The Towerlight (August 22, 2017)

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

Aug. 22, 2017

Illustration by Jordan Stephenson /The Towerlight

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August 22, 2017

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Welcome to TU

Brought to you by New Student Programs.

Thursday, Aug. 24

11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Library Carnival Albert S. Cook Library New students and their families are invited to stop by Cook Library to test their skills for prizes and refreshments or simply to enjoy the cool air conditioning. In the library, students can pose for carnival themed photos with their new friends. Outside the library, under the “big top,” students can learn about the library through Pokémon themed carnival games.

Librarians will be on hand to answer student and parent questions as well as give library tours as requested.

11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Find the Gnome Across Campus Our friendly gnome has gotten lost on our beautiful campus. Spot the Ward & West gnome, take a snap, and enter to win a basket of prizes!

Noon-5:00 p.m.

Family Send Off Across Campus/Dinning Halls Hey Tiger Families! After you help your student move in, come join us in any of our three dining locations for a farewell meal and special giveaways!

6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Residence Hall Community Meetings Across Campus/Residence Halls With living on campus, comes new policies that all residential students must know and abide by. All students living in residence halls MUST attend their floor’s community meeting. New residential students should check with their Resident Assistant (RA) upon moving in to clarify exact times.

6:30 p.m-8:30 p.m.

Freshman Commuter Welcome University Union, PAWS Pavilion Get to know other freshman off campus students and enjoy a cookout with the office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility!

8:00p.m.-11:00p.m.

Silent Disco

Tiger Plaza Have fun and meet other new students while listening to some great music! Headphones and DJ will be provided!

9:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.

The Deal is Right Stephens Hall Theatre Come on down and play The Deal is Right! Based on the Price is Right, this interactive game show event will be fun for all! Several lucky students will have the chance to play to win some fun prizes!

Friday, Aug. 25 7:30a.m.-9:30a.m .

Breakfast Across Campus/Dining Halls Come enjoy your first college breakfast with your new floormates!

Dining Halls will open for breakfast at 7:30am. All students are encouraged to eat breakfast prior to Convocation. Breakfast must be paid for with a student’s meal plan and/or personal funds.

9:00a.m.-10:00a.m.

Walk to Convocation Across campus to SECU Arena As the lead up event to the New Student Convocation, members of Towson’s community have come together to demonstrate our engaged campus and show off our Tiger pride.

10:00a.m.-11:00a.m.

Convocation SECU Arena New Student Convocation marks the official welcome and beginning to a Student’s academic experience and is a required event for all new students, Including Transfer students and Freshmen Commuter students. New students should wear the Welcome to TU/“#readyturoar” shirt they received during summer orientation.

11:00a.m.-3:00p.m.

Transfer Student Part 2 Rotations As a transferring student, there is certain information that is required for you to know. In this session, transfer students will attend convocation and complete all the mandatory Title IX sessions that are federally required for them. Boxed lunches will be provided.

11:30a.m.-1:00p.m.

TU Photo Johnny Unitas Stadium Field Join the rest of the freshman class for a group photo on the football field!

11:30a.m.-1:00p.m.

Lunch University Union Boxed lunches will be provided for all students. Pick one up in the Chesapeake rooms, Potomac lounge or the 2nd floor lobby of the University Union.

1:00p.m.-4:00p.m.

FYE/FTP Classes (ORIE 305) Academic Buildings Every freshman student is assigned a first-year advisor to help guide them through their academic transition from high school to college.

During this meeting you will meet your first-year advisor, review your first term class schedule, learn about the CORE curriculum and develop a plan for academic and personal success. ORIE 305 locations are listed on your academic schedule.

4:00p.m.-5:00p.m.

Taking Care of Business Across Campus Need to talk with a campus office before classes begin? Here’s your opportunity! New students are encouraged to use this time to visit various offices to make sure their paperwork is turned in and/or to get their questions answered. New students can also use this opportunity to complete their To-Do list if need be.

4:00p.m.-6:00p.m.

Ward & West Mocktail Mixer with Lawn Games Health and Counseling Centers at Ward & West Come meet the staff and students who work at the Health and counseling Centers at Ward & West. Enjoy delicious mocktails, play kickball, corn hole, kan jam, or badminton on our lawn!

6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.

8:00p.m.-9:00p.m.

Roar Rally SECU Arena Join us for the BIGGEST spirit event of Welcome to TU! Introductions from Towson University Athletes and the first debut of the 2017 Football Promotional Video. Root for other students or compete yourself in Tiger Challenges, with prizes for the winners of course. Live DJ and MC who are determined to up your snapchat followers. The Roar Rally promises to be THE hype event to start off Fall 2017.

9:00p.m.-11:00p.m.

TU Takeover

University Union The night is still young, and there is no need for it to end! Join SGA in playing various games, inflatables, and arts and craft activities throughout the Union. Giveaways and food too!

Saturday, Aug. 26 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

Let the Good Times Roll: 90’s Glow Skate Potomac Patio, Presented by the TU Homecoming Committee Join the 2017 Homecoming Committee and Welcome to TU staff as we “Let the Good Times Roll”!

Grab a friend and meet other ne students at our Glow in the Dark Roller Skating Rink! Learn more about being involved with Towson University’s Homecoming committee and glow around campus with our glow in the dark accessories!

9:00p.m.-11:00p.m.

Movie Night- Baywatch!

Speakers Circle

Enjoy a showing of the new movie Baywatch with complimentary popcorn and mocktails under the stars.

Don’t forget to bring a blanket!

Shabbat Dinner

University Union, Patuxent 7:00p.m.-8:00p.m.

First Look Get Involved Fair SECU Arena

New Student Programs is hosting a special involvement fair just for our new students. Come meet some of our 250+ clubs and organizations-there is something for everyone!

9:30p.m.-11:00p.m.

Open Mic and Coffee Night Paws Showcase your hidden talents while meeting other new students with similar interests. All are welcome to come and enjoy some coffee house snacks!

9:00p.m.-11:00p.m.

Late Night Breakfast Glen Dining Hall

Come get a late night snack at the Glen! We’ll have lots of pancakes!

This is an event you DON’T want to miss!

Sunday, Aug. 27

9:00a.m.-10:30a.m.

Baltimore Collegetown Network Shuttle www.baltimorecollegetown.org Exploring Baltimore is easy and free!

The Collegetown Shuttle is a free transportation service for students, staff, and faculty at seven participating schools in the Baltimore region.

Simply use your college/university ID card to board the bus. On the “stops” page, you will find a list of places you can visit around each shuttle stop.

Destinations range from restaurants to museums to your local coffee shop.

9:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

Office Open Hours Across Campus All of our student services offices will be open regular business hours!

11:00a.m.-4:00p.m.

Library Welcome Carnival Albert S. Cook Library New students and their families are invited to stop by Cook Library to test their skills for prizes and refreshments or simply to enjoy the cool air conditioning. In the library, students can pose for carnival themed photos with their new friends. Outside the library, under the “big top,” students can learn about the library through Pokémon themed carnival games.

Librarians will be on hand to answer student and parent questions as well as give library tours as requested.

11:00a.m.-4:00p.mm Dude, where’s my class?

Freedom Square Orientation Leaders will be available to help you find your classrooms in preparation for your first day of school!

Noon-4:00p.m.

Got questions? Meet the Academic Advising Center.

Lecture Hall Have a quick advising question before classes begin? Not sure who your advisor is? The Academic Advising Center is here to help. Stop by our advising table underneath the Lecture Hall.

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Opinion

August 22, 2017

Embrace change Experience the gift of life JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

What’s up, Towson? Long time no see. I hope you missed me as much as I missed you.

Although our amazing senior editor Sam Shelton graduated last spring, I will be continuing her original column idea. I hope that I make you proud, Sam! As you may or may not know, The Towerlight office overlooks the patio on the second floor of the Union. Hence the column name, Second Stories.

I wanted to give the new readers a brief history of the column, because I thought it was a pretty awesome premise.

Speaking of new readers and going with the Survival Guide theme, I’d like to gear this week’s column towards freshmen and new students, although the topic applies to all of us here at Towson.

