The Towerlight (February 11, 2020)

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

February 11, 2020

Love i s i n the Air

Towson stud tips on ents express th how to make t eir love to ea he mos c t out o h other, and f this V T alentin he Towerligh e’s Day t gives , pg. 7 & 10

Photo Illustration by Victoria Nicholson/ The Towerlight

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Advertising

February 11, 2020

SGA and GSA Student Fee Forum for FY21 Interested in learning about the process for determining proposed fee increases?

Are you interested in learning about the mandatory fees all undergraduate and graduate students pay?

Join University and Student Government Leaders on Tuesday, February 18th from 5 - 6PM in West Village Ballrooms A & B This forum will provide an opportunity to share information on institutional needs to support student services for the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Refreshments will be provided.

For more information & locations, scan

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OneCard: No Surcharge • Credit Card: $0.40 Surcharge

Social

February 11, 2020

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#WordOnTheWeb

Editor-in-Chief Bailey Hendricks Senior Editor Tim Klapac

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

News Editor Keri Luise Asst. News Editor Sophia Bates

Arts & Life Editor Meg Hudson Asst. Arts & Life Editor Grace Coughlan

Sports Editor Jordan Kendall Asst. Sports Editor Muhammad Waheed

Staff Writers Alex Best

Grace Hebron Lauren Heyl

Brooks Warren Kayla Wellage Marcus Whitman

@issadaralynne Watching photograph and eat pho

@kara.bear.5 A nice sushi date at @kyodairotatingsushibar!

@robert_sobus Dinner at Olive Garden and a movie with @shania_manigo.

Your responses could appear in our next print edition. The Towerlight may to include your social media profile picture with your response.

Word on the Web compiles online submissions in response to questions posted by The Towerlight via social media.

Follow The Towerlight on Instagram and Facebook to respond.

Ashley de Sampaio Ferraz John Hack

Suzanne Stuller Aaron Thomas

@longboarding_classic Going to @flemingssteakhouse with my boyfriend

Do you prefer your Valentine’s gifts handmade or store bought?

Photo Editor Brendan Felch

Follow

Asst. Photo Editor Amanda Bosse

@thetowerlight

Staff Photographers Owen DiDonna Nikki Hewins Ryan Moriarty Karl Reimer Lacey Wall

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General Manager Mike Raymond

Art Director Victoria Nicholson

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Circulation Staff Jack Baker Anthony Capparuccini Scott Halerz Kirsten Tildon

8000 York Road University Union Room 309 Towson, MD 21252 (410) 704-5153 editor@thetowerlight.com thetowerlight.com The Towerlight print edition is published by students of Towson University on Tuesdays.

The Towerlight is owned by nonprofit Baltimore Student Media Inc., BaltimoreStudentMedia.com.

The Towerlight’s advertising deadlines are firm: Wednesday noon for space; Friday noon for art.

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We encourage letters to the editor and online feedback. Commentaries, letters to the editor, editorial cartoons and other editorials express the opinions of their authors and not necessarily the views of the newspaper.

The Towerlight does not discriminate based on age, color, condition of handicap, marital status, national origin, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. ©2019 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

Please Recycle!

WEEKLY

CALENDAR

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Do you get confused when you hear or see a chemistry problem? Well this workshop is for you! Understand the language of chemistry and learn to tackle checmistry problems.

Sip on Costa Rican coffee while learning more about the Summer 2020 TU Study Abroad faculty-led program “Evnvironmental Studies & Conservation in Costa Rica” program from the TU Study Abroad Office.

Cook Library 513, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m

Psych Building, 407, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

COFFEE, THE LANGUAGE COSTA RICA AND OF CHEMISTRY CONVERSATIONS

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Stay anonymous in this lights-off event while professional sexperts answer your deepest, darkest questions.

No question too simple, nor too outrageous.

Come see the Towson Tigers host the UNC Wilmington Seahawks in a conference battle. The Tigers defeated the Seahawks by 21 points in their last meeting. The team will be supporting breast cancer awareness as part of the Play4Kay Campaign

The Towson University Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club competes in the “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Panda Sanctioned Tournament.”

WVC Ballrooms A & B, 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

SECU Arena, 7 p.m.

SEX IN THE DARK

WOMEN’S MEN’S ULTIMATE BASKETBALL VS. FRISBEE CLUB UNCW

Burdick Field 1 & 2, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

THIS WEEKEND @ TU

Men’s Lacrosse vs. Mount St. Mary’s Saturday, Feb. 16 at Johnny Unitas Stadium at noon Towson will host the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary’s in their 2020 home opener at Johnny Unitas Stadium. Last season, the Tigers won their eighth Colonial Athletic Association Championship and played in their first home NCAA Tournament game since 2003. Towson has won their last 13 meetings against the Mountaineers.

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Opinion

February 11, 2020

What just happened at the Iowa Caucus?

TYRONE BARROZO Columnist

The Iowa caucuses took place last Monday and the Democratic National Committee managed to make themselves look more incompetent than ever after technical difficulties and a failure to communicate said difficulties delayed results.

In short, not enough work was put into designing a smartphone app to report the aforementioned results which then flooded telephone hotlines and then confused the hell out of people as 2020 was the year that reports would be delivered differently (instead of one set of results, three sets of results were reported). In the end, however, it would be Senator Bernie Sanders winning the popular vote and former mayor Pete Buttigieg winning the most delegates.

But, I feel that this royal blunder is nothing but an omen for

the near future. I’m concerned that the DNC will find a way to lose the presidential election this year by continuing to hassle and shun Sanders and try to force Joe Biden down our throats like they did with Hillary Clinton in 2016.

And, on top of that, during all of this, the DNC is continuing to reveal to the public that the majority of the party do not care about attempting to initiate drastic change but instead are just as bad with their partisan mindset much like their red contemporaries.

Now, let’s get a couple of things clear—this is not the first time that the DNC has gone after Sanders. Back during the 2016 campaign trail, the infamous site WikiLeaks posted emails basical-

ly admitting to the DNC—specifically Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a long-time friend of Clinton at the time—doing anything and everything to screw over Sanders.

The sad fact of that whole debacle was that they ultimately succeeded, and I reckon that they will succeed this year (I’m anticipating a surprise backstabbing of Biden when they decide to try and push Buttigieg to go up against Trump).

At this point, you may be asking why I’m assuming the worst and why I’m anticipating the worst case scenario. Well, for one, according to a recent January 2020 poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College, none of the Democratic candidates are expected to defeat the president.

Did the numbers make me cry?

