The Towerlight (October 24, 2017)

Towson’s campus and community news source

TheTowerlight.com

October 24, 2017

g n i m o c e Hom 2 0 17

& of the court w ie v re p A .12 o come, pg the week t Photo by Kerry Ingram, Photo Illustration by Jordan Stephenson /The Towerlight

2

October 24, 2017

Advertising

Social

October 24, 2017

Editor-in-Chief Marcus Dieterle Senior Editor Jordan Cope Assoc. News Editor Bailey Hendricks Arts & Life Editor McKenna Graham Asst. Arts & Life Editor Kerry Ingram Sports Editor Karuga Koinange Asst. Sports Editors Michael Mills Billy Owens Senior Staff Writer Sarah Rowan Staff Writers Desmond Boyle

OCTOBER

24-28 CALENDAR.

24

Lauren Cosca Amanda Carroll Mary-Ellen Davis Michael Mills Jill Gattens Jessica Ricks Billy Owens Keri Luise Kevin McGuire Muhammad Waheed

Photo Editor Alex Best Asst. Photo Editor Mark Dragon Staff Photographers Jordan Cope Joseph Hockey Simon Enagonio Joseph Noyes Brittany Whitham

26

Proofreaders Kayla Baines

Webmaster Circulation Staff Shawn Halerz Dom Capparuccini Aisha Marfani Elissa Kenfack Alexa Biddle

TOTALLY TIE DYE

Join the Homecoming Committee in their “Totally Tie Dye” event. The Committee will be giving out white T-shirts for students to dye at the event.

ALL THAT AND A BAG OF CANDY

The Homecoming Committee will be hosting a candy buffet for students. Grab some candy, and enjoy.

11 a.m.-1 p.m., Freedom Square

Natalie Jeffery

Art Director Jordan Stephenson

25

The Homecoming Committee will be hosting another event where all different types of animals will be brought to campus. Come out and see what we have in store.

Noon-2:30 p.m., The Beach

Lexi Thompson Brendan Felch

General Manager Mike Raymond

DOC’S ANIMAL ADVENTURE

Noon, Freedom Square

Jesse L. Baird Natalie Bland

Sarah Van Wie

WEEKLY

28

27

The Homecoming Committee will be hosting NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK PARTY their annual Block Party filled with food,

7 p.m., West Village Commons, Quad.

TOWSON VS. DELAWARE

games, performances and more. Come on out, and join the party.

Cheer on Towson as the team takes on arch-rival Delaware on homecoming.

MORE EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT

4 p.m., Johnny Unitas Stadium

TOWSON

EVENTS.TOWSON.EDU

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. ©2017 by The Towerlight, 8000 York Rd, Towson, MD 21252. All rights reserved.

Please Recycle!

@tres_equis_

hope this weather holds up for Towson Homecoming

@ hulede_dogsout Any Towson alums going to homecoming next weekend?

#

TU HOMECOMING

@DavyJTheVirgo

Would any Towson Alumn be down for a brunch in Baltimore on Oct.29th for Homecoming?

@DevinDae1 So Bowie, Towson and Maryland all have their Homecoming on the same weekend...yikes

3

4

Opinion

October 24, 2017

uninterrupted

Challenging some The beauty is on the inside conflicting views KYNDALL CUNNINGHAM Columnist

What I’m about to say may be frowned upon by my peers or on social media, but I’m going to say it anyway: I feel bad for Kylie Jenner.

It’s something you don’t hear often, but I refuse to believe that everyone “hates” the Kardashians as much as society tells them they should. Scrolling t h r o u g h Instagram and seeing her all over my Explore page (including memes of her before and after surgery), I realized that Kylie Jenner represents an overarching issue in pop culture that many of her critics ignore so she remains the target. Everything is pornified.

It’s no secret that sex sells.

Whether it’s sexy lyrics in songs,

nudity in films, or advertisements for practically anything, the sexier the better. However, sexual imagery doesn’t just titillate the person viewing it. It sets the standard for what people expect women’s bodies to look like, and in some cases, what women are literally dying to get.

If you follow the most popular female celebrities on Instagram (models, singers, reality stars, etc.), you get a plethora of sexy photos with women of different body types posing as hard as they can to achieve the same look.

For the most part, I can detect when someone’s butt, hips, and boobs aren’t real. There are plenty of celebrities who want you to believe that they squatted their way to a giant behind, but it’s just not

believable. They’ve succumbed to the 2016-2017 version of an hourglass shape. Even the skinniest of models who have to stay somewhat natural are arching their backs and squeezing their boobs together to give the impression that they have curves.

And don’t get me started on everyone’s giant duck lips.

It’s complicated to criticize or even have a discussion about women’s bodies, sexuality and nudity without people calling you a slut-shamer or a misogynist. Any sort of criticism of what women choose to do with their bodies means you are trying to control them as free, sexual beings.

The Kardashians are free to get however many surgeries they want, not only because they have the money, but because it is their choice.

But when our biggest pop stars are setting the tone for what’s sexy and what’s not, little girls and even adults who look up to them aren’t free at all.

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

D.C. wrestles over taxation reforms CONNOR McNAIRN Columnist

Both Congress and President Trump have placed great emphasis on restructuring taxes in the U.S. Republicans generally lament the fact that the United States has the highest corporate tax rates of developed countries, aggressively criticize the estate tax and complain of complicated filing procedures.

This past Thursday, however, the GOP set the stage for a potential tax overhaul.

Senate Republicans, through a slim 51-49 vote, pushed through a budget bill which essentially creates a “blueprint” for how the U.S. will spend its money in the 2018 fiscal year. In order for the gov-

ernment to spend money, it must have tax revenue; and because the GOP aims to cut taxes, it must also cut spending to avoid increasing the national deficit (when spending exceeds tax revenue, deficits grow larger). The GOP budget establishes a $473 billion cut from Medicare, and slashes $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years.

Not surprisingly, no Democratic senators supported the measure, and all Republicans except for Rand Paul voted in favor. Although some Republicans remain uncertain about the bill’s merit, most sup-

port the measure because it sets the stage for subsequent tax cuts.

Republican lawmakers have been under tremendous pressure from the American public to pass significant legislation. While President Trump talked highly of his and Congress’ ability to pass meaningful healthcare legislation and tax reform during his presidential campaign, so far, they have achieved neither. In fact, the Affordable Care Act looks as though it will remain for quite some time.

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

Discussing recent headlines of McGowan, Hill and Bergdorf DYLAN BRENNAN Columnist

Before I begin, I would like to say that Kyndall Cunningham is one of the best feminist and African-American columnists The Towerlight has had. Her writing style of defiance is void of aggression and arrogance, something that I should more likely model.

Although her last column had a wonderful moral and at least one true example, I found too many half-truths for me to go silent. I’m not trying to interrupt “Uninterr upted,” I’m simply trying to clarify a few things that she may have missed.

For the sake of space, I’ll make this section brief. Yes, Rose McGowan was speaking up against sexual abuse in Hollywood. This was completely fine, and necessary if you ask me. What was not necessary was when McGowan broke Twitter’s Terms of Service by placing private phone numbers of people on her account. That is what got her locked; not for speaking up, but for putting others in danger.

Second, Jemele Hill of ESPN was not suspended for calling out racism; she was suspended because she was calling for a boycott of NFL advertisers on Twitter, which the sports network could not let go unchallenged. Her claim that the president was a white supremacist was not the direct result of her suspension. That happened many weeks beforehand. She has even accepted her fate, saying a few days ago that "I deserved a suspension.

... I violated the policy. Going forward, we'll be in a good, healthy place."

Lastly, and I hope I’m not alone on this, but former L’Oréal model Munroe Bergdorf is a pathological hate-monger who has only gained power and prestige since her firing.

After the events in Charlottesville, she made sure that everyone understood her positions by repeating “Yes ALL white people,” when referring to them being racially violent in a Facebook post. I’m sure Heather Heyer’s family appreciated the notion that even though their white daughter was murdered by a neo-Nazi domestic terrorist, she was still labeled just as racist. Bergdorf has now had many television appearances on BBC, as well as other networks, where she spouts her hate. A few days ago she said in a Facebook post that white people must “admit their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth.”