With the start of a new school year and the beginning of many new experiences for students, what’s a better jumping off point for Second Stories than talking about change?

Looking outside the window of our workplace, I can’t help but think about change. I mean, it’s happening right in front of our very eyes on this beautiful campus.

Across from the Union is Burdick Hall which is currently being renovated and will be completed by Dec. 2017. There is a pedestrian bridge that crosses over Osler Drive that was constructed prior to the fall of 2014, and there are turf fields that were installed in the spring of 2015.

These changes we usually don’t

dwell on or give a lot of thought to because we are able to easily Cope with (no pun intended) them. It is the curveball changes, or the bigger changes, however, that we sometimes struggle to handle.

Let’s be honest, no matter who you are, college is a HUGE adjustment at first. Throughout most of our adult lives, we were told what we could and couldn’t do by our parents and teachers.

Then all of the sudden, like a flash of lightning out of the sky, we are given complete and utter freedom which can be very over whelming.

Going to class is a choice, not an option.

Nap time can be whenever we want for as long as we want. Dinner can be ice cream and a donut or meat and potatoes.

You get the gist.

Not having anyone there to make these decisions for you can be a very scary and unnerving feeling, but this is one of the greatest changes and challenges that life throws at us.

It is the time that we get to find ourselves and discover who we are going to be as we mature and grow older in life.

Change was always something I always dreaded because, well, consistency is nice. But life is always throwing us unexpected curveballs, and it is up to us to either step up to the plate and knock it out of the park.

So, to my freshmen and new students, embrace this change head on. Use these next four years to discover yourself and live the life that you want to live. After all, we only get to go around one time.

I myself can’t wait to see and meet new faces on campus.

Welcome to Towson, y’all and make these next four years the greatest of your entire lives.

“So, to my freshmen

and new students, embrace this change head on. Use these next four years to discover yourself and live the life that you want to live. After all, we only get to go around one time.

Welcome back to TU Looking ahead to the fall semester SARAH ROWAN Editor-in-Chief @sarmarrow

What’s goin’ on, Tigers?

Welcome, or welcome back, to another year at TU. I hope everyone had an excellent summer -- whether you worked, took class or went on vacation, I hope it was awesome.

Also, welcome to The Towerlight’s first print issue of the Fall 2017 semester. This is our annual Freshman Survival Guide, and it’s full of advice, words of welcome and pearls of wisdom from not only our editorial board, but also Towson’s faculty, staff and administration.

The Towerlight is a student-run news organization that’s indepen-

dent from Towson University. Our job is to give you all the news from both TU and the surrounding community, so that you don’t miss any of the year’s happenings.

We print weekly, and you can find our issues on stands every Tuesday. We’re also working on emphasizing a digital focus in the newsroom, so you’ll probably see more of us online in plenty of different media formats.

And, for exclusive Towerlight content delivered straight to your inbox every day, subscribe to our daily Towerlight Today newsletter.

Make sure you follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check us out everyday at www. thetowerlight.com.

If you want to get involved, come visit us in our office (UU 309).

We’re all students, just like you,

and we love meeting new people.

So here’s the deal: As an editor, one of my biggest fears is missing something.

I feel that it’s our duty as a newsroom to be present in whatever capacity we’re needed for campus and the community.

That’s why we love when students, faculty, staff and groups on campus communicate with us to let us know what’s going on.

Shoot me an email at editor@thetowerlight.com, and I’ll make sure that it gets forwarded to the appropriate section editor in the office.

Thanks for taking the time to read this issue, and I hope you keep up with us in the academic year to come.

Have an excellent semester, don’t stress out too much, and we’ll all make it through together.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

”

Towerlight editorial board members Sarah Rowan and Karuga Koinange visited the “Maman,” in Ottawa, Canada, this summer. The bronze, stainless steel and marble sculpture was created

by Louise Bourgeois in 1999. The spider measures over 30 feet high and 33 feet wide.

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August 22, 2017

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August 22, 2017

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News

August 22, 2017

TU reacts to Charlottesville

What began as a white nationalist protest against the removal of Confederate statues in Charlottesville quickly devolved into violent riots led by groups of white nationalists against hundreds of counter-protesters.

The violence culminated in the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer, who was killed when a car plowed into a group of counter-protesters in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism.

The accused driver, 20-year-old James Alex Fields Jr., has been charged with second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding and one count of hit and run attended failure to stop with injury, according to Charlottesville authorities.

Nineteen other people were injured in the crash. According to one of his former high school teachers, Fields was a Nazi sympathizer who held white supremacist views.

Student Government Association President James Mileo and Towson University President Kim Schatzel condemned the weekend’s violence in statements made on Saturday and Sunday.

“I refuse to sit idle as our nation strengthens its weapons of oppression,” Mileo said in a statement on Saturday. “I refuse to sit idle as our brothers and sisters lay their lives on the line for the right to exist equally in our nation. I refuse to sit idle when we have the power, courage and ability to institute change in our world, nation, state, community and university.”

Mileo announced five actions he and the SGA will be taking to combat hate at Towson and the surrounding community: SGA Director of Diversity and Inclusion Russhell Ford will relaunch #NotAtTU to expand the anti-hate crime/bias campaign beyond “a primarily student driven campaign.”

Mileo said the aim of the relaunch will be to increase collaboration with campus and community partners and address hate and terror on-campus and in the Towson area community.

All members of SGA will be required to undergo semesterly diversity and inclusion training, and training on how to respond to acts of hate.

SGA Vice President Breya Johnson and Director of Student

Courtesy of Charlotte Smith Baltimore joined cities across the U.S. to protest white supremacy after violence occured in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12.

Organizations Danvic CelebradoRoyer will review the Tiger Stripes program to require student organizations to undergo diversity and inclusion trainings every semester.

Mileo will submit a resolution to the University Senate which, if passed, would require all faculty and staff to undergo inclusion and equity trainings.

Mileo will hold monthly Presidential Addresses with updates about efforts to combat hate, as well as progress on other initiatives.

Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and Diversity Santiago Solis said in an email that diversity and inclusion training is currently mandatory for orientation leaders, resident assistants, Greek diversity chairs, and many student staff. Solis said that he and Mileo “are currently discussing ways to continue collaborating on these important issues.”

“The CSD’s new Associate Director for Cultural Competency Education Brian Jara has been working with various departments to coordinate trainings and workshops on cultural competency as well as racism/ anti-racism and their intersection with other forms of oppression,” Solis said.

Schatzel also condemned the weekend’s “acts of great violence and terror” in Charlottesville and on the University of Virginia campus in an email statement made Sunday.

Schatzel shared her condolences and prayers for “all those affected by this reprehensible violence” and reaffirmed the University’s commitment to the “relentless pursuit of a diverse, inclusive and welcoming campus for every member of the Towson University community.”

“As a university community, we remain resolute together and con-

demn any and all forms of hatred, racism, bigotry or supremacist ideology that seek to hurt, terrorize, bully or marginalize any members of our community,” she wrote. “As hallmarks of our democracy, the U.S. Constitution protects and guarantees our rights to free speech and assembly; however, no one should ever feel threatened for their safety or well-being as a result of such expression.”

Present in Charlottesville over the weekend was white nationalist Matthew Heimbach, a Towson alum who was responsible for founding the unaffiliated “White Student Union” organization at Towson in 2012. Heimbach is listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s “Extremist Files.”

Heimbach leads the Traditionalist Workers Party, a far-right group that is “intimately allied with neo-Nazi and other hardline racist organizations that espouse unvarnished white supremacist views,” according to SPLC. Speaking to reporters Monday, Heimbach claimed that the white nationalists were defending themselves over the weekend, and blamed the counter-protesters for the violence.

Two injured counter-protesters filed a civil suit against Heimbach and several other alt-right organizers of the Unite the Right rally. The Towerlight will update this with more details as they become available.

Mileo, who pledged to dedicate himself to equity and justice for marginalized communities, said in his statement that “acts of terror have no place on [Towson’s] campus.”

“No student, faculty, staff or administrator that supports this type of hate is welcome on our campus,” Mileo said. “We will refuse to represent the hate and bigotry.”

