Breaking news and more at TCNJSignal.net. Vol. XLIX, No. 1
College No. 35 of 727 ‘Best Colleges in America’ By Miguel Gonzalez News Editor The College ranked 35th nationally and second in New Jersey on MONEY Magazine’s 727 “Best College’s in America,” which was published on Aug. 13. Behind only Princeton University, the College placed higher among public institutions, ranking 23rd nationally and reigning first in New Jersey. MONEY magazine based its rankings upon “educational quality, affordability and alumni success.” According to the magazine, students at the College had an average debt of $23,000. Earlier in 2018, MONEY magazine reported that college graduates under 35 have an average student debt of $32,900. In terms of affordability, 39 percent of students in need at the College received grants, while students paid an estimated price of $24,100 with grants. College Spokesman Dave Muha sees the importance of MONEY Magazine’s rankings and its impression on prospective students and their parents. “I think the MONEY ranking is especially meaningful because of what it attempts to measure — academic quality, affordability and outcomes,” Muha said. “These are three things that probably matter most to students and their parents. The College has invested carefully in the academic program and student experience to deliver an exceptionally highquality education.” see VALUE page 2
August 29, 2018
Serving The College of New Jersey community since 1885
New area code affects Ewing phone numbers
By Lily Firth News Editor
A phone number’s area code creates a sense of solidarity for people living in the same region. On Sept. 17, new phone numbers in Southern and Central New Jersey will no longer contain the 609 area code — they will now use the area code 640. But there is no need to worry — anyone with existing phone numbers, including the College, which uses area code 609 will still be able to keep their current numbers. While this gives a chance for existing institutions and individuals living within the 609 area code’s boundaries to breathe a sigh of relief, the question still remains — why the need for a new area code? The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which is in charge of New Jersey telecommunications, estimates that due to growing populations, available phone numbers with the 609 area code would soon run out. The two options the Board had to face was to either change the area code, or redraw the boundary lines of the area codes, according to NJ.com. According to New Jersey Real Time News, many residents still say that
Miguel Gonzalez / News Editor
Green Hall houses the College’s telecommunications office. changing the area code number will not affect their pride — they still come originally from “609.” The new area code brings slight changes telecommunications in Central and Southern New Jersey, including the Ewing area. As of Aug. 18, anyone with a 609 area code or the new 640 area code that wishes to call another 609 or 640 code has to dial the area code along
with the seven-digit number to connected with the correct number. If someone with an 856, 609 or 640 area code calls anyone with a different area code, they will need to dial 1 before the area code and the seven-digit number. Those in other area codes can continue using the same dialing methods, as there is no change for them. see REGION page 2
National Radio Day exhibit celebrates vintage technology
The pop-up exhibit attracts radio enthusiasts of all ages. By Miguel Gonzalez News Editor
While most students were busy moving into their residence halls, exhibit attendees in Roscoe West Hall were riding the waves. The College’s Sarnoff Collection hosted a guided tour on Wireless Word, a pop-up radio exhibit,
INDEX:
on Sunday, Aug. 26 in Roscoe West Room 204. The exhibit showcased radio artifacts from The Radio Corporation of America between 1910 to the late ’80s in celebration of National Radio Day, which was Aug. 20. Florencia Pierri, the Sarnoff Collection’s curator, guided a discussion about many
Nation & World / page 3
Follow us on... The Signal @tcnjsignal
Editorial / page 5
Miguel Gonzalez / News Editor
radio artifacts. Pierri started the tour by demonstrating the Crystal set, the first popular type of radio introduced in 1913. According to Pierri, the Crystal set brought radios to a wider audience and laid the foundation for radio enthusiasts. During the 1920s, enthusiasts would purchase parts Opinions / page 7
and instruction books to assemble their own radios. Pierri followed up by presenting the first radio of RCA’s iconic radiola series, the Aeriola Sr. Receiver radio, Type RF. Introduced in 1921, the radio sold for $75. The device was not successful because RCA did not include necessary accessories such as vacuum tubes, antennas and batteries. Pierri then showed the radio’s successors, the Radiola II and the Radiola III. The Radiola II, introduced in 1923, proved to be RCA’s first smash hit because of its distance range. Using more than one vacuum tube, the Radiola II had an impressive 2000 mile range. During the 1920s, it was commonly referred to as the radio music box, according to Pierri. In the following year, RCA created a budget version of the Radiola II with the Radiola III. According to Pierri, it sold for $35. While RCA had several successful radios, it also encountered struggles as radio broadcasts were still developing. “In 1923, radio was great, but if you didn’t have headphones it wasn’t useful,” Pierri said. “The only radio stations at the time
Features / page 11
were in Pittsburgh and New York City. Those radios only broadcasted 30 hours a week.” Pierri then shifted the visitor’s attention to the Radiola 13. The device, distributed in 1928, was the first radio that operated on an alternating circuit. According to Pierri, it was an important step in radio technology because the device was plugged into an outlet and no longer relied on batteries. The device also played a crucial role in RCA’s marketing. During the 1920s, radios were usually placed in basements because of their heaviness and dull appearance. But with the Radiola 13, RCA pushed consumers to use their products in living rooms. Pierri then paused the tour to discuss RCA’s most significant business decision. In 1929, RCA acquired the Victor Talking Machine Company. According to Pierri, RCA was able to utilize the company’s large manufacturing plant in Camden, New Jersey and market the company’s iconic mascot, Nipper the dog, to improve its sales. see VOICE page 11
Arts & Entertainment / page 13
Sports / page 20
College Transition Social media helps freshmen connect
Panic! At the Disco New album offers memorable music
Field Hockey Lions hunt for 12th national championship
See Features page 11
See A&E page 13
See Sports page 20
page 2 The Signal August 29, 2018
College provides insurance through Aetna
Urgent care accepts new student insurance By Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief
The College’s participation in the Student Health Insurance Plan provided by Aetna Student Health for the 2018-2019 academic year has changed the way students will receive coverage if they choose to purchase health insurance from the College. All students at the College are required to have health insurance, whether they purchase it from the school or remain covered under a parent or guardian’s plan. Last year, students who purchased health insurance from the College were covered under UnitedHealthcare. Despite the switch from United to Aetna this academic year, coverage remains the same for all full-time students, with one key difference — their insurance is now accepted at InFocus Urgent Care in Campus Town. InFocus does not accept United health
insurance, which put a financial burden on students who purchased their insurance from the College and then received treatment at the urgent care for injuries and illnesses including cold and flu viruses, STDs, broken bones, trauma and intoxicationrelated medical issues. InFocus also provides specialty treatments including travel vaccines, sports physicals and medicationassisted opioid dependency treatment. The health insurance students purchased from the College for this academic year now covers any of these treatments, a luxury not afforded to students who purchased insurance from the College last academic year. “They should be able to use their health insurance to receive any services at the urgent care,” said Dr. Seeta Arjun, head doctor and owner of InFocus. For part-time students, who are not eligible to purchase health insurance
Students can recieve a variety of medical treatments at InFocus.
