The Towerlight (October 30, 2018) by The Towerlight

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

October 30, 2018

A preview of Towson’s upcoming winter sports, pg. 12

Courtesy of Rob Knox, Photo Illustration by Victoria Nicholson/The Towerlight

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October 30, 2018

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October 30, 2018

Editor-in-Chief Karuga Koinange Senior Editor Bailey Hendricks News Editor Mary-Ellen Davis Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram Asst. Arts & Life Editor Alex Helms Sports Editor Asst. Sports Editors Muhammad Waheed Jordan Kendall Staff Writers Alex Helms Meg Hudson Jessica Ricks Anthony Petro Keri Luise

OCT - NOV

30-3 CALENDAR.

Glenn Kaplan Sophia Bates Suzanne Stuller John Hack Cyan Thomas John Davis

Staff Photographers Simon Enagonio Lacey Wall Brittany Whitham Isaiah Freeman Lexi Thompson Nikki Hewins Owen DiDonna Tiffany Deboer

General Manager Mike Raymond

Webmaster Circulation Staff Scott Halerz Dom Capparuccini Elssa Kenfack

THIS IS ME

Join the Body Image Peer Educators in Freedom Square to proudly declare “This Is Me!” Try our body outline activity, learn about body positivity and take what you need. This event is part of Love Your Body Week at Towson University.

Tiger Plaza, 11 a.m.

LECTURE | CHRISTOPHER BEDFORD

Celebrating the department’s talented and diverse faculty, Christopher Bedford, the Dorothy Wagner Wallis Director of the Baltimore Museum of Art will offer the exhibition’s opening lecture. Exhibition opening reception to follow.

Art Lecture Hall, 6:30 p.m.

Proofreaders

Art Director Victoria Nicholson

Can you press the buzzer before your opponent? Can

SURVEY your group guess the most popular answers from a surSAYS: LIVE vey? Join the Homecoming Court as they host their very GAME SHOW own version of the popular game show, Family Feud.

West Village Commons Ballrooms, 5 p.m.

Timothy Klapac Albert Ivory

Photo Editor Brendan Felch

WEEKLY

Come experience the most popular board game

“TOWSONOP- of all time in real life! Move around a game OLY”HOMEboard as Lot 26 is transformed into Monopoly. COMING BLOCK PARTY Stop by various properties for games and activi-

Tiger Plaza, 5 p.m.

TU HOMECOMING FOOTBALL GAME VS. MAINE

ties, test your luck at the Chance card raffles and grab a bite to eat. Get your Game On and cheer on your Tigers while they take on Maine at 4 p.m. for the annual Homecoming game First 1,000 students will receive free t-shirts. Stop by the Tiger Zone in lot 13 for free food and DJ!

Johnny Unitas Stadium, 4 p.m.

TOWSON

TRENDING.

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. ©2018 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

Please Recycle!

@NoahHuncho Y’all really went to fall fest @ towson students ?

@MELANINROE i bought a ground stage ticket to see t-pain and shy glizzy at Towson and guess who won’t let me go.

MORE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT

EVENTS.TOWSON.EDU

FALL FEST

@ShesSoInnocent

@ShyGlizzy was lit at Towson!!!

@What_The_Dread Towson showed big luv

Opinion

October 30, 2018

IPCC report is out – what now? PORTIA BHARATH Columnist

By now, most everyone has heard about the 2018 report on climate change that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released it’s dismal at best. The report gives the world until 2030 to make significant changes that will slow climate change, or humanity is doomed forever. At least that’s how media sensationalists frame it. Maybe you’ve resolved to recycle more, ride your bicycle to work, buy a reusable water bottle or flip the light switch off when you’re not in the room. These are all fantastic habits to keep, and it’s never too late to practice becoming a mindful consumer. However, it’s time we realize that no matter how many community cleanups we volunteer for, it will never be enough to keep up with the environmental crimes that large

industry commits every day. The Carbon Majors Report, released in 2017, states that 70 percent of the world’s carbon emissions come from just 100 companies with the highest emitters being oil companies. Personally, it makes me a little upset that companies love to point the finger at everyday citizens and blame us for not doing our part to save the environment while they continue to pollute the air and water on a massive scale. It’s victim blaming 101. Yes, many large companies develop and advertise green initiatives. For example, Coca Cola’s Give It Back initiative encourages retailers to return their POP cardboard displays to the factory for recycling in the hopes that it will paint corrugated cardboard in a more positive light. But what about the acts committed behind closed doors? Coca Cola is not going to publicize the amount of waste they

produce per year or the number of waterways they contaminate. The companies want us to believe they are the good guys and that it’s completely up to us to come up with the solutions. The best thing that we can do is elect officials that care about the environment into office. They hold more power than individuals to cause change that will hold these large companies accountable for the damage they do. The ultimate goal is to limit global temperatures from rising 1.5° C above pre-industrial levels. The IPCC report – appropriately titled “Global Warming of 1.5°C” – reassures us that this is attainable, but only if our leaders make major changes in the very near future. It’s a perfect time to investigate the politicians that are competing in the upcoming general election and decide who has the environment’s best interest at heart.

