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November 5, 2019
Towson student-athletes prepare for their winter seasons and look to leave their Tiger mark, pg.15
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November 5, 2019
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November 5, 2019
Editor-in-Chief Bailey Hendricks Senior Editor Tim Klapac
News Editor Keri Luise Asst. News Editor Sophia Bates
TOWSON
TRENDING.
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LAMAR JACKSON
@The_Jesticle12
Arts & Life Editor Meg Hudson
There’s people in the world that still think Lamar Jackson can’t throw. You just gotta let that hate go.
Asst. Arts & Life Editor Grace Coughlan
Sports Editor
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Asst. Sports Editors Jordan Kendall Muhammad Waheed
Senior Staff Writer Mary-Ellen Davis
@joesalamone14 I like how everyone says running QBs don’t succeed in the NFL.... guess what.... Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, and Deshaun Watson are RUNNING the #NFL.
@DanReiner114 The “Lamar Jackson is a running back” peanut gallery is pretty quiet this morning.
Staff Writers Alex Best John Hack Grace Hebron Lauren Heyl Suzanne Stuller Aaron Thomas Brooks Warren Kayla Wellage Marcus Whitman
Photo Editor Brendan Felch
@dedicated_tyy Staff Photographers Amanda Bosse
Lamar Jackson is the boogie man @Ravens
Owen DiDonna Nikki Hewins Ryan Moriarty Karl Reimer Lacey Wall
Photo editor Bren dan Felch poses with the Towson ing their season Field Hockey tea finale against W m followillam & Mary. Br endan Felch/ Th e Towerlight
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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. Classifieds appear online and in print and are self-service at TheTowerlight.com/classifieds. 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.
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CALENDAR. 8 6 7
TOWSON BASKETBALL KICKOFF
TIGERTHON FALL FEST
GRADUATE SCHOOL WORKSHOP
Cheer on the Tiger basketball teams in a double-header at SECU Arena. The Women’s team hosts Penn State at 4 p.m. followed be the Men’s team hosting George Washington at 7 p.m. The first 500 students will receive a gold “Jungle” T-shirt.
Join TigerTHON and the Miracle Kids for an evening of flag football and fundraising! All money raised will be donated to Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
Thinking about grad school but feeling overwhelmed about all the questions and decisions? You can answer those bothersome questions and get expert tips on writing your statement in one big workshop.
SECU Arena, 4 p.m.
Towsontown Field, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Douglass House, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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POWERLIFT: PUSH AND PULL CONTEST
FAMILY ARTS DAY
Do you think you’re strong? Maybe the strongest on campus? Come test your strength in the Powerlift Push & Pull Contest! Registration is onsite and does not require an Intramural Sports Pass for participation.
Experience the joy of being an artist at TU Community Art Center’s Family Arts Day. Drop in for a day of interactive art activities, dance workshops, and gallery tours inspired by the current art exhibitions. All ages welcome.
Burdick Hall, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Center for the Arts, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Follow us @TheTowerlight!
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Opinion
November 5, 2019
Time for a generational shift in our government Picking up the pieces after a breakup TYRONE BARROZO Columnist
This is a particularly odd time for America. With Halloween over with and Thanksgiving just around the corner, one would think that things would ease up. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Whatever remained of a holiday spirit is now gone thanks to the constant drama of politics— children can’t enjoy themselves thanks to the news propagating fear and adults can’t help but to use the night to drown their sorrows for just a little while. And, to be quite frank, I’m honestly surprised that all of this dread that everyone’s experienced has been brought upon by arguably the dumbest lot of pigs in government that I’ve come to know over a television screen. A recent report has come out claiming that Rudy Giuliani butt-dialed an NBC reporter in which he might have connected himself to overseas business deals. All of this happened after speaking just five days prior to NBC about his economic ties to the Iranian dissident group Mujahedeen e-Khalq (MEK), a former State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization. In the discovered voicemail, Giuliani continuously kept babbling on about how money was needed for whatever reason in between verbal jabs at Hunter Biden. If I can echo one comment from Reddit on how this entire Trump administration scandal/impeachment process has been going, I would agree and say that this is “the dumbest political thriller I’ve ever witnessed.” There’s currently a man with high influence and political power, who can’t even remember how to unlock his iPhone, making decisions for the US. Perhaps the American people deserve all of this anguish for their willful ignorance towards
policy and international affairs but, honestly, I’d much rather believe that this highlights a different issue. Simply put, America ought to have more younger voices elected into congress because the current lot of senior citizens has been impeding progress to a crippling degree. Now, with this proposition, there’s the matter of addressing one essential question: can we achieve this? Yes, there’s already a few glimpses within certain promising members of congress from both sides of the political spectrum with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Josh Hawley (R-MO). Regardless of how one might feel from either figure, it is still a lovely sight to get some fresh perspective from individuals who are much more connected to the current time and landscape of the country. Aside from current changes within our country, are there any other examples present outside of the U.S.? Maybe even outside of politics? Yes, the world is currently in so much peril that young activists such as Malala Yousafzai and, more recently, Greta Thunberg who’ve taken matters into their own hands. How has the world reacted in response to each? Well, people tried to kill Yousafzai for advocating for women’s rights and people still make fun of Thunberg’s mental disabilities despite simply stating that politicians need to listen to proper experts like scientists. With each passing day, it seems that history continues to repeat itself—an empty promise reveals itself to those who feel desperate and a silent bunch decides to leech off of peoples’ trust and hope. So, will America open its doors to updating at least some of its archaic requirements and practices? Very unlikely. But there is one thing that I am certain of as a result of writing this story, having dealt with the stories before it, and eventually having to deal with the stories after it—I want change and I want it now.