Miguel Gonzalez / News Editor
InFocus accepts Aetna health insurance, unlike UnitedHealthcare. through the College from neither United nor Aetna, as well as full-time students who are using their parents’ insurance, their experience at InFocus remains unchanged. However, those who receive coverage through the College’s new Aetna plan will now no longer have to face the hefty copay that once burdened students who purchased United insurance from the College, making the urgent care in Campus Town a more viable option for students seeking medical attention. “Previously we were not in network with United, but now that they switched over to Aetna it will make it much easier to take care of the student population,”
said Scott Perrine, InFocus’ Director of Corporate Development. Students who purchase insurance from the College will still be responsible for a copay if they receive care at InFocus, but the cost has become much more manageable now that the College is participating with a plan that is also accepted by the urgent care, as students will no longer have to pay the full fee for their visit. Perrine and Arjun estimate that within the next 30-60 days, they will be able to determine if the College’s switch from United to Aetna has made an impact on the number of students who choose to receive treatment at InFocus.
Value / College ranks best in-state public school continued from page 1
Muha also attributes the College’s success to its dedication to undergraduate research and use of new state-of-theart facilities. “New facilities like the STEM Building are certainly part of that, but so too has been the College’s focus on things like mentored undergraduate research and the faculty’s commitment to the teacher-scholar model,” Muha said. Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Elizabeth Bapasola owes the College’s success to student efforts. “Our students help build our College’s strong reputation in a number of ways,” Bapasola said. “These include, but are not limited to, organizing outstanding campus events, actively participating in our governance process to voice the student perspective, excelling in athletics and demonstrating leadership through peer education and peer mentoring.” The magazine reported that the College’s alumni garner an average of $54,400 in early career earnings, which is only a small decrease from the College’s Class of 2017. According to the Career Center’s Class of 2017 first year out survey report, which accounted for 1,024 out of 1,417 graduates, the College’s Class of 2017 graduates had an average salary of $56,200. The College’s Class of 2017 has also seen success in being admitted to top graduate schools. Muha sees a bright future as the College continues to
Alumni success contributes to the College’s high rankings. build its reputation among regional and national peers. “I look forward to watching the reputation of the College continue to grow,” Muha said. “In four of the last five years, the College has set new records for the
number of applications received. I think that speaks to a growing recognition that TCNJ delivers a high quality, affordable education that translates to continued success beyond graduation.”
Region / Area codes change in Southern New Jersey
continued from page 1
Anyone who does not dial 1 when necessary will get a recording instructing them to call again. The Board advises that this information should be changed in the contacts application on the phones of people living in affected area codes. This change will also apply to other programmed equipment, like medical monitoring devices, fax machines, alarm security systems, voicemail services and
even ankle monitors. This new dialing procedure will not affect dialing 911 for emergencies, according to the Board. The Board did not specify if these changes will be for landline phones, cell phones or both, but they still advise anyone with a preprogrammed device to use the new dialing procedures. According to Ocean City Patch, the new area code will not affect pricing or rates of phones. The new 640 area code will cover the same territory 609 currently does,
which is central and southeastern parts of the state, from Cape May to Trenton. Sean Duffy, a psychology professor at Rutgers University-Camden, explained that there is a real sense of pride attached to area codes. There are shirts and other memorabilia sold that have area codes on them for specific regions, songs that mention area codes to show an attachment to one’s home, and even people getting tattoos of their area code. When they were first implemented in
1947, all of New Jersey used the area code: 201. With the population of New Jersey ever expanding, the state had to introduce many more area codes over time. The area code 609 was predominant in Southern and Central New Jersey, whereas 201 remained common in Northern New Jersey. With the new addition, there will be 10 area codes in New Jersey, including 862, 973, 201, 551, 908, 732, 848, 856, 609 now 640.
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 3
Nation & W rld
Major floods cause severe damage in India By Muhammad Siddiqui Correspondent Heavy rains in Kerala, a coastal state in southern India, have displaced hundreds of thousands of people since the start of monsoon season in May. The heaviest rains, which began on Aug. 8, have swept away entire homes, bridges and villages in the floodwaters and landslides, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. More than 190 people have been killed due to the most recent rains in Kerala, and at least 370 people have died since the start of monsoon season, according to Al Jazeera. It is estimated that 800,000 people have been displaced as a result of the recent rains, but Kerala’s finance minister T. M. Thomas Isaac told Al Jazeera that he estimates 1.5 million citizens are displaced once those who have relocated with family and friends are taken into account. The rains have begun to ease up as of Aug. 19, giving first responders and rescuers time to aid those affected by the worst flooding to hit the Indian state in more than a century, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Since the start of Kerala’s monsoon season, rains have been unusually heavy, exceeding previous years’ average rainfalls for the entire season, according to Al Jazeera. In addition to the damage caused thus far, the monsoon season is still expected to last for at least another month. More than 200,000 displaced families have found refuge in
relief camps, and the Indian government has pledged to give the state an immediate grant of 5 billion rupees (around $71 million), according to BBC. Survivors in relief camps are still coping with a lack of food, clean drinking water, power and medicine. Officials are growing increasingly concerned with the possibility of waterborne disease outbreaks caused by the hazardous conditions, according to BBC. As the rains have recently subsided, officials had the opportunity to focus relief efforts on those who have been stranded for days. The Indian Army, Airforce and Navy, alongside members of the National Disaster Response Force, sent troops and boats to the region, according to Al Jazeera. Their efforts focused on search and rescue and airdropping supplies to isolated areas. Many, however, are calling local fishermen the “unsung heroes” of the flood. Isaac told Al Jazeera that more than 500 fishing boats have been used in the relief effort. Some fishermen have reportedly been putting their lives in danger, without safety guards or the proper equipment, to reach those stuck in areas that government rescuers deemed too risky reach. In a phone interview with Al Jazeera, one graduate student recounted, “‘If it wasn’t for them (fishermen), I would’ve died inside the flat.’” More aid is expected to arrive in the area, as the state plans to renegotiate its aid grant with the central government. According to the Australian Broadcast Corporation, the cost of damages is currently estimated to be near $3 billion, but is
AP Photo
Displaced Kerala residents seek shelter.
expected to rise before the monsoon season comes to an end. One-third of the roads have been damaged, with the repair estimated to cost about 1 billion rupees ($14.3 million). Moreover, Isaac told Al Jazeera that water systems will need to be rebuilt with aid from multinational agencies. Many foreign donations have been pledged, particularly from individuals in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE Prime Minister ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide aid to the flood victims, according to The Hindu.
PA investigation uncovers decades of sexual abuse
AP Photo
Shapiro elaborates on the Church’s widespread cover-up of abuse. By Danielle Silvia Production Manager
More than 300 priests in Pennsylvania have been named in a grand jury report on
the prevalence sex abuse in the Catholic Church. These priests are accused of sexually abusing children for more than seven decades, and were subsequently protected by a hierarchy of church officials, according to
The Washington Post. This is the widest and most in-depth investigation of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church, and the latest report includes six of Pennsylvania’s eight dioceses. The investigation discovered nearly 1,000 identified victims, according to the New York Times. The report predicts that there are thousands more victims who did not testify, or whose records have been lost. The grand jury believes these predictions to be true and supports the report which, according to CBS News, corroborates well with previous church investigations around the country. The six dioceses listed in the report were Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Investigators examined these six dioceses for 18 months, searching and eventually confirming the existence of hidden reports of sexual abuse by church officials, according to CBS News.
Investigators in Pittsburgh discovered 99 priests in their own diocese, the largest percentage of a single diocese of the 300 total priests that were found to be sexual abusers, according to CBS News. The grand jury was responsible for reviewing more than 2 million documents, which detailed reports of abuse recorded by the church leaders who covered up the incidents. Additionally, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told CBS News that the investigation also found hidden reports covered by church officials at the Vatican. Not many criminal cases will be successfully brought to court even in light of this discovery, according to The Washington Post. Using the report as evidence, Shapiro said that an overwhelming majority of the cases are “too old to be prosecuted,” largely due to the widespread cover-ups and lack of immediate testimony from victims and witnesses, according to CBS.