We won’t be erased SAMUEL SMITH Columnist

President Donald Trump’s administration began to consider making the definition of gender “a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth,” according to The New York Times on Oct. 21. As a transgender man, this is terrifying. Gender is so much more than what the doctor sees at birth. For me, I was assigned female, but I’ve known for a long time that I’m a guy. It’s dangerous for me, a man, to have an F on my birth certificate, social security card and driver’s license. This little F has caused discrepancies in my healthcare. It has caused pharmacists to give me side eyes when I go to pick up my testosterone. And it’s just plain wrong. I’m not female, I’m male, in spirit and in body. Transgender people have always existed. We’ve existed across cultures, with various ways of identi-

fying ourselves. Discrimination has not stopped us before, and it will not stop us now. We exist. We’re here. We’re not going away. Let me be clear: it’s already difficult to be trans. We’re discriminated against. We’re bullied. We’re harassed. Society has already made it clear that trans folks are “other.” By legally denying our existence, it makes it more difficult for transgender people to simply exist. Legal protections give us the grounds for easier action when we are harassed, discriminated against and even when violence is directed toward us. So what do we do? That’s a question I’ve been turning in my head for awhile now. Sometimes I just want to ignore the fact the world is falling apart around me. I want to pretend everything is a-okay and sit on the couch catching up on Netflix. But we can’t do that. Legal action can begin to be taken against us, and it’s time to stand up. - To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

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Opinion

October 30, 2018

Gender gap to galvanize outcomes

As midterm elections approach, gender gap widens CONNOR McNAIRN Columnist

With the midterm elections approaching Nov. 6, pundits are hard at work analyzing polling results and predicting potential outcomes in what might be the most important election for this generation. If the 2016 elections taught the nation’s foremost political authorities anything at all, it was likely that polling data (which gave Secretary Hillary Clinton major statistical advantages) are not necessarily rooted in certainty. Trends in polling, however, help voters, donors, major political operatives and candidates deduce broader realities and motivations that exist among the American populous. One such trend that is sure to galvanize election outcomes revolves around a growing gender gap and the prevalence of female candidates in 2018. In May, I authored a column that focused on the record-setting number of women candidates in 2018 and how they compared to candidates in 1992, or the “Year of the Woman.” Now that the midterm elections are just a little under two weeks away and early voting has started in a number of states,

it is necessary to not only reiterate the number of women candidates who are seeking office, but also to analyze how an increasing gender gap might inform voters’ decisions. The growing divide between men and women’s voting preferences has increased on all fronts since Donald Trump was elected president. In 2016, voters went to the polls amidst a series of sexual assault allegations levied against Donald Trump. Following his election and the historic Women’s March that took place just one day after Trump’s inauguration, the number of voters who were originally motivated by “#MeToo” sentiments have grown substantially. In fact, according to a Reuters/ Ipsos poll, women, specifically college-educated women, are far more enthusiastic about voting in the 2018 midterm elections than they were in 2014. What’s more, they are also far more motivated than men. But #MeToo’s increasing publicity and legitimacy is not the only variable pushing political action among women in 2018. Trump and congressional Republicans have pontificated about recent low unemployment rates, revised tax law and overall economic prosperity. But according

to a recent New York Times survey, men – perhaps unsurprisingly – are feeling far more confident about financial health than women; in fact, 47 percent of men reported financial improvement for their families within the past year, while only 30 percent of women agreed. Statistically, women have voted at far higher rates than men for decades. And, as they grow increasingly disenfranchised by the political status quo in realms both social and economic, the ramifications for Republican officeholders appear far more dire than those for Democrats. Increased activism among women in politics trends favorably for Democrats, both in terms of voting and running for office. That said, these trends do not historically serve as the rule, as similar upticks in light of the Anita Hill grilling in 1991 and the Year of the Woman in 1992 proved short-lived. Nonetheless, as the midterms draw closer and a record-breaking number of women candidates fill the ballots, the course of this country’s politics will be significantly altered. Moreover, such alterations will spell greater gains for Democratic candidates, as the Republican Party has been historically incapable of courting the female vote.

What’s the deal with early voting? Is it too late to early vote? No, it’s not too late! Early voting polls are open every day unitl Nov. 1. Can I register to vote at early voting sites? Yes, anyone who is not registered to vote can register at the site and vote that same day.

Am I allowed to vote early? Everyone is allowed to vote early, unless an abstentee ballot has already been cast.

Winter SESSION 2019 Hey Tigers!

Did you know you need to average 30 credits a year to graduate in 4 years? If you’re heading home for winter break, UMBC Winter Session 2019 is a great way to stay on track to graduate on time. • Take up to 4.5 credits • Choose from over 100 courses • Online, hybrid, and in-person classes are available

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JANUARY

2 – 25

When are early voting polls open? Early voting polls are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. - Compiled by Bailey Hendricks

CLAIM YOUR FUTURE

News

October 30, 2018

TU student wins HackUMBC

Creates “Seizure Helper” app as epilepsy aid KERI LUISE Staff Writer @keri_luise

Seizures were a constant risk in the life of Towson sophomore computer science major Santhosh Ramachandran between the ages of 10 and 17 as he struggled with epilepsy. Every place he went, school, home, and other public places, were the environments in which he would be scared he couldn’t get the help he needed when a seizure hit. But he had an instinct that the seizures were coming a few seconds before they happened, so Ramachandran worked with this instinct and his skills in software to make sure people with epilepsy got the immediate help they needed. “I wanted to do something that would let people know that I’m going to have a seizure so that they can help by calling 911 or coming to the location,” Ramachandran said. “So, what I made was an Android app called Seizure Helper.” Ramachandran’s app uses an armband that senses the motion of your hand before having a seizure. The armband recognizes the gesture and alerts the app that a seizure is about to occur. The app then sends a message to someone of your preference, either an emergency contact or 911 to make sure help is on the way for emergencies Ramachandran won first place at HackUMBC for developing this Android app with Jaganathan Velraj, a freshman computer engineer-