MIRANDA MOWREY Columnist @mirandamowrey
Breakups are hard. When you spend countless hours sharing laughs, cries, and unforgettable memories with someone, you end up forming a meaningful bond with that person. Then, all of the sudden, everything abruptly ends. Time goes on and things get easier, but six months later when you’re cleaning your room, you find a crumbled-up polaroid of two people who were once in love, so you sit on the floor and cry and ask yourself if you will ever feel okay again. After experiencing the pain of ending a five-year relationship, I have learned that getting over a boyfriend or girlfriend takes a combination of time, effort, good friends, and midnight drives blast-
ing Taylor Swift on repeat. But, to initially move on, you must actively shift your energy from caring about your ex and onto caring for yourself. When dating, it is common to inadvertently stop paying attention to some of your own needs and devote too much attention to the needs of your partner. Enjoy this time where you are able to focus on building the best version of yourself by trying new things and taking risks. After my breakup, I delved deeply into the world of music, quit the office job I hated, discovered my passion for writing and worked up the courage to write for the school newspaper. Although these things do not necessarily take away from the pain of the breakup, I nevertheless feel empowered by the fact that I am in control of my own happiness. Oh, and by the way, nothing good ever comes from texting, calling or
seeing your ex post-breakup. Even though you probably miss them and are itching to see them, just remember that afterwards you will be back at square one, just as confused as ever. When you feel tempted to send that text, call up your mom or a friend and talk it out with them instead. You may find that all you needed was to let off some steam and voice your feelings aloud. No matter how many times you have heard it, time really does change everything – even the most raw and painful emotions. As you ride out this healing process, be comforted in the fact that you, and only you, are in control of your own happiness. Day by day, you will wake up having a greater sense of who you are, and one day you will be ready to take the risk with love again. Because even though love can be painful, it is sometimes the sweetest thing in the world.
Are tattoos in the workplace bad? KAYLA HUNT Columnist
Tattoos have been known as a form of expression and a way for people to personalize themselves. Across generations the perception of tattoos have begun to shift. It is no longer viewed as unacceptable. However, even though parents and other members of society are becoming more accepting of tattoos, are employers on the same page? According to an infographic compiled by Skinfo, 37% of human resources managers listed the presence of tattoos as the third-most likely physical attribute to limit career potential. The infographic also demonstrated which industries had the most employees with tattoos and which had the least. The military was found to have the most tattooed staff (36%) and the government was found to have
the lowest percentage of tattooed staff (8%). Even though there are no hard statistics that prove a correlation between having tattoos and employment rates, there has been a known stigma associated with tattoos in the work environment. One of the trends that have emerged are sleeves (like the ones that you wear on a basketball court), which some employers require their employees to wear while they are on the clock. I was surprised when my dad told me that this was apart of the policy at the corporation he works at. This could be viewed as an alternative to not hiring a certain class of people at all but it is still a notion of discrimination and implying that tattoos are not deemed “professional.” I conducted a poll on Twitter to grasp a consensus among my followers on their experience regarding tattoos in the work environment. I initially asked if any of my followers had tattoos. Out of 30 partic-
ipants, 50% said yes and 50% said no. When asked if they have ever been asked to conceal their tattoos in the workplace, out of 17 respondents, 82% responded no and 18% responded yes. When asked if they thought tattoos should be viewed as unprofessional, out of 38 respondents, 92% reported no and 8% responded yes. I'm going to be transparent, my dad has very strong feelings about tattoos and I would probably have to wear a turtleneck year-round if I ever decided to get one. I can respect my dad's discomfort because he is entitled to his own opinion and beliefs. However, if an employer was to not respect my personal decision that doesn't have any inference on my abilities or work performance, I would be pretty upset about that. I don't think that any environment should be allowed to regulate your right to personal expression whether it be through your hair, clothing, or things such as tattoos.
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News
November 5, 2019
TU promotes body positivity GRACE HEBRON Staff Writer
Oct. 31: TUPD investigated a theft of a jacket from Residence Tower. Oct. 31: A non-affiliate assaulted another non-affiliate at a construction site on Emerson Drive. Oct. 30: TUPD is investigating a second degree assault of a resident student in University Union. Oct. 30: An unknown person fraudulently used a resident student’s one card in West Village. Oct. 29: A commuter student assaulted another commuter student while in the locker room of Burdick Field. Oct. 28: A resident student assaulted another resident student outside the Clara Barotn House. Oct. 26: A resident student punched and damaged a window in Tower D. Oct. 25: A report of a physical altercation resulted in a non-affiliate arrested for violating of a no trespass order in Tower C. Oct. 22: A resident student reported being assaulted by another resident student in Richmond Hall. Oct. 22: A vehicle was reported to have sustained damage in West Village Garage. Oct. 21: A saftey check by Housing resulted in two students referred to Student Conduct for marijuana paraphenalia with residue in Clara Barton House. Oct. 21: A non-affilate was arrested for assaulting a resident student in Thurgood Marshall Hall. This incident has been upgraded to an aggravated assault based on injuries sustained. Oct. 21: A bicycle left unsecured was stolen from outside the building of Stephens Hall. Oct. 21: A contract employee threatened another employee with a knife in University Union. Oct. 20: A disagreement between a dating couple resulted in damaged property and a physical altercation at Millennium Hall. Oct. 20: A false ID was turned over to TUPD at Tower C. 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.