A little bit. But like a couple of parents disapproving of their child’s hopes and dreams, I’m not angry, I’m simply disappointed.

It seems to me that we will all see a similar situation this year as we did in the 2000s with George W. Bush—just with a classless prick with an awful spray tan this time around.

Aside from internal affairs continuing to stoke the current dumpster fire that is the blue team’s image, there are simply other factors that continue to contribute to the ongoing problem of ultimately grasping at straws for a chance at the presidency.

For whatever reason, many of my generational contemporaries are simply not going out on election day to vote—and to that, might I suggest opting to vote via absentee ballot for convenience.

There’s also the issue of the electoral college pulling a 2016 and saying, “Oh? What’s that, Nation?

You want your votes to be heard?

How about no.”

If what we all saw on Monday is any indication of what we’re going to continue to see this year, then I’ve lost all hope and began the grieving process required to handle the impending fate of a second Donald Trump term.

It’s time to move on now that impeachment is over TIM KLAPAC Senior Editor @pacofkla

It’s finally over. After months of rule settings, hearings, arguments, conspiracies and finger pointing, the impeachment has ended with the acquittal of President Donald Trump. The president was acquitted by a close vote, mainly along party lines, and will not be removed from office for his role in withholding military aid from Ukraine in exchange for an investigation into the Biden family.

There were a lot of memorable moments during this process.

From Nancy Pelosi saying that she doesn’t hate the president when she announced the articles of impeachment to Gordon Sondland’s testimony to the House, we have all had plenty to talk about.

But all good things must come to an end and now that everything is all said and done, it’s time to look at what will happen in our government post-impeachment.

For starters, Republicans will continue to parade Trump’s vindication and accuse the Democrats of a witch hunt and simply pushing for impeachment because they’re still upset about the 2016 election.

Conservative media will use the acquittal as a way to drum up the loyal right and use this to give the president the needed support for re-election.

On the other side, we could see a split between moderates and progressives within the Democratic Party. Progressive Democrats have been calling out their elected officials to launch the impeachment process and seemed convinced that Trump would be booted from office, despite what all logic says.

Moderates were often hesitant to seek impeachment because of the unlikelihood that Trump could be convicted. The odds that enough Republican senators could break party lines and vote to remove a Republican president were

slimmer than the Orioles winning the world series this decade.

The end result could lead to moderates blaming progressives for giving Trump ammo while progressives will argue that moderates are not true Democrats.

Not that the process is over, the politicians involved in this process will have to answer their constituents. Senator Mitt Romney (R-Utah) was one of two Republican senators to vote in favor of convicting the president.

“Corrupting an election to keep oneself in office is perhaps the most abusive and destructive violence of one’s oath of office that I can imagine,” he said.

Romney, who was the Republican nominee for president in 2012, made it clear how difficult it was to make his decision.

“This has been the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life,” he said. “I have gone through a process of very thorough analysis and searching, and I have prayed through this process."

Reactions from Romney’s decision have varied based on what side of the argument you find yourself. Democrats are praising Romney for not giving in to the fear of breaking with party unity and following what he believes.

“I agree, @MittRomney,” tweeted Senator Elizabeth Warren.

“Voting to convict the president is an act of patriotism. Thank you for yours.”

Republicans have been calling out Romney for breaking unity and have expressed their disagreement with him. Ronna McDaniel, chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, who is also Romney’s niece, tweeted her displeasure with his vote.

“This is not the first time I’ve disagreed with Mitt, and I imagine it will not be the last,” McDaniel said.

With the dust finally settling around the District, we won’t truly know the impact of the impeachment until Election Day. That is when the true feelings of Americans will come out.

Until then, it’s time to get back to governing and focus on improving America every day.

Opinion

February 11, 2020

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Here are three easy ways Fear of Coronavirus causing exclusion r to connect with others MIRANDA MOWREY Columnist @mirandamowrey

Think about a time in the past when a random stranger made your day. Whether they paid for your coffee or complimented your new jeans, you probably still remember this shortlived moment of interaction.

Why? Because it meant a lot to you to connect with another person, no matter how briefly.

Here are three things that you can do everyday to connect with someone and maybe even make their day.

Listen.

Too many people hear what others say, but don’t actually listen. I have found that most people that seem grumpy or nasty are just tired of not being listened to. It is an effortless, yet powerful thing to simply listen to someone. Just as it is important to allow someone to voice their thoughts aloud, it is equally important to show them that you truly care about what they have to say.

Appreciate.

Being told that you are doing a good job is one of the best feelings in the world. It seems that so many people believe they royally screw up almost everything they do in life - that being their relationship, job or career, you name it. By letting someone know that you appreciate them and/or their work, you could help dismantle this belief of failure and instead build them up to believe in themselves and their abilities.

Notice.

Works best on strangers. When passing by someone who looks familiar on the way to throw out the trash, try to give a smile or quick “hello.” Most likely, this won’t drastically change their day around, but making connections with another human will

make you both feel warm and fuzzy inside.

You can notice someone in a variety of ways - by holding the door, picking up something they dropped, allowing the person behind you to jump ahead of you in line. Get creative!

All in all, human beings are just bits of stardust and anxiety, scurrying around a ball of rock called Earth, that revolves around a ball of fire, called the sun, not knowing what the heck is actually going on. All we have is our connections with others to ground us in this crazy life.

There is a famous quote

by American poet Maya Angelou that goes, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

JASPER GRISWOLD Columnist

“Kung flu.” “Winnie the flu.”

“Sweet and sour sicken.” There are many jokes and memes about the Coronavirus, ranging from a statement that no one needs to worry about Coronavirus, as it is made in China and will soon break, to a man wondering why there’s only one plane coming to disinfect Wuhan before being whited out by a nuclear flash.

These memes around the Coronavirus are plentiful, but problematic. While some are just simple and funny, like one pointing out Coronavirus can be killed by alcohol and had the Corona beer logo attacking the Coronavirus, many are textbook examples of Sinophobia.

Sinophobia is anti-Chinese sentiment, or racism against Chinese people. These memes may be funny to you, but they could be hurtful or offensive to your Chinese classmates.

These jokes have caused an

uptick in racism against the Chinese, or perhaps just drawn more attention to it.

People online are saying things such as “[the Chinese] make us sick with their shitty meals. I really want them in hell.”

Calling Chinese people “disgusting” and wondering what’s wrong with them, complaining about them “eating animals like […] dogs.” Even things as blatant as “Asian’s (sic) really need to learn to be humans!