I certainly wouldn’t want such a venomous human being in my employ, and I applaud L’Oréal for having the bravery to fire a transgender person of color, knowing how bad that could look for them.

I’d also like to ask anyone who doesn’t fall to the left on the political spectrum to boycott Twitter.

Some conservatives, even centrists like myself, have been persecuted and cast out of Twitter. It’s clear that Twitter is not a welcoming place to most people, and we need to do something about it.

Opinion

October 24, 2017

A read for wrestling fans everywhere

TU professor dives deep into all aspects of independent wrestling JORDAN COPE Senior Editor @jordancope26

With midterm season behind us, we all need a read that we can enjoy to refresh and rejuvenate our brains.

Luckily, for those of us who have never left our childhood days of watching wrestling, we can jump off the top rope, do some high-flying and read “Wrestling’s New Golden Age: How Independent Promotions Have Revolutionized One of America’s Favorite Sports.”

Ron Snyder, an adjunct professor at Towson University and a former Towerlight editorial board member, recently penned this book; let me tell you, it’s worth the read for any hardcore wrestling fan.

The beginning of this book will grab you instantly. Snyder introduces us to Tyler Black and Kevin Steen, who are battling in the IWA Mid-South Wrestling Extreme

Farewell card.

We come to find out that Black and Steen are now WWE Superstars Seth Rollins and Kevin Owens, respectively. From that anecdote on, I couldn’t put the book down.

Let’s face it, the WWE has an advantage that most of these independent companies don’t; that advantage is money. As a result, the WWE is able to produce A LOT of behind-the-scenes content.

That is why this book is so unique.

Snyder provides us with an inside and in-depth look at what the life of an independent wrestler is like.

The reader also gets a deep and rich account of the history of independent wrestling, and how it has become so relevant in independent sports promotions.

For those of you passionate about wrestling, I urge you to pick up this book. You will get a ringside view into independent wrestling that you never thought was possible.

oct 26

6Potomac - 9pm Lounge

I food & music

entertainment

photobooth

face paint Jordan Cope/ The Towerlight The cover of Ron Snyder’s new book, “Wrestling’s New Golden Age.”

contact: mario rodriguez mrodriguez@towson.edu, 410.704.2051

5

6

October 24, 2017

HOMECOMING PARKING & TRANSPORTATION

Advertising

October 28

• stadium lots open at 12:00

• Game Day permits are required for Lots 19, 20 and 21 • General Parking (no permits required) available in Lots 13, 14, Union & glen garages • Tailgating in designated lots only • No tailgating in any garages • shuttles will run from noon to 8:30 pm from the Union & Glen garages to the Towson Center • Gold Route will run on normal schedule from 4pm to 2am but there is no service to lot 14 from noon to 8:30pm

towson.edu/parking

Investigate your future in forensics Stevenson University Online offers six innovative master’s in forensics that can be completed entirely online and are taught by practicing forensic experts.

Graduates will be equipped with the tools they need to thrive in the shifting landscape of the forensics field.

Our online forensic master’s programs include:

Crime Scene Investigation Digital Forensics Forensic Accounting Forensic Investigation Forensic Science Forensic Studies

Get your tickets now

For information on these and our other online programs visit stevenson.edu/online

News

October 24, 2017

7

Gov. Hogan reflects on trials and tribulations

Hogan tells TU how he used persuasion to go from underdog to gov.

BAILEY HENDRICKS Associate News Editor @imsimplybailey

had never held elected office before.

He said he decided to become governor because he was frustrated with the way that Maryland was headed and thought someone needed to Maryland Governor Larry Hogan step up and try to do something discussed how he went from being about it. an underdog who had never been a Hogan described his launch of the politician to becoming a Republican group called “Change Maryland.” governor in what Hogan described to He said this group became the largprofessor Richard Vatz’s advanced est, non-partisan grassroots organipersuasion class on Oct. 19 as “the zation in state history. bluest state in the nation, that had “I happen to be a registered only elected one other Republican Republican,” Hogan said. “But I was in 50 years.” never a very partisan person, and we Vatz has Maryland’s goverreached out to people regardless of nor speak to his persuasion class their party affiliation, and had just every year in what he calls a “great as many Democrats as Republicans Towson tradition.” involved in our movement…. We “Political persuasion, of course, focused on the issues most peois composed of the agenda and ple in Maryland were concerned spin,” Vatz said. “In the 2014 race about. We were focused about the for governor, Larry Hogan’s oppoeconomy, about jobs, about the tax nent used classic negative camburden in Maryland.” paigning. Complete with tasteless, Hogan said that they have made untrue attacks claiming Mr. Hogan some progress in the forms of job opposed abortion in cases of incest growth and increased employment. and rape, and more interesting – Maryland has gained 130,000 claiming repeatedly in ads that Mr. jobs since Hogan took office in Hogan was a ‘dangerous man,’ and January 2015 and the state’s unemradically anti-woman.” ployment rate has dropped to 3.8 Vatz explained that Hogan percent. “successfully “It’s the best destroyed that job growth spin” when his “You never know how in Maryland daughter, Jamie much time you have. in a decade, Sterling, spoke and it’s some against such So, we better make of the best characterizations the most of it – every job growth in in an ad. In that one of us. And I think the nation,” ad, Sterling said Hogan said.

Hogan took pride every one of us has the Hogan also in raising his chance to accomplish said Maryland daughters to be something great every will have strong, indepenrecord breakdent women. day.” ing invest“Look at his ments in ad on YouTube, LARRY HOGAN education for students, and you Governor of Maryland three years in will learn from it,” a row, and has Vatz said. “Just invested $3 billion in protecting the great persuasion.”

Chesapeake Bay. Hogan told the students that “We’ve made some progress, but he thinks they are all lucky to be we’re just getting started,” he said. studying at Towson.

Hogan said most of his campaign “This class has been beneficial to a was “grassroots, door-to-door, handlot of people for many years,” Hogan to-hand.” said. “I have a tremendous amount “I went to every single jurisdicof respect for your professor, who tion in the state multiple times ,and does a wonderful job, and he knows shook every hand I could, answered an awful lot about politics, and perevery question at every place I could suasion and communications.” go, and we surprised a heck of a lot Hogan told the audience that of people,” Hogan said. “No one before he became governor, he was expected us to win.” a lifelong small businessman who

“

Lexi Thompson/ The Towerlight

When Larry Hogan started his campaign for governor he used persuasive rhetoric to combat the negative advertisements being used against him from his opponent at the time, Democrat Anthony Brown.

Former Lieutenant Governor Anthony Brown, Hogan’s Democratic opponent, had been predicted to win the 2014 gubernatorial race. However, Hogan ended up winning 20 out of 23 counties, by an average 35 percentage points.

“It was the biggest surprise upset in the nation…. People really were at a point where they wanted to try something different, and that’s what we’ve been trying to give them. I’ve been trying to give this job everything I’ve got,” Hogan said.

Hogan said they put together a team to run the government agencies and had an economic plan, and knew the kinds of things they wanted to do on a number of issues.

“But no matter how well you plan in life, there are going to be things that hit you from out of the blue,” Hogan said. “And that you’re not prepared for, and that you don’t have a plan for.”

Seventy-four days after Hogan was sworn in as governor, unrest broke out in Baltimore. Hogan described this as “the worst violence breakout in our largest city, the worst violence in 47 years.”

According to Hogan, during the Baltimore unrest, 400 businesses were burned and destroyed in the first few hours, and 170 police and firefighters were injured.

“The city was not able to handle the situation, and we declared a state of emergency, moved our entire team to the city,” Hogan said. “And we helped bring peace and calm.”

Hogan said he walked the streets of the city every day, talked to community leaders, faith-based leaders, gang members, and rioters as well as thanked policemen, firefighters and national guardsmen.

“We were able to restore peace to the city,” Hogan said. “We got credit across the country and the world for the way we handled the situation.”

Hogan accounts that, 60 days later, he went from being focused on how they were going to help the city, how they were going to improve education, how they were going to clean up the bay and the air, and how they were going to put people to work, to hearing three doctors tell him that he had a very advanced and aggressive cancer that had run all over his body.

Hogan said he went through six months of 24-hour a day chemotherapy and four surgeries – a total of 18 weeks of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

“Now I’m 100 percent cancer-free and in complete remission and I’m feeling strong,” Hogan said.