Towson University’s Body Image Peer Educators (BIPE) hosted this year’s Love Your Body Week with a series of body-positive events on campus throughout the week of Oct. 28. Students were invited to play trivia in West Village Commons, join a yoga session at Burdick Hall, smash scales on the CLA lawn, and enter the chance to win a raffle for a free 60-minute massage. “The biggest takeaway we hope students get is that every body is beautiful and body diversity is important,” said Megan Lynch, a post-doctoral fellow at TU’s Counseling Center and coordinator of BIPE. Lynch said that many of this year’s events were inspired by topics important to BIPE members like graduate student Claire Cusack, a first-year student in Towson University’s clinical psychology program. Her research centers on body image issues and eating disorders in gender and sexual minority individuals. The graduate assistant with BIPE described Love Your Body Week as a “widespread commitment to loving one’s body,” adding that this
weight is not your worth,” Lynch said, adding that scales can hold “immense emotional power for many individuals.” Cusack called the event empowering because “it feels good to take a hammer to something and say ‘this machine does not define me [or] have the power to make me feel less than, etc.’” Cusack said she hoped Smash the Scale made the topics of food and weight less scary for students, adding that misinformation is often spread about weight gain during the first year of college. According to TU senior Madee
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year’s events took a more inclusive approach to body image issues. “This year we tried to be intentional and true to our mission of promoting body positivity more broadly rather than centering eating disorder awareness,” said Cusack, although she cited eating disorders as a central component to body image issues. According to BIPE’s website, nearly 20 percent of college students are impacted by eating disorders, however, a greater percentage of students struggle to simply feel good about their bodies. “You don’t need to meet criteria for an eating disorder to struggle with body image issues,” Cusack said. She added that scales can be triggering for many people. Cusack and Lynch both felt that BIPE’s Smash The Scale event was the week’s most popular. “By smashing the scales, we are trying to represent that your
Regardless of physical capacity, we are all capable of finding something our body does for us that makes us feel good, and I think it’s important to highlight those moments because it’s so easy to focus on the negative.
that a gym or a diet solves.” According to TU sophomore and EMF major Lexi Eure, promoting body positivity on TU’s campus can “help people feel more confident in themselves.” “I try and love my body by trying to stay healthy and knowing that it’s okay if I don’t eat the best or workout when I wanted to,” Eure said. “People still love me for me.” Cusack suggested functional gratitude as a way of promoting body positivity. “I like my legs because they carry me places,” she said as an example. “I like my hands because I type amazing papers. I like my hips because dancing is fun.” “Regardless of physical capacity, we are all capable of finding something our body does for us that makes us feel good, and I think it’s important to highlight those moments because it’s so easy to focus on the negative,” Cusack said. Among other tips for body positivity, Lynch suggested that students decrease exposure to media focused on limited examples of beauty. “[You should] work to have more flexible and relaxed approach to eating, and remind yourself all the positive qualities you possess rather than focusing on negative things you dislike,”
CLAIRE CUSACK Lynch said. Towson University Graduate Student According to Henderson,
Henderson, a lead for the BIPE group at the counseling center, smashing the scales can be therapeutic for students as it “represents smashing the stigma around weighing ourselves.” “We also have scales people can step on with positive affirmations instead of numbers,” Henderson said. “A lot of students loved those scales and said it made their day! We often have students tell us our events made them reconsider how they view scales [and] their own bodies.” The Mythbusters: Freshman 15 trivia event sought to help students identify the truth about weight gain. “For the record, let me just say diets don’t work,” Cusack said. “Positive body image is mental emotional work, not something
body positivity is a process in which it all begins with body neutrality. “Accepting the body you are in and appreciating it for what it can do is incredibly important on the body positivity journey,” she said. “Body neutrality is the idea that we can simply be ‘okay’ with our bodies, not necessarily love every bit of it. We can thank our bodies for their function and become neutral towards our bodies.” Cusack said she hoped students would leave the events of Love Your Body Week feeling more connected to their bodies. “I heard someone once say ‘you don’t have to love your body to be kind to it,’ and I think that’s a message to take home,” Cusack said. “Your body is worth loving and there are things you can do to honor it,” she added.
News
November 5, 2019
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Maryland Lieutenant Governor talks persuasion MARCUS WHITMAN Staff Writer
Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, the ninth and current Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, visited Towson to speak to students in TU Professor Richard Vatz’s rhetoric and persuasive speech class Oct. 29. Rutherford spoke about his political experiences and how common it is to hear persuasion and rhetoric from politicians. According to Rutherford, persuasion is challenging nowadays in politics because of the strong divide. “It is a particularly challenging thing to view in persuading people, particularly in this time when we have a polarized political climate,” Rutherford said. “And people view themselves as fixed in one corner versus another and trying to get them to come together to really listen and hear another point of view.” He also spoke about the advantages the newspapers back in the days before electric media became so easily accessible.
“You might read through and read different articles and find something that is interesting that you would want to read about, and see something else that you didn’t know you were interested in and find yourself reading,” Rutherford said. Throughout his lecture, Ruthorford mentioned how hard it can be to agree on topics, especially when people may not share the same ideas. He talked about how in his work with politics he and colleagues may agree on some goals but may not agree on how to achieve or implement the goals. Rutherford also explained why it is important to keep conversations going and find more common ground. TU student Teresa Barnaba shared her thoughts on having Rutherford visit the class. “I enjoyed having Lt. Gov. Rutherford come and speak to my class,” she said. “I’ve never had a guest speaker come to one of my classes before, so it was a new way to learn about relevant issues in our community. And it’s always beneficial to have a better under-
Marcus Whitman/ The Towerlight
Lt. Gov. Boyd Rutherford, one of Vatz’s many guest speakers of the semester, engaged with Towson students to discuss a range of topics. According to Barnaba, Rutherford also took an interesting approach to his lecture in the class. “I liked that he divided his time between talking about his role in office and then opening up the floor for questions,” she said. “This kept his visit engaging. I enjoyed hearing what my peers were interested in and what they had to say regarding different issues.” Barnaba also brought up what she felt was one of the more inter-
esting highlights from having the Lieutenant Governor speak. “I did find him to be an interesting speaker,” she said. “He primarily talked about education, young voters, and his experiences as a politician, so I felt that I had a better understanding of who he was and the different issues that are plaguing our state. Many of the points he brought up were relevant to us as students, which was useful.”