ing major at UMBC. “Santhosh is an idea guy,” said Towson Software Engineering Club President Mazlow Cohen. “He has ideas and sees them through. I am not surprised he won the UMBC Hackathon.” The top computer science students who are accepted into these hackathon competitions travel from all over the country to compete in 24-hour tech innovation marathons and collaborate on new ideas to build mobile, web, and hardware projects. Facebook, T. Rowe Price, JP Morgan, GitHub, the NSA and others sponsor the event. “Hackathons are a platform where we can learn and execute new skills,” Velraj said. “As computer science and engineering students, we need to be updated with technology and software in order to succeed in this field, and this is one of the platforms where students can get interest to update themselves with new technology from their peers and or other teams.” When Ramachandran first started at hackathons, he didn’t know much of anything about mobile development. He wanted to create something to help people with epilepsy but had to gain more experience first. “Learning something in class never helps rather than doing a real project,” he said. But he learned so much more and gained the experience he needed to make his mobile app after participating in a few hackathons. “I’m most proud of that fact that I

solved a real problem, because at most hackathons people just do something that they think is cool, but I was proud that I made something that really people will use it in the future if I make it perfect,” Ramachandran said. Ramachandran had some challenges along the way, and still is encouraged to develop the app to make it the best it can be. “The most challenging part was connecting the armband hardware to the app because I never used hardware, I’ve only used software,” Ramachandran said. He hopes to develop an armband that will be more accurate with the motion senses. “The armband that we used did not sense motion like 100% accurately, it was just like 80%,” he said. “So, if we get a better thing that would work perfectly, it would really be a huge solution for a lot of people with epilepsy.” After winning first place at HackUMBC, Velraj is excited to “gain more experience in turning concepts into actions and build our network through teammates.” “We will get external recognition, and this will increase our employability,” Velraj said. Ramachandran grew up around coding and has come to love working with it. His dream is to work with Google one day, but for now he is just looking into internships and finding any ways he can keep himself involved. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Keri Luise/ The Towerlight Student Santhosh Ramachandran took first place at HackUMBC with his Android app “Seizure Helper,” which uses an armband to track hand motions before a seizure, and alert someone of the users choice.

Black Girls Vote comes to Towson

Courtesey of Black Girls Vote

Black Girls Vote, a nonpartisan campaign, aims to inspire Black women to vote, and represents their concerns and interests. ALBERT IVORY Staff Writer @Intellectu_Al

Nykidra Robinson, founder and CEO of Black Girls Vote, spoke about “The Power of One Vote” in West Village Ballrooms Wednesday in order to encourage Black women to vote. Black Girls Vote is a nonpartisan organization designed to represent the concerns and interests of Black women. The objective of the organization is to encourage and inspire Black women to utilize their voting power to address concerns that affect women of color and improve the quality of life for their families and the collective community. It’s also invested in advancing education, economic development, quality health care and improve outcomes. The organization will be hosting their second annual Black Girls Vote Ball in Baltimore on Nov. 16 and will include special guests, such as California Congresswoman Barbara Lee, NAACP National Youth Director Tiffany Loftin, Former Illinois Senator Carol Moseley Braun, and a special message from California Senator Kamala Harris. The event started off with Anee Korme, Associate Director for Student Diversity and Development, introducing Robinson. “She [Robinson] has helped serve positions in local and state governments including neighborhood liaison, mayor’s office, Maryland Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce,” Korme said. When Robinson was on her way to the stage, she energized the audience

with some call-and-responses, including “when I say ‘Black girls,’ you say ‘Vote,’” “when I say ‘she will,’ you say ‘Vote,’” and “when I say he will, you say vote.” Then she asked the audience some rhetorical questions, including “spell backwards, forwards” and “draw five circles that have one common interlocking part.” These questions were on the 1964 poll test to determine who could vote during the Louisiana election. “If you couldn’t prove that you had taken at least a fifth grade education, you had to pass a 30-question test with only one wrong answer,” Robinson stated. She noted how the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ended these discriminatory practices. Robinson started Black Girls Vote three years ago and recognized that the decision to start the organization changed her life. “Women had voted heavily in elections across the country and our votes are having a profound impact for the outcome of elections, especially Black women.” Studies have shown that there are more women than men in the United States. However when the 19th Amendment was passed, which granted women the right to vote, there was a consistent pattern in men outnumbering women in voting. In the election between former President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, it was the first time that women outnumbered men in voting. Women have been outnumbering men in elections since then. “She who can produce the highest number of votes, controls the agenda,” Robinson said. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

News

October 30, 2018

Brochin talks Trump

Eco-forum teaches Senator discusses potential re-election green techniques MARY-ELLEN DAVIS News Editor @Mel_Davis_1998

Maryland Senator Jim Brochin came to Towson last Thursday afternoon as a guest lecturer for Richard Vatz’s persuasion class in Van Bokkelen Hall to discuss with students an issue that had been weighing heavily on his mind over the last few weeks. “I want to talk about Donald Trump today,” Brochin started. “I have this thing in my mind that he has a very good chance of being reelected and I want to give you some facts and opinions and see where you guys come across that.” When President Donald Trump was first elected into office, Brochin went into shock and could not believe what had happened. He doesn’t think Trump believed it either. “I watched mistake after mistake and misogynist comments against women and all the horrible things he said,” Brochin said. “And the horrific way he acts and the thing that’s coming forward, that almost despite himself, he is at the right place at the right time.” Vatz, who was Brochin’s professor when he attended Towson University, said that Brochin has has been a guest lecturer for him twice a year for over a decade. “He has always struck me as a politician with high integrity who has been punished for that quality by