“Something like that makes you take a look at your life in a different way,” Hogan said. “And I was

already focused on trying to help people and trying to do the best I could as governor; but it really made me realize just how short life is. And that you never know how much time you have. So, we better make the most of it – every one of us.

And I think every one of us has the chance to accomplish something great every day.”

Students in Vatz’s persuasion class saw Hogan speaking at the University as a good opportunity to hear a story first-hand about how a politician was able to use persuasion to succeed.

“I thought it was really relatable to actually get to talk to a politician about rhetoric and persuasion, because politics is rhetoric and persuasion,” said junior Emily Taggart.

“What [Hogan] talked about was about bettering the state,” said senior Aleksandr Chatskiy. “You can see that he had a goal and it wasn’t just ‘I’m running just to run.’ You can see that he actually wanted to make a difference, which you just don’t see in politics these days – people who actually have a good heart, and good intentions. Which I think is part of persuasion too, because if you’re able to persuade people that you have good intentions, then they’re more likely to vote for you or agree with what you have to say.”

8

News

October 24, 2017

Panelists combat food waste U of Balt. prof. talks freedom of speech

Mass comm. dept. hosts “Know Your Rights” workshop MARY-ELLEN DAVIS Staff Writer

Amanda Carroll/ The Towerlight

A panel from the community and Towson University spoke about some ways people could help fight against food waste after the documentary “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste,” was screened Oct. 18.

An on-campus screening of the new documentary, “Wasted! The Story of Food Waste,” and a subsequent panel discussion presented an opportunity for the campus community to learn about food waste and how destructive it can be on multiple levels on Oct. 18.

In a world where 1.3 billion tons of food is wasted every year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food waste directly connects to global issues such as hunger and climate change.

Currently, 90 percent of food waste ends up in a landfill. When left to decompose without air, that waste results in the release of methane gas.

This greenhouse gas is 23 times more powerful than carbon dioxide.

The long decomposition time for food -- 25 years for lettuce to decompose if it’s under a huge pile of garbage without oxygen -- means that food wasted today will continue to impact the environment for years to come.

After the film, a trio of panelists from TU and the community shared information about local efforts to eliminate waste in Baltimore and answered questions from the audience.

Stacy Carroll, director of sales and partnerships for the organization Hungry Harvest, talked about how the organization is “intercepting food and purchasing it” and passing discounts on to their community-supported agriculture subscribers.

Carroll affirmed that Hungry Harvest is “driven by food access for all” and sells a week’s worth of salvaged produce -- about 8 lbs -- for $15. Through the organization’s “Produce in a SNAP” program, these same allotments of food can be bought for $7 using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, benefits.

Bringing a policy focus to the discussion, Sarah Buzogany, a food access planner with the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative, talked about her role to “make the environment [from local governments] favorable for food recovery.”

Acknowledging that “different [government] offices have different priorities,” she sees relationship cultivation as the best way to build inroads with local officials to help food waste reduction become a top priority.

The third panelist, Towson health science clinical associate professor Kathleen Gould, presented about best practices for safely storing and preparing food so as to eliminate food waste.

From techniques such as washing hands for 20 seconds and using separate cutting boards for people at risk for foodborne illness such as pregnant women, the elderly and children, Gould advised that ensuring safe food preparation can be easy to implement.

To trace food waste’s impact from farm to landfill, the film features food-conscious chefs Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Dan Barber and Massimo Bottura in conversation with activists, innovators and farmers on the frontline of the food waste movement.

As a guide for understanding food waste, the film used an upside-down pyramid graphic to rank food waste diversion options by priority, with the landfill as a method of last resort.

A top priority on the chart was feeding people. To illustrate this principle, the film focused on Daily Table, a grocery store in Massachusetts, that recovers food that would otherwise go to waste -- from grocery stores to growers -- and enables people to access healthy food at an affordable cost.

The film asserted that traditional grocery stores operate on a principle of “infinite abundance” and small blemishes in produce and confusing labeling, such as “best by” dates, expiration dates, “sell by” dates, is a reason why so many otherwise safe foods are thrown out.

The second method the film

explored was using food waste to feed animals, as 70 percent of grain harvested is fed to animals instead of people.

The film explored Japan’s livestock feed policy, as Japan was once the world’s largest importer of corn for feed. Now food waste is diverted into livestock feed production facilities and farmers can control animals’ diets, which affects how the resulting meat tastes. In fact, many farmers now feed specific diets to their livestock to achieve flavor profiles, creating a “brand” for their meat.

The third area of reducing waste was diverting food scraps into renewable energy. To do this, the film showed how Yoplait uses excess whey and other milk products to capture and compress methane to supplement their Greek yogurt plant’s power supply to use less electricity.

The film also explored composting, which requires heat, water, food and air to break down food scraps into plant matter. The film focused on a New Orleans school that created an “edible schoolyard” through composting lunchroom waste.

The ultimate theme of the film and the panelists’ discussion was that intentional actions can help reduce food waste, which can alleviate food scarcity and help the planet.

“We don’t need to produce more, we need to act different,” Bottura said in the film.

Students attending the presentation agreed.

“I really loved the video…. It gave me motivation [to waste less food],” said attendee Adetola Aderotoye.

Student Alvin Velasco described the event as “enlightening and engaging.”

“I never thought that there could be many ways to recycle leftovers and that impacts the environment…. As I was watching the documentary I was also doing my grocery list on my phone and I thought to myself, ‘I don’t need this as much, so I won’t have to throw it out,’” Velasco said.

Colin Starger, associate professor of law and the co-director of the pretrial justice clinic at the University of Baltimore School of Law, distinguished between legal rights and the application of those rights in the real world during a lecture on freedom of speech Oct. 19.

The Department of Mass Communication and Communication Studies sponsored the lecture, entitled “Know Your Rights: A workshop for organizers, reporters and witnesses of public activism,” as part of their second annual media and culture lecture series.

“The idea for this event [came when] we noticed a lot of interest from students about activism,” associate professor of journalism Stacy Spaulding said. “And there’s a lot more activist events being planned, and we wanted students to have a good grounding of what they have the right to do.”

Starger’s lecture centered on the First Amendment, what it can and cannot protect citizens from, and when it can be invoked as a defense.

Starger defined a right as a “legally enforceable claim of defense to claims brought at law.”

“Essentially, rights at law are different from rights in the street,” Starger said.

Starger used an example of filming

the police when an incident occurs.

Citizens may have a legal right to film the police under the First Amendment, but if an officer decides to arrest someone for filming what he or she may be doing, that person’s legal right may not be enough to stop the officer from detaining them.

The First Amendment only acts as a defense for the person after the fact to get the charges dropped.

In this case, the person’s First Amendment right would be used as a defense against the state, but not as a preventative action.

It can also be used in other situations, such as lawsuits for libel or defamation, according to Starger.

“I was actually pretty shocked at some of the things he was saying,” sophomore Jada Bruce said. “And I feel like a lot of reporters and journalists, like other people are kind of misinformed or don’t understand that we do have more rights than we think we do.”

For Starger, it is important for people to attend lectures like his because he wants to help people understand the technicalities behind free speech.

“I hope that we can elevate our discourse and think of ways to speak with each other,” he said. “And disagree with each other in an informed way; and I think a talk like this helps, hopefully, if I did it right [it] helps you understand the role the law plays in arguments about free speech and its limits.”

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

University of Baltimore professor Colin Starger spoke about what the First Amendment can and cannot do to protect citizens Oct. 19.

News

October 24, 2017

9

MSA hosts “Jewels of Islam” Asian-American poet Debunks myths of oppression about Muslim women

Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Muslim Student Association President Lyric Harris moderated a panel discussion between guest speakers Hena Zuberi, Lauren Schreiber, and Saira Khan at the MSA’s “Jewels of Islam” event Friday night.

KEARSTEIN JOHNSON Contributing Writer

With their goal being to bring awareness to the misconceptions that individuals have about Islam, especially the religion’s approach to women’s rights, members of the Muslim Student Association hosted their annual “Jewels of Islam” event Oct. 20.

Guest speakers Hena Zuberi, Lauren Schreiber and Saira Khan shared their stories of how Islam affects them as women.

Zuberi is a reporter that shows the stories from a side that is not as well represented as other perspectives.