Ecuador tightens restrictions on Venezuelan immigrants By David McMillan Correspondent In this year alone, 547,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador, and more are to come, according to UN News. “‘To return is to die. If we have to die here looking for a better life for our families, then we’ll die, a Venezuelan migrant told Al Jazeera. “‘It’s better than dying in Venezuela (and) not doing anything.’” Since the first week of August, 30,000 Venezuelans have entered the country, according to UN News. Chavismo, the left-wing political ideology of former Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez, continues to influence policy decisions of incumbent Nicolás Maduro. Venezuela fell prey to economic policies of price controls for essential goods and an overdependence on oil exports, according to
The New York Times. While trying to keep goods affordable for the poor, Venezuela artificially set prices lower than manufacturing costs, which caused producers to halt production of essential goods. The result was scarcity of food, medicine and toilet paper. To compensate for these failed policies, the Venezuelan government has been pressured to print more money, resulting in hyperinflation, according to The New York Times. The foreign ministry of Ecuador stated that it invited Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, México, Peru, Paraguay, Panama, the Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela to a meeting in September in Quito, the nation’s capital. The scheduled discussions will include sharing and implementing policy strategies to avoid further
migratory chaos, according to VOA News. As reported by Reuters, Ecuador has declared a state of emergency in three provinces: Carchi, Pichincha and El Oro. Despite these areas being on the northern end of the border, all of Ecuador is experiencing the effects of the influx of migrants. According to The New York Times, 20 percent of migrants are expected to apply for asylum, while the other 80 percent will seek economic opportunities in Chile and Peru. As specified under immigration law within Ecuador, citizens of any country can stay in Ecuador for up to 90 days on a nonresident Visa, according to Reuters. If individuals seek to obtain resident visas, then there are a range of options available for students, workers and tourists. However, a new regulation instituted by Ecuador’s President Lenin
AP Photo
Migrants await action from Ecuador’s government. Moreno mandates that migrants are only permitted in the nation with a valid passport. Additionally, there is a provision that allows entry of adolescents traveling with their parents, according to Reuters. These new bylaws prove to be a complication, as most individuals who have reached the
nation or who were in transport prior to Aug. 18 have not been readily admitted within the state because of failure to provide adequate documentation. Migrants are waiting for government action that will allow their passage through Ecuador, according to BBC.
Fun Stuff
page 4 The Signal August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 5
Editorial
Immigrants deserve respect
On Tuesday, August 21, 20-year-old University of Iowa student Mollie Tibbets was found dead after she was missing for more than a month. After learning that an undocumented immigrant was charged with her murder, I held my breath — I knew people were already using the young girl’s death to fuel their anti-immigration beliefs and generalize the intentions of an entire population. I spent the summer working and growing close with immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico, many of whom I hope to remain in contact with. I have seen firsthand that making blanket statements about immigrants undermines and disrespects those who have risked it all in hopes of a better life. When I heard this story, I thought of Josue. He busses tables six days a week and moves at the speed of light to get his job done. I can honestly say I’ve never heard the man complain. He speaks about missing his home country and family, but he is thankful to be here. Unfortunately, he knows he has something to prove. I thought of Maria, a young Guatemalan girl who was eager to start work and support her family. I knew I would be able to get through my shift when she greeted me with open arms and a beautiful smile. During the dead business hours, Maria would help me improve my Spanish while I helped her with English. When I told her it was admirable that she started working at a young age, she shrugged it off. For Maria, starting work as soon as possible to support the family is nothing out of the ordinary — she was simply doing her part. At her age, I don’t think my friends and I even possessed a fraction of her motivation and work ethic. She is truly inspiring. I thought of the head chef, who spends hours behind a hot stove and is responsible for countless happy customers. If I went into the kitchen in a panic because something went wrong, he remained calm and had an immediate solution. His food was always brought to the tables in a timely manner, and tasted great too. I don’t know many people who wouldn’t crack under the pressure of that job. I challenge those who find themselves generalizing the actions of immigrants to try to survive even a few hours doing the demanding work that defines these people’s lives. I challenge them to consider whether they would want to move to an unfamiliar country to find work and seek a better life only to be denied well-deserved respect. Maybe then they would understand the harm caused by their flawed mentality. — Emmy Liederman Features Editor
Editorial Content Unsigned editorial opinions are those of the Editorial Board, which consists of the Editor-in-Chief, the Managing, News, Features, Arts & Entertainment, Opinions, Photo, Sports, Review and Social Media editors and the Business and Production managers, unless otherwise noted. Opinions expressed in signed editorials and letters to the editor are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Signal.
Flickr
People often fail to realize the daily struggles immigrants face.
Quotes of the Week tcnjsignal.net Email: signal@tcnj.edu Telephone: Production Room (609) 771-2424 Ad Email: signalad@tcnj.edu
Editorial Staff Michelle Lampariello Editor-in-Chief lamparm2@tcnj.edu Elizabeth Zakaim Managing Editor zakaime@tcnj.edu Miguel Gonzalez Lily Firth News Editors firthl1@tcnj.edu gonzam23@tcnj.edu Alexandra Parado Sports Editor paradoa1@tcnj.edu Emmy Liederman Features Editor liedere1@tcnj.edu Nadir Roberts Arts & Entertainment Editor robertn5@tcnj.edu Clare McGreevy Opinions Editor mcgreec2@tcnj.edu Gianna Melillo Nation & World Editor melillg@tcnj.edu Nicole Zamlout Reviews Editor zamloun1@tcnj.edu
Mailing Address: The Signal c/o Forcina Hall The College of New Jersey P.O. Box 7718 Ewing, NJ 08628-0718
“In four of the last five years, the College has set new records for the number of applications received. I think that speaks to a growing recognition that TCNJ delivers a high quality, affordable education that translates to continued success beyond graduation.” —Dave Muha
Meagan McDowell Photo Editor mcdowem4@tcnj.edu Danielle Silvia Production Manager silviad2@tcnj.edu Heather Haase Web Editor haaseh1@tcnj.edu Alexandra Raskin Alyssa Louis Social Media Editors raskina1@tcnj.edu louisa1@tcnj.edu
“You didn’t need to buy a license to listen to radio broadcasts. It was like The Wild West. You could listen to all the music. Ads didn’t appear until 1923.” —Florencia Pierri
Emilie Lounsberry Adviser lounsber@tcnj.edu Derek Falci Business/Ad Manager falcid1@tcnj.edu
“I’m excited about it — it’s a different year and a new challenge as no two seasons are alike.” —Joe Russo
College Spokesman
Sarnoff Collection Curator
Women’s Soccer Coach
page 6 The Signal August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 7
Opinions
Freshmen should get involved on campus Community participation improves college transition
By Clare McGreevy Moving away from home and beginning a new life at the College can seem like one of the loneliest and most uncomfortable times in a person’s life. For most, the transition into college life is an exhilarating step into adulthood, but many new students still experience feelings of confusion and distress that can sometimes be overwhelming. One of the most important things for freshmen to remember is that all upperclassmen were once in their shoes, entering a brand new community that they had little to no experience with. I would love to say that this passes quickly and everything falls right into place for everyone right away, but that wouldn’t be true. Many freshmen struggle to truly feel comfortable at college for a while, and the reason is often failure to get involved with groups, activities and organizations during their freshman year. As overwhelming as entering college is, it can be very easy to adopt a passive mindset for the first semester. Personally, my biggest regret is deciding not to get a job or join any clubs upon moving into the College. I thought that I needed to take time to adjust to school before I involved myself in on-campus activities, but I soon
realized I was wrong. As a high school student, I was involved in sports, clubs, and various other extracurricular activities, and I took for granted how many friendships and connections I made through these organizations. Making friends and meeting new people are the biggest advantages of being involved. While it is true that many freshmen make great friends just through spending time with their neighbors or classmates, it can be very difficult for new students to find the right crowd without putting themselves out there and pursuing their interests by joining clubs and organizations. There are so many different types of people in college, but becoming involved in groups and activities that align with your specific interests makes finding the right people possible. Another advantage of getting involved on campus is the role that involvement plays in time management. For many, their new college workload far exceeds the level of academic rigor required in high school courses, but no one is really spending all of their free time doing schoolwork. Focusing only on academics becomes boring. On-campus activities make for a busier schedule in a good way — participating in an organization or club fills in the gaps and provides more structure in scheduling.