This is unacceptable to humans and animals!!.” People are commenting rude things about Chinese restaurants even in other countries.

“No eating bats please!!” “They may have bat pieces in there or whatever else they eat.” Even simple jokes can lead to a cascade of hate and prejudice.

In Vietnam, some restaurants put up signs declaring “No Chinese.” Petitions asking that Chinese nationals be banned from entering South Korea and Malaysia were signed by hundreds of thousands.

This isn’t the first time something like this has happened.

There was a SARS outbreak in 2003 which killed 44 and left hundreds sick. It was known as the “Chinese disease,” racializing the disease and blaming it on migrants and foreigners.

It strained and damaged the once pleasant and accepting multiculturalism in Toronto. This also happens with other diseases and other types of bigotry - there was blatant homophobia surrounding HIV. One of its first names was “gay-related immune deficiency” and to this day there is stigma around gay men and HIV. This type of bigotry is something that shouldn’t happen here, or anywhere.

Please remember that racism, xenophobia, and Sinophobia cannot prevent the spread of a virus.

These are not a prevention measure, they are not akin to washing your hands.

The Coronavirus may be infecting and killing many, but Roger Kiel, a professor at York University and researcher of infectious diseases and cities, says, “racism is a weapon of mass infection.” And it’s a disease I don’t want spreading through Towson University.

The Misadventures of Towson: What about me?

Comic by Nyasha Marufu/ The Towerlight

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News

February 11, 2020

Shake Shack comes to Towson Construction of Circle East expands options PHAEDRAN LINGER Contributing Writer

Feb. 6: A resident student was interviewed in reference to a theft at Newell Dining Hall.

Feb. 6: A summons was obtained for a non-affiliate for violating a Peace Order at Newell Hall.

Feb. 6: TUPD and Baltimore County Police are investigating a rape at Tower C. Feb. 6: TUPD is investigating a fraud involving a TU One Card at West Village Commons.

Feb. 6: TUPD is investigating a counterfeit ID at Frederick Douglass House.

Feb. 3: An unknown person destroyed property in the University Union bathroom.

Feb. 1: TUPD is investigating a CDS/Alcohol violation in a Clara Barton dorm room. Charges are pending.

Feb. 1: An unknown person vandalized property at the SECU Arena.

Jan. 31: A resident student complained of a resident student following her on campus on several occasions at Carroll Hall.

Jan. 30: An unknown person destroyed property in the bathroom at SECU Arena.

A new Towson destination for burgers, fries, and smooth milkshakes is coming to town by the end of the year with Towson’s first Shake Shack location.

The burger joint will be located uptown at the new retail center called Circle East. Circle East will be placed at intersections between Joppa and York Road.

“The side of the road used to be an old department store,” said Greg Goldberg, the leasing director for the Circle East site. “We transformed the street to be a true main street, adding landscape, lighting and benches. The vision for the project was to bring a modern version of downtown to Towson.”

According to Goldberg, Circle East expects to expand a fun atmosphere further uptown and make it a more inviting place. The new development will also include 300 apartment units above the street-level retail area as well as over 300 parking spots below the building to open up the street more.

Shake Shack was the first tenant to sign the lease at Circle East. The

restaurant will merge fast food with conscious food sourcing and a sleek environment.

“College kids will definitely make it the place to be, we’ll be flooding the place” said Towson University sophomore, Ciara Franklin.

Alexis Hambrick, a shift manager at the Inner Harbor’s Shake Shack location describes Shake Shack as “fine, but casual dining... not your average burger joint.”

Items available to enjoy will include hot dogs, burgers, fries, ice cream and more. From burgers seared in beer, to the hot cocoa milkshake, Hambrick said guests can expect to find something unique at this new burger joint.

“You can always count on us for having something new as well as the classics,” Hambrick said.

The restaurant also has a campaign called “Stand For Something Good” in which they stand for carefully sourced premium ingredients, recycling plastics and bottles, giving back to the community, and even innovative construction. Most of Shake Shack’s buildings are constructed with recycled materials, and decorated by local artists.

Hambrick also said the company

practices sustainable agriculture, and makes sure all ingredients are good quality.

“All of the meat we use is fresh, with no hormones,” Hambrick said. “We use top of the line ingredients.”

Through the “Stand For Something Good” campaign, Shake Shack recycles everything they can, including the cooking oil which is used to reproduce clean energy. In the community, they give back to local charities by donating part of their profit.

“Some items on the menu you purchase give back to non-profits,” Hambrick said.

The closest Shake Shack to Towson before this upcoming location was the one located in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The new addition will bring this recognized food hub to Towson’s local area.

“Oh I’m ridiculously excited for it, because the only time I have the opportunity to eat it is when I’m in DC,” said Towson University junior Britney Tetteh.

This Shake Shack is the first to debut in a Baltimore suburb. The retail area of Circle East is expected to start operations fall to winter of this year.

Jan. 30: TUPD is investigating an incident involving a resident student and an unknown person regarding property at the Public Safety Building.

Jan. 29: TUPD is investigating a harassment between a resident and commuter student at Center for the Arts.

Jan. 28: TUPD is investigating a theft from Smith Hall.

Jan. 27: A TU One Card was reported stolen at University Union.

Jan. 26: A resident student was issued a civil citation for possession of under 10 grams of marijuana at Newell Hall.

Jan. 21: A theft of personal property from a locked office at Smith Hall was reported.

Jan. 19: A non-affiliate violated a no trespass order and was arrested at Cook Library.

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 local crime reports, visit www.towson.edu/police or https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/PoliceNews/ iWatch?from=7&to=9.

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Circle East will sit on the corner of Towson’s uptown circle at the intersection between Joppa and York Road. Shake Shack was the first tenant to sign a lease at the new retail and apartment area with parking.

Love is in the Air

February 11, 2020

Love Letters To: Hunter From: Anonymous Hey Hunter, I think you’re really cool and I’d really like to go on a date with you but I’m shy.

Also you’re really good at clarinet.

To: Shania M. From: Robert S. Happy Valentines Day, Boopy.

To my Ex, It has been over two years since we broke up and yet it still feels as fresh as the day it happened. You were my first love and you meant the whole world to me. To see you smile and be happy helped me in my darkest of times.

We had our great times and I will never forget those and I wish we could have more but at last our lives have different plans for us. I feel horrible for what I did to you and I still feel remorse and regret to this day. I love you with all my heart and I hope that you are doing well.

From, X

To: William Kinna From: Jade Eisenacher You don’t smell that bad <3. Love you puzzle piece!