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

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Construction continues on Burdick, other projects

The long-awaited Burdick Hall renovations are slated to be completed by December 2017, according to Director of Construction Services Scott Guckert.

Construction on the 94,000 square foot addition began in August 2015. Guckert said that the combined cost of the renovations of Burdick Hall and the bridge over Osler Drive comes in at $42 million.

The new f a c i l i ties will include a functional f itness course, fitness studios geared towards cycling, boxing and yoga; two multi-purpose activity courts; an elevated sprint hill; an expanded outdoor adventure trip and education center; and additional room for strength, cardio and functional training.

Students will also be able to return to Towson’s 33-foot climbing wall when the project is complete.

Emma Kehrman, a sophomore and fine arts major at Towson, said the tight space caused by the closure of parts of Burdick Hall kept her from going to the gym.

“There wasn’t anything that I felt I would continually do or really enjoy doing,” Kehrman said.

However, with renovations nearing completion, Kehrman said she is most excited to see the climbing wall open again and believes she will be more inclined to go to the gym.

“I’ve always loved climbing, and I might actually use it,” she said.

Director of Campus Recreation Grady Sheffield said he believes the functional training course will be most popular.

“Once [renovations on Burdick Hall are] completed, we will be the only campus recreation facility in the country that is offering a Ninja Warrior style training course. Combined with the sprint hill, simulated stadium stairs, turf floor and all the equipment that will be offered in these areas, the TU community will have a fitness training space equivalent to what you would expect at professional training facilities.”

Director of Communications and Media Relations Ray Feldmann expects this project to benefit students the most.

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

Bailey Hendricks/ The Towerlight The renovated Burdick Hall will feature a functional fitness course, fitness studios, an elevated sprint hill and other amenities.

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News

August 22, 2017

Getting to know Matt Lenno Learn who’s who at TU Following a competitive national search, Matt Lenno has been named Towson University’s new Associate Vice President for Campus Life.

Lenno, who previously served as the University’s director of fraternity and sorority life, has served as interim AVP for Campus Life since January.

“I’m looking forward to working with our students and providing them an outside the class experience that is great,” Lenno said.

The search committee selected Lenno from a pool of about 90 original applicants, according to Vice President of Student Affairs Deb Moriarty.

Moriarty said that Lenno is a “perfect fit” for the University right now.

“I think it’s a lot harder to get a job when you’re already in as an interim, because people scrutinize you in a little bit of a different way than an external candidate,” Moriarty said.

Lenno’s role as AVP of campus

life will provide leadership and management to Student Activities, New Student Programs, the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and Campus Recreation.

Since Lenno has been in the interim position for seven months, he said that he has already been able to develop good relationships with the staff and begin to develop a vision for the office.

As the former director of fraternity and sorority life, Lenno helped to build standard operating procedure and a mission for the department.

According to Lenno, his new position will be similar, but on a larger-scale.

“We need to make sure that our students are getting what they need outside the classroom, educationally, in leadership, and in things to do on campus,” Lenno said. “The worst thing students could have is to come to campus and not have a good experience outside the classroom.”

Lenno said that his office will put a large emphasis on helping students obtain leadership skills, and on being advocates for students in

all aspects of their campus life.

“I want everyone to know that this is an office that our students can come to, whenever they need help with whatever it may be,” Lenno said. “I think it’s extremely important that our students understand that.”

Moriarty emphasized Lenno’s strengths in getting away from “silos,” so that the directors within the Campus Life cluster can work together, rather than solely as individual departments.

While the campus was sad to see former AVP for Campus Life Teri Hall leave, according to Moriarty, the search committee is confident in Lenno’s abilities to lead.

Hall now serves as vice president for student affairs at Wichita State University.

To Lenno, the new job will bring some new challenges, but he is excited to navigate the new school year.

“It’s always hard to predict what the challenges are going to be, especially with what we’re doing, but I’m kind of excited about... taking on whatever challenge it is,” Lenno said.

Kim Schatzel began her term as Towson University’s 14th president in January 2016. Schatzel has eight main priorities to improve Towson including improving philanthropy on campus, providing a more diverse and inclusive campus, and partnering with greater Baltimore. Schatzel was named one out of 51 of the 2017 Influential Marylanders named by the Daily Record.

Deb Moriarty is the Vice President of Student Affairs, in charge of ensuring that students not only lead successful academic careers but also have a productive, safe and enjoyable time at Towson.

The Division of Student Affairs helps provide fun and fulfilling events, services and opportunities to the Towson community.

Ray Feldmann, the Senior Director of Communications and Media Relations at Towson, is one of the faces behind Towson’s social media accounts, and often writes news articles for Towson University.

He is often the bridge between university administrators and students, helping keep the student body in the know.

I’M INTERESTED EVENTS.TOWSON.EDU

Tim Chandler is Towson’s Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. In those roles, Chandler oversees 125 degree programs, and promotes faculty and student academic success.

Prior to Schatzel being appointed as president of Towson University, Chandler served as the interim president during which time he signed a group of student activists’ list of diversity initiatives.

Leah Cox was named the inaugural vice president for Inclusion and Institutional Equity in January 2017. Schatzel created this new role to promote diversity and inclusion on campus, one of her eight presidential priorities. Cox is the head of the Office for Inclusion and Institutional Equity.

Bernie Gerst is the Chief of Towson University Police Department and Associate Vice President of Public Safety. Gerst oversees the TUPD and makes sure TU stays up-to-date on any crime and safety information. TUPD strives to make Towson a safe and welcoming environment for the entire Towson community.

Survival Guide

August 22, 2017

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THE FRESHMAN FILES Advice for new students from The Towerlight’s editorial team

Assembled by Sarah Rowan, Jordan Cope, Marcus Dieterle, Bailey Hendricks, Karuga Koinange, McKenna Graham, Jordan Stephenson, Alex Best and Mark Dragon

I want to get involved with The Towerlight this semester. What’s the best way to get started?

We’re *totally* not biased or anything, but we think that working for The Towerlight is one of the coolest things ever.

In all seriousness, though, working for The Towerlight is actually pretty cool.

We’re an independent, student-run organization that serves Towson University and the surrounding community, keeping campus and beyond updated with the happenings on campus.

While we distribute a weekly print edition, we’re increasingly focused on transitioning our newsroom to digital production -- meaning we’re not solely writing-focused. If you’re interested in writing, photography, copy-editing, video, graphic design, audio, or social media, there will always be things you can help out with.

We assemble our print editions on Mondays, and we distribute them on Tuesdays. In addition, we have our online, daily newsletter, Towerlight Today -- we definitely recommend subscribing to it.

Stop by our office anytime. We’re on the third floor of the University Union in room 309, right down the hall from the Center for Student Diversity. We’ll have applications for you to fill out if you’re interested in joining. You can also email editor@thetowerlight.com, and we’ll get you on our email list.

We’re hosting our “Inside Scoop” open house on August 28, our second production day of the semester. Feel free to stop by anytime between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. to hang out with the editors, talk journalism and enjoy some free refreshments.

We can’t wait to see you around the office sometime soon!

Alright, I’m starving, but I have no idea where to grab my dinner.

Where can I find the good food?

Oh boy, this is a great question. Here at The Towerlight, we love our food, and it was hard to come to a definitive answer. Really, it all depends on your tastes. The Union’s Susquehanna Food Court has plenty of options, ranging from a personal pizza station, to sushi, to Chick-Fil-A. Paws, also located in the Union, has some great fries, and there are sometimes some cool events happening there in the evenings.

Au Bon Pain, or ‘ABP,’ offers fresh sandwiches, salads and soup, along with a coffee bar. In our completely subjective opinion, ABP has the best lemonade and chai lattes on campus.

Out in West Village, you’ll find Einstein Bros. Bagels, P a n d a Express and Jamba Juice.

However, one spot stands out to us year after year, and that’s Patuxent Bistro, otherwise known as PTux. The lines get pretty long since it’s only open for a limited time each day, but the food makes up for that. At PTux, you can enjoy a pasta station, a sandwich station, a salad bar, a burrito station and a Chinese food station, but make sure you get there early, so you’re not standing in line for your entire lunch break. And, for our 21 and over crowd, Bill Bateman’s has great beer (and great crab dip). What can we say?