his own democratic colleagues,” Vatz said. “Including false political claims about him by his own Democratic opponent, Vicki Almond.” When it came to his subject matter, Vatz did not know Brochin would be speaking about Trump until minutes before class began. “I never have guest speakers clear topics with me, unless there is an unavoidably salient topic of the day,” Vatz said. Though the senator does not like or support Trump, Brochin believes that there are policies Trump is putting into place that suit some issues the United States is currently facing, including the caravan of immigrants coming up through Central America. The caravan, which left San Pedro Sula, Honduras on Oct. 12, is estimated to have as many as 7,000 participants. The caravan started with a grassroots social media campaign that criticized the Honduran president and is comprised of people looking to gain asylum in Mexico and the United States. Trump plans to send active duty military troops to the border to provide logistical and technical support to Customs and Border Patrol in halting the progression of the caravan. Brochin said that Trump’s actions to stop the caravan are good because, if let into the country, that number of people would harm jobs and minimum wage. “The issue is that there are other reasons that people want to come in other than asylum,” Brochin said. “But the problem is this...if you open the border

and let people in for for whatever reason other than life or death reasons...if you let everyone in for economic reasons, then you might as well kiss jobs and minimum wage goodbye.” Brochin then added that Trump has dropped the unemployment rate to 3.7 percent and cut corporate taxes from 35 percent to 21 percent. The tax cut, the senator said, will go to encourage a higher minimum wage as companies are now able to pay more. “By doing this, he got companies to take their capital, reinvest it, and you know, Walt Disney, Disney World, took every one of their hundred thousand employees and now you get a free college education if you work for Disney,” Brochin said. According to Brochin, Trump has done this by shrinking the job market through immigration policy. Then when the market shrinks, wages increase. “So they haven’t gone up yet, we’re working on it,” Brochin said. “But don’t count this president out about trying to fulfill a promise that he made on the campaign trail that I remember. And you probably remember also, that would make his reelection effort even more realistic.” Brochin was also amazed by Trump’s ability to negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada, and the development of the relationship between the president and Kim Jong Un, the leader of North Korea. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Mary-Ellen Davis/ The Towerlight Maryland State Senator Jim Brochin came to Towson as a guest lecturer to speak with students about his thoughts on President Donald Trump. He said that he believes Trump has a chance at re-election.

Anthony Petro/ The Towerlight

TU’s Eco-Reps hosted the Climate Action Plan Forum last week, and discussed TU’s steps to a greener campus with students. ANTHONY PETRO Staff Writer @1Tonythe_Tiger

Towson students had the opportunity to learn what the university is doing to make campus more environmentally friendly last Wednesday at the Climate Action Plan Forum. As a part of Sustainability Month, Eco-Reps from Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility and The Office of Sustainability held the Forum in Freedom Square, where they manned a table. At their table, students could get food, check out books from the library promoting sustainability and learn about the ways Towson is attempting to be “greener.” In front of the table, there was a board with 17 pieces of paper attached to it. On each of these papers, were Towson’s 17 goals to promote a more eco-friendly and healthy planet, including goals like affordable and clean energy and clean water and sanitation. The idea for the forum was to allow students to learn more about Towson’s green initiatives, and place a pin on the goal they believed was the most important. “We wanted to start a discussion and get students to see Towson is working for a better planet,” said Angela Ober, the environmental planner for the Office of Sustainability. “Most students don’t know about all the initiatives Towson has in place, and this forum hopefully sheds some light.” Ober said Towson has “Green Roofs” around campus to promote

cleaner water drainage and get rid of pollutants. Towson is also home to nine buildings that have been deemed gold or silver certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Five of those buildings are equipped with solar panels and many more have space available to add them when ready, Ober said. “The Office of Sustainability is trying to start a green map to show students the initiatives in place,” Ober said. “Right now, around campus, students can actually find ecoscreens that show the energy consumption of each building.” Emily Sexton, a graduate student pursuing her master’s in environmental science, helped the Office of Sustainability by persuading students passing by to put a pin in the board. “I just want to educate people,” Sexton said. “I’m concerned for our planet and we need to focus on sustainable development to provide a better future.” Yakob Tirfe, a senior mass communications Public Relations major put a pin in the board. “I wanted to see all the different things Towson is doing, and it all looks really cool,” Tirfe said. Another student, James Tamayo, expressed a lot of interest after being persuaded to participate. “I’m interested in a lot of things they do,” the senior information technology major said. “I work over at the Launch Pad, and I’m just really interested in what Towson is doing to make this a greener place.”

10 October 30, 2018

Arts & Life

Homecoming Week Fall 2018 Time for TU to get its head in the game MEGHAN HUDSON Staff Writer

Homecoming week kicked off Oct. 28, with the 2018 homecoming court bonding over busy schedules, cheesy pizza, and anticipation for the week ahead. The homecoming “royals” expressed the trend of newness they wanted to bring to the table; their label as “royals” reflected this idea. Homecoming Royal is a new terminology brought oan board this year to offer a more inclusive title for students who do not identify with the cisgender titles of King or Queen. The group immediately clicked with one another, laughing and huddling close to one another in the cold weather. “We met this morning and we realized that really none of us had any idea what to expect,” said homecoming nominee Jason Scoville. “But being stuck together in a ballroom for two hours really forced us to get to know one another. I think what we realized was that we’re all actually really cool.” Scoville served as former president of the Independent Greek Council, and is currently a member of the pep band. Homecoming nominee Brigid McCarthy agreed that the court’s time together in the ballroom earlier that morning was a major icebreaker. “It takes a while for me to get comfortable with people,” McCarthy said. “So I was very apprehensive about how today was going to go, but like everyone says, we were quickly laughing with one another and just hanging out.” Nominee Jessica Rowe, who also serves as president of Tri-Delta soror-