To: TJ Olivella From: Cory Hi :) To: The talented Towerlight staff From: Bailey Thank you all for all your hard work and for making The Towerlight what it is.

You are the BEST!

To my Bailey Dawn, I'm so proud of all your accomplishments at the Towerlight and beyond.

There is nothing you cannot do, and let no one tell you otherwise. You raise me up to my full potential. I've never met someone with such a steadfast drive and ambition to make the world a better place. I love you, Bailey. You are truly an angel. Thanks for being so strong and perfect - you're an inspiration to myself and others. Keep doing everything that makes you great. I am behind you every step of the way, cheering you on. Thank you for letting me into your life. Happy Valentine's Day! <3 Forever yours, Matt <3

To: My Twinflame From: Your Twinflame To the person who makes my heart soar every working day & moment.

Happy Valentine’s Day! You have been the candlelight to my flame! Love you forever!

To: Dom From: Tori Thank you for showing me what unconditional love is, you push me to be the best person I can be everyday. You’re my best friend, partner, and love.

Thanks for celebrating our sixth Valentine’s Day together, I love you to the stars and back.

To: Dylan From: Brooke I think you are suffering from a lack of vitamin ME. <3 love ya sweet cheeks xoxo

To: My Roommates From: Your one and only There is no one else I’d rather split the bills with #hululive #internet #BGE

To: Y’all know who you are From: Y’all know who it is I love y’all because we hate the same people:) To: Kyle Cassell From: Hannah Cassell Dear Mom, Thank you for always believing in me, and pushing me to do my best. You are my best friend, #1 supporter, and mother all in one. I would not be at Towson if it wasn’t for you, and it was the best decision I have ever made. I love you more than anything. Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, Hannah <3 To: My dance sisters From: Anonymous To my day one girlies. Thank you for the classroom laughs the crazy midnight adventures and the endless nights of no sleep love you.

To: Samantha Joy Danger Cuevas Hernandez From: Duh Hi Honey bee. Writing to you in a newspaper feels a little strange but also oddly cute and fun. Loving you has been an absolute joy, making your name all the more fitting. I am so lucky to know you and to have the privilege to love and be loved by you. Nothing has ever felt so pure and true to me as your love does.

This is getting a little long and a lot sappy but I hope you know that I love and cherish you on holidays like this and everyday. I love you moon. Te amo.

To: Sanai Cooper From: Tee <3 Dear Sanai, I just want you to know you get on my nerves, but nobody loves you like me <3.

To: Tee From: Sanai Dear Tee, I love you <3. Be my valentine To: Anna From: Julia I like you as much as I like stromboli <3

To Tigers, From Tigers

To: Nick and Bob From: Ben Hartzell I love working at Black and Gold with you! Also, I love partying with you two.

To: Anyone having a bad day From: Abby The day might look bad, but tomorrow will look better

To: Julia From: Anna hey beach <3, love you queen! lit rally luv x! happy galentine’s day!

To: 50-year-old me From: 19-year-old me I love you and I hope you still have your hair

To: H From: B I love you lovebug. I’m extremely grateful to have you in my life and I can’t wait to see you again.

To: Dylan From: Dylan Hey bro, just gotta say so glad I met you this year. Future roommates, love ya boss.

To: Marta From: Mefertari Happy Birthday! Happy Valentine’s Day!

To: Arts & Life Writers From: Meghan & Grace Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! We appreciate all of your hard work so much and LOVE the content you create!

To: Jordan From: Jordan Yo you look good, but ... sike you are great, let’s watch anime later

To: Faith From: Alex Will you marry me?

To: Abby High From: Dash Fredrick you’re the goat- love you dummi To: Abbey and Liam From: Lucien I know you probably won’t be able to see this but I love you both so much and I have been made better for being with you! I miss you both!

To: Towson University From: Arielle For God so loved the, that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not punish but have eternal life.

You will never be separated from the perfect love of Jesus. It’s freely given.

It’s a love that covers and goes to the depths and heights. It expands far beyond over comprehension.

To: Kayla From: Sam Happy Valentine’s Day! You are my favorite person, my sunshine, my cinnamon apple. I love you so much. Te quiero. Te amo. Mahal Kita.

To: Katie Ryan From: Anonymous You’re the straw to my berry, the apple to my pie, the buzz to my lightyear, the happy to my new year. This is my marriage proposal. I love you

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To: Towson’s Women’s Ultimate Club From: Dani Drager Dear Towson Women’s Ultimate, thank you for being an amazing, supporting and loving group of girls. So blessed to have you guys in my life and can’t wait for our next tournament! Keep up the good work every one!

To: Maggie From: Dylan To the OG, you the real MVP!! You have been there for me from day 1, I am glad I met you!

To: Cory From: The love of your life Thank you for being patient, kind and supportive. You inspire me to be better. I love you for that. Love me forever. xoxo <3 To: Dylan From: Maggie You’ve been the best since day 1. You are the sweetest & funniest friend I’ve ever had.

To: Dre From: Maggie You’re the best boyfriend ever. Lots of love, Maggie. <3

To: Jade Eisenacher From: Kyle Hermary I hope you have a great Valentine’s Day!

To: Robbie Burdt From: Anna U make me cry :’) love you beach To: Max From: Julia Thank you for putting up with me & my Tik Tok obsession. You’re my buddy for life ;) To: Towson University From: Shannice Wollcock Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m a transfer student and I chose TU. To: My Matty Bunny From: Your Bailey Boo Thank you for always being so patient and gentle and kind. I am so happy that you are my forever Valentine. I appreciate all you do . I couldn’t feel more blessed to have found you and to have shared so many laughs and wonderful memories with you. Happy Valentine’s Day, bunny. Here’s to the rest of our lives. I love you so much forever and always.

To: Dominic Mapili From: Kara Brooks Dear Dominic, I am writing this love letter to let the world know how much I love you. February 15th will be our 2 years and 5-month anniversary! I am excited to celebrate Valentine’s Day and our anniversary with you this month. I don’t know what we’ll do yet, but I am always excited to dress up and go on a date with you no matter what we do or where we go.

Dates are always fun with you because I get to relax, eat good food, and spend time with you. We are in our Junior year of college and I’m proud of the both of us of getting this far together. I’ve learned a lot about myself and about you and about us through out these 2 years. We’ve gone through awful things in our personal lives and it feels great to say that we have each other to help each through anything. I feels good to say that I am happy when I’m with you, sad when I am not with you, and get excited when I know I get to see you soon.