Joining a variety of clubs makes adjusting to college easier. As daunting as beginning a whole new life in college seems, it is important that new students don’t give into the nervous impulse to shy away from getting involved. Exploring the many extracurricular activities that the College
provides is an essential part of growing comfortable with the campus and community. Until you decide to put yourself out there and get involved, you can’t fully experience all that your college years have to offer.
Studying abroad enhances student experience
Flickr
Students learn to be more independent while abroad. By Julia Marnin It’s easy to become wrapped up in your own life and career after graduation, which makes it difficult
to travel. This is why students at the College should step outside of their comfort zone and see the world now before they have adult responsibilities tying them down.
This semester, I am studying in Heidelberg, Germany. Before I arrived, I was both excited and scared. Do not let fear be the force that holds you back. I have learned that the best things happen when you do something that scares you. The College provides amazing opportunities that every student should seize to experience another culture. If it’s the process that worries you, don’t worry –– the College makes studying abroad easy. There are countless exchange programs and study centers all over the world that students can attend. The advisers at the center for global engagement help find the right program for you. With the step by step application process, everything runs smoothly. Even if the area you would like to study in is not a part of an exchange or study center, the College can connect students to third party study abroad options as well.
Living in another country for a couple weeks, a semester or even a year can seem super long, but it’s not. It is only a moment in your whole lifetime and is sure to be an experience that you look back on as one of the best times of your life. Even if studying abroad has not crossed your mind once, consider it. It provides an experience that cannot be achieved by vacationing in another country for a shorter period. You will be immersing yourself in an entirely different culture and gaining new world perspectives that will allow you to grow in a variety of ways. Living in another country opens your mind and reminds you that there is a whole world out there that can be quite different than the American bubble you live in. You will try food you’ve never tasted and you will witness sights that are straight out of a National Geographic magazine. Lifelong connections and friends can be made in the country you’re living in. Also,
lifelong friends can be made with the people you study abroad with. Together, you’ll make memories that you will share together forever. You begin to learn so much about yourself as well as the other cultures you come in contact with. Also, you may even learn a new language and be able to take that home with you. Not to mention, studying abroad is a great resumé booster. It demonstrates your independence and adaptability. Of course, studying abroad comes with challenges, but these are healthy challenges that will shape you into a stronger and smarter person. I am learning to live with less because I couldn’t pack my whole life into one suitcase and a couple bags for a semester. Also, I am learning to be smarter with how I spend my money. There is a whole word out there waiting to be discovered, and students at the College should certainly diversify their college career by studying abroad.
Policies
The Signal is published weekly during the academic year and is financed by the Student Activities Fee (SAF) and advertising revenue. Any student may submit articles to The Signal. Publication of submitted articles is at the discretion of the editors. The letters section is an open forum for opinions. Submissions that announce events or advertise in any way will not be printed. All letters should be sent via email to signal@tcnj.edu. Handwritten letters should be sent to The Signal, c/o The Brower Student Center, The College of New Jersey, PO Box 7718 Ewing, N.J. 08628 or placed in our mailbox in the Student Life Office. Letters must be received by the Friday before publication and should not exceed 500 words. The Signal reserves the right to edit letters for space and clarity. All letters must be signed, with a phone number and address of the author. Requests to withhold the author’s name will be honored only if there is a legitimate reason. All materials submitted become the sole property of The Signal. The editors reserve the right to edit or withhold all articles, letters & photographs. The Signal willingly corrects factual mistakes. If you think we have made an error, please contact The Signal at (609) 771-2424, write to the address listed above or email us at signal@tcnj.edu.
page 8 The Signal August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 9
Students share opinions around campus “Should freshmen get involved in campus activities?”
Clare McGreevy / Opinions Editor
Emily Bettano, a sophomore nursing major.
Clare McGreevy / Opinions Editor
Tait Algayer, a sophomore biology major.
the best way to have a good time.”
“Should students study abroad in college?”
Clare McGreevy / Opinions Editor
Dylan Lambo, a sophomore international studies and communications studies double major. “You only get to see the world so many times. Once you get a job, it’s hard to travel the world.”
Clare McGreevy / Opinions Editor
Will Kitson, a junior biology major. “It’s good to get out of your comfort zone and experience other cultures.”
The Signal’s cartoons of the week ...
Fun Stuff
page 10 The Signal August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 11
Features
Voice / Exhibit broadcasts radio history
Miguel Gonzalez / News Editor
Left: Pierri showcases historical radios. Right: Community members learn about RCA’s development of several state-of-the-art devices. continued from page 1
As a result, RCA was no longer dependant on General Electronic for materials. According to Pierri, the manufacturing plant was the largest in Camden at the time, employing 10,000 people. The majority of employees were women, because RCA knew women were unable to unionize like men could. Pierri emphasized how new the radio industry was in the early 20th century. Unlike today’s world, where customers subscribe to satellite radios such as Sirius XM, the radio market was widely
open during the ’20s. “You didn’t need to buy a license to listen to radio broadcasts,” Pierri said. “It was like The Wild West. You could listen to all the music. Ads didn’t appear until 1923.” Pierri explained how ubiquitous radios were despite the failing economy during the Great Depression. During the 1930s, RCA manufactured 9,000 radios per day. “People wanted radios even during the Great Depression,” Pierri said. “People were known to sell their beds before radios. Radios were considered to be people’s connection to the world.”
After World War II, RCA faced financial difficulty as more consumers wanted televisions. According to Pierri, RCA countered by introducing transmitter radios in 1955. RCA’s transmitter radios were portable and durable. According to Pierri, RCA illustrated the radios’ durability by dropping them off a helicopter in advertisements. By the ’70s, RCA marketed these radios as “pockette” radios to attract younger customers. Pierre showed a colorful design by holding the RZG 105Z, which had a patriotic red, white and blue color scheme.
“RCA was trying to be hip at the time because radios were perceived as media parents only enjoyed,” Pierri said. Pierri concluded the tour by discussing the decline of RCA during the ’80s, and emphasized RCA’s inability to challenge emerging companies such as Sony and International Business Machines. “In 1971, David Sarnoff passed away. By the following decade, his son, Robert, made many bad managerial decisions. RCA’s spiral continued as RCA’s computer department could not compete against IBM and SONY’s technologies in the 1970s,” Pierri said.