Towson has plenty of options for plenty of tastes. Make it your mission to try them all before the semester ends.

Sarah Rowan/ The Towerlight The Towerlight’s editors are hard at work. Stop by The Towerlight office (UU 309) on August 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to enjoy some refreshments, chat with the editors and learn a bit more about the paper.

I need to find a club on campus, but there are so many options! How can I find my fit this year?

In high school, you were part of the track team, theatre troupe, math club and student government -- and that was just your Tuesdays! Now, you’re itching to get involved on campus, but where? Fortunately, Towson has a plethora of clubs to choose from. Your first stop should be the “First Look: Get Involved” student involvement fair on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in SECU Arena where you’ll be able to meet members of the dozens of student groups at TU. You can also check out Involved@TU, the University’s online portal for the groups on campus. Once you spot some clubs that pique your interest, sample a bunch to find the best fit(s) for you. If after all that searching you still can’t find a club that matches your interests, start your own! At Towson, you only need five students, a faculty/staff adviser and a student group constitution to start a club. So get out there and get involved!

I don’t have much money, but I need cash to go out with my friends. How can I find and apply for jobs here?

The easiest way to find and apply for a job is to go to the Career Center’s online job database, which is called Handshake. You can find all kinds of jobs and internships available based on your search filters and your employment needs, including work-study programs. Handshake can be found on the Towson University website if you type “Handshake” into the search bar. From there, you’ll find helpful pages of student FAQs, guidelines when it comes to submitting applications and the Handshake database itself! If a job you want isn’t listed on Handshake, don’t sweat it -- employers on campus aren’t mandated to post job listings there. You can go in person and inquire about position openings to places like the Cook Library, the Writing Center and organizations such as The Towerlight! Additionally, once you get more involved, other positions can open up. There are plenty of opportunities for jobs on campus if you’re looking!

10 August 22, 2017

Survival Guide

I have no idea what to wear to class!

Do you have any fashion tips?

Now that I’m in college, I really want to switch up my studying habits. How can I find a study routine that works for me?

This whole “college” thing is super exciting until you realize how much you’re going to have to study.

While you may resort to studying in your room, or in your residence hall’s quiet lounge, those places can oftentimes be anything but quiet, making it pretty hard to focus if you need a calmer space.

Luckily for you, there’s no shortage of options when it comes to finding the perfect place to study on campus.

Some popular spots include Freedom Square, the third floor of West Village Commons, the fifth

floor of the College of Liberal Arts building and any of the little nooks in Cook Library.

These places fill up really quickly, especially around midterms and finals, so make sure you snag your spot early.

As far as study techniques go, we’ve found that it generally depends on what class you’re taking. Flashcards and outlines may do the trick for some classes, but group study and rehearsal may work for others.

It’s all about testing the waters and finding out what works best

Arts & Life fashion and beauty writer Kerry Ingram may beg to differ on this, but I firmly believe in wearing pretty much whatever you want - as long as it isn’t offensive, you’re pretty much good to go. It’s at a professor’s discretion, honestly; if they don’t want people wearing hats in their class, for example (a problem I have yet to run into), then take off your hat for their class. The way you dress yourself is a matter of personal expression, and on college campuses of all places you’re encouraged to express yourself pretty much however you feel (although again, self-expression and the visual perpetuation of discriminatory and hateful ideas are two entirely different things). I’ve seen people roll out of bed, put on their Crocs, and head to class, and I’ve seen people with their hair gorgeously curled and cheekbones contoured and feet armored by five-inch heels. Basically, college attire rules are the same as beach stores: shirt and shoes required. for you. However, if you’re still stuck after a little while and need some extra help, try the Academic Achievement Center on the fifth floor of Cook Library, which offers tutoring sessions, study groups, academic coaching and other services.

PeopleSoft confuses me. How do I navigate the technological maze?

Before you’ve even set foot on campus, you should have already come face to face with the beast that is PeopleSoft. Sure, it might look big, scary and complicated at first glance, but it’s actually a very helpful tool once you get the hang of using it properly. Once you log into your account through MyTU, you’ll usually want to click “Self Service” and “Student Center” for most of the things you’ll be using PeopleSoft for. On your Student Center page, you’ll see various sections. The “Academics” section is where you’ll search/add/drop/swap/plan classes and check your progress on completing your academic requirements. At Towson, you must earn at least 120 credits (32 of which must be in upper level courses), complete a course in each of the 14 Cores, and fulfill the requirements for your major to earn a Bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. As a freshman, your Freshman Year Experience (FYE) adviser will help you stay on track with those requirements. After your freshman year and once you declare your major, your major-specific adviser will be the one assisting you. If you ever have any general academic advising questions, you can stop in at the Academic Advising Center in the Lecture Hall building above Freedom Square. The Student Academic Advising office takes walk-ins Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

You can also call the office or speak with a Student Academic Adviser (SAA) on the online chat. PeopleSoft also shows you important details about your finances (account balance, financial aid, etc.), academic holds, class enrollment date and time, your adviser, and so much more information.

l a v i v r Su

My schedule is so busy! How can I get better at time management?

We’re not gonna lie to you. Time management in college is hard, and it takes a bit of practice to develop a routine that works for you. We think that it’s a good idea to keep a calendar, where you can write everything down...and we mean everything. Do you have an exam coming up next Monday? Write it down. Do you have tickets to that concert downtown on Friday? Write it down. If you have everything in a place where you can easily see your schedule, you won’t accidentally take on too much at any given time. Sleep is another super important aspect of college, and it’s one that’s easy to overlook. Not getting enough sleep will affect every other aspect of your college career, especially your studies.

And speaking of studies, make an effort to go to class.

Professors notice when you skip, and you’ll only waste your unexcused absences and pile even more work onto your plate.

Figure out how long it’ll take to get ready and walk to class, and make sure you stick to it. Set multiple alarms if you have to, but make sure you get up. Also, we can’t stress how important it is to find space in your schedule to focus on yourself, away from classes, work or even your friends. Take some time to read a book, go for a run, take a nap, or whatever you need to do to recharge. Finally, set boundaries for yourself, and don’t be afraid to admit that you’re overscheduled. Decide what your priorities are, and make an effort to focus on them, while taking care of yourself at the same time.

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Survival Guide

August 22, 2017

11

I’m terrified of gaining the “Freshman 15.” How can I stay healthy while I’m on campus this year?

, t This is definitely a valid concern. Coming to college brings some serious schedule -changes, and it’s important to make an effort to keep your physical and mental mhealth in check. s In terms of your physical health, Towson has plenty of food and fitness options sto help you stay healthy. You can find healthy meal options at basically any of the hdining halls and cafeterias, and sometimes, you can substitute less healthy ingredilents for better ones. For example, at Kappa Sushi in Susq, you can ask for brown nrice instead of white rice, and at a lot of dining halls, you can substitute for things ylike whole-wheat pasta or egg-whites. Towson also has on-campus dieticians, who ,can give you a hand in figuring out the best food for you.

Burdick Hall is a great place to work up a sweat when you’re looking to burn some calories. Granted, the building is still under construction, but you’ll find multiple gyms, a pool, fitness classes and other workout resources. The building’s expansion is slated to be completed in December 2017, and when it’s done, there’ll be even more facilities to use.

Towson’s Health Center at Ward and West is a great resource to use for anything from the common cold to a serious medical emergency. In addition to treating illness and injury, the Health Center offers services like STD-testing, contraceptive counseling and immunizations.

However, on top of your physical health, your mental health is equally important. The Counseling Center is located on the second floor of Ward and West, and they’re here to help. You can make an appointment by calling 410-704-2512, or by stopping by the front desk. They offer both individual services and initial visits, as well as several group counseling sessions. The Counseling Center can help students in crisis during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. However, outside those hours, they recommend calling 911 if someone’s health or safety is at risk.

College is a stressful time, and it’s hard to stay on top of the various aspects of your health. However, Towson’s resources can help you keep it all in check.