You have taught me what it means to love someone and what a healthy relationship fully means. I have never truly loved someone before I met you and I hope that one day we will get married.

I get excited about the thought of marrying you, but I also feel overwhelmed about the costs. But I know that together we can do anything we want to even if we’ll be on not so great teacher budgets. Basically, thanks for all the love you’ve ever given me, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you!

P.S. I love you!

Forever and always.

10 February 11, 2020

Love is in the Air

How to make the most out of your

Valentine’s Day!

From best movies to date night ideas, here are some Compiled by Tyrone Barrozo, Sophia Bates, Grace Coughlan, Jasper Griswold, Meghan Hudson, Tim Klapac, and Miranda Mowrey

Goodies to satisfy your sweet tooth How to survive Valentine’s Day is the best time of year to break out the sweets and baked goods! Whether you’re spending time with a significant other, friends or family, delicious desserts are a great way to bring people together. While candy is popular during the Halloween season, candy hearts, also known as conversation hearts, are a Valentine’s Day staple. If you’re not a fan of candy, no problem, there are plenty of baked goods, freshly cooked or store bought, to munch on while watching a rom-com or hanging out with friends. Cupcakes are always a fan favorite and to add a simple Valentine’s Day twist, you can form the cupcake liners into hearts, instead of spending money on a heart-shaped pan. With some pink frosting and heart sprinkles, you’ve got yourself a perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. If you want to have something a little sweeter, you should try the Sweetheart Cheesecake. With the red heart swirls on frosting and a chocolate crust, this cheesecake is a perfect dessert for a Valentine’s Day party.

Must watch Valentine’s Day movies If you’re looking for a movie to get comfy with your boo on Valentine’s Day, might I suggest the underlooked movie “Blue Valentine.”

It’s a straightforward story that focuses on a pair of lovers, as most of these V-Day stories often do, and it even has Ryan Gosling starring in it (and if you aren’t convinced by that, I don’t know what to tell you). But if that doesn’t interest you, might I suggest the more recent “Marriage Story” which is streaming now on Netflix. Not only is it nominated for “Best Picture” this year, but it actually lives up to hype with prime performances from the two leads of the film, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson. Regardless of whichever movie you decide to put on for the evening, one thing’s for certain—the evening’s going to be very interesting for everyone.

What to do if you’re New things to try this Valentine’s staying home It can always be frustrating when you see your friends going out on this romantic holiday when you are staying home because you either couldn’t make any plans with your special someone or you don’t have a special someone to celebrate with. However, there are plenty of great ways to enjoy this holiday from the comfort of your own home.

In the words of Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle from “Parks and Recreation,” treat yo self with your favorite cooked meal or takeout and binge some TV shows or movies. You could also get caught up on your favorite book or pass the time by playing some video games.

If all else fails, you could take advantage of the night in by getting homework done or making sure you are prepared for the next week of classes. I know that last one sounded rough, but it’s a great way to make use of the time. Whatever you choose to do, make sure you are putting yourself first on this night.

Valentine’s Day is a day of romance and fun, but it should also be a day of new adventures. Some of the most fun I’ve ever had on a date was in an escape room. Smart Escape is half a mile from campus, and while I haven’t visited it yet, it has a fivestar rating on Google. Another fun option is roller skating. I’ve never been very good at it, and it’s always fun to laugh and cling onto the walls, and each other, to keep from falling. In a similar vein, ice skating is always enjoyable. I like holding hands and skating around. I’ve never been rock climbing on a date, but I have been with my friends and it was a day of laughter and excitement. This can add a little fun competition to your relationship. TU even has a rock climbing wall in Burdick Hall. Try something different this Valentine’s Day.

How to throw a “Galentine’s” party Ladies, it’s time to stop being dramatic about being single on Valentine’s Day. After all, Valentine’s Day for single women is simply Galentine’s Day. And as Leslie Knope from “Parks and Recreation” beautifully puts it, this holiday is just “Ladies celebrating ladies.”

There are only a few things you need to truly immerse yourself in the culture of Galentine’s Day. First and foremost, forget about your diet and throw on some extra stretchy sweats. The menu tonight involves the two main food groups: grease and chocolate.

That leads me to an equally important Galentine’s Day tradition. Queue up Netflix and select the most gooey, cheesy, romantic comedy you can find. This is the one time a year that it is perfectly acceptable to cry over “The Notebook” without feeling ashamed.

End the night by sharing stories of the worst encounter you and your friends have had with a college male, and by the time you all finish, you will be exhausted and ready to call it a night. Happy Galentine’s Day everyone!

V-Day if you’re single

The first step to surviving Valentine’s Day if you are single is admitting that there is nothing to “survive.” Valentine’s Day is a day that you can show love to absolutely anyone -- whether that be your partner, your friends, your family or your cats! So, get up and get ready in the morning, buy a box of your favorite candies and call everyone that you love. Go on, it’s okay to be single on Valentine’s Day because you’re a confident person who doesn’t need anyone else to be a lovable being.

How to have a spontaneous night If there’s one thing for sure about this coming Friday, it’s that you’ve got date night. Whether it be a night to pamper yourself or a significant other, here is a date night idea for you: date night roulette! Date night roulette is an easy way to try something new and here’s how to play. List six local restaurants that you have never been to, and roll a dice. Go to the corresponding restaurant on your list! Then ask your server for their favorite dish (or top two if you’re with a partner) and order whatever they recommend. Then go to the closest movie theatre, and you must watch whatever is showing next. Finally, find a local bar or entertainment venue and play a game of pool or sing a round of karaoke.

How to celebrate your friends If you want to celebrate your friends this holiday, then simply show them that you really appreciate everything they do and everything they are. Here’s an easy gift basket idea for under $25. First, pick out their favorite coffee spot and get a $5 gift card. After, hit up your local TJ Maxx or Marshalls and pick up a small candle for $3, some fuzzy socks and a basket. The next stop is Target to get a ton of candy and fill that basket up! Your friends will love it, we promise.

Arts & Life

February 11, 2020

11

THE WEEKLY DISH Local ramen restaurant Practice self-expression this V-Day deserves its ratings GRACE COUGHLAN

ALEXANDER EHASZ Columnist

Even on a weekday afternoon, Belvedere Square Market is buzzing with activity. Patrons of every description - college students, families with young kids, professionals in stiff suits conducting interviews, and many more - order from an equally diverse range of food stalls including bakeries, cafes, and even a smoked meat purveyor. One immediate stand-out amongst these eateries is EJJI Ramen. Storefront adorned with paper lamps hanging from metal pipe fixtures, a rustic wood counter, and an array of unusual drink options stacked by the register, it appears innovative but grounded in tradition, a theme that the food clearly reflects.