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standing of who our state representatives are, especially someone who has influence and personal connections in our city.” Rutherford took breaks within his lecture to hold question and answer sessions with the class. Rutherford aimed for audience interaction with to have more discussion on persuasion and rhetoric with the class. According to Vatz, having guest speakers come to his class helps with the college education experience because it allows students the chance to interact with individuals they may not get to interact with on an everyday basis. Vatz has brought a variety of speakers to his class from ex-governors to Nancy Pelosi, the current Speaker of the House of Representatives. “I thought it went very well,” Vatz said. “This is a great experience for the students and I try to have good speakers come in to give them some background you know. People are always saying that a college education isn’t important, and I think a college education is very critical...I think [these speakers are] a great advantage to the students.”
Schedule your free shuttle ride to BWI Airport and Penn Station Reserve your seat at Bit.ly/TUShuttle Where: Departs from Union Garage Loop (ground level) When: Monday, Nov. 25 and Tuesday, Nov. 26 Departure times: 11 a.m., 1 p.m. 3 p.m. & 5 p.m.
Where: Pick up from BWI International Terminal and Penn Station (returns to Union Garage Loop) When: Sunday, Dec. 1 Departure times: 5 p.m. & 7 p.m. (Return times for Penn Station are 15 minutes after listed times)
*Don’t be late! Allow enough time to get to your destination with traffic and security screenings. A valid TU OneCard is required to board the bus
10 November 5, 2019
Arts & Life
Conquering College
My Chemical Romance returns MARY-ELLEN DAVIS Senior Staff Writer @Mel_Davis_1998
Alright Killjoys, are you ready to make some noise? That’s right, it’s official. My Chemical Romance is back! This past weekend the band announced their reunion show which they will be playing this December at Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles, California. The band also released a new line of merch. It’s time to break out that eyeliner because this week, we are going to dive into some of their best hits to prepare us for the new emo wave. But first, we have to go back a bit for those who may not be familiar with MCR. The band initially formed in back in 2001 by Gerard Way after he watched the twin towers collapse during the 9/11 attack. Shortly after, he was joined by Matt Pelissier, Ray Toro, Mikey Way, and Frank Iero. They quickly released their debut “I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love.”
This album brought us hits like “Vampires Will Never Hurt You.” Between the 2002 album and their break up announcement, MCR released three more studio albums, including what is probably their most well known, “The Black Parade,” in 2006. My Chemical Romance had gathered a fairly large fan base during this time, leaving many emo kids devastated when the band made the announcement that it’s members had decided to go separate ways in March of 2013. Almost exactly a year after the split, the band released a greatest hits album called “May Death Never Stop You.” Many of the band members had also gone after solo careers or begun other endeavors. The world could almost hear the collective gasp however, when the announcement was made last Thursday that the band would be reuniting. They created a new Instagram account, updated all of their profile images, and put up a countdown for their December reunion show tickets in California. With the new development, it is almost mandatory that we pull
Courtesy of Stephen Eckert on Flickr Creative Commons
Over this past weekend, My Chemical Romance announced a 2019 reunion show which will take place at Shrine Expo Hall in December.
out those old CDs, put them in our car stereos, and blast some of their best tracks for all to hear. “Welcome to The Black Parade” From the concept album with the same name, this song tugs at the heart strings of every emo kid ever. It’s infamous G note beginning has been the Batman sign for all Killjoys, pulling us all in to sing the tune. “I’m Not Okay (I Promise):” Another emo kid anthem, this song came from MCR’s 2004 album “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge.” Its driving guitars kept us all headbanging through the night. It can also be added to almost any workout playlist for that added drive to push through your last set of whatever you’re doing. “Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na):” Another good song to workout to, this bop comes off of the bands 2010 album “Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys.” This album brought with it that spider emblem that could be seen on pins and jackets for years. “ Va m p i r e s Will Never Hurt You:” Previously mentioned, this song comes off of the bands earliest studio album. This is an angsty MCR tune that should be a staple in anyone’s listening regimine. It helps outline their musical growth throughout the bands later albums. “Helena:” Another good one from “Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge,” this song is the one that you blast when you cruise down the highway. It’s best enjoyed after a breakup or intense argument, making it an all-season type of song. “Famous Last Words:” Lastly, this song from “The Black Parade” has fed the souls of emo kids everywhere for years. It’s one that many may not remember, but one that everyone should know. The powerful anthem says “screw you, I’m going to live my best life and you can’t change that” to anyone who tries to put you down.
Make and save money fast VICTORIA NICHOLSON Art Director @ToriNickel
I don’t know about you, but I am broke. Well, I shouldn’t say I don’t make enough to not order off the dollar menu at Mcdonald’s, but I will do everything to save an extra buck. I’m that one friend that says, “Wait! I think I have a coupon for that!” So, let me be your friend and give you a few ways to save/make some extra money for the future. Be a penny-pincher, it’s fun! Mercari: Grew out of your favorite skirt? Have five pairs of black leggings? Or did you even just impulsively buy a new jacket you hate now? Sell it on Mercari! This is a great app that every college student needs on their phone. Let me break it down for you. Take decent pictures that show off the item you want to get rid of, create a brief description of it, and post it on the app. It’s that easy. Once your item sells, Mercari will personally give you a pdf version of the shipping label and all you have to do after that is tape it to a shipping box and drop it off at the post office. I have used Mercari for about two years now and I have made over a $1,000 dollars by simply getting rid of things I didn’t need anymore. Not only does mercari let you sell clothes, but they allow a wide variety of items. This can include makeup, office supplies, house decor, books, and even those old pair of heels you told yourself you’ll wear one day. Ibotta: Imagine making money off of daily tasks you already do… oh wait, you can. Ibotta is an app you can download for free that
helps you make cash back on grocery shopping. All you have to do is look through the lists the app offers, and add the items you want to purchase or have already purchased. Once you found everything, and made your list, you scan your receipt and the app will process the savings for you. Before I moved into my apartment, I purchased a water filter for the fridge that my roommate and I needed. I went on Ibotta that day to see if any thing I purchased would help me get money back, and you know what I found? $3.25 cash back on that water filter! Maybe I’m weird for getting excited about that, but wow, that is a blessing. Plato’s Closet: Make cash on the spot by gathering your used clothes, shoes and accessories and selling them to Plato’s Closet. Plato’s Closet, which is less than a 10-minute drive from campus, will look through your items and pick out the items that think will sell well in their store and give you 40% of what they would sell it for. See, this really isn’t the place for you if you want to make $20 off of a used shirt you wore two years ago, but rather, it’s for people who just want to get rid of stuff out of their closet but still want to make some money off it. Target Circle: I love shopping at the “tarjay,” but I also love saving money at the “tarjay.” Target offers a program called Target Circle which gives you offers on a variety of goods the store carries. All you have to do is download the Target app and the program will be included, as well as a handy dandy scanner. Each product coupon differs, but you can get up to 50% off an item you would of paid full price on!