I really think I’m going to struggle a bit with some of my writing this semester.

Is there anywhere I can go to get some help with it?

Yes, there is! What you’re looking for is The Writing Center, located in the back corner of the fifth floor of the College of Liberal Arts building. It’s a great place to go for all of your writing needs. The Writing Center employs peer writing assistants from a variety of disciplines and majors, so that any student can have their writing needs met. And the peer writing assistants? They’re students, just like you, and they understand the struggles of writing paper after paper for class. They work with undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty and staff at any point of their writing process, from brainstorming to organization to citations, and anything else you can think of. You can call to schedule an appointment at (410) 704-3426, or you can email towsonwritingcenter@gmail.com. You can also stop by the front desk to schedule an appointment in person. The Writing Center does take walk-in appointments, but they fill up really quickly during midterms and finals. Especially during these times, it’s best to schedule in advance.

For more survival guide tips, visit www.thetowerlight.com, and subscribe to our daily newsletter, Towerlight Today!

Alex Best/ The Towerlight

I have to share a bathroom…gross. What’s the best way to deal with the communal bathroom situation?

The dreaded shared bathroom. Sure, you had to share a bathroom with your little brother back at home, but sharing one with a stranger? Now that’s a whole different ballgame, you say. The best way to keep your bathroom clean and conflict-free is to create a bathroom cleaning schedule with your roommate(s)/suitemates at the beginning of the semester, alternating the weeks that you and your roomie are each responsible for cleaning the bathroom. Also, make sure to keep the bathroom clutter free, so those who share it with you aren’t tripping over the sweaty gym clothes you discarded on the floor right in front of the shower. If someone is slacking on their bathroom cleaning duties, don’t be passive aggressive. Instead, explain your frustrations to your roommate in a polite but direct manner. If the bad bathroom etiquette continues, your RA is always there to help mediate conflicts.

14 August 22, 2017

Survival Guide

The Division for Student Affairs offers the

I can’t find parking anywhere! Any advice for a frustrated driver?

Student LIFE Line Ask any Towson student with a car and they’ll probably tell you that parking at Towson is…well, not great. Depending on the time of day, it can be pretty difficult to find an empty parking space on campus. But fear not, hope is not all lost! The best way to snag a spot is to avoid peak parking hours. The parking garages begin filling up by mid-morning and don’t start substantially emptying out until mid to late-afternoon. During that busy period, give yourself at least 30 minutes before your class begins to hunt for a parking space. As TU administrators are likely to tell you, there’s also plenty of space at the SECU lots. While those lots are a little out of the way, there is a shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off at the main part of campus.

I’ve heard many roommate horror stories, and I’m scared we won’t get along. How can I keep the peace with my roommate?

We get it. Living with a roommate can be tough, but it’s important to remember that it’s a two-way street. Make your best effort to be a good roommate, and things may fall into place.

Take some time to understand each other’s needs. You may like watching T.V. until 3 a.m., but your roommate may like going to bed at 10 p.m. Make compromises, and outline boundaries.

You’ll be living with this person for nine months, so make sure you get to know them, and most importantly, make sure you respect each other.

The most important thing about having a roommate is recognizing that there will most likely be some issues throughout the year. Hopefully, they won’t be major problems, but understand that it’s hard to get through an entire year in

This telephone line assists students with any question they may have about the University. LIFE Line is staffed and ready to assist callers Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After these hours, a voice mail message can be left and will be responded to on the next business day.

You can also contact us with your questions via e-mail at studentaffairs@towson.edu.

410-704-LIFE (54 (5433) 33) E-mail: studentaffairs@towson.edu

I’m feeling stuck -- I really don’t know what major to choose, and it’s really frustrating. Do you have any advice for someone who has no idea what to study?

Our first piece of advice is that it’s totally okay not to know what you want to study. Plenty of freshmen enter college undecided; it’s totally normal!

And, you have until the end of your sophomore year to pick your major, which is plenty of time to decide. That being said though, we recommend that you take your freshman year to explore different subjects that pique your interest to knock out some of your Core Curriculum requirements.

Wanna take a theater class to fulfill Core 4? Go for it! How about a women’s studies class for Core 13? Absolutely! By giving yourself time to dip your toes in various fields, you can get a feel for a bunch of different majors, without committing yourself to them entirely. Our second piece of advice is to utilize your advisor. They’re there to help you, and they’ll be happy to help you figure out what direction to take. You can find out who your advisor is by logging into your PeopleSoft account. And, if you don’t like your major, it’s okay! You can change it using the online Change of Major/Minor Form, but make sure you keep your advisor in the loop.

Survival Guide

I hate to admit it, but I really, really miss home. My roommate is driving me up the wall and I miss my dog… all of this on top of the stress of the everyday hustle and bustle of college. Please help!

We hear ya, and believe it or not, we’re in the same boat with you. As cliche as it sounds to say, everyone gets homesick. For 18 years of our lives, we have had a pretty constant and stable routine, and to have it thrown off all of the sudden can be a major shock to your psyche. This is a difficult question to answer because one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. For those of you living in dorms or in non-pet friendly apartments, there is a Just Puppies on York Road if you miss your dog...just saying. Our best advice is to not deny that you are homesick. Suppressing our feelings is one of the worst things that we can do as human beings. Talk to your parents, friends or other loved ones if you are struggling, and just remember you are stronger than you even can fathom.

I’m a commuter student, but I’m worried that I won’t be as involved on campus as my resident friends.

Do you have any advice?

It’s easy for commuter students to fall into the routine of merely coming to campus for classes and leaving as soon as their last class lets out, but where’s the fun in that? Get involved with clubs and other groups on campus where you can find people with similar interests as you. If you don’t have time to consistently dedicate to a student organization, try to attend some events on camp u s occasionally to meet fellow students and TU community members, have some fun and maybe even learn a thing or two.

A l s o , quadruple check that you have everything you need for the day before leaving the house in the morning.

Sure, that means textbooks and the usual classroom materials, but it also means checking the weather in the morning to figure out whether you need a sweater or an umbrella, packing some snacks and a refillable water bottle for the day ahead if you don’t want to spend money on campus food, and phone/laptop chargers for when you’re running out of juice and the free charging station in the University Union is all full. Resident students might look at you funny for toting around your Hermione Granger-esque bottomless bag, but hey, preparation is the key to success, right?

August 22, 2017

15

Sarah Rowan/ The Towerlight

How can I get textbooks without spending too much?

Rest assured, there is a way to find textbooks for a reasonable price. I once was faced with the impending burden of paying a large sum of money for textbooks that I’d only use for a few months, but I’ve learned some tricks along the way to cut down the cost. Renting textbooks from the U-Store is a pretty good option for textbook purchases, especially if you’ll only be using the textbook for one semester. Oftentimes, the price of renting a textbook is significantly lower than buying it; however, it can still be pretty pricey. We also recommend our local Bookholders, which houses textbooks at much cheaper costs than the U-Store, or the online class Facebook groups, where students will sometimes sell their old textbooks from previous semesters. Another great option is Chegg, an online textbook rental company that’s easy to navigate and pretty user-friendly. Chegg is offering free shipping on all orders of physical textbooks over $50 until the end of September, so heed these words while you can.

16 August 22, 2017

Survival Guide

WORDS OF WISDOM Advice from Towson University’s campus leaders

1) Go to class each and every day, and work hard to stay AHEAD in all your classes.

2) Self-care is very important -- sleep cannot be emphasized enough. You should exercise and sweat 3x/week and eat healthy!

3) Take some classes to explore areas you might not have thought of -- I loved my classics classes in college at Wash U., and was a biology/ economics double major.

4) Enjoy activities and events the campus offers -- join clubs, go see plays, recitals, films or exhibits, and cheer on our Tiger athletic teams.

5) Finally, make sure to call -- not just text -- your family, and share the love!

- Towson University President Kim Schatzel

Professors are *not* like high school teachers. You have entered the adult world, and we expect you to act as such. This means, amongst other things, no texting (yes, we can tell even though your phone is under the desk) and no surfing Facebook or looking for cat videos during class. Would you want us to ignore you like that as we talked to you? Would you want to help someone who was that disrespectful as you were trying to help them with something?

