded goals throughout the rest of the first half and the first 30 minutes ended with the Tigers leading the Dolphins 7-6.

In the second half, Towson struck first, extending its lead to 8-6.

Jacksonville State promptly responded with three unanswered goals to take a 9-8 lead, but a goal from Towson sophomore midfielder Emily Gillingham tied the game 9-9 and forced overtime where Tellekamp netted the gamewinning goal.

“I think that we’re getting better with each game,” LaMonica said. “I thought that we had good improvement from the prior game.

I thought we managed to pull it out and escape Jacksonville State with a good win.”

Towson defeated Monmouth 9-1 at Johnny Unitas Stadium on Wednesday. Gillingham struck first

for Towson to give the team a 1-0 lead. Sophomore attacker Jenna Kerr followed to extend Towson’s lead to 2-0.

“Emily still has a lot to come as she continues to develop,” LaMonica said. “But she has all the attributes to be a really deadly weapon for us.”

Later, Monmouth cut Towson’s lead to one on a goal from freshman Kate Ryan, but the Tigers went on to score three unanswered goals and take a 5-1 lead into the half.

“

We’re off to a great start. There is still a lot of work to be done, but we’re on the right path and should have a great season ahead.

SONIA LAMONICA Head Coach

The Tigers continued their offensive attack in the second half, scoring four unanswered goals to secure their first victory of the season.

Looking ahead to the rest of the Tigers 2016 schedule, the team will take on local rivals UMBC, Loyola and Johns Hopkins before hitting the brink of CAA play.

In CAA play, Towson will host Delaware, William & Mary and James Madison at Johnny Unitas Stadium while traveling to take on Elon, Hofstra and Drexel.

Although Towson is coping with loss of seniors Andi Raymond, Michelle Dufault and Kelsea Donnelly, the team is returning seven starters in search of its sixth straight CAA Championship game.

“It’s all about playing together,” LaMonica said. “It’s all about putting these talents that we have compiled together and playing a great team game.”

Spring Sports Preview

February 16, 2016

tennis

BILLY OWENS

Contributing Writer @billyowens174

The tennis team comes into this spring with a strong, determined squad of players, and a brand-new outdoor tennis facility to call home.

Head Coach Doug Neagle continues his seventh year with the Tigers and aims to keep the team in contention for the CAA conference championship in April. Elon defeated Towson in the quarterfinals of the CAA conference championships last April.

“We want to do better than last year in our conference,” Neagle said. “We lost in our first round in the conference championship.”

The Tigers have a 4-2 record so far this year, their most recent match being a hard-fought 4-3 win over George Washington last Friday night at the Bare Hills Racquet and Fitness Club in Baltimore.

“We’ve never beaten them while I’ve been here as coach, and maybe in the whole program,” Neagle said.

“I hope [the Tigers] start believing in themselves now.”

After losing their second match of the season 1-6 to James Madison Jan. 31, the team has found a new wave of confidence, winning three out of their

last four matches.

“They wanted to work harder, and they’ve stepped it up ever since,” Neagle said.

The Tigers have a solid roster of players this season, including sophomore captain Lucy Williams, sophomore Barbora Vasilkova and freshman Lucy Gloninger, who have all shown early promise so far in 2016.

Towson’s tennis courts underwent renovations last fall, which forced the Tigers to hold practices and home matches away from campus at Loyola Blakefield and Goucher. The team will have its first match on the newly renovated courts March 9, as they take on Morgan State.

“There’s dark and light gray color courts, and gold school color lines,” Neagle said.

“They’re so unique, especially for our conference.”

During the colder months, the team practices and plays indoors, which is very different from playing outdoors. This makes the transition between indoor and outdoor during the spring particularly difficult.

“It’s tough, having to deal with the elements—the sun, the wind, picking up vision of the ball,” Neagle said.

“And it’s still cold in March.”

The Tigers’ next match is at home versus Mount St. Mary’s Friday.

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Sports

February 16, 2016

Morsell carries tigers over tribe TYLER BEARD Assistant Sports Editor @tylerbeard2

Sophomore guard Mike Morsell’s career-high 34 points helped Towson win 99-82 against William & Mary Saturday.

“I’m really proud of our guys for beating a really good team,” Head Coach Pat Skerry said. “We’ve got good players and if we can stay committed to guarding the rest of the way, then we can get to where we want to get to.”

The Tigers (18-9, 9-5 CAA) jumped out to 18-9 lead early in the first half after the team hit four 3-pointers in the stretch.

However, the Tribe (17-8, 9-5 CAA) cut the Tigers’ lead to 28-27 with six minutes left in the first half after junior forwards John Davis and William Adala Moto got into foul trouble.