Arts & Life
November 5, 2019
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Fast fashion is taking over
Courtesy of Rob Zand on Flickr Creative Commons
As the demand for fast and inexpensive clothing continues to dominate the fashion industry, many name brand companies have begun to outsource their production as a means of keeping up with “fast fashion.” BOLUPE OLASEINDE Columnist
H&M and Zara are examples of brands that outsource their production. The conditions in which these factory workers endure in countries like China and India, has been a topic of controversy lately, as many more brands continue to fall prey to the villain that is, fast fashion. According to Lexico Dictionary, fast fashion can be defined as “Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends.” That Chanel bag or those Prada shoes, which already sell with several dollar signs on their price tags, actually have one additional price; the hidden price of outsourcing their labor, which falls in direct conflict with the reputation and integrity of each brand. These brands carry with them the prestige of being made with the extraordinary care of brilliant minds and diligent hands. We look at these brands with high esteem and covet them. Some people even go as far as spending an entire paycheck to wear these designer labels. The grounds that make, what could be considered, outlandish behavior acceptable is trampled over in the means to
“save money.” Fashion, in recent years, has been ensnared by the claws of fast fashion due to high demand for some time now. But these brands continue to market themselves using the emotional appeal of “products crafted at home.” Imagine a $2,000 Prada bag being made in China for $5 or less. Now, even if product quality still remains intact, there are still other factors like the manufacturing cost and the country-of-origin effect that we have to look at. The exclusivity and allure disappears once one realizes that the Paris and Italy born brands now base their roots in China and other countries. Designer brands realize this, and choose to withhold this information from consumers. For example, Louis Vuitton has some parts of their footwear made in “well-kept secret [factories], their identity closely guarded” in Transylvania, Romania before they are “finished” in Italy and France, where “Made in Italy” or “Made in France” tags are affixed. There is a distinction in brand opinion when a consumer looks inside their wallet, purse or shirt and sees “Made in China” versus “Made in Italy” or “Made in France.” These brands have been known to take radical means to
keep their exclusivity in tact like burning unsold merchandise. The complete lack of transparency leaves me to believe there is purposeful trickery and deception at play. The product costs no longer reflect the updated manufacturing cost. So, why are consumers still paying big bucks when the production is no longer artisan? The exorbitant amount of money people pay to own these brands has always been up for scrutiny. But with rising environmental efforts to promote more economical living, there is an added need for consumers to be aware and responsible with their purchasing habits. Now that even the top brands participate in unethical manufacturing practices, there are even less options for consumers. The future of fashion may come to a tumultuous end if ethical shopping options are not practiced. It is important that we stop supporting powerhouse brands that exploit labor and the pockets of the public and start supporting small, ethical clothing businesses. This trade off will save you money and give you a clear conscience. Goodonyou is a great site to check out to learn more about fast fashion. You can also participate in the Project 333 challenge and choose only 33 pieces to wear for three months.
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Sports
November 5, 2019
13
Reign over the caa continues TU sweeps JMU and Delaware for 16th straight win KAYLA WELLAGE Staff Writer
The Tigers remained undefeated in conference play after their victory over Delaware 3-0. In all three sets, the Blue Hens remained competitive until Towson (222, 13-0 CAA) pulled away late to win. The Tigers used two of their four blocks in the third set to take an early 8-1 lead. “We were able to put up a good solid block,” head coach Don Metil said. “We did that several times today and it really gave us some energy.” The Blue Hens responded and cut the lead to 8-6, but Towson used four kills to increase their lead to 15-7. “There’s still some times where we’ll allow teams to go on [runs] and we’ve got to figure out a way to side out and get control of the match,” Metil said. Delaware used three kills to score
four of the next points, but senior outside hitter Olivia Finckel contributed three kills in the final eight points as the Tigers won the set 25-17. In the second set Delaware took advantage of three Tigers errors taking a 7-4 lead. Sophomore outside hitter Emily Jarome used two kills to cut the Blue Hens lead to 9-8. Both teams continued to score, and with an 18-13 Delaware lead Towson began their run to come back. The Tigers only gave up four points for the rest of the set. Four Blue Hens errors and two kills from Jarome helped Towson come back and win the set 25-21 ending on a 12-4 run. The Tigers had seven blocks in the match, and it helped them gain momentum and confidence. “[It’s exciting] When people get monster blocks, especially on our priority hitters because it’s something we really focus on,” Finckel said. The first set was very competitive throughout until the Tigers used a four point unanswered run to take a
19-14 lead, neither team led by more than three points. Despite a close-set, Delaware only led twice and never led by more than two points. Senior outside hitter Annie Ertz contributed to three straight points late in the set and helped Towson prevent a late comeback by the Blue Hens. Delaware scored two of the final three points, but their comeback fell short as the Tigers won the set 25-20. Towson defeated the James Madison Dukes 3-1 in front of a crowd of over 700 spectators at SECU Arena. The Tigers lost the second set but responded with late runs leading to victories in the final two sets. The fourth set was competitive until a late run by Towson ensured a victory. Neither team led by more than two until the Tigers scored the final seven points. Towson used five Dukes errors to win the set 25-16. Finckel had three kills in the set, and Jarome and Ertz each had two. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.