“I was covering events where there were no Muslims speaking for themselves,” Zuberi said. “That is why I became an activist: to give a voice for those who don’t have one.”

Schreiber spoke on how she converted to Islam.

“My first encounter with Islam was in a MSA program in my college,” Schreiber said. “I’ve encountered many Muslim people since that are stand out folks. This all led to my convergence.”

Khan’s story of how she started practicing Islam was much like Schreiber’s.

“I had a spiritual awakening once I started college,” Khan said.

“That’s where I first truly started to practice my faith.”

MSA President Lyric Harris spoke about her own conversion to Islam.

“I became Muslim when I sat back and looked at all the different rights given to women in several religions,” Harris said. “I looked at the Quran to see how I as a black woman am viewed and found that

they have more rights than what is listed in the Bible.”

The oppression of women was a topic discussed by speakers since the belief that Muslim women as a whole are oppressed is a common misconception people have.

“Where is this word coming from?” Schreiber said. “How am I oppressed in any way?”

Khan acknowledged the fact that oppression very much does exist, however.

“Oppression exists in a lot of different forms,” Khan said.

“Are there Muslim women that are oppressed? Yes. So are some Christian and Jewish women. It is a sad reality.”

Harris gave explanation as to why there are such negative connotations to Islam.

“These elites in many countries do not want Islam to be looked at in a good light because it is all about power for them,” she said. “What people need to separate is their culture from Islam’s. Whatever that one radical person does, does not account for all of us.”

Khan spoke on the issues of women’s identity in the Muslim faith.

“Let’s take a scientific look at this,” she said. “There is only one race. Homo sapiens sapiens. We thought we could find differences between the races when looking at the whole DNA, but there was none.”

Audience members came for a variety of reasons, but one of the most common being to learn and educate others of the reality of Islam.

“It is a great event to be surrounded by diverse people of the same belief,” said student Akhirah

Hare. “I want to hear other Muslim women share their stories.”

MSA fundraising chair Romesa Mustafa, noted that Muslim women may choose to cover their bodies as a personal decision rather than because they are controlled by men.

“I want to learn more about my faith and inform others on my religion to take away some of those negative connotations,” Mustafa said.

“We as Islamic women are judged for covering up, but it is for the good of modesty not being controlled. As for the rights, people think men have the complete control but really it is more of compromises.”

Student Kate Kern came to “Jewels of Islam” to learn more about Islam for a course she is planning to take.

“Next semester, I am planning on taking a religious course that compares and contrasts Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” Kern said.

“I came to this event to get more information to see if this really interest me.”

Kim Hangbi, an exchange student from South Korea, is a recent convert to Islam.

“The Muslims are stereotyped by what is seen on television,” she said.

“None of it is true. I came here to learn more since I have more opportunities here.”

Student Ghadah Mahrougi wants to be able to dispel misinformation about Islam.

“I really want to be the person to correct the misconceptions of Islam,” Mahrougi said. “I would also like to differentiate between the cultures of Islam. I want to have the courage to say what is true.”

shares experiences SOPHIA BATES Contributing Writer @sbrookebates

Psychotherapist Sam Louie educated audience members about the challenges Asian-Americans face growing up in America, and the history of Asian-American immigration and racism, during his “Slanted Eyes: The Asian American Experience.” seminar on Oct. 20.

“This [seminar] just started when I graduated from grad school as a means to educate other therapists to help understand Asian clients,” Louie said. “It was a way to help them understand history and the cultural nuances for various Asian ethnicities, and some of the issues they may deal with more specifically.”

For sophomore Brady Meixsell, the seminar provided opportunities to fulfill a class requirement, while also being a good topic to recognize.

“For my family studies class, we have to come to a seminar and relate it to family resource management,” Meixsell said. “So I thought this would be a good topic on the AsianAmerican experience in the United States, and what they go through.”

Louie opened the seminar with his first spoken-word piece, “Living in White America,” using racial slurs, humor and anecdotes to recount his personal experiences as an AsianAmerican growing up. “‘I look different, they call me names, I ask why: is my skin to blame?’” Louie said in the piece to open up the history of the experience.

Louie discussed migration patterns of various Asian ethnic groups, describing them as “waves.”

To show Asian-American stereo-

types in media, Louie showed a variety of movie clips including “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “China Doll,” “Full Metal Jacket” and “Memoirs of a Geisha.”

The presentation included two other spoken-word pieces by Louie, “The Face of Fu Manchu,” and “What Kind of Asian are You,” to accompany the section regarding stereotypes in Asian-American culture.

“I think the poetry was great,” said junior Colby Russell. “It had comic relief, it was about his own experiences, and in some cases, it was a slap to the face. He mentioned some of the jokes that were highly offensive racial slurs and it’s all the way these affect ways of life and people’s experiences.”

Louie and some students concluded that the seminar is necessary in the culture here, due to a general misunderstanding from the public.

Russell, who is a women’s studies and mass communication major studying public relations, tries to learn about helping marginalized people and hopes to teach others the same.

“In my women and gender studies classes, I learn about new perspectives a lot, and try to utilize it as a tool to better my own knowledge and help those that are oppressed,” Russell said.

Louie sees the importance in spreading the message to a younger generation.

“I have done a few in universities and libraries, but I would like to move to a younger age as well, like high school or middle school,” Louie said. “There is so much education or lack thereof Asian-American history because it’s not a part of the American history courses.”

Sophia Bates/ The Towerlight

Psychotherapist Sam Louie presented his spoken word poems during the “Slanted Eyes: The Asian-American Experience” event.

12 October 24, 2017

Arts & Life

2017 HOMECOMING PREVIEW AND THE COURT S KERRY INGRAM Asst. Arts & Life Editor

Towson University kicked off its annual Homecoming week celebrations on Oct. 22 with a gathering of the 2017 Homecoming Court Sunday afternoon. The eclectic group of eight met at Tiger Plaza ready for introductions, photo sessions and free pizza.

Individuality and impact were the two key themes the Homecoming Court discussed. Each member expressed what they most look forward to in the week to come, as well as what they hoped to give back to Towson’s campus.

Wayne Nichols, SGA chief of staff and nominee for homecoming king, shared his thoughts on the week being a way to honor all of Towson’s achievements, as well as his own contributions to the campus.

“I’m involved in a lot on campus,” Nichols said. “I think just being able to celebrate being one of those people that your peers have looked up to, but also feeling like you’ve made an impact on campus is exciting.”

Lauren Dell’Arciprete, Towson’s cheer team captain and nominee for homecoming queen, highlighted the yearly homecoming game as the event she looks forward to most.

“We’re playing against Delaware so hopefully it’ll be a good game,” Dell’Arciprete said. “Of course I’ll be down on the sidelines.”

Exercise science major and homecoming king nominee DJ Burke expressed his excitement for the overall theme. Towson’s 2017 Homecoming is an ode to a decade

that has been trending since its time: the 90s.

“I’m most excited just to see all the 90s gear that comes out,” Burke said. “It’ll just be fun to see everybody’s perceptions on what 90s people would’ve worn.”

The nominees spent time bonding on their afternoon at the plaza, fostering a sense of kinship and camaraderie. From their ease in conversation to the abundance of laughter among them, the group showed that although they are competitors, there is no tension between them.

Towson junior and homecoming queen nominee La-Chelle Dickenson expressed her love for her fellow court members, while still highlighting what makes her strong competition.

“I think all the competitors are beautiful people,” Dickenson said.

“But I guess what makes me stick out is that I’m really here for the people. I want people to know that I’m willing to smile and to talk to anyone on campus.”

Ethan Williams, an exercise science major and homecoming king nominee, shared that the trait which makes him unique from his peers is his less extroverted nature. Despite being more soft-spoken, Williams did not seem intimidated by his fellow court members, especially since he has experience under his belt.

“I’m a little quieter than the rest, I guess,” Williams shared. “But this is my second time through [the homecoming process], so I kind of know what’s going on.”

For other nominees, the general school spirit of Homecoming Week and its ability to bring the campus community together is what excited

u

Photos by Kerry Ingram/ The Towerlight

The 2017 Homecoming Court had a photoshoot together in front of the tiger statue outside Burdick Hall. them most. Music director for the Towson Trills A Capella group and homecoming king nominee Leroy Hyson II shared networking as a positive aspect of the week to come, especially since he’ll be representing Towson.