The first appetizer I ordered, the Mac and Cheese ramen dog, is a hot dog rolled inside a layer of ramen noodles mixed with cheese. This whole parcel is battered in tempura and then fried and served with a side of apricot wasabi mustard.

The outside was extremely crispy and flavorful, reminiscent of a fried wonton. The hotdog inside was very high quality, beefy and spiced with notes of celery and pepper.

The mustard apricot sauce was an inventive twist on honey mustard which countered the richness of the hot dog and cheese with a bit of spice, sugar, and tartness.

Asst. Arts & Life Editor The gyoza were nothing special. The cabbage-based filling was bland and watery. Had the mushroom and jicama been more prominent, this would have been a much stronger dish. The sauce was a straightforward blend of vinegar, soy, and a few aromatics. While this sauce was potent, it could not save the bland dumplings.

After the appetizers came the Tonkotsu Porky Ramen. The broth was creamy and deeply savory. The dominant pork flavors were complimented by aromatic herbs and spices as well as a splash of sesame oil. The noodles were on the thinner side for ramen and pleasantly chewy. The fried pork belly was crispy on the outside and meltingly tender inside.

Also served with the soup is a portion of shredded braised pork. The bowl was rounded out with a marinated soft boiled egg, a piece of seaweed, scallions, and baby kale. The whole dish was packed with flavor but still balanced and nuanced.

As for prices, appetizers were on the more expensive side given their portion sizes. At $6.95 for vegetable filled gyoza, I would have expected more than 5 small dumplings. At $7.95, the ramen hot dog was also relatively pricey for a single piece.

The ramen, at $15.95, is certainly fair given the range and quality of the components, and similar prices from competitors.

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

Alexander Ehasz/ The Towerlight

EJJI Ramen sells a unique “Mac and Cheese Ramen Dog.” This tempurabattered appetizer is served with a side of apricot wasabi mustard.

The holiday seasons always involve fashion. What are you going to wear for that holiday party? What shoes are you wearing to Friendsgiving? With Valentine’s Day approaching quickly, people are scrambling to find that perfect date outfit or casual ensemble for a night out with friends. But what we all should remember is that there is more to fashion than appearance.

One preconceived notions towards fashion is that it’s just all for show. It can only involve high-profile celebrities and top of the line designers. There are

always going to be stereotypes towards fashion, such as “you’re only fashionable if you wear expensive clothes” or “only if you follow the popular trends.”

Fashion is a form of wearable art. It’s a form of self-expression, allowing people to be who they are. Clothing, accessories, makeup, are all a way of uniting people for a greater purpose. What better way to raise awareness to something you’re passionate about than through the art of clothes? Colleges and universities will put on fashion shows to raise money for certain clubs, frats, or sororities.

This February, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society hosted the 36th Annual Saint Valentine’s

Day Luncheon and Fashion Show, in Dallas, Texas, to honor fashion for a cure. The luncheon and fashion show are to raise money and awareness for the LLS mission as well as help support their families. LLS’s mission is to fund priority blood cancer research, like acute myeloid leukemia, myeloma, pediatric cancer. They are also researching how to prevent blood cancer and how to treat it. Nikki Webb, who is the chair of the North Texas Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, recently revealed that one of her friends had a child diagnosed with blood cancer with an interview with My Sweet Charity.

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

Conquering College Don’t forget about your “Galentines” BROOKE FOUNDAS Columnist

As many of you know, Valentine’s Day is approaching very quickly and whether you adore or despise this love filled holiday, one specific day we can all appreciate is Galentine’s Day! Galentine’s Day is the unofficial holiday on Feb. 13th that consists of ladies celebrating ladies. Originating from the famous Leslie Knope herself from the television series Parks and Recreation, this day is centered toward leaving your significant other at home and going out to strengthen the bond between your girlfriends.

Whether you are single or happily in a relationship, anyone can celebrate Galentine’s Day by grabbing your gals and focusing on each other for once.

Leslie’s favorite way to celebrate this official, yet technically unofficial

holiday, is to consume a big batch of waffles for breakfast. As delicious as that sounds, here are some alternative enjoyable, exciting, and relaxing ideas on how to honor this day of friendship: Take a group fitness class.

Burdick Hall has a plethora of fitness classes to take including yoga, zumba, boxing bootcamp, and the new fitness program caribbean heat to fulfill your full body workout with an upbeat environment. Personally, my favorite fitness class is cycling because something about the catchy empowering music and colorful changing LED lights makes up for the high intense cardiovascular journey you will go on. Overall, nothing beats a strong bond while simultaneously creating a strong core!

Watch movies with a strong female lead.

Nothing better than women empowerment on a day dedicated

to celebrating friendships. Go throw on your PJ’s, microwave some movie theatre popcorn, and start scrolling through Netflix or Hulu (or whichever movie platform you use). Here are just a few of my personal favorite female lead movies: “Hustlers,” “Legally Blonde,” “Little Women,” “Clueless,” “Mulan,” and “Ocean’s 8.”

Karaoke and bowling time.

What better way is there to have fun and let loose with some karaoke surrounded by the people who accept your major singing flaws? Round One is a new entertainment center in the Towson mall where you can gather a group up to fifty people and sing your hearts out to your favorite tacky tunes. Even if you have never actually been to a karaoke studio, everyone has their go-to song they either plan on signing or sing in their car.

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

12 February 11, 2020

Sports

blue jays roll in tigers drop opener to psu fourth quarter Shelby Stack scores three first half goals in loss Two goals from Mazza and Smith not enough in Towson’s opener JOHN HACK Staff Writer @johnhack10

In the time since last year’s meeting between the Tigers and Johns Hopkins, Towson (0-1, 0-0 CAA) has seen a noticeable change in player roles, roster names, and strengths to the program.

Over the course of last year’s match-up, senior midfielder Alex Woodall won 21 of 28 faceoffs -many of which led to fast-paced offensive opportunities in transition which the Tigers used to their utmost advantage en-route to a 17-8 victory over the downtown visitors.

Woodall would go on to win the most face-offs as a Tiger with 583.

In this year’s contest, that role was primarily handled by senior midfielder Jack McNallen. McNallen, who gained some valuable experience last season when Woodall went down with a wrist injury late in the season, went 6-23 on faceoffs Saturday afternoon in a contest which the Blue Jays (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) would pull away in the fourth quarter, defeating Towson, 15-7.