Sports Club Spotlight
Caleb Smith Football
Redshirt junior wide receiver Caleb Smith had a career day in Towson’s 31-24 victory over Delaware on Saturday. Smith led the Tigers with 200 receiving yards and one touchdown on nine catches.
Men’s Soccer ISAAC DONSKY Contributing Writer
The Towson men’s club soccer team held an inter-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon at Burdick Field in place of the doubleheader they had originally scheduled with the University of Pittsburgh after the Panthers canceled. The Tigers received a text from the Pittsburgh club soccer president the day before the match claiming that the Panthers would not be able to attend do to a few injuries to their squad. “It kind of sucks,” said senior right back Brenden Turco. “We’ve had this planned out for a couple weeks. It tends to happen though, especially with teams that are farther away.” In place of the doubleheader, the Tigers played a single inter-squad scrimmage, pitting the
team’s lineup for the Fall Nationals tournament, wearing black, against their reserves, wearing yellow. To make the contest more interesting, several players from the Fall Nationals lineup were placed on the yellow team. The black team would end up with a decisive 3-2 win. “We got to see how well different players work with each other,” Turco said about the match. “That’s going to play a big role in how we determine the final starting roster for Nationals and the coming spring semester.” The scrimmage got off to a slow start until sophomore striker Josh Jankiewicz scored for the yellow side just before halftime. The black team responded with two quick goals by freshman striker Connell Poku and senior club president Gavin Boyer. Up 2-1, the black team looked to be in control until sophomore left back Madden Mellner scored for the yellow team with under a minute left, making it 2-2. Seconds later,
sophomore center mid Diego Soto scored to give the black side the match win. Saturday’s scrimmage was all about game fitness for the Tigers, who had gone two weeks without a game. With the Pittsburgh game canceled, it would have been three weeks without any action. According to Boyer, the Tiger’s have had an up-and-down season. Currently sitting with a 4-52 record with one more game to go before Nationals, the Tigers have dealt with plenty of hardships along the way. “There were a few games that were pretty difficult to win,” Boyer said, “but the team has been improving despite the record.” The Tigers play Johns Hopkins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9 at Burdick Field. It will be their final game of the semester. Following the game vs. the Blue Jays Towson will travel to Round Rock, Texas for Fall Nationals.
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14 November 5, 2019
Sports
Towson beats delaware on fourth-down stop Amanda Bosse/ The Towerlight
Junior defensive lineman Tibo Debaille records a tackle in Towson’s 31-24 victory over Delaware on Saturday. The Tiger defense made a key stop on fourth down to clinch the win over the Blue Hens. The win was Towson’s first in the conference since Sept. 14 over Maine and keeps the Tigers in contention for a spot in the FCS Playoffs in December. JORDAN KENDALL Asst. Sports Editor @jordankendall54
No. 22 Towson needed to win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and senior running back Yeedee Thaenrat and redshirt junior wide receiver Caleb Smith did everything they could to ensure it happened. Thaenrat scored three touchdowns and Smith caught nine passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. Smith became the first Tigers (5-4, 2-3 CAA) receiver to record 200 receiving yards since 2016. Smith’s father Rodney played for Towson, and head coach Rob Ambrose appreciates seeing generations of Tigers. “As an alum, there is something special about watching one of these guys kids come through the program to the point where he’s excelling against incredibly good competition,” Ambrose said. “This young man to my right has made
the most of his opportunities in a seconds remaining. way I don’t think any of us could’ve Smith’s impact was apparent seen coming.” early in the game, Flacco connectTowson defeated the Delaware ed with Smith for 40 yards to the Blue Hens (4-5, 2-3 CAA) 31-24 and Blue Hens one-yard line, setting up overcame a 14-point run by DelaThanerat’s first touchdown. Smith ware in the second half. The Tigers went over 100 yards before halftime led by 10 at halftime, but the Blue which was the first time he had a Hens used over 100-yard game. eight minutes of “It’s just a credit game time in order to him, how strong to kick a field goal to They represented the he is and how athtie the game. letic he is,” redshirt institution the exact senior quarterback The Tigers responded and right way under duress. Tom Flacco said. “I Thaenrat scored his can’t say enough You can’t ask for much about Caleb. We all third touchdown with less than five know what he’s camore than that. minutes remainpable of, and I hope ROB AMBROSE this is a coming-out ing. Delaware had Head Coach party for him, and I enough time to take a late lead and faced hope he keeps doing a fourth down at the Towson 16. it for the rest of the season.” Blue Hens junior quarterback Flacco celebrated his 25th birthNolan Henderson scrambled close day by completing 17 of 23 passes to midfield and was somehow able for 294 yards and a touchdown to to pass the line of scrimmage beSmith. Flacco saw a mismatch with fore sliding. He was just short of Smith and knew he had to take adthe first down with less than 90 vantage of it.
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“You can’t leave this guy one-onone,” Flacco said. “That’s kind of what they were doing. So I was going to keep coming back to him consistently. I didn’t even realize how great of a game he had until I looked at these stats.” Despite Thaenrat and Smith having strong games, the offense struggled early to hold onto the ball fumbling three times. Smith fumbled in the third quarter and the Blue Hens capitalized with a touchdown. “You play a game in this league and you turn the ball over three times the odds of you winning it are really small,” Ambrose said. “That’s a credit to our guys, defensively the character, the frustrations of getting past it, being resilient and rallying together I’m really proud of it.” Late in the second half Thanerat scored his second touchdown, and junior defensive back Coby Tippett intercepted Henderson with under a minute left. Senior kicker Aiden O’Neill tied the CAA record with 59 career field goals to end the first half.