“I know I’ll definitely be walking around and meeting a bunch of different people,” Hyson said. “That’s going to be super fun.”

Madison Scanlon, a Towson senior and homecoming queen nominee, referred to Towson’s school spirit for the week as a “happy reminder” of her college application process. As someone who attends college out-of-state, she expressed that her ultimate college decision came down to the vibe that Towson had to offer during their TU4U conference for prospective students.

“The whole ‘ra-ra’ spirit of Towson is kind of the reason why I came to Towson,” Scanlon said. “For me, the most exciting part about all

of this is that I think homecoming is when everyone really appreciates and shows their Tiger spirit.”

Elaina Schilling, who is also a Towson senior and nominated for homecoming queen, agreed that Towson’s spirit was what causes Homecoming Week to be enjoyable.

“Homecoming is a good unifying time,” Schilling said. “It’s wonderful for the campus, and the Towson community in general, some I’m sure the events will get people pumped and excited, and hopefully last through the semester.”

Towson’s 90s-themed Homecoming Week includes 12 events, each ranging in level of involvement while encompassing the essence of a good time.

Campus-wide decorating occurred on Oct. 22, as preparation for the events to come. The campus also held its annual talent show, “TU’s Got Talent,” at 8 p.m. in Stephen’s Hall Theater on Oct. 23.

Tuesday, Oct. 24’s event is “Doc’s Animal Adventure,” in which a variety of animals will be available to pet and feed in Freedom Square from noon to 2:30 p.m. The event is anticipated to be a way for students to take a break from class stresses being able to enjoy the presence of furry friends. At 5 p.m. in the Potomac Lounge there will also be a 90s trivia night to test participants’ knowledge of all that is pop culture and fun facts from the era of “Friends” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Wednesday Oct. 25, is planned to be Homecoming Week’s busiest day with four events. Starting at noon, there will be the “Totally Tie Dye” event on the Beach, a positive homecoming rally to celebrate Towson and all it has to offer. “Sweatin’ to the 90s Bodyweight Bootcamp” will

be held from 2-3 p.m. in Burdick Field, giving students the opportunity to work out and jam to throwback tunes. “Dance the Madness,” an annual Greek life dance competition, and “Blockbuster Movie Night” are the two events to occur Wednesday night, each providing Towson students with something worth watching.

“All That and a Bag of Candy,” a candy buffet hosted by the Homecoming Committee, will be available to students on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. At 8 p.m. that night, Towson will also be hosting its annual homecoming pageant in West Village Ballrooms.

Friday’s sole event will be the “New Kids on the Block Party,” the classic block party with a 90s twist.

The night will begin at 7 p.m. in West Village and include cornhole and KanJam tournaments, as well as free shirts for the first 400 students to arrive.

The traditional Homecoming Tailgate will happen Oct. 28, from noon to 4:00 p.m. and the final homecoming event will be Towson’s football game, held in Johnny Unitas Stadium at 4 p.m. Towson’s 2017 Homecoming Royalty will be crowned at halftime.

Towson’s Homecoming Committee proudly announced that they’re “offering students the opportunity to run for Royal, a title for those who do not identify with the cisgender title of King or Queen,” meaning that even if a nominee doesn’t identify as male or female, they won’t be excluded from or mislabeled by the festivities.

Voting happens via Involved@ TU, and will open following the pageant. Voting will close at 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 27.

Arts & Life

October 24, 2017

13

Spooky tunes for the Student explores film artistry upcoming Halloweek DEB GREENGOLD Contributing Writer

CHLOË WILLIAMS Columnist

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: Halloween! What better way to celebrate the scary season than by creating the perfect holiday playlist to blast from the time you are picking out your costume until you’re back at home watching horror movies with endless bags of candy? There are so many delightfully dark songs out there to add to your Halloween playlist this year, but here are just a few.

1. “Howlin’ For You” by The Black Keys is a dark and mysterious piece with distorted guitars and soulful vocals. This piece is supported by a groovy beat and has a distant quality to it, making it almost irresistible to howl along to.

2. “Crying Lightning” by Arctic Monkeys is full of clever guitar tricks and deep, ambient vocal treats. This song is a curious cauldron blend of straightforward indie rock with prevailing bass and inventive drum kit work.

3. “Gypsy Woman” by Anarbor begins with peculiar guitar effects matched with harmonious vocals. The chorus kicks in with a frighteningly catchy pop-punk chorus that continues the story of the singer’s encounter with a sinister woman.

4. “Carousel” by Melanie Martinez will place its listener inside an auditory haunted carnival. Extremely catchy, this dark pop tune features an eerie electronic soundtrack that highlights deep tones and transforms traditional circus music into something scary-good.

5. “Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf)” by AWOLNATION is an electronic song that bounces all over the genre spectrum by utilizing pop, punk, rock and electronic elements into one freakishly catchy track. The soft, continuous beats make this a perfect song for late night Halloween celebrations under a full moon.

6. “Ghostbusters (I’m Not Afraid)”

by Fall Out Boy featuring Missy Elliott is the perfect song to celebrate the spirit of the season. A catchy and modern take on the original Ghostbusters theme song, this track uses electronic synths and electric guitar to reinvent a beloved holiday classic.

7. “Pretty Monster” by Reckless Serenade features an extremely impressive vocal display and head-banging backgrounds that will

make you want to hit the monster mash. The way this song slowly builds and delivers strong punches makes it a hit for this Halloween.

8. “Any Last Words?” by New Years Day might just be the best song on your Halloween playlist this year. With seriously spooky themes, heavy electric guitar and a horror-movie bridge, this track is a must-have for any and all “funeral parties.”

9. “Emperor’s New Clothes” by Panic! At the Disco is a wicked good song about greed, vanity and power.

Electronic synths align with drum set beats and trumpet wails to craft an infectiously catchy track to get you in the fiendish spirit.

10. “Help I’m Alive” by Metric is a female-fronted rock piece that will take you from human to zombie in about five minutes. The heart-pounding drums, singing guitars and ranging vocals is tempting enough to wake the dead.

11. “Egyptology” by Mother Feather is a track that is easy to get wrapped up in with its deep, soulful guitar and driving drum set. The lyrics speak of dance parties with ancient Egyptian mummies by using punctuated vocal hits and high held notes.

12. “Devils Haircut” by Beck is just the chill bass-leaning song that every Halloween playlist needs. The laidback vocal performance eagerly switches to emotive cry-outs. Rippling electronics decorate swiftly-moving breakbeat drum and guitar work devilishly well.

13. “Out Of The Black” by Royal Blood will make you wonder if the things going bump in the night are just this track’s creatively-executed drum and guitar hits. Sinisterly delivered lyrics and guitar lines that constantly ascend and descend make this song a whirlwind piece within the frame of a conceptual story of bad love and darkness.

14. “Killer” by The Ready Set is a bubblegum horror-pop track with the perfect balance of sugar and spice (and everything nice). Sugary sweet lyrics are delivered over hair-raising, but lively electronic foundation to make one altogether killer song.

15. “You’re So Creepy” by Ghost Town is the ultimate Halloween party track featuring a layered level of dubstep overtop electric guitar and drum set. A dubstep bridge, black cat meows and even evil laughter can be heard in the background of the song. The vocal performance switches back and forth from yearning delivery to harsh, wicked growls.

Staring straight into the face of the fast-paced and brutal world of filmmaking is Ben Mehr, a sophomore at Towson University, and producer of the student film “Duplicity.” With the help of his cast, crew, family and girlfriend, this rising producer is beginning to make a name for himself. Mehr also has his partner in crime, Garrett Adams, who is the writer/director of “Duplicity.”

“Duplicity” is a psychological mystery feature that zooms in on a college student named Jem Ward, “who has left his old life behind him.”

Jem leaves behind a world of drugs and gang violence and buries his guilt “deep inside of himself,” but is later forced to return to his hometown when

an unspeakable incident occurs. Jem must confront the things he tried to forget, and in doing so, must investigate not only what happened and track someone down, but also figure himself out.

The project took about two to three years to make and was debuted at the Senator Theatre off of York Road. The film won the Kudos Endeavor Award at the 2017 Depth of Field International Film Festival and was nominated for Best Student Film at the 2017 World Music and Independent Film Festival.