Do come to see us during office hours to discuss any questions or concerns you have, and come as soon as you have them. Too often students wait until a problem is beyond repair or they are so behind and confused that they have missed out on other learning opportunities. Office hours are your time - use them!

- Alison McCartney, Honors College Faculty Director

Ray’s Top 10 List of Things to Do When You Get to Towson 1. Go out of your way to make friends with the other students in your classes. Don’t look down at your phone until the professor starts speaking. Engage in conversation with those around you. Make friends with other students who don’t look like you!

2. Go to events around campus, including arts and athletics event. Don’t miss our first home football game on Sept. 2 at 6 p.m. with Morgan State!

3. Join an organization or two in your first semester. It’s a fantastic way to get to know other students who have their same interests as you.

4. Find a mentor. It can be a professor, a staff person, or even an older TU student.

5. Don’t procrastinate!

6. Have lunch every once in a while in the Administration Building café’; the food is good and reasonably priced.

7. Read, read, read. Keep up with what’s happening in the world. Don’t rely on social media as your only news source. Read newspapers like [The] Towerlight, the Baltimore Sun andthe New York Times.

8. Write, write, write. Write as much as you can. Being a strong writer will help you regardless of your major and your field of interest.

9. Bloom where you’re planted. You may not end up in every class you want. Your roommate might not be your favorite person on the planet. Your professor may not be the teacher you were hoping for.

Don’t let those minor setbacks get in the way. Do your very best wherever you are and whatever you’re doing; it will pay off in the long run, I promise you!

10. Make good decisions and have fun!

- Ray Feldmann, Director of Communication and Media Relations

College is definitely not just an extension of high school, where teachers tend to focus on making sure students succeed if at all possible. To succeed in college, students need to be organized, resilient, and able to take responsibility for their success. To cope with the stresses of college and to develop the personal skills you will need, check out the Counseling Center’s services at www. towson.edu/counseling.

- Gregory Reising, Director of the Counseling Center

Every freshman student at this university is here because of his or her potential. You were accepted to this university because of your ability. Your challenge, however, is to be able to work, refine and grow to your full potential. In essence, the greatest gift that you can give to yourself is self-honesty. Sit and listen to that small internal voice. It will tell you, when you need to ask for help. It will tell you, when to study and when it is okay to relax. Sitting quietly and listening to that little voice on a daily basis is one of the best ways for you to keep yourself on track… Your first semester is an integral part for establishing the foundation for the rest of your life. Make your first step as strong and solid as possible. Listen well!

- Barry Evans, Outreach Specialist, University Admissions

Life after TU begins today! Prepare for your future now by being intentional with your TU experience – from classes and involvement to part-time jobs and internships. It’s the sum total of your college experience that makes you career-ready.

Study hard…work hard…and obtaining your career goals will be much easier! Don’t forget to maximize your Handshake – TU’s new, single, and best source for jobs, internships, career events, and advice.

- Lorie Logan-Bennett, Director of the Career Center

Welcome and I hope you’re ready for an exciting year! As you embark on this amazing journey, embrace new opportunities, remain open to diverse perspectives, and challenge, challenge, challenge yourself.

-Santiago Solis, Associate Vice President, diversity

There are so many opportunities for students to get involved and to make an impact on campus. We have over 300 student organizations affiliated with the SGA, so every student should be able to find their niche.

This makes SGA an amazing way to lead and serve the student body!

We have open positions right now, which can be found at towsonsga.org under the involvement tab. We accept applications on a rolling basis as vacancies arise, if you have any questions please stop by our office in the University Union Room 226 or email sga@towson.edu.

- James Mileo, Student Government Association president

On behalf of the Office of Public Safety, we would like to welcome everyone back to the campus for what we hope will be a fulfilling and rewarding year. The Office of Public Safety, including the Towson University Police Department, is committed to ensuring a safe, open, and inclusive environment where everyone can safely learn and thrive. As the second largest institution in the USM System, we are proud of the fact that, in partnership with the TU Community, we have achieved the lowest per capita crime rate within the USM System. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. We encourage you to report any suspicious or emergency situations to the University Police immediately. Let’s all do our part to make this a rewarding, memorable, and SAFE semester. Welcome back to Towson University!

- John Ross, Communications Supervisor and Sergeant, TUPD

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18 August 22, 2017

Survival Guide

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During orientation, everyone told me that attending sporting events at Towson is a must! What’s all the buzz about?

Towson has a lot of enjoyable games to attend. The most intense game to go to is a football game. The home crowd is always electric at Johnny Unitas Stadium and it feels like more than just a sporting event when you are there.

You can tailgate with your friends, cheer for your school with people you don’t even know and proudly wear your black and gold. Basketball games are also exciting as both teams provide a fast-paced brand of play that is sure to excite the crowd. Though those are two of the more popular sports at Towson, there is a talented pool of athletes that encompass many sports. The swim meets provide you with some extremely impressive competition and both lacrosse teams play with great intensity. I could go on and on about the teams at Towson, but the best way to learn is to come out to one of the many exciting sporting events.

I’m considering joining a fraternity or sorority on campus, because I’ve heard it’s a good way to meet new people, but I don’t know much about Greek Life. What’s Greek Life like at Towson?

Welcome to campus! You’ve heard correctly - fraternities, sororities, and Greek Life in general are an excellent way to connect with people and extend your social circle. Towson has over 35 chapters of academic, social and service-based Greek organizations to choose from, all of which can be found on Towson’s “Recognized Fraternities & Sororities” page on the University website. Greek Life has a strong presence on campus; walk through Freedom Square on any given day and one chapter or another is advocating a cause or spreading awareness for an event or charity. Joining Greek life is a great way to expand your social circle, give back to the community and have a fun time in your four-years at Towson. If you want to join, fill out the form at www.towson.edu/studentlife/activities/fratsororitylife/ join.html in order to participate in recruitment - to “rush.”

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20 August 22, 2017

Arts & Life

Eclipse visible from Union

Towson’s film life Embracing cinema at TU

Marcus Dieterle/ The Towerlight

2017’s Great American Eclipse touched down in Oregon on Aug. 21 and made its way across the nation. It was partially visible on campus, despite some clouds.

Have no fear; clubs are here!

SARAH VAN WIE Staff Writer

Towson University offers plenty of social opportunities for students apprehensive about making new friends and getting involved with more than 300 clubs and organizations offered to students. From academic, special interest and service organizations to arts, culture and religious/spiritual organizations, Towson’s wide and diverse range makes it easy for everyone to get involved on campus.

To get you started, here are a few clubs that might catch your eye.

Best Buddies International is an organization on Towson’s campus whose sole purpose of this club is to ignite friendships, but these friendships have a special purpose. Best Buddies friendships create opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). These oneto-one friendships provide harmonious leadership and employment skills to those with IDD. “We strive to have fun with our friends while promoting inclusion,” Best Buddies President Gabby Mannino said. “We all are a part of this society, and we all need friends.”

In the beginning of March, Best Buddies hosts its annual “Spread the Word to End the Word” event outside of the Susquehanna Food Court.

Everyone that passes their decorated table is asked to take a pledge by signing their name to stop the use of

the R-word.

“The last two years, we have collaborated with the sisters of Alpha Xi Delta,” Mannino said. “Their support and enthusiasm is awesome.”

Best Buddies hosts a Friendsgiving catered by Black and Gold Catering, with games and dancing as well, to celebrate their friendships.

“We hope one day that people with IDD are not limited in society or viewed as less,” Mannino said. “That they are our co-workers, our friends, our family.

How awesome would it be if you were a part of that change?”

Another club that changes things up is the Campus Activities Board (CAB). “[We] provide Towson students with fun, diverse, and memorable events to bring [people] together outside the classroom,” said Alasia McDonald, Director of CAB. “Our slogan is ‘For students, by students.’”

An annual event hosted by CAB is Towson’s most anticipated event, Tigerfest, a two-day festival that is kicked off with a carnival the first day and continues with a concert the second day. Last year’s featured performers included 2 Chainz and Chase Bryant.