In the second quarter, Thaenrat broke free for a 27-yard gain, but two Towson penalties pushed them back. Smith caught a 32-yard pass to the 15, and later in the drive, Flacco avoided a sack and threw across his body to Smith for a touchdown. This is Towson’s first conference win since Sept. 14 at Maine. “Games like these you got a lot of things going through your head,” Ambrose said. “A game you know you gotta win, and it’s Delaware, and it’s November, and we’re beat up.” Towson travels to Stony Brook to face the Seawolves on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kickoff from Kenneth LaValle Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m. “I’m incredibly proud, ridiculously, unbelievably, overflowingly, of the young men in the locker room,” Ambrose said. “They represented the institution the exact right way under duress. You can’t ask for much more than that.” The next home game for the Tigers won’t be until Nov. 23 when Towson hosts Elon University in the season finale.
Sports Preview
November 5, 2019
15
WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW TIGERS PREPARE TO DEFEND TITLE returning starters building confidence ish sixth in the conference. Redshirt senior forward Dennis Tunstall earned an All-CAA Defensive Team selection after leading Towson in rebounding (7.7) and third in the CAA in blocked The Towson University men’s shots per game (1.0). basketball team’s 2019-20 season “We lost a lot of close games begins with a home game for the last season, so we have pushed first time since 2013. Towson will each other harder to make each host George Washington in the other better while we all strive home opener on Tuesday, Nov. 5. towards the same goal to win a Head coach Pat Skerry is elatchampionship,” Fobbs said. “The ed to be back at the helm for his energy has been contagious with ninth season here at Towson. players coming in getting up exLast season, the Tigers struggled tra shots and putting in work in in conference play and lost six of the gym.” their final seven games, including The Tigers have their work a 74-73 defeat to James Madison cut out for them early on with in the CAA Tournament. Towson’s games against the No. 4 Florrecord was 10-22 ida Gators and with a 6-12 mark in the No. 20 Xaviconference games. er Musketeers A season like The energy has been already on the that can be humschedule. Towson contagious with players will be competbling for players coming in, getting up ing in the Gildan and Skerry saw that in his team’s extra shots and putting Charleston Claswork during the sic which feain work in the gym offseason. tures Xavier, as “We have well as the ConBRIAN FOBBS worked really hard necticut Huskies Senior Guard and we are excited and Miami Hurrito get back on the floor to be ready canes among others. for our games,” Skerry said. “I canThere will be plenty of chancnot say enough about this group’s es to check out the Tigers as they work ethic for handling their busiwill be playing in the DC Holiday ness during the offseason.” Hoops Fest Tournament On Dec. The Tigers will be an experi20-21 from the Entertainment enced team as 10 players return and Sports Arena in Southeast from last season, including four Washington, D.C.. Towson will of five starters. be competing with the Liberty “For us to be really good, we are Flames, Akron Zips and Tulane going to need depth,” Skerry said. Green Wave. “We had a couple of guys sitting out The Tigers will return to the Enand we added a few freshmen and tertainment and Sports Arena for transfers that are good. So, nobody the 2020 CAA Tournament, beginis entitled to anything and they all ning on March 7. The last time the have to continue to work on their CAA Tournament was in DMV, Towgame so we can be successful.” son fell in the semifinals in 2015 at All-CAA Second-Team selection Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore. guard Brian Fobbs returns for his The Tigers start the season with senior year after leading the Tigers three consecutive home games in in scoring averaging 17.5 points six days. Towson hosts opponents per game, fifth-best in the CAA. George Washington, Bryn Athyn, Fobbs was named to the first and Kent State at SECU Arena. The team All-CAA Preseason team home opener vs the Colonials is while Towson was picked to finTuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. AARON THOMAS Staff Writer @3zzzUp
Karl Reimer/ The Towerlight
Despite winning their first CAA Championship last season, Towson was picked to finish third in the standings this season. The Tigers return four of their five starters, including two All-CAA Preseason Players. BROOKS WARREN Staff Writer @Broookksss
Head coach Diane Richardson is entrenched now at Towson following the program’s first CAA championship and NCAA tournament appearance. The transition is complete, she believes, with her playstyle implemented and culture established. That was all truly realized during the Tigers’ contest against Marshall last year when they were down 12 at the half but came back to win after a 9-2 run in the final minute. The monumental win was the launchpad for a six-game winning streak and the impetus to their postseason-run to the NCAA tournament. “When you come into a new program, [the players] are used to things but I continued to preach that about culture and us being a sisterhood and all that,” Richardson said. “Last year at our Marshall game, it’s when it all clicked into them. They all bought in, that showed me that ‘okay they’re ready’ and we went on a six-game winning streak after that so we saw the result of that in our tournament wins so I think it worked well.” Despite being the defending Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) champions, the Tigers are picked to finish third in the conference this season. “The keyword is to improve,” Richardson said. “We know what we
did last year but this year is a different year. And so we got to not only do what we did last year but up it a level. We were aware of that after our game at UConn that we know we needed to do more. The girls have really bought into that and they’ve been working hard.” Even though the preseason ranking may be considered a slight by the Tigers themselves, it comes with some justification. Towson loses key contributors from last seasons through graduation such as guard Dani Durjan and center Maia Lee, or the tide of transfers like center Janeen Camp, guard Jalynn Holmes, and forward Aislinn Flynn. While they have lost pieces in the offseason, they return some of their most important ones, the Tigers’ leading scorers are back in senior forward Nukiya Mayo and redshirt junior guard Kionna Jeter. Jeter averaged 17.3 points and 5.4 rebounds while Mayo averaged 14.3 points and 7.6 rebounds last season. “We have a lot of great depth like [Coach Richardson] said,” Mayo said. “We don’t have to play as much, but we still have the same goal. We didn’t celebrate too much after the season was over because we knew we had to get right back to it.” Amongst the returnees is sophomore guard Shavonne Smith, who received praise from both Mayo and Richardson during media day. After playing sparingly as a freshman, Smith went into the summer with the mindset to grow and get