The movie can be viewed on IMDb for anyone who missed it.

“The film is for anyone and everyone,” Mehr said. “It is on the darker side and it [does] a great job of [showing] how a split decision can change a life and that can happen to anybody. It

Photo by Deb Greengold/ The Towerlight

Mehr stands with the movie poster for his first film, “Duplicity,” which he both produced and starred in and which won an award.

is also good to show parents to communicate with their kids, and there is a lesson for everybody.”

Mehr found his love for film and media back in middle school, and it developed as time went on. He started out with 20-30 second videos and dabbled with Windows Live, and everything took off from there. He wants to do what he loves and “make a difference both inside and outside the film world.”

For Mehr, filmmaking is enjoyable because of the wide range of possibilities it holds.

“You can show all different types of art,” he said. “You can make your own music, lighting, photography, it can hold anything you want.”

Mehr believes that learning doesn’t stop with film classes.

“You still have to go out into the field to learn things,” said Mehr. “It is a very hands-on experience.”

Instead of aspiring to be like any specific filmmaker, Mehr likes to use his own style, and has big plans to introduce more of the world to his artistry. He’s already working on his next film, “Forever Red,” which is about two American ex-spies from the Cold War. “The fragile normality in life that they manage to establish is broken when one of the ex-spies seeks out the other more than 40 years later,” Mehr said. “Upon reuniting, old feelings resurface and a dark secret from their past is brought to light.”

To Mehr, “Forever Red” is about “lost love and how the demons of our past always catch up with us in the end.”

The film is crowdfunding right now at www.seedandspark.com/fund/forever-red#story.

Production will be set in motion in January, and you can expect to see “Forever Red” in June 2018.

Halloween as a healthy holiday NOELLE HARADA Contributing Columnist

Apples and pumpkins are synonymous with the sugary drinks and pies of fall. However, these foods are greater than their sugary counterparts; they are nutrient-dense, and should represent healthy seasonal eats.

October is the prime harvest season for apples and pumpkins, and it signifies National Pumpkin and National Apple Month. This season, nourish

your body by enjoying these fall favorites outside of their typical desserts.

Thanks to modern innovations, apples can be purchased and enjoyed year-round. However, apples are the cheapest, freshest and sweetest during the autumn months. Apples are the perfect grab-and-go snack for busy college students. One medium sized apple is less than 100 calories, contains no fat, no sodium and no cholesterol. One apple also contains about four grams of fiber, which accounts for 10 to 20 per-

cent of the daily recommended value.

Fiber is important for digestion, blood sugar regulation and heart health.

Fiber is also important for regulating hunger, so snacking on an apple may prevent overeating and aid with weight loss/management. Apple skins contain antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties that can help prevent diseases like stroke, heart disease and cardiovascular disease.

--Read the rest of this column online at www.thetowerlight.com.

14 October 24, 2017

Arts & Life

Eagerly awaiting this film’s death day LUKE PARKER Columnist

Marcus Dieterle/ The Towerlight

John Patterson was encircled by other partiers during Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” and busted out a routine that he practiced “a thousand times,” and seized the opportunity to perform it for others.

Hallowqueer 2017 MCKENNA GRAHAM Arts & Life Editor

Towson University’s Queer Student Union kicked off the spooky celebrations early this year with their annual Hallowqueer party on Oct. 21, allowing attendees to show off their costume creations with a costume contest, bust moves on the dance floor, and of course, eat some delicious Halloweenthemed treats with rainbow-flag toothpicks for decoration.

“It’s a Halloween party hosted by LGBT students for LGBT students and their allies,” said QSU President Theo Rinaldi. “It’s just a place that people can get together, feel comfortable being themselves, have a sense of community, and just celebrate a pretty fun time of year after midterms and everything.”

Rinaldi is a psychology major with a minor in LGBT studies who attended the event dressed as Dipper Pines from the television show “Gravity Falls.”

“I’m just embracing that it might be a little bit silly,” Rinaldi said of his last-minute costume, “but I’m having fun.”

Rinaldi chose Dipper not just because he loves the show in general, but because he identifies with aspects of the character.

“He’s a little bit awkward, he’s funny, he’s smart, he’s hard-working, he panics a little bit but he always gets the job done,” Rinaldi said. “A lot of people count him out, say that he’s not really a man and that he sounds like a girl, and, I mean, same, but that doesn’t mean I’m not one, and it matters who you are

on the inside.”

In addition to the Gravity Falls characters were some classic costumes like a witch and a cat, as well as more innovative or unconventional ones like a frat boy, Burt Macklin and Janet Snakehole from the show “Parks and Recreation,” and Rosie the Riveter.

“Everyone’s dressed as comic characters, and people are dressed as angels and characters from ‘Adventure Time,’ so I thought it was pretty cool, the amount of diversity there is,” said sophomore Arielle Lewis, who was dressed as Minnie Mouse.

Nico Dureza, freshman biology major, was most looking forward to seeing how creative everyone got with their costumes. He attended the event dressed as Yuri Katsuki from the anime “Yuri!!! on Ice,” and explained his love for the show.

“It’s really awesome because it’s about figure-skating,” Dureza said. “The main character and his coach get into a romantic relationship, and it’s two men, so it’s a really good representation of gay romance without the usual fetishization or queer-baiting that a lot of other media has.”

Dureza emphasized his particular feeling of representation in the character of Yuri himself.

“Yuri struggles with his self-image, with depression and anxiety, so I relate a lot to him,” he said. “I also have a boyfriend of my own, so it was really good to see someone like me on the screen.”

The party was about more than just costumes, though; attendees jumped on the dance floor when a song with major nostalgia factor like “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” by Panic! At The Disco was

played; belted out the lyrics to songs from artists like Fall Out Boy, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga; and moved in a welltuned crowd to line dances for songs like V.I.C’s “Wobble” and Mr. C The Slide Man’s “Cha-Cha Slide.”

During Madonna’s “Like a Prayer,” junior theatre studies major John Patterson ended up being the center of a dance circle, and pulled a perfectly-choreographed routine out of nowhere to the adoration of his audience.

“That was a lot of fun, I’ve always loved that song,” Patterson said. “I’ve honestly probably practiced that a thousand times in my room, no lie. So when I saw the chance, and I had the cape, I just took it. It was a lot of fun.”

Between songs was a game where contestants had to find a partner and wrap the person in an entire roll of toilet paper in two minutes, and acostume contest, which was won by freshman Quinn Remich, dressed as the Queen of Hearts.

“I didn’t have a costume and I really wanted one, so I went to the thrift shop and I just picked one off the wall, and designed something out of it,” Remich said. “It’s super exciting [to win] because I worked hard on the makeup, and I’m happy people enjoyed it.”

Patterson considered the night a resounding success; he said he was thankful to QSU and the student organization In the Life for introducing him to so many friends, and most enjoyed just having a good time with them.

“Being able to spend time and celebrate Halloween with my friends, who understand me and get me, it’s a lot of fun,” Patterson said. “I really feel like I can be myself.”

Applying the “Groundhog Day” format to a horror movie seems so obvious a concept that it’s surprising that “Happy Death Day” is the first to do it. It must have been a smooth pitch for the creators, and an easy decision for the studio; it’s cheap to make and easy to sell. Opening comically with the Universal Pictures logo stopping and restarting just as the company’s name turns the corner of the globe, it seems that the filmmakers are comfortable in the sillier format the audience put money down to see.

Except “Happy Death Day” will never be that jocular again, leaving the rather absurd and totally self-exposing mystery to stand – and fall – on its own.

Hungover college student Tree Gelbman (Jessica Rothe) wakes up on the morning of her birthday in the bed of the nerdy-but-chivalrous

Carter Davis (Israel Broussard). She’s horrified – if anyone were to discover her drunken mistake, her reputation would be ruined. But she is late to class, and to her extracurricular rendezvous, with the professor (Charles Aitken). She rushes out, breezing past the pretentious roommate at the door who’s wondering if his friend got laid.

The “walk of shame” back to her sorority house consists of several easy-to-remember encounters the filmmakers can effortlessly repeat in their “Groundhog Day” remix: a hipster glares at her creepily over his sunglasses; an environmentalist wants her signature on a petition; the sprinklers turn on; a car alarm goes off; and a frat pledge passes out during initiation. The whole collegiate nine yards.