Online introductions ease first-year transition Freshmen establish connections before move-in
By Emmy Liederman Features Editor
Welcome Week at the College usually consists of settling into the dorms, attending icebreaker activities and scoping out the best spots on campus to eat, study or simply spend time with friends. For many students, it is also an opportunity to meet people they connected with on social media in the flesh. Before social media, people used to walk into freshman year blind. But now, platforms like Facebook and GroupMe help students meet people in their class before arriving on campus. “TCNJ Class of 2022” is a Facebook page created for incoming freshmen to communicate and learn more about what the College has to offer before move-in day. It has become a platform for students to introduce themselves in the hopes of finding a compatible roommate, buy discounted textbooks from upperclassmen and gather information about extracurricular activities on campus.
“I find the Facebook group very helpful because it gave us an opportunity to hear about some of the clubs we can get involved in when we move in,” said freshman early childhood education major Heather Collins. Although its main purpose is for incoming students to introduce themselves to each other, this process can become a bit monotonous, according to freshman communication studies major Madison Pena. “The Facebook group is helpful in terms of having questions answered by upperclassmen,” Pena said. “That being said, there are also times where it felt like it was just the generic ‘My name is (blank) and I like working out and watching Netflix.” While some students feel the introductions on Facebook might be lacking in sincerity, many agree that this is made up for by the more intimate group chats that follow. “I found my roommate through GroupMe,” Collins said. “I chose (her) because we had the same opinions on a lot of things and
talking with my roommate was very easy. We communicate almost every day. The group chats give us the chance to see the people who we may connect with and want to get to know more.” Although commuter students do not have to stress over finding a roommate, many are thankful that social media has allowed them to form a group of friends before coming to campus. “I’m commuting to TCNJ so I did not get a roommate, but I have made friends throughout these past few months,” said freshman computer science major Kenneth Arias. “A lot of different things are talked about in our group chats, ranging from class schedules or questions to just general random conversation and personally, I have gotten to know several people thanks to this.” Pena, who is also commuting to the College, finds the more specified group chats, such as a chat for commuters, to be the most beneficial. “The conversations happening are much more specific to my personal situation and interests,”
she said. “I can honestly say that I’ve gotten to know a small group of people pretty well. I think it’s important to get to know people
who are in a similar situation as you because you can help answer each other’s questions and work through it together.”
Freshmen no longer wait to move in to make friends.
page 12 The Signal August 29, 2018
: Sept.’41
Campus Style
Alumni relations change with time
Photo courtesy of the TCNJ Digital Archive
The College chronicles alumni marriages. This week, Features Editor Emmy Liederman hits the archives and finds old Signals that relates to current College topics and top stories. While relationships with alumni remain important to the College, the way in which the school interacts with its graduates has changed with time. In a 1941 issue of The Signal, there is an article titled “Summer Sees Ten Alumni Take Vows; Graycar, Long Among Those Married.” This article lists the summer marriages of 10 different alumni and goes into detail about where the couple will reside, what organizations they were involved in on campus and even the members of their bridal party. Today, it is hard to imagine that the personal lives of alumni would be as newsworthy. ‘36 Miss Bertha E. Whitehurst, of Trenton, became the bride of Horace W. Fallow, of Trenton, on July 19. While at college she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sorority. The couple reside on Edinburg Road, Mercerville. ‘37 Meyer Millman married Miss Garie Soloman, of New York, on August 10. The couple will reside in Palmyra. ‘37 Miss Madeline M. VanArsdale became the bride of Henry Joseph Shyers on August 9. Among the bridal party were Miss Dorothy Cichon,
‘37; Miss Betty Hopkins, ‘37; Mrs. George Malone, nee Eleanor Walker, ‘37, and Mrs. Richard Titus, nee Adelaide Van Osten, ‘36. Mrs. Shyers is a member of the faculty of the Berkeley Heights School. While at college she was a member of Philomathean Sigma Sorority. Mr. and Mrs. Shyers will make their home in Union. ‘38 Miss Catherine Julia Baldwin, of Pennington, became the bride of Lawrence Walters Pitt, of Trenton, recently. Among the bridal party was Miss Marjorie B. Maple, ‘38, of Pennington. Mrs. Lawrence Pitt is a member of the faculty of the Pennington Primary School. While at college she was a member of Kappa Delta Pi and Gamma Sigma. Mr. and Mrs. Pitt will reside in Pennington. ‘38 Miss Maude I. Buss, of Trenton, became the bride of Earl B. Garrison, of Trenton, on Saturday, July 12. Among the bridal party was Miss Evelyn Garrison, ‘34. Mrs. Garrison was the recipient of the Stout Award in 1937. She is a member of Philomathean Sigma Sorority. Mr. Garrisi is a member of Theta Nu Sigma fraternity. The couple reside at 1 West End Avenue, Somerville.
Lions Plate
Left: Lounge clothes are a time-saving style essential. Right: Layered clothing is perfect for fall weather. By Lexy Yulich Columnist
Whether you are returning to campus or you have just started as a new student, there are certain essentials that every college student needs in their wardrobe. Packing for college can be overwhelming, but with my list of wardrobe must haves, preparing for the new semester will be a breeze! Here are some things you should bring: 1. A variety of lounge clothes: While you may expect to dress up everyday of the semester, in reality there will be times where you wake up moments before your class at 8 a.m. class because you were studying until dawn. Having a few go-to comfortable pieces such as leggings, your favorite College spirit wear or an oversized T-shirt will make those early mornings easier. In addition, embrace the versatility of baseball hats to get through a bad hair day. 2. Several pieces of professional clothing: You never know when you have to dress professionally, so having at least one business casual and business professional outfit will only benefit you in the long run. If you have an internship, interview or your professor requests that you dress professionally for a presentation, keeping one or two professional outfits
will make your life easier. I recommend having a pair of dress pants or a skirt, two blouses and one blazer, all with a neutral color scheme so you can mix and match. 3. Layers, layers and more layers: Late summer and early fall bring unpredictable weather. There’s always the chance that it is chilly in the morning, hot in the afternoon and chilly again at night. Having pieces that can easily be layered will make your life easier when you have an early class or you have to be on campus for long amounts of time. Pieces such as flannels, chunky cardigans and light jackets will be necessary for fall’s unpredictable weather. One of my favorite layered outfits is a pair of black leggings, an oversized gray T-shirt, a light army green jacket and a comfortable pair of sandals. 4. Evening clothes: While you don’t need to bring every single dress or skirt you own, having a few dressy pieces in your college wardrobe will come in handy. Whether you are going out to dinner with your friends, going on a date or your parents come for your birthday dinner, having a dressy outfit or two is essential. I suggest bringing a black dress that you can accessorize for any occasion, a denim skirt and a pair of non-ripped black jeans, as well as a pair of wedges or dressy sandals.
Rich chocolate mousse tart
Left: The tart incorporates both milk and dark chocolate. Right: Chocolate mousse is a sophisticated yet affordable dessert option.
By Katherine Holt Columnist
After days of settling for the stale cookies and chips in my cupboard, I decided my sweet tooth deserved something new. I took to my favorite app, Tasty, and picked the baked good that looked the most delicious (and affordable). This chocolate mousse tart is simple, chocolatey and incredibly rich. I decided to add a layer of whipped cream (just enough to cover the top) instead of the chocolate curls for the top, only because I didn’t care too much about my presentation. The layer of whipped cream
froze like a soft serve ice cream when I put the tart in the freezer, which I particularly enjoyed. So why not try putting your own spin on it? Although my tart didn’t look quite like the photo online, I would definitely recommend this recipe to fellow chocolate lovers.