“We also have other great annual events that students should keep an eye out for,” McDonald said. “In October, we do Booingo, which is Halloween-themed bingo. Winners get some cool prizes — in the past we’ve given out TVs and iPads.”

That same week, CAB puts on an annual event called Survive Towson, a

campus-wide zombie hunt.

“I did get a chance to play one year and it’s scary and intense, but super fun,” McDonald said. “Freshmen should get involved because, first and foremost, it’s fun! You can also learn more about yourself as a leader and as a member of a team or a group, leading to personal and professional growth.”

Another unique club on campus is The Tea Society, also known as the Tea Club. The Tea Club brings people together over fun board games with a vast selection of tea to relieve stress and meet new people.

“Over the course of the semester there will be tons of tea-related events that will involve free food, fun and, of course, tea,” Vice President Gabrielle Brager said. “We will be hosting these events so people can come learn about the history of tea and the different techniques people use to drink tea all over the world, and so they can drink tea to relax.”

The Tea Club encourages freshmen to join them in drinking tea as a great way to revitalize, or drinking decaf to release stress.

“I never would have thought I could have so much fun drinking tea,” Brager said. “I have made friends that have had my back through the semesters and I thank the Tea Club for that.”

New Student Programs’s First Look: Get Involved fair on Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. at SECU Arena will provide incoming students with many more opportunities to check out clubs and groups on campus.

Courtesy of The Senator Theatre Facebook page

The Senator Theatre is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and the theatres boast classic curtain-drawn screens. and tickets are available on their website and Fandango.com.

In the other direction is the Senator Theatre, which has been Welcome to Towson! Looking around since 1939. Located at 5904 for a place to escape future homeYork Rd, Baltimore, MD 21234, it work? Want to know where you can stand in line to see Star Wars VIII is a very nostalgic building, holdthe minute it is ing only four released? Look no theaters, each further! You have of which conThe Senator also offers tains a massive two exceptional movie theaters great prices, especially screen covered right near you. by curtains, just the student discount, The Towson as theaters did which takes two dollars when they first Cinemark, located at 111 E Joppa off the price of a standard opened. There are Rd, Towson, MD always revivals late night ticket.

21286, offers a of older movies variety of recent planned months movies released in advance, such within the last three months. The as “Labyrinth” and “Psycho.” building holds fifteen theaters, all of The Senator also offers great pricwhich have huge screens, surround es, especially the student discount, sound, and luxury loungers coming which takes two dollars off the price soon. of a standard late night ticket.

They show movies in Standard, My own favorite part of the 3D, and XD formats. XD is their Senator is the sidewalk outside, premier watching experience and is which has autographs pressed into comprised of room-shattering sound the cement from the casts and and a screen that reaches wallcrews of iconic movies. to-wall and floor-to-ceiling. A few Once again, welcome to Towson times out of the year, the Cinemark and I hope you have an incredible will revive an older movie, like “The time here.

Shining.”

If you ever need information on Any showing is affordable and movies or theaters, I’m here to help, there are multiple discounts, includand I’m looking forward to giving ing a student discount if you show you some reviews over the course of the next year! them your college ID. Movie times MATT MCDONALD Columnist

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Arts & Life

August 22, 2017

The Hit-or-missman’s Bodyguard LUKE PARKER Columnist

According to “The Hitman’s Bodyguard,” the confidential and covert worlds of assassins and guardians are tightly interwoven. Worldclass bounty hunters can recount any kill with exact detail – as long as it keeps the story chugging forward – and men who get shot at can name the person behind the trigger. There are so many easy-way-out connections made between the film’s characters that behind the ear-pounding explosions and gunshots, drops of ink can almost be heard falling from Tom O’Connor’s hurried screenplay.

That being said, the film is what it promised to be: a hard R action comedy with just the right dosage of rowdiness and absurdity to keep audiences entertained.

As self-aware as it is, it’s not much more than that. The majority of the jokes that land can be accredited to Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson’s tremendous rapport.

Director Patrick Hughes displays his maturation as an action filmmaker, commanding the above-average sequences (as unbelievable as they may be) with much more poise than his previous venture, “The Expendables 3.”

It goes without saying that nothing in this movie should be taken seriously, a fact that leaves the great Gary Oldman out to dry. The “Air Force One” villain nearly duplicates his marvelous performance from the Harrison Ford thriller here, but this time, he and the story are not on the same page, and Oldman’s portrayal of the vicious, murderous dictator comes off as unseemly, not superior.

The film introduces us to Reynolds’ character, Michael Bryce, on the day his high-class life changes forever when his reputation as a AAAcertified bodyguard for high-profile clients is spoiled.

Cut to two years later, Bryce’s clientele has been reduced to drugged-up lawyers, and his Jaguar traded in for a cheap van. However, he is given a chance at redemption when his ex-girlfriend Amelia (Elodie Yung), an up-and-coming Interpol agent, hires him. She has been assigned to deliver incarcerated hitman Darius Kincaid (Jackson) to the International

Court of Justice as a witness against Oldman’s Vladislav Dukhovich. But after a failed hijacking, she discovers a mole in the organization and needs the “out of the loop” Bryce, who still blames her for his disgrace – her name on his phone is “Pure Evil” – to finish the job.

Of course, Kincaid and Bryce have an intricate history; according to Bryce, the hitman has tried to “hit” him 28 times – which makes you question Kincaid’s credentials as a first-rate killer – but the closest he ever got was a flesh wound.

All of these characters are idiotically connected in some way or another, a pattern which ruins almost every stale “twist” the film offers.

Fortunately, both Jackson and Reynolds have established their onscreen personas throughout their careers, and their bickering remains fresh throughout. The way Reynolds’ sarcastic attitude butts heads with Jackson’s traditional cockiness is this movie’s not-so-secret weapon, providing more laughs than anyone watching would have expected. The fact that audiences can stay entertained during a movie stretched out a half hour more than it should have been is a testament to the duo’s chemistry.

If there is another set that comes close to matching the impact of Jackson and Reynolds’ onscreen pairing, it is that of Jackson and Salma Hayek, who plays Kincaid’s also incarcerated wife, Sonia.

Kincaid’s flaw, if you can call it that, is his devoted sense of romanticism. Interpol offers Sonia’s freedom in exchange for his testimony, a bargain which he agrees to instantly.

Reynolds’ character is given a love story as well, revolved around his stubbornness and awkwardness with Amelia, but it is neither given the same attention nor executed as well as the Kincaids’ flawed alliance.

That’s pretty much how all of “The Hitman’s Bodyguard” plays out: uneven. Where one thing works, two others don’t.

The producers hit the jackpot with Reynolds and Jackson, whose battle of one-upmanship is worth the price of admission alone. But not even those two can save this film from being what it is – a mid-August action movie, destined for little more than TV slots and airplane rides.

21

Fashion lovers, assemble!

For all things fashion and beauty, Kerry’s got you KERRY INGRAM Staff Writer

Welcome back, Towson Tigers.

For those of you who are reading this column for the very first time (whether you’re new to Towson, or just happen to have your eyeballs scanning past my column), my name is Kerry and I am The Towerlight’s fashion and beauty writer. For a short run-down about me: - I love food.

-I’m turning the big 21 this year, yet still look like I’m about 14.

- I have the biggest obsession with baby goats.

- I’m allergic to 99.9 percent of what exists in this world.

- Did I mention I love food?

An important (and much more relevant) fact about me is that I have always had a true passion for the beauty and fashion industry and the ways it allows one to creatively express themselves.

I started Trendy Tiger last school year to promote not only that, but also the abundance of amazing styles that exists right here on Towson’s campus.

This column is here to provide you with the latest tips, tricks, news, deals and more when it comes to fashion and beauty for college students. However, this year I have decided to amp it up a notch.

Trendy Tiger is now going to be presenting “Trendy Tuesdays,” a weekly video segment on the Towerlight’s YouTube channel.

These videos will be an extension of

my column posts, giving you all your fashion and beauty needs in a more visual form.