By the time she gets to her house and we meet the rest of her sisters, the roots of her snobbish personality are exposed.

--Read the rest of this column online at www.thetowerlight.com.

Smashing the idea that the scale matters KERRY INGRAM Asst. Arts & Life Editor

For college students and young adults, the pressure to fit into society’s ideal standards of beauty and attractiveness are very prevalent. Such pressures can affect one’s mental health and stress levels for the worse. Towson University’s Body Image Peer Educators have recognized this problem, and plan to do something about it.

Towson University’s Body Image Peer Educators will be presenting “Love Your Body Week,” an annual event series about the importance of positive body image, from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2. Each day will consist of a unique, inclusive activity that targets a topic linked to body positivity.

Kiran Kaur, a graduate assistant of the Body Image Peer Education program, said the group hopes that the initiative will increase body acceptance amongst Towson’s community.

“College students are at a developmentally vulnerable stage in their lives and are particularly susceptible to body dissatisfaction because of peer influences and social media pressures,” Kaur

said. “Through our events and programming, we seek to educate students about ways to increase body positivity, how to recognize signs of unhealthy behaviors, and how to seek help.”

“Love Your Body Week” will consist of four main events. A trivia event kicks off the week in the afternoon of Oct. 30 in Burdick Hall, where students can compete to see who has the most knowledge about exercise and nutrition.

“Scare Away Your Insecurities,” an event taking place in University Union on Oct. 31, will use funhouse mirrors and Halloween themes to communicate the importance of self-acceptance.

The group will host “Nourish Your Body and Skin” on Nov. 1, in West Village, where attendees can get pampered, participate in yoga and enjoy free food while practicing self-care techniques.

The final event of the week, “Smash the Scale,” will take place mid-day Nov. 2 on the Beach, where students will be invited to break scales with a hammer.

The Body Image Peer Educators hope this last event will “show that people are more than just a number.”

--Read the rest of this article online at www.thetowerlight.com.

Advertising

October 24, 2017

SHOW student ID for HOrrendous deals!

164o E. Joppa Rd. Towson, MD 21286 Home of FREE lighters and FREE screens

Best selection of glasspipes,Water pipes and Rigs. Detox, papers, grinders, Kratom, Juuls,

Beav’s Mom and Staff are here to help with all your smoking needs. We remain in loving memory of Beav.

Hours: Mon.-Saturday 11am- 9pm Sunday 11am- 8pm

41o-337-7733 @beavssmokeshop beavs_smokeshop FB, instagram,

Snapchat, Twitter

housing

Towerlight TheTowerlight.com/classifieds

CLASSIFIEDS help wanted - general

INTERESTED in making $20-30/ hr PT working for Baltimore’s fastest growing home improvement company? Call 410-402-1092 or email Jon@ PeakCustomRemodeling.com Today!!

PHYSICAL THERAPY TECH Part time for orthopedic PT practice in Timonium. Seeking motivated individuals with strong exercise background, excellent communication and people skills. 10-25 hours per week. Please include your hours of availability in a cover letter with your resume.

Fax 410-560-0877 or email jlibertini@spineandsportsrehab.com AFTER SCHOOL SITTER/DRIVER NEEDED 4 Kids ages 4-14. M, T, W, Th 3:30-6:30, But days/times flexible. Greenspring Valley area.

Competitive pay ($15/hr). text or call Courtney 443-838-9979.

HOTPOTS, a paint-your-own pottery studio in Timonium, is seeking F/T & P/T staff members. Apply now for a rewarding job with flexible hours & a fun environment. Call or email for an application: 410-561-3035. www.hotpots.net.

ISO SOMEONE to take over lease at The Colony . 2 bd/2b. Washer/ Dryer, upgraded kitchen. Patio.

Shuttle. Pet friendly. Rent plus extras approximately $1380. Utilities not included. Call Lisa 410-227-3034 or email dspitalsky@ymail.com.

PUT YOUR AD HERE! Only $15 Email your 30-word text ad to Mike at ads@baltimorestudentmedia.com

YOUR CAREER

PLAY CENTERS, INC. is seeking D E S E R V E Energetic, Fun, & Outgoing employees to work with School Age child in our Before and/or After School child care center(s). We offer flexible hours, no weekends, and comparable pay too. Locations in Timonium, Cockeysville, Towson. Email Wendy Wsharp@playcenters.org for details.

S

THE ULTIMATE

CAREER NETWORK Personalized job & internship recommendations based on your major & interests

Log in to your account with your NetID and password today at Towson.JoinHandshake.com

15

October 2017 24,24, 2017 16 October 16

Puzzles Puzzles

Crossword Sudoku

?

Puzzles

?

8-15-16

● Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 through 4 (easy) or 1 through 6 (challenging) without repeating.

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

Please support independent student journalism @ TU ● The numbers within the heavily

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2016 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

?

See page 18 for answers to this week’s

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

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

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

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

Sports

October 24, 2017

Week eight provides exciting matchups MICHAEL MILLS Asst. Sports Editor

The craziness that is the 2017 NFL season continued in week seven. For the first time in 16 years, seven teams failed to score an offensive touchdown Sunday.

The Chicago Bears won despite the unproductive play of quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Chicago recorded five first downs through four quarters, 15 less than their opponent, the Carolina Panthers.

Carolina outgained Chicago by 140 yards, but neither team managed to score an offensive touchdown. The Panthers could n o t m ov e the ball consistently and the B e a r s won by two scores thanks to rookie safety Eddie Jackson. Jackson scored one touchdown on a 75 yard fumble recovery and added another score on a 76 yard interception return.

He is the first player to score on a fumble, and interception return since former San Diego Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie in 2007.

The best game of week seven was featured on Thursday night when the Kansas City Chiefs took on the Oakland Raiders at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum. Many critics had wondered whether Raiders

wide receiver Amari Cooper had lost a step. Through the first six weeks of the season, Cooper only totaled 146 receiving yards and one touchdown. On Thursday night, Cooper left little doubt that he could still compete at a high level. The former Alabama standout caught 11 balls for 210 yards and two touchdowns.

The Raiders scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to save their season and win 31-30.

Another starting quarterback went down with an injury in week seven. The Miami Dolphins lost quarterback Jay Cutler in the second half of their game against the New York J e t s .

Cutler cracked his ribs and is expected to miss a few w e e k s .

D e s p i te trailing 28-14, backup quarterback Matt Moore led Miami to a second half comeback. Moore moved the ball down the field with ease against the Jets defense and helped the offense put up 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. The Dolphins won 31-28 and now sit at 4-2.

In a league full of mediocrity, it’s hard to find three exciting games to look forward to. However, two divisional games and a conference rivalry could make for intriguing matchups.

Quarterback Philip Rivers and

the Los Angeles Chargers are set to do battle with quarterback Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. The Chargers have won three straight games to climb back into the thick of things in the AFC and the Patriots sit atop the AFC East at 5-2. Although they’re in first place, the Patriots have failed to dominate teams as fans have become accustomed to. The Chargers upset the Patriots on a late touchdown pass to wide receiver Keenan Allen. The Patriots pitiful defense finally catches up with them.

Chargers 27, Patriots 20 Fox’s NFL game of the week features the Dallas Cowboys visiting the Washington Redskins.

Despite the controversy surrounding running back Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys impressed against the San Francisco 49ers. Elliott rushed for two touchdowns and caught another in the 40-10 win. Behind week six’s momentum and their offensive line, the Cowboys go on the road to beat the Redskins in a close game.

Cowboys 23, Redskins 21 On Monday night, the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos. Both teams are coming off of tough losses. The Chiefs lost by one in Oakland, and the Broncos were shutout by the Chargers. The Broncos have boasted the best defense in the league up to this point. However, the Chiefs offensive weapons prove to be too much for the Denver defense. The Broncos offense lets the defense down for consecutive weeks and Kansas City wins by 13 against its AFC West division foe.

Chiefs 20, Broncos 7

17

18 October 24, 2017

Sports

towson takes Baltimore suffers its second consecutive loss fifth KARUGA KOINANGE Sports Editor

The Ravens lost 24-16 in a defensive matchup in Minnesota against the Vikings Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium.