Sophomore guard Byron Hawkins, who returned to the lineup after a foot

injury, scored five straight points after the Tribe cut the lead to one point.

Hawkins finished the game with 18 points and six assists.

Towson took a 12-point lead a few minutes later after Morsell scored eight straight points and the team had a 46-37 lead at halftime.

Morsell shot 4-of-7 from beyond the arc and also went 8-of-10 from the freethrow line.

“My shot was just falling tonight, so it was just a good night,” Morsell said.

“We warm up the same every game and I think we just came out with more energy.”

The Tigers kept a consistent lead in the second half and weren’t challenged until the Tribe cut the team’s lead to 58-55 after a free throw from Omar Prewitt.

Hawkins responded with a 3-pointer and back-to-back layups from Morsell, and redshirt freshman guard Jordan McNeil put the Tigers ahead by 10 points.

“We’re real competitive in practice

and I think that helps fill the void,” sophomore guard Eddie Keith said about the Tigers’ depth. Keith finished with 10 points off the bench and senior forward Tamajh Parker-Rivera had seven points and 11 rebounds.

Towson had four players score in double-digits and the team shot 12-of26 from beyond the arc. It was a transformation for a team that shot 2-of-23 against Northeastern, last Thursday.

The win put Towson into a three-way tie for third place in the CAA standings with just four games remaining on the schedule.

“There’s two weeks left, we got to grind this out,” Keith said. “If we don’t think about winning, like Coach [Skerry] said in the locker room, then we might as well hang it up now. I think we’re very deep, like Coach always says, and I think we can win it all.”

The Tigers’ next game is away against the Hofstra Pride (18-8, 10-4 CAA), who are in second place in the CAA. The game is Thursday at 7 p.m.

Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

Sophomore guard Eddie Keith II brings the ball up the court in Towson’s victory over William & Mary Saturday at SECU Arena.

sSports

February 16, 2016

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towson snaps skid DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

Towson snapped an eight-game losing skid with a 62-51 win over the College of Charleston Sunday.

“We did a great job on defense and that really generated a lot of our offense,” Head Coach Nikki Geckeler said.

Charleston scored the first eight points of the game with four different players scoring for the Cougars within the first two minutes.

Freshman guard Sianni Martin then went on an eight point scoring run by herself connecting with two threepointers before hitting a jump shot to tie the game with five and a half left in the first quarter. The Tigers and Cougars then traded buckets for the remainder of the quarter, which finished level at 16-16.

Towson then went on a 10-2 run to open the second quarter behind three pointers from Martin and senior guard Dominique Johnson.

The Tigers held a solid lead for the remainder of the half before a three pointer by freshman guard Darien Huff closed the gap for the Cougars, making it 32-25 at half.

The Tigers stayed in control early in the second half as Charleston only managed ten points in the third quarter, all of which came in the paint.

Towson was able to move the ball well, drawing fouls and the Tigers took advantage by going 5-of-6 from the line in the third. Martin closed the third out with a foul shot that gave Towson a 46-35 lead going into the fourth.

Charleston came out aggressive in the fourth quarter by implementing a full court trap that helped the Cougars hold Towson scoreless for the opening three and a half minutes of the quarter

and tighten Towson’s lead to five.

Johnson then hit a three pointer before the Cougars press worked again and Charleston trailed only 51-48 with five minutes to play.

Johnson responded again hitting her third three pointer of the second half and after that Towson didn’t look back. Patient offense and consistent foul shooting helped Towson close out the 62-51 victory.

Four Tigers tallied double-digit points as Martin, Johnson, junior Raven Bankston and freshman Brittany Tarr all played their part in the victory. Tarr also pulled down a team high eight rebounds coming close to registering a double-double.

“We did a tremendous job executing,” Johnson said of the consistent scoring. “Everyone’s number that got called stepped up to the plate.”

Towson’s next game will be at Drexel this Friday at 7 p.m.

Just who are the tigers?

TIM ANDERSON Staff Writer @TimmyWade94

As someone who has watched my fair share of Towson basketball games this season, one question routinely arises after every game, win or lose: who are the real Towson Tigers?

Entering this season, the experts picked the Tigers to finish seventh in the 10-team CAA conference. I had a hunch then, and I know almost certainly now, that those predictions were a shame.

UNC Wilmington was slated to finish sixth, just above the Tigers.

Currently, the Seahawks are in first place and have won 11 consecutive games.

Watching last year’s Tigers, I felt that they would exceed the preseason expectations as well. The addition of transfer William Adala Moto was certain to push the Tigers up the leaderboard, providing them with a physically dominant player like they had in Jerrelle Benimon.

Even though the Tigers sit in a three-way tie for third in the CAA with a 9-5 conference record, three games behind UNC Wilmington, they find themselves in that spot after a

season full of inconsistent play.