better every day, impressing teammates and coaches alike as her game grew. “She didn’t see much action but she really, really worked on her game this summer and I think we’re going to see her a lot on the court,” Richardson said. Graduate guard Myka Johnson-Matthews transferred from Florida Atlantic and averaged 9.4 points per game last season. She is expected to contribute both on and off the court as a leader. “A lot of the players are experienced,” Mayo said. “ I just think they add a lot of great experience and they’ll be ready to play.” Towson plays an early daunting schedule against teams such as Penn State, Iowa, Temple, and Rutgers. The early-season tests should go a long way in helping the team grow when conference play starts against Elon University. “I think with our four returners, adding Shavonne Smith and adding Myasia Jones, I think we’re going to see a lot of scoring this year,” Richardson said. “This year, with the pieces we brought in, we’re going to be not only fast, but we’re also going to have length and I think we have six true post players on our team this year which is going to help us inside.” The Tigers won their opening exhibition vs Alderson Broaddus 75-43. Towson’s next game is against Penn State on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Tipoff from SECU Arena is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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16 November 5, 2019
Sports Preview
sophomore stardom for tigers MUHAMMED WAHEED Asst. Sports Editor @MuhammedKWaheed
November officially marks the transition from cross country to the indoor track and field season at Towson. The Tigers finished third, a program-best finish, during the 2018 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division I Indoor Championships. Last year’s performance set the bar high for this season. “The goal is to win,” head coach Mike Jackson said. “The teams that were in front of us are really strong teams that we respect, but you know we’ve been climbing the ladder for a while now and we expect to be at the top.” Jackson prioritizes teamwork and wants to ensure his athletes buy into the program’s ideals. “I think the first thing is togetherness, confidence and then attitude,” Jackson said. “If we’re together and that’s our foundation and then hav-
ing confidence in ourselves and one another and then having a competitive attitude to believe that we’re the best and then going out to carry out that plan.” While there are not any freshmen on this year’s team, 25 sophomores make up the majority of the team and are expected to contribute. “Well the sophomore class is one of the strongest classes we’ve had in recent history,” Jackson said. “They’ve done an outstanding job. They’ve broken numerous records, but we’re focused on every single student-athlete. Each of them has a story and we’re trying to continue that story and make it one of success and I think that we have a legitimate chance to do something special this year.” Field athletes tend to be forgotten in track and field, but Jackson has high expectations for his group. “I’m expecting them to throw far, jump far and jump high,” Jackson said. “I’m very confident in them. The beautiful thing about the field event is that you have three opportunities and the other
events you have one and so I’ll take my chances with that and [sophomore] Hayley Horvath had a great year last year. Went to NCAA firstround outdoors, but one indoor ECAC, broke the school record. [senior] Michella Obijiaku had an outstanding year in both the shot put and weight throw.” Jackson also has high expectations for his track athletes. “Leave their mark,” Jackson said. “[Sophomore] Crystal Johnson had a great indoor season. [Sophomore] Shamika Burton is much improved. She’s training extremely well. [Sophomore] Olivia Janke who’s been having a great cross country season is finally ready to go for the indoor season. We’ve got a lot of options. Some of our kids are improving tremendously. [Senior] Victoria Jones-Alleyne we think she’ll have a good year and so it’s just so many people to be excited about.” While the schedule has yet to be released for this season, history suggests that the Tigers will have their work cut out for them as they look to improve on last year’s success.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK
Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight
The Swimming and Diving team defeated UMBC on Saturday.
Karl Reimer/ The Towerlight
Women’s basketball won their exhibition game on Thursday.
Ramirez returns to coach tu JOHN HACK Staff Writer @johnhack10
The 2020 season will be one of new beginnings for past contributors for Towson’s gymnastics team. On Sept. 6, the school announced that Jay Ramirez (’03) would take over as the new head coach of the team. The alumnus has aided the team on several previous occasions working as an assistant coach from 2016-18 and in 2003 after beginning as a volunteer assistant coach for the Tigers in 1999. The gymnasts have their work cut out for them after graduating five seniors last year, including Mary Elle Arduino, who received First-Team all EAGL honors on the beam last season. In addition to the new fresh faces in the coaching staff, the Tigers also bring a young team with them entering this season. Out of the 18 members of this years squad, 12 are underclass-
men, including seven freshmen. “I think we’re just excited to make a name for ourselves,” senior Olivia Lubarsky said. “This team has a ton of talent, a ton of potential. One of the things I love the most about this team is that we work hard, every single day.” Lubarsky and her teammates are looking forward to this next chapter of Towson gymnastics. Those teammates include sophomore Emerson Hurst and senior Ally Wesoly, who both won multiple events last year and will look to improve on that this season. “I think we’re just excited for a fresh start and kind of a new beginning and a new direction for the program in general,” Lubarsky said. “We’re working hard inside the gym, outside the gym to kind of bring Towson gymnastics to the forefront of
the Towson community and beyond.” Lubarsky did not compete in a meet her first three years as a Tiger, but is looking forward to what this season has in store. “I’m just honestly excited to be apart of such an amazing team,” Lubarsky said. “This group of girls is really something special, so it’ll be great to have them by my side.” The Tigers will host Cornell, William & Mary and West Chester University on Jan. OLIVIA LUBARSKY 17 for their first Senior All-Around home meet of the season. Trips to North Carolina State, Penn State and West Virginia highlight a difficult road schedule for Towson. The team’s first meet of the season is Sunday, Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. at the University of Pennsylvania. They will have an inner squad exhibition on Friday, Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. at SECU Arena.
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This group of girls is really something special, so it’ll be great to have them by my side.
Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight
Field hockey closed out their season with a 3-1 loss on Sunday.
Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight
Volleyball beat James Madison and Delaware over the weekend.