“I didn’t think we did a good job of playing team lacrosse today for a large part of it,” head coach Shawn Nadalen said. “And when we do that against a good team, playing Hopkins, they’re gonna take advantage of it.”

After finding themselves down 5-1 after one quarter, the Tigers transition offense found its rhythm in the second. After an initial five-minute long stalemate to introduce the second quarter, Senior attacker Brody McLean, and senior midfielder Jake McLean each scored a goal, and it cut the deficit to two goals.

Before they closed out the half, Towson added one more tally from senior midfielder Jon Mazza, cutting the score to 6-4.

“Obviously, we had issues at the ax and off the ground all over the field,” Nadalen said. “And that obviously led to a lot of possessions.

We weren’t playing well enough at either end of the field to neutralize

that, so obviously we got a lot to pay attention to and a lot to work on.”

The start of the third quarter looked like a completely different game for the Tigers. Junior defenseman Koby Smith’s offensive rushes drew Hopkins defenders away from their opponents and towards the pre-season USILA All-American.

This freed up sophomore James Avanzato to score his first goal of the year on a high-heated shot on the run across the front of the net.

Not long after, Smith would add his second goal of the game off a cross field pass from McLean to tie the game at six.

“I think our team as a whole has worked more on transition and moving the ball getting better at our clearing games,” Smith said. “Our clearing wasn’t very good last year, that’s something our team is striving to get better at.”

This would be the high point for Towson on the score sheet, however, as Johns Hopkins would hold the Tigers offense scoreless for over 13 minutes and score four unanswered goals before Mazza’s second goal of the game would get Towson back to within three with 18 seconds remaining in the third.

Mazza made his first appearance since 2018, scoring two goals on five shots.

“It took me a little bit,” Mazza said. “I had a rough third quarter, had to take a seat out for a little bit but the first game back felt good.

But we lost, so we failed.”

The fourth quarter was all Blue Jays, whose long, drawn out offensive possessions kept the Tigers off the scoreboard in the quarter, as Johns Hopkins went 4-0 against Towson in the final frame.

“We obviously had some breakdowns in the zone even though we’re sticking with it,” Nadalen said. “Some of that came through on the longer possessions unfortunately and sometimes that wears you down mentally.”

The Tigers welcome back redshirt senior midfielder Grant Maloof to their lineup on Saturday, Feb. 15 at noon as Towson returns to Johnny Unitas Stadium to host Mount St. Mary’s for their home opener.

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Senior midfielder Shelby Stack scored three goals in the first half of Towson’s season opener vs Penn State Saturday at Unitas Stadium. Stack’s first goal came less than two minutes into the 12-9 loss.

JORDAN KENDALL Sports Editor @jordankendall54

Towson opened the 2020 season at home against Penn State, but fell short as the Nittany Lions (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten) earned a 12-9 victory.

“I thought today was a really, really great battle,” head coach Sonia LaMonica said. “Two great teams, a lot of back and forth. Overall I’m proud of the effort our team put forth today. Some things we gotta clean up no question, but we’ll learn on that.”

Freshman midfielder Blair Pearre scored two goals in her collegiate debut, while senior midfielder Shelby Stack scored three goals in the first half.

The Tigers (0-1, 0-0 CAA) scored the first goal about 90 seconds in the game as Pearre scored her first collegiate goal.

“What we’ve known all along about Blair Pearre is that she’s a competitor,” LaMonica said. “She’s not someone who gets intimidated.

She’s a fighter and a competitor and she plays that way whether it’s practice, whether it’s games. Whoever the opponent is doesn’t really matter. So that’s one of the reasons why Blair is on the field as a freshman as a middie which isn’t easy to do.”

The Nittany Lions responded with

a goal seven minutes later, and it led to a 3-0 run by Penn State. The Tigers responded with their own 3-0 run including two goals by Stack.

“I think it was the momentum of the team at the time,” Stack said.

“We were all up, we were getting the draw. Defense was coming up with some big saves and my teammates were setting me up to score which I couldn’t do without the other girls on the field.”

To end the first half, Penn State went on another 3-0 run and held the Tigers off the scoreboard for nine minutes until Hobbes scored the final goal of the first half. Towson’s last shot of the first half sailed wide of the net, as they took a 9-6 deficit into halftime.

In the second half, the Tigers scored as sophomore attack Kerri Thornton scored her first of the season. Three minutes later, sophomore attack Molly Lynch found freshman attack Gabby Garrett who cut the Nittany Lions lead to 9-8.

The second half was defensively focused on both sides, through 15 minutes there were seven combined shots on goal compared to the 25 combined before halftime.

“I could sense both teams getting a little tight,” LaMonica said. “There was a lot of back and forth, there were some mistakes being made and I think both teams were super hungry for a win today, so it was a great battle like I said in the beginning.”

Towson ended a nine-minute scoring drought when Thornton beat the Nittany Lion goalie for her second goal of the game, trimming the deficit to one. In the next seven minutes, the Tigers only took one shot on goal, and with seven minutes left, Penn State took an 11-9 lead.

Sophomore goalie Taylor Suplee recorded 12 saves for Penn State, and LaMonica was aware of the challenge of facing her.

“Unfortunately for us we were up against a really solid goalie and just had an outstanding game,” LaMonica said. “We knew that coming in that she was going to be in goal and we would have to work hard to get the ball past her and in moments we just failed to do that. We’ve gotta be stronger, keep our composure no matter what is happening in the game. Whether we’re getting up and down the field we gotta stay composed and not get tight, a little frantic at times.”

The Nittany Lions added another goal with 3:26 left that sealed their victory.

“I think it’s not uncommon to come out the first game of the year and get an understanding of where we sit, and that games out,” LaMonica said. “We can move forward and build on that for this coming game this weekend.”

The Tigers travel to Philadelphia to face Saint Joseph’s on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m.

Sports

February 11,2020

13

tu earns sweep over drexel Betrand scores career high in return to hometown

Jon Mazza Men’s Lacrosse

Senior midfielder Jon Mazza scored two goals File photo by Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Sophomore guard Allen Betrand’s career-high 31 points guided the Tigers to a 76-69 victory over Drexel.

Towson’s split last week moved them to 8-5 in the conference, tied with William & Mary for fourth place.

in his first appearance since 2018. His second goal, late in the third quarter, cut the Tigers deficit to three goals. Towson fell to John’s

JORDAN KENDALL Sports Editor @jordankendall54 JALON DIXON Columnist

Towson sophomore guard Allen Betrand scored a career-high 31 points as the Tigers (14-11, 8-5 CAA) won their third consecutive game, and swept the season series over Drexel, 76-69. Senior guard Brian Fobbs scored 19 points and collected five rebounds.