ity and a member of multiple honors societies, spoke about how the court easily meshed, despite being so diverse. “I feel like we're all involved in so much that we all have common ground but, we also have our differences,” Rowe said. “Four or five of us are in Greek life but, we're on different chapters, so we were already today talking about similarities and differences between them.” Overall, the court seemed to be most excited about just being a part of the homecoming festivities, and focusing on celebrating both the students and the school throughout this next week. Homecoming nominee TJ Haselhoff, member of the marching band and URG, shared his excitement for the week. “I just think it’d be really hype, really cool,” Islehoff said. “Just seeing myself on the field with the crown on in my band uniform. [That] would just be so cool.” Nominee Anelle Tarke spoke on how she’s had to get past her worries of standing out and embrace who she is. Tarke believes this will help her in this week’s festivities. “I know for me, doing the pageant last year was a fear overcome, because I just didn't think I could ever do a pageant,” Tarke said. “This year I think it's really good for my personal growth, and so I'm excited to see how I grow as an individual. What makes me stand out is that I’m me and nobody else can be me, and that's what makes all of us stick out.” Tarke currently serves as president of Grace Life Allegiant, SAGE mentor, dance major liaison, and student member of the diversity and inclusion committee for COFAC. La-Chelle Dickenson, nominee, and member of Tiger Tones and TUPRSSA, shared that she too appreciates the

diversity of the court. “[We are] all unique,” Dickenson said. “I think we all have differences which are a part of Towson, and we bring a sense of togetherness to Towson because I feel like all of us represent different parts of Towson.” Andre Williams, nominees, SGA member and brother within Alpha Kappa Xi, says he is excited to be able to give back to Towson. “Towson has given so much to me and I’ve been able to do a lot with it so if I were to win the crown and become king it’s just like all that hard work kinda pays off,” Williams said. The court is also excited to have the opportunity to discuss their ideas with this new platform. “I that I think it's important like once you have a platform that you’re using your platform for good things,” shared nominee Paige Mathel. “So I’m really excited to see what I can do. Just being on homecoming Court, just ideas that I have as far as diversity and being more inclusive of people who have physical and mental exceptionalities and things like that.” This week’s festivities include some of Towson’s classic homecoming events, such as the Towson Talent Show, Petting Zoo, Homecoming Court Pageant, and Block Party. Each event will be brought back with a twist to tie in nicely with the year’s theme. Additionally, many new events will take place throughout this next week. On Tuesday Oct. 30, Towson will hold an all new game titled, “Survey Says: Live Game Show,” its very own rendition of the popular game show, Family Feud. The game takes place in the West Village Commons Ballrooms from 5 to 7 p.m. - To read the rest of this article online, visit thetowerlight.com.

Adeoye Olabisi/ The Towerlight

2018’s Homecoming royals stand tall as they look forward to this week’s game-themed events.

Record store opens

Courtesy of Baltimore Magazine

Matt and Kat Peach celebrated the grand opening of their record store in Baltimore’s Fells Point area Saturday, Oct. 27. CHRISTIAN BENFORD Contributing Writer

Hare’s Breath Records is the coolest and most relaxing place to get records in Baltimore. Hare’s Breath Records opened its doors earlier this month in downtown Baltimore. The store, owned by Kat and Matt Peach, holds a variety of records and tapes, from rock to rap, and everything in between. The Peach’s are musicians and music lovers alike. The store owners met online and formed a collaborated project, focusing on music with a folklore mythology theme. Besides that, the couple also represents their own record label and band. According to Kat, they acquire their records from customers, festivals and basements, where they usually buy hundreds each week. Kat, a writer, editor and co-owner of the store, detailed why the duo had opened the store in the first place. “It’s something we both talked about doing for a while,” Kat said. “We’re both long-time...record collectors and we’ve been setting up and selling at record festivals and fairs and things, and decided it was time to do the ‘brick and mortar’ store thing.” Hare’s Breath comes from the idiom “within a hair’s breadth.” Kat had been editing a piece and found a typo where someone spelled it “hare’s breath,” which she found amusing and has stuck with it ever since. Matt explained that their store’s exclusivity and the music found within their store makes Hare’s Breath different from the other records store nearby. “We tend to have one copy of every-

thing that we can...” Matt said. “We also have some odd things that you don’t tend to find, that some people probably wouldn’t sell, like that stuff up there,” Matt continued, referring to a box of vinyls that included a hippie brainwashing record, a funeral mix record, and a record of what to do during a nuclear fallout. The two described themselves as not being format snobs. They are open to being more inclusive of other medias and different formats. Matt pulled out a USB that was reminiscent of futuristic/alien technology. It was from someone who he said went by “Silicon Psychosis,” whose idea is that their music is given by aliens. Despite the small size of the shop, the store is laid out to make searching through the music easier for customers. This includes a funk/R&B section, rock section, rap section and many more genres. Bins of records line the walls, with posters of musicians decorating each surface. Ryan Garner, a marketing major at TU, shared his enjoyment of his visit in the store. “My overall experience there was quite positive,” Garner said. “There was a nice atmosphere in the store; it was chill. They also had a huge selection of records spanning across any genre you could think about. The prices were really reasonable and the store owners were really hospitable.” Hare’s Breath is currently in the process of starting a VHS rental service. The store, located in Fells Point, is now open for business, with its owners ready to sell music brought by aliens and other odd sources to anyone willing to listen to it.