Ingredients: 8 graham crackers, crushed 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted 2 cups dark chocolate chip, melted 1 ½ cup whipped cream 1 ½ cup milk chocolate chips, melted 2 cups whipped cream 1 thick chocolate bar 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
Makes: About 8 slices
Directions: 1. In a bowl of your choice, combine the graham cracker crumbs and the melted butter until all of the crumbs are moist. 2. Pour the crust onto an eight inch springform pan and use the bottom of a flat object (for example, the bottom of a glass) to press the crumbs against the bottom of the pan. 3. To make the dark chocolate mousse, melt the dark chocolate chips in a small pan (double boiling works best), then, once completely melted, let cool to room temperature. Use a spatula
to delicately fold in the whipped cream to the dark chocolate. 4. Pour the dark chocolate mousse on top of the graham cracker crust in the pan. Try to smooth out the dark chocolate as much as possible, so that it covers the majority of the crust. Freeze for 15 minutes. 5. While the tart is in the freezer, make the milk chocolate mousse. Repeat the same steps used to make the dark chocolate mousse using the milk chocolate chips. 6. Next, pour the milk chocolate mousse over the dark chocolate. Try to smooth the top with a spatula to ensure it completely covers the top of the tart.
Flickr
7. Freeze for two hours, or until the chocolate looks slightly hardened. 8. If you wish to try the chocolate curls, take a vegetable peeler and press it down along the edge of the chocolate bar. Make approximately two tablespoons worth. 9. Next, take the tart out of the freezer and gently remove the sides of the springform pan. 10. Sift the cocoa powder over the top of the tart, then sprinkle with the chocolate shavings. 11. For a little something extra, add dollops of whipped cream around the outside of the tart, or add a whole layer of whipped cream on top and freeze. 12. Enjoy!
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 13
Arts & Entertainment
Panic! answers fans’ prayers in‘Pray For the Wicked’ By Nicole Zamlout Reviews Editor
Congratulations to Nicole Zamlout, The Signal’s Summer Review Contest winner! “I am extremely honored to have been writing for The Signal thus far. As an aspiring journalist and author, writing for The Signal gives me great experience in the craft. I hope you enjoy my writing, and I am extremely excited to take on the role of Reviews Editor this fall!”
Their music makes you want to get up and shout, and their lyrics are unforgettable. Brendon Urie is a powerhouse of a singer and can hit notes that other tenors envy. So, when Panic! At the Disco’s new album dropped on June 22, many fans were extremely excited to see the revival of such a beloved band. Not only was the album full of catchy hits such as “High Hopes” and “Roaring 20s,” it was also filled with tender tracks like “Dying in LA,” which was similar to a song Urie’s mother used to sing to him as a child. The varying tone helps the album transition well between tracks. The juxtaposition between the quiet songs, upbeat songs and others in between work well with the band’s sound and reputation. What makes the album truly special is that, no matter what mood you’re in, the album has a song you can crank up and sing aloud to. Songs such as “High Hopes,” “Dancing’s Not a Crime” and “Say Amen (Saturday Night)” help make a bad day better. Other songs like “Dying in LA,” “King of the Clouds” and “The Overpass” are songs that make you think or that pair well with a long relaxing car ride. Lastly, songs like “Hey Look MA I Made It,” “(Fuck A) Silver Lining” and ‘One of the Drunks” are just what you need when you are in a mood for a song that makes you laugh. This album is doing what many others struggle to do – have a song that the fans can relate to without becoming a collection of cacophonic songs that never built into a cohesive unit. Even though this band is the
epitome of unpredictably, it lets listeners have a song for every mood they’ve ever felt. Underneath its lighthearted tone, the album’s message is a deep one. Urie showers his listeners with confidence and talks about the subjectivity behind people’s perception of success. He assures us that we can trust ourselves more and follow our own vision. He manages to convey that with music that moves you and extraordinary vocals. Fans have been waiting for a while for an album like this, and Brendon Urie has answered our prayers in incredible and usual fashion – with mind boggling high notes, flair and passion.
Fans are excited about the band’s revival.
‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’ completes successful mission
YouTube
Left: Kunis and Mckinnon play best friends in the action film. Right: Audrey is drawn into the dangerous world of her ex-boyfriend’s espionage. By Elizabeth Zakaim Managing Editor I spent a lot of this summer in a cool, dimly lit movie theater, and I honestly don’t regret it. But out of all the movies I saw these past couple of months, I’d have to say that “The Spy Who Dumped Me” was by far the funnies. Between the hilarious (and goodlooking) cast, the beautiful setting and the exhilarating plot, “the Spy Who Dumped Me” puts a funny twist on what would otherwise be your run-of-the-mill spy thriller. We first meet Audrey (Mila Kunis), a sarcastic but somewhat diffident cashier still agonizing over her ex-boyfriend Drew ( Justin
Theroux), who dumped her over a text message after they dated for a year. Kate McKinnon plays Morgan, Audrey’s theatrical and quirky best friend who tries to cheer her up, and whose general character carries most of the comedy behind the film. Morgan tries to help her forget about Drew, but neither Morgan nor Audrey know the reasons yet behind Drew’s slapdash text – he’s a spy on the run who just didn’t have enough time to come break up with her in person and who wanted to keep her out of harm’s way. But it’s not long before Audrey becomes entangled in Drew’s spy world. She and Morgan travel to Vienna to try to track down a flash drive that he later begs her to fin, and
that the CIA has been trying to get from Drew, their former fellow agent. Neither we nor Audrey know who to trust with whatever information that flash drive holds – the handsome, cunning CIA agents or Drew, the flighty ex- boyfriend. What made the movie funny was its unconventionality – two suburban 30-somethings thrust into the role of makeshift CIA spies is pretty hilarious – like when Audrey turns her blinker on in the middle of a car chase, or when Morgan tries to girl-talk with a trained assassin. McKinnon is funnier in this movie than she is in most of her Saturday Night Live sketches. Kunis never disappoints, and we
get to have the pleasure of watching Sam Heughan (who plays another CIA agent, Sebastian) be charming and lighthearted, which is refreshing after seeing him exude so much serious drama in his TV series, “Outlander.” The movie gets in your head too – you really don’t know who Audrey should trust with that flash drive. She can’t trust the CIA just because they’re CIA, and even Morgan, with all of her singular wisdom, can’t help her friend find the right answer. You’ll be bouncing back and forth between the perceived good guys and bad guys too, but you’ll soon realize that you just have to leave it to Audrey to get over herself and figure out.
page 14 The Signal August 29, 2018
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 15
‘Astroworld’album reaches new heights By Nadir Roberts Arts & Entertainment Editor
Houston native Travis Scott released his third studio album, “Astroworld,”on Aug. 3. The album has potential to rank up against other projects in 2018, but compared to La Flame’s other work, “Astroworld” falls a little short. The album’s name is inspired by the Six Flags amusement park in Houston that shut down in 2005. Sprinkled with ill-advised beat changes, the album has many sections and parts –– almost like a real amusement park. The first song from the album, “STARGAZING,” is a two-part introduction to what Astroworld is made up of –– drugs, Houston references, Kylie Jenner and how Travis is ahead of the rap game. “‘99, took AstroWorld, it had to relocate / told the dogs I’d bring it back, it was a seal of faith,” Scott rapped in his second part of “STARGAZING.” One of the selling points of the album, and one of the reasons why the album wasn’t a full disappointment, were the features. Leaving it up to fans to figure out who was on what song, Scott didn’t reveal the features on his tracklists. Just so you have a little taste, features included the likes of Frank Ocean who provided some auto tuned high notes for “CAROUSEL” and 21 Savage who slaughters “NC-17.” Another one of the hidden gems of the album would have to be “COFFEE BEAN.” This song ends the album in a way that makes the listener value the time and effort Scott has put into his music and being an artist. In the song he repeats “this is all, this is all” in the background. He lets
This week, WTSR music staff highlights some of the best new albums that the College’s own radio station, 91.3 FM WTSR, puts into its weekly rotation.