Betrand returned home to Philadelphia and impressed head coach Pat Skerry with his career high 31 point performance.

"He was absolutely sensational coming back home,” Skerry said to Towson Athletics. “Holy smokes, Betrand was good. You know what he told me in the huddle, he said, 'I got this."

The first half was very competitive, through the first 14 minutes neither team led by more than six points. Late in the half the Dragons 13-12, 6-6 CAA) went on an 8-0 run and led 29-19.

Towson responded, and with 1:19 before halftime Betrand hit a three to cut Drexel’s lead to three points.

The Dragons hit two three pointers in the final minute and took a seven point lead into halftime.

The Tigers struggled from threepoint range in the first half, Betrand hit their only three pointer in five attempts while Drexel shot 41% from behind the line.

With 12 minutes left in the second half, a dunk by freshman forward Charles Thompson gave Towson their first lead since the game was 4-2.

The game was close in the second half, but a 9-2 run by the Tigers in the final two minutes gave them a 70-61 lead with 35 seconds left.

"We really needed this win really bad,” Betrand said to Towson Athletics. “To score a career-high points in my hometown is so special to me.

Everybody played their part and did what they were supposed to do. Everybody made big shots and that's what we needed. (Dennis) has always been big for us and he showed it again today. He's probably our best defensive player."

Towson hit 10 of their 11 free throws in the second half, and ended a two-game losing streak. The 10-point deficit the Tigers faced late in the first half was the largest they came back from to win this season.

Redshirt senior forward Dennis Tunstall’s performance did not show up in the box score, with four points and five rebounds. But his effort late in the game helped to seal Towson’s victory. He took a charge that prevented a fastbreak and the Dragons from taking the lead. He set a screen that allowed Fobbs to hit a three and

blocked a shot with a minute left.

"The best part of that stretch for me was the block because I like blocking shots,” Tunstall said to Towson Athletics. “I saw the opportunity and I went up and got it. When we're faced with adversity and times come like this, it's a great feeling to be able to help the team win. We continued to fight as a team to get this win today. Coach got on us at halftime, but we turned it around."

It was also the second time in three years the Tigers overcame a double digit deficit against Drexel in Philadelphia.

Towson looked to bounce back from a tough loss against Charleston, but despite a late rally they fell just short as Delaware came out with the 84 –78 victory.

Betrand led the Tigers with 23 points, while Blue Hens (18-7, 8-4 CAA) redshirt junior guard Nate Darling led all scorers with 34 points shooting 7-13 from behind the threepoint line.

“We dug ourselves a hole early, we didn’t guard great all night,” Skerry said to Towson Athletics. “We were horrible defensively in the first half that’s not who we are.”

After Towson scored the first basket of the game, Delaware went on to make seven of its first 10 3-point shots to break out to a 29-17 lead ten minutes into the game.

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

Hopkins 15-7 in their season opener.

14 February 11, 2020

Sports

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dramatic win over unc Towson’s floor score the difference vs. Tar Heels

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Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Sophomore Emerson Hurst contributed to Towson’s collective 48.775 score on the floor routine on Friday at SECU Arena. The Tigers narrowly defeated North Carolina by .1, ending their two-match losing streak.

JOHN HACK Staff Writer @johnhack10

SolutionS for PuzzleS on page 15

After last week’s meet in New Hampshire, head coach Jay Ramirez gave his team a pep talk.

Ramirez knew the team had talent and skill, which they’ve already displayed in previous weeks. The issue was a concern about becoming too self-satisfied with their early season success, as last week’s meet in Durham saw several mistakes via falls that became apparent on the balance beam.

“It was a good reality check and I think it’s what the team needed,” senior Melissa Temkov said. “I think the team needed to take a step back and realize who we are and what our goal is and what we’re trying to get towards. We sat down and we talked about ways that we can improve and it really helped us.”

If anything, Friday night’s return home for the first time in several weeks could give a fresh start to a Tiger team wanting a boost. Having a raucous crowd filled that included many of their peers from the student-athlete community seemed to have helped.

Towson (5-2) faced North Carolina at SECU Arena, and despite some mistakes, were able to earn a 194.325-194.225 victory.

Another assessment from Fri-

day night could have also been displays of resolve after a stumble.

One example could be seen on the uneven bars.

After a hard fall on the mat amidst her high bar transition, Freshman Camille Vitoff didn’t appear as affected as she did stoic while reapplying chalk to her hands before walking back to the bars to finish her routine, which she did.

On the balance beam, the team reduced their falls to just one which Ramirez and his staff were happy to see.

“So beam is a very mental event,” Ramirez said. “So we just created mental routines for them, we talked them through it, they did their mental routine before the meet before they went. They learned their cues of what to do when they do the skills, so. [It] still was a little shaky, but overall, it was clearly much better than last week, so we’re happy with the outcome,” Performing in front of the home crowd, the floor routine was the exercise that garnered the most raucous period from inside SECU Arena. It was also the most important, as the final score would indicate less than an hour later.

Towson’s collective 48.775 score on the final routine was just enough to push the Tigers over the top over the visitors from Chapel Hill.

“I think floor is probably my favorite event because it’s an opportunity to show off, almost, and I almost

put on a character when I go into my floor routine,” Temkov said.

The Smithville, Ontario native sees the exercise as a way to show one’s personality.

“Everyone always tells me to be a superhero and (junior) Tess [Zientek] on the team before every floor routine I do, she comes up to me and she says “May the force be with you,” Temkov said. “So as you can tell, I’m a bit of a nerd. All four years, I’ve had nerd floor music and in my floor routine, I just feel great.

I’m putting on a character, I’m putting on a show; I’m giving people entertainment with my floor routine.”

Another show of personality was Ramirez, who, albeit seemingly nervous, was ecstatic when he saw his team finish their routines on the floor without a mistake. Temkov’s 9.800 score which was matched by teammate sophomore Emerson Hurst. Hurst also scored a 9.875 on the balance beam.

That sense of entertainment reached its peak when the final scores were displayed aloud, ending the two match skid for the team.

“We came into the gym, we changed our attitude, we were really gunning for what we wanted, and I think the coaches had a really good hand in putting us in a place where we had a successful meet tonight.”

Towson will take a trip up to western Pennsylvania on Saturday, Feb. 15 when they match up with the University of Pittsburgh at 7 p.m.

Puzzles

February 11, 2020

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