Arts & Life

October 30, 2018

Beauty to get you in the spirit Halloween playlist KERRY INGRAM Arts & Life Editor @Glaminista08

This week marks the official end of #SpookySeason (insert crying emoji here), but that doesn’t mean we can’t still celebrate further in subtler ways. This year, makeup brands decided to join in on the thematic fun - from bright orange lipsticks to creepy names and packaging, the beauty business wanted to make sure that your face was covered in time for Halloween. As someone who never knows what she wants to be for Halloween until the VERY last minute, the abundance of makeup options for this season excited me for two reasons. For one, because Halloween face makeup is the easiest way to look like you put in a lot of thought and effort into your costume without having to even buy new clothes. More importantly, however, is the fact that cosmetic brands released spooky finds that would not only look cute for Halloween, but after Halloween too. Here’s a list of the last-minute makeup items you can get to celebrate Halloween tomorrow, while still being able to use them on the daily once the season passes. KYLIE COSMETICS HALLOWEEN 2018 COLLECTION - When this collection was first teased on Kylie Jenner’s Instagram and Snapchat stories, viewers were shooketh everywhere (myself included). The nine-

piece collection has everything your haunted heart could ever desire, from an exclusive “kyshadow” palette with a mixture of glitter, matter and metallic shadows, to two new liquid glitter eyeshadows in festive colors. The collection also includes four different lipsticks, one matte lip kit in the perfect blood red shade, and a golden glitter gloss Jenner appropriately named “Handsome Devil.” The lip products in the collection are on the more affordable end of the spectrum, ranging from $17 to $30, with the eye products being a bit more expensive. The makeup mogul also released a crystal white highlighter, named “Go Ghost,” to finish off the Halloween beat. The collection is available as individual pieces, as well as in bundles (the complete Halloween Collection Bundle is on sale for $195, which may seem steep, but in terms of higher-end makeup, is a steal) and I have a strong feeling Jenner will be holding a mega sale once Halloween passes. I suggest definitely keeping up with Jenner to avoid missing the deal if it does drop. WET N WILD FANTASY MAKERS PRODUCTS - Wet N Wild deserves a medal for releasing the ultimate Halloween makeup products every year. The drugstore brand is known for its “Fantasy Makers” collection it updates every year, and this year the brand went big instead of going home. Wet N Wild created bundles for different costume themes, from an Intergalactic Unicorn Bundle to a Zombie Bride Bundle. Individual pieces in the Fantasy Makers collec-

tion include cream paint pots, face and body stencils, and decorative body gems. With each product being no more than $7, this collection is definitely a go-to for college budgets. LUSHHALLOWEEN COLLECTION - Anyone who knows me knows my obsession with Lush products. The bath-and-body retailer comes out with the best seasonal products for the holiday season and this year was no exception. With a Halloween-themed bath bomb called “Monster’s Ball” that looks like a purple cyclops, to their “Bewitched” bubble bar in the shape of a black cat, their spooky products are guaranteed to get you in the perfect fall mood. The best thing about Lush’s Halloween products? They can most definitely be used past the holiday since any day is a great day to treat yourself to luxury bath products. MAKE UP REVOLUTION SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN MAKEUP - Make Up Revolution outdid themselves this year for Halloween. The drugstore brand released not only festive makeup palettes that could be worn regularly, like their “Paranormal” liquid highlighter that comes in a glass skull casing, but also a small line of beginner-friendly SFX makeup. I was most excited to see their $10 paint palette, which mimics that of professional kits of Halloween’s past, like the Flash Palette Make Up For Ever once released. If you’re looking to scare people this year, this brand is the one to shop.

Guess the Halloween movie! Are you a Halloween movie pro? Use the quotes listed below to guess each scary movie and tally what you get right. Bonus points for anyone who can guess all 15!

1. Here’s Johnny! 2. What a witch’s life it is! 3. We all go a little mad sometimes. 4. Nine, Ten, never sleep again… 5. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti. Fpfpfpfpf. 6. I am the clown with the tear-away face, here in a flash and gone without a trace! 7. On All Hallow’s Eve, when the moon is round, a virgin will summon us from under the ground. 8. I never drink…wine. 9. It’s alive! 10. Troll in the dungeon! Though you ought to know. 11. It’s Halloween; everyone’s entitled to one good scare. 12. Do you want to play a game? 13. I got a rock. 14. I see dead people. 15. They’re heeerree.

-Compiled by Matthew McDonald

TIMOTHY COFFMAN Columnist

As October is wrapping up, we are slowly moving closer to the darkest and most twisted day of the year. Since All Hallows Eve is almost upon us, many people will be blasting music to get into the spooky mood. Here are a few examples of some of the most chilling, spine-tingling albums that are perfect for your Halloween night. Michael Jackson “Scream”- Nope, it’s not “Thriller.” This compilation from last year takes all the King of Pop’s spookiest hits and packs them into one record. The track listing spans Jackson’s career from his work with his brothers to his glory years with songs like “Thriller,” “Dirty Diana” and “Dangerous.” This album is truly one of the best Halloween playlists in pop history. “Nightmare Revisited”- This album takes the “Nightmare Before Christmas” soundtrack and flips it on its head by bringing rock band instrumentation into the mix. While

Danny Elfman’s classic theme is still a highlight, new rock versions of songs like “What’s This” by Flyleaf and “Jack’s Lament” by the AllAmerican Rejects give the listener a welcome change of pace. This album may be a hit-and-miss for some who prefer the original soundtrack, but it is certainly something to shake up your traditional Halloween playlist. Alice Cooper “Welcome to My Nightmare”-This is the original shock rocker and probably his finest album. This record is the epitome of overthe-top horror rock and is orchestrated perfectly by Bob Ezrin. This album even has a cameo from horror extraordinaire Vincent Price, helping it serve as a classic album that helped bring horror and macabre into stadiums around the world. Black Sabbath “Black Sabbath”Since it is Halloween, it is only fair to throw some metal into the mix. Black Sabbath’s debut takes all the twisted vibes from 1960s horror movies and made a demented record as a result. I challenge anyone to listen to the title track and not get a chill. - To read the rest of this column online, visit thetowerlight.com.