Surprise features spice up the 17- song album. fans know that he put his blood, sweat and tears into this project. Considering that this is the same La Flame who made bangers such as “3500,” “Mamacita,” “Upper Echelon” and many more, the hype songs on this album don’t quite cut it. The many fans raving over “SICKO MODE” are bound to kill it quickly. Another follow up that isn’t as hyped but that has a superb flow is “YOSEMITE.” Assisted by Gunna and Nav, while also having a well organized guitar riff in the background, “YOSEMITE” is a solid song. Yosemite, which means literally “those who kill,” is a fitting title as the three talk about how they’re killing the game right now. Filled with catchy lyrics about expensive taste and travels, it is a top song from the album. “Astroworld” is a good example of artistic expression. Through Astroworld, Scott was more open and lyrical than usual. Scott, who’s known for being
an auto-tune-heavy artist, really allows himself to get deep with this project. Of course after the birth of his first child Stormi, and rumors swirling around if he is really her father (he confirmed in January that he is the father), he had no choice but to answer fans’ questions. In the song, Scott touches on the fragile subject of his relationship with Jenner and gets very personal. He raps, “your family told you I’m a bad move / plus, I’m already a black dude.” The Kardashian family has been very concerned with public image for quite some time. The family was worried that Scott’s lifestyle would interfere with the family’s goals or reputation. Overall Astroworld is an interesting project / experiment. I’m not a wholehearted fan yet, but I also don’t think Scott totally struck out. The rapper’s career is still somewhat young so, Let’s see what he cooks up next.
Netflix romantic comedy depicts tale of young love
Viewers enamored by ‘To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’
Band: Rhye Album: “Blood” Release Number: 2nd Hailing From: Canada Genre: Dreamy Soulful ElectricPop Label: Loma Vista Recordings Rhye return after their critically acclaimed debut to bring another beautiful collection of their special brand of indie pop songs. Every song on this album is absolutely beautiful, and its composition is amazing. Rhye do an amazing job of creating airy, soulful pop music by combining minimalistic instrumentation with wispy and soft vocals. The songwriting on this album is very impressive and each song has more substance than other indie-pop. Rhye do a lot to set themselves apart from their fellow indie pop artists. Give this record a play – it’s very good. Must Hear: “Taste,” “Count to Five, “Song For You,” “Blood Knows”
Left: Condor plays Lara Jean, a timid high schooler. Right: The Covey sisters share a tight bond. By Sumayah Medlin Staff Writer Mark your calendars. Aug. 17, 2018 will go down in history as the day “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” which was based on a bestselling trilogy, was released on Netflix. That was the day our hearts were filled with hope for a Peter Kavinsky of our own, and also the day our eyes were blessed with something new to binge watch. The film’s debut also claims and solidifies 2018 as the year of the romantic comedy. Lara Jean, the protagonist in the film, is a timid
high school student with a crush on her older sister’s boyfriend, Josh. She is too shy to admit her feelings for him and keeps secret love letters that she never sent to any of her childhood crushes, Josh included. But those letters don’t stay secret for long. Lara Jean’s little sister, Kitty, decides to send them out to each boy she liked, which forces Lara Jean to break out of her shell and confront her own emotions. In 2018 alone, we were given “The Kissing Booth,” “Crazy Rich Asians,” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and more titles. Two out of those
three films feature a mainly Asian-American cast –– a feat as Hollywood strives for more diverse casts. As time goes on, Hollywood is finally starting to diversify. Minorities have been able to land more big time roles this year, paving the way for others as well. With stars like Daniel Kaluuya (Black Panther, and Get Out), Kelly Tran (Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and Yara Shahidi (Grown-ish), stars are getting recognised. Other ethnicities and races might not even get the luxury of playing a supportive character, so a movie like “To All the Boys I’ve
Loved Before,” which featured a mixed Asian-American family, makes great progress in the struggle for representation. The film may be diverse, but that is not what makes it a great movie and must see for right now. “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” gives many of us hope that even if we may have never had a boyfriend, it’s not because we’re undesirable –– it’s just that we haven’t yet met our Peter Kavinsky, who will be the one to tell us we were never second best. Soon enough someone will value and see your worth.
Band: American Pleasure Club (FKA Teen Suicide) Album Name: A Whole Lifetime of This Release Number: 3rd Hailing From: Baltimore Genre: Bedroom Rock, Lofi Indie Label: Run for Cover American Pleasure Club is a rock band led by Sam Ray. On this albums he blends many different genres; folk, ambient, rap, indie rock, all held together by a consistent lofi aesthetic. While a lot of the songs are slow, melodic and abstract (tracks 4 and 5), there are also punk bangers (track 6) and acoustic ballads (track 3). Must Hear: “Sycamore,” “New Years Eve”
page 16 The Signal August 29, 2018
Fun Stuff
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 17
page 18 The Signal August 29, 2018
Sports
Football
Goff hopes for second successful season By Maximillian C. Burgos Staff Writer
In year two under head coach Casey Goff, the College’s football team will try to build on the foundation set last year. Last year, Goff looked to improve upon the team’s previous season. He helped lead the Lions to a 4-6 record, winning two more games than the previous year. With Goff came the largest recruited freshman class that the team has had in years. Last season, after shutting out Southern Virginia University at home, Goff commented on what the win meant for the team. “It’s huge for our seniors. It’s huge for our program. If you told me after our first five games that we would be sitting at 4-6, I’d say, ‘I don’t know.’ But these guys battled week in and week out. They never gave up. They continued to get better and they showed it here today,” Goff said. Coming into this season, the Lions were voted the seventh place “dark horse” by coaches of the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Goff remains cautiously optimistic, as the team has a lot of young players. “We’ll see how the season shapes up,” Goff said. “We’re young, but we feel like we have some talent that will be running around out there. Only time will tell where we fit in to things.” Two of the Lions’ star defensive players lo o k to make a return and contribute this season. Both senior linebacker Max Busca and junior defensive back Xavier
Warcola is named first-team All-NJAC punter. Santos earned NJAC honorable mentions last year and look to make an impact on the field again this year. On offense, returning junior wide receiver Vinny Guckin also has an NJAC honorable mention. Senior receiver Ibn Bailey and junior wide receiver Jack Clevenger also look to make an impact offensively. Special teams has its notable player in first-team
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
All-NJAC junior punter Zach Warcola, returning to help the Lions win the field position battles. Warcola is ranked 15th nationally, averaging 41.0 yards per kick. The Lions kick off their season on Friday, Aug. 31, at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Florham Park Campus. The excitement in the locker room is palpable for the Lions and their upcoming season.