Take, for example, when the Tigers opened conference play against William & Mary with a 17-point road win. Two days later they let Hofstra beat them at SECU Arena by 32 points. The very next week the Tigers upset firstplace UNCW. More recently, the Tigers needed overtime to defeat the one-win Delaware Blue Hens, a hardfought game that one would think would propel the team for a few weeks.

The next game, they lost by 18 to College of Charleston, who sits below the Tigers in the standings.

While the stark contrast between preseason predictions and current standings, as well as the inconsistencies night-by-night, could be an indicator of the lack of disparity in the CAA, a conference that is for anyone’s taking. Mid-February is the time when the true good teams stepup and pull away from the rest.

The Tigers have a roster full of players who can make a large impact

in any game, and could honestly put themselves in the running for CAA Player of the Year.

As mentioned before, forward Adala Moto may be the most physically dominant player in the CAA, a title that sometimes gets him in early foul trouble simply because, well, he is stronger than almost every other player. But, even with this talent, it is sometimes clear that he is a little raw in some aspects of his game. Any given night, Adala Moto could step in and score an easy 20-plus.

We have seen it a few times already, but something isn’t quite there yet for him to do it nightly.

And then there is Mike Morsell, who is one of the most dynamic scorers in the conference this season, and next year in his junior season has to be a favorite for Player of the Year.

Morsell is fresh off a SECU Arena record 34 points Saturday afternoon that propelled the team to a big win over William & Mary.

--To read the rest of this story online, visit thetowerlight.com

Mike Morsell Men’s Basketball Sophomore guard Mike Morsell scored a career-high 34 points and shot 65 percent from the field in 36 minutes of play in Towson’s 99-82 victory over William & Mary Saturday afternoon in SECU Arena. Morsell not only set a career-high, but a SECU Arena scoring record after his performance.

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Sports

February 16, 2016

towson gyMNastics takes second

Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

A Towson gymnast competes in the beam event at the Friday home meet in SECU Arena. The Tigers won second place, falling behind Pittsburgh, but ahead of Pennyslvania.

ALEX TORIBIO Staff Writer @xoxo_Alexxandra

Towson won second place at its first home meet in SECU Arena Friday, Feb. 12. The Tigers overall score was 193.425, while their opponents, Pittsburgh, finished with 195.250, and Pennsylvania received 191.775.

“We had a rough time on vault, but then they came back and did great on bars and beam.” Head Coach Vicki Chliszczyk said. “They had some mistakes on floor that we didn’t really need but it’s good that they came back from the beginning.”

The meet started with the Tigers on the vault receiving a team total of 47.275.

Tyra McKellar tied for sixthplace with 9.625, while Aysia Sharif placed ninth with 9.600, and Gabriella Yarussi tied for tenthplace with 9.550.

The second rotation was to the uneven bars where the Tigers earned a team total of 48.650.

McKellar finished third as she tied her season-best of 9.875 on

bars, while Noelle Harada tied for fifth with a score of 9.725. Mary Elle Arduino tied for seventh-place with 9.700, and Katie McGrady and Brittney Ranti tied for 10th-place with matching scores of 9.675.

As the meet continued, Towson was in third place until they received some of its highest scores in the last two events.

“

But to see them respond that way after the vault shows how much promise we have and how we have lots of room to improve and we have the ability to do that.

VICKI CHLISZCZYK Head Coach

On beam, the Tigers received an overall best team score of 48.975.

Yarussi tied for first-place on the event with a score of 9.875.

Arduino finished third with 9.850 followed by Lauren Cahalan plac-

ing fourth with 9.825 and Bridget Steffen scoring 9.775 in fifth place.

The Tigers ended the meet on floor with a team score of 48.525.

Harada and McKellar tied for fourth-place with matching scores of 9.825. McGrady tied for sixthplace with 9.800 and Aysia Sharif finished eighth with 9.775.

“I think for it being the first home meet and having the alumnae there, it was a little more pressure,” Chliszyck said. “But to see them respond that way after the vault shows how much promise we have and how we have lots of room to improve and we have the ability to do that.”

This home meet was also the Annual Shelli Calloway Alumnae Invitation. The alumnae ranged from graduates of 2015 to graduates of 1971.

Towson Gymnasts alumna Carol Brustine ‘82, Lori Grant ’81 and Teresa Demorro ’82 were glad to be in the stands supporting the current Towson gymnasts, while reminiscing about their glory days.

The Tigers are back in the gym for the week until they travel to the University of Iowa for their dual meet Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m.

Chris Simms/ The Towerlight

Freshman gymnast Mary Elle Arduino performs a floor routine event in Towson’s home meet Friday night at SECU Arena.