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1. The Shining 2. Halloweentown 3. Psycho 4. The Nightmare on Elm Street 5. The Silence of the Lambs 6. The Nightmare Before Christmas 7. Hocus Pocus 8. Dracula (1931) 9. Frankenstein 10. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone 11. Halloween 12. Saw 13. It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 14. The Sixth Sense 15. Poltergeist

12 October 30, 2018

Sports

2018 Winter Sports Preview Courtesy of Rob Knox

From left to right, redshirt junior Dennis Tunstall, senior forward Alex Thomas and redshirt senior guard Jordan McNeil strike a pose with Head Coach Pat Skerry in front. Compiled by Muhammad Waheed, Aaron Thomas, Cyan Thomas and John Hack

skerry seeks success with youth TU returns just four players from 2017, the team looks to develop a young core The Tigers finished the 2017 season with a loss to William & Mary in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) quarterfinals. The team went out on a bad note losing their final four games and finishing the season with a 18-14 record. However, the team has put last season behind them and is ready for a solid 2018-19 season. Towson has many new faces on their roster. Due to the unfamiliarity of these new players, Towson was ranked last in the polls due to the team returning only four players from last year’s team. Head Coach Pat Skerry is embracing a new culture for this team.

“The team has good chemistry from working hard and being together since the summer,” said Skerry. “The returners have done a good job getting nine new players comfortable in the system and making sure they stay focused.” Pre-season rankings don’t mean a thing when the ball is tossed up in the air, but the Tigers have a very tough challenge against No. 5 nationally ranked Virginia to begin the season. Virginia is always in the conversation as one of the best teams in college basketball. The Cavaliers earned the number one overall seed in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament before falling

“

to No. 16 seed University of Maryland out-of-conference schedule harder, so Baltimore County we will be used to (UMBC) in the first playing tougher comround. UMBC was The team has good petition. able to pull off arguSkerry emphachemistry from work- sized hard work and ably the best upset in college basketball hising hard and being camaraderie within tory to end Virginia’s team in order to together since the his season last year. build good chemistry summer. Towson is looking that will translate as forward to making PAT SKERRY teammates on the Head Coach court and as family history by becoming the next team from off the court. Baltimore to upset the Cavaliers. The team will have plenty of time to “Playing UVA will be a great chalbond during their trip to the Bahamas. lenge that will help prepare for the Towson will participate in the regular season and conference play,” Islands of the Bahamas Showcase in a Skerry said. “I tend to make our three-day tournament beginning with

the first game against Pepperdine on Friday, Nov. 16.

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14 October 30, 2018

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Puzzles on page 13

File photo by Mark Dragon/ The Towerlight

The Tigers huddle in a home contest in 2017. In Head Coach Diane Richardson’s first season at the helm, Towson compiled a 9-21 overall record and a 4-14 record in Colonial Athletic Associaion play.

Towson ended its season with an opening round loss in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament against UNC Wilmington. The Tigers look to improve on their 9-21 record from last season as they lost their final seven games to finish the season. This year’s team aims to flip the program around despite underclassmen making up a majority of the roster. Though the team is ranked eight out of 10 in the CAA conference preseason poll, Head Coach Diane Richardson is confident in her second season at the helm. “I am really excited about this upcoming season,” Richardson said. “I have been impressed with the way

“

our returners have provided leadership to our eight new players. I like how our freshmen and transfers have remained poised and stepped up their game.” Junior Nukiya Mayo was selected to the CAA Preseason All-Conference Second Team. She earned Third Team All-Conference honors after averaging 12.6 points per game in 2017. Senior shooting guard Danielle Durjan is also primed for a good season. Last season, she started 29 games out of 30 while averaging 8.6 points per game. “I definitely believe that this season we have a lot of potential to do a lot of great things,” said Durjan. “We have all the assets and we work hard together while building good

team chemistry on and off the court that will help us grow throughout the season.” Towson faces stiff out-of-conference competition this upcoming season. The team will be on the road for eight out of their first 11 contests, including a tough matchup against West Virginia University in mid-December. The Mountaineers are nationally ranked No. 13 in the Women’s Preseason AP Poll. This game will be a challenge for the Tigers that will help prepare the team for conference and postseason play. The Tigers open the season Tuesday, Nov. 6 on the road against Wake Forest in Winston Salem, North Carolina. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

I have been impressed with the way our returners have provided leadership to our eight new players. I like how our freshmen and transfers have remained poised and stepped up their game.

”

DIANE RICHARDSON

Head Coach

Sports

October 30, 2018

aiming to make waves

USTORE

Towson has its eyes set on a conference championship

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Olivia Janke Cross Country

Freshman Olivia Janke was the first Towson runner to cross the finish line as her team placed sixth out of ninth at the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Cross Country Championship Friday morning in Farmingdale, New York. File photo by Nikki Hewins/ The Towerlight

A Towson swimmer gets set for competition in a meet earlier this season. Under the helm of Head Coach Jake Shrum, the Tigers aim for a first place finish in the Colonial Athletic Association Championships.