Men’s Soccer
Men’s soccer prepares for fierce competition
Honorable conference mentions awarded to seniors
Left: Sample looks for an opportunity to score. Right: Afridi puts the Lions on the scoreboard. By Miguel Gonzalez News Editor
The competition may be formidable and the double overtime losses can be draining, but the men’s soccer team is ready for any challenge. After a disappointing season last year, the Lions are looking to rebound with a more experienced squad. Despite being ranked eighth in the New Jersey Athletic Conference men’s soccer preseason coaches poll, the Lions have the pieces to assemble a contender. The team will feature senior midfielders Nick Sample and Joerg Jauk, who received conference
honorable mentions last year. On offense, the Lions will be fueled by sophomores such as midfielder Ryan Vazquez, midfielder James Pike and forward Abdullah Afridi. Sophomore goalkeeper Michael Kayal will lead the Lions on defense. Kayal, who gathered 63 saves last season, will play a key role in keeping the Lions intact during close matches. Last season, the team couldn’t prevail in overtime, as they tied three matches and lost two matches. Head Coach George Nazario is confident that the sophomores will lead the team to victories in the NJAC. “We have a good group of
sophomores who are ready to play tough, competitive opponents,” Nazario said. “Their experience will come in handy.” Another obstacle the Lions have to overcome this season is injuries. Nazario emphasizes the need to adapt when some team members aren’t able to play. “Last year, we dealt with many injuries and setbacks,” Nazario said. “So far this season, we don’t have Nick Provenzo and Dan Walsh playing because of injuries. So, we have to adapt and use our resources to the fullest.” Competing in the NJAC will be a challenge, as the Lions will encounter fierce competition.
Both Rowan University and Rutgers University-Newark are returning opponents that competed in last year’s NCAA Division III Men’s Soccer Championship. Meanwhile, William Paterson University and Rutgers University-Camden are coming fresh off of solid playoff performances at the 2017 Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Men’s Soccer Championship. The Lions will also dispute against tough non-conference opponents. Both Stevens Institute of Technology and Drew University reached the Sweet 16 round of the 2017 NCAA tournament. Nazario looks forward to the
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
matchup against Brooklyn College on Monday, Oct. 15. “Brooklyn College will be a good match because they are looking to play competitively,” Nazario said. “For an out-of-conference opponent, they are striving to improve and become a contender.” This weekend, the Lions will begin the hunt for their first NJAC title since 2005 by opening up with a pair of matches at the Drew Fall Festival. The team will journey on a trip to Madison, New Jersey to face Centenary University on Friday, Aug. 31 at 4:30 p.m. and Marymount University on Saturday, September 1 at 1:00 p.m.
August 29, 2018 The Signal page 19 Cross Country
Cross country strives for another strong season
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Left: Abrams places fifth in NJAC championships. Right: The women’s team posts an impressive 3.57 cumulative grade point average. By Malcolm Luck Staff Writer Represented by nine participants in last year’s NCAA Division III Championship, the men’s and women’s cross country team looks to continue winning in the upcoming season. The women’s team will be led by senior runner Natalie Cooper, who padded her resumé with prestigious awards at the end of last season. Cooper’s consistency earned her NCAA Division III All-American Honors, allowing her to become the team’s first recipient since 2008. Cooper was also named the New Jersey Athletic
Conference Runner of the year, as well as first teamAll NJAC honors. The fate of the team does not lie solely on Cooper — other teammates proved to be strong NJAC competitors last season. Coming off of her freshman campaign, sophomore Gabby DeVito looks to sustain success after being named the NJAC Rookie of the Year. DeVito’s selection marks the College’s third Rookie of the Year recipient in the past four seasons. Aside from athletic awards, five players from the women’s team have also earned All-Academic honors awards. The team posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.57, placing fifth out of 41 teams in the
NCAA Atlantic Region Championships. On the men’s team, senior Quinn Wasko looks to build on his solid junior campaign. Wasko hopes to pick up where he left off last season, setting a personal record in the eight kilometer event at the Regional Championships on Nov. 11. Wasko also looks to earn First Team All-NJAC honors for the second year in a row. The sky’s the limit for the runners in blue and gold, who hope to succeed under the guidance of NJAC Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year, Justin Lindsey. The Lions hope that experience proves to be key as they open the season at the Blue/Gold Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 1 in Ewing, New Jersey.
Signal
Sports
Field hockey eyes national championship
Photos courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
Left: Pfluger rallies the team. Right: Padilla prepares to attack on offense. By John Berardi Correspondent The field hockey team is looking forward to another successful season in the New Jersey Athletic Conference. Last season, the team ended with a recordof 17-4, won the NJAC tournament and advanced to the third round of the NCAA tournament. As four-time defending conference champions, the team enters this season as the NJAC favorites in the coaches poll, gathering five of seven first place votes.
As they compete for the program’s 12th national championship, the Lions will have key starters all-American senior midfielder/defender Sidney Padilla, senior defender Jackie Schwartz, senior forward/midfielder Caroline Quinn and junior midfielder Jillian Farley. Another key returner for the team’s offense is leading scorer sophomore forward Tori Tiefenthaler, who scored 18 goals last season. Alumna Elizabeth Morrison (’18) was named as the NJAC Nominee for NCAA Woman of the Year. “I am very happy and excited for
(Morrison),” said head coach Sharon Pfluger. “She is one of the most remarkable studentathletes I have ever coached and is in a class by herself. I have seen (Morrison) develop and thrive in many ways while with us. She aided in the success of both our field hockey and lacrosse teams and is also a remarkable student who excelled in the classroom while earning a biology degree in an austere curriculum. This is such an amazing honor and one that is truly well-deserved.” ee Not only is Pfluger proud of her previous team member’s accomplishments, but she is also excited to maximize her
team’s success this fall. “We are very excited about our returning players this season,” Pfluger said. “They gained a tremendous amount of experience and confidence during the 2017 season. All of them played a huge role in our team advancing to the 2017 NCAA Final Four.” Their season kicks off with a home game on Saturday, Sept. 1 against The Catholic University Of America. The Lions are looking to for redemption against Catholic University from last year’s NCAA tournament loss.
Women’s soccer looks to repeat successes
The team enters the 2018 season with a relatively young roster.
By Alex Reich Staff Writer
While most students were enjoying their last moments of summer before classes start at the College, the women’s soccer team has been preparing for its upcoming season.
Lions Lineup August 29, 2018
I n s i d e
Photo courtesy of the Sports Information Desk
The Lions finished their previous season with a 21-1-1 record, won the New Jersey Athletic Conference Championship and advanced to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. Hoping to preserve their title as NJAC champions, the team will need its returning players to step into important roles as they try to replace seven starters who graduated
Football page 18
Men’s Soccer page 18
last spring. While the Lions have a young roster, they have accumulated big game experience. Junior defender Jen McGrogan, junior defender Ally DeRiggi, junior goalkeeper Nicole DiPasquale, sophomore midfielder Kelly Caolan and junior midfielder Taylor Nolan are key returning players who started in all 23 games last season. Nolan had a terrific breakout season last fall, as she scored eight goals and tied for second to most goals scored on the team. DiPasquale received the United Soccer Coaches Association All-American honors this year. She holds the seventh longest shutout streak in NCAA Division III history, going 1,099:54 minutes without allowing anyone to score. “I’m excited about it — it’s a different year and a new challenge as no two seasons are alike,” said Head Coach Joe Russo. “We have some big shoes to fill but hopefully the returning players and the new kids can fill the gaps for us.” Coach Russo achieved his 500th career victory last year. This achievement has only been done by four other women’s soccer coaches in NCAA history. On Friday, Aug. 31, the Lions kicks off their season with a road trip to Media, Pennsylvania to face Pennsylvania State-University-Brandywine. The team will then open up the Rowan Soccer Classic on Sunday, September 2 in Glassboro against Bridgewater College.
Cross Country page 19