The Ravens (3-4) struggled to move the ball with a banged up receiving corps, while the Vikings (5-2) ran the ball well and put on a stronger showing on defense.

Both teams got off to a sloppy start. Baltimore went three-and-out on its first drive, and Minnesota threw an interception on its first play from scrimmage.

The Ravens settled down on their next drive as kicker Justin Tucker drilled a 48-yard field goal to give Baltimore a 3-0 lead. He made all three of his field goal attempts on the day.

Minnesota kicker Kai Forbath traded field goals with Tucker throughout the first half as neither offense could get into rhythm.

However, it was the foot of Forbath that gave the Vikings a 9-6 lead going into halftime.

Early in the third quarter, Forbath

and the Vikings picked up where they left off by adding another field goal to take a 12-6 lead over the Ravens.

Midway through the third, Minnesota running back Latavius Murray sprinted past the Baltimore defense for a 29-yard touchdown run to make it an 18-6 game.

With a two possession lead and time running out on the Ravens, the Vikings cranked up their defensive pressure.

Minnesota defensive lineman Everson Griffen and Tom Johnson wreaked havoc in the backfield, hurrying Joe Flacco’s throws and stuffing Baltimore’s rushing attempts.

Flacco was sacked five times on the day, and his receivers failed to get open the few times that he had a protection in the pocket.

The Vikings ran the ball well in the second half to seal the win. They finished the game with 169 yards on the ground, averaging five yards a carry.

Baltimore will have a short week and will look to regroup quickly, as the team hosts a Thursday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins at M&T Bank Stadium.

Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m.

Solutions ● Each row and each column must

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

● The numbers within the heavily

8-16-16

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

● Freebies: Fill in single-box cages with the number in the top-left corner.

KenKen® is a registered trademark of Nextoy, LLC. ©2016 KenKen Puzzle LLC. All rights reserved. Dist. by Universal Uclick for UFS. www.kenken.com

for Puzzles on page 16

Courtesy of BaltimoreRavens.com.

CB Brandon Carr prepares for Sunday’s game versus Minnesota.

Towson finished in fifth place in a nine team pool in the Delaware Blue Hen Invitational at the Rehoboth Beach Country Club this weekend.

The team shot a 917.

Junior Alix Lowe led the Tigers throughout the event, tying for fifth overall after recording a five-over 221, and eight birdies. Lowe came into the final day of the tournament tied for second overall after posting a one-over 73 in each of the first two rounds Saturday.

This was Lowe’s third consecutive top-five finish. It was also the fourth consecutive tournament in which Towson had a golfer finish in the individual top-five.

Senior Alexis Hios finished tied for 14th overall with a 229 for the weekend, and seven birdies. She also shot an even-par in the final round to help Towson finish with its best round of the tournament. The team shot 300 in Sunday’s final round after 307 in the first and 310 in the second.

Junior Jenny Buchanan posted a three-over 75 in the third round for a total of 232, while sophomore Josephine Jung posted a five-over 77 in the second to finish with a 235.

Freshman Sarah Perine closed the final round with a six-over 78 for a total of 249.

Competing as individuals, freshman Emma Sutton recorded a twoover 74 in the second round to finish with a 241 and five birdies, while sophomore Erica Han posted a seven-over 79 in the last round for a total of 247 and one birdie.

Towson’s fifth-place finish was ahead of Penn, Navy, Albany and Bucknell. No. 42 Penn State took first overall, while Delaware finished second. Harvard finished third and James Madison finished fourth.

Towson wraps up its fall campaign with a trip to TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz, Florida, to compete in the USF Invitational on Monday, Oct. 30, and Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Sports

October 24, 2017

19

shattered hopes for tu Team fails to make postseason after 3-1 loss

Julymar Otero Volleyball

Senior outside hitter Julymar Otero impressed in Towson’s two CAA wins. On Sunday, Otero recorded a double-double with 12 kills and 20 assists. Saturday, she recorded a triple-double with 10 kills, 15 assists and 13 digs.

File photo by Brendan Felch/ The Towerlight

Senior co-captain and midfielder Maddie Bové lines up to kick the ball against Delaware in a home match on Sept. 24. Towson dropped its season finale to William & Mary 3-1, and missed the CAA Tournament.

DESMOND BOYLE Staff Writer

Towson’s hopes of qualifying for the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) tournament were dashed Sunday as the team dropped its final game of the year 3-1 to William & Mary.

The loss comes just three days after the Tigers kept their tournament hopes alive with a 0-0 draw on the road against Northeastern.

Needing a win and some help from other CAA matchups, the Tigers came out sluggish as the Tribe dominated the game early.

William & Mary midfielder Rachel Moore put her team on the board first in the opening 17 minutes after getting an assist from freshman midfielder Erin Dailey.

“

Towson failed to amount any threat in the first half as the team only managed two shots in the first 45 minutes.

Ten minutes after Moore’s goal, William & Mary doubled its lead with a goal from defender Elysse Branton off an assist from forward Sarah Segan.

“We hit a wall, we didn’t have enough energy to compete today,” Head Coach Greg Paynter said. “I think the travel and wear and tear of this season, especially the last couple of weeks, really affected us today.

We played better and fought in the second half.”

Despite a third Tribe goal courtesy of Segan, the Tigers pushed to score throughout the final half of their season.

Towson finally broke through 75 minutes into the game when sophomore midfielder Grace Mondloch sent

a cross over the top of the William & Mary defense that hit attacker Sam Lotti in stride. Lotti headed a shot into the back of the net to register the team’s lone goal.

“We had a lot of adversity this year,” Paynter said. “This team was always willing to get off the mat and go at it again.”

Towson redshirt senior goalkeeper Taylor Sebolao had 10 saves against the Tribe, making double-digit saves in consecutive games following her record-breaking performance against Northeastern on Thursday.

Sebolao set a program record for saves in a CAA game with 18 against the Huskies to preserve the shutout and earn a point in the standings.

This is the third year in a row that Towson will miss an appearance in the CAA tournament.

”

I think the travel and wear and tear of this season, especially the last couple of weeks, really affected us today. We played better and fought in the second half.

GREG PAYNTER Head Coach

20 October 24, 2017

Sports

rolling down the stretch

Photos by David Fischer/ The Towerlight

Sophomore middle blocker Silvia Grassini (left) and junior outside hitter Carola Biver leap for a block attempt in Sunday’s contest against William & Mary at SECU Arena (above).

Towson celebrates its fifth-straight victory after defeating William & Mary. The team will hit the road this weekend to take on CAA rivals Hofstra and Northeastern (below).

JESSIE L. BAIRD Staff Writer

Towson remained hot as the team extended its winning streak to five, with two home wins over Elon and William & Mary this weekend.

The Tigers swept Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) foe William & Mary 3-0 (25-17, 25-16, 25-14) on Sunday to capture their 21st win of the season, extending their current winning streak to five games with three of those games on the road.

Senior Julymar Otero led the way for Towson. Otero performed well once again with 20 assists, 12 kills and 8 digs.

“We played cleaner this weekend than we have in the past,” Head Coach Don Metil said. “The biggest thing we did well was the execution of our game plan.”

The Tigers continued their winning ways this weekend by defeating Elon 3-0 (25-22, 25-18, 26-24).

Three Tigers led the way in the match as Otero, junior Carola Biver and junior Jocelyn Kuilan each recorded double-digit kills.

Biver set the bar high with 11 kills, followed by Otero and Kuilan who both recorded 10.

In addition to her 10 kills, Otero recorded her second straight triple-double with 15 assists and 13 digs.

“Level headed players like Otero are the base and strength of this team,” Metil said. “Volleyball is an emotional game full of highs and lows and being able to keep an even head through that all is hard. One thing the leaders have is the ability to keep that even head and have the team rally around that.”

With their victory over the Phoenix, the Tigers have made it four 20-win seasons under Metil, putting him second in Towson history for the most 20-win seasons.

Chris Riley currently holds the

record with five 20-win seasons.

Towson continues CAA play next weekend with two road matches against Hofstra and Northeastern.

The team opens the weekend at Hofstra Friday, October 27, at 7 p.m.

Following their two matches on the road, the Tigers return to

SECU Arena to face the College of Charleston, UNC Wilmington, James Madison and Delaware to round out their regular season.