Towson has already jumped into their 2018-19 season, and with Head Coach Jake Shrum at the helm, the team looks to put together a monumental year. Senior Jack Saunderson, who was recently chosen to represent the United States at the 2019 World University Games, has broken both Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and Towson University records as he continues to put up impressive numbers. First year Assistant Coach Carrie Dukes is meshing well with the team and bringing new energy to the players. “She brings a great sense of enthusiasm to our morning practices and has clicked really well with our coaching staff and team members,” Shrum said. For the past three years, the Tigers have ended their season with third-place finishes at the CAA Championships. On the men’s side, team captain senior Evan Brophy, a former CAA Conference Swimmer of the Week has been displaying consistently

remarkable performances. On the women’s side, Junior Meghan Jones, who had two firstplace finishes at the 2018 CAA Championships, is alongside Mangum in leading the women’s team to a successful winter season. The team has welcomed several promising freshmen, such as Ryan Baldino, Cody Stewart and Suzannah Mills. They have cemented their position on the team already with solid performances. “Ryan Baldino has done an awesome job for us in the sprint Freestyles.”, stated Coach Shrum. “Evan Lynch and Cody Stewart have also both provided a really high level of depth in their best events as well. On the girls side, Suzy Mills has the second fastest time in the conference in the 500 freestyle and has had other significant swims, and Sarah DiGaetano has done an awesome job in her diving events.” The Tigers will finish off the fall season with a spot in the Bucknell Invitational in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. “Our midseason invitation-

al meet at Bucknell University is always a great chance for us to see how we’ve progressed this Fall,” Shrum said. “By all accounts we’ve had a great first two months of our season so we are all excited for that opportunity to race in a prelims/ finals meet.” After winter break, the team will have a few more meets until the March 2019 CAA Championships in Austin, Texas.

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16 October 30, 2018

Sports

tigers determined to earn ncaa bid Head Coach Mike Jackson wants his team to “destroy and conquer,” their opponents this year Cross country season is nearing a close and that means that the indoor track and field season is set to begin in early December. There is a lot of excitement heading into the season. “I cannot be excited enough,” Head Coach Mike Jackson said. “There’s just so much talent on our overall team, so much ability and so I think it’s great for us to all come together. So with cross country just depends on the training and the plan, but for indoor track December first will be a first meet for many of our student athletes and then we’ll carry onto January.” Jackson emphasized that the Tigers are more determined than ever to have a strong season. “Destroy and conquer, leave a mark, really come together, cohesion, get to know one another,’

Jackson said. “We have a lot of you people and mature every single day and every single week as a program and just know how good we are and so really just destroy and conquer, leave our mark and give everything that we have and give our best performances every single day.” Some of the excitement for indoor track and field comes from the potential of younger members of the team. “I expect them to show us what they’re made of now,” Jackson said. “Obviously, we want to be as patient as possible, but sometimes we’re too patient. They chose Towson. We chose them so it’s time to perform.” With young talent abundant on the team, Jackson looks for success in multiple areas of competition. “It’s really everything, “Jackson said. “I mean we have outstanding

throwers. Pole vault is going to be great. Our sprints and hurdles will be outstanding. Jumps, distance, I mean we have something in every single area so I’m excited overall and there’s so many people I could speak of that I think will make an impact.” The team is looking to make big improvements from last season. “We would like to have a chance to get to indoor NCAA championships,” Jackson said. “It’s going to be difficult. It’s time to move into the upper echelon and win. Lets win ECACs and then we’re just going to some new track and field meets and some more high caliber meets so we want to make sure that we leave our mark there.” Towson opens the season in the Navy Lid Lifter on Saturday, Dec. 1. Competition is set to begin at 10 a.m.

Courtesy of TU Athletics

Senior Lauren Coleman celebrates a performance in a 2017 contest.

tu looks to set a high bar in 2018 Towson aims to improve its record for the second consecutive year, going 15-19 in 2017 Last season, the Towson women’s gymnastics team ended their season with a combined 15-19 record against opponents that spanned across 10 different meets. This was a slight improvement from the year before, when the squad posted a record of 9-12. The 2019 campaign kicks off the program’s 51st season in their gymnastics program’s history. Vicki May returns for her eighth season as head coach. Last year, she became just the second coach in the program’s history to be named the ‘National Association of Collegiate Gymnastic Coaches for Women’ (NACGCW) Southeast Regional Head Coach of the Year. First year assistant coach Mary Fredericks joins the staff for Towson as well. Fredericks was a member of the United States national team for seven years, a seven-time national champion

on the uneven bars and a four-time international champion under the same exercise. This year, the Tigers come into the season with high expectations as seniors Cortni Baker, Mary Elle Arduino and Erin Tucker lead the team. Baker will look to add to her impressive resume coming off a season where she placed in the top ten 21 times, set a season-best on the uneven bars (9.800), and, among other feats, was named to the All-EAGL Scholastic Team. Arduino won the balance beam event on two separate occasions last year and placed in the top five 11 times. She also set career highs on the vault (9.725), uneven bars (9.750) and floor exercise (9.650). Tucker set career highs on the vault (9.850), floor exercise (9.850), balance beam (9.725), won the vault title at 3

different meets and finished in the top ten 22 times last season. The Tigers kick off their 2019 season on Saturday, Jan. 12 at the Little Boston Invitational where they will take on Penn State and Temple. Towson will host their season opener on Friday, Jan. 18 at SECU Arena. They will be competing against North Carolina State, William & Mary and Cornell. This year, the Tigers are returning five seniors from last year, but they also lost five seniors. The team has a unique blend of youth and experience with four freshmen, two sophomores and four juniors listed on the roster. With such a mixed team coming into the new year, the Tigers can look forward to relying on experienced upperclassmen while also giving developing young talent.

Courtesy of TU Athletics

Senior Brittany Ranti performs on the bars in a 2017 competition.