Be sure to subscribe to The Towerlight’s channel to keep up on the latest trends, events and affordable finds in order to get through this school year in style.

It is finally time to slay another school year, and I could not be more excited. If you have incredible style, are starting a new brand that you want reviewed, or just have a dying love for fashion and beauty, feel free to shoot me an email. My email address is kingra6@students.towson.edu.

Don’t be shy, I love meeting new people and seeing how creative others can be!

Here’s wishing you another trendy year at Towson.

22 August 22, 2017

Sports

The Towerlight STOP BY FOR THE

INSIDE SCOOP

second scrimmage TU receives standout performances in second scrimmage of the year

Hang out with the editorial staff on our second production day of the semester & enjoy free refreshments Monday Aug. 28th 11am-4pm l room UU309

Courtesy of Towson Athletics

Sophomore wide receiver Shane Leatherbury leaps into the end zone for one of his three touchdowns of the afternoon at Unitas.

KARUGA KOINANGE Associate Sports Editor

JOIN OUR STAFF!

Fill out an application during the event, or if you can’t make it, stop by UU309 anytime

The Tigers held their second scrimmage of the preseason Saturday afternoon at Johnny Unitas Stadium.

"They did better in the heat than they did a week ago," Head Coach Rob Ambrose said in an interview with towsontigers.com. "We pushed them much harder, probably another 50 plays not counting special teams, and as a group they responded okay.�

Sophomore wide receiver Shane Leatherbury had an impressive day, scoring three times during the scrimmage.

Leatherbury started his hot streak by diving into the endzone for a rushing touchdown and finished the scrimmage with a fourth down running score.

The defense showed playmaking abilities during the scrimmage as well, especially in the backfield.

Junior defensive back Tyron McDade and sophomore defensive back Coby Tippett each recorded an interception.

Both players have had solid preseasons and should push for playing time during the regular season.

Sophomore defensive back D'Nard Graham also got in on the action, forcing a fumble near the sideline.

The rushing attack saw productivity from sophomore Shane Simpson

and senior CJ Williams. Williams also caught a 15-yard touchdown pass after juking a defender in space.

Simpson was the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Offensive Rookie of the Year last season and has been handed the torch from former lead running back Darius Victor.

The goal line period provided intense battles in the trenches.

The defense forced some field goals, but the offense was able to find the end zone on runs from freshman fullback Nick Vermillion and freshman quarterback Ryan Stover.

Towson will practice again Monday night as they get ready for the Sept. 2 season opener against Morgan State at 6 p.m. at Johnny Unitas Stadium in the Battle for Greater Baltimore.

Sports

August 22, 2017

Tigers edge out greyhounds Taylor Sebolao Soccer

Courtesy of Towson Athletics

Junior forward McKenzie McCaull attempts to knock the ball away from Towson’s opponent on the pitch. McCaull scored Towson’s only goal in the team’s first victory of the season against rival Loyola.

KARUGA KOINANGE Sports Editor

Towson earned a 1-0 victory against Loyola University, Maryland, Sunday afternoon at the Tiger Soccer Complex in the Battle of Baltimore.

This is Towson’s first back-toback victory over the Grehyounds in series history.

“Today Loyola battled back and we had to hold on,” Head Coach Greg Paynter said. “I’m proud of the way the girls fought, especially after the way Sebs came off her line a lot and really controlled all of their services. [Loyola] didn’t have any great chances other than from things out distance.”

The Greyhounds (0-2-0) had possession early and put a shot on goal less than one minute into the match. However, senior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao saved the shot and the Tigers (1-0-1) applied pressure.

Towson junior forwards McKenzie McCaull and Evelyn Neidert connected for the only goal of the game on that counterattack. McCaull crossed the ball to Neidert, who tipped it in at 1:18.

“This week we worked on the early balls behind the defense back because they’re facing their goal,” Neidert said. “It was an easy ball to get in, we were happy to get up ahead and just keep our defense in.”

Towson stayed aggressive later in the half when junior midfielder Sarah Quick put a shot on goal, but the ball was stopped by Loyola’s junior goalkeeper Sumer Rahe.

Tigers’ sophomore forward Elizabeth Coletti put a header on cage in the 38th minute, but Rahe made another save.

The Greyhounds didn’t get another shot in the first half after their early attack, and the Tigers went into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

Loyola came out of the break aggressive and remained that way throughout the final 45 minutes of the game.

The Tigers were held without a shot for the entire second half while the Greyhounds registered three.

Loyola sophomore midfielder Alice Regan had a shot on goal in the 49th minute, but Sebolao made one of her two second-half saves on the play. Sebolao made three saves in her first shutout of the season and 12th of her career.

Despite Loyola’s pressure in the second half, the Towson defense held its ground to earn its first victory of the season.

Towson is on the road for its next three games beginning on Thursday, Aug. 24, with a match against Longwood.

The opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Lancers' Athletic Complex.

E.A. Jackson was named the head coach of the field hockey club in Feb. 2017.

She became the 12th coach in program history.

Senior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao recorded three saves, including two late in the second half, in Towson’s 1-0 victory over Loyola at the Tiger Soccer Complex.

23

24 August 22, 2017

Sports

preseason productivity Courtesy of baltimoreravens.com.

Defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. sacks Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins on a blitz. Baltimore’s defense allowed no points and just 47 yards in the first half (above).

Undrafted qurterback Josh Woodrum spikes the ball after one of his two rushing scores on the day. Woodrum finished the game with 110 passing yards as well (below).

KARUGA KOINANGE Associate Sports Editor

Raven vs Redskins The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Washington Redskins 23-3 at M&T Bank Stadium Thursday, Aug. 10, thanks to a strong defensive effort.

The franchise has historically had good defenses, but many pundits believe this year’s group has a chance to be one of the best in team history. In its first preseason game, the defense lived up to its potential.

The Ravens won the battle in the trenches, holding the Redskins starters to negative yardage. The Redskins first series ended when defensive back Anthony Levine Sr. took down quarterback Kirk Cousins on a safety blitz.

Washington’s second series ended unsuccessfully when defensive end Brent Urban and defensive tackle Michael Pierce stormed into the backfield on third down to plug the run.

Baltimore posted a shutout in the first half, holding its opponent to just 47 yards.

The offense did not show much consistency, but Justin Tucker showed he can still carry the scoring load, nailing three field goals on the day including a 59-yard kick.

Baltimore displayed glimps-

es of what its defense can do in the future. If the team can get its offense to produce, they should be able to improve on last season.

Ravens vs Dolphins The Ravens jumped to 2-0 in the preseason with a 31-7 road victory over the Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium Thursday, Aug. 17.

Ravens backup quarterback Ryan Mallett has not secured the trust of many fans with his up-anddown performances this preseason.

Mallett finished the night 13-of22 for 113 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

Baltimore’s undrafted quarterback Josh Woodrum was the story of the night with his impressive second half performance.

The Ravens entered the third quarter with a slim 13-7 lead, but Woodrum came in to put the game out of reach.

On Woodrum’s second drive he quickly marched the Ravens down the field, connecting with tight end Maxx Williams for a 40-yard catchand-run.

Woodrum finished the drive with a 14-yard rushing score off of a bootleg.

On his next drive, Woodrum picked apart Miami’s defense, connecting on short passes with multiple receivers.

He capped off the drive with a 1-yard quarterback sneak.

Woodrum finished the game completing eight of 10 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Despite the veteran experience of Mallett, some fans in Baltimore are clamoring for Woodrum two take the backup role behind starting quarterback Joe Flacco.

Flacco has been shut down for the entire preseason due to a back injury he suffered while lifting

weights in New Jersey.

He is expected to start week one of the regular season, but many fans worry that his injury will affect his play during the season or be reaggravated.

Mallett played well two seasons ago when Flacco was ruled out late into the year.

He helped the Ravens defeat the rival Steelers for a season sweep,

but his recent incosistency has cast some doubt among fans.

Mallett will have a chance to prove he can be Flacco’s backup when the Ravens host the Bills on Thursday, Aug. 26, at M&T Bank Stadium.

The starters should expect to play most of the first half as well, giving fans an extended preview of what